Outfits Not Just Clothes

dress- Isaac Mizrahi for Target (similar here ), tee- J.Crew belt-Urban Outfitters(more belts here ), socks- Kansas City Kitty , booties-Zara(similar here ), necklace-Gifted I call this my Russian peasant outfit, all I need is a babushka, right! This dress is GREAT for winter, warm and the satin-ish lining doesn't irritate my skin or cause static. I layered a striped shirt underneath with tights and over-the-knee socks for additional warmth, and to provide some color and pattern. The belt kept this dress from being a big grey sack, while these wedge booties mirrored the navy touches in the stripes and tights.   Sorry for the flat layout, but the weather didn't give us much to work with in terms of shooting outside. BUT, this outfit functioned really well despite the weather, keeping me warm and comfy!

 sweater- Willow & Clay via Le Tote , shirt/leggings-Old Navy(similar here and here ), scarf-Noir Luxe via Le Tote necklace- chloe + isabel c/o of Angela B , watch-Michael Kors(similar here ), boots-Target(similar here )  First off, as soon as I thought of this post's title "Leggings in Winter" my mind IMMEDIATELY thought of The Lion in Winter and how Katharine Hepburn worked that head-scarf-medieval-drag  , which then brought to mind   the re-imagining of said film in the Fox show Empire , which is so wonderfully melodramatic with EPIC costuming. I'm not saying that my outfit here is anywhere near that show's style, but I wanted to share my stream of consciousness. However, the mix of prints here is pretty freaking fabulous! Birds, checks, and leopard print oh my! Anyway, about leggings--I recently read a piece on Who What Wear that highlighted a post from blogger Veronica Partridge in which she's decided t...

coat-J.Crew(similar here ), sweater-Nasty Gal(similarish here ), shirt-BCBG(similar here ), pants-J.Crew Factory(similar here ), loafers-DSW(similar here ), necklace - Le Tote , ring- Jewel Mint , sunnies-Ralph Lauren(similar here ) Loving the color here! And I also love the mix of the sophisticated, tweed cropped trousers and the "distressed" effect of this punk rock sweater finished off by a topaz statement necklace. I let the colors dictate the pieces of this outfit, AND I was going to wear red heels with this look, but decided that functionally it wasn't going t fly, so I opted for navy loafers hence, the title of this post.  These shots were taken with Mr. Keller's smart phone and I'm kind of loving how they pick up the vibrancy of the colors AND their contrasts, particularly with the necklace photo. We shot these pics in front of the mural on the Veterans Leadership Program building in the South Side. Public art is ...

These joggers from Anthropologie are everything! Love the pattern, so comfy, they have pockets, and layered with tights are warm enough for these chilly days, but will be lightweight to wear in the Spring and Summer.  The bold hue of the tee really makes the overall look POP! coat- Columbia Sportswear , tee-Style Mint(similar here ), Joggers-Anthropologie(similar here ), scarf-American Apparel(similar here ), boots-Steve Madden(similar here ), necklace-Jewel Mint(similar here ) This coat is the BOMB from Columbia Sportswear , you may recall my post on winter apparel here . This baby is lightweight and super-warm thanks to both its Omni-Heat Reflective lining and Water and Stain Repellent exterior. I'm also so digging this shade of navy, which goes with everything, even black, and looks like a component of an outfit (especially this one) instead of just a coat over an outfit. It's hard to incorporate your outerwear when outiftting, beca...

This past Christmas I received NYR Organic's Dry Skin Care kit from my sister-in-law Elena who is a rep for the company. It's always hard to give skincare or beauty products as gifts because everyone has different issues. My skin is a plethora of contradictions... it can be oily and dry at the same time, I'm still fighting off minor breakouts and starting anti-aging regime, I'm pale, but when I tan it's a mix of tan and freckles. Needless to say I'm VERY particular about products I try and those that I incorporate into my daily/weekly routine.  With that being said I kind of am in love with this Nourishing Orange Facial Regime! So there's a facial wash, toner, moisturizer, and facial oil. Dry Skincare Kit First off these products smell great! The wash and toner left my face feeling refreshed and smooth. I've been using the moisturizer at work, where the air is REALLY dry and I need to touch-up through out the day to ke...

 So, a primary colored plaid and a neutral toned tweed, with pastel deco-ish necklace sounds like a hot mess, but is so delicately combined here that it works! blazer-J.Crew(similar here ), shirt-ModCloth(similar here ), cords- Gap , boots-Forever 21(similar here ), necklace- Jewel Mint , sunnies-Ralph Lauren(similar here ) So, yeah I didn't really need sunglasses during dusk, but I do enjoy the mix of streetlight and twilight for a mid-winter orange glow that's surrounding this outfit, which is emphasized by these Ralph Lauren sunnies. You may recall this layered one-piece from this post and these brick-red cords here . And, of course I've rocked this blazer a few times on the blog-- here , here , and here . With this outfit you have an example of taking dynamic pieces from other looks and creating a whole new ensemble that brings out interesting textures and color combos. Kind of mysterious, eh? Or more like rea...