Manic Monday: 9 to 5 Color

With winter now in full swing, I find myself reaching for rich berry hues.  For today's Manic Monday post, I styled a pretty burgundy pleated skirt from ASOS.

Skirt:  ASOS (Available here)

This skirt paired with a deep forest blouse is a sophisticated take on the classic Christmas color combination.  I don't think red and green need to be relegated just to the Christmas holiday - this is just a great color combination for winter! 

Blouse:  Who What Wear x Target (Available in ivory or black here and here)

Belt:  ELOQUII (Available here)

The shapes work particularly well for the office, and I love how the pleats of the skirt play with the pleats on the blouse.  The belt and booties help tie the look together.

The look has a little bit of a late 70s/early 80s vibe but still feels modern.

Boots:  FarylRobin Fawcett (Available at Target here)

Purse:  Target (old)
Glasses:  Coach

Do you wear green and red together outside of the holidays?

Manic Monday: Militaristic Minimalism

Happy Monday, everyone!!!  I've been so deep in holiday mode (including holiday fashion) that I forget that sometimes all you need to look pulled together is a great blazer and pair of pants.

Blazer:  ELOQUII (Available here)

For today's Manic Monday post, I went with my favorite monochromatic color palette.  A black camisole and pants creates a streamlined look that is perfect for showcasing a blazer.  This ivory military blazer from Eloquii is everything!!

Pants:  Who What Wear x Target

While the pants are basic black, the slightly cropped length and self-belt gives these a little extra flair.

Camisole:  LOFT Petites

I kept accessories simple with a clear crystal quartz necklace and a graphic clutch. 

Clutch:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)Necklace:  Rack+Clutch Mobile Boutique (St. Louis area)

Heels:  New Look Wide Fit

This look is so, so comfortable and feels amazing.  In fact, even though I rarely repeat outfits (I usually change things up at least slightly), I have already worn this exact outfit to work twice in the last two weeks.  Militaristic Minimalism for the win!!

Wild Card Wednesday: All The Bells & Whistles

Whenever the holidays approach, I find that my work style gets a little more fancy.  This season is no exception, and this look is a perfect example. 

Skirt:  ASOS (Sold out; Similar available here)

Trench:  Booohoo Plus (Available here)

Between the velvet skirt, metallic shoes, satiny camisole, and faux fur clutch, this outfit has all the bells and whistles.

Camisole:  Who What Wear for Target (Available here)

Shoes:  ASOS

Glasses:  Valentino

I love the pastel grey mixed with soft pinks - it's an unexpected combination for fall.  A simple silver necklace ties in the shoes. 

Necklace:  New York & Company

Clutch:  ASOS

Does your work style get dressier around the holidays?  What "special" fabrics do you enjoy wearing - velvet, faux fur, satin, sequins, metallics?

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate!!

Manic Monday: Black & Yellow

Yellow is one of my favorite colors to wear, but sometimes, it can be difficult to find fashionable options in this color.  Thankfully, this hasn't been a problem this fall as yellow has been one of the "it" colors.  I picked up a couple yellow pieces this season, including this pleated skirt and flower bow neck tie from Eloquii.

Blouse:  Eloquii (Available here)

Neck Bow:  Eloquii (Available here)
Earrings:  Target

Skirt:  Eloquii (Available here)

Recently for work, I paired these pieces with a black button-down top and booties for a cute pulled-together look.  The temperatures are starting to dip, so I will add a blazer and tights soon.

Satchel:  Express

The ruffle detail on the sleeves of the top add such a unique detail to an otherwise basic button-down.  I'm always looking for interesting basics, and this top really fits the bill.

Belt:  The Limited (old)

I hope to add a couple more yellow pieces to my wardrobe before the color loses traction in the fashion industry.  While I sometimes enjoy color trends, I mostly seek out my own personal favorite colors to wear (yellow, greens, and blush/peachy pinks).  When they become popular, I like to stock up!

Glasses:  Valentino

What colors do you like to wear?  Are you a fan of the yellow color trend this fall?

Manic Monday: Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Ugh!  I feel like I keep apologizing for being away from the blog so long.  Lately, it has just been so hard to get things back on track. 

Dress:  Eloquii (Available here)

As I have discussed on the blog before, I have five kids who all live in the home with my husband and me full-time.  I don't talk about them too much to respect their privacy, but sometimes being a mom/stepmom is just really, really hard.  And very often, the chauffeuring, psychological counseling, crisis intervening, personal shopping, tutoring, and everything else that is parenting takes its toll mentally and physically.  And that is in an ideal situation!  In my case, we are dealing with all of that plus the blending of a family, two special needs children, a biological mother to three of the children who is deeply mired in drug addictions, and a very angry and hurt teenage stepdaughter.  It's a lot, and it has definitely forced me to put my blogging on the back burner lately.

Boots:  New Look Wide Fit

I have always tried to keep things fairly real on the blog, but we all have that "best" version of ourselves that we usually present to the world.  I usually try to keep the blog light because for me, it is a means of release and of sharing a part of myself that is fun to me - my love of fashion!

Glasses:  Coach

That said, being real doesn't just mean showing you one part of myself.  Sometimes, it also means getting into the yuck of it all, the painful, stressful, and sometimes downright depressing circumstances that life and parenting can bring.  I often feel like I do a craptastic job of parenting and with five kids who each have different needs, I usually feel like I am individually not meeting any of their needs or giving anyone the attention they deserve.  One or two of the kids, because of their problematic behaviors, seem to perpetually get the most attention but for all of the wrong reasons, making me feel like I'm neglecting the other kids and that I never have anything positive to say to the "troublemakers."

Purse:  Express

Some days, I feel lucky just to get through the day and feel relief when they are all finally asleep.  One more day down and a few hours of peace until it's time to do it all again.  Then, I feel guilty for feeling that way.  As my kids are starting to grow up and face puberty, interest in sex, body hair, and all the things that come with adolescence, I am reminded of how quickly time passes.  I know they won't be around the house much longer, and I feel sad about how often I wish the days or time away. 

Parenting definitely has its awesome, beautiful, and hilarious moments.  It has its touching moments, its moments when you feel like you made a real difference in your child's life, moments when you know that they appreciate your efforts and love you despite your own imperfections and limitations.  But parenting is definitely not sugar and spice and everything nice, and it isn't for the faint of heart!!  And I feel like this isn't talked about enough.

Pom:  Torrid

You want to know what is sugar and spice and everything nice?  This sweet and pretty dress from Eloquii!  Between the peppy pink shade, the ruffles, and bow, it's just too adorable.

I love this dress so much that I tried three sizes before finally going with a 14 in Eloquii's new Viola fit.  This dress didn't come in petites, so I first ordered it in a 16 (drowning on me) and then a 14 (fit weird in shoulders and bust and seemed to accentuate my tummy).  I then decided to try the Viola fit.  The Viola fit is designed for women who are a size or two bigger on bottom.  I actually have the opposite body type - I'm generally a size bigger on top than I am on bottom.  That said, I thought the Viola would give me the extra tummy room I wanted while also giving me a better fit up top.  I was right! 

Ring:  The Limited

Even though the overall fit wasn't bad, I did have to make some alterations, and through those, I definitely made this dress my own!  It originally was too long and came with a bottom ruffle that I really didn't care for.  So, I had the dress hemmed and lost the ruffle.  The sleeves were too long as well, but I didn't want to lose the great ruffle/button detail on the wrist.  To shorten the sleeve, my tailor took the sleeve up in the middle and created a seam around the cuff portion.  Lastly, the dress was too big in the hips, so I had it taken in on bottom.

I kept the styling simple and played up the gold buttons through gold hardware on my booties and bag. A pink pom and rose quartz ring add some additional pink to this sweet look.

What do you think - how would you style this dress?  For those of you who are parents, how do you balance your parental duties with all the other life responsibilities and time for yourself?

Manic Monday: The Jumper Dress

School girl looks can go cliché very quickly, and I personally am not down for trying to dress like a sexualized child. 

Dress:  Eloquii (Available here)

That said, borrowed-from-the-girls jumpers are a huge trend this fall.  Thankfully, this trend is more about sophisticated and streamlined dressing, and it's definitely not juvenile.

Blouse:  Who What Wear X Target (Available here)

Shoes:  New Look Wide Fit

I spotted this jumper-style dress while perusing the Eloquii site, and I instantly saw its potential for easy work style.  By pairing the jumper with a bow blouse and booties, I had a great work look that I know will get me through fall and winter.

Clutch:  ASOS

The faux fur clutch adds a fun touch to the more serious look and also gives the outfit even more of cool weather feel.

Glasses:  Valentino

Have you seen this fall's jumper trend?  What do you think?

Manic Monday: Bohemian Florals

During a recent Shop Your Closet post, I featured one of my favorite trends for fall - bomber jackets.  That post featuring a floral bomber jacket from Who What Wear x Target also incorporated another of my favorite fall trends - florals!  Today, I'm focusing on the fall floral trend with a slightly quirky mixed print look by pairing two different florals with a polka dot trench.

Trench:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

The subdued colors of this look give it a sophisticated feel, and the black background color of each piece keeps the mixing of multiple prints from feeling garish.

Blouse:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

Skirt:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

I finished the look with my buckled, open-toe booties and a faux croc-embossed bag. 

I usually go for looks with a little more minimalist feel, but I really love this look!  Fall is all about prints and embellishment, and it's high on the details.  Sophisticated bohemian looks are having a serious moment, so if you have ever had a desire to dress like an Olsen twin (and yes, I actually have), this is the season to give it a try!

Bag:  The Limited

Boots:  New Look

Sunglasses:  Tory Burch

Earrings:  Torrid

Do you like the dark floral trend?  How would you style this blouse?
For the pleated skirt in another look, see here.

Manic Monday: Soft Layers

Fall style usually means lots of dark colors and no shortage of black.  While it definitely still means all of those things, fall style can also include pastels and soft neutrals. Paired with everything from black to olive to unexpected lemon yellow, blush pink is a big color this fall. 

Dress:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

Trench:  Boohoo (Available here)

Booties:  Revel x Target (Available here)

The olive midi dress and taupe boots are soft neutrals that both really pop against the blush pink trench.  

Clutch:  The Limited

The belted dress, while soft, has a bit of structure and is streamlined, while the soft trench adds a relaxed, unstructured touch.  

I have definitely found my new work uniform in the form of dresses with soft duster jackets and trenches.

Do you like wearing softer neutrals and colors in the fall or do you stick with darker colors?