Chambray, Plaid Skirt, Leopard Wedges

Gap skirt // Forever 21 shirt // Pour La Victoire purse // Rampage shoes

White Tuxedo Vest with Black Tee Dress

This super easy outfit was inspired by Jessica of Bows & Sequins. It's rare that I buy an exact piece from something I see online, but this vest was too cute (and cheap!) to pass up.

dress: Old Navy // vest: XOXO // shoes: Rampage // bracelet: Kenneth Cole

Striped Tunic with Sheer Panels

This is a casual summer look from before Chicago went nuclear! The black panels are sheer, with the back half a little longer than the front. My "guest photographer" (aka fiance) is still learning about capturing the clothes on camera (aka barely cares), but I swear the proportions looked spectacular in person! I've also worn this tunic with short cutoffs, which was also adorable.

A long, skinny necklace breaks up the long, loose line of the top (when it's not draped over one boob... sigh...). Bright earrings and purse liven up the color palate.

similar Earrings // similar Tunic // similar Necklace // Bracelet 

// Jeans (on sale) // similar Shoes (on sale) // Purse (other colors, on sale)

Beyond the Pale

I knew I'd get more use out of these pants once the weather got warmer!

I kept the palate very pale and neutral, but if you can see, there are three major prints going on here (trifecta!). The pants have an abstract animal print, the shoes are snakeskin, and the blazer (which is at least a decade old and part of a pant suit) has very thin peach and grey stripes. I made sure to tie the black of the shoes back in with a dalmatian-y bracelet.

Jacket H&M

Tee Gap (similar)

Pants American Eagle (similar)

Shoes Rampage

Necklace swapped

Bracelets ebay, ebay, DIY

A Tribal Called Quest

This look started as a non-inspiration and turned into something pretty striking. I threw on the black jeans and gray tee, and then grabbed the black/white snakeskin sandals. I rolled up the pants a little to give it some personality, but it was still pretty bland overall. Then I remembered this SERIOUS necklace I picked up recently, and decided this was an excellent opportunity to showcase it.

The red purse is something I can finally cross off my Want List. I was having no luck with clothes at Forever, and then I stumbled across this baby. I've been dying for plain, red leather clutch for quite some time now (like, YEARS), and this one is a bonus for being oversized and coming with a crossbody strap. Score! I couldn't find it online, but I bet they are still available in stores.

Jacket Uniqlo (similar)

Tee American Apparel

Jeans Old Navy

Shoes Rampage (similar)

Necklace Forever 21

Cuff Kenneth Cole (similar)

Purse Forever 21 (similar)

GIRL ON FIRE

With so many neutral outfits lately, I felt like it was time for some color. And BOY did I overcompensate. If you had described this outfit to me, I would've said, "Ooo, girl, no." But for some reason this just works. Treat your wardrobe like I treat Forever 21: Just try it on. I come up with my fair share of ooo-girl-nos, but I also sometimes catch a wild card like this one.



Side note: I'm not serving up camel toe; these pants stretch out SO MUCH by the end of the day that when I hike them up for pictures, I sometimes get *unfortunate* folding from excess fabric.

 

• Turtleneck old Gap (similar


• Pants Mossimo via Target (buy)


• Shoes old Rampage (similar)


• Headband ?? (similar)


• Bracelet ooold NY&Co (similar)


• Ring old H&M (similar)

Ruffle My Feathers

Here's a flashback that was hiding on Jill's computer. You can tell it's old because I'm missing an important piece of jewelry. My sister gave me this sweater for my birthday several years ago, only to find out that I had already bought the exact same one for myself! I added a pop of red shoe to the otherwise neutral outfit, and then snuck in the tiny red bracelet to help them make sense.

• Sweater old Gap (similar, similar)


• Blouse J. Crew (similar)


• Ring gift (buy)


• Pants old Gap (similar)


• Shoes old Rampage (similar)

Rorschach-ing Up

Mr. Trousers was vehemently opposed to the skirt length on this little number, positing that it was inappropriate for school.  I initially took his heed to heart, changing into the cotton leggings I had originally laid out the night before.  But the leggings seemed even more vulgar, so I went with my gut on this one.  The skirt reaches the tips of my fingers, making it technically compliant with my own High School Handbook of yore. But beyond RULES, I felt that  my skin being completely covered (in predominantly baggy fabric) overruled the length of the skirt. Ain't nothing sexy about what's going on here.

• Shoes: ooold Old Navy (similar here and here)


• Ribbed tights: old American Eagle - my fave tights brand (similar here and here)


• Bubble skirt: ooold Heart Moon Star via Rampage (similar here and here)


• Print tank: Forever 21 (buy here)


• Blazer: old Semantiks via Nordstrom (similar here and here)


• Necklace: Ebay (buy here) (which is a knockoff of this)


• Ring: old Forever 21 (similarish here and here)


• Earrings: gift (similarish here, here, and here)


• Sunnies: old Forever 21 (similar here and here)


• Coat: old Tahari (similar here)

I've Got Chills, They're Multiplyin'

This is my second Grease related post in as many weeks! I feel very Rydell High in this top. And yes, that's singular. The "blouse" and cardigan are attached. I almost didn't buy it because it felt cheesy, but it's so darn cute, I had to! I've actually gotten a lot of use out of it, usually with jeans and moccasins.

The weather reached almost 80 today, but it was weirdly grey and rainy, too. I knew I had to seize one of the last days that naked legs would be okay, and those (OLD!) red patent shoes are rain proof(ish).

Because of the weather, and the collegiate outfit, I thought it'd be fun to take pictures at school. The rows of lockers would've been an awesome backdrop, but there were still way too many people milling around the halls! So, Mrs. Jill shot me in her classroom in front of her desk.





Oh, P.S. You may notice my hair is darker. I got bored and colored it when I was home sick and couldn't stand to be on the couch anymore.  I'm not ready to give up the blonde just yet, so this is a 28 shampoo washout. It's lighter than I'd like, but: Eh. With my hair and my shampoo frequency, it'll wash out in 2 weeks.

I also painted my nails and toes on my sick day. Sick days for me are usually for sleeping like 10 hours (14 this time!!), snuggling up on the chaise and watching trashy tv, and beauty routines.



The pyramid stud ring and orange nails keeps this from looking TOO MUCH like a costume (although, just barely...)

• Shirt/Cardi Combo: Forever 21 (buy here) (similar cardi here and here) (similar shirt here and here)


• Skirt: old Kenneth Cole Petites (similar here, here, and here)


• Shoes: old Rampage (similar here, here, and here)


• Ring: Forever 21 (buy here) (similar here and here)


• Nail Polish: OPI in He's My Boo (buy here or buy 2012 version here)


• Hair Color: Clairol Brass Free Brunettes in Light Brown (buy here)

I'm also wearing those gold sparkly earrings I wear ALL THE TIME, APPARENTLY. You just can't see them.