Gray Hearts

Instead of just black on black, I've got black on gray on lighter gray on black and gray (say that three times fast!).  I'm in love with this gray heart sweater and because I'm always itchy no matter the cotton content of knitwear, it's layered over a long sleeved tee with a faux silk collar and cuffs.  I've got my heavy sci-fi hardware-ish cuff on too.  I like the heavy, bold statement of a cuff over a thin bracelet usually and especially with black.  They say it's the Year of the Horse and funny thing; I found a horse IN the office named Twinkle.  I thought it would be funny to take a pic with it, but I don't think my boss would approve of that right now, we'll see.  It also looks like my tea stash is getting low, right?

Honeycomb and Zebra

Can you tell I'm loving this pink/red houndstooth skirt?  I left a little pink in today with the pearly necklace, but then added more black and white accents like the honeycomb sweater (another cozy fave), zebra bangle, and black/white flats (with black tights like, OF COURSE).  I have a jade ring and a few plain silver bangles to add a tiny bit of bling.  I found a list of the top rated fictional books from last year to start reading and have completed 2 already- though most I'm finding are YA but that's okay for now since they are easy reads. I watched the season finale of American Horror Story: Coven and decided I'm in love with most of Cordelia's outfits from WornonTV, so I'm hoping to find some of the knock off skirts (in black on black with a few flowers thrown in) to add to my wardrobe. Fingers crossed!

School Girl Sequins

I'm totally wearing a tank top right now!  Or rather, I'm layered with a tank top on top and it's all kinds of sequined.  I paired it with a favorite pleated plaid skirt and it seems sort of school girl. It's the pleats I'd say.  The motivation on this hump day is bumped up by a venti this morning, and the excitement of it being Clinique Bonus Time around here.   The makeup colors and the bag are very springy and bright and cheerful, and I want to think that way on this brrrrrr cold, cold day.  So I am jamming to some bubble-gum pop a la Ariana Grande who has such a beautiful voice.  Smile, the week's half over!

Boyish Uniform

Some days, I don't even know.  But I felt like navy and khaki and needed a little pop of neon yellow so this is what I got: a boyish uniform.  My button-up is a vintage Lacoste menswear pink shirt with tiny blue pinstripes.  Considering I only bought it for $6 at a consignment shop, I've worn it a hundred times minimum.  I have a hardy silver cuff that was thrifted (it was even rusty when I bought it originally) and some navy tights on to stay matchy-matchy.  No one's commented on my Whovian sticker just yet...but I'm sure it'll happen.  And a from my last +Birchbox I framed a "Go Get 'Em Tigress" quote for the year ahead as motivation every day right next to the popular Rifle Paper, Co. city calendar.  Now, if I could just get the rest of my desk looking so inspirational and tidy!

Coral in Pale Winter

I'm starting to get a little more comfortable with selfies now, but I play around a lot with angles- trying to find the best one.  I didn't even change the lighting on the last pic; I'm really that pale! And stressing here out loud that I'm over winter!  You'd think since I wear sleeves all year 'round (at the office) and own tons of black, I'd be most happy layered up, but the cold is just a mood killer for me.  I'm wearing a thick knit sleeveless dress with pockets (the best thing), a black cardigan, my all black tights and sub-zero temp surviving boots, a magnetic pearl necklace, a jeweled cuff, and a pretty sparrow ring with a little bling on it.  The ring is kind of my favorite, and sadly I don't even remember where I got it.  I cleaned off a cabinet and have my tea time essentials handy; my big panda mug and my little tea mug from a dear tea-lover, with a big bamboo box of teas.  So many teas!  These things help me survive Mondays, aside from lots-o-coffee.

Pearly and Plaid

I'm back to this plaid skirt because plaid and winter and layers are the best.  My bright pink cardigan pops over a black button-up shirt (my favorite v-neck button-ups are from Express; they fit so well).  A skinny silver belt, an ornate black ring, a metallic bead bracelet, and this lovely pink pearly statement necklace are my accessories today and you definitely will find them often.  I am more of a black and accessorizing person vs. a tan/brown/cream coordinating.  Maybe it's my skin tone that turns me off those palettes?  I'll try harder this year.  I purchased the little Alice in Wonderland quote canvas painting from a college student.  It's simple but I love it and am supporting a budding artist so why not?  My post-lunch necessities are lip gloss, a mascara touch-up, and this mirror from the dollar store from like 10 years back. Yeah, we go way back.

Playful Flowers and Bows

 

 

The winter is bitter.  And the lighting is just all kinds of crazy all over the place (sorry for the blurry pics!) and changing hour to hour.  I love the windows- and I can never not have a desk without a window again so I played around with the lighting today as well.  I was feeling a little playful with my clothes as well and grabbed some flowers, paired it with a bowed Isaac Mizrahi pleated skirt, and ribbed fuschia tights. My bow necklace from Charlotte Russe, thrifted leafy bracelet, and coiled silver accessories match today. I debated bringing in some adorable little shoes in with me to change into; the frigid cold just got to me.  It's funny how I realize now the weather plays such an enormous part of my weekday wardrobe!  I have tons of work to do and tons of home-repairs to stress over.  So the soothing sounds of Billie Joe (and I guess you could say Norah Jones) covering the Everly Bros. hits are the perfect soundtrack for today.

Spikey and Blue

I found a perfect LBD that can be dressed up or down and is thick enough to withstand the crazy temps here.  I'd love to be in CA or where all the warm bloggers dwell that are sporting ripped jeans and tanks right about now, but I make do with lots of black and gray tights and booties and boots and wool, of course.  This dress has some see-through mesh cut-outs and cap sleeves, but you can't see that here.  The electric blue cardigan and spikey necklace help make it feel less dark, and my zigzag bracelet and murano green/blue glass ring give it some detail.  I was torn between a neon yellow vs. the coral skinny belt you see here, but it wouldn't have been too '80s with the green tinted bright contrast.  I sit in my visitor's chair when I'm on the phone so I can look out the window, catch some sun rays while short-lived, and I have a stash (because we all should) of coffees and super-soft tissues as needed.  Sometimes I forget the Korean painting so high up on the wall since it's covering a big un-eraseable mark.

3.1 Phillip Lim for Target: A Season Late

Yes, that's right folks.  3.1 Phillip Lim for Target sported (and new to me) in winter instead of when it was released in fall. I'm a whole season late.  I've scoped out all the different ways the blogging world has paired this item: with graphic black and white skirts, amber leather pleated skirts, leggings, white hot jeans, and the like. But I had to go a bit conservative and understated.  It feels almost like a party on top business on the bottom, and that could be take a few different ways!  I don't work with anyone who'd recognize the should lines of this top, but I love it.  Lim's lookbook paired it with a navy skirt for a more of a color-blocked look but I couldn't make tights and flats work without getting more monochromatic for the office.  I'm sporting a new necklace (thanks, Santa!) and a desktop calendar from the Rifle Paper Co. I received in my first PopSugar Must-Have box (my referral link here: http://popsu.gr/oUHs).  I could admit, checking out more boxes on My Subscription Addiction has me addicted!