Honorable Mentions 5

Today on the blog, I'm featuring a round-up of some recent looks that didn't quite make the cut as full posts.

Have you seen my previous honorable mentions?  You can check them out here, here, here, and here!

First up are a couple recent work looks.  Skinny pants and textured tops are staples of my work wardrobe.

Pants and Top:  The Limited (Top Available in Peach here)

Sweater:  New York & Company
Heels:  Target

Clutch:  The Limited
Earrings:  Torrid (Available here)

Pants, Jacket:  The Limited

Tank:  LOFT
Sandals:  Payless

Bangle:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

Next is a work outfit from a year ago - somehow, it just never made it to the blog.  A shift dress is a comfortable choice for office work, in my opinion.

Dress, Jacket:  LOFT Petites

Jewelry:  Target

Lastly, I'm included this recent casual look.  I sweetened up my grey jeans with a sheer floral top and sandals.

Jeans, Top:  The Limited

Bracelets:  New York & Company, Ann Taylor

Tote:  Target
Sandals:  Payless

Hope you enjoyed these honorable mentions.

I have a new series starting this week inspired by fall color, so stay tuned!!

My Favorite Posts 2.0

Last year after my blog's first anniversary, I did a round-up of my favorite posts over the last year.  Since I just celebrated my 2nd blogiversary last month, I thought I would do a new round-up of my favorite posts from the last year of blogging.

In no particular order, here are my favorite 15!

#1 Stripes Week:  Print-tastic! 
I enjoy mixing prints on occasion, and this is one of my favorite attempts.  I love the graphic black and white combination with the little pops of color in the blazer.

Stripes Week:  Print-tastic!

#2  Tickled Pink:  Fringe Shift
I bought this dress from the old eloquii, and I am so in love with the neon pink color and fringe.  This past spring, I had this dress hemmed to a shorter length, and I just loved how sassy I felt in it!!  That reminds me...I need more excuses to wear this!  :-)

Tickled Pink:  Fringe Shift

#3  I Adore Me
I decided to include this post as a favorite for two reasons.  This outfit is a very typical work look for me.  It has several elements I love and an ease that helps me get out the door on those groggy-eyed mornings.  I also included this post because it's a reminder to myself and hopefully to you to stop being so hard on yourself. 

Black Pants for Work:   I Adore Me

#4  Date Night in Black and White
It's no secret I love black and white, but this look just made me feel really sexy.  When an outfit makes you feel amazing, the memory of the time you wore it seems to shine a little brighter.

Date Night in Black and White

#5  12 Days of Holiday:  Gilded Brocade 
I wore this outfit last year to my office holiday party.  I'm so in love with these pants.  I love admiring designer fashion, and while I don't typically try to copy designer looks, these pants reminded me a lot of a pair of pants from Balmain that I just adored!

12 Days of Holiday:  Gilded Brocade

#6  Sacred Spaces
Because of the meaning Cahokia Mounds has for me, this post is included as a favorite.  I will forever feel blessed to have had such an amazing grandfather who nurtured me in so many ways and led me to love this place as much as I do, and I will forever be grateful to this place for helping me open my soul and feel my way through a difficult time.

Sacred Spaces

#7  Black for Spring:  Cutouts and Lace-Ups 
I just love this fun dress and how it manages to be both sexy and sweet.  I'm not going to lie - these lace-up heels are not very comfortable, but when I don't have to do much standing or walking, I'm always excited to wear them.  Adding in bits of coral and jade, I felt like I had just enough color to give this look some added pop.

Black for Spring:  Cutouts and Lace-ups

#8  Revenge of the Nerds
I enjoy all the elements of this outfit, but mostly I just liked this post.  I grew up a "nerd" and will always consider myself one whether others do or not.  The term "nerd" has mostly lost the negative connotation I once learned to associate with it.  I've always felt like an outcast, like I didn't fit in with anyone.  That feeling can be lonely at times, but I've learned to appreciate it and to appreciate myself and all my awkward charm.  Nerds of the world, unite! 

Revenge of the Nerds

#9  Laid-Back Sexy (Free the Ta-Tas)
I love the ease of maxi dresses, and the sexy summery vibe of this one is a personal favorite.  For all my body insecurities over the years, I've always loved my ta-tas, and when I have the occasion, I love letting them be free.  ;-)

Laid-Back Sexy (Free the Ta-Tas)

#10  Fall 2013 Fashion Trends:  Lingerie-Inspired Clothing
This is one of my all-time favorite looks.  There is something about the combination of this soft pink and black that I have always loved.  A peplum-style top is super flattering, and the look is body skimming without being tight.

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends:  Lingerie-Inspired Clothing

#11  Even Flow
I talked on the blog recently about how I love to create looks that have a balance.  This look combines several feminine and several masculine elements to create a look that feels balanced.

Even Flow

#12  Comfy Work Wear
This recent work look just made me feel so chic.  It's a rare thing to find a look as comfortable as this one that also feels very sophisticated.  The fringe top adds fun texture to this look, and I'm such a huge fan of fringe.  I have three fringe looks featured in this round-up!

Comfy Work Wear

#13 Date Night Maxi
I wore this outfit on a lovely date with my boo.  This skirt has the comfort of a maxi with the added interest of the shorter mini underneath.  This cropped tuxedo jacket has been my favorite jacket since I bought it, and hey, more fringe with the necklace!

Date Night Maxi

#14 Tickled Pink:  Romance and Tulle
As much as I usually appreciate a balance of feminine/masculine vibes, sometimes, I think it's fun just to feel super girly.  Tulle skirts are one of my favorite fashiony-type pieces...you know, not very practical for real life, but just too special and fun to resist.  

Tickled Pink:  Romance and Tulle

#15   Black Pants for Work:  Aztec Print and Fringe
Last but not least, one of my favorite looks this past year involved this sheer fringe top.  It's such a statement top, and I love letting the top be the standout piece in this look by keeping the rest of the outfit simple.

Black Pants for Work:  Aztec Prints and Fringe

Hope you enjoyed my round-up of my favorite posts during my second year of blogging! 

Blogging continues to be a sometimes exhausting, but always utterly enjoyable and enriching experience.  I thank you all so much for reading my blog, offering your comments and suggestions, and sharing a love of fashion together!

Moto & Graphics

Happy Tuesday!

Jacket:  Peter Som for Kohl's
Top: Ann Taylor Petites

Hope your week is going well so far!  Today, I'm featuring a recent work look.  As you know, I'm a huge fan of black and white, and I LOVE moto jackets, so a look that incorporates both is always a favorite.


Heels:  Target

This knit moto jacket is a good way to wear a moto jacket in the summer without the heaviness of faux leather.

Tote:  Target (Similar here)

I love the graphic print and cutouts of the top and the overall streamlined look of this combination.

Bangle:  The Limited (Available here)

Zip-back pants and bold accessories help add visual interest to this simple look.

Pants:  The Limited

Do you like moto jackets?  Are you a fan of graphic prints?

P.S. Tomorrow is the LAST day to nominate your favorite fashion bloggers for the St. Louis Fashion Blog Awards.  If you're so inclined, I'd really appreciate your nomination.  You can access the nomination form here, or check out the official St. Louis Fashion Week web site here for more details on what's in store!!

For the moto jacket in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.
For the top in other looks, see here and here.
For the pants in other looks, see here and here.

Vintage Floral

Happy Monday!

Dress:  RoseGal (Available here)

Hope you had a great weekend!  It has been really hot over here in my neck of the woods, but I'm super excited about fall fashion.

I've been trying to incorporate fall pieces into my wardrobe while not burning up in the heat.

Booties:  Target (Available here)

This dress is breezy enough for the current temperatures, but the darker florals will work well into fall.

Purse:  Target (Similar here)

Bangle:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

If this dress looks familiar, it's because I featured in my fall floral dress round-up.  I decided to order it, and I do really like the floral print.  It's definitely not a print that I would normally reach for, but I love the vintage floral vibe.  This dress runs a bit on the small side in the bust area, but overall, I enjoy the easy, almost trapeze fit.

It's not a dress that will show off your shape, but it is very comfortable!

Are you a fan of dark floral prints?  Any fall trends you're looking forward to???

Bzzzz...Black and Yellow Aren't Just For Bumblebees!!

There are certain color combinations that somewhere along the way I learned weren't okay for everyday wear.  Some combinations are associated with holidays (red and green; red, white, and blue; black and orange). 

Some get associated with other things...like bees.

Dress:  Eva Mendes for New York & Company

Well, like all rules in fashion, these rules about color deserve to be broken!

For work yesterday, I decided to pair my bright yellow dress with leopard heels. 


Heels:  Target (Available here)
Purse:  Express

What looks better with leopard than black?  So, I threw on a black blazer and added a black purse.

Blazer:  The Limited Black Collection (Similar here)
Rings:  Torrid

Necklace:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

While the weather outside is hot and sticky, my mind is on fall fashion, so pairing a lightweight dress and bare legs with leopard and faux croc is a way to incorporate some fall staples without melting in the heat (because I am that sweet, y'all...LOL).


The necklace and heels help tie the look together, and all in all, I'm really digging this combination.  I should wear yellow and black more often!  :-D

Bracelets:  Target and Ann Taylor

Are you a fan of yellow paired with black?  What are some of your favorite color combinations?

For this dress in other looks, see here and here.
For this blazer in other looks, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Smart Glamour and Body Positivity

Today, I'm excited to introduce you to a company that is doing some very amazing things. 

Alexa Low-High Tank - customized with sleeves:  c/o Smart Glamour (Available here)

Smart Glamour, owned by designer Mallorie Carrington, offers affordable made-to-order women's fashion. 

I was very excited when Mallorie reached out to me about doing a collaboration with her company.  As I've learned more information about Smart Glamour, I find my respect and admiration for everything she is doing continues to increase.

Skirt:  The Limited
Booties:  Target (Available here)

One of the things I really love about Smart Glamour is that you will always know where your clothes come from!  All of Mallorie's designs are handmade by her in Queens, NY.  Her turnaround time is 5-7 business days (which is amazing for made-to-order pieces!), and she purchases her fabrics in Manhattan. 

As her company grows, Mallorie plans to first hire NY freelancers to help and then eventually head to production houses to manufacture. She attests that her manufacturing will always be done in USA-based production houses that she can visit personally to ensure that workers are treated fairly.

Earrings:  Torrid (Available here)
Bracelets:  New York & Company

In addition to ensuring fair labor practices, Mallorie hopes to promote body confidence through her work. 

Smart Glamour offers custom sizing and other customizations to ensure a good fit and all the details that will make you feel your best (lower or raise a hemline, add or remove sleeves depending on preference).

Besides ensuring that her clothes fit women of every size at a very reasonable price, Mallorie has started a campaign to encourage women to know their measurements.  She emphasizes that our measurements are just numbers and that knowing them puts US in control of our bodies and our clothing purchases.  She started a social media campaign for women to share their measurements, using the hashtag, #measuremebeautiful.

Skirt:  Target

I find this campaign to be such an amazing and empowering idea. So many women don't know their own measurements, are scared to take their own measurements, and even more afraid about sharing those measurements with the world.  The #measuremebeautiful campaign helps us see so many different body types and to get a better understanding of body size/shape and the measurements that may go with that.

Rings:  Torrid, eloquii (Available here, and here)

So many of us don't really understand what other women's bodies look like without airbrushing, and we certainly haven't been shown other women's measurements.  I grew up with the notion that to be "perfect," I needed measurements of 34"-24"-34" because that is the ideal that many of us have been taught.

I have NEVER had these proportions.  At my thinnest...when I was wearing a size 0...when girls' clothing was too big for my waist, my waist was bigger than this, my hips smaller.

This set of measurements is just that - a set of numbers, no more or less beautiful than any other set because they're JUST NUMBERS, after all!

Necklace:  Ixora Boutique

As I have talked about on the blog before, women's clothing sizes are extremely inconsistent.  Knowing your measurements is a useful tool in shopping for new clothes, but it also helps do away with some of that anxiety that often comes with having to choose a bigger size with a particular brand or store.

In addition to promoting body confidence, Mallorie also works to reduce conflict and negativity between women that so often comes with the competition over appearance (and the attention and social success that comes with it).  She is off to an amazing start with her company and this campaign.  The idea of women sharing their measurements, putting themselves out there, choosing not to compete with other women (or themselves) is PARADIGM-SHIFTING.

Shoes:  Target

I admit...I struggled with the thought of sharing my measurements.  I know I'm overweight...you read my blog - you know I'm overweight.  There's no secret I'm hiding, but for some reason it's been more difficult to share my clothing size or my measurements. 

It wasn't until just recently I started sharing my clothing size with people outside of a few close acquaintances.  That ideal of "perfection" that I constantly fight has for too long reared its ugly head and forced me to put up a front.

But why hide my clothing size?  It's just a number, an inconsistent one at that!  So, I've started doing it!  The earth didn't stop rotating.  The ground didn't open up and swallow me hole.  In fact, no one has even batted an eyelash or made a disparaging remark. 

So, with that thought, why not share my measurements too?  They're just numbers - numbers that represent a few of my body's proportions.  They don't define me any more than your measurements define you.

I encourage you to take your own measurements if you don't already know them.  If you're so inclined, share them and join the SmartGlamour campaign!

Do you know your own measurements?  Would you buy custom-made clothing?

For the pencil skirt in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.
For the sheer maxi skirt in other looks, see here, here, and here.

Disclaimer:  This top was provided in exchange for reviewing the product.  All opinions are my own.