Outfit Of The Days (Gobble Gobble Gobble)

Did you guys have a good Thanksgiving? Good! I did too. I mean, I don't think there can be such a thing as a bad Thanksgiving, unless you are a turkey (oops) and/or me 3 years ago, when I had the Chillness Illness That Brought Everything To a Standstillness, that ended with me eating barely-defrosted beef stew in a crockpot by myself at 9pm at night. 

(Some of you long-time readers might remember that I also gave everyone in my household the Chillness Illness That Brought Everything To a Standstillness Part 2 for Christmas that very same year.  It was the only year we all lost weight over the holidays, and I am still waiting patiently by the mailbox for the Thank You cards. I saved you people a whole month (or six) of blood, sweat, and toil at the gym! You are welcome, family.  Very welcome.)

(Also, the poorly executed rhyme above has been brought to you by Rhymer by WriteExpress...because I almost went with "Limekiln-ness" instead of "Standstillness" and gosh that would have been awkward, huh?) (And possibly a little scary, too.)

Here's what I wore to gorge myself on Turkey day. Can you see the blank stare in my eyes?  Some people (me!) like to call that tryptophan trance, oh boy:

 Top: Coast Estelle Blouse (buy it here at ASOS) (similar here) (similar at GAP)

Skirt: ASOS (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS) (similar at F21) (long version here)

Belt: J Crew Factory (similar here) (similar here)

Necklace: Old Ann taylor (similar here + take 50% off) (similar here at ASOS) (similar here + take 50% off)

Flats: Miu Miu Bejeweled Flats (similar here, under $100) (similar here) (love these, too!)

Ring: House of Harlow Antler Ring (buy it here + take 20% off with code "HUGECYBER")

Purse: DVF Harper Clutch (similar style here)

Coat: Rory Beca Moss Jacket (buy it here) (similar here for $50) (and similar at F21)

And two more outfits, too:

Jacket: Parker Bugle Bead Jacket (buy it here) (similar at F21)

Tank: Old Banana Republic (similar here)

Scarf: ASOS (buy it here, on sale!)

Pants: Old Madewell (similar here) (and here in mustard) (and here)

Necklace: J Crew (similar here)

Ring: H&M (similar here) (and here)

Watch: Michael Kors Oversized Runway in Rosegold (similar here) (and here for under $150)

Shoes: J Crew Perfect Patent Pumps (similar here) (and here on sale)

Bag: Chanel Crackled Patent Camel Classic Flap (similar here) (and here by DKNY) (and here for under $100)

Jacket: Nordstrom (similar here) (similar at F21)

Blouse: J Crew Talitha Blouse (buy it here)

Belt: J Crew (similar here for $14) (similar here for $9)

Skirt: J Crew Felted Wool Mini (similar here)

Necklace: Ann Taylor (buy it here) (similar here for under $20)

Bracelet: GAP (similar here) (similar here for  under $20)

Ring: Banana Republic Tigers Eye Ring (buy it here) (similar style here)

Shoes: J Crew Valentina Pumps in Vibrant Coral (buy them here) (similar here for under $100) (and a splurge by Miu Miu)

Bag: Tory Burch 797 clutch (buy it here, on sale)

See Chloe Shop (Happening Today - Cyber Monday)

{take up to $100 off on your entire order at endless.com - today only!}

Good Monday morning, you guys!  It's officially Cyber Monday, which means nearly every single retailer out there is offering some sort of insane sale today, and I've added over 30 new sales so far today for retailers like ASOS, Bath and Body Works, Endless (up to $100 off!), The Limited (50% off + free shipping on all orders), Kohl's (20% off + free shipping on all orders), Bloomingdale's ($50 off on orders of $250+), Neiman Marcus (gift card event - earn up to $500), Saks Fifth Avenue (new designer markdowns), Theory (30% off + free shipping on all orders), Ann Taylor (50% off sitewide, today only), and lots more--there are over 70 sales/retailers on the list!

And don't forget--nearly every single sale on the list is also ending tonight, so hit them up while you still can...

READ MORE >>   

Outfit Of The Day (Five Ways Of Fun + Finding Inspiration In Fashion Blogging)

Why do you love fashion blogging?

This question has popped into my head a few different times as of late, for whatever reason, and isn't it important to stop and think about things..especially if they keep popping up in your fluffy, fluffy head?

You know, to really ponder the important questions; even if it's over complicated things like liking or not liking fashion blogging, and if a shirtless Ryan Gosling fell in the forest would Lassie come back to life to save him (of course), and MAD MEN, HEY, WHERE THE GOSH DARN ARE YOU?  (Come baaack.)

I know why I like fashion blogging--it has been really neat meeting a whole new group of girls from all over the US that share similar interests as me that I would never otherwise have met. It has even been neat meeting people here in Colorado that I, all things considered, would have probably never have met. Oh, the world wide web is fancy that way.

One of my favorite things about fashion blogging is drawing inspiration from all of the incredibly talented bloggers out there--from The glamorous Glamourai to Anh at 9 to 5 Chic to Jean at Extra Petite (isn't it great having other options than dressing like a soccer mom or a sailor, as it seems most retailers think us shorties should do?), not to mention the fashion-AND-beauty bloggers like Andi at Saltwater Dreams and Veronika over at Veronika's Blushing AND those-that-take-the-prettiest-pictures and post about pretty things like Rosa at Rosa Loves DC and Shannon at Happiness Is--just to name a few.

I do try to remain open to constructive criticism the best I can, however, and one of the most common complaints I read about fashion bloggers is that at times....we aren't very relatable.

And I do agree. The farther I go along with this, the more ballsy I have become with experimenting with my own style, and so I realize that my sense of style and some of the pieces that I wear might not exactly be do-able for a lot of women out there.

That is okay! It's the great thing about defining your own personal style.  If we all dressed the same, wouldn't that be boring?

Oh, it would be incredibly boring. But that being said, there are still ways to be inspired even if the exact items found on fashion blogs aren't always practical for every single woman in this world.  Here are my two biggest tips:

1. Look for inspiration in unlikely places. I find inspiration for my outfits all over the place: from fellow bloggers, Pinterest, magazines, TV shows, paintings, photographs, catalogs--whatever! Charming mixtures of colors, shapes, patterns, and textures can be found everywhere in this big, wild world; you just have to look at things the right way.

2.  It's okay to play with and swap items; accessories are the easiest to switch around! For example, I might replace leopard heels with a leopard belt, or swap a neon-hued bag for a bangle. The idea is to use things that you already have in your closet and feel comfortable wearing to replicate an outfit you like, and there are easily a gazillion different ways to do it.  It also gives the copied/inspired outfit a touch of your own style, too.

These tips might take a little bit of creativity and an extra 10 minutes in the closet, but the more you do it the easier it gets.  Promise.

So with this in mind, I would like to introduce a new reoccurring series here where I take two or three pieces and accessorize them five different ways.  It will be a bit of a fun departure from my usual Outfit Of The Day posts, I think, and will add a bit of visualization to my thoughts above. I hope you guys like it. :)

(Note: While none of my outfits below contain tights, as Colorado is going through an odd bout of mild weather, they would still work in most of these outfits--I'd stick with a slightly ribbed/sheer black if you do to let the colors of the outfits pop and if you don't like bright shoes with tights, stick with black, flats, booties or heels.. Don't like short skirts? I included some longer-length skirts in my picks below, too--and don't forget the J Crew's Bi-Stretch Wool Minnie Pant in Henna, which is a beautiful, rusty red and perfect for those that don't like wearing skirts at all!)

Enjoy!

#1

Coat: Topshop, NLA  (similar at F21) (or this coat + this lapel collar)
Top: Ann Taylor Charming Long-sleeve Blouse in Black Cherry (buy it here) (similar here) (similar at nordstrom) (& at anthropologie)
Belt: J Crew (similar here)
Skirt: ASOS (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS) (similar at F21) (long version here)
Ring: YSL Arty in Aqua/Green (buy it here) (similar here)
Shoes: Valentino Rockstud Python Flats (buy them here) (similar here) (similar at Endless)
Bag: Chanel Crackled Patent Camel Classic Flap (similar here) (and here by DKNY) (and here for under $100)

#2

Jacket: Tibi, NLA (similar at GAP) (similar here) (similar at WHBM, on sale + take $20 off with "19671")
Top: Ann Taylor Charming Long-sleeve Blouse in Black Cherry (buy it here) (similar here) (similar at nordstrom) (& at anthropologie)
Belt: J Crew, NLA (similar here)
Ring: Forever 21 (similar here)
Skirt: ASOS, NLA (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS) (similar at F21) (long version here)

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Uliepe Pumps in Yellow (similar here - 25% off) (love these at anthropologie)

Clutch: ASOS (buy it here + 10% off with code "BONUSTEN") (similar here with a chain strap)

#3

Cardigan: Urban Outfitters, NLA (similar here) (similar at  UO, on sale)
Top: Ann Taylor Charming Long-sleeve Blouse in Black Cherry (buy it here) (similar here) (similar at nordstrom) (& at anthropologie)
Belt: J Crew (buy it here, runs big!) (similar at ASOS)
Skirt: ASOS, NLA (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS) (similar at F21) (long version here)

Blue Bracelet: Forever 21, NLA (similar here)

Black/Gold Bracelet: Forever 21 (similar here)

Watch: Michael Kors Blair in Espresso (buy it here)

Shoes: Christian Dior Lolita Booties (similar here) (and a better-for-winter bootie here)

Bag:Andrea Brueckner City Tierney Bag, NLA (similar at ASOS)

#4

Blazer: J Crew Library Blazer (buy it here) (similar at Forever 21) (similar at Target)
Top: Ann Taylor Charming Long-sleeve Blouse in Black Cherry (buy it here) (similar here) (similar at nordstrom) (& at anthropologie)
Belt: Urban Outfitters (buy it here + take 10% off with code "TOPARTY")
Skirt: ASOS, NLA (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS) (similar at F21) (long version here)

Shoes: Alexander Wang Isabeli Mules, NLA (similar here) (more appropriate for winter here - love!)
Bag: Diane Von Furstenberg Harper Clutch (similar in ostrich here) (similar here)



#5

Hat: Eugenia Kim Max Fedora (similar here) (similar here)

Blazer: J Crew Library Blazer (buy it here) (similar at Forever 21) (similar at Target)
Top: Ann Taylor Charming Long-sleeve Blouse in Black Cherry (buy it here) (similar here) (similar at nordstrom) (& at anthropologie)
Belt: H&M (similar here, 40% off!)
Skirt: ASOS, NLA (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS) (similar at F21) (long version here)

Necklace: Topshop (similar here) (similar here, on sale)

Bracelet: t + j designs braided bracelet (similar here)

Shoes: J Crew Mona Pumps in Pale Peacock (buy them here) (similar-ish colored heels here, on sale)

Bag: Chloe Marcie Metallic in Gunmetal (similar here) (similar color combo here by Rebecca Minkoff) (similar here, on sale)

Outfits Of The Days (A Little Bit Old, A Little Bit New)

Just a quick update for today! I am working on a longer post for either tomorrow or Thursday, so stay tuned...if you dare. ;) ❤

I am still playing catch-up from over the past few months, so here is an outfit I snapped back on a cloudy day in September before we moved all of our furniture back. This outfit was a bit of a change for me, as most of you will likely notice, in that I was dressed in black almost from head-to-toe. 

It was a fun change! A monotone outfit doesn't need to be a boring outfit, and I found it a good challenge to mix patent + faux fur + cotton + taffeta with an assortment of gold drippings to add some interest:

Vest: Jennifer Lopez for Kohls (buy it here) (similar here for $42) (similar here at F21) (similar at UO + take 10% off with code "TOPARTY")

Top: Bailey 44 Faux-Shrug Top, NLA (similar here at Ann Taylor) (similar here at Anthropologie)

Skirt: J Crew Marvelle Mini Bell Skirt, NLA (similar here) (and here)  (similar here at F21)

Shoes: Christian Louboutin Mater Claude (buy them here) (similar here for $49.95) (similar here at Target)

Tassel Necklace: Topshop, NLA (similar here)

Long Necklace: Ann Taylor, NLA (similar here) (similar here) (gorgeous option here) (a fun option for $15.99)

Five stone necklace: J Crew, NLA (similar here) (similar at ASOS for $25)

Bag: Chanel Crackled Patent Camel Classic Flap (similar here) (and here by DKNY) (and here for under $100)

And here we are, back to a little bit of Colorado-style. Choker necklaces are a new-ish trend that has been popping up everywhere recently, and while these sleek and elegant necklaces look great under things like simple silk blouses I really like layering them with longer necklaces, too.

In fact, a male friend remarked last week (upon seeing me) that I wear a lot of jewelry. I asked if it was too much and his only answer was, "It's a lot...but for you? Nah."

Oh GOOD.  Whew!  'Cuz I would still wear all this jewelry (no matter how he answered) anyway, a haaaa:

Hat: GAP (buy it here) (similar here for $7.99)

Blouse: Banana Republic, NLA (similar here) (similar here)

Jeans: J Brand Kiki Flares in Lotus (buy them here, on sale) (similar here at Piperlime + take 20% off thru 11/16 with code "TREAT") (similar here, too!)

Fur Scarf: H&M (similar here) (similar here at ASOS)

Long Necklace: J Crew Pluma Necklace (buy a Factory version here)

Collar Necklace: Ann Taylor, NLA (similar by Dannijo) (under $30 at ASOS)

Watch: Michael Kors Rosegold Large Runway Watch (buy it here)  (similar here for $135)

Jeweled Bracelet: J Crew, NLA (similar here at LOFT) (love this at Zappos, too)

Cuff Bracelet: GAP, NLA (similar here)

Shoes: Elizabeth and James Mae (buy them here + take 20% off thru 11/16 with code "TREAT") (similar here for $70)

Bag: Lanvin Happy Mini Pop in Metallic Python (buy it here) (similar here) (similar here for under $50)