Sequined skirts

I spotted this Robert Rodiguez ensemble (first pic) awhile ago on the Bloomingdale's website, and was inspired by how the styling dressed down the sequined skirt, so that you could wear it even in the daytime. The long cardigan really casual-izes the sequins by making them a less obvious focal point. I thought this might also be a fun type of outfit to wear for a low-key New Year's Eve celebration. So I put together a few more outfits that I would love to wear not on any particular day. I'd pair each with black tights because my legs are pretty scary white right now. And it's really cold out.

Cozy Sweaterdresses

I'm back visiting the fam for the holidays, which means I'm regressing to how I was at 12-years old. But that has nothing to do with the current post. Anyhoo, what better to wear when making the holiday rounds than a sweater dress and leggings. It'll keep you warm as you hop from place to place, and you can still curl up on the couch afterwards while trying to sleep off some of that eggnog.

I love this All Saints jumper. It rides that line between chic and whimsical vs. 40-year old woman shopping in the Junior's department really well. I'd definitely wear grown-ups only shoes and a nice handbag while wearing it - the stars really negate the stage for any cutesy accessories.

If you're going anyplace where high fashion is appreciated, as in no one will be wearing a bedazzled Christmas sweaters (and by the way, how come they don't make those for Hanukkah), try on this sweeping number from Akira. The shape is unusual and dramatic. I think I'd be doing a lot of reaching and pointing in this just so I could extend my arms as often as possible.

If you are going for a simple, elegant look, or have to play it safe, the Calvin Klein Tie Neck dress is a great style that will last you many holidays to come. I'd probably pair it with a black long sleeve t-shirt underneath to keep the chill away.

Christmas Handbag Wishlist

I hate to admit that shopping for gifts usually also means spotting cute things for myself during the search. Though, I've been trying to keep it at window shopping rather than actually purchasing. Here are some of my favorite bags that I'd love for Santa (or a 90% off sale) to bring to me, but right now I need to be good and save my pennies.


I've had my eye on this gorgeous Yves Saint Laurent item for awhile. Even though it's on Overstock.com, it still runs over a grand, which I just can't justify spending on a purse. But still, it's sooooooooooo pretty.


What I love about the Jalda Stingray clutch is the simple elegance of the design, along with the sophisticated mix of the greys. The stingray leather is also an unusual material that adds another layer of luxe to the overall piece.

Another Jalda clutch, this one is a little more on the loud and fun side. I love the color, and the jewelry-like handle sets if off perfectly.

This Coccinelle tote is my dream laptop bag, especially since it looks nothing like a laptop bag, and more like a giant, chic purse. The functionality and daily use I'd get out of it somewhat would justify the splurge. Well, maybe.

Inspired by The Devil Wears Prada

I was watching 'The Devil Wears Prada', for oh, the 1000th or so time, and still swoon over the outfits 3 years after the movie came out. I especially like a few of the numbers worn both by Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt's characters, where they have flowy skirts paired with fitted jackets. Unfortunately I couldn't find any good still shots to put up as an example, but there's a couple scenes from the office and Anne Hathaway's final outfit in Paris (I'm sure that really helps if you haven't seen the movie as many times as I have, not). Being petite, I normally stay away from flowy skirts, but thought the outfits from The Devil Wears Prada looked so fabulous, I wouldn't mind them when paired with the right things, namely something structured on top and some very tall and pointy stilettos. I think to make it all work and look fashion-y and not boho would be to choose a skirt that was at least knee-length so that it hangs longer, rather than looking flouncy, and also have it be a little more fitted in the waist and tummy area. This is also a great look for winter because you can really pile on the layers!

Another cute and cheap skirt

The details on this make it look much more expensive than it really is. And I'm always a sucker for rows of teeny covered buttons.

Pleated bloom skirt, Forever 21 (forever21.com), $29.

Guess where this skirt came from?

I recently saw this edgy skirt in an unlikely place. Not ForwardForward, not Forever 21 but... can you guess?
JcPenney! And for $17.99! It's called the she said Tuxedo skirt, which I guess means that the drapey thing in front is supposed to be representative of tuxedo pants. It's one of those either really cool or really weird in a bad way pieces. I like it, I think it's a cool alternative to a plain pencil skirt.

All Saints meets JCrew

The collections of All Saints and JCrew tend to somewhat be opposites, with All Saints featuring a lot of asymmetric, artsy pieces, while JCrew is known for its updated classics. So I tried to create a few outfits by mixing up pieces from both stores, to get that edgy but not over the top look that I love so much.

At first I pictured the All Saints plaid skirt with a fitted jacket, but then spotted the JCrew sequined tank and thought it would be a fun combination of grunge and glamorous. For some reason I really like the combination of grey with yellow, so picked the La Plume pumps to set the whole outfit off.

I'm always on the lookout for classics with a twist, like this All Saints blazer that is unique but not too crazy to wear to a business meeting. Normally I'm not a big fan of animal print - a little too cougar-y for me- but JCrew turned it into something beautiful by interpreting leopard into plum and grey. Top this all off with some dainty-heeled ankle boots and a crystal necklace. to bring it all together

I am in love with this robin's egg blue pencil skirt from JCrew, and wanted to highlight it's brightness by pairing it with black. The draping of the All Saints Monai blouse adds some interest in contrast to the simple shape of the pencil skirt. The solid colors of the overall outfit balance perfectly with the print of the Molly pumps, and the crystal bracelets add just the right amount of 'done-ness'.

This brown sweater dress is a great shape, but really, uh, brown. So I decided to bring in some color with the gold-orange ruffled tank. I'd wear it underneath so that the ruffles would slightly peek out from under the cowl neck. In theory, and in my imagination, it looks fabulous, but this is probably a have to try on to see how it would really work out in real life. Unfortunately I didn't really spot any shoes or jewelry at JCrew that would go that great with this outfit, but I did like the Campo patent leather bag that brings a little shine to dark earthiness of the dress.

Hand bracelets

A little while ago, this absolutely stunning hand bracelet created by Alyssa Norton was featured in Vogue, and now I can't stop thinking about it. I also cannot afford it.

So, as always, I looked for a more bargain priced work-around. Hand bracelets, a.k.a. slave bracelets, aren't so uncommon in other cultures and I was hoping that I could find something almost as pretty to wear to some holiday soirees on some 'ethnic' jewelry websites. If you want to search for some of these yourself, try hitting eastern Indian jewelry stores, your local bellydance suppliers or goth jewelry outlet.

I love the name of this web store, Shimmyshimmy.com, makes me giggle.

A more subtle version compared to other hand bracelets I was looking at...

This would go great with your new holiday tattoo.

Subconscious dressing

I was evaluating how a couple of my recent purchases would go together - a cream silk tank with this really pretty gold beading on it, along with a teal pleated cardigan. I liked the combination of colors and thought it vaguely reminded me of something else I'd seen...



Then, I looked up by my bedroom wall and realized, I was dressing to match the decor of my room. Here's a shot of my curtains - cream with gold applique like the tank. My background wall color is a gray-blue (a little hard to tell in this shot, sorry), similar to the color combination I like so much paired with the tank top above. Well then, maybe I'll just look around my house the next time I can't figure out what to wear.

Free People Necklaces

Usually when I think of the brand, Free People, the words 'modern boho' come to mind. Ok, I'm not sure if boho is really a word, but you know what I mean. I never really wandered into their jewelery section until now, and was pleasantly surprised to find a lot interesting, unique, and high-end looking pieces. Their necklaces were especially artful and here are some of my favorites:

The little tiny elephants are just plain cute.

Tiered necklaces are a great way to transform a plain old top or dress, or add some interest by peeking out of a blazer. The Chandelier Necklace is the perfect length (well, I guess it depends a little on how tall and chesty you are), and makes a statement but isn't super flashy or clunky.

Free People offers several "One of a Kind" jewelry options, consisting of pieces made from re-purposed materials. So you don't get exactly what is in the pictures, but they are supposed to depict something close to what to expect. I especially love the necklace on the left, if only they could guarantee me a necklace that looks almost exactly like it...

Here's a unique piece that can be worn several ways. The 'vest' option on the left seems a little reminiscent of the work of Bliss Lau, who I blogged about previously.

Flights of fancy

Boy there must be a lot of bald birds in China right now.