WOOTD: Shades of Gray......and Brown???

Good morning!!!  TGIF....it could not come soon enough for me this week.  My first full week back to work has been a little jarring....thank goodness, next week is a short week because of the Holiday.  Yay!

Slight delay on posting my vacation photos, we can't find the usb computer connection cord....I have to pick a new one up this weekend.  

But, I have been snapping a few pics this week of my WOOTDs.  You'll notice a theme here, black, gray, more black, and gray.  I only wore color one day this week...and it wasn't that bright at all.  I think that my clothing choices have been matching my mood and the weather.

Look one:

Leopard Print Shell:  Ann Taylor 2008

Suit:  The Limited, Fall 2010

Shoes:  Generic pointy pumps

Jewelry:  David Yurman Bracelet, Tag Watch

Dress:  Talbots Knit Wrap Dress in Black (here)

Jacket:  H&M Fall 2009, Waist tie is cinched in the back

Black Tights:  Hues via TJMaxx

Shoes:  Black Michael Kors wedges

Necklace:  The Limited or Accesorize (can't remember)

Quick review of the Talbots Dress.  I love this and actually purchased the turtleneck version in addition to this wrap version.  This dress runs huge....I had to get a size Small and I'm normally a size 8-10.  It is also relatively long, I am 5'9 and it hits at right below my knee cap.  But, it is a fantastic staple piece for my fall/winter work wardrobe and it looks amazing with sweaters, coats, and blazers.  The material is a wool blend with enough stretch to maintain its shape very nicely.  The wool blend is very soft and warm.  I scored this during a 25% off promotion.....check out Gigi's blog for the latest promo codes.

Scarf:  Leopard Print Gray from H&M

Pants:  Ann Taylor 

Sweater:  JCrew Merino Boyfriend Sweater

Shoes:  Cole Haan Air Miranda Pumps LOVE!!!! (click here)

Black Leather Handbag:  Audrey Brooke via DSW (click here for the suede version)

Quick review of the bag which I bought only about 3 weeks ago.  I had a credit to DSW and couldn't find any shoes so I wandered over the bags section and found this giant beauty.  With the store credit and a percentage off coupon, this went home with me.  This bag is HUGE!! and I specifically bought it with travel in mind.  It has two large zipper pockets and an open middle pocket.  There are separate compartments for cell phone, pens, etc inside the zipper part.  This bag is HUGE.....16x5x11 to be exact.  I can fit all of my regular purse items in it, in addition to several magazines, a wrap/scarf, water bottle, and (gasp) even my laptop.  I will say when it is loaded up, the thing weighs a ton.  But, it is convenient for sure.  I've taken it shopping a few times and have just put my small purchases inside of it instead of taking a bag.  It has gold detailing including a gold chain shoulder strap.  The shoulder strap is very heavy.  I specifically bought this bag because I wanted a huge black purse with gold detailing that would fit a ton of stuff into it.  I don't use this bag everyday, but it is fantastic for travel, running errands in the city, or taking my laptop to do work at a local coffee shop.

My one "colorful" outfit this week:

Suit:  JCrew Tweed Skirt Suit, Fall 2005

Sweater:  JCrew Merino V-neck

Scarf:  Anthropologie Scarf, Fall 2009

Shoes:  Cole Haan Air Talia Mid Pump in Chocolate Suede (click here for black suede)

Note:  Dear JCrew:  Please come out with an updated version of your tweed suiting....when it comes time to retire mine, I think I might cry!

Well ladies, that's it for this week's work wear.  Nothing too special, I had so much work to make up it is amazing I even managed to put any successful outfits together.....Adieu for now!

xoxo,

J.

  

OOTN: Drinks, Dinner, and Wedding!

I'm going through my ample backlog of OOTD photos and trying to pick the best to put up first.  These two outfits are not necessarily the "Best" so much they entail me being dressed up and for that reason, in my world, can go together in one post!

So first up.  This outfit is from a wedding we went to at the beginning of September.  We had 3 weddings back to back weekends earlier this month!  (Part of why I've been sooo busy and neglectful of my blog:)  Luckily, they were all local.

Dress:  White House Black Market 2008

Shoes:  Aerosole 2007

Necklace:  Forever 21 Fall 2009

I don't often shop at Black House White Market.  I'm not sure why, everything I've ever bought from there I have loved.  I have 4 dresses from there that I constantly rotate through for weddings.  This dress has attended 2 other weddings before this one.  I like the fit and I think the lace makes it edgy without being too provocative.  The shoes are old Aerosoles that I found at the back of my closet.  I've never even worn them! I also have them in brown and they are really comfortable!  The necklace is a great Forever 21 jewelry find...a double strand pearl necklace with a pearl and diamante brooch!  Love it!

Next up is an outfit from when my husband and I met some friends out for dinner and drinks.  I had spent the entire weekend in jeans and flipflops and I really wanted to dress up.  I threw this look together.

Dress:  Lauren Conrad for Kohls (picked up on sale for $20.)  I bought 2!

Cropped Jean Jacket:  Ann Taylor Loft spring 2010

Shoes:  Ann Taylor Strappy Sandals (no longer online)

Necklace:  Forever21 Box Chain Diamante twist (No longer but purchased in store last weekend)

Purse (not shown):  Gucci Joy Medium Shoulder Bag (click here)  (Mine has brown trim)

Watch:  Michael Kors Tortoise Chronograph Watch (click here)

This dress is a definite closet staple for me.  It is a heavy jersey material with an exposed silver back zip.  It has Pockets....LOVE!  and a sweet heart neckline....double LOVE!  It is just ultra flattering!  I've worn it with flipflops or strappy sandals as shown.  Wore the denim jacket because it was a little chilly at night!  Quick, easy, cute outfit!

What do you typically wear when you get dressed up?  Do you gravitate towards black like me?  Do you have a favorite dress?  Let me know!

xoxo,

J.

WOTD: Navy, White and Color all over

Quick Work Outfit of the Day post...sorry for the photo quality.  I was in a mad rush this AM and only had time to snap with my iPhone.

I love white pants in the summer.  I have had this pair for a million years and I just love them.  Shopping for white pants is not an easy matter....they are always too tight or thin or loose.  But when you find the right pair you want them to last FOREVER!!!  But, the nature of white pants is that they attract dirt....and even if you meticulously wash them or dry clean them, they always start to look dingy.  These are probably in their last season....so sad.  I've been on the search for a new pair all summer and no luck yet.  These are a thicker weight acetate blend and they are lined....they are dress pants and need to be dry cleaned.  When I bought them 4 years ago, they came with a matching blazer....which became a casualty of a red wine spill at happy hour about 2 years ago.  But, the pants stayed a fixture in my summer work wardrobe.  I wear them with different suiting jackets...usually black or my personal favorite navy!  I love navy and white together..so nautical, classic, and the quintessential summer color combo for me.  This jacket is from an Ann Taylor dress suit...just classic navy cotton stretch twill.  I tied the look together with this voluminous bright shirt from Ann Taylor Loft.  This is a very thin (but not see through) cotton and is great for hot summer days when I am in and out of accounts all day.  I topped the outfit off with my newest JCrew shoe acquisition -- the Julienne Leather Heels in bronzed avocado.....They are so comfortable!!!

Jacket:  Ann Taylor 2007 or 2008

Pants:  Ann Taylor Loft

Top:  Ann Taylor Loft Spring 2010

Shoes:  JCrew Julienne High Heels

How are you dealing with this heat?  What are your summer fashion staples?  How do you wear your white pants?

xoxo,

J.

OOTD: Featuring JCrew Sequin Henley and Silky Linen Slouchy Pant UPDATED

Went out with some of my girlfriends for dinner and some dancing....fun times:)

I wore:

JCrew Sequin Striped Henley

JCrew Silky Linen Slouchy Pant

Ann Taylor Necklace from 2008...I like it because it ties the green and silver/gray together

Ann Taylor Marissa Strappy Sandal

Brown Leather Motorcycle Jacket from Prada (Fall 2007 or 2008?)

I love these pants and have since ordered them in the other two colors.  They are ultra flattering and super comfortable.  I also love the Sequin Striped Henley, again very comfortable while being so super stylish.

I haven't been loving Ann Taylor lately, its been so boring....but I do occasionally find a piece and I do quite like their shoes for work.  The Marissa Strappy Sandal I do not plan on wearing for work but they are so comfortable, I wore them for about 6 hours and spent close to 3 of those hours dancing.  So they come highly recommended, and they are in the nude color family so they elongate the leg...which we can all use.

UPDATE:  I wanted to talk about the fit on both of these items.  The Silky Linen Slouchy Pant stretched a little bit when I wore them (could have been all the dancing)...I'd say about a quarter inch through the hips and seat.  I checked the seams and they are still firmly intact.  I always find that linen and silk stretches so I sort of expected this.  The good news, the knees didn't get misshapen or anything like this.  And the waist has elastic so no worries about that stretching out.
The sequin stripe henley tank really held up well...I'm quite impressed.  I would say that this item fits TTS but if you are on the shorter side, small chested, or on the very thin side, I would suggest that you size down.  I didn't layer a tank under this to go out but I would wear a white favorite tank under this for daytime wear.  The sequins are very securely fastened and I didn't lose a single one.  It is also pretty long.  For reference, I am 5'9 and it hits me right around the low hip area (and I have a fairly long torso.)

It was a fabulous night out with the girls...something we don't do that often.  And we had so much fun, until some jerk stepped on my toe.  My big toenail split in the middle of the nail.  It hurt so much and blood was everywhere...(fortunately, I got my shoes off before they were ruined!)...so now I have half a toenail on my one toe...thank god for the Vietnamese nail salon...they slapped a fake nail and some acrylic on it and now it is good as new, but sort of fragile...no running for about 3 weeks for me:)

Do you own any of these pieces, if so how do you style them?  I'm always looking for ideas.

xoxo,

J.