Wild Card Wednesday: Emerald City

Happy Wednesday!  Sorry that I missed Monday's post - I am still sick!  Ugh!!

Tunic:  eShakti (Available here)

Since I'm sick, I have really been craving comfortable options more than usual, so for St. Patrick's Day, I came up with this casual option.

Jacket:  Torrid (Available here)

Being so short but also curvy, it can be nearly impossible to get a proper fit.  I love companies that offer custom-fit clothing because it really helps eliminate the need for a tailor. While I am used to having to take everything to a tailor, it's still a bummer to buy clothes only to have to wait a week or two to wear them.


While there are few custom retailers I love, eShakti is the largest of them with the widest, most varied selection.

Booties:  life+style by Sonoma

Glasses:  Valentino

In addition to custom fit, eShakti offers custom styling options.  I decided to make this tunic into a dress by lengthening the hem.  I also shortened the sleeves as I prefer 3/4 length sleeves on my petite frame.

The emerald green color is so pretty.  The trapeze cut is fun, and the v-neckline is flattering.  It's one of those great versatile pieces that works well with tights in the winter but will also be easy and breezy come summer.

Bracelets (left to right):  Karma Mantra; purchased from street vendor in Mexico; The Limited

Clutch:  Target

For today's look, I added a faded denim jacket and comfy booties for an easy vibe.

What colors would you pair with emerald?  Have you tried a custom-fit dress?  Are you wearing green for St. Paddy's Day?

Spearmint and Orange

Hope you're all having a great Saturday!

Blouse:  LOFT (Available here)
Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

Today, I feature a recent work outfit.  I paired an orange-tipped blouse with a spearmint green blazer and navy skinny pants.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

I love the mix of green and orange.  The navy pants keep the look subtle enough for work, while being a softer choice than black. 

A straw bag with orange trim and a fun alligator ring finish the look (close-up of ring here).

Purse:  The Limited (Available here)

Ring:  Target (Similar here)

Do you like mixing orange and green?

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

Lacy Day

Dress:  LOFT Petites (Available here)
Blazer: LOFT Petites (Available here)

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Today's outfit was a recent work look.  I really love this dress.  It's lace with crochet bib-front detail. 

Lately, I have been all about interesting textures and fabric details.  I tend to wear a lot of neutrals, so cool fabrications help keep the pieces from being boring.

As much as I love this dress, this is an overall look that I felt was just an "almost." 

The yellow sandals weren't my favorite with this look.  I didn't think I had any shoes that I would like with this outfit, but later I remembered that I had some canvas wedge espadrilles that would have been perfect.  Next time I wear this dress, I'll remember!

Also, my peach lip color was a little too light for my skin tone, but I love the look of a more nude lip with a smoky eye.  I'll have to do some more experimenting to get the right nude.

Seeing my looks in photographs helps me assess overall styling.  If you're on the fence about whether an outfit or overall look is working, taking a few quick photographs of yourself is definitely a styling tip that I would recommend.

For this jacket in another look, see here.

Spring To It

Today, I bring you a professional spring work look.

Skirt: The Limited (Similar here)
Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)

I paired a green pencil skirt with a white top and jacket.  To add some visual interest, I added this floral scarf.

Top:  Torrid (old)
Scarf:  The Limited (No longer available on-line; see here)
Bracelets:  Express, Target

This outfit is quite conservative, more conservative than I usually go for.  I like it though because it feels so fresh and springy with the combination of green and white.  It's a great way to bring a little of the joy of spring into the office.

Shoes:  Target (Available in other colors here)
Purse:  The Limited (Similar here)

Hope you all have a great day!!

For this skirt in other looks, see here and here.
For this blazer in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.
For this top in another look, see here.

Touch of Color

Hope you all had a great Hump Day!!

Cardigan:  LOFT Petites (Similar here)
Blouse:  Gap (old)

Tank:  Target (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Available here) 

Today, I paired neutral pieces with green color blocked heels and a jade ring for a few pops of color.

Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Bracelets:  Target, World Market

Purse:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)

Ring: Vintage (gift) (Similar here)
Earrings:  Express 

To see this blouse styled differently, see here.

Do you like adding small doses of color to neutral looks?

Green with Envy

Hi everyone!

I am super excited about today's outfit.  I recently picked up this colorblocked skirt from Ann Taylor.  I love the emerald green color mixed with black.

I paired the skirt with a fun fringe top and tuxedo style blazer for a little added flavor to my work look.

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

Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)
Tights:  The Limited (old)

I love pairing typical "evening" pieces like this fringe top with more basic, but interesting, pieces that allow me to have fun with my work wardrobe.

Cuff:  Express (Sold out online)

Earrings:  The Limited

The best part?  Emerald green has been named the color of 2013 by Pantone, which means that my favorite color will now be readily available in stores this year!!!

Clutch:  The Limited (old)
Boots:  Payless (old)

Do you like to incorporate "evening" pieces into your daytime work looks?  Are you excited about emerald green being the "it" color for 2013?

For more on Spring 2013's Fashion Color Trends, see here.

Casual Christmas Eve

Hi everyone, and Merry Christmas!!!

I have been sick with the flu and out of commission the bulk of this past week.  I'm finally starting to feel better and am back to posting!

Last night, I went to a casual family Christmas gathering, and this is what I wore:

Blouse:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)
Tank: The Limited

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target (old)

I wanted an outfit that wasn't too dressed up, but that still had some holiday flair.
 
I paired dark denim jeans with my green wrap blouse and gold jewelry for a bit of understated glamour.

Necklace:  Target
Bow earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

Satchel:  The Limited (Available here)

What did you wear for the holiday festivities?

Happy Holidays!

At ease!

Happy Friday!!

For today's casual Friday, I paired a striped tee with this comfy knit military-inspired jacket.

Jacket:  Forenza by The Limited (old)
Tee:  The Limited (Available here)
Satchel:  The Limited (Available here)

I didn't realize until this evening that the stripes on the tee were actually navy rather than black, but I don't mind it with the black pieces and think it will work with both black and navy pieces.

Pants:  The Limited (No longer available on-line, see them here)

Shoes:  Target (Similar here)
Jade ring:  Gift

Military-inspired looks were all over fall's runways (See more here).  To maintain the military theme of the jacket and sailor tee, I added some cute anchor earrings.

Earrings:  Gift (Similar: here)

Stripes never really go out of style, but they are having a major moment this spring.  I can't wait to mix this top with bright colors and even some fun prints.

Oscar de la Renta spring 2013, Source:  Marie Claire

Dolce & Gabanna Spring 2013, Source:  Harper's Bazaar

For on fall's black and white trend, see here.

Fashion Repeat

Hey everyone!

I'm back after a short hiatus!  I had a major family emergency, which made fashion seem rather unimportant.  As much as I love clothing and having fun with style, I was reminded this week how important it is to put things like fashion into perspective.

Today, I opted for familiar favorites.  This blog is all about real-world style - which means that clothing gets repeated, sometimes often.  

Writing this blog has created a little self-induced pressure to continually come up with new ideas and new looks, but the reality is that most of us have certain looks that we like to wear over and over.  Those are great outfits for those frantic mornings and "I have nothing to wear" days!

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Blouse:  Old Navy

I love my tuxedo blazer, but I struggle with creative new ways to style it.  The champagne color can be difficult to mix with other colors, so I usually opt for pieces in black and champagne to pair it with.

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

I added green pumps and my jade ring to add in a bit of color.  I liked the green color with champagne which makes me think that I should add a blouse or dress in that shade to my shopping list.

Purse:  Express (Sold out online, see here)
Ring:  Vintage (gift)
Earrings:  The Limited (Similar here)

Do you make shopping lists based off what you already have in your wardrobe, or do you shop more on impulse?

Birthday Suit

Blazer:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Available here)

What did you think I meant?  ;-D

Hope you all had a fabulous day!  Today is my birthday, and I wanted a special look that really captured the essence of my personal style.

Blouse:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)
Tank:  The Limited (Available here)
Necklace:  The Limited

The man treated me to a black velvet suit and this lovely green blouse for my birthday.  

The entire velvet suit seemed much too formal for the workplace, so I decided to skip the velvet pants and paired the velvet blazer with simple skinny black pants.

Purse:  Express (Available here)
Shoes:  Target

Velvet is probably my favorite fabric.  I just find it so sensual and sexy.

I remember seeing velvet suits by Tom Ford for Gucci in a magazine back in 1996.  I was a college student who was just starting to get out of her grunge phase.  

I was so enamored with the Gucci suits.  I loved the strong look of the women walking down the runway in this traditionally masculine look.

A 2012 Gucci velvet look:

Gucci Velvet Tuxedo Suit, Source: Saks Fifth Avenue

A velvet suit is so perfect for more formal occasions. I would definitely wear the full suit for a work holiday party.  I would also wear with the suit with a slinky top for a special date night.

Would you wear a velvet suit?