12 Days of Holiday: Casual Glam

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Jacket:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

Today's holiday look is something I would wear to an evening holiday house party or a low-key evening out.  

Camisole:  Ann Taylor (Available here)

Necklace:  LOFT (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Purse:  The Limited

The sequins, silk, and rhinestones feel festive and fun, while the jeans and relaxed shapes keep the look laid-back.

To make the look more casual or snow-friendly, you could switch the heels out for a pair of knee-high or over-the-knee boots.

Bracelets:  LOFT (Available here and here)

What you wear for an evening holiday house party or holiday evening out?

P.S.  Sorry for the wrinkles on my shirt.  I decided to snap pics before I got the iron out!  :-)

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends: Lingerie-Inspired Clothing

Today's glimpse into fall fashion actually incorporates five major fall trends. 

Skirt:  The Limited (old)
Peplum top:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)

Lingerie-inspired clothing was a huge trend on fall runways, and I love this trend because I have always loved corsets and bustier-style tops, especially when worn with tuxedos.

Jacket:  Forever21+ (Available in pink here)

Tuxedos and new, ingenious takes on the tuxedo continue to be popular this fall, as does leather, real or faux.  Peplums remained a strong trend on fall runways (More on the leather and peplum trends coming soon).

Surprisingly, pink, in just about every shade, is also a major color trend this fall.  

Ring:  Earthbound Trading Company (Available in stores)
Handcuff bracelet:  The Limited
Earrings:  Target (Available in stores)

Clutch:  Target
Heels:  Prabal Gurung for Target

 From the runway:

Nina Ricci Fall 2013 Lingerie-Inspired Look
Source:  Huffingtonpost.com

Nina Ricci Fall 2013 look
Source:  Style.com

My favorite lingerie-inspired looks came from Nina Ricci, but silky pajama dressing was also a big trend.

Louis Vuitton Fall 2013 look
Source:  Style.com

Bracelet (left hand):  The Limited

Today's outfit incorporates the lingerie trend through the bustier top, the corset-like seams on the pencil skirt and the lace-up booties.  I love that each piece is a nod to lingerie without being overly frilly.

Would you wear the lingerie trend?

For this skirt in another look, see here.

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

Source:  SaintLouisFashionWeek.com

P.S.  The Official list of nominees for the St. Louis Fashion Blog Awards is in, and I'm nominated in three categories!  Thank you to all of you who nominated me!

You can vote at http://www.saintlouisfashionweek.com/bloggers/st-louis-fashion-blogger-awards/ for People's Choice Awards winners in each category!  

Please take a look at the nominees, and if you think I'm the best in my categories, I'd appreciate your vote!

Vote once a day through September 16th.  

Meet the bloggers of St. Louis Fashion Week here.  Many of them are nominated!  It's always great to discover new blogs.

Ballerina Fantasies

I have always loved ballerina-inspired fashion.  For years, there wasn't a wrap sweater that I could resist.  I love the color palette of ballet clothes - soft mints and pinks mixed with blacks, greys, and ivories.

Tulle skirt:  Custom-made

Blazer:  Forever 21+ (Available here)

I've been obsessed with tulle skirts ever since Sex and the City.  I am in LOVE with the mint tulle dress and cream jacket Carrie wears in Paris during the final episode.  

Source:  Loyola Looks

Tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)
Amethyst necklace:  Target

This skirt was custom-made for me, and I just love it!  I can't wait to style this skirt in a variety of ways.  I imagine it with cute flats and a chambray shirt (if I can ever find one that fits across the girls).  I also imagine wearing it very literally with a wrap sweater. 

Today, I dressed the look up with a cropped tuxedo blazer and stiletto lace-up heels.

Shoes:  Prabal Gurung for Target (No longer available; may be available)
Clutch:  Jason Wu for Target (Available on ebay here)

I'm taking a trip to New York soon, and I was planning on saving this look for my own Carrie moment, but I couldn't resist sharing it with you sooner!!

Ring:  Torrid
Bracelet:  The Limited

Bow earrings:  The Limited (Similar here)

Do you like tulle skirts or other ballet-inspired fashion?

Mint to Be

Today, I paired this faux leather gored skirt with a mint crochet tee and beaded chainlink necklace.  

Skirt:  The Limited (Available here)
Heels:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Not available on-line; available in some stores; see here)

For work, I kept the look simple (and warm) with a classic black blazer, black mesh tights, and ankle boots.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Tote:  New York & Company (Similar )

I debated whether to wear the cropped blazer or classic suit jacket this morning.  I opted for the longer blazer for work, but after seeing the pictures, I definitely prefer the cropped jacket with this look as the proportions work better together.

I had originally conceived of this skirt and top as part of an evening look.  Floral lace-up heels from Prabal Gurung's recent line for Target and a straw clutch help make the outfit evening-ready.  

I love the fresh and modern shape of this skirt.  Leather is somewhat unexpectedly a major trend for spring.  Expect to see many leather and faux-leather options in stores this spring.

Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)
Necklace:  Target (Sold out on-line; may be available in some stores)

I'm also super excited about all of the mint green items popping up in stores.  It's one of my favorite colors!

Clutch:  Target (old)
Bracelets:  Express, Claire, local jewelry show

Would you wear a faux leather skirt in spring? Will you be wearing mint green this spring?

To see cropped blazer in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.

See classic blazer in other looks, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Double Peplum & Prabal Gurung for Target

Today's evening look is all about the peplum (oh, and these awesome shoes!)

Blazer:  Target (Available here)
Dress:  New York & Company (Similar here)

I paired a black peplum dress with a white peplum jacket for an on-trend mix of black and white.  Peplums can be super flattering and are great at disguising a tummy.

I would wear an outfit like this on a romantic dinner date.  It could also work for a business or other work-related evening function.

Shoes:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Available in select stores.  See here)

I am so in love with these heels form Prabal Gurung's line for Target!  They are romantic and sexy at the same time and are a great statement shoe with a relatively simple outfit.

Cuff:  The Limited (old)

As a day-to-night option, this evening look could easily be a transformation from a day outfit.  For day, the strappy floral heels could be replaced by a simple lower-heeled pump and the pewter clutch replaced with a work satchel.

Earrings:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Sold out on-line; Available in some stores; see here)

Clutch:  Target (Available here)

What would you wear for an evening work event?

Like me on Facebook and upload your favorite evening looks!

For this dress in other looks, see here and here.
To see this jacket in another look, see here.
For more peplum looks, see here, here, here, and here.

Spring Fever!

Today's pics are of an outfit I wore earlier this week. I wore this digital lace print tee I recently nabbed at an amazing clearance sale at The Limited and my bright pink blazer from last spring.

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

 The back of the top has a hot pink stripe down the back which gives it an unexpected surprise.

Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

Purse:  The Limited
Shoes:  Target (old)

I love how this look is warm but still has a spring feel.  I have spring on the brain in a major way, so this week, I am very influenced by the bright, cheerful colors symbolizing the re-birth that comes with spring.

The black pants, shoes, and accessories ground the look and keeps the look from feeling too springy.  I couldn't help but add my new crystal earrings from the Prabal Gurung collection for Target.  I am in love with these!!!

Prabal Gurung for Target earrings (Sold out on-line; Available in select stores; see here)

Cuff:  New York & Company (old)

The pink color near one's face helps brighten the face and for me, faked a healthy glow as I was sick with yet ANOTHER virus as I was taking these pics.

I'm still sick, so no Valentine's Day plans or fashion for me today. :-(

Hope you all have a wonderful and HEALTHY Valentine's Day!!!!

Prabal Gurung Neon Brights!!!

Hi everyone!

Pants:  The Limited
Blouse:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Sold out on-line; Available in some stores, see top and check store availability here)

Monday, I was excited to start wearing the first pieces I snagged from Target's collaboration with Prabal Gurung.  It's still freezing in the Midwest, so I paired my new neon Prabal Gurung pieces with black velvet skinnies and my basic black blazer to stay warm and to keep the pieces work-appropriate.The blouse is just so bright that it really brightens up one's face. 

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Heels:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Available here)

The bangle and pumps are great as colorful accent pieces, without being over-the-top.  I'm also wearing the black and crystal dangly earrings.  I actually wore black pumps to work as I'm still on the fence about whether the four-inch stiletto heel is feasible for my life. I'm also concerned that they are a little too big (I have tiny feet).  Most likely, these are going back, but these shoes are just oh-so-fabulous!!!

Heels:  Target (old)
Bangle:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Sold out on-line; Available in select stores; see bangle and check availability here)

Earrings:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Sold out on-line; Available in select stores; see earrings and check availability here)
Clutch:  The Limited

 

This is my favorite designer collaboration with Target to date, and I've been following the collaborations since their start.  If only Target would re-stock the pieces so more people could enjoy the collection!!