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?

Pumpkin Glaze

I just finished this season's (rather harrowing) run of Nutcracker. Glory Be! Aside from reveling in that fact and trying to calm my nerves from the seemingly never-ending stresses (cue a mighty potent raspberry pepper margarita or two), I've realized that I haven't yet posted a single outfit from those days. And so I present to you outfit one...of five!

Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Jacket - LOFT / "Pretty Cami" - SWAK / Heels - Nine West

Handbag - Coach (gifted) / Belt - Talbots

Since the run opened on the last day of November, I figured I could get away with a more autumnal rather than holiday-focused attire. Plus, I had just acquired the the SWAK "Pretty Cami" in the most perfect shade of pumpkin orange, and I simply had to find a way to wear it.

Necklace - Anthropologie / Rig - Ruche / Earrings - Banana Republic /
Nails - Essie "Fair Game"  (via Ulta)

Competing for its affections were both leopard and teal. My leopard pencil skirt only lost by virtue of its slight fit issues, so teal it was. I loves me some happy color combos, and this was colorful to be sure. But don't worry - holiday colors will get their due!

Summer Lull

Summer brings so much laziness I can't even tell you. It brings many more days of unwashed hair, many days of outfits repeated in entirety or really just outfits comprised of pieces I only threw on so I wouldn't go out naked. I'm not even talking about the hot topic of "blog-worthy" - it's more, I'm barely tolerating this outfit and plan to change immediately into yoga pants and a tank as soon as I get home. And then there's the sitting down to edit/choose pictures and write. Clearly, I'm uninspired... Lately I'd rather spend the evening prepping my mise en place for dinner. (A rather relaxing activity, actually.) And then eating it. And then cuddling in my favorite chair or in bed with the Kindle I got Bob for his birthday. (I may have re-appropriated it.) Yep, that's my summer modus operandi, for better or worse.

But when I do put on clothes that I love and don't mind braving the sweltering heat for a round of pictures, this is it. It's definitey on the dressier side of my summer attire, though. My preference for maxi dresses as summer casual wear has already been well-documented, and a few cute little summer dresses have also made their way into my wardrobe, but they've yet to be photographed. (Laziness.) Ironically, this outfit would be on the casual side during the regular season. Such is the way of summer in the performing arts world...

Top - Dorothy Perkins / Denim pencil skirt - Dorothy Perkins / Sandals - Bandolino

I've had the top for a while, photographed ever-so-fleetingly a la Instagram quite some time ago. (Think I wore it with skinnies at the time.) Pastel birds make for a rather tricky print to wear without being too kitchy, though. Or elderly. Thank goodness for accessories and a denim pencil skirt. And purple. Of course, I love all the colors in the top - I'm pretty sure I have a pencil skirt in every single one, but lest I look like an Easter egg, I must choose carefully. Purple and maybe coral will be my first two once the season begins...

Clutch - eloquii / Necklace - The Limited / Earrings - The Limited / Ring - Ruche / Belt - The Limited

"Once the season begins." I find myself saying that a lot with potential outfits lately. This is rather revelatory in how I view my style during the course of the year: totally dispensable in the summer; center stage (no pun intended) during fall/winter/spring. During the summer, I see no one except a few office mates, and I rarely work an evening event. The idea of going to work on a muggy 97° day in a lined pencil skirt and killer heels, laden with accessories, makes me sweat just thinking about it. (Even though a pencil skirt is clearly my strike zone when trying to dress my body well.)  But it's summer. I'm, like, off-duty. Where the blog is concerned, this means far fewer posts, even though I have much more leisure time to write them. During the season, I have far less time to post, but I have far more to show and tell.  I'm constantly "on" - always dressing to be seen by a lobby full of patrons, bosses and even the occasional artist.  Working harder to look better pays off more. And there it is.

I'm clearly self-conscious about this, though, aren't I? Maybe I should just let it be how it is. At least for as long as I have this particular job, anyway...

To the Max

You may remember a certain fabulous dotted wrap dress, which was a surprising fitting-room winner over a similarly dotted maxi dress I really wanted but whose fit was off. Well, fate would have it that, on a recent return trip to Gap, a size smaller was available in said maxi AND it was on sale. And it turns out that all I needed to solve said fit issues was a smaller size... Who knew!?

Maxi dress - Gap / Blue cami - LOFT / Instant Sleeves in Dove - LucieLu / Wedges - LOFT

I have to work up the courage to wear it with bare arms, it seems. Cue instant sleeves! I really wish they'd come in a blue, ivory or white, though. Then I could, like, wear them with anything. I guess light grey will do. Maybe a denim jacket for next time. Or a cute little scoop neck tee in some color?

Ah, the best part of a maxi dress - the twirling!

But hey, guys, I've reached 200 followers! Yippee! I'm planning to host a giveaway in the next week or so to celebrate, so stay tuned! And thanks to all my readers, old and new, and however you "follow" this sonsy blog o' mine. This little corner of the interwebs has become a cherished placed to share ideas, obsessions, mistakes, successes - myself. So, thanks. =)

Ring - Ruche (gifted) / Earrings - Ruche / Necklace - Banana Republic /
Nailpolish - Tart Deco (Essie)

Slice of Cantaloupe

Another iteration of my "casual" uniform of ponte pencil skirt and striped top. The top is new, and the same style of the black top in yesterday's post. I couldn't resist perky orange stripes, especially with a name like "cantaloupe." I mean, could you?

Striped top - Lauren by Ralph Lauren (Macy's) / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant /
Belt - Talbots / Handbag - Tano / Sandals - Bandolino

Short and sweet, cuz I'm off to find me some cantaloupe now.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Banana Republic (eBayed) / Earrings - Ruche

Easter White

A little birdie, or maybe it was a little bunny, told me that whites are no longer faux pas after Easter. I'm actually not one to blindly obey such dicta, but I figured it gave me licence to pile it on nevertheless. That, and because it's the color of Easter, is it not?

Bob and I went to a late brunch on Sunday, and we wanted to get dressed up in some version of our Easter best. This was an outfit first worn long before the blog, but it has always been one of my favorite springtime ensembles, not least because of all that crisp white. Truth be told, I was rather impressed that the skirt still fit me after all this time!

Cardigan - LOFT / Camisole - eloquii / Wrap skirt - Lane Bryant / Clutch - eloquii /
Sandals - Bandolino (via Endless.com)

I did want to wear vibrant colors, though, that's for sure. If I could dress something like an Easter egg - that was my goal. (I mean, when else can you?) Actually, I was nostalgic for the days of ruffled pink dresses and Easter hats from my childhood. Oh, to be eight again... Bright white and happy green are just as good, though. I feel like freshly mowed lawn under a sky dotted with puffs of white clouds.

Ring - Ruche (gifted) / Necklace - Banana Republic (eBayed) / Earrings - Anthropologie

Come to think of it, the day was actually just like that. And I even had Easter candy.

Blog and Learn

This outfit is brought to you by more leopard and teal! I had forgotten about his top in my small arsenal of teal choices, so I thought I'd take it out for a spin.

Top - The Limited / Skirt - Banana Republic (thrifted) / Belt - Old Navy /
Heels - Christian Siriano for Payless / Clutch - eloquii

I liked it the last time I had belted it, but this iteration doesn't quite do it for me. There's something about the top's proportions that just don't lend itself well to belting with contrasts, at least on this short-waisted bod of mine. In fact, I removed the belt - the lone leopard print - near the end of the night. In hindsight, I would have done without the belt (or the with the same tone-on-tone belt as last time) and worn my perfect leopard print heels instead. Oh well, that's why I blog, I guess: Take pictures and learn!

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

Rainbow Bright

Neither my usual color palette nor silhouette, I was drawn to this flirty little dress. What's not to love about a wide black waistband, navy scoop neck top, and vibrant, swingy skirt?

For a kid-friendly day of music featuring everything percussion, I figured I could step over a few lines of work-appropriate attire and really play with color for this outfit. Bring on the purple tights! I could have chosen navy instead, but I wanted to bring out more of the colors in the skirt, and this was perfect. I toyed with open toed sandals for the look, but nothing I had really worked. I needed to ground all that color with chunkier footwear, like a wedge or wood sandal, but alas, I had neither. Hmm, what about booties? Though rarely worn and something rather outside of my comfort zone, they seem to have been a pretty perfect option for the outfit.

Dress - Lane Bryant / Denim jacket - Theory (eBayed) / Tights - We Love Colors /
Booties - Payless / Handbag -  Urban Outfitters

The dress sleeves themselves are actually quite cute; a short sleeve with ruching on the top makes for something very easy to wear alone. And I could have - it eventually became warm enough outside to warrant it. (Yay for the return of outdoor pictures! My goofy facial expression simply belies a casual frustration with the shade/sun ratio at my usual photo location....) But, as always, I felt myself wanting an extra layer. Casual, easy - a shrunken, cropped denim jacket it was.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - LOFT / Nail polish  - Haute as Hello (Essie)

How else I can possibly wear this dress, I really don't know. Bottom line, I definitely prefer tights with it - it is just too short on me and I know I won't wear it otherwise. Considering that it's a spring/summer frock, this is quite the conundrum...

Carbon Copy

There are couple things going on here. 1) I simply had to have this beautifully designed top* and 2) I pretty much wanted to wear it exactly like this. I didn't do too bad, eh?

Normally, I'd shy away from that much of a close fit all over, but I thought the look was so luxe and so classic that I could not help myself. Besides, the cocoon elbow-length sleeves and perfectly placed ruching along the hips make it easy to feel comfortable in your own skin. Bottom line, though, confidence had to be an important accessory!

Cabaret Cowl Neck Top - Kiyonna / Dark skinnies - Gap / Handbag - Furla (via BBOS) /
Nude pumps - Nine West (via Zappos) 

I duplicated that image right down to the accessories. I loved the look of the necklace plunging down the center of the décolletage, so I was pretty stoked to find similar tassel jewelry at Ruche. (My jewelry go-to, for sure!) Nude heels? Check. (Every shoe wardrobe should include a pair!) My only additions were my fantastic snakeskin bag (which I'm just thinking of buying, by the way) and a big ring in a pop of turquoise. When it ain't broke, you know?

Necklace & earrings - Ruche / Ring - Ruche / Nailolish - "Frankly I Don't Give A-dam" (Sephora by O.P.I.)

The outfit did need to serve a dual purpose, though - work for (a loooong) day, drinks/farewell party for night. Thanks to all that confidence, I thought it was just a bit too sexy for daytime. =) Throw on a camel blazer (also good for covering up any wavering moments of insecurity) and I was good to go.

*The top was purchased with a gift card provided by Kiyonna.

A Perfect Mix

I've been plotting this outfit for a while now. I've had the skirt since the fall and the wrap sweater since last winter, and the minute I saw them together I was struck by how complementary they were. If the first rule of pattern mixing is to make sure prints are in the same color palette, these two pieces - with their shared oranges, golds, greys and blues - perfectly comply.

Piece-A-Plenty cardigan - Anthropologie / Plaid pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Cream cami - Anthropologie /
Handbag - Tano / Blue faux-suede heels - Payless / Necklace & Earrings - LOFT / Ring - Banana Republic

It was just a matter of throwing on a camisole and wearing accessories that got out of the way (blues were my preference) and I had an outfit. I feel very (and unintentionally) pro-Illini, too.

Rusty

To don a pencil skirt, heeled boots and even tights on a day that I'm trying to be comfortable and causal might seem counter-intuitive to many, and especially to me when I was considering this outfit. But I can't deny that it's just a well-worn formula that always works for this body of mine, regardless of how I feel or how many pounds I've put on. (And, oooh, I've put on a few. Thank GOD for Spanx, right?)

Striped top - Dorothy Perkins / Rust infinity scarf - Dorothy Perkins / Black ponte skirt - Lane Bryant /
Belt - Talbots / Rust tights - We Love Colors / Boots - Nine West

I kept thinking about this outfit (especially since I recently remixed it for my Boston trip) and how much I appreciated the wide waistband and the comfortable ponte knit. And fabulous stripes, duh. I figured it was the perfect thing to hide, er, things and yet feel put-together at the same time. I reached for this black and cream striped top, which meant that my black ponte knit skirt would be its mate. (I also have the skirt in grey, in addition to the olive I've most often worn. Shocking, no?) Needing a pop of color, I grabbed this cozy rust-colored infinity scarf and decided to complement it with my rust-colored tights. I could have gone with black boots or booties, but I wanted a little more variation in color, so I chose my suede taupe knee-high boots and fun gold accessories.

Again, it's a far cry from the yoga pants and hoodie that I would have liked to have worn, but far more successful and, truthfully, pretty darn close to being as comfortable. I also know that, because I look better, I feel much better too. It never ceases to amaze me how that works.

Handbag - Coach (gifted)

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Lane Bryant

Wish me luck on the Nutcracker and related holiday performance madness that commences tonight! It's a weekend I always try to wear my sartorial best, so I'll definitely be sharing the weekend's outfits next week!