the un-maternity dress

During these "Is She or Isn't She?" weeks, I've mostly been sporting my regular ol' work frocks {non-mat pants having forsaken my hips a while back}.  The all-star of the bunch?  My sole Lilly dress...

Oddly, this thing has a ton of room in the belly -- so much so that I would have sent it right back to RueLaLa had we not just found out about the wee bean.  I anticipate this one working for quite some time!  

{16 weeks}

"Jolie" Dress - Lilly Pulitzer via RueLaLa

Pink "Heritage" Cardigan - Lands End Canvas

Blush Metallic Pumps - J.Crew via eBay

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - J.Crew

we like great big hairy chested men!

Today I'm sporting a piece that Evs so affectionately refers to as the Hairy Chest Jacket.

I usually respond to his cracks by belting out a Really, Really Cool & Tough (<-- Sarcasm) Sorority Song from back in the day.  

But I'll refrain from those shenanigans here.

Chiffon Ruffle Jacket - Ann Taylor

Green Top - Banana Republic

Black Pencil Skirt - Michael by Michael Kors

Rose Metallic "Claudia" Pumps - J.Crew via Ebay

Stamped K Necklace - Sonya Renee

Yipes! Stripes!

Fruit Stripe Gum!  It's the Yummy Fruity One!

I could go on... but I'll refrain.

One of the perks of being too lazy to unwrap your dry cleaning is that, eventually, you will stumble upon something you forgot you owned... Surprise!  "New" Sweater for You!

And, no, that's not a baby bump.

Well, not a human baby bump, anyway.

Perhaps a risotto baby bump.  Yum.

Yellow & Beige Sweater - GAP (Winter 2009)

Brown Ruffle Skirt - Old Navy (forever ago)

Blush Metallic "Claudia" Pumps - J.Crew via eBay

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy Seller Bridal Emunique

for shame

Let's get one thing straight before we dive right into my shame-spiral... I don't DO Jeggings.  I fully embraced the skinny jeans and the leggings last year... booties won me over in 2009 after two years of internal struggle... and last week I succumbed to a pair of (NON HOOKER) over-the-knee boots.  But I stand firm in my stance against Jeggings.  

Or, denim-colored jeggings, that is.  

Because, you see, when you have a coupon for a free pair of jeans that is about to expire and all your little heart desires is a pair of GAP Always Skinnies in Black, but all three stores you visit happen to be out of black Skinnies (in EVERY size), you can be forced to take drastic measures.  

Drastic Measures = Black "Jeggings"... WHICH, I am not even counting as "jeggings" because they have a working zipper and button - the Hallmark of a true jegging being it's purely pull-on style. 

I prefer to think of them as psuedo-pixie-pants a la J.Crew Fall 2009, thankyouverymuch.  Or, just black skinny pants.  Which is exactly what they look like.  OKAY?!

Outfit Uno:

Black & White Polka Dot Top - Banana Republic

Black Jeggings Skinny Pants - GAP

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch

Black Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Silver Hoop Earrings - gift

Outfit Dos

Gray Cuffed Blazer - GAP

Teal Silk Shell - Banana Republic

Black Jeggings Skinny Pants - GAP

Blush Metallic "Claudia" Pumps - J.Crew via Ebay

Black Satin Headband - Ann Taylor

Gold Tassel Necklace - gift

Sailor Stripes

Perhaps my favorite purchase of the summer, I've worn the Perilla Dress from Anthro into the ground on the weekends.  Luckily, with a cami and a cardigan, it can pull double-duty during the workweek as well!

 Perilla Dress - Anthropologie

Lace Cami - Banana Republic

Bold Sun "Heritage" Cardigan - Lands' End Canvas

Metallic Blush "Claudia" Pumps - J.Crew via eBay

Gold Metallic Headband - Target

Pearl Cluster Earrings - Etsy seller Bridal Emunique

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

ruby-like slippers

I'm sure it's pretty apparent from my OOTDs that I'm a bit Juliet Pump Obsessed. Why J. Crew hasn't brought back the Juliet, I'll never know... it's one the universe's many secrets.  It's also a stupid secret because I guaran-damn-tee you that I'd snatch up a pair in every single color if they'd reappear in my Fall catalog.

Oh well.  For now, there's always eBay.  Of which I have to thank for THESE!

They are crackly and metallic and blush and PERFECT. And only $50.00 + $7 shipping!  {Note: These aren't technically "Juliets" - they are "Claudia" but are the exact same shape and fit... just crackly metallic leather with a covered heel as opposed to the patent with the wood heel.}

So cute, I wore them yesterday as well.  Faux-pas?  Dorothy wore her sparkly shoes all the way down that yellow brick road, so I figure I'm probably okay with a Monday/Tuesday Double Dose.  

Belted Silk Print Dress - Milly 

Blush Metallic Crackle "Claudia" Pump - J.Crew

Pearls - Gift 

Ruffle Neck Dress - Shoshana

"Heritage" Cardigan - LEC

Blush Metallic Crackle "Claudia" Pump - J.Crew

Gold Medallion Necklace - gift

Ivory & Gold Bangle - gift

Blush Metallic Skinny Belt - J.Crew

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