Dress Week 2: Leopard and Plum

I love mixing warm purples, reds, and oranges with leopard print.  

Dress:  The Limited (Similar here and here)
Blazer:  LOFT Petites (Available here)

Tights:  The Limited
Boots:  Fergalicious by Fergie (Available here)

The beige and black print of this dress mixes easily with deep colors.

I'm getting tired of tights and am longing for bare legs, but for now, black mesh tights and ankle booties add extra warmth.

Bag:  The Limited
Earrings:  LOFT (Available here)

Bracelets:  New York & Company, The Limited (Available here, no longer available online)

What colors do you like to mix with leopard print??

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

Dress Week 2: Modern Fit-and-Flare

Dress Week 2 starts today with this fun printed fit-and-flare dress.  I am looking forward to wearing this dress with sandals in the summer, but I winterized it here with a faux leather jacket and warm tights and boots.

Dress:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

Jacket:  Target (Available here)
Purse:  Target

It can be hard to wear jackets with fit-and-flare dresses.  I usually feel like I lose my shape in such styles when I add a jacket.  This peplum jacket is great because it follows the contours of my shape and the dress.

As is usually the case with my clothes, both this dress and jacket required alterations.  I've featured this jacket here on the blog already a few times (here and here).  Outside of the sleeves being too long, the overall fit was not too bad before, but I opted to have the jacket taken in under the arms and to have the sleeves slimmed a bit for a more streamlined fit.  The jacket has stretchy side panels, which make the effects of the alterations a little hard to see; however, I did notice a difference in overall fit.

I lost some of the blue fabric at the bottom of the dress; however, I actually think the block of blue is now more proportionate for my petite frame.  The blue felt a little overwhelming before, but now I quite like it.

While the dress has an oversized lace print, it looks like a modern tribal print to me, so I added a white howlite necklace and my citrine/zebra bag to keep that feeling.

Necklace:  eBay (Similar here)

Tights:  The Limited (old)

I've really been into exploring more prints lately.  I am so fickle with prints that I'm often overly cautious about purchasing printed pieces because I'm afraid I will grow tired of them too quickly.  While they don't have the staying power of solids, prints certainly make a wardrobe more interesting and fun.

Boots: Payless (old)

Do you prefer to wear solids or prints?  Are you a fan of fit-and-flare styles?

Get Cozy

Today's outfit would be great for an easy-going evening out.

Sweater:  Forever 21+ (Available here)
Pants:  Target (old)

Shoes:  Payless (old)

The lattice back adds sex appeal and style, while the flowy sweater and pants are relaxed and comfy.

I added some fun silver and sparkly jewelry and a pewter clutch to add a little more flair to these simple pieces.

Sparkly heels complete the look.

Bag:  Target (Similar here)
Necklace:  Shoxie.com (Available here)

Ring:  The Limited (Available here)
Bracelets:  New York & Company and The Limited (Available here and no longer available)

I would wear this for a dinner date out with the man.  Sans the heels, the outfit is perfect for cozying up on the couch after dinner with some Big Bang Theory.  :-)

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

Fun Valentine's Day Prints: Kisses and Hearts

Happy Sunday, everyone!!

Hope you're all having a relaxing day.  I've had a wonderful weekend so far and am feeling great. 

Right now, I'm making plans for our Valentine's Day celebration.  I'm a big fan of V-Day.  It's a day that celebrates love, and since we need more love in this world, Valentine's Day is wonderful in my book.

For me, Valentine's Day is about love and romance - NOT flowers, candy, or jewelry.  I especially hate that the commercialization of Valentine's Day has made it one in which men are expected to perform and cater to their sweethearts through the purchasing of material goods.  Our Valentine's Day celebration will not be about gifts - it will be about shared experiences and mutual gratification. 

Of course, it will also be about fashion (as almost everything is!! :-)).  I've got a few Valentine's Day looks in mind, which I will share with you later.

Today, I'm featuring a few of my recent Valentine's Day-inspired work outfits featuring fun prints.

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Blazer:  New York & Company Petites

The first includes a kiss print blouse I recently picked up from The Limited.  I already had a similar blouse in navy and red (featured here), but I just couldn't resist.  The black and pink color combination is one of my top five favorite color combinations, and since I wear so much black, I knew that this one would get a lot of wear.

Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)
Heels:  Target (Available here)

Amazingly, the pink blazer I already had in my closet was a perfect match for the blouse.  Black skinnies and stilettos completed the look.

A heart shaped locket added a simple but sweet finishing touch.

Locket:  Target (old) (Similar here)
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

For last Friday's casual work look, I wore this heart print blouse.  Friday was the annual Go Red for Women - a day to wear red in support of women's heart health.

Blouse:  New York & Company (old)
Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)
Bracelet:  The Limited (old)

As heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States, greater awareness to the signs and symptoms of heart disease in women is greatly needed.  I decided my red heart blouse was a perfect choice for this day. 

While I enjoy this blouse, I am not a huge fan of this outfit. I was trying to come up with a new way to wear the top, but I wasn't very happy with the result.  I much prefer the combos I wore here and here.

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here and Similar here)
Tank:  Old Navy (Similar here)
Boots:  Fergalicious by Fergie (Available here)

What do you think?  Are you a fan of Valentine's Day?  Have any fun plans you'd like to share?  Do you like kiss prints and/or heart prints?

For the pink blazer in other looks, see here, here, and here.
For the white jeans in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.

For more Valentine's Day inspiration, please check out my lingerie post here and my post for petite plus V-Day looks on The Curvy Fashionista here.

Valentine's Day is also a great reminder of the importance of loving one's self - check out this post for one of my strategies towards greater self love.

Cassential Links, 2/8/14

It has taken me a while to get my links post up, so some of these posts are a little dated, but still very relevant...here's your Saturday Cassential links.  :-)

Are racialized sexist images art or just completely insensitive?

I remember sitting in a grad school sociology class and suddenly feeling very "masculine" that I so eagerly raised my hand and spoke up with my perspective in class.  I was still very insecure about many things in life, but I knew my sociological stuff and I liked to share it.  But was my behavior too aggressive and "unfeminine?"  I've since learned not to care and not to apologize for being "too much."

Women's sexual expression has become more open and mainstream in recent years, but is the message of sexuality that is so often promoted one of female empowerment or a generic appeal to a heterosexual male ideal of generic submissive sexuality?

One thing that I learned over the years with my own body image struggles is that self-love is an ongoing process.  Disordered thinking about one's body often leads to behaviors that are dysfunctional.  Years of anorexic-like behaviors and binge eating has taught me this.  Learning not to judge ourselves and our behaviors is a step in the direction towards greater health and better choices.  Knowing what is good for us and acting on this are two different things, but working to sync these two is a process towards healthy mind and a healthy body.

When I was in my early 20s and lost a significant amount of weight, I noticed a sudden change in people's treatment of me.  I got hit on relentlessly - sexually harassed constantly.  I had a co-worker objectify me, asking me to turn around and model for him - I felt like such a piece of meat.  Once that same co-worker got to know me, he treated me with a whole new level of respect - even going so far as to tell me that he had no idea that "there was so much to me."  Experiencing life both as a very thin athletic woman and as an overweight woman has given me a lot of perspective - there definitely is an ugly side of pretty.

I so often feel this way while watching TV - love the satire.

Disney princesses as you never knew they existed ;-)

Love these examples of active resistance to sexist advertising

This article wonderfully addresses the tabloid fascination with Bruce Jenner and his supposed transitioning.

The modeling industry never seems to amaze me with what passes for thin and plus-size. 

Love this article on how dressing for your age, whatever that means anyway, is dead.  While my personal style has changed from early 20s due to my lifestyle and fashion whims, I love the idea that age has no real relevancy on how we dress.  Stupid rules are most definitely made to be broken.  Wear what you want!!!

Great explanation of the concept of whiteness and how the construction of race was developed to promote and justify inequalities. 

Plus-Size Valentine's Day Lingerie

February is always a great time to purchase new lingerie.  Due to Valentine's Day, lingerie is usually on sale everywhere, so even if you only go as far as bras and undies, it's the perfect time to restock.

As much as oversized tees get heavy use as sleepwear, I love lingerie.  There is something wonderful about sexy somethings underneath everyday clothes or a slinky chemise for bed.

Great lingerie can make us feel sensual, sexy, and alluring - and who doesn't want to feel like that?

If you wear straight/misses sizes, there are a ton of lingerie options out there.  Plus-size lingerie options can be a little harder to find, but thankfully, the market has expanded dramatically in recent years.

When it comes to bras, corsets, babydolls, etc., I'm an in-between size that can sometimes go either way depending on the cut/fit of a piece.  I decided to feature plus-size options here to showcase some of the great pieces I recently found in my own personal lingerie search.

Clockwise from top left -
Frederick's of Hollywood:  Hollywood Dream Lace Halter Full-Figure Corset; Sheerly Sexy Garter Belt PLUS,
Cacique/ Lane Bryant:  Charmeuse & Lace Short Robe; Full Figure Satin & Lace Garter Skirt; Strappy Cup Babydoll;
Hips and Curves:  Contrast Lace Band Thigh High ; Sinfully Sweet Georgette Babydoll; Longline Lace Underwire Bra

For sleepwear, I'm a big fan of babydolls and chemises.  I love those that have underwire for support like the featured black babydoll from Lane Bryant.

While finding fabulous plus size lingerie has gotten easier, it is still virtually impossible to find petite (in plus or straight sizing) lingerie.  

I was soooo excited to spot thigh highs from Hips and Curves that were available in petites!!!  I've known about Hips and Curves for a while but never shopped there.  I recently ordered the three featured items and am excitedly awaiting their arrival.  I plan on wearing the longline bra under a blazer for a special date night.  :-)

Do you have a favorite type of lingerie??

Burgundy Suiting

There was a time not too long ago when you wouldn't catch me in an outfit like today's look.  While I might have worn the burgundy pants and definitely would have worn the blazer, wearing them together would have seemed like too much color or too "wild."

Now, the idea of a burgundy "suit" seems fun.  Since burgundy is such a deep shade of red, it has a subtlety that I think works really well for pulling off a colored suit in an office setting.

Blazer:  Ann Taylor Petites (sleeves shortened) (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

Blouse:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)
Heels:  Target (Similar here)

I kept the shoes burgundy for a clean head-to-toe line and added a black bow-neck blouse for a bit of dark contrast. 

I'm not sure that I would wear this outfit as part of my regular rotation, but it's definitely fun to mix things up a bit and try something new.

Tote:  The Limited

Bracelets:  Express, The Limited

Would you wear head-to-toe burgundy?

To see these pants in other outfits, see here and here.
For this blazer in another look, see here.

Black Pants for Work: Modern Tuxedo

I cap off my feature on black pants with black tuxedo trousers.  I love that these pants have a classic trouser shape while the ivory stripe adds on-trend flair.

Pants:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)
Blazer:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

My love for tuxedo-inspired styles is never-ending.  For this look, I paired the tuxedo trousers with a cropped ivory tuxedo blazer and a bib-front tank for a modern take on the tuxedo.

Ivory tank:  LOFT Petites (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)
Black tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)

Bag:  Target
Bangles:  ??? (old)

I added wooden bangles and a bright zebra print bag for an unexpected mix.

I like this outfit quite a bit, but I think if I were to do it over, I would up the tribal accessories and inspiration to make the mix of tribal and tuxedo more deliberate looking.  If you're going to do something, commit, right?  :-)

Boots:  Target (Available here)

Are you a fan of tuxedo-inspired looks? How do you keep your black pants interesting for work?


For these pants in another look, see here.
For this tank in another outfit, see here.

Black Pants for Work: I Adore Me

Black Pants Week continues with my go-to for work, evening, and weekends - black skinny pants.  Skinny pants are perfect with flats, heels, or boots.  The gold studs on the ankle of these pants add a style detail that sets this pair apart.

Pants:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

One of the beauties of black pants is that they provide a blank canvas - you can add pair just about anything with them.  My favorite way to style them is to lighten them up with soft blouses and colored blazers as I did here.

When I first spotted this blazer, I was pulled in by the pale blue color (a color I didn't already have in my wardrobe) and by the ruching on the sleeves which makes it perfect for pushing jacket sleeves up.

Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

Then I saw the lining which said "Adore Me," and I thought, "Well, that's pretty needy, isn't it?"  And why is a jacket from my favorite store promoting the idea that women should look to others for approval? 

Then, I found a deeper meaning. 

The lining is on the inside of the jacket.  I came to the conclusion that while it may not have been the intent of The Limited, the words "adore me" on the inside of the jacket is a message to self, a reminder to the wearer to adore the many wonderful things about themselves.  

Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)

Is my body good enough?  Am I smart enough?  Am I a good enough parent?  Is my outfit stylish enough?  Do I look young enough?  Am I competent enough at my job? 

Sometimes, it is easy to feel like we are simply not enough.


We are so often told by our culture that our best may not be or is not enough.  As women, we are so often taught that we must be superwomen who can take on the board room, the kitchen, and the bedroom without breaking a sweat.  We are told that we must be skinny AND curvy AND have gravity-defying breasts.  We are told that we must be experienced sexually and always sexually available while remaining virginal and "innocent" - child-like even.  We are told to break the glass ceiling in the workplace but to feel guilty about leaving our children with babysitters and day cares. 

So often, culture and society fail women.  They fail us by teaching us that we are not worthy, that our best is not enough.  Feeling fully confident in ourselves can be a constant struggle because the media, politicians, and especially corporations are constantly telling us otherwise.

Unfortunately, insecurity sells.

It's up to us to reject the messages with which we are bombarded.  That is a difficult process, but daily affirmations are one way of converting those negative messages into positive ones.

Bracelets:  Target, Claire's

I've documented some of my body image struggles here on the blog, but I haven't spent as much time talking about how I've mostly overcome them.

Learning to love myself was and is an on-going process.  One thing that has helped is learning to change the voice in my head.

Look in the mirror - instead of criticizing yourself (as I was always prone to do), find something about yourself that you love.  

Force yourself (if necessary) to say the words out loud:

"My ______ is beautiful.  I am beautiful."
"I provide/teach my children _________.  I am a good parent."
"I _________ this at work last week.  I am great at my job."

It may seem silly at first, but when you tell yourself the words out loud, it starts to change the energy around you.  When you keep doing this, your words become less forced - it becomes second-nature to think positively and confidently about yourself.

We're all going to have our not so confident days.  That's human nature and a product of cultural sensitization to the messages that constantly tell us we aren't __________ enough.  Reminding ourselves that we are good enough helps us combat those negative feelings.

And with that, I return to my jacket with its reminder to give myself the affirmations I deserve (that we all deserve).  

I ADORE ME! 

In a month centered around love - take the time to love yourself!

Boots:  Fergalicious by Fergie (Available here)
Satchel:  The Limited (old)

Do you give yourself any affirmations or have other strategies of boosting your confidence when you're having a "not ________ enough" day?

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

P.S.  Click here to check out my newest post for The Curvy Fashionista featuring petite plus-size styling options for your Valentine's Day look (Most of the styles are available in petite, plus size, and misses/straight sizing as well).

Black Pants for Work: Teal and Brocade

Today's black pants look is a little bit of a cheat - they have a gold brocade print that definitely separates them from basic black pants.

When I bought these pants, I knew that I wanted to think of ways to wear them for day as well as evening.  As much as I love evening fashion, realistically, I spend much more of my life in work and casual clothes.  To get more use value out of these pants, I have been brainstorming some ideas of how to make these pants work-appropriate.

Pants:  LOFT Petites (Available in average length here)

Sweater:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; Similar here)

This outfit is different than looks I would normally pick, and I admit it was a little outside of my comfort zone.  I don't wear a ton of sweaters, and pairing the preppier top half with the brocade pants was a pairing I wouldn't normally consider.  

Button-down top:  The Limited (Available here)

Heels:  Target (Available here)

In the end though, I loved this outfit and felt great in it all day.  The crew neck sweater in a pretty color layered over the button down shirt gives the pants a much more casual feel, while the classic black pumps keep the outfit professional.

All in all, I was quite happy with this look.

Bangle:  Target (old)

Tote:  The Limited

Would you wear brocade pants for the office?

For these pants in another outfit, see here.
For the button-down shirt in another look, see here.

Black Pants for Work: High-Waisted Trousers

I've featured this suit on the blog before here and here, but it really is one of my favorites.  

Pants:  The Limited (old)
Blazer:  The Limited (old)

Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

As much as I enjoy skinny pants and jeans, I love the elegance that wide leg trousers have.  Wide leg trousers are making a major comeback for spring, and I'm hoping to find another pair.  The high waist and tie belt add a little flair.

I've featured this suit in vintage-inspired looks before, but today I took the suit in a more contemporary direction with a modern dot print blouse, gold horn necklaces, and open-toe booties.

Boots:  Target (Available here)

Clutch:  Vintage

The red clutch adds a fun pop of color.

Necklaces:  The Limited and Target (Available here)

Are you a fan of wide leg trousers?

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

Black Pants for Work: Subtle Details

I work in a conservative business casual office setting.  It can be hard to stay true to my personal style while still keeping my outfits work-appropriate.  I feel like I spend most of my waking hours in office clothes, so it's a constant challenge to me to find a way around the restrictiveness of work dress codes.  I try to find ways of keeping my office looks interesting with fun details and subtle design.  

Today, I'm starting a series on a wardrobe workhouse for many of us - black pants.

Pants:  New York & Company Petites (Similar here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

Black pants are my go-to work staple.  I practically live in them, and a week doesn't go by in the winter where I'm don't wear black pants at least once or twice.  I think I like them because they seem less stodgy than tan or grey might.  Black pants can get a little boring though, so I am always looking for ways to keep them interesting with details like the satin tuxedo stripe on these trousers.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Clutch:  The Limited (Similar here)

Boots:  Target (Available here)

The ivory blazer has a subtle herringbone design that complements the floral pattern on this satin bow blouse.

Floral is not usually the first pattern for which I reach, but I loved this blouse at first sight. The floral pattern has a slight Asian influence, and the color combination of orange, black, tan, and ivory is lovely.

Bracelets:  World Market, Express
Earrings:  The Limited

Do you have a work dress code?  Do you ever get bored with your work clothes?  How important are black pants in your wardrobe?

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