Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Cardigan: The Limited

Tank: Old Navy

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Necklace: Ann Taylor Loft

This was my last day of work for the company I was contracting with. YAY for new jobs and moving on up!

I picked up this awesome beaded necklace at ATL last week during Friends & Family, plus I had a $15 birthday coupon, so I ended up getting this $40 necklace for $13. Gotta love stores that let you combine coupons! Although it's debut wasn't too inspiring (I was running late and failed to plan ahead!), I see this necklace working into my new work wardrobe fairly often in the weeks to come.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Necklace: The Limited

I basically refuse to acknowledge the fact that we continue to have below average temperatures here. First with my short sleeves yesterday and today with my open toed booties. I am determined to simply will Spring into being. (I'll let y'all know how that works out for me!).

This sweater is the clothing equivalent of a mullet - business in the front, party in the back. I forgot to take a picture but the back has a black zipper running down the middle from neck to tail (it matches the two black shoulder embellishments). I loved it the minute I saw it at ATL and thought about it for two weeks straight before I finally gave in and bought it while we were on vacation in NYC (so I could cheat and call it a souvenir!).

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Cardigan: The Limited

Shirt: The Limited

Jeans: Express

Belt: Express

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Bracelets: Simply Irresistible

I love the print on this blouse - it's got all of my favorite colors and it just makes me smile every time I look down at it. I first pictured it with this big pink and orange necklace that I have, but after taking my first picture yesterday I realized the blousy effect of the top plus the cardigan was making me look wide, so I ran upstairs and swapped out the necklace for a belt to tie things in. So funny how things can look find in the mirror but then pictures tell a whole different story!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Dress: The Limited

Shoes: Aldo Shoes

Necklace: Simply Irresistible

Church this morning. We're enjoying slightly warmer weather but still chilly enough to need the sweater dress. (Of course!) I love the stripes on this dress. And who doesn't love a one piece dress that looks like it actually took some thought to put together?

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.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sweater: New York & Company

Top: Gifted (by Micayla!)

Denim: The Limited

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

I always see button down shirts paired with sweaters in the store and love the look but can rarely stand to actually wear the combination in real life. Every time I try it I end up feeling either: 1. lumpy and bumpy or 2. all twisted up.

But I really wanted to pair this yellow sweater with this flowered top, so I sucked it up and made it work. It took me probably 15 minutes to get the top smoothed out under the sweater enough to not annoy me. That's way too much effort, in my opinion!

Is there a look you see in stores that you wish you were more comfortable wearing? Do you wear long sleeves under sweaters? How do you make it work? I'm open to suggestions!

Tuesday, November 22, 2010

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Tank: Old Navy

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Necklaces: The Limited

Another client meeting on Tuesday. I had about a two hour drive to and from my meeting so I wanted something comfortable and warm for the trip.

Funny story about these pants. I bought them about three weeks ago when it was still pretty warm. I just hung them in the closet until the weather was a little more appropriate for heavy tweed. Then I completely forgot about them. Until last weekend, when I bought the exact same pants again. I only realized it when I got home and went to hang them next to my other new pants - the exact same pair! Apparently I really like these pants. HA!

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, November 19, 2010

Sweater: Gap

T-shirt: The Limited

Pants: Express

Booties: Payless Shoes

Ring: Simply Irresistible

I've had a quiet week at home after a weekend away and haven't been out and about much. I've got a busy weekend ahead though and I can't wait to start layering up for the winter weather!

I visited a craft fair with a friend this afternoon and am heading over to another friend's house for dinner and drinks tonight. She's got two young children and I know they'll be all over me like white on rice, which calls for easy pieces I can throw in the laundry when I get home! I love the giant fold over collar on this cable-knit sweater. I can't get away with oversized clothes very often so when I find something that works, I'm always super excited!

I'm still enjoying playing around with my new haircut. I'm even toying with the idea of cutting the bangs shorter and going blunt (a la Jessica at What I Wore) for a few weeks. Jury is still out on that one though. I've got two votes for and one against (and a one 'whatever' from the hubby).

Today's my first experiment in going with my natural wave. I think I like it!

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.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Jacket: The Limited

Top: Gifted

Pants: Banana Republic

Booties: Payless Shoes

I had my first client meeting today for the new job. There office is business professional so it gave me a good excuse to wear one of my favorite suit jackets. I own several full suits but I rarely wearing the matching pieces together. I prefer to mix and match them like I'm doing today.

I wore a three quarter length sleeve striped shirt underneath so I had a whole separate outfit if I chose to remove the jacket. I was so thankful I'd thought ahead because our conference room got super hot when they turned on the heat half way through the day.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Loft

Shoes: Aldo

Belt: [came with another dress]

Necklaces: The Limited

I wish I had taken a close-up shot of the print on this skirt. It's got a fun leopard print with these funky metallic threads running through the black spots. I could only find it in a size too big but I really wanted it. So I bought it when it finally hit clearance and just hoped my tailor could do something with it. He did an amazing job because it now fits beautifully. A good tailor is a girl's very best friend!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Top: New York & Company

Skirt: The Limited

Belt: The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Bracelet: Express

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

I have a business dinner after work tonight that might result in some consulting work for me. YAY! I wanted to look stylish and polished but still business appropriate. I think this animal print top (which I also topped with a little black cardi to ward off the fall chill) strikes just the right balance.

I am also loving the mix of black and brown. That's not something I've ever played around with before. I dig it.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Cardigan: The Limited

Dress: The Limited

Shoes: Aldo

Necklace: The Limited

Ring: New York & Company

I think maybe I should stop shopping at The Limited for awhile, no? I usually try not to be head-to-toe one store, but sometimes it just happens.

It's hard to see in the big picture, but this dress has pleated tiers all the way from the best to the hemline. It is quite a little statement dress but the color makes it more than appropriate for work.

In honor of our fourth day of cool morning temperatures, I busted out these new fold-over peep-toe booties from Aldo. I'm not quite ready to commit to tights yet, but I couldn't resist the booties any longer!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Dress: LOFT

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Necklace: Express

Ring: The Limited

Another long day at the office this week. I feel like I'm copping out a bit by wearing dresses every day, but I just don't have the time or energy to be messing with separates this week.

I originally planned to belt this dress but I couldn't find a belt that I was happy with in my closet this morning. Most were the wrong shade of brown and the only one that was the 'right' shade was too big for my waist - it's more of a hip belt. Don't you hate when you just can't seem to make anything work? So I threw on a statement necklace instead and added 'tan leather belt' to my shopping list!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Dress: The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

It was finally just a teeny, tiny bit cooler today - in the eighties instead of well into the nineties - but I took full advantage of it and busted out my transition-to-fall shoes. I absolutely love these shoes: suede! hardware! straps! And they are actually comfortable, no lie.

Know what else is comfortable? This dress. 100% cotton - it's like wearing pajamas to work. Except with bling. Because, you know, who doesn't want bling on their pajamas work clothes?

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Top: The Limited

Pants: The Limited

Belt: The Limited

Bracelet: (I'll give you two guesses!) The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

I may have created a monster. Behold my second 'tucked in' shirt of the week. I think I like it!

I had planned to wear this top with some light gray trousers but apparently I only dreamt I owned a pair, because there certainly isn't a pair in my closet. Not sure what I was thinking! I had to make do with these black and white checked ones instead.

I love the gauzy, girly detail of the petals on the top. So perfectly Spring time!

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, March 23, 2010

Top: New York & Company

Vest: Express

Pants: Express

Booties: K-mart

Cuff: Express

A perfect sunny day here. Of course I would go and get a job just when the weather finally gets nice! Go figure.

I decided to take advantage of my last few days of freedom and took myself shopping. I checked out the new Jodi Arnold collection at The Limited and then the Liberty of London collection at Target. My head was spinning with all the fun spring prints from LoL. I think I tried on practically every piece in the collection! Luckily for my wallet, only three pieces really worked on me. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can wear them!