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?

Give It a Swirl

I braved a little sky spit for this photo op. I'm just not ready for indoor pics yet! (Read: My apartment is just not ready for indoor pics yet!) In case you didn't know, cameras and rain don't mix. Fortunately, the drizzle was intermittent enough for me to get the job done, and I had an umbrella that I had on hand to (awkwardly) use when necessary. On the plus side, all that moisture in the air and on the ground makes for some pretty color.

Belt - Talbots / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - The Limited / Ring - The Limited

Skirt - eloquii / Top - H&M / Shoes - Kohl's

I once again pair this green skirt with black and white. This time it's a graphic b/w print of my dreams! I just love the medallion design. I mean, when I think black-and-white-graphic-print, this is IT. Found at one of my all-too-fleeting (and very quick) H&M trips, I took it straight to the check out without even trying it on. Well, given its uber-blousy nature, I should have sized down, so I wasn't able to wear it for a whole month before I could get to another H&M to exchange it. I was just glad they still had the top! Oh, how I wish for an H&M closer than 2 hours away...

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.

Multiplicity

The green pencil skirt strikes again! And it probably will a few more times before I decide I can't really find a way to autumnify it. (Or can I?)

It's a summery look, to be sure. (Truthfully it was worn in a few weeks ago for the first day of classes - yes, I'm still behind.) I've basically just been dying to wear this necklace. It's a tricky combination of colors, so I haven't had all that much success incorporating it into outfits, tending to opt for neutrals with it as a result. (True story: I also have the necklace in blue tones.) The best solution was just to pull out the main colors in the necklace, coral and green, as limiting as that might be. (I must find another way to wear it!) I thought about going crazy uber-colorful with my coral cardigan instead of the ivory, but I preferred to tone it down a bit this time around. I do love the combinations of colors, though. Yay green! And coral! All of the spring and summer color trends in one outfit!

Cardigan - LOFT / Camisole - Old Navy / Pencil skirt - eloquii / Sandals - Nine West
Handbag - Ruche

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

The pieces of the outfit fall into the wardrobe category of "I like it so much I'm going to buy multiples" by the way. After donning a printed version of the camisole, I promptly purchased the green and then this ivory one. It's like it was meant to be tucked into a pencil skirt and topped with a cardigan, or something...

P.S. I have the sandals in coral and black. And the skirt in blue. And the cardigan in, like, a zillion other colors...

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

In a Knot

I realized I threatened promised you lots of maxi dresses over the summer, but my lack of posting kind of made me a liar, didn't it? For better or worse, this is one of two more maxi dress posts I have to share, as I attempt to get caught up before the season explodes in my face. Bonus: the next one includes a hat!

Aztec knot maxi dress - Dorothy Perkins / Cardigan - LOFT / Cami - NY&Co.

This fabulously printed maxi, worn in mid-July for an outdoor work event, is actually kind of an oddity in my closet. As a lover of solid colors and classic patterns, I have few, if any, such outrageous patterns, but the symmetry and colors of the pattern really caught my eye. It is super low cut, though - a cami is a must. Fortunately there are about a zillion color options for that with this dress. I grabbed a little green cardigan for a easy (and optional, for once!) topper, too.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Banana Republic / Earrings - LOFT

In other news, today is the first day of classes! I welcome back my staff (I've actually really missed them) and lament the exponential increase of (usually idiotic) foot, bike and car traffic on campus. So much for the short lines at Starbucks and my easy commute to work!

Hangbag - Tano /  Sandals - Payless

Around the Block

So I do have another maxi dress outfit to share, but I thought I'd interrupt the maxi-mania with not only more pencil skirt love, but bright yellow and happy green color-blocking love. (Also, I can't seem to not wear this denim jacket now. You've been warned.)

Denim jacket - Theory (eBayed) / Green tank - Old Navy / Skirt - Talbots / Belt - LOFT
Handbag - Urban Outfitters / Shoes - Bandolino "Moderngirl" (Endless)

It should not be surprising, but I'd been contemplating (read: obsessing over) the idea of a yellow pencil skirt for a little while now. I mean, 1) it's a pencil skirt and 2) it's yellow. I figured experimenting with brighter colors would be a good way to wear the wardrobe staple in summer off-season - having more fun with them than I might during the regular season. I liked all the bright color blocking I've been seeing on Pinterest and various blogs, too, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to try my own hand at it. Pretty much love it.

Lemony yellow meets kelly green, who run into summer white for a day of colorific fun. Sounds like a good short story. Maybe? Title forthcoming.

Ring - Trina Turk for Banana Republic / Earrings - Banana Republic

Mileage

I hope you don't mind that I took a few days off there. Commencement weekend left me exhausted in mind, body and soul. I've taken off a few days from work too, so being unplugged from the world for a few days has been a nice reprieve.

But believe it or not, I managed to take pictures of two of my outfits from the weekend! Friday night was easy since I had the afternoon to do so; Saturday - out of the house by 6:15am and not back until 11pm - was impossible (I just re-wore this comfortably cute outfit anyway); and Sunday will be shared tomorrow!

Ponte dress - Dorothy Perkins / Instant Sleeves - LucieLu
Sandals - Nine West (via Endless) 

The outfits I wore needed to be comfortable, breathable, beltable (so I had something to clip my radio onto), and something I could just feel good in, ya know? I thought this ponte dress was a good candidate for all of that. I tried a few different accessories from the first wearing of the dress, and I added my LucieLu Instant Sleeves in Mocha to add a second color and a little more arm coverage.

Handbag - Banana Republic / Belt - Lane Bryant

I'm doing a lot with brown and greens, though, aren't I? And, like, all different tones of them. I think it mostly works, but I confess all I really care about is that I got to wear this necklace again. And the shoes... Yes, believe it or not, I really was able to run around for about 4 hours in the them! How's that for shoe mileage?

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

Laced Layers

Look familiar? This outfit is, more or less, a reinvention of this one, made even better by an extra dash of green with the sandals. In fact, I had wanted to wear these green sandals with the first outfit, but I thought black peep toes made for a slightly dressier ensemble. I actually consider this outfit as the casual version of the first, but leave it to me to consider a ponte pencil skirt casual. Well, in my closet, it really is...

Okay, okay, there really isn't very much that's casual about this outfit, especially given the fact that a few people thought the outfit was a dress. Is it possible to even try to be casual with this necklace? Or with the sandals? Or with, you know, a skirt?

Top - LOFT / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Sandals - Nine West (via Endless)

It was the backdrop of beige and blacks that dumped another idea for this fabulous necklace in my lap, though. I continue to experiment with textures and layers with this necklace, and the more there are, the more I seem to love the result.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - Modcloth (gifted) / Earrings - Ruche

Handbag - DKNY (via TJMaxx)

Say What?

I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to have a post for you today because, to our horror, we were visited by a garter snake IN OUR APARTMENT last night. There it was, slithering across the carpet while Bob and I watched TV. (The image is now forever burned into my mind.) Ever resourceful (but after too long a pause as we were momentarily paralyzed by shock and fear), Bob grabbed the nearest empty shoe box and went on the hunt. Apparently my uncontrollable shrieks at any power cord or belt in the apartment was not helping the search, though, so he made me leave the apartment while tried to catch it. (I mean, how would YOU respond??) After thirty minutes of trying to cajole it out of a corner ("Snakes are sneaky," said Bob), he did successfully capture the snake and released it outside somewhere down the block. We hope it's just an isolated occurrence, but you better believe we've got our landlord on the task of making sure this never happens again. I'm pretty sure the only reason I was able to write this post last night was because I couldn't fall asleep anyway...

Majestic Glow Curvy Plus Top - Ruche / Pencil skirt - eloquii /
Sandals - Nine West (via Endless)

How on earth does one segue from that into talking about clothes?

Thankfully, these are pretty clothes. I just love this top. My daily stalking of Ruche's new arrivals paid off with this one. I adore the colorful painterly floral print, with square neckline and dainty little waist tie. Seriously, a no brainer - perfect for summer. I love it with a pencil skirt, naturally - and I've even kept the tie for a pretty blue accent at the waist - but I'll also happily pair this with white crops or denim skinnies, too.

Clutch - eloquii

I can't get over how perfectly this necklace matches the top, either. Or my new green sandals (which have clearly given my coral ones a much-needed break). How often does that happen with such vibrant colors?? Usually one might have to settle for neutrals, but not this time! Nope, no settling here.

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Ruche / Necklace - Anthropologie

(And not even the heebie-jeebies have settled down yet...)