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

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

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

National Championship Attire

Fabulous time in LA and Pasadena (full scoop, including B List Celeb Sightings, here)... and - in case you were holding your breath - my outfits worked out quite nicely!

Sightseeing - Wednesday and Friday:

Black & White Stripped Open Cardy - Francesca's Collections

Gray Ruffle V-Neck Tee - J.Crew

Hot Pink "Real Straight" Cords - GAP ($19.99 on sale)

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neimans

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Striped Silk-Blend  V-Neck Sweater - GAP (here)

"Always Skinny" Jeans - GAP

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neimans

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Black Leather Bag - Coach (similar to the "New Leather Dome Satchel" and "Madison Large Sabrina" bags at Coach)

Game Day Outfit:

Wool-Blend Faux Wrap Dress - Banana Republic

Black Lace Cami - Banana Republic

Black Leggings (axed mid-day) - Lululemon Wunder Under Pants

Boots - Ariat

Gold Chain Figure-8 Earrings - Christmas present

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

The wrap dress worked out really, really well!  I received loads of comments on it at the tailgate and it was warm enough until about an hour after the sun went down - then I threw on Evs' orange North Face fleece and a scarf and was good to go!

travel perfect

Jetsetting off to glamorous Katy, Texas this afternoon to celebrate Christmas with Evs' familia.  Thus, I'm sporting my new Travel Uniform.  Short trip or long, you can't go wrong (rhyme!) with leggings, easy-on-easy-off flats, and a comfy - but not sloppy! - pullover.  

Flats make airport security lines an absolute snap, and leggings make sitting down for long periods of time bearable.

Oatmeal Pullover - Ann Taylor Loft

Orange Tee (underneath) - Michael Stars

Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neimans

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Turquoise Clover Necklace - Francesca's Collection

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Together with an over-sized sweater, cardigan, or wrap, you have a look that is 100% lounge-worthy, yet you don't have to shlep around the airport looking like so:

{H. Duff Fail}

On an unrelated note, I had a question regarding lip stain... I have two that I love.

(1) Laura Mercier Lip Stain in Mulberry - This darker and more opaque.  Apply with a lip brush, then apply lip liner.  Wait a couple of minutes and then dab gloss on top.

(2) Pixie Sheer Cheek Gel in Flushed - Yep, not actually a lip stain but I use it for cheeks and lips. For a lip stain, pat on with your fingers or brush (fingers work better but the product will stain them) - apply several thin layers.  Allow to dry, then apply gloss over.  This will stay put for HOURS - just reapply the gloss!  Also, I bought mine at Target but it appears you can't buy the "Flushed" color there any more (at least online).

chunky sweater repeat

This is one of those looks that Evs doesn't "get."  Apparently there's a bit too much layering going on and "a belt that seems to serve no purpose." 

Beh.  What does he know.

And, yep, wearing the same sweater from Monday... another newly discovered perk of unemployment?  Only the dog and the postman bear witness to my repeat wardrobe offenses! 

Chunky Black Sweater - Banana Republic

Silk Tunic Dress - Tucker via Gilt Groupe

Black Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Metallic Gunmetal "Lissie" Flats - Tory Burch via Neiman Marcus

Blue Drop Earrings - gift from eons ago

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding present

Ivory and Gold Chunky Bangle - Banana Republic

Pink Faux Snakeskin Belt - The Limited

your bum is showing

Today was my first day performing some personal assistant tasks for a family friend (re: no Anne Hathaway / Meryl Streep Dramatics happening here).  Suffice to say, its a pretty sweet temp gig to have whilst keeping an eye out for my next career move.  Plus?  An excuse to dress myself on a daily basis!  Woo hoo!

But this shall not go down as The Day I Ran Someone Else's Fun Errands!  No!

December 7, 2009 must henceforth be known as The Day I First Attempted To Wear Leggings As Pants!

I've seen this look all over the place on skinny, skinny girls but have been afraid to open my trunk and expose my junk, if you know what I mean.  But then I figured, hell, I work out in running tights without draping my arse in yards of excess fabric, so I might as well give this trend a go in the Real Life Clothes Department.

Honestly, eh.  Not sure if I pulled it off without looking tragically undressed.

One thing's for certain: Anthropologie's dressing rooms have the best lighting of all time.  No visible cellulite on the tum-tum and I saved myself $8 by plucking my own brows in the super-illuminating mirror (I do this in airplane bathrooms too - Best. Lighting. Ever.)!  Maybe this little bloggy's new name is ITPitAnthroDressingRooms!

What's your verdict?  Sporting Leggings as Pants this season?  Or are you a Tunics Only Type of Gal (or guy, we don't discriminate!)?

Mint Turtleneck - Banana Republic

Chunky Button Cardigan - Banana Republic

Black Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Riding Boots with Back Tie - Me Too via Piperlime

Feathered Headband - Etsy Seller Feather Brain

Black Cocktail Ring - The Limited

weekend wear

This is the post in which I reveal how terrible the full-length mirror situation is in our casa... We have one of those BB&B dorm-room-style cheapies in the guest room but that's it.  And if you're trying to take a semi-quality photo in it at night?  Yeah, ain't happening.  Hence this bathroom balancing act:

Worn for Double Date Night at Dali Wine Bar:

Printed Silk Mini Tunic Dress - brand unknown, via Elements Boutique

Black Tights - Merona via Target

Black Riding Boots - Me Too via Piperlime

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Gold Medallion Chain Necklace - Coach

Hammered Gold Bangles - Kendra Scott via Gilt Fuse

Bauble Cocktail Ring - J.Crew

Photos in the Ghetto Mirror work considerably better mid-day:

Although I much prefer the dressing room at Neimans:

{taken merely to spite the same person who claims that a $600 sequined dress with ruffly shoulder pads is not, in fact, an investment}

Worn for lunch at Salata and holiday window shopping:

Oversized Pullover w/ Hood - Ann Taylor Loft

Green and White Tissue Tee - GAP

Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Uggs - self-explanatory

Gold Flower Earrings - J.Crew

Bag - Bruna Tote by Marc Jacobs via Saks

Does Martin + Osa's dressing rooms remind anyone else of being trapped inside a giant oak tree?  A la the Keebler Elves?  Sadly, M+O carries neither pointy-toed shoes nor E.L.Fudge cookies.  However their men's cashmere selection is rockin'....

Worn for more holiday shopping (actually crossing some peeps off the list today!) and miscellaneous Man Errands (Home Depot, Lowe's, boo):

Tunic Top - Trina Turk via Gilt Groupe

Real Straight Jeans - GAP

Gunmetal Flats - Tory Burch via Neimans

Gold Medallion Necklace - wedding gift

weekend wear

Back at it!  And since I've spent the better part of the last week in Target PJ pants and sorority function t-shirts that I am without a doubt probably too old to still own, I am ready to infuse some real fashion back into my life!

A couple of weeks ago, I had a reader request that I show more "weekend wear"... so I shall attempt to do just that each Monday morning from here on out... so long as I didn't spend all weekend in flannel and Chi O Owl-O-Ween tees!

Apologies for the craptastic photo quality... the lighting in the BR dressings rooms is a bit funkified!  Worn for an afternoon of Christmas shopping, my very favorite thai steak and noodle salad at Houston's, and a much-needed pedicure (its been since July... my puppies be fugly):

Orange Ombre Open Cardigan - CC Califormia

Gray Ruffle Tee - J.Crew

Skinny Blush Metallic Belt - J.Crew

Black Leggings - Hue via Nordstrom

Silver Grecian Sandals - street vendor in Mykonos

Gold Medallion - wedding gift

Monday's outfit up next!