STYLEnosh

TAKE A FASHION RISK

I wish I could express the joy I receive from wearing various colors, patterns, and prints. Trying out these unexpected combinations taps into my creative, don't let your same old wardrobe get stale and boring, side.

Think my ethnic print sweater and striped black and white flats resemble a certain fashion miss? Maybe. But how will you know if that shoe and shirt or jacket and pant look will work well together if you never actually put it on and test it out? I can assure you that the outfit pictured here was a fashion success. I'm confident that it looked good because it felt right. I originally reached for black kitten heels with cut-outs on the toes. Interesting shoes but still playing it a little too wardrobe safe. The sleek nature of the flats proved to be a much more inspiring choice.

So please, take a risk in your own closet. If you happen to make a fashion stumble, don't spend time lamenting over it. Those unwise choices help you make better ones in the future. (With the exception of leggings. That trend keeps rearing its ugly head no matter how ghastly it looks and I don't see any signs of stopping.)

WEEKLY RECAP: A CHARITY EVENT AND THE DMV

Boy what a busy week!  I spent the better portion of the last four days trying to register my car. As it turns out, you need your title to complete that task and unfortunately I didn't have mine. I never had it. And after a series of crazy, frantic phone calls, I've tracked it down. So now they can't catch me riding dirty. (On a side note, the FL department of motor vehicles is definitely the DMV version of heaven. By the time your bum hits the seat, they're already calling your number.)

My week actually grew a whole lot brighter on Wednesday when I attended this fantastic charity event. The location was the lovely Saks Fifth Avenue. And while I did spend an exorbitant amount of time in the shoe section (I still didn't purchase any by the way), the wonderful people I met and chatted with out-shined the shoes.

Here's what I wore and the Diane von Furstenberg red, wrap dress paired with green shoes was an instant hit. I think the look garnered positive feedback because it was so unexpected.

 

Here's a better pic of the shoes. Yummy!

 

LOSING WEIGHT IS GREAT! HAVING YOUR CLOTHES HANG OFF OF YOU SUCKS!

Don't get me wrong, losing weight is wonderful. But watching your clothes sag off of your body like your older sister's hand-me-downs gets old pretty quickly. Here's a plan for maintaining your personal style while losing weight, without blowing your money on a new wardrobe every week.

Woven belts are my new best friend. I wear a woven or braided belt almost every day now. The reason is because I can adjust the belt to accommodate my shrinking waistline. Since belts tend to cost a little more than I care to pay, I'm constantly looking for cheap ones everywhere I go. I've found some of my most useful braided belts at affordable places like Forever 21 and Target. 

Don'tunderestimate the power of lycra. Last month I purchased a pair of distressed jeans from Old Navy for $19. I was so excited because they DIDN'T have lycra or spandex in them, which I always needed to get over my butt and thighs in the past. As it turns out, I NEEDED that lycra. Without the stretch characteristic, my new jeans were baggy and saggy within two weeks of purchasing them. I recently dug out two pairs of old jeans from the coffers of my closet. They actually fit better than the new pair because they have a good amount of lycra in them. The waist is too big, of course, but that's okay because I have my trusty woven belt to cinch my waist as tight as I need to. 

Being redundant is not that bad. I'm known for wearing my clothes in a way that makes my wardrobe appear larger than it really is. I mix and match the things in my closet to optimize them and get the most looks possible. This task becomes a major challenge when you only have a handful of pants and skirts that actually fit. One day after a fit of "lack of clothes frustration", I realized that it's okay to wash and wear the same jeans, shorts, or dresses each week. The key is to wear the things that look good AND make you feel good. Don't schlep around in oversized pants that make you feel like you're playing pretend in someone's else clothes. Use what you have. And as Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work." And when you finally get to your true body size, go out and have one spectacular shopping spree.

WHAT I'M WEARING - MAKING FLORAL HOT!

Remember a couple of weeks ago I bought a pair of distressed jeans from Old Navy? Well here they are in play. I love these jeans!!! Though I may have to get them altered soon. Two weeks after buying them, the waist is so huge. I had to do some serious cinching! (Remember that old Saturday Night Live skit? Note: I tried to post a link to the skit but apparently NBC is not having it.)

I paired my $20 denim with this floral tank from Charlotte Russe. Now that I think about it, adding in the shoes (by Modern Vintage) brings the total cost of this outfit to around $70. And that sounds sweet to me.

 

WHAT I'M WEARING - SIMPLE, BLACK DRESS CHIC

I love this dress. Well actually, it's a skirt that I choose to wear as a dress.  The ruching at the top makes it the perfect candidate to sport as a dress instead of its original intention.  And its simple, flowy style is the epitome of summer.

Paired with black white polka dot shoes and my new favorite Kate Spade clutch/tote, this easy look goes from shopping to dinner with very little effort. Oh, and it's the perfect piece of apparel to beat the summer heat.

 

WHAT I'M WEARING - PLAIN AND SIMPLE

You all know I'm a proponent of dressing up and embellishing most outfits. Exhibit A and B should prove that point. Scarves, belts, and pearls. There really is no limit to my desire to accessorize a look. But on this particular day, I deviated from my typical stylized look.

A plain black tank and a simple blazer appear relaxed with these trouser jeans. Okay, I did add the black and white striped flats. But I know you didn't expect me to wear plain, black shoes. I was relaxed, not bored.

WHAT I'M WEARING - THE HANDBAG MAKES THE STATEMENT

I really love this bag. Pairing it with a plain black tank and dark denim capris allows the color to just pop! I even wore it with matching red shoes, which is something I rarely (if ever) do. In the picture below, I'm wearing snake print D'Orsay kitten heels I found at TJ Maxx for $30. I've worn them obsessively ever since.

I feel like my love for this scrumptious bag somehow justifies my Kate Spade addiction.

I MAKE GETTING OLDER LOOK GOOD!!!

LOL Okay, so I woke up this morning with sinus congestion and all that but even spring allergies can't kill my birthday swagga!

Yes, it is the day I was born. And as many of you know, it has been a long standing tradition for me to wear white on my birthday. (I think it started with me bucking the whole don't wear white before labor day rule. Let's lay that one to rest people.) And amidst the gray skies and wet payment, I managed to squeeze in a little white. I'd been coveting a white vest every since I saw one in Lucky magazine like six years ago. I finally snagged this one from H&M last spring. I added the Merona cardigan from Target just in case the AC is a bit much at my birthday lunch and dinner celebrations. And yes, there shall be celebrating.

Have a fan-tabulous day!!!



SN

WHAT I'M WEARING - ELIMINATING THE FEAR OF SHORTS

Who doesn't love wearing shorts on a sunny spring day in April? Yeah, I didn't think there was anyone either. But I do seem to recall a time when I despised wearing shorts because of my thighs. Over the last few years, it seemed like my thighs were proportionately larger than the rest of my body. (No, I didn't mind my butt being bigger too. Trust me, there have never been any complaints about that.)  But recently my fear of baring my "thunder" thighs in public has been receding. I've been doing a 100% raw diet for last 34 days (eating only fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole/sprouted grains) and working out (for 30 - 40 minutes) at least 5 days a week. Shorts don't seem so scary these days.

Notice that I'm wearing a pair of shorts that is shorter in length than you'd expect someone with shorts disdain to wear, take a picture of, and later post on a blog. But these shorts, with a wedge heel, make my legs pop. The longer the short, the less you see of my legs. Which makes me look shorter.

If you're looking to recapture a summer staple from your past and reintroduce shorts to your wardrobe, check out these affordable options at Target, New York & Company, and Ann Taylor Loft.

WHAT I'M WEARING: A SIMPLE DRESS

I swear I bought this dress in the 90s. And 10 years later, it still works in my wardrobe.

Sorry the pic is a little blurry. My sister has a shaky hand. But the dress has an iridescent finish. And the lavender color still looks fresh. I just added a scarf and my tan strappy sandals and I was wonderfully chic for the Florida heat.

WHAT I'M WEARING: CLASS OF 3000 LIVE

Boy, what a weekend! I'm still recuperating. Saturday began with my laptop completely frozen. A frantic trip to the Apple store and I was informed that my hard drive was no longer with us. The good news was that it was still under warranty. And shout out to the Mall of Georgia Apple store for fixing it in about an hour. Sweet!

This minor catastrophe kind of threw my Saturday agenda in a tail spin. But I was able to recover and make the opening of the Class of 3000 Live play. If you're in Atlanta, you have to check out this show. (It's the live show of the cartoon created by Andre' Benjamin of Outkast.) It's a kid's play but I promise you the adults will laugh out loud too.

I wore my new boyfriend jacket and crinkle skirt with my quintessential green and brown pumps. I added a couple of strands of pearls and my chain link bag. It was the perfect mix of eclectic chic. (Note: I'm sporting two trends from my spring 2009 favs list.)

WHAT I'M WEARING: AFTERNOON OF SHOPPING

After taking this pic I realized that I wear these shoes a lot. Because I love them! You can't go wrong with cute and comfortable. 

This look, a blazer, scarf, jeans, and flats is basically my winter uniform. Actually when I think about it, if you exchange the flats for strappy sandals, it's my summer uniform too. The thing that stands out for me is that I'm carrying a black handbag. (It's tucked under my arm.) Now that's something you don't see everyday.

Looking for a sweet pair of flats? Check out these picks on endless.com. There's plenty to browse through from the classic to the crazy.