Channeling Jenna Lyons

I'm beginning to think that Jenna Lyons (president and executive creative director at J. Crew, if you don't know) is my spirit woman. I'd say spirit animal but she's obviously not that. The woman knows how to dress and I've caught on... she seems to always pair her eye catching glasses with the perfect topper. A jacket. A coat. A blazer. A button up. The woman always has the perfect topper - be it simple or be it statement, it always looks perfect and very HER. I love how she looks classic even when she is wearing something very un-classic. I decided to switch that up and paired my very un-classic glasses with a classic topper...

Jeans: Old Navy [exact for $22]
Blazer: Apostrophe, Thrifted [love this tuxedo jacket for $32.90!]
Tunic Button Up: Worthington, JCPenney [polka-dotted J. Crew for $24.99!]
Shoes: Franco Sarto, Thrifted [similar in patent leather for $17.70!]
Eyewear: Zenni Optical #636024 [exact - just $19!]
Monogram Bracelet: c/o 9th & Elm [exact]

There's something so delightfully easy about black and white, a blazer and a button up, denim and oxfords. I'd love to say I'd like to "simplify" my closet and cut myself down to all black and white pieces... but a girl just needs some color in her life. I do, at least. These glasses are one of my favorite colorful pieces. I get a lot of questions when I wear them: Are they real? As in, do I have prescription lenses? Yes, most certainly. My driving is better for it. :) Do they glow in the dark? Har har, no. But I guess that would be pretty cool. Does the color hurt your eyes? Only first thing in the morning when I am half awake. Only slightly kidding. Some people love them, some seem horrified by them. It's cool. I fully realize neon green is not every person's cup of tea. (I dislike tea, for the record.)

My favorite piece of jewelry right now is this perfectly sized monogram bracelet that I picked up thanks to 9th & Elm. I've been admiring monogrammed pieces for a while now but was never sure what type of piece I would want to get monogrammed for myself. When I saw this bracelet I knew it was the piece I had been looking for - silver, small but not too small, and affordable. It works well worn alone and also stacked with other bracelets.

Can we have a keeping it blogger-style real moment, please? First of all, yep, my shirt is hella wrinkly. These photos were taken around 7pm after a full work day, a walk with my new puppy and plenty of playing with my puppy. Wrinkles happen, man. Second of all, my fiancé (engagement/wedding stuff is another planned post, I'm getting there... I swear) told me I was wearing this bracelet wrong and made me fix it before I took photos so that my monogram is facing anyone in front of me instead of facing me. I feel like it is strange to wear that way. Am I wrong? Please school me: how do you/would you wear a monogram bracelet? Am I silly for wearing it facing me?

Everybody, Everywhere: Colored Tights

Fashion blogger confession: I only own three pairs of colored tights. And I use "colored" as a loose term - I own this purple pair, a light grey pair and olive green sweater tights. They're very neutral with the exception of the purple. Colorful tights seem like a huge standard in the fashion blogging world. Prior to becoming a reader, I had never seen many "unusual" tights out and about. I thought I was pretty cool buying this purple pair 2+ years ago, but apparently I am still a freshman at colorful tight wearing. :)


Jacket: Arden B, Won in giveaway!
Tshirt: Old Navy, $7 (on sale)
Skirt: Worthington, JCPenney, OLD
Tights: Kohl's, OLD
Shoes: Steve Madden, Marshalls, OLD
Glasses: SEE Eyewear

After doing a bit of a closet cleanout/unpacking my winter items over last weekend, I have been making every attempt at wearing things I don't wear very often from my closet. To say that my closet is filled to the brim would be an understatement. I need to pare down more but I'm having a hard time letting things go. To rectify that, I am wearing pieces I don't wear very often to discover why and hopefully give some of them up.


This jacket is one of those items. I always get so many compliments on it when I wear it but I have a really hard time styling it. I think the color is what prevents me from wearing it often... it's hard to pair things with a metallic lilac color. Any ideas for me?


I was a little worried this might be purple overload when I put it together this morning but when I got told I looked "like a rockstar" at work that worry flew out the door. My work girls are good to me. :)


Check out the rest of the folks who styled up their colorful tights today! After checking just a few of them out so far, I am realizing I would love to add some rust, hunter green and mustard colored tights to my collection!

Post Halloween Layers

I think it goes without saying that today called for some serious loose layers. After all the junk I ate yesterday, I was in no mood to wear anything even remotely form fitting.


Blazer: Katie Mfg, Swapped, Free
Top: GAP, Thrifted, $3.80
Pants: Worthington, JCPenney, OLD
Boots: St. John's Bay, Thrifted, $4.60
Bracelet: Target, OLD
Glasses: SEE Eyewear


OK, so it wasn't the most flattering outfit ever but it worked considering it was ridiculously comfortable and I put it together within five minutes this morning. Remind me to never wait till the morning to get my outfit ready. It does not make for a very relaxing morning, to say the least.



I forgot to put this bracelet back on after taking a photo of it but this is the only jewelry I wore with my outfit today. Loose bangles are my favorite thing to wear.


This is my latest scarf find. I love the color, I love the size, and I love the lace. I can't find a tag on it and the stitching gives it the appearance that it is handmade... which has given me a few ideas to make similar models in different colors.


All in all, not exactly the most fashionable look but sometimes comfort wins over chic, am I right?

EBEW: Maxi

I have actually come to realize that I have quite a few maxis in my possession. I spent last night with all of them - trying on this with that and trying on that with this. I originally decided on a pretty, colorful look but when I woke up freezing this morning, I decided to switch it up to a heavier skirt. If you're a regular reader around these parts, I know you've seen this one before so I hope it doesn't bore you too much - I just love it so! (Don't worry, I put that other look away for a warmer day!)


Pink Tshirt: City Streets, JCPenney, $5 (sale)
Skirt: Juno, Thrifted@Salvation Army, $2.99
Belt: Alfani, Thrifted, $1
Black Flats: Diana Ferrari, Thrifted@Salvation Army, $3.75
Snake Bangle Watch: Studio Time (Buy it!), Kohls, Gift from my mom for Christmas (2010)
Necklace/Earrings: Avon, Gift from my aunt
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
I think that pink and grey together just look so fresh. It's still spring worthy but since the skirt is pretty thick (and actually a little heavy... there's a lot of fabric to this thing) it's perfect for a breezy spring day like today. I added some simple black flats just to keep the emphasis on the skirt and the colors. Though, to be honest, I never like the look of any shoes that I pair with this skirt. I wish I could walk around barefoot sometimes. Anyone else with me on this?


I love this belt. I always feel limited in wearing it with things but I'm trying to get over that. My boyfriend thought it looked strange because it's on an angle but I actually liked it that way. It adds a little funk. Can angles add funk? Or am I just a total grandma for saying that?


I made my mom buy me this for Christmas. Well, actually, it went down more like this: I picked it up. I said I loved it. She said put it in the cart, you're getting it for Christmas. I obeyed. This occurred on our annual Black Friday crazy-early-are-you-kidding-me-that-I'm-shopping-this-early Shopping Event of 2010. She's usually been up for zillions of hours when we do this (she works nights as a nurse) so this tends to work in my favor. Merry Christmas to me.


Finally, it's important to note that my boyfriend took these photos for me. He has since been given his pink slip due to including the corner of our grill in nearly every single shot - hence the smaller size of my photos today. Want to see a pretty funny outtake from today's photo session? Click on over to my facebook page and take a look... and while you're there, you might as well click the like button. :)