Berry and Blue

Finally getting to posting a few outfits from last week. This was a fun little combo I put together with a few pieces Mom got me for Christmas, as well as the berry skirt (would you call it berry?) I got from my local NY&Co outlet while Christmas shopping. I like the pairing of the pink with the navy sweater and printed top - especially how the the skirt makes the cream in the top look almost pale pink, even though it's not at all. Looking at this now, I wish I had worn a skinny belt over the sweater, but oh well. We live and learn right?

Top, cardigan: TJMaxx
Skirt: NY&Co
Tights: Hue
Heels: Bandolino
Bracelets: Greece, Ebay, Brooklyn Flea

A belated Christmas post

It may not be what you'd expect in a Christmas outfit, but when do I ever follow the rules!

I decided to put together a few of my new pieces for this outfit - the Forever21 skirt is super stretchy and comfortable; it's tight enough to be scandalous but just long enough to stay classy. I topped it off with this pussybow blouse I scored on sale at my local New York & Company outlet. Black cardi, black tights, and these awesome pumps from Payless finished the look.

I went on the hunt for these pumps after seeing them on Kendi and Jessica...I found the very last pair which so happened to be a 9. They're so snug though, I'm not sure if I can really wear them (yea, I switched them in for the photos - I'd originally been wearing boots). Anyone interested in them? Email me and we'll talk :)

Cardigan: Mom's
Top: NY&Co
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: Hue
Pumps: Payless
Necklace: Vintage
Bracelets: Brooklyn Flea
Watch: Syms

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, and that Santa treated you well! He sure treated me nice this year!

Christmas came early

Christmas came early, or you'd think it did with all the new stuff I'm sporting! First and foremost, how do you like my new specs? I've been dying for a new pair of glasses for ages and I am absolutely head over heels in love with this pair of Ray-Bans I got from LensCrafters. Having glasses you want to wear makes all the difference (oh, and seeing better too, that's always good).

Another new addition is this cozy grey sweater I picked up at Syms - everything is on super sale there now since they're going out of business. If you have one by you I highly recommend you check it out! This sweater is a similar shape to this one, where the waterfall is short on top. To make it less bulky and define my shape, I took the top corners of the waterfall and pinned them behind my back, and topped it with an elastic belt to really get the job done. Layered over this knit dress and patterned tights, this outfit was warm and comfy as can be :)

Last, but most certainly not least, the new boots I've been waiting for from Evans! I am so in love with these boots - they're so versatile. They can be dressed down for an outfit like this one, or, as I wore them for this weekend out for dinner and drinks, with a bodycon skirt and a blazer. I know I'll find a million more ways to wear them soon enough. If you're interested, they're on sale at Evans! Seriously, if the price is right, I'm going to buy a back up pair!

Dress: Forever21+
Cardigan: Syms
Tights: Hue via Amazon
Boots: Evans
Belt: Handmade
Necklace and rings: Nordstrom Rack
Glasses: Ray-Ban

Gobble, gobble

Here it is, the required Thanksgiving outfit post! Lets be honest here, the quality of these pictures is absolute crap, but I hardly care. This is dress is stripey, vibrant perfection!! This is hands down the best purchase I've ever made from eShakti, and also one of my favorite purchases, period. Not only because of the gorgeous stripe, but because of the quality; it's very clearly well made. The fabric is a thick, luxurious cotton with minimal stretch. The stripes are individual strips of fabric sewn together, and the pleating at the waist is meticulous and oh so perfect. A pain to iron, but once you do, they create the most charming puff in the skirt.

Besides all of that, the fit is spot on. The neckline is cut high enough to keep the girls in check even with the V neck, there's no gaping at the arm holes, and it nips in perfectly at the waist. I never do custom sizing for eShakti, I just select the best standard size for my measurements and add my height and bra size :) If you're dying for some stripey goodness of your own, the green and blue version of this beauty is still available. Use my discount code FFF0811 for $20 off your order!

Cardigan: Syms
Dress: eShakti
Belt: Misc
Tights: Hue
Wedges: Bandolino
Necklace: Gifted

A quickie

Just a quick one today, my camera died after only a few photos of today's outfit so her's what we've got. I bought this dress from ASOS Curve at the beginning of the summer and it was a bit too snug then. It fits much better now so I finally decided to break it out with tights and my suede wedges. I have an urge to wear it next time with my Steve Madden Korset boots that I hunted down last year. There's something about soft chiffon paired with edgy leather...

Dress: ASOS Curve
Tights: Hue
Wedges: Bandolino via Lord & Taylor
Necklace: Macy's
Bangles: Syms
Ring: Street fair in Fairfax, VA

He's back!!

Please excuse the poor quality of these photos - I don't know if it was the extreme wind blowing my little Gorilla Pod around or what but they didn't come out as clear as usual!

So I found this little location as I was leaving work yesterday. I liked the staircase but it was hard to find somewhere to anchor my camera. At some point I'm going to have to invest in a full size tripod; it just seems silly when I'm only using a point and shoot and not a fancy shmancy SLR.

Anywho, this is a dress that I haven't worn since one of my very first blog posts back in October. I love it because it's super comfortable and makes me feel girly with the full, flowy skirt, but still has a little edge with the zipper hardware. Best part - pockets!

It was so freezing when I was shooting these pics, so please accept this awkward "trying-to-make-my-smile-dect-work" shot of my sweet necklace from Kohls!

Top: Macy's
Dress: Calvin Klein via Nordstrom Rack
Tights: Hue
Boots: Target
Necklace Kohl's
Ring: NY and Co
Bracelets: Syms

OMG, do you guys remember when I told you about Homeless Dog Man?? Well, he was on leave for about a month, but now he's BACK! AH! I thought I was imagining it when I heard his furious shuffling footsteps behind me, but then I turned and BAM! There he was! Paint stained pants, check! Ripped jacket, check! Pillow over crotch, CHECK! 

All the colors of the rainbow

Aaaand another work week begins. I know you are all just as thrilled as I am about it...not! Is there anything more torturous than trudging into the office on Monday morning after a great weekend? Boyfriend finally got back from Cincinnati on Saturday, so I was excited to pick him up at the airport and spend the day together. We went out to dinner with his family for his brother's birthday; he's a leap year baby so he doesn't even have a true birthday this year. That stinks! Then on Sunday we went out with a big group for a friend's birthday. I've been dying to wear this dress after I finally found it in my size after 3 trips to my local Forever21, so it was the perfect occasion for these crazy bright colors!

What do you even call this print? Graffiti? Chipped paint? I don't know what to call it, but I know that I love it!

I saw this dress at F21 weeks ago but they only had it in a size 3x. I contemplated buying it anyway and DIYing that bad boy, but I ultimately decided my money was better spent elsewhere. Fast forward to last week, I was in F21 again and I just so happened to stumble across it in a 1x! I wasn't sure it would fit, but once I put it on I was sold.

Since the dress includes pretty much every color under the sun, I could have paired it with a million different cardigans. I was more concerned with proportions here than with the color, which is why this black cardi with flower appliques won out over some of my brighter options. This cardi is only a straight size L, so it's shorter and more fitted than some over my others, and I think the shape works better with dresses than some longer ones do.

How awesome is this bracelet?! I got this sweet Marc by Marc Jacobs chunky chain bracelet with the gift card I won from The Curvy Fashionista's ShopBop Giveaway! Thanks so much Marie and ShopBop! This piece so me and the perfect edition to my jewelry collection. I see lots of gold mixing in my future!

With the exception of the bracelet, all my jewelry today is vintage. Both pendants (one of which is hiding in my cleavage, woops!) and the ring belonged to either my grandmother or great grandmother. I love the look of the layered gold chains and pendants. I topped it all off with my  beloved F21 cone heels and braided belt - F21 sure is getting a lot of play today!

Dress: F21
Cardigan: Borrowed from Mom
Tights: Hue
Shoes F21
Belt: F21
Bracelet: Marc By Marc Jacobs via ShopBop
Necklaces and Ring: Vintage

Black and Grey

I didn't realize my Vintage Finds post on Friday was my 100th post! Yay! I started this blog as a way to challenge myself to dress better, kind of a way to stay accountable for how I look - I didn't realize how much I would come to love doing it, and how many lovely people I would "meet" from it! Thanks to everyone that reads and for all your support and comments!

See, told you! Here are the boots again, this time in a dressier fashion. I liked this outfit, but looking at it now I think I should have styled it differently. If I could go back, I'd lose the leopard belt and go with a statement necklace - the one I'm wearing is entirely to dainty and delicate. I think I'll give the skirt and high boots thing a try again, but in a different way.

Separately from this outfit though, I love the belt. I like that it's long enought to tie up in one of those untraditional knots that you see bloggers doing all the time. Also, yay for weather that's nice enough for outdoor photos, and for it not being dark by 5!

 

I love using the smile detection setting on my camera because it gives me well focused shots - but I always look silly in the first frame or two trying to activate it lol!

Top: Kohl's

Long-sleeved tee: H&M

Skirt: Macy's

Tights: Hue (remixed here)

Boots: Torrid 

Bracelets: Old Navy, Aldo Accessories, H&M

Necklace: Vintage

And don't think I forgot about the BaysideGems giveaway! The winner is Courtney H. of Courtney Wore It! Courtney, email me to claim your prize!

Falling Deep in Blue

Man, it's been a crazy couple days! Bloggers, don't you hate when you're wearing super cute outfits but just can't find a spare minute to take pictures? It feels like such a waste! Anywho, I'm back and ready to share!

I know I'm not the only one who's completely sick of winter at this point and ready for some warm weather, but I will say this - I'm definitely going to miss tights and boots once the weather heats up! I love how throwing them on with a dress makes for an instantly cute outfit, not to mention not having to hassle with Spanx for the dreaded chub rub, or not having to worry about a dress being just an inch or two too short. Tights solve all problems!! And these Evans boots are one of my favorite purchases of the season. Even though the heel tip is long gone (which means the metal tip makes tons of noise when I walk, oh well), they go with EVERYTHING. And heel tips can be replaced...right?

This blue and black color-blocked dress is a great double duty piece though;  it's shortsleeved under my cardi and will be super cute with bare legs and a pair of wedges in the spring and summertime. I love the banded waist because it gives great shape with out even having to belt it if I don't want to.

I was having a tough time in the morning trying to decide what sort of accessories I wanted to pair with this outfit. I started with a skinny leopard print belt, but then couldn't find the right length gold necklace to pair with in. Then I went for a black belt, but couldn't decide on a necklace for that either! With time quickly running out (I was definitely late to work), I snatched up this blue belt and the first necklace I saw and ran out the door. Perhaps not my proudest accessories moment, but at least the gold buttons sort of make sense with the gold necklace and my bow ring (just smile and nod!).

Speaking of the ring!

It's the bow ring I won from BBM's Torrid Accessories Giveaway! Thanks, girl! I love it!

 

Cardigan: Mom's

Dress: Forever 21+

Tights: Hue

Boots: Evans

Necklace: Borrowed

Ring: Gifted by BBM from Torrid
Belt: Old Navy

Speaking of boots, I think I may have finally found the pair that satisfies my OTK craving!

 

Well, not really OVER the knee, but TO the knee, about halfway up my knee cap. 

Let me give you some quick back story. On Monday I found out that I won the office superbowl pool! So I took my $120 buckaroos and of course headed to the mall with the determinations of finding OTK boots. I tried on the Annie OTK boots Torrid has, and to be quite honest I think they look ridiculous. The sales girl suggested I try the Amy Knee-high boots, which aren't OTK, but which came to my knee cap, which I acutally think is the perfect height. It's trendy without being too over the top. Though I wasn't crazy about the pleather or the seam down the middle of the boot, at $40 I took them home to think on it.

Then, as it always happens in my world, I was browsing Torrid's site when I saw the Ashley Perforated Boot, which was exactly what I've been wanting - high enough, wide enough, and suede(ette), which I think looks more expensive and classier than pleather. Also, minus the ugly middle seam! Of COURSE they were sold out online, and not available at any of the four Torrid's in my area. Thank goodness for a helpful shopgirl, who tracked down a pair in my size in a Connecticut Torrid and is having them shipped to my local store :) Yay! The lesson here? If something's sold out, ask the shop to track them down for you at another location!

Big welcome to Judy C. of Just Another Day on Earth, Fab Fashions for Less than $100, Londyn of Blogfashion, Tyesha Brown, Janine, and Kara of My Life in the Curvy Lane!