Obsession: The Striped Dress

If you ever see this dress at Express, I recommend you snag it in every color possible. That is exactly what I did. It's called the "striped drop shoulder dress" although, this season they offered it in a neutral animal print as well. The first one I bought was this red and navy stripe, and I was immediately hooked.

I live in dresses. Many view this as high maintenance, but this particular dress is ridiculously easy. It's basically a long t-shirt. The cut is fitted, but not at all tight or body conscious. It's perfect for travel because it doesn't look wrinkly when you get to your destination. As with all my dresses, I do wear a slip under this year round.

      

          

A few celeb sightings sporting this dress:

Olivia Munn (L) Zoe Saldana (R)

    

       

Nicky Hilton

Maria Menounos

Right now I'm only seeing this sequin stripe version on their website (which I have in a charcoal color that is waiting to be worn), but seriously, if there's one thing you should have in your closet, it's this dress.

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Shoesday: Christian Louboutin YSA Boots

I want to make every Tuesday a Shoesday and highlight one pair of shoes in my collection. What a better way to kick off this tradition than by focusing on the mother of all my shoes - my Christian Louboutin YSA boots.

I had been on a hunt for a basic black, heeled, tall boot. The pair that I had was getting pretty rough. So, for my birthday, I went shoe shopping with my husband. I wasn't necessarily planning on buying the boots at that time, but it had been on my list for awhile. I saw the YSA boots, but tried to overt my eyes and not even go there. There were a pair of Stuart Weitzman boots that interested me, so I tried them on. They were ok, but nothing that took my breath away. When the SA noticed I was trying on black boots - he told me to hold a second because he had a pair he wanted me to try on. Of course he came back with the YSA boots. 

The worst thing you can do is try something on "just because." Because the second my foot started sliding into that boot - I'm pretty sure I heard the angels singing and saw the heavens part. They felt like butter. There is no hardware on them at all, but they were easy to slip on and the calves fit as if the boots were made especially for me. I looked in the mirror and was basically sold at that point.

These were purchased at the Neiman Marcus store at Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis. A bit of a splurge to say the least, but they're so worth it. I plan to have these in my wardrobe for a very, very long time.

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Obsession: The Perfect Chambray

The chambray is everywhere lately, and I've definitely caught the bug. It's becoming one of my staples - the neutral that goes with everything, the perfect base layer, easy to dress up or dress down. With all the options available, I have to say that this JCrew Factory version is my absolute fave. The fit is the perfect amount of relaxed without being sloppy, and the wash is extremely versatile. Substantial enough to throw on alone to run errands, but thin enough to serve as a secondary layer for more of a statement.

Some of the ways I've worn it:

Scarf is old

Target belt and chocolate tights

Michael by Michael Kors dress worn as a skirt

Express faux leather bracelet

Coach "Adair" boots

On Left:

JCrew Sequin Dot top 

Topshop Skater dress worn as a skirt

La Mer watch

DKNY wine tights layered over black opaque

Michael by Michael Kors "Elena" shoes in Bordeaux

On Right:

Banana Republic cardigan

Francesca's Jacquard skirt

DKNY grey tights

Report "Marks" booties

Bracelet from Nordstrom

JCrew scarf

Express colored skinnies

Kenneth Cole Reaction smoking flats

Other chambray looks I love:

                                

                              

I was getting a little sad today thinking about the warmer months and what I'm going to do without my foolproof chambray. What will my summertime version of this staple be? Hmmm...

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Pinspiration of the week: Sequin skirt + sweater

I've been wanting to replicate this look since before the holidays. I love the unexpected combination of casual and sparkly. I love the mix of textures. I love that it looks like more effort than it really is. The fact that sequins are involved, makes it an easy win for me.

Here's the Pinterest image I used for inspiration (source): 

I tried this for Christmas and loved it.

Skirt is LC by Lauren Conrad for Kohl's (other colors here)

Topshop (via Nordstrom) sweater

Sam Edelman Wilma booties

Target knit tights

Chanel "Istanbul" tote

I was very happy how that came out, but there's just something about gray plus silver that kept me wanting to experiment more. I found this Banana Republic sweater on clearance after the holidays. I bought it a size Large so that it was more slouchy than fitted. I paired it with a sequin skirt I bought last year from Express. Bracelets are also from Express, necklace is Chanel. Report "Marks" booties (similar)

I honestly had trouble finding the perfect sweaters to duplicate the Pinterest look. This sweater was the perfect amount of slouchy without being too oversized. It was plenty warm, but not thick or bulky. It was perfect. 

I wore this to work. I feel pretty lucky because I can wear whatever I want. The swing of "formalness" at the office is huge - jeans and sneakers to button ups and ties. So, I take advantage of being able to wear sequins as much as I can! I could wear this over and over again... 

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Chignon Tutorial

I was never really good at doing any updos. But honestly, I never really tried. I've googled videos before for basic techniques to create a chignon, and what I end up doing is pretty effortless. I do this updo on days I don't have time to fully do my hair, but I like it because I still feel put together. It looks way more complicated than the little time it takes me to do it. No hot tools, just hairspray, teasing comb, elastic band, and a handful of bobby pins.

A friend asked me if I had a video of me doing this, so I made this for her. My very first tutorial video.

Here's a finished front and back view.

I'm definitely not super creative when it comes to my hair, but this is definitely one of my favorite ways to put my hair up. I envy all of you who can put your hair up in a simple ponytail and look polished. What is your favorite updo?

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Layering tights

A few years ago, one of my friends turned me on to layering tights. I live in the midwest, so while winters could definitely be a lot worse, the cold weather can quickly make your outfits feel dark and dreary. Layering tights opens up a whole realm of possibilities to your winter wardrobe. Not only is it functional from the warmth standpoint, but you can add splashes of color and texture to your outfits, and allow your dresses and skirts to live well beyond the summer months.

The initial thought of layering tights did not sit well with me because I figured it could not, in any way, be comfortable. But honestly, it's not bad at all. My favorite tights to layer with are these DKNY tights that have no waistband. It's really the digging of the waistband that can make tights uncomfortable regardless of whether you are wearing one pair or two. I put the base layer on first, then the second pair. It's impossible to try and pull them on together. Once they're both on, you can pull them down and up together, so going to the bathroom isn't a big deal (sorry, but that's a valid TMI concern.)

Let's show you some examples!

Tone on tone - black fishnets over black opaque:

Tone on tone - patterned wine colored tights over opaque wine colored tights. Even though the opaque pair isn't super opaque, I still feel like it's way less harsh than doing patterned tights over bare legs. I also love how it adds interest to an otherwise basic LBD. I could have switched the base layer out for a black pair for more of a contrasting look.

Here's a before and after pic of how opaque you can get your tights to look. The photo on the left is a pair of grey tights on its own. After I saw how this photographed, I decided I wanted more of a super opaque look, so I layered the grey pair over a purple pair.

One of my favorite combinations is layering nude fishnets over chocolate opaque tights. After typing this post, I need to make it a point to wear that combo this week! The possibilities are endless really, so have fun with it!

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Featured Purchases: Vince Camuto Bilco boot, JCrew circle lace top

This winter, I'd easily say I've been drawn to sequins, boots, and suede. Not really sure what it is with me lately, but those have definitely been the majority of my purchases. So, in keeping with my boot obsession, I wanted to highlight these Vince Camuto boots. 

I bought these (also Vince Camuto) "Bilco" boots at the end of last winter's season:

Super simple flat, black boot, but with stud detailing on the back. When I first bought them, I only wore them once or twice and honestly second guessed my purchase. They weren't something I would have ever picked out for myself, but my SA at Nordstrom recommended them for me. This year, I have a new found appreciation for them, and I have worn them a ton. They're very comfy (after some admitted stretching in the calves) and I just love the edginess of the back view. So, you can imagine my happiness when I saw similar boots come up on Dillard's New Year's Day sale for only $99, original $249. These are the Vince Camuto "Bollo" boot.

They were a little snug in my calves again (my circumference is about 13.5-14".) I sprayed the inside of the calves with some shoe stretcher spray and wore them around the house a couple of hours for two nights, and then they were ready to wear out of the house. They're just as awesome as the black pair, and I love their distressed coloring. 

Design History cashmere snap cardigan (from RueLaLa)

Stem tunic tank (Nordstrom)

Ponte Knit Leggings (Express)

Not as cheap as I found mine, but you can find the Bollo boots on sale here.

I am very much into bright colors, patterns, and stripes. I almost always look for these things first. I saw this circle lace top during JCrew's additional 30% off clearance sale and was on the fence about the neutral color and boxy shape. I figured it was worth the try for the price.

The second I tried it on, I was in love. The shape wasn't as boxy as I thought, and the photo on the website did not do it justice. The fit is simple and classic, but the texture and detail make this "better-than-a-tee" very special. The tiered hem does not add any bulk or volume, just more added interest.

Circle lace top (JCrew)

Knit pencil skirt (Francesca's)

Target knit tights

Michael by Michael Kors "Eboni" cross strap sandals

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Meet my closet room

When my husband and I were house shopping, I was adamant at having at least 4 bedrooms so that one of them could be converted to my closet room. This room is unfortunately on the opposite side of the house from the master bedroom, but the size worked out well. It's longer and narrower than a typical bedroom, which made the most sense for my closet room.

I did this all by myself, with the help of the husband. One of these days, I will do a remodel with professional closet folks to do this the right way, but for now, I don't think this is a bad start at all! The shelves were all bought at Home Depot and Lowes. I wanted to maximize the wall space in the room by taking the shelves as high as possible, hence the step stool. Tops, skirts, and dresses are on the left side of the room as you enter. Below the skirts are some cubbies that hold things like socks, scarves, belts. To the far right of the dresses in the corner are stacked plastic drawers that hold all of my cardigans.

I'm very much into patterns and prints, so while you can't tell with the tops and dresses, everything hanging is color coordinated. I have them sorted by type then color - so, for example, the tops are sorted by sleeve length then color.

Shoes and pants are on the opposite wall. I've photographed each pair of shoes and placed its photo on the outside of the boxes. At one point in my life, I had all my shoes stored in plastic boxes, however, I heard somewhere that leather cannot breathe in plastic, so if you are going to store them in boxes, it's best to leave them in their original boxes. Some people have asked why I don't leave them out of their boxes. Well, for one, shelving space is limited, and until I get a better solution (aka a remodel), they're easier to stack in the boxes. Second, imagine having to dust one hundred pairs of shoes. In the ideal world, I'd have glass cabinets I can store my shoes in so that I can see them, but keep them protected from the elements. Again, shoes are organized by color and type.

I have a jewelry armoire that I use as my full length mirror, and also a dress form that I like to showcase outfits on. I also added a "little black dress" that I hang on the outside of my closet room closet door (yes my closet has a closet) for chunky jewelry. I found a black cork board from Target along with red push pins that I have some of my longer necklaces on. It helps keep the inside of my armoire from getting cluttered and tangled.

I found a red chair and ottoman on clearance at a local furniture store. Needless to say, my favorite color is red. The curtain, lamp, stool (used as a side table), and rug are all from Target. The Christian Louboutin coffee table book is a much treasured gift from a friend. I have a few pieces of shopping related art sprinkled throughout the room. This particular piece below I found on Etsy - Scrabble letters that spell "Shop" in a sea of Barbie shoes.

The chandelier I ordered online through Kohl's. It's still available here. I would love to add track lighting one day to supplement what I already have. 

And that's it! This view is the best view. I walk in and just say, ahhh.

Edited on May 25, 2013: The closet room has had a minor reno! Check it out here.

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Where do I start?

Lately, I've been wanting more and more to start an actual blog. I'm not sure where this urge is coming from, but I will take a try. I have been using Tumblr to date, which is solely just used to capture my outfits of the day. I guess that's the main reason why I never started an actual blog, because I don't think I'm that interesting. I'm not crafty, and I'm not so much a cook. But, I do know what I like - and that's to shop. I can post about things I buy, things I love, and outfits I create. 

Oh, and shoes are my weakness.

I don't think there are a better five words that can capture who I am better than this. I love to shop, I love to dress up, but I'm totally dorky and I love some booty dancing.

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