Print Cue

I'm desperately trying to clear out my backlog of all the obviously pre-fall pictures. The green grass and lush trees are sad reminders of a season that no longer is. Well, actually, I really don't mind that autumn is in full force and that the holiday season is well on its way. I just gotta get caught up, is all!

I'd like to think that the color palette of this outfit is inspired by a pimento olive somewhat autumnal, anyway. After falling head-over-heels with this SWAK top (first worn here), I knew I'd need to find layering options for it to be worn in cooler weather. A new infinity scarf in a cheerful print helped pave the way.

Cropped jacket - Maurices / Mia top - SWAK / Jeans - Lane Bryant /
Handbag - Tano / Sandals - Nine West

Ring - Ruche / Scarf - Anthropologie / Earrings - Ruche

That's right, all color cues were taken right from the scarf itself. As it was a new item in my closet, I desperately wanted to wear it, like, immediately, so I set about building an outfit around it. The SWAK top was basically meant to be worn with it, and my oft-worn cropped olive jacket was an equally destined topper. When in doubt, follow the print!

Soft and Fair!

So I tried to write a post last night but 1) I was exhausted from election madness (and work) and 2) it felt odd to simply write about clothes after such a night. (I most certainly didn't want to get into any politics...) Maybe I could have just led with the adorable dresses that the Obama girls were wearing...?

Cuz I felt pretty adorable in this dress...

Whrligig Dress - Velvet (Anthropologie) / Cropped jacket - Maurices /
Sandals - Christian Siriano for Payless

I've actually been dying to wear this dress again for the blog. You can probably tell that it's a rather summery frock, and it was certainly best donned then. Gold sandals and belt always set the dress off nicely, and it happens to be one of those holy grails of summer dresses that are as comfortable as they are flattering. Oh, and it was a thrilling Anthropologie sale score to top all that off. But alas, two summers had passed (and probably at least four wearings) and nary a photograph was taken. So I challenged myself to find a few layering options for slightly cooler (though warm for early October) weather and finally photograph this lovely.

Handbag - Ruche

Dusty purple and olive make such a soft, pretty pairing (it reminds me of a favorite eyeshadow palette, actually), and a cropped jacket was just the thing to add a bit more coverage and casual flair to the look. Add a long necklace, a happy mint handbag and super nude strappy sandals, and I felt like I wouldn't ever have to goodbye to summer.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - LOFT / Earrings -  Maurices

(Illinois Octobers are tricky that way.)

White Out

So maybe this better qualifies as casual? It's all about the material (in this case washed denim), I guess. And an easy, breasy, beachy, white top.

Crochet butterfly top - eloquii / Pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Sandals - Nine West /
Necklace - Urban Outfitters / Earrings - Kohl's

I'm actually at a loss for cute white tops in my wardrobe. I think I have just the one, and I'd like to do better. So I was determined to unearth said cute options across the Internets, and I came upon this butterfly top from Eloquii on clearance. Once it arrived, I decided that all that material wasn't doing it for me, though. I thought I'd only end up wearing it with jeans, and what fun is that? So back into the box it went, and on top of my kitchen table it waited to be returned. And waited... I never managed to send it back before the return window passed. But what the heck, for less than $20, I could find some way to work this bad boy up. It's really nothing a little animal print belt can't fix...

Handbag - Coach (gifted) / Ring - Ruche / Belt - Gap

Of course, now that I've actually worn it, I've started envisioning all sorts of ways to wear it. Bottom line, it'll be a summer staple.

Eureka!

I thought I would love this outfit much more than I do. Olive and blue seem to be a no-brainer, at least it was here, here, here... So this combination was one I had always envisioned for this top when I first got it last fall. But alas, something is not quite right. (Aside from my belt askew, anyway.)

Top - Anthropologie / Tank - Anthropologie / Skirt - Lane Bryant /
Belt - The Limited / Sandals - Nine West

I partially blame the total blousiness of the top. Even when tucking it into a never-fail wide waistband, the top does not do much for my shape - its complete lack of structure coupled with its mandarin collar is doing everything it can to work against my chest and waist. All of this is odd, though, since separately these features to not typically cause problems for me, especially when accessorized correctly. (This recent outfit comes to mind!) Perhaps I would have done better to untuck the top and belt it, like I did the first time I wore it?

Handbag - Gustto

Or maybe it's the neckline of the tank I wore underneath? After looking at those pictures of the first wearing of the top, I note the tank had a v-neck rather than scoopneck shape. Hmmm, I bet that's it! Eureka!

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Lane Bryant

I've said it before and I'll say it again - blog and learn, people. Blog and learn....

Old Reliable

Thank goodness for those ol' reliable outfit combinations. Not really having to think about whether or not an outfit will work is a blessing to this anti-morning, planning-handicapped girl. Especially when her closet and bedroom is such a disaster zone that outfit planning is impossible anyway.

Striped top - Dorothy Perkins / Ponte skirt - Lane Bryant / Boots - Coconuts (gifted)

Bottom line, any outfit that involves stripes is good by me. (And ponte. And boots. And a big cozy scarf.)

Scarf - Gap / Belt - Talbots / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Ruche

Handbag - Tano "Minilisa"

Olive Juice

Happy Valentine's Day, dear readers!

I actually had trouble with this EBEW challenge. I do have red and pink pieces in my wardrobe, but nothing that really works together (or with my usual style), so I knew I was going to have to fall back on accessories. Moreover, I was worried that I'd be putting pieces together purely for the sake of participating, without much hope that the outfit would be anything I'd wear again. I'm pleased to say, however, that I might wear this combination without or without a Valentine's Day Challenge!

Pink belt - The Limited / Ring - Banana Republic / Pink earrings - LOFT

A pale pink belt and a red sweater; definitely a minimalist version of the challenge, but it's "me." (I'll save ground-breaking for other participants.) I did quite like how olive looked against all my red and pink pieces when I was trying on outfits, so I wanted to be sure to make it a part of the outfit, whatever I chose. My one contribution, I guess. =)

Red sweater - Lane Bryant / Olive ponte pencil skirt - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Coconuts via DSW (gifted) / Handbag - Coach (gifted)

And now, sweethearts for all!

Told You So

Whoops, I kind of disappeared there for a minute! I got so much accomplished over the long weekend (new closet hangers! finally-hung-up bedroom curtains! newly-hooked-up Wii on which to stream Netflix and become addicted to Downton Abbey!) that it has - once again - been difficult to resume regular life. But alas, it resumes whether you're ready or not.

Burgundy tee - LOFT / Olive ponte pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Boots - Coconuts via DSW (gifted) /
Handbag - Coach (gifted)

Makes for a great day to fall back on old reliable outfit formulas, no? See, I told you you'd see it sooner than later. =)

I might have cheated (and heard from lots of you who do the same) and tied a regular scarf in the back to turn it into my ever-preferred infinity scarf. It's genius, really.

Chain-print scarf - Affordable Scarves / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Anthropologie

Formulaic

I've stumbled onto another outfit formula. Well, it's really the same formula as this one, but the use of solid tees rather than striped ones has doubled the remix potential. And I have lots...

Blue tee - LOFT / Grey ponte skirt - Lane Bryant / Tights - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Coconuts via DSW (gifted)

It also makes me revisit my small but growing scarf collection. As you've probably noticed, I prefer infinity scarves, and I want more. And more. They're a fool-proof accessory - such a great way to get a little print or pop of color into an outfit, and you don't have to worry about how to tie the darn things.

Scarf - Affordablescarves.com  / Ring & earrings - Ruche /
Nails - Frankly I Don't Give A-dam (Sephora O.P.I.)

I'm just warning you, but you will likely see yet another variation of this outfit sooner rather than later.

Handbag - Urban Outfitters

Candy Striper

Imma hard pressed to get dressed this week. I'm back at home, but it's still holiday break-tasticness in my world, so I'm lucky if I'm up before 11am and dressed in anything other than yoga pants and a long-sleeved tee. And showered. But today we decided to walk downtown for a little window shopping and cafe lounging, so not only did I get dressed (and shower, duh), but I got the chance to test drive my new iPhone that Bobby got me for Christmas! (Bobby did sooo good this year!) I went for the white version, and I am IN LOVE. (I've most definitely jumped on the Instagram bandwagon, among other things. Find me at shessica17, if you dare!) I'm oh-so-impatiently waiting for this case to arrive (I found it available elsewhere on Amazon) but, not wanting to take chances with my new baby unprotected before the case's scheduled delivery next week, I just ordered this fab cover, which should get here tomorrow! (Thank you, Amazon Prime.)

All this is to say I was kind of glad for an excuse to get dressed, particularly to don yet another (and almost identical) version of this outfit. I scored that outfit's perfect Breton striped pink twin for a mere $13 on final sale at Banana Republic last week. A no brainer, my friends. Especially when it's pink, even though (or especially because?) my mom thought I looked like a candy cane. This one will go down with red and green as necessary holiday attire, for sure.

Striped tee - Banana Republic / Olive ponte pencil skirt - Lane Bryant / Scarf - Gap / Bag - Coach (gifted)

Oh, and the boots? A generous birthday present from the family. They're a little snug, but I think the snugness will loosen over time, while making my calves look a tad leaner (saith Bob) for now...

Ring - Ruche (gifted) / Earrings - Anthropologie / Belt - Talbots / Ivory tights - We Love Colors /
Boots - Coconuts via DSW (gifted)

Curses

A couple things to note here:

1. I've decorated for Christmas! Yahoo! Please don't judge me for putting up colored lights. =) I always have - I just love all that color!
2. These pictures were not taken with my usual camera...cuz I broke it. I knocked over my tripod just as I was about to start my daily photo session last night - like, literally as I was moving into place. The camera, while open, landed on the lens side, which pretty badly busted the lens cover and likely the mechanisms inside. After having a few people look at it, it seems it will cost more to fix than it will to buy a new one, and, thanks to all that holiday shopping I've knocked out of the park, I really don't have the money right now. My old camera is such crap, too, so that's not an option. Thank goodness for Bob's iPhone - the pics are better, but not yet ideal either. (I think that's just a learning curve, though.) So, bear with me as we get into a new groove with the new equipment and lighting situation.

Fur Collar Surplus Jacket - Urban Outfitters / Red Stripe Top - Urban Outfitters  /
Cream tank - Anthropologie / Dark skinnies - Gap / Boots - Ciao Bella (via DSW)

With those points out of the way, welcome to my week of Nutcracker Madness! While performances don't begin until Friday, I can already feel the crazy in my bones. As a result, I'm dressing as comfortably and easily as long I can. I wore a close variation of this outfit many moons ago, the main difference being that I'm wearing skinnies and boots rather than my regular flared jeans. (And CRAP! I wore that the day I first starting using my camera!! Gah! This is a cursed outfit!! ...  Ahem.)  I'd been wanting to wear the combination on top with skinnies for a while anyway, so I'm glad (?) I finally did. Warm, fuzzy, fur collars are just the thing to get a girl through a crappy, cloudy, windy, rainy, cold November bummer of a day.

Handbag - Steve Madden

And Christmas lights. And my first viewing of The Holiday this season. And long, rambling, drunken chats with Bob over wine and pasta at the dinner table. And the first day of December. Yes, yes - these are all lovely things.

Ring - Ruche / Necklace - The Limited / Earrings - Maurices

Thanks, Bobby, for taking my pictures again. I know neither us loves that you have to do it, but I'm ever so grateful that you can and are. =)

Thanksgiving in Boston: The Freedom Trail

My Boston/American History adventures conclude with highlights from the Freedom Trail! We walked the entire thing, all 2.5 miles, following the skinny red brick road the whole way. We actually did it backwards - starting at Bunker Hill and ending at The Boston Common - since we wanted to end up at South Station to take the train home. We didn't spend too much time at each individual site, choosing to bypass some of the mini-museums and exhibits along the way in favor of actually getting through the entire route without killing each other.

But man oh man were my calves and ankles and feet sore! I know 2.5 through the city doesn't really seem that much, but something about the hills and brick and all that history that really wears a girl out! After 3 solid days of pretty thorough sight-seeing, I was D.O.N.E. And so were my boots, I think. I'm quite certain I've worn out my wonderful, perfect, cognac riding boots. They're now warped out of shape, worn down in the heel, and badly scuffed in the toe. This makes me sad, since these were truly the happiest shoes I've owned. I probably won't stop wearing them, but it does give me an excuse to just get a new pair. ; )

Striped tee - Banana Republic / Infinity scarf - Dorothy Perkins / Ponte skirt - Lane Bryant /
Belt - Lane Bryant / Boots - Ciao Bella (via DSW) / Handbag - Furla (via Filene's Basement)

Nearly-ruined boots aside, I think I chose my outfit well for the long day of walking through history. (Read: I did not look like a tourist.) I felt amazingly comfortable (Go ponte! Go boots!) and yet just stylish enough to blend in with the well-dressed Bostonians enjoying Starbucks in the financial district. The same main pieces as this outfit (a fail-safe combination for me), I just swapped out the belt (the only one I brought, mainly for another outfit) and scarf (okay, this was one of three I brought). Of course, the top half is completely copied from this other favorite outfit of mine. I'm pretty sure I wore the striped top at least 3 times during the trip, too. Hey, when it's love, it's love! And isn't that the idea behind living out of suitcase anyway? Wear your best, your favorites, and remix them to high heaven. I strongly believe a striped top should always be a part of that equation. =)

My favorite places along the tour were Bunker Hill (though I came away without a picture), the USS Constitution, Old City Hall, and Faneuil Hall. Majestic monuments, breathtaking ships, inspiring halls. History is neat. And beautiful.

To top it all off? Neither nature nor structure, but some of the most amazing food I've eaten to date. Dinner at O Ya with friends (followed by cocktails at the so-me Cuchi Cuchi in Cambridge) included this orgasmic White Truffle and Toro Tartare. Seriously sublime.

All in all, an extraordinary trip and lots to be thankful for. =)