Outfits Not Just Clothes

Last week's post I featured a dress I rented as a treat for Mother's Day weekend, and of course I wore it more than once. I went the casual route with a wrap top, leggings, and sneakers here . Then wore it for work with loafers and the blazer in this post .  Lastly, I went full glam and wore it on it's own with some jewelry and heels.  Viola! But you have to understand something about this dress, you can't really appreciate it, until you see it in motion.. And then the wind picks ups! dress- TOME Collective  via  Rent the Runway , wedges- Eileen Fisher vis Nordstrom , sunnies- DIFF Eyewear Yes, she brought the drama in this pleated mock-neck swing dress. You don't need a lot of styling tricks with this statement frock. Just wearing it and walking down the sidewalk can create a fashion moment. The orange color really makes it that more striking, and while I could have added a belt to cinch my waist, I really loved the shapes and space this dress took up. I'm all...

 This past Mother's day I treated myself with a weekend rental of this orange pleated dress that I styled several different ways. Here's a more casual/sporty take for a Sunday morning nature moment, you may catch a glimpse of a little sprite in the background.  dress-- TOME Collective via Rent the Runway , top- Vetior via Amazon, leggings- Innersy via Amazon, sunnies- Ralph Lauren , tote-- Pavement , sneakers-Zara (similar here ) I rented this dress because of the high-neck (to hide my thyroid surgery scar) and the color. The silhouette is not my usual cup of tea, but I loved the pleating and its twirliness. I layered over it a cropped wrap top (which is giving me ballet-core energy) and underneath leggings for coverage. The dress is a bit transparent and sleeveless, which can be challenging to wear casually. I kept the sporty vibe of the leggings going with these colorblock sneakers and carried a rainbow tote.  I love outfitting against a garment's "type". This...

coat-J.Crew(similar here ), blouse-Forever 21(more options here ), pants- Ines De La Fressange for Uniqlo (a less formal version here ), gloves-Neiman Marcus (more options here ), loafers-Nine West(similar here ) I love how the ties on this blouse, when left loose, mimic an undone bow tie for a whole after-hours tuxedo moment. These trousers, are in fact a tux-style pant from a collection by Ines de la Fressange for Uniqlo  from a number of years back. Other great features of this shirt are the polka dots and pleats. Note the pleated front AND pleats on the sleeves. This blouse is quite romantic when you take in the sheer fabric and dramatic sleeve, when paired with the menswear-inspired trousers and straight overcoat you get an interesting mix of feminine and androgynous style. The studded gloves throw an edgy vibe into the mix, for a surprisingly dynamic look!