Outfit of (Yester)day Evening (Gogol Bordello Time!)

First things first.  It's Friday!  And I still don't feel very well because of this darn cold, and who knew that you could actually get hiccups and a sneezie attack at the same time?  I didn't know you could either, readers, until it happened to me this morning. And it wasn't the mild kind of half-hiccuping, either; it was the drunk-cartoon-mouse-so-painful-sort-of hiccuping, straight up; yes, for roughly 60 about minutes straight.  Achoo,  hiccup, achoo.  Apparently that's what I get for recently complaining about how my life is so boring and mundane, I guess. 

Anyway, I know I'm way  late here, but  I had had this bookmarked for a "Feel Good Friday" post for awhile now and have just now gotten around to posting it.  I could seriously sit and stare at this butterfly dress and coordinating shoes from the Alexander McQueen S/S 2011 collection for hours on end and never get sick of looking at them. Happy Friday, guys; it's time to feel good:

 

So pretty! Happy happy.  And perhaps, just maybe the only butterfly-embellished thing Mariah Carey could never ruin? Right?  Please don't test that theory out for us Mariah, okay?

So anyway in spite of still feeling puny, we had tickets for Gogol Bordello at the Boulder Theater last night; my sis and her husband came to town for it, too!  Because people from the Midwest love themselves some gypsy-punk, obviously.

We ate at Pasta Jay's on Pearl Street beforehand (ah so good, even if I couldn't really taste it) and the show itself rocked- it's always fun seeing a really energetic band, which Gogol Bordello most definitely is.  If you haven't heard of them but have seen the movie Everything is Illuminated (with Elijah Wood) the lead singer of Gogol Bordello is Eugene Hutz, who plays narrator/translator Alex in that movie.  And if you haven't heard of Gogol Bordello or seen Everything Is Illuminated....well then, yer missing out.

It was a good show!  Good times!  And in spite of our living room being momentarily and hastily back together (ignore the furniture marks on the carpet, it's getting ripped out anyway) this is what I wore:

Jacket: LaRok Luxe Cute Cadet Jacket (buy it here, on sale!) (& a very similar style here by Free People)

Jeans: (buy them here) (similar style here at AE, on sale)

Boots: Frye Fionas (similar style here, 25% off today only) (and here)

Belt: J Crew (similar style here)

Bracelet: Target (similar style here)

Ring: Charlotte Russe (couldn't find anything similar, but love this!)

Scarf: Express (buy it here + take 20% off!)

Bag: Chloe Marcie Metallic Hobo (similar style here) (and here) (and here) (love this in wine, and it still has that "textured" feel)

Sad Clown Face (only worn in first pic): The Sad Clown Face Store, which is conveniently riiiight next to the pet store in the mall

Also! I had been hunting high and low for a faux fur stole that wouldn't swallow my neck, and I was  beyond happy when I found this fur scarf at Express (on sale, no less, and an additional 20% off!); it's soft, not too bulky, and tucks neatly into all of my jackets. The weather was a bit chilly last night, and the scarf helped to keep me warm.

And last but not least, here's the current nail polish color that I'm loving:

I tried to get a good, close shot, but it wasn't happening.  Hm.  Anyway, I've been layering Paul and Joe's Sonata (a clear-to-caramel polish with tiny bronze sparkles) over Butter London's All Hail McQueen (a  dark gray-taupe polish that also leans a bit towards purple) and loving it!

In real life, not blog picture life, it's a deeper hue and makes my fingerails look gilded and  slightly foiled instead of glittery. I'm preeeetty darn pleased with myself for figuring this out, I might have even gave myself a pat-pat-pat-on-the-back or two, and just thought I'd share.  Sonata is a limited edition color,so you bet your buns I'm hoarding it; perhaps stashed along with the plastic pen caps, empty food wrappers, headless Hide-a-Squirrels, and satellite phone that Petunia already has squirreled away (ha!) in our lower rec room, underneath the sofa, for when the apocalypse strikes in 2012.

I also tried my very hardest to get Petunia a spot for next season for TLC's hit dramedy sitcom Hoarders, as she clearly needs an intervention with the weird shit she keeps and hides and refuses to throw out, but have yet to hear back.

Will keep you updated.

Have a good weekend and (if I don't make another post before then) Happy Halloween, guys!

Outfit Of The (Sick) Day

Okay, I'm not really wearing this today.  Right now I'm wearing my pajamas, bunny slippers, kleenex shoved up my nose, and a blanket wrapped full of chihuahuas.  But I'm behind on outfit postings and the jacket I'm wearing here is on super-sale today, so. 

Let's pretend!

Hooray for super duper bad head colds & company coming into town tomorrow; pretty sure they're about to drag me around Weekend-at-Bernie's style:

Blazer: Banana Republic Briana Jacket (buy it here + take 30% off with code "BROCT30", today only)

 Tank: Target (buy it here)

Jeans: GAP (buy them here) (similar style here at AE, on sale)

Shoes: Christian Louboutin Gres' 70 Jute Pumps (bought them here) (similar style here) (and here)

Purse: J Crew Galaxy Bag (buy it here) (love this badgley mischka sequin bag) (and this one by BCBG, too)

Necklace: Old Ann Taylor (similar style here, on sale)

(Psst- I also wore the blazer here, and the Target cami here, for some more styling ideas!)

Outfit Of The Day (Here, Kitten Kitten)

I've always been slightly fascinated with fun shoes; for me, throwing on a cool pair can instantly take a bland outfit from boring to a whole lotta somethin' else.  If I had good feet, not wrecked and ruined by poor genetics and arthritis and running, no doubt I would be constantly tottering in something tall, high, and slightly insane; but as I've gotten older I have unfortunately had to...cue musical soundtrack of dread...whittle my heel heights down. 

It isn't fun doing this, this lowering of heel heights so I can walk properly and not kill myself,  Just the mere thought of this makes me instantly have flashbacks to being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Chloe and staring in horror at my mom's shoes as she said, "Oh, just you wait until you get older..." as she slipped on some sort of white sneaker shoe fashioned with orthotics each morning before she'd head to work.

Ohhhh I waited, mom.  And I'm older!

(And....arrrrgh, ugh. I now totally get it.)

Don't get me wrong here readers; I still teeter-totter in high heels when I can, especially if they have platforms.  My Dior Lolita booties became my summer favorite as they were comfortable, mysteriously easy to walk in, and oh yes- made me a very normal 5'7" tall. 

But as it happens, I am discovering that these types of shoes, shoes like the Diors that are super duper high, comfortable, and don't make you walk all stiff and awkward like a Tyrannosaurus Rex that took too much cherry-flavored cold medicine, that is- are also quite difficult to find. 

And, well, too-doo-loo let's be honest here, I'm married and who cares if the heels I'm wearing are .5 inches or 5 inches?  Exactly.  No one!  No one cares, Husband isn't going to divorce me 'cuz my shoe height is too low, and so more and more I've been eschewing super-style over comfort and going for the smaller heels.

Which I think is the likely predicament with kitten heels. In spite of the cute name they seem to have a bad rap in the world of fashion; it's as if by choosing something comfortable we are by default violating one of the 10 Holy Commandments of High Fashion (thou shalt be in some sort of pain at all times, whether by high shoes or ill-fitting, body-sucking-in undergarments cheerfully named "Spanx") and something comfortable simply can't be pretty, cute, or stylish.  

(I pity the fool that's not fooling anybody, you sequined sweatpants!)

Just do a quick Google search for "kitten heels fall 2010" and you will see a mixed bag of  varying reactions; most fashion mags are screaming "NO!" while the commenters are screaming "HURRAH!"  It's as if those two adjectives, "comfort" and "style", absolutely cannot belong together in the same sentence as it will make Anna Wintour's head explode, or her perfectly-coiffed bob frizz out, or women not have to walk barefoot on the scuzzy streets of Vegas anymore after they are forced take their  5" heels off because they just can't stand the pain anymore (but ew!  carry flats inside your purse to change into, girls!) or something exactly that awful will happen l so don't even go there dude; yes, I just dropped a dude.

To that I say- come on!  Not true! I personally think that kitten heels can be stylish and hey- even hot.

And when I first saw these Valentinos shimmying down the runway for Fall/Winter 2010, I died a little inside:

And when it came time to make a birthday splurge on a fun pair of fall/winter shoes that would be comfortable & go with everything, well, yes.  I am now totally dead:

(and then I ran to quickly take pictures of the pretty shoes while  looking all thoughtful, moony, and dreamy-eyed)
(or like I had too many beans for breakfast)
(wearing: Elevenses Dollhouse Jacket - on sale;  Forever 21 jeans - similar style here)
(shoes: Valentino Kitten Heel pumps)

Although I will note that while Neiman Marcus describes them as "kitten heels" at 2.75 inches, I generally think kitten heels are a little lower.  But still- they are an extremely comfortable 2.75 inches (or 2.5" with a 1/4" platform by my measuring tape) and I kind-of-sort-of never want to take them back off.  Hooray for little heels; suddenly this getting older business isn't looking so bad.

And a few articles to check out on kitten heels & the power of shoes: 

• 13 Fantastic Kitten Heels For Fall - seechloeshop.com, October 2010
• The Return of Kitten Heels - Harper's Bazaar Online, August 2010
• Can Kitten Heels Heal Our Two Shoe Dilemma? - stylite.com, March 2010
• Understanding Lust: Why Shoes? - jezebel.com, June 2010
• Short Story - theglamourai.com, June 2010

What do you guys think?  Yay or nay to the kittens? Share in the comments!

Happy Anniversary!

To Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey!

Oops.  I mean, um, my twin sister Stevie and her husband, Jason!

Celebrating eight long years of championing gay rights in South Dakota by being the only gay couple to get ever get married in that state!

Okay well yes, technically they weren't 'cuz last I checked, Stevie and Jason aren't of the same gender (which I imagine is likely an important component in such as thing as gay marriage) (and oh yeah- gay marriage will also NEVER be legal there, sadly) but that didn't stop one Argus Leader, the only newspaper in town, from still putting Jason as marrying Steve (also known...as my dad) in the wedding announcements.

Aw-sum. Makes me cry happy tears whenever I think of it.

In all seriousness, Stev(i)e and Jason's wedding will always be probably one of my favorite things in life; my parents had put our childhood home up for sale and at the time the economy was aw-ful, so who knew the next door neighbors wanted to buy it and would put an offer on it within 6 hours of the "FOR SALE" sign going up?  Stevie wanted to get married in my mom's garden, which had a little pond and gazebo, so in the midst of scrambling to move we threw everything down and had a late October wedding.  It was planned in about four weeks, and one of the very final  (good!) memories from the home we lived in for 20+ years.

Big congrats, you two!

(PS- remember my Aunt Clara?  That is her car in the photo, a little black Austin Healey Sprite; one more attestation to her her uber-coolness as if there possibly needed to be anymore.) (also why I'm happy to have my own little convertible myself, even if I can't be in the sun and can only drop the top at 11pm at night.) (oh specifics.)

Outfit Of The Day (The Usual Suspect)

I've really dropped off the Outfit Of The Day bandwagon at the moment, readers, mostly because my spot where I snap them is still in total ruins. I could find another spot  (put myself back in the closet, I suppose, for readers that have been here longer than 12 months?  move outdoors?) but the last time I did that I ended up staring down a bicyclist at 7 in the morning and feeling a little odd as he circled around me. I wanted to know what he was doing (bicycling? exercise? in the morning? who does that?), he wanted to know what I was doing (taking pictures of herself? who does that?), there was a lot of suspicious shifty-side-eyeballing, and...that was that.

Kudos to the fashion bloggers that manage to snap their pictures in fabulous locations without feeling self-conscious; typically those bloggers that live in fashiony-places like New York City and California where I suppose picture taking with a professional-photographer-boyfriend trailing behind you ain't no thang.

Coloradans, however, are different.  Coloradans suspect things, and when they suspect things they end up calling into their local news stations for stories  like this.  Or this (see? we even suspect things that happen in Miami).  Even the moose suspect things. I bet Mondo's neighbors probably suspect things (suspect that he's going to win Project Runway, that is- yeah buddy!) and when I told Husband I was going to find a photographer boyfriend to follow me around he got all suspicious too, geez.

This is likely why I enjoy The Fashion Blogging as I do.  Without it, I'd likely be rolling around in the local boutique that sells 110 varieties of rhinestone-bedazzled-cowboy-boots and be none the wiser, the horror!

And well, perhaps the biggest reason why I haven't been Outfit-Of-The-Daying lately: I feel all out of sorts without my crooked-rose-picture-security-blanket in the background. It just isn't the same. :(

So anyway - on to the outfit!  I meant to blog about these boots a few weeks ago, but it's still been way too warm here most days to wear 'em.  They're by Michael Antonio and currently on sale for $60 (through tonight!) at Piperlime, and the perfect little replacement if, like me, you missed out on the fabulous Ash Ono's last year (that you can see the very pretty Tiffany rockin' here).  I enjoy cuffed boots because I have freakishly little calves that make nearly any boot I wear appear ridiculous and galosh-ish; cuffed boots are supposed to look that way, so no one is none the wiser.

I ordered a half size up and probably could have even done a full-size up; $60 boots are never the comfiest boots ever, so if you have wider feet or if a higher heel bugs you, definitely order up so you can shove some Foot Petals or a Dr. Scholls insole inside.

All in all I do love them, though, and hiiiighly recommend.

I've also been recently obsessed with buying cheap Jessica Simpson Collection hats on Ebay.  Before you you judge, take a look at her recent hat collection- and when you can find them for a mere $20 (with shipping!), why the heck not?  They also fit my abnormally huge head, awesome.
 

The three-blade ceiling fan and yellow ladder makes for a stunning backdrop here, don't you think?

Hat: Jessica Simpson Collection (buy it here) (love this, too!)
Cardigan: Madewell Sparkle Cardigan (buy it here) (similar style here)
Tank: Target (similar style here) (and here)
Jeans: Forever 21 (similar style here) (and here)
Boots: Michael Antonio Okal Boots (buy them here) (comes in gray here!)
Necklace: Forever 21 (similar style here) (and here)
Belt: J Crew (buy it here - on sale!)

Chloe's Capacious Closet (She's Buying The Escalator To Heaven-en-en-en)

Ohhh, I am going to be so happy when this remodel business is done.  We have a long ways to go- carpet is going buh-bye (thank goodness!), wood floors will be installed, trim is being painted white, and the staircase I am now standing in front of is going to be replaced by an escalator.

Of course, that is if I can actually find an escalator. I mean, I know- they're not that hard to come by, you all are likely saying to yourselves, but I was hoping for something in a nice ochre with some plaid worked in between, along with railings that have a laser light show set to the musical score of the Lion King and, well-  apparently that kind is. 

In the meanwhile, we will just have to deal with more bad pictures of me shot in the corner; the only spot where there isn't a ladder or tarp or disheveled lamp/ceiling fan/sofa/chihuahua.  This corner is also  (obviously) right where I'm planning on putting my favorite Beyonce cardboard cut out.  And a sofa.  It is a living room, after all guys, geez.

(look for my book, Gosh Darn Dastardly Decor, to be out soon.)

On to the outfit!  I actually decided to remix the Target cami a few ways (I'll have another look tomorrow!) in case any of you have it, or want to have it, or just like seeing me wear the same thing over and over again.  A few asked about sizing in my last post and it definitely fits big- I'm wearing a size larger than normal because it's all they had, which works well for tucking and layering but not so well for wearing it by itself.

The cami can appear to be very "spring-y" due to the light floral print, so I've been having fun pairing it with darker, heavier fall colors and fabrics to help make it look like I'm not about to hit up an awesome Easter brunch buffet:

Blazer: Cartonnier from Anthropologie (similar style here) (and here) (and here!)

Tank: Xhilaration at Target (buy it here) (comes in solid colors, too!)

Jeans: Gap (buy them here + take 25% off with code "GAPSAVE25") (similar style here)

Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar style here, on sale!) (and love this necklace at Charlotte Russe, too)

Heels: J Crew Perfectly Patent Pumps (similar style here) (and here)

Purse: Mulberry for Target Velvet/Patent Satchel (similar style here) (and a splurge!) (and the original)

Outfit Of The Day (Maximum in Cozy)

Woohoo, and back.  Husband and I snuck off to Steamboat Springs for the weekend, which is probably one of my favorite things that we do every year.  Since neither of us ski (or hike, or fish, or do anything outdoors except squint and burn in the sun) we go up during the mud season, which is right now.  It's just you and the locals and not much else except (typically) cool, drizzly, rainy weather perfect for taking it easy.  And getting cozy.  You know- in front of a fireplace and/or big hotel room TV.  *thumbs up*

Unfortunately, I opted to not bring my camera this time, as I've lugged it up the past few years for not much of anything. By the time we typically get to Steamboat, the pretty leaves have mostly blown off the trees and the threat of winter looms over Mt. Werner, a dark cloud full of sadness and murky and cold.  

But hey, what do you know?  With the warmer weather we've had lately, apparently the leaves decided not to uh, leaf (ha ha, haaa) and I was stunned to see most still attached to the trees!  

And oh, the  bright yellow and orange and red, peppered in between the dark green of the pine trees!  It was probably the prettiest thing I have ever seen, and...and...and...I had no camera to capture it.  Maybe one of these days I'll draw a fantastic drawing recreating it all, but I need to remember where I put my big important box of Crayloa crayons, first.

Anyway, on to the outfit!  I think one of the stranger trends emerging for Fall/Winter 2010 is the maxi dress and/or longer skirt trend.  We typically think of this for summer,  yes?  Flowy, floor-skimming pieces so we can swish-swish-swish around elegantly in the heat.

But in cold, snowy weather?  Ehhh, I'm not a fan, truthfully, mostly because the thought of getting snow, dirt, mud, and mag chloride on something I'm wearing sounds kind of not awesome.  I know, shocking. 

But for the cooler weather now sans snow I decided to give it a try; finding a cheap skirt at Forever 21 helped too, of course. This is cozy and also has a slight trumpet shape, making it super easy to walk around in.  Or at least it makes it easier for me to walk around in without getting jumbled up; the looser the better.

And I also know that this outfit totally negates everything I chattered about here, but sometimes comfort trumps all, especially if you've just gotten back from a weekend bender full of  good food (Winona's cinnamon rolls!  Pizza from Soda Creek!  Bbq at Double Z's!).  I'm not tucking anything in today (or tomorrow, or this week, or this month), nooo thank you.

But so worth it:

Cardigan: Urban Outfitters BDG Shawl Collar Cardi (buy it here) (similar style here for $20 less)

Tank: Banana Republic Outlet (similar style here)

Skirt: Forever 21 (buy it here) (similar style here, on sale for $10!) (and here)

Belt: American Eagle Outfitters (similar style here)

Flats: Miu Miu (buy them here)  (similar style here, on sale) (and here) (love these, too & on sale!)

Purse: Chloe Metallic Marcie hobo (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here) (and here)

Ring: awesome b-day gift from the even more awesome Rosa!

Spill it-  what do you think of the maxi dress/skirt trend for fall & winter? Will you be trying it out? Share in the comments!  ♥

Outfit Of The Day (A Disaster!)

Okay, it's not really a disaster, but our living room is officially torn apart from the painting.  And it's a big mess!  Huge!

And readers?  It's also dangerous. 

Yesterday, when upon hitting random buttons like I do for lights to turn on (you know, if you keep hitting the row of them, eventually the one you want will pop on?  after 20 tries?) I heard a "whirl, whirl, whirl."

I didn't think too much about it at first; it was a pretty standard "whirl" as far as "whirls" go, but it  quickly ramped up into, "WHIRL, WHIRL, WHIRL, WHIRL, WHIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRL!!!!!!!!!!!!" and I realized that oh, oh no- I had accidentally hit the switch to our 3-blade ceiling fan, turning it on!

Which isn't too big a deal normally, aren't we supposed to turn ceiling fans on?  Except our ceiling fan actually used to have 4-blades.   It had 4-blades until Husband knocked one off while painting last weekend, that is.

Our ceiling fan also hangs from a long, skinny pole from the vaulted ceiling, which allowed for it to work up a good, violent, lopsided wobble as it whirled.  In fact, it was whirling and whobbling so hard that I was pretty sure it was going to whiiiiirrrrl right out from up above and hit me, extra i's and r's and exclamation points and all. 

I managed to run for the switch to punch it back off (thankfully getting THAT switch right on the first try), no damage done.  But hey, it's stuff like that that reminds us that we probably shouldn't take life for granted, right?

Danger!  It gets the old heart racing! 

I think it's important to have an experience such as that every day.  And how will this lesson happen  for me today, you ask?  Will I try to kill that feisty wasp in our bedroom while wobbling around in my 5.5" Miu Miu clogs?  Perhaps have a flat iron and hairspray mishap? Or accidental food poisoning off of my fruit smoothie?  One can only guess, readers; one can only guess.

I lead a very dangerous life here.

Jacket: J Crew Silk Safari Blazer (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here, on sale!) (and here)
Tank: Target (buy it here - fits big!)
Skirt: J Crew Felted Wool Mini (buy it here) (and this is a cute option in a similar hue)
Necklaces: Ann Taylor (similar style here), Forever 21 (similar style here)
Shoes: J Crew Perfectly Patent Pumps (similar style here) (and in mary janes!) (similar style here)
Bag: Chloe Marcie Crossbody (buy it here, but different color) (similar style here) (and here, on sale!)

Song of the day:

Have a good weekend, guys!

Happy Birthday To My ...

...my twin!

As twins, as two people that have spent a ridiculously long amount of time together (some of it forced, some of it not, even if she did hog all the space in the womb) you learn a lot of quirky things about life. We know that...

...life isn't much fun if you're the only one in the stroller with your hoodie yanked tight around your head so you look like a total dweeb.  

(because if you're a twin, there's two of you!  two to look like total dweebs together, you'll never be in dweebdom alone! wee, fun!)

(see?)

 ('kay mom, you look pretty proud of yourself and I'm seeing a pattern here)

...we also know that life isn't very awesome if you have to take your Outfit Of The Day shots perched delicately on a sponge-painted stool by yourself with your sister creeping in to give her best sad-clown-face...

(that's Stevie on the stool, by the way.  I wrecked her lucrative fashion blogging career before it even launched)

(also, I'm totally adding an ornately artistic sponge-painted stool to my daily photos A-SAP!)

...and we also know that life wouldn't be complete if you, Rainbow Brite, never got the chance to hone your coy and demure acting skills while seeing your twin sister, Cabbage Patch Doll, head out Trick or Treating in a homemade  costume that includes a note pinned to the front of her WRITTEN in HER MOM'S HANDWRITING FOR SOMEONE to PLEASE, FIND HER A GOOD HOME.

 

(MOM!!!!!)

(But do you see me looking away, not making eye contact with the camera?  That's right, I knew what was going on, and my eyeballs were drifting day-dreamingly away in this photo as I thought about only child-dom and taking over her Barbie dolls- all of them!)  (And her hamster, too!!)

 

And last, but not least, we know that it's always important to never be alone while doing dangerous things.  Especially on that really, really scary ride at Worlds Of Fun, because then who would trump you on the"ohshitwe'rereallygonnaDIE!" face department as you were certain your short life was going to end on Captain Whirly Kurly Kangaroo's Krazy Ride?

No one, that's who.  

And that's not nearly as funny.

(I have no clue which is which.  Does it really matter here?)

More photos of us making dumb faces!

And again!

And again again again!

(And I apparently get my day-dreamy acting chops from my Gramma, see fourth photo up starring Raggedy Ann and the lead singer of Paramore)

And more dumb faces.  Okay...that's just me.




Happy Birthday, Stevie! ♥

Outfit Of The Saturday (Shopping, Shopping)

So this past weekend was a bit of a busy one; my niece's birthday falls right around mine (it's actually flipped - mine is the 12th, hers is the 21st- fun, hm?) and my mother-in-law will often take her on a mini shopping spree to celebrate.  I got to happily tag along this time, and I had a lot of fun!

My niece has an innate sense of style at the age of almost-12 that nearly makes me jealous (at that age, I had NO clue how to dress myself, as the pictures from back then awkwardly, awkwardly show) and she is a mini fashionista in the making.  She even managed to grab a very pretty cream lace-and-ruffly skinny scarf that I also had to get, as it was just the thing I was looking for to "girlie-up" some of my military coats and jackets.

We wandered the mall (I had my 15% off birthday coupon from Anthropologie in tow and found nothing, of course- doesn't it always go that way?) and ended the day at Super Target. Yay, Target- both my niece and my mother-in-law are two girls after my own heart. It was a great day, and since I know both read this blog- thanks Q & mother-in-law, for letting me tag along!  ♥

I wore a version of this outfit (with my Marcie instead so I could tuck flats inside, and my Louboutin Jute peep-toes since I figured with the snow about to fly, it'd probably be their last outing):

Blazer: Banana Republic Briana Blazer (buy it here + 25% off with code "BREVENT25") (similar style here)

Top: J Crew Chiffon Cecelia Cami (buy it here + 20% off with code "SHOPFALL") (this Target tank also looks fun underneath, look for it here soon!)

 Jeans: GAP Leggings (buy them here) (similar style here for $16.90)

Belt/Sash: J Crew (buy it here, on sale)

Bag: J Crew Galaxy Purse (buy it here) (similar style here)

Shoes: J Crew Perfectly Patent Pumps (similar style here) (and here)

(PS- because I'm getting a few emails about sizing for the blazer: I found it ran big and originally tried it in my usual XSP; but I decided to swap it for an XXSP which is what gives the blazer a more fitted shape.   It's a really nice, cozy sweater material that is strrrretchy, so definitely consider sizing down if you want it to be more on the "fitted" side! Alterations Needed also did a great review on it today, too! ♥)

Outfit Of The Day (Lazy Sunday)

Brrr, readers!  Brrrrr. We realized earlier this summer that our furnace had gone out, but in our typical fashion we didn't remember to do anything about it today, as it's now 60 degrees in here and...falling.  Oopsies.

So I might be sitting here right now in my old standard for keeping warm--my 2-year old and well-worn Ugg Cardy's, with Petunia sitting on top for added heat because her belly is like a furry little volcano.

Shhh, don't tell:

 Top: Banana Republic Veronica Cowlneck (buy it here- love it, it's super soft & comfy + take 25% off $100+ with code "BREVENT25" through 10-11)

Jeans: GAP Jeggings (buy them here, I'm wearing the petite inseam)

Boots: Rachel Rachel Roy Nita Heels (buy them here)

Necklace: Urban Outfitters (similar style here) (also pretty, pretty)

Bag: Chloe Metallic Marcie Hobo (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here)

And because I realize I've never taken detailed shots of the Marcie and/or properly introduced her, here we go:

While I'm not a "details" sort of person (I don't really care what a purse is lined in, as long as it does its job) I have to say that this bag has the best lining!  It's a really neat, dirty/brownish olive hue, which I think is fun against the coppery-silvery metallic threading and gold hardware on the bag.  Chloe handbags will probably always be my vice; not just because of the name, but because they get even better with wear. They really do! And I'm not quite sure how it happens.   But boy do I need it, because I wear my handbags out.  I believe in using & (gentle) abusing; it'd probably even make some of you cry.  (But we'll save that for a future post, hm?)

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!  I'll be back with another Outfit Of The Day & details of what I did this weekend tomorrow!  ♥

Outfit Of The Day (You Are A Special Snowflake, Just Like Kanye West, Snoopy, and Mother Teresa Everybody Else)

Or, so I've heard.

Sorry for the lack of outfit updates lately- with our living/sitting room now ripped apart and half-painted (high walls and vaulted ceilings, curses!) (I'm just glad I don't have to be on the ladder)? I haven't  exactly been a picture of motivation.

The weather here is still quite toasty too, which means that I also haven't been able to take any of my fall goodies out to play yet, and so it's left me feeling pretty darn uninspired. I did, however, originally snap pictures of the outfit I'm wearing below last week, took one look and ripped it back off, and then decided to re-work it and snap it again yesterday to make it a case of proportions.

You see, as most of you know, I'm pretty little.  Petite, I suppose, at 5'2".  And not a good petite either- I'm more like a Barbie Fashion Plate from the 80's, you know, where you could mix and match the head, torso, and legs?  Except I had a slightly demented child in charge of mine and so I'm slightly awry; it's like my legs got swapped with Skipper's and my upper torso got swapped with Ken's.  How's that for a pretty picture?  (but at least my head didn't end up upside down, so I'm counting myself lucky- it's important to always look on the bright side, readers; always look on the brightside)

So the trick for someone like me, someone with ridiculously short legs and a long torso, is to be very, very careful on how we mix things top to bottom.  Tunics?  Can't do 'em.  Low-rise jeans?  Huge no-way either.  It only makes the lower half of me look all the shorter and more freakishly out-of-proportion.

I always like to think about basketball players for this example. Let's look at an old photo from back in the day, when basketball players were taller, giants almost.  HUGE!

(And they were probably awesomer back then, too:)

And let's look at the reeeeally short basketball players we have now:

Did you know that according to the ever-so-reliable-that-I'd-totally-use-it-if-I-were-still-in-school-for-all-my-research WikiAnswers, the average height of a professional basketball player in the 60's was  only 12 inches?

(orrrrrr 6'2", but psssh- who would believe that?)

And the average height of a basketball player now is, drumroll please...6'6"!

So they're actually taller! But they look all the shorter because of the long shorts that are now a staple on nearly every basketball court in  the world. It's about proportions, people; they definitely can trick the eye, and it's also why I have the worst time watching Husband's 6th grade basketball team play because their uniforms are all out of wack and it FREAKS, ME, OUT.

When you focus on elongating your legs in your outfits, you look taller- and it can be fairly easy to do as long as you know a few tricks:

1. stick with higher-waisted jeans
2. seek shorter hemlines (if you're comfortable) for your dresses, skirts, and shorts
3. avoid booties or sandals that chop you off right at the ankle
4. make sure to tuck blouses and camisoles in if they're too long
5. belt longer cardigans around the waist to draw the eye upward
6. and the most important one of all, the one everyone should always follow but it always seems to be overlooked- be born to a set of parents that clock in taller than 5'5"

See?  Easy-peasy.

Here's the outfit, first attempt:

It's not awful, but it's not exactly awesome, either.  It looks sloppy, right?

So here it is again, tucked in and with a chihuahua added for important visual interest:

Cardigan: Madewell Sparkle Cardigan (buy it here; color I'm wearing is no longer available) (similar style here) (and here)

Tank: J Crew Chiffon Cecelia Tank (buy it here) (similar style here)

Skirt: J Crew Mica Mini (similar style here) (and here)

Shoes: Target (buy them here)

Bag: J Crew Galaxy Purse (buy it here) (similar style here) (and here for under $50)

Chihuahua: Mexico (similar style here)

See?  Much better, even if the outfit in general makes me look like I'm about 2 seconds away from hopping in my minivan to take Kitty and Petunia to soccer practice. It was comfy, 'KAY?

It really is one of the better things about fashion blogging, I think, figuring this stuff out- how to dress yourself the right way.  Pictures almost never lie, and we all know that if someone wanders around dressed incorrectly and looking all long-torsoed and short-legged that that person will never find a husband to love and marry and the entire world will burst into flames.

Thank you, thank you, you are all my special little snowflakes, class dismissed.

What is a "valuable" fashion tip that you've learned recently and/or always adhere to?  Share in the comments!