Friday, April 30, 2010

Sweater: The Limited

Tank: Express

Pants: Express (Stella Barely Boot Cut)

Shoes: Alfani (via Macy's)

Earrings: The Limited

Necklace: Gifted

I cannot believe it is the last day of April already. Seriously? The year is 1/3 of the way over already. Holy cow!

Too bad I'm still stuck wearing long sleeves and freezing my tail off at the office. Despite this being our third Spring here, I'm still shocked when it's thirty degrees over night in April. I need to get out our summer clothes soon but it seems kind of silly when I have to wear a jacket to work in the mornings!

See Sara Shop

How fabulous is this skirt?

It's part of the Talbots 2010 Fall Look Book and I must say, I am in love! I have never shopped at Talbots, but after seeing their Fall collection on the Talbots blog Red Chair Confessions, I just might change my mind! I want pretty much one of everything for fall.

Like their stuff too? Head on over to Puttin' On the Grits and enter her giveaway for a $250 gift card to Talbots!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Express

Belt: New York & Company

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Necklace: The Limited

Ring: Forever 21

This outfit isn't at all like what I had planned to wear today. I originally envisioned this ruched-sleeve top with my red pencil skirt, a black patent belt and this fun new red necklace I got recently. But, I am happy to report, the skirt no longer sits quite as high on my waist because my calorie counting is working! Apparently 2 pounds makes a big difference for the red skirt. It's still fine for wearing, just with something over it, not tucked in and belted. Good thing cause I'd be sad to lose that skirt!

I'd never worn this skirt despite the fact that I've had it for about six months. I just never found the right top to wear with it. Black is too harsh and none of my white tops seemed to work before. I think the big sleeves of the top balance out the large pattern of the skirt nicely.

I wasn't as pleased with the proportion of the necklace to the rest of the outfit. It needs something bigger and chunkier (which I do not yet own!).

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Dress: New York & Company

Tights: Hue

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bracelet: Express

Necklaces: Amy Cornwell Designs

Oh, how I love this dress. Let me count the ways:

1. It's 95% cotton. Feels like wearing my pajamas to work.

2. It's season-less. Winter, spring, summer, fall - this dress sees it all.

3. The pattern. I don't know what it is about this pattern that just mesmerized me in the store. Five years later, I'm still not tired of it.

4. The cut. Unlike anything else I own, it's the most forgiving thing in my closet. How can you not love a dress that doesn't require a medieval torture device, otherwise known as Spanx?

5. It's easy. Not like that, you naughty readers! One big cuff and a cute pair of shoes and this baby is ready to roll. No effort required.

Surely I am not the only fashionista who can wax poetic about the items in her closet?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Sweater: The Limited

Vest: New York & Company

Pants: Express

Shoes: Sam & Libby

Necklace: New York & Company

So I walked out of the closet this morning and Nate said, "Nice cheetah print."

Clearly the man has learned nothing under my fashion tutelage. It's leopard, Honey. Sara's Fashion Rule #1 : Know thy animal prints.

xoxo

It's Closet Girl's very first blog award! Thank you to Nic at Domestic Sophisticate for bringing a little sunshine to my day!


Instructions for the award:
1. Put the logo on your blog within a post.
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are 12 lovely ladies that always bring a smile to my face:

1. Ally Rae at Cute on the Cheap, who knows how to show a girl a good time. *wink*
2. Becky at Gilding the Frilly, who lives in NYC and thus makes me intensely jealous.
3. Sarah at Classy and Fabulous, who posts exactly what I would have posted if I wasn't so lazy.
4. Jaci at Ravings of a Mad Housewife, who keeps it completely real and makes me terrified to procreate.
5. Helene at I'm Living Proof God Has a Sense of Humor, who is one of the most gifted mommy bloggers I know.
6. Jamie at Cookie Crums, who thought one adorable little boy just wasn't enough!
7. Cole at All the Small Stuff, who tempts me every Tuesday with her blog of earthly delights!
8. Kristen at One Hundred Eighty Degrees, who almost makes me want to eat more healthfully, every day except Tuesday.
9. Mel at Just Fine and Dandy, who feels like a good friend, even though we've never actually met.
10. Amy at Amy Cornwell Designs, who makes me wish I was half as crafty.
11. Mrs. Jetplane at Leaving and Loving on a Jetplane, who loves her a pug nearly as much as I love me a Pom.
12. Kimberly at Fab Finds Under $50, for inspiring fashionable ladies the world over.

Thanks for inspiring me, ladies!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft

Top: The Limited

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Belt: Came with another outfit

Bracelet: Lia Sophia

Dog: Our furry house guest, Bailey

It's another chilly, rainy day here in Indy. I almost busted out the tights again, but there's really nothing worse than wet tights, so I decided to stick with pants. I originally had on a longer pair but discovered they are a bit too big now - WAHOO! It's amazing what just a week of eating right again will do!

The collar and ruffles on this shirt feel very Elizabethan to me. I felt like I was wearing a costume all day (in a good way!). Plus the print is really fun. I felt very sassy in this outfit!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Cardigan: New York & Company

Tank: Victoria's Secret

Pants: Express

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Necklaces: Amy Cornwell Designs

The Amy Cornwell necklace I won in her giveaway last week popped up in my mailbox last night. It is so sweet and simple; I absolutely love it! I knew today's outfit had to stay basic so I could show it off!

I paired the new necklace with my first ever ACD piece - my personalized washer necklace. I love how the different chains contrast and I think the two sizes and shapes of the charms compliment nicely.

I love the color of this cardi - it reminds me of fresh cut grass. A perfect pop of color for a rainy, dreary Friday.

See Sara Shop

It's no secret that The Limited is my all time favorite place to shop for clothes. There are any number of stores that I wish I could shop at, but I am either 1. in love with their clothes but too cheap to shop there (J Crew, I'm talking to you!) or 2. their clothes don't fit me very well (hello, White House Black Market).

While The Limited can be a little bit pricey for some people, they have fabulous sales and you can receive a bazillion coupons by signing up for their email and mailing lists. There is rarely ever a time when I am not carrying around a coupon from them in my purse!

I don't know what it is about how the tailor their clothes, but they fit me like a dream, especially their dresses. As someone who is, um, bosomly challenged, it can be difficult for me to find tops that fit me well. The Limited is the less endowed girl's best friend!

I fell in lust with this dress the moment I saw it. I knew it was actual love the moment I tried it on - the jersey knit! the black and white! the ruffles!




Alas, I need another party dress like I need a hole in my head. I especially don't need a $100 party dress when I have no party to go to any time soon.

Enter The Limited's fabulous Virtual Dollars. $25 off a $50 purchase. I had two of them. $50 plus $50 is $100. The exact same price of the dress. Plus a $15 birthday coupon. Which makes the dress $35. Surely this is God smiling down on His ruffle-loving daughter, right? I mean, He practically delivered it to my doorstep Himself.

Well, I guess technically the UPS man will deliver it (in 3-5 business days), but I'm pretty sure he's an angel of the happiness (and ruffles!).

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Top: New York & Company

Pants: Express (Stella Barely Boot Cut)

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Necklace: Amy Cornwell

I had a doctor's appointment this morning so I didn't get to the office until lunchtime. I decided to take advantage of the half day and wear my grubby clothes to do some work in my predecessor's filing system. I use the term filing system loosely, though - it's basically seven huge drawers filled with folders arranged in absolutely no logical order. I got down and dirty with those files today and only made it about a third of the way through! Ugh.

But it gave me a great excuse to wear this top that I scored a major deal on at New York & Company. The store near my office was closing and the last few days everything was 80% off. Of course, the selection wasn't the best, but I managed to score $330 worth of stuff for just $60! CHA-CHING! Quite possibly my best savings adventure ever!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Tights: New York & Company

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Bracelet: New York & Company

This will probably be my last outing of the season with tights. I really wanted to wear this sweet ruffled placate dress from Ann Taylor Loft but it's a tad bit on the short side without tights. This seems to be a chronic problem with all my ATL dresses. I buy the Regular (not Petites) but they still manage to be a tiny bit short, which is odd because I am only 5'4'' and Regular anything usually needs to be hemmed two inches.

Anyway, I digress. I dug up the most light-weight black tights I own - these fun zebra patterned ones. How great are these? I totally forgot about them in the basket mess that is my tights collection. I'm glad they got to see the light of day at least once this season!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Express

Belt: New York & Company

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Bracelets: Simply Irresistible


I've done a great job of cutting down on my clothes shopping but when I saw this top on sale at The Limited, I knew I had to have it. I love the color combination at the fun print. I'm a sucker for this electric blue! I also liked that it has short sleeves - I tend to go straight to sleeveless tops for summer so this is a nice change of pace. The bling around the collar is just a total bonus!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft

Tank: Old Navy

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: New York & Company

Earrings: Gifted

After a wonderful girls weekend in Louisville (where I finally got to meet the lovely Ally IRL!), the last thing on my mind when I got home was planning an outfit for work on Monday.

This outfit had one driving force behind it: I was freezing cold when I woke up. All I wanted was to be covered up so I could get warm. I'd vaguely had this color combination of green and navy in the back of my head, although I'd originally envisioned the cardigan with a navy pencil skirt instead of pants. I knew the temps would eventually reach the mid-sixties so tights seemed a little overkill. Pants win.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Dress: The Limited

Belt: New York & Company

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Bracelet: Simply Irresistible

Hey, hey, it's my birthday!

And who doesn't want to look killer on their birthday? I loved the color of this dress the moment I saw it at The Limited and when it went on sale recently, I snapped it up immediately! It came with a much skinnier brown belt which I switched out for this fun patent leather version instead.

I discovered that I have no brown summery pumps (hello, shopping!) so I went with this fun yellow combination instead.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Top: The Limited

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Bracelets: The Limited

Have you ever wondered who decided it was a good idea to package tights with those stupid cardboard inserts? You know, the ones that are three times the width of the tights and require extrication so painstakingly careful that it shouldn't be attempted by someone bleary eyed and running late at 5:30 in the morning, lest said tights be ruined by a pull in the material before you even where them a single time?

Yeah, I never wondered that either....

See Sara Win!

Remember this post where I sang the praises of my IRL friend Amy Cornwell? And encouraged you all to enter her giveaway even though I wanted to win this delightful necklace all for myself?

Well, guess what?!

I WON!

*Does the dance of joy*

Want to be just like me? Head on over to Amy Cornwell Designs to get your very own personalized ACD creation. And make sure you tell her I sent you!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Top: Merona for Target

Tank (unseen): Old Navy

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bracelets: New York & Company

I have this 'thing' where I don't like to wear my tops tucked into my pants. I just don't do it. Ever. Mostly because I don't like messing with my clothes all day long - I feel like tucking means I have to readjust my clothes every single time I stand up.

But then I look at an outfit like this and I think how great it would look tucked in with a sweet little skinny belt. Or I see someone like the lovely GingerSnap who tucks all the time and manages to look darling while doing it.

Are you a tucker or a non-tucker? If you know the secret to successful tucking will you please, please share it?