Thursday, May 9, 2013

Minty Fresh: Spring-ify your Workwear

Hi everyone!  Hope you all had a fabulous day!  The weather was beautiful today, and it finally feels like spring has sprung!

Jacket:  LOFT Petites (Available here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
For work, I paired a dark spearmint green blazer with black pants and a soft ivory blouse.  This is my favorite shade of green, and I just love how it managed to give a spring-y vibe to the black pants.
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)
Tank:  Old Navy Petites (Similar here)
Tote: The Limited
My work wardrobe doesn't change much when the weather gets warmer.  I love my jackets, and chilly office air-conditioning usually makes layering necessary.
Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)
I do try to incorporate spring into my work wardrobe using these three criteria:

1.  Color - Adding in the bright colors helps your work wardrobe come alive with the colors of nature in the spring.

2.  Non-black neutrals - I love my black and don't completely give it up in the spring (e.g. my black pants), but adding in more whites, tan, taupe, soft grey, and navy can help a work wardrobe read more spring-like.

3.  Prints - I definitely tend to steer towards solids with interesting details, but when I do choose prints, I opt for florals, polka dots, and bold graphic prints during the spring.  Houndstooth and other plaids, pinstripes, and animal prints generally read for fall/winter.
Bracelet:  Target (old)
Shoes:  Target (old)
How do you change up your work wardrobe for spring?





 

 
 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Peony Power

Happy Thursday!
Pants:  The Limited (Available here)
Yesterday for work, I paired peony pink slim pants with a black and white top and cropped jacket.  
Blazer:  Forenza by The Limited (Available here)
Tote:  The Limited
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
I really love these pink pants.  They have cool ankle zips, and the color just makes me think of pretty spring flowers.
Bracelets:  The Limited
These pants were cropped/ankle length, but they were perfect as long pants for me.  I usually have to skip ankle-zip pants because they're too long and can't be altered, so I was excited to find these.
Shoes:  Target (old)
I added in a few additional pops of spring color with the yellow bangle and green nails. 

Hope you all have a great day!!





Tuesday, May 7, 2013

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?

Monday, May 6, 2013

Feminine Monday

Hope you all had a wonderful Monday...or at least as wonderful as a Monday can be anyway!  ;-)
Dress:  The Limited (Similar here)
Jacket:  Forever 21+ (Available here)
Today, I styled last year's high-low dress with a pink draped-front blazer.  I added in feminine touches with the bow belt, and knotted satin sandals.

This probably wasn't the most professional, office-y outfit, but it was super comfortable.  I do miss the fashion freedom I experienced as a college instructor (my previous career).  I would have worn this to teach and not thought twice about it!
 

Belt:  The Limited (Similar here)
Sandals:  Payless
Necklace:  Target
Earrings:  The Limited (Similar here)
I do enjoy high-low dresses and find them to drape in flattering ways.  They also give you the best of both worlds - the ease of a maxi, while showing off cute shoes.

Do you like high-low dresses?


To see this dress styled differently, see here.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!!

Today, as is a normal Sunday ritual, the family and I went out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurant.  Seriously, I could eat Mexican food virtually everyday and be extremely happy.  With it being Cinco de Mayo, the place was hoppin', service was great, and the food was delicious.
Dress:  Forever 21+ (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)
When getting ready, I wasn't feeling very well, and I just wanted to wear something comfortable.  I chose a jersey maxi dress and my blue moto jacket, which has become my new fashion obsession.
Jacket:  Forenza by The Limited (Available here)
Purse:  Target (Available here)
I paired the look with studded flats and a make-up free face save the red lipstick (I really wish I could find the right shade of red).  Since I was feeling a little blah, I wanted a little added color for my face, but seriously, how does one find the right shade of red lipstick for their skin tone?  Every time I think I've found it, I put it on and realize that it wasn't the right choice.

Thankfully, dinner made me feel much better - think my blood sugar was just off some.

Shoes:  Target (Available here)
Bracelets:  Express, Claire's Zoppini (old)
Hope you all had a wonderful day and a fabulous weekend!!!

For this jacket in another look, see here.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

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.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Hello Yellow

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Skirt: Target (Available here)
Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)
For work yesterday, I had fun styling my A-line print skirt with a black bow-front blouse and citrine yellow faux leather jacket.  
Blouse:  Old Navy (old)
Necklace:  Express (old)
I love how the yellow jacket brings out the hints of yellow in the skirt.
Bag:  The Limited (old)
Earrings:  The Limited (Available here)
The bow-front blouse and hemline is conservative enough for the office, but the print of the skirt and strappy heels gives the look a more youthful edge. 
Shoes:  Target (old)
I'm actually considering hemming this skirt.  Sometimes, it takes a few wears of a garment before I decide it needs alterations.  Due to the volume of this skirt, I think cutting off an inch or so would be more proportionate.

What do you think?  Do you get many clothing items altered?  How do you decide the "best" fit?

To see this skirt styled differently, see here.
To see this top styled differently, see here, here, and here.
To see this jacket styled differently, see here, here, and here.