Sandal-foot

This ensemble was another example of me not appropriately judging the season that we are in. It wasn't as serious as "sweater-gate" but, there was a definite disconnect between what I had selected over the weekend based on the weather report and the actual weather. The swap that I made from the original ensemble was sandals for shoes, a simple but, awesome smart move. When else am I going to wear the oodles of sandals that are occupying space in my shoe closet?

• Top: maroon dolman sleeve blouse, Style & Co.
• Bottom: yellow/brown and rainbow plaid skirt, WDNY 
• Shoes & Accessories: bronze gladiator sandals with genuine stone embellishments, bo'em; coin pearl necklace, V'ta Jewelry; coin pearl earrings, gift 

I most recently wore this shirt here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Nailipop manicure strips!

Decisions, Decisions

I (unlike some people, apparently) am a proponent of a basic suit under the right circumstances. It really ups your professionalism and sometimes that is just what you need depending on the situation. Case and point, I am working out of the office today at an event so, normally, a suit combination would be my "go to" ensemble. I want to be comfortable (for the round trip drive, the running around, etc.) but, obviously I also need to represent.

Unfortunately, a perusal of my assemblage of current suits was unproductive, to say the least but, I think we already knew that. It might be time to set them free, maybe... There is always that "what if" situation where one might need a suit last minute. The real questions  is what's worse: not wearing a suit and relying on separates or showing up in a suit that is obviously one two sizes too big? I opted for the former scenario since wearing clothes that's too big (or small) looks unflattering but, is also uncomfortable.

• Top: beige floral dress, Merona via Ashby
• Shoes & Accessories: gray pumps, Steve Madden; dangle silver bead earrings, gift from co-worker

I previously wore this blazer here.

I'm linking up with  Spotlight Style, What I Wore to Work, I Feel Pretty, and  Fashion Files

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for Nailipop manicure strips!

Night Out: Playing Hostess

I found this post as a draft when I was going some "spring cleaning" before getting down to regular posting business. I'm not sure why I didn't post it before...
                                                                                                                                                                  

I love going out to socialize with friends and try new experiences/cuisines but, being (f)unemployed has naturally limited my ability to do that. Despite that I can still spend time with everyone by staying in instead of going out! It's not as fancy but, can be just as fun if not more... While I was keeping things on the casual side (ahem, leggings) I still wanted to be a little fancy. How do you think I did?

• Top: guipure lace top, Lela Rose for Nieman Marcus/Target
• Bottom: great shapes leggings, courtesy of No Nonsense
• Shoes & Accessories: black kitten heel pumps, Coach; modified beige pearl earrings, Charming Charlie.gift from Cousin V

Update: I Complete You Product Challenge

Lorena asked me the other day if I had recieved any products for Christmas. I had but, I was waiting to exchange gifts with Alex to see if she had anything to throw in the mix... she didn't and that is OK! I do like the things I did get from everyone (including myself apparently) but, my favorite has to be the courtesy goodies from LUSH.

     

If you don't know LUSH, you should meet them, one sec... this is my friend LUSH, they invent their own beauty products and fragrances. They make them fresh by hand using little or no preservatives or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and tell you when and by whom they were made. Lovely Alex introduced me to them after a visit to London and I have loved them since before they were found in the USA. Thank goodness they hopped the pond, the long distance thing wasn't going to work forever!

When we asked BF's Mom what she wanted for Christmas she said she wanted peace on earth, good will twoards men, and some sweaters.We got the sweaters and thanks to LUSH we got her World Peace as well. I had originally ordered it through Amazon (if only it was that easy) and I guess in the hubbub of the holidays my order got passed over. I emailed them a few days before Christmas to check on the status and LUSH called me back that day to apologize profusely for the oversight, ship me the desired product overnight express and send me a few goodies for any trouble the oversight might have caused. Yup, it was the easy! 

Check out my updated list here!

November 18. 2010: Thursday Past

I am operating on a serious delay. Life happens (as we all know) but, it is my current mission to catch up and have everything back on track by Thanksgiving. Not too lofty (I hope) and considerably easier after I retrieve one of my cameras left at a friend's apartment over the weekend. I wish that one was small enough to fit in my pocket but, I digress... Thankfully, I am picking it up tonight.

I wore this outfit to regular work; no meetings, no job fairs, just hanging out in my cubicle and getting stuff done. I still look pretty put together though, right? I find that I am more productive when I fit the part of "put together young professional" even when I don't necessarily have to. Do you find a similar correlation between your level of dress and your productivity at work? If so, do you utilize the way you dress as a method of increasing your productivity?

• Tops: brown and cream argyle sweater, Merona for Target (same shirt different color here)
• Bottoms: gray wool pencil skirt, Isaac Mizrahi for Target/hemmed by Mom
• Shoes & Accessories: brown pumps, Candies via Kohl's (same shoes different color here); purple tights, Duane Reade; pearl earrings, gift from Mom; vintage Louis Vuitton speedy, eBay

Items from this outfit are previously seen here:

November 15, 2010: Monday Not Funday

Monday is here, I'm off to work. I'm feeling a little under the weather hence the pajama-like outfit. I am so excited that the GAP makes these amazingly comfy pants in another color. I am not thrilled that they close via a zipper in the back. Why mess with a good thing? Either way, they were too good to be passed up!

Where did the weekend go? Note to self: make zero plans for next weekend. O, we have BFF's birthday party/ies Friday and Saturday nights? Fine, make that the weekend after. What do you mean, Thanksgiving? Already?! I'm almost scared to ask but, how about the weekend after? Thank goodness that looks clear, I thought I was going to need to take some scheduled time off from work again... No self, you don't have vacations days you're per diem.

• Top: purple ribbed tank top, Old Navy with a tank top underneath for the modesty; black long cardigan, New York and Company
• Bottom: gray really skinny pants, GAP/gift from BF (same pants different color here)
• Shoes & Accessories: black ruffle embellished flats, Audrey Brooke via DSW; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; silver L.A.M.B bag via Loehmann's
  
  
  
  

Items from this outfit are previously seen here:

Weekend Wear: A Multipurpose Outfit

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a million things to do today! Well, maybe not quite that many but, half a million at least and they all involve some serious travel throughout the day. I was looking for an outfit this morning that could work for all these different events and still be comfy in the car while trekking in between and walking around once I get to the city later this evening. You know: not too fancy but, not too casual... What's a girl to do? Enter jeggings, embellished tank, and comfy cardigan! This kind of outfit (or some variation) is going to become my weekend "uniform" for the fall, I just know it!

I'll tell you a secret, I am not quite ready for the cooler weather. While many bloggers (and friends IRL) are talking about how happy they are for this season change I don't know if I am really that excited. I love the warm weather and the summer (even ones as hot as this one.) I am lamenting this one coming to a close (I only made it to the beach once!) My hope is that when I start shopping my closet (hint, hint... details to come) for fall trends I'll get more excited...

• Top: pink flutter trim blouse, LOFT/birthday gift from Mom; gray flyaway cardigan, New York & Company
• Bottom: denim jeggings, LOFT/birthday gift from Mom
• Shoes & Accessories: leopard print flats, New York & Company; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; black spy bag, Fendi

The Bestest!

I just had to let everyone know that my family is AMAZING and I love them very much. They all chipped in (even my "little" brother) and got me my "normal" birthday list wish. It's better than I imagined! This birthday has been pretty fantastic so far...

A Grown Up Birthday!

My birthday is coming very soon!!! This year is a little different than those that have passed. I really don't want to make any plans for celebrating; whatever happens happens and hopefully I'll have fun partaking in that. Obviously I will spend time with my family and BF and of course I will go out with friends but, I just don't feel like stressing myself out planning a party (normal) where nothing ever goes like it should (also normal.). In terms of gifts... my list is lame. I normally create some sort of list for things I want for my birthday gift so people know what to buy me since according them, I am a very difficult person to shop for (debatable.) This year all I can think about is practical things I need:

1. Having some items of clothing tailored because I generally can't afford it
2. Having some shoes cobbled because I generally can't afford it
3. Spending the day thrifting and maybe some normal shopping
4. Contacts (which mom is getting me, thanks mom)
5. Some sort of vacation (which thankfully BF is handling for me)
6. A completely "normal" birthday wish list item... I LOVE this ring! I also have a credit to Tiffany & Co. that someone could relieve me of and use to buy this fabulous piece of jewelry!

It's not that these aren't really great, fun things it's just normally I am way more specific and focused in what I want ex: I want this bag or these shoes or this ring (seriously). My mom said that it means I'm getting more mature; right now I'm not really sure what I think it means but, it's different for sure... Either way it's coming and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Time to celebrate!!

July 7, 2010: It's Getting Hot In Here

It was 102° yesterday and the temperature isn't really taking a dive so I'm trying to keep cool and, still remain work appropriate. Enter this breezy, lightweight, and slightly shapeless dress. If I add a belt to give it more shape it's too short to wear in the office so I would normally save this for a more casual event but, the temperature is definitely forcing me to work with what I've got. If it wasn't so crazy hot I would probably throw on a little cardi to increase my level of modesty but, overall I don't think this is that bad. My office is extremely laid back... What do you think?

• Top: black and white print dress, White House Black Market part of a gift from my fab cousin V for my graduation
• Shoes & Accessories: silver gladiator sandals, Isaac Mizrahi for Target (similar and on sale here); silver beaded necklace, Bitten via Steve & Barry's; Tiffany & Co. silver bead earrings; blue Foley + Corrina City Clutch gifted via Plaza Too

June 7, 2010

Mondays are lame for the most part but on a positive note, today is the first day of Summer Black-Out 2010. This week I'll be challenged, yet again, to creatively utilize my wardrobe to meet this brand new goal! Today I am using beige, gray, and even denim as neutrals! I would definitely be rocking a skirt if I didn't have to sit in front of a slew of job applicants and administer a group interview but, I do therefore I'm playing it safe with pants. I learned that lesson the hard way when I was a newbie; there is no Sharon Stone via Basic Instinct here, people! But,I digress...

• Top: bright green sweater, New York and Company with a tank top underneath for the modesty
• Bottom: beige tweed capris, Ann Taylor
• Shoes & Accessories: denim slingbacks, Christian Louboutin via A Second Chance ReSale; moonstone and peridot (my birthstone) necklace, gifted; Tiffany & Co's silver bead earrings, gifted; purple Coach bag

Surprise!

BF sent me flowers at work today! I am so excited I just had to share... It is called the Fashionista Arrangement, how well does he know me?

May 13, 2010

Dress Your Best Week is in the home stretch and I am still going! Today it's all about the comprehensive me and my hourglass shape. While I won't break down my exact measurements for you (it isn't about the numbers) I will say that my hips and bust are more or less equal and my waist is 9-10 inches smaller than that. These measurements are in essence what defines the hourglass body shape.

Many women dress their body to achieve this overall look and I am so happy (and apparently lucky) to have it appear naturally. I never realized how statistically uncommon a true hourglass shape is but, I digress... I'm talking shoulder pads to make narrow torsos appear more substantiated or boot cut jeans to give straight and narrow girls a more curvy shape. The list could go on but, you get my drift. I feel like the most universally flattering way to dress (or fake) an hourglass shape is with a wrap or faux wrap dress so that's what I'm doing today!

• Top: brown quintessential Diane VonFurstenberg wrap dress, via the outlet with a red tank top underneath for the modesty
• Bottom: Spanx
• Shoes & Accessories: silver Issac Mizrahi gladiator sandals, Target; gold and mixed metal earrings, gift from Natalia/ModCloth; purple Coach bag

May 12, 2010

Day three of Dress Your Best Week is cold and bleak. I thought it was springtime for sure! But, since I wasn't woken by the sun peering through my window I am now running late... Please come back warm weather!

Today I am featuring my cheekbones which I think is translating more into my face shape. It's the one thing that has stayed pretty constant no matter how my weight has fluctuated and other part of me have changed which I love! I couldn't think of anyway to dress my face up (I don't wear makeup on a daily basis) besides dressing to draw the eye towards it. That has translated into a mute palette with a pop of color. How do you think I did?

• Top: black Thompson Street Caftan, New York and Company/gift from Mom (it's so strange to be wearing something current that I can actually link to) with a purple tank top underneath, for the modesty
• Bottom: gray pants, also New York and Company
• Shoes & Accessories: black Steve Madden pumps (FYI: they are having a sale right now), black Fendi spy bag, gold and mixed metal earrings, gift from my co-worker Natalia/free gift with her purchase from ModCloth

April 5, 2010

Right about now I am very strongly wishing that I had a three day weekend for the Easter holiday like just about everyone I know. It is going to be about 73° and that is great weather for doing anything! Heading into the office is not my idea of a good time but, I gotta bring home some bacon and am getting ready for the day while fighting every urge not to wear yoga pants. Hopefully the day will go by quickly...

• Top: pink Ann Taylor Loft rosette embellished t-shirt
• Bottom: gray pinstripe wide-leg pants(via Kohl's)
• Shoes & Accesories: black pointy toe flats (via DSW), black Fendi spy bag, gray shell earrings (gift from BF's mom)