Rate My Look: How to Defeat the Heat

This week marked record temperatures across the country and New Hampshire was no exception. Temperatures climbed to over 100 degrees and the humidity was absolutely brutal. Given the situation, I really had no choice but to defeat the heat. Honestly, the only solution I could come up with was to simply be hotter. So I put this outfit together:

Dress: Taylor Dresses via Burlington Coat Factory

Shoes: Bakers

Necklace and Ring: Stella and Dot

The dress is super hot, the shoes are extra hot and the jewelry is supremely hot. Together they make for an outfit hot enough to intimidate even the hottest day of the summer. Did you happen to notice that the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees since this morning? You're welcome. 

And in case you want a close up of the shoes and my new ring, here they are: 

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! 

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? 

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!

Dressing for a Wedding

Wedding season is upon us, and chances are good you've got at least one to attend this year. I actually enjoy putting together an outfit for a wedding but I completely understand why the task can be a little daunting. In fact, if you remember, I enlisted your opinion when choosing an outfit for a wedding in October. There is one hard and fast fashion rule when you are a guest at a wedding: Do no wear white unless you are the bride. Some might say that you shouldn't wear black to a wedding, but it's for superstitious reasons- some say it's bad luck. Fashion-wise there is no faux pas associated with wearing black to a wedding.

Not having rules to follow can actually make dressing for a wedding even more difficult. But there are always guidelines to follow. Consider the following when selecting your attire:

- What time of day is the wedding?
- Where is the wedding/reception located?
- Has the couple specified attire in the invitation?

Obviously, an afternoon wedding that takes place in an outdoor setting will be more casual than an evening wedding at a posh hotel or restaurant. Black tie or white tie specified in the invitation is very clear for men, but can still be confusing for women. And what about the beach front wedding followed by a reception at a yacht club- is it casual or formal?

Hopefully if you have been invited to the wedding, you know the couple pretty well and if the question of casual vs. dressy exists, you should probably be able to figure out which direction the couple would go in. If however, it's a distant cousin you don't know too well, then the task is a little more difficult. For the sake of this blog post, let's assume you have a good idea of the type of wedding you are attending. No matter what the style of the wedding, the most important accessory you will choose is your shoes. Weddings are long events, often culminating in much dancing, so you want shoes that won't kill your feet from the start. For beautiful shoes that are also comfortable I must recommend Nina Shoes. I use these all the time for the performers at AMT because they are durable, elegant and comfortable. I often find them at heavily discounted prices at places like SYMS, Burlington Coat Factory, Marshall's and TJ Maxx.

So now that you know about the most important part, let's get on to the outfits!

Casual, outdoor wedding:

Dress: Anthropologie, $158

Flats: Nina, $79.95

Straw Clutch: Michael Kors, $106.99

A casual, outdoor wedding is the perfect opportunity to wear a fun print- just make sure the dress has dressy feel to it. Even though it's a casual wedding, it's still a wedding, so "casual" doesn't have the exact same meaning as it does in "casual cookout" or "casual date." You still need to bring it just a little bit.

In-between wedding:

Dress: Modcloth, $53.99

Clutch: G by Guess, $20

Shoes: Nina, $79.95

For the in-between wedding, it's best to err on the side of being little dressier, but have fun with your outfit. The bright green shoes add a fun punch of color and the grey clutch is a nice change from the traditional black evening bag.

Formal, evening wedding:

Dress: Sung Boutique, $108

Clutch: Emitations, $75

Shoes: Nina, $99.95

For a formal wedding (black or white tie), you really do need to wear full evening attire. It's up to you if you want to go long or short on the dress, but I find that short is always best for two reasons. First, with a long formal gown, you run the risk of looking like you're there to accept an Academy Award. And second, if you absolutely must kick of your shoes to shake your booty, the hem won't get shredded by the end of the night if you go short.

As with any outfit, use the accessories to add some personality to your look. It will help set you apart from the countless other guests at the reception. I once attended a wedding where I was literally the only 20-something who wasn't wearing an LBD and I was quite proud of myself for standing out in the crowd. If you must wear an LBD, be sure to spice it up with great accessories.

And please, refrain from doing the Chicken Dance. No one looks good doing the Chicken Dance.

I don't make New year's resolutions

It's true- I'm really not into making resolutions on New Year's simply because I try to reflect upon myself, the things I do and the choices I make often enough that come January 1st, I don't feel the need to overhaul any particular area of my life. While this philosophy works in theory, when it comes to practice, it's obviously easier said than done. The one area in my life where I felt the need to make a major resolution is in the area of dating. For those of you who know me, you know that I am dating impaired and that ever since moving to Pennsylvania, my dating life has basically become non-existent. The parts that do exist are comical to say the least. Ultimately, I believe that God has a really special man for me, but until I meet him, I feel doomed to awkward dates full of forced conversation.  (Fortunately, they usually involve a free meal, so it's not a total loss.) Anyway, when asked by my best friend what my new year's resolution was this year, I stated, "To go on better dates." The only problem with that resolution is that I don't know how to make it happen. It's easy to resolve to date more, but to resolve to have higher quality dating experiences? Not so simple. My solution to that dilemma is to simply be the best date I can be and hopefully a truly fabulous man will appreciate me for what I am and vice versa. I don't have a date planned yet for this year, but after I got dressed this morning, I looked in the mirror and thought, "This could be a great date outfit." It's demure, but figure-flattering. Simple, but unique.

It's a simple jersey-knit dress by Max Studio, layered over my Anna Sui for Target Gossip Girl top and then cinched with a black faux-patent-leather belt. I've got on my signature black tights, and what are fast becoming my signature shoes- the round toe wedges from Burlington Coat Factory. Finally, the cocktail ring was a Christmas gift from Beth this year. I adore it and have secretly been eyeing some very similar to it on Etsy and in many of the shops I've visited over the last few weeks.

If I were to make a New Year's resolution in regards to my wardrobe, it would probably have something to do with finding new ways to use what I already own. This outfit is actually a perfect example of that. The dress and top are both more summery pieces, but when combined, they offer enough coverage and warmth that I don't feel like I'm wearing a summer outfit in winter. In the coming months, I hope to put together interesting new outfits using pieces I already own. I also hope to make more garments and accessories for myself. It's far less expensive than purchasing new things and far more satisfying as well. My red dress is evidence of that. Once again, this is something that's easier said than done. I have plenty of ideas for clothes and accessories I'd like to make for myself, but actually finding the time to do it is something else entirely. As the year progresses, we'll see how successful I am, won't we?

Rate My Look- indoor & outdoor

Here's another indoor/outdoor set of looks for you guys and gals. You know that's why I love winter- 2 completely different outfits in one day! First, the indoor:

Dress: Walmart, $18

Shoes: BCF, $19.99

Necklace: H&M $8 or $9- I forget the exact amount

Tights: Target, $6

And in case I get chilly at work, I can always layer on my favorite black cardigan:

And now for the outdoor look:

Coat: BCF, too long ago to know what it cost

Hat: Also BCF, $6.99

Brooch: Once again, too long ago to know what it cost

In this option, I put the brooch on the hat instead for a different look:

It's a tough call with this hat. I think there's a fine line between Dr. Zhivago and Dr. Seuss. I hope this one errs on the Dr. Zhivago side.

Personally, I prefer the hat with the brooch on it as opposed to the coat. What do you think? Is it ridiculous? Or perfectly appropriate for this time of year? I like it.

Summer clothes in winter

The title is this probably implies that we had ANOTHER warm day here in PA, but that is not my intent. It's been pretty cold around here, actually. It's almost a requirement to layer your clothes in weather like this, but it can get boring throwing a cardigan on top of every outfit. I like to layer on thin pieces so I don't feel too bulky and summer clothes are perfect for that!

Cowl neck: Fair Indigo, $22

Jeans: Old Navy, $19

Crochet top: Marshalls, cheap but I can't remember the exact price

Necklaces: Aldo and H&M, free and a gift, respectively

Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory, $14.99

In this outfit, I've layered a summer crochet top over a long sleeve cowl neck. I'm not one to rotate my closet with the seasons. I keep everything out all the time and that way I'm never limited by what I deem to be "seasonal" pieces. I treat summer sun-dresses like jumpers, layering turtlenecks and tights underneath them. I wear thick tights underneath a pair of walking shorts or capris to "winterize" them. Throwing in light-weight, brightly colored summer pieces keeps winter outfits from feeling too heavy. Go through your closet and I'm sure you'll find lots of summer pieces perfect for layering together with winter pieces to make great cold-weather outfits. You'll probably create new outfits you never even knew you had! If you want to send me a picture of an outfit you made using this trick, I'll post it on the blog!

Birthdays, Glasses and Fur, Oh, my!

So yesterday was David's birthday and a bunch of us went out to see the New "Christmas Carol" movie. It was amazing. It was terrifying, uplifting, funny and we all enjoyed it. I didn't know at first, but it turns out, the movie was also playing in 3-D, so we of course had to see it with those fabulous 3-D glasses. I'm telling you, there isn't much that screams "sex appeal" like big, black plastic frame glasses. Aren't we all the hottest thing around?

Clockwise from center is Brance, Angela, Jen, David and me. We are a mighty fine looking crew if you ask me and the glasses really make a difference! Haha- I am totally kidding of course! We had a blast celebrating David's birthday, and that's really what matters.

This morning when I got dressed it was SO much colder than it has been recently. The weather station said that we would be getting down into the 17-18 degree range! Of course I had to layer on some warm pieces to prepare for such a cold day!

It's the same super-comfy black dress I always wear along with some black tights (Dress: Marshalls or TJ Maxx, Tights: Target), new black shoes ($14.99 at the BCF!), a purple wool cropped sweater/jacket from last winter (Marshalls) and some fun jewelry pieces including some bangles on my wrist and a large beaded necklace draped in front (both H&M). I can't even begin to describe how happy I am with these new shoes. I'll have to take a better picture of them for you to see. They are just a basic round toe wedge pump with a little button detail on the front toe. They are SO incredibly comfortable and cute- they might be my new favorite shoes!

Of course, this outfit wouldn't keep me warm outside, and knowing what temperatures I'd be up against, I pulled out my warmest winter coat. It also happens to be one of my absolute favorite things I own.

I bought it over a year ago for $75 at a vintage shop in downtown Lancaster- Mommalicious. I've blogged about them before. It's a great vintage shop and I go there all the time. I happened to be there with my mom and she spotted this gorgeous coat on a mannequin. We proceeded to fight over who would get to buy it. In the end I won, simply because it fit me better. It was the one time in my life I've ever been happy to be larger than someone. My mom is just too petite for the coat. Honestly, there is NOTHING about this coat that I do not LOVE. The fur collar is incredibly warm and cozy. The brocade fabric is amazing and even the details like the buttons and the lining are unique and full of personality. I have never worn this coat without receiving compliments on it. I hope to have it for years to come. Last winter I had to do some minor repairs on it, but I'm happy to stitch a seam in place if it means extending the life of the coat. And for anyone out there who is opposed to wearing fur, I completely understand if you hate my coat as a result. But to be honest, the coat is over 40 years old, so whatever animal I'm wearing was killed a loooooong time ago. I personally would never purchase a new fur piece, especially when there are so many vintage pieces available. To be honest, I wouldn't be comfortable in a full fur coat. I think the only reason this one works for me is that the fur is outside and it's only on the collar. But it's a beautiful coat and it feels amazing, so I love it. I get teased a bit every now and then for wearing it- I've been called "Duchess," and "Mama Rose" in it, but I never take offense. I adore it. I love how it can stand alone. So many of the coats I own are very plain, which makes them a perfect blank canvas for a brooch or scarf, but by themselves can be a little boring. This coat needs nothing. It's fabulous all on its own. Did I mention that I love it?

Rate My Look- Thanksgiving & Black Friday

Yesterday when I said I wouldn't do a Rate My Look post because it would involve stretchy pants, I was totally lying. As much as stretchy pants are great for big meals, a comfy dress is even better:

Dress: Max Studio, bought at Marshalls, $19.99

Tights: Target, $6

Sweater: Bandolino, thrifted, $6

Earrings: Aldo, free

Ring: Festoon, $42

Shoes: Fabulous Footwear, $22

I think you guys have all seen these various pieces as part of different outfits before. The earrings may be the exception- they are the ones I got for free at Aldo a couple of weeks ago. I love how the turquoise of the earrings and the cocktail ring play against the deep, dark red dress. I actually took this picture AFTER I got home from Thanksgiving dinner, which, by the way, was spectacular. I didn't overeat, but I almost wish I had because the food was so amazing. Oh, well. There's always next year.

And now for the Black Friday outfit- it's the exact same dress in black! This is my "LBD" that is so comfortable that I treat it more like a sweatsuit than an LBD.

Dress: Max Studio, bought at Marshalls, $29.99

Tights: Target, I forget how much

Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory, $19.99

Brooch: Made by ME!

Hat: I have NO idea- it's so old!

Here's a close-up of the brooch that I know you are all SO impressed with- haha!

I thought it was fitting to wear all black on Black Friday. I'm going to avoid shopping centers like the plague today. I've done the Black Friday thing before and it's really not that spectacular, if you ask me. I've done the midnight shopping, the 5:00 AM shopping- it's all really exhausting and I'd much rather spend my time elsewhere to be honest. My family has really scaled back on the Christmas purchases, choosing instead to focus on spending time together rather than shopping for each other. I prefer it that way- it takes all the pressure off and allows us to actually enjoy the holiday. And my mom tends to go crazy with all her cooking, which is always nice, too.

Over the holiday, I got some feedback and fashion questions that I'll try to answer over the next few days. In the meantime, feel free to stop by Monday's Giveaway post to enter the drawing. Leave up to 3 comments to be considered for the handmade shrug I made. Click here to be taken to that post.