Rate My Look- Floral Skirt

A few weeks ago, I found an amazing outfit at a store in downtown Portsmouth called Serendipity. I was with my bosses, after we'd been out for a fun dinner together. When we were walking back to the car, I spotted this skirt in the window and had to go in to try it on. I also found a fabulous top to go with it, and I wore the outfit to my friend Sadie's annual Yule Ball Christmas Party in December. Part of what convinced me to get the outfit was that I knew I would be able to wear both pieces to work in countless different outfits. Yesterday I used the skirt to put this look together. I'm really happy with it:

If you follow me on Twitter or you are my friend on Facebook, you've seen the saga of my travel debacles over the holiday weekend. I flew down to North Carolina for New Year's Eve, but my flight home the next evening was rough. After being delayed over a hour, then eventually switched to another flight that left 2 hours after that, I finally boarded and took off at nearly 11:00 PM (My original flight had been booked for 7:45). I arrived in New Hampshire at nearly 1:00 AM, and shortly thereafter discovered that my suitcase had not arrived with me. Two days later, it finally made it back to me, but the whole ordeal was stressful and irritating. In this photo, I was about half-way through my day and had already spent the morning dealing with the frustrating process of filing a "delayed baggage" claim. Since the morning was spent with that project, I didn't put any effort into my hair. Looking at this photo now, I deeply regret that choice. 

But enough about the baggage issues, let's talk about the skirt! Isn't it super fun? It's by Free People and at $128, it was quite a splurge for me. I am completely in love with it and walking around in it all day definitely lifted my spirits whenever I thought about my flight and luggage issues. It's flouncy, flirty, flower-y and fun and I can't wait to wear it again and again! 

How did you spend New Year's Eve? Were you at a fancy party? Or did you have a quiet night at home? Leave a comment and tell me all about your holiday and what you wore! 

Crochet Chic

Do you ever find yourself in summer, putting on a cute strapless or spaghetti strap sundress and for whatever reason, you wish there was just a little more coverage? It may be a modesty thing, or maybe you just prefer a layered look, even in summer. Unfortunately, in 80 degree, humid weather, a cardigan- even the lightest cotton or jersey type- is too much.

Whatever the situation or reason for needing another light-weight layer, I have the solution for you. And it's actually quite a popular trend right now: crochet. Yup. Bet you never thought you'd hear that word in a sentence without"grandma" right nearby. Well, the thing about crochet, is that when it's done with a delicate pattern and light-weight yarn, it's actually almost like lace. Very cool, chic lace. Next time you're shopping, grab a cardi, shrug or vest in a cool, open crochet pattern and you'll find you've made a great investment. Because although you may be purchasing it for summer, you'll find that it will be a great layering piece for all four seasons. Stick with a neutral color and you can't go wrong.

A few options:

Crochet Vest, Victoria's Secret, $29.99 (Sale price)

Oversize Crochet Vest, Free People, $81 (Sale price)

Crochet Shrug Cardigan, JC Penney, $24.99 (Sale price)

Lacey Crochet Cardigan, Spiegel, $20 (Sale price)

I actually think the final option from Spiegel would be a great top layer if you had a more formal event to go to. I hate trying to find a top layer that is dressy. I've never been a fan of wraps and pashminas- I think they tend to look matronly and awkward most of the time. This long, lacey crochet cardigan is a great alternative.

So what do you think? Would you wear a crochet piece? What about learning to crochet and making one yourself? I've been a pretty decent knitter for a few years now, but crochet has always baffled me. Maybe I'll give it another shot one of these days.

A Shoe Conundrum: The Sandal Bootie

Can someone please explain the sandal booties trend to me? I have to admit, I'm completely intrigued by them because they are some of the most bizarre-looking shoes I have ever encountered. Case in point:

Tahoe Bootie Sandal, Free People, $198

Is it a sandal? Is it a bootie? No, it's a strange hybrid of the two. I understand that sandals are worn because of their open-ness and boots are worn for their warmth and protection, so I can only surmise that function is NOT a factor in these shoes, but rather it is a visual statement ONLY. That being said, what do YOU think of this style? I have seen some women pull it off and look interesting and chic, and then others not so much. I think it is most successful when paired with a more bohemian style- like a flowy top and skinny jeans. I made a polyvore set of what I think would be a cool outfit with sandal booties:

Sandal Booties by Rtboo featuring Isabella Fiore bags

Items in this set:
This Week

NET-A-PORTER.COM, 325 EUR
High-rise skinny jeans, $185
Jessica Simpson Nikina - Desert Sand Lthr, $80
Isabella Fiore 'Angie' Hobo Handbag, $345
Polly 18-karat rose gold-plated earrings, $410

 
Leave a comment and tell me what you think of this trend- I'm dying to know!