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! 

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!  

weekend wear

This weekend I jetted off to witness my oldest friend say "I do!"  I wish I had an ITPithB post dedicated to her outfit (stunning), but, alas, its just little ol' me.

Travel Attire:

My "Takin' Care of Business" cheap-o koozie is one of my most prized possessions.  I bought it at Graceland when my Dad and I took a totally awesome and totally random (location-wise) road trip after college graduation.  When my car was stolen a couple of years ago, this was inside and was one of the only things not trashed or taken.  Obviously, I was hit by criminals with zero taste. 

Black Boyfriend Cardy - White + Warren

Silver Polka Dot Shell - J.Crew (Winter 2008)

"Always Skinny" Jeans - GAP

Gunmetal Lissie Flats - Tory Burch via Nieman Marcus 

Pave Ball Earrings - Banana Republic

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present 

Badass Koozie - Graceland

On Saturday, I brunched with some of my very first "internet friends"... Long before blogging took over my computer, it was the Austin Knot Board all the way (the ultimate gateway drug), and a meet-up with these girls was long overdue!  {Cute photo to be posted when I figure out what the hell I did with my camera cord}

My childhood bedroom is like a memorial to Kate: Ages 16 through 20.  Check out that carpet.  I picked it out when I was 8... I still remember the color ("French Blue")... not quite sure what that thought process included. 

The Michael Stars tee that I'm sporting is my FAVORITE tee shirt EVER.  I've had it since I was 21 and it hasn't lost its color or shape.  Its the only MS "One Size Fits Most" tee that doesn't look like I've tried to stuff myself into a shimmery sausage casing.  Its also the perfect length and I love the ballet gathers at the neckline. My biggest downfall in life thus far is not being able to find more colors in this style... If anyone knows where this particular tee can be had, there are four dozen snickerdoodles with your name on them. 

Plum Rosette Cardy - Ann Talor Loft 

Orange Shimmer Tee - Michael Stars via Nordstrom (circa 2004)

"Always Skinny Jeans" - GAP

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neiman Marcus

Gold Figure-Eight Earrings - Christmas present

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Gold C Cuff - Coach 

Wedding Attire: 

So, my Master Plan was to wear this dress with fun, black lacy tights.  Good thing I threw the grey pair in on a whim as well because Me + Lacy Tights = Chunky-Legged Hooker.  

The clutch was my wedding clutch. 

Black Velvet Dress - Banana Republic (Winter 2009)

Gray Tights - Merona via Target

Black Suede & Patent "Harpers" - J.Crew (Fall 2009)

Bon-Bon Earrings - Anthropologie (Winter 2009)

Skystone Necklace - Anthropologie (Winter 2009)

Gold C Cuff - Coach

Pink Pashmina - gift 

Silk Clutch - Etsy Seller Red Ruby Rose

audition

We're holding try-outs this week here at ITPitB** for the ultimate National Championship Game Day Attire.  Today's dress is an obvious frontrunner as it immediately conforms to 3 of the 4 sectors on the Fan Fashion Rubric: Cuteness, Comfort, & Color.  But can it handle the COLD?  {Those trixie minxes out in Cali lull you into false hope of warm weather, what with their sunkissed glows and their froyo, but when you're sitting in a concrete wind tunnel after sundown clutching a frosty souvenir-sized Miller Lite, you think you've died and gone to Minnesota.}

Today was a blustery 28 degrees in Dallas today and I milled around the West Village for a while without losing any toesies.  The dress is a wool-blend and quite snuggly... Game Day will probably find me adding a black turtleneck, leggings and my low heeled cowboy boots.

And, Mom?  I see you down there in Austin, shaking your head at the computer screen!  I SEE YOU!  I HAVE MAGIC POWERS!  THIS IS REALLY WARM!  I PROMISE!  I also promise, promise, promise, pinkie-swear to wear my gloves and perhaps a hat, barring static-y hair.

This is my favorite bracelet of all time and probably the oldest piece of costume jewelry I still have (I was 19? Urban Outfitters?  Sounds about right).  Its also lucky.  Too bad Alabama is all fickle and can't pick ONE freakin' mascot and insists on being both the Really Nasty Ocean Tide That Kills Fish And Makes The Beach All Stinky Sometimes AND the Elephants, thus ruining all of my lucky accessory fun.

Orange Wool-Blend Wrap Dress - Banana Republic (Fall 2008)

Gray Tights - Merona via Target

Brown Leather Boots - Banana Republic (Winter 2007)

Gold Chain Figure-Eight Earrings - gift from mom

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Elefantitas Bracelet - Urban Outfitters (circa 2002)

**which Evs has so cleverly suggested I rename ITPWtFIW (that would be "I Take Photos Wherever the Fuck I Want").  It has a certain je nous se qua (you know I like a well placed expletive!), but the acronym is a bit too long to Stitch-a-Wish on a ball cap.  Such is another conundrum to keep me up at night.  Sigh.

NYE Attire + Bonus

Our NYE was pretty low-key: yummy steak dinner at home with the 'rents and then a party thrown by the 'rents of my high school bestie / matron of honor CSP. 

I still managed to squeeze in some sparkle / drink my fair share of celebratory bubbly.

Sequin tank in "blush" - Ann Taylor Loft (similar here)

Real Skinny Jeans - GAP (here)

Patent Serengeti "Juliet" Pumps - J.Crew

"Gilded BonBon" Earrings - Anthropologie (here)

Bauble Cocktail Ring - J.Crew (similar here)

Ivory & Gold Bangle - Banana Republic (similar here)

Hot Pink Pashmina - gift (similar here)

Busted out one of my all-time favorite RueLaLa finds on Wednesday for happy hour with the familia and a girls' dinner with CSP, her madre and mi madre!

Oh DVF!  I wish I could afford you every day!

Chevron Sweater Dress - Diane Von Furstenburg via RueLaLa (similar here; and here)

Purple Tights - Merona via Target (here)

Brown Leather Boots - Banana Republic (similar here)

Gold & Amethyst Feather Earrings - Kendra Scott via Gilt Fuse (similar here)

Gold Tassel Necklace - gift (similar here)

Gold Flower Cocktail Ring - J.Crew (similar here)

Christmas Attire 2009

Spent a love-i-lee couple of days in Waco, Texas with the parentals, grandparentals, cousins and the like.  Evs said it was one of the finest Christmases ever.  I tend to agree.

Ensemble for Christmas Eve services and my grandparents' annual cocktail get-together:

I think this is the first velvet dress I've owned since I was 4 or 5... I love it - its simple and classic but a bit sassy!  The wedding of my very oldest friend is coming up in January and I think this will be just the ticket with some funkier tights!

Black Velvet Shirt Dress - Banana Republic (Winter 2009 - unforch, this is not available on the website but I bought it on sale, in store, a week ago)

Gray Tights - Hue

Black Patent & Suede "Harper" Pumps - J.Crew

Red Wool Coat - Guess via Nordstrom (Winter 2007)

Black & Red Scarf - Thailand street market

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Skystone Necklace - Anthropologie (Christmas gift from Evs' family)

Bauble Cocktail Ring - J.Crew

Worn for Christmas lunch and to see Into the Air (loved this movie, btw - mixed reviews from some of the other miembros de la familia, but I say two thumbs up!):

Rosette Cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft (Christmas gift from  my sweet grandparents!)

Lace Cami - Banana Republci

"Always Skinny" Jeans - GAP

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neiman Marcus

Gilded Bonbon Earrings - Anthropologie (Christmas gift from Evs!)

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Ivory & Gold Bangle - Banana Republic

...aaaaaand for the always bittersweet December 26th:

And yep, leggings as pants again - I'm getting more an more comfortable with this look.

Black & Grey Striped Open Cardy - Francesca's Collection

Black Turtleneck - Banana Republic

Black Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neiman Marcus

Gold Chain Figure 8 Earrings - Christmas gift from my mom!

Skystone Necklace - Anthropologie

alterna-lawyer

Today's one of those days where I am sitting in my office, thinking to myself "I might have pushed the envelope a little too far with this one." I've worn this dress before, styled differently, and now that I'm wearing it again, I seem to remember saying to myself last time "Let's save this one for the weekends from now on, shall we?"

So, to recap, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable with my wardrobe choices today / it seems I talk to myself a lot.

The coat?  Love.  {If you're sensing a reoccurring theme here, its because I love all my coats.  I should really live someplace colder so we can all hang more.}  Another fabulous sale item, I bought this at Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale this past July... which is apparently a great time to get a Calvin Klein coat for only $70!

I like this dress... I just haven't quite figured out how to wear it without looking like I should be working at Anthropologie (which, actually, would be awesome).  Again, I fear the key is to pair it with leggings and boots and embrace its slightly hippie, crunchy-granola feel... ON THE WEEKENDS.

After looking at these photos, I realized the "one button undone" was even more disheveling (that's a word? really?) and buttoned up.  Now you can see the earrings too!

This year, I'm going all wild and crazy and pairing gray with brown.  Scandalous, I know, but I think it works. Scratch that.  I know it works.  Anthropologie tells me so.

Quilted Coat - Calvin Klein via Nordstrom

Silk Tunic Dress - Tucker via Gilt

Wide Brown Belt - Merona via Target

Gray Tights - Merona via Target

Brown Mary Janes - Banana Republic

Gold Disc Earrings - Sonya Renee 

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Hammered Gold Bangles - Kendra Scott via Gilt

work taffeta + crazy lady hair

I dunno.  I was pretty pumped about this outfit and now I'm feeling very "meh" about it.  "Meh" as in "Meh-atronly."  100% the high collar's fault, but leaving the shirt unbuttoned a bit makes the fun ruffles wilt.  Boo.  Oh well, at least my skirt is swingy and has pockets! 

Ruffled Collar Dress Shirt - J.Crew

Gray and White Floral Taffeta Skirt - J.Crew

Purple Tights - J.Crew

Flannel & Patent "Mollys" - J.Crew

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Black Cocktail Ring - The Limited

Magenta Belt - The Limited

cloudy with a chance of magenta

The weather in the Big D continues to be abysmal... luckily the blacks and grays in your closet are easily spiced up with flirty bow details and a pop of pink, ensuring that your business attire doesn't match the dreary view from outside!

I've never thought of myself as a bow kinda-girl but it appears my shopping habits are proving prior perceptions wrong!  The cardigan is one of my favorites from J.Crew's '08 winter catalog and I scored the flats during Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale for $15!  At that price, I went ahead and scooped them up in dark plum as well.

Silver-Gray Bow Cardigan - J.Crew

Black Suit Dress - Ann Taylor

Tights - J.Crew

Black Patent Bow Flats - Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom

Pave Ball Earrings - Banana Republic

Medallion Necklace - wedding gift

Black Cocktail Ring - The Limited

Magenta Skinny Belt - The Limited

peacock colors + ponytail

Today I'm sporting a dress that I bought at Nordstrom's Final Sale for next to nothing - and because of the great price, great color, and great detailing, I really, really wanted this dress to be... GREAT(!!!).  Well, its okay.  Its definitely a 100% straight column dress, which is not the most flattering on my shape.  The knit is a nice weight so it doesn't show any errant bulges but I am hyper-aware of my posture in this dress (which I suppose is a good thing) and often get the feeling like maybe I should be sucking in (a not-so-good thing).

Unfortunately, belting this one doesn't do any good, but a jacket looks half-way decent over it.

I do love the detailing on the dress, however.  Oh, and that's a mole, not a chesticle-zit, btw.

Moral of the story?  I would never have kept this dress were it full price, but for $25, it stayed merely as another work-appropriate knit option (plus, it was final sale so I didn't really have a choice to return the sucker).

On to the TBs... Oh Tory.  Your shoes are pretty.  And have that Brand Whore Appeal.  But hot damn, girl! For once, you make a shoe that doesn't fall apart (I had to return my now-retired black Revas TWICE for loose stitching), but your medallion-placement is killing my!  The rest of the shoe is relatively comfortable (and I looove the heel) but, after a day in these, my puppies be barking right around the big toenail area!

Teal Ruffle-Neck Knit Dress - Suzi Chin via Nordstrom

(per usual) Black "Safety" Suit Jacket - Brioni of Bangkok

Purple Tights - J.Crew

Black Suede Medallion Pumps - Tory Burch via Gilt Groupe

Skinny Metallic Blush Headband - J.Crew

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Gold Chain Link Necklace (double wrapped) - J.Crew

Ivory and Gold Bangle - Banana Republic

booties + layering

Monday calls for new shoes, that's what I always (um, just made that up right now) say!

So.  Like so many trends before them (leggings, boots over jeans, Uggs, etc), I swore I would never own booties when they came out a few years ago.  I thought they made your feetsies look like a Clydesdale hooves.  In middle school, armed with illustrated textbooks straight out of 1976, we all had to learn the Spanish word for "half-boots" (botinas).  Even as a 6th grader, I was acutely aware that the chances of me slipping on those heinous botinas were slim to none, thus rendering that vocab lesson useless (except, obvs, not... seeing as I still remember the word - way to go, Senora Condon!  Gawd, what an awful last name.)

Anyhoo, I guess that textbook was actually pretty prolific (Paseos?  I think that's what it was called...), seeing as those damn botinas have been clomping down the runway and into display cases for the past couple of seasons.  Impervious to their charm in falls and winters past, I buckled this year.  Call me a wishy-washy fashion victim, but I am kind of loving them... I first tried these and I just wasn't convinced - I like the slouchy look and the comfy wedge, but, as my partner in crime RJB pointed out, they cut your foot off right where you ankle becomes your calf = cankle territory.  So back they went.  I initially had my eye on these as replacements, but alas, no size 9s.  But as the little shoe elves at Nordstrom are so apt to do, my new friend Ivan drew my attention to some fabulous tucked suede booties by Dolce Vita (sadly, they don't seem to be selling them online).  Quest complete!

Gladly, I do not feel like a Clydesdale but perhaps like a jolly Mr. Tumnus (except, you know, female... and not naked)!

This dress is from Ann Taylor Loft, last season, and its one of my favorites for work based strictly on its versatility.  It goes under black or grey jackets, is a good length for pumps or boots, and looks great with a turtleneck during the chilly months.  My only gripe is that the front pleats - while quite flattering when standing up - create this kangaroo pouch when you sit.  But there are pockets - yay!

Sidenote: hair was highlighted by the fabulous Alejandro this weekend and thus, all is right with my world.

Black, Light Wool-Blend Dress - Ann Taylor Loft

Silk Turtleneck - Banana Republic

Purple Tights - J.Crew

Suede Booties - Dolce Vita via Nordstrom

Gold Chain Link Necklace - J.Crew

Gold & Amethyst Feather Earrings - Kendra Scott via Gilt Fuse

Skinny Blush Metallic Belt - J.Crew

Gold Flower Cocktail Ring - J.Crew