Rocker Ballerina at the St. Louis Fashion Blog Awards (Wish That I Could Be Like The Cool Kids)

Friday night was the Kickoff Party for St. Louis Fashion Week, which also included the second annual St. Louis Fashion Blog Awards!

In addition to the Blog Awards and the cocktail reception that followed, this wonderful event included an art/fashion presentation by Grace Kubilius, a fiber artist-in-residence at Craft Alliance in St. Louis.  

We were running behind in getting to the party, so I didn't think about snapping pics - I promise to either delight or bore you with pics of all the coming events.  You can learn more about Ms. Kubilius from Alive Magazine - one of the major sponsors and partners of St. Louis Fashion Week.

Skirt:  eShakti Custom (Available in red here)

I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who showed your support to me by voting.  Unfortunately, I didn't take home any awards this year, but it was amazing just to be nominated, especially for Blog of the Year!!  

I certainly never started blogging with the intent of winning awards.  Blogging is first, foremost, and always will be, about my love of fashion and my desire to make fashion seem more accessible to people who feel like outsiders to the fashion world. 

As I have discussed briefly in my "About Me" section, I grew up loving fashion but without the funds to have the "cool" clothes.  I have spent my life, from early childhood on, poring over fashion catalogs and magazines, learning to create higher end looks on the cheap and developing an evolving personal aesthetic.

Top:  Ann Taylor Petites
Shoes:  Prabal Gurung for Target

I spent every waking hour as a kid drawing fashion sketches, making clothes for my Barbies, and pretending I owned my own fashion boutique.

As my passion for fashion took a backseat to academic pursuits, I put a lot of this part of my life behind me, but my love of fashion remained.  Blogging has given me an outlet to share this passion with others.

It's shown me that there's a place for me in the fashion world, and I have some serious goals for the future that I can't wait to share with you at a later time!

Jacket:  Forever 21+ (old)
Belt:  LOFT

Now, on to my look!  :-)

I'm a working mom - I don't have a ton of opportunities to get all fancy, so I decided last night was a time to glam it up.

Necklace:  The Limited

I've talked before on the blog about how impractical but awesome tulle skirts are.  As a fashion gal, I can forget sometimes that tulle skirts really don't have a place in my life, but I can't resist!

Being that last night was a fashion event - one of the few places where a tulle skirt is really acceptable, I decided to rock my girly tutu with a bustier style top, cropped tuxedo jacket and lace up heels.  I actually wore this top last year to the Blog Awards.  Fashion faux pas?  Nah!

I love the mix of something super feminine with edgier elements, so I added in an ear cuff, large ring, and other fun silver jewelry.

Ring:  Torrid
Bracelets:  New York & Company and Torrid

My awesome sister gave me this amazing pompadour updo inspired by Juliana Hough's look from the 2013 Golden Globes.  Doesn't she have mad skills?

Ear cuff:  Torrid (Available here)
Silver Earring:  The Limited (old)
Pearl studs:  Target (Available here)
CZ stud:  New York & Company?

Source:  MSN Living

A pink and black moon mani (given to me by the most adorable manicurist ever) completed the look.

While the Blog Awards were fun, and I got to meet up with a few new people (and a couple familiar faces), we didn't stay very long. 

I admit I'm not the most social person, and events like these (where I feel both the desire to network and meet other like-minded people and the sometimes debilitating awkwardness of doing so) tend to make me feel anxious and stressed. 

In addition, my man had come straight from work and hadn't had a chance to eat dinner, so he was starving.  The light bites offered, as great as they were, were just not doing enough to stave off his hunger.

So, we headed out shortly after the awards were announced. 

We ended up at The Cheesecake Factory.  We did not run into Penny, Leonard, or Sheldon, but we had a fun time pigging out on delicious food. 

Of course, you can't go to The Cheesecake Factory without getting some cheesecake, so even though I was pleasantly full, I got a slice of vanilla bean cheesecake to take home for later.   Somehow the man and one of the kids conned me out of most out of it, but what I had was delicious!  :-)

I had initially felt really silly going out to dinner in a tulle skirt, but then, I just felt kind of fabulous!

At the end of the day, whatever you're wearing, fashion is about having fun and owning your look.  Who cares if I was out of place? 

Thanks again to everyone who voted for me and for all of you who follow my blog...your support makes my day...year...life!!

For the silly, impractical, but totally fun tulle skirt in other looks, see here, here, and here.

For the top in other looks, see here, here, and here.

For my very favorite jacket in other looks, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Fall Double Feature: Sporty Chic

It's been a fun week collaborating with Irene of Petite Plus, Meow, but like all good things, it must come to an end.

Today, Irene and I close out our week on fall fashion by interpreting the sporty trend!

Jacket:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Skirt:  Target Petites (old)

I've never been a athletic girl...sports and me go together like oil and really clutzy water.

Thankfully, this season, we don't have to be good at or even enjoy sports to get in on the athletic trend!

Tank:  Target (old) (Similar here)

Sport-inspired styles were all over fall runways.  From super casual looks to chic evening outfits and everything in between, this fall we can all channel our inner Serena or Mia by adding a little sporty flair to our wardrobes.

Clutch:  The Limited

This past summer, I bought a cute pair of sneakers, and I was desperately trying to come up with a look that I liked with them. 

EPIC. FAIL.

So...I decided to pair a sporty moto jacket with a bright tank and knit pencil skirt for a more dressed-up version of this trend.

Clutch:  Express

Sneakers are the IT shoe for fall.  While comfy shoes should never really go out of style, this season it's all about wearing them in unexpected ways.  I hope to come up with street chic look that I like with my sneakers soon.

Heels:  Target

I've become quite the heels gal over the last few years, but I need more casual and comfortable options for weekends and running around.  I tend to veer between my high-heel looks and grody sweats and flip flops.  I need more in-between looks that I'm not embarrassed to wear out of the house! 

While I would wear my look for a movie date or more casual date night with my boo, Irene's look is decidedly more casual.

She paired sporty stripes with wedge sneakers for a cute daytime look.

Irene of Petite Plus, Meow!

Get all the details on Irene's look over at Petite Plus, Meow! or catch her on Facebook.

Earrings:  Target

Are you a fan of the sporty trend for fall?

For this skirt in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.

Fall Double Feature: Mad for Plaid

I hope you've been following my series in collaboration with Irene from Petite Plus, Meow! We've had so much fun this past week discussing fall trends!

Today, Irene and I are talking PLAID!

Whether you prefer it preppy, grungy, classic, or punk, plaid is back in a big way for fall this year.

My office job often dictates my clothing purchases and outfits, but a girl likes to play too!  So today, I styled glen plaid for both work AND play!

Glen plaid is a classic, but it can definitely read conservative - more conservative than I like. 

Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

For work, I wanted to keep the look conservative but I wanted to add in some fun and individual elements, so I decided to play around with pattern mixing by adding a floral top to a glen plaid blazer. 

Pants:  The Limited (old)

Even though this blazer has a classic silhouette and print, it's got this amazing spade print lining and faux leather elbow patches. 

The flirty crop top adds a fun touch.

Top:  Target (Similar here)
Clutch:  The Limited

I kept jewelry minimal with just earrings and a couple rings, but I made sure that each of the pieces was interesting and "me."

Earrings:  Target (Available here)

Rings:  eloquii and NY&Co. (Available here and here)

I stayed simple on bottom with black skinny pants and added burgundy heels and clutch for a pop of fall color.

Heels:  Target

While my work look is a little preppy (with just enough whimsical elements added to get me through the work day), my evening look has a somewhat edgy feel.

Top:  The Limited (Available here)

Bracelet:  The Limited (old)

For play, I layered a sheer glen plaid top over a nude bra.  I threw a faux leather moto vest over top and added cutout ankle booties.  

Necklace:  Target
Booties:  Payless

A coated tweed clutch and pewter and silver jewelry complete the look.

Clutch:  The Limited

Rings:  Torrid
Bracelet:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

I took the "play" pics over a couple different days, so there are a few subtle differences in the pics.  Remember those "Find what's different" games we did as kids?  Today's blog post has a built-in activity!!  :-D

Always feminine, Irene paired her mid-length plaid skirt with a cozy sweater and ankle booties for a ladylike look with a little sass.  I love that we are both using roughly the same color palette but creating very different looks. 

Irene of Petite Plus, Meow!

See more of Irene's look over at Petite Plus, Meow! or follow her on Facebook.

Are you mad for plaid?  How would you style this trend?

For more looks featuring these pants, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Check out all the other fall looks from this collab here, here, here, here, and here.  Last installment tomorrow!

Fall Double Feature: Blue Hues

Does cooler weather make you blue?  

I love fall, but winters in the Midwest can be fairly harsh.  They can make a gal like me feel very down. 

Well, this year, the color palette for fall and winter can match that mood.  Virtually every shade of blue was seen on fall runways, and as I previously discussed, bright cobalt and royal blue have been named by Pantone as two of the trendiest colors for fall 2014.

Skirt:  Outback Red by The Limited (Available here)

Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)

But blue often unfairly gets associated only with feeling down or depressed when many blues are calming or vibrant or even energetic.  With almost every shade of blue out there this fall, you can create a look that suits any mood!

Tank:  LOFT Petites

Today, Irene of Petite Plus, Meow! and I continue our series on fall trends by trying out some popular blue shades for fall - Irene is in bright cobalt (see below), while I'm in more subdued navy.


 Neither of our looks will get you through winter (unless you are lucky enough to have very mild winters), but they are PERFECT for fall!!

Pearl bracelet:  New York & Company

This look isn't too dissimilar from the red maxi skirt look I featured here.  In fact, it's the same skirt - I nabbed this color on an end-of-summer clearance.

It's a formula of which I am particular fond.

Maxi skirt + tank + moto jacket = Casual Cool Happiness :-)

Earrings:  The Limited

I added some of my favorite fall neutrals - ivory and caramel - to my navy maxi skirt for a laid-back look.  I would wear this look for a relaxed evening out, a casual Friday at work, or shopping on weekends if I felt like getting a bit more dressed up.

A large tote and gold and pearl bracelets complete the look.

Tote:  The Limited

Bangles:  Target and Ann Taylor (Available here)

While my look is more casual and laid-back, Irene oomphs up the sex appeal, with a printed body con dress in bright cobalt.  Doesn't she look A-MA-ZING?!

Irene of Petite Plus, Meow!

Learn more about Irene's look over on her blog, Petite Plus, Meow! or find her on Facebook.

Are you a fan of wearing blue?  What shades will you be wearing this fall?

For the tank in other looks, see here and here.

For the jacket in another look, see here.

Fall Double Feature: Blooms on Black

Have you been keeping up with my fall fashion series in collaboration with fellow petite curvy blogger, Irene from Petite Plus, Meow!?

Irene and I continue our Fall Double Feature today with Blooms on Black! 

Dress:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

Purse:  The Limited

Black floral prints are a huge part of the dark glamour trend for fall.

I really enjoy dark florals, and today, I had fun creating a luxe bohemian look.  This dress reminds me of dresses from the 1970s.  So, I decided to play up that 70s vibe by adding a velvet blazer, fringe bag, and a felt floppy hat.

Can you believe I got this hat the summer before last...at Wal-mart...for only $1.00?!!

Blazer:  New  York & Company

Boots:  Target (Available here)

This look is definitely a little outside of my normal style, but I absolutely love it. 

Hat:  Wal-Mart

Paired with opaque black tights and boots, it will work well into winter. 

Belt:  Torrid

While I chose a look with a slightly bohemian vibe, Irene is more ladies-who-lunch with a sophisticated floral blouse, pearl necklace, pencil skirt and classic peep-toe pumps.

Irene of Petite Plus, Meow!

Check her out at Petite Plus, Meow or find her on Facebook!

Will you be adding any dark floral pieces in your wardrobe this fall?

Earrings:  Target (old)

For this dress in another look, see here.
For the blazer in another look, see here and here.
See my other looks from this fall double feature here, here, and here.