Spring Transition

Texas doesn't really have distinct seasons.  We pretty much just have summer and not summer.  Even so, I still try to be mindful of seasons when choosing an outfit even when the temperature doesn't require it.  Yes, it is probably just an excuse to have more clothes and shoes, but it keeps me from getting bored with my outfits. I did give up shopping for Lent though, so I won't have any new clothes or shoes to show you until after Easter!

As we transition into spring I'm trying to lighten things up both with colors and fabrics without pulling out white linen jackets and colorful sandals just yet.  I think this is a great transition outfit for early spring, and it would also work well in early fall.  The dark red skirt and suede cage heels lean towards cool weather while the oatmeal crop jacket and silk dot shell are more warm weather pieces.  It's this balance that makes great transitional looks.

  

Striped Dress for Valentines

Dresses can be tricky if you're not the same size on your top and bottom halves. I was skeptical about this one and them pleasantly surprised. It fits really well all over. The dress is a super soft stretch knit, so it feels like wearing my favorite night shirt! It has light and dark pink stripes, and the top part is white. The black vertical stripes down each side are very slenderizing and keep the horizontal stripes from overwhelming my frame.

I paired the dress with a berry pink jacket and black pumps. I love this jacket that I've been wearing at least once a week. I'll post more combinations with it soon. I'll definitely wear it on Valentine's Day next week.

The dress and jacket are both still available at White House Black Market in regular and petites.

 

 

Running Through the Airport

Last week I had a short business trip to Dallas. I usually schedule my flights so that I can drop my daughter off at school and then drive to the airport. This time my flight was cutting it a little close, so of course everything went wrong! The entrance ramp to the freeway was closed so I had to detour through downtown, then once I got to the airport and parked the parking shuttle took forever to arrive, then my terminal was the last one on the route, my bag had to be screened twice....you get the picture. As I'm going through security I here the final boarding call for my flight. I made my flight, but not before I ran all the way down the concourse to get to my gate...in my Louboutins!

The next time someone asks me if my shoes are comfortable I'm going to say, "Yes! I can even run in them!"

This is what I was wearing. The print on this jacket gives it a lot of versatility. I paired it with pink and yellow today, but it works with lots of different combinations. I've been seeing bell sleeves a lot this fall already. I prefer flared sleeves at 3/4 length like they are here so that they don't fall into my food, knock over papers, or get caught on door knobs. 

I paired the jacket with a yellow shell from Ann Taylor, and this dusty rose A-line skirt from Theory. I like to carry this Louis Vuitton purse when I travel because my iPad fits in it, yet it is still fairly compact. My nude Louboutin's with the rubber sole savers (see post) ended up being a great choice!

Jacket: Lafayette 148

Shell: Ann Taylor similar

Skirt: Theory Similar, Similar

Shoes: Christian Louboutin exact

Bag: Louis Vuitton Monogram Looping GM  No longer available, but here's a used version

 

After my meetings were over I swapped my skirt and pumps for jeans and mules and I was ready for dinner.

Jeans: WHBM very similar

Shoes: WHBM Similar and on sale

Shell: Ann Taylor similar

Bag: Louis Vuitton Monogram Looping GM  No longer available, but here's a used version

 

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!

Style Statistics

What I love most about the Stylebook Closet app is the statistics it gives me on my wardrobe (see previous app reviews here and here). When I first started using the app 5 months ago I worked on my "Never Worn" list. It took a couple of months to wear everything in my closet once...and actually there are still 143 items on that list. Those last remaining items are sweaters, corduroy pants, boots and jackets, so once the weather gets cooler I'll clear out my "never worn" list.

In the meantime I've been working my "Worst Cost per Wear" list. This list takes the price you paid for an item and divides it by the number of times you've worn it, and then ranks the top 25 items. There's also a "Best Cost per Wear" list. Most of the items on that list tend to be my less expensive pieces like shorts and tee-shirts, but my top item on that list is a black pencil skirt that is currently $1.11 per wear! I've obviously gotten my money's worth out of it! Which is exactly what this app is helping me do. I want to get my money's worth out of my clothes. I don't mind spending a little more on an item if I know I'm going to wear it many times, but I hate to see high end items languishing on the "Worst Cost per Wear" list.

My outfit today includes three items on my "Worst Cost per Wear" list: the blouse, purse, and necklace.

I bought my necklace at the Gold and Diamond Mall in Dubai. It was pricey, but I wear it often, and will continue to for decades, so it may one day be $1.11 per wear too!

I also love my Celine Nano Tote. It was a little pricey too, so even though I've carried it 10 times since April it is still on the list. I carry it much more in the fall and winter, so it will be in heavy rotation soon, and will work it's way off the list in no time.

My blouse on the other hand is a reasonably priced item but prior to today I had only worn it twice. This black wrap top is from M M Lafleur, and it is one of the most comfortable, yet polished business tops I own (see previously styled here), so I don't know why I don't wear every week! I love the 3/4 length sleeves, and the front draping. Another plus is that the wrap part it fully sewn so I'm not fussing with it all day to insure I'm not flashing any cleavage.  It looks polished enough to wear on its own as I did here, but it also looks great under a blazer, and it pairs well with jeans too.

M.M. LaFleur is an interesting company (read their story here), started by a woman in finance who wanted a more inspired wardrobe. They design and manufacturing professional women's wear, and pay a lot of attention comfort, quality, and ease of care.  On top of that their customer service is excellent.

If you want to give them a try I recommend ordering a Bento Box. A stylist will curate and send you some items. You get to try everything on and keep what you like. My first box wasn't quite me and I ended up sending everything back. Then I got a sweet email from their marketing director, apologizing for missing the mark and asked if she could send out another box. I of course accepted their gracious offer and ended up with this lovely blouse. It currently comes in wine and ivory as well as black, and both are on my wish list.

Blouse - M.M. LaFleur Deneuve Blouse

Skirt - White House Black Market

Spectator Pumps - Lauren by Ralph Lauren

Bag - Celine Nano

 

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!

Black and White and Bold All Over

I love how black and white is effortlessly chic in any situation.  Here, I'm in my the little white dress I just got from Nordstrom via Trunk Club  (styled before here). This time I topped it with a black pin stripe blazer with short sleeves. I just buttoned the middle button and added a belt over the blazer. I've found that while models can pull off the belted blazer look effortlessly, I can only manage it with fitted blazers that are intended to be belted like this one!

The blazer is the top half of a two piece suit. I used to hang my suits in sets in my closet.  I always kept the blazer with the skirt or pants it came with.  About a year ago I tried separating my suits so I have just the blazers with all of my blazers and the skirt with my other skirts, etc.  I found that by doing that I found other ways to wear the pieces separately; giving me more unique outfits and more mileage out of my existing wardrobe.  It's been a great trick.

 

 

White Dress - Classiques Entier, available here it comes in four colors, regular and petite

Blazer - Tahari ASL (old)

Booties - Tahari (old)

 

I've had these black and white booties for many years; long before booties were all the rage and became trendy to wear with skirts and dresses. I still think they look better with Capri pants, trousers, or jeans, but I figured I'd give the trend a go.  I think booties with skirts work better on women with super skinny calves or really long legs.  I need that extra couple inches of skin to help elongate my legs!

 

 

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!

Tropical Print Skirt

Several bloggers I follow are already talking about transitioning to fall clothes. We still have two months of summer weather left here in Houston, so wardrobe adjustments haven't even crossed my mind yet! On the flip side, I tend to start thinking about spring outfits while others are still wearing their Uggs.

Even though I won't be able to pull out my knee high boots until November. There are some things that I put away in mid September. My seersucker suit doesn't feel correct after Labor Day, even when the temps are still pushing 100. Tropical prints, linen garments, and sun dresses will all be relegated to the back of my closet in a month too.  With that in mind I'm putting my overtly summery pieces in high rotation until then since I won't have a chance to wear them again until next year.

I'm not usually a fan of floral prints, but lately a few have crept into my closet. They are all bold and tropical like this skirt, so I guess I just don't like grandmothery florals! 

 

Skirt - Ann Taylor current season

Blouse - Vince 

Blazer - Brooks Brothers 

Suede sandals - Audrey Brooke (one of DSW's in house brands)

Little White Dress

Every one is familiar with the "little black dress."  It's a wardrobe staple that is appropriate for just about any occasion.  Lately though, the little white dress has become just as popular. 

Hallie over at Corals + Cognac just did a great post on how to wear a little white dress five ways. Her post just happened to coincide with my latest Trunk Club delivery that included none other than a little white dress.  Hallie's post made me decide to keep it, so here's my first attempt at the now ubiquitous little white dress.

This dress is that wonderful ponte knit that looks professional, but stretches like a t-shirt and doesn't loose its shape.  Lucky for me it comes in comes in petites too, so it hits at mid-knee without alterations (I'm 5'3" for reference).  It's from Nordstrom via Trunk Club available here. (Read about my fun with Trunk Club here and here).

My coral blazer is a linen blend, so it's cool enough to wear all summer, but doesn't wrinkle like linen.  I got it last year at White House Black Market along with these shoes and belt.

Here are a couple of other go anywhere white dresses:
Jackie O Dress  - I've read lot's of good reviews about this dress and it comes in several colors

Tahari Dress - One of my "go to" brands

Blush Two Ways

Yesterday, my delightful colleague, Kelsey, wore a fabulous blush blazer to work.  I happened to be wearing a blush dress. As we joked about getting the "pink" memo and confided how we hope blush continues to be on trend in the business professional wardrobe for many more seasons, she kindly let me take a picture of her awesome outfit to share with you. 

 

Doesn't she look fantastic and professional! Her lovely lace skirt and blouse are from Ann Taylor.  I first started seeing lace skirts last fall, but this was the first time I had seen someone wearing one in a business setting, and it is lovely.  When they first came out I was concerned that lace might be too feminine for a business setting, but after seeing Kelsey's outfit, I realized how wrong I was.  She looked beautiful and feminine but completely professional at the same time. Nailed it!

 

She perfectly paired the neutral lace skirt with nude shoes and a blush blazer. She purchased her blazer at TJMaxx.  I love shawl collars on blazers, and they can be hard to find.  I've been on the hunt for a blush blazer like this for some time, but still haven't found a keeper yet.  I do have a blush skirt, though.  I might barrow Kelsey's color pallet, but switch the skirt and blazer.  I could combine my blush skirt with a white blouse and a neutral blazer...stay tuned!

 

 

My blush pink outfit was this Tahari dress that my Trunk Club stylist sent me (previously worn without blazer).  I paired it with a navy blazer with a stand up collar and ruffled lapel from White House Black Market.  I could have worn my nude heels like Kelsey, but chose my Ivanka Trump blush pink heels instead.

 

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!

Modified Column Outfit

I like to call a matching skirt and blouse with a contrasting blazer a "modified column."  To be a true column outfit I would have to wear a matching blazer, so that's why I call it modified.  This look can be accomplished with a dress and blazer too.  It is  an easy formula to copy and looks just as professional as a traditional suit.

Black skirt is part of a Tahari Suit 
Black jersey cowl neck blouse is White House Black Market
Red and black stripe knit blazer is from The Limited
Shoes are my favorite patent leather Louboutin pumps

Black and White with Bright Shoes

Black and white is so easy to wear and always looks professional.  I love to pair bright shoes with my black and white outfits to make them more interesting. 

 

The wrap blouse is the Deneuve from MM La Fleur (exact.) I love it because it is sewn all the way up in the front, so I'm not adjusting it all day, and I can lean over without worrying about flashing anyone.  I love the bracelet length sleeves, it drapes beautifully, and it is wash and wear, so worth the higher price tag if you ask me.  It comes in 3 colors, they sell out often but also restock often.

 

This pencil skirt from White House Black Market. It's from last season, but I'm still wearing it.  The black horizontal stripes on the sides are so slimming, and its made a super soft knit so it is comfy all day long.

 

 

Shoes are Christian Louboutin that I actually scored on one of those Facebook swap pages!

 

I don't often wear these shoes to work.  I think of them as more of a "date night" shoe, but it's summer and there's hardly anyone in the office these days so I can get away with it. Besides I'm meeting a girlfriend for dinner tonight in the new swanky River Oaks District, so they're perfect for that.

 

***Update: This ended up being the perfect girls night out outfit.  I stopped in the Dior store on the way to the restaurant and the ladies in the store swooned over my shoes!  My friend told me I looked fabulous too. :)