Leather in the Spring Time

 I'm obsessed, and I mean obsessed, with long sleeved, short dresses.  The problem is that I don't come across them that often.  So when I stumbled upon this amazing faux leather trimmed dressed, I had to grab it.

 It didn't matter that the dress was too big for me at the time.  Right after I got it, I took it straight to the seamstress to have it fitted.

The sleeves were too long for me so I asked her to make 'em shorter.  When I requested that she take off the leather cuffs, she protested saying that the "leather cuffs" added character to the dress. I'm glad I listened.  We both agreed to turn the long sleeve to a 3//4 length so I can wear the dress all year round.

The faux leather detail in the dress has stitching which makes it a bit more interesting. It also perfectly compliments the stitching in my new bag.

I love the cut-out feature in the back of the dress.  It actually, opened all the way to the waist but the seamstress added a little modesty for me.  

Last fall I had an unusual attraction to everything with faux leather detailing.  These Calvin Klein heels were a by-product of that time in my life.  They're probably one of my favorite pair of shoes.  Incredibly comfortable and pretty much can work with any outfit choice.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Calvin Klein Sandals · Calvin Klein Platforms · Valentino Dresses

OOTD | The Calm Before the Storm

I'm convinced I have a fascination with ugly unusual dresses.  A random stop to some obscure boutique led me to this latest find.  This tiny, out of the way, shop has pieces that I would consider mildly pricey.  But because there are very few places in town with unique pieces, I always seem to return.

Something told me to head directly to the clearance rack, the moment I walked in the store, in case there was a special find awaiting me.  Moments later, I emerged with this "cowgirl meets 70's print" dress. You could imagine my amazement when I noticed the $20.00 price tag.  The quality is admirable and I adore the cut out design in the back of the dress.

 Without even realizing it, I found the perfect outfit to pair with my "Slapper" nail color from butter London.  It really brings out the teal blue accent embedded in the dress' pattern.

Wearing Mustard Seed Dress. Saks Fifth Avenue Sandals 

Military Chic.

You might remember when I featured a military jacket in a previous "Love Her Look" post.  Ever since then, I've been on the lookout for a military green jacket versatile enough to wear all year.

I finally stumbled upon the perfect jacket during a recent trip to Macy's. I fell in love with the length of the coat and the adjustable sleeves.  Today I decided to take full advantage of the shortened sleeves by donning a white long sleeve button up blouse.  And for a bit of "pop," I opted to accessorize with my gold accented Louis Eva as a cross body.

wearing my favorite pair of chevron earrings

This jacket is ultra light which means I can experiment with spring looks with it as well.  Still working on getting fit so I can confidently rock a crop top like my inspiration did in her look.

Military Jacket

White Blouse

Michael Kors Heels

Louis Vuitton Bag

Grey Day

December is the time of year when most are bundled up in the warmest of layers.  Unfortunately the unseasonably warm weather down here doesn't call for knitted sweaters and mittens.  So I have to get a little creative when putting together fall looks in summer-like temperatures.    

Chanel Tote

A lightweight, short sleeve cardigan wrap I picked up, last year, from Target  is perfect for times like this.  Visually, it has the look of a sweater but feels as light as a comfortable blouse.

A few weeks back, I decided to put this Chanel bag on Ebay.  After storing it away for months, I found myself not reaching for it as much as I thought.  After weeks of going back and forth I (thought) I made the decision to sell it.

2 day old curls created with the help of Conair Flexirods

The moment I took it out of it's dust bag, I remembered what drew me on the day I first laid eyes on it.  So for now, she's staying with me.

Silver Chain Necklace

With all grey attire, it's easy to fall into the trap of being monochromatic from head to toe.  Is there a better way to add a pop of color than rocking the classic red nail?

Topshop Sandals · yoox.com Cardigans · The Limited Skinny Pants

Sunday Market

It's been unseasonably warm this week so I decided to head out to the local Farmer's market to enjoy the weather.  Every time I go, I'm guaranteed to get and eye full of interesting art along with ample opportunities for people watching.

I couldn't believe that it reached the 80s today.  To keep comfortable, I opted to wear a light weight, olive green dress paired with my beloved B Makowsky bag.

While there,  I was caught a glimpse of some beautiful heads of hair.  My attention was immediately caught by a young mother and her gorgeous little girl. Both of them with stunning tresses.

As soon as I snapped the pic, I looked across the lawn and saw this girl with her group of friends.  I think I noticed her huge ponytail before anything else.  I wish I could have gotten a closer shot but I didn't want to appear any creepier than I already was.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

{Love her Look} Regina Hall

After seeing these pics of Best Man Holiday actress Regina Hall enjoying a night out, I immediately became inspired.  Her look was so simple, flawless, and best of, all can be easily recreated with a few statement pieces.

I absolutely love the pairing of red and gold.  Most of the time, I tend to steer clear of red dresses but, thanks to Regina, I know how to look bold and simplistic at the same time.  Long sleeves perfectly compliment the flirty length of this eye-catching piece.

She also chose to keep the accessories at a minimum, allowing the dress to shine.  I love that she paired this dress with gold accessories instead of the default black.  Gold adds a bit of elegance & dressiness to the look which she balances by going with casual hoops and strappy heels.

Finally, I adore how she went for a simple pulled up sleek ponytail which has a slight curl.  Everything about this look is understated yet intentional.  I love it!

H&M Gold Hoop Earrings // Red Long Sleeve Skater Dress //  Strappy Heel // Gold Plated Heel //

{OOTD} A windy fall afternoon

Today was a little cool & windy so I thought it would be fun to wear something that would look playful against the breeze.  In honor of fall, I opted for muted earth tones.  The top I'm wearing was a gift from a friend who brought it back from a visit home to Singapore.  I love the tribal print which I thought would go great with this olive green buttoned down A line skirt and a pair of  camel heels.

Tribal print top // A line skirt // Vera Wang heels //  LV Eva clutch //

Hoping to see The Best Man Holiday later and spend the rest of the lazy Sunday relaxing before I head out of town again.   Hope everyone had a great week!

{Love Her Look} Army Chic

I was inspired after seeing this pic online and immediately knew that I wanted to recreate the entire look.  So simple, yet intentional & flattering.  It's perfect for fall.

Steve Madden Satchel bag // Sole Society Bib Necklace // Shoe Cult Pump // Dorothy Perkins High Waisted Jeans //  Rag & Bone Army Jacket //

The 100 Dresses Project

As a child, one of my favorite books of all time was "The Hundred Dresses."  It's about a poor girl who was made fun of because she wore the same dress to school everyday.  The young girl, however, claimed that she owned 100 dresses, all of them beautiful and unique.

I remember checking out that book over and over again fantasizing about one day having a closet of 100 dresses.  Fast forward many years later and I have a closet full of jeans and pants.  The few dresses I do own are shoved in the back of my closet, saved for rare and special occasions.

I've decided to bring back the art of wearing dresses again as a part of my regular routine.  I'm not saying that I'm never wearing pants again but I long to one day build my own collection of 100 dresses.  Here, I'm wearing a dress from Forever 21.  I was drawn to it because it was both ugly and pretty at the same time.  The pattern isn't traditionally pleasing to the eye, but that's what attracted me to it. It was tucked away in the corner, far from the trendier pieces on the main sales floor.   I paired it with a statement necklace from H&M and some rustic cuffs.

One thing about wearing dresses is that you no longer have the luxury of blending into the crowd.  Next time you go out to a non-formal event, look around and count the number of women who aren't wearing jeans/pants.  Standing out isn't a bad thing, but it requires a level of confidence and certainty to hold your head high instead of being intimidated by the increased number of stares and acknowledgments.  It helps us build the habit of not being swayed by what others think of us.  Feels good.

Look out for more posts as I build my dress collection.

STYLE SUNDAY: Love in Black & White

I went through this phase where every piece of clothing I purchased was black. Black shoes, black bags, everything.  Recently I made a vow to stay away from black clothes (since I already own so many items).

Now, I'm looking for ways to accessories these dark pieces in new & interesting ways.

Then I stumbled on upon these magnificent black & white animal print pumps and instantly fell in love.  They are so effortlessly chic that I can't stand it.  I'd love to have them as a part of my collection.  Instead of pairing the look with a black bag (which is something I'd normally do) I decided style them with a black and white clutch from ALDO.  A simple bracelet completes the look.
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Lucy Skater Dress + Giraffe print pumps + ALDO Clutch + ASOS bracelet

{Crab dip & Camouflage} A leisurely Sunday afternoon

Lately, my work schedule has been out of control.  So by the time the weekend comes around, I'm completely ready to enjoy it.  Today I decided to go to a favorite spot in town for brunch.  For once we got there early enough to grab a good seat before the Sunday crowd formed.

I ordered one of my favorite appetizers, a crab artichoke dip.  This time, however, the skimped on the crab so I vowed to learn how to recreate my own version of it that I can enjoy with as much crab as I want.   Look out for the recipe once I get it down.

After brunch, I strolled the shopping area on the hunt for any cute finds.  Unfortunately, I came up empty handed this time around.

Wearing camouflage jeans from GAP.  Similar pair here. Fergie heels. Top from H&M.  Next weekend is The Makeup Show!  I can't wait.

Touches of Leather

Lately, it seems like everything most of my purchases are following a similar theme.  Faux leather mixed with different fabrics.

It began with my Calvin Klein heels (which are thee most comfortable pair of heels I own).  Since then I've added several other pieces which feature leather  blended with fabrics.  I'm in love with my black and white skirt I picked up this week.

(similar skirt *on sale* ASOS )

The other piece I snagged also featured a leather accent.  This lovely dress perfect for fall.  My eyes immediately were drawn to the faux leather neckline and and the detailing on the belt.

( dress || House of Couture boutique || bag Chanel So Black)

I'm in love with the neutral brown color, the material, and the length of this dress.  Technically, this piece is a bit too big for me but I had to get it anyway because I adore it so much.  Can not wait to get the perfect pair of boots that will finish this look.

Even though I'm well aware that I'm partial to faux leather, I'm not slowing down.  I'd actually like to experiment with adding even more pieces to my collection.  Including a solid leather skirt and a pair of pants similar to these.