Daily Outfit: Ombre With a Side of Orange

Sesheta and I love the return of the tie neck blouse...it's so ladylike and classic. This vintage blouse was instant inspiration to my wardrobe. The ombre effect drew me in, and the huge drapey bow sealed the deal! I knew the subtle peachy-coffee tones would be perfect paired with a shot of bright orange and nude pumps. Oooh summer color combo alert! Soft pastels with a pop of color are shaping up to be the season's hottest pair. 

Ombre with a side of orange, please.

(Cafe Capri Pants- J.Crew, Tie Neck Blouse- vintage, Pumps- BCBGeneration, Nails- Mint Candy Apple Essie, Belt- Anthropologie similar, Gold Shoulder Strands- MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: Girly Boyjeans

  

Is this title considered an oxymoron? It's definitely contradictory, but let me tell you- opposites attract when it comes to fashion. So I paired my slouchy torn boyfriend jeans with gold metallic mary janes and a drapey sweatshirt...that just happened to have a huge bow (of course!) How comfortable, fun, and very much me.

(Jeans- Current Elliott, Top- Forever 21 similar, Moon-Glow Mary Jane Pumps- Anthropologie, Pink Neon Watch- Shopbop, Glass Ring and Gold Bracelet- Vintage, Lips- Makeup Forever #37, Twigs & Berries Earrings- MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: Tied with a Bow

i luv these cowrie shells with the neon orange pop!!

this vintage broken-in tee is one of my favorite shirts.  it's from Bitten, Sarah Jessica Parker's collaboration with the now closed Steve and Barry's (i have three shirts total in my collection).  i'm not sure what i love about it... maybe it's the color combination or the simple but cute graphics.  either way, i still love putting it on - under blazers, sweaters or by itself in the summer.  i especially love the way i wore it this day because i had fun creating my own turban using my favorite scarf (it was a combo of faves lol).  i rocked it ala Hello Kitty or Minnie Mouse and tied it with a bow!  i was looking for a way to brighten up my cocoa colorway and this totally did the trick!!  i threw on my studs and my neon cowrie shell cuff/necklace and i was good to go!  

p.s.   i've updated The Ellie post with the cutest pics of my nephew rockin his namesake hat.  everything is cuter in small packages!!

(Luz Tee - Bitten, Brown cardigan - Old Navy, Studded pocket jeans - Blank NYC, Scarf - unknown, Slouchy boots - Nine West, Cowrie  Necklace (worn as a cuff) - MavenFresh)

Fresh Out of the Workshop: the Bow Skull Cloche

 I undeniably have a love for things that are a blend of vintage and modern...and you already know all about my ongoing hat love...these two loves inspired me to create this new crocheted accessory. I'm obsessed with 1920s fashion and all you have to do is turn on an episode of Boardwalk Empire to see why. The glitz and the glam!!! Gorgeous glittery drop-waist dresses and detailed beaded headbands...and a classic cloche was often the best bet. Sesheta and I are always rocking a bit of glitz 'n glam, yes- even for daytime. Embrace your girly side with this vintage-inspired twist on the traditional skull cap. The Bow Skull Cloche is lightweight enough that you can wear it indoors, and the oversized bow can be worn in the back or on the side...it's your call.


PS the rich color combo of bright red & royal purple is a favorite of mine!

Daily Outfit: Purple Princess

i had a co-worker tell me that i looked like a princess in my outfit.  i laughed in response because i don't think i thought "princess" as i got dressed but, hey, i can roll with it! :)  that is how i was dubbed "purple princess".  it might have been this long, flow-y skirt that got her feeling a royal vibe (not to mention the royal color), but i was inspired by comfort, as usual, and this outfit did the trick!  don't be fooled by the maxi skirt or the tulle bow, this princess has edge!  under my trusty Northface is my leather motorcycle jacket that i added for this exact reason - for edge as well as office warmth.  i completed the look with a Wheels & Dollbaby tank, my bamboo hoops and studded cuff (not shown) and this princess was ready to go! :)

btw -if you remember, i believe it's absolutely mandatory that every skirt and dress get the twirl test (refresh on the twirl test here).  i also had fun doing the can-can ( my boots and skirt made me feel straight out of the saloon lol).  though i've had this skirt for ages (it's a vintage find from long ago), i'm not sure if i was aware that it had such great spinnage (i think i've coined a new word lol)!  actually, i've had it for so long that it's more likely that i forgot just how well it passed the test!  

(TNF Arctic parka - Northface, Leather Moto jacket - Rachel Rachel Roy, Dollbaby tank - Wheels & Dollbaby, Vintage Purple Maxi Skirt - unknown, Gold Bamboo Earrings, Knee-High Charcoal Gray boots - Fergie, Studded cuff - Matt Bernson, Purple Tulle Bow - MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: Purple Sequin Dream

what's better than sequins? four different color sequins!! when i got this really cute shirt  from my mom, i wanted to wear it right away! the fact that it is also purple (my fave color) makes this shirt even sweeter.  it was also the perfect reason to whip out my purple tulle bow. the purple is a necessary splash of color to my dark-hued palette.  did you notice anything else about this outfit?  lol, today i am also rocking my tried and true North Face jacket because it was FREEZING outside!! i've already told Becca that if i am gonna take pics outside, my coat will be a regular feature with every outfit! HA! i may be a die hard fashionista, but i refuse to be cold! 

ciao, for now!! xo

(Sequin Square tunic - Express, Charcoal grey leggings - BP @ Nordstroms, Metallic Black Sweater - Old Navy, TNF Arctic Down Parka - North Face, Knee- high black boots - DKNY, Chain link dangle earrings - gift, Jersey Mobius in Charcoal and Purple Tulle bow headband - MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: Peek-a-boo Shine

judging by the background, you would think that it was 8pm when i took these pics!  well, it's only after 4pm but you sure couldn't tell.  the early winter darkness is the one thing that depresses me more than the bitter cold.  then when it's cold AND dark, who wants to do anything other than curl up under the covers!!  

my only solace is being able to bring my own light to the day.  there's nothing like a subtle pop of pink to brighten up a grey palette.  i love this shirt because not only does it add brightness, it also has these cool cut-outs in the back.  this super sexy feature, great for a night out, can easily be made office ready by adding a complimentary blazer.   just for fun, i put on my sequin tube top so that i could also have some peek-a-boo bling!  a girl has to have her bling!! lol

(Color Block Blazer - Rachel Rachel Roy, Silver Sequin Tube top - Vintage Zara, Hot Pink Cut-away Tunic - Design History from Saks off Fifth, Wool Jeggings - Joes  Jeans, Sueded leather boots - Fergie, Tulle Bow headband and Cowrie Cuff- MavenFresh)

Daily Outfit: Take a Bow

i just love to mix vintage trends with modern ones.  now that my shopping desires are curbed (yes, money is still tight), i have had to go shopping in my very own collections. i have come across many treasures that still have tons of life left in them.  take this scarf, for instance.  this scarf is a thrift shop find from quite a few years ago.  considering all of the great uses i've gotten out of it and the many years i've owned it, i definitely have gotten my $3 worth!  i have worn it as a belt, a head band, and now, a neck tie.  who knows how i will wear it next!  the great colors just make me happy and i feel ultra chic at the same time.  it took this outfit from blah to wow.  it is the perfect outfit for the office or for shopping on Fifth Avenue. yes, every now and again, this downtown girl can be an uptown girl!  i plan to wear this outfit and this scarf style throughout the fall and winter!

(Magenta cardigan - Zara, white tank - Old Navy, Purple Bow belt - Anthropologie, vintage Vera scarf - Maven ReFreshed, Black high-waist jeans - Sass & Bide, patent booties - Anne Klein,  Supersized Rose headband in Violet and Moonbeam earrings - MavenFresh) 

Daily Outfit: My Trilby

The menswear hat...it’s been on my cool weather shopping list for quite a while. I finally picked one up that I really love, thanks to the ladies over at Milk & Honey. I can always count on this boutique for unique clothing and accessories that are not going to be seen on absolutely everyone during the season. This particular hat wasn't even on the sales floor yet, but when it was brought out from behind the scenes (thanks ShopGirl!!!) I knew it was exactly what I was looking for.

So I created an outfit around my trilby...it's fun to have new inspiration in your closet! The trilby reminds me of Woody Allen movies and the 1920′s. I ended up with a simple combo: flirty feminine plus a dash of menswear finished off with a low side bun hairstyle. Stay tuned for more trilby sightings over the next few months.

PS in case you were thinking I was trying to be fancy and rename the fedora, there is a subtle difference in the brim shapes between the two styles. The trilby has a shorter brim, usually curved in the back, and fedoras are the wider-brimmed ones. The word comes from the title of an 1894 novel by George du Maurier's 1894 novel, the heroine of which wore this style hat. I just wanted to throw a lil bit of fashion history at you...hope y'all enjoyed!

(Shiraleah Wool Trilby- Milk & Honey , Tocca Tie-Neck Blouse- Revolve Clothing, J. Brand Jeans- Anthropologie, Ballet Flats- J.Crew, Chain Cluster Earrings- MavenFresh, Citrine Cocktail Ring- The Indigo Pearl in Thailand)

Daily Outfit: Hooray for Chambray

 

Many a stylist will tell you that it all starts with a great shirt...and a chambray button-down happens to be one of my favorites. This shirt is actually called the Essential Tunic (hooray Anthro), very appropriate being that it's easy to take from day to night and transitions well from season to season. It's on the longer side which makes it perfect for me to tuck into skirts, but I've been known to rock it tunic style with printed leggings. Which brings me to an important point: leggings should not be treated just as you would your other types of pants. More specifically, take a good look in the mirror... is your bum covered? Then by all means, you can wear leggings underneath. Oh and underwear too- why not just go crazy.

The weather around here has been acting kinda unpredictable, so I went for another piece that is also super versatile. The length, material, and pattern make this skirt something I wear in summer and winter. I thought the denimy color background of the skirt worked well with the chambray. I love the vintage look and feel, complete with a big floppy bow at the paper-bag waist. Hey did I mention it was almost 80 degrees? Thus the cork wedge sandals.

PS Sesheta, great minds shop alike. For the record, I call them "tie neck blouses" and we definitely share that obsession!!!

(Essential Tunic- Anthropologie, Bowtied Mini- Anthropologie, Necklace- Ebay, Cork Wedges- Aldo; still available at ASOS)

PFM Obsession: Vintage Inspired Bow Tie Blouses

Silk Alexander McQueen Pussy-Bow Shirt - versatile black

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent Blouse - great vintage print and a great find

Nishe Pussy-Bow Blouse love this color!

Morning Mist Bow Shirt - ooo sleeveless!

i am totally excited by the resurgence of the latest trend of bow tie blouses.  a few years ago, i scored one of these blouses at a thrift store (my fave one that closed, sniff ) from the $2 rack! it was a mustard color with black stripes.  i loved wearing it cause of the retro-chic vibe.  sadly, i had to let it go as it started to literally fall apart at the seams.  you can imagine the instant obsession to own a newer version!  now you can get one in a great print or in one of this season's bright colors.  the hardest part is finding them, especially since it seems to be relatively new off the runway (i think they first made their appearance in SS '11).  maybe you can help me figure out what they are called; i've google searched "bow front blouse", "bow blouse", "bow tie blouse".  i've had the most luck with the last keywords.  while searching, i've seen the vintage versions referred to as "secretary bow blouse" and some of the new ones are called "pussy-bow blouse" (not sure why lol).  whatever you call them, i know that this is definitely one item that i would like to add to my wardrobe soon.