Instant Sleeves (and a pesky hair)

I checked the mail after vacation and found a white envelope package with my name on it.  I don't do a lot of online shopping for clothing so I couldn't think of what it might be.  When I opened it up, I found LucieLu Instant Sleeves in taupe.  I entered the online giveaway hosted by Jessica at Surely Sonsy and I WON!  It was such a fantastic little surprise to find in the mail.

I know we've seen a very similar outfit just recently but the taupe in the instant sleeves matched the taupe in the design and I had to take the skirt out for a spin again.  These little sleeves are great.  I was able to keep the slim silhouette of the camisole and I was able to make it work appropriate.  Some of the details that are hard to see are the pucker at the shoulder and the slight gathering that run the length of the sleeves. LOVE.

I'm now debating what color to pick up next!  Thank you Jessica and Lucie Lu!!!

This stupid hair would not behave.  I must have redone my "poof" a half dozen times to try to get that little sucker to behave... but to no avail.  A coworker even came by to try to help with that little devil horn.  Guess what?  It popped right back up!  Oh well...

Outfit Details
Instant Sleeves - Lucie Lu via Surely Sonsy giveaway
Black Camisole with Lace Detail - Express
Floral Skirt - Apt 9 via Goodwill
Black Flats - Nicole via Ross
Necklace - Cookie Lee 

Skirt: This Way or That Way?

New-to-me Goodwill skirt

I brought this skirt home with the intent of deconstructing it and and making it in to a summery top for my upcoming trip to Cabo.  But then I got it home and decided to give it a shot before I got out the seem ripper.  Now I think I'm sold on it as a skirt. 

I found this skirt at my local Goodwill and there are still some things I just can't get over while I'm in there.  EVERY time I've been in there I've experienced:

• A Von Trapp sized family of screaming children that all seem to belong to the same family.  I realize it is cruel and unusual to leave a gaggle of children in the car during the summer, but it is annoying to have to listen to each of your eight kids should crying, shouting and carrying on!
• A shopper that wants to be in my exact location at all times "C'mon, pick a different isle or section until I've had a chance to browse this 2ft section... yes you!  Move along!"
• A man in the women's shoe section in serious contemplation over a pair of shoes - "Are you buying shoes for yourself?  Or does your wifey trust you to bring home a fabulous pair of shoes for her from the Goodwill?" 
• The smell! Does a person ever really get over the smell of a thrift store?  I'm beginning to think I should stick coffee beans in my nose while browsing to neutralize the "thrift store stink."

When I got dressed in the morning, I left the black and pink layered tank tops untucked.  When I got home I decided to see what it looked like with them tucked in... I will be going with the look on the right next time.  I feel like the look on the left draws a little more attention to my mid section.  The look on the right shows off the different pattern on the waist of the skirt and I think it looked a little more polished.

This way or that way? What do you think?  To tuck, or not to tuck?

Outfit Details
Black V Neck Tank: Express
Rose Tank: Loft
Floral Skirt: Apt. 9 via Goodwill
Rose Sandals: American Eagle Outfitters
Necklace: Cookie Lee

**By the way, I will be on vacation in Cabo San Lucas from July 2-9.  I have guest bloggers lined up during the week and I'm excited to read their take on style.  Stop by and show them some love!**

Super Casual

Let's hear it for a super casual Friday look!

I seldom dress this casual for work but there were a number of reasons I felt comfortable enough to wear this to work last Friday.  Every two years the company I work for has to go through a certification process and the time leading up to it can be a little stressful. We have a general idea of when they will show up, as in a one month window. On the day of the visit we get (at most) two hours notice before the representative shows up.  We had our review on the Thursday prior and passed with flying colors... 100% baby!  Our files were not only in order, we were told they were a fantastic example of how a file should look.  We exceeded many of the commission's standards and felt a great sense or relief (maybe a little pride) after hearing her thoughts on how we are handling things in the office.

Knowing that we'd passed our certification (and kicked ass on it) I thought I could get away with the ripped jeans.  There are certain people that feel that overalls or sparkly graphic t-shirts are appropriate for the office but I tend to disagree.  Realistically, the office is pretty casual but I just don't feel profesh enough wearing something like this daily.  But Friday felt a little like a holiday so I went with it! 

I was very pleased with how the look came together.  It's aways fun to pair a masculine piece (the ripped jeans) with a feminine piece (the white top).  I'm a huge fan of white tops and I'm guilty of buying way to many of them.  But, this one isn't your average white shirt!  When I found this top, what caught my eye was the beautiful detailing on the front and the sheer quality to the rest of it.  I played with the contrast of the picture below so you could really see the detail.  It looks a bit like an antique doily and gives the top a beautiful feminine touch.



I will definitely be on the look-out for more tops by this designer - Daniel Rainn.  When I did a google search I saw that most of the tops have a similar feeling with the light weight, flowing material and lace details. Love!

Outfit Details

White Doily Top: Daniel Rainn via TJ Maxx

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Bass

Shell Necklace: Cookie Lee

Turquoise/Gold Earrings: Cookie Lee

Back in Black... and Floral

This outfit doesn't rank high on the creativity list but I'm so unsure of what to wear with this top.  The black, black and black seemed like a an easy enough choice for work.  Now that I think of it, I do have a pair of coral colored cropped pants... I'll have to pull those out and see how they look with the top.

I'm off to go to delicious Thai food with the boyfriend... Mmm, can't wait for some yummy coconut curry!

Outfit Details
Floral Kimono Top - NY Collection via Macy's
Black Lace Tank - Express
Black Pencil Skirt - New York & Co
Black Booties - Ann Marino via Marshall's

Denim Talks

Every gal knows that the pair of jeans you choose for the day sends a message loud and clear.  I've heard that the average woman owns eight pairs of jeans... So essentially that is eight different messages a gal can convey with her denim.  We all have our going-out jeans, the yard-work jeans, work-appropriate jeans, and the list could go on and on. 


The pair I wore to work this morning were a pair of cropped denim that I've wore here.  By the time I got home they were stretched out to point that I just didn't want to take a picture of them (my small weight-loss caused these pants to be way too baggy - not complaining).  I had a very small window of time between getting home from work and hurrying off to my Friday evening activities and I knew I wanted to change my jeans before rushing out the door. 

On the left side we have a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans from Express.  I love these jeans so much that I bought two pair... that's right, TWO pair of the exact same jeans!  When I bought these I was down 20+lbs and I loved the fit.  They were a weekend staple for most of last year.  I saw a picture of myself in these jeans around Christmas (after the 20lbs found me again) and I was super unimpressed about the way they looked.  They are still a little too tight to comfortably wear out but I thought I would post pictures showing the contrast between the look of one pair of jeans versus another.

Now I'll tell you a little about where I was going.  I was headed up to my high school alma mater to assist with judging cheerleading try-outs. Whenever anyone asks me to help with try-outs, clinics or anything related to cheer, I always jump at the opportunity.  For me, cheerleading helped to bring me out of my shell, it gave me confidence to stand in front of others, and I have life-long friends from the experience.  I know how much of a positive impact it had on my life so I look forward to being a part of that positive impact on other young women's lives!

The community where I grew up is mountain-casual (as in if you wear khakis, your family asks you where you're going all dressed up). Jeans were a no-brainer for judging try-outs but like I needed to decide what message I wanted to send with my jeans.  I went for the ripped jeans first to try and make the outfit a little more casual and youthful.  I didn't want to wear anything too stuffy but I also didn't want to look like an unrelatable thirty-something.  In the end I decided the ripped jeans were just too tight and I wouldn't be comfortable sitting there for well over three hours.  I went with the DKNY jeans from my Macy's shopping spree.  They are still super comfortable and felt like a better option for the long night.

While sitting there watching all of these young ladies, the importance of first impressions kept coming to mind.  There were some very talented ladies but the amount of effort (or lack there of) put into their looks was often distracting.  I had a few arguments in my own head over whether their appearance or their talent should have more impact.  In the end I think talent should be the strongest of the two, however showing up with a disheveled appearance (messy ponytail, wearing a thin ribbed tank top with bright pink bra straps showing, or wearing a pair of dirty white shoes) makes me wonder if you can clean up for events, games and competitions.  As a representative for the school, I do think that there should be a certain amount of effort put forth and pride shown in appearance.  I don't intend to come off as shallow by sharing this opinion and I really hope it isn't taken that way.  There were a few ladies that were very beautiful but looked as if they had just rolled out of bed - boo.  On the other hand, there were a few ladies that may not have worn any make-up, but they took the time to put on a clean, unwrinkled shirt and pull their hair back in a clean manner- yay!

I guess I just want to relay the message that when you are trying to win someone over (try-outs, interview, etc) it is important to put a little bit of time and effort in to your appearance.  If you aren't going to step it up when you are trying to persuade someone to chose you for the team (or job), when will you?



Outfit Details
Black Cable Knit Cardigan - Gap
Striped Tshirt - H&M
Ripped Jeans - Express
Jeans - DKNY via Macy's
Black Tall Boots - Bass

LIttle Grey Dress

 

Rain, rain, go away... it just won't quit.   

Bust A Move

What is the first thing you reach for when there are limitless options in front of you?  What do you yearn for after only have access to 30 items for a while?  Apparently the answer is jeans and a white t shirt and the most comfy sweater you own.  I know, not the most original.  And what do you do after you put on that outfit, you work on your stellar dance moves!

Lay off of my blue (toed) suede shoes!

I've been waiting to wear these shoes for a while now but hadn't quite found the right outfit.  They are so much fun!  A grey suede shoe with a blue toe?  Who wouldn't love these (and if you don't, frankly I don't really want to know).