Red Friday

Happy Thanksgiving AND Happy Hanukkah, everyone! I hope you all are happily recovering from your feasts and/or getting the deals of your lives out in the mad Black Friday world! We're actually celebrating our family thanksgiving this weekend, and I'm ever-so-looking-forward to all the (real) cranberry sauce I can eat.

Prep will begin a little later this evening, but I've just returned from braving some Black Friday craziness myself. (And by "braving" I mean one store and by "craziness" I mean TJ Maxx. Black Friday's not really my thing, folks.) What does one wear to navigate the, er, masses? Flat boots, of course, and a little frenchie Breton stripes with a perfect red pencil. And a warm, warm scarf. Cuz it's cold out there, my friends.

Striped top - Banana Republic / Curvy Pencil Skirt in Romancing Red - c/o Kiyonna /
Handbag - Steve Madden via TJ Maxx / Boots - Ciao Bella via DSW

It occurred to me recently that I still, after all these years, did not have my perfect red pencil skirt, yet. I have one in nearly every other color, but not red. What was the world coming to?? My love of Kiyonna's perfect pink pencil (the Curvy Pencil Skirt) that I received a few months ago made me realize that their red version just may finally fulfill my every red pencil skirt desire. And it does, my friends. It does.

At the risk of being repetitive, I'll once again hail its length, stretch, and shape. A pencil skirt trifecta! Most importantly, its hue is the perfect shade of cherry red, and there isn't a better complement to navy stripes and tall boots. C'est magnifique!

Scarf - Gap / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - The Limited /
Nails - Essie "Midnight Cami" (via Ulta) with Essie "Matte About You" Top Coat

But let us not forget the scarf, my friends. A scarf that, without it, I sure as hell would not have braved the temperatures for outdoor pictures.

Classic Mustard

Navy and mustard. Striped tee and pencil skirt. Boots and jacket. Classic combinations that always work.

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

I've been through three yellow pencil skirts now, and this Lane Bryant one is by far the best. It's their classic ponte pencil skirt that I wish they would stock year round in all manner of seasonal colors. (Still looking for a pumpkin orange one!) This one came in yellow, red, teal and black and - wouldn't you know it - I bought it in all of the three colors. (I most certainly don't need another black one.) Length, color and fit is perfect on all three!

Striped top - Banana Republic / Denim jacket - Theory (eBayed) / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Ciao Bella (via DSW)

I think this was my first boot wearing for the season, too. It felt wonderful to finally break them about again - as if they were the true herald of autumn. (Aside from that whole leaves thing, anyway.) I had to polish 'em up, but they're still in pretty good shape. I was afraid I'd need to replace them after wearing them out during last fall's Boston trip, but I think I can get at least another year out of them!

I can't believe that Boston trip was almost a year ago already. We won't be able to make the trip again this year, which saddens me a bit, but I am looking forward to spending more time at home for the fall break. That's right, a week of vacation time, staring NEXT WEEK! Time to organize the chaos that is my jewelry collection, hang Christmas decor, make lots of crock pot recipes (the goal for most of the winter, as it happens), and - oh yeah - gorge ourselves on turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing... Bring on the holidays!

Handbag - Steve Madden

Wing It

In an attempt to get caught up here on the blog, I had intended to re-wear old favorite outfits for the next few weeks. Instead, as I often can't help doing, I started experimenting with some casual outfit options for a what was going to be an usually casual Friday. What inspired me was this past favorite outfit (one I considered re-wearing), but I wanted to incorporate my mint ankle pants - as of yet unworn - instead. Stripes, jacket, belt, heels - it was a combination I really liked and thought I wore well! So bring on the mint ankle pants.

Jacket - Lane Bryant / Striped tee - H&M / Ankle pants - Talbots / Belt - eloquii /
Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement) / Sandals - Nine West

The striped top has great button detailing along the sleeve, so I simply couldn't allow the jacket to cover it up! The cuffs of the jacket look a bit exaggerated, but I kinda like the effect. I also thought I wouldn't like the very pale, washed-out color palette, but once I tried on the whole outfit, I was surprised by how much that was exactly what I liked the most. The whole look is a clean, minimal one, and it's pretty much my favorite way to wear, well, anything.

I must admit that I continue to feel little self-conscious in these light-colored skinnies, but as I walked passed a entire wall of mirrors at work, I forced my thoughts from "Ew" to "This is my body, and I'm just gonna work it. And like it." I'd like to think it wasn't a fleeting thought.

Double the Fun

It's only Tuesday? Really? Ugh. What's worse is that it's 10:30pm and Bob just went in to work. Yes, you read that right. So do I stay up until he gets home at 3am (cuz he'll wake me up anyway)? Yes, probably. And maybe I'll make myself a Totinos while I'm at it. There, now it feels like the weekend.

Except it's only Tuesday...

But hey, look! The green skirt again! I have to say, a black and white combo is my favorite pairing with this skirt. True, they're stripes and are therefore fabulous with everything, but I especially like their contrast with the vibrant color of the skirt.

Striped top - Dorothy Perkins / Pencil skirt - eloquii / Belt - Talbots /
Sandals - Bandolino / Handbag - Ruche

I also felt that one necklace was not enough. One big statement piece plus one long dangley piece equals necklace nirvana. Or something.

Necklaces - LOFT & Ann Taylor / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - The Limited

My Totinos is ready! One supreme party pizza is served. And LOTR, probably. See you on the other side of 3am.

And hey, then it'll be Wednesday.

Transitions

I just cannot seem to get caught up with my life lately. I'm overwhelmed at work, the apartment never seems to get clean, and I've been lucky if I eat anything other than granola bars and popcorn. The blog is only one thing that seems to have fallen a bit by the wayside, to be sure. I'm hoping to turn over a new leaf this week, however. It's something of a quieter week, letting me focus better while I'm at work, allowing to me to have more weeknights at home, and maybe getting a little balance back.

The cool, crisp days have been a godsend, of course, and I've been thrilled to break into all my fall wardrobe options! (Note to self: time to rotate the closets!) It's been a mild transition to the cooler days, but the longer sleeves and warmer color palettes have been exciting changes to my outfit options. In fact, I just decided that I need to add a pumpkin-colored pencil skirt to my arsenal. (Yay! Something new to scour the internets for!)

Cardigan - LOFT / Striped tank - Old Navy / Skirt - eloquii / Sandals - Nine West
Handbag - Furla

I'm also grateful for the cooler weather because of the the return of hot coffee! I've already had more than my share of pumpkin spice lattes, but I really just love having hot french press or vanilla caramel tea with splash of my beloved almond milk. I soooo wish coffee shops would offer almond milk already! There is nothing I love more than propping up of my feet in front of the TV, curled up in blanket, and sipping a hot cuppa.

Regardless of the temperatures, black and white stripes are always a good idea, and the classic silhouette of cardigan and pencil skirt will never steer me wrong.

Necklace- Banana Republic / Ring - TJ Maxx / Belt - Talbots

Cotton Candy

Once again, the power of pretty flexes its muscles. (Bats its eyelashes?) This time, it's a sweet coral cardigan over one of my favorite (striped!) maxi dresses (previously worn here and here), turning a relatively simple dress into a feminine delight. I felt so good in this outfit!

Often, I'm not sure how to style a maxi dress beyond the ol' denim jacket. The longer line of the maxi creates tons of proportion issues for this curvy girl, and no matter how high or low I search for great maxis, this continues to be the main reason I don't always love them on me. Maxi dresses are typically sleeveless, strappy or even completely strapless, and this really is the best way to balance out all the material at the bottom half of the body - have less material at the top. But if you're at all like me, baring all that flesh at my top half is not something I'm quick to do. Again, the denim jacket is certainly the easiest remedy, especially if you wear a shrunken or cropped style that doesn't completely cut your body in half. But what if you want to be a little more creative or feminine? Or what if, heaven help us, it's just too hot out to warrant that thick material?? Cue a thin, summer-weight cardigan.

Cardigan - LOFT / Striped maxi dress - Maurirces / Belt - The Limited /
Sandals - Bandolino (via Endless) / Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement)

And then it becomes a pretty familiar silhouette for me. Belted cardigan over a skirt? Well-worn territory. I considered wearing the sweater unbuttoned and unbelted, but I wanted to (re)define my waist in order to defy those maxi dress proportions. And of course, not any belt would do - how 'bout a subtle animal print to create a little pattern mixing with the stripes? Just a smidgen of pattern mixing - my favorite kind. What's great about this particular dress, too, is the embellishment at the neckline. So when worn this way, it becomes a great focal point for the outfit in itself.

All this is to say is that I felt like I hit out of the park with this look - styling a maxi in a way that didn't use a jacket as my usual crutch. I felt super feminine, comfortable and even a little chic. Good job, pink.

Ring - The Limited / Earrings - Lane Bryant

Find out if you're the winner of the $50 Kiyonna gift card! The winner has until 10am CST Saturday to claim their prize. Otherwise, I'll be choosing a new winner!

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

Broken Record

Nope, nothing revolutionary here. Stripes, pencil skirt, statement necklace. Never fails.

Striped top - Gap / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Wedges - LOFT

I had been itching to wear this particular statement necklace, however. I bought it the same time I bought its blue-hued sister, but have never really had the right outfit for it. Pink, green and gold all in one necklace make for a difficult pairing, methinks. I thought neutrals would best serve as its backdrop on its first wearing, and even better this particular outfit formula of mine.

Necklace - Anthropologie / Belt - Talbots / Ring - Ruche

Now that I've gotten its first wearing out of the way, perhaps future outfits will come easier?

Handbag - DKNY (via TJMaxx)

And maybe I'll remember to check all the zippers on my handbags next time, too...

Mixed Company

Remember that thing I said yesterday about my obsession with coral? It continues...

Zebra print top - Dorothy Perkins / White tank - Anthropologie / Striped pencil skirt - Dorothy Perkins
Belt - Talbots / Handbag - DKNY (via TJMaxx) / Sandals - Nine West (via Endless.com)

I was thumbing through my closet the other day, trying to put together outfits for the week, when I realized that my zebra print top would be a perfect candidate for a little mixed print action with my striped pencil skirt. The shared colors of black and white struck a great balance. The proportions of the prints - medium sized zebras (if that's not a funny sight...) versus thin stripes - were close to ideal. This was happening. Besides, I wanted to wear this skirt again anyway. And coral, duh.

Would I wear the blousy top tucked or untucked, though? When tucked, I liked the waistline the outfit gave me, but, alas, the legend of horizontal stripes worked against me at my hips. I truly did need something to break those lines up. I thought I'd hate the top untucked (and belted, of course), but it really came together better than I imagined - even if I did solicit a sideways glance of Midwestern sartorial alarm or two. Or maybe cuz they thought my zebras were adorable?

Ring - The Limited / Earrings - The Limited

No Brainer

If this outfit looks familiar to you, it's cuz it does... I've said it before, and I''ll say it again - throwing on a striped top with a casual pencil skirt is just about the easiest thing I could possibly wear.

The blue stripes are the newest addition to my striped top collection. (It probably seems like I add a new one every week, doesn't it?) I went with more color for this outfit variation, though, not least because of the blue itself. And I figured I had to get yellow in there again. Good thing it turned out to be the perfect pop of color I was after.

But there's something about all that stripage that screams for an accessory to break it up. Scarves were always the easy answer in the cooler months, but they're not my accessory of choice in the spring/summer (whatever season we're currently in). I needed something in its place that could occupy an equal amount of space - or at least interest. Statement necklaces to the rescue! And you know a love a good statement necklace...

Striped top - ASOS / Ponte pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Belt - The Limited /
Sandals - Bandolino / Handbag - Tano "Minilisa"

This one is on the small side, of course, but it was just the right color palette for the outfit - shades of blue and a contrasting color that I could complement with a belt. Seriously, easiest outfit ever.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Anthropologie / Earrings - The Limited /
Nails - Cartwheels on the Catwalk (Sephora by OPI)

Lemon Fresh

I wanted to wear stripes today, simple as that.

Specifically, I wanted to take this new grey and white striped version out for a spin. I seem to like my stripes best with pencil skirts, so I figured I'd go monochromatic with one in comfy grey ponte. But then a girl needs some color. Since I'm always drawn to yellow with grey, yellow it was. Bright, fresh, clean, lemony yellow scarf and belt.

Striped top - Dorothy Perkins / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Scarf - Gap /
Belt - Kohl's / Sandals - Bandolino (via Endless)

I wonder if I went overboard with the belt, though. Not merely in color but also for the sake of proportion. Usually a belt serves to highlight shape; I feel that perhaps here I've muddled it. (You know what else muddles shape? Fifteen or so extra pounds, right in the midsection. I should probably do something about that...) Ah, whatever. MUST!BELT!EVERYTHING! MOAR BELTS! MOAR COLOR!

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa"

Ahem, sorry about that. But let's focus on the best part, shall we? My fresh cut and highlight! Lord bless my stylist. Even he was ridiculously (if not deservedly) impressed with himself on this one.

Ring & earrings - Banana Republic