Outfits Not Just Clothes

This slit is actually a zipper so you can adjust the length! shirt( French Connection -similar here )/skirt( Hazel ) / necklace / bracelet --all via Le Tote , ring- Jewel Mint , shoes-Dollhouse(similar here ), sunnies- ViVI , watch- Nixon via Urban Outfitters Longtime reader's (as in THREE years ago) may recall this moment , where I showcased an outfit that fit both the viewing of Downton Abbey and Girls . Here I'm channeling Lady Mary in Mourning Realness, right? What makes this not just another all black outfit, is the textures, jewelry, and intention. Granted, the lighting here is a bit stark and I'm totes pale and flat-haired but, I think you can see that the top has a silky front and knit sleeves, while the skirt has a elegant sheen to it. The necklace adds a delicate detail, while the cocktail ring and Oxford-inspired heels capture that post-WWI feel of the show.  The trick, when taken inspiration from a period piece, or...

The back zipper broke on one of these boots, but thanks to the guys at Squirrel Hill Shoe Repair all was well! blazer/jeans-Zara(similar here and here ), shirt-Old Navy(similar here ), boots- Shoe Mint , necklace- Le Tote , rings- Jewel Mint , bracelet-Avon(more options here ) This look was inspired by this look from Manrepeller : image via pose I took the idea of black jeans with a chambray shirt as my base, then went for a patterned blazer as opposed to white. I really like how this is both casual and dressy, and with a shoe change can go from kind of butch with these boots(like above), to more posh with a heel and tucking in the shirt. 

In yesterday's post I pontificated on the idea of a more creative-casual work wardrobe, something like the athleisure wear trend and then I happened to pick up some potential pieces to from Zara's current sale Contrast Leggings Drawstring Trousers Okay the leggings will definitely not fly at my office, but I think they'll be fun to wear with my Uniqlo tuxedo jacket featured here . The drawstring trousers are more office appropriate depending on how I style them. The trick is to treat them like a regular zip n' button trouser as opposed to sweatpants.  Definitely a heel will be involved, possibly with a crisp button-down under a solid v-neck pullover, or I may blaze it up, which is always a solid styling maneuver for a profesh setting. Regardless I encourage you all to check out Zara's sale going on now!!!

blazer- Luciano Barbera via Threadflip , dress- Anthropologie , scarf-Ralph Lauren(similar here ), belt-Gap(similar here ), necklace/ring-ViVI(more necklace here , rings here ), leggings-Forever 21(similar here ), boots-Target(similar here ) I've done this type of pairing before here , here , and here and it's a great go-to for work wear. You may recall this post when I bought this dress on Labor Day weekend, and even though this is its first appearance on the blog, I've been wearing the crap out of this dress over the past few months. It's knit aka warm, comfy, polished, and office appropriate even without blazing it up. I've been having some internal struggles with my professional wear since winter hit hard. I'm a manager in my grown-up life, and even though I work in an academic setting our office environment skews conservative, so it's a challenge to create interesting, creative, flattering, and stylish outfits w...

I first starting entertaining a short haircut after my 30th birthday inspired by Emma Watson. It took a full year to for me to go through with it, before then I had the same hairstyle for five or so years. When it comes to my hair I'm a extremely cautious to change. I've maintained my current cut, in various forms of disarray for over three years and I'm wondering if it is still serving me to my best advantage. Some recent shots from the blog: post here post here And some older shots from 2012 and Spring of last year.   post here   post here You can see not much variation just that some days are more rumpled than others. I don't really "style" my hair. I have a fear that overly styled short hair has the potential to come off Kate Gosselin-esque: Which is DEFINITELY not chic or stylish.  But, I do think it may be time for a change/putting a bit more effort into my hair, because a good haircut is like a good acces...