April in Retrospect

As I stated before the past few weeks have been full of alot of craziness in all aspects of my life but, I did take a picture of what I wore everyday to work. I'm committed to the bit! While I BF was snapping my ensembles I don't really remember what was going on at the time honestly the days are all one big blur. Here is the simple compilation: 

April 14, 2011

• Top: brown cowl neck sweater, Mossimo for Target
• Bottom: brown pinstripe Hudson Wide Leg pants, New York and Company
• Shoes & Accessories: green tweed kitten heel pumps, Coach; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

April 15, 2011

• Top: ivory tank top with embroidered neck, Patrick Robinson for Target with another tank top underneath for the modesty; gray flyaway cardigan, New York and Company
• Bottom: denim jeggings, LOFT
• Shoes & Accessories: leopard print flats, New York and Company; silver/gold teardrop earrings, V'ta Jewelry; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

April 18, 2011

• Top: black cowl neck sweater, Old Navy (same sweater different color here); black tank top underneath for the modesty
• Bottom: gray really skinny pants, GAP
• Shoes & Accessories: black vintage patent leather pumps, Evan Picone via The Unique Thrift Store; black patent leather belt, Kohl's; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

April 19, 2011

• Top: red floral embellished top, Simply Vera Vera Wang via Kohl's; black pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via SYMS 
• Bottom: black maxi dress as skirt, New York and Company
• Shoes & Accessories: black ruffle embellished flats, Audrey Brooke via DSW; silver bead earrings, TIffany & Co.; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

April 20, 2011

• Top: coral sweater, LOFT
• Bottom: dark gray Hudson Wide Leg pants, New York and Company
• Shoes & Accessories: silver hardware embellished flats, Preview via Nordstrom Rack; turquoise and silver earrings, Pennyweights; turquoise and silver bead necklace. gift from Mom; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

April 21, 2011

• Top: green v-neck ruffle embellished t-shirt, New York and Company with a tank top underneath for the modesty; khaki safari jackets, LOFT
• Bottom: yellow, brown, and colorful plaid skirt, WDNY via Loehmann's
• Shoes & Accessories: purple suede-ish ballet flats, Mossimo for Target; ilver/gold teardrop earrings, V'ta Jewelry; gray motorcycle/Le-Dix bag, Balenciaga (not pictured) 

April 25, 2011

• Top: purple sweater, Geric via Conway with a gray tank top underneath for the modesty; black pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via SYMS
• Bottom: black really skinny pants, GAP
• Shoes & Accessories: teal leather flats, ALDO via Re/Dress NYC; silver bead earrings, TIffany & Co.; silver/semi-precious stone necklace, V'ta Jewelry; gray motorcycle/Le-Dix bag, Balenciaga (not pictured)

April 26, 2011

• Top: pink scoopneck sweater, LOFT (same sweater different color here, here, here, and here) with a tank top underneath for the modesty; brown houndstooth jacket, LOFT
• Bottom: brown pants, New York & Company
• Shoes & Accessories: teal leather flats, ALDO via Re/Dress NYC; brown fused glass earrings, craft space in Laguna Beach; gray motorcycle/Le-Dix bag, Balenciaga (not pictured)

April 27, 2011

• Top: brown wrap dress, Diane von Furstenberg with a tank top underneath for the modesty; gray ruffle front cardigan, LOFT
• Shoes & Accessories: patent leather leopard print mary janes, Le Due; gray shell earrings, gift from BF's Mom; black patent leather belt, Kohl's; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

I wrote this post for Sugar & Spice back in 2011 and focused on using a few key items from my own existing wardrobe to create a plethora of holiday outfits. What is fascinating to me is that here we are, five years later, and this is still extremely relevant. I'm sure you have similar staple items in your wardrobe that you could mix together so create your own holiday capsule wardrobe for "go-to: outfits so you don't have to worry about what to wear at the last minute. Check it out for some inspiration!

Hi Everyone, I’m Iris from 260 Days, No Repeats! I have challenged myself to wear remixed outfits from my closet… It started out as a one-year thing but, has since evolved and kept on going. During this experience, I have learned that you don’t need all new items of clothes to have a fresh new look. I am constantly finding ways to take the things I wear every day and pair them with completely different items! There are no limits... With the holidays on the horizon, I’m sure everyone’s social calendars are filling up. While you might feel like there is nothing in your closet that is going to work you can take a few key pieces and put together a plethora of fabulous outfits! I chose a great dress, sparkly sweater, sparkly t-shirt, classic pencil skirt, and pinstripe blazer and mixed them into 12 different holiday ready ensembles. What pieces would you pick? How would you put them together?

Lace Yoke Sleeveless Dress – LOFT

Red Embellished Sweater – RED via Loehmanns

Green Sequins Embellished T-shirt – Ellen Tracey via TJ Maxx

Black Pencil Skirt – Old Navy

Black Pinstripe Blazer – Calvin Klein via SYMS

1

1+5

1+2

1+2+5

1+3

1+3+5

1+4

1+4+5

2+4

2+4+5

3+4

3+4+5

Mixed Metal Earrings – ModCloth
Belle Fleur Ring – Stella & Dot
Rhinestone Earrings – New York & Company
Gold/Silver Teardrop Earrings – V’ta Jewelry

Black Pumps – Candies via Kohl’s

Black Belt – Adrienne Vitadinni

Can you see yourself utilizing similar pieces from your own wardrobe in similar fashions? What would you do differently? It doesn’t have to be exact; You could throw a pair of pants or jeans in the mix for more casual gatherings and you are covered for every situation!

Purchases & Acquisitions: June 2015

There was shopping/swapping this month, so much shopping/swapping! Well maybe not so much with the shopping but, definitely with the swapping... let me explain. I have been feeling the urge to shop in the recent months but, after my extreme closet purge that increased exponentially. I sent my Mom the picture of the finished product and she took pity on me bringing over some things form her closet that no longer fit her last weekend. Then we scheduled a time to go see the local tailor by her so that I could salvage some of my favorite items because tailoring is a great option instead of heading out and buying all new clothes. 

Unfortunately/fortunately, we didn't make it to the tailor because I was raiding my Mom's closet for things that no longer worked for her. I made out like a bandit (kinda literally) with bags of sartorial goodies. Ironically, many of those items had previously been mine going as far back as high school, for serious. It's a good thing that my mother doesn't have my penchant for closet clean outs but, I digress...  Even though the tailor was closed we consoled ourselves by heading over to one of my favorite second hand stores and she bought me a few things because she's super nice. The "damage"  is as follows... 

Goodwill $20.48 Amazon Local Deal

• red dress, Taylor 
• brown striped dress, Bailey 44 

Current Consignment $15.64

• eggplant suite, Nanette Lepore
• cream pants, Vanessa Bruno
• gray tank top, Bailey 44

Unique Thrift Store $45.22 c/o Mom

• beige pinstripe capris, New York & Company
• brown plaid pants, New York & Company
• khaki green bermuda shorts, Forever 21
• black pinstripe suit, Anne Klein
• retro inspired polka dot pumps, Bakers

Mom's Closet Raid Cleanout

• red dress, eShakti.com
• blue floral lace dress, eShakti.com
• black and white houndstooth faux wrap dress, eShakti.com
• gray scoopneck t-shirt, New York & Company,
• red scoopneck t-shirt, New York & Company
• black sheath dress, Books Brothers
• black sleeveless polo shirt, Lacoste
• white sleeveless polo shirt, Lacoste
• black polo shirt, Lacoste
• black capri leggings
• black embellished t-shirt, Merona
•  khaki skirt, Ann Taylor
• white linen pants
• denim skirt, LOFT
• black lace dress, H&M
• black sweater dress, Pink Rose 
• lime green scoopneck sweater, LOFT
• ivory scoopneck sweater, LOFT
• hot pink scoopneck sweater, LOFT 
• yellow scoopneck sweater, LOFT 
• green scoopneck sweater, LOFT 
• black scoopneck sweater, LOFT 
• green cardigan sweater, New York & Company 
• purple cardigan sweater, New York & Company
• light brown plaid suit, Sweet Suit
• brown polka dot suit, Donna Sands
• purple tweed skirt, Norton
• black and gray plaid skirt, NYCC
• ivory and beige skirt, Theory
• gray pencil skirt, Emanuel by Emanuel Ungaro
• blue and gray dress, Old Navy
• gray cropped blazer, I.N.C. 
• black and brown plaid skirt, Worthington
• black t-shirt, Chanel
• blue ombre tank top, Xhilitration

You were worried, weren't you? It really wasn't that bad after all, after all of the fun new things I added or welcomed back to my wardrobe I ended up only spending $15.64 at my local consignment store. We'll see how I do next month since I will spending time visiting my favorite shopping destination my cousin and you've seen how that goes...

November 7, 2012: Corporate Professional

As you might have guessed Wednesday was career day in my office. The annual biannual quarterly event has been such a success in the past the powers that be are interested in keeping them coming. I'm excited to be coordinating the whole day and that starts with recruitment and scheduling the right people my outfit! If you think my attire would compliment my professional manicure then you are correct. I can't expected everyone to show up interview ready and not be dressed in a complimentary manner. This is actually one of the suits I wore when I was interviewing for this new job. What do you think?

The one thing that I regretted about my outfit choice was the shoes. Sure, awesome metallic embellished flats are great for running around the office like a crazy person while looking stylish but, they do nothing to keep your feet warm. As I left work it was beginning to precipitate and by the time the train pulled into my station there was a nice layer of slippery snow on the ground. I has to trudge through it slowly and carefully to make sure I didn't slip and fall or make my still finicky ankle worse. My feet were freezing by the time I walked through my door! I could go for summer again please, thanks...

• Top: yellow ruffle collar shirt, LOFT; navy pinstripe blazer, Tahari via Loehmanns
• Bottom: navy pinstripe pants, Tahari via Loehmanns
• Shoes & Accessories: silver hardware embellished flats, Preview via Nordstrom Rack; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. 

Don't forget to enter to win a $100 gift certificate from Shopbop!

June 4, 2012: Monday = Suit Day?

I feel like my new Monday standard is the suit. It's not necessarily a bad thing but, it almost feels like I'm settling on it. It's hard enough to motivate out the door in the morning let alone put together a cute outfit. Enter, the reliable suit... I can roll out of bed pick one out of my closet pair it with a rando shirt and voilà, a work outfit! On some level I feel like that it's a cop out to defer to such a simple ensemble but, maybe I'm just being sensitive to the entire wardrobe situation. What do you think: cop out, work appropriate, or both?

• Top: red short sleeve embellished t-shirt, New York & Company (same shirt different color here, here, here); gray pinstripe blazer, Kasper via Macy's
• Bottom: gray pinstripe pants. Kasper via Macy's
• Shoes & Accessories: silver hardware embellished flats, Preview via Nordstrom Rack; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; silver watch, Fossil; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF 

 

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a $100 Shopbop giftcard!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a free dress from eShakti.com!!

April 2, 2012: Keep It Classy...

Have you all heard that there is going to be another Anchorman movie? I was pretty excited but, I digress... This Monday is the emergence of a new professional Iris. As you might remember I have had multiple conversations with my boss about wardrobe. In the end I have come to the conclusion that I need to be nothing less than my most professional me at all times. Besides that fact that we have had these discussions I am hoping to continue/move up in my career at this firm and dressing to impress won’t hurt. Aren’t you supposed to dress for the job you want anyway?

Another motivator for dressing my best was the new hire orientation that I had to facilitate today. Besides the fact that I always want to set a good example this fantastic new professional joining my firm previously worked in a military environment. I took that to meant that she would be professionally dressed to say the nines without a doubt. It would be pretty bad if I decided to show up in super comfy clothes.

• Top: red floral embellished top, Simply Vera Vera Wang via Kohl's;  black pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via SYMS 
• Bottom:  black pinstripe a-line skirt, Calvin Klein via SYMS
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; my abuela's vintage silver hoops; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here,  here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here. and here. 

February 13, 2012: Not Sure How This Happened

I am working with what I have today in an unexpected way! One of the trends that keeps popping up on my radar is peplum. I’ll come right out and say it, I don’t think it works for me at all. My hips don’t lie don’t need any help and in my eyes that is the only things that is accented by a peplum blouse or dress. When I decided to play around with this dress as a top the excess fabric manifested iteself into a faux peplum because of the way it's gathered at the waist. After all, a peplum is is a short flared, gathered, or pleated strip of fabric attached at the waist of a woman's jacket, dress, or blouse that pretty much sums up what happened here, kind of. 

How do you feel about peplums? What trends are you less than excited about?

• Top: beige, black, and red vintage "Geometry is Sexy" dress, Kathy via Re/Dress NYC; black pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via SYMS
• Bottom: black pinstripe a-line skirt, Calvin Klein via SYMS
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; Neverfull GM, Louis Vuitton/gift from BF

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a Shopbop giftcard!! 

September 6, 2011: Setting An Example

This week is going to be just as crazy as last week when it comes to work but, I'm sending a shout out to Labor Day for making it a little shorter!

Today I am kicking it off with the first day of New Employee Orientation for six people! That might not sound like alot but, generally we only start one-three new peeps at a time so doubling the number and having them in different groups is going to be interesting. Also, did I mention the orientation is seven days long? No? Well, now you know what I'm going to be doing at the office for the rest of the week among other things but, I digress... Since dress code is always a question that I am asked I figured why not just lead by example today (at least.) I'm not really the biggest fan of full suits and would much prefer to wear the pieces as separates but, that would miss the mark.

Tonight I don't have anything going but, the same cannot be said for the rest of the week. I got invited to a few FNO events and I am excited to attend and shamelessly hand out business cards network with other stylish bloggers. The challenge for the rest of the week will be wearing things to the office that are still stylish enough for Fashion's Night Out without a major evening outfit overhaul since I won't be heading home in between to change. Do you have any FNO plans? We might bump into each other...

• Top: white ruffle button down blouse, LOFT; gray pinstripe blazer, Calvin Klein via Loehmanns/gift from BF
• Bottom: gray pinstripe pencil skirt, Calvin Klein via Loehmanns/gift from BF
• Shoes & Accessories: black peep toe wedges, Payless/gift from BF; pink chalcedony and mother of pearl necklace, Gem Cove/birthday gift from Mom; pink chalcedony and mother of pearl earrings,  Gem Cove/birthday gift from Mom; gray and black purse, Pietro Alessandro 

My Stella & Dot pick:

Femme Fatale Necklace

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, and here:

February 28, 2011-March 4, 2011: A Week In Retrospect

I did not completely drop of the earth last week, just the blogosphere. The "catching up as quickly as I can" thing got sidetracked by life but, I promise you I did wear clothes last week and thankfully someone (aka BF) was there with a camera to snap some shots. This week I am going to try something a little different, we'll see how it goes...

Monday was just like any other Monday, getting back to work. I mean who is excited about Monday? You would be absolutely wrong if you guessed me...

• Top: black faux wrap shirt, New York & Company (same shirt different color here) with a tank top underneath for the modesty; gray wool blazer, Isaac Mizrahi for Target
• Bottom: brown and red pinstripe pants, New York & Company (these are one of the pairs of pants that I needed to lengthen and let the cuffs down, how do you think they came out?) 
• Shoes & Accessories: silver hardware embellished flats, Preview via Nordstrom Rack; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; black Spy Bag, Fendi (not pictured)

Items from this outfit are previously seen here.

Tuesday was bingo night and this August I will be turning 88... just kidding! There is a bar downtown that does bingo on Monday and Tuesday nights so a bunch of friends decided to go and check it out. Since I knew I was going out after work I wanted to be comfortable, although for a night out I probably could have stepped up the glam factor a little bit. I wasn't a big winner but, it was a good time.

• Top: red long sleeved shirt, Van Heusen; brown houndstooth jacket, LOFT
• Bottom: gray pants, New York & Company
• Shoes & Accessories: brown/black snake embossed ballet flats, Xhiliration for Target; rainbow beaded earrings, Moxie Bee; Rainbow beaded necklace, Moxie Bee (not pictured); black Spy Bag, Fendi (not pictured)

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Wednesday was a sad day. I got an email from my high school alumni office stating that a classmate's mother had passed away. Since the graduating class my year was only about 48 people this was definitely someone I knew so I decided to pay my respects at the wake after work. Thankfully I didn't have to go alone, one of my other classmates and close friends came with. It was a very surreal experience and really makes you grateful for the things that you have.

• Top: gray and black dress, Pretty Girl; black blazer, Ann Taylor via Melissa
• Shoes & Accessories: black vintage patent leather pumps, Evan Picone via Unique Thrift Store; purple tights, Kushyfoot via Duane Reade; black patent leather belt, Apt. 9 via Mom/Kohl's (came with this top); silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; black Spy Bag, Fendi (not pictured)

On Thursday I wanted to brighten up my mood so I pulled out this brand new sweater that my Mom got me. It was one of the first things I saw when we walked into New York & Company and I fell instantly in love. Do you know what I'm talking about? That feeling like, I cannot leave this store without at least trying this shirt, skirt, whatever on! This is why I try to avoid the mall like the plague, it helps me stick with the whole no purchases thing. Unfortunately there are still a few things I would like to add to my new work wardrobe so, I'll have to suffer through...

• Top: orange ballet neck chiffon flower top, New York & Company
• Bottom: beige pinstripe pencil skirt, New York & Company
• Shoes & Accessories: black pumps, Nine West; blue goldstone earrings, mall kiosk in California; beige pantyhose, No Nonsense via Stop and Shop; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

Friday I was just happy for the weekend! This would have been a great time to wear jeans and get into the spirit of the weekend but, charity day isn't until later this month... I settled for skinny pants, it was ok!

• Top: yellow ruffle collar shirt, LOFT; gray flyaway cardigan, New York & Company
• Bottom: black really skinny pants, GAP 
• Shoes & Accessories: leopard print flats, New York & Company; silver bead earrings, Tiffany & Co.; purple tote bag, Coach (not pictured)

Items from this outfit are previously seen and remixed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Don't forget to enter the Perricone MD Product Giveaway!