Wild Card Wednesday: Reveal & Conceal

It's Wednesday, which means it's time for another wild card look! 

For today's look I styled a lace dress for an evening out.  I wore a very similar version of this look to a recent fashion event, and I felt super chic and confident.  I just love how layering the lace dress over a bodysuit gives the outfit an unexpected edge.

Dress:  Forever 21+ (Available here)

Trench:  Who What Wear xTarget (Available here)

Boots:  FarylRobin Fawcett (Available at Target here)

Since the shapes and color palette of this look were simple, I seized the opportunity to really play around with texture and pattern, mixing the patterned lace with polka dots, jeweled boots, and a metallic striped bag.

Bodysuit:  Boohoo Plus

Glasses:  Valentino

Purse:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

For a more conservative version of this look that would be suitable for work, dinner, or any number of occasions, simply add a black bodycon dress or slip under the lace dress.

How would you style this dress? 

Casual Friday: The Oversized Sweatshirt

Hope those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving had a lovely time.  This holiday season is a little different for my family.  Last month, my grandmother ended her long suffering with Alzheimer's.  Just this week, my husband lost his father.  It has been a rough time for my family, but it has also been comforting to know that two very ill people are no longer enduring pain.

Dress:  ASOS (Available here)
Bracelet:  Ann Taylor

I feel so blessed that my children were able to know my grandmother.  She was such a special woman, and she just loved kids.  My youngest daughter was especially close to my father-in-law, and while his death has been hard on her, I  am thankful that she and my other kids had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him.

Necklace:  LOFT

Yesterday, we had two Thanksgiving meals to try to spend the holiday with more family.  Two meals meant I needed some eatin' pants and later, no pants at all!  Ha, ha!

Sneakers:  Nike (old)

For the first part of the day, I paired an oversized sweatshirt dress with faux leather leggings and heels.  I added a blingy necklace to dress the look up a bit.

Pants:  Who What Wear for Target (No longer available online)

Glasses:  Valentino

Heels:  Target

Since my husband was cooking the second meal at our house, I got even more comfortable and lost the heels and pants.

Clutch:  The Limited

The holidays are always casual affairs in my family, and this year, I really just wanted to be comfortable.

This dress was perfect for the occasion!

Do you dress up for the holidays or go casual?

Wild Card Wednesday: All The Bells & Whistles

Whenever the holidays approach, I find that my work style gets a little more fancy.  This season is no exception, and this look is a perfect example. 

Skirt:  ASOS (Sold out; Similar available here)

Trench:  Booohoo Plus (Available here)

Between the velvet skirt, metallic shoes, satiny camisole, and faux fur clutch, this outfit has all the bells and whistles.

Camisole:  Who What Wear for Target (Available here)

Shoes:  ASOS

Glasses:  Valentino

I love the pastel grey mixed with soft pinks - it's an unexpected combination for fall.  A simple silver necklace ties in the shoes. 

Necklace:  New York & Company

Clutch:  ASOS

Does your work style get dressier around the holidays?  What "special" fabrics do you enjoy wearing - velvet, faux fur, satin, sequins, metallics?

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate!!

Manic Monday: Black & Yellow

Yellow is one of my favorite colors to wear, but sometimes, it can be difficult to find fashionable options in this color.  Thankfully, this hasn't been a problem this fall as yellow has been one of the "it" colors.  I picked up a couple yellow pieces this season, including this pleated skirt and flower bow neck tie from Eloquii.

Blouse:  Eloquii (Available here)

Neck Bow:  Eloquii (Available here)
Earrings:  Target

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Recently for work, I paired these pieces with a black button-down top and booties for a cute pulled-together look.  The temperatures are starting to dip, so I will add a blazer and tights soon.

Satchel:  Express

The ruffle detail on the sleeves of the top add such a unique detail to an otherwise basic button-down.  I'm always looking for interesting basics, and this top really fits the bill.

Belt:  The Limited (old)

I hope to add a couple more yellow pieces to my wardrobe before the color loses traction in the fashion industry.  While I sometimes enjoy color trends, I mostly seek out my own personal favorite colors to wear (yellow, greens, and blush/peachy pinks).  When they become popular, I like to stock up!

Glasses:  Valentino

What colors do you like to wear?  Are you a fan of the yellow color trend this fall?

Wild Card Wednesday: Winter White & Faux Fur

With Thanksgiving literally next week (I know, right?), the winter holidays are fast-approaching.  The winter holidays may bring on a variety of emotions, events, and to-do lists for us, but they also bring on dressier wardrobe occasions.

Jacket:  Eloquii (Available here)

For today's look, I'm thinking ahead and styled a look that is just perfect for the holidays.  Winter white always feels so classy and refined, and this maxi dress from Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant definitely has an elegant appeal. 

Dress:  Christian Siriano for Lane Bryant (sold out)

Glasses:  Valentino

Clutch:  ASOS

Unfortunately, this dress is sold out, but my great jacket from Eloquii is not!

Ring (right hand):  eBay

While I will also style this dress more casually with a moto jacket, for today's look, I decided to go for an evening option.  I paired the dress with a two-tone faux fur jacket that is both cozy and super chic. 

Holiday parties, I'm ready for you!!!

Shoes:  New Look Wide Fit

Do you plan on attending any upcoming holiday parties?  Do you have any preferred holiday fabrics - Faux fur?  Sequins?  Velvet?

Indie Spotlight: The Tiny Closet

I discovered The Tiny Closet blog a year or two ago, and I immediately fell in love with blogger Natalie's minimalist aesthetic and commitment to maintaining a small wardrobe.  Sometimes, I feel like the antithesis of Natalie - I seem to have an ever-growing wardrobe that can sometimes get a little out of control.

Dress:  The Tiny Closet Shop (Available here)

Maybe because of that, I find Natalie very inspiring, and her style has a modern simplicity that I adore.

Clutch:  Torrid

Necklace:  The Limited

She recently opened up her own on-line shop offering options with her signature style.  I had seen her sporting this dress on her blog and loved the easy sex appeal of it.  It's minimal, but definitely not boring.

Boots:  New Look Wide Fit

Clutch:  Eloquii

Glasses:  Valentino

The weather in my area has been unseasonably warm, so this was a perfect option for my recent birthday. My husband and I went to see Margaret Cho, and I wore this look for the show.  

Over the summer, I also picked up The Weekender dress from The Tiny Closet shop which I previously featured on the blog.  Head over to The Tiny Closet Shop to see more from this perfectly curated collection!  Sizing goes up to a 18, but with many oversized pieces, sizes 20-22 may likely have some luck as well!

Indie Spotlight: This Nasty Woman Votes

The way too long and hostile election season is finally over, and today, we cast our votes for the next President of the United States.  I will eagerly and nervously be awaiting the results, hoping that history will be made and we will elect our first ever female POTUS.

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Even though I have really strong opinions, I try to stay fairly apolitical on the blog because I want this to be a welcoming space for all.  But, this election feels different.  Really different.

After voting for Bill Clinton in my first election in 1996, I have typically voted Green Party.  The Green Party stands for real progressive change that is most in line with my personal, political, and spiritual beliefs.  During the primaries this year, I decided to vote for Bernie Sanders.  He has fought long and hard for equality in this society, and I was really feeling the Bern.

Unfortunately, he did not make it through to the end, and in this dreadful two-party system that we have, Bernie Sanders is no longer a viable choice for president.  In fact, he has requested that voters NOT write him in and instead offer their support to Hillary Clinton.

T-shirt:  Nasty Woman + Company (Available here)

I don't agree with everything about Hillary Clinton.  She is far too moderate for my preference, and I think she, like most Democrats, pander to liberals while having way too many ties to big business and lobbyists. 

Our system as a whole is corrupt and needs reform.  Instead of the winner-take-all approach we have here in the States, we need ranked-choice voting
 that actually honors the popular vote and the concerns of the electorate.  That discussion is for another time though because we are here, facing a big decision about who should become our next President.

Jacket:  Boohoo Plus

Clutch:  The Limited

And while I have my reservations about Hillary Clinton, she still stands for many of the progressive values that I hold dear.  She has worked for women, families, children, social equality, and so many more important issues throughout her career, and she is by far, without a doubt, the most qualified candidate for the job.  So even with my concerns, I can proudly say that this year, #ImWithHer. 

I am choosing not to vote Green Party because I think this election is just too important, and the stakes too unbelievably high.  I live in Illinois - it's a traditionally Democratic state.  My vote for a Green Party candidate wouldn't be in vain.  That said, if this election is challenged, as Donald Trump has promised to do if not elected, then the popular vote may become even more important, and I can't take that risk.  Not for myself, not for my kids, and not for society as a whole.

Necklace:  The Limited

Glasses:  Valentino

Donald Trump is one of the most openly xenophobic, racist, sexist, Islamaphobic homophobic, and ableist candidates we have ever seen.  This election isn't about Democrat or Republican for me...it's about right and wrong.  It's about my children - children who are biracial, female, and who have special needs.  What message am I giving them if I voted for someone who has shown such disdain and hostility to all of them at different times.  My children are afraid that their Latino friends will be deported!!!  This is serious and scary and sad.

This election I am voting for friends and strangers who want the right to live peaceful lives, free to love and marry who they want.  This election I am voting for the rights of people like my great-grandfather who traveled to this country from Turkey as a young boy, seeking asylum from persecution.  This election I am voting for myself as a woman who has been a victim of sexual assault and harassment and as a woman who wants to see an end to misogynistic rape culture.

This election, I am voting for all of us.  Because regardless of your personal political views, most of us are not part of the elite, and if you aren't part of the elite, Donald Trump brings nothing to you. I am not even sure if Donald Trump has anyone's interests at heart than his own.

Though I am excited to see history being made in my lifetime, I am not voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman.  I'm voting for Hillary Clinton because at this stage of the game, she is the best candidate we have for the job!

Despite the hatefulness of this election, it has inspired me to do some good in the world, particularly for women.  To that end, I am facilitating a drive to collect needed goods for a local domestic violence shelter.  For those of you who want to help but who don't live near me or know me personally, I created a GoFundMe page to raise funds to buy the items needed by the shelter, which I am told are toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene products.  I will be doing a large donation drop just in time for Thanksgiving, and I am asking for your kind, non-partisan help in making this winter a little bit easier on the women and children escaping violent situations.  Every little bit helps - a $5 dollar donation buys a couple packs of toilet paper or a bottle or two of floor cleaner.  If you can't donate, please consider sharing the GoFundMe page on your social media to raise awareness and garner additional support.  Just go to:   https://www.gofundme.com/help-phoenix-crisis-shelter?ssid=798133105&pos=1

Also, before I leave you all to vote, I must mention today's Indie Spotlight.  Today, I'm wearing a Nasty Woman t-shirt from female Brooklyn-based fashion and graphic designer Bob Bland.  She has screenprinted tees and bags for all of you Nasty Women and Bad Hombres, so please check her out!  Sizing is small.  I'm wearing a 2X in women's sizing, and it is definitely a fitted style t-shirt.