Outfits Of The Yesterdays (Night & Day)

♫: Night and Day - Hot Chip

I can't believe it has been a week since I last posted here. Sorry guys! I have actually been busy working on this blog--it's just that you can't see it, since it has all been on the back end. I have something good (hopefully) coming up soon, though, so sit tight. Soon-ish.You know how I do.

Just a quick note for today. It was recently brought to my attention that you guys can't pin any of my images from this blog on to Pinterest. Uh oh.

Now I love Pinterest, as it provides a rather excellent distraction to the monotony of everyday normal life (if only because I enjoy pinning images of a bike riding John Slattery on to my food pinboard, riiight where he belongs) so when a kind reader pointed out that they were having problems pinning my images from this blog, I decided to investigate. Lo and behold, Flickr apparently added some sort of fancy anti-Pinterest meta tag to certain images a few weeks ago, rendering many pictures un-pinnable.

Without, you know, telling anyone. Thanks, Flickr!

The good news is that it is fixable, but the bad news is that it is going to take some time for me to get all of my images fixed, as I now have to go in and change some of my privacy settings. So bare with me and keep trying. I have already fixed a few of my more recent posts, and will be working on my past posts over this next week.

And, by the way, thank you for considering me pinnable! It means a lot, even if my little browser spellchecker is going completely bonkers over this entire blog post and keeps wanting to change "pinnable" to "pinbball", "unpinnable" to "unwinnable" (which also isn't a real word), and "Flickr" to another word containing the letters f-c-k-r. Unwinnable pinball motherfuckers would make for a very insightful blog post, but I'll have to save that for later.

(And I appreciate that my spell-check apparently has a sense of humor.)

(Oh! And if you're a blogger that is having the same issues with Flickr, this is where I found the fix!)

Soon, soon, soon:

. 

Top: J Crew Silk Lucinda Blouse in Roasted Chestnut, old (similar here by haute hippie) (similar here) (similar at Ruche for $34.99)
Skirt: ASOS (check for pop backs here) (similar here) (similar under $100) (similar under $100)
Necklace: Forever 21, old (similar here) (similar here) (similar here under $20)
Watch: Michael Kors Gold Horn Watch (buy it here) (similar here under $100) (similar here under $50)
Wire Cuff: Rivka Friedman (buy it here) (similar here)
Rose Gold Bangles: Seasonal Whispers Crystal & Metal Bangles (buy them here) (similar here under $40)
Ring: Rivka Friedman Teardrop Ring in Smoky Quartz (similar here) (similar here) (similar at F21)
Shoes: J Crew Perfectly Patent Pumps in pink, old (similar here) (similar at Topshop) (similar by Nine West)
Bag: Marc Jacobs Cooper Crossbody in Nude (buy it here) (similar here) (similar under $100)

{a photo bomb of chihuahua-sized proportions?}

{& remote control issues, click-clack, I give up.}

Trench: Juicy Couture, old (similar here) (similar here under $50) (similar here)
Top: Isabel Lu, old (similar at Topshop) (similar at F21)
Skirt: Ann Taylor LOFT (buy it here) (fun option at Topshop) (similar for $30)
Ring: H&M (similar here)
Sunglasses: Prada Baroque Swirl Sunnies (buy them here) (similar here)
Shoes: Lanvin for H&M (similar here under $100) (similar here under $50) (& a gorgeous splurge by Kate spade)
Bag: Marc Jacobs Cooper Crossbody in Nude (buy it here) (similar here) (similar under $100)

Outfits Of The Yesterdays (Pants, Pants, Pants)

♫: I Spy - Mikhael Paskalev

I am never quite sure if I should classify myself as a petite blogger or not; while I am short and bring my defect up quite regularly here, I often skirt the issue by not really delving into different sizes and fits of the things that I wear. 

And, well--I often literally skirt the issue. By wearing skirts. I hate that a lot of petites feel they need to be pigeon-holed into a certain retailer or style of clothing because of their height, but at the same time I "get it"--dressing when you're short can be a unique challenge. Often times Most of the time, it ain't easy. 

While I enjoy wearing and using different brands (including many that are not petite-specific), I do often turn to skirts in my outfits because as a shorter person, I think that they are by far the easiest type of bottom to both style and wear. Unlike with pants, I don't have to worry about knee breaks, or inseams, or the fact that the ones that fit in the waist don't fit in the butt/thigh (and the ones that do fit in the butt/thigh never fit in the waist). The right skirt can cover up all that mess, easy--often with no trips to the tailor (or gym) required.

But skirts are not always feasible in Colorado, and so sometimes pants must be begrudgingly worn. I usually stick with crops, since their 26-28" inseams seem to work well with my stature. If they are slightly high-wasted, even better--I have a really long torso and short legs, and so anything that can trick the eye upward is a bonus.

If last year was the 'Year of the Blouse', this year is the 'Year of the Pant'. Printed pants seem to be the bottom du jour, and I have been fairly hesitant to try them due to my shorter stature. Prints can be overwhelming on a petite person, after all, so it's tricky--do them right and they can look all fashion-y and great! Do them wrong and you'll be the idiot-envy of alllllll the local 9-year-olds, wondering why the fuck you're wearing heels with your jammie-pants.

I really like these jacquard pants from ASOS for a few different reasons: they have a slightly fancy cut (a little high-waisted with pleats), they are a pretty good length for petites (I'm 5'2", so go from there), and they are made out of a jacquard fabric that is a bit dressy without being overly ostentatious.

Husband also says the print reminds him of basketballs. March Madness, shoot me:

 Jacket: Nordstrom, old (similar at F21) (similar at ASOS) (similar under $50)

Top: Madewell, old (similar by Splendid) (similar here, under $50)

Pants: ASOS (buy them here) (similar by Robert Rodriguez) (and another option at Anthropologie)
Belt: ASOS, old (similar at Topshop)
Ring: YSL Arty in Silver/Gold (buy it here)
Bracelet: Ann Taylor LOFT (buy it here)
Bag: Diane Von Furstenberg Tonda Clutch (buy it here) (similar here) (similar by Brahmin)
Pumps: Christian Louboutin Piou Piou Pumps (buy them here) (similar here, under $100)

And hey, let's throw some brightly-colored pants into the mix as well:

Jacket: J Crew Canary Tweed Jacket (similar here) (similar at The Limited) (similar at LOFT)
Blouse: GAP, old (similar here by Equipment) (similar under $100)
Jeans: Forever 21 (similar here)
Necklace: Auden Devon Necklace (similar here) (a fun option at Topshop)
Watch: Michael Kors (buy it here) (similar at Zappos for $150) (tip: you can sometimes find MK watches cheaper on Amazon!)
Bag: Marc Jacobs iPad Case in Coral (buy it here) (similar by Rebecca Minkoff in Coral) (similar by Kate Spade in Coral)
Shoes: J Crew Perfect Patent Pumps (similar here) (similar for under $100 by Nine West)

And some kinda-normal pants, too:

Blouse: GAP, old (similar here by Equipment) (similar under $100)
Pants: Ann Taylor LOFT (buy them here) (similar here) (similar at The Limited)
Necklace: Auden Devon Necklace (similar here) (a fun option at Topshop)
Watch: Michael Kors Oversized Rosegold Watch (similar here) (similar by Fossil)
Bracelet: Ann Taylor LOFT (buy it here)
Bag: Diane Von Furstenberg Harper Day Bag (similar here) (similar by Cynthia Rowley for under $150)
Shoes: L'Wren Scott Tropical Maryjanes (buy them here) (similar by Marc Jacobs) (similar by B Brian Atwood) (similar under $150)


Will you be rocking the printed/brightly-colored pants trend this spring? Have any personal tips on how to wear them? Share in the comments! ♥

Outfits Of The Day (Snapshots, Take 2)

♫: Near Death Experience - Andrew Bird

So after typing out that ridiculous little diatribe about photography on Monday (being so moving, blah blah blah) (being so great! blah blah blah), my 5D had the nerve to completely bite the dust. It did the camera-equivalent of sticking its tongue out at me, I swear, only it was exactly like when I was a kid and my dad told me that my face would stick that way.

Its face stuck that way...

{croak.}

...and it stuck that way with its little reflective mirror dealie flapping oddly and immobile in the wind.

As it turns out, this is a pretty common problem for the Canon EOS 5D's so Canon says that they will fix it for free. It is a five year old camera, however, and pre-used even before I got my hands on it--it has served me well, but it is probably time for an upgrade. All of my cameras have been pre-owned, and it would be awfully nice to finally get my own baby to break, yes?

BREAK IN! We'll see. Maybe.

Anyway, back to my snapshots-from-the-past series. We went on a really fun cruise with a bunch of our friends a few years ago; and while I don't remember much from this particular evening, I do remember that right before this picture was snapped my extremely-astute-and-not-at-all-inebriated twin sister wondered aloud if this brightly lit, oddly unmarked and mysterious room...was the ships' control room:

{So as it turns out we were really drunk, and me and my teeth were totally having a blast shooting Jeffy in the head}

You know--sandwiched right between the dance club and casino? Where Captain Mario and his first mate Luigi steer the ship? Your cruise ship didn't have one?  Bummer.

And now for an outfit--I still have a few old OOTD snapshots off my dead camera, whew:

Jacket: Emerson Made Waxed Moto Jacket (similar at Express) (similar at UO) (and another option here)

Top: ASOS, old (similar at F21) (similar color top here)

Skirt: J Crew Factory Factory textured cotton mini (buy it here) (similar at F21) (longer length option at LOFT)

Belt: Urban Outfitters (buy it here)

Flats: Lanvin Python Metallic Flats (similar by Lanvin) (similar by Steve Madden, on sale) (similar here for under $50)
Bag: Lanvin Metallic Python Happy Mini Pop (similar by Lanvin) (similar here for under $100) (another option under $100) (and a clutch option under $50 here)

Outfits Of The Yesterdays (Hot & Cold)

♫: Big Mouth - Santigold

Hello, readers, and I hope your week is off to a great start. After having a completely freaky flare last week into this weekend that left me with not only looking like I had been attacked in the face by a blusher-brush wielding drunk 2-year old (that likes to dine at Applebees, I suppose--those 2-year olds always have poor decision-making skills all around, don't they) and a rash on my chest looking like I had chicken pox and/or the skin of any  healthy 13-year old, I am back. And feeling much better! And so it is a good week thus far.

I have two outfits for today. This first one hasn't been worn yet, obviously, but I grabbed both the jacket and the shorts for cheap so I wanted to get a post in here before they go *poof* forever.  Bright colors are a pretty big deal for this spring, and I have always loved how a neon coral looks with a vibrant, pinky purple.  The best way to wear bright colors is to mix in neutral accents, so I paired the duo with a bronzey beaded cami and uh...bright yellow shoes. Neutrals.  I know what they are.

I have no explanations for the awkward poses, however, but etc etc etc:

You can find the coral blazer over at Forever 21; like most Love21 products it runs a little big so I am wearing an extra-small. The shawl collar and open front does dictate a more "easy" fit, which makes sizing not quite so tricky. The sleeves are long on my t-rex-hates-push-ups arms, of course, but rolling them up works too. Love.

The shorts are on sale over at ASOS (and take 10% off through tomorrow night with code "LEAPYEAHUSA"). These shorts fit small! I am wearing one size up from my normal in these pictures, and I actually sent off an order for the next size up too since I prefer my shorts to not cut off circulation to my entire lower half.  Aside from that, these shorts are great--they are also fully lined, and while the inseam is short it's still long enough to cover what needs to be covered even when bending over, mom, I checked.

If you are an avid ASOS shopper, you know their sizing can be all over the place...so the best thing to do is to probably grab two sizes if you want to give these shorts a try. They include return labels and free return shipping with all orders, so I do this pretty often with them--and it seems like the returns are always processed fast, within about two weeks, too. Aside from a weird rash (what is it with me and rashes?) of sending me the wrong items three different times lately, they do seem to have pretty decent customer service when it comes to actually returning things.  Whew.

So on to the next one, on to the next one. I really want to wear this harness necklace all the time. Over blouses! Over gym clothes! Over pajamas! The possibilities! The ingenuity! I can only think of three things! With half of them I'm kidding! Kind of! But I still love it anyway!

Top: Zara (buy it here) (similar at Topshop) (and a brighter option by Free People)
Jacket: Alexander McQueen for Target (similar here) (similar at Last Call) (similar at Urban Outfitters)
Skirt: Urban Outfitters, old (similar here) (similar at J Crew) (similar at ASOS + take 10% of with code "HAPPYLEAPYEAH") (and another option at ASOS, on sale)
Necklace: Topshop (similar-ish here) (similar-ish here) (lots of options on Etsy, like this!)
Watch: Michael Kors Horn Chronograph watch (buy it here) (similar at Overstock, on sale)
Bag: Chloe Marcie Crossbody (similar here at Saks) (similar here for under $500)
Shoes: Vince Camuto Prue Pumps (buy them here + take 20% off with code "20GIFT") (similar here on sale) (similar here)
Nail Polish: Revlon Nail Enamel in Charismatic (buy it at Target)



Has there been a favorite accessory that you've been reaching for a lot lately in your own closet?  Share in the comments! ♥

Outfits Of The Yesterdays (It's The Magical, Mystery Kind)

♫: 40 Day Dream - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Just a quick little update today with three outfits from last week. ♥

Contrasting cap-toed flats and shoes have been an emerging trend lately, and I will admit that when I first spied them I wasn't exactly in love. Like these Lanvin flats--freaky birdie beakies, anyone?

But they can be a fun way to work a bit of color into an outfit, like these flats from Ann Taylor. They are really comfy, too--and if you're interested in them for yourself, they run true to size:

Blazer: Nordstrom's, old (similar at Forever 21) (similar at ASOS + take 10% off w/ code "SPECIAL")
Top: Ann Taylor, old (similar at Ann Taylor) (similar here, under $50)
Pants: Madewell, old (similar at Topshop) (similar here) (similar at Forever 21)
Necklace: Topshop, old (similar at Ann Taylor)
Ring: Forever 21, old (similar by Vince Camuto)
Flats: Ann Taylor Elizabeth Flats (buy them here) (similar here for under $100)
Bag: Valentino Aphrodite Satchel (similar here) (similar here) (similar here)

While the Jason Wu craze has mostly died down from last weekend (did you guys grab anything from his Target collection launch?), he has without a doubt been one of my favorite designers to watch for the past handful of years. My favorite season from him so far has been from his Fall RTW 2011 collection, and I took a teensy bit of inspiration in my next outfit from this look right here:

(kapow! via nymag.com)

But you'll have to forgive me, as my fierce fancy lace mask is at the cleaners.  Also--I kind of miss Martin & Osa:

Vest: Kohl's, old (similar here at LOFT) (similar at Bluefly) (similar at GAP, on sale)
Cardigan: Martin + Osa (similar by Three Dots) (similar here for $34.99) (similar at Target)
Lace Top: Zara, old (similar here) (similar at Forever21)
Skirt: ASOS (buy it here) (similar here) (similar by Kate Spade)
Belt: J Crew (similar at Ann Taylor) (similar at ASOS for $11)
Bracelet: Rivka Friedman (buy it here)
Rings: Rivka Friedman (similar here)
Clutch: Proenza Schouler PS1 Pochette in Neon Coral (buy it here) (similar by Reed Krakoff) (similar by Coach) 
Shoes: Christian Louboutin Piou Piou Patent Pumps (buy them here) (similar at ASOS, under $50)

And last but not least--2011 was if anything The Year Of The Blouse, and it looks like 2012 is going to be more of the same. While I love a good silk blouse, I love a funky necklace even more--they can be a great way to give a simple top or dress a little bit of pizazz.

I grabbed this chain harness from Topshop two weeks ago, and while it's currently sold out online, there are a few options over on Etsy if you want something similar for yourself. Love.

Blazer: Nordstrom's, old (similar at Forever 21) (similar at ASOS + take 10% off w/ code "SPECIAL")
Top: J Crew Talitha Blouse (buy it here) (similar here + take 15% off w/ code "UOLOVESU")
Pants: ASOS (similar here) 
Necklace: Topshop, no longer available (similar-ish here) (similar on Etsy)
Shoes: L'Wren Scott Tropical Maryjanes (buy them here) (similar by Marc Jacobs) (similar by Nine West)
Bag: Chloe Paraty in Rosewood (similar here) (similar by Rebecca Minkoff)