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

Fancy Friday

{Katie Ermilio}

TGIF!!

Every time I see a Katie Ermilio dress, my jaw drops, my heart beats faster, and the daydreams begin. They are so classically beautiful, but with little modern touches (like bright pink!) Owning one of her dresses is on my bucket list for sure...

I don't know if its because its Friday the 13th or because its finally starting to feel like fall, but my mind is already starting to brainstorm for Halloween. My plans for tonight now seem to involve watching "Hocus Pocus" (for the fiftieth time) and playing dress up. Wait, that's actually pretty much any old night for me!

Have a great weekend!

Pattern Party

Poufiness. Pockets. Patterns. This dress truly does have it all! Even though the two patterns probably shouldn't work together, they delightfully do. Now, it may be ages before I have any Peter Pilotto or Mary Katrantzou, but this at least gives me a little taste of the pattern play that they both do. This dress was a wonderful score on Gilt last year, amazingly, before midi skirts were all the rage. 

This little number is yet another example of why I love statement pieces (especially when running late!) Instead of endlessly obsessing over options, you just need a few little accents and you're good to go. 

Dress: Nanette Lepore {try this or this}

Rings: Vintage // Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami'

{Also had to include a shot of the layers underneath the skirt that give it the perfect poufiness!}

Necklace worn as a Bracelet: Spike the Punch 

Ballet Flats: Sam Edelman {try these or these}

Cherry on Top

For some reason this summer, I decided that I simply had to have a red dress. Not the Jessica Rabbit Hubba Hubba red type of dress, but a classic little red dress. I'm always a sucker for anything with a vintage vibe, and this dress I found at Anthropologie made me swoon. I felt like I'd step right out of the 1940s!

Even better, all the buttons means I can take it from the office to cocktails with just a few quick changes. It has a beautiful delicate leaf pattern that you can barely see, but perfectly ushers in the fall. 

The shoes were a no-brainer. It doesn't get more retro than two-tone t-strap heels! They were my first pair of 'grown-up' shoes, crazily on sale and a present from my mom. I will wear them until they fall apart, and even then probably won't be able to part with them.

Dress: Maple {similar here and here}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Bahama Mama' // Bracelet: J. Crew {try this} 

// Earrings: Betsey Johnson {try these or these}

{Details of the  print}

Shoes: My favorite (and only!) Chanel heels {these Chanels similar, but more affordable version here}

Fancy Friday

{image}

I have a not so secret crush. A wild crazy love that I want to shout from the rooftops. Yep, Friday. A true love affair that stands the test of time. Of course, now that (As of this weekend!) I am no longer bartending, I'll probably feel the same about Saturdays...

So in addition to the usual excitement about the impending freedom on the horizon, I'm attending the most fabulous rooftop soiree Saturday night. Paris by way of DC if you will. Other than the fact that I'm not a fan of one shoulder anything on me, this photo is pretty much how I imagine my weekend going. Well, that and some quality time with some coffee and a stack of fashion magazines almost as tall as me!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Mix and Match

I woke up wanting to wear this skirt. Not sure if it was the yellow, the fact I still had the tags on, or my love of pleats, but I just HAD to wear it. I wasn't feeling my usual fancy self for some reason. Instead, I felt like a 4 year old girl picking out seemingly incongruous items to form what she believes to be a perfect outfit. A graphic tee and yellow faux leather skirt may not make sense, but it was just the right mix in my mind.

Top: Zoe Karssen {similar} // Skirt: Tibi {in black here}

Nail Polish: Butter London 'Fiver'

Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Super Duper Strength' // Lipstick: Mireness Glossy Kiss

Shoes: Vince Camuto // Toenail Polish: Essie 'Play Date' // Jean Jacket: Zara

Tweed Indeed

I wish I had this dress in a million colors and fabrics. It makes getting ready for work so easy that I could do it with my eyes closed (and before coffee, this is practically true!) Transitional pieces like these make me think I really could pare the wardrobe down, get rid of those 'what if I need a sequin disco tunic' items, but we all know that is a pipe dream...at least for now!

Dress: Rebecca Taylor {similar}

Cuff: Similar {Still a placeholder for my Hermes!}

Ring: Consignment // Nail Polish: Butter London 'Fiver'

Ballet Flats: Sam Edelman {similar here and here} // Jean Jacket: Zara

Fancy Friday

{image}

This is brilliant! If I wear sunglasses with all my formal dresses then I too can totally just rock them traipsing around all the resorts I frequent. Excuse me while I go by new sunglasses, a plane ticket, and an evening dress. OK, the last thing is actually true. 

For someone who has such an um...extensive...closet, you'd think I would have full length dresses in every color of the rainbow right? Shockingly no. I know, you are just as amazed as I am. Its not often I have a mission for shopping that does not need to be rationalized away-- what a novel idea!

Also, my last shift of bartending is this weekend. I haven't had Saturdays off in 8 years, so while it may not be great for the wallet, I'm already thinking of a million and one things I'll be doing with the free time. 

In other more relevant to you all news, the long weekend is finally here--

Enjoy, you've earned it!**

**Even if you haven't, so what? Go have fun!

Business Casual

I had a work event this week where the dress code was 'Business Casual/Casual' and I was completely baffled. As I've mentioned, I can be a little all or nothing (and yes, black and white) in my thinking. I'm can do casual and I can do business but something in between? So instead of actually figuring it out, I took out my trusty faux leather circle skirt.

I love this skirt. Not only is it from H&M, but I got it at Mustard Seed. For $8. I wear it more than designer skirts I thought I needed that now just gather dust. Funny how sometimes the items you least expect to become favorites do...

Shirt: Generra // Top: J. Crew {similar}// Skirt: H&M {try this or this}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Lollipop' // Ring: H&M // Cuff: Similar {one day it'll be Hermes!}

Ballet Flats: Sam Edelman {similar here and here}

Bags: Valentino {HA I wish! Its Forever21}, Marc Jacobs 'Stam'

One day, just like the CDC Hermes cuff, a Valentino Rockstud will be mine!

Pink, Pocketed and Playful

I have a love/hate relationship with pink. Sometimes it just feels overly delicate and girly (which can be just the vibe I want SOME days of course.) When it comes to a bold pink like this though, bring it on no matter what my mood! This could potentially be the most comfortable dress I own. Thank you Trina Turk for making it acceptable to wear what feels like pajamas in public. 

Drawstring waist? Cozy material? POCKETS?! 

I only wish I had it in ever color of the rainbow.....

Dress: Trina Turk {try this or this} // Blazer: Kulson //
 Necklace: Vintage Ben Amun {similar here and here}

Cuff: H&M {try this or this} // Nail Polish: Essi 'Fiji'

Ballet Flats: Report

A Blank Canvas and a Work of Art

This necklace personifies the power of a statement piece. Its so spectacular that anything other than a plain white tee just seemed to distract from it. Granted, I still attempted to pull an outfit together, but it was all about neutrals to showcase this beauty.

Instead of piling on accessories, I kept it minimal (for me at least.) I tend to either be in bold colors, or all black, so this is a nice little palette cleanser. My mind is already all over anything and everything leather (real or faux), so you can expect to be seeing a lot more!

T-shirt: Old Navy // Skirt: Forever21 {similar in black from Asos} // Cuff: Forever21

Necklace: Lulu Frost 'Absinthe' Necklace {try this or this}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Fiji'

Shoes: Sam Edelman 'Yelena' // Toenail Polish: Face Stockholm 'Glowing Glowing Gone'