Outfits Not Just Clothes

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You may recall I hinted at the idea of a tuxedo for my go to holiday look this season and I think I found two major components for such an outfit. Exhibit A: But I can guess what you are wondering.  So what, its just a red cropped blazer how does this make a tuxedo?  Exhibit B my friends: Right now both of these items can be found at Urban Outfitters and both are currently residing in my wish list.  I just went a little crazy over Black Friday and Cyber Monday so I am hestitant on this one folks.... Head to toe red is not an easy task... but I have laid down the christmas tuxedo gauntlet and it is time to run through, let us march my darlings!

It was only after I checked out the photos that I realized the lining of this blazer reads more navy than black in pictures. In person it appears much darker. This blouse has tabs on the sleeves to assist in rolling them up! The sleeve tabs mirror the shoulder epaulets for a slight military cut. blazer-Zara (similar here ), blouse- Mikkat Market , trousers-Urban Outfitters(similar here ), scarf-BCBG(similar here ), bag-H&M, shoes-Bass(similar styles here ), necklace-gifted, cuff-Martin & Osa, ring- JewelMint You may recall from a few posts ago I mixed black and blue , here I'm doing another "don't" matching black to brown.  Will this insanity every stop, you ask? Hopefully not! But seriously, this isn't really brown, more like beige, which the scarf already has going on. So, again I'm just taking the already established lead of one garment to build an outfit around.  I wore this on one of the longest days of my life in the past month--wor

dress-Mikkat Market (sold out in the black, but the printed version is still available here ), necklace- Asos , watch-vintage(and broken), cuff- Martin and Osa , shoes- Just Fabulous So yes, this dress has a harness on it!  (more on my current obsession with harnesses coming soon) I saw it at Mikkat Market this past summer and had my doubts, not because of the harness, but I was unsure if the silhouette would work for me.  I waited so long it sold out, but then came BACK, which I took as a sign that I needed to buy this dress. Worse case scenario, I'd return it and be out shipping.   Well the day it arrived I loved it so much I wore it out that night and to work the next Monday with a turtle neck underneath.  Here, I've paired it with a leather necklace from Asos and open-toed booties.   You can't tell from the pictures, but the dress really moves beautifully and even works without the belt.  Also, I'm wearing a cuff from Martin and Osa which no longer exists and th

So I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy this shirt For two reasons: 1) it will go with my recent purchase of this item and 2) its on sale and I have an additional discount code. Plus I think it will get a lot of play in my wardrobe. I see this shirt for the office with or without the collar depending on how frisky I feel, with jeans for a casual night out (which is so predictable I know, but it happens) and also as a component of this whole tuxedo look I've been flirting with for the holiday season. (Didn't see that one coming, did you? Whose predicatable now?) So on this Cyber Monday 2011 I am buying a shirt! What are your online shoppping plans today? More on holiday tuxedos to come...

Plain old grey tights in the front.... Party tights in the back! trench-Asos(similar style here ), blouse & skirt -Gap (similar style here and here ), sweater & shoes-Forever21 (similar style here  and here ), tights- ModCloth ,  necklace-Anthropologie(something similar here ), rings-thrifted/ Jewelmint , "bracelet"-string that was the part of the wrapping of a StyleMint order. These tights are so much fun! Modcloth shows them worn with the peacock feathers both on the front and back of the legs. I've been consistently wearing them "mullet" style.  The mini-skirt is key, you definitely need to show off the full length of the feather. So, if you go for these tights (or any with these applique-like details) make sure your skirt length is not competing, same goes for the shoes.

Every year on Black Friday my Mother-in-Law and I go shopping and buy each other's Christmas gifts.  This is a fun way to spend some time together and make sure we each get what we want and that it fits.  However, I do find it very hard to NOT make online purchases of things I think she could get me before Black Friday. Case in point this leather jacket from Zara.   We won't be near a Zara for Black Friday shopping (we usually go the Prime Outlets route) so its not like we'll come across this exact jacket.  However, I feel that if I hold off from ordering this*/spending my own money, I'll be able to find something comparable for my MIL to buy for me/spend her money.   BUT, what if I don't... and with the holiday shopping craze upon us, this jacket could be sold out by the time I get home.   Of course I could just buy it and if we find something similar that I like more I could return it.  OR I could buy it and then have her get me something along these lines :

blazer/blouse- Zara , skirt-Modcloth (similar style here ), belt/shoes- Forever21  (something similar here ) necklace-Banana Republic (something kind of similar here ), rings/bracelet- JewelMint , bag-H&M Here I'm totally breaking the "don't-wear-blue-and-black-together" rule, because I'm a badass.  Case in point, the bright yellow blazer!  Not only am I "doing" a "don't" I'm also amping up the bright color factor and putting a fierce heel on it.   I have to admit, the skirt is helping me out. It already has black and blue in the pattern. Plus, the waistband is yellow (even though you can't really see it with the belt).  So,  I'm not actually a badass, I'm just following the skirts lead in terms of color.  But wait! I AM wearing polka dots and these heels ARE fierce making my legs go for miles. So, the final verdict... yes I am a badass and this is an outfit with a capital "polka dot"!  

So I really want this sweater : At $59.99 this is not disgustingly expensive. What attracts me to this piece is the mullet feature, not because I have an unhealthy obsession with mullets, but because its different, a bit off center, if you will.   But then I am reminded that I already own this sweater :  Now this sweater from the Gap (already living in my sweater drawer) is very similar from the one above. Granted it doesn't have the little tail back, but it does have pointelles, which do give it a bit of a twist from the standard basic sweater.  Plus which it has a longer hem in the front as compared to the Mikkat sweater, hence it is definitely more flattering.  This case is a Not To Buy situation.  Yes, I like the first sweater, but having something similar already that most likely will be more versatile makes me turn away from a new purchase. Or should I go for it?  I'm very much open to persuasion. 

vest- Old Navy , (similar style here ) shirt- Mikkat Market , cords- Gap , scarf-H&M, necklace & ring- Jewelmint , bracelet- Cookie Lee , bag- J.Jill (gifted), boots- L.L. Bean The weather has been beautiful the past few weekends, so I decided to hit the River Walk in the South Side, with my duck boots from L. L. Bean and my A-Team vest (that's what my husband calls it). I like the how it acts as a jacket adding structure to this outfit and the pockets are awesome.  I slapped on my newest cords from the Gap which have become my go-to casual trousers, they are so comfortable.  This top is sold out at Mikkat Market, but they are currently having a mad sale so check it out .

I'm so sick over these pants! BOWTIE! Time to take off a few layers. This "bracelet" is actually a necklace (Banana Republic) wrapped around my wrist and casting a shadow on my other arm. blazer-Zara, jodhpurs & shirt-Asos, sweater-H&M, bow tie-American Apparel, ring-JewelMint, shoes-DSW, sunglasses-Hudson News at the airport So, I love these sunnies.  I totally got them at the airport after forgetting to pack on a trip to Vancouver Island.  But beyond that these JODHPURS! They were on asos.com for like $200 and I snagged them for $77.  There's nothing I don't adore about these pants--the leather inserts, the lace up backs, the side buttons. I couldn't resist pushing the esquestrian vibe with them and added the horse print shirt.

skirt-Banana Republic, shirt-Jcrew, sweater-Gap, tights-Target, shoes-DSW, necklace & bracelets-Cookie Lee, sunglasses-Forever21 I love mixing really feminine pieces (like this skirt) with more boyish or tougher items. Here its sophisticated lady on the bottom and little schoolboy up top.  Buttoning shirts all the way up is a trend this season, so I've been wearing my necklaces under the collar like a bow-tie.  Be on the lookout for bow-ties, they are coming.