Why hello 2011

After celebrating too excessively on New Year's Day, I decided to break out of the resulting funk by getting out of PJs and taking my first outfit shots of 2011. I got a new camera because my old one drowned in my purse when my stupid water bottle opened in it.

My body definitely told me that it would have preferred to remain in PJs and Uggs all day but I do feel moderately better having gotten all dressed and ready to greet the day. I wanted another go at this ballerina skirt. The first time I wore it I failed miserably. But I vowed to try again. it looks much better with flats. I would have preferred to wear it with a chunkier sweater but I don't have one.

So hello 2011! I am claiming you as my year! Yes, I know I claimed 2010 also but it worked out so well that I'm doing it again :)

skirt, flats: Target
cardigan: Banana Republic resale
tights: Kohl's
necklace: gift

Denver to Dallas

Over the break I went home by way of Denver. I flew to Denver and then drove with my best friend to Dallas. 13 hours in a car could only be bearable with a super close friend. Luckily Shannan is the best of friends and we traveled thru Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and into Texas with out wanting to kill each other. It took lots and lots of coffee but we made it.
This is the outfit I wore on the flight to Denver. Shan laughed at the fact that I got dressed up to fly but my stategy is the wear as much of my clothing on the plane as possible. That way I have more room in my suitcase. I wear bulkier items like boots or dresses and then layer it up. I am definitely layered up here.

dress, tights: Kohl's slae
button up: Old Navy clearance
Sweater: GAP clearance
belt: Target
botots: Seychelle's

taking it back a bit

I mentioned earlier this month that i was hoping my cousin would share the photos she took of her visit. Excitement!!!!! She finally did! So, if you allow me, I am going to rewind to the beginning of December. My cousin Steph and her husband Jason came to visit me and I took them wine tasting. Six vineyards and way too much wine made for a ridiculously fun day.

It makes not sense but as the weather got colder this winter my dresses got more summery. This dress being an example. you can't tell but it is backless with a giant heart cut out. I didn't want dark tights to take away from the summery aesthetic but wanted something on my legs. I am super sad that I ripped these nude fishnet hose this very evening. I think next time I would chose a different belt.

Dress: Delicia resale and altered
Cardigan, belt: Target clearance
fishnets: Kohl's
Boots: Seychelle's

All Photos taken by Jason (my cousin's husband)

fuzzy collar and sleek hair

Christmas shopping the final frontier happened today. I am thrilled to say that I am done, done, done!

I was torn between feeling fabulous and feeling ridiculous today in this fur collar. I've admired it on other people and having been wanting to try it myself. I like it. This dress is an old target that I've worn quite a bit over the past few years. I've been over it lately until I saw a woman wearing it yesterday and decided to pull it out again. It's a pretty dress but can easily go wrong. The color can look drab and the cut borders on juvenille. I brightened it up with this marigold cardigan. I am not happy with the tights but didn't have any other clean options. I ended up turning down the cuff on the boots after I left the house.

Also, new haircut. I am still not liking it. I was quite happy with my shaggy, fuzzy, over grown haircut I had. I liked that it didn't look fussy and I liked my too long, fall in my eyes bangs. But it has been 9 months since my last haircut and I figured a trin was in order. i should have been more specific about what i wanted. i feel like I have a whole new hairstyle :( Granted I have gotten a ton of compliments on it over the past two days. I'm just not a fan. I do have a tendancy to hide behind frumpiness. Sometimes frumpy clothing, sometimes my glasses, sometimes scraggly hair. And now my hairdresser has dragged me kicking and screaming into this polished stylish (supposedly) haircut. I'll probably thank him one day. But as of now I am still lamenting the loss of my messy mop of hair.

Dress, boots: Target
Tights: somewhere in NZ ???
Cardigan: GAP
Necklace: Sway
"fur" collar: H&M

still finding my groove

My little blog is still pretty new and I am still trying to find my rhythm. Taking pictures and posting daily is my goal. I just haven't gotten there yet. Even when I do take pictures I don't always get them up.
So here I am, yet again, playing catch up. Loser.
me, not you :)

Saturday was a farmers market, shopping with the roommate day. I intended to buy Christmas gifts but instead went ape shit crazy at the mall. All those sales on clothes and it's so much easier to buy for myself. I know exactly what I want! Boo me! In my defense, I had immediate buyers remorse and returned most of it the next day. Having come to my senses, I then bought Christmas gifts as I originally planned. it was just a temporary leave of my senses. This tends to happen in close proximity to clothing.

That being said, I am officially on a shopping freeze...for myself and clothes. I have enough...for now.

Saturday: Farmer's Market and devil-mall

Cardigan, necklace: Target
top: GAP
cords: Jcrew resale
boots: Seychelle's
ring: Rings Eclectic by melanie lynn

Saturday night: Holiday party at Cupcake Dangerous' casa

Dress, belt: H&M clearance
Cardigan: target
fishnets: Kohl's
Platforms: Jeffery Campbell

Monday: Buyers remorse redemption

red cardigan: American Apparel resale
grey sweater: Old Navy clearance
T-shirt: gift
skirt, shoes: target clearance
fishnets, knee-highs: Kohl's

Inspired by: Lulu Letty

As you may have noticed, some of the outfits in these inspiration posts look like an outfit the mentioned blogger wore. Other times, it may be just a feel that their style has that inspires me. This week I was scrolling back through Maria of Lulu Letty's outfits and was struck by one thing... the almost prim and proper look some of her outfits have. All of the buttons done up, the tailoring of her clothes. She looks like such a lady :) She always looks so put together.

With that in mind I put together a little outfit all my own. This ridiculously ruffled skirt, an ancient yellow pearl snap button up (I buttoned up one more button than I normally would...tip of the cap to Maria), a proper little cardigan, and then I went and got all sassy with these Jeffery Campbell platforms that I got and have been dying to wear. I wasn't sure they were appropriate for school so today was a test drive.

Now this is not really prim or proper but I felt like a little lady clomping around the halls today.

surprisingly comfortable after 9 hours on my feet


Skirt: Anthropologie clearance $40
Shirt: from PacSun I think
Cardigan, belt: Target $15, $8
Tights: Kohl's $6
Jeffery Campbell platforms: Nordstrom Rack $35

double trouble

Oh how life gets busy. I am still having trouble with getting outfit photos in while it is light out. Also, I have been trying to take better care of myself. Leaving work at a decent hour, getting to the gym, sleeping for 8 hours. My sweet little blog got kind of shuffled aside. Shame on me!
I'm going to post both Saturday and today's outfits.

On Saturday I went to the city to visit my friend Jessica of Cupcake Dangerous. We have known each other for 20 years! How crazy is that?? She is doing a 30 cupcakes in 30 days challenge and I have been desperately wanting to get in on the cupcake tasting at her place. So I crossed the bay bridge and "helped" her with her baking. And by helped I mean ate cupcakes and talked. Jess is my San Francisco tour guide and has been since I moved here 2 years ago. So true to form she took me to two places I've yet to try. Sushi Zone and Zeitgeist. Cupcake tasting seemed like as good a reason as any to get dressed up. I attempted to dress this dress down. Not sure if I succeeded.

Dress: Kohl's sale $35
Cardigan: Target $18
Tights: GAP $10
Boots: Steve Madden clearance $50

And on to today. As I said I have not been posting and I kick myself daily for it. I was happy with how today turned out. It was a morning where I woke up with no outfit in mind. I pretty much just added layers until i ended up with this. These wine tights make everything fabulous.

Cardigan: American Eagle (circa 2003)
Dress (worn a a top): H&M $25
Skirt: Banana Republic resale $20
tights, belt: Kohl's $6, $10
Heels: Target $20