Outfits Not Just Clothes

Each year around this time Nordstrom has their HUGE Anniversary Sale . And, unlike other sales in July/August that are reducing summer stock to make way for fall/winter appearal, Nordstom's has amazing deals on coats, boots, trousers etc. It's a great time to stock up on basics and splurge on a few luxury items.  It's also a strategic start to your Christmas shopping . I know, it's only July, but hey you've got to start sometime and why not take adavantage of the savings now?! You'll be grateful you did when December rolls around.  So here are my top gift giving pics from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale : Jute Tote A personalized gift, even one as simple as a monogramed bag, shows you've really thought about that person, and had them in mind for this particular item. It's tempting to stock up on these types of totes, especially at ($20 a piece), but be warned if you end up giving the same bag within your circle of family and friends. They'll

So... I've been thinking of exploring a more romantic/feminine style as I gear up for another year-long shopping hiatus (more on that to come). I'm looking toward fall and hoping to find a few dresses that push against my usual striped/androgynous/blazered aesthetic. Here's two I've picked up thus far.  Floral Maxi Forever 21 I rarely wear maxi dresses. I think for busty gals like myself a maxi can obscure the figure, but this wrap version seems promising. And even though I'm not huge into florals, these dusty-pink roses against a black background aren't too busy and tend toward the romantic side that I'm trying out, stylishly speaking. Just In Timeless Dress ModCloth I've been thinking I sorely lack a versatile cute, printed dress that's a bit 90's-esque  and I'm hoping this number will fit the bill, and be the kind of piece I can throw-on for work, dinner, church, whatever. Sure, I have my fair share of wear-anywhere str

cardi-Banana Republic(similar here ), blouse- Skies are Blue via Le Tote , skirt-Mikkat Market(similar here from Asos), bag-Coach(similar here ), flats-Shoe Mint(similarish here from Asos), necklaces-Gifted Wore this lacey, breezy, romantic summer ensemble for a date night with Mr.Keller. I know, "date night" seems so cliche, but I don't have the energy to be spontaneous and carefree anymore. However, in my defense this wasn't just any dinner and a movie, we attended the Summer Barbecue Wine Dinner as part of the dinner events series at Omni William Penn's Terrance Room ! So yep, that's pretty fancy schmancy if I do say so myself! It can be dicey when outfitting for an event, like this, especially during the summer. You want to be appropriate, but also comfortable and true to your style aesthetic. This tank from Le Tote was the starting point of the look. From there, I just started adding femin

I know delicate jewelry is on trend at the mo' and statement necklaces are waning, but I couldn't NOT pair this pink and green necklace with a pink and green dress, right?! Or, is that too matchy-matchy?  dress- Le Tote , vest-H&M(more options here ), necklace-Bauble Bar(similarish here ), watch- Wenger , shoes-Zara(similar here ) As mentioned on the necklace above, this vest, is also "off-trend" as we're currently in a wave a longer, looser, drapey-er gilets. But, a proper vest never really goes out of style, and the cinch-factor of this waistcoat is banging on my bod! Also, this vest-with-a-dress look feels very 90's, no? Especially when paired with these studded loafers. Overall, it's a cool contrast of menswear-inspired pieces(the vest and shoes), with this printed wrap-dress and color-coordinated statement necklace. 

blazer- J.Crew , tunic-Anthropologie(similar here ), pants- Uniqlo , necklace- Le Tote , loafers-Just Fab(similarish here ), watch-Michael Kors(similar here ) Last month I donned this tunic as a dress for a casual Sunday with the baby in this post . Here, it's another take on the dress-over-pants trend that I finally embraced after well over a year in posts here , here , and here . And, it's really all about the tunic in this outfit. The half-tuck creates an interesting silhouette, the print is a fresh take on the black-and-white color combo, and while yes the necklace and loafers are fun, it's the peacocks that grab the eye.  In terms of office/work wear this is really a fairly standard outfit when broken down. You have trousers, loafers, a blazer, and a button-down. But, with the two-tone shoes, crisp blazer, well-fitting pants and the "alternate" tunic/dress as shirt a more stylish and edgy outfit emerges. Wow