Ode to the Black Suit

I know that most people don't find suits very fashionable or comfortable, but I love them...especially when they are fitted and come in black like this one here.

Jacket:  The Limited (Available here)
Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)

Blouse:  New York & Company

Mixed with a houndstooth bow blouse and pumps, the suit is classic but has a chicness to it.

Heels:  Target
Purse:  New York & Company

Ring:  Earthbound Trading Co.

I always love adding an edgy touch or two to my work looks.  Here, I added a silver knuckle ring for a simple but bold statement.  A black suit offers virtually limitless fashion possibilities.

Earrings:  Target

A few of my favorite black suit looks from the blog archives:

Tuxedo Redux

Suited Up

The Dark Side of the Sun

Neutral Sophistication

Channeling Chanel

Gaga for Lady Gaga

Graphic Flow

Do you like black suits?

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

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes: Brown Shoe Blogger Brunch

As so often happens to me, I have a song stuck in my head on repeat.  After I wrote the title to this post, a song popped into my head (remember "Bills, Bills, Bills"?) and shoe-related lyrics to the same beat started flowing! 

I often come up with my own lyrics to songs because I rarely know all the correct words and it's fun to come up with my own.  I'm sure we all do that sometimes, right... right?  ;-P

Don't you like my shoes?
Don't you like my beautiful shoes?
Don't you like my chic, stylish shoes?
If you do, then I could be your muse
I am sure you do...
Oh...you and me are cool

Don't worry...I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon!!!

Why all this obsession with shoes?  Shoes have been on the brain (along with silly songs) since attending a recent blogger brunch hosted by Brown Shoe Company.

While you may have never heard of Brown Shoe Company, you have more than likely heard of the brands it owns and/or markets:  Naturalizer, Dr. Scholl's, Carlos by Carlos Santana, Fergie, Sam Edelman, Franco Sarto, and Via Spiga, among others.

Brown Shoe was born in St. Louis in 1875 and remains headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, Missouri to this day.  While at the brunch, I was introduced to many of Brown Shoe's brands and learned a ton about the company that revolutionized shoes for women.

Naturalizer

Before Naturalizer, one of Brown Shoe's first major brands, women's shoes were made using men's upper forms.  The Naturalizer brand changed this, creating shoes for women that were actually shaped for women's feet.  

Naturalizer continues to be one of Brown Shoe's major comfort brands.  I'm loving the purple boots -- style and comfort, who can beat that?

Speaking of style and comfort, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the Dr. Scholl's styles.  How chic are these leopard boots?

Dr. Scholl's

If you're an on-line shopper like me, then you will love Shoes.com.  These burgundy booties with gold heels are just fabulous!

Shoes.com

For very modern, but still very work appropriate shoe shopping, I highly suggest Franco Sarto.  The low to mid-range heels and simple shapes make these a fabulous choice for the workplace (and for running errands after work).

Franco Sarto

For style that's a little edgy and rock-and-roll, I'm looooving the Fergie and Carlos by Carlos Santana shoe collections.

These black and gold heels from Fergie need to be in my shoe wardrobe, like, yesterday!!! 

Fergie

Fergie

Carlos by Carlos Santana

Ultra-fashionable and versatile, the Via Spiga brand includes some amazing offerings like these leopard peep-toe shooties and over-the-knee boots.

Via Spiga

Via Spiga

Sam Edelman is probably Brown Shoe's most fashion-forward brand.  The booties are just killer!

Sam Edelman

Brown Shoe was generous enough to provide all the bloggers with gift cards to Famous Footwear, a popular chain shoe store owned by Brown Shoe that offers a variety of brands and styles for women, men, and children.
 
I haven't had a chance to pick out a new pair of shoes just yet, but I'll be sure to post them here when I do!!!

For you other small footed people out there, I learned that the smallest women's size carried in the Brown Shoe family is a size 4 in some of the Naturalizer styles (does not come in a wide width).  Bummer for me who's a true size 3, but since I usually wear a women's size 5 to get adult styles, I'm sure I'll find something fab with my gift card!

If I can't, there's always a back-up plan....these adorable girls' Converse "Party Hi" high-tops:

Converse Girls' Party-Hi

What shoes do you like the most?

St. Louis Fashion Week Presents Industry Night!

 Sorry I've been absent for a bit.  I was having internet issues, but I'm back now!!

Tonight, my coverage of St. Louis Fashion Week continues!  The last major fashion show of the week was Industry Night, featuring local and national designers.

Wai Ming
Local designer Wai Ming started the show featuring wearable, tailored clothes with interesting colorblocking, mixed media, and fabric manipulation.

Laura Kathleen
Then, one of my favorites, St. Louisan Laura Kathleen, of Project Runway fame, featured a gorgeous, feminine collection that left me longing for this trench, the khaki dress, and pretty much everything else.

Jennifer Chun 
Jennifer Chun showed a sporty collection that had a little bit of a 1920s tennis vibe...I could just imagine a modern-day Daisy Gatsby wearing these pieces.  While I really enjoyed this collection, I especially loved the look worn by the designer (bottom right)!!

Samantha Pleet
Samantha Pleet, whose looks have been sold by Anthropologie, showed pretty clothes that made me long for vacation.  Many of her models walked the runway barefoot, and all of the models had an easy,carefree vibe that made me smile.  The rainbow dress (second row, right) was definitely my favorite out of the collection. 

Eva Franco
Last, but certainly not least, Eva Franco showed a whimsical and quirky collection complete with fun prints, umbrellas, wigs, and lots of smiles and waves from the models.  How adorable is that sunglasses print dress?

You can find Eva Franco at Mod Cloth, among other places.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings of both the national and local designers.

As I wrap up my St. Louis Fashion Week coverage with my next post, I just want to take a moment to give a shout out to St. Louis, Alive Magazine, and all the designers, bloggers and others who participated in Fashion Week.  I feel so fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to participate as a blogger, and I had a great time meeting new people and soaking in all of the gorgeous fashion.  We are one fashion-forward city and know how to put on an amazing week of style!!!