Outfits Not Just Clothes

The one thing I love about Christmas is the sales after the 25th.  There are some pretty good deals online(which is my preferred method) but the in store discounts are sickening. So if you have these shops in your area check out: 1) Urban Outfitters 30% all Sale Items store locations here . 2) Jcrew also has 30% off Sale Items both in store and online , with code STYLE2013. 3) Banana Republic has 30% ENTIRE PURCHASE with code BRNEWYEAR and that noise ends tomorrow, so get up on it! 4) Mikkat Market's holiday sale is still going strong. 5) I'm also appreciating Nasty Gal's sale where you pick your price points here . 6) And don't forget Zara , which has so few sales during the course of the year, you really need to get up on it when they do.

Okay, let's face it that whole, "I'm going on a retail fast until after Christmas" as mentioned here , was doomed from the beginning. I've fallen off the wagon half a dozen times so I just need to accept that I enjoy shopping and it's something I do in my spare time (or at work online when I'm bored).  And when Zara has a sale girl needs to get up on it!  Here is what I just picked up : structured coat t-shirt loafers So as we head into 2013 I think the lesson we can all learn from my recent retail struggles is that one must accept one's limitations. And eating Ramen for dinner for the rest of the year in order to afford one's limitations is not the worse thing in the world.

I love the subtle color working going on with the navy and the black contrasting each other. blazer-Asos(similar here ), dress-Banana Republic Factory Store(similar here ), boots-DSW(sort of similar here ), jewelry- Jewel Mint   You may recall my previous post about color blocking here . Well, see it in action my friends. I think the dress alone is enough of a statement, but I couldn't resist adding the blazer and boots to push the look. Plus which, I'm loving the 80's vibe going on here. I will say that I need to wear sunglasses for these outfit pictures as I have no idea what to do with my face in front of a camera, which I think it pretty obvo here...  I'm not a model, I'm just a dedicated outfitter.

            Just realized when taking this, there is even more argyle up in this piece!     shirt-Urban Outfitters(similar here ), sweater/bracelet-Jcrew(similar here and here ), trousers- Gap ,shoes-DSW(?)(similar here ), necklace- Cookie Lee , ring- Jewel Mint      Another collared shirt over a sweater, what can I say, its a look I enjoy as mentioned yesterday here . Without meaning to I'm doing my holiday outfiting theme of navy and green, as discussed here . Honestly, I wasn't even thinking about it when putting these pieces together. But Mr. Keller noticed right away, he's so observant. Also, without thinking too much about it I'm mixing patterns with plaid and argyle (even my socks play into it).  I know I've talked about intention before and playing "dress-up" for outfit inspiration, but there are some days when a look will come together without much thought or theory, where you just feel it out for a polished/tog

shirt-Mikkat Market(similar here ), sweater-Banana Republic Factory Store(similar here ) jeans-Asos(similar here ), sneakers- Converse , jewelry- Jewelmint , sunnies-Ralph Lauren(similar here ) Wore this for some holiday home houses this past weekend. I've taken my own advice in this outfit and went with a color blocking statement piece, last discussed here . Besides the color blocking, I have to admit I'm a total sucker for collared shirts over sweaters. I can't help myself, it's such an easy way to layer and it takes a simple sweater/jeans combo and makes it more of an outfit.  Don't be surprised if you see this technique pop up(at least on the blog)a few more times before the end of the year.  Now I have to start planning holiday party outfits, there are so many functions Mr. Keller and I are attending, I may have to outfit repeat!!!   

Yes it has been some time since my last posting.  Without going into a whole mess of details, the holidays, family obligations, and illness have kept me off the blogosphere, but things are starting to settle down, so I'll be back to regular posting from now on.  Now, for business--Pre Fall 2013 Collections!!!! Here is what I'm responding to. Band of Outsiders   This is the next step (in my opinion) on the whole matching pattern trends from the Fall. I love how the top and pants reverse each other. It's a fresh take on the matchy matchy dressing.   Belstaff   I love the tough, yet feminine vibe of this outfit.  Leather is definitely a fabric I need to incorporate into more of my looks.  For me the cut and shape of the skirt keeps it from being too bikerish.    Pringle of Scotland   I'm responding to the mixed hem lengths in this look. Layering three different hems works here and it's an idea to try, but I'm thinking very strict/

      blazer- Luciano Barbera via Threadflip , scarf- American Apparel , shirt-Asos(similar here ), trousers- Jcrew Factory , heels-Banana Republic(similar here ), sunnies-Ralph Lauren(similar here )     It's almost dark out by the time I'm done with work here lately and it's been a challenge getting good outfit pics.  But rest assured I am still wearing outfits even though the blog has been a bit silent these past two weeks.    The above is all about the shirt and blazer. I love my horses shirt, whenever I wear it, or think about it the Patti Smith song starts up in my head (which is a good thing in my book).  This blazer was a recent purchase from Threadflip that I got on a disgusting deal.  It feels very country estate to me, and what's more country estate then equestrian chic, last seen here .  I didn't go full out with the jodphurs and boots, I felt that would have been too obvious(especially for work). 

Over at Tom & Lorenzo , Papa T & Lo have declared blue & green THE holiday color combo of 2012 and I am all sorts of ready to jump on board. Here's my outfit idea: Asos Modcloth Asos     You may recall seeing these cropped trousers here and here .  At the time I purchased them I did not know a matching blazer existed until after my retail fast began.  So yes, I fell off the wagon and purchased the blazer here just last week.  It WAS on sale and since I've been thinking about navy and green for holiday outfitting I went ahead and bought the tunic above as well.  Again, on sale AND I have this same top in other colors and it really suits me.    Regardless of my lack of self control I'm thinking this navy suit with the green tunic will be perfect for my office holiday luncheon.  Now I just have to figure out outfits for 3 more holiday gatherings and that's not even counting family stuff! This season is definitely the outfitting Olym