Friday, October 30, 2009

Tank: New York & Company

Cardigan: New York & Company

Jeans: The Limited

Bracelet: The Limited

Heels: Nine West

I'm fighting a cold this week and I wanted nothing more than to be warm and cozy today, especially when I woke up to a rainy, windy day. So I chose the softest cardi I own in a color that would brighten my dreary thoughts.

I love the look of a graphic tee under a cardigan - I just don't wear it very often. Looking at this outfit, I think I'll make it more of a habit!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Dress: The Limited

Sweater: New York & Company

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: The Limited


I had a professional thing to attend at lunch today. I didn't want it to be obvious to the whole office, so I played down my business dress with a casual sweater and then switched it out for a more professional jacket when I got in the car. Sneaky, sneaky. Too bad the appointment didn't pan out, but such is life, right?

See Sara Shop

{image via Victoria's Secret}

My love affair with Steve Madden continues. The electric blue ones will be arriving sometime in the next 5 to 7 business days.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Top: Express

Skirt: The Limited

Belt: New York & Company

Bracelet: New York & Company

Shoes: Nine West

Apparently I have a 'thing' for skirts with interesting back details - ruffles on Thursday, kick pleats on Monday and now a zipper on Tuesday! I didn't even notice until a coworker pointed it out today. What can I say, I love a good girlie detail!

Know what else I love? The print on this top! There's just nothing quite like a great black and white graphic top. I can already see a couple of great ways to wear this one and I can't wait to put it into regular rotation. And best of all? It's got the sweetest little bows on the sleeves! Details, details, details!!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Everything but the Shoes: The Limited

Shoes: Steve Madden

The hounds tooth skirt is the centerpiece of today's outfit. It's hard to tell in the picture but the skirt has curved lines in the front and also on the rear that give it a great hour-glass shape. The rear view is actually the best part of the whole outfit - look at those cute little kick-pleats. Love!

I paired it with a bright knit sweater and kept the jewelry simply. I'm still on the hunt for some fabulous gray heels. Although I adore these Steve Madden's, I'm not digging the black with the grayish skirt.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Top: Express

Tank(unseen): New York & Company

Jeans: Express

Bracelet: Express

Shoes: Aldo Shoes

We had a surprise party to attend and I felt like rocking a little bling. I picked up this t-shirt at the last Express clearance sale. It's totally not my normal understated style but sometimes a girl just wants to stand out! It totally spoke to me the minute I saw it. Practically begged me to take it home.

Since the shirt was a little 'loud', I took it easy with a big silver cuff and the same red heels from Wednesday. Love it!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Top: The Limited

Tank: New York & Company

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelet: New York & Company

Necklace: New York & Company

Keeping things pretty basic today. I love the bright orange of this top and wanted to wear it before it gets too cold. The material is the softest cotton imaginable and hey, sometimes it's more about comfort than couture!

Doesn't Oliver look like he wants to come with me to work? Please, Mom? Look how cute I am!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Jacket: The Limited

Tank: New York & Company

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Bracelets: ?

Necklace: Banana Republic

We're in that weird period of weather when it's too cold to go sleeveless and too warm for tights. Not that I'm complaining - I'll take this over 40's any day!

I figured a short sleeved tweed jacket was the perfect solution for that in-between time. I love the tie in the front - most suit jackets overwhelm me but this one gives me a nice lady-like shape.

The rear view is pretty cute too! The skirt has these sweet little ruffles on the bottom. Unfortunately they were not photographing well at all, so you'll just have to take my word for it!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Shoes: Aldo

Necklace: The Limited

Bracelet: Express

We've seen a brief return to autumnal weather this week and I am taking full advantage while I can - it's supposed to be back in the 40's on Saturday! Brr!

I snagged this dress last week at Ann Taylor Loft for $9.99. I already have visions of some wintery ways to wear it but I exercised my 'right to bare arms' today and went the classic route. It's hard to tell in the larger picture but there is a big ruffle that runs all the way around the neck and down the front of the dress. I added the biggest bangle bracelet in my arsenal and a pop of color on my feet. I always feel a little conspicuous wearing red heels with a dress but the shoes earned rave reviews from two coworkers, my dental hygienist, the clerk at Express and three random strangers who were walking beside me at the mall. Note to self: Wear these shoes more more often!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Top: New York & Company

Belt: New York & Company

Pants: The Limited (Charlee cut)

Bracelet: New York & Company

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

This is one of my all time favorite tops in my closet. I am a sucker for animal print, and particularly zebra. Zebra tanks, zebra tops, zebra bracelets, zebra heels. If I thought I could get away with it, I'd probably wear zebra pants too. I just can't resist the black and white stripe!

I view this top as a power top - I am woman, hear my roar. I think it's an attention grabber, while still being tastefully business appropriate. I've worn it under suit jackets, with a vest, belted, with a skirt and with pants. I can't think of a single other item in my closet that I've worn so many ways.

Do you have an item in your closet that you love so much you've come up with a dozen ways to wear it? Do you have a 'power item', too?

Monday, October 19, 2009

Dress: The Limited

Bracelet: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: Gifted

I feel very 1950's housewife in this outfit today. All I needed was a neat little chignon and an apron! Unfortunately for Nate, I'm the complete antithesis of a housewife (1950's or otherwise!).

The pattern of the dress is bold all by itself, so I kept the rest of the look simple. A large bracelet, delicate necklace and leg-lengthening shoes are all this dress needs.

The necklace was a gift from my parents. I can't even remember what the occasion was anymore, but I pull it out anytime I'm really missing them. FYI, guys - really missing you lately!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Sweater: The Limited

Pants: Express

Shoes: Kohl's

Necklace: Express

The Vols don't play this weekend, so I skipped my requisite Friday orange gear and went for my other favorite color instead - red!

I'd totally forgotten about this sweater until I ran across it at the bottom of a pile of cardigans. It was like finding $20 in my pocket - I was so excited!

I paired it with my new favorite necklace and flat gray flannel boots. These boots are lined on the inside so they're super warm and cozy - perfect for the long winter ahead.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sweater: Express

Pants: The Limited

Bracelet: New York & Company

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Ever have one of those days where you have zero inspiration for getting dressed? That was me this morning. We are on our third straight day of rain and 40 degree weather. Um, hello, Mother Nature? Did you forget about Fall?

So of course I didn't want to wear a skirt. Or tights. Or a silk top. Or white. Or anything sheer. Or good shoes.

Which left me standing helpless in my closet as the minutes ticked down to walking out the door.

What's a girl to do? Wear the brightest color she owns, of course! As I've mentioned before, I am completely obsessed with this shade of blue. It's certainly a good pick me up for days like today.

And I busted out my 'sensible shoes'. Big square toe, chunky low heel - good for running through the rain, but clearly not my usual M.O. which was duly noted by half a dozen people in my office today. Seriously, six people mentioned my lack of killer shoes today! I had no idea they were paying that much attention to my footwear!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Cardigan: New York & Company

Camisole: Express

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Sam & Libby

Necklace: New York & Company

Ring: The Limited

It's rainy and cold here in Indy today and I wanted nothing more than to be warm and covered up.

I fell in love with this tank top when it first came out but couldn't justify spending $40 on it. Lucky for me, I found it on clearance with an additional 20% off last week. $7? Now that I can handle!

Hopefully I'll get just as lucky when I go shopping this weekend. While getting dressed this morning, I realized I have no gray heels to take me into winter. Cute patent leather gray wedges? Check! Even cuter gray suede flats? Check! Gray slouchy booties and gray knee high boots with bow? Check and Check! But plain gray every day heels? Nada. Guess I'll force myself to go shopping this weekend. Sigh. It's a burden, but somebody's gotta do it.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Cardigan: New York & Company

Tank: Old Navy

Skirt: The Limited

Flowers: New York & Company

Bracelets: Gifted

Shoes: Sam & Libby

I had a super busy day today - several bids due and two meetings. I wanted to look polished for the meetings but still be comfortable for the long hours of price comparisons at my desk. I was good to go there.

The part I wasn't ready for? Moving! Our new area is ready and the boss suddenly decided today would be a great day to move (instead of the scheduled day which was Friday - jeans day!). My pleas for a delay fell on deaf ears and I ended up crawling on the floor, schlepping my stuff and generally working up a sweat in my heels and skirt. Needless to say, I was one unhappy camper when I finally left for the day (late!). New Boss = 1, Cute Outfit = 0.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Dress: The Limited

Sweater: Express

Necklace: Thrifted

Bracelet: New York & Company

Shoes: Steve Madden

I bought this summer dress on clearance recently and wanted to wear it at least once before I put it away for next summer. However, we seem to have skipped the slide into autumn and have plunged immediately into 30 degree lows and barely mid-50's highs. WTH, Mother Nature?

I am resisting busting out the tights, no matter how tempted I've been the last few days. As excited as I am to pull them out, I know I'll be sick of them (and the cold!) in just a few weeks, so I am holding out as long as possible!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Sweater: The Limited

Tank: Old Navy

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Quick avert your eyes!

Why, you ask? Well, I'm practically naked in this picture, that's why!

Okay, well maybe not naked, but I certainly felt that way all day. Nate had a business trip today and he got to sleep in which meant I got dressed in the closet without the aid of a mirror and got all the way downstairs before I realized I didn't have on a stitch of jewelry. Que horror!

In the end I decided it wasn't a good reason to wake Nate, so I went sans baubles all day. Oh the things we do for love.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Top: Banana Republic

Skirt: Express

Cardigan: New York & Company

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelet/Watch: New York & Company


I love a good pencil skirt and when I saw this one in such a fun print and bright color, I knew I had to try it. I started with the top tucked in but it seemed like way too much print, so I belted it instead. Looking at the picture, I'm thinking it might be too much hot pink. Maybe next time I'll belt over the cardigan too.

I kept the jewelry minimal because of the bold print and cut out at the top. Just a simple cuff bracelet/watch, which is quickly becoming a favorite accessory. I used to feel naked without a watch; then I started working from home and no longer felt the need for one. Now that I'm back in the office (and in long, boring meetings!) I find myself looking at my wrist all day long again!

Tuesday, September 6, 2009

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Cardigan: Victoria's Secret

Shoes: Steve Madden

Ring: New York & Company

Necklace: New York & Company

I picked up this cute little cotton summer dress for $10 at the Ann Taylor Loft clearance sale this weekend. I've never owned a single piece of paisley clothing but I fell for this navy blue the minute I saw it. Plus the cotton is so soft, I felt like I was wearing my pajamas all day long. Add a comfy cashmere and silk blend sweater and I was practically comatose at my desk by 3pm. Well, it also might have been the entire Qdoba burrito I ate for lunch, but I prefer to think it was my fabulously comfortable yet stylish ensemble.