Honorable Mentions

Today, I feature several looks from the last two months.  I call these looks honorable mentions.  These are outfits that for various reasons I decided not to include in full blog posts.

The first of these looks is from a recent casual Friday at work.  I paired dark denim (a casual Friday staple) with a more professional blouse and blazer.  I generally try to keep my casual work looks very polished, with fresh denim, dressier blouses, and an overall clean look.

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse, blazer, and purse:  The Limited
Shoes:  Target (old)

The next two looks pair my workhorse skinny black pants with cute blouses and blazers - a look that has definitely become a bit of a uniform over the last year.  I added in mixed bracelets and other accessories to liven up these looks.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse, blazer, and necklace:  The Limited
Bracelets:  Target, World Market, Claire's
Shoes:  Target

Pants, blouse, blazer, and clutch:  The Limited
Earrings:  Purchased local jewelry sale
Bracelets:  Express and eBay

Today's last featured look is an evening outfit, pairing a faux leather skirt with a fringed top and cropped blazer.  Dangly bead earrings (same as in third photo) and lace-up stilettos complete the all black look.

Skirt:  The Limited
Fringe top:  Ann Taylor Petites
Blazer:  Forever 21+ (Available here)
Shoes:  Prabal Gurung for Target
Clutch:  Target

Hope you enjoyed my "honorable mentions"!

Tuxedo Redux

This week, I will be featuring outfits perfect for the evening.  

Whether it's a night out with the girls or a date with that special someone, I love going-out fashion!

Blouse:  LOFT (old)
Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)

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

I picked this outfit to wear to an art exhibit with the man.  I love how the watercolor print blouse has a romantic, painterly vibe.

Purse:  Jason Wu for Target
Ring:  LOFT

Hourglass Necklace:  Claire's (Available here)
Earrings: The Limited

I kept the look simple with black skinny tuxedo pants and a tuxedo-inspired jacket for a sexy, feminine take on the tuxedo.   

To my great happiness, the tuxedo trend for women has continued for 2013 as many designers showed tuxedo-inspired looks on their spring runways.

The green and black colorblock heels and lace clutch finish the look.

What would you wear to an art show?  

Like me on Facebook and show me your favorite going-out looks!!

To see this jacket in another look, see here and here.
For these pants in another look, see here, here, here, and here.

Spring 2013 Fashion Preview: Graphic Black & White

Black and white never really goes out of style; however, the last couple seasons, designers have really utilized this classic color combination, making it uber-trendy.  This coming spring, expect to see lots of black and white in solids and graphic prints in stores. 

Pretty bright colors are expected for spring, but many designers took a more unexpected turn this spring using black and white.

Since this is my favorite combination, color me quite happy!!

Jacket:  Target Petites (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (No longer available on-line)

Blouse:  Old Navy Petites
Tote:  The Limited

Today, I paired this great ponte knit peplum jacket I just found on-line at Target with basic black pieces for a graphic look.
 

I paired my outfit with a red tote for a pop of color, but for spring, many designers kept accessories in black and white as well.

Some of my favorite black and white looks off the Spring 2013 runways:

Roland Mouret Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.style.com

Balenciaga Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.harpersbazaar.com

Givenchy Spring 2013 look
Source:  www.harpersbazaar.com

Shoes:  Target
Necklace:  Express (old)

Bracelets:  Torrid (Available in stores), The Limited

Will you be wearing the black and white trend this spring??

Burgundy Velvet x Two

Today's blog is a bit of a two-for-one.  I'm featuring two looks from this week featuring red velvets.

The first look pairs a burgundy velvet jacket with skinny black tuxedo pants and burgundy heels.

Blazer:  New York & Company
Blouse:  Old Navy
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

Satchel:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Earrings:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)
Bracelet:  eBay (Similar here)

The second pairs dark red velvet pants with an eyelash peplum top for a casual romantic look.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse:  LOFT Petites (Sold out on-line; see here)
Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

Boots:  Payless
Bracelet:  The Limited

Velvet is such a great winter fabric.  It adds texture to your outfit and keeps you warm at the same time!

Do you like wearing velvet?

Workin' into the New Year!

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!!!

New Year's Eve is one of my favorite holidays, second only to Halloween.  New Year's Eve reminds me of the cyclical nature of time and of all life.  I love the idea of rebirth and renewal that a new year brings.  As 2012 draws to a close, I am reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of the last year and looking forward to 2013.

I'm not a major resolution maker, but I do take the opportunity of New Year's to think about my goals and plans for the next year and to reflect on how I can make myself a better person than I was the last year.  One of my great sources of joy in 2012 has been starting this blog and watching it grow.  I'm still in the infantile stages, but I am excited and eager to continue this journey!

I had to work today, but I still wanted a bit of a festive look for the day.  I am always up for a tuxedo-inspired look, and I love the simplicity of this monochromatic look.

Blazer:  The Limited (No longer available on-line; see here)
Top:  The Limited (Available here)

Pants:  The Limited
Heels:  Target (Available here)

The draped Grecian-inspired knit top is super comfortable, and the draping is flattering.

My plans for New Year's include watching movies, playing Wii, and drinking sparkling grape juice with my kiddos, which means I'll probably be in sweats tonight.

Necklace:  World Market (old)
Purse:  The Limited (old)
Ring:  The Limited (old)

Going out for New Year's?  Would love to see your looks!  "Like" me on Facebook and post your New Year's looks!

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve!

See you in 2013!!!

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.

Tunic Time!

Hi everyone!  On this fair Tuesday, I paired my new green and grey printed tunic with a grey blazer and what have become a recent obsession - black skinny pants.  I really love this pair with the faux leather tuxedo stripe.

Blouse: Target (Available here)Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

I recently got this tunic from Target, and I can't wait to style it in different ways.  It's a little hard to see in the picture, but I belted this top to shorten the top for work.  The tunic actually hits me just above the knee.  I think it will look great worn loose with leggings and boots.  I'm also thinking that it would be great with some grey, teal, or white skinny jeans or pants.

Purse:  Target (Available here)
Earrings:  Handmade

"Pisces" ring:  H&M
Turquoise ring:  Purchased at local jewelry show

For more on fall's leather trend, see here.
To see this blazer in other looks, see here and here. 
For more looks with the pants, see here, here, here, here, and here.

Pants: The Limited (No longer available online.  See them here)
Heels:  Target (old)

Purple polish

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful day!

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Blouse:  Target (Similar here)
Ring:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)

Today, I mixed eggplant purple with black and grey for one of my favorite fall color combinations.

Pants:  The Limited (Sold out online, see here)
Shoes:  Target

I was excited to add this fun pewter fringe clutch that I recently unburied.  I thought I must have given it away, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it stuffed away in a drawer.It also has a fun story.  A few years ago, I won a national design/styling contest offered by The Limited.  My prize was a $2000 shopping spree and a trip to Miami, FL to shop with The Limited's VP of Design.  This clutch was one of my picks.

I love that it gives my work look just the slightest rock-and-roll vibe.  The blouse and clutch both have subtle python textures.

Clutch:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)
Necklace:  Express (old)

Do you have any favorite fall color combinations?

Blazer styled differently here and here
Blouse styled differently here

Tuxedo Styling

As much as I love embellishments, sometimes the simplicity of a simple tuxedo or suit is all you really need.

The tuxedo jacket and tuxedo striped pants create the look for which I was going.  

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here and here)

Pants:  The Limited (No longer available on-line, see here)
Tank:  Target (Available here)

The simple knit tank keeps the suit from looking too evening.

Purse:  Express (Available here)
Heels:  Target (Available here)

To maintain the daytime look, I kept the jewelry simple and chose daytime shoes and handbag.

Bow earrings:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)

What is your personal style??  Casual? Business? Preppy? Bohemian? Evening?

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? 
 

Dark Moon Rising

My favorite color is green, but I have very little of it in my wardrobe.  I've been looking for some new green additions, and I loved the deep shade of this blazer.  Forest green is the perfect shade of green for fall, and I love the unexpectedness of pairing the color with black.  In the past, I disliked dark colors paired with black, but now, it seems really sophisticated and a little gothic, which I like.

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

Mixing slim cut trousers with a different colored blazer is an updated take on a traditional suit, which makes it a great choice for a business casual work environment.  

After years of working in a more relaxed environment, I sometimes feel constrained in my fashion choices due to the more conservative environment of my current job.

Purse:  The Limited
Shoes:  Target

The great thing about this look is that I would happily wear this outfit for a night out, but I think it is still completely work-appropriate.

Blouse:  The Limited
Tank:  Old Navy (Available here)
Necklace:  New York & Company (Available here)

This bold statement necklace ties the look together.  It may seem obvious, but I am a major accessories junkie.  As much as I love clothing, accessories are actually more important, in my opinion.  

Accessories allow you to change up more basic or classic pieces to extend your wardrobe options and transition your wardrobe from season to season.  Since accessories are usually cheaper than clothing, they are a practical and fun way of continually updating your wardrobe.

Today, I also treated my nails as an accessory and gave myself a variation of a fun moon mani. 

Do you like dark colors paired with black?  Any fun manicure ideas?

Sweet and Salty

Happy Thursday!

I'm obsessed with faux leather this fall.  These pants are my first September wish list purchase.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Top:  Torrid
Tote:  The Limited

The leather tuxedo stripe is cool, and I like that the pants are slim fit but not super skinny.

I paired these pants with a comfy crochet and sequin tank from summer and my pale pink blazer.

To bring the look together, I added a skull scarf.  The scarf is a total knock-off of Alexander McQueen's famous skull print scarf; however, unlike the hefty price tag of the McQueen scarf, I acquired this scarf for next to nothing.  

While I love a fabulous accessory and will occasionally splurge for a piece I love, I prefer inexpensive accessories to vary and update my wardrobe each season.

Zodiac rings:  H&M
Bracelet:  The Limited

I love how the faux leather and skulls add a salty touch to the sweet crochet of the top and pink of the blazer.

Blazer:  New York & Company (Available in black online here)
Scarf:  eBay (Available here)

To keep the look more professional at work, I used the scarf as a purse accessory rather than as a focal piece of the outfit.  

For evening, I could easily throw on the scarf to toughen (and warm) up the look.

Clutch:  Target (old)
Shoes:  Target (old)

The faux leather details and slim fit of the pants make these an easy day-to-night piece.  Switching out the work tote for a clutch and rocking the scarf, I'd wear this outfit to dinner, for drinks, or even a first date (if I were single, of course).