Month: December 2017

What to wear to NYE?

Hello Hello!!  Is it really this time of year again?  I hate making these big decisions (haha eye roll).  But I do feel like I have no idea what to wear, and the only thing that I want to wear is the dress I wore last year.  Which I have already eliminated on the off chance that someone besides me remembers that I wore it.  haha.  Now the search through my closet for an outfit will commence.

A Classic Sequin Dress

 

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

Ah yes NYE is all about the sequin dresses.  This is the only sequin dress I currently still own, I find that as I get older I buy less and less sequin dresses, who would have thought.  Haha.  I like this dress because a shift dress is exactly my style, I love wearing these dresses, especially on a night when I am dancing. (I have actually not worn this dress before and I have been looking for reason to wear it).  This would be the perfect opportunity to wear it.  I am going to say I am a little hesitant to wear it because I have some other better options.

A Classic Black Dresss

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

So a black dress with a twist, this dress actually has velvet all over it.  When I bought it I absolutely loved it and thought I would for sure wear it for new years.  But after trying it on a few time I am not so sure.  I really like the dress but I feel like it is not as flattering to my figure as I initially thought.  So I am still up in the air on this dress.  I think it may look amazing with a leather jacket on a date.  (If I ever go on another date that is…).

An Amazing Skirt Styled Numerous Ways

I will order them from my favorite to my least favorite (now I love all of them because this skirt is probably my favorite piece in my wardrobe right now and any excuse to wear it is fine by me).

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

Ahh, I love it, I love this skirt, I love this shirt.  I have only worn both of them once but really try to wear them more.  I the contrast between the black top and the gold bottom.  The top accents the bottom really nicely with the deep V that is outlined with gold beading.  I think this outfit just speaks New Years Eve.  Its gold and sparkly without having sequins all over it.  I feel like this is a grown up way to be sparkly.  I would wear a pair of large gold earrings and purse TBD.  My one hesitation, is my hesitation all the time with the skirt, it makes me look short.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

I love it again!!  I feel like this outfit has a little more of an old Hollywood.  I think the burgundy lace really offer this outfit a classy elegance.  I love wearing this top and just a bra underneath it is a very understated sexy, because you cannot really tell without looking closely.  I think the top really compliments the skirt because the lace compliments the skirt.  I would style this with some big gold earrings again, purse TBD.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

Last but not least this outfit.  Now this was the first shirt I thought of to try on with this skirt, and I loved it.  It has a very classy elegance to it.  Now why is it my least favorite?  Well, after going through the above 2 outfits doesn’t this one just feel a little bit boring?  I get the feeling that it is boring.  Not that I wouldn’t wear this outfit to some other function but I think the other two just scream NYE a little bit more then this one.

Ahh, I love this skirt.  I actually just bought a burgundy velvet top, that should be here before NYE that I am going to try with this skirt as well.

So we will see where we end up.

Let me know your thoughts,

Later!!

 

Ugly Holiday Sweater

Hello Hello!!  So who does not enjoy a solid ugly christmas sweater?  I have owned mine since college and for whatever reason I just have never given it up.  This sweater has been with me through 3 moves.  This sweater gets at least one wear a year and maybe more depending on the parties I am invited too but I am happy to carry it through for this one wear a year.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

I love this sweater, it has so much going on and it is amazing.  It has the reindeer just chilling at the bottom with what looks like googlie eyes.  What you cannot see is that there is another reindeer on the back so from behind there are still details.  The other really great detail is on the zipper there is a mistletoe, like who made this and was like yea let me put a mistletoe on the zipper.  Haha.

My only complaint about the sweater is its length is weirdly short, like it goes right to the top of my jeans but no further.  So usually I have to get a little creative with what to wear underneath that does not look stupid.  I have this really great white button up and I put it on  underneath and it turned out better than I thought.

Let me know your thoughts.

Later!

Italian Shoes!

Hello Hello!!  The pinnacle of the high heeled world, at least in my opinion.  Doesn’t everyone want to go to Italy (or France) and walk along the street and stop in every boutique you see?  If that is just me then I am ok with that.

Anyways, sadly I did not go to Italy but my parents did awhile ago.  Before they left they asked me what I wanted them to bring back for me.  I initially had no idea what to even ask for because I really just wanted to go and experience it myself.  Then my mom suggest bringing me back some shoes.  Which I was all about once the idea was put into my head.  I had some reservations because my mom and I have polar opposite taste.  If I love something she hates it, if she loves something I usually hate it.  So my mom picking out this pair of shoes for me had me nervous.  I sent her some pictures before hand of the shoes I like (pumps).

They brought me back this pair of shoes and I cannot believe how amazing they are.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

I said I wanted a classic shoe and my parents delivered with a classic red pump!  I have been babying them because well they are Italian shoes.  For ever trying them on before they were bought.  They fit my feet like a glove, I can wear them all night.

They are from a Barrlla Boutique, their facebook page looks so cool.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

Let me know your thoughts

Later!

What is business casual for women? Winter Edition

Hello Hello!! I have wanted to do another one of these post for awhile, I got a lot of positive feed back on the original that I thought it would be good to do another one.  Business causal is such an ambiguous term that I still am not sure what it fully entails.  Last week I was meeting with some lawyers for work so obviously I was wearing what I considered to be business formal (was wearing pants and a blazer) the lawyer called it business casual and I was just like sure.

So real quick I just want to give a shout out to the real work horse of my winter wardrobe, tights.  Now as I am sure a lot of you will notice I do not wear work pants, I just don’t like them and find them to be uncomfortable.  So I tend to continue to wear skirts and dresses throughout the winter which entails needing great tights.  I tend to pair these skirts with tights and boots throughout the winter.

Now I was going to change up how I do these, mostly because I have been running late in the morning recently so I haven’t had much extra time.  But I did actually take pics of my outfits this morning so yay!  Pat on the back for me.

Monday –

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

For full disclosure I wore a pair of brown knee high boots with this.  Without the tights I would not wear this skirt to work, why?  Well the length of the skirt is about 2 inches above the knee which on its own I think is too short.  A work skirt I feel should end at the shortest just above the knee.  But pairing the skirt with the tights the length is no longer apparent.  I added a very businessy black button up shirt on the top and it is perfect for work.  Do adding knee high boots take away from this being a business outfit?  In my opinion no, leather boots are very chic and adding them to a business outfit just adds to it.  (Now in a business formal setting I would probably not wear knee high boots).

Tuesday –

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

This dress is one of my more formal work dresses, if I paired it with a black blazer I would consider it a business formal outfit.  So this day it was about dressing the dress down a little bit.  Again I was wearing a pair of black tights and this day I wore low booties.  I added this burgundy waterfall cardigan to add some color to the outfit.  The cardigan while on its own is very nice, it made the very formal dress become more business casual.  Then I added some gold jewelry to brighten up the outfit.

Wednesday –

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

I consider this to be one of my best skirts, it has this great A-line fit, HAS POCKETS, and is amazing almost year round.  The skirt is really great paired with tights and sometimes I will tuck a sweater into on colder days.  This skirt has business written all over it.  When I pair it with a crisp white button up, this is business casual to a T.  The outfit is not too formal to be considered business formal, I would add a great black blazer to get there.  To be a little more casual change these heels out for a pair of black flats (or red flats to make a statement).

Thursday –

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

So for whatever reason Thursdays I tend to have a lot of meetings so I do tend to dress up a little bit more.  So again here is the sidewalk skirt (I wore it on Monday in a different color, I own 3 of them), paired with black tights.  I wore this brown skirt with a navy dressy tank tucked into it.  Since I do have a lot of meetings I added, what I call, my casual blazer.  This blazer is great because it is cotton and not stiff at all so when I wear it I don’t feel like I am wearing a blazer.  As I have said before you can dress this down more by changing the heels out for flats or knee high boots or booties and it will still be a great business casual outfit.

Friday –

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E-ve

Wait thats not business casual!!  Correct, Fridays are casual days at work so obviously I take advantage and wear jeans. I will talk about a question I have had for a few weeks about if these boots are appropriate for casual day at work.  So why am I asking this question if I have been wearing boots all the time?  Well these boots go over the knee, which are very in right now but there is a stimga with over the knee boots.  (When you think of them in your head you probably picture Julia Roberts in pretty woman with her black leather high heeled over the knee boots).  Which obviously these are very different, these are grey suede flat boots.

I wore them to work when I bought them not thinking too much about that they may not be appropriate.  A coworker walked by me in the hall and just said “Wow, those are some boots.”  We didn’t stop and talk so I was not sure what the meant but the rest of the day I was worried about maybe I shouldn’t have worn them.  And since then I hadn’t until this past Friday.  So what changed?  Well a few weeks ago on Friday, one of the higher up woman in the company I saw wearing very similar boots to mine only in black.  And when I saw that I was like well I am going to wear mine again next Friday, try and stop me!!  Haha.

Also current for the next few days these boots are 50% off, they are amazing and I recommend them to any one.  Btw I have 15 inch calves and I can wear them with skinny jeans no problem.

Let me know your thoughts

Later!

StitchFix

Hello Hello!!!  So I know a lot of people use this styling service, I do as well.  I originally signed up for it because my friend got me a gift card.  I was hesitant to sign up prior because I personally do not think I need help picking out or styling my clothes but they do have access to some really great clothes that I wanted access to, so I signed up.

To be very honest, I have a love/ hate relationship with the service, after almost every fix I debate cancelling because there is something about it that disappointed me.  It always brings up the question of, can another person really know your personal style?  Especially if this person has never met you or talked to you?

I provided my “stylist” from stitchfix with a link to this blog and I think this is a good representation of me and still I struggle with what is sent to me as not my style or a duplication of something I talked about on my blog so I already owned it.  So it is just very disappointing that this “stylist” duplicates what I already own or just does not understand my personal style.

Now don’t get me wrong I do try to buy something every time so the service is not a waste of money.  And some of the stuff that I buy I really do love, I just wish I loved more than just one piece every fix.

From left to right, the top is a really basic grey t-shirt, the navy top is sheer and dresses up nicely and finally this cargo jacket is really great.

From left to right, this bomber jacket, the striped top that is sheer in the back and finally this patterned skirt.

So there is a lot that I have liked and bought from them but I am just unhappy that I basically only like one thing from each fix.  And the last fix I got, almost everything was a duplicate of something I already owned.  In the most recent fix they basically sent me the same outfit that is in the top middle.  They sent me another navy blue tank top and a metallic gold pleated skirt, they sent it to me after I had posted about that outfit on the blog.

So it is a battle in frustration, and as of right now I have not cancelled it but it is a question I debate all the time.  Sometimes I just wish they would send me some of the really cute stuff that is on their social media instead of the stuff that I get sent.

My verdict is mostly disappointing and did not live up to my expectations.  Also I just really do not think that the stylist really gets my personal style and that is what causes problems.

Let me know your thoughts

Later

Work Holiday Party

Hello Hello!!  So obviously it is the holiday season and my work had their holiday party last weekend.  Now dressing for a work holiday party is always a balancing act, more for women then men.  I want to go in my closet and find something amazing, that is dress but not evening gown dressy, stylish and fashionable but also still appropriate for work.  I try to not buy a new dress to wear for this because it is just once a year.  Also I have to remember what I wore last year and try not to wear that again.  Last year I wore a dress that was partially backless and I thought I pushed the bar too far, at least for me.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y
Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

I love this dress, I have owned it for awhile just have not had many events to wear it to.  This dress is called a wiggle dress which I love, it just makes me feel like the dress is meant for dancing which I absolutely love.  (It is currently unavailable in most sizes, if you absolutely love it, ASOS has a lot of these dress I would look up wiggle dress on the search bar.  They are UK sizes which was confusing to me when I bought this but I am wearing a UK 10 hopefully that helps, I typically wear a US 4).

So what does this dress do for me that a lot of other similar dresses do not?  What I love is that the top of this dress is a little lose.  It has a little more volume to it and has these big sleeves.  Then the dress cinches at my waist, in doing this it makes my waist look really tiny.  I do not have a naturally small waist, its more straight with a slight curve in, so if I just wore a tight dress it doesn’t look very small.  But with the dress having more fabric on top, cinches at the waist and then the skirt is tight, really highlights my waist.

To brighten up the outfit I wore it with these red heels, I would link them for you but my parents bought them for me when they were in Italy.  Probably one of the best presents I have been given.  They are actually remarkably comfortable.  Then lastly, I added this necklace that is just so sparkley.

Maker:L,Date:2017-8-31,Ver:5,Lens:Kan03,Act:Kan02,E:Y

Let me know your thoughts

Later

DIY Wall Decor

Hello hello!!!  Now for the past few weeks (months really) I have been work on makes these wall decor items for some of my friends.  And I am beyond excited to share them.

Here they are my current pride and joy.  And yes I did get them to hang up, that is why I am so excited right now.  

It all started with this saying “true friendship isn’t being inseparable it’s being spearated and nothing changes.”. For anyone who lives far from their best friend, you know this to be true.  When I graduated college I moved away and so did my friends and when I read this saying it resonated.  So I decided to paint it on something.  I went to the scrap yard in town to get some ideas.  I came across these windows and I was just like yes this is it.

I loved the frame of the window, the white paint that is cracked added so much character.  I used gold paint for the words because it felt the best nuetral (and I prefer it).   To finish it all off I plane to put pictures on the bottom that show our friendship.  This is probably my favorite DIY project to date.

Also I did have to use power tools to make then hangable on the wall.  And I am proud of that since I considered it the most intimidating part of the project.

Let me know your thoughts.