What I Wore Wednesday 8/20/14

Hard to believe summer is slipping by! 

These were some of my favorite, go to looks for the past few months. 

My glasses get worn much more often. My prescription changed, so I felt it was time for new frames and I love them! Very comfortable to wear and who can dislike Tiffany blue every day?

Top: Jcrew

Jacket: Gap, spring 2014

Skirt: Jcrew Factory, old

Shoes: Clarks

I love nautical themed looks, I really do. 

This belt was a summer purchase and went with so many outfits this summer. I don't usually shop at White House Black Market, but their belts on clearance are worth it every time. Plus, this dress needed waist definition, so the belt pulled everything together.

Dress: Marshalls

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Bandolino

Belt: White House Black Market

Necklace: Barbara Bixby chain w/ Judith Ripka enhancer (QVC)

And then came the hair chop!

It was quite spontaneous. I was a little weepy in the car on the way home, but now my love the cropped hair again. I have moments when I miss the longer hair, but I always knew I'd go back to a shorter 'do. It's just more me right now.

This was a basic outfit for me all summer-cropped colored pants and a tee with a bold necklace (the short hair has reminded me to girl it up and pull out some of my old statement necklaces again).

 Tee: Target

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Lands' End

Necklace: Anthropologie

And a maxi dress.

My secret is to buy them in the juniors section at TJMaxx or Marshalls (they seem to be shorter). This one was worn to the beach, barbecues and parties. I've paired it with a jean jacket many many times.

Dress: TJ Maxx

Shoes: Lands' End

Gold hoop earrings

Banana Republic necklace

What have been your go-to looks for the summer?

In the Bag

I am a bag person, have been for years. When I was 16 my cousin took me to Coach and gave me free-range to buy any bag I wanted. I still have that logo hobo clip bag 15 years later (I can't seem to part with it). 

Usually I buy a bag, carry it for a few weeks and it gets stashed in the pile of misfit bags in my closet. Either the pockets don't work right or it doesn't fit my iPad, or some other silly thing that keeps me from adoring that bad I needed to have. Every year or so I purge the bags and donate them to Dress for Success or to the convent for the sisters who teach at my college. It's gratifying to give them away to new homes, but after completing Financial Peace University, I know I can't spend that money just to give the bags away.

Flash forward to this spring. I went to the local outlets not knowing what I would buy and stumbled upon this beauty.

I worried it was too big, that the color was too bold and that it would get dirty all the time.

I was wrong on all three counts.

This bag has been carried every.single.day since I bought it in April. To work, to NYC, shopping, to the beach. And everywhere I go (seriously, every day) someone compliments the bag. I've decided that if I had a dollar for every compliment, I could have purchased the bag. 

I love everything about the bag. Of course, the Tiffany blue color was the main reason I splurged. And the adorable multi stripe lining makes it fun. And the leather. Ahhhh, sumptuous.  I'm usually a pebbled leather person, but saffiano leather is now my new favorite. No scratches, no discoloration, and a neat pattern.  Plus, this bag doesn't get dirty which was also a concern. Just brush it with a baby wipe and it's back to new. It fits my pocket requirements, too. I need a zip compartment for my wallet and I like my phone to be on the outside and I like my iPad to fit comfortably. 

Good on all counts.

 Here's what was in the bag before I cleaned it out:

Too many lip glosses (I pared this down to three-a pink gloss, clear gloss and lipstick)

Tide to Go pen

Nail file

bandages

Altoids

Bug spray

my Mozart pill box (it keeps Motrin, Benadryl, Asprin and Zyrtec)

 2 Purells (why???)

Random receipts

A reusable bag

my inhaler

glass cleaner

lotion 

powder

too many pens (I kept a ballpoint and gel)

the yellow envelope holds coupons

yes, I carry a checkbook!

my Pleated Poppy mini case holds the many store cards we all carry

And my student ID-I'm starting graduate school in the fall!!

Aren't these really the essentials?

Phone

Sunnies

Wallet

Charger

Nametags

 Here it is empty:

 And all loaded up:

Here it is in action in NYC:

bag: Kate Spade Newbury Lane Briar tote

Currently the outlet is selling it in black. It seems to pop up on eBay in other colors. 

What bag have you loved carrying this summer?

What I Wore Wednesday 4/16/14

Hi there!

Well, fortunately for the past few months that I've been MIA in blog land I haven't been naked, just haven't had the time to take pictures (I can see the relief on all your faces).

The hair got a bit lighter this summer, but truthfully, it could use a recolor now. I'm trying to stretch it for a wedding we are attending in a few months. I darkened it a little for the fall, so you get to see all the color changes it's been through.

So, most importantly, what have I worn?

This Tommy Hilfiger top is one of my favorites. It's light and comfortable and the sash makes it fitted, too.

Top:Tommy Hilfiger

Jeans: Lucky via TJ Maxx

Shoes: Clarks

So moving on to the more boring, more recent me.

I bought these bright 'too tomato' red pants at Banana Republic for 10 bucks. Jean from Extra Petite always raves about the Sloan pants from BR and she's right, they're wonderful. 

Top: Express

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes: Sam Edelman

I once again had a slightly embarrassing TV appearance so an extra dressy professional outfit was called for. This dress was very inexpensive (Target) and it's held up very well for the past two years. It's actually lined, too, a rarity for dresses and jackets lately. I'm looking to upgrade though. Maybe a Talbots sheath dress? It's so hit or miss at the Talbots by me though, so I'm guessing I'll end up with a Banana Republic dress, which is fine by me!

Jacket: Loft (so freaking old)

Dress: Target

Shoes: Naturalizer

Belt: White House Black Market

Scarf: Hermes Twilly

Yup, love the pants. I've found there are lots of ways to wear them and that they can be fun, too.

Sweater and shirt: Gap outlet

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes: Born

Necklace: JCrew

  

If I'm honest, I think my style has gotten much more simple, perhaps classic and a little bit boring. Why? Because I have tried refining my wardrobe to be as professional as possible with a little bit of personality, but not too much. My boss said something that really made me think: my clothes shouldn't speak for me, I should speak for me. It wasn't a comment directed at me, but it made me pause and realize that I was getting a little overly colorful. Plus I'm over 30 now (gasp) and I like being a little more refined. It makes me feel a little more put together. 

My purchasing has changed too. Less thrifting (I just have less and less patience for it) and more calculated buys (slim fit pants, solid sweaters, nude heels). I hope to document some of my favorite spring buys here, maybe even review them. I know, I may become a real blogger again. Let's hope!