Spearmint and Orange

Hope you're all having a great Saturday!

Blouse:  LOFT (Available here)
Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

Today, I feature a recent work outfit.  I paired an orange-tipped blouse with a spearmint green blazer and navy skinny pants.

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

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

I love the mix of green and orange.  The navy pants keep the look subtle enough for work, while being a softer choice than black. 

A straw bag with orange trim and a fun alligator ring finish the look (close-up of ring here).

Purse:  The Limited (Available here)

Ring:  Target (Similar here)

Do you like mixing orange and green?

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

Lacy Day

Dress:  LOFT Petites (Available here)
Blazer: LOFT Petites (Available here)

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Today's outfit was a recent work look.  I really love this dress.  It's lace with crochet bib-front detail. 

Lately, I have been all about interesting textures and fabric details.  I tend to wear a lot of neutrals, so cool fabrications help keep the pieces from being boring.

As much as I love this dress, this is an overall look that I felt was just an "almost." 

The yellow sandals weren't my favorite with this look.  I didn't think I had any shoes that I would like with this outfit, but later I remembered that I had some canvas wedge espadrilles that would have been perfect.  Next time I wear this dress, I'll remember!

Also, my peach lip color was a little too light for my skin tone, but I love the look of a more nude lip with a smoky eye.  I'll have to do some more experimenting to get the right nude.

Seeing my looks in photographs helps me assess overall styling.  If you're on the fence about whether an outfit or overall look is working, taking a few quick photographs of yourself is definitely a styling tip that I would recommend.

For this jacket in another look, see here.

Spring Leather

Hi everybody!  For those of you in the spring season, I hope you're enjoying the warm weather.  I am LOVING bare legs!!

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

Today I wanted to give a very spring vibe to this black faux leather skirt by adding an orange eyelet blouse, straw clutch, and wedge platform sandals.

Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)

I love how the styling gives this skirt a more laid-back casual vibe.  I do wish that I had skipped the necklace as it seems too clunky with the outfit.

Necklace:  Target
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Are you wearing the spring leather trend?

Hope you all have a great day! 

For this skirt in other looks, see here and here.
For this blouse in another look, see here.

Minty Fresh: Spring-ify your Workwear

Hi everyone!  Hope you all had a fabulous day!  The weather was beautiful today, and it finally feels like spring has sprung!

Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

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

For work, I paired a dark spearmint green blazer with black pants and a soft ivory blouse.  This is my favorite shade of green, and I just love how it managed to give a spring-y vibe to the black pants.

Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

Tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)
Tote: The Limited

My work wardrobe doesn't change much when the weather gets warmer.  I love my jackets, and chilly office air-conditioning usually makes layering necessary.

Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)

I do try to incorporate spring into my work wardrobe using these three criteria:

1.  Color - Adding in the bright colors helps your work wardrobe come alive with the colors of nature in the spring.

2.  Non-black neutrals - I love my black and don't completely give it up in the spring (e.g. my black pants), but adding in more whites, tan, taupe, soft grey, and navy can help a work wardrobe read more spring-like.

3.  Prints - I definitely tend to steer towards solids with interesting details, but when I do choose prints, I opt for florals, polka dots, and bold graphic prints during the spring.  Houndstooth and other plaids, pinstripes, and animal prints generally read for fall/winter.

Bracelet:  Target (old)
Shoes:  Target (old)

How do you change up your work wardrobe for spring?




 
  

Peony Power

Happy Thursday!

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)

Yesterday for work, I paired peony pink slim pants with a black and white top and cropped jacket.  

Blazer:  Forenza by The Limited (Available here)
Tote:  The Limited

Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

I really love these pink pants.  They have cool ankle zips, and the color just makes me think of pretty spring flowers.

Bracelets:  The Limited

These pants were cropped/ankle length, but they were perfect as long pants for me.  I usually have to skip ankle-zip pants because they're too long and can't be altered, so I was excited to find these.

Shoes:  Target (old)

I added in a few additional pops of spring color with the yellow bangle and green nails. 

Hope you all have a great day!!

Feminine Monday

Hope you all had a wonderful Monday...or at least as wonderful as a Monday can be anyway!  ;-)

Dress:  The Limited (Similar here)
Jacket:  Forever 21+ (Available here)

Today, I styled last year's high-low dress with a pink draped-front blazer.  I added in feminine touches with the bow belt, and knotted satin sandals.

This probably wasn't the most professional, office-y outfit, but it was super comfortable.  I do miss the fashion freedom I experienced as a college instructor (my previous career).  I would have worn this to teach and not thought twice about it! 

Belt:  The Limited (Similar here)
Sandals:  Payless

Necklace:  Target
Earrings:  The Limited (Similar here)

I do enjoy high-low dresses and find them to drape in flattering ways.  They also give you the best of both worlds - the ease of a maxi, while showing off cute shoes.

Do you like high-low dresses?

To see this dress styled differently, see here.

Fit and Flair

Hi everyone!

Dress:  Old Navy Petites (Available here)
Jacket: Forever 21+ (Available here)

Yesterday, we had absolutely beautiful weather.  I seized the opportunity to wear my teal eyelet dress as it's supposed to get chilly again (boo!!).   

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take pictures until it was already dark, as you can see in the first pic!  :-)

Sandals:  Payless (old)

I added a cropped tuxedo blazer and comfy, low-heeled sandals. 

Bag:  The Limited (old)
Ring:  Purchased at local jewelry show

I actually think this outfit looked better in person than the photos capture.  I love how the tuxedo blazer and satin sandals gives the outfit a formality.  The blazer with this dress reminds me of wearing a man's tuxedo jacket on a date, except that the jacket has the right proportions. 

Earrings:  The Limited (Available )

Do you like fit-and-flare dresses??

Hope you all have a great day!!!

For this dress in another look, see here.
To see this blazer styled differently, see here.

Hello Yellow

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Skirt: Target (Available here)
Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)

For work yesterday, I had fun styling my A-line print skirt with a black bow-front blouse and citrine yellow faux leather jacket.  

Blouse:  Old Navy (old)
Necklace:  Express (old)

I love how the yellow jacket brings out the hints of yellow in the skirt.

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

The bow-front blouse and hemline is conservative enough for the office, but the print of the skirt and strappy heels gives the look a more youthful edge. 

Shoes:  Target (old)

I'm actually considering hemming this skirt.  Sometimes, it takes a few wears of a garment before I decide it needs alterations.  Due to the volume of this skirt, I think cutting off an inch or so would be more proportionate.

What do you think?  Do you get many clothing items altered?  How do you decide the "best" fit?

To see this skirt styled differently, see here.
To see this top styled differently, see here, here, and here.
To see this jacket styled differently, see here, here, and here.

Neon Edge

After a week of black and white, I am ready for some color!! 

Dress:  Eloquii by The Limited (Available here)
Jacket:  Forenza by The Limited (Available here)

Today's look combines three bold colors - hot pink, neon yellow, and cobalt blue.  In a pants look, I think this would be too much color, but I think this outfit works because there's enough skin showing to offset all the color.

Heels:  Target (Available here)

This look is spring-y but still manages to have a bit of an edgy, rock-n-roll vibe due to the moto jacket and fringe dress.

Necklaces (worn as bracelets):  The Limited

Today's look almost didn't happen.  I'm a little too small for Eloquii, so even though I loved this dress, I wasn't going to buy it.  After waiting and hoping that The Limited would carry the same style, I decided to give this Eloquii dress a try.  It's a little big so I was considering alterations, but I kind of like the relaxed, shift shape (I did get it hemmed).

I saw this jacket at The Limited when it first came out, but I didn't think it could be altered due to the zippers on the wrist.  I decided to give it a try when it went on clearance, and I'm so glad I did!  I lost most of the zippers, but I'm willing to overlook that because I love the color and style so much.

No matter what your body size/shape, most clothes will not fit perfectly off the rack. When you're petite and curvy, this is all the more true.  It would be wonderful if more mainstream clothing manufacturers catered to "specialty" sizes, but in the meantime, I am all about making the clothes work for me!

I've entered this look in a summer color challenge through Lucky Magazine and Dasani.

Metallics and Lace

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Pants:  The Limited (Sold out in navy; Available in other colors here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

Today, I decided to wear my new gold jacket.  I love that this jacket is super lightweight but looks like leather and suede.

Jacket:  The Limited (Similar here)
Purse:  The Limited

Shoes:  Target (Available in other colors here)
Bracelets:  The Limited; Target

I paired the jacket with a matching beige lace and gauze top and navy pants to keep the metallic subdued enough for work.
 
I love mixing neutrals in interesting shapes and textures.  The bold green pendant adds just the right amount of color.

Necklace:  Forever 21
"Evil Eye" ring:  H&M

Do you like mixing textures and fabrics for interesting neutral looks?

For these pants in other looks, see here, here, and here. 

Colorful Mondays

Today, I wore one of my favorite colors - cobalt blue.

Blazer:  New York & Company (Available here)
Tank:  The Limited (No longer available on-line; Available in some stores)
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

I realized that I unconsciously choose bright colors to wear on Mondays more often than not, such as in these recent Monday work looks.

Happy Monday

Beads and Citrine

Red Pants, White Jacket

Prabal Gurung Neon Brights

I am NOT a morning person...EVER.  Daylight Savings Time threw me off even more today, so I wanted to wear an easy outfit and a favorite color.   

Bold colors are happy and project a message of confidence.  They're perfect for surviving those manic Mondays.

Necklace:  Target (May be available in some stores; on-line)
Evil eye bracelet:  eBay (Similar here)
Charm bracelet:  Zoppini

A simple outfit like this calls for bold accessories.

I recently got this beaded chainlink necklace, which I love.  It's super long and can be worn doubled or even tripled.  If you're interested in purchasing it, be forewarned -- it is a little heavy and the beads get a little scratchy throughout the day.  It won't stop me from wearing it, but it may be a dealbreaker for some.

Shoes:  Target (old)
Clutch:  Target (Available in stores)

Do you like to wear bright or bold colors on Mondays?