Blue Skies

I've had this awesome black and white graphic top in my closet for probably two years. I don't know why, but there's something about a black and white print that tugs at my heart strings; I must have at least four or five different ones in my wardrobe. This one was seldom worn because of the ill fit; it had a gathered, stretchy scoop neckline that would always ride too low, rather poofy cap sleeves, and a loose, A-line body. A year or so ago I took it upon myself to take it in a couple inches on each side to make it fit more snug around the tummy area. It worked out well but I still wasn't totally satisfied with the top, so there it sat for another year. After my big closet clean out, I vowed that I would finally finish my DIY tailoring job, because the print is just too gorgeous not to wear. On Wednesday night I sat down at my mom's sewing machine and tackled the sleeves and voilà! Here we are :)

March came in like a lion, but it's very much been heading out like a lamb. We've had such beautiful weather here in New Jersey the last couple days; it's even supposed to hit 70 degrees today! The only way I could be happier about that is if I could be outside to enjoy it, rather than being couped up here at the office.

With the sun out and shining, I went hunting for a location to shoot my outfit pics after work. I contemplated the staircase that I shot on the other day, but as I gazed around I spotted this little mountainous hill next to a row of parked cars. I'm sure the owner of the Honda I perched my Gorillapod on to shoot these photos wouldn't have been too happy about it, but it worked out just dandy for me :) My office building is built atop a little mountain and next to a reservoir, so there's lots of beautiful earthy spots like this one I plan to explore for photo locations now that the weather's warmed up!

Top: Michael by Michael Kors via Macy's
Cardigan: Borrowed from Mom
Trousers: Target
Shoes: Nordstrom Rack
Bangles: Borrowed
Necklace: JCPenny
Ring: Gift from my sister

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

Tie it up with a bow

Thank goodness for the weekend! I'm headed to Atlantic City tonight to celebrate a friend's birthday, but I wanted to share this outfit I wore to work on Thursday and then on a date later that night.

 

Sorry for the weird quality of these pics - I dunno why they came out so blurry and yellow! Anywho.

The sparkly bow embellishment on the front of this dress from Macy's I got on sale a few weeks back definitely lends itself to the holiday season, but I don't think I need to quit wearing it just because the holiday season is over. I do what I want!! I love the bow on this, and for only $15 on sale from $50, it was definitely a steal! You can't tell in the photos above, but I added these textured tights, a Christmas gift from my mom, for some extra visual interest. I like that the patter in subtle enough that it's muted from far away and you can only really see it up close.

Dress: American Rag via Macys
Waterfall Cardigan: JCPenny
Tights: Target
Shoes: Preview via Nordstrom Rack
Bracelets: Syms
Ring: New York & Company

Have a great weekend everyone :)

It's that time of year...

...When every woman is searching for that perfect party dress! Whether it be sequined, velvet, satin, or just plain gorgeous, every fashionista wants to find that one holiday frock that makes her feel like a million bucks (without spending quite that amount!) I went through some of my favorite retailers to share my picks for holiday dresses :) Enjoy!

Sequined

Sequins are a huge trend during the holiday season - here's a wide variety of pretty numbers to shine in.

Left: ASOS CURVE Exclusive Sequin & Jewel Embellished Dress. $146.54 Right: Fishtail Pattern Sequin Dress. $79.99

This blue sequined ASOS Curve dress is a beautiful statement piece for the holiday season. The pretty sparkle plus the daring plunge back is sure to make heads turn. Be warned though, with long shipping times that ASOS has been guilty of lately, if you live in the US you may not get this in time for your holiday soiree!


But a dress like this Fishtail Pattern sequined number from JCPenny would be shipped to you US ladies in just a few short days, and the pattern makes it different from a lot of other sequined pieces I've seen!

Left: Sequin Dress. $79.99 Right: Bisou Bisou Panel Dress w Sequins $59.99

I'm pretty impressed with JCPenny's dress selection this holiday season, especially by this sequined dress (on left). This dress is fully sequined front and back, unlike other dressed which are only sequined in front and just fabric in back. The scoop neck, short sleeves, and medium length are bound to look great on every shape. I can see myself rocking this with tights and sky-high heels. All of JCPenny's dresses run up to a 24W!

Another great pick from Bisou Bisou at JCPenny on the right: The plunging sequined neckline is great for those who want to let the girls out to play, while the bandage skirt will make your curves look killer.

Left: JS Collection Sequin Striped Dress. $198 Right: Calvin  Klein Sequin Hem Dress. $158

The Sequin Striped dress is one of my very favorite dresses of the holiday season. The curved stripes of sequins give so much shape and make your waist look tiny. The V-neck is beautiful too. Add the A-line skirt and you've got one beautiful silhouette.

For those who want just a touch of shine, this CK dress (right) may be perfect. Simple scoopneck and long sleeves on top with some sass on the hem. This dress could totally do double duty at work with tights and modest heels, and some sexy booties for a night out.

Left: Calvin Klein Sleeveless Sequin Dress. $118. Right: INC International Concepts Sleeveless Sequined Tweed Dress. $64.50

Another pretty pick from CK is this gold and black sequin dress. The two colors together make for some big time visual interest, I just wish that it was sequined front and back, and not just the front. Hey, if JCPenny can do it, Calvin Klein should be able to do it. Just sayin'.

Here's another dress that shines, but on a more subdued level. The rich tweed fabric sprinkled with tiny sequins, plus the pretty embellished neckline make for another stylish double-duty dress.

Velvet

Velvet is not longer just for little girl's gowns and old lady dresses. The fabric has made a huge comeback this winter, especially in the holiday dress department.

Left: Black Velvet Tube Dress w Belt. $58 Right: ASOS Curve Twisted Velvet Dress. $77.58

On left is a great dress from Torrid for those of you ladies who can rock the strapless look (that sure as hell isn't me lol). I am really digging this! Touche, Torrid! The slight sweetheart neckline and belt makes this very fairly-priced dress look expensive!

Another pick from ASOS Curve on the right, so keep in mind the long shipping time. This dress has a really cute shape with draping that extends from the bust like all the way to the hem. It comes in a deep red too, which is great for the holidays, but prefer the pretty gunmetal grey, it's a little edgier in my opinion.

Left: Alexandra Draped Goddess Dress. $228 Right: V Neck Velvet Dress with Broach. $49.99

Ohh dear lordy. The Monif C. Alexandra dress has me melting into a giant, lustful puddle of "I WANT I NEED...RIGHT NOW!" I have a major hard-on for long sleeved dresses, and the low cowl neck and ruched skirt make my heart skip a beat. SALE, PLEASE???

If you, like me, just can't afford to shell out close to $230 for a dress, you might want to look into this less expensive option, another one from JCPenny.

A Pop of Color

Stand out from the crowd by opting for one of these jewel-toned beauties rather that the standard LBD this holiday season.

Left: Lovedrobe Diamond Gem Dress. $69.30 (£44) Right: Purple Pocket Tube Dress. $64

You guys all know that there's nothing better than a double duty piece in my book. The Love Diamond dress from Evans can definitely be put in that category. Wear it as a tunic with a cardi, leggings or skinnies, and cute flats for work, or amp up the sex appeal with tights and heels. Once again, be aware of long shipping times from the UK to US.

This pretty satin dress from Torrid is another nice strapless option. I love this deep plum hue, it looks great on all skin tones. And pockets! Love!

Left: Alex Evenings Jeweled Stretch Satin Dress. $148 Right: Calvin Klein Satin Dress. $158

The Alex Evenings dress is such a stunning color you'd be hard to miss at any party. You may not think blue reads "holiday," but with the soft sheen of the satin, delicate pleating, and embellishment on the hip, I beg to differ.

Props to Calvin Klein for doing such a great job with dresses, and other clothing, for plus women. This gorgeously blackened red dress is so versatile - show off your décolletage with big sparkly earrings and a  cuff, or turn some heads with a statement necklace and a cocktail ring. You could even belt it to dress it down a bit!

What will you be wearing to this year's holiday celebrations?

I just want to take a second to thank every one of you, subscribers and one time visitors, who is out there reading the blog and leaving such wonderful comments. You guys don't know how much I appreciate every one! I just hit 50 followers a few days ago and I'm still in shock! I truly never thought I'd have any readers at all, let alone some who support me on the regular with such sweet remarks about my posts and outfits. My confidence is boosted way up knowing I have this great community of beautiful women behind me! Bottom line? I love you all and THANK YOU!

And welcome to some newcomers too :) Elata, Ace, and Lynn of The Style Diaries. It's great to see you here! 

There's just something about a slouchy sweater...

There's just something about a slouchy sweater that makes me feel so snuggly warm and chic at the same time. A sweater like this black kimono-sleeved number I snatched up at TJ Maxx are great because you get the same level of comfort as when you're in your favorite sweater or hoodie, but with way more style points :)

I wear this particular sweater constantly, and styled in every way you can think - casually with jeans, a tank and flats, with leggings and boots (a la today's Ootd), over dresses; it's one of my go to's when I want easy but still cute...which is pretty much all the time. I love the kimono three-quarter sleeves even though they are a little awkward to maneuver into a coat - good thing it's so thick and warm by itself! It also has a convenient little hook and eye closure mid-way down that I'll sometimes close if I want more coverage.

I wore this outfit to hangout with some friends last night and it was just what I needed - casual, comfortable; perfect for lounging while having some drinks and laughs.

Yay for accessories :) I will never have enought jewelry. The love knot on my ring finger I picked up from a shop on Etsy - it was only $6!

I got about four different colors of these skinny belts from Old Navy ages ago but hardly ever wore them until recently...I guess I never really knew how to style them. Now though, they've pretty much become a staple as far as my accessories go - this gold snake skin one especially.

Slouchy sweater: TJ Maxx

Top: Old Navy (no longer available)

Leggings JCPenny

Boots: Evans

Love Knot Ring: Etsy (no longer available)

Swirl Ring: H&M

Bracelet: Got it in Greece

Necklace: New York & Co (no longer available)

Belt: Old Navy (no longer available)

Polish: Orly Cosmic FX Galaxy girl

Big welcome to some new faces - soniam.griffiths, Beatrice, and Kinsey of In Kinsey's Closet!

In other news, I'm super excited to be participating in Big Beautyful Mess' Secret Blogger Gift Exchange! 

BBM is so awesome for setting this up, I can't wait to find out my secret blogger :) I love exchanging gifts! The great thing about the exchangees having blogs is that we can scope out each other's style to help us pick out that perfect present! Check out the the list of bloggers involved, these are some seriously stylish ladies!

A pop of pink and a package

I was so excited when my Evans boots finally came earlier this week! This is already the second time I've worn them :) It was the first time, though, that I got a chance to wear these pink tights, the ones I wore on Halloween with my double rainbow costume, in a real outfit. I love the unexpected pop of color!

Today I grabbed one of my casual summer dresses and took it to winter time. I layered it over a long sleeved black tee and topped it off with this scarf, which has been a favorite since I picked it up in Old Navy about two years ago. It's easy when you just want something to throw on, but it still looks bright and fun. Looking at these pics, I'm thinking the skinny gold belt I wore with the American Rag dress would have been cute with this too...oh well.

Despite all the fashion jewelry I have, I always seem to drift towards a few pieces over and over. This disc ring is one of them, and the over-sized rhinestone earrings are another. They're just so sparkly! Who could resist?

Dress: Spense via Syms
Long-sleeved top: H&M
Tights: JCPenny
Boots: Evans
Scarf: Old Navy
Rings: New York & Co
Earrings: Betsy Johnson

On to the boots!

Besides the fact that they took almost a month to get to me, I love these boots from Evans. They're a faux suede fabric with a modest spike heel. My calves measure about 17.75" and the boots zipped, but were snug in the calf when I first put them on. I knew they'd stretch out, and after two wears, I was right and now they zip quite easily and comfortably over my calves. They look very sleek on and have just the right amount of slouch. I wouldn't recommend wearing them in rain or snow though as the sole isn't that thick and the fabric will likely get soaked.

The only other thing I'd say is that they run a bit big. I'm a 9-9.5 and ordered the UK7, but I definitely  could have sized down to the UK6.  I think a big part of it is that Evans shoes are wide width and my feet aren't really all that wide. I'll keep that in mind for next time - I've ordered boots from Evans twice and have yet to be disappointed.

If you follow me on twitter @fatalefashion, you know I finally got my hands on those Steve Madden Korset boots I was lusting over! Well, they finally came today and are just perfect!! Can't way to show them to you :)

Hey Gemma Southgate of Fat Frocks, and Courtney of Courtney Wore It! Great to see you here!