The Camel's Hump

This is one of those outfits that was seemingly only intended for the blog. Aside from a short work meeting, I saw pretty much no one all day. But hot pink heels shall not be wasted! Thank you, blog.

Yes, you've seen this sweater before in black. I liked it (and its price at extra % off) so much that I decided to make it a pair. The fur collar is removable on both, converting the sweater to a nice tied cardigan for warmer weather. For now, I like the cozy, luxe look of the fur and rich caramel coloring. Especially if I'm only wearing it for myself anyway - I like how it feels on my neck. =)

Fur collar cardigan - Eloquii / Camisole - Eloquii / Denim - Lane Bryant /
Sandals - Nine West / Handbag - Gustto

I thought I should try for some color, though. It was a warm enough (i.e. above 40°) to break out some open-toed sandals, so I chose these bright pink lovelies for a kick, doubled by my fuchsia Gustto. Now that I look at these pictures, though, I'm not sure why I was so afraid of all those luscious camel tones on their own. Perhaps I harbor a secret fear of neutrals, as if color is the only thing that imparts an outfit's interest. As if that fur collar wasn't enough! Meh, who can deny the opportunity to wear hot pink open-toed sandals on a cloudy day?

Best moment of the day? Walking to said work meeting and getting a "Now those are some awesome shoes!" from a girl walking in the opposite direction. I guess the outfit wasn't lost on my corner of the world after all. =)

Earrings - Ruche / Ring - Banana Republic / Necklace - The Limited (?)

Budding Romance

Sunday: Not fully recovered, but another day of getting dressed for the sake of getting dressed. (Work, of course.) I felt like it was a pencil skirt kind of day, but nothing too extravagant. A sandy neutral skirt, a cute little chiffon ruffled shell and a brightly colored cardigan was just what the (style) doctor ordered.

Cardigan - Banana Republic / Shell - Old Navy / Pencil skirt - Eloquii /
Heels -Gabriella Rocha (via Zappos.com)  

The shell is a recent purhase from Old Navy, of all places. I rarely have any good luck in there - their fit is wonky on me and I rarely like their cuts or prints. But this top (and another in a cute butterfly print I'm sure I'll wear soon) really caught my eye. It's such a pretty spring flower bud print and has a nice ruffle detail at the collar and side panels. I figured it would be a great top tucked in with pencil skirts and worn with a nice cardigan, and I was not disappointed.

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa"

So is spring yet? And can I please stop coughing now?

Ring - TJ Maxx / Earrings - The Limited / Necklace - LOFT

I'm Alive!

My dears, I'm so sorry I seemingly dropped off the face of the earth for the past week! As feared in my last few posts, I had indeed come down with the horrible midwinter flu bug that has been flying around these parts. It kicked my butt into last year. I couldn't leave my couch for much of anything, couldn't form any coherent thoughts, and didn't get dressed in much more than yoga pants and hoodie. UGH. My energy level is not quite back to 100%, and my hoarseness (from coughing for nearly a week straight - and still going) makes me sound worse that I feel. But I went back to work this weekend, if nothing else because I felt out of touch with the world and was desperately wanting to wear nice clothes (and my contacts) again. And so I did!

"Marcel" wrap dress - LucieLu / Lace cami - Sisley / Navy faux-suede heels - Payless

I've been sitting on this LucieLu dress for a while now - like before the holidays. I'm not really sure why... I guess there were always other outfits I wanted to wear instead. You know how that goes, yeah?

It's a great-fiiting faux wrap dress in a fabulous graphic print and rich berry tones. Totally my palette; totally my print. Just like the other LucieLu dress I own (the same style, no less), I love the length and elbow sleeves, but I only wish that the attached tie were longer so I could double-wrap it AND have extra left over to dangle off the hip. I dunno why, but that's one of my favorite features of a wrap dress (faux or no).

Nails - Eve-y On the Eyes (Sephora by O.P.I.) 

And, huh, I styled it pretty similarly too - lace cami, almond-toe heels... When it ain't broke, eh? I tried not to be too matchy-matchy with either cami or accessories, though. Early options were a cream cami and purple stone necklace, but I wanted to take it just a tad further. I stayed in the same color family with the cami, of course, but opted for one in a lighter shade than on the dress. I like how the speckles on my necklace unexpectedly echo some of the colors on the dress, too.

Earrings - Ruche / Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Ring - Banana Republic

So here's to being able to rise from the couch and wads of Kleenex to get dressed again! I mean, I'm wearing hose and Spanx and everything...

Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement)

I'm not much for reporting on/critiquing the Oscars, but we did watch and thoroughly enjoyed it - and not just the couture! How about you?

Candy Land

The moment I had purchased this skirt from Dorothy Perkins, I knew my first wearing would be just like this. Yet another successful Pinterest inspiration! Yet another happy stripes purchase!

When I first saw her pictures, I thought the belt was red - a pairing I've come to love and was eager to replicate. But when I looked closer at the pictures when it came time to put together the outfit for myself, I realized the belt was pink! An even better, brighter, more colorful pairing. The cheeriness is infectious.

Ring - Ruche / Belt - Talbots / Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Earrings - Banana Republic

But seriously, taking outfit inspiration from Pinterest is kind of like stealing candy from a baby. And this outfit kind of looks like candy.

Cardigan - LOFT / White tank - Anthropologie / Striped skirt - Dorothy Perkins /
Handbag - Gustto / Platforms - Nine West "Hopefloat" (via 6pm.com)

Easy Pieces

Whatever's going around these days, I've got it. It started off quietly over the weekend with a sore throat, blossoming into a full-on flu with head and body ache and chest congestion yesterday. I went home sick, basically kicked out by my office mates, and proceeded to enjoy a steady diet of tea, saltines and ibuprofen while drifting in and out of consciousness on my couch. Hence, no post. =) I'm feeling a little better today, back at work but trying to take it easy. I need to be better by the weekend for my belated Valentine's dinner with Bob in Chicago!

Printed dress - Target / White cardigan - LOFT / Heels - Nine West "Hopefloat" (via 6pm.com) /
Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement

Therefore, I've donned an easy 10 year old jersey dress from Target (!!) with a belted cardigan. I wore it a few years ago, pre-blog, and I remembered how effortless it felt, and that I couldn't believe I still fit into the dress! Yay for jersey's forgiveness! I threw in red and pink accessories again in a subtle remembrance of Valentine's Day. Shoot, I almost wish this was my EBEW post!

Ring - TJ Maxx / Belt - Lane Bryant / Necklace - The Limited / Earrings - LOFT

Olive Juice

Happy Valentine's Day, dear readers!

I actually had trouble with this EBEW challenge. I do have red and pink pieces in my wardrobe, but nothing that really works together (or with my usual style), so I knew I was going to have to fall back on accessories. Moreover, I was worried that I'd be putting pieces together purely for the sake of participating, without much hope that the outfit would be anything I'd wear again. I'm pleased to say, however, that I might wear this combination without or without a Valentine's Day Challenge!

Pink belt - The Limited / Ring - Banana Republic / Pink earrings - LOFT

A pale pink belt and a red sweater; definitely a minimalist version of the challenge, but it's "me." (I'll save ground-breaking for other participants.) I did quite like how olive looked against all my red and pink pieces when I was trying on outfits, so I wanted to be sure to make it a part of the outfit, whatever I chose. My one contribution, I guess. =)

Red sweater - Lane Bryant / Olive ponte pencil skirt - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Coconuts via DSW (gifted) / Handbag - Coach (gifted)

And now, sweethearts for all!

A Bright Future

I blame Sal from Already Pretty and one of her Insomniac Sale Picks posts for making me think I needed a bright-colored blazer. And then I blame this pin for showing me an excellent way to wear it. And then I blame Gap for offering 40% of any full-priced item. Clearly, I did not act of my own accord in this situation.

Bright ponte blazer - Gap / Striped top - Gap /  Black pants - NY&Co. /
Belt - The Limited / Handbag -  Furla (via Filene's Basement)

I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it - hot pink is not in my usual wardrobe vocabulary. And as trendy as neon colors seem to be for spring, I'm not usually one to follow trends just for the sake of following a trend, either. But then I got a ton of compliments on the blazer, and it fits very well and is pretty darn comfortable. (Ponte, duh.) So, crap, now I might have to keep it.

Necklace - Banana Republic (eBayed) / Earrings - The Limited / Ring - H&M

So tell me how else I can wear it, k?

Musical

I attended a remarkable concert last night: the St Olaf Choir's 100th Anniversary Tour. It was a concert that made me miss the act of making music, especially singing in a choir. Yep, little known fact, I was a singer in college (a pianist, too), and some of my most cherished memories involve choirs and the music we created. The sound of the voice, of the harmonies and dissonances possible, the tone colors, the texts - these have always moved me more than anything else. And I just miss it. The choir's performance was inspiring: impassioned yet restrained, spiritual, genuine and nearly flawless. And it's got me thinking that I need to find ways to make music again...

Lucille lace skirt - c/o Kiyonna / Fur collar cardigan - Eloquii / Camisole - Eloquii /
Platforms - Nine West  "Hopefloat" (via 6pm.com)

And so, a remarkable night calls for a remarkable outfit, does it not? (Or is it that a remarkable outfit calls for a remarkable night?) Absolutely. I received the luxurious Lucille Lace Skirt from Kiyonna just in time for this concert, and it was just what I wanted to wear for the occasion. It fits like a dream - comfortably fitted and hitting ever-so-perfectly below my knees. The seaming in the front draws nice lines along the body, and the champagne underlay is so classic and elegant. I felt like a million bucks; I felt like I owned the place (though in my position I guess in a sense I already do), commanding attention, respect, and even desire from all who crossed my path. Okay, okay...I might be getting carried away, but isn't that we should feel everyday? It never fails to amaze me what power clothing can have...

I did have some trouble fining the perfect top, however. Black lace over nude lining makes for rather limited outfit choices. The right silhouette, restrained details, and good structure were also important to me. I needed to find something that stood up to the skirt but didn't detract from it, something that highlighted my curves while highlighting the skirt itself.

I decided I needed to stick with a black top, using color where I could in other accessories. A buttoned cardigan seemed too plain, but I didn't have much else in my wardrobe (believe it or not). A portrait collar could be glorious, but I didn't have anything in the right color or material. (Velvet? No.) But thanks to Eloquii's 46% Superbowl day sale, I thought I'd try this fur collar wrap cardigan of theirs. It was final sale, but it was cheap and getting great reviews. I thought that its v-neck and wrap shape (which Kiyonna's ever-amazing Evania also recommended) would offer the perfect silhouette. The fur collar was a great detail on its own, but it also seemed a perfect complement to lace. (I'll have to thank the trends for this one.) It wasn't until I received it in the mail and tried it on did I realize that it really was the perfect top for the skirt. I could stop looking!

Ring - Banana Republic / Necklace - Anthropologie / Earrings - The Limited

I waited to choose accessories until I put everything on, rummaging through all my jewelry for the right color component. My inclination was turquoise, mainly because it was the same direction I went with the gold and black palette for NYE. But this was also why I wanted to do something different. Gold, definitely, but I need a little extra color somewhere. After a few misfires, I came to this striking peach stone necklace. It was just the right amount of color I was after, allowing me to leave my earrings and ring to simple golds. The only obvious choice in all of this were nude platforms, come to think of it...

A harmonious outfit, I dare say. Music to my ears. =)

Post-performance in the Lower Foyer of the Great Hall

True Blue

This outfit seems to have a split personality: spring on top; winter on the bottom. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but it's actually an apt representation of the back-and-forth weather we've been experiencing. I just wanted to wear the top, though, and tights were a requisite for the cold, snowy day. So there it is.

Top - Maurices / Jacket - Maurices / Pencil Skirt - Simply Be / Tights - ? /
Heels - Nine West (via 6pm.com) / Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement)

I was drawn to the top because of its vibrant color blocking and - you guessed it - stripes. I figured it would be a great option with a black pencil skirt as I've worn it here, or with black or denim skinnies for some other day. I added the off-white cropped jacket for a more casual look (and I loves me a cute cropped jacket), but I couldn't decide if I liked it better half-zipped, left open, or not at all. I felt like I needed to get another color or texture in there, too, but I had limited time to experiment. I'll save that for next time.

Ring - H&M / Necklace - The Limited / Earrings - LOFT

What would you say if I told you I briefly considered mustard tights (with different shoes), though?

Recent Acquisitions: Lazy Wednesday Edition

...also known as an I-absolutely-hated-yesterday's-outfit-so much-that-I-changed-into-something-I've-worn-recently-on-the-blog-during-my-lunch-break-and-therefore-don't-have-a-new-outfit post. It happens to all of us, doesn't it? (The rejected top is getting consigned pronto, in fact.) So instead I present to you all manner of goodies that are on their way to me now.

Antique Magnolias Blouse - Anthropologie

I've been lusting after this beautiful top forever, and it finally went on sale! Mine!!

Black ivory peplum dress - Dorothy Perkins

I've been wanting something with peplum lately, and Dorothy Perkins is just cranking out the goodies on that score. The best part? The price is always right! I couldn't decide between nude, blue or peach, but I finally picked this amazing graphic print. It has lots of potential to either go big with some bright platforms or toned down with a buttoned cardigan. I just wish they'd offer free return shipping so I can shop with a little less risk, though. There are some styles I want to try but I'm just not sure if they'll work for me. International return shipping is no joke...

Hopefloat - Nine West (via 6pm.com)

Believe it or not, I don't own a pair of black closed-toe platforms. I clearly had to remedy that with this crocodile-embossed pair - and priced at half off!

Stripe ponte pencil skirt - Dorothy Perkins

Stripes? Pencil skirt? Seems like a no-brainer to me. Gonna wear it just like this ASAP.

Leandra on White Air Jacket - Tibi (via Power Support USA)

Confession: this is my 5th iPhone case since I got my pretty white iPhone for Christmas. (This amazing case is now relegated to second place.) But how could I resist???

Naked2 - Urban Decay (via Sephora)

Everyone and their mom seems to be talking about this palette. I loves me some neutral eyeshadows (I haven't been able to wear anything but the Too Faced Naked Eye Palette since I got it in the fall), so I caved. I have yet to really experiment with combinations, though. Any favorites? I know you have it, too...


And now that I've shared this with you, I declare myself officially banned from shopping until the end of March. I'm serious. I have to be... I think I'm going to need your help, though.

Serpentine

The more I wear this skirt, the more ways I find to wear it. Animal prints seem to be my first inclination these days, so I chose these new snakeskin print heels to be the focal point this time around. I just love their neutral color and textured pattern, and most especially that amazing pop-of-red trim.

Snakeskin print heels - Guess "Geenly" (via Endless) / Ring - Banana Republic / Necklace - The Limited / Earrings - Ruche

I thought about a red skinny belt to echo that trim, but decided that it was one accessory too much. So a plain black cardigan and simple black belt was all I needed.

Pencil skirt - Eloquii / Black cardigan - LOFT / Cream lace cardigan - LOFT /
Belt - LOFT / Clutch -  ASOS (gifted)

Navy is in the works for next time I wear this skirt...