A Rose by Any Other Name

I've been on a screen tee kick lately. Ever since this post by Ariana a couple weeks ago, all I could think about was adding more screen tees to my wardrobe and wearing them with (ponte) pencil skirts as often as possible. (And I have - just, you know, off-blog... =7)

Tresor top - LucieLu / Black blazer - Lane Bryant / Flare jeans - Lane Bryant

But they look fabulous with jeans and a blazer too, especially the best jeans on earth. I'd been eying this particularly fabulous rose print top by LucieLu for awhile, and finally snagged it during her recent sale. (It's still available in a 1X!) The material is so comfy, with super flattering/camouflaging ruching at the bottom. It's a bit long, but the ruching makes the length more or less adjustable. I must admit that I've worn this outfit a few times - once for a quick day trip up to Chicago, once for a dinner date with Bob and again today for a casual day of work. It's certainly become a night-out staple, anyway.

Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement) / Shoes - "Nacia" (Nine West) / Earrings -  Lane Bryant  (?)

And these shoes! During an earlier Chicago day trip, we stopped into a Nine West and I tried these babies on. I'd been looking for the perfect strappy wedge sandal for a while, so you can imagine my delight when the store not only had them in my desired size (big ol' 11) and color (natural), but that they had them in black and brown too! Oh, and they were 75% off, bringing them to about $25 each. Mine, mine and mine. I even hunted down a minty green one online, I loved them so much. (Yes, you read that right; I now own four pairs of these lovlies.) They comfortably hug my wide feet, and thanks to the wedge they can go a whole day running around. They're definitely my new go-to sandal for whatever warm-weather days we have left and  many a summer season to come.

Glen's Plaid

I loves me a pencil skirt. But you knew that. =)

Basic solids are all well and fine, but when I can find an interesting but subtle pattern, such as this glen plaid accented with orange, I be one happy girl. And I bet you guess that I'm over the moon about the length, too!

Printed top - Lane Bryant / Glen plaid pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Heels - Payless

I tell ya, Lane Bryant is just knocking it out of the park with pencil skirts this year. (This lace print one is next on my must-have-will-get list.) I owe that somewhat to the trend for longer hemlines and the pencil skirt in general. (When have pencil skirts not been on trend again?) I'm mostly so very thankful for this because I used to have some slammin' Banana Republic pencil skirts from a few years ago - great lengths, patterns, and usual Banana Republic details. But, alas, I've not been able to fit my derriere into them for some time. Of all the items I've "grown" out of, those pencil skirts were the biggest tragedy. So, I'm ever-so-thankful to Lane Bryant and even Talbots who've made fabulous pencil skirts as available to plus sized ladies as anyone else.

Handbag - Urban Outfitters

The top is one I had flagged after this post to wear with a pencil skirt, a thought that had crazily not occurred to me before. So when I was looking to debut this skirt in a fun and somewhat dressed-down way, I knew this would be the perfect pairing. I might go with it untucked for my next wearing, however.

Ring - Banana Republic / Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Earrings - The Limited

Have a happy Friday, everyone!

Ode to Ponte

Striped henley - Anthropologie / Ponte pencil skirt in Spanish Moss - Lane Bryant /
Pink skinny belt - Talbots / Gold sandals - Moda Spana (via Endless.com) / Necklace - Banana Republic

Ponte knit has to be the best invention ever. A ponte knit pencil skirt? Yes, please! And one in every color imaginable, please! When Lane Bryant got these in, I gobbled them up immediately. The fact that they come in this great olive color (officially named Spanish Moss) is even better. Black? Check. Grey? Check. These skirts are unbelievably comfortable (thanks to the ponte), and the length of them is even better. Hitting just below my knee, they fulfill my every wish for pencil skirts. They fit true to size (I'm a solid 16 on bottom these days), and the wide waist band pretty much obliterates any concern of the dreaded muffin top, too. I seriously cannot get enough of these skirts! Can be dressed up with a great top just as perfectly as it can be dressed down with a fun screen tee and a cardigan.

This belt is one of five that I scored from a clearance rack at Talbots. This is a 1X so it's extremely generous in length, but I love being able to tuck the ends under like everyone is doing these days. The peachy-pink color offers just the right bit of added color to the outfit, too.

Olive Juice

What's that? My backdrop has suspiciously changed to my old locale? Okay, I admit it; these pics were taken before we moved. I had fully intended to post a few more times before I went on hiatus, but things got so crazy that posting proved impossible. I know, excuses excuses...

Sequined bib top - LOFT / Olive washed pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Navy belt - Banana Republic /
Gold sandals - Moda Spana (via Endless.com) / Handbag - Tano "Minilisa" in Blue Marine

My attire those days necessitated absolute casual wear, but I didn't want to just slum it in yoga pants and a hoodie, however much that might have been my inclination. An embellished tee and an olive green pencil skirt? Too easy. And almost as comfortable.

Donning a top that does all the work for you (in back as much as the front) is certainly a bonus, though. This outfit, featuring the same top, is a straight up remix of an earlier version of a burgundy/olive pairing. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I just love the color combination! I've also worn this skirt so often (on and off the blog) that it's one I nearly always turn to for "elevated casual." And just cuz it's a great skirt.

Ring - Banana Republic / Earrings - LOFT

Midi-Me

The current midi-length trend is really not so much a trend for me as it is a preference. I love when skirts and dresses hit me right in the below-knee-above-calf area. It’s the most flattering length on me by far. So I relish in the fact that hemlines are longer these days; that pencil skirts at 25” or longer are becoming increasingly easier to get my hands on; that great little summer/fall-transition dresses like this one just fall into my lap...

Printed Jersey Midi Dress - Simply Be / Woven Belt in Natural - Simply Be / Instant Sleeves in Taupe - LucieLu / Heels - Payless / Golden Ginko and Gunmetal Necklace - ChrDesigns (Etsy)

I must admit, however, that this Printed Jersey Midi Dress from Simply Be is just too long for me. It seems like less of a midi and more of a too-short-maxi. As a result, it teeters on that fine line of fashionable and dowdy on this 5’ 8” plus-sized body of mine. The Simply Be model seems to rock it out, though, so maybe I’m doing something wrong. (I sure did style it up with the same belt, though!) I thought about just getting it hemmed; I do love the pale orange and tan flower print - so many great layering options for fall! But heaven only knows when THAT will happen!

Probably about the same time I’m able to get any sort of color on my legs. YIKES.

Handbag - Urban Outfitters

Many Returns

Well, hello there! Long time, no see!

It sure has been hard to get back into blogging after two months MIA. So hard that I couldn’t even muster up the motivation to celebrate what would have been my one year blogiversary last week! (The 14th, to be exact...) Moving took a lot out of me and the start of the new concert season at work took even more. But, work is more or less on auto-pilot, we’re finally and comfortably moved in, and I even found a new photo shoot location at the new place. (Really, this took the most toll on the blog! Ya-know-what-I’m-sayin’??) I now live on a brick-lined street, which unfortunately is too busy for me to take pictures exclusively, but it sure makes a nice bonus when I can snag a few shots like these!

Military green cropped jacket - Maurices / Banded Lace-Up Tunic - Anthropologie /
Dark skinnies - Gap / Wedges - LOFT / Grey handbag - Urban Outfitters

This top was a great Anthro sale grab last month. (And still available at under $10!!) It was one of those I tried on when it was full price but couldn’t bring myself to purchase. I kept thinking I’d wear it with white crops, which I’m sure would be a fun summer look, too, but summer has faded away before I could find a pair that I actually liked myself in. Cue the ever-reliable denim skinnies and a military green topper! I was pleasantly surprised by how well the colors and proportion came together, and it’s a great way to transition this top into the fall season.

I feel like I’ve missed out on a TON, and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do! Thanks to all of you who’ve stuck around, welcome to all of you who’ve come on board, and hello to another sonsy fall season!

Happy birthday to my (little) sister who hits the big 3-0 today! I love you, Ruthie!