Red Hot

Happy Monday!!

Dress:  Ann Taylor Petites

I hope you all had an amazing weekend.  This weekend, I tried so hard to get blog photos done, but it's looking like winter is coming back!  We had rain all day yesterday, so these were the only photos I was able to get.

I was planning to do a week-long series for Valentine's Day.  Instead, I'm going to be offering up some Valentine's outfit ideas off and on throughout the next several weeks.

Blazer:  The Limited

Shoes:  Simply Vera by Vera Wang for Kohl's

Today's Valentine's Day look would be great for dinner or drinks with your S.O. or even a dressier evening out with friends.

I'm so in love with this slip dress, but can I please take a minute to keep it real? 

My biggest body insecurities are most definitely about my stomach.  It's flabby, and it hangs a bit.   I noticed that my stomach was quite noticeable in these photos.  I was wearing some high-waisted underwear (Does the word "panties" not sound...icky? lol) to help hold things in, but I realized that they only contributed to the problem by creating a weird line across my stomach.  

Belt:  The Limited

Clutch:  Jason Wu for Target

I'm not a fan of shape wear.  Maybe it's because I'm so petite, but Spanx and other types of shape wear never fit me properly and appear to make no impact on smoothing out my figure.  I also like to be comfortable, and in my experience of simply trying it on, shape wear just isn't very comfortable.

I seriously contemplated re-taking the photos, wearing different undergarments, or maybe none at all, to help avoid these issues. 

In the end, I decided to keep it real.  I am not comfortable showing the outlines of my belly in my real life, and if I decide to wear this outfit out, I will take measure to avoid the stomach lines showing. 

Ear Cuff:  eBay

But, I am also about honesty.  It's my stomach, what it looks like.  Some of you may think my belly is no big deal.  Some of you may have not even noticed it.  While others of you may find it unattractive.  At the end of the day, it's there, love it or not.  So for that reason, I decided to keep the photos as they are. 

This is me, in a slip dress that shows part of me that I struggle daily to love and accept.

Today, I choose to focus on the fashion and not the belly.  I'm focusing on how much I love the slinky feel of this slip dress (even if it's much better during the balmy summer than freezing rain in January).  I'm focusing on my recent obsession with reds and pinks, wearing this pretty peplum blazer with gold jewelry accented with strawberry crystals.

Rings:  Gift and Kohl's
Bracelet:  Swarovski (gift)

I'm focused on loving me, loving life, and loving fashion...and that is red hot!! ;-D

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

Comfy Work Wear

I'm always looking for ways to change up my work wear. 

Yesterday for work, I played with older pieces in my wardrobe to create a super comfortable work look that managed to also look very professional.  The skirt and jacket are both knit!

Skirt:  Target Petites

Jacket:  Labworks for Target Petites

I love how the peplum cut of the blazer works with the asymmetrical hemline of the skirt. 

Clutch:  Vintage

Top:  Ann Taylor Petites

To add a bit more fun to this look, I added a fringe top and mint nails for a pop of color.

Ring:  Earthbound Trading Company

Shoes:  Target (old)

I love how the pieces all work together, and have personality while still being subtle enough for work.

Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

And of course, a black and white palette is always a favorite!  :-)

How do you change up your work clothes?  Are you a fan of fringe?

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

Feminine Suiting

Whenever I think I've dressed a little too casually for work (see yesterday's outfit), I often purposefully choose something more formal to wear the next day.

Pants:  The Limited (old)
Blouse:  The Limited (old) (Similar here and here)

Today, I chose my black high-waisted pants and paired them with a polkadot bow-front blouse.

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

I love the retro vibe of the look. It's classic, but in an interesting way as it has a 1940s vibe.

I paired the outfit with a peplum blazer for work since it was chilly today.

Earrings: The Limited (Available here)
Purse:  The Limited (old)

Today's look isn't too different than one I previously posted (see here).  I had originally planned on wearing a red blazer, but I just felt like this one worked better.  

Shoes:  Target (old)

Sometimes it can easy to get stuck in certain outfit pairings, but if it ain't broke, why fix it, right?

If you dress for it, will it come?

Well, we are expecting snow this weekend!!!  So much for spring weather anytime soon (grumble, grumble)!

Peplum blazer:  Target Petites (Available here)
Pants: The Limited (Available here)

Feeling the urge to bring on spring, I chose a fresh and spring-y color palette of navy, coral, and white.  Polkadots feel happy and always make me think of spring.

Cuff:  Express
Shoes:  Target (Available in other colors here)

Top:  Forever 21+

I've been trying to think of more fun and trendy ways to wear my several pairs of dress pants.  I find them to be the most work-appropriate pants; however, I find that they can get dreadfully boring and sometimes stodgy.

I am not a fan of a super-classic or preppy style, so I like that the trendy peplum and bold cuff add in a little of my own flair.

Tote:  The Limited (old)

Do you wear dress pants for work?  How do you make them more stylish and more "you"? 

To see this blazer styled differently, see here and here.
For these pants styled differently, see and  here.
 

Wedding Wear

Tonight the man and I went to a friend's wedding.

This is what I wore:

Dress:  Jovovich-Hawk for Target (old) (Similar here)
Blazer:  Gap (old) (Similar here)

Tights:  The Limited (Available in stores - no longer available on-line)
Shoes:  Payless (Available here)

Clutch:  Target (Available here)

I paired a black lace peasant style dress with my velvet peplum blazer.  Glittery heels and printed tights finished the look.

Overall, I liked the mix of patterns and textures.  If I had more options, I would have chosen a black glittery clutch or a velvet clutch in a bold or pastel color.  

Working with what I had, I went with my metallic silver clutch to complement my silver and black earrings, but I didn't love the clutch with this look. 

I had a great time at the wedding and loved the swingy skirt for dancing!

Earrings:  Target (old)

What look would you choose for a winter wedding?