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! 

Fabulous Friday: Eye Candy

Every now and then it's fun to indulge in a little virtual window shopping and just spend some time admiring the gorgeous designs that are out there, whether or not they fit into your budget. This inspiring set features bold colors and patterns. Enjoy!

These are sophisticated polka dots, right? The dress is by Jonathan Saunders and you can find it at net-a-porter. Yum! 

Is there anything more cheerful than a bright yellow handbag? I doubt it. You can find this one at Forzieri. 

Clearly inspired by the Mondrian patterns of the 60's, this Kate Spade skirt is loads of fun. Get yours at Neiman Marcus. 

These DSquared pumps are to die for! I love them! If only I had an extra $600 lying around, I'd hop on over to Zappos Couture and put them right into my shopping cart. 

Time for me to digest all this loveliness. What kind of fashion eye candy have you seen around? Have you noticed any trends? Leave a comment- I always love hearing from you!

Shoesday Tuesday: Embellished Flats

Lately I'm completely obsessed with embellished shoes. I especially love anything with a little bow or flower right on the toe. Since I need to wear flats for work, I find myself drawn to ones that I at least find pretty interesting. Like these:

Daniblack Rose, Zappos, $180

Blowfish Nazz, Zappos, $39

Juicy Couture Chantal, Zappos, $250

Add a little jazz to your toes next time you're out shoe shopping. I did and I'm loving it. Happy Shoesday Tuesday!

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? 

How to Rock a Maxi Dress (Even if you're petite)

You all know me well enough to know that I do not own a maxi dress and that my preferred hemlines fall at my knees- maybe a little above or below, but generally speaking, the knees are where it's at. Maxi dresses have never been my favorite type of garment because I don't find them to be all that flattering. I look at them as an unfortunate, billow-y cover-up appropriate for very little. However, I also know that I am in the minority when it comes to that opinion. The entire fashion industry seems to disagree with me, actually. I'm ok with that, but I understand that some of my readers may be interested in learning how to wear a maxi dress and I'd hate to alienate those people.

So, even though I'm not interested in wearing one, I'll be happy to help YOU look your best in a maxi dress. Here are my tips for pulling off this look:

1.) Select a maxi with a print that is in proportion to your body. Since the maxi is so long, there is going to be a LOT more print there than with a knee-length dress, so if you are petite, the wrong print can be overwhelming. If you're unsure of what type of print will work for you, select a maxi in a solid, color block or ombre instead.

2.) To avoid looking bottom-heavy, select a maxi with minimum fullness in the skirt. This will help you achieve a long, sleek look, rather than a heavy, prairie-dress effect.

3.) Select a halter, strapless or spaghetti-strap maxi to help the overall effect remain light and airy. Too much fabric will be overwhelming on just about anyone, so show a little skin up top to balance out the look.

4.) Choose a maxi that cinches in at the natural or empire waist. This will emphasize the smallest part of your figure and help maintain the hourglass figure you are striving for.

5.) Avoid heavy fabrics- the lighter the fabric, the more ethereal the effect will be in your maxi dress. Also avoid a slim-fitting jersey fabric as it is a very unforgiving fabric at times, but especially when cut close to the body.

Below are some maxi dresses that I feel would be flattering on just about anyone:

Halter Maxi Dress, Victoria's Secret, $98 

Not only is this print ideal- not too big or too small for anyone- the blue variation that runs down the center will help the elongate the entire look and offer a more slimming effect. 

Free People Voile Maxi Dress, Nordstrom, $198

This maxi not only has a nice monochromatic print, but the majority of the fullness in the skirt is concentrated at the bottom. If the entire skirt were as full as the bottom piece, it could be overwhelming, but since the top half of the skirt is slimmer, it can work on just about anyone. I also like how this one is shorter in the front- it keeps the dress from feeling too heavy. Finally, the details at the neckline draw the eye upward to the face, which is always a good thing. 

C&C California Crochet Back Maxi Dress, Zappos, $128

You may remember this dress from my post about interesting back details. I also like this maxi because the skirt is slim and the sash at the waist is very flattering. It won't be overwhelming on anyone because of those details. 

Of course, for every maxi that's great, there are five others that should be burned. Here are some maxi dresses I think everyone should avoid like the plague: 

Whispering Forest Maxi Dress, Anthropologie, $138

There is so much wrong with this maxi- it would take a statuesque, rail-thin figure to pull it off and even then I believe there are better choices that could be made. 

Black and White One-Shoulder Maxi Dress, Sears, $93

I have two words: horizontal stripes. Even if this pattern were vertical, it would be overwhelming on a lot of frames. Petite girls would get lost in it. Tall and large girls would overwhelm everyone around them because it would just be a lot of print to look at. Just say "no" to horizontally-striped maxi dresses. Just say "No." 

In case you're at a loss as to how to style a maxi dress, here are a few ideas to get your started: 

Maxi Dress by Rtboo featuring studded handbags

And if it's any consolation, I think that in the process of creating and writing this post, I may have convinced myself to be more open minded toward the maxi dress. Never say never, right? It seems that when I completely dismiss the idea of something (like Uggs), that's exactly when I discover a reason when it might be appropriate to choose that exact thing I just dismissed. Murphy's Law, I suppose. 

Anyway, leave a comment and tell me what YOU think of the maxi dress trend. Do you wear maxi's? How do you style them? Send me a picture and I'll post it on the blog! 

Back Story

When we consider wearing a certain outfit, we always look in the mirror. And while we may consider what the back of our clothing looks like, it's not often at the forefront of our shopping decisions. And yet the truth is that people will be seeing us from all different angles- as we approach them and as we walk away. So why not consider some pieces that are just as interesting (if not more so) from the back? Of course, my fabulous plaid dress has a cool exposed zipper in the back, so you already know I practice what I preach:

But while you may admire me for my honesty and integrity, that doesn't exactly help you find your own clothing with interesting back details, does it? Well, lucky for you, I'm a whiz at finding cool stuff on the internet and this case is no exception. 

BCBGMaxAzria Belted Jacquard Dress, Nordstrom, $278.00

C&C California Crochet Back Maxi Dress, Zappos, $128.00

Sparkle & Fade Knit Bow Back Dress, Urban Outfitters, $48.00

Penumbra Knot Back Dress, Revolve Clothing, $130.00

Oolong Blend Top, Modcloth, $42.99

Cooperative Bow Back Dress, Urban Outfitters, $79.00

Aiko Short Sleeve Gallant Bow Back Dress, Bloomingdale's, $188.00

Carolina Herrera Origami Back Dress, Bergdorf Goodman, $2790.00

Carmen Marc Valvo Chiffon Drape Back Dress, Neiman Marcus, $680

Bevv-B, Steve Madden, $99.95

Sam Edelman Lorissa Spike Pump, Revolve Clothing, $200

Whether it's interesting draping, an exposed zipper, beadwork, or cut-outs, whether its a dress, blouse, skirt or a pair of shoes, consider wearing something with an interesting back detail, and your departure will be as interesting as your arrival no matter what the occasion. 

Shoesday Tuesday- Spring is Coming...

With mere minutes to left before the clock strikes 12 and it is no longer Shoesday Tuesday, I'm finally opening up my laptop and composing this post. I struggled with what to write about- not for a lack of fun shoes in my life, but the opposite- too many to choose from and I just couldn't focus. In the end I've decided to share just one pair- a pair I believe I have shown here on the blog before, but I'm too tired and it's too late for me to go back through the archives and figure out when and why and all of that. The reason these shoes are on my mind today is mostly due to their vibrant color. We've had so much snow and cloudy days lately. All I want is to start seeing green- grass and leaves have been out of my life too long and I'm dying for spring.

If ever a shoe personified springtime, it's this one- Nina's "Electra" in apple green. Available on Zappos for $89.95, I think these shoes might be the antidote to seasonal affective disorder. Don't you think?

Reader Question

Happy New Year, everyone! I am so excited for 2011- I feel like this year truly has some good things in store, not just for me, but for my family, friends, coworkers, etc. As I reflect back on 2010, I realize I definitely made the right decision to pack up and move out of PA and back to NH. Even though it has made the blog more difficult to maintain, I realize it was the right thing to do for my career, my personal life and even for my mental health. If you are the type to make New Year's resolutions (I'm SO not), then I encourage you to resolve to make change in your life where you need to. It is not always an easy decision to make a major change, but I promise you will not regret it. Whatever it is in your life that is causing you grief or pain, take steps to resolve the issues- it is the only way you will move forward in your life.

Ok, I'm stepping off my soap box now! I don't mean to get too preach-y here on the blog, but sometimes I really feel compelled to say what is on my mind, even if it is not fashion related. But speaking of fashion-related things, I received the following message from reader Miguel a few days ago and I wanted to take a moment to respond:

Hello from the internet! I just want to say I enjoy your blog, and that I appreciate some of the guy tips you have thrown out there. Especially the holiday outfit suggestions... so that brings me to a question I have... :-) What's the rule for wearing black dress pants with a not matching black jacket? It looks like a no-no to me, but is there a time when that would makes sense? Should you ever wear a blazer with anything other than light colored slacks or jeans? Thanks! Miguel :)


First of all, I want to thank Miguel for writing to me- I LOVE to hear from the people who read my blog and I truly want to know what questions you have about fashion, style, sewing, or anything else. I always encourage you to leave a comment and I hope you feel as though I respond to them when appropriate. Additionally, I try to avoid badgering people into "following" or "subscribing" to my blog- I don't want you to feel as though you have to be a follower in order to be appreciated. 


And now to address Miguel's question: Can you wear black slacks with a non-matching black blazer? My opinion is this: if you are choosing to wear two non-matching black items, make sure they are decidedly different. For example, wear a solid black jacket with a pair of black pin-stripe trousers or vice-versa. If you pair two very similar, but ever-so-slightly different pieces, you run the risk of looking as though you simply mis-matched your black suits at the dry cleaner. Other distinctions can be fabric/textile choices: a pair of woolen dress pants with a cotton sateen jacket- the contrast in texture will distinguish the two from each other, but it will still look put-together and polished as opposed to looking like a mistake. 


Here are some great combinations of black pants and black blazers: 

 Both items available at Banana Republic (jacket, pants). 

You can find the blazer at Gap and the pants at Express. 

You all know how much I love dark jeans with a nice, tailored jacket, right? Let's not exclude that option OR its opposite- a denim blazer with trousers: 

The jacket is from Zara and the jeans can be found at Neiman Marcus. 

Zappos sells the jacket and the pants are the same ones from Express that are pictured above. 

While this post is geared specifically towards men because of Miguel's request, it also has applications for women. Check back in a day or two for the womens edition of monochromatic black outfits. 

In conclusion, I want to address Miguel's last question about only wearing blazers with light-colored pants or jeans. The answer is no- you can wear a blazer with any pair of pants that work- dark, light, cotton, wool, heavy, light- if it looks good, you can wear it- ignore the rules of your grandfather's generation. I personally love black blazers with charcoal or even light grey pants- it's a polished look without being a matching suit. Pair a navy jacket with chocolate brown pants for a twist on the more classic khaki/navy combination. And don't be fooled into thinking white or blue button-front shirts are the only options, either. But that's another post for another day. 

Miguel, I hope this has answered your question! Feel free to submit any other fashion/style questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer them! Happy New Year! 

Shoesday Tuesday: Spurge v. Steal

Happy Shoesday Tuesday, everyone!

With Christmas just around the corner, I'm sure your bank account is, much like mine, feeling a tad depleted. And so in the spirit of saving money, today's post is all about the spurge vs. steal gimmick. Also known in some circles as the "Look for Less," it's a fabulous trend/price comparison for the savvy shopper. Let's all save a buck while still looking totally fabulous, shall we?

First up, these gorgeous pumps by Fendi- the bow detail at the toe is so sculptural and pretty and as for the color, well, you all know how I feel about a nude shoe. If you don't yet have a fabulous nude shoe, these would make a great choice:

Of course at $685 (available at Nordstrom here), they're a bit on the pricey side, wouldn't you say? Fortunately, there are other great platform pumps out there also in nude and also featuring an interesting sculptural bow detail in front. Like these by Paris Hilton available at Zappos for just $88.95 (here). 

On a completely different note, these work-boot style heels by Dolce & Gabbana are all the rage right now. Unfortunately at $655, they are far from attainable. (At least to me, but you can buy them here at Bloomingdale's if you like.) 

Don't despair, lumberjack ladies, a VERY similar pair of "Ranger Booties" by Ralph Lauren is ALSO available at Bloomies (here) for a fraction of the cost of the D&G's. At $104.30 (sale price, marked down from $149), these are a pretty great substitute: 

Personally, I really love the idea of glittery shoes for a party, especially New Year's. Jimmy Choo knows exactly what I'm talking about with these gorgeous slingbacks available at Nordstrom for about $665 (here).

They sure are pretty, but for a girl on a budget (like me), this festive version from Make Me Chic is a lot more affordable at just $29.68 (here).

I hope this post has inspired you to look for the bargain version of the trend. You really don't have to spend a lot to look great- these shoes are all proof! 

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to stop by my blog- I really appreciate it (and the comments, too, of course)! However, I'd like to ask you to take another moment or two out of your day for me. Please hop on over to Twitter and tell me (in tweet form) about a shoe bargain you know of, or experienced, or hope to find. Please include the hashtag #ShoesdayTuesday or I won't see it. Thanks so much and Happy Shoesday Tuesday, everyone! 

Shoesday Tuesday: Boots, boots and more boots...

I am obsessed with shopping for boots right now. Maybe it's the sudden change in weather, maybe it's the fact that I've moved north where boots are a necessity, not merely a fashion statement. Whatever the reason, I'm dying over so many boots right now. And I will admit that now that I'm back in the colder climate, I understand the reasoning behind Ugg boots. I still don't think they're attractive- I still think they are appropriately named- but I GET them. These, on the other hand are very pretty:

Madden Girl Luciee, Zappos, $39.95

I adore the button detail on these- it's very steampunk, which seems to be becoming a bit of a trend these days. You won't be seeing me in full Victorian garb unless I somehow end up in the cast of "A Christmas Carol" at a local community theatre, though. And that's highly unlikely. However, a hint of Victorian like these boots? Now that's much more likely! 

I'm also in love with "Houston" which is in my October Showroom from Shoe Dazzle this month. It's available in black as well as this rich tan: 

Houston, Shoe Dazzle, $39.95 (Membership required) 

The heel on "Houston" is a tad high, especially for everyday, but I like how the calf looks wider than your average pair of knee-high boots. If you're anything like me, finding boots wide enough for your calves is a challenge. I discovered there are actually "wide calf" boots available, though. Obviously, you can find them on plus-size sites like Avenue, Lane Bryant and OneStopPlus, but Zappos also carries an impressive selection. For example, I'm digging these gorgeous ones by Fitzwell available in black, brown and grey, although I'm partial to the latter two: 

Fitzwell Kyoti Wide Calf Boot, Zappos, $125

I also like these:

Type Z Worth Wide Calf Boot, Zappos, $93

Based on these choices, I seem to be drawn to lighter shades of tan and dove grey, which is new for me. I have a couple pair of black boots, so I'm sure it's just that I'm drawn to ones that aren't similar to what I already own. That's definitely a good thing! At least I'm not being redundant! 

As the weather gets colder, don't you feel like there's something comforting about boots? Even a pair of Uggs, I can understand. It's not currently part of my plan to purchase any new boots, but if the perfect pair just happen to present themselves for a remarkable price, I might just have to change my plans!