A Floral Affair

The cleaning out of unblogged outfits continues! I wore this outfit numerous times in the waning summer days. It became the perfect go-to outfit for all those body-conscious days and then some - it was concealing, to be sure, but it was also feminine, flattering, and on-trend. It began an obsession for all things floral, in fact.

Ring - Pim + Larkin (via Piperlime) / Earrings - Ruche / Nails - Stylenomics by Essie (via Ulta)

This Kiyonna top, and I realize I'm sounding like a broken record here, is yet another Gwynnie Bee rental. (However, after wearing it so many times, I found I couldn't part with it and finally just bought it!) When I first received it, I was a bit concerned it skewed too matronly, but pairing it with skinny jeans was really the best way to offset that concern. I think you could wear it with trousers or a skirt and accessorize accordingly, but I loved how fresh skinnies made the print look. (For what it's worth, I also tried the emerald version, but I didn't like it nearly as much. The print really is part of its charm!) Plus, its billowy sleeves and longer length were, as I always say, the perfect complement for close-fitting bottoms.

Chantal Chiffon Blouse In Black Floral - Kiyonna (via Gwynnie Bee) /
Skinnies - Lane Bryant (old) / Sandals - Nine West

The great thing about the print is its numerous colors, too. I like the black background as a "winter" floral option, but you can really pull out any color you want to make it seasonally appropriate. Fuschia and kelly green were my pop-of-color du jour for warmer days, but I can absolutely see mustard yellow and darker green options to come.

Handbag - Gustto "Pavia"

You know, I've been in the market for new skinnies, but I can't get over how good this older LB pair still looks on me. When I first started wearing skinnies, I swore by Gap's Always Skinny Jean, but no matter how many times I give them a try these days, they don't seem to work as well on me. I blame their uncomfortably low rise (and the ensuing muffin top), so I've just decided to stick to these trusty LB skinnies until I absolutely wear them into the ground (and possibly even shed some weight). Do you guys have any favorite brands for skinnies to recommend?

Eye of the Tiger Lily

Having only two real "working" days these days, I find myself in much more need of casual outfits. When I'm not in the classroom, I'm either in my home office or coffee shop "office," both of which provide some real sartorial challenges. While I've actually grown to love my home office (especially with my precious La Perla de Oaxaca a la French Press), it doesn't really encourage me to get dressed for the day. (Yoga pants and old college sweatshirt does not a bloggiful [totes just made up that word] ensemble make.) And the coffee shop certainly doesn't require pencils skirts and heels! (Not that that has stopped me.) So what to wear, what to wear... Alls I can say is, thank goodness for denim in its many varieties!

Top - Lucky Brand via Gwynnie Bee / Skinnies - Lane Bryant (old)
Sandals - Christain Siriano for Payless (old)

I've honestly loved wearing my skinnies with some kind of voluminous top lately. It's not only a chic way to do casual, it's comfortable and, better yet, a great way to dress for the hotter fall days we've been having in the Midwest. (86° in October? C'mon now...) And once again, Gwynnie Bee comes to the rescue with yet another cute top to don for just such an "occasion." I know I wore this exact outfit at least 5 times before finally sending the top back!

Ring and necklace (old) - Ruche

I loved pulling out the pink in the top with a few choice accessories. The orange and pink made for an unexpectedly fabulous color combo! In fact, I think the accessories pretty much made the outfit.

The other thing about heading downtown to my fave coffee shop is the need to lug more than a few books with me. Sure, I have a backpack, but what fun is that? This is where my many oversized bags come into more "functional" play...not that such function has ever been a consideration for me before - the bigger the better, I say! Happily, and pretty much outta nowhere, the kind folks over at Gustto - after seeing my blog header with one of my favorite handbags ever (my fuchsia Gustto Pavia, worn OFTEN) - offered to send me a bag from their eye-popping, budget-friendly handbag line, Miss Gustto. Was I going to jump on a chance for a free handbag from a designer I know and love? HELLZ YES. The difficult thing was only which to choose! I settled on this goes-with-everything taupe number (The "Katie") both for its fabulous size and delicious hardware. The unexpected surprise was that it not only fit a number of books, but also my laptop! All while able to sit comfortably over my shoulder for all those now easy jaunts downtown. I was also really impressed with the quality of the bag itself. It's a vegan/budget bag-lover's DREAM - smooth faux leather, good construction and really fun details. I tend to think this brand nails the oversized trend, too. Pretty sure I'm officially in the market for a few more...

"Katie" Handbag - c/o Miss Gustto

And you know what, Miss Gustto is offering my readers a chance to win one of their bags! Stay tuned for details regarding the giveaway in the next few days!

Earrings - LOFT (old)

Hmmm...that fuchsia Pavia would have been a perfect choice for this outfit, too, eh?

Alternative Holiday Style

Well that was some vacation! I had off since the Thursday before the holiday and I reveled in every minute of it. (Oddly enough, going back to work yesterday wasn't even all that difficult!) I didn't mean to take off from blogging, too, but it just sorta happened. You know, the way sleeping in until 1pm just sorta happens. Same idea. We did spend most of the holiday week in Chicago, though, celebrating by eating fabulous food and trying not to melt in the heat. I'll have these Chicago adventures in my next post, but I thought I'd start of my return by sharing an example of how I do Independence Day style: minimally.

Melrose Mesh Top - c/o Kiyonna / Ankle pants - Lane Bryant / Sandals - Bandolino

I'm really not one to go all red, white and blue - even on the one day of the year it's called for. I guess it just makes me feel ridiculous - kitchy, even - like the old lady tourist in the Walgreen's on Michigan Avenue asking the clerk for hats that had a big ol' American flag on them. (Seriously, please don't let me be her when I grow up.) So what I generally do is build an outfit around blue (the color I have the most of in my closet) and subtly throw in the other two colors with accessories. Besides, this vibrant cobalt blue top (Kiyonna's Melrose Mesh Top strikes again - I told you I needed to have this color) is all I needed to make a statement of patriotic pride anyway. I must confess that I was originally wearing a pair of white pedal pushers with the top, but after realizing how unflattering they looked on me, I quickly switched them out for these when-all-else-fails black ankle pants. Pretend they're the flag pole?

Ring - The Limited / Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Nails - Cute as a Button (Essie)

When I'm feeling particularly rebellious (or just at a loss for anything red), I'll swap out the red entirely for dark pinks, as I've done here. (Besides, these were only pre-holiday festivities I was attending.) I came upon this alternative last year, deciding that it was not only a good way to hint at the patriotic without being overtly so, but also an outfit I'd conceivably wear again!

Handbag - Gustto

Or, I just have an unnatural fear of wearing the colors of our nation's flag together...

Summer White

I got a lot of "You look so summery!" with this outfit at work. Seeing as it was a 90° day, i.e. summer weather fo sho, I figured it was time to break out the white pencil skirt, bright colors, and some barer arms than usual.

Color Fusion Curvy Plus Top - Ruche / Pencil skirt - Macy's (Charter Club)

The top is another random find from Ruche, with a waist tie similar to the last equally fantastic top I found there. This tie sits a little higher on the waist, however, so it didn't play as nicely with the skirt. Rather than keeping it in its own loops, I removed the tie completely and used it as a little "belt" on the skirt itself. I like the extra shot of bright blue it gives the skirt as it helps keep proportions in check. I have plans to wear the top untucked with white pedal pushers - which I think will be my go-to "short" length this summer - for casual wear.

Handbag - Gustto / Shoes - Payless

I just don't love my shoes, which are decidedly un-summery. I mean, (faux-)suede and closed toe? Yikes. I was at a loss for the right sandal or peep toe in my closet, believe it or not, so these came out as the best option. Naturally, this spurred an immediate hunt for a great blue sandal. Whaddya think: dressy fabulousness or casual fun?

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - LOFT

But friends, I am now on vacation! I have all of next week off, and today is an extra bonus. It's so delightful to wake up to nothing to do and nowhere to go! After a rather hellish end-of-season, I'm so glad to be on the other side of it all with a quiet, relaxing summer. The best part of this summer has got to be that I'm not moving (Glory Be!), and we live a mere 4 blocks from all our favorite downtown bars with outdoor seating. Bring on the summer cocktails, my dears! Starting last night, of course...

Floral Frenzy

This.skirt. It's easily become one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe right now. I wasn't so sure about it when I first laid mine eyes upon it. A floral midi skirt can read as potentially geriatric, but, I mean, the ASOS model was WERQing the shiz out of it, so it couldn't be all bad. It sat in my saved items list for a few weeks before I decided to give it a go. I'm so, so glad I did.

Floral pencil skirt - ASOS CURVE / Boatneck top - Lauren by Ralph Lauren (Macy's) /
Ring - Ruche / Earrings - LOFT / Belt - Lane Bryant / Nailpolish - Sag Harbor (Essie)

The placement and different sizes of the shades of blue flowers punched up by perfect pops of orange and bright pink are what keep this skirt youthful. And I experimented with different colored tops, but I kept coming back to black because it really did look the most sleek and modern. That isn't to say I won't try other colors, but for its big debut, this was how it was meant to be worn.

Sandals - Nine West / Handbag - Gustto

Of course, the very slim pencil skirt silhouette makes it as sexy as can be - no grandmas need apply here. I may get it hemmed an inch or two, though; I like where it hits on the model (who is of course much taller than I) much better - the sweet spot just below the knee. At its current length, heels of significant height - or at least a comfy, wrapped wedge better suited to the 12-hour day on my feet - are a requirement lest my legs be resigned to sad stumps.

And the belt. Primarily worn for radio clippage, but also to cleverly extend the line of my torso with additional black since I had to hike up the skirt a bit. I had to do this with my first ASOS midi skirt, too, and with the same belt! (Okay, I clearly need to get these skirts hemmed...)

It was, in short (in midi?), a perfect outfit for the final day of commencement frenzy - able to go the distance in both form and function. But who are we kidding? It was all about the form anyway...

Eureka!

I thought I would love this outfit much more than I do. Olive and blue seem to be a no-brainer, at least it was here, here, here... So this combination was one I had always envisioned for this top when I first got it last fall. But alas, something is not quite right. (Aside from my belt askew, anyway.)

Top - Anthropologie / Tank - Anthropologie / Skirt - Lane Bryant /
Belt - The Limited / Sandals - Nine West

I partially blame the total blousiness of the top. Even when tucking it into a never-fail wide waistband, the top does not do much for my shape - its complete lack of structure coupled with its mandarin collar is doing everything it can to work against my chest and waist. All of this is odd, though, since separately these features to not typically cause problems for me, especially when accessorized correctly. (This recent outfit comes to mind!) Perhaps I would have done better to untuck the top and belt it, like I did the first time I wore it?

Handbag - Gustto

Or maybe it's the neckline of the tank I wore underneath? After looking at those pictures of the first wearing of the top, I note the tank had a v-neck rather than scoopneck shape. Hmmm, I bet that's it! Eureka!

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Lane Bryant

I've said it before and I'll say it again - blog and learn, people. Blog and learn....

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 (?)

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)

Comfy Cozy

Another amazing Banana Republic sale find, this merino wool drop-shoulder cardigan cost me all of $25 - originally $120!! I can't believe it was marked down that much in store when it's still a steep $100 online... (I'm the Banana Republic sale master lately!) It's simply the most cozy, soft, comfortable sweater - the only thing for a long, gloomy, cold January day.

Drop shoulder cardigan - Banana Republic / Stripe tee - LOFT / Jeans - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Famous Footwear / Handbag - Gustto

Jeans and a tee were my immediate inclination (with colorful accessories for fun), but I'd like to see how it fares with a colorful pencil skirt, tights and boots. Hmm, the outfit in my head is coming together quite nicely...

Earrings - Lane Bryant / Ring - The Limited / Necklace - Ten Thousand Villages

Sunless

Between the gloomy, cloudy day and my relatively colorless top, today's outfit pictures look pretty drab. I had considered layering with a blazer of some sort (olive? navy?) and decided against it at the last minute, but I do think it needs a little something extra. Like a...

Top - Anthropologie / Tank - Anthropologie / Denim - Lane Bryant / Belt - Talbots /
Booties - Nine West (via Amazon) / Handbag - Gustto

...bright pink handbag! Since the bag pretty much just sits on my desk at work, though, it can only do so much good. Maybe bright pink belt for next time? Or maybe some sunlight. Yeah, I like the sound of that...

Necklace and earrings - Banana Republic / Ring - Ruche

What is everyone doing this weekend? Do you have Monday off? I ordered a bunch of slim flocked hangers to completely redo my closet. Hoping for more space when I'm done!

Laced Down

Well, I got through an extremely rough week, capped off by a truly challenging day on Saturday. I'm still kind of reeling from it all, to be honest... This week, Bob is away on business, and while I'll miss him terribly, it does mean I have the apartment to myself! I have big plans: mega-cleaning, rearranging the living room (with the purpose of having a functional indoor photo location), eating too many Totino's pizzas (a guilty pleasure that lingers from my single days), hem and hang my bedroom curtains (finally), and - if at all possible - start decorating for the holidays! We leave for Boston on Saturday to spend Thanksgiving with Bob's family, so if I'm going to decorate, it'll have to be sooner rather than later. I just can't believe the holidays are almost here again!

"Fiona" Dress - LucieLu / Denim jacket - Theory (eBayed) / Grey tights - LOFT (?) / Flats - LOFT

I thought I'd try dressing down this lace dress today, so I started with a denim jacket. Tights were a must, but they made my shoe choices more difficult. I didn't want to wear boots, and I toyed with wearing sandals, but I was totally self-conscious about the tights-sandals combo, regardless of how popular it currently seems to be. So I opted for my trusty flats. Between the jacket and sandals, I think I succeeded in putting together a pretty casual look.

Ring - Banana Republic / Ginko and Gunmetal necklace - chrdesigns on Etsy / Earrings - Lane Bryant

And yes, you sure have seen a few versions of this dress before: the "Amelia" in grey and white and the "Piper" in black and pink with cream embellishments. I love the lace overlay, the straight skirt that hits perfectly below my knee, and the pretty embellishments that make each dress unique. I continue to experiment with more ways to wear them!

Handbag - Gustto