Imitation Game: Nicolette Mason

It's been a while since I have done an Imitation Game post, but it was long overdue!  Today, I'm featuring a look inspired by Nicolette Mason.  I first discovered Nicolette when she took over the "Big Girl in a Skinny World" column in Marie Claire.  I always enjoy Nicolette Mason's feminine and sometimes quirky style, but I was particularly inspired by her recent post "Still Here."

Dress:  ASOS (Available here)

In this post, Nicolette featured a floral slip dress with a moto jacket.  The look felt really modern, but the print of the dress also had a retro '90s feel that made me super nostalgic for a floral slip dress I had when I was a teenager.

Photo on left by Lydia Hudgens and used with permission of Nicolette Mason
As featured on NicoletteMason.com

Jacket:  Boohoo Plus

I was so inspired that I literally had to head over to the ASOS website to pick up the dress for myself.  The sheer panels at the neckline, mid-section, and hem were super cute, and the fit of this dress worked well with my top-heavy frame.

I liked the way that Nicolette styled this dress with a moto jacket, so I did the same.  I also echoed her pink purse by adding a recent faux fur find from Who What Wear x Target.

Purse:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

Glasses:  Valentino

Staying true to my style, I finished the look with booties instead of Nicolette's pumps.

Boots:  FarylRobin Fawcett (Available at Target here)

How did I do with this style steal?  Do you follow Nicolette's blog?

Head on over to NicoletteMason.com to check it out for yourself!

Casual Friday: Monochromatic Dots

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you all have had a great week!  I'm excited for the weekend in which I hope to catch up on some sleep!!!  I have a few things to do this weekend, but I'm definitely hoping to make this weekend a more low-key time.  

Shirt:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

If I make it out of the house, it will definitely be in casual looks like this denim outfit.  I am a big fan of Torrid's jeggings in extra short length. 

Jeans:  Torrid (Available here)

Boots:  Sonoma life+style from Kohl's

They offer the best fit in denim that I have had in years!!  Plus, they are super comfortable which is a must.  I avoided jeans for a long time because I found them too uncomfortable.  So glad that I found this style because it's perfect...with no alterations!

Clutch:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

I paired the jeans with a matching top and scarf from the Who What Wear line for Target.  I am OBSESSED with this whole line and always look forward to the new collections.  This top and scarf are from the early fall collection, but both pieces are still available (and now on clearance) if you're interested!!

Scarf:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

Tank:  Old Navy (old)
Glasses:  Valentino

Have you checked out the Who What Wear line for Target?  Torrid jeggings?  Where do you find your jeans?

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?

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!

Saint Louis Fashion Week: My Experience, My Fashion

I hope you all enjoyed my coverage of Saint Louis Fashion Week!  You can catch up with those posts here and here.

Today, I wanted to wrap up by talking a bit about my own personal experience with STLFW, including, of course, what I wore!!

Dress:  eShakti custom

I'm always wowed by the talent during the emerging Designer Competition, and this year was no exception.  I grew up going to St. Louis Union Station to shop, and it makes an amazing venue for a fashion show!

It's always hard for me to decide what to wear to a fashion show - I want to look stylish and wear something that makes me feel great, but I also want to be comfortable, not knowing if I'll be doing a lot of standing or walking.  Since I also had to work the day of this show, I needed something that could transition well from day to evening to minimize what I would have to cart along with me to work.  I love the color and print of this dress, so for the show, I added a boyfriend blazer and quirky clutch.

Blazer:  Eloquii (Available here)

After the show, I enjoyed spending a few moments catching up with some of the other St. Louis area bloggers...even if I do totally look like I'm photobombing here.  Ha, ha!!

From left to right, Carmen of The Ruby Zipper; Julia of Oh, Julia Ann; Psyche of Economy of Style
Photo c/o Alec Wallis

Clutch:  Torrid
Ring:  The Limited

Earrings:  Ixora Boutique

Because of a super busy work schedule, I wasn't able to partake in as many of the events of STLFW that I would have liked, but I was really happy that I got to make it out to the Fantich&Young opening at Projects+Gallery. 

The show was really impressive, and it's nice to get out and discover new places in St. Louis.  I don't go out much - mostly work and home.  I'm a homebody at heart, but STLFW always pushes me to explore my corner of the world a little more!

Dress:  eShakti custom

Boots:  Betseyville at Target (Available here)

Clutch:  Torrid

For this event, I went with an LBD - a trench style dress in a custom fit from eShakti.  I added velvet platform boots and a perfume bottle clutch as accessories.

Earrings:  The Limited

For the very last night of STLFW, the Wrap Party, we went to St. Louis Ballpark Village.  I wore my lace Boleyn dress from Chubby Cartwheels, styled similarly to how I previously featured it on the blog.  After having a few drinks and enjoying the piano bar at Howl at the Moon, the hubby and I headed over to The Drunken Fish for some dinner.  As I'm not really into sports (I know...downright blasphemous in Cardinals nation), I had never been to Ballpark Village, but I also realized what a fun entertainment complex it could be. 

Hope you enjoyed my coverage of STLFW.  Saint Louis has an impressive and growing fashion scene, and it's exciting to get to share it with you!

Special thanks to the Midwest Influencer Network and Explore Saint Louis for the opportunity to take part in #STLFW as a blogger!!

Don't forget to enter my Firmoo.com giveaway here!  Ends 12/3/15!

Giving Thanks

I hope those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day!

Sweater:  The Limited (Available here)

I spent the day with my husband and kids, meeting up with my mother for brunch, playing Monopoly, and going to see Creed at a local movie theater (the movie was soooo good, by the way).

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)

Keeping it casual, I paired a sweater poncho with skinny pants and comfortable booties.

Booties:  Target

Camisole:  LOFT Petites

A python clutch and gold and silver jewelry completed the look.

Bracelet:  Ann Taylor

Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)

While I don't follow a lot of traditions (and have some strong philosophical issues with Thanksgiving and the gross misrepresentation of history this holiday represents), I do love the time with my family and am inspired by the idea of gratitude or thanks giving.

Rings:  Ann Taylor

Glasses:  Valentino

It can be so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stressors of life and the challenges of completing regular tasks that sometimes it takes a reminder to step back and be appreciative. 

I am thankful for many people in my life and for the successes that life has brought me.  I'm even thankful for most of the failures and losses because those disappointments and hurts are so often how we grow and learn.  I am thankful that I got to marry my best friend this year, and I am thankful that even though this year brought some difficult times, that it has also brought great joy.

I am so thankful to those of you who read my blog and support what I'm doing here.  When I started blogging, I never really envisioned what the future would bring.  I never imagined the people who I would connect with nor some of the opportunities blogging has brought.  While my blog was always inspired by my desire to be a voice and visual presence for the petite, for the curvy, for the outsiders to the fashion industry, I have felt the importance of this voice more over the last year.  

My passion for my blog was first and foremost my love of fashion.  Now, all the more, I am grateful for the chance to be a conduit of sorts between fashion  and those of us who are outsiders to this industry for various reasons. 

Thank you for reading my blog!!!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a free eye wear from Firmoo.com!!