Fancy!

... My new Diptic App, that is.

Black & White Shirt Dress - BCBG

Citron "Heritage" Cardigan - LEC

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - JCrew

Metallic Wedges - Tory Burch

Amethyst Feather Earrings - Kendra Scott

3rd Verse, Slightly Different than the First

I wear this dress a lot.  I wear all of my work dresses a lot.  It's all about the accessories with those items you wear over and over again.  With this particular BCBG shirt dress, I've paired...

... a girly ribbon belt / colorful tights...

... a bright cardigan / metallic skinny belt...

... and red patent pumps / wide black belt!

Black & White Print Shirt Dress - BCBG

Tomato Patent "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Clover Earrings - gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Wide Black Belt - Banana Republic

Good news!  Good news!  Our new house has a full length mirror... wait for it... IN THE BATHROOM.  Therefore, I shall soon return to actually taking photos in the bathroom.  So, ya know, get pumped for more crappy iPhone photos, but with better lighting! 

last minute look

This morning, I awoke to these words: "Hey honey, kinda cool that you got to sleep in this morning, right?"

Ummmmmmmm come again?

Time on the clock?  7:30 a.m.

Time Kate's alarm is supposed to ring?  6:30 a.m.

Effffffffffffffffffffffffffffff.

That would be why my hair looks as if I'm about to attend an adult ballet class.

And why the only stitch of makeup on my face is lipstick and mascara. 

And why I'm taking photos at the gym.  {which, actually, is way better than my lameass closet mirror.}

Black & White Print Jersey Shirt Dress - BCBG

Turquoise "Heritage" Cardigan - Lands' End Canvas

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch

Cobalt Bead Earrings - gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift 

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - J.Crew 

black & white medallion shirt dress

Another easy-peasy frock for work... BCBG makes the best poly/spandex knit wrap and shirt dresses - I always scour the outlets and sales racks for their tale-tell patterns!

I will say, since we've been chatting about appropriate professional dressing recently, this is probably as short of a skirt/dress that I would go sans opaque tights at the office.... And I probably wouldn't have worn it bare-legged at all in a law firm setting.

{styled last fall, in a slightly more formal office environment}

And you'll also note that the red shoes (OH MY GAWD! SHOOT HER NOW!) (!!!!!!!) are making an appearance today...  

I had some questions about particular shades of red.... I don't think it really matters so long as the shoes themselves aren't cheap-y looking (ahem).  Mine are quite tomato-y... so much so that they were the perfect Ketchup Shoes! 

I think the round-toe and relatively short, stacked, wooden heel make the Juliet Pumps (official J. Crew color is actually "tomato") appropriate for the office in every color... unless your office is uber-traditional.  

Black & White Medallion Print Shirt Dress - BCBG

Patent "Juliet" Pumps in Tomato - J.Crew

Black Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift 

Black Belt - Banana Republic 

embarrassing

As in, the quality of these photos is becoming hella embarrassing.  {Yes.  I said "hella."  I am practicing for my triumphant return to the West Coast later this week.}  If only my point-and-shoot could email new photos straight to my computer... I don't know how you gals with OOTD blogs featuring actual, decent, non-iPhone photos do it everyday...  I'm lucky if I remember to upload from my actual camera once a month.

Oh well.  Perhaps part of ITPitB's "charm" is gritty photography?  Yes?  Anyone?

Bueller?

Thursday, March 25

You might recognize this ensemble from my first interview with ANP (Anon Non-Profit)... I know, I know... I've repeated already.   For shame!!

Black Suit Jacket - Banana Republic

Violet Dress - Banana Republic

Black Flannel & Patent "Molly" Bow Pump - J.Crew

Mini Gold Disc Earrings - Sonya Renee

Gold Medallion Necklace - Gift

Gold Flower Cocktail Ring - J.Crew

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - J.Crew

Friday, March 26

Its as if LEC looked into my closet and decreed: "We shall now make a shoe to match Kate's favorite wrap dress."  

Print Wrap Dress - BCBG

Canvas "Heritage" Ballet Flats - LEC

Gold Tassel Necklace - Gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - Gift

Ivory & Gold Cuff - Banana Republic

unseasonably warm

Oh Texas, you fickle weather beast.  70 degrees on Christmas Eve Eve?  Jeepers Creepers!

This is one of those outfits that I really loved in person but felt photographed terribly.  Boo.

Love buying shoes off eBay!

Oh!  And DiorShow Mascara?  Now I know what all the fuss is all about.

Navy Dress w/ Gold Buttons - Shoshana via RueLaLa

Dusty Lilac "Jackie" Cardigan - J.Crew

Brown Platform Pumps - BCBGirls via eBay

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Wide Brown Belt - Merona via Target

Ivory & Gold Bangle - Banana Republic

Gold Bangle - Coach

beetlejuice, beetlejuice, __________

Shake! Shake! Shake, Senora! Work Your Body Line! 

Work! Work! Work, The Terrier! Work It All The Time! 

I purchased this open cardy for supa-dupa-cheap so as to cancel out ANOTHER PURCHASE that I made for SOMEONE ELSE the other day.  If you follow me on Twitter, I think you know what I mean.  And I'm a-likin' it (the cardy, not the other... um, thing).  I tried it on with skinny jeans and slouchy flat boots, but the overall look was a tad too Emo for me.  Or maybe it was the lipstain.  Who knows!  The final ensemble includes some of my favorite shoes ever that I keep meaning to sell or donate because they are way past their prime... but they were such a fabulous eBay purchase... I will be sad to part with them!

Black & Gray Stripe Open Cardigan - Francesca's Collection

Black Lace Cami - Banana Republic

Jeans - Joe's Jeans

Suede Spectators - BCBG via eBay

Van Cleef Turquoise Clover Knock-Off - Francesca's

Gold C's Medallion Necklace - Coach

Bauble Cocktail Ring - J.Crew

velvet blazer + cheapie finds

The weather is officially UG today... although I suppose I am happy about the cold temperatures as opposed to the sweltering mess of yesterday.  At least the chilly wind called for the premier of the J.Crew velvet blazer I purchased two months ago (admittedly overzealous for Fall, yes, I know).  Of course now its on sale.  Foo-ey.

The sweater shell (it is short-sleeved) was a major score at Target two years ago - its by Merona and the cable knit is nice and thick - much more expensive looking and feeling than the $12 I'm betting I paid for it. I'm noticing a little fading on it but its held up extremely well over the years.

These BCBGirls shoes are also about two years old - another cheapie find off eBay.  And now that Mr. Weitzman and Mr. Louboutin have made the platform pump standard office fare, I'm trotting these out more and more often.

Aubergine Velvet Blazer - J.Crew

Apricot Cable Knit Sweater Shell - Merona at Target

Real Straight Jeans - GAP

Brown Platform Pumps - BCBGirls via eBay

Gold Chain Link Necklace (doubled) - J.Crew

Gold Coin Necklace - family heirloom / wedding gift

Hammered Gold Bangles - Kendra Scott via Gilt Fuse

Happy Casual Friday! 

geometrics + ruffles

Note: Sadly, the photos from my header are not of my own closet.  They are all from the late, great Domino Magazine (RIP).  My closets (I have three... Our house was built in 1929 = minuscule closets and bathrooms) are no where near as inspiring... Let's just say it would be very difficult to sip a martini and fluff my hair in any one of them without splashing vodka all over my dorm-room-style plastic drawers and bins. So... the anti-glamorous closets, really.  

Happily for me (and hopefully for you!), I had a little more fun rummaging around the ol' wardrobe today!  And I found a new dress to which I can successfully add my latest accessory obsession: my black Heart of Light ruffle belt (convo Rachel for a custom order all your own!).  

Sincerest apologies in advance for the (a) sad attempt at the ANTM "Broke-Down Model" pose, as well as (b) the "Cheerleader on Crack" pose. 

Belt Detail

I'm totally digging these new bangles - my very first purchase off of Gilt Fuse (less $$$ than normal Gilt).  Except for the fact that the two bracelets that resemble coral feel like a cheese grater on my skin when I slip them on.  Boo.  Hiss.  But the set does make a lovely tinkling sound when I type... like little fairies harmonizing whilst baking cheese straws!  Mmmm cheese straws...

I fear this shall be the last season for these shoes - I probably should have retired them in '08 but I'm kind of obsessed with the detailing and overall shape of the shoe.

Dress - BCBG (normally worn with a skinny, double-wrap belt)

Ruffle Belt - Heart of Light 

Purple Tights - J. Crew

Gold Bangles - Kendra Scott via Gilt Fuse

Libby Dangle Earrings - Sonya Renee 

Suede Menswear Mary Janes - BCBGirls via eBay