Outfits Not Just Clothes

blazer-The Limited(similar here ), blouse- Sanctuary via Le Tote , cargoes-J.Crew Factory(similar here ), heels- Shoe Mint , bracelet- Adia Kibur via Le Tote , sunnies-Ralph Lauren(similar here )  This camo shirt from Le Tote tends toward the casual side, as do these cargoes, but I blazed it up and smacked on some heels for a no-meetings day at work. With the delicate necklace and bracelet this makes for a fairly chic, yet functional, back-at-the-office-after-a-3-day-holiday-weekend Monday outfit. This blazer is a bit oversized, and maybe a more fitted version would look more polished, but I like how it plays off the cropped cargoes for a balanced silhouette. 

This coat is a size 16, which is way huge on me, but I really like the pattern and think it's the ideal coat for spring. When thrifting you can't always find the perfect, absolute right fit so you have to ask yourself if the garment still works even if it might be on the baggier or tighter side. It's really a case-by-case judgement call.  For me this coat, with its black trim and  black and cobalt blue, is a fun transitional garment and a nice way of reintroducing color back into my outfitting after a flurry of black n' white looks-- here , here , here , AND here . So I've been contemplating a new haircut for a few months as you may recall from this post . On Friday I took the plunge and got the chop. These are the after pics! Totally badass, right? Thanks to Kim at Salon Cercone on Ellsworth in Shadyside. coat- Thrifted , top- Le Tote , necklace-Adia Kibur via Le Tote (more options here ) jeans-J.Crew Factory(simil...

Yep, that's a horse head! cardigan-Free People(similar here ), skirt leggings -Mimu Maxi, sweatshirt- Numph via ModCloth(similarish here ), hat-Urban Outfitters(similar here ), boots- Gap , necklace/ring- Jewel Mint , bracelet- Adia K via Le Tote I last featured these skirt leggings from Mimu Maxi in this post . Here, I layered them under a sweatshirt dress/tunic and finished off the look with this maxi-cardi and fedora. Pairing the skirt and longer cardigan gives this outfit a lengthening/thinning effect, which I'm all about. Bring on the long and lean right? 

sweater -French Connection via Le Tote , dress-Madewell(similar here ), boots -Born via DSW necklace- Adia Kibur via Le Tote (more options here ) I love it when one of my "rental" pieces from Le Tote matches up so perfectly with an item from my own closet, like above. You may recall this dress from this post where I styled it with a blazer and wedges. Here I layered a sweater over it for a skirt effect. The dress already has black and blue in its stripes so I kept that color combo going in the tights and boots. Pairing blue and black (or brown and black for that matter) can be tricky, and some may say it's a definitely fashion "don't" but it really all depends on the tones of each color. The key is to make sure there's enough contrast to look intentional, not like pre-dawn, no lights on closet grope, picking pieces at random kind of outfitting accident.

Okay so there's a lot of sneaky layering going on here... First a vest... then a blazer... the a zip-up sweatshirt... and finally the actual shirt of the outfit!  Pretty sneaky, eh?  Loving how the pinstripes and plaid play off each other. The bracelet picks up the bit of yellow in the plaid as well! God Bernadette put on some lipstick! Pops of color! vest /blazer/pants-J.Crew(similar here and here ), sweatshirt-Old Navy(similar here ), shirt- JOA via Le Tote , bracelet-Adia K via Le Tote (more options here ), necklace- Cookie Lee , heels-Forever 21(similar here ) Basically, this outfit is the fall version of my standard uniform of bright cropped trousers, pattern shirt, and blazer. The layers make it seasonally appropriate and I'm telling you a lightweight, yet warm knit under the blazer is the way to go, and this vest has been a life-saver this fall. And I'm loving the subdued plaid and how its various tones a...