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.

Touch of Boho

Hope you all have been having a great weekend!

Skirt:  Forenza by The Limited (Available here)
Top:  Forenza by The Limited (Available here)

I wore this look to go to lunch and run some errands yesterday with the family.  I wanted an outfit that was casual but cool enough to contend with the 90+ degree heat.

Sandals: Target (old)
Bracelets:  Jodi Arnold for The Limited, Claire's, Torrid

The bandage skirt and breezy flyaway top could have easily taken a more evening turn, but the feather sandals and fringe bag give the look a more casual bohemian vibe.

Purse:  The Limited (Available here)

I love how shoes and accessories can really change up an outfit.  Do you use accessories to give your outfits a different feel?

For this skirt in another look, see here
For this top in another look, see here

I apologize about the quality of today's photos...the sunlight was causing weird coloring and effects.  One of these days, I'm going to figure out the best time of day to take pics!  Any tips from my fellow bloggers?

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!

Printed Shorts in Redbook!!!

Today I bring you exciting news that I have been anxiously waiting to share! 

In April, I was contacted by Redbook magazine about being featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine.  I was told that I needed an image wearing printed shorts for their August 2013's "Real Style" feature. 

I sent in several images in a few different printed shorts outfits, and this is the one they chose:

Shorts:  The Limited (No longer available; Similar here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

Page 77, August 2013 issue, courtesy of Redbook Magazine

 The runners-up here and below:

This one and the one below were my favorites!!

Blazer:  The Limited
Clutch:  The Limited

Heels:  Target (Available here)
Bracelets:  Target

Peplum top:  Forenza by The Limited
Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)

Earrings:  Target
Bracelets:  Target, The Limited

I am so over the moon about being contacted by Redbook.  While I would be excited about any national feature, I love that Redbook takes a very affirmative approach to including women of various shapes, sizes, and ethnic identities in their magazine.  It's an honor to be included in a magazine that appreciates the diversity of female beauty.  In my opinion, women's magazines, including Redbook, have a long way to go towards full inclusion, but Redbook stands as a shining example that the tide is changing.  It's so fulfilling to be part of their trailblazing efforts!

It's also ironic that the feature was on shorts - I have just started to break out of my shorts-phobia.  Shorts would not have been my first choice for my first major feature, but in the end, I think it was perfect! So many women that I know hate shorts and refuse to wear them because they don't think they're flattering or they are embarrassed of their thighs.  Not too long ago, I was one of those women! 

If you like the look of shorts but have been held back by self-doubt, it's time to challenge those fears and rock those legs!!!    :-D

For the ivory blazer in other looks, see here, here, and here.
For the peplum top in other looks, see here.
For the navy blazer in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.

The Dark Side of the Sun

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! 

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

Today's look is the epitome of my style - simple black, somewhat androgynous pieces, mixed with a few unique or trendier touches.  

To mix the look up and give the outfit a sexier and cooler vibe, I added in an on-trend cropped bustier top and neon yellow pumps. 

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

Belt:  Express Men (old) + older buckle
Clutch:  Target (Similar here)

Finishing off this look, I added a sun-buckled belt, bangles, and crystal dangly earrings.  

I love the little pops of yellow on the top and the pumps which bring it out.  The silver sun is cool in contrast to the warm golds, oranges, and yellows that typically make me think of sunlight. 

Earrings:  Prabal Gurung for Target
Bracelets:  Express and The Limited

In astronomy, the dark side of the sun refers to the area of the sun that we don't usually see.  Here, it refers to the cooler/darker color combination and a side of me you don't usually see.

In a continued effort towards complete self-love and self-acceptance, I find myself reaching for pieces that only a few months ago would have been outside of my comfort zone.  As much as I loved the midriff trend, I wasn't sure it was for me. 

I'm 35, and I wore cropped tops back in my early twenties.  Was I too old to wear this trend again? 

I also don't have the same tummy that I did in my twenties.  Was I simply too fat to wear the trend?

At the end of the day, my love of fashion has won out against any self-doubt.  My artistic spirit has conquered my critical one. 

To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, that's one small step for womankind, one giant leap for this woman.   :-)

More looks with this blazer here, here, here, here, here, and here.
To see matching skirt in other looks, see here and here.

Whimsy for Work

Hope you all had a great week and are enjoying your weekend!

I've spent the last two weeks in suits, so yesterday, when I had the opportunity to have a little more fun with my work look, I seized it.

Blazer:  Torrid (Available here)
Blouse:  Forenza by The Limited

"Evil eye" ring:  H&M
Bracelets:  Target, World Market

While I try to maintain a fairly conservative look for work, I do love adding a little whimsy sometimes through bold color choices, pattern mixing, and fun accessories like my "evil eye" ring and snake earring (close-ups here and here, respectively).

Pants:  The Limited
Purse:  Target (Available here)

Shoes:  Target

For this blouse in another look, see here and here.