Birds of a Feather

Dress: Francesca's, Sweater: Lucky, Belt: Francesca's, Boots: Via Spiga, Bracelets: Lucky, Watch: Michael Kors,
Earrings: Francesca's, Sunglasses: Armani Exchange

This is a slightly sparse batch of outfit photos today because I had a coworker snap some pictures yesterday afternoon and didn't realize until later that I looked about 90% pregnant in most of them. Seriously, like Jessica Simpson pregnant. (Not that I'm judging. She's pretty much my favorite preggo person ever.) But on me? Not a good look. So I had a limited amount of photos to choose from that I didn't think would make people ask, "When are you due?" Note to self: Good posture is key.

This bird-print top is another one of those tunics/shirts/odd-length garments from Francesca's that I'm pretty sure is supposed to be a dress (and probably would be on a person with a normal-length torso). But on me it's upper-thigh length. I'll admit it — I've worn this as an actual dress on dates before, but I can't exactly pull it off for work unless I'm wearing something that I could maybe, possibly pass off as pants underneath. Leggings count as pants, right? Right. That's what I thought, too. 

Party Attire

Pants: Gap, Top: Twenty8Twelve, Cardigan: J.Crew, Boots: Frye, Watch: Michael Kors,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag, Ralph Lauren, and J.Crew, Ring: vintage

I know I've mentioned this before, but I'm not really a huge fan of celebrity clothing lines in general. Sorry, but I just don't believe every pseudo-celebrity in the world deserves to be a designer — JWoww, I'm looking at you. But there are a few notable exceptions. Namely Sienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve line, which I love. If you like Sienna Miller's style, chances are you'll like this line. The whole thing feels so — full of gorgeous patterns and silhouettes, a little bit hippy, and just all-around cool. This is another one of those tops that's been sitting in my dry-cleaning bag for months, largely because I'm literally incapable of wearing this top without spilling coffee on it. (Seriously. Every. Single. Time. It's cursed.) I didn't even realize how much I'd missed it until it was hanging back in my closet. I love the all the different shades in the watercolor pattern of this blouse — it's bright and fun and goes with SO many things! I almost always end up pairing it with my bright purple cardigan, but as soon as I bought these cobalt blue jeans from Gap, I knew they were destined to go together. 

Bright blue pants don't necessarily scream "work appropriate!" but I wore this to my company party on Friday anyway. There was A LOT of meeting time and some pretty intense Family Feud playing. In case anyone is wondering, no, my team did not win. Even though we totally should have. For the record, "nougat" is an acceptable, and correct, answer to "Popular Chocolate Fillings." Not that I'm bitter . . . not at all. Even if the prize was a Dairy Queen gift card, and no one would appreciate that more than me. 

Flower Power

Sweater: Ann Taylor, Blouse: The Limited, Pants: Joe's Jeans, Shoes: Via Spiga, Necklace: Nordstrom,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag and Ralph Lauren, Ring: vintage, Sunglasses: Armani Exchange

Confession: I've had this blouse since high school. It's not even impressive in the way some people say, "I can fit into this even though I wore it in high school!" since this blouse is shaped approximately like a circus tent. But I've been driving around with it in my car, intending to take it to the dry cleaner's for longer than I'd care to admit (months is a conservative estimate), so I'm pretty pumped to be working it back into the rotation. I bought it at The Limited (I wish I could say The Limited Too, which would be way more entertaining) way back when I first started working in an office, along with several other questionable items. Second confession: my first batch of work attire may or may not have included wide-leg, formal capris. Oh, well. At least one of my teenage purchases has stood the test of time. That's a win in my book. 

We got some semi-warm weather here the other day — FINALLY! — so I actually got to take some outfit photos outside, rather than awkwardly in my hallway. I mean, they were still awkward, just also outside. I managed to time my photo shoot perfectly so that every kid getting home from school had to walk past me when they got off the bus. I don't know who was more embarrassed, me or them. (Probably me when my roommate yelled, "Work it, work it!" for a truck driving past, only to realize it was a school bus.) I feel like I owe every kid on my street an apology. And also possibly an after-school special on stranger danger.  

Subtle Spots

 

Skirt: Ann Taylor, Chambray Shirt: J.Crew, Belt: Ralph Lauren (stolen from my mom in high school),
Shoes: Guess, Bracelets: Ann Taylor and J.Crew, Rings: Nordstrom, Necklace: Ann Taylor, Tights: Gap

I would wear leopard print all day every day if I thought I could get away with it. It's my go-to print for anything. Skirts, dresses, tops, scarves, coats, shoes . . . you name it, I probably own it in leopard print. That's why this more subtle, tone-on-tone leopard print skirt is great. It makes it easier to wear animal print without screaming my obsession from the rooftops. And it has pockets, which is probably my favorite feature in skirts. Why even make a skirt if you're not going to include pockets? Paired with my favorite chambray shirt (seriously everyone should own this shirt), it's one of my new favorite outfits.

I aspire (not so secretly) to be one of those fabulous old ladies swanning around in ridiculous gaudy jewelry and animal print. In fact, I saw an old woman at the mall last night (while I was wearing this outfit) decked out in an amazing, head-to-toe leopard print ensemble. We're talking a full-body fluffy leopard coat and hat. I almost stopped and stared in amazement. There was a subtle nod of acknowledgement. Maybe even a wink. Not in a creepy way, but in a "Sisterhood of the Traveling Leopard Print" kind of way. Hopefully she got the kindred spirit thing, otherwise there's a good chance she thought I was hitting on her.

Comfy Casual

  

  

Jeans: Hudson Jeans, Sweater: Ann Taylor, Belt: Michael Kors, Shoes: Ann Taylor (on sale!), Necklaces: Nordstrom,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag and Ann Taylor, Watch: Michael Kors

Sometimes nothing is as comfortable as plain 'ole jeans and a sweater (except for sweatpants and a sweatshirt, but that's not work appropriate). I wish I had a better justification for this outfit, but it's seriously one of the only things I could find in the black hole that my closet has become. I've been doing a bunch of freelance writing on closets and closet organization lately, which has basically succeeded in making me realize what an absolute hot mess my own closet is. I've given up on trying to even close the doors and the majority of my sweaters are currently piled at the foot of my bed. (I like to think of them as a wearable body pillow to make myself feel better.) There's a slight chance I'll tackle it this weekend, but there's a greater chance I'll give up and just eat ice cream instead.

Both these shoes and this comfy cashmere sweater were Ann Taylor purchases (seriously, go there now). Even better, the sweater was a Christmas gift, which means I didn't have to purchase it at all. I did however go in the other day and buy several more just like it — on clearance, obviously. If it isn't broke, don't fix it, right? This version is my other new favorite. I convinced myself while getting dressed that my new two-tone oxford pumps totally redeemed my otherwise lazy-girl outfit. Let's not consider what I'm going to have to do when I run out of fun new shoes to spice things up with.

Bargain Shopping

I have a slight Ann Taylor obsession at the moment. And by "at the moment" I actually mean "every single waking minute of my life." So far, I've spent most of my morning on Pinterest pinning basically every item in their new arrivals catalog (and making my other obsession, color blocking, even worse). I can't help it. Their deals are just too good to pass up. We're talking 40% off everything, constantly. Seriously. If you're ever shopping there and not getting 40% off, stop. Immediately. You're missing out. I don't know how it's possible, but I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

Anyway, I stopped in Ann Taylor recently when I was at the mall returning stuff (which somehow always seems to end in me buying more stuff — a vicious cycle) and got this dress for less than $20 (originally $230). Yes, you read that right. LESS THAN $20. I'd wanted it even when it was full-price, but I can't exactly justify an expensive, full-sequin dress since most of my evenings consist of sitting on the couch watching ABC Family marathons. (Not that I'm complaining. Pretty Little Liars never disappoints.) But for $20 I can justify pretty much anything. Heck, for $20 I'd wear this dress to the gym. 

Stuck In Colder Weather

  

Jeans: Gap, Tank Top: Hinge, Jacket: Hinge, Shoes: Steve Madden, Necklace: Eddie Bauer,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag, Watch: Michael Kors, Rings: Tiffany's and vintage

I don't understand how weekends go so fast when I spend the entire time not doing anything. Seriously. Making my bed is about as productive as it gets. And that's only so when I make a mess on top of it it's less obvious. My mother would be so proud. It doesn't bode well for me when I have to handle being a real grownup with errands to run and commitments to juggle on the weekend. Regardless, here we are. Back at Monday. Oh, boy.

It's always special when your Monday starts with the kind of weather that requires you to spend an ungodly amount of time scraping your car and turns your normally 15-minute drive into a 45-minute obstacle course. All I could do was pick one lane and stay in it for the entire drive because I was too lazy to scrape my back windows, which made changing lanes impossible. Luckily the lane I picked eventually took me to my office, otherwise god knows where I would have ended up. This kind of weather always seems to happen when I'm wearing a nice'ish outfit. (Blazers always make me feel fancy. Or at least semi-grownup.) Way less nice after scraping my car, trying desperately not to fall into a snowbank, which I've done before. By the time I finally dove back into my car, I was a sweaty, snowy, rumpled mess. Silk tank tops aren't really built to withstand vigorous activity. But I planned this outfit last night, and after that there's no going back. If I wasn't so busy outfit planning maybe I'd actually have time to read the weather forecast. Logic, schmogic.

Layering Up

    

Sweater: Free People, Shirt: Hinge, Jeans: Democracy, Boots: Frye, Necklace: Anthropologie (via Ebay), Bracelets: J.Crew,
Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Elizabeth Ngo (antique button)

 I feel like all I do lately it talk about the weather, but in my defense, the weather here lately has been batshit crazy. One day trees are budding and the next it's Day After Tomorrow-style frigid. (Minus the delight of Jake Gyllenhaal running around.) For example, the other day it seemed nice enough that I deluded myself into thinking I could get away with not wearing a coat to the gym. I mean, it's only a 5-second walk from my car to the front door. Mother Nature decided to reward my decision by throwing snow directly down the front of my v-neck shirt when I left. Let me just say that snow in my cleavage is not the way I like to end a workout. And when I woke up yesterday the weather said, "Feels like -33 degrees." That's not even a temperature my body registers. Getting dressed in the morning involves me trying on every long-sleeved shirt I own and layering them over one another to try and stay warm. Seriously, this is what I look like: 

On a happier note, I want to take a minute to say THANK YOU to everyone who has been reading this blog. It seriously makes my day. Yesterday I had my highest number of pageviews yet, and I was quite literally giddy. I'm not entirely sure why there were so many visitors yesterday, but I'll take it. It could be people trying to steal my identity (as my mother thinks), but beggars can't be choosers. If that is the case, though, I feel like I should warn thieves to give up now. It's going to be a waste of your time. I have nothing you can steal except an increasingly large Nordstrom bill and limited closet space. 

Shades of Gray and Purple

Sweater: Ann Taylor, Blouse: Ann Taylor, Pants: Joe's Jeans, Shoes: Linea Paolo, 
Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: Simon Sebbag and Lucky

Some mornings, the idea of getting dressed is next to impossible, which means getting dressed in something presentable is pretty much reaching for the stars. I wish my life was a real-life version of Clueless, and I could just scan through my clothes electronically until I find something that matches, a la Cher Horowitz. It would make my life approximately a million times easier. (As long as I'm dreaming, I wish everything in my life could be like Clueless. Especially the parts involving Elton and a game of Suck & Blow — not as dirty as it sounds, I promise.) But since I barely have a closet, let alone a computerized outfit generator, I'm stuck dressing myself. Various shades of the same color are the way I roll when I'm half asleep.


I somehow managed to injure my hip/knee/leg at ballet class over the weekend (Black Swan caliber, I am not) and vowed to wear only flats this week to make hobbling around easier. So of course here I am wearing the highest, most ridiculous pair of heels I own. Totally logical, and not at all likely to make me fall down the stairs. Plus these shoes make me look like an actual, real-life giant at work, as evidenced by the last couple photos featuring my boss, Beth. She was a good sport and agreed to take some pictures with me to show our ridiculous height difference when I wear heels. (We're like a female version of this.) Obviously we had to take them indoors . . . mostly because I'm pretty sure people would think I had kidnapped her from a grade school if we went out in public.

Black & Blue

Shirt: J.Crew, Pants: Joe's Jeans, Belt: Michael Kors, Shoes: Ivanka Trump, Scarf: Michael Kors, Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: Simon Sebbag, Ring: vintage

 I actually bought these blue suede pumps months ago at Nordstrom and have been hoarding them in my closet (along with many other things), waiting for the perfect day to wear them. Well, today is most definitely NOT the perfect day. It's snowy and icy and freezing outside, which means I'm guaranteed to fall, and also that any bit of exposed skin makes me cry. But they kept staring at my accusingly like I didn't love them, so I finally broke down and let them out of their box. 


Now that I've worn them, I don't know why I waited so long. I'm in love with this cobalt blue color, and they're super comfy. Plus, they dress up my favorite chambray shirt nicely. They're also made by Ivanka Trump. Weird, right? Who knew the Donald's daughter made such beautiful shoes? Clearly not a talent she inherited from him. I'm normally not a huge fan of pseudo-celebrity clothing/shoe lines (unless it's made by an Olsen, obviously), but these I can get on board with. It helped that this was the last pair Nordstrom had in stock, they were my size, and someone walked by and eyed them as I was trying them on. Knowing I'm getting the last of something, or that someone else wants it, instantly makes me want it more. I'm pretty sure that's the same type of logic used by toddlers the world over, but it got me these shoes, so who am I to judge?