Fall Double Feature: Loving Leather

Today, I'm excited to start a new series.  This "double feature" is a collaboration with fellow petite curvy blogger, Irene from Petite Plus, Meow!

Irene describes her style as classic, feminine, and sophisticated.  I prefer modern classics with a little dark or edgy glamour.  Together, we will be exploring and putting our own twists on several fall trends.

Today, we are talking LEATHER!

Skirt: The Limited (old) (Similar here)

Bustier top:  Ann Taylor Petites (last year)

Leather is a huge trend for fall, and black leather is back in a huge way this season.  I love wearing faux leather (prefer to let the animals keep their skins)! 

Today, I'm playing with my fit-and-flare leather skirt.

Blazer:  Ann Taylor
Shoes: Simply Vera by Vera Wang for Kohl's (Available here)

Paired with a bustier-style top, a cropped tuxedo jacket, and lace-up heels, my leather skirt is ready for an evening out.  I would wear this for a fall fashion event or possibly a dressy date night.

Necklace: Ann Taylor
Earrings: Torrid

Rings:  Shoxie.com & Torrid
Bracelets:  The Limited & Ann Taylor (Available here)

While I love my look for evening, Irene's look could work for night or day!  Irene gave her faux leather leggings and drapey jacket a feminine twist with a floral blouse.



Irene of Petite Plus, Meow!

The leather on leather look is softened by the blouse and has a cool "Pink Ladies" vibe that I love.  Read more about her look over on her blog here or check her out on Facebook here.

Are you a fan of black leather?  How would you wear this trend?

Clutch:  Amazon.com (Available here)

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

Cassential Links 8/24/13

I'm still really bummed that I lost all of the great links that I had planned to post last week.  Of course, I couldn't remember or find most of them again.. Here's this week's crop...

Women are often photoshopped to appear thinner and more "flawless."  Due to our increasing emphasis on thinness, sometimes women are photoshopped to look fuller, to cover up the scary health and physical effects of extreme thinness.

But who created the idea of such aspirational thinness?  This article discusses the evolution of the "ideal" female through fashion illustrations.

Not much I love more than a leather and lace combo.  Allison gets it so right, as usual!

Tutu? Leather? Fab hair? Yes, please!

An interesting feminist and sex-positive take on Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines"

Rules, rules, rules..seems like we're hit with a lot of rules about how we should look in this age of internet and self-policing.  

The problem with skinny shaming.  All women are real women, curves or not.

Speaking of...I don't care for the language in this article which I find derogatory to thin women, but the subject deserves a mention

An attempt to de-sexualize vaginas and encourage more open dialogue is censored. 

Love this mix of black and blush pink, and that top is so cool and interesting!

Oh to look so fierce in a bathing suit...Nadia is killing it!

Romantic with an Edge

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

Today, I chose my ivory chiffon colorblocked dress and paired it with my faux leather jacket.

Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)
Dress:  The Limited (Available here)

I love the hard and soft mix of the fabrics.  Maximizing your wardrobe by transitioning pieces, like this flowy chiffon summer dress, into cooler weather is a great way to get more bang for your buck with your wardrobe.  The fabric and style of this dress is the easiest for transitioning into colder months, in my opinion.

The small fishnet knit of these tights and Swiss dot pattern adds visual interest, but is still subtle enough to not overpower the entire look.

Tights:  Target (Similar here)
Boots:  Payless

The ankle boots and romantic silver locket finish the hard and soft balance of today's look.  The red tote adds a bright pop of color.

Tote:  The Limited (Available here)
Locket:  Target (old)

How do you transition summer pieces into fall and winter?

For more on fall's leather trend, see here. 
For more on fall's black and white trend, see here. 
For this dress worn differently, see here.

Channeling Chanel

I've been waiting for the temperature to drop so that I could wear this tweed jacket.  It's one of my very favorite pieces.  I love the collarless design and the silver threads.

Jacket:  Gap
Blouse:  Old Navy (Similar here)

I love how the tweed jacket, bow front blouse, and quilted bag have a Chanel vibe.  I love the classic style of Chanel but can't afford the hefty price tags.

Tote:  New York & Company (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Chanel jacket (see more black tweed jackets)

My general view of designer fashion is that it's inspirational, but ultimately not worth the higher price tags.  I can be a little fickle in my fashion choices and like to change my wardrobe up regularly.  Also, unless the piece is truly high-quality enough to last for 20 years with regular usage, $2000 for a purse just isn't very rational,  maybe even a little immoral.

IF I ever decide to save up for a designer piece or hit the lottery, I would definitely choose to invest in a Chanel piece - a quilted bag or a tweed jacket.  I would go with black in a classic style like the jacket shown above so that it would get lifelong wear and hopefully be passed down as an heirloom to my daughter. 

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)

Do you have any favorite designers?  What's your take on high-end fashion?

More on Chanel's famous black tweed jacket here at The Guardian

Bracelet:  The Limited (Sold out online; see here)

Tweed, Leather, and Volume

One of the big trends in outerwear this fall is volume.  Voluminous coats were shown by Jil Sander, Michael Kors, Burberry Prorsum, and many other designers.

Now, being petite and extra curvy, I had no intention of partaking in this trend.  Something that would make me appear shorter and wider?  No thank you!!

But, then I spotted this sweater jacket one day while out shopping.  I fell in love the mix of tweed patterns, the faux leather trim, and the floppy collar.

Sweater jacket:  New York & Company (Available here)
Belt:  Express Men/DIY (10+ years old)

I had to go down two sizes from my normal size (not that I'm complaining), and the jacket still seemed a bit too big; however, I also found the overall shape to be more flattering than I would have expected from a jacket with this volume.  

I added a belt to help create a little more shape.  I'd love to find some large brooches to work as closures as well.

This belt was actually a bit of a DIY creation.  I had a worn-out belt from a pair of jeans that I had since junior high.  I loved the sun buckle.  One day (over ten years ago) while out shopping at Express Men with an ex-boyfriend, I came across belts that came with separate buckles so that you could create your own design.  I chose a belt, ripped apart the old belt and added my old buckle to the new belt.  I don't wear it much now, but I still love the buckle so much that it still comes out of the drawer on occasion.

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

I actually see a lot of possibilities for this jacket.  I plan on wearing it with slim leg pants, as I've done here, and dresses of similar lengths with tights.

Cuff:  New York & Company (5+ years old)

While admittedly, a jacket with this much volume is not the most flattering fit, finding a piece you love that gives you fashion warm fuzzies is sometimes worth it!

Besides, who wouldn't love a piece with the comfort and warmth of a Snuggie that you can actually wear to work?  :-D 

Purse:  New York & Company (Similar here)

 Would you wear the oversized outerwear trend? 
 

Daytime Champagne

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

Today, I decided to wear my champagne tuxedo blazer and paired my outfit around this jacket.

I bought this blazer to wear for New Year's last year, and I love dressing it up with sparkles and sequins.  

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Necklace:  Target (Available in stores)
Shoes:  Target (old)

Blouse:  Target
Bracelets:  Claire's, Unknown
Zodiac rings:  H&M (Available in stores)

 For a more professional look, I opted for a Peter Pan collar trapeze-style top from last summer.  In my opinion, sheer fabrics are not appropriate in the workplace, so I layered a black tank under the blouse for modesty.

Tank:  Old Navy (Similar here)

Not to change the subject, but I'm watching Project Runway as I type this.  Anyone else LOVE this show?

Fall 2012 Fashion Picks: (Faux) Leather

Hi everyone!  

I apologize for the lack of posts the last few days as I've been without adequate internet access.  

I'm on vacation, so this week, I will be blogging my picks out of the fall 2012 trends.

Leather (or faux leather) is everywhere for fall.  I am sooo coveting a cropped leather jacket. It's an edgier alternative to the black blazer but almost as versatile.

I'm on the fence about whether to buy a leather jacket or a vegan alternative.  As a friend to animals, I prefer animals wear their own skin.  I seldom buy real leather, and when I do, I usually opt for vintage or used pieces to be more animal and environmentally friendly. 

A major issue with finding a leather jacket is fit.  Jackets made of cotton, wool, or synthetic fabrics can generally be altered to fit.  Leather and faux leather is harder to alter, so finding a jacket that fits both a curvy and a petite frame has proven difficult, but my search is on!

Here's my picks for the leather look:

 Asos Curve leather biker jacket

Simply Be black and chocolate PU biker jacket

I was loving the look of this ponte knit and faux leather tee from The Limited.  While I love The Limited, this top did not live up to my hopes.  It had a boxy, unflattering fit and looked a little inexpensive.  If I can find something similar though, I'm on it!  Such an edgy but conservative addition to a work suit.

The Limited faux leather tee

The Limited has some other faux leather pieces coming out on September 6, including a pencil skirt and jacket.  I will definitely be checking them out!

I am seriously considering a vegan leather pencil skirt this fall.  Who doesn't love a skirt that lets you live out your inner bad girl self while at work in an office?  Or is that just me?  ;-D

Tinley Road vegan leather pencil skirt

Do you like the leather trend?  Do you wear real leather?