Fall Color Week: Orange Crush

Fall Color Week continues today with orange!

Dress:  LOFT Petites (Similar here and here)

Orange is probably the first color I think about when I think of fall.  Whether pumpkins or the changing leaves, autumn is ablaze with the color orange.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)

Belt:  Torrid (Available here)

Here, I took a dress I purchased over the summer and gave it a fall make-over with a camel blazer and leopard print heels.  

This is one instance where I would have preferred a cardigan.  A camel cardigan would have created a softer combination, making it ideal for dressier Thanksgiving festivities.

Shoes:  Target (Similar here)

It wasn't that cold here today, but tights could easily be added to this outfit to stay warm.

Clutch:  Target (old)

I don't wear much orange, but whenever I do, I usually think I should wear it more often.  It's such a warm and inviting color.

Do you like wearing orange?

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

Skirt Week: Drama Queen

Hi everyone!  Today kicks off Skirt Week, and I'm super excited about this first look.

Skirt: The Limited (Available here)
Clutch:  Jason Wu for Target (Available on eBay here)

Tank:  Torrid (Available here)

I fell in love with this skirt from The Limited the second I saw it and just knew I had to make it mine!  The mini with sheer overlay is a clever and sexy way to show off the legs while still having some coverage.

Shoes:  Target

I hear a lot of petites say that they can't wear maxi skirts because they are too long.  Well, this one was definitely too long, but hemming is generally one of the easiest and least expensive tailoring options.  At 4'9", I have virtually all of my pants and skirts hemmed, even petites sizes.

I had both layers of the skirt hemmed to get the right fit, and I couldn't be happier with the result.

Jade ring:  Vintage (Similar here)

I have some ideas for how to style this skirt for early fall, but after playing dress up for a bit, I came up with this dramatic summer evening look.

I love how these separates create the look of a dress. 

The bold beaded chainlink necklace adds to the drama and really works with this simple color palette and easy, flowy pieces.

Necklace:  Target

Do you like the trend of sheer maxi skirts layered over minis?

For this top in another look, see here.

Dress Week: Mixing Decades

Happy Saturday, everyone!

We have been having a lot of 90+ degree days lately.  This season, I am forcing myself to dress for the season and rid myself of the constant need for cardigans and blazers, at least when I'm not at work in my chilly office.

Tunic:  Forever 21+ (Available here)

In the past, I would have thrown a cardigan over this look, even in the height of a balmy Midwestern summer.

Today's look has a modern appeal but references the 1920s and 1940s.  

I am completely inspired by the 1920s.  The decade was such an amazing period of progress and change for women's political and social rights in this country.  With the social changes came a change in fashion.  I really can't get enough of 1920s fashion - so beautiful and interesting.  The dropped waist of this dress and bead necklace is a subtle nod to the flapper era.

With World War II in full swing, the 1940s also brought about a lot of change for women as women were told it was their patriotic duties to join the paid labor force and support the war efforts.  This decade led to war-time rationing, and the fashion of that decade also reflected those changes.  These color blocked bow heels give reference to 1940s fashion.

Necklace:  The Limited (old)
Clutch:  Target

Shoes:  eBay (Available here)
Bow earrings:  The Limited (Similar here)

Mixing fashion from two decades that brought such major change for women feels modern, fun, and just a little bit quirky!

Ring:  LOFT

Do you like wearing vintage or vintage-inspired fashion?  What fashion periods do you find inspiring?

For this tunic/dress in another look, see here

Dress Week: Red, White, and Blue

Hi everyone!

After featuring several evening looks, Dress Week continues today with a recent work outfit.

Dress:  New York & Company (old)
Blazer:  The Limited (old)

Earrings:  New York & Company (old)
Belt:  The Limited (old)

I had been trying to come up with a fresh way to wear this cobalt dress.  Since it's summer, I thought a lightweight white blazer would look crisp and be cool.

Heels:  Target (old)

Red really pops against cobalt, and together, I wound up with a red, white, and blue combo perfect for July!

Bangle:  The Limited (old)

Do you like wearing red, white, and blue?

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

Dress Week: Bring on the Night

Dress Week continues with an evening look in lace.  

Dress:  The Limited (out of stock on-line)

I would wear this dress to an afternoon/evening wedding or for a special date night.  

Jacket:  Forever 21+ (Available in ivory and pink here)

The strapless dress is cool enough for a muggy summer evening, but the cropped tuxedo jacket adds a touch of sophistication that dresses the look up a bit more.

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

Bracelet:  Target
Clutch:  Target

I added in gold jewelry for a little shine.  The neon pink pumps add a fun pop of color that takes black lace in a more summery direction.

Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

What would you wear to an evening wedding?

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

Dress Week: Fringe Benefits

Happy Monday, everyone!

Today kicks off Dress Week.  This week I'll be featuring dress looks perfect for summer evening dinners, weddings, and more.

Dress:  Eloquii by The Limited

The last time I wore this dress, I paired it with my cobalt moto jacket and neon yellow heels.  Today, I kept the look more simple and summery with coordinating pink heels, a bangle, and easy up-do.

I'm such a fan of layers that wearing a dress without a sweater or jacket feels a little odd and unfinished, but realistically, when it's 90 degrees outside, bare arms is the way to go!

I'm obsessed with fringe, and I love that this dress has a built in accessory with the neckline fringe.

Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Clutch:  Target (Similar here)

I wore this dress with flat sandals to run to the grocery store, but it looks much better with heels.  I like the slight ombre effect created with the darker heels.  I would wear this out to a nice dinner.

Bangle:  Prabal Gurung for Target
Earrings:  The Limited

Do you like fringe?

For this dress in another look, see here.

Second Time's a Charm

Hope you're all having a great Saturday!

Today, I styled my ivory lace dress with a black jacket and wedge sandals.

Dress:  LOFT (Available here)
Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available in average sizes here)

Shoes:  Target (Similar here)

I added in a few pops of color with the jade ring and yellow bag.  I really like how the bag, bangles, and shoes help tie the ivory and black together to create a more cohesive look.

Purse:  Target (Available here)

The first time I wore this dress, I added a green jacket and yellow sandals (see here).  I liked the color combo but wasn't fond of the overall look. 

Bracelets:  Target, Express, The Limited
Jade ring:  Vintage (Similar here)

I think this outfit works much better!

Lacy Day

Dress:  LOFT Petites (Available here)
Blazer: LOFT Petites (Available here)

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

Today's outfit was a recent work look.  I really love this dress.  It's lace with crochet bib-front detail. 

Lately, I have been all about interesting textures and fabric details.  I tend to wear a lot of neutrals, so cool fabrications help keep the pieces from being boring.

As much as I love this dress, this is an overall look that I felt was just an "almost." 

The yellow sandals weren't my favorite with this look.  I didn't think I had any shoes that I would like with this outfit, but later I remembered that I had some canvas wedge espadrilles that would have been perfect.  Next time I wear this dress, I'll remember!

Also, my peach lip color was a little too light for my skin tone, but I love the look of a more nude lip with a smoky eye.  I'll have to do some more experimenting to get the right nude.

Seeing my looks in photographs helps me assess overall styling.  If you're on the fence about whether an outfit or overall look is working, taking a few quick photographs of yourself is definitely a styling tip that I would recommend.

For this jacket in another look, see here.

Fit and Flair

Hi everyone!

Dress:  Old Navy Petites (Available here)
Jacket: Forever 21+ (Available here)

Yesterday, we had absolutely beautiful weather.  I seized the opportunity to wear my teal eyelet dress as it's supposed to get chilly again (boo!!).   

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take pictures until it was already dark, as you can see in the first pic!  :-)

Sandals:  Payless (old)

I added a cropped tuxedo blazer and comfy, low-heeled sandals. 

Bag:  The Limited (old)
Ring:  Purchased at local jewelry show

I actually think this outfit looked better in person than the photos capture.  I love how the tuxedo blazer and satin sandals gives the outfit a formality.  The blazer with this dress reminds me of wearing a man's tuxedo jacket on a date, except that the jacket has the right proportions. 

Earrings:  The Limited (Available )

Do you like fit-and-flare dresses??

Hope you all have a great day!!!

For this dress in another look, see here.
To see this blazer styled differently, see here.

Simple Chic

Happy Sunday everyone!

Dress:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Today, I kept the look simple with a blue dress and neutral accessories.  Dresses are great when you want to look put together with minimal effort. 

Belt:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target (old)

I wear so many more dresses in the spring and summer when I don't have to be bothered with tights!!

Bangles:  World Market, Target (old)

Earrings:  The Limited

You could throw a cardigan or blazer over this dress, and it's perfect for the office.

For this dress styled differently, see here, here, here, and here

Complementary Colors

Today, my look is inspired by a small fashion spread in the recent issue of one of my many fashion magazines (though for the life of me, I couldn't find the article again).  The spread showed burgundy mixed with forest green in looks that I found very fresh. 

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

Purse:  The Limited (old)
Boots:  Payless (old) (Similar here)

I was planning on wearing this before Christmas, but my bout with the flu kept that from happening.  Burgundy mixed with forest green is a slightly unexpected take on the traditional Christmas color combination.  

Necklace:  New York & Company

Tights:  Target (Similar here)

Thankfully, this outfit still works after Christmas because the look isn't "themed" and burgundy and forest are complementary shades that work well in fall and winter.    

Would you wear red and green together?

See this blazer styled differently here and here.
For more on the burgundy trend, see here.

Mix It Up!

I love dresses for their ease and comfort; however, they definitely offer fewer styling options than pants or skirts.  Pants and skirts offer lots of mix and match options that allow you to create a range of versatile styles.  

With most pants or skirts, you could wear them more than once a week, and with different styling, no one would know.  With dresses, there's only so many ways to wear them and they tend to be more memorable, which definitely makes styling them more limiting. 

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

Today, I wore my cobalt dress.  I chose the same formula as the last time I wore it:  blazer, belt, tights, and boots. 

For how I wore the blue dress before, see here and here.  For the blazer in another look, see here.

Tights:  Target (Similar here)
Belt:  The Limited (Similar here)
Earrings:  The Limited

This time, I chose a thinner belt, my grey suit jacket and grey and black leopard tights. 

I like the combination of cobalt blue, black, and grey.  I also like the idea of taking a piece as potentially stuffy as a classic grey blazer and loosening it up with bright blue and leopard print.

Boots:  Payless
Purse:  The Limited
Ring:  Purchased at local jewelry show

Do you like dresses, or do you tend to stick with pants and/or skirts?