Color and Confidence 2: True Blue with eShakti

Happy Sunday! 

Today, I'm singing the blues in a jumpsuit from eShakti.  I love the drapey fit and lightweight fabric of this piece.  The navy color is super versatile, and the tonal herringbone pattern adds visual interest.

Jumpsuit:  c/o eShakti (Available here)

EShakti reached out to me some time ago about trying out their new pants offerings. We had a few hang-ups and re-orders before I finally ended up with this jumpsuit, but I'm really happy with the choice.  It's relaxed and chic at the same time, and I have already imagined a few different styling options for this piece.

Heels:  Target

Cuff:  The Limited

With a focus on blue today, I've got lots of navy and cobalt, my favorite shades of blue to wear.  Navy is really the only "color" of the rainbow that is also a neutral, so it's like getting the best of both worlds when I wear it.  My favorite way to wear navy is paired with black, as I've done here today, for a subtle contrast.

Earrings:  Target

 Silver jewelry adds a brightness and soft contrast to the look.

For more ways to wear navy (and other shades of blue), see here:

Navy

Left, from top to bottom:  Style Inspiration from Garner Style; Flowers and Moccasins
Middle:  Black and Navy
Right, from top to bottom:  Fall Double Feature:  Blue Hues; Weekend Ready

In a Cobalt Moto Jacket and Printed Dress

From left to right:  Maxi Dresses for Spring, Part One; Spring Berries & And Eyewear Feature from Firmoo.com; Weekend Ready

Mix Blues

Left:  The Summer Maxi
Right, top to bottom:  Double Draping; Fall Color Week 2:  Blues

With Animal Prints

From left to right:  I Resolve To Wear More Color; Brights and Leopard

In shades of aqua or light blue mixed with red and pink

From left to right:  Taking My Own Advice; Working It Like A Boss

In Royal and Cobalt

From left to right:  Bringing A Little Color to the Workplace; The Temptress; Fall Double Feature:  Sporty Chic

Hope you've enjoyed my round-up of favorite ways to wear blue!  I'll be back tomorrow with the final installment of my color and confidence series featuring the color purple!  Catch up with the other color and confidence posts below.

Catch the other Color and Confidence 2 posts here:
Seeing Red
Orange You Worried About Your Health?
Mellow Yellow
Green Queen
For my first annual Color and Confidence:  Blue post, see here

Fall Double Feature: Blue Hues

Does cooler weather make you blue?  

I love fall, but winters in the Midwest can be fairly harsh.  They can make a gal like me feel very down. 

Well, this year, the color palette for fall and winter can match that mood.  Virtually every shade of blue was seen on fall runways, and as I previously discussed, bright cobalt and royal blue have been named by Pantone as two of the trendiest colors for fall 2014.

Skirt:  Outback Red by The Limited (Available here)

Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)

But blue often unfairly gets associated only with feeling down or depressed when many blues are calming or vibrant or even energetic.  With almost every shade of blue out there this fall, you can create a look that suits any mood!

Tank:  LOFT Petites

Today, Irene of Petite Plus, Meow! and I continue our series on fall trends by trying out some popular blue shades for fall - Irene is in bright cobalt (see below), while I'm in more subdued navy.


 Neither of our looks will get you through winter (unless you are lucky enough to have very mild winters), but they are PERFECT for fall!!

Pearl bracelet:  New York & Company

This look isn't too dissimilar from the red maxi skirt look I featured here.  In fact, it's the same skirt - I nabbed this color on an end-of-summer clearance.

It's a formula of which I am particular fond.

Maxi skirt + tank + moto jacket = Casual Cool Happiness :-)

Earrings:  The Limited

I added some of my favorite fall neutrals - ivory and caramel - to my navy maxi skirt for a laid-back look.  I would wear this look for a relaxed evening out, a casual Friday at work, or shopping on weekends if I felt like getting a bit more dressed up.

A large tote and gold and pearl bracelets complete the look.

Tote:  The Limited

Bangles:  Target and Ann Taylor (Available here)

While my look is more casual and laid-back, Irene oomphs up the sex appeal, with a printed body con dress in bright cobalt.  Doesn't she look A-MA-ZING?!

Irene of Petite Plus, Meow!

Learn more about Irene's look over on her blog, Petite Plus, Meow! or find her on Facebook.

Are you a fan of wearing blue?  What shades will you be wearing this fall?

For the tank in other looks, see here and here.

For the jacket in another look, see here.

Fall Color Week 2: Blues

Last November, I did a short feature on wearing fall colors (See here, here, and here).  I decided to do another series this year to include more colors.

 

Today, I'm featuring a combination that includes several on-trend colors for fall 2014.

Skirt:  Ann Taylor (No longer available on-line; See here)

As I posted earlier this year, radiant orchid is Pantone's 2014 color of the year.  For fall, this color is still around, but one of the trendiest colors for fall, as chosen by Pantone, is bright cobalt! 

Cami:  Ann Taylor (Similar here)

Left hand - Bracelet:  Ann Taylor (Available here) and Ring:  The Limited (Available here)
Right hand - Bracelet:  The Limited (old)

Here, I paired my cobalt moto jacket with perennial fall favorites -- navy and burgundy.  Navy and other deep and bright blues, were widely used on fall runways, so expect to see a lot of options in blue this season!

Jacket:  Forenza by The Limited (old)
Belt:  Torrid

As much as I love the combo of cobalt, navy, and burgundy worn here, I also liked the idea of adding a shorter jacket with this skirt.

So, I paired my soft blush moto jacket and burgundy and gold accents for a slightly different look.

Jacket:  Jennifer Lopez Collection for Kohl's
Heels:  Target

Rings:  Torrid and eloquii (eloquii ring available here)

Belt:  eBay (Similar here)
Clutch:  The Limited

Which combination is your favorite?

Would you mix cobalt with navy and burgundy?

For this skirt in another look, see here.
For the blue jacket in other looks, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
For the blush moto jacket in other looks, see here and here.

That Special Skirt

Happy Tuesday!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Skirt:  Ann Taylor (Available here and Similar here)

Today, I want to share a recent work look that includes a new purchase of which I am completely enamored!

Recently, I spotted this navy embroidered lace floral skirt on Ann Taylor's web site, and I fell in love.

Clutch:  The Limited

Jacket:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

It was on clearance, final sale, and only available in a regular length.  I tend to vacillate between two different sizes, and it was only available in the larger size.  The reviews on the site mentioned the skirt ran a little big, so I was nervous about purchasing an item that I could not take back, especially in the larger size.  Because sizing is so often an issue for me, I NEVER shop at stores that don't allow for returns, so I really felt like I was taking a chance with this one.

Heels:  Target (Similar here)

At the same time, I nabbed this skirt at about 80% off, so I figured if it didn't fit and couldn't be altered, I could likely re-sell it on eBay and recoup what I spent.

I was beyond delighted when I pulled the skirt out of the package, slipped it on, and realized that the fit was comfortable and workable without any alterations!

Camisole:  LOFT Petites

I would have preferred the skirt be a little shorter, as it would have been in the petite length; however, the shorter underskirt shows enough leg that I still find the overall fit flattering enough.   Besides, fashion is about having fun, NOT worrying all the time about whether something "flatters."

For work, I wanted to keep things simple, so I paired the skirt with an ivory cami and a navy cropped jacket.  Basic navy heels completed the look, but I decided to go with a yellow clutch for a little shot of color.

Belt:  Torrid
Bracelet:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

I love that this outfit has a very conservative and classic feel which makes it very work-appropriate but that it also adds several on-trend elements with the midi length, florals, lace, and nautical flair.  This skirt has really great movement which makes it fun to wear.

Heels:  Target (Similar here)

If I were to wear this look off duty, I would switch out the navy heels for a higher pair in hot pink!

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

Have you gotten any good bargains lately?
How would you style this skirt?

Share your thoughts below! 

Top O' The Evenin' To Ya

Hope you all had a great St. Patrick's Day, if you celebrate!

I don't really do anything special for the day, but I usually wear green.  I paired my Kelly green boyfriend cardigan with dark skinnies and a striped top for an easy casual look.

Jeans:  The Limited (Similar here and here)
Cardigan:  The Limited (Available here)

Scarf:  The Limited (Similar here)
Booties:  Target (Available here)

I wasn't feeling well this morning and had an afternoon doctor's appointment, so I ended up staying home from work.  I had planned on wearing navy pants in this look, but since I was off, I traded them in for jeans for the doctor's office.  

I love how the look is springy while still being warm enough for the brisk weather.

Bracelets:  The Limited

Satchel:  The Limited
Earrings:  The Limited

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?  Did you wear green today??

For these jeans in other looks, see here and here.
For the tee in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.
For this cardigan in another look, see here.

Singin' the Blues: Attention!

Hi everyone.  I apologize for cutting Fall Color Week short and being absent over the last few weeks.

I have a ton of reasons for not posting, but I think it comes down to an issue I've dealt with off and on during my adult life.  I go through periods of over-stress (usually coupled with sleep deprivation).  When these happen, I develop a generalized apathy and melancholy that leaves me unfulfilled by things I love, like blogging.  I'm working through it, and thankfully, some of the recent stressors have reduced or disappeared. 

I have several posts lined up for the next week, so hopefully things will be back on track soon!  Thanks so much for sticking with me!!!

Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

Today, I'm starting with Singin' the Blues Week - a week of one of this fall's hottest colors!

The color navy is the subtlest and easiest to wear of the blues.   It's perfect for conservative work places, but it functions well as a neutral for many occasions.

For years, I wasn't a fan of navy as I saw it as too conservative and classic for me.  I love classic, but it has to have an interesting modern or tough edge.  Somewhere along the line, I became a navy convert, especially when worn with other neutrals as I did here. 

Purse:  Target (May be available in stores; similar here)

Shirt:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)

When done in streamlined shapes, navy brings with it much of what I love about black - it's dark, it's sleek and sophisticated, and it is forever versatile.

Today's navy look also plays into fall's military trend (see more here).  I love how military pieces like this blazer look very polished and even just a teensy bit edgy.

Heels:  Target (Similar here)
Bracelets:  The Limited (Available here)

Are you a fan of navy?

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

Foulard Me Once...

Today, I am featuring two ways of styling my foulard blazer from last year.

Blazer:  The Limited (old)

Skirt:  The Limited (Similar here and here)
Purse:  The Limited

This past week, I wore this the pants look to work.  Over the summer, I shopped my closet and created this skirt look.

Shirt:  The Limited (Similar here)

Shoes:  Target (Similar here)

While I find the skirt look very figure flattering, it feels a little too "Real Housewives" for my personal taste.  

Belt:  The Limited
Necklace:  Torrid

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Shirt:  The Limited

The pants outfit is a little more low-key and feels a little less fussy, making it much more of a go-to option.

Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)

Which look do you prefer?

Do you shop your closet to try out new combinations?

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

P.S. I had some alterations done to the blazer between the photos of the two looks.  The pants outfit reflects the shortened and slimmed sleeves and side tucks from underarm to waist.