I Love NY!

Cardigan, jeans - F21, Tee - Old Navy, Boots - Target, Bracelet - ModCloth

I'm baaaaack! Just finished my mini-vacay to NYC, and I can't say strongly enough how much I LOVE that city! I actually grew up out there when I was a kid, but for some reason, I just remember the city being scary when I was little. Probably because NYC was a bit scary when I was little (in the 1980s). But as an adult...it felt like a gigantic playground! My favorite thing about the city is that it stays open so late, something that I miss terribly now that I live in a small town that literally is asleep by 10 p.m. Anyway, I had four days of pure vacation bliss, filled with shopping, eating, meeting up with friends I hadn't seen in forever, more eating, and a LOT of walking. I seriously have shin splints. How sad is that? I'm pretty sure the New Yorkers realized I wasn't a local when I was hobbling around Fifth Avenue on my last night, gripping the boyfriend's arm for support. I actually contemplated NOT getting off the subway at my stop once, just so I could sit down for a little longer. OK, I just went from sad to pathetic. Please don't judge me.

This is what I wore for my redye flight to NYC and my first day there after having only slept one hour. I actually wore sweatpants on the plane and changed right before we landed. Smartest travel decision I ever made. I was so comfortable! I opted to wear yellow because I knew the weather was going to be so dreary in NYC and I've mentioned before that I break out bright colors when the day is gray. I kind of stuck out like a sore thumb though...most of the New Yorkers were definitely sticking to neutrals for the winter season. It seemed everyone was bundled in black, camel, or gray.



This is what I wore over my outfit since it was pretty chilly!

 This week's posts will be dedicated to a lot of my trip to NYC, since I didn't have a chance to blog when I was there. I did a lot of remixing because I didn't want to bring too much on the trip. OK, actually I didn't want to bring too much so that I would have room in my suitcase for all the shopping I wanted to do. Anyway, you'll see how I tried to be creative with only one warm coat and pair of boots. Now, please excuse me, I must go ice my shin splints. Sad --> pathetic --> ridiculous. I know. I hang my head in shame.

In the Trenches

Trenchcoat - H&M, Dress - Nordstrom Rack, Boots - Target, Necklace - Banana Republic

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...a trenchcoat is totally an easy way to add some polish and class to an outfit. It's a total must-have for every girl's wardrobe. It works for casual, for dressy, for work, and on and on. Here I just threw it on over a simple black tank sheath dress and flat riding boots, and it easily transformed the outfit from boring and plain to exciting and awesome. OK, maybe not exciting and awesome...cute and put-together? I'll take it.

Sorry for the super short post, but I am literally running out the door to head to the airport for my flight to NYC tonight! Yes, it's the redeye, which is horrible, but I didn't want to waste a whole day flying. I don't know why it is that whether I fly out at 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. or 11 p.m., I am always rushing and running around like crazy to get packed and ready to go. It's really ridiculous. Maybe it's because I am much better at "thinking" about packing then actually packing. Yes, must work on that.

Can't wait to post my outfits from the Big Apple...not to mention do some serious shopping! My entire trip seems to be planned around food and shopping, which sounds just fine with me. See you all in a few!

Classic Combo

Blazer - Macy's, Tee - Target, Booties - Steve Madden, Scarf - H&M, Bag - ModCloth

There is something about the blazer and jeans combo that keeps it from ever going out of style. I swear, I remember even Jesse Spano wearing skintight acid-washed (ew) jeans with navy blazer in many an episode of Saved by the Bell. Not that she was my SBTB fashion icon. I much preferred Kelly Kapowski, with her floral shorts and florescent pink tee shirts knotted at the waist. And could Kelly rock a bright colored scrunchie or what? But I digress...in a most embarassing way. While I'm glad that the acid-washed jeans trend might have fallen off along the way (and full disclosure here, I owned my fair share of acid-washed jeans in elementary school and middle school), I'm glad that blazer-jeans-combo trend isn't going anywhere. There's just something so simple and classic about it.

A nice, black blazer is another piece that I think every girl ought to have in her closet. It's just so versatile and necessary. It can be thrown on over a loose tee and jeans or over a dress and it instantly makes the outfit look polished.

I love three-day weekends, but my next week is always thrown off by being so short. I can't believe I'm leaving for my mini-vacay to NYC the day after tomorrow, and I have not even begun thinking about what to pack! Luckily, NYC has warmed up to a balmy 41 degrees for my trip (*gulp*). I am trying to brainstorm ideas for outfits that are cute but warm and go with comfortable walking shoes (what's that?). It's like Mission Impossible, isn't it?? If you have any tips....please, pass them along!

Wrap It Up

Dress - Banana Republic, Boots - Nine West, Necklace - handmade, Bracelet, Ring - Vintage

I attended a fundraising dinner this week for a non-profit organization I volunteer with and struggled with what I should wear. I knew most people would be wearing suits, but I only wear a suit if my job ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, ABSOTIVELY requires it (upon punishment of death or extreme pain or chocolate deprivation). In case I'm being too subtle, I haaaate wearing suits. Which is funny, since my job actually requires me to wear one fairly often. Good career choice, KK. Anyway, since the dinner wasn't one of those wear-a-suit-or-be-fired situations, I opted instead for a monochrome wrap dress I picked up recently. With a fitted black knee-length coat (not pictured), it proved to be the perfect alternative to a boring old suit.

I had never tried on a wrap dress until a few weeks ago because I always thought I would look goofy in them, but then I saw Kendi try one and tell me they were universally flattering. And since Kendi is always right (and always adorably dressed), I tried one myself. And I'm in love! Wrap dresses hug in all the right places and are so comfortable that you can eat a seven-course fundraising dinner without having to pop a button. My kind of dress! Since I can never resist adding a pop of color, I added a bright orange necklace I made last year. I kind of wished I could have worn a multi-strand green or turquoise necklace with the dress but didn't have one. Time to go shopping . . . :)

I have had a really rough week, so I am looking forward to some retail therapy and good eats this weekend to put it all behind me. Plus, I'm getting ready for a mini-vacay to NYC next week! Can't wait to put my cold weather fashion creativity to the test. Hope you guys all have a great three-day weekend!

Mellow Yellow

Jacket - Vertigo Paris (Loehmann's), Shirt - Michael Kors, Slacks - BR, Shoes - Chinese Laundry, Bracelet - ModCloth

I told you once before that yellow, black, and white is one of my favorite color combinations, and to show you that I am a woman of my word, here it is again. I feel like yellow is one of my go-to colors when the weather is icky and gloomy and cold, and I'm feeling the need for a little flash of sunshine. Plus, it's a great way to spruce up a boring black-and-white, corporate-appropriate work outfit like I did here. It's also a lovely color to wear if you're going to be in a crowd. My boyfriend never has a problem finding me when I'm wearing this jacket. I now understand why construction signs are always yellow. Not that I look like a construction sign. Wait, do I?! Well, if I do, I hope it's a construction sign that says something like, "Caution: Cute Outfit Ahead."

Seriously though, wearing a bright color like construction-sign yellow can really turn your gloomy mood more positive...and in some cases, can even make the sun come out! If you don't believe me, look at the last photo. The sun peeked out from some clouds in the time it took me to take these photos. It's the power of fashion. Believe. 

Double Trouble



Jacket - ModCloth, Tank - F21, Skirt - frenchi c/o Nordstrom, Tights - ModCloth, Shoes - F21

I know I probably broke some fashion rule by not wearing red or pink on Valentine's Day, but as Elaine from Clothed Much says every Monday, rules are lame! I have been dying to wear this gorgeous cropped jacket for weeks now, and Vday dinner finally gave me an occasion to break it out. Not only did it keep me warm when the temperatures suddenly dipped down today, it made me feel so glamorous for some reason! To go with the glam feel, I added lace bow tights and poufed my hair. I love poufing my hair. Poufing instantly dresses up your head. Poufing also gives me an extra half-inch of height. Plus, how fun is it to say poufing? Can you tell I like to say "pouf"?

The boyfriend actually doesn't like this jacket. (I know, grounds for breakup, but then who would take my outfit photos?). Anyway, I always think it's funny when I learn that fashion pieces that girls find pretty are not always the fashion pieces that boys find pretty. There are several other items in my closet that the boyfriend really doesn't like. When he makes me mad, I put them all on and prance around the house. OK, not really, but I am not beyond doing that if I'm pushed to the edge. I fight dirty.

No cause for that tonight though. In fact, tonight, the boyfriend blew me away with an amazing three-course fancy schmancy dinner at this restaurant I've been dying to try...and for my Vday gift, he actually picked out this dress and this necklace from ModCloth for me! I just find it so adorable that he perused ModCloth and picked out things he thought I'd like. Thankfully, we agree on what is pretty this time. He has good taste, no? I think I'll keep him. :)

Hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day!

Love Day!

Cardigan - Target, Dress - F21, Shoes - Santee Alley, Jewelry - Vintage, Belt - Vintage, Clutch - HOBO, gifted

Happy, happy love day, everyone! Hope whether you have someone or not, today is full of love and candy and sweet fun!

The boyfriend and I kicked off Vday yesterday with a lovely and delicious brunch. Brunch is one of my absolute favorite inventions in the history of all inventions. It's my favorite meal (lunch and dinner who?) and I look forward to it all week long. Yesterday's brunch was a double date, and I celebrated Vday properly with my favorites:  a bloody mary (made with hand-crushed tomato juice and blue cheese-stuffed olives, YUM!) and a never-empty cup of Equator coffee.

Looking at these pictures already makes me long for the good weather we had here over the weekend. I wanted to wear something Valentine-y to brunch, so I opted for the deep red cardigan, and couldn't resist wearing a comfortable, printed tube dress. I love the print on this dress. It's definitely got a subtle Asian flavor, but not that garish, over-the-top wannabe Asian print that tends to make me cringe.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a LOVELY Valentine's Day. I have no idea what I'm going to wear to Vday dinner tonight since the weather has turned frigid, windy, and wet again. Suggestions are welcome!

Po-Po-Po-Polka Face

Jacket - CLOTHES c/o Marshalls , Tee, Mary Janes - F21, Skirt - H&M, Necklace - Target, lengthened

One thing you need to know about me is that I have a SERIOUS love affair with polka dots! (Just to warn you, I have a serious love affair with a number of things, as you will soon see:  chocolate, sky-high heels, pumpkin-flavored anything, Orlando Bloom, etc.) I have a number of polka dot pieces in my wardrobe, and for some reason, I can't stop sneaking more in all the time. Shirts, dresses, pajama pants, scarves, clown costumes (just kidding!), you name it...I've got it. And when I saw this polka dot skirt, with its polka dots in a blushy color...I just had to have it! See more of my love affair with blush HERE and HERE. See? Another love affair. What can I say, I have a lot of love.

I wanted to tone down the "little-girl" vibe of the polka dot skirt, so I paired it with this biker-type jacket and a chunky necklace (see how I remix the necklace for work HERE). I love this jacket but have been majorly struggling with ways to style it, since I'm afraid that it makes me look a bit too masculine. Having broad shoulders and some meat on the bones can make a motorcycle jacket look too rough and manly on me, I think. I don't want to look like I'm ready to break up a bar fight. I want to look like I'm ready to order a bright-colored cocktail in a sugar-rimmed glass and THEN break up a bar fight.  I will be experimenting with styling this jacket in upcoming posts, so let me know if you have suggestions for feminizing a piece like this!

Not much on the plate for this weekend (yay!) except for much-needed lunch with a girlfriend and an early-Valentine's Day brunch double date.  These meals will not occur on the same day, although I'm really not beyond doing that.  The mans and I are storing up our energy this weekend since we'll be traveling the next two weekends...can't wait!

Have a great weekend, everyone...happy shopping!

You'd Better Work



Trench - H&M, Tee - F21, Necklace - Target, Slacks - Banana Republic, Bag - ModCloth, Shoes - Anne Klein

So I decided to try something a little new this week and post an actual work outfit. I went back and forth about whether I wanted to post work clothes on this blog...namely because I whine and complain about how I hate dressing for my fashion-starved corporate job and I think my outfits for work are pretty boring. Buuuuuut, on the other hand, I'm sure you guys realized that I was not going nude Monday through Friday and therefore might be curious what I look like during the week. Aaaaand I know that a lot of you have jobs like mine, and I thought maybe we could inspire each other to try and spice up corporate America a little bit. Who's with me? Are you with me? I'm just going to pretend that you are. It's a little perk of one-sided blog conversations.

Even though my job doesn't allow me to truly express my desire to be creative with my outfits, I do  try to add a little fun in with some funky jewelry or some actual color. You would be horrified/amazed at the lack of color I see at my office every day. I actually bought this necklace to wear with non-work outfits, but I've started throwing it into my work outfits too. I love when I can crossover nonwork items to workdays. Not ony does it expand my work wardrobe, but it gives me a teeny bit of satisfaction when I feel like I'm sneaking a bit of flava (yes, flava, not flavor) into my corporate wear.

I adore this trenchcoat, by the way. I searched for a trench I liked for a long (long, long) time, with no luck. I don't care what stylists say about the belted trench being a curvy girl's best friend. It's simply not so if the curvy girl also has a little booty because the bottom of the trench flares out unflatteringly when you cinch the waist. So when I found this sort of modified, untraditional trench at H&M (marked 40% off!) with no belt, I was thrilled! It does not accentuate my booty and still gives me the style I was looking for in a trenchcoat.

So, I hope you like my work outfit post. If you like it, I'll try to post work outfits more regularly. If you don't, I will cry. Just kidding. I have a much thicker skin than that. I will probably only tear up a little.

P.S. Super sorry about the quality of these photos, by the way. Winds were blowing at 40 mph as I tried to take these, so most of them came out terribly. To prove it, check out my hair in the bottom pic!

Bare It



Cardigan - J Crew, Necklace, skirt - F21, Belt - c/o PaperDoll on Melrose

Yes, your eyes do not fool you...those are my BARE legs you are seeing in these photos! The weather reached a balmy 70 degrees over the weekend for the first time in what seems like forever (whoo hoo!), and I couldn't resist taking advantage by throwing on a skirt without tights for once. Please excuse my paleness...it has been a long and chilly winter!

I know these cardigans are called "boyfriend cardigans," but I hate calling them that. Namely because trying to picture my 6-foot tall, 200-pound boyfriend in a cardigan like this makes me laugh out loud (and nearly spit my coffee onto my laptop). He's not really the cardigan type. So I think I will call this my "grandpa cardigan" instead. Anyway, I love love love grandpa cardigans! Not only are they warm and comfy, but you can throw them over pretty much anything and it will work.

By the way, have you noticed how totally FABULOUS my blog looks today?! My blog has received a complete, total, and much-needed makeover from the lovely and talented (not to mention extremely fashionable!) Elaine from I'm Clothed Much.  Isn't her work super awesome? I absolutely love what she came up with for this blog. Not only am I a huge fan of her style and fashion sense...but now I'm a huge fan of her technological prowess and artistic abilities. Thank you, Elaine!

Brown Paper Packages . . .

Photo Credit

...tied up with string!

OK, so I know that most packages don't come in brown paper or tied with string anymore, but that doesn't make it any less exciting to get packages in the mail for me! Lately, it seems that packages in the mail have become my addiction. See, I just recently discovered how genius online shopping can be. (Insert *gasp* here).

I know, I know, I have been missing out. But I have been a devoted shopper for decades, and I love the thrill I get when I enter a store and see all the gorgeous racks of clothes, the creative and colorful displays on the mannequins, and the quiet excitement I feel in sifting through the neatly hung items while I look for my new favorite piece! (This is where the boyfriend would shake his head and mutter, "It's a sickness," under his breath). Besides, being petite and curvy has made trying on clothing a simple necessity because seeing things on a size 0 mannequin means nothing to me. For all these reasons, I just didn't think online shopping could give me the same kind of satisfaction.

But I was wrong. Very wrong.

While I don't get to feel all that I feel when I spend a day physically shopping, I get to feel an altogether different kind of thrill. See, when you online shop, you click, pay, and then you wait. And wait. And the waiting is hard ... but it is genius. Because between the time you click and pay...and the time you receive your package ... you forget about the click and pay part! So when you get your package, you almost feel like it's free! A gift from the postman! It really is genius. And addicting.

I came home last night and had a package waiting for me from Lulu*s with this gorgeous bag inside.

Piperlime

Piperlime

It's versatile, it's gorgeous, and it was FREE*! I am totally in love with the shoulder strap + handbag handle bag style. Can't wait to start styling my newest one into my outfits.

What a great way to start off the weekend. Have a good one, guys!

*Not actually free. Just feels free, which is like the same thing, isn't it?

At First Blush

Jacket, Tank, Booties - F21, Skirt - H&M, Tights - ?

"Blush" is one of my absolute favorite colors for clothing. It's just brilliant. It's not pink, it's not beige, it's not peach, it's not taupe. Who would have thought that a combination of those colors would make such a pretty hue? I find myself drawn to so much blush-colored clothing these days, but this skirt is my favorite. It's got such a silky feel, and its contrasting thick black waistband is like a built in belt. Plus, blush is a great winter color as well as a spring color, so you'll see this skirt remixed often in the coming months!

I wore this to a baby shower where we knew the baby was going to be a girl. Baby showers always make me want to dress a little girly (especially ones for little baby girls!), and the pale blush skirt and booties covered with bows helped me get the job done.

So, what do you think of the outfit? What's that? Really? You love it? Aw, don't make me blush.

Yes, I kind of hate myself right now for making that awful joke. I'm sorry, it's late and I am clearly sleep-deprived. And humor-deprived. I will now go get some sleep. I can not promise I will get some humor, but I will do my best, I promise!