You'll be gone and I'll be happier

Sometimes the simplest looks are the ones I like best. A simple black tee, bright cardi, and a printed skirt. Easy peasy and office appropriate!

Cardigan: H&M
Tee: Syms
Skirt: Thrifted
Flats: NY&Co
Chain bracelet: Christmas gift from my brother
Watch: Syms
Long necklace: H&M
Short necklace: Chrdesigns (more on this later!)

After an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend, I find myself yearning more than ever for my light at the end of the tunnel - my vacation in August! One of my closest friends from college and I are taking a two week trip; four days in Amsterdam, and the rest of the time spent at my family's house in Greece. I'm so excited I'm likely to explode!

Do you have any fun plans for the summer?

Don't forget to enter the GianneCREATIONS giveaway, it closes tomorrow at midnight! Only open to US readers, sorry to my international loves!

Colourless Color - And a Giveaway!

I've said it before; I love black and white, especially in a graphic print. For me, the combo can be more striking than bright colors when it's done right. This outfit was one of those last minute, already gonna be late, thrown together outfits, but it's one of my favorites recently as far as officewear goes.

I can't get enough of this lace blazer! I love how blazers can be like the cherry on top of an outfit, pulling the whole thing together and streamlining the look. I especially love the whimsical touch the lace gives this one. I also love how lightweight it is - the front and sleeves are lightly lined, but the rest of the blazer is just a thin bit of lace, so it's got great ventilation, and won't have me sweating bullets in the summer.

Top: Michael Kors via Macy's
Blazer: Forever21+
Leggings: Kenneth Cole via Syms
Flats: Preview via Nordstrom Rack
Short necklace: Chrdesigns (more on that another day!)
Long Necklace: H&M
Earrings: Katherine's
Bangles: Forever21
Watch: Syms

Did you spot my sweet 'ari' wire ring?? It was sent to me by reader and fellow blogger Gianne of GianneCREATIONS! Gianne started jewelry making as a hobby, but happily for her, her wire jewelry has boomed into a business, and she sells rings, keychains, bracelets, necklaces and more on her Facecbook page, GianneCREATIONS! She was also nice enough to send me this adorable keychain:

'Fatale'! So cute! I love the flowy cursive lettering Gianne uses for her wire jewelry. Because they're wire they are a little bit delicate, so I decided to hang my 'fatale' keychair off my rearview mirror instead of putting it on my keys, I didn't want it to get messed up if I threw it in my handbag (lord knows I've got ridiculous amounts of crap in there!).

If you'd like to get your hands on your own personalized piece of wire jewelry, Gianne is giving away one piece to a Fatale Fashion reader! Here's just a few types of items she can make:

Go simple with one of her new 3D rose rings, show your Greek pride with a letter ring or necklace, or make a statement with a 4 finger ring with the word of your choice :) Entering is simple!

You must:
1. Be a follower.
2. Like GianneCREATIONS on Facebook, and
3. Leave a comment saying what you'd get!

Extra entries:

1. Like Fatale Fashion on Facebook. (Leave a comment with your FB name)
2. Follow @fatalefashion on Twitter. (Leave a comment with your twitter handle)
3. Tweet about this giveaway! (Leave a comment with a link to your tweet)

Four chances to win! The giveaway will be open until 11:59PM on Wednesday, June 8th. Good luck :)

I cheated a bit and used this post for this month's lace EBEW since my blazer's in the wash! You won't tell, right?

Black, white, and striped all over

Stripes are everywhere for this spring, and I've been on the hunt for the perfect striped piece to fit into my wardrobe. Enter Syms, one of my favorite shopping destinations for discounted name brand clothes. It's owned by Filene's basement I believe, and is the same idea as TJ Maxx but not quite as...young. Fashionable business casual, if you will!

I was at Syms on Monday looking for some stuff for boyfriend (who's birthday is Saturday) and I spotted this little gem! It's a waterfall cardigan with the added detail of a second layer of thinner, tighter stripes. It looks cute open as well, but I was looking for a bit more coverage with just my white tee and leggings underneath, so I belted it.

I chose a brown belt over black because I think it gives it a little bit more of a nautical feel that way, and plus the gold hardware tied in the gold bangles and rings I piled on. I ended up pinning the cardi in place just so I wouldnt keep having to adjust it. Overall, I'm really feeling this outfit! When I got dressed this morning I was still on the fence about the stripes, I wondered if they were looking a little "jailbird" because they're black and white instead of navy, but I think the pop of thinner stripe breaks it up and saves the look. I love how the front morphed into a drapey collar of sorts when the cardigan is all belted up!

White tee: Target
Striped cardigan: Syms
Belt: Target
Leggings: Syms
Flats: Nordstrom Rack
Bangles: Old Navy and F21
Rings: H&M
Pendant: Vintage

Forgive me if I neglect the blog for the next few days, things are pretty crazy over here on my end as I'm performing in a show that opens this weekend and we're starting tech week! That means rehearsals every night from around 6-11pm, so I might not have time to squeeze in outfit pics between that and work. Even so, I'm super excited to be performing again! I did a lot of singing and theater back in high school and a bit in college, but haven't really had the time or opportunity in the last few years. I'm going to ask someone to take a video of me during dress rehearsal so I can post it here for you guys! Anyway, wish me luck!

Coaxing in spring

I know NJ isn't the only place that's been having some bonkers weather lately. We went from over 70 degrees one day to snow just a few days later! It's warmed up a touch since then but still chilly in the mid-forty range. I though maybe I'd help things along by giving mother nature some inspiration!

Tank remixed here

Amazingly, it seems I've never worn this cardigan on the blog, even though it's been in my cardi rotation for months. I love the slightly shorter length and puff sleeves, as well as the lower scoopneck.

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack

Tank: Kohl's

Jeans: F21+

Flats: unknown

Necklace: Accessorize

Ring & Bangle: borrowed

 Add some chunky jewelry - thanks Nicole, for leaving this ring at mi casa, lol! I'm holding it hostage until you return :) - and I'm set to go. This outfit did double duty on Friday to the office, and then out to dinner that night with J and another couple. We went to eat at an Italian restaurant (I ordered the grilled shrimp and risotto with wild mushrooms, yum), then back to the couple's house for coffee and a rousing game of Cranium! Kathy and I were a pretty awesome team but the boys juuuust beat us by thismuch!

Kathy, who's about 6 months pregnant, was going on about how she wanted to find a little white beanie with little ears to put on the baby for photos, but couldn't find one. Clearly, I knew exactly where to look for that sort of thing: Etsy. Here are a few I found:

I want to find the perfect one for her! Which is your favorite??

Dot your i's

If you follow me on twitter @FataleFashion, you've seen me moaning and groaning about waiting on my Dorothy Perkins dot dress for weeks now. Well, here she is, in all her glory!

I love this dress and felt so cute wearing it all day! It's stretchy and super comfy, and the top is lined which is great since my most comfortable bras are all black. I love the shape on me and it has some really great details like gathers and, my favorite, pockets! It's a guy pleaser too, boyfriend loved how it showed off my curves with the cinched waist.

See? I loveee the pleating at the shoulder, its such a rich detail. If the girls weren't so voluptuous, you'd see that pleating detail continue across the bust, but on me you only really see it at the should and a little bit right at the bustline. The one thing that bothers me is, because those pleats are stretched out a bit, they poof at the bustline. If I can find a way to sew or pin those bad boys down so they don't poof, this dress will be perfect :) It's still available, btw!

Fair warning though, it took me over a month to receive my dress. This may be a fluke because I have ordered from DP before and gotten my order in just a few days. I will say though, they were super nice about it and refunded my money after four weeks of waiting. I don't feel guilty about getting the dress though, as they told me it still might arrive, and if it did it was still mine to keep.

I went with simple accessories today to let the dress be the centerpiece. A black beaded necklace, black bangle, stack rings, my trusty (and worn out as hell) black skinny belt, tights and flats were all I needed. I had another day of beautiful weather so I hit up my new picture spot. Thank goodness I was almost done when a group of people drove up to the house next door One of the girls sat on her front stoop until I left like I was going to rob her house or something. Geez LaWEEZ girlfriend, do I look like I'm dressed for a B&E? 

Dress: Dorothy Perkins
Tights: Kohl's
Flats: Nordstrom Rack
Rings: H&M
Bracelet: The Green E's
Necklace: JCPenny