Sunday, December 19, 2010

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft

Tights: Hue

Booties: Payless Shoes

Necklace: Forever 21

Bracelet: Ann Taylor Loft

My new company had a Christmas/New Client celebration dinner last night, so it was night #2 in a row of dressing up. YAY for busy, dressed up weekends! As much as I love working at home most days, I definitely miss getting dressed up every day.

I am not normally a black-and-navy combo kind of girl but I'm liking this one. The tweed skirt is navy with black shot through it, so it's a good baby step in the black and navy mixing direction!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Tank: GAP

Shorts: Express

Tights: Hue

Booties: Payless Shoes

Necklaces: The Limited

Ring: The Limited

We had a super busy weekend. Saturday night we went out for sushi and to see the musical Wicked with friends. I love getting dressed up for nights out and was so happy the weather finally cooperated so that I could wear these shorts!

The shorts-and-tights combo was something I always loved on other people in magazines. I wasn't so sure that I could pull it off. But I think I finally found exactly the right pair of shorts to make it work for me.

As a side note: when did it become acceptable to attend a theater performance in jeans and a sweatshirt? I was completely shocked at how casually a lot of my fellow theater-goers were dressed. Are we really that lazy that we can't even put on a dress or slacks for a night out? Kind of takes away a little of the magic of a theater night when you look like you could be equally comfortable sitting on your couch watching Eastbound and Down.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Dress: Old Navy

Tights: Hue

Boots: Charles David

Necklace: The Limited

Ring: The Limited

We had our small group Christmas dinner at a Brazilian restaurant downtown tonight. For weeks now I've been planning to try out my new sparkly tweed Express shorts with tights. Imagine my immense disappointment when I woke up this morning to driving snow that just never quit. Four inches of snow and four inch heels just don't mix. Boo.

So it was on to Plan B. Slightly less dressy but much warmer and less dangerous! Turns out Plan B was a blessing in disguise - the roomy dress came in very handy when I ate my weight in cheddar cheese puff biscuits at dinner!

I was also debuting my new blunt bangs. I went in for a trim this morning and decided there was no time like the present to give them a try. Don't know how long they'll last but at least I can finally say I gave them a go!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Dress: The Limited

Necklaces: Express & The Limited

Tights: Hue

Booties: Aldo Shoes

Jacket: Paris (2002 trip!)

I had a client meeting on Monday. I always try to play it a little safe the first time I meet a new client. There's nothing safer or easier than a simple sweater dress. This one is super soft gray and one of my winter staples.

I bought this hounds tooth trapeze jacket on a trip to Europe in 2002. I still love it now as much as the day I bought it. It's super easy to throw it on over just about anything for a pulled together look. It will be a sad day in my closet when this one finally bites the dust!

Friday, October 5, 2010

Sweater: The Limited

Turtleneck: Express

Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft

Necklace: Simply Irresistible

Tights: Hue

Booties: Payless Shoes

Today was the second of my three days of client meetings. It was business casual Friday at their office, so we got to dress down a tiny bit. I layered up again for the long day and boy was I glad I did - we had snow flurries this afternoon! Holy winter weather, Batman. I am so not ready for this! But if I can't be warm and cozy at home, at least I can keep warm in this plaid flannel skirt and cuddly sweater.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Dress: The Limited

Ring: The Limited

Earrings: New York & Company

Tights: Hue

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Last night we attended the wedding of one of Nate's coworkers. It was an evening outdoor garden wedding, black-tie optional. My first thoughts when I got the invitation were: Um? What does that mean?

I know what to wear to an evening wedding. To an outdoor garden wedding. Even to a black-tie wedding. But all three together? I was sort of panicky. Eventually I decided to play it safe and wear this dress that I bought a few months ago - a bolder color than a normal garden wedding, appropriate evening material but not quite black-tie because of the length. Panic attack averted.

Or not. I woke up yesterday to a temperature barely in the fifties and 30 MPH winds. SO not sleeveless, bare-legged outdoor wedding weather. So it was back to the drawing board. I was disappointed to miss out on wearing my red ruffled number until I remembered this fun one-shouldered cocktail dress. I thought it looked great paired with tights (for warmth!) and some fierce heels. Too bad it was so cold, I never even got to take my coat off! Even in the tents for the reception, it was just too chilly to go bare shouldered. All that worry over what to wear and no one ever saw more than the bottom two inches! Oh well. At least I felt pretty!

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!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Tights: Hue

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bracelet: Lia Sophia

Earrings: Ann Taylor Loft

We had a storm Wednesday night that blew a cold front into town. I decided to take the unexpected opportunity to wear this navy blue sweater dress I scored at Ann Taylor Loft last week for $14.88. Man, I love their clearance deals!

The dress is a heavy knit cowl neck, so it was plenty warm but the short sleeves make it a little spring-y. I envision wearing it layered over a striped long sleeve tee next winter!

It's a little too short to wear bare-legged, so tights will always be a must with this one.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Jacket: The Limited

Skirt: The Limited

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Sam & Libby

Bracelet: New York & Company

I had an interview this afternoon for a permanent, full-time position downtown. I always hate dressing for interviews. On the one hand, you want to look appropriately professional. But on the other hand, you want to show that you have some personality, especially for a people-driven position like the one I was interviewing for. It would require a lot of public speaking and executive-level interaction, so I wanted to show that I'm not someone they'd be embarrassed to put in front of others!

Every interview preparation goes the same exact way - I try on umpteen billion outfits, discard every one and reach for the same few key pieces every time!

I was pretty proud of myself today, though - the red jacket is a new addition to my regular 'interview' repertoire. I wasn't 100% sure about it as an interview outfit, but I felt good in it so I went with it. I went shopping downtown before my interview and got several compliments on it, so that made me feel much more confident by the time my actual interview rolled around!

And for the record (in case you're interested) the interview went really well. It's the first time I've really wanted the job that I interviewed for. But she's going on vacation next week, so she said it would probably be three weeks before I hear anything from her. Seems like cruel and unusual punishment to me!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Dress: Express

Belt: Express

Tights: The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Bracelets: Simply Irresistible

I've cut down on my spending a lot as of late - partly because I'm not working and partly because after my Great Closet Clean Out I realized I don't need so many clothes.

That's not to say I haven't been shopping; I've just been a bit slower to slap down the old credit card. That is, until I found this dress on clearance for a mere $15. Then I whipped that sucker out so fast, I think I gave my wallet whiplash.

I mean, hello?! Leopard print sweater dress? My newly developed self control muscles weren't nearly strong enough to resist that!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Dress: New York & Company

Tights: ?

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bracelet: New York & Company

Necklaces: Amy Cornwell

Coat: Ann Taylor Loft

Well, boys and girls, big juicy news here today. A certain fashionable someone got sacked from her oh-so-crummy job this morning. I was forewarned yesterday by a colleague who was in-the-know, so I was completely prepared for it when they finally got around to it this AM. And what's more appropriate to wear to one's sacking than a sack dress? Get it? I crack myself up.



Never fear, my faithful readers, while it certainly sucks the big one to lose the paycheck, I'm not too broken up about losing the job. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows I wasn't a big fan of that place, so it's all good in my hood today.

Today's coat is brought to you by the letter A, T and L. Another bit of military inspiration for you today, this time in navy. So now that I've managed to cover Air Force and Navy, perhaps I should be on the hunt for a Marine Corp coat? Perhaps a rain jacket? Just kidding.

I wore my latest pieces from Amy Cornwell Designs today. I've been wearing out the washer necklace I got from her a few weeks ago and really wanted a trio of the tiny stamped mini necklaces. When she put them on sale last week (sorry, it was one day only!), I knew it was my moment! They say Faith, Hope and Love and they came in the cutest teeny-tiny box. Totally in love with them!

Tuesday, January 5, 2009

Turtleneck: Old Navy

Dress: The Limited

Tights: Merona for Target

Bracelet: New York and Company

Booties: Payless Shoes

I decided to try something new for me today. We all know I love to layer - but basically only if it's a vest or a cardigan over something. So I decided to take a page out of the lovely Kimberly's layering book and try layering under my dress today instead.

I'm totally digging this striped turtleneck from Old Navy. I wore it a few weeks ago with a sweater and was eager to find another way to wear it again. As I was flipping through my dresses this morning, I spotted the gray rimmed buttons on this dress and knew it was a match made in heaven.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

T-shirt: The Limited

Skirt: The Limited

Cardigan: New York & Company

Ring: New York & Company

Tights: Merona for Target

Booties: Payless Shoes

Oh no she di'int! Oh, yes, I did! I actually wore this fun cheesy tee to work today. I figured when else can you get away with wearing this to work? All the big bosses are on vacation and it's basically a party every afternoon because no one feels like working. I knew everyone would get a kick out of this tee, given their propensity for teasing me about being a 'shortie' without my heels on. I was quite the hot topic around the cubicles today.

But that's not why I'm cheesing so hard in this picture. Today was my last day in the office for the rest of 2009! Twelve glorious days of blissful freedom, spent with all most of my favorite people. I can't wait to get the party started!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Dress: The Limited

Tights: Victoria's Secret

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Necklace: The Limited

Bracelet: New York & Company

Well, another sign of the season has arrived - that's right folks, I finally broke down and busted out the tights today. It's chilly and rainy here today but I wanted to get this dress in before it gets downright freezing. And truth be told, I forgot to shave my legs last night, so tights were the easiest cover-up to my memory lapse! And thus an outfit was born...

Imagine my surprise when I moseyed on over to Fab Finds Under $50 at lunchtime and discovered I was right on target with the Inspiration Calendar today - it seems I'm not the only one who thinks a LBD is the perfect antidote to the Monday blues! I punched mine up with pinstripe tights and some killer booties. The combo garnered rave reviews at work today - even from the normally fashion-impaired men. Score one for the pinstripes!