Sparkling in Sequins

The office holiday party occurred this week.  There was lots of anticipation buzzing about the office.  And there have been lots of chatter about the dos and don'ts for office parties on the airwaves this week.  I was trying to decide between this outfit and another dress that I have in my closet.   This outfit won because I was tired after work and could not deal with the thought of a dress when I was feeling cold.  I made the mistake of wearing 3 inch heels during the day and opted for a lower heel in the evening.  My intention was to wear flats during the day.  I was really excited to wear this blouse since I have not had an occasion to wear this top.  I am not a girl who is comfortable wearing sequins causally or during the day.  But I am glad that I purchased a light colored sequin top.  I usually gravitate to the darker colors in sequins.  But this works for some reason.  I opted for minimal jewelry with this outfit.  It's laid back but chic at the same time.  Mission accomplished.  What will you be wearing to the office party this year? 

Monday

Hi all!  I hope that you had a great Monday.  I started the day very tired and wondering when my next vacation day would occur.  Unfortunately, after counting my days I figured out that I had used up all my vacay days.  Ugh!  Luckily, we have a few holidays coming up.  Paired with some creative planning for weekends, I think that I will be able to make the next few weeks restful and relaxing.

Are you wondering how I plan to accomplish this?  So, am I.  But I am hopeful.  I will look to the things that recharge and excite me.  And mix this up with a little R&R.  So, I'll be spending time catching up with friends, going to movies, checking out new museum exhibits, attending yoga and Pilates classes.  In a word, I will do all the things that I enjoy and none of the things that feel like a chore!  I will watch TV shows that I enjoy, cook, smell the roses and reconnect with people who are important to me.  While I do these things now to some extent, I feel a little disconnected and I want to be proactive and intentional as we move into the holiday season.  Usually this time of the year is so overwhelming for me, that I end up heading for the hills and hiding away.  This is followed by recriminations and sadness over missed opportunities to connect with loved ones.  

So I challenge you to recharge yourself now.  Make a plan now to keep yourself grounded during the holiday season and plan to enjoy this magical time of the year.  I am secretly hoping that by doing these things, I'll also stay healthy.   Please share how you stay centered and less frantic during the holiday season.  

Why I blog about fashion?

I have a secret to tell you.  I love fashion!  I don’t try to hide this aspect of my personality.  But I have discovered that it is difficult to find folks who share my enthusiasm for fashion.  When I was a child, I loved playing dress up and imagining all the clothes that I could wear.   This turned into visions of modeling, which I pursued as a young adult.   Since modeling was not compatible with my long-term career goals, I now live vicariously through shows like America’s Top Model and Project Runway.

But knowing about fashion and perusing the fashion magazines is not enough for me.  I want to talk about fashion and discuss the reasons why wool is a better fabric than silk to use in the construction of a garment.  Or how ingenious CoCo Chanel was in using tweed (a serviceable and inexpensive material taken from her friend’s factory) to make her now signature suits for women.  What’s fun about fashion is that it is a topic that all women can discuss.  And discussing the pros and cons of one’s choice has great possibility since everyone’s approach to clothing and fashion is different. 

Chanel-inspired Tweed Jacket. Photo by Meanreds99

I would like to share my tips on clearly expressing one’s personal style.  A well-dressed woman always intrigues me whether she is wearing jeans or a ball gown.  There is a certain aura to a woman who is confident in her style.  This kind of confidence cannot be taught but once you uncover it within yourself, you’ll be unstoppable.   

So, this blog is a way to connect with like-minded fashionistas and to document my journey to becoming the well-dressed woman who turns heads for all the right reasons. 

Autumn colors

So I have some exciting news to share with you.  I love fall.  But today's weather is not autumn-like weather.  It feels more like winter.   Burr!  Good thing I had gloves in my coat pockets.  But back to fall.  I love the transition time when everything changes.  The leaves change colors and fall from the trees.  The weather becomes cool and brisk.  Activities like apple picking, corn mazes and fireside s'mores abound.  I look forward to the time when I can exchange my T-shirts and shorts for sweaters, scarves and flannel.  

I am really excited because I have started a new project this week.  I have signed up for an e-course, Blogging Your Way, offered by one of my favorite bloggers Holly Becker of decor8!  My BFF introduced me to Holly's blog about 3 years ago.  I recall being impressed by how pretty and organized this blog was (and continues to be!).  Decor8 has great design content and wonderful breadth and depth of information.  So, when I learned about this course I jumped at the chance to participate.  I don't know that my blog will ever compare to decor8.  But if I can come close to the presentation of this blog, I know that I will have made great strides and come a little bit closer to my goal.  Stay tuned!

Movie Night

Spent a wonderful evening catching up with friends and viewing a movie featured at the American Film Institute for the Latin American film festival.  There are great movies to be seen.  If you are in the DC area it's worth a look.   This outfit came together with the thoughts of comfort, warmth and versatility.  The first goal is to always look chic.  I also needed a jolt of java prior to the movie to ensure that I would not take a nap during the film.   I have decided that I will play to my strengths this fall and stick with colors I love and ones that move me.  This is easy as navy blue is my favorite color.  Add grey, cream, rust/burnish orange, burgundy, purple, black and brown and my fall palette is complete.  I hope to talk about how I put together my outfits and concepts for my wardrobe. Some of it is haphazard, but I try to stay focused.  Let's explore together!

Monday OOTD

Happy Monday!  Today is a wonderful day.  It started out a little slowly.  But the weather is fine and the living is good.  I had a great weekend catching up the my BFF and doing what girls like to do.... shop!  I saw a few cute things but did not do too much damage.  I stuck to my guns and bought only things on my wish list.  :-)   I am re-evaluating my closet and need to add only items that will enhance the items that I already have.  

Speaking of things that I already have.  I must confess, that I absolutely love a good tweed.  And this skirt is fabulous!  The fit is awesome.  The texture only enhances other colors that I add to this outfit.  And it plays well as a neutral if needed.  The fabric is light enough that I can wear this in 3 of the 4 seasons comfortably.  It is one of the items in my closet that makes me happy just to look at it.  And it gives me a little pick-me-up whenever I wear it.  Do you have any articles of clothing that give you a boost? 

Goals for the Fall

Happy Labor Day!  I am spending part of the afternoon watching awesome tennis courtesy of the US Open!  I was hoping to see Roger Federer and Mardy Fish play.  But Fish just withdrew from the tournament stating medical reasons.  Mr. Fish experienced some heart problems (arrhythmias) requiring treatment early in the year, I believe.  The heat and humidity in NYC are uncomfortable for the spectators and worse for the players.  My guess is that his doctors advised him not to continue in the tournament.  What shame!  Mardy has been doing so well this season.  Good luck to you, Mardy!  I'll be looking forward to seeing you play in the fall.   

With the unofficial last day of summer upon us, I am now thinking about fall fashion more and more.  I am hoping to include more dresses and skirts into my daily wardrobe.  Do you have any suggestions on how to make some of these dresses effortless for work and play?  I'll share my thoughts in coming days.  Now back to the tennis, hot dogs and burgers!

OOTD

Day at the market

 

I had great plans for the day!  Running errands, attending an antique show, washing my hair and preparing for the week.  I may have tried to cram too many things into this weekend and hence my downfall.  The antique show is a bust.  Shopping with mom ran long.  Fun, but long.  So, I sit here with conditioner on my hair contemplating exercise versus a mud mask.  Weighty decisions, I know!  But both will happen.  I was very sore this morning but it is amazing how ibuprofen and watching America's Next Top Model can aid in restoration of the body.  

 

This week will be busy!  The playoffs for golf's FedEx cup is wrapping up in NYC at the Barclays.  The US Open for tennis begins tomorrow also in NYC.  Woo-hoo!  It's funny listening to the tennis commentators in the US Open preview show.  They all have their favorites and I have mine.  So, I guess it's all fair.  I will be watching my favorites, Sloane Stephens, Melanie Oudin, the Williams sisters, Marion Bartoli, Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova.   In the men's draw I'll be watching Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marcos Baghdatis, Roger Federer, Mardy Fish, John Isner, Donald Young, Tommy Haas and Nicolas Almagro.  It's so sad that Rafa is not playing.  Who will you be watching?

 

I start the pain (oops! I mean the pleasure) of getting back in shape with running and P90X.   I'll be posting more on the fitness front in the future.  Have a great Sunday!

Party on!

Do you ever have one of those days when you think, "I need a drink."  A glass of wine will do.  But a mixed drink is better.  I was supposed to meet friends from dinner after work.  Unfortunately, I was leaving work 10 minutes before our meeting time and I knew that I would run into traffic since there was a preseason football scheduled in the same part of town we were meeting for dinner.  So, I asked for a raincheck and headed home.  So, sad!  I could have toughed it out and meet them for drinks or dessert.  But at that point I just wanted to go home.  I hope that you had a good day and a better evening.  Tomorrow will be a better day!  Hmmm.  I never got that drink....

Back to Work

Hiking

Lazy Sunday

I spent a fun day meeting friends for brunch and having amazing crepes.  We all had variations of bacon or ham, brie cheese and eggs.  Gooey goodness, yum!  Then it was off to walk around the square for some window shopping.  We stopped at a bead shop that helps you make and finish projects!  Love them.  I re-created a bracelet that I purchased in the summer.  I really like both bracelets.  One is refined and the new one is very organic.  Both have a great mix of colors and stones that I love.  With all that hard work, it was decided that ice cream was in order.  And I indulged in one of my favorites - sweet cream and Oreo.  The remainder of the day was low key.  We made our very own dinner theatre with carry out and the movie, Whale Rider.  This movie still makes me tear up.  But it is a great movie of a young girl coming of age, tradition and realizing and appreciating the family that you have in front of you.  All in all a great day! 

Farmers Market

I love farmers' markets.  My favorites occur on a town square with lots of people milling about.  The food looks so scrumptious and juicy.  And people are generally happy and enjoying the day.  So, during a long weekend visiting friends in northern California, I will always suggest that we stop at the farmers' market.  It's a total win-win situation.  Great fresh food, support local businesses, spending time outside, meeting the neighbors and catching glimpses of kids having a ball.   

 I find that I am always cold when I visit northern California. The 25 degree F temperature difference might be part of my dilemma.  Regardless of the temperature, I always dress in layers.  Sometimes I feel a little ridiculous.  But I'd rather be warm; hence the layers.  The jacket is a closely resembles my Old Navy fleece from a few years ago. 

Travel day

Thursday

Tuesday

 

Today's OOTD.  My goal today was warm, breathable with a touch of color.  I am really in love with pencil skirts.  This may become my new signature piece.  I grew up as such a tomboy.  You would only find me in a skirt on Sundays and only for church.  But I really enjoy the flirty side of skirts.  And the lines of skirts are more flattering to my eye these days.  On a recent visit to my cousin (who only wears skirts and dresses), I starting wondering what my life would look like if I were to only wear skirts.   I was crushing on running skirts long before this visit.  And I am continually looking for ways to incorporate more dresses and skirts into my life.  I really love a good sheath dress.  So this may explain my fascination with a pencil skirt.  The shape and structure of a sheath on the bottom with more versatility in the upper half.   Mystery solved!  Do you have any favorite silhouettes or articles of clothing that you can not live without?

Climate Controlled Office Space

This is what I had to bring to the office to deal with the changing temperatures in my office space. It's cold in the mornings and warmer in the afternoons.  So, I play a little game that I call "musical layers."  I switch back and forth between the two toppers on the right.  Please share your ways of staying warm but fashionable in the ever-changing office. 

OOTD

I really love the pattern and colors of this sweater.  I believe that one should have a few go-to looks on hand for days when you feel uninspired or are short on time.  :-)  I have a problem picking out my clothes the night prior to wear.  I can't do it.  I have a mental block.  Then I panic because the weather forecast may change for the following day and what will I do then?  But the worse is just not liking what I chose.  That excuse does not fly, I love clothes.  And I pretty much love all of my clothes.  I just may not like how certain clothes look on me on any given day.  But that can happen in the night as well as in the morning.  Lol!  But I continually strive to choose my outfits ahead of time to shorten my morning routine.  Maybe if I choose my outfits one week at a time, this may take away some of the anxiety.

So let me pose a question.  When do you choose your daily outfits?

Begonia and Spice

OOTD.  I adore the Begonia print.  It was definitely love at first sight.   Now we are great friends. I love this outfit because it is light, airy and comfortable during a long work day.  How do you stay cool, professional and comfortable during a long work day?

Inspired - Leopard Cardigan

This set is inspired by the link below which was inspired by another polyvore link.  I decided to add a variation to the theme as depicted on the left.  But I can't decided which version on the right I prefer.  I'll have to try both versions in the upcoming weeks and let you know.  Which topper do you prefer the leopard cardigan or the Tessa top in safari cat?

Check out my inspiration - http://www.polyvore.com/inspired-leopard_cardigan/set?id=55217491

Grape Love - OOTD 8/3/12

Coral dreams

Lime and Khaki

OOTD inspired by the inset pic of the safari cat skirt.  I am also trying to wear some of the items that I have purchased recently before summer comes to a close.  I am doing a pretty good job now that I have an idea of how many items that have not been worn.  I posted a set on polyvore a collection of items purchased this summer that I have not worn.  My goal is to whittle this number down to nothing.  I'll keep you up-to-date.  Do you have any items in your closet that you were excited to purchase but do not have a place or occasion to wear this article of clothing.  Join me in finding new and inventive ways to utilize every item you own at least once or consider finding it a new home.

Tennis, anyone?

I attended a tennis tournament with my BF yesterday!  We spent a wonderful time catching up, people watching and trying not to burn in the sun.  It was her first tennis tourney, so I was able to share with her my love for tennis which dates back to the days of Andre Aggasi and Pete Sampras!  Those were the days!  I definitely had more interest in the men's side of tennis.  But the women are wonderful also.  Stefi Graf, Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati were awesome in their heyday.  I especially loved the quickness and cleverness of Martina Hingis.   The Williams sisters have always been a favorite of mine.  This tourney did not have such big names as there is another tourney in progress.  Maybe, you've heard of it - the 2012 Olympics!   All of my current faves are scheduled to play.  I need to catch up on the action there.  But it is always fun to see live tennis.  I hope that you had a great weekend. 

Fall Preview - 2012

Thoughts of cooler temps and fun clothes are calling my name.  I can't believe that the summer is halfway done.  But I still have a lot of summer fun planned.  I am just looking forward to the offerings of the fall season.  I'll need to take inventory of my closet and see what additions are needed.  ;-)

Happy Friday

Today's OOTD.  This is the closest item to the Anthropologie top that I have.  I really like this skirt.  It's a great color and very comfortable.  Happy Friday!

Too Darn Hot!

This is today's OOTD.  It was another 100 degree day.  This is the outfit that I chose to stay cool.  I am a little disappointed in the sweater.  My office gets cold (icebox cold) at times.  So another layer is always necessary.  I think that I would prefer my short-sleeved navy blazer instead of this sweater.  The blazer is more of a swing blazer than a fitted jacket.  The blazer is breathable and the sweater, not so much for triple digit weather.  What do you wear to stay cool and professional?

Afternoon at play

I will be attending a tennis match next week and I am thinking about dressier options.  This is just a dream because I hate being hot and dressed up (especially if I do not have to be dressed up).  But this may be a nice cool option.  But I don't think that pencil skirts, heels and bleachers are a good combination.  So this may have to wait for another day. 

Rainy Evening at a Gallery Opening

Saturday was a particularly rainy evening.  But it was also very warm.  So, I opted for a sleeveless dress with a wrap.  I never used the wrap as the gallery was very warm.  Hence, it never left the inside of my bag and I forgot to add it to this grouping.  The company was great.  The art was good.  And the wine was free.  A great night!

Sunday Brunch

Today's OOTD.  I spent the day catching up with friends.  We met for brunch and had excellent food at a local eatery known for it's popovers.  I still think that the jury is out for me on popovers.  I've made them before and I was not sure that I liked them.  Today's version was good.  But I think that I like more substance to my bread products.  We poked around in some shops and I picked up a cute vase.  A successful day!

Just another Wednesday

Loving Navy

I think that I will be returning to my one true love - the color navy.  There was a time when navy was my go to color.  Long before I realized that it was fashionable to where all black.  But I fell into the all-black trend with a vengeance.  Given that status of my social and love life at the time, black reflected my mood to a Tee.  But I was reading recently that navy is less harsh than black on certain skin tones.  And flipping through the fashion mags, it appears that navy is making a come-back!  I especially love navys that are so dark that they almost appear black.  Add that navy can be used as a neutral, is flattering on many people, and happens to be my favorite color.  I think that we have a winner for the wardrobe as I attempt to streamline my closet.  

Ideas for transition to fall

The cardigan is natural and not white in reality.

And the winner is...

And the winner is...

This is the top I opted for on this hot and sunny day.  I am gaining a new appreciation for a button-up shirt.    Navy is my favorite color.  So this outfit kept me pumped during the day.   Cool, comfortable and stylish.  What more could a girl want?

Bowling birthday party

Bowling birthday party

I'll be attending a bowling party.  Which top should I wear?  I am looking for something comfortable, stylish and cool (as in the temperature will be in the high 90's).  What do you think? 

Lemon, blue and white

camisole tank | petal top | Zara jacket | pencil skirt | Wedgwood Yellow butterfly teacup and saucer

Neutral and lilac

Neutral and lilac

Light colors

OOTD for today.  I decided to play with backgrounds and presentation.  I love the mix of colors in this blouse from the Limited.  It's a great shell and very comfortable for those warm summer days.  I anticipate getting a lot of mileage out of this blouse. 

Lazy Sunday

cotton shirt, chino shorts, cotton belt, Aerosoles Solitaire Denim Combo 

 Today is a strange day.  No power due to a recent storm.  And I'm in the middle of a fun sports watching weekend.  This is challenging without power. :-)  Luckily, it is middle Sunday for Wimbledon - no games.  And I'll follow the final round of the AT&T National golf tournament via twitter and updates on line when I am in Starbucks.  Thank God for Starbucks!  Otherwise, I'll be running errands and preparing for the work week.  My gym is open, so I'll get an afternoon workout there.  I walked this morning with my mom.  But I need to make add some strength training into the mix.  I hope everyone is staying cool. 

So, I have recently revamped my shoe collection due to not one but two foot injuries!  The first occurred while running and the second is a foot causalty from wearing too many of the same types of shoes.   So, I need more stylish flat and low-heeled options that look as good as heels.  This will the first in a series of OOTDs.  I love these denim loafers.  I love loafers in general.  But these are comfy and lined with a soft leather.  The top is a find from the J.Crew factory store while visiting the beach a few weeks ago.  The shorts are from last year series but this style is still available in great colors on the J.Crew website.  Blue and green make such a great combination.  I love the braided belt and the canvas - denim of the shoe that shouts summer!  Happy July 1st!

Paisley and gold

knit cardigan - petal top - bermuda shorts - leather sandals - yellow gold jewelry - plastic sunglasses

This is a variation on a theme.  It's amazing how happy this print make me.  It's very grown up and complex but very accessible.  Paisley seems to be everywhere these days!  The colors are gorgeous.  The colors are so dark that this puts me in the mind of a fall print.  This will transition into the fall.   I wonder how this will look with a pullover sweater.  Hmmm!  Preview of things to come. 

Too darn hot!

linen sweater - pants - handbag - teardrop jewelry - yellow gold jewelry - retro sunglasses - printed scarf

I am really loving bright greens for the summer.  I think that it is very refreshing and energizing.  White shorts are just quintessentially cool, in my opinion.  There is something about a white short that pulls a look together.  Add some accessories and viola!  One chic girl out enjoy what the world has to offer.   This is my outfit for dinner with my GF who is flying in to town.  We are having Indian food.  So this may not be ideal.  This white shirt and spaghetti sauce and you'll understand.  But I plan to live daringly.  The forecast is for too darn hot.  

Paisley short 1

Old Navy graphic tee, J.Crew bermuda shorts, J Crew canvas sneaker, Anthropologie genuine leather handbag, Dorothy Perkins gold bangle

Just another fun outfit for a casual afternoon running errands or catching up with friends.  I live for comfortable flats after a busy work week filled with heels of varying heights.  And a little arm jingle is nice for the weekends.  It's funny since I can't wear bracelets at work (I can, but I end up wearing only one or two at work).  I find myself taking off my bracelets during my time spent at the computer (80% of my time!).  So, taking off and putting on multiple bracelets during the work day just does not work for me.  So, fun bangles is a weekend treat for me.  How do you relax and keep things stylish?

Summer Lovin'

sweater - printed shorts - ballerina shoes - beach tote bag

Corsica | Rings | Julie Collection

Corsica | Rings | Julie Collection

Corsica | Rings | Julie Collection

Corsica | Rings | Julie Collection

First day of summer 2012

J Crew j crew cardigan, J Crew printed top, Linen pants

This is my OOTD for the first day of summer.  Not very imaginative.  But I was dressing for comfort - think scorching hot outdoors to freezing air-conditioned office space.  This outfit worked pretty well for both climates.  I adore the print on this blouse.  What did you do to celebrate the first day of summer?

Lovely Day - expanded

What a wonderful day!  I decided that a dress was in order rather than my usual uniform of pants, top and cardigan.  I have been crushing on the Elinor dress for a while but I have not had an opportunity to wear it until today.  The cardigan is also from J.Crew but from a few seasons ago.