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.

Give Pants a Chance

If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know that I rarely wear dress pants. The fact of the matter is, they I hate me and I hate them. Try as I might to find a suitable pair that fits and flatters, I always come out worse for wear in the experience and predictably empty-handed. But a basic dress pant is a wardrobe staple, right? I mean, as much as I love the skirt thing, sometimes you just want to put on some damn pants and call it a day, amirite? Happily, though somewhat frustratingly, I was able to find a basic black trouser that fit all my pant requirements: no muffin top (a somewhat higher rise is therefore my preference), no camel toe (DUH), longer length for heels (I'll never wear them with flats), and a leg opening on the wider end of things. Thank you, Lane Bryant, for having this pair not only in my size but also length in store so I could spend about an hour trying to figure out if they were worth it or not try and actually buy (with a coupon, of course.) But seriously, as basic black trousers go, these fit the bill nicely. So much so that I was finally, really, actually, able to give pants a chance...

Bolstered by this success, I decided to try Gap's Perfect Trousers a few weeks ago. They truly might have been "perfect" if not for my current size/weight/shape. Great colors/textures, ideal length, slimmer through the thigh, wide-but-not-excessively-so leg opening. YES! But, no. I couldn't keep the camel toe away long enough to convince me they were a good idea. I even went up a size, but then everything else I loved about the fit went away. And I just don't have the patience for a tailor. I may return to them when I shed a few pounds, but until then, black pants is alls I got. And if I'm being honest, maybe alls I need.

Smocked Waist Blouse In Chevron - TBags Los Angeles (via Gwynnie Bee) /
T3 Classic Trousers - Lane Bryant / Half-cami - Coobie (via HerRoom.com)

But the real victory of this outfit, and probably therefore of the pants, is the top. It just might be the nicest, comfiest, flatteringiest thing in my closet, and I don't even own it. That's right, Gwynnie Bee to the rescue once again for nice things that I could never own even if I wanted to. (Have you tried Gwynnie Bee yet???) I would LOVE to purchase this top - every time I peruse these pictures I sigh happily - but it's well over $100 even discounted though GB, and if I'm being honest with myself, I can only see myself wearing it like this or with my favorite jeans (which I've done a few times now as a great date-night get up - take away the cami and HELLO LOVELY CLEAVAGE!) No, I think I'll just continue to hoard this one a little while longer...

Ah, but the chevrons. And cobalt blue. And silky smooth fabric. And belly coverage. And cleavage (when appropriate)...

Handbag - Furla / Sandals - Nine West / Ring - H&M / Earrings - Lane Bryant (?) / 

And, oh yeah, pants.

Galaxies Away

So in efforts to clean out my picture albums and to get on a more regular blogging schedule, I'm pulling out a few unblogged outfits from the summer that I simply have to post. It's so odd to see the freshly clipped bright green grass rather than the piles of golden leaves everywhere, but it's actually a nice reminder of the joys of changing seasons!

This outfit was fondly worn for a weekend outing to our favorite downtown bars during a wonderful summer visit with my sister and brother-in-law. I love when they come to visit - I wish they did more often! - but it's a great way to rejuvenate our love for our town by experiencing their own enjoyment of it!

Wrap Top in Galaxy Print - ASOS (via Gwynnie Bee) / Ankle pants - Lane Bryant /
Instant Sleeves in Black - LucieLu / Sandals - Nine West

The top is, you guessed it, another rental from Gwynnie Bee. Yet again, it's definitely a top that I would never have purchased for myself, especially considering its potential cray-cray involving an exaggerated shape at the hip. But it is exactly its silhouette that makes it so unique and worth trying, and it just so happens that the same hip exaggeration makes a perfect balance for skinny ankle pants and killer heels. The print itself is fabulous too, and it was lots of fun pulling out various colors from it - coral, cornflower blue, purple - some of my favorite hues, to be sure.

Ring - The Limited (old) / Necklace - Banana Republic (old) / Earrings - Lane Bryant (old) /
Clutch - Lane Bryant (old) / Nails - Suzi Says Feng Shui by OPI (via Ulta)

Bottom line, it was kind of perfect night-out ensemble - attention-getting, comfortable, and just plain fun. Much like the margaritas and fabulous company. =)

Blue Ribbon

Day 4 of 5 of Nutcracker madness: rather than Christmas red or green, I went with Hanukkah blue!

Melrose Mesh Top - c/o Kiyonna / Pencil skirt - Charter Club (Macy's)

I saw a few other bloggers tuck in this top (the Melrose Mesh Top from Kiyonna), which would seem to negate the point of all that strategic ruching, but I wanted to try it anyway - maybe with a grey pencil and some funky pearl statement jewelry. But then I remembered how I rocked the polka dot version of the top with the coral version of the skirt and figured I should just apply the same formula here. When it ain't broke...

Necklace - LOFT / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - The Limited / Nails - Essie "Midnight Camii (via Ulta) 

Handbag - Furla

I just love pairing statement shoes with outfits, though. A seemingly simple outfit of solids makes a perfect backdrop for some stand-out, notice-me heels. Snake print with coral trim? Just the ticket.

Shoes - Guess

Velvet Crush

One of the best things about working multiple shows of The Nutcracker is the high number of darling little girls that come all dressed up in their holiday best for the occasion. Velvet, glitter, bows, and full skirts; red, green, winter white, black - everyone is a Christmas princess for the day. It's absolutely endearing. I'm happy to say that the boys set the bar high this year, too, donning bow ties, fancy shoes and little manly suits and vests. One little boy even wore a fedora. A FEDORA! He won, hands down - yes, even over all the little girls in tulle. Presh beyond words.

I wasn't inspired by much red or green in my own wardrobe, so I went for velvet in a rich, royal blue, sweet little sheer cap sleeves and princessy peplum. I totes fit in.

Velvet peplum top - Dorothy Perkins / Pencil skirt - Simply Be / Heels - BCBG (eBayed)

The sheer yoke sure does make bra choice difficult, though. Even a nude bra was visible, and that just wouldn't set a very good example for all those impressionable young girls! I refuse to wear a strapless bra if I can help it, but it many ways it was the only bra style I owned that didn't peek through the top sides. My girls need straps though, so thank goodness for the clear strap option!

Ring - TJ Maxx / Earrings - The Limited / Nails - Essie "Fair Game" (via Ulta)

I almost saved this outfit for a potential NYE ensemble (the jury's still out on exactly what that'll be), but I couldn't resist wearing it to work for these events. I'd like to think that, if I were 6 and headed to The Nutcracker with my grandmother (a wish I always had but one that never came true), I'd don a little (or a lot of) velvet too.

Double Duty

Oh, hello there! Once again, an extended vacation gets the best of me. Also, weekend 1 of 2 of Nutcracker madness. As far as events go, this one is so aptly named - we never get through unscathed... But here I am! The first half of the season is winding down, and so am I. In spite of 70 degree weather today...in December...I have Christmas decor up and have already watched my favorite holiday movies a few times. Now if temps could just drop back to the 30s and, you know, it would snow. (I'm not hopeful.)

When I rotated my closets for fall, I decided I would keep a couple of my favorite maxi dresses on hand and challenge myself to style them for cooler weather. Since one of my favorite layering options for a maxi was a belted cardigan, I knew where to start. Add a scarf and flat boots, and done! It's so easy, so cute, and so shamelessly comfortable, that I plan to find a few permutations of it with the many cardigans/belts/scarves I own...

Maxi dress - Old Navy / Jackie Cardigan - J. Crew / Boots - Coconuts (gifted)

Scarf - Banana Republic / Belt - The Limited / Earrings - Ruche / Nails - Essie Smokin' Hot

I love the rich blues and purples of this rendition the most, though. (It even inspired my current blog template!) It feels autumnal all on its own.

Handbag - Steve Madden / Ring - H&M

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

True Blue

Holy crap! It's November!!

You guys... I'm giving my first lecture in three years tomorrow (or today, depending on when you're reading this). I've been asked to give a guest lecture for an intro course for music majors while pretty much the entire department is at a conference, and I agreed - mostly to challenge myself. I've been out of the whole academic circle (I've been a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology since 2009...) while working in my current position, necessitated of course by the job's hours, stress level, duties... I confess I've felt uber rusty with both the teaching material and the act of teaching itself, but after a few days review and preparation, I think I'm ready to go - I know I can do this just as well as I used to! Oh I'm still terrified, but it's also a wonderfully rejuvenating feeling to get back in the saddle again.

Wrap dress - Gap / Half-camisole - Coobie (via Her Room) /
Handbag - Banana Republic / Shoes - RSVP (via Zappos)

This makes me wonder...if I ever get back into academia, how would my sartorial choices change? Even as I put together my "teaching" outfit tonight, which incidentally also has to be an evening "boss lady" outfit (I get to wear both hats all in one day), I became painfully aware how they're not the same thing, that they don't really serve the same function. I think they could, but the line just becomes a little finer between them.

Case in point: I contemplated wearing a notice-me printed wrap dress in splashes of pinks for my lecture, but I convinced myself that it was a bit much to be in front of a classroom, at least this time around. I think that was more about the print (neither seasonal nor subtle) than the silhouette, however, because I generally think a wrap dress can do no wrong. This dress? I love it so much that I have it in a dark pink and a blue-green dot pattern as well. And I think I'd wear any of them in a (college) classroom.

How 'bout you guys? Do think it's necessary to keep a role (perceived or real) in mind when dressing ourselves? If so, how do you go about it? If not, what guides you instead?

Pinned Down

I don't know what prompted me to paint my nails at half past midnight, but now that I have, I probably should wait at least an hour for them to dry. So I figured I might as well blog! I must be truly insane. (And it's no wonder I'm no morning person.) Plus I started looking through old blog posts for favorite outfits to recycle over the next few busy days (so useful!) and I started reminiscing a bit. The holiday season is quickly approaching, and with it all manner of cozy memories and activities. You know what? Blogging definitely seems to be one of them. That's a nice little incentive to get back in the habit of blogging nightly, isn't it?

I love a little pattern mixing. Nothing too crazy for this sartorially tame heart of mine - a pinstripe here, a polka dot there. It's all about contrasting scale and texture as much as complementary color palettes. And I definitely favor some kind of mix, however subtle, to help give an otherwise standard print-and-solid combo a little more visual interest.

Ring - gifted  / Necklace - The Limited / Earrings -  LOFT / Pumps - Nine West (via 6pm.com)

Peri Print Top - c/o Kiyonna / Pencil skirt - Simply Be / Handbag - Furla (via TJ Maxx)

This top from Kiyonna, the Peri Print Top, is a lovely little print. Vibrant colors and painterly floral shapes (the color is called "Floral Painting" ...) meet yet another crazily flattering silhouette of theirs. I think in warmer months I may gravitate toward equally colorful bottoms (coral! teal!), but since fall has most definitely arrived in these parts, I figured I'd pair it with a darker navy to start. And pinstripes. =)

I even managed to get a little oxblood in this outfit thanks to my new ring! (Thanks, Vanessa!) Hmm, now to get a pencil skirt in that color....