A nice steady week without the long, work hours. Yay! It was still pretty warm in Atlanta so I tried to get one last wear out of some dresses without wearing tights.
MONDAY
A printed dress and matte gold blazer make getting dressed on a Monday morning extremely easy.
TUESDAY
The wrap top is fuschia, cream, and brown stripes. The shoes are a pink and gray snake print. Mixing prints with similar colors makes the look work in a more interesting way than just wearing a plain, brown shoe.
WEDNESDAY
The camera caught me looking a little dazed. LOL No worries.
This black tie neck blouse (left purposely untied) and blue pants kept the outfit simple but cute.
THURSDAY
Printed wrap dress and a preppy style cardigan. I love this look just because the two pieces together are quite the stylish, odd couple.
FRIDAY
I love my half day Fridays. And usually I dial my wardrobe back to a more business casual look for the shorten work day. I tried on four other shirts before I decided to wear this plaid button-down one. Paired with tasseled heeled loafers, these brown pants don't look so boring.
Have an awesome weekend, everyone! And don't forget to dress well for every occasion. :-)
Are you ready for the gorgegous, rich colors of fall? This video by Lucky mag compiles several runway looks that incorporate jewel tones hues of wine, emerald, and cobalt. If you typically stick with the colorless basics of black, white, or (gasp!) khaki, consider implementing one colorful piece like a sweater, scarf, or slim pants to your fall wardrobe. I'm feeling so inspired! There's nothing like fall fashion!
How will you be adding the beautiful colors of fall to your closet?
If you're looking for a laptop bag that isn't boring or basic or black (yuck), see these options below for stylish ideas at various price ranges. And please for all that is sacred, do not wrap your expensive laptop in a pashmina and think it's good to go. It's a little bit crazy to pay all that money for a computer and not protect it.
How about a laptop bag that doesn't look like a laptop bag? This Jane Marvel Metro Tote by See Jane Work is only $75 and comes in a variety of fun prints like striped, python, and zebra.
This newspaper print bag is an interesting deviation from the typical, black bag.
If you're looking for a laptop bag with a subtle print, this Lucky Brand leopard laptop sleeve that's not so ostentatious. The crossbody strap makes it very convenient to carry. It's on sale at zappos.com for $80.10.
This sleek Marc by Marc Jacobs pearl grey laptop bag is on sale at zappos.com for $118.80. It's a great option for the stylish man who doesn't want another black bag.
My wardrobe is starting to get a little blah these days. With that in mind, I tried to inject a dose of creativity into this week's work outfits. Was a successful? Read on!
MONDAY
An abstract art blouse paired with a leopard cardigan and cream pants. I like the quirkiness of mixing these patterns together.
TUESDAY
You ever have one of those days where you're standing in your closet befuddled because you have no idea what to wear? Well, that's how we ended up wearing this sheath dress with a plaid blazer over it. I took the scarf off once I got to work because I started feeling like I was a throw back from the 90s. My creative approach to getting dressed to a hit today.
WEDNESDAY
Today, I rebounded from yesterday's boring look. I received several comments on this outfit. I think the pop of color and this chunky necklace made all the difference.
THURSDAY
I was back to pattern mixing with this polka dot shirt and striped cardigan. This outfit seemed to be popular at the office too.
FRIDAY
It's a short work day for me so I decided to keep it simple for Friday. I love the green stripes on this wrap shirt. It makes these plain black pants a little less, well, plain.
I love the hot days of summer. The festivals where you sweat through your cute attempt to keep cool. The long, warm nights. But when the temperatures start to dip, I don't complain. I start thinking about cardigans that make you want to curl up on the sofa with an engaging read. The cardigans below fit all my transition to fall requirements: comfy, oversized, and fashionable of course. Oh, and dare I say rather affordable too.
I love this simple cardigan with the elbow patches. And it's only $35.90 at zara.com, which is now open f or US online shopping. Yay!
This beautiful blended color cardigan also at zara.com for $79.90 just says, "fall is here" to me. I know it's a day early but what the heck. I just can't wait. Cue the falling leaves.
Do you think the right kind of trousers or pants doesn't exist for your body type? I totally get it. Often it feels that way when your wrestling in the dressing room with a pair of sleek, new pants. This video from the Today Show and People Stylewatch offers a few guidelines on how to find a pair of trousers that works for the body you have right now. Yeah, that one. :-)
I didn't stay up for the whole Emmys show but I did see the arrivals. See the clip below from the Today Show where Lloyd Boston (one of my top two fav celebrity stylists) and Jill Martin dish about the good, the bad, and the ugly in red carpet fashion. I'm surprised they didn't talk about Nina Dobrev. To me she was hands down the best dressed last night. Just gor-geous!
Here's a slideshow of all the dresses from eonline.com. Who was your favorite and who got it wrong?
Alright people, it's Friday! Woo-hoo! Here's a glimpse at what I wore to work this week. The week started off strong, got a little interesting in the middle, and is closing with a bang. Hopefully, yours is ending on an equally high note. :-)
MONDAY
Yay Monday! Okay, not really but I was trying to psych myself up for the start of the new work week. This dress was passed down to me by my good friend Jenn (thanks, Jenn!) paired with a blazer from The Limited. The color is a fun and interesting.
TUESDAY
This sleeveless turtleneck makes me look a tad bit sickly because it eliminates my neck.
WEDNESDAY
Whoa! Looks like my hair decided to split. LOL No worries. The red necklace and blue suede shoes complement each other well.
THURSDAY
And there's the crazy hair on the top of my head again. Oh well, what are you gonna do? Anyhoo, I like this outfit because it mixes the striped shirt with striped pants. It works because it's all the same color palette. The peach cardigan just adds a little color pulling the look together.
FRIDAY
It's another day of my favorite: pattern mixing! This blouse is from H&M, the jacket is Marc by Marc Jacobs and the shoes are French Sole. The black pants were another steal at Goodwill for $4.94. But the star of this look is the shoes. These black and white striped beauties are the perfect example of "shoes make the outfit".
Looks like I'll be doing a little perusing today. Take an extra 25% markdowns at The Limited.
I just did a quick glance to see what selection they had to offer and I have to say, there are plenty of solid jewelry picks. And quite a few tops and tanks to wear under work blazers and cardigans, which can later be removed for that happy hour or networking event.
Please note that the prices online already reflect the discount but it's definitely worth a look since there are many pieces under $20.
The Limited also has 40% off accessories and their $100 off a suit event going on now too. Enjoy!
I recently received a Facebook message from one of my dear readers, Nicole, who had a wonderful question.
"I have a question for your blog. I'm not sure if it's a stupid question or not. When purging your clothing how do you determine what's a piece that's going to be wearable for years to come? Thanks, Nicole"
First, all questions are worthy of being asked. Always. Secondly, I'm glad you asked! Determining what will be "wearable" for years to come may seem challenging but it doesn't have to be. Ask yourself three questions and you should be able to come up with a sound answer that works for your wardrobe and most importantly, your lifestyle.
1 Can you fit it?
Typically considered a no-brainer, you have to stop and honestly ask if the clothing in your closet fits your body AND looks good on you. Just because it fits doesn't mean you should wear it. If you love the piece and you know you will wear it (meaning you can come up with at least 3 ways to wear it without including jeans), get it altered.
This pic shows a great example of pants that I love that are wearable from season to season. But they just don't fit right on my body type. I look too shorty and squaty. Off to Goodwill they go.
2 What's your personal style?
Does this jacket, dress, shirt, or pants look like you? Or better stated, does it project the image you want for yourself? If the clothes look frumpy or reminiscent of your college days, they probably aren't good choices to keep over the next few years.
The blue and white patterned shirt shown here by Thakoon for Target is a fun print. But the shape of the shirt doesn't seem to work for me now as well as it did two years ago. It's in the donate pile.
3. Is it a classic or a trend?
I like to think that these $2 thrift store pants are a classic. But the bold print and tight fit pretty much ensure that they will not be in my closet three or four years from now. But note they only cost $2, which is exactly the amount of money you want to spend on trends and fads.
Your classic pieces like a great fitting pair of dark wash jeans or a black blazer or a comfy, soft v-neck sweater can be paired with all the in one day out the next trendy clothes that flow through every season. And those should be the clothes you keep as the foundation of your closet. Toss the trendy pieces soon after they lose their luster. (Leggings, I'm giving you the serious sideeye.)
And the key point to remember is this: while the item in question may be wearable for years to come, does it work for your body and your lifestyle? If the answer is no, the item must go. :-)
I knew I probably wouldn't be able to make it to Target on today so I went on Sunday and checked online just to see if any of the Missoni for Target line was available on the racks. I guess the folks at Target were wise to that trick cause I couldn't find one colorful, Missoni-esque piece in the store. LOL No worries. I looked online again when I woke up at the crack of morning to head to boot camp and guess what I found? Nothing. I guess the site wasn't ready at 5:30 am. But I just checked a few minutes ago and the eagle has landed! But seriously, the entire Missoni for Target collection is online and as expected, certain items are already sold out like a few pieces of luggage.
After perusing the clothing for women (and don't forget there is something for men and kids too), I found my two favorite pieces:
This black and white zig-zag pattern sweater coat for $79.99.
And this beautiful robe for $39.99
Get what you can, while you can. I was still shopping the site and I received a server error. Looks to me like a lot of people are already searching and buying up this collection.
Are you looking to grab anything (clothing, luggage, kitchenware, a bike) from the new Missoni for Target collection?
Since I'm not at New York Fashion Week (yet!) I have to live vicarously through those fortunate individuals who are breathing in all of the creativity and artistic expression. If you're looking for a place to sneak a peek at what's coming for Spring 2012, head over to Essence.com where they've captured an insider view of NY Fashion Week.
And if you're looking for detailed videos and slideshows of all the runway shows, don't miss nymag.com. Here are links to a few of my favorites: Tracy Reese and "just wait til you get your little hands on L.A.M.B"! (Yes, I am over here dancing.)
Anyhoo, below is a clip from the Rebecca Taylor runway show with the Essence beauty and fashion editors weighing in on the awesomeness that is Rebecca Taylor. Love, love, love the knit yellow dress. Keeps me motivated to gobble up my fruits and veggies and keep working out. Hard.
Recent Comments