Rate My Look: Spring Personified

Today was the start of our big sample sale and the boss lady had given us all white t-shirts with the Madeleine's Daughter logo on them to wear with jeans. It's literally the one time of year that we're allowed to wear jeans and guess what I did. I forgot to wear the t-shirt and jeans. What a loser! Fortunately, I looked adorable, so that kind of made up for the oops. And on top of looking adorable, the pastel color combination was just so spring-like and soft that I felt awesome in this outfit all day:

Top: Delia's via Building 19 (for $5!!!!!)

Skirt: Target

Shoes: Steve Madden

Ribbon sash: I'm pretty sure I took this from an old dress

Seriously, the high-low hem on this skirt is just fabulous. Rather than the typical single cut of fabric, this features the cross-over front. You should see the way it flows as I walk in it. I tend to strut around like I'm a runway model whenever I wear this skirt because I love the feel of the chiffon billowing behind me. As Juhree put it, it's kind of like a cape... for my butt. 

In other news, this happened on my drive home and I figured I'd share it for all of you out there with similar OCD tendencies: 

Don't you just love when that kind of thing happens? It just makes me happy inside. Almost as happy as a lavender chiffon butt-cape high-low skirt. 

Have an awesome day and as always, thanks for reading! 

Earrings Jackpot at Target

I've been pretty busy lately, folks, which is why I haven't been blogging. I recently took a trip to North Carolina to visit the Professor and the kiddos. It was a blast! I actually helped host a spa-themed slumber party for the Prof's daughter. It was a hoot! Picture me in charge of planning an 8-year old girl's spa party- everything was pink and fluffy and girlie. It was fabulous.

For anyone who may want to do something similar for a young girl they know, I'll be writing a separate post about what I did and how easy (and inexpensive) it was in a day or two, so check back.

Today, my focus is on the awesome earrings jackpot I hit at Target the other day. It was a completely unexpected find and I just had to share!

There's just something about a great pair of earrings- no matter what you're wearing, the right pair of earrings can really jazz up and outfit. They can add a pop of unexpected color or glamour or movement to just about any outfit.

I'm excited to wear these bad boys this summer:

Target Earrings by rtboo featuring imitation jewelry

All three pair cost a total of $21, but the crazy thing is that the black and the blue/white ones are exactly the same as a similar pair that I already own that cost me about $30! I'm sure the quality isn't quite as good, but I'll settle, especially given the fact that they're earrings I already love and now I can wear them in more colors! The green/gold are going to be great for summer, too with those bright colors.

I love wearing a simple outfit and dressing it up with an amazing pair of statement earrings. What's your favorite accessory right now? Leave a comment and tell me all about it!

Avocado Ombre Inspiration

You might think that as a style blogger, I read a lot of style blogs. You would be wrong. I hardly ever read style blogs, or even fashion magazines. What I do read all the time are food blogs and magazines. Baking, cooking, recipes, cheap eats, high-end restaurants, cooking for one, kid-friendly cooking, etc. I don't use Pinterest for fashion. I use it for recipes. And don't even get me started on Food Gawker. I love the pictures more than anything else. I often find myself eating dinner and feeling tempted to snap some photos and write a blog about it. I never do. At most I might put a photo up on Facebook, but I try to suppress my urge to do that since I hate looking at other people's food on Facebook. Also, my photos would usually be of a poorly lit, half-eaten meal. Not exactly the kind of visual delight that is typically found on most food publications.

Since my aspirations to become a great food blogger will likely never come to fruition, I've decided to stick to what I know: style and fashion. Tonight, I had a delicious grilled sandwich that would have made a great food blog. I used Ezekiel bread (my fave!), cheddar cheese, sliced avocado, jalapeno peppers and tomato. It was AWESOME. McKenzie made a similar sandwich at work the other day and I decided to try to recreate it. I was pretty successful, truth be told. It was a gorgeous sandwich- crispy, toasted bread; gooey, melted cheese; bright, juicy tomato and of course the gorgeous creamy ombre green of the avocado:

Isn't amazing how frequently we find beautiful inspiration from the most common, every day objects? Ombre existed in nature long before it was a fabric textile trend. And it's been an incredibly popular trend for several seasons now. It's not one that I've worn very much of, but that's not to say I don't think it can be beautiful. I like it in subtle touches, but the right garment on the right body in an ombre effect can be stunning. 

Stuart Weitzman Stringon, Zappos, $285

Ombre Skinny Jeans, Nordstrom, $78

Asymmetrical Ombre Top, 2b, $24.95

Ombre Scarf, Target, $14.99

Obviously, there are plenty of other places in nature to find ombre inspiration- the rising and setting of the sun for one. Lots of flowers and other foliage for another. For anyone who knows me, it should be surprising that I've found it in food. 

Can you think of any other ombre-inspiration within nature? What about other trends? Leave a comment if you like! Thanks for reading! 

Jet Set Style: Weekender Bag

Today is the start of my weekend. When you work in retail, your weekend often falls on less than typical days. 90% of the time, I don't really get a weekend, since my days off are usually split up. This week is different, however, and I'm taking advantage of that by making a quick trip down to North Carolina to visit the Professor. What makes this weekend different? Well, it's Valentine's Day this week, which means that the shop is pretty much a ghost town. This often surprises people when I tell them that, but think about it: on Valentine's Day, you're probably not shopping for a wedding gown because you are either a.) getting engaged that night or b.) having a romantic dinner with your fiance. Now it makes sense, right?

So, since the day is dead, I decided to switch my days off to allow for two in a row and then I booked a flight to North Carolina. It will be a very quick trip- less than 24 hours together with my honey, but that's ok. We'll make the most of it, I'm sure. Last year on Valentine's Day, I surprised him by showing up at his door. It was quite a shock for him- he didn't expect it at all. I'll always smile when I remember the look on his face when I knocked on his front door. This year won't be a surprise, but it's kind of fun that we've managed to have a quick visit together on Valentine's Day for two years in a row now.

I like these quick trips because packing is really simple. I essentially need to pack an overnight bag and that's about it. My small carry-on suitcases have taken a beating over the last few years, so while I was at TJ Maxx the other day, I picked up an adorable "weekender" bag by Steve Madden and I'm in love with it!

It's big enough to fit the clothes and toiletries I need as well as an extra pair of shoes, my hair dryer and my laptop. And it's still small enough to fit in the overhead bin. I love that it's a bright color and since the leather is faux, it will be easy to keep it clean. Also, it only cost $50 at TJ Maxx, so I think it was a bargain to boot.

I've had pretty terrible luggage for most of my life, but with all the traveling I've been doing for the last couple of years, I figured it was time to get some nicer, functional travel gear. I don't care much about it matching perfectly, but I do want it to be durable enough for all the use it will get.

I couldn't find this exact bag anywhere online, but I did find some similar ones for those of you who may be in the market for new luggage of this kind. Believe it or not, finding a durable, stylish, functional travel duffel bag is no easy task. Finding one that's affordable? Even harder.

Vera Bradley Weekender, Vera Bradley, $98

Let me be clear: there are very few Vera Bradley bags that I would deem stylish or even cute. The hideous floral and paisley patterns are just wretched the majority of the time. This particular print isn't that offensive, in fact, it's kind of cute. Of course, if it doesn't suit you, there are about a dozen other options. 

Bueno Patent Croc Print Weekender, Target, $39.99

Holding Pattern Overnight Bag, Modcloth, $94.99

British Predator Weekender Bag, Etsy, $61.66

Happy travels to anyone out there jetting away for the weekend! And as always, thanks for reading! 

Rate My Look: More Pumpkin

That pumpkin color is still so hot, I just had to put together another outfit using it. I remembered this fun top that I bought at Target a couple of years ago. I've worn it on the blog a couple of times (here and here), but it's been over a year since I've incorporated it into an outfit. It was high time I broke it out and used it again!

It's a sleeveless top, so I had to wear a sweater to keep warm. It's a cashmere cardigan I found at Second Time Around on Newbury Street over a year ago. It's been an awesome basic to have in my wardrobe. The black skinnies look sleek, but feel like sweatpants, and this isn't the first (or last) time you've seen these boots from Charlotte Russe. I wore two gold rings to draw out the gold shimmer in the top. One was an adorable bow with sparkly rhinestones all over it. It's not actually mine. It belongs to Ashley, one of my coworkers. She's been at Madeleine's for a little over three months now and she's pretty adorable. She wore this ring (a double ring, so it slides onto two fingers), and I loved it, so I stole it from her. All's fair in love, war and fashion, right? 

Ashley was a good sport about it, at least. She didn't even ask for it back when she left for the night and it wasn't until I got home and undressed later that night that I realized I was STILL wearing it! I did return it to her the next day, but I felt a teeny-tiny bit bad about stealing it for the entire day. 

So, there you have it, another example of the trendy pumpkin color. Take a look through your closet and see what you have from the past that works in a current trend- you never know what gem is shoved in the back of one of your dresser drawers, like this top was! 

Accessories Anonymous: A Handbag Quest

I was catching up with Beth the other day when she mentioned her current handbag quest. In case you didn't know, Beth has a major obsession with handbags and is nearly always on a quest for one. Sometimes it's something specific and others it's just for something inspiring. Either way, I can always count on her to be on the lookout for something great. This time, she was on the hunt for a stylish cross-body bag that is big enough to hold a laptop and a notebook. That's a pretty tall order if you ask me. She said that all the bags she'd found just looked so much like briefcases that she wasn't interested. Or, they were a gajillion dollars and she just couldn't see herself spending that much. So, I decided to hop on the interwebs and see what I could come up with.

Here's what I found:

Maggie Bags Large Messenger, Target, $99.99

I like the woven detail- especially how exaggerated it is. The bag is also available in three other colors- orange chocolate brown and light tan, but I prefer the grey. It is definitely big enough for Beth's requirements, and I think it's pretty stylish, but let's keep shopping, shall we?

The All Star Bag, Modcloth, $59.99

I'm always a fan of a pop of color and you really can't go wrong with green. At 14.5 inches wide, it could definitely fit a laptop without looking like a briefcase or a standard laptop bag. It's versatile, too- the color works year round and the interior has multiple pockets. Seems pretty ideal if you ask me! 

If green isn't your thing, but you love the idea of a pop of color, check out this gorgeous satchel by ASOS:

Metal Corner Satchel, ASOS, $49.95 

The cross body strap is adjustable, and the bag itself is roomy with a zippered inner compartment perfect for staying organized. Organization is Beth's middle name, so I know she'll like that aspect of the bag at the very least. 

For a more casual look, I love this one from Etsy: 

Modular Messenger Bag, Etsy, $35

It's stylish, for sure, but in a decidedly casual way. It's definitely not for me, but I imagine it would be a nice, durable bag for all those city subway rides. The seller offers it in several color choices,so you're not limited to a neutral brown. I admit, I browsed this seller's store for a while and liked a lot of what I saw. The prices are great, too. I kind of love this one: 

Project Bag, Etsy, $44

The interior of this bag speaks for itself: 

Am I right? 

So, there you have it- a handful of bags that (I think) meet all of Beth's requirements. The question is: do any of them make her swoon or drool or both? 

Do you have a shopping challenge for me? Send me an email or leave a comment and I'll see what I can find for you! 

Rate My Look: Vest & Pants

I hardly ever wear pants lately. Jeans are fine for hanging around the house or running errands, but other than that, I typically wear a skirt and top or a dress to work just about every day. The other day, I was cleaning out my dresser drawers and I stumbled upon this green shirt that I had forgotten about. I thought to myself, "This would look great with the vest I have, but I think it will work better with pants than a skirt." And I was totally right!

Top: Target, I think

Vest: Maurices, I believe

Pants: Forever 21

Boots: Charlotte Russe

Ring: Stella and Dot

Earrings: I forget...

The top is great in every way- color, style, fit- and the vest and pants are so slimming. This is a definite outfit WINNER that I will be pulling out again soon! What do you think of it? Leave a comment and tell me! 

Shoesday Tuesday: Jet Set Style

I'm not going to waste time on this post explaining why I've been M.I.A. You'll understand once you start reading:

This post is all about jet-set style. I've been spending more and more time traveling these days. In fact, a week ago today I got up at the crack of dawn, drove to the airport, hopped on a plane and flew to Charlotte, NC. Then I picked up a rental car and drove two hours west to the far side of the state and surprised my boyfriend for Valentine's Day. It was literally a 24-hour trip from start to finish. The very next morning I drove my rental car back to Charlotte and hopped on a plane back to Boston. By 2:00 Wednesday afternoon I was home and unpacking.

I remembered that episode of Project Runway where the designers were tasked with creating a look for a jet-setter. While I haven't even been crossing time zones in my travels these last few months, I have learned how to pack, how to dress and even how to look fresh after hours of travel. I will of course share my secrets with you.

First of all, the biggest issue when traveling in the winter is figuring out shoes. Boots are of course the most practical and yet they also take up the most space in a suitcase. Why not simply wear them when traveling, then? Well, it's not exactly an easy thing to slip your tall boots off and on at the security gate. Also, while boots look fabulous, they're not always the most comfortable when sitting in coach for two hours. It was a conundrum for me until I found these amazing "shooties" from Target of all places!

I purchased them in black, but I had to show you the picture in the burgundy- aren't they scrumptious? They are super flattering and not excruciating to wear for such a high wedge. They aren't a model of comfort either, but you know my feelings there. Beauty hurts. I wore these with a pair of dark-wash flared jeans from Old Navy and a comfortable but stylish top. They were super easy to slip off at security and then back on once I'd walked through the full-body scanner. (How awful are those scanners, btw?) And the best part about my "shooties" is that I got them on sale for $20! 

I'll post again with more advice for traveling in style. In the meantime, leave a comment below if you have some great traveling advice for me! 

Rate My Look: Mad Hatter

I couldn't wait to wear my new hat, so I made sure to work it into an outfit right away. This is what I wore yesterday and I love it all:

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Old Navy

Ring: Stella and Dot

Shoes: Marshalls

Hat: Puttin' on the Glitz

My hat, made by Cha-cha's House of Ill Repute, is so stinkin' awesome. I don't even have words. Yes I do. They are as follows: This hat has such amazing details- from the lace-like, almost cobweb-esque trim over the grosgrain ribbon band, to the feather embellishment on the band, to the suede-like trim along the brim to the perfectly tea-stained color of the straw to the folds and creases that make it appear as though it's 100 years old, every detail of this hat is awesome. I should have taken a better close-up picture. It has SO much character, it's unbelievable. And yet, at the same time, it's incredibly neutral and versatile. What convinced me to splurge on this hat was the fact that it can truly be worn with just about anything. I know there are many of you who don't think so, who think that hats are so hard to wear! I know what's you're thinking: "When on earth could you ever wear this hat once, let alone in enough situations that it could be considered versatile!" 

First, it's a light-weight straw hat, perfect for protecting my face from the hot summer sun. That quality alone makes it appropriate for a stroll in the park, a trip to the farmer's market, a day at the beach, an outdoor BBQ and an afternoon shopping in any fabulous downtown you like, to name a few scenarios. The day I bought it, I was torn between it and a much dressier fascinator. In the end, I decided the hat could be dressed up OR down, while the fascinator was specific to dressing up situations. I promise to show you plenty of outfits with this hat to prove to you how versatile it is. Of course, I may not even need to convince you. Why not leave me a comment and tell me what you think- do you need convincing that it was worth the nearly $160 price tag? I want to hear what you have to say!  

Rate My Look- Inspired by Brittan

Today was an absolutely fabulous day, and I'm not talking about the British sitcom. I started off my day by picking an outfit to wear out with Gigi- we had plans to get our nails done at a little salon in Portsmouth. I pulled out a dress that I haven't worn since last summer and felt instantly inspired:

Dress: Target

Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory? I think...

Sweater: Old Navy 

Bag: Michael Kors via Marshalls

Ring and Earrings: Stella and Dot

Remember Brittan and her fabulous polka-dot dress with the citrus-y accouterments? Well, she was truly my inspiration for this outfit. I wish it was exactly the same color scheme as hers, but sometimes you need to make do with what you have. In my case, I had the polka dots and I had the citrus-family colors. Rather than the lemon and tangerine she sported, I had just a splash of lemon with a bit more of lime and grapefruit. Overall, it works and it's a super fun, bright, spring-y outfit. 

My mani/pedi with Gigi was also great and afterwards we had a nice afternoon shopping in downtown Portsmouth. She went home with several new pairs of shoes. I went home without a single new purchase, but it wasn't because I didn't find anything fabulous. On the contrary, I found several super fabulous items, but all of them were selling for a lot more than I was comfortable spending. For example, take a look at me in this AMAZING hat: 

I LOVE IT!!! It's like a super chic version of a mad hatter top hat and I had a lot of trouble leaving it behind. At $158, it would have been a major splurge. Maybe I'll go back in a few weeks and see if it's on sale. I have to say, this hat would be worth every penny and if I were made of money, I'd have snatched it up in heartbeat! I found it at an adorable little shop called Puttin' on the Glitz where there are dozens of equally fabulous hats as well as gorgeous handbags and tons of jewelry. The hat itself comes from Cha-cha's House of Ill Repute, but I would caution you against clicking that last link unless you are prepared to either drop a few hundred dollars on some amazing hats, or to have your heart broken because you can't drop a few hundred dollars on some amazing hats. Seriously. 

After leaving behind that amazing hat, we stopped in to a few shoe stores, another serious weakness of mine. I found these incredibly comfortable and incredibly chic sandals:

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo.  We were in the "outlet room" at JL Coombs when I found these babies. (P.S. How cute does my pedicure look?) Heres a better photo of them from Zappos: 

Pikolinos Gomera, Zappos, $155

Super fabulous, right? And the most amazing part about these wedges is that they feel like they are flats! It's magical and I really don't understand how it's done. They felt so amazing on my feet, I nearly purchased them. At $155, even buying them in tax-free New Hampshire was still out of the question. Although, much like the hat, I believe they would have been worth every penny. I suppose that was the theme of the day- finding absolutely fabulous items for around $150. 

Do you ever have days like that, when you wish you could buy really nice things, but you know your budget just won't allow for it? The shoes were of course far more practical than the hat, but still not entirely necessary. It's hard to walk away from something I know I will wear a lot, even more so than walking away from something a little impractical, but that I absolutely adore (like that hat)!

I may have gone home empty-handed in terms of shopping booty, but I still had a wonderful girls' day with Gigi and that is really what matters. Time spent with loved ones- friends, family, etc. is so much more important than any pair of shoes or mad hatter top hat. Don't you agree? 

Rate My Look- More Stella and Dot

Obviously, since I've received my Stella and Dot free jewelry, I have a large amount of jewelry to choose from when I get dressed in the morning. I wanted to show you a couple of outfits that were finished perfectly with one or two pieces of Stella and Dot jewelry:

Dress: Made by ME!
Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace, Earrings and Cocktail Ring: Stella and Dot

As you know, on Saturday, we are required to wear black. We generally use our accessories when trying to make our all-black outfits a bit more interesting. After work, I had plans to see a show with a friend, so I needed an outfit (and accessories) that could easily transition from a busy day at the shop to a night out. This black dress (made by yours truly, of course), and the right accessories helped create the ideal outfit for both. I must admit, however, that I changed to the fun red shoes after I left work for the night. There's no way I could have survived 8 hours on my feet in those heels! The jewelry that helped to finish my look includes the Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace, the Ladybug Studs and the Camilla Ring.Overall, they helped create a sophisticated look that worked not only for a busy high-end bridal shop, but also for a night out at the theatre. 

Today, when I got dressed for work, my goal was to create an outfit around just one piece of Stella and Dot jewelry. I chose the Chloe Necklace, but I off-set the ribbon bow so that it was more visually interesting:

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Anthropologie (Please excuse the wrinkles)

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Stella and Dot

I like the necklace with the ribbon tied this way- it's still pretty when the ribbon is tied behind the neck, but I love asymmetry, so I prefer it with the ribbon tied to the side. Some might call me a genius for coming up with that idea. I'd be okay with that. 

Check back soon for more outfits inspired by and created using Stella and Dot jewelry. And don't forget to shop the virtual trunk show. Click here for more information on how you can participate! Enjoy the rest of your Monday, everyone! 

Rate My Look- Howdy, New Glasses

Today I worked from noon to 5:00 and the sun was still shining when I left work. Isn't daylight savings so great? Just when you're ready to lose your mind from the short, dreary, winter days, the middle of March rolls around and all of a sudden, the days are longer again. It's awesome.

As for my outfit, I was able to snap a photo on my drive home, when the light was absolutely perfect. My pictures over the winter have been dull, with poor light- it was too cold to take pictures outside and the inside liht was rarely very good, at least at home. Needless to say, I'm happy for the better light for my photos and for my mood!

Top: Marshalls

Skirt: Old Navy

Belt: Super old, I don't even remember where I got it

Ring: Target

Cowboy boots: Consignment Shop

Necklace: Garment District

Glasses: FYSH UK

The skirt is re-mixed from this outfit, and the shirt is pretty basic, so I have never really talked about it. It's good to have basics in your wardrobe, but I'm often guilty of having too many quirky things with too few basics to pair them with. Speaking of quirky things, would you like a close-up view of my new glasses? No one seemed to want to venture a guess on my post yesterday, but I think if you know me well, the answer was obvious: 

Yup, I got the super funky flower-y ones! Are they fabulous or what? I've actually ENJOYED wearing them these last few days! The color looks great against my eye color. Normally, I don't like wearing glasses because they tend to cover up what I consider to be one of my best features. These glasses seem to do just the opposite. I'm sure I'll be back to contact lenses before long, especially with spring and summer fast approaching- sunglasses will be more appropriate soon. 

So what do you think of my outfit? Is it a little too cowgirl for you (especially with the "Howdy" necklace)? Or do you just think it's fun? I like it- and it was remarkably comfortable to wear at work. Those boots are magical- they are the only pair of heels I can not only survive in for several hours at work, but my feet don't even need "recovery time." They are magically comfortable, despite the three-inch heels. I can't explain it, but I'm not going to complain. Magical cowboy boots are fine with me. Fabulous glasses and cute necklaces? Also fine. 

I Need a New Handbag! Help!

I don't know if it's that I truly need a new handbag, or that I'm simply suffering from seller's remorse, but lately all I can think about is how much I need a nice, new handbag. I've been sporting medium to large handbags for several years now and I don't see that changing anytime soon. This past weekend at my yardsale I got rid of all but about half a dozen of my bags and I'll be honest- the ones left aren't really thrilling me. It's not that I don't like them- I love them. That's why they made the cut and weren't sold. It's more that I'm just in a place where I need a fresh perspective. I'm about to pack my life up and move it more than 400 miles away and what better way to commemorate that than with a new bag?

I went to the BCF the other day and they had two large displays of Nine West bags in gorgeous metallics and blacks. They were really lovely bags, but upon closer inspection I decided they would not function in the way I need a bag to function. For example, they were entirely open inside with only one small zippered pocket inside. I need multiple pockets and I prefer a bag with sections. I carry a lot in my bag, but it's mostly small things, so I need compartments and pockets to keep it all organized. I am also a huge fan of bags with a key leash. I only own one bag that has one and I love it. Anyway, the point is, I need to keep shopping. Whether around town or online, or maybe I should just wait until I'm back in New Hampshire and then Beth can take me handbag shopping. She is the master of handbags.

Anyway, I kind of like these bags:

Jenna Four-Poster Shopper in "Pebble," Nine West, $49.99

Lovely, right? It's also available in black, but I like the "Pebble" color. The only problem with the pebble color is that I'll get it dirty in about 5 minutes and then I'll be mad at myself. Other than that, it's a lovely bag and according to the online description, there are three compartments as well as a zippered pocket and two small slip pockets. Sounds ideal.

Erica Shopper in "Nutmeg," Nine West, $59.99

I love the buckle details on this one and the faux-leather looks really rich and luxurious. But doesn't that bother you? Nearly $60 for a bag that's synthetic? I understand leather is a LOT more, but this bag was originally $109, which seems like a price you might pay for leather. Anyway, I also love how this bag is shaped and once again the description claims there are a lot of compartments and pockets. Unfortunately, the front pocket has a magnet closure. Ever since I ruined a phone by putting it next to the magnet closure in a clutch, I've avoided magnets in handbags. I've got a smartphone and an iPod to think of.

Tanya A in "Light Navy Blue," Etsy, $145

There are just so many gorgeous bags out there, but I especially like the idea of buying one on Etsy because I can know whether or not I'm supporting an artisan versus a sweat shop. This particular bag even has a picture of the inside posted with the listing:

Now THAT'S the kind of interior I'm talking about. Although, it is a tad deep. I really like the idea of a more shallow bag, but one still with a lot of fullness to accomodate all my stuff. I hate being that person who's constantly digging through her purse looking for something. I tend to carry large bags that seem to be bottomless, especially when I'm looking for something! I also like the idea of a bright, fall color like mustard yellow or a deep pumpkin.

Shiraleah Harper Zip Satchel in "Orange," Target, $34.99

The color on this one is perfect, but I think the vibe is off. It's a little too stiff. Well, I suppose I'll just have to continue my quest for the perfect handbag. In the meantime, if you see any amazing ones, please let me know!

Rate My Look- Accessories from Besties

Today when I put this outfit together, it didn't immediately occur to me that the most interesting accessories in the outfit were from my closest girlfriends:

I'm talking about the necklace and the bag, of course. The necklace was given to me from Andrea as an opening night present for Abbey Road. She conceived, wrote, directed and choreographed the entire show. Working on costumes with her was so much fun. She made this necklace for me as an opening night gift- isn't that so sweet of her? Here's a closer look at it:

Can you see the detail on the pendant- a pair of scissors? How perfect is that? I love it. As for the bag, I actually blogged about it a looooooooooong time ago here. Beth, being the sweetheart that she is, gave me the bag for my birthday. The joke with this bag is that while it's clever and adorable, it's highly inconvenient and impractical. I can barely carry anything in it and since the pouches are smaller at the top, it's hard to get anything out. Like I said, inconvenient and impractical. But totally cute, right? And didn't I say just the other day that one of my fall must-haves is an olive handbag? Check! (Silly me, I didn't take a close-up photo of the bag. I'll try to remember to do that and update this post.) I did, however, get a close-up photo of the shoes. Oh, the shoes. I was going to wait until tomorrow to go on about these shoes (since it is Shoesday Tuesday), but I can't wait. Check these babies out:

Who doesn't love a little pop of zebra print, right? These shoes are Madden Girl by Steve Madden and I scored them at the BCF for only $19.99. They are actually quite comfortable, too. I feel like a total babe in them. As for the rest of the outfit, the dress is made by me, originally seen here, the belt is so old, I have no idea where it came from, the cami is probably from Target, but I really don't know for sure and the sunglasses are vintage. I love the shape of them- I really should wear them more often.

So what do you think of my outfit today? Leave a comment and let me know!

Forget blondes- it's the red heads who have the most fun

Or at least look the most stunning on the cover of a magazine (or two):

While just about everyone the world over is raving about Joanie's cover of British GQ, I'm more of a fan of her look on the cover of Health Magazine:

I like that it's a more natural look. The GQ one is so stylized, not to mention completely designed with men's preferences in mind. The Health cover is not only stunning, but Christina's look is one most women would be thrilled to achieve. I also appreciate that a woman with real curves is all over the media these days. Sometimes the fashion magazines talk about Beyonce or J.Lo as being "real women" because of their curves. As if.

The Health magazine cover is also a good lesson for all you women out there who may have doubted the amazing qualities of the wrap dress. Many many moons ago, I wrote a post about DVF's invention and its virtues. They hold true, still. And if you're interested in the Health magazine interview, you can find it here. And if you're interested in some of my other favorite Christina Hendricks/Joan Holloway (Harris) looks, enjoy:

(My fave!!! Love love love the asymmetrical hemline)

And since there's just too much to focus on for fashion for all of YOU, I've decided to finish this post with fabulous wrap dresses a la the Health Magazine cover for you AND fabulous fitted sheath dresses a la Joan Holloway. Enjoy!

Aqua Zebra-Print Wrap Dress, JCPenney, $34

Short-sleeve Wrap Dress, Target, $39.99

BCBGeneration Wrap Dress, Zappos, $78

Maggy London Ruched Sheath Dress, Nordstrom, $78.90

Black Halo Shannon Sheath Dress, Saks Fifth Avenue, $390

Knit Tweed Sheath Dress, Ann Taylor, $148

Have a great Sunday, everyone!