Dotty + Weekend Reading

Blazer | Theory
Top | Emerson Fry
Pants | Joe's Jeans
Shoes | Rachel Comey Mars

This week was pretty busy, and I feel like my brain is just out of words. Luckily, I can use photos, and link to other people's words down below. These photos show that I am really into skinny jeans with these boots right now. I think the skinny jean in a dark color makes my legs look really long. The slight heels also makes me very aware of my posture and so I always try to stand up straight. I look at least 5'5'' in that photo, don't you think =) 

   I'm also all over the dark color-palette-spectrum here as well, as well as with polka dots and stripes: the top is navy, the jeans are black, the blazer is grey, and the boots are actually sort of maroon. 

For your weekend perusal:

Professorial

Top | Vince
Pants | Joe's Jeans
Cardigan | Rag & Bone
Shoes | Cole Haan
Earrings | Alexis Bittar

Ok, so it might only be my loafers that evoke a professor's wardrobe, although I think the oversized cardigan plays into it as well. All I need are some elbow patches and a leather briefcase messily stuffed with paperwork.

For this casual outfit, I tucked a silk shirt into some jeans, threw on a comfy cardigan and felt fairly put together for someone wearing skinny jeans. I think the shirt, due to both the fabric and color, add a little polish. It is more like a tunic than a shirt, so the cardigan is necessary because there is a ton of extra fabric in the back - I typically only tuck this shirt into skirts because there is too much fabric otherwise.  

I also added some sparkly earrings that I love! I first saw them on Blue Collar Red Lipstick, and was instantly drawn to them. They are Alexis Bittar, and it just so happens that they were on final mark-down clearance on their website, so I purchased. They always garner compliments, are light and easy to wear, and I love how sparkly they are.

Thanks for stopping by.

Weekend Reading

Blazer | Theory
Sweater | Inhabit
Pants | Joe's Jeans
Shoes | Rachel Comey Mars

Just a quick look at an outfit, and some weekend reading today. Even though this week was shorter, thanks to the Monday holiday, it felt way too long. This was a casual work look, highlighting my favorite booties, which I've mentioned here before, the Rachel Comey Mars. They are a deep maroon color, and fit in well with this grey, tan and black color palette. I also think that, when paired with black skinny jeans, they make my legs look a mile long.

For your weekend perusal:
1. In the photo above, I'm ready to curl up with the recent edition of Vogue, the one with the controversial Karlie Kloss spread.

2. Did you read this article, of one woman's account of her time at Uber? Uber has since hired Eric Holder to head up the investigation into the sexual harassment claims. (That also made me think, huh, I wonder what Eric Holder has been up to, and the answer is, among other things, working with tech companies, including Uber (he has, however, pledged to maintain independence)). 

3. While fashion week is happening, I always like to save the images from the show for the end of the day, when I'm done with work, and then just binge on pictures from 10 shows, all in a row. From Vogue Runway, a look at the awesome Prada ready-to-wear show - I love all of the voluminous fringed skirts:

Photo: Monica Feudi / Indigital.tv

4. From Racked, I concur that overalls are basically the best clothes.

5. An oddly soothing video, looking at how a Lush Bath Bomb is made (Refinery29).

6. Lastly, from Glossy, a look at fashion website Garmentory - I think their model of pairing with small boutiques is interesting - has anyone ever shopped with them?

Thanks for stopping by, and have a good weekend. 

Fluorescent Green

Sweater | 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target
Jeans | Joes
Boots | Fry Dorado Riding Boot

This sweater is from the 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target collaboration from 2013. Remember that? I occasionally break it out when I want an unusual color - it is the only fluorescent green item that I own, and each time I think the same thing: great color, but super wrinkly. This time was no exception. I paired it with skinny black pants and black boots to streamline the rest of the outfit, and let that highlighter green be the focus.

Did you get anything from that collaboration? Do you still have it? 

2016 Superlatives...

...and now, I present some of my favorite and least favorite purchases from 2016. For the past 3 years, throughout the year, I keep an excel chart of all of the items that I purchase, and include data such as retail price, how much I paid for it, where I got it, online vs in-store, and general thoughts (could include if I had to get it tailored before wearing, if it is Made in America, etc.), and then at the end of the year I go through and review/analyze what I bought. This might sound clinical, or crazy, but I like shopping and my system helps me identify trends from my own shopping data. 
     For example, last year I noticed that most of the items that I purchased and never really wore/lost interest in quickly were items I ordered online from J. Crew and Banana Republic. That helped me curb mindless online sale shopping at both of those places, and remind me that if I am going to shop at either store, I need to do it in person.
       This year, just to give you a flavoring, 31% of the clothes I bought were dresses, 42% of the items I bought were used or second-hand, and I saved, on average, 79% off of the retail price of all of the clothing I bought. That last number is heavily weighted by the secondhand shopping, and some key Nordstrom Rack and RealReal.com clearance item finds. 
1. Best Sport: Rag & Bone Varsity Jacket

Jacket  Rag & Bone
Pants | Joe's Jeans

This first piece is a great example of my commitment to bargain hunting. I really wanted a varsity jacket, and had seen a few Rag & Bone ones, but did not want to, and could not, pay $500 or more (retail here, although mine, to be fair, is probably last year's model) for one. I waited and waited and eventually the one I am wearing above popped up on the RealReal for less than $80. Boom. It was one size larger than I would have ordered normally, but the slouchy look totally works on this piece and everything else about it was exactly what I wanted, so I purchased. 
I really adore it and wear it all the time, even though sometimes I think it makes me look like a local high school student. Go Bulldogs? 

2. Most Unflattering: Caslon Pants

The back of these pants is pretty unflattering - even more so in person. I ordered online, drawn in by a $15 price tag, and then missed the return window, so here they sit in my closet. I will probably force myself to wear them to work one time, and then donate them. Mental note to stop adding things to cart just because they are cheap, or because I am like $8 away from free shipping.

3. Best Assist
These pants, on the other hand, feel like they were made for me. Both the top and bottom here were actually random second-hand finds that I did not initially intend to try on. In both instances, I was in the dressing room and needed a top/a bottom, because I was wearing a dress that day and trying on a top/a bottom, so I randomly grabbed these from the rack to assist me in the dressing room. I'm so glad I did because I now wear this top once a week (who knew a metallic could be so versatile....probably Stacey London actually...), and I have worn these jeans multiple times a week, to be frank. 

Long live the skinny jean! 

Top | Calvin Klein
Pants | Citizens of Humanity

Varsity.

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, that I did not participate in any varsity sports in school. Luckily for me, the varsity jacket is trending, and I get to wear one now. Also, I can probably honestly say this is the only trend from high school that I am glad has made a comeback. This jacket is Rag & Bone, (made in USA) purchased from the Real Real. It is probably one size too large, but it was also heavily discounted - so I just roll up the sleeves and roll with it. 

Jacket | Rag & Bone
Top | ALC
Pants | Joe's Jeans
Shoes | Franco Sarto (still on sale - runs TTS)

Here is a better full length shot - I also just realized I have every neutral color in this outfit: white, navy, black and grey - and zero prints or pops of color, haha. It started raining shortly after taking these photos, and my umbrella has polka dots, so at least the outfit wasn't totally deprived. Also, please excuse the earbuds - I was listening to an interesting RadioLab podcast I didn't want to pause.

Chukka boots, once weatherized, are a great rain boot.

Are there any high school fashion trends you are waiting to come full circle?

Snip

This top used to be a sweater dress. I've had it for over 2 years and only worn it once. However, every time I go to donate it, I can't do it. I really love the lace detail across the top, but I just can't keep it around when I never wear it. Today, I grabbed a pair of scissors, laid the sweater on the ground and cut off the bottom, turning it into a sweater/top. 

I can't believe I didn't think of this a long time ago. 

Top | Rebecca Taylor
Pants | Joe's Jeans
Backpack | Clare V

It has an unfinished hem on the sleeves, so the same on the bottom doesn't seem out of place.

Also, I've been wearing this backpack nonstop recently. Who knew a white, leather backpack could be so versatile? I guess, Clare V, the designer, did. My only suggestion, if you are out there, Clare, is I wish the front and back segments were buttoned together, so you could pull the top one off and use it as a small clutch. If that was the case, this backpack would be unstoppable.