Bonny and Blythe

Just a quick outfit snapshot for the rest of you up late on Thursday night. Most of the summer I haven't been inspired to dress in anything other than easy or carefree, but the bits of shade from the stormclouds have re-inspired me to pull out my favorite preppy pieces.

A crisp blouse, super dark unembellished jeans, and a pop of red are enough to put me back on track and ready for fall dressing!

Outfit details:

• J. Crew Silk Blythe Blouse in Apricot
• J Brand the Deal jeans in Ink
• Swedish Hasbeens for H&M clogs
• Orla Kiely handbag (comparable current version)
• J. Crew Timex traveler watch

Paris Day 4: Fit for a Queen

The next day, after multiple picnics the day before, I hoped my little tour group wasn't toured-out. Because I took my little ladies to Versailles. Paris in 3 days--pass, see the city. Paris in 5 days--it's about an hour and makes a perfect day trip. 

This time I was prepared with proper footwear. These cobblestones are serious business.

This art installation was happening during our visit. If memory serves me correctly this didn't exist before. I couldn't decide if it was an eyesore or if it was kind of neat?

Sweet wallpaper there, Louis.

The grounds and especially the crowds to get in were swarming with people. More so than I can ever recall from past visits. I couldn't decide if it was the time of day we chose (midmorning), the day of the week (Friday), or the recent exhibition ("Thrones in Majesty"). But whoo boy, so many people. So many people that through most of the palace we were simply satisfied with looking and not snapping away.

Except, however, when we came across the Hall of Mirrors.

We took it as a sign: photo op. The little lines we couldn't cross worked in our favor to cut out the crowd from photos.

Everything in this room is gilded. OPULENCE.

I reaaaally wasn't kidding about the mirrors!

We took some obligatory fashion blog shots. I chose again to ham it up and did a little curtsey. Why, how do you do, Ms. Coppola? What, you want me to be best friends with Kirsten and Jason and make another movie? Anytime, anytime.

Jeanie looked primped and pretty, as always.

And I couldn't let us leave without giving mes soeurs a glimpse of the groomed grounds. It always looks incredible!

Outfit details:

• Odd Molly bell sleeve top from Squash Blossom (briefly available from Anthropologie as the "Morningside Top" in multiple colors, style #19858356)
• J Brand the Deal skinny jean (same look minus zippers here)
• Bensimon lace up sneakers
• Longchamp le Pliage large tote
• Camera strap made by Lesley

I'll be back tomorrow with a more recent post and outfit--don't forget to pull out your lace for tomorrow! The monthly Everybody, Everywear day is upon us and the theme is lace, lace, lace! Can't wait to see how everyone styles theirs up!

Mismatched

Outfit details:
Chloe Tilia sunglasses in Beige/brown
Gap Chambray shirt (similar here and here)
H&M bucket bag (similar here and here)
J Brand The Deal skinny jeans
Thrifted cowboy booties
The Look for Less: (sunglasses), (shirt), (jeans),  (bag), (boots).

The weather was finally permitting, so I took the opportunity to try out the denim on denim look. In my mind, this updated Canadian tuxedo trend read very classic Americana. I think on me it turned out a little Western and a lot 70s. I love how wearing two textures of the same material feels both pulled together and mismatched at the same time.

Fall Favorites: Skinny Cargo pants

Confession: I have been mulling over and quietly collecting skinny cargo pants throughout the summer. (All of a sudden I am up to three pairs in different colors!) But when the trend first reared its head back in the Spring, I recoiled a bit. Bringing cargo pants back felt like a trip down memory lane--one that I wasn't particularly interested in visiting.

So the hype didn't really grab me the first time around. What did was a well-dressed regular girl at the mall. I stopped and stared. I had to ask her--"What pants are you wearing?!" And then I realized twhat they were: the oh-so-trendy skinny cargo pant. Somehow the slim leg and fitted shape of this new utilitarian chic interpretation read sexy instead of butch. Converted, I went out and bought myself a pair that same week...and now I just can't get enough.

After poring over my stack of September issues, I think that the skinny cargo is here to stay through fall. Justine does an awesome overview here on Fetching Fashions, and the pair she chose looks awesome on her! I keep finding more options to choose from, and I couldn't resist sharing my obsession with the rest of you.

My picks, broken down into three different price segments, from top dollar to the look for less.

The Holy Grail

J Brand Houlihan skinny cargo, $230.

Somehow they haven't made their way onto the blog, but my Houlihans have been my favorite purchase this summer. Now these babies are totally worth the hype. The stretch twill is almost magic how it smooths and slims your lower half, and the strategically engineered seams make your legs look extra long. My favorite colors are vintage olive (as seen on all your fave starlets) and vintage black (because grey is always in).

For those of you who are loyal to a different denim brand, fear not. J Brand works for me and my body shape, but your favorite denim house makes a great alternative too! AG, Joe's, 7FAMK, Current/Elliott, and Hudson all have gorgeous options.

Mid-priced Options 

If you're looking for a similar fit, but don't want to drop $150+ on a pair of skinny cargos, these are great options.

From left to right:

1. Level 99 World Over Cargos, $98. Available at Anthropologie. I own this style and while the fit is similar to the Houlihan, the material is much softer. It looks like a hard twill, but it actually feels like you're wearing flannel pajama pants. Super comfortable, but be careful with sizing. They run big--I suggest sizing 1-2 sizes down.
2. Cargo Skinny Pant, $59.90. Available at Express. Before the designer denim boom, Express was my only stop for my denim needs. Needless to say, the designers know how to cut a pair of pants. This style comes in very enticing colors, and they have a really tempting "Buy 1 get 1 50% off" promo happening right now.
3. Flight Skinny Cargo Pant, $79.50. Available from Lucky Brand. I tried on this Lucky pair when we received them at the store I work for, and they are A+ awesome. If I hadn't purchased my J Brands that same week, I would have added these to the collection.
 

The Look for Less

While I usually get antsy when a trend trickles down to mass retailers, I can't help but embrace these fashion forward options for so much less!

1. Brynn Skinny Cargo pant, $49.50. Available at dELiA's. A great option for the more petite ladies out there! These are juniors sized and come in a cropped 29 inch inseam. The back view looks amazing for a fraction of the price of the J Brands.
2. Silence & Noise Skinny Cargo pant, $58. Available from Urban Outfitters. I love this eggplant tinged grey pair! At this price, you can throw those rad platform oxfords in your cart too.
3. Route 66 Skinny Leg Cargo pants, on promo for $16.24. Available at Kmart. Have you guys seen the magazine ads for these?! The insert in all of my current magazines is absolutely droolworthy. I think I will trek out to the 'burbs to test this pair out, and maybe try to grab that fab military coat in the same campaign.

I convinced my girlfriends of the greatness of the skinny cargo by parading around in my Houlihans a few times. Maybe my next post will convince you too...

Keeping it Cool, or Warm, Rather

Outfit details:
Anthropologie Daughters of the Liberation Lift-Off Jacket
Michael Stars pigment dyed sheer supima shirttail tee
Alexander Wang Rocco Baby Duffle
J Brand the Deal skinny in Ink
Boutique 9 Gilla sandals
 

Gosh it feels like ages since I posted an outfit. Between moving and warehouse sale, my days have been nonstop excitement with little downtime to think about snapping photos. Also, I'm finally in the last stages of unpacking and am able to get properly dressed again. So when I had a moment to breathe on Friday, I jumped at the chance to share.

This is what I wore on Day 1 of the boutique warehouse sale. Setup the previous day made it clear that we should layer (the ballroom was frigid!), and I knew I'd be running around in the commotion so I wanted to be comfortable and warm.

Last month's closet cleanup project left me struggling with the remaining unworn pieces. This jacket and the Time Gone By skirt particularly stumped me since they feel more Fall and Spring than Summer. When I had goosebumps all day setting up the booth while in workout shorts and a tank, I jumped at the chance to hold on to this jacket. It was the perfect choice since all the pockets came in handy for my receipt writing tools.

Bring on the chilly weather! I think this jacket will be a close friend come September.

Get Your Leather, Leather, Leather on

Outfit details: Mike and Chris Bryant Leather Jacket (similar, also in grey)
American Apparel Triblend Deep V
J Brand 9610 The Deal Skinny
Rebecca Minkoff Studded Devote
Marc by Marc mouse flats (in blue)

It was really really chilly yesterday, and after tinkering with my car outside for a bit, I decided my trusty military jackets and boyfriends blazers weren't going to cut it. Also, I felt really badass after I figured out what was wrong with my car and felt that it was definitely a leather jacket day.

I don't know why I reserve this jacket for rare occasions. It's very warm, the leather is really yummy, and the sleeves are super long (which I love). I think it might have something to do with the constant on/off rainy days and I have outerwear (and handbags!) specially designated for drizzle.

I've still been feeling kind of worn out from this weather transition and have defaulted to what I consider my anti-fashion statement uniform of solid tee and skinny jeans. I have a drawerful of American Apparel V necks and various brands of dark wash skinnies, and could potentially wear variations of this outfit everyday for a really long time. I'm ready to snap out of it!

The ban is lifted in just 8 more days though, so hopefully an influx of fun warm weather pieces will cheer my spirits and shush my whines of "I have nothing to we-arrrr."

Spring Forward

Outfit details: Old Navy sailor striped top (similar top)
J. Brand 9610 The Deal Zipper Skinny
Love Quotes scarf in New Earth
Converse Chuck Taylors

This is what I wore to class yesterday. Silly me (even with a midday outfit change!) forgot about the holiday and I didn't end up wearing a single thing that was green. I suppose it figures since I had been up since 4 AM yesterday morning and had a full day!

I have been pulling out my small sneaker collection lately, as my new job allows me the freedom to wear whatever footwear I want. Which seems like a trivial thing, but my jobs for the past three years have had dress codes that prohibited most comfortable shoes, which is a total pain when you're running around on your feet most of the day.

I don't think this will mean a huge departure from my girly style, but rather open up more options for playing dress up! What is your wear-to-work wardrobe? Sometimes I wish I had a more sedentary gig so that I could wear more frilly skirts and high heels, but I like the hustle and bustle of my day job.

Give Me Liberty!

Outfit details: J. Crew Merino Double Breasted Cardigan
J. Brand 9610 The Deal Zipper Skinnies
H&M silk blend lichen tank
Liberty of London x Target scarf
MTOC for Target sandals
Forever 21 Wayfarers
Orla Kiely bag

A quick post before I pop off to bed--The time change has me totally messed up and I just want to sleep forever!

I loved the color palette of today's outfit. Very 70's in the springtime. The scarf felt like the perfect piece to tie together the hues on my bag, top, and cardi.

I picked this scarf up while shopping for the men's shirts for Markus and poking through the Liberty of London housewares for possible housewarming gifts. I have totally broken my ban between H&M and Target, but I just can't resist anything limited release. The scarf is so special though! It's three different prints pieced together. Almost like getting three for one! I love it.

And speaking of Daylight Savings time...and breaking my shopping ban, I was up at 6 AM Sunday morning (told you I was all befuddled!) and made a sleep deprived purchase from the Target site. So for blogging purposes, I'll make sure to give you guys some reviews when those arrive. I hope for my wallet and Alexa fund's sake, a lot of it will have to go back to the store.

And finally, I happened to stop by the brick and mortar Target to get coffee at the Starbucks there that same morning and witnessed something of a spectacle! As far as fashionistas go, Atlanta has them, but the extra long lines to enter sales and the catfights over exclusive items are not as extreme as I would expect elsewhere. Most collab collections draw a crowd, but I can usually maneuver the crazies to grab things in my size, and they don't sell out in less than an hour.

But Liberty was a leetle scary. I was sipping my latte and saw women grab things out of the box before employees could even unpack them! The front of store display with scarves, bags, hats, and flipflops was cleared in less than a minute. I casually picked up the scarf after the crowd had dissipated and people had made their final selections.

The Boyfriend went by the store later that day to get toiletries and said that the bedding, housewares, and kitchen stuff was completely cleared out. Good grief! And whew, good night!

Military Inspired for Rainy Days

Outfit details: J. Crew Lieutenant Jacket in Black (reads navy IRL)
Beaded floral applique sweater by Knitted and Knotted
Orla Kiely classic shoulder bag (this season's print here)
J. Brand 910 skinnies in Black
Hunter Wellies in navy

After being so giddy that it is finally Spring Break, I guess it slipped my mind that I got a new job! I've been busy running around from three different gigs this week, and as a result, I'm way behind on reading and writing.

This is what I wore to run errands yesterday, hanging out everywhere from North Atlanta to Decatur. It has been constantly drizzling this week, and since I'm out and about so much, I opted for the weatherproof purse option. My Rebecca Minkoff purses are not happy when water damaged!

The sweater is an older Anthro piece I got in the summer of 2008 marked down.  The jacket was something I just had to have on my J. Crew spree. The food baby is courtesy of constant snacking and Nuevo Laredo takeout.

Shake It, Like a Ladder to the Sun

Outfit details: Heritage 1981 floral shirt (similar here)
Urban Outfitters cardigan (other colors available)
Steve Madden Shakeit boots (similar here)
J. Brand Zipper Skinnies in Ink

I know I said I was busy studying for exams, but I really needed a break! Whew! Is anyone else anticipating Spring Break as much as I am? Anyone have any especially exciting plans?

I'm going to Savannah next weekend with my girls and during the week I hope to sit down and work on my projects. I have a stash of fabrics I want to transform into a few summer dresses, and I'm getting antsy studying and would rather be sewing.

These boots are another neglected item in my closet. I numbered the days until Easter in my calendar, and oh man, you guys. It is a good bit of time away! So I guess I will have a lot of time to shop my closet. Hopefully it will warm up before then--I keep feeling stumped by this finicky winter weather.

Isabella Sinclair for Anthropologie

Outfit details: Gelateria Blouse from Anthropologie style #913534 (similar here and here)
Bicycle necklace from Urban Outfitters (the original and a handmade version)
J Brand 910 skinnies in Black
Hunter Wellies in Navy

Don't be deceived by the surprisingly good light in my kitchen-- it was a grey, slushy, rainy day today in Atlanta. This is what I wore to brave the weather and drive all over town.

The bicycle necklace was something I was super excited to find at a low price point. I saw the Cynthia Rowley version on a street style blog and died a little bit of cuteness. I then spotted a bicycle necklace from a local jewelry seller, I'm pretty sure it was bou cou, which I passed on in a fit of indecisiveness. Then at Urban, of all places, I spotted it and had to have it. Too bad my necklaces are a big jumble and it had since been forgotten. Until today.

A quick note about the top- This brand, Isabella Sinclair, was a collaboration that Trovata did with Anthropologie for a few pieces. The quality of materials used are excellent and really reads true to the design aesthetic of the full price brand at an Anthropologie price point. The buttons on the sleeve cuffs are gold, and the peach silk ribbon tie adds a perfect little Spring touch to this top. For some reason this collab didn't seem to be advertised the same way that other Anthro joint ventures have been (i.e. Anna Sui, Vena Cava, Ruffian).

The other two pieces that I can recall from this mini-collection are the Bespoke Shirtdress, style #933148 (which appears to be sold out online, boo!):

And the Revue Coat, style #913933:

Does anyone else have any pieces from this collaboration? I think I remember atleast one more button-down blouse being part of it...

I'm excited for tomorrow! It looks like I'll be spending my time stopping by Mint Gallery for the Vintage Trunk Show, trying to pick up a sweet new bookshelf for my room, and studying like crazy for exams I have next week.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Chrimuh Eve Eve

Outfit details: J. Crew Downtown Field Jacket
Shirt, J. Crew from Fall 2007
Lemon Drops necklace from Anthropologie (Fall 2008)
J. Brand 10" The Deal Skinny in Ink
Target Mossimo Katherine Boots in Tan 
Rebecca Minkoff Clutch in Harewood (find the black here)

This is what I wore to work yesterday, what I would like to mark as my last day of insane sudden illness! Holiday fun at the mall! I'm glad all of my customers were really nice and that all of my boss people were nice enough to find things for me to do off the floor considering I barely had a voice.


I don't remember if I posted this goodie yet. This is my other purchase from the Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale. Another little clutch sized crossbody bag in brown with gold hardware. It's just as versatile as my grey one and fills an empty space in my closet (an everyday brown bag!). I love it for going out as well as work so I am forced to travel light. And of course, the blingy gold chain!


This jacket was a somewhat impulse purchase. For Atlanta, it's a great little year-round jacket. I'm excited to wear it with frilly ruffled girly pieces as well as boyfriend/rugged looks! The buttons on it are shiny gold too. I thought it was a perfect match for my new bag!