Outfits Not Just Clothes

blazer-Gap(similar here ), shirt/ pants - Uniqlo (similar tee here ), necklace-J.Crew Factory(similar here ), flats-Dr. Scholls(similar here ) I've had a complicated relationship with the color purple(not talking about the book, or movie, both of which just wreck me). In my younger and more vulnerable years, purple was my go-to hue. It was feminine, and darkly romantic/emotional, but not has heavy as black. It brought out my eye color, and complimented my skin tone. I even had a shade of eggplant as one of my wedding colors, however, as I grew older purple felt somewhat juvenile, not as sophisticated. Nowadays I keep my purples to my eye-shadow palette, but for the rare cases when this lavender blazer makes an appearance. This is the PRIME time of year to wear all shades of purple--lavender, lilac, aubergine--dark or pastel, purple is (in my opinion) the essence of spring hues. Sure, there's green and yellow, but come on, how boring.  For this o

My Year of No Shopping announced last September has been a bust! I've strayed from my self-imposed fast over a dozen times. Why? Well because I love clothes, and good deals, and evolving my personal style. Here are the  main culprits.... Slingbacks from H&M I'm DO need a summer slip-on shoe for work, an alternative to loafers if you will.  Jacket Dress from H&M This dress was on sale and I wore it a few times over the holidays before featuring here in this post . It hits all of my current criteria for a dresses--easy fit, versatile, interesting, and has pockets!  Vans Also, wanted/needed an easy slip-on casual shoe, as seen in this post .  Shift from Anthropologie This layering piece was such a good deal, and in a color I don't often wear. This post shows how it's an easy-throw-on piece to add some color to a basic black outfit.  Cardigan from Anthropolige This cardigan speaks to my new-found lust for hygge

blazer/shirt-J.Crew(similar here and here ), pants-Mango(similarish here ), loafers- G. H. Bass , necklace-Banana Republic(similar here ), watch- Wenger , sunnies-Ralph Lauren(similar here ) You may recall these fancy pants back in January from this post . And while they are made of somewhat heavy brocade-esque fabric they work so well with this blouse and blazer I couldn't resist wearing them here in spring. Like yesterday's post , you wouldn't think of navy as a springtime hue, however it's a very chic shade that's is perfect for every season. Of course, I don't think I'll be donning these trousers for summer. And speaking of summer, this weekend I'll be doing my semi-annual closet purge and switching out cold weather apparel for my warm weather clothes! Even though this can be an arduous process, I really do enjoy it because it's like getting a whole new wardrobe! 

jacket-Mikkat Market(similar from Old Navy here ), pants-Uniqlo(similar here ), shirt-Old Navy(similar here ), loafers-Target(similar here ), necklace-H&M(similar here ), watch-Michael Kors(similar here ) Nothing like bird pants and a military-esque jacket for a cool spring day! Of course, I've also rocked these bird-printed trousers for fall,  here and here . And while navy and forest green may not seem like the most fresh color combo for spring, I think here they are quite crisp. What say you? 

sweater-Nasty Gal(similar here ), dress-Forever 21(similar here ), flats- Dr. Scholls , cuff-Vintage  I am LOVING the drama this dress has going on. We had a lot of fun with the movement shots and trying to get the best "arch". Needless to say some unintended flashing occurred, but hey my photographer is my husband so he enjoyed it. 😉  Beyond the impact of the swirling skirt, this outfit also contrasts a darkly romantic print (pale pink roses on a black background) with some straight-up punk-rock pieces--the shredded-back sweater and studded cuff. Worn together they create an edgy feminine feel, don't you agree? And I'm super pumped to be wearing a piece from Nasty Ga l  on the eve of the premiere of Girl Boss on Netflix . Check out this featurette below and mark some time in your weekend schedule to binge watch all the 13 episodes!   

dress-H&M(similar here ), pants-Zara(similar here ), necklace-Need Supply(similar here ), flats-Shoe Mint(similar from Zara here ) This outfit, while seemingly simple(black top, grey bottoms, flats) is a bit avant-garde for a Tuesday at work, no? Thanks to this "tuxedo" dress with it's lapels, buttons, and pockets this dress-over-pants switches things up from your standard LBD. The inspiration for this look came from a Refinery29 article on fashionable kids. Meet Rin and her mom Rica-- While Rin's look is very cute, and right up my striped alley, it was her mom's outfit that inspired me. Going for an easy, loose silhouette with some architectural detail was how I approached turning this inspo photo into real life outfitting. Oh, but hey, just noticed that I AM sporting stripes on my black and white flats. So, this is actually a nice little combo inspo! Check out more of Rin's style here !