Dress Week 3: Put On Your Spectacles

It has been beyond crazed at work for the last few weeks, but I am back tonight with another post for Dress Week 3.

My spectacle print dress from eShakti is so summery and relaxed feeling that I thought it would be fun to take it a different direction by adding a cropped moto jacket, open-toe booties, and a studded bag.

Dress:  eShakti (Available here)

As much as I love each of these individual pieces, this is not my favorite way to style this dress.  Ultimately, I felt like this look involved too many similar colors which almost created a clashing effect.

Jacket:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

Tote:  Target (Available here)

That said, the cropped fit and peplum of the jacket is a good shape for pairing with a fit-and-flare dress.

Booties:  Target (Available here)
Ring:  The Limited

How would you style this dress?

For the dress in another look, see here.

P.S.  eShakti was kind enough to provide an exclusive promo code for you, my dear readers!  Use code 'stylecases' to save 10% off your order. This code can be combined with most other codes and offers, and it can be re-used as often as you want now through 5/11/2014.

Dress Week 2: Planning for Spring

Happy Monday everyone!

For those of you were off of work today, let me just acknowledge my jealousy!  :-)  For the rest of us, it was back to work and back to trekking out in winter weather!

While the weather outside is frightful, I'm thinking about my outfits for St. Louis Fashion Week in the spring and came up with this outfit.

Dress:  Eva Mendes for New York & Company (See here - no longer available on-line)

Boots:  Target (Available here)

I'm loving this one-shouldered asymmetrical dress made cool with open-toe ankle booties and gold jewelry.  This look could be worn now with the addition of some warm tights.

Jacket:  Target

Clutch:  The Limited

Ring:  Shoxie.com (Similar here)

I featured this dress here on the blog back in December, but at the time the dress was too long.  I used a belt to create a shorter look, but I always knew that I wanted to get it hemmed.

I love that I can now wear the dress loose or belted to create different looks!

Necklace:  Vintage

For this jacket in another look, see here.

Go Bold, Go Casual

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that getting back to work today wasn't too rough!

Sweatshirt:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)
Earrings:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)

Today was dreary here in St. Louis, so I decided to feature a colorful outfit to beat the early fall blahs!  

This look is actually from the last casual Friday at my job.  I like jeans, but I do not always reach for them on casual Fridays.  Instead, I like to take pieces that are usually too casual for work, like this sweatshirt, and give them a little professional polish.

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Button-down shirt (Available here)

Boots:  Payless (old)

Casual Friday also gives me permission (at least in my own mind) to add boldness to my look by mixing red and leopard print.

Ankle booties and dangly earrings lend an edge to this outfit.

Purse:  Express

Bracelet:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Do you like mixing red and leopard print?

If you work in a professional work environment, what do you like to wear on casual Fridays?

For this sweatshirt in another look, see here and here.
For these pants in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.

Pencil Me In

Many in the body acceptance movement would say flattery-schmattery, that worrying about traditional constructs of figure flattery (taller, thinner equating better) is a waste of time and that promoting such is regressive or unenlightened.

I tend to disagree with that idea somewhat.  While I generally say, wear what you want (and I sometimes wear pieces that aren't traditionally flattering to appease my fashion desires), I think most of us are drawn to what makes us look most streamlined.  Most often, the pieces that make us look taller and thinner are those that show off our bodies in the best of ways.  

Skirt:  Target Petites (Available here)
Blouse:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Earrings:  Target

For example, pencil skirts are super flattering for most curvy women.  They show off curves while creating a streamlined silhouette.  In a pencil skirt, you're certainly not hiding fuller thighs or a fuller bottom.  You're showing them off in the best of ways!

Ankle boots:  Payless

I am especially in love with this new pencil skirt I just picked up from Target.  Because it's knit, this skirt is a little more fitted and pencil-y than I am usually able to get from other pencil skirts (even after alterations).  

I'm also in love with the on-trend midi length of this one.  I've largely moved passed the high-low look, but I have to admit, I love the way that it really adds a lengthening element to this skirt.  I manage to look taller in what I usually think of as an awkward skirt length.

Bracelet:  eBay (Similar here)

Clutch:  Vintage (eBay)

Full disclosure:  The first time I featured this skirt on my blog, I was wearing a misses size.  I had only thrown the outfit on for pics and hadn't worn it out yet.  When I realized that the skirt was available in petites on-line, I decided to give the petites version a try.  I was in between sizes on the misses skirt, had opted for the larger version, and wasn't 100% content with the fit.  The petites version in the same size provided a more streamlined fit without being too tight.  The difference between the petites and misses size was slight, and probably imperceptible to most, but it made this picky girl happier!

I'm always excited when I can wear a new item without spending time and money on alterations!

How much does figure flattery play into your fashion choices?

For this skirt in another look, see here.
For this blouse in another look, see here.
For this jacket in other looks, see here, here, and here.

A is for A-line

Recently, I've been playing around with skirts in different shapes.  Today's look features an A-line skirt.

Skirt:  Target (Available here)
Blazer:  New York & Company

In my early 20s, I lived in mini skirts (the shorter the better).  About six years ago, it was all maxi skirts, all the time.  More recently, I seem to have stuck to pencil skirts. Now, I'm in the mood for more variety. 

Blouse:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)
Boots:  Payless (old)

Necklace:  Express (old)

I recently found this skirt at Target.  It has a matching bralette top, which sealed the deal for me.  The top is on back-order, but I definitely plan to rock the bare midriff look soon!

Purse:  The Limited (Similar here)

Belt:  The Limited

Yesterday, I wore this look to work.  The simple top and blazer kept the look professional, but the faux leather sleeves on the blazer, ankle boots, print of the skirt, and necklace gave the look a cool edge.

Do you like A-line skirts?

To see this blazer styled differently, click here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Mix It Up!

I love dresses for their ease and comfort; however, they definitely offer fewer styling options than pants or skirts.  Pants and skirts offer lots of mix and match options that allow you to create a range of versatile styles.  

With most pants or skirts, you could wear them more than once a week, and with different styling, no one would know.  With dresses, there's only so many ways to wear them and they tend to be more memorable, which definitely makes styling them more limiting. 

Dress:  New York & Company (Similar here)
Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

Today, I wore my cobalt dress.  I chose the same formula as the last time I wore it:  blazer, belt, tights, and boots. 

For how I wore the blue dress before, see here and here.  For the blazer in another look, see here.

Tights:  Target (Similar here)
Belt:  The Limited (Similar here)
Earrings:  The Limited

This time, I chose a thinner belt, my grey suit jacket and grey and black leopard tights. 

I like the combination of cobalt blue, black, and grey.  I also like the idea of taking a piece as potentially stuffy as a classic grey blazer and loosening it up with bright blue and leopard print.

Boots:  Payless
Purse:  The Limited
Ring:  Purchased at local jewelry show

Do you like dresses, or do you tend to stick with pants and/or skirts?

B&W Colorblocking

Dress:  New York & Company

Hi everyone!

Today I paired this sporty black and white shift dress with opaque black tights and wedge heels boots for a comfy, but put together look.

I love the black and white trend for fall as I could live in this classic color combination.

Tote:  The Limited (Available here)

Tights:  Torrid (Available here)
Boots:  Target (Available here)

See this dress styled for warmer weather/climates here.

Necklaces:  The Limited
Ring:  Local jewelry show

Do you like wearing black and white, or do you prefer color?

Croc N' Roll

Feeling inspired by bright colors this week, I decided to wear my green pencil skirt.  

Skirt:  The Limited (Similar here)
Tank:  Old Navy Petites
Jacket:  The Limited (styled differently here)

The last time I wore this skirt, I didn't get the proportions correct (see here).  

Today, the shorter jacket and loose, but not too long, top complement the shape of the pencil skirt.

Boots:  Payless

I added a little bit of a rock n' roll vibe to my work look by adding ankle booties rather than pumps.

I love adding a quirky, fun touch to my work clothes, and today, I added this rhinestone alligator ring.

Ring:  Target (Available in stores)
Bracelets (l to r):  Jodi Arnold for The Limited; ? unknown - old; Claire's; The Limited; The Limited

The ring feels a little tongue-in-cheek when paired with the faux crocodile bag

Purse:  Express (Available here)

Do you like to add a fun touch to your work looks?

Chiffon and Lace and Bows...Oh My!

Hi everyone!

I love pairing looks around accessories.  Sometimes, I'll pick out a necklace or other accessory and plan my outfit around it.  Today, I planned my outfit around these "love" tights.

Tights:  The Limited (Available here)
Belt:  The Limited (Available here)
Boots:  Payless

Yes, it's still a little too hot for tights, but I am READY for fall!  :-)
When you are on a budget, fun and trendy accessories and hosiery can be a wallet-friendly way of updating and transitioning your look.

Dress:  The Limited (Available here)
Leather Tote:  The Limited (Similar:  here)

I purchased this dress over the summer.  It is lightweight and flowy, making it perfect for the hot summer months, but by adding tights and boots, it becomes fall-appropriate.  Using accessories like these fun tights to transition and update your wardrobe is a great way of expanding your clothing possibilities without having to add new items to your closet.

Jade ring:  Vintage (gift)
Blazer:  The Limited (Similar:  here)

This look is ultra-feminine (bows, lace, chiffon, and love), but the color palette and boots toughens the look up enough to keep it from being too girly. 

Honestly, I think I would have preferred this look with some heels rather than these particular boots.  I would definitely wear these boots with this dress again, but with opaque black tights.  Live and learn.  :-)

Do you use accessories and shoes to transition your wardrobe for year-round wear?

Biker Chic

Happy Monday Everyone!

Today, I decided to add a little edge to my pink pencil skirt with a black motorcycle jacket-style cardigan and black booties.

Converse One Star Jacket (Available:  Target)
Skirt:  The Limited

I love this cardigan. It gives the look of a biker jacket without the structure or heaviness of (faux) leather.

Top:  Old Navy Petites
Ankle boots:  Payless

I also have a major affinity for snake-themed jewelry.  Maybe because I was born in the Year of the Snake? 

I got this bracelet off eBay.  I have found eBay to be a great source for unique, low-priced jewelry.

Earrings:  Express (old)
Bracelet (Available:  Ebay)

Do you like ankle boots with pencil skirts?