Sparkles and Stripes

This is one of my go to dresses when I just can't decide what to wear but actually need to be somewhere ASAP. Easy, comfy, perfect for layering...no wonder I have it in the blue and white too! I am constantly buying fun sequin dresses and full skirts...but rarely pieces like this that are actually {gasp} practical. Maybe one day I'll learn. Or, I'll have a job where I can wear vintage brocaded tunics every day.

Dress: J. Crew {similar here} // Chambray shirt: J. Crew
// Jacket: Betsey Johnson {try this or this}

Rings: H&M, consignment // Necklace: Spike the Punch

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Bag: J. Crew // Boots: Stuart Weitzman 5050

Boots, Blazers and Brrrrr

While I may rock pants every so often on a Friday or the weekend, its a rare rare day when I wear them during the 'normal' workweek. However, one step outside and I just knew I couldn't face the day in my usual array of skirts and dresses. Almost everything I'm wearing was either given to me  {thanks for the blazer you didn't wear Mom!}, consignment {hello fancy boots with  tags on} or on sale {rock on Nordstrom's Rack!} Hey, when you score, you score!

Blazer: Yigal Azrouel  {try this or this} // Sweater: Theory
// Pants: Rag & Bone {almost identical here or try these ON SALE}

Bracelet: J. Crew // Ring: H&M

Nail Polish: Essie 'Pearly White' // Earrings: Paris ages ago {but amazingly found the twins here}

Scarf: Zara // Bag: J. Crew // Boots: Stuart Weitzman 5050

Taking a Cue from Camo

I got this dress maybe 4 or 5 years ago, and used to wear for a night out-- add heels, strategically unbutton a few buttons and BAM ready to go. My going out style seems to have changed since then --o k, I'm still strategically unbuttoning, but the billowy sleeves not so much-- and I haven't worn it in ages. Out of the blue, it seemed like the perfect thing to throw over my already chosen brown tights and over the knee boots. To minimize the boho flowy vibe I threw on my bright yellow retro J. Crew jacket. The jacket and jewelry help break up the straight up camo color palette too!

...and this is why I can never get rid of clothes!

Dress: Plastic Island {try this or this} // Jacket: J. Crew

Necklace: Random find at Loehmann's // Bracelet: Vintage {try this or this}

// Ring: H&M // Nail Polish: Essie 'Borrowed and Blue'

Bag: J. Crew // Coat: J. Crew // Boots: Vince Camuto similar}

Toughened up Tweed

Dress: Rebecca Taylor {old but try this, this or this version in mint}// T-shirt: Theory 

// Coat: Anthropologie {try this though great vintage ones too like this and this}

Necklace: Baublebar // Bracelet: Banana Republic // Nail Polish: Essie 'Devil's Advocate'

Bag: J. Crew 'Tillary' tote // Thigh high socks: H&M // Boots: Stuart Weitzman '5050'

Cuckoo for Cocoa

I consider chocolate one of the essential food groups, so I must have had my favorite (dark!) on the brain while getting ready today. Even though I don't really think white chocolate counts, it helped prevent me from looking like a walking chocolate bar (or crayon.) Throw on my trusty gold chains and over the knee boots and I'm good to go!

Sweater: James Perse // T-Shirt: Isli // Skirt: Zara
// Vest: Members Only {try this or this}

Necklace: Vintage // Bracelet: Vintage // Ring: Vintage {notice a theme??}

Nail Polish: Zoya 'Giovanna'

Bag: J. Crew 'Tillary' tote // Boots: Vince Camuto 'Karita'

Swanky Sweatshirt

After spending New Years day watching a 'Mindy Project' marathon, the idea of going back to work in anything other than pajamas was quite disconcerting. Thank goodness I had my fancy J. Crew sweatshirt! While not quite the same as pajamas, it sure helped to ease me back into the workweek without looking like a couch potato. Throw on some trusty flat over the knee boots and I was good to go.

Hope your 2014 is off to a great start!

Sweatshirt: J. Crew {similar here and here} // Skirt: H&M 

// Jacket: J. Crew {similar} // Fur Snood: Asos

Bracelet: J. Crew // Nail Polish: Essie 'Lollipop'

Boots: Vince Camuto 'Karita'

Shiny Objects

Some people have coat closets, I really need a sequin closet. No matter how many sequin items I have, I just can't get enough. Even in the summer when its a million degrees, if I see a vintage sequin dress? Done. Do I already have two? Ok maybe, but shiny things just make me so happy. Once you throw the holidays into the mix, when it is socially acceptable to stock up on sequins, I am a goner. 
Don't even get me started on sparkly jewelry {that addiction is equally as obvious anyway!}

This outfit was for the last of the work holiday events, a lunch, so I wanted to be festive but not over the top {hey, it IS still a work event after all.} I love a good cowl-neck but often find the color of this sweater {rust??} a bit meh, so it was the perfect foil to my sequin skirt. I may need a 12 step program for my addiction to these Stuart Weitzman boots too, has there even been a day I haven't worn them this week???

Sweater: J. Crew {similar here and here} // Skirt: J. Crew {similar} // Tights and thigh highs: H&M

Bracelet: J. Crew {try this or this}  // Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami'

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...I also did not intend to be a walking J. Crew advertisement when I got dressed, but oh well!

Coat: H&M // Boots: Stuart Weitzman 5050

Fuzzy Wuzzy

This jacket makes me feel like I'm getting a giant bear hug, but by a friendly stuffed animal version. I have no problem admitting that on more than one occasion I've found myself stroking my jacket. Totally normal, yes?! Also, totally normal to literally have every piece of your outfit be the same color, right?

Other than perhaps taking my outfit inspiration from chocolate bars, I was dying to wear my new boots and just went from there. The fact that I managed to wait three whole days actually may be a record. Doesn't get much more fun that breaking out a new purchase...unless of course its a new to me VINTAGE find! I've fallen down the fur {real and faux} vintage coat rabbit hole many a time.

Jacket: Beth Bowley {similar} // Sweater: James Perse // Skirt: Forever 21 {try this, this or this}

Fishnet tights: Wolford // Ring: H&M // Bracelets: J. Crew

Boots: Vince Camuto 'Karita'

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...