Fashion Favorites: Cobalt Moto Jacket 7 Ways

Since I'm not feeling well this week, I thought it would be a great time to do a fashion recap of some of my favorite clothing items.

I'm all about versatility in my wardrobe.  When I shop for new clothing, I usually consider a couple of key factors:

• Do I love the item?  Is it special or unique?  Does it speak to me?
• Does the piece work with other items in my wardrobe?  I usually won't buy an item if I can't come up with at least three distinct outfits.
• What's the estimated cost-wear ratio?  While I can't always guesstimate how much I'll love and wear a piece when I buy it, I try to gauge the cost of an item against how often I expect to wear it.  I'm willing to pay more for pieces that I will wear often and try to save on those that won't get a lot of regular wear.

This moto jacket is one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.  I found it on clearance, and it's one of my favorite colors.  I love the versatility of this piece and find myself reaching for it quite often.

Here are some of the ways I've worn it over the last year:

Neon Edge

Adventures in Traveling:  Indiana, Ohio, and Hershey, Pennsylvania

Adventures in Traveling:  NYC

Fall 2013 Fashion Trends:  (Faux) Leather

Spring Romance

Singin' the Blues:  Casual Rock-n-Roll

It's My Birthday, and I Can Wear What I Want To

Are you a fan of moto jackets?  What factors do you consider when buying new items for your wardrobe?

Lace and Colorblocking

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Jacket:  Target Petites (Available here and in regular sizes here)

Today's look is a recent work look.  I always seem to add black jackets to this dress, but I really do love a black and white look!

Overall, I really like this outfit.  It has a simple color palette, but the textures and subtle prints add a lot of visual interest.

Dress:  The Limited

Boots:  Payless (old)

I tend to gravitate strongly towards neutrals in the fall and winter (especially my forever friend, black), but I also don't want to get bored with my clothes.  

Ring:  Torrid (Available here)

Long earrings:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)
Stud earrings:  The Limited

Adding special details keeps me from getting too bored.

Tights:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)
Tote:  The Limited

I wish these tights fit better though.  :-/

Most of my tights come from The Limited and fit very similarly; however, this pair is too big (hence the sagging towards bottom of the tights).

Belt:  The Limited (Similar here)

To see this dress in other looks, see here, here, and here.

Glam Geek

Today's look takes my "Chic Geek" tee to a slightly edgy androgynous glam place (Does such a place exist, and how do I get to such a wonderland??!!).

Blazer:  New York & Company

Pants:  The Limited
Clutch:  Target (Similar here)

I've only recently started wearing t-shirts outside of the house again.  

In high school and my early years of undergrad, I wore a LOT of 
t-shirts - my favorite music (John Lennon, Pearl Jam, R.E.M.), my favorite quotes (Nietzche), my social causes (vegetarianism, animal rights, Amnesty International), portraits of my favorite authors (Steinbeck and Poe... because I couldn't find Camus) - you name it, I had it on a t-shirt. 

Maybe it was t-shirt overload or maybe it was an effort to mature my sartorial choices, but at some point around my junior year of college, I stopped wearing t-shirts except as lounge wear.

T-shirt:  Target (Available here)

Bracelets:  Express, The Limited, Claire's, H&M

Over the last year or two, I have seen my t-shirt collection grow.  I have a lot of kids, creating a need for a more casual weekend wardrobe that works for my lifestyle.  I also realized that there are a lot of cool t-shirts out there, and I was missing out.
 
My t-shirt looks are often super casual (stay tuned for tomorrow's post), but I also love the idea of dressing tees up with fancier fabrics like velvet, silk, and faux leather.

Rings:  Earthbound Trading Company and The Limited (Available here)

Shoes:  Target

Some of my previous t-shirt looks:

Cabana Coral

Bettie at the Movies

A Shorts Story

Hello Kitty

 



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

St. Louis Fashion Week Kick-Off Party & Blog Awards - My Not So Glamorous Life

Last night was the kick-off to St. Louis Fashion Week and the Blogger Awards!

Pants:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)
Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

I'm so excited to announce that I won the People's Choice Award for "Best Delivery of Personal Style"!  Thank you all so much for voting for "Style Cassentials."  Your support means so much!!!

For the awards and party, I wanted a polished, clean look that had just a little bit of edge.  I decided on an all-black outfit with gold touches.

Heels:  Simply Vera by Vera Wang (Sold out on-line; may be available in some Kohl's stores)
Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)

Top:  Ann Taylor Petites (Available here)
Bracelet:  Local shop

I took these pics at the end of the night.  My feet were sore, and I was super sweaty - the humidity had taken its toll on me and my flat-ironed hair.  :-(

In looking at the pics, I noticed the kids had also gotten hold of some chalk and drew on the house.  Ha! 

Before the Awards

As glam as I may start my evening, reality always sets in!!!  I'm not complaining...it just reminds me all the more that while the images we see in magazines can be beautiful, they aren't real. 

They're taken with perfect lighting, hair and make-up artists on stand-by, and then air-brushed and re-imaged to impossible standards (see more here).  I'll take real-life - sweat, chalk, and all!

Belt:  The Limited (Similar here)
Earrings:  New York & Company (Available in silver here)

With Julia of "Oh, Julia Ann"
Photo c/o Psyche Southwell of "Economy of Style"

P.S.  Thanks again for voting!

For this top in another look, see here.

Sweet and Salty

Happy Thursday!

I'm obsessed with faux leather this fall.  These pants are my first September wish list purchase.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Top:  Torrid
Tote:  The Limited

The leather tuxedo stripe is cool, and I like that the pants are slim fit but not super skinny.

I paired these pants with a comfy crochet and sequin tank from summer and my pale pink blazer.

To bring the look together, I added a skull scarf.  The scarf is a total knock-off of Alexander McQueen's famous skull print scarf; however, unlike the hefty price tag of the McQueen scarf, I acquired this scarf for next to nothing.  

While I love a fabulous accessory and will occasionally splurge for a piece I love, I prefer inexpensive accessories to vary and update my wardrobe each season.

Zodiac rings:  H&M
Bracelet:  The Limited

I love how the faux leather and skulls add a salty touch to the sweet crochet of the top and pink of the blazer.

Blazer:  New York & Company (Available in black online here)
Scarf:  eBay (Available here)

To keep the look more professional at work, I used the scarf as a purse accessory rather than as a focal piece of the outfit.  

For evening, I could easily throw on the scarf to toughen (and warm) up the look.

Clutch:  Target (old)
Shoes:  Target (old)

The faux leather details and slim fit of the pants make these an easy day-to-night piece.  Switching out the work tote for a clutch and rocking the scarf, I'd wear this outfit to dinner, for drinks, or even a first date (if I were single, of course).