Wild Card Wednesday: Leather & Lace

It's Huuuuuump Day, folks!

Dress:  Chubby Cartwheels (Not currently available; see more here)

That means it's time for Wild Card Wednesday, and today, I'm featuring my black lace maxi dress.  

Jacket:  Torrid

Sunglasses:  Calvin Klein

Shoes:  Target

Bracelet:  LOFT

While I love the idea of layering it with slips in various colors, I decided to take my dress a more daring direction today.

A moto jacket, worn traditionally or slung over the shoulders, adds a touch of warmth to stave off the autumnal chill (It's fall!  Color me excited!).

I added a cute rotary phone clutch to complete the look.

Clutch:  Torrid (Available here)

How would you style this dress?

For the dress in another look, see here.
For the jacket in other looks, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Parisian Chic

It's no secret that I love wearing all black.  To me, it is just hands-down the chicest color.  That said, I love wearing black best when there is something out of the ordinary about it - a quilted skirt, a plunging neckline. 

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

It's unexpected textures, fabrics, or other details that help you stand out in the crowd even when you're wearing all black.

Bodysuit:  Boohoo.com (Available here)

Shoes:  Simply Vera by Vera Wang

I paired the outfit with a fun perfume bottle clutch and sky high heels for a flirty date night look.  I have been thinking about one of these clutches for a while now, and was excited when I found one while perusing Torrid's web site recently.  



Clutch:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

 I love that this skirt is a basic, but has a little drama with the stiffer fabric helping to maintain a fuller shape.



For work (and then dinner with the fam), I went with classic black and white, throwing on a comfy black tee with a white knit moto jacket for laid-back work style.

Jacket:  Peter Som for Kohl's

Tee:  The Limited Petites

Four more days until my wedding, and I am feeling crazed with last minute prepping and unexpected obstacles and costs.  Now, I understand why people elope!!

Only one small Bridezilla moment though, so I think I'm doing well!  :-)

Booties:  Target

Which look do you prefer?  Are you a fan of midi skirts? Of wearing all black?


For the body suit in another look, see here.

Punky Sexy Day-Glo Lady

Sorry that I've been away from the blog all week.  I have been having some problems with my glasses.  I'm waiting on new lenses, but in the meantime, it's made blogging hard.  On the good side, my brother is in town visiting!! I haven't seen him in two years, and it has been so wonderful hanging out!  I've also been enjoying the warmer weather and sunshine.  I know that the dangers of skin cancer are all too real, but my mood is so elevated with increased Vitamin D exposure!!

As much as I still deal with body anxieties and self-deprecation (and I will be discussing some recent battles soon in an upcoming post),  I sometimes also find myself to be incredibly sexy!!

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Bodysuit:  Boohoo (Available here)

There are unwritten rules that women aren't supposed to say they love themselves or their bodies or to think that they're sexy.  We live in a culture that often teaches us a narrow ideal of beauty that only 5% of us can ever attain.  Because of these ideals, many women struggle to feel good about their bodies and appearance.  We are taught that it's normal to have these body issues - that this is just a part of being a woman.  While insecurities are probably a natural part of being human, the extreme focus on our bodies and appearance are not natural at all.  This insecurity is a direct product of a corporate and media culture that makes money off us feeling that way.  We buy more stuff (diet products, gym memberships, make-up, etc.) if we feel bad.  Healthy body images aren't good for business.

Heels:  Target (Similar here and here)

Glasses:  Valentino

A woman who says that she loves her body and finds herself desirable is often considered egotistical, at worst, dangerous. A fat woman who says this...well, she's a lethal weapon!

I love this outfit because it has a ladylike feel with the knee length skirt and heels, is fun and unexpected thanks to the neon yellow heels, and is also super sexy. 

Hello neckline that dips down to my waist!! 

The kilt feels a little punk.  The overall look has an irreverence to it that feels a little anti-establishment. And hey, the radical notion that a fat girl can feel sexy?  Totally punk!

Yes, this outfit is me being a punky sexy Day-glo lady, and I absolutely love it!!

Clutch:  Target

Earrings:  Etsy

Women are not one-sided.  We can be sexy and still be ladies.  We can be serious and still be fun.  We can play within the system and yet reject established ideas.  An outfit that expresses all these sides...Why the hell not?

P.S.  A quick note on the fit of this bodysuit - I bought a US 14, thought it was a little small and ordered a 16, which is what I"m wearing here.  In retrospect, the fit was better on the 14 and I will be exchanging.  For wearing out and about, I would recommend using double-stick tape.