Madewell Fall 2012

I'm a big fan of Madewell, and I'm super excited for their fall collection this year. Above are some of my favorite looks.

Those sheep sweaters? They will be mine.

Mis-Matched

The weather here has been atrocious. I'm talking cold, rainy, and miserable. It's making me super cranky and I have no idea what to wear anymore.

This outfit is actually from a few weeks ago when I was clearly feeling more creative. Hence the random red shoes. I have no idea what possessed me to put red shoes on, but mama like. They're comfy, they're fun and really, what more can you ask for?

I'd like to say looking at these pictures is inspiring me to pick out a creative and adorable outfit for tomorrow...but it's not. I'm stumped. I'm in a rut right now where I just don't know what to wear and have zero motivation to come up with anything. I blame the weather.

Blazer: Nordstrom
Shirt: H&M via my mother
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Me Factor: High - shut up you guys, the red shoes coordinate, they don't have to match!

tweedy blue

Does this coat look familiar at all? It matches the shorts from this post. Yes, I own a blue tweed short suit. No, I don't know what kind of event I would wear a blue tweed short suit to. I might just put it on for funsies and take pictures to show you guys. What good is a style blog if I can't use it as an excuse to play dress up?

In other news, have you guys heard of PicMonkey? Since I don't have Photoshop and my beloved Picnik is now defunct, PicMonkey has saved the day. Aviary is another site I've been wanting to try. Anyone using it and have any thoughts?

Jacket: H&M
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: H&M

tough girl

I copied this outfit from a picture of Nicole Richie I've had saved on my computer for years. I just never had the perfect flowy, girly mini-skirt to complete the look. Behold, one afternoon at Buffalo Exchange and my outfit was complete!

I love mixing girly things with tough, black things. I'm a big fan of juxtaposition and whimsy. When I was younger, I always wanted my outfits to match perfectly, down to every last detail and accessory. I wasn't any good at it, though. Some of my friends were experts at putting together perfectly coordinated looks, while I always felt a little...off. I've sense learned to embrace my mix-and-match sensibilities, and I'm much happier for it.

Give me pattern mixing, color blocking, and an arm full of bracelets and I'm a happy girl.

Jacket: Forever 21 (similar)
Skirt: Buffalo Exchange
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

white on white

A fresh and bright color palate for this one. I was wearing white before Labor Day and decided to just go all out and keep the whole outfit in a white and gray color palate.

If only the weather would warm up (and STAY warm) these white pants would be in heavy rotation. It will happen eventually! Just gotta make it through the end of April, which looks like it will be chock-full of those April showers.

Shirt: J.Crew
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Old Navy (similar)

lady/business: talk to my outfit tuesday

I am shamelessly copying Annie's "Talk to My Outfit Tueday" post idea because I found myself having a lot to say to this outfit. Plus, I met her last week at the Boston Blogger meet up and she's just as awesome in real life as she is on her blog and I don't think she'll mind my thievery ;).

Dear Hair: You're a mess. It's my fault. You used to be curly, I straightened you. What was supposed to be a 30-day straightener has turned into nearly a year. Now you're in a weird, messy stage. I sense the end of this phase is near, as my curls have been looking bouncier lately!

Dear Sweater: You were a good Gap sale purchase. You're a pretty color. I don't wear you as often as I should and for that I am sorry.

Dear Skirt: You used to be tight-fitting, and now you're too loose. I love this about you. Thanks for reminding me I lost 20 pounds.

Dear Tights: I hunted high and low for you, and then there you were, for like, $5 at Off Broadway Shoes. So random. But now you're with me and we're deeply in love.

Dear Shoes: I found you on a shelf at Forever 21, last pair in my size. Remember when I took you to Charlotte and you gave me the biggest blisters I've ever had? Yeah, you and me won't be going dancing again anytime soon, but I love you anyway.

Dear Bow Shirt: You are Jason Wu for Target and the only cute thing left in my size when I got there that morning. I kind of forgot I had you but now that I've remembered I'm excited to start wearing you all the time.

Bow Shirt: Jason Wu for Target
Sweater: Gap (old)
Skirt: H&M (old) (similar)
Tights: randomly found at Off Broadway Shoes, brand unknown
Shoes: Forever 21

Blogger Meet-Up & Easter

This is what I wore to the Boston Blogger meet-up last Wednesday. I just love going to those things. All the girls I meet are totally awesome and it's so fun to just essentially go out for a huge girl's night (I mean, guys go too, so, sorry for leaving you out guys). Plus we get a list of all the attendees and their blogs which keeps me entertained for hours. My plan tonight is to go through them all!

I'm pretty much obsessed with these pants. I love the way they fit, plus they are floral. Pastel floral. Something I never, ever thought I would wear and yet, here I am, loving every minute of it. Like Justin Bieber says, NEVER SAY NEVER.

I also wore this for Easter Sunday. It's a pretty Easter appropriate outfit, I think. And you know what? I wore it to work today, too. How do you like them apples? I've been too lazy to think up another outfit.

ALSO, I got these jeans at the Zara at the Northshore Mall last weekend, and then last week the store suddenly and mysteriously closed! No warning. No signs. Just gone. What does this mean?! I'm so depressed. I was just beginning what I hoped would be a long love affair with Zara.

Jeans: Zara
Sweater: Gap
Necklace: Mom didn't want it anymore
Shoes: Zara

leather & denim

I just discovered I have a fairly large backlog of outfit of the day photos I never posted. I'll have to try and get through them to make room for more spring-like posts!

It's just as well I have this backlog, since I haven't felt much like taking pictures lately. First I was focused on getting ready for vacation and now Boyfriend and I have started apartment hunting. Apartment hunting is the WORST. There is NO WHERE to live around here. Or if there is it's super expensive. We've only just started and already I'm super frustrated.

Well I'm actually in a pretty crummy mood today so I'm going to go get ready and head to yoga for some de-stressing!

Jacket: Zara
Shirt: StyleMint
Jeans: UO
Necklace: Target
Bracelets: Express, random
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

A Short Story

These pictures were taken before it suddenly became very spring-like here in New England. Haven't needed tights at all for the past few days! I'm loving it.

I'm not ready to declare it SAFE yet and put away all my sweaters and get out the shorts and sandals, but it is nice to wear flats without my feet freezing and to be able to go outside without a coat.

Just three more days until I am officially in VACATION MODE and I am hoping they go by quickly. I can't wait to spend this weekend vegetating and getting ready to fly off to Disney World on Monday with the boy! We're either being old people or little kids, I swear.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week so far!!

Blazer - The Limited (similar)
Shirt - H&M
Necklace - American Eagle
Shorts - H&M (similar)
Boots - Zara

you say it's your birthday...

So last Tuesday was my birthday! Twenty six. It feels so weird to type that. I am twenty six. 26. Past 25. Which feels old. And yet I feel like I should be OLDER than I am, somehow. Like at 26 my life should be more advanced. I know that's not true, but when you're a little kid you think "Twenty six! I'll have a husband and a house and KIDS by then!" And some people totally do. I do not. And I'm pretty happy that I don't just yet, haha.

ANYWAY, this is what I wore for my birthday, both day and night!

This was what I wore to work yesterday. I wanted to be bright and cheerful, since it was my birthday and all. Bright blue pants? Check. Neon necklace? Check. Sparkle flats? Obviously.

A few quick changes later and I was ready for dinner in Harvard Square with Boyfriend! Swapped out the white for purple added some big earrings and heels and I was done. Boyfriend called me an Easter egg and then I gave him a lesson in brights vs. pastels. Boys.

We had a yummy dinner at Russell House Tavern. I had steak and french fries, which come with garlic mayonnaise for dipping. Sounds gross, but SO GOOD. And SO BAD FOR YOU. Such is life. But hey! It was my birthday.

I had to sneak a picture of Boyfriend while he was paying the bill because he hates having his picture taken. He just looked so damn handsome last night! The boy cleans up.

After dinner we walked around the corner to Pinkberry. I had salted caramel with strawberries and toasted almonds and a waffle cookie. Hello. Sooo good! Then we headed home to watch Sunday's Walking Dead episode. (Walking Dead viewers, without giving spoilers, did you say "FINALLY!" or "Oh noes!" to the end of the episode? Because I am in the "FINALLY!" camp.)

It was a pretty fabulous birthday. The weather was phenomenal yesterday so that was a definite plus. Sadly now my birthday is over and I am running out of excuses for eating so much cake and not working out, so back to real life it is!

Jeans: American Eagle (similar)
Day shirt: Old Navy (similar)
Necklace: Spike the Punch
Flats: Steve Madden
Shades: Ray Ban
Night shirt: J.Crew
Heels: Calvin Klein
Clutch: unknown (Target?)
Earrings: vintage, were great grandmother's I think

Cozy & Casual: Navy & Brown

Just a very casual and comfy outfit for a chilly day. Sometimes you just want to put on worn out sweatpants and an over-sized hoodie and hibernate, even though you may have to go to work and at least pretend to be a viable member of society. On occasions like that the big cozy sweater and comfy jeans step in to save the day. Add a hat to cover the hair you didn't feel like washing and you're good to go.

I feel like I've been crazy busy lately, and I suppose I have. It's been all good, fun stuff, but I feel like I need a week of hibernation just to collect myself again.

In other news, I went on my first "blogger date" over the weekend with Casey of Girl in the Poodle Shoes, and it was so much fun! I'll be doing a separate post on that later in the week, so stay tuned!

mellow yellow

My brother is fired as a photographer. I've asked him to help out and take pictures for me twice in the last month or so, and both times he took a million pictures of me looking like an idiot. I'll stick to my good old tripod and self timer from now on.

Anyway, this is just a casual and cozy weekend look. It was super cold this day and Boyfriend and I were going to a birthday party that night at a friend's house. When we got to the party everyone was wearing Patriots gear and watching the football game (not last weekend's, the one before). Let me just get something out in the open:

I could not give two figs about football.

I hate it. I went to a Patriots game once (because I used to like football) and it was pretty much the worst thing ever in my whole life. It was cold, it snowed, we were sitting under the balcony and food and trash kept falling on us. I hated it. So now I hate football as a whole. Don't even tell me it was just one bad experience and football is really sooo amazing! It only takes one bad experience for me to hate something. Fool me once, I hate you.

This just got really long and rambling about my hate for football. I didn't know I was so passionate about this until just now. I do feel better though, so thanks for bearing with me? Annnd we're done.

Sweater: H&M (similar)
Thermal: Target (similar)
Jeans: Old Navy
Socks: Uniqlo (best socks EVER)
Boots: Wanted

turtle, turtle, turtle

I honestly haven't worn a turtleneck since maybe the third grade. I have a short neck and always thought they made me look like I had a floating head. I still think they make me look like I have a floating head. But in my never-ending quest to look like a J.Crew model, I thought I would try one out.

Turns out, I didn't hate it. My neck was toasty warm! I still didn't feel completely comfortable wearing a turtle neck, but I'm going to try to mix it in with my wardrobe a little more. Under sleeveless dresses to make a summer dress more winter appropriate, with black pants and a ski mask for stake outs...the possibilities are endless.

How do you guys feel about turtle necks? Yay or hell no?

Turtle neck: H&M (similar)
Shirt: J. Crew
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Zara
Necklace: Forever 21

neon knit

In retrospect, maybe standing in front of a gray fence while wearing a gray sweater wasn't the best idea. It does really make the neon pop, though, don't you think? I am just in love with this sweater. The bright colors are perfect for adding something cheerful to these gray days of winter. I can't wait to pair it with more interesting items in my closet. Maybe with some bright blue jeans? You'd really be able to see me coming, that's for sure. I like how it pairs nicely with my neon Spike the Punch necklace, too.

Sweater: American Eagle 
Similar Sweater
Jeans: Gap
Booties: Old Navy
Necklace: Spike the Punch