Dress-Up Friday

Dress-up Friday!  Because? Because, it's Friday!  And I'm out of the office!  Well, I'm glued to the laptop, but still I figured it would be fun to grab my new lipstick (Be a Bombshell) and a new dress and my old pearls.  Being someone who is quite chicken enough to not wear a strapless dress, I just fell in love with this Anthropologie frock because Elephants and POCKETS: all darling to me.  It would be casual and dressy enough at the same time to wear to work with a cardigan, so I'll have to figure out the right color.  This summer just has me daydreaming about all the haircuts I should and want to get, and I have only a few days to make up my mind and face the chop-chop.

Flappy Green Khaki

After a long (maybe too short?) holiday weekend and a late night after catching a baseball game out of town, I'm all zombie.  I was not going to work but emails pile up and I grabbed lots of el casual items that are super comfy and light.  A full flappy green khaki skirt that I have had for at least 10 years now, is what I went with.  It's been washed and worn so many times it has the softest texture and the stitching has held up well.  I paired with an oatmeal cardi, my Kate Spade Saturday mirror pendant, and a black short-sleeved tee with peacock feathers drawn on.  The black studded gladiators pull it together, but it is definitely all casual and all comfy.  The full skirt is the largest one I have and it flaps in the breeze quite ridiculously, but I love it!

Vintage Holly Homemaker

This dress is old. Years. But, the most modern thing about it is not the full-length button-up back, or the see-through stitching near the bottom hem: it's Pockets!  Two pockets in the front that blend into the dress are my favorite thing and instantly ups any dress's cool quota.  Of course I had to go with a white cardi (NY&Co.) on a super humid day, but I don't mind the length of the dress which is a little longer than what I like.  It has a fitted and flared bottom so it's comfy for things like sitting in an office all day long.  We call it my vintage Holly Homemaker dress at home, since you could do all your housework, chase after kids, and make dinner in it.  My braided white and gold gladiator sandals have seen better days as well, but I just can't give them up yet.

Aqua and Gold

Without thinking about what my favorite color is, I'd have to just say blue in all it's shades since that is what most of my wardrobe consists of.  I must love it a ton, because I often pair blue with more blue and though my cardi looks a bit minty green, it's actually a lighter blue.  I purchase my first piece of gold jewelry. WOWZA.  Like, really, my first piece of gold jewelry for myself, ever.  I've always been into silver. Why not add gold?  This lovely mirrored gold pendant from Kate Spade Saturday is my new favorite thing!  Aqua and gold go so well together, and even though the pendant is larger and heavier than what I'm used to- I just love it!

Gray Petals

It's summer!  No, just kidding, it's an easy breezy warm spring day and all the more reason for ruffles and gray petals.  I have a tiered chiffon skirt, with a gray tulip top, and a white cardigan. My sandals are just sequined gray t-straps from Walmart last year; unfortunately they're about to be replaced.  I've worn them out so much they are killing my arches. I fell in love with my mirror pendant from Kate Spade Saturday (from a Birchbox add-on) and it's just going to be my go-to summer piece.  Plus, there's always a mirror right there when you need it!

Tropical Peplum

I can't tell if it's spring or fall or almost summer out, and the way things look out there, it's all deceiving.  So I'm wearing a tropical peplum top, layered with a cardigan, and then layered on top of that with a trench.  I forgot the scarf today. And because it's a busy and bright print, I kept the pencil skirt super neutral in gray, with gray (not pictured) flats.  Once I'm out of work though, the day usually warms up, and I'm also able to go sleeveless (because of sleeves, ironically) and rock that tropical-ness all over the chilly weather. 

Chambray Spring

Chambray spring and chambray at the office- its super comfy and just casual enough for 90 degree day.  I made it office worthy with a buttery cotton knit cardi from Gap and some gladiator (last season's) sandals.  My favorite jewelry pieces are here today too- a silver cuff, a glass merona ring, and a pearl bowtie necklace.  I'm comfortable, but kicking ass this week (and when I'm not, I'm at least trying to, no doubt) and dealing with our crazy weather.  Now, if I could keep those wrinkles away, I'd be all set to take over the world.

Color Block and Dots

The cardigan looks gray, but it's as beige as can be.  There were too many crazy hours in the day (at the office) and I still spend my evenings staying on top of emails.  I have the power of a door that closes and rarely use it, but I feel it's time to exercise it for reals.  I paired a color block top with a multi-polka dotted tiered chiffon skirt (the Loft) because the colors kind of matched.  I went with my ol' reliable plain black flats.  I need to expand my open-toe shoe collection and give those flats a rest. Have a lovely weekend!

Casual Cotton

Sometimes I'm so caught up in things of the day/week/dreamworld, I forget to be in the moment. I overlook the moment. But, here I am in casual cotton and trying to be bright and peppy.  Any cotton printed dress from the Gap, plus any solid cardigan (from Old Navy) are pretty much my spring and summer uniform.  How did I grab pearls with a sundress? Maybe it's the tie at the neck, I don't know. Silver bangles (perfect for warmer temps, somehow) and an angel-wing ring, with navy flats that match the cardi today. 

Black Stripes on a White Dress

Or, is it white stripes on a black dress? Cotton + tie-waist + classic stripes (in 2 directions) = lovely spring to summer dress!  I LOVE this dress and even tried it with a jean jacket - not to wear at the office of course, but it'll be a dress that'll go for miles.  I have new black studded gladiator flats and my dollar store necklace to accessorize it.  Today I just randomly picked a cardigan because the beauty is that any solid will look great.  I now need a bright yellow cardi for my collection though, that would make it seriously pop. 

Wrinkled Cotton

Yeah, so it's Friday.  My mini-disclaimer is that I did a quick iron with a real iron (not a spray-and-refresh on high in the dryer), but I didn't try very hard since it was past 11pm.  Some days I just do not have the time and willing effort to do a great ironing job!  Now I'm all wrinkled cotton but I'm okay with it.  For Friday.  This story is even greater because I'm wearing a wrinkle-free blouse!  How did I just not get a wrinkle-free skirt? Those are kind of hard to come by.  No excuses.  Enjoy your weekend!

Blue is Electric

It feels like a blustery, fall day outside, no jokes here.  I have on a favorite thick-knit dress, sleeveless, with pockets, and stripes, and sometimes that's all you need.  My go-to usual is grabbing black tights, black flats, and a black cardi. But today: Blue is Electric.  It goes but it doesn't go, but it's a pop of color with a pale striped ensemble.  In my mind it works, but I wouldn't put this together every day.  I added some rouge-ish eyeliner on top of my usual gold shimmery shadow.  Maybe, today, Thursday, is just adding a bit of not-so usual.