Shiny Happy

After a few weeks of (increasingly boring) casual dressing, I finally get to break out the fancy again! The regular performance season resumed last Friday and with it all the best reasons to wear pencil skirts and, that's right, sequins. Many argue about the place of sequins in the workplace, but my workplace is no office and this sequined top is no pushover.

Sequined top - Banana Republic / Pencil skirt - Simply Be / Black tights - LOFT /
Black heels - BBCG (eBayed) / Belt - Talbots

Oh, and it's yet another Banana Republic steal. I'm getting so good at this I can barely stand it! To be honest, I normally wouldn't even go for such a bedazzled top, but I loved the cut (elbow sleeves! wide scoop neck!) - not to mention the price ($30!) - so I couldn't really think of an excuse to not take it home with me. I loved it just with the jeans I tried it on with, so I knew wearing it with nearly any of my pencil skirts would be even more fabulous.

Handbag - Furla Carmen Shopper Grande Handbag (via BBOS)

I went for quiet class with a black pencil skirt, but for fear of being too fancy, I added colorful coral accessories in some hopes to bring it down just a notch. I really love the outfit, though. I just love being able to dress up, period.

Necklace - Anthropologie / Ring - Banana Republic (eBayed) / Earrings - The Limited

Furry Friend

Hello, handbag. I've been wanting to test drive this furry Furla for months now. It finally came available and I had just enough credit in my BBOS account to get to play with it for a week. So, I've been intentionally building all my outfits around the bag in order to showcase it. It's harder than I thought it would be, but so far, so good.

Neo-Refinement Pullover - Anthropologie / Denim - Lane Bryant / Boots - CL by Laundry (via Famous  Footwear) /
Handbag - Furla Carmen Shopper Grande Handbag (via BBOS)

Ironically, the top became the real showstopper, though. I always seem to get tons of compliments on this unique, structural sweater, and for good reason. It does wonders for showcasing my collarbones (a favorite feature of Bob's), is such a pretty winter color and is just all-around fabulous (even if wonky at times). I've already worn it with pants and a pencil skirt, so now that I've paired it with the ever pair-able jeans, the rotation may be complete. How should I wear it next?

Earrings - The Limited / Ring - Ruche

What do you think of the plain(ish) white background? I've started to think the bookshelf is too dark and too busy for a nighttime outfit backdrop, so I'm experimenting with the few white spaces I have in our small apartment. I'm not sure if it's quite right either, though...

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.

Black and Blue

I recently purchased these black ankle skinnies from Lane Bryant for a song. (In fact, my size was the only one they had left! 'Twas meant to be!) I figured they were a good basic that I should probably have in my closet, no? Especially on clearance, no?? So when I saw this pin the other day, I thought, "Hey, I can do that!" What's funny, though, is the last thing I would have thought to wear with black skinnies would be a blue button-up. But I liked the simple, classic look of it, especially with black flats and the longer line of my tunic version of the shirt. (Excuse the massive amount of wrinkles, by the way.) It's also very similar to the last time I wore the top, so it was already a silhouette I liked - and oh-so-comfortable! Once again Pinterest inspires me in unthought-of ways.

Blue pintucked belted shirt - The Limited / White camisole - The Limited / Black wedges - Payless /
Handbag - Furla Piper Small Cartella Bandoliera (via BBOS)

And the bag! The bag! My rewards balance at BBOS was just sitting there, so I figured I'd snatch up this lovely little snakeskin Furla, especially after they had just tweeted about it. Expect to see her often over the next month!

Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Maurices

Red Hot

The nice thing about a freezing cold, sunny day is that, if I do choose to brave the elements for outdoor pics, I know that I'll be done in a blink of an eye. My eyes might be watery and skin paler than usual, but gosh darnit at least I've got sunlight on me.

"Marilyn" sweater - Lane Bryant / Flare jeans - Lane Bryant / Patent snake belt - Lane Bryant

The morning light threw off my usual locations, though (to good effect, I think), and the chilly wind kept flipping up my portrait collar on this new sweater of mine (to less good effect). I don't really own much red, and since I could never say no to three-quarter length sleeves and off-the-shoulder styling, I snagged this Lane Bryant "Marilyn" sweater during their 40% sale as quickly as I could. I'm planning oodles of ways to style it (and I know you know a pencil skirt will be involved), but for its first outing on a casual day, I chose jeans, a wide black belt (much like the product picture) and fabulous leopard print heels.

Leopard print pumps - Max Studio (via DSW) / Ring - The Limited / Earrings - Lane Bryant

And say goodbye to my beautiful ostrich Furla. It's on its way back today! Thank you for a gloriously caramel, zippered, textured month, Ms. Amazzone.

Infinity and Beyond

Tornado watches and warnings swept through our area yesterday. Crazy, crazy weather! I think Mother Nature is angry that Christmas seems to have skipped Thanksgiving this year, and as a result is threatening us with the humid, upper 60-degree weather and storms of late spring to really throw us off. No? Mother Nature doesn't care about the rampant commercialism that muddles the holidays? Oh, well, that explains a lot.

Striped tee - Banana Republic / Infinity scarf - Dorothy Perkins (no longer available) / Flare jeans - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Laundry by Chinese Laundry / Handbag - Furla (renting via BBOS)

I wore this outfit a couple weekends ago, pretty much as soon as I acquired not only the most perfect Breton tee known to man, but also this fun printed infinity scarf from Dorothy Perkins. I loved the casual chic vibe so much that I wanted to wear it again as soon possible, especially to document it here. Classic stripes and colorful dots make my world go 'round these days, and the pattern mix of the two pretty much makes my head explode with glee. Plus I'm the biggest sucker for infinity scarves - they're idiot-proof scarves in my book. If only all casual dressing was this easy.

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - The Limited / Nails - "All Hail McQueen" (Butter London via Ulta)

Can't Get Enough

I think it's official, everyone: I'm addicted to stripes. The number of outfits in which I've incorporated them over the past couple weeks is kind of awesome ridiculous. But who can argue what a great, classic, neutral pattern they are? And though I have yet to pair them with the perfect red pencil skirt au classique, I'll continue to wear them with olive, which I love just as much, if not more.

It's a little unlike me not to include some pop of color with all these neutrals (red belt, coral ring, pink bag etc.), which is why I try to have varying textures (faux lizard belt and ostrich bag) or tones of colors (cognac boots vs. camel bag; white stripe vs. grey skinny belt) instead. It's a little more subtle, perhaps, but I've definitely come to appreciate it.

Striped tee - Banana Republic / Olive pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Grey skinny belt - The Limited /
Handbag - Furla (renting from BBOS) / Boots - Ciao Bella (via DSW - similar here!) 

I hope everyone has a good Monday! Today begins my hell-week countdown to Thanksgiving break, so I'm mustering up all the strength, energy and positivity I possibly can! Let's get through it together, shall we?

Ring and Necklace - Banana Republic / Earrings - Lane Bryant

Bluebell

You may have noticed, but I haven't had to get dressed up nearly as often as I did last year. With fewer events I need to attend, there are simply fewer reasons to don the pencil skirts and heels! So while I've had to flex my causal dressing muscle more than ever, and I think I've done pretty well, I sure do enjoy putting together fancy when I can.

Blouse - Banana Republic / Skirt - Talbots / Belt - Lane Bryant

This blue top has a sister in green, which was last worn here with lovely greys and tans. I really liked that particular belted/pencil skirt look (what a shocker, I know), so I wanted to reproduce it. I went with caramels, golds and tans for the blue version, introducing this new pencil skirt from Talbots in a delightfully well-below-knee length. It should not be at all shocking, either, that I have the skirt in charcoal as well.

Handbag - Furla (renting from BBOS)

But let's not ignore the obvious, now: yet again I wanted to "pump" of the volume with some fabulous animal print heels. And not just any animal print, the perfect leopard print! Since it's been all the rage this season, I was most certainly on the hunt for a pair of my own. I knew that I didn't want a pointy toe; I knew I didn't want a contrast platform pump. What I wanted was a larger print and rich camel background, a never-out-of style almond toe, and a conservative but still sexy heel (3" is conservative for me these days). What I really, really wanted were these gorgeous babies, but I just couldn't justify the price, no matter how hard I tried. Enter the Max Studio Marais from DSW and lots of rewards certificates. Though they were uncomfortably narrow when I first received them, they've stretched out nicely and are most definitely everything I wanted. And hot damn, I love them with this blue!

Leopard pumps - Max Studio (via DSW)

Ring - Banana Republic (eBayed) / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - The Limited

It's a Pattern

Do we see a pattern here? (Bwahahaha... pun intended.) I mean, can anyone ever get enough stripes? Especially when this new blue and pink version of mine can be so easily swapped into this outfit!

Double zip jacket - LOFT / Striped boatneck top - Banana Republic / Washed pencil skirt - Lane Bryant /
Tights ("Sugarberry") - Lane Bryant / Boots - Ciao Bella (via DSW - similar here!) 

The main difference is the addition of the tights and boots, of course. Bob and I were planning to walk downtown for a light dinner, so I wanted to be sure I donned comfortable footwear and - since the nights have become quite chilly - warm tights. I was tickled pink giddy to find that these pink tights matched perfectly with the pink in the top! I thought it was just the right pop of color between the bland khaki skirt and the cognac boots. A darker brown belt brought all the colors together.

What I love most about the "formula" is how the three-quarter sleeves of the top peek out from the elbow sleeves of the jacket, how the large pseudo-portrait collar frames my face, how the the belt and pencil skirt define my shape, how I feel covered yet sexy at the same time. As much as I liked the original, I love the pop of pink and warmth of brown of this one even more. And I can't think of a better way to break out my favorite boots for the first time this fall!

Handbag - Furla (renting from BBOS)

Ring - Ruche / Reversible belt - Lane Bryant / Round wood earrings - Maurices

And So It Goes

This sweater is a fussy bugger. It's supposed to be a sleeved poncho, which I know I'll appreciate on lazy weekends with cuffed jeans or jeggings, but it is otherwise a big ol' tent. I thought I'd try belting it to give it some shape, but this is effective only as long as I don't move my arms - it reveals its poncho-ness (ponchitude?) with those gaping sides. I do like the scalloped effect that results, but it sure does like to ride up more often than not.

Linen blend poncho/sweater - TJ Maxx / Grey ponte skirt - eBayed / Camisole - Anthropologie /
Skinny gold belt - Talbots / Sandals - Nine West / Handbag - Furla (renting via BBOS)

Since I love to pair green with grey, I thought this top would work well with my funky zipper back pencil skirt - last worn with green as well! (I didn't capture a picture of the back of this outfit because my backside is not my best side of the fussy riding-up-issue aforementioned.) Needing more accessorizing especially at the neckline, I added this new clustered necklace of mine. It's definitely one of those that doesn't "match" but "goes" - the color palette works with the colors in the outfit overall, and it has just the right amount of bulk that it balances out the volume of the top.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Ruche / Earrings - Maurices

In other, but related, news, I need to experiment with other indoor photo locations in the new place. This narrow white door is quickly becoming a bore, and it's not even winter yet!

Monday Uniform

A basic truth: a cold and windy Monday calls for warm and cozy attire. (Any Monday; any cold and windy day, really. Halloween or no.) Layers encouraged. Easy, flattering denim suggested. Accessories that add just a little extra flair preferred.

Sweater - LOFT / Striped top - LOFT / Lightly Flared Jeans - Lane Bryant / Reversible gold belt - Lane Bryant
Handbag - Furla (renting from BBOS) / Boots - Laundry by Chinese Laundry (via Famous Footwear)

Inspired by this pin, layering a striped top underneath a sweater is such an easy way to get a little pattern into an outfit. And now that I own more than my share of striped shirts (I've recently acquired this, this, this and this one [BR, but not available online, it seems]), this might become my everyday Monday uniform.

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Dress Barn (?)

Pony Up

Any of you have anything from Kiyonna? This Rylan Ruched Top is my first purchase from the plus sized boutique (I now also have the same top in green), and I gotta say, I'm in love. I can't think of anything better for my décolletage than the openness of a square neck and ruching across my bust. It minimizes the broadness of my shoulders and floats over all that junk in my trunk (and belly). Though the purple I received is much different than the rich plum color shown online, the color is still very saturated and just plain pretty. My primary complaint is that it's too long for my otherwise short torso; I wish it hit at my hip rather than below it, so I might consider having it shortened. Some of the online reviews have also complained that it's hard to find an appropriate bra for this top because of its deep wide cut, but my Lane Bryant Push-up Demi Bra worked perfectly.

Rylan Ruched Top - Kiyonna / Black pencil skirt - Bespoke (Simply Be)

This particular styling had been inspired by none other than the product tips (I LOVE that they even have them): "Keep it ladylike luxe by complementing Rylan with a classic black pencil skirt." I must admit that the option seemed a little plain to me at first, and I wasn't too sure of the proportions since the top is so long on me, but I gave it a whirl. The black pencil skirt is actually from the Bespoke line at Simply Be. Between its great length (26 inches!!), comfortably fitted silhouette, wide (muffin-top-proof) waistband and exposed back zipper, it really is the "perfect black pencil skirt" they claim it to be.

Handbag - Furla (renting via BBOS)

But okay, okay, enough of the reviews (which I probably should try to do more of); we all know the real prize of this outfit are these Nine West giraffe print pony hair platform heels of mine. They come out to play ever so rarely, so I thought these were just the right accessory to spruce up any suspected plainness of the outfit. I just love how shoes can do that! I kept the necklace to a single sparsely beaded chain that complements the colors of the top, went with gold all around, and simply had to continue sporting my gorgeous ostrich Furla that I'm renting. I tell ya, pairing a brown handbag with a black skirt is something I never thought I'd do, but something about it just works.

Ring - Banana Republic / Earrings - LOFT / Necklace - The Limited / Shoes - Nine West

Or maybe I just want to get the most out of my month.