Best Dressed
Best Reds
Best Couples
Best TV Show Host / Best Kid
Worst Dressed
A Bonus: Perhaps the Best AND the Worst
All photos courtesy of EOnline. Today was the first day back at school for the spring semester, but if we're being real, it's hardly spring. More like a deep, frozen, wasteland of a tundra. Clearly, sweaters and boots were necessary today. Clearly some abstract photos were necessary, too. Mustard and plum are my favorite colors to put together when I don't know what to put together. It always, always, always looks good. Sweater from Anthropologie, top from Target. A few vintage-y accessories keep the look from being too casual, and a cool toned nail color keeps the warm tones of the outfit from looking too "fall." The jeans, as always, are my Pilcro Superscript Jeans from Anthropologie and the nail color is "You're Such a Budapest" by OPI, which has become a signature color of mine this past year. Really, my favorite part of this outfit is these floral hikers from Anthropologie. They were returned to my store, had been marked down, and I was able to get an additional discount off of them too; they were a serious steal, and I've had a ton of fun using them to add some extra umph to my outfits. It's a little hard to see in this picture, but I tightlined my eyes with purple eyeliner today. Apparently I was really feeling the purple vibe! It's a winter-in-Illinois thing.
--- 01-12-15 I've had a pretty phenomenal month off of school. If I'm being honest, the vast majority of that month has been spent in dirty, paint-stained sweatpants, but when I've needed to look presentable, comfort is always still key. My Olan Rogers sweatshirts are my absolute favorite thing. They're ridiculously soft and the designs are all amazing. This one has been mistaken for a Sevenly sweatshirt about 80 times, and I have been very proud to promptly correct people. Nah. It's Olan. My favorite jeans have absolutely been the Pilcro Superscript High-Rise Jeans from Anthropologie. They're stretch denim and super comfortable. As always in winter, boots are necessary (although not as much this year...we didn't get snow until a few days ago.) My wing tip boots from DailyLook are my all time favorites; they're super comfortable and make any outfit look a little cuter. Throw them on with some boot socks and I'm good to go. I can't leave the house without my rings. From left to right: a vintage ring made by my great uncle, an infinity ring from Maurices, a bow ring from Maurices and a twisted ring from DailyLook, and a knot ring from Avon. Top it off with a wintery manicure: OPI's Skyfall. Naturally, a winter's day in (or day out) needs to be topped off with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.
--- 01-05-15 As I did last year, I spent my birthday in Chicago with my mom! We went to the Art Institute for a Magritte exhibit, and then to Ravinia to see Buddy Guy and Mavis Staples. It was an all-around great day - here's what I wore! Links and complete outfit details will be at the end of this post. Outfit: Anthropologie Afternoon Abroad Tee
Anthropologie TLA Essential Layering Tank Anthropologie Pilcro Stet Light Wash Cuff Jeans (past season) http://www.anthropologie.com Jewelry: Brazilian wooden ring Maurices Bow Ring Vintage ring and watch Anthropologie Earrings Target Chain Necklace Glasses: ZEN Barcelona Retro Collection ZR41-C2 Bag: Target Makeup: Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Powder Foundation (Fair Honey) Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles (fair) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (ivory) NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder (blonde) L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow (Iced Latte) Almay Eyeliner (black) Covergirl LashBlast Length Water Resistant and Covergirl Clump Crusher by LashBlast Water Resistant (W9 Very Black) Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick (Plum Jam) Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray I cannot believe it has been a YEAR since I've done a trend watch. I really suck at this blogging thing, don't I?
DISCLAIMER: never sacrifice fit or comfort for a trend. Most trends do not last. It is not worth it. That being said, here are a few on-trend styles, colors, and accessories that have been circulating the small-town stores that you should get in on and stay out of. Get it! Modern Neon Tribal Tribal patterns used to be reserved for old-school blanket sweaters, but they've been given an update this spring. The patterns have been modernized and have become more geometric, and the colors are now bright and inviting. It's still a risk, but it's becoming one that is easier to take. 60's Beach Retro There isn't anything not to love about this trend. Crop tops with high-waisted shorts, adorable day dress with open backs, exaggerated sunglasses, and bold colors are taking over. There is something for every body type within this trend, and the looks are not SO retro that it becomes a costume, so every item will last past this season. Statement Necklaces While this isn't particularly a trend, statement necklaces have definitely been a more prominent staple of the accessories department. No matter how casual or formal your look is, it can always be pumped up by a chunky statement piece. Especially this spring, necklaces in bright, bold colors set the perfect note. Skip it! Palazzo Pants These weren't good in the late 60's/Early 70's, and they aren't good now. There are a select few quirky people who are capable of pulling them off, but those people are so few and far between, and I doubt this trend will last past this summer. Midi Rings I just don't understand this concept. Don't they fall off?? Why would anyone want a ring less than an inch off the edge of your finger?!? Maybe someone can explain this to me. I just think it's dumb. High-End Activewear This isn't wrong in and of itself, but if we're being honest, this trend just isn't necessary. You're going to be working out and SWEATING in it. It isn't going to stay nice. What's the point of spending hundreds of dollars on pants or a jacket that aren't going to last? I'll fully admit that Anthropologie's Pure+Good activewear line is adorable, and Lululemon has many a cute item. BUT STILL. It's just not worth it in the long run. I have watched the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show every year since I was a little girl, and one thing always sticks out to me like a sore thumb: the female handlers have NO idea how to dress. Hilariously bad fashion is almost a tradition, but it's something I've never understood. I imagine the thought process of these female handlers goes something along the lines of "what I wear doesn't matter because everyone will be looking at the dog" or "if I dress really well it will distract from the dog" or "I take myself too seriously as a professional dog handler to dress decently." I'll let you in on a secret: these are BAD thought processes. I can hardly pay attention to the dogs anymore because I'm so thoroughly distracted by over-sized suit jackets, under-sized and far too short pencil skirts, panty hose from the 90s and cloddy loafers you haven't been able to buy since 1982. I don't quite understand why these women haven't heard of, I don't know, DRESSES, but it seems to be traditional to wear skirt suits. I imagine this developed from the fact that the men wear suits and women want to be comparable to them without sacrificing femininity. This "tradition," however, is no excuse for poor fit or poor fashion sense in general. And the shoes. THE SHOES. Yes, you're running around in a ring with a dog, and yes, you need to be comfortable and to have a shoe that won't fall off. But for goodness sakes. You cannot wear a dressy sequined suit with Sketchers. I thought this was common knowledge amongst the entire human race, but apparently not. The images above are not by any means the worst cases, but they do exude the basis of the problem. Better examples include these ACTUAL "Dog Show Suits" for sale on facebook-based online shops: There is absolutely no reason why this should be the standard, but it simply IS across the board in the dog handler world. It was addressed as an issue almost 8 years ago on an episode of What Not to Wear...at least Michelle B. looks fabulous now. Taking a cue from both What Not to Wear and my own fashion instincts, I've developed a little Dog Handler Lookbook for the Westminster ladies. Not that they'll ever read this and not that they care. I suppose it's just for my personal peace of mind. There are certain rules I gave myself when developing these looks: 1. Comfortable, flat shoes for ease-of-running in the ring. 2. The unspoken rule of not wearing dresses. 3. Wash-and-wear, affordable clothing since handlers tend to spend more money on their dogs than on themselves! Without further ado....female handlers, TAKE NOTES!!! LOOK ONE: This look combines a variety of current trends while still maintaining the Dog Show Handler traditional dress code. The jacket, skirt, and shoes are from Target and the top is from Maurices. Sequins are common amongst handlers, but they're often overdone. By limiting the sequins to just the skirt, you get a pop of sparkle without being a disco ball. The blouse is neutral and in the same color as the skirt so as not to distract and lead the eye too many directions. A traditional buttoned jacket would work here, but I opted for a more modern open-front jacket with color blocked panels. Black and Cobalt is hot now and makes this look super sleek. For shoes, I went for a *GASP* ballet flat!! The cap-toe adds a little shine, the ankle-strap ensures they stay on your feet, and they're comfortable enough to run around in. Because this look is comprised mostly of neutral tones, the dog will still be the primary focus. LOOK TWO: This look is a new take on the traditional, classic handler look. The clothes are from Maurices and the shoes are from Target. A longer, lace pencil skirt is a much better alternative to the short stuffy skirts, and it adds texture and visual interest to the outfit. By adding a ruffled, neutral top and a cute cropped jacket in a unique color, the outfit is basic but would still set you apart. The flats follow one of Stacy and Clinton's best rules: it doesn't have to match, but it does have to GO. The raspberry tone is in the same color family as the jacket, so it all ties together in a nice little bow. LOOK THREE: The last look plays with bold graphics and different shapes. The clothes are from Maurices and the shoes are from Target. The white edging on a simple black jacket really makes this look pop. The added bonus of it being a single-closure jacket vs. a button-up is definitely figure flattering. By adding a traditional sequined top in black, the whole outfit is glammed-up. While pencil skirts are the most common, I'm offering an alternative in this skater skirt. They're very on trend right now, but they would look good for years to come in the show ring. They're much more comfortable than pencil skirts and they would offer more movement while you're running around with the dog. As an added bonus, the herringbone pattern gives the look a touch of visual interest. One of my favorite ways to make a monochromatic outfit more interesting is to add a colored shoe. I'm going back to the vibe of Look One with a burst of blue. Hello friends!!! My 21st Birthday was on August 19th. I spent the day in Chicago with my beautiful mother, and I just wanted to share my birthday outfit and some pictures with you! Links and complete outfit details will be at the end of this post. Dress: Anthropologie Modern Composition Dress
Out of stock online, but it's on sale through various online retailers for $79.95 if you're interested. http://www.anthropologie.com Shoes: Crocs Women's Cap Toe Flat in stucco/black http://www.crocs.com Jewelry: Brazilian wooden bracelet and ring Vintage ring and watch Anthropologie Earrings Glasses: ZEN Barcelona Retro Collection ZR41-C2 Bag: Prada (purchased at a garage sale for $4...don't go thinking that I'm rich!!) Makeup: Loreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder (310 Light Ivory) Loreal True Match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealer (n1-2-3 fair/light) Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer (ivory) Maybelline Dream Matte Powder (light 4-5) Rimmel London Natural Bronzer (020 Sunshine) Almay Intense I-Color Eyeliner (002 Brown Topaz) Loreal Infallible 24 hour Eye Shadow (888 Iced Latte and 892 Amber Rush) Covergirl LashBlast Length Water Resistant and Covergirl Clump Crusher by LashBlast Water Resistant (W9 Very Black) Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (020 Lovesick) Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray - Jordan - - 8-26-13 - |
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