Black and Gold

 

 

Pants: Joe's Jeans, Blouse: Jason Wu for Target, Cardigan: J.Crew, Wedges: Steve Madden,
Belt: Ann Taylor, Bracelets: Ann Taylor, Watch: Michael Kors

I wish I could pretend that I was wearing black and gold in honor of my alma matter (Mizzou), which is apparently doing fairly well in basketball right now. But I'm not that good of a liar. Truthfully, I had no idea. I am in no way a college sports fan, which I'm sure is surprising to exactly no one. I had basketball season tickets once in undergrad, and I'm not even a little bit ashamed to admit that one of the main reasons I bought them was because there was a Dippin' Dots cart in arena. And I used to spend Saturdays, when the rest of the student population was tailgating and attending football games, watching movie musicals on the couch with my best friend. I don't even feel bad. Those are some of my favorite memories. But they all serve as proof that a sports fanatic, I am not.

Having said that, tackling the Jason Wu for Target collection a few weeks ago was like my own personal Super Bowl. This gold peplum top was at the top of my wish list and is one of the best pieces I snapped up there. For someone who looks admittedly terrible in yellow, this mustard color is one of my absolute favorites, especially when it's paired with some fun red accents. I've been dying to bust this top out (or more accurately, pick it up off my floor), despite the fact that it's a little hard to wear with my freakishly long torso, and the texture sort of reminds me of a bath mat. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing — if more bath mats looked and felt like this, I'd probably start wearing them. 

Spring Dreaming

Vince Camuto

Nine West

Vince Camuto

Joe's

Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan

Frye

I wore so many great outfits this weekend, most of which included faux leather. I was like some sort of Harley Davidson wannabe. It was like a full-on new outfit bonanza. But of course, I managed to take zero usable photographs of any of them. I guess that's what happens when you treat yourself to a 4-hour brunch, complete with multiple Bloody Mary's. Way to go, me.

So instead, I'm going to spend today dreaming about all the new sandals I'm planning to buy for spring once I can safely walk outside without fear of falling. Since walking into my office most mornings is akin to ice skating, this may not be happening anytime soon. I've been basically living in wedges all winter because clearly I need shoes I can wear safely. And I don't mean safely as in, "safely within the rules of fashion." I mean like actual, physical safety. Shoes that I won't cause me to break a hip when I wipe out on snow and ice. And I'll be honest, I fall A LOT in the winter, so there's a pretty good chance that's going to happen to me. Obviously my love for winter wedges is carrying into spring, because the brightly colored pairs above are all I can think about. Wedges + brightly colored neon? Pretty much my two favorite things ever. What do you guys think? What shoes are you drooling over for spring? 

Sweet and Simple

Sweater: Ann Taylor, Pants: Ann Taylor, Wedges: Steve Madden, Watch: Michael Kors,
Earrings: Nordstrom, Lipstick: Bobbi Brown (neons and nudes collection)

Sometimes the simplest outfits are the best (and also the most comfortable, which automatically makes them better). Plus pale pink and army green might be my new favorite color combination, which means this outfit wins on multiple levels. And as an added bonus, a mostly neutral outfit gives me a chance to bust out my new favorite lipstick. I seriously can't stop wearing it. Partially because I love it, and partially because once it's on, it's almost impossible to get off. In fact, I ended up wearing it to my Pilates class last night. Needless to say, I was the most gussied-up person there. And also the most ridiculous.

This outfit is very no-fuss, mostly because I'm saving all my energy for this weekend. My best friend from college is coming to visit, and I'm literally counting the minutes until she arrives (which is making my Friday tick by at a glacial pace, in case you were wondering). Weekends with her are like college all over again, a.k.a. drinking way too much wine and spending the majority of the weekend on the couch watching inspirational animal movies and/or musicals. But she's also one of the most stylish people I know, so I predict at least getting dressed at some point. Fingers crossed.

Country Chic

Jeans: Hudson, Blouse: Hinge, Belt: Ann Taylor, Shoes: Linea Paolo

The pattern on this blouse is fun, but it can also be a bit overwhelming unless it's tucked into/partially covered with something else. As my roommate told me yesterday, "Don't take this the wrong way, because I love it, but that blouse is a little bit country." I was far from offended. In fact, I brain immediately went to, "It's country, and you look country in it." Because whose brain doesn't immediately translate normal conversation into Save the Last Dance references?  Sadly, I don't have a streetwise friend to help me turn my shirt into a do-rag before hitting Steps, so I had to settle for tucking it into a pair of jeans. Boring, I know. Also, I'd like to point out that I've worn tucked-in blouses two days in a row now — no easy task with my freakishly long torso. So basically what I'm saying is expect to see me in something with roughly the silhouette of a potato sack for the rest of the week. 

Metallic Monday

Pants: Gap, Tank top: Ann Taylor, Cardigan: June, Shoes: Via Spiga, Belt: Gap, 
Bracelet: Ann Taylor, Watch: Michael Kors, Earrings: Simon Sebbag

I know it's not Monday anymore, but I wore this yesterday, and I'm a sucker for alliteration, so just go with it, okay? Normally I'm not one for matching your lipstick to your pants, especially when they're both neon pink, but this lipstick from Bobbi Brown's neons and nudes collection is just too fun to resist. I'm completely obsessed with it. There's also a super bright orange in the collection, which I sort of love, but I tried it out when I was home last weekend, and it didn't get a great reaction. My dad looked straight at me and said, "You look like the Joker" before taking a super closer-up shot of my face to laugh at later. Not exactly the reaction I want my face to inspire in people. So pink it is.

I met some friends for happy hour yesterday, and it's officially the only way I'm starting off my week from now on. I had planned to get some good outdoor photos in a non-sketchy alleyway pre-booze, but the call of margaritas was just too strong, and I missed my chance. We tried to take some after a few drinks (always a good idea), and it literally started blizzarding on top of me. Hence the of photos of me looking like I'm standing in a wind tunnel. Luckily multiple margaritas have a way of keeping a girl warm.

Tangerine Dream

 

 

Jeans: Democracy, Top: Joie, Blazer: Sara Berman, Booties: Steve Madden Luxe,
Sunglasses: Armani Exchange, Watch: Michael Kors

Awkward encounters with my neighbors, who I can say with almost 100% certainty think I'm totally crazy, are what makes taking outfit photos so hilarious. For example, while my roommate was snapping these for me, one of the cute boys across the street chose that exact moment to come outside. I might as well have been posing on top of his car I was standing so close to it. Which made it extra awkward when he needed to get in it and drive away. Me hollering things like, "Don't look at me! Just ignore everything I'm doing!" and "This doesn't concern you!" clearly did not make the awkward situation any better. However he did reply, "Don't worry, I'm wearing my blindfold. Not looking!" which I appreciated. So thanks, cute neighbor boy. And sorry for being so awkward.

I blogged about this top WAYYY back in December when I first bought it, and yesterday was finally it's day to shine. This tangerine color is officially my new favorite color for spring, and the loose pleats make it super lightweight and comfortable. Plus, this blouse actually proved to be good luck yesterday, since I finally got the promotion I've been waiting on at work. Yay, lucky blouse! Keep up the good work.

Celebration Skirt

 

Skirt: Zara, Shirt: J.Crew, Tights: Gap, Booties: Steve Madden Luxe, Watch: Michael Kors, Necklace: Elizabeth Ngo (antique button)

I like to think of this skirt as my celebration skirt. Like, just in case an amazing party should happen to break out, I'll be ready to start celebrating at a moment's notice if I'm wearing this skirt. (If that happens today, I'll have to attend with slightly dirty hair, but hopefully all the bling on my lower half will distract from that.) I dare you to find anything that says "I'm ready to celebrate!" more than a gold sequined miniskirt in the middle of the workweek. I'm sad to report that this skirt hasn't caused any parties to break out yet today, but it's still early, so I refuse to abandon my faith in the power of gold sequins. Since it is a Wednesday, and I do work in an office, and my mother expressly told me I should not wear this skirt to work (sorry, Ann), I paired it with my favorite chambray shirt to tone it down a bit. That plus dark, opaque tights (obviously) since I don't work in a brothel. Gold sequins was enough for my office to handle without throwing some upper thigh into the mix.

Clown Pants

 

 

Pants: Hinge, Top: Diane von Furstenberg, Belt: Ralph Lauren, Shoes: Joan & David, Watch: Michael Kors

I have a rule about holidays. Unless I can use it as an excuse to decorate excessively, eat ridiculous amounts of food, wear a costume, or open a pile of presents, I don't celebrate it. That's just how it is. So this dark burgundy red top is about as close to Valentine's Day spirt as I'm going to get. Luckily, I mentally planned this outfit for today before I ever got home last night, because once I did, it was one big hot mess. I had planned to work on unpacking from my weekend back home in Michigan, but before I could do anything, all of my clothes flung themselves out of my suitcase and onto my floor. So rude. There was nothing I could do about it, especially after one-too-many glasses of wine with the roomie. . . . It was a miracle I made it out alive this morning. I literally had to climb over my suitcase to leave my room. Not an easy task when you're wearing what basically amounts to clown pants. Seriously. Another person could fit in these pants with me. That's how wide they are. And if tonight's wine consumption goes anything like last night's, I just might be putting that claim to the test.

Seeing Red

Jeans: Hudson Jeans, Top: Ann Taylor: Sweater: random boutique in Florida, Shoes: Ann Taylor,
Sunglasses: Armani Exchange

This open-front red cardigan is one of my favorites, but it rarely gets any action because it has an annoying habit of turning anything else I'm wearing red as well. Seriously, anything. My shirt, my pants, my watch, my skin. Things I'm confident didn't even come into contact with my sweater end up red. If it wasn't so annoying, it might actually be impressive. But since I prefer my clothes not have a slightPretty in Pink hue all the time, I usually end up cussing out this sweater by the end of the day.

I know outfit posting has been a little scarce this week — sorry! I promise I actually am getting out of bed and getting dressed. But I'm also getting ready to head home to Michigan for a long weekend of birthday celebrations, which throws my whole week into more of a tizzy than I'm usually in. Once that's settled, and I come down off my Jason Wu shopping high, things will get back to normal.

Game Day

 

I'm not really into the Superbowl . . . or football in general, for that matter. (Shocking, I know.) I am, however, into affordable designer collaborations. So yesterday I braved Target bright and early (and hopped up on Redbull) to snag some of the new Jason Wu for Target collection. It was like my own personal Superbowl. My friend/coworker Emily (of Design Gossip) came with, and boy were we successful. Also slightly traumatized, but successful nonetheless. Even thought it wasn't a football game, I feel confident qualifying it as an athletic event given how sweaty I was from running around like a madwoman. Seriously. I was like the Target lady from the Black Friday commercials. And my left arm is super sore today, probably from carrying approximately 50 hangers full of Jason Wu garments over one arm for hours on end. But it was worth it to snag all the great stuff we got. Above are a few of my favorites — I'd post more, but my actual haul was embarrassingly large. Did anyone else brave the madness? What was your experience like? And more importantly, what did you get?!