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

Sunny Side Up

It's 1am as I write this and I'm nowhere close to being tired. Solution? Blog, of course! Bob has since gone to bed and Lord of the Rings: Two Towers is keeping me and my night owl self company. (I watch LOTR like this so often that I can't even count how many times I've watched the cycle anymore.) But I find myself enjoying the prospect of spending the wee hours catching up with posts, and realizing this seems to be how I best like to blog...

This outfit is another one inspired by its Lane Bryant styling. I wanted to incorporate that hat, but I didn't (and still don't) have one like it. This one comes quite close, but I can't quite seem to pull the trigger on its purchase. I've only recently decided I like fedoras enough to warrant a second one, but I'm not sure if I'd feel like the same about such a wide-brim style. Guess I better make my way to Gap to try it out! (Maybe in olive....)

Top - Lane Bryant / Skinnies - Lane Bryant / Belt - Lane Bryant
Wedges - LOFT / Handbag - Ruche

But anyhoo, the top is great. =) It's a long tunic style, making it a prime candidate for a belt - and really a necessity if you want any shape! But that's the thing - the LB stock photo (at left below) is so incredibly frumpy and unflattering on the model; yet the "catalog" version (at right below) has so much more personality and potential!

I really hope LB runs wild with this kind of presentation, because it's doing their image - and my desire to buy pieces from there - so much good! It takes out the guesswork on how to initially style a certain piece of clothing, especially if it's questionable to begin with, and can only serve as a point of inspiration for additional styling options. Amirite?

The long tunic shape makes it a great pairing with skinnies and heels, which I did prefer over the skirt as LB styled it, and I loved the prospect of wearing more minty green accessories with the sunny yellow print. Aaaaaand I'll probably wear it tucked into a pencil skirt at some point, too.

Earrings - Banana Republic / Ring - Ruche

The Short of It

It's not a good sign that I'm already exhausted and the year hasn't really begun yet, is it? Nope, it sure itsn't! So I'm going to keep this post short and sweet, and then maybe take a nap.

Maxi dress - Old Navy / Lace Instant Sleeves in Ivory - c/o LucieLu / Sandals - Unisa

Pretty printed maxi dress (last worn here). Instant sleeves. Long pendant necklace (a favorite item for all my maxis lately). Updo (cuz I've been too lazy to do anything else with it). Is all.

Necklace - Old Navy / Ring - Banan Republic / Earrings - Dress Barn / Nails - Cartweels on the Catwalk (Sephora by OPI)

Admittedly, this outfit is from earlier this month, but it reminds how fond I'd been of maxis throughout the summer, opting for one whenever I was at a loss for/didn't want to think about what to wear. It sure did happen alot... <----click link for midweek-pick-me-up-funny, even/esp. if you've already seen it

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

Maxed Out

So about those maxi dresses...yep, still in love. Aside from being the easiest thing to wear this summer, they seem to be just about the most flattering too. I need that these days, fo sho. Continuing my run of good luck at Old Navy, this maxi was one such score. I wasn't sure how flattering the print or drawstring waist would be, but it's just about perfect. So much so that I immediately proceeded to buy the dress in the solid purple color, too - which I like even better. Extra bonus: I got to size down.

Maxi dress - Old Navy / Denim jacket - Theory (eBayed) /
Sandals - Unisa (via Endless.com)

I realize I'm likely contradicting myself by wearing it with just that little denim jacket here... Oh, sure, I'll continue to experiment with other layering options, but I guess I just like what the jacket can do structurally for an otherwise all-over soft, flowy look. When it ain't broke, ya know?

Handbag - Tano / Necklace - Anthropologie / Ring - Ruche / Earrings - gifted

I'm off work today, my friends. We're going up to WI for the weekend to see family, eat great food, drink good drinks, walk along the Sheboygan lakefront (me ol' stompin' grounds), and maybe scare up a bonfire or two. If that's not an ideal summer weekend, I don't know what is.

Ray of Sunshine

This denim pencil skirt has become another one of those clothing items I put on when I'm at a loss for what else to wear. It's the best kind of dressy casual.

Sweater - Banana Republic / Pencil skirt - Dorothy Perkins / Belt - The Limited /
Sandals - Christian Siriano for Payless

I always love it with a belted cardigan (exhibit 1 and 2), so I thought I'd try it belted with this pretty yellow boatneck sweater, itself a recently recovered closet gem (and yes, the same as this one). I don't totally love it with the belt (I think it might be a piece best unadorned), but I liked it less so without. I experimented with a few colors - tonal yellows, animal prints - but in the end I liked how the dark turquoise picked up the colors in my shoes.

Ring - Ruche / Earrings - Ruche / Nailpolish - Sag Harbor (Essie)

Such a pretty sweater, though. The trio of buttons on each shoulder, the open neckline, the every-so-slightly puffed sleeves - one of Banana Republic's nicest, more understated pieces from way back when. I simply must find more ways to wear it.

Handbag - Urban Outfitters

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

Defaulted

Today was one of those days that I had a completely different outfit in mind than what I actually walked out of the house wearing. I had been looking for another way to wear this top, though, and this is what I came up with. My default is always a pencil skirt, you know...

Yellow and grey is a favorite combination of mine, so I went for one of my more casual, ponte versions. I'm not sure I love the proportions with a skirt, but the way the lace print thins out near the border seems to help a bit. What really brings the whole outfit together for me is the handbag, though. I've been looking for a funky black handbag for a while now, and this DKNY black nylon and (lots of) gold hardware TJMaxx find was IT. I'm rather impressed how perfectly it completes the outfit, really.

Amber Room Top - Anthropologie / Pencil skirt - Chloe Dao (eBayed) /
Heels - Nine West  "Hopefloat" / Handbag - DKNY (via TJMaxx0

As a top I was over the moon to get my hands on, I really am having trouble how else to style it. Any suggestions?

Ring - The Limited / Earrings - LOFT

Full Sun

Mid-day full sun and 57 degrees called for a happy printed tee, denim pencil skirt and bare knees. I obliged.

Trench Girl Boatneck Tee - LOFT / Denim pencil skirt - Lane Bryant /
Boots - Coconuts via DSW (gifted)  / Handbag - Tano

This adorable printed tee from LOFT is what spurred my recent LOFT purchase. I had to have it! To be honest, I'm not sure how else I'd want to wear it other than with a pencil skirt (jeans and a blazer, maybe? yoga pants, too, of course...) but for its first wearing - j'adore. In an attempt to accessorize a little more, I added an equally sunny belt to bring out more of the color on the tee.

You know what I just realized, though? The reason I probably fell in love with the tee in the first place is because I just want to dress like the girl on it... (Isn't there a psychological term for that?) Can't very well dress like said girl when I'm wearing a screen tee, though, eh?

Ring - Kohl's (gifted) / Earrings - LOFT / Skinny belt - The Limited

Mellow Yellow

I told you I'd wear this Anthropologie super-score of a blazer again soon, and this time - as promised - it's an almost exact dupe of the catalog image. Cuz I love it.

Tartan Boucle Blazer - Anthropologie / Thermal tee - Anthropologie / Flare denim - Lane Bryant

That fabulous yellow handbag - the perfect pop of color against all the oranges, reds, greys and blues of the plaid - was an obvious missing piece of the puzzle, and much to my chagrin, I do not (yet) own one. Neither yellow camisole nor yellow necklace provided the right balance, either. But wait! An unseasonable 50 degree day not only let me take pictures back outside, but made sporting these fantastically uncomfortable yellow lizard-embossed open toes possible! Thank goodness my NYE pedicure was still intact... I think I love the look even more than with the handbag!

Yellow peep-toes - Nine West

Who am I kidding. I still want a yellow handbag.

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