Friday, September 30, 2011

Sweater Dress Plus Booties Equals Drama

DSC_0259-49_2  

DSC_0272-55_2

sweater dress by Calvin Klein, undershirt from Banana Republic, suede booties by Calvin Klein

Here's a decidedly not-for-work outfit! Actually, I can't think of anywhere I would wear this, but it is how a lot of sweater dresses are styled. I just think the ankle boots are too much. But they are fun for a photo shoot! 

I know I need some more accessories for this outfit, preferrably a belt or a cuff. Next time, my friends!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

A Colorful Fall Outfit

DSC00380_2

velour jacket and corduroy pants by Jones New York Signature, scarf from India, Circa Joan & David brown patent pumps, Revlon Perplex nail polish

I threw together a lot of colors for this outfit! Putting an orange jacket over a magenta shirt and topping it off with a blue scarf seems like a lot, but I think it works!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Husband Shirt and Loafer Heels

DSC00375_2

DSC00373_2

shirt from my husband's closet, skirt from Ann Taylor, Via Spiga heels

It's the return of the oversized chambray shirt!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

A Punch of Purple

DSC_0242-43_2

DSC_0244-45_2

DSC_0243-44_2

silk blouse by Adam, pants by BCBGMaxAzria, necklace from White House Black Market, V Italia boots, Zoya Irene nail polish

I've been waiting to wear this amazing silk blouse. I really love the color, a kind of magenta-purple. Very oversized, even when I ordered a size smaller than usual. Thanks again to Divya for taking these amazing photos!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Mid-length Skirt and Vintage

DSC_0231-38_2

cashmere sweater by Sutton Studio, unknown printed top, vintage grey mid-length skirt, Fitzwell pumps, Dooney & Bourke handbag, Zoya Irene nail polish

Ah, a refreshing change of scenery for an outfit post! Special thanks to my talented friend Divya who shot me in the park! 

This outfit has two vintage pieces: this old skirt from my mom's closet, that happens to be on-trend with the 3/4 length skirts this season, and this cashmere sweater that I got for $15 at a local high-end thrift shop. Sutton Studio is a Bloomindales brand, and this sweater looks brand-new, no hints of pilling or pulls. It's not the most slimming item I own, but I really love it; expect to see more of it this Fall!


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fall Colors



DSC00370_2

maroon shirt by Calvin Klein, camel pants from LOFT, TreVero belt, Donald J. Pilner ankle boots, Zoya Kalista nail polish

A new blonder haircut and pretty fall colors and I am feeling great! I'm not sure about the pant-boot combo, do you think the colors work together?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Caramel Pants

DSC00367_2

paperbag pants from Madewell, shirt by Calvin Klein, Botkier handbag, necklace from Express, Katie & Kelly haircalf flats, Zoya Irene nail polish, unknown belt

Oh, THERE you are, my favorite pants purchase from last winter! I missed wearing you! You may break the petite rules with your pleated front and paper-bag waist, but I love your color and fit.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Lined Black Pants Debut

DSC00366_2

black pants from Banana Republic, jacket by Calvin Klein, turtleneck by Vince, Cole Haan Miranda pumps, Zoya Irene nail polish

Here they are, fresh from the tailor, the Logan straight-leg cut of my new lined black pants! Debuting with my new pumps, so new they look like shiny patent but they're just shiny leather. I am loving the weather, running outside after work instead of on the treadmill is awesome. 

Here's a shot of the turtleneck by itself:

DSC00364_2

Monday, September 19, 2011

Pretty Cable Knit

DSC00364_2

yellow cable knit sweater by Rugby (Ralph Lauren), cropped pants from LOFT, V Italia leather boots, Deathstar Debris necklace by Deka Ray

This is an amazing-quality sweater from Rugby. I recommend their sweaters, they don't pill and are very thick. It adds a bright ray to my Fall wardrobe!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Cropped Denim for Fall

DSC00358_2

DSC00362_2

jacket by BB Dakota, blouse from Nordstrom, grey corduroy trousers from Victoria's Secret, Fitzwell pumps, OPI You Don't Know Jacques nail polish

I struggled to make this military denim jacket a part of my wardrobe last Fall. It's a quirky piece, to be sure, and the fact that it's cropped doesn't help. Here I think I have it in the right color family, and these high-waisted trousers do help. Have a great weekend, my friends!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Missoni for Target Score!

DSC00356_2

DSC00355_2

DSC00357_2

blouse by Missoni for Target,  skirt from Anthropologie, Rosegold olive suede booties, OPI You Don't Know Jacques nail polish

I am feeling incredibly lucky, my friends. After hearing all day yesterday about the Target web site being down and all the stores being sold out of Missoni, due to eBayers Gone Wild, I had given up in my heart on scoring this blouse. I saw it online and it was the one thing I wanted, along with some Missoni tights. 

I half-heartedly, just-in-case, went to Target after work and my workout, getting there around 6:00pm. I was shocked to find a very, very few clothing items still left, most of it for kids. I saw the blouse I wanted, there were two left, a Small and an XL. I took the Small to the dressing room and it fit perfectly. I'm especially excited that the sleeves are not too long, they fall just at my wrists. I carried some tights along with me for a while, intending on buying them, but after looking at them, they're just too weird for me to wear to work.

A perfect First Fall Outfit, I love love the colors in this and it will enhance so many pieces in my wardrobe.

Did you score any Missoni from Target, my friends?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Last Summer 2011 Outfit Post

DSC00352_2

cream cardigan from J. Jill, Joe's Jeans The Pant skinny cargo, cream Enzo Angiolini pumps, OPI You Don't Know Jacques nail polish

OK, this is it, my friends. I've stretched my summer wardrobe as far as it can go. The fall clothes, now stashed upstairs in sealed trunks, are ready to go into my bedroom closet, and all these spring and summer shoes and clothes are getting put away until April or May. Say goodbye to the summer handbags and lipsticks. It was a great season of fashion, but with temps dropping tomorrow, it's time to move on.

Monday, September 12, 2011

New Ankle Boots

DSC00346_2

DSC00347_2

ankle boots by Donald J. Pilner, dress by Calvin Klein, belt unknown

Yell ANKLE BOOTS in a mall right now and watch all the fashionistas come running! They set my heart pumping and I love almost all I see. These golden tan beauties I found at a high-end thrift store for $65! They are almost new. So, my friends, though it is going to be 88 degrees today, I cannot put off wearing them any longer.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

WWWF Grudge Match: Nordstrom vs. Banana Republic vs. Ann Taylor

Ah, remember the days on the internet of WWWF Grudge Match? I miss those humorous head-to-head imaginary smackdowns. Time to resurrect them, with a fashion twist. Introducing not WWD, not WWW, but the WWWF (World Wide War of Fashion) Grudge Match! Today's combantants:




Nordstrom vs. Banana Republic vs. Ann Taylor!

THE SETTING:  St. Louis in early September. A sunny day off, and the chill of autumn wind provides perfect shopping weather. A solitary bargain-hunting fashionista sets out in need of a new pair of black pants for Fall. Her search leads her to three Workwear Giants: Nordstrom, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor.

Which one will have the best pair of lined black pants for Fall?
 

THE COMMENTARY: First up is Ann Taylor. It’s pretty empty in there, but there is lots of beautiful clothing, including a large selection of work pants. I stop at their color-blocked scarves, which I had admired on the internet. What are these, scarves for giants? My duvet cover is smaller than these. I make a mental note to un-bookmark them.

I begin my rounds, approaching each pair of black pants I see, turning up the cuff to see if there is a lining. The first four pairs or so, I strike out. They are beautiful pants, and if I wasn’t so intent on that lining, I would have tried some on. Then, the sweet rush of success: I find lined pants!

That rush gets shut down when I see the price tag. $168. I am a professional, but I’m not a lawyer, I don’t speak publicly, and I don’t currently travel for my job. The price and quality are unnecessary. Suffice to say, I walked quickly out of Ann Taylor empty-handed.

On to Nordstrom. Pants, pants, pants. I walk all over the large store looking for some that have a lining. They’re all spread out, so when a sales associate approaches me, I simply ask her, are there any lined black pants here?

Her reply: “Oh, I haven’t seen any lined pants here in the past two years.” What!?! She tries to sell me on a pair of unlined, not-black, lightweight wool pants, pointing out their quality and construction. I tell her they need to be lined to prohibit them sticking to the knee-high trouser socks I usually wear underneath. (I don’t tell her that the lining also prevents static cling, panty lines, and provides a layer of warmth.) I say, “Ann Taylor has some, but they’re like $160.” Her reply: “Well if we carried them, they’d be around $200.”

OK then. Goodbye.

On to Banana Republic. It wasn’t on my list of stores to visit, but I was desparate. Full disclosure: I don’t like Banana Republic. There was a time in my life when I shopped there regularly, but their boring clothes, vanity sizing, and association with Gap (shudder) turned me off. I haven’t purchased anything from them in years.

As I walked in, the store greeter told me everything in the store was 30% off. I look at some pants. They are all lined. The navy ones, the grey pinstripes, and --look!-- black pants, all lined, in a couple of different cuts. I look at the pricetag: $98. Normally more than I want to pay, but if they’re 30% off, very doable.

I tried on the Martin, which has a trouser cut, and the Logan, which has a straight leg. They both have belt loops and hit below my navel. I tried them on with the black shoes I’d brought with me, and swooshed happily around the dressing room. The straight legged Logans were perfect. Sold.


THE WINNER: Banana Republic 

Though I had visions of Nordstrom coming out on top, since I bought a nice pair of summer black pants there last year, I was very disappointed. (On a side note, the blue Franco Sarto sandals I’ve been waiting to go on sale there, haven’t. More disappointment.)

The Workwear Giant Ann Taylor needs to offer a mid-priced lined black pant for us non-lawyers. They’ve got a pretty website and great branding, but at the end of the day, I care about the product. Banana Republic, the longshot in this race, wins by a landslide!

If you liked this post, please also see my first WWWF Grudge Match: TJ Maxx vs. Nordstrom Rack

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Casual Weekend in Joe's Jeans

DSC00338_2


DSC00337_2

striped cardigan by Ella Moss, t-shirt by Vince, necklace from Guess, Joe's Jeans Provacateur jean in Kennedy wash, Soft Spots sandals, Nixon watch

I spent the weekend in casual wear, appropriate for camping, running errands, and taking care of our home. The weather has really turned cooler, prompting jeans and a cardi! Lots of blues and white, even down to my Essie Midnight Cami polish on my toes.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Two Bright Outfits

DSC00329_2

DSC00334_2

Here are a couple of ways I've paired dark colors with brights to wear to work lately!