My Not So Secret Addiction

I didn't even realize I was wearing pretty much head to toe J. Crew until I started doing this post. I noticed I had been buying a lot more in the last few years, but didn't realize how much of a collection I had amassed. Those constant 40% sales just KILL me {in a good way.}

So yeah. I have been a bad blogger. Very very very bad. If you follow me on Instagram {hint hint} you'd see my shameless selfies in front of the fake wood are still abundant. I'm moving on to a bigger position in my company and just haven't had much time any more-- but its a great change! I'm trying to get back on blogging bandwagon, so hopefully you'll forgive me.

Blazer: J. Crew {try this or this} // Dress: J. Crew 

// Earrings and Bracelet: J. Crew // Rings: H&M and Nasty Gal 

// Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami'

Bag: Um yeah... J. Crew // Shoes: Steve Madden 

Mix and Match

Reason #37 for why I can't get rid of clothes: Literally everything I am wearing is at least 4 years old (except for the bag and bracelet), but I've never thought of putting the three together until now. Have I gotten more creative? Crazy? Mature? Eh, maybe one out of three...

Top: Nanette Lepore {try this or this in short sleeve} // Skirt: Vera Wang
 // Blazer: Theory {try this or this}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Where's My Chauffeur?' // Bracelet: J. Crew

Bag: J. Crew // Flats: FS/NY

Layer Cake

No, this has not all of a sudden turned into some fancy dessert blog {though man do I love sugar!} Its still all about the clothes...and my ramblings. This is my semi-attempt to demonstrate all the different layers I wore to attempt to keep warm without looking like a marshmallow.*

I got this coat for Christmas, oh maybe 5?6? years ago and it is still one of my all time favorites. Aside from the wear-with-anything check pattern, the giant collar is pretty much perfection. Its such a retro inspired coat, which always makes me feel a lot more ladylike than I usually feel. Did I mention the 3/4 sleeves mean I get to wear elbow length gloves too? Because there's that as well...

Ok, so not quite the perfect chronological depiction of the layering, but one of these is not like the other...and obviously this is more about aesthetic than logic!

Coat: Betsey Johnson {in love with this Zara one}

Long-sleeved tee: Free People // Sweater Dress: Theory {try this or this}

Blazer: Theory // Necklace: random brand scored at Loehmanns! {try this or this}

Boots: Stuart Weitzman 5050 {more budget friendly here...and I have them in brown and love!}
Bags: Forever 21, 3.1 Phillip Lim

*Ok so maybe I shouldn't write posts when I'm hungry...

Pajama Party

I don't know if its because I've been sick and just want to be cozy, or if I'm rebelling after last week's pants-a-thon, but I can't get enough of pajama inspired clothes. This dress feels like a cross between a 1940's waitress uniform and a fabulous fancy men's sleep-shirt. I mean both of that in the best possible way, a top-notch combination if you ask me. The icing on the cake? It may feel like I'm in silk pajamas, but its technically a dress, what more could a girl want?!

Dress: J. Crew Collection (score from Secondi with tags on! Similar here) // Blazer: J. Crew {try this}
Bag: 3.1 Philip Lim 'Medium Pashli'

Nail Polish: Essie "Just for the Twill of it"

Yep, I finally bit the bullet. As much as I swore I wouldn't get a Pashli since they were already on every blogger's arm, I fell in love with the cobalt version and couldn't get it out of my head. You now have my permission to smack me if I try to buy another big purchase anytime soon...

Heels: Sergio Rossi 

Power Suit-ed Up

I adored this blazer when I bought it over the summer, but as usual, was a little hasty ripping off the tags. There is oversized, and then there is 'I'm playing dress-up in my Dad's Suit' big. It was unfortunately the latter {minus the fact that my Dad would wear it in a much more suitably manly color.} 

Never fear though! Instead of taking it in for the necessary alterations, I just moved the buttons over and BAM, wearable. However, since it really is still pretty Melanie Griffith "Working Girl" in the shoulders, I had yet to wear it. Waking up to 50 degree weather when it was 90 last week, had me in a scramble! Running late = less time to overthink. Of course, a coral linen 3/4 sleeve blazer will likely get hidden away with the sundresses soon, but at least it didn't take a year to break it out!

Blazer: Emerson Fry // Pants: Bdg 

Bracelet: HRH Collection // Necklace: Vintage 

Nail Color: Essie 'Twin Sweater Set' // Angel Wing Ring: H&M {recent}

Heels: Calvin Klein

It's Hip to be Square

I fell in love with the cut of the dress and the fact that it has puff sleeves AND pockets.  I believe every piece of clothing should come with an option for pockets-- they just make everything better. Granted, I rarely put anything in them, but I like knowing the option is there. Plus, the dress has a sort of urban safari feel to it, which I'm totally on board with.

I was not sold however, on the gigantic square buttons...at first. I contemplated removing them but decided that the geometry of them really did suit the neckline. Plus, when has a Milly dress ever done me wrong? Plus, its another instance of a necklace being built right in, making getting dressed in the morning a snap!

So apparently I can't always trust my first instincts, but can always trust the designer's!

Dress: Milly {I really couldn't find an exact match, but you could try this or this}
 // Watch: Michael Kors // Nail Polish: Essie 'Borrowed & Blue'

Details // Bracelets: Vintage, J. Crew {similar}

Heels: Pour La Victoire

Time for the Tropics

No, I'm not on my way to an island getaway that I somehow forgot to mention (I wish), but I am loving the tropical print on my skirt. After seeing palm prints everywhere this season, I was on a mission to make it my own, just at a much more reasonable price point.

Now I could have scoured the internet and stores alike for hours on end (as if I haven't done that before), but instead went straight to ebay. I can't even list all of the amazing finds I've scored on there, from vintage rings to new with tags Tibi! This little number popped right up-- Ann Taylor of all places and under $10! Done and done.

Hopefully it will help tide me over until I DO finally go on the tropical vacation of my dreams...

Blazer: Marc Jacobs // Blouse: Elizabeth & James // Skirt: Ann Taylor {similar or try shorts}

Bracelets: Oia Jules, J. Crew 

Necklaces: Max & Chloe, Zodiac charm {gift}

Heels: Pour La Victoire

Golden Girl

Today I decided to take my love of gold to the next level and have half my body draped in liquid metallic-- in other words, not too different than most days... Seriously though, I did try to tone it down {a little} with my trusty blazer and breezy ladylike-length skirt. 

White and gold is one of my favorite color combinations-- it immediately makes me think of beautiful beaches and island breezes. I felt very Grecian gold digger, but in a good way of course. Throw in the rope belt on the top {scored at a consignment store} and you can throw nautical into the mix as well.

Blazer: Kulson // Top: 3.1 Philip Lim {try this or this} 

// Skirt: BCBG Max Azria {similar here and here}

Watch: Michael Kors Oversized Runway // Nail Polish: Essie 'Cute as a Button'

Details // Earrings: Low Luv x Erin Wasson // Cuff: H&M {similar here and here}

{obligatory blogger shot}

Ballet Flats: Sofft

Making a Statement

Its pretty obvious that I love a chunky chain necklace-- even if you've never met me! When I saw this one on BaubleBar I just had to have it, because lets face it, you can never have enough statement pieces. As an added bonus, its lighter than most of my similar necklaces, so no danger of back problems.

Its a perfect way to dress up a simple white tee so that its work appropriate, but still has character. Just because I'm wearing 'basics' doesn't mean I want to look it!

Blazer: Kulson {similar here and here} // Tee: Old Navy // Skirt: Forever21 {try this or this}

Necklace: BaubleBar // Bracelet: Forever21 {similar} // Nail Polish: Essie "Hip-Anema"

This necklace. I mean, I'm dying. So amazing!

Heels: Pour La Victoire

Hello Yellow!

For some reason lately I have been really into the monochromatic look, not sure if its boredom with my wardrobe or some new type of creativity, but I can't seem to get enough!

While I love yellow, I often shy away from it because it does not pair well with my old standby black--way too easy to venture into bumblebee territory (only kids at Halloween can pull that look off.) Yellow and navy however feels crisp and bold, with maybe a touch of prep. I can't help but have a brighter outlook wearing a sunny yellow....although the fact that tomorrow is Friday doesn't hurt either.

Blazer: Theory {similar} // Sweater: Alice + Olivia {try this or this} // Skirt: J. Crew {similar} 

// Necklace: Vintage {try this}

Cuff: Asos {try this or the dreamy Pucci version}

Cotton Candy

I bought this dress last summer and found it was the perfect item to go from work to play. I love the perfect shade of pink and the fit and flare style, but once winter came it was relegated to storage. The recent warm weather inspired me to start unearthing some of my spring and summer favorites.

Of course, it cooled down right after, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. I've found that you can make almost any spring/summer dress work in cooler temperatures by just adding a tee or button down. I'm going with the belief that "if you wear it, spring will come."

Dress: Zara {obsessed with this Tibi one} // Tee: H&M

{Totally did not mean for the liner to match my dress}

Ring: Vintage // Cuff: Belina

Necklace: Adia Kibur {sold out but try this or this one}

I'd been eyeing the necklace for months--Once it was 40% there was no way I was resisting!

The (Color) Block Party

Its no secret that I adore shiny things, sequins being one of my absolute favorites. Since I do not live in Vegas or work at a nightclub, I have to find other times to break out my sequins. Daytime sequins can be more fun than at night because if forces you to get creative.

Tee: David Lerner // Sequin shell: J. Crew // Skirt: Odille {old but this works and of course the amazing Tibi one I want} // Bracelet: Forever21 {old but love this Sorelli one}

Blazer: Theory {similar J. Crew and an amazing Elizabeth & James}

{Love the unusual shape of the sequins}

I seriously can't keep track of this weather lately, but there was no escaping the fact that it still wasn't quite springtime. None of my usual raincoats worked with a tea length skirt, so I broke out this bad boy. My parents scored this for me in California on consignment years back, and it always makes me feel so grown up wearing it!

Trench Coat: Vintage Burberry {Similar here but the J. Crew Icon Trench is great and more affordable}