Leather Lady

Skirt: H&M, Shirt: J.Crew, Tights: Gap. Booties: Steve Madden Luxe, Bracelets: Lucky Brand,
Watch & Sunglasses: Michael Kors, Necklace: Spitalfields Market (London)

Despite the fact that I practically have to remove a rib to wear this skirt (especially after lunch), I love it. You'd think there wouldn't be that many uses for a pleated leather miniskirt, but boy would you be wrong. It's surprisingly versatile. I wore this skirt dressed up with a lace t-shirt for New Year's Eve, and it's equally great with a casual chambray shirt. I have to give credit where credit is due — I was inspired by Krystal of This Time Tomorrow, who wore a similar outfit way, way back in December. Truthfully, I didn't even know my memory went back that far. It's possible I repressed it and was just holding onto it for later use. I loved her pleated faux-leather skirt so much when I first saw it that I ran right out and tracked one down myself. (Seriously, I think I saw her outfit and went to H&M on my lunch hour to track this baby down.) Plus leather, even faux leather, always makes me feel like kind of a badass. Someone show me to my Harley, and I'll be all set. (Or maybe I'll just sit in the sidecar . . . this is a skirt, after all.)

Day Dates

     

Dress: Francesca's, Vest: Banana Republic, Belt: Francesca's Shoes: Franco Sarto, Clutch: Jason Wu for Target, Sunglasses: Michael Kors, Watch: Michael Kors, Earrings: Target, Ring: Elizabeth Ngo

I always plan to take more outfit photos on the weekends, since I feel like my outfit choices are way more fun and interesting when they aren't also required to be work-appropriate. (Miniskirts tend to be frowned upon at the office, I've learned.) But on weekends I'm usually either A) So busy running around that I don't have time to take photos or B) Watching terrible movies/TV on my couch, which doesn't require me to be dressed. But this Saturday I had a lunch date, and since I spent so much time stressing over what to wear (and debating it with my best friend via email), I decided it was photo worthy. 

I'm going to honest, dating stresses me out. Especially first dates. At least day dates are slightly less horrible . . . in theory. I mean, how bad could things get if it's all going down in broad daylight, right? (Although that didn't stop me from wanting to stress vomit and/or pre-game ahead of time.) We had gorgeous weather here this weekend — perfect for a rooftop lunch date. Unfortunately, warm weather goes hand in hand with horrible humidity, and my hair and relative humidity are basically mortal enemies. True story. So clearly a dress was my only option in the hopes that flashing some leg would help distract from potentially terrible hair. It seemed to work, probably due to the fact that this dress is pretty dang short. My date even made a reference to my "stems," at which point I immediately thought of Clueless and almost swooned. (And just in case anyone was wondering, the date went well and did not involve any stress vomiting or pre-gaming on my part.) 

Wild 'N Out

Jeans: Target, Shirt: J.Crew, Shoes: Ivanka Trump, Belt: Ann Taylor, Necklace: Nordstrom,
Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Elizabeth Ngo

One of the great things about having a style blog is that it forces me to be a little more discerning in my shopping because I actually know what's in my closet (or on my floor, as the case may be). Instead of just buying things willy nilly (as I tend to do), it forces me to actually pause and think, "Is this a really a necessary/logical purchase? What will I wear this with? Will it make my wardrobe better?" Having said that, when I found these leopard-print jeans at Target, I asked myself none of those questions. My brain just flashed "WANT!" and all of a sudden I was in the checkout lane buying them. But when you take into account that I'd been coveting these leopard-print jeans from Current Elliot, this pair was actually a smart purchase. I could never bring myself to spend $200 on something quite so ridiculous. I mean, I'll spend money on a lot of ridiculous things, but a girl has to draw the line somewhere. But lose one of those zeroes on that price tag, and I'm in. That's right, these jeans were $20. Which seemed like a great deal until I got them home and realized I had basically no idea how to style them. I've been stuck wearing them around my apartment so I could at least mentally justify my purchase. What, you don't lounge around in leopard print? Thankfully Kendi of Kendi Everyday recently wore the same pair of jeans, and gave me some outfit inspiration. Now that they've seen the light of day at least once, I can go back to wearing these jeans while sitting on my couch like a true lady of leisure.

Little White Tee

   

Blazer: H&M, T-shirt: H&M, Jeans: Banana Republic, Belt: Ann Taylor, Shoes: Franco Sarto,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag, Necklace: Spitalfields Market (London), Ring: vintage

Oh, creepy alleyway behind my apartment, how I've missed you. Thankfully the return of warm weather means my favorite alleyway and I are about to become extremely familiar with each other once again. Mostly because the warm weather means all of my neighbors have been sitting on their front porches lately, and I'm too awkward/embarrassed to take photos in front of them. I have no choice but to be relegated to the rear of my house. And I can barely even handle that. One of the poses I whipped out while taking these outfit photos yesterday can best be described as "awkward Velociraptor." Not something I want to force any of my poor, unsuspecting neighbors to witness. 

I'm a sucker for a good blazer, and this one is no exception. It was a total impulse buy at H&M one day because I have no willpower and can't resist anything brightly colored and/or shiny. I am also one of those people who falls victim to anything stationed near the front of a store, and this was literally the first rack I saw. Well played, H&M. I wish I had thought to buy it in more than one color since there was literally a rainbow rack of blazers, but I foresight isn't really my strong suit, and now it's disappeared. The color is sort of a cross between orangey-red and coral, and I can already tell it's going to be one of my favorites for spring. I had originally planned to pair it with my new yellow jeans, but when I tried it on I sort of resembled a ketchup-and-mustard combo bottle. Not that I won't still wear that outfit. I just have to mentally prepare for looking like a condiment bottle ahead of time.

Retro Chic

Dress: Jason Wu for Target, Shoes: Franco Sarto, Watch: Michael Kors, Necklace: Elizabeth Ngo,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag and Ann Taylor, Sunglasses: Armani Exchange

Don't be fooled by how ladylike this navy shirtdress from the Jason Wu for Target collection is. I literally had to throw elbows at Target in order to snag some of this collection. But it was well worth is. The dresses that I snatched up are so retro and gorgeous that they instantly make me feel more ladylike. (As opposed to some type of crazed shopping monster hopped up on too much Starbucks, which is a more accurate description of my personality the morning of the Jason Wu launch.) Some of my favorite style bloggers have been showing off the striped version of this shirtdress recently (check it out here and here), which I also tried on. Unfortunately with my coloring that version made me look like a big blond blob, which is not the look I'm going for. I know, shocking, right? But luckily this pleated navy-dot shift dress is equally lightweight and perfect for spring. I originally had this dress paired with a studded blue leather jacket, but it was almost 80 here the other day and heatstroke is not attractive, so I had to ditch it. Not that I'm complaining. I'll take summer weather in March any day. Of course I try to start mentally planning for Fourth of July the other day, so maybe I'd better pace myself. 

Warm Weather Panic

Jeans: Gap, Sweater: Boutique in San Diego, Sandals: Franco Sarto, Necklace: Portobello Market in London,
Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelets: Simon Sebbag, Sunglasses: Armani Exchange

This absurdly warm weather in March has left me with so many questions: Am I still allowed to wear boots? Is this tights weather? Can I bust out my summer dresses yet? WHAT ABOUT SUEDE? Clearly I am not the person to turn to in a crisis if it only takes unseasonably warm weather to cause such major internal panic. I don't know how people who live with nice weather all the time handle it. Colored denim is going to be my go-to while Mother Nature figures out exactly what it is she's doing. Luckily, I just bought yellow, mint green, and coral jeans (three separate pairs, not one tie-dyed pair, although I'd probably buy those too), so I'll have plenty to choose from once people catch on to how often I wear this pink pair. And since all my colored jeans are currently strewn across my bed acting as makeshift denim blankets, they'll be easy to find in the morning. Win, win.

Fun in the Sun

 

 

 

Dress: Francesca's, Cardigan: J.Crew, Hat: Nordstrom, Sandals: Via Spiga, Watch: Michael Kors

This dress has a really cute back, which I would have loved to show off, however, the backs of my legs got sunburned SO badly my first day in San Diego that a friend told me, "Your legs look like someone beat you with a bamboo cane." I'd hoped that wearing red would somehow detract from the cooked-lobster color of my legs. I don't know why. I thought maybe I could claim it was the shadow or reflection from my dress making them look so red. That plan did not work. I guess that's what happens when you go from Minnesota winter to California sunshine. SPF only goes so high, and my poor, pale legs didn't stand a chance. They were so bad that strangers apparently felt the need to call me out in the grocery store. There I was, minding my own business, inspecting the margarita supplies with a friend, when a creepy old man inserted himself into our conversation. I expected his comment to be booze-related, which I actually would have welcomed, but instead he zinged me with, "Hi, I'm from Washington, and I just wanted to tell you we have this thing there called sunscreen. . . ." Really, creepy old man, really!? I wish I would have had a quick retort like, "Well, I live in Minnesota, and we have a thing there called personal space. Get out of mine!" But I was too shocked and flustered and instead I laughed awkwardly and fled the aisle.

Other than that embarrassing encounter, my trip was amazing. Beautiful weather, plenty of beach time, and lots of hanging out with friends. I overpacked to the extreme, as I usually do. Eight dresses and a raincoat may have been slightly unnecessary for a long weekend, but I maintain that if I can cram it into a carry-on, it's acceptable. And as an added bonus, the weather in Minneapolis is beyond beautiful right now, so all those things still sitting in my suitcase are going to come in handy. I planned it like that.