Perk Up Winter!

Hope you all have been having a great week!  I have a round-up of holiday looks planned starting Saturday, but I thought I'd finish out the week with a recent work outfit.

Pants: The Limited (old) (Similar here)
Clutch:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

I gravitate very heavily towards black in the winter, but I've been trying to keep things interesting by incorporating more prints and some bold pops of color. 

Today's look does both, and it also adds two of spring 2014's upcoming trends - sporty influences and color blocking.

The cardigan has subtle color blocking with slightly darker sleeves and lighter red-orange side panels.  The raglan sleeves and zipper closure give it a sporty feel.  Since I love the warmth and coziness of sweaters, I've been looking for more styles that suit my picky palette.  I loved that this cardigan is very simple, but that it's in a season-less bright color and has fun sporty details.  The medium weight will easily allow me to wear this sweater through spring.

Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Cardigan:  The Limited (Available here)

Heels:  Target (old)
Necklace:  New York & Company (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)

How do you perk up your winter looks?

Go Bold, Go Casual

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that getting back to work today wasn't too rough!

Sweatshirt:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)
Earrings:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)

Today was dreary here in St. Louis, so I decided to feature a colorful outfit to beat the early fall blahs!  

This look is actually from the last casual Friday at my job.  I like jeans, but I do not always reach for them on casual Fridays.  Instead, I like to take pieces that are usually too casual for work, like this sweatshirt, and give them a little professional polish.

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Button-down shirt (Available here)

Boots:  Payless (old)

Casual Friday also gives me permission (at least in my own mind) to add boldness to my look by mixing red and leopard print.

Ankle booties and dangly earrings lend an edge to this outfit.

Purse:  Express

Bracelet:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Do you like mixing red and leopard print?

If you work in a professional work environment, what do you like to wear on casual Fridays?

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

Stripes Week: Red-y for Work

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Cardigan:  The Limited (Available here)

Today, I'm starting Stripes Week!  Not sure what's up with me and my themes lately, but hey, why not?

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

Today's look is a recent work outfit.  I paired red skinny pants with black and ivory basics.

Earrings:  The Limited
Necklace:  Torrid

Tank:  Old Navy
Tote: The Limited

I love how this outfit looks classic and professional, but still has a modern flair.

Ring:  LOFT
Shoes:  Payless

Do you like stripes?

For these pants in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.
For this top in other outfits, see here and here.

Punch It Up

Happy Thursday everyone!

Blouse:  The Limited (Similar here)
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

Today's look is one of my favorite spring/summer outfits.  I'm in love with the color and fit of this caftan-style top. 

Tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target (old)

I plan on wearing it with white skinny jeans this summer, but yesterday, I dressed the look up a little bit with black pants and strappy heeled sandals.

Purse:  The Limited (old)
Necklace:  Target (old)

We were having an amazing spring thunderstorm while I was taking these pics, so I was getting the perfect breeze during these pictures! 

Cuff:  The Limited (old)
Earrings:  Express (old)

Hope you all have a great day!!  :-)

Make It Pop

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Today, I bring you a fashion experiment - me playing around with bright and neon colors.  I like the colors together, and that it's a twist on mixing primary colors - which is a favorite combo of mine.

Blouse:  Target Petites (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Available here)

I've never been a huge fan of throwing on different colors for the sake of it.  As much as I like colorblocking, the trend was way overdone for my taste and I haven't been a huge fan of much of the color mixing looks I've seen.

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

Bracelet:  Target (old)

I'm on the fence about whether I would actually wear this out.  I like it better than I thought I would, but I still prefer a look that incorporates neutrals more.

What do you think?  Would you wear a colorful look like this?

For this blouse in other looks, see here, here, and here.
To see these pants styled differently, see here, here, and here.

Pop of Coral

Happy Monday!! 

Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse:  Target Petites (Available here)

Today, I paired some neutral work pieces with this bright coral-y top, which is quickly becoming a closet favorite.

I paired my work look with my new wedge sandals.  The weather was pretty chilly today, but the sandals made me feel like it actually was spring.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Ring:  The Limited (old)
Necklace:  Torrid (Available here)

I took pics last night, using the orange-trimmed clutch and wearing the red ring.  In the house, the colors seemed to matched, but after looking at the pictures, I didn't really care for the combination.


For work today, I traded the ring for a black cord/gold bracelet and a black and ivory clutch.  I preferred the end result of this look.

Bracelet:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; Available in stores)
Purse:  The Limited (old)

Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)

What do you think?  Which look do you prefer? For this top styled in different looks, see here and here.

Red Pants, White Jacket

Hope you all had a great Monday!

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Blazer:  The Limited

Today, I played with color blocking, mixing red pants with a black bow blouse and white jacket.  

Blouse:  Old Navy
Shoes:  Target (old)

I like the simplicity of this look, which also allowed for distinctive accessories like arrow bangles and a polka dot clutch.

Bangles:  Forever 21 (No longer available on-line; may be available in stores)

Necklace:  The Limited (Available )
Clutch:  The Limited (Available here)
Stud earrings:  The Limited (Available here)

If you're dealing with Winter Storm Rocky, stay safe and stay warm!!!

Brocade and Lollipop Red

On a recent shopping trip, I separately fell in love with this jacquard weave skirt and cheerful red blouse. 

Blouse:  Target Petites (Available here)
Skirt:  Target (Available here)

These aren't two pieces I would normally put together, but I love the color palette.  Teal and coral make me think of the beach, and has long been one of my favorite summer color combinations. I love the idea of winterizing this color combo by adding charcoal and black.  It adds a great punch to a blah winter day.

Turquoise ring:  Target (Similar here)
Tights:  The Limited

The A-line shape is universally flattering  and the tucked-in shirt helps accentuate an hourglass shape.

Blazer:  The Limited Black Collection (Similar here)
Cuff:  The Limited

Shopping tip for petites:  Many retailers carry limited to no selection of petites in stores but have more options on-line.  This blouse is one such example.  My local Target carried this blouse in misses sizes.  I loved it, but the proportions weren't right.  Thankfully, I was able to find it on-line in petites!

Boots: Payless (old)
Purse:  The Limited (old)
Turquoise earrings:  Gift (old)

Do you like to add punchy colors to pep up your winter looks?

Burgundy Velvet x Two

Today's blog is a bit of a two-for-one.  I'm featuring two looks from this week featuring red velvets.

The first look pairs a burgundy velvet jacket with skinny black tuxedo pants and burgundy heels.

Blazer:  New York & Company
Blouse:  Old Navy
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

Satchel:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Earrings:  The Limited (Sold out on-line)
Bracelet:  eBay (Similar here)

The second pairs dark red velvet pants with an eyelash peplum top for a casual romantic look.

Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse:  LOFT Petites (Sold out on-line; see here)
Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

Boots:  Payless
Bracelet:  The Limited

Velvet is such a great winter fabric.  It adds texture to your outfit and keeps you warm at the same time!

Do you like wearing velvet?

Flower Power

Yesterday I was feeling bad again, so it was back to sweatpants.  :-(

I still felt kind of crummy today, but it was back to work for me.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar  here) (Worn also here)
Blouse:  Outback Red by The Limited

Today, I reached for something comfy, but bright and cheerful, to get me through the sick blahs.

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Purse:  The Limited

I love the romantic, but not overly frilly, feeling of this floral top and red blazer.  The mix of pinks and reds makes me feel happy.

Earrings:  The Limited (Close-up here) (Similar here)
Necklace:  Target (old)

The polkadot lining of the blazer adds a subtle pop of a second pattern and ups the smile quotient for me.

I added simple flower studs and an etched locket to maintain the romantic feel.

While this look isn't groundbreaking fashion, j'adore the subtle Parisian vibe.  :-)

What do you reach for in your closet when you need a fashion pick-me-up?

Fall 2012 Trends - Burgundy and Red

One of the easiest trends this season is the color red.  

From burgundy to wine to oxblood red, dark and moody reds are everywhere this fall.  Their cheerier and equally appealing sister, cherry, is also popular for fall.

The darker reds function as a neutral.  I plan on mixing wine with mustards, golds, black, and pale pink, possibly even cherry.
I haven't always been a big fan of wearing the color red, but lately, I am loving the pop of color.

Here are my picks for Fall burgundies and reds:

From the runway - How fabulous is the Donna Karan look?

Source:  http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/F2012RTW-DKARAN/?iphoto=7#slide=7

More attainable looks:

LOFT deep cabernet lace skirt

Express Columnist burgundy pants

I recently purchased this blazer in light pink, but I am loving the red too!

Source:  New York & Company Crosby Street Jacket

ModCloth red peplum dress

On my fall shopping list?

A floaty chiffon burgundy dress and new wine or red heels.  I'll definitely post my finds.  :-D

Olympic Fever!

 

Inspired by the colors of the British and American flags, today's look is another attempt at the continuing color blocking trend.

I love that the blazer has a polkadot lining.  I'm borderline obsessed with polkadots. 

Pants:  The Limited (Similar:  https://www.thelimited.com/Exact-Stretch-Bootcut-Pants/6438716,default,pd.html?dwvar_6438716_colorCode=150&start=2&ppid=c2&cgid=pants&prefn1=colorFamily&prefv1=Black)Jacket:  The Limited (Similar:  http://www.thelimited.com/Knit-Jacket/2825701,default,pd.html?dwvar_2825701_colorCode=795&start=8&ppid=c8&cgid=jacket-blazer)

Leather and metal cuff:  old - New York & Company?

Rondell crystal earrings:  The Limited (Available: http://www.thelimited.com/Rondell-Earrings/1611046,default,pd.html?dwvar_1611046_colorCode=100&start=16&ppid=c40&cgid=earrings)
Flower studs:  The Limited (Available: http://www.thelimited.com/Modern-Flower-Stud-Earrings/1614058,default,pd.html?dwvar_1614058_colorCode=13&start=16&ppid=c16&cgid=sale-jewelry&prefn1=colorFamily&prefv1=Silver)

Blouse:  The Limited (Available:  http://www.thelimited.com/Bow-Front-Sleeveless-Shirt/4523318,default,pd.html?dwvar_4523318_colorCode=244)
Tote:  New York & Company (Similar:  http://www.shopstyle.com/item/silk-elements-sally-beauty-retro-chain-tote/298729940)
Shoes:  Target (Similar:  http://www.zappos.com/nine-west-rocha-black-patent-pu)

I rarely wear button-down tops because I find it difficult to find ones that don't gape open too drastically.  Often button-down tops simply don't accommodate a larger bust.  Button placement is also an issue - due to a shorter stature, the button placement is often in the wrong place.  This top provided ample bust room, and the button placement was great. The self-tie bow also helps provide bust coverage, just in case.

To avoid gaping, the button placement should fall across the fullest part of the bust.  If you don't mind the hassle, double-sided tape or even Velcro or a hidden snap could help prevent an unplanned peep show.

Another issue with many button-down tops is that they are usually too long.  I was able to get this one hemmed due to a longer tail, and now the length is perfect.

Do you wear button-down tops?  Do you have issues with fit?  If so, what are your solutions?