Barney Tights

That's what Evs calls these.

He also asked if this wasn't the same thing I wore yesterday.  

Um.  No.  But I see his point. 

Dress - BCBG

Tights - Merona via Target

Black Patent Loafer Pump - Cole Haan

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Belt - Banana Republic

White Ceramic Watch - Fossil

Some questions answered...

- How do you create your wavy hair? 

I do the "curl down" with a 2 inch barrel curling iron... check out this how-to from Amy and Lyndsay! 

- Where did you buy the silver metallic peep-toe wedges?

They were purchased at Neiman Marcus although I cannot find them online.  The NorthPark store in Dallas had them 3 weeks ago! 

Green + Navy

Apparently I only post on Thursdays now... Hmmmmm... This week has been a bit tumultuous and I admit to being uninspired in the Fashion Department.  But it's almost the holiday weekend, and this dreary day in Dallas could use a little color...

My hair is in dire need of a re-highlight.  Or perhaps I'll give it another month and just tell everyone I'm going "ombre."  It's also at the point where it is getting LONG.  I love it long... but you know how people with really long hair tend to become obsessed with it's length and all of a sudden you bump into them and it's like they've gone from Luscious Locks to Frumpy Woodstock Hippie?  And they can't tell the difference?  But instead cling to their length like Linus to his blankie?  

Yeah.  I don't want to be That Girl.  

Green Dress - Maggie London via Nordstrom

Navy Corsage Cardigan - J.Crew

Patent Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Blue Drop Earrings - Gift

Gold Cuff - Coach

Coral + Turqoise

Oh Dear.  It's been so long since I posted that I appear to be wearing the same shade of Heritage Cardigan two posts in a row!

FOR SHAME!

Love, love, love this color combination for summer... makes me feel like I should be in Palm Beach, sipping something... Palm Beachy!

And I added the Serengeti Juliets for a little print-mixing! 

Lagoon "Heritage" Cardigan - Lands' End Canvas

Coral Print Dress - Banana Republic

Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Blue Earrings - gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Skinny Blush Metallic Belt - J.Crew

This week, I've been taming my mop (which even Evs noticed needs to be re-highlighted... yikes!) using the "Curl Down" technique... which, let me tell you, is SAVING MY SANITY!  Check out Amy's Vlog for the How-To Lowdown! 

weeeeeeeeeeee're baaaaaaaaaack!

Did Poltergeist scare the bejesus out of any other children of the 80s?  Numero Uno actually didn't shake my bones, but, for some reason, PIII was pee-pants inducing for a young K.   Shuuuuuudder!  

So we took a little break from the bathroom crappy iPhone photos, yes?  

Never fear, Carol Anne!  We're back and better of crappier quality than ever!  

We'll forge ahead per usual come Monday, but here are three looks you missed that are slightly better than your average ITPitB Heritage Cardigan Look Bear.  {How many times can one the "cross-though" function before it stops being semi-clever?}  

Breezy Blousy Print-Mixin'

I usually save this top for skinny jeans and black pencil skirts... but it turns out it looks pretty alright with the Mrs. Doubtfire skirt too!  The Serengeti Pumps mixed with the semi-psychedelic print is one of my favorite combinations to jazz up a work ensemble! 

Blousy Print Top - Nordstrom (brand unknown)

Brown Pleated Wool Suit Skirt - Banana Republic

Patent Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Gold Leather Headband - Target

Gold Link Necklace - J.Crew

Gold Medallion Necklace -gift

Cheap-n-Casual Circle Skirt Friday

I purchased this skirt in NYC with my mom when I was 20 - from some random shop in SoHo.  It was one of those items that I bought because my mom really, really wanted me to (not to mention it only cost something 18 buckaroos).  I'll admit, in the past 7 years, it hasn't gotten a lot of play in my closet rotation.  But for some reason I've held onto it... and recently, my pack-ratting paid off, as it's one of my "new" favorites!  

Obviously (hook 'em) I love the color... but I also love that it's part hippie-chick, part Donna Reed.  It's a skirt that makes me want to do a few SYTYCD moves whilst waiting for the fax machine! 

Coral Cable Knit Sweater - Merona via Target

Burnt Orange Print Circle Skirt - brand unknown

Gold "Reva" Flats - Tory Burch 

Gold Leather Headband - Target

Gold Link Necklace (doubled) - J.Crew

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Wide Brown Belt - Merona via Target

New, Go-To Hairdo

Back to my roots (get it? hair? roots? ha!)... snapping photos in the bathroom!  Although this is an ITPitB First... I Take Photos in the Greek Place Bathroom!  Yum, yum, yum, gyros in my tum!  Anyhoo, I think I finally mastered the side-bun without looking like a disheveled ballerina... aka: you'll be seeing a lot more of this style as the summer heat renders blow-drying intolerable. 

Outfit Stats... here!

Have a fantabulous weekend... See you on Monday!

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 

I Hate Kristen Stewart

You know those mornings when you lay in bed, attempting to come up with creative, um, tweaks to your morning routine that will allow you even more time to lay in bed?  Let's say, for example - hypothetically, of course - that you stayed up until 2 a.m. the night before watching A Few Good Men on TMC, because you can't not watch the big Tom Cruise / Jack Nicholson Showdown at the end, and, after all, it is the flick that sparked your short-lived interest in joining JAG... an interest that might have lived longer if the Navy could come up with cuter sailor suits for its attorneys and/or didn't require legal officers to complete Basic Training.  

BASIC TRAINING?  Say what?  You've never seen a 1L high-tail it out of an OCI interview with such haste.  These arms don't do pull-ups.  

Ahem. 

Continuing on our hypothetical journey, you determine that this weekend's exercise has indeed caught up with your hair and your follicles are entirely too greasy to take the normal "snooze button beauty routine path."  I know!  I shall wear my hair curly!, you exclaim with glee, snuggling back under the covers for 10 more minutes.  

Once showered, another stroke of genius descends... I shall simply mousse, scrunch, and air-dry - skipping even the minimal diffuser blow-drying!  The Brilliant Plan seems to take for 15 minutes and then...

... then...  Humphf. 

Let's just put it this way.  Yesterday I (um, you - hypothetical, yes) watched a Lifetime Original Movie starring The Most Infuriating Teenage Actress in the World, the one and only, Kristen Stewart.  The movie was entitled "Speak," and involved a teenage girl who refuses to tell anyone she's been raped and thus, becomes depressed and withdrawn.  So, really, the PERFECT ROLE for Ms. Stewart, seeing as her character requires (1) practical muteness, (2) scads of angsty staring, and (3) zero smiling (because God forbid Kristen Stewart EVER smiles... I'm on Oprah?  Could this BE a bigger waste of my time?  What'd you say, O?  Young girls from Haiti tell me my role as Bella in the Twilight series made them more confident in their own awkwardness?  Um, SNOOZE!  Presenting at the Oscars? Whatever, I'd rather be at home with my cats.)

(I HATE HER).  

Anyhoo, the English teacher in this cinematic wonder is portrayed as a slightly nutty woman with massive, straw-like hair that sticks out at all angles and is always covering her face.  Kristen calls her "Crazy Hair Woman." (Sooooooo creative, KStew).  

My hair this morning?  After executing my Brilliant Plan?  LOOKED LIKE CRAZY HAIR WOMAN'S. 

Which is why it's in a bun today.  {Did I mention I can be the worst teller of the most pointless stories of all time?  Whatevs, at least Kristen Stewart's not the narrator.  'Cause there'd be a lot more sighing.  And dramatic pauses.  And angry nose scrunching.  And general unpleasantness.}

(HATE HER.)

Printed Jersey Dress - Milly 

Nude "Happy" Pumps - Ann Klein via Piperlime

Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Gold Shamrock Earrings - gift

Black Belt - Banana Republic 

good outfit / terrible hair

You know when you throw on a new combination of clothes, not because you've really thought it out in your head, but because you're late and you've decided not to style your hair so you figure that whatever conglomeration of fashion mish-mash materializes will probably be acceptable but then you end up actually loving this new ensemble and then you're all pissed off because now you've wasted a cute outfit on a bad hair day? 

No?

Just me?

Am I even speaking English right now? 

Eh. 

BEHOLD!  A FUN NEW CLOTHING COMBO!  WITH NASY ASS HAIR!

I'm just digging the colors together... orange and purple... who'da thunkit?

 Violet Dress - Banana Republic 

Orange "Heritage" Cardigan - Land's End Canvas

Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Sapphire Ring - gift

Metallic Skinny Belt in Blush - J.Crew

UnCasual Friday

After my jeans debacle last week ("BUT IT WAS IN THE EMPLOYEE MANUAL!!!"), I attempted to redeem myself with my Friday Attire.  I still sported Lazy Hair and flats, but threw on a dress and cardigan to appease the Wardrobe Police (even though I'm the only attorney in the office today - I don't need Bad Employee JuJu!).  Of course I forgot to take full-length shots before I left, but here's the best I could do with the Sbux bathroom! 

Teal Ruffle Neck Cotton Dress - Nordstrom (exact brand unknown)

Black Boyfriend Cardigan - White + Warren

Metallic Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch

Gold & Amethyst Feather Earrings - Kendra Scott

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Magenta Skinny Belt - The Limited 

For everyone with Lands' End Canvas sizing questions, head on over to EA for a guide!  

probably anticlimactic, but...

So, today, I went back to work.  {'twas excellent, btw!}  I would love to tell you that I wore something totally mind-blowing... but the fact that you get to see me in DRESS PANTS is going to have to be enough for moment.  

DRESS PANTS! 

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL "LOVE" COFFEE MUG!

MORE DRESS PANTS!

As an after-thought, I threw the Standard Black Lady Lawyer Jacket over this ensemble... making me a little more Corporate Paper Pusher than Non-Profit Ninja, but I was warm!  

Black & White Polka Dot, Cowl Neck Top - Banana Republic

Black Dress Pants, "Martin" Fit - Banana Republic

Suede & Patent "Harper" Pumps - J.Crew

Gold Figure-8 Earrings - Christmas gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Ivory & Gold Cuff - Banana Republic

(Not Pictures: Black Suit Jacket - Banana Republic)

I've had some requests for new hair color photos... ask and you shall receive!  {Not a big change - Just a professional fix for the brassiness left by the Unemployment Beauty Cutback Home Hair Color Experiment}

birthday weekend + twisted pony tutorial

Friday Night Dinner Attire:

I usually wear this tunic / obscenely short dress with leggings or really, really thick black tights.  However, both leggings and said-tights were dirty on Friday... so I went with the gray.  Only to notice in the bathroom that I was sporting the very distinct "OMG She Forgot Her Pants Look."  Hence why I did not remove my coat until we sat down and then practically clawed the poor hostess when she attempted to take it from over my lap.  In theory, nearly pulling a Britney at the Ritz during NBA All-Star Weekend is pretty small potatoes, considering the potential high dollar hooker / slutty athlete groupie factor... but I had hoped to celebrate ANOTHER YEAR CLOSER TO THIRTY in an age-/hygienically-appropriate fashion.  Oh well.  There's always next year. 

Tunic "Dress" - Single via Elements in Dallas (Winter 2007)

Grey Tights - Hue via Nordstrom

Black Patent Peeptoe Platform Pumps - Nine West (2006)

Red Coat - Guess via Nordstrom (Winter 2007)

Blue Drop Earrings - present

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Gold Tassel Necklace - present

Ivory & Gold Cuff - Banana Republic

Saturday (movies)

Evs spoiled me rotten big-time this birthday.  I've been wanting a gold pair of Revas and figured that would be my only gift... Trixy Minx shocked me with the LV Speedy 30 that I've wanted since I discovered at the age of 10 that Louis Vuitton meant so much more than the bags laid on street corners in Chinatown (that discovery was an eye-opener!).  Way too much luxury for one measley ol' birthday, but I don't think I'll protest too much!  

Silk Magenta Deep-V Sweater - Banana Republic (Winter 2008)

Burnt Silk Rosette Cami- J.Crew (Winter 2009)

"Always Skinny" Jeans - GAP

Gold Reva Flats - Tory Birch - present

Gold Figure-8 Earrings - present

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Damier Azur Canvas "Speedy 30" - Louis Vuitton - present

How-To: Twisty Pony

This definitely works better with slightly-dirty hair!  If your hair is really slick / clean, tease the crown a bit and spray with a fine aerosol mist hairspray before styling to give your hair some grip.  

(1) Taking both your thumbs and tracing up from the outer points of each eyebrow, grab the very front section of your hair - ie: what is (or would be) your bangs and the hair immediately behind your bangs.  Twist loosely, creating a small bump or poof on the back of the crown of your head.  Secure with bobby pins.**

** Instead of fastening the bobby pins on either side of your twist, try sticking just one or two through the center of the twist - working the bobby pin from the bottom of the twist up towards the crown.  This is hard to describe in writing, but if you imagine the twist as a tube beginning at the crown of your head and pointing downward towards the back of your neck, you are going to stick the bobby pin into the tube pointing up towards the crown.  Securing the hair this way hides the pin.  Don't worry if it doesn't feel really secure - the other twists and the pony will hold it all in place. 

(2) Now, taking both your thumbs from behind each ear and tracing back towards the center of your head, create two more sections of hair.  Loosely twist each section in towards the back of the head, securing them together with bobby pins when they join together in the middle. 

(3) Pull the ends of the twists together with the rest of your hair and fasten with a hair rubberband.   Viola! 

It takes some practice to make everything look fluid together - one trick is to be sure and not pull anything too tight!  

IKEA Chic

A week or so ago, I awoke with the overwhelming desire to visit IKEA.  Seriously.  It was as if that mammoth, blue and yellow Swedish Mecca was calling me home with its fizzy pear water and 100 count tea lights for $3.99.   Like a sailor to the siren call, I went... Wearing "Leggings as Pants," no doubt.  Comfy... but I caught the view of my backside in the warehouse track lighting.... Not Okay.  

Unwashed Hair: Day Two --> Twisty Pony

Black Boyfriend Cardy - White + Warren via Gilt Groupe

Pink, Ivory & Black Ruffle Shell - Shoshana via Rue La La

Black Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Brown Boots - Banana Republic (Winter 2007)

Gilded Bon Bon Earrings - Anthropologie (Winter 2009)

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - J.Crew

Sapphire & Diamond Right-hand Ring - 21st bday present

questions answered...

I had some comments and emails regarding the blue Muse dress from yesterday's post, as well as my necklace and hot roller technique...

Unfortunately, I purchased this dress on mega-sale ($26.00!) during one of Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sales... probably about 8 months ago.  But, I did find some similar frocks for anyone whose interested...

Nicole Miller on BlueFly 

MaxStudio 

Jones New York

Only Hearts at Lord & Taylor

Obviously none of these are perfect matches, but all are cute options if you're looking for a short, empire waist dress.  If you wanted to pick something that could be styled similarly to my Muse dress, I'd go with the Only Hearts Color Block Dress (apologies for the terrible photo quality - go to the L&T website for a much better picture).  It would look fantastic with leggings and the royal blue color is spot on!

That Gold Tassel Necklace... As I said, this was a Christmas gift from my mother.  I wish I could tell you exactly where to find it, but she actually purchased it in a little boutique attached to the hair salon she visits.  I did find lots of options by using the search term "gold tassel necklace" at ShopStyle!

Hot-Rollers How-To... You are in luck!  Click here for a tutorial I wrote in one of my very first ITPitB posts!

drinks in a blue dress...

{...blue dress, blue dress!  drinks with a blue dress on!}

Meeting one of my very favs, HDH, for drinks and dinner tonight... which requires real clothes!  Yay!

Hot rollers are my besties after letting my hair go ass-wild-crazy air-dry!

Blue Empire Mini Dress - Muse via Nordstrom

Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Suede Stack-Heel Pump - Tory Burch via Gilt

Blue Drop Earrings - gift

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Gold Tassel Necklace - gift

Ivory & Gold Bangle - Banana Republic

queries answered + chinese lanterns

It seems inquiring minds (most lovely, some not) want to know a few things.**  And being the trained circus animal I am, I shall gladly answer:

• Yep, guilty as charged... Most photos on here are taken soon after a good hair-brushing.  Those Pantene bitches are super-human and should be cordoned off from the rest of society. 

• Cowboy Boots How-To:  While they might feel a bit foreign to those who didn't grow up in the Southwest, Western-style boots really can be worn with any outfit you'd normally pair with casual non-Western boots - they are all over the glossy mags this season!  {See here, here, and here for celeb inspiration.}  Seriously, tuck your skinny jeans into them, pair them with flowy dresses and skirts (tights or bare-legged), or go old-school with bootcut jeans and a cute top - it all works!

• No, no, no.  My header is not fashioned from photos of my real closet.  If that was reality, you wouldn't find me here... I'd be whirling like a dervish with my arms out-thrown, basking the glory of all that cashmere, 24/7. {Header photos from now-defunct - devastating - Domino Mag}

• High-Waisted Jeans: Elle, you get a Super Brave Fashionista Gold Star for this purchase!  High-waisted jeans look terrible on me (think: J. Simps Debacle), but on others, I love their vintage vibe!  I don't think sticking to your basic black is too boring with the right accessories (case in point)... same with bright whites!

• And finally, this blog is written completely on my own time with the help of modern technology, the magical scheduled-posting function, PDAs (of the iPhone variety - not the too-much-smoochy variety), lunch breaks, mellowcreme pumpkins, and tiny elves in fur caps.  I may choose to spend money on impractical footwear, but I'm not an idiot.  Unless we're talking about world geography.  Then I'm an imbecile. 

Woo hoo!  Chinese Lantern Skirt Time!

I've had this skirt for seven years now and I still love it!  Its a French Connection purchase from a trip to NYC with mi madre.  I can't remember why I so wanted to go to FCUK (probably Evs' favorite brand because of its acronym - ahhh maturity), but we walked all over the damn city looking for a location.  This fruit of that labor has without a doubt proved worth the pavement pounded - the lanterns still make me smile and have been known to cause spontaneous bouts of twirling.

Black Turtleneck - Banana Republic

Lantern Circle Skirt - French Connection

Juliet "Serengeti" Pumps - J.Crew

Long Medallion Necklace - Coach

Ivory and Gold Bangle - Banana Republic

**As an Only Child and Semi-Reformed Know-It-All, I welcome all respectful comments and inquiries and will always attempt to answer in some form or fashion, if called upon to do so.