The Fashionista Next Door

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Double Denim, Chunky Heels & Socks

Monday night, the fiance and I headed over to the neighbors house for a little Monday Night Football! It was a last minute affair, so I tried to put together something casual, cute, and fun...but most importantly quick! I saw this as an opportunity to try a trend that I love, but had not tried myself (at least since the 90's) -- Denim on denim, and while we're going down matchy matchy street, I decided to do a little polka dot on polka dot, too.

I realize that I've got a LOT of trends going on here, but it was fun and playful and that is the look I was going for...

Trend #1: Denim on Denim
I think this is one that is pretty debated in the fashion world. I'm sure some of you are thinking there is NO WAY you'd ever be caught wearing what is essentially a denim suit! What is this 1993? Well, I love denim primary because it is comfortable... never too dressy... and easy! So needless to say, I was willing to give it a try and I actually didn't mind it. I think the key to pulling this trend off and dodging the denim suit bullet is to play with different shades and textures. Here, I've paired a heavy jean in a darker wash, with a very light weight (almost chambray) denim shirt in a medium wash.. If I had a light wash chambray shirt, I would have been even happier, but the point is it is clear that the two denim pieces are NOT intended to match or be a set. They are complementary, but not a suit.

Trend #2 Chunky Heels
This trend also conjures up memories of the 90's. Hello Alicia Silverstone in Clueless! Unlike denim on denim, the chunky heel trend has been embraced by most. Whether it be on a cute Mary Jane like these lovelies inspired by Miu Miu, a gorgeous lady like "Beauty Pump" a la Louis Vuitton....

Retails $2,580 on LV's website

...or perhaps you'd prefer a chunky heeled boot a la Alexander Wang's "Black Tasha Bandage Heel" boots... (LUST!!!)

Retails for $824 on Oak.com

I don't know about you, but I'll take one of each, please!! Lol! Not that I'd want to trade in my stilettos but there are a ton of SUPER CUTE chunky heels out there this season, too! If you're skeptical about chunky heels, I'd say to just get out there and try a few on next time you're shoe shopping. I think you'll be surprised at how cute they are once you get them on. Fabrice saw me putting them on and his thought was "those shoes are just so big" but I think he ended up liking them once they were on my feet, and let me tell you, every lady in the MNF party agreed! I was getting compliments on the shoes as soon as I walked in the door...

Trend #3 Socks + Heels
This was another trend that I really loved, but was initially scared to try and you know what the most intimidating part was...figuring out what kind of socks to wear! Lol! Finally, I just said forget it, and I tried it with my Sam Edelman lace-ups, pairing them with a pair of regular blue trouser socks. You guys may remember the look here. Ever since then, I've been fearlessly rocking the socks + heels look with everything from dresses & skirts to cuffed trousers & shorts. I've stopped putting too much thought into it. This time, I threw on a basic pair of black ankle socks (the kind that come in a 6 pack from Target...yeah, those!) and viola! Ready to go!

I was browsing Fashionably Black (one of my fave blogs, btw) and one of the Stylista's they featured mentioned that this was a trend she just COULD NOT pull off. Well, as with any trend, you have to stay true to yourself, but overall I think this is a trend that anyone can have fun with. As I browse magazines and blogs, I think the socks + heels looks that seem the easiest to pull off are monochromatic pairings of socks and heels.

So, now that I am looking at these pictures, I am realizing that the socks + cropped jeans + tunic is making me look a little short since they cut my foot off at the ankle! LOL. Oh well....I am only 5'4" after all...I should know better than to put together combos like this...not so flattering, but eh...still cute, in my opinion!

Have you tried rocking denim on denim?

Are you into chunky heels?

Would you rock socks + heels?

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Monday, September 20, 2010

H&M Maxi Skirt, Part II

So, it seems that my weekend errands look is a maxi skirt/dress of some kind. I find that these flowy skirts are much more comfy than jeans in this HOT ATL weather. Today's skirt is actually a very thin sage green maxi dress from H&M, with a light pink H&M tank layered on top, and belted. I washed my hair, but didn't feel like doing anything with it, so I threw on a hat. Done and done. It was a pretty lazy Sunday after a traumatic Saturday. Okay, I'm being dramatic but I had my very first allergic reaction to something I ate. I woke up in the middle of the night Friday, scratching frantically. My entire body felt like it was on fire, and I rushed to the bathroom only to find hives all over my legs. I took a cold shower and slathered on some antihistamine cream, only to wake up to more outbreaks on my arms. At this point, I'm freaking out because I had never been through this before and I have NO CLUE what could have caused it. So, off to urgent care I went, where I received a cortizone shot in my butt, and a pack of Methylprednisolone tablets to take for the next 6 days. Joy! Needless to say, I'll be gettting an allergy test some time this week. Meanwhile, I am scared to eat!

I think the look has a safari sorta vibe, don't ya think. Maybe it's the hat and the boots?

As per the usual, I had to add a little bit of glam to the look complements of my little vintage gold evening bag, which has been getting a lot of wear since it happened to be one of the bags that dodged the boxes, and made it into my suitcases when I moved.

Since I am not all that excited about my outfit, I will tell you what I am excited about...

Guess what arrived today.... MY CLOTHES!!!! All 7 boxes + 3 boxes of shoes! Yippee!!!!! I've never been so excited about unpacking in my life (I'm sure the excitement will be short lived.. Lol!)
I bought new boots! Yippee!!! Of course, we all know that lace-u boots and faux fur are an absolute must have for fall. Well, for the low, low price of $30 ($36.50 with shipping) I scored what I think will be a fabulous 2 for 1 from Go Jane -- black lace-up booties with black shearling trim. LOVE! If you are signed up to receive Go Jane email offers, you probably received a 20% off coupon this weekend. Well, I had actually been eying a different pair of shearling trimmed booties and I decided I'd cure my allergy woes by treating myself to a new pair of shoes at 20% off (sad, I know!). Of course, one can never just buy something online without skimming the cart a little bit, right. Well, I'm glad I did, because I ran across these booties, which I LOVED much more. Now, they were about $10 more, but much cuter in my opinion...

Now, these also come in Gray, and Tan/Brown but I decided to go with basic black because I don't currently own a pair of black lace-ups, I've already got the tan Sam Edelmans, and gray just didn't seem as versatile for my wardrobe ( I hope I don't kick myself for not getting the tan/brown! I love the two-toned look of them....who knows, maybe if they are still in stock in the next few weeks???)

I can't wait to tuck some jeans/leggings/tights/socks into these puppies. They are just super cute! I've never purchased shoes from Go Jane, so I hope they are comfy. Of course, I'll give you guys a full review as soon as I get them.

Oh, and I have the perfect leather shorts ensemble picked out for a birthday dinner I'm attending this Wednesday!!! I tried it on for Mr. Fabrice, and I think I've successfully changed his mind about leather shorts, ladies! Mmm hmmmm...Lol!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Arden B. Booties, Lace, and Beer

Do you guys ever have those days where you LOVE your outfit and HATE your pictures? Ugh! Last night, I just didn't have it. I just look awkward and over-posed in all my pictures but such is the life of a fashion blogger. Some days you have it, and I suppose some days you don't! What I hate most is when I don't have any good shots of the outfit. I mean, I can crop my head out of anything if I'm looking too crazy, but what's important is THE CLOTHES.. Lol!

Tank: Old Navy ($2) | Lace Dress: Thrfited | Unkown: unkown | Booties: Arden B. (circa 2009) | Necklace: Dots ($8)

I'm thinking I would have felt better about things if I had put on some makeup. It was one of THOSE nights. Anyway, I'll stop complaining now and focus on the good stuff...

The Dress
I bought this wine colored lace dress at one of my favorite thrift shops some time ago. It didn't have a slip or anything, but eh... who needs a slip anyway. I would probably never rock it as just a dress anyway, and if I did I'd probably prefer it over a contrasting color rather than wine. When I bought the dress I instantly knew that it would make the perfect layering piece...especially for fall...wear it over leggings, over jeans, under a long cardigan and belted...ummm I could go on and on, but I think you get the point! The color is great, the length is perfect, the open surplice neckline is fabulous... what more can I say! and it was like $3. SOLD!

This is my first time wearing it, and I was pleasantly surprised that Fabrice liked it. He said it was "pretty." For some reason, I thought the lace dress over jeans things was going to be a little over the top for him, but he liked it... go figure!

The Shoes
I have been itching to wear boots, but it's still too hot so I appeased myself with a pair stiletto booties. I've had these for a couple years now, but they don't get much wear because they KILL my feet so I try to only wear them on outings where I know I'll be spending most of my time sitting pretty... Lol! A friend of mine also has these and she said she put them in a box and forgot about them after one tortuous day out.

The Necklace
There is something about tassel necklaces that I love. I picked this necklace up at Dots along with the pleather shorts. By the way, thanks for all the feedback on leather shorts. It seems that nearly all of you agree that leather shorts are a definite YAY! I can't wait to debut the shorts some time soon! Anyway, back to the necklace. I thought it was really great because it has a layered chain and a pretty big tassel. I definitely see myself wearing this necklace a lot this fall. It will go nicely with all my sweaters!

So can you guys tell that I am lusting for fall? Everything in my last couple posts has been about what's gonna work well for fall. hehehe. You would have thought that the Spring/ Summer collections at Fashion Week would have incited at least a tad bit of excitement for the remaining weeks of warm weather ahead, but no, no, no. I am beyond ready to step into my boots and get this fall show on the road. What about you?

Do you like to layer dresses over pants/jeans?

Would you wear a lace dress over pants/jeans?

Would you wear a lace dress at all?

Oh, and I can't forget to tell you guys about WHERE I wore this outfit. Fabrice and I went to check out a brand new restaurant in downtown Atlanta... Der Biergarten. The German indoor/outdoor biergarten restaurant opened Tuesday, and serves a variety of beers and traditional German cuisine with a twist. Okay, so the restaurant was themed a.k.a slightly tacky (okay, maybe I shouldn't say that, but Fab has been to Gerrmany and he agreed that it was a little overdone!) BUT I loved it.

I would definitely go back. The food was really good, and the outdoor atmosphere was nice. It is an ideal place to go with a large group because of the Biergarten seating (long communal tables and benches). And most importantly, they had a great beer selection. Fab got the Oktoberfest and I went with the Konig Ludwig. Both were delightful!

Side Note: Seriously, I'm kinda pissed that the shots of the restaurant are better than my outfit shots... ugh! Whatever! Oh, and can I just voice my frustration about all my pictures being taken at night these days. Since I don't really get dressed until after I get off work (at 7pm) photo hour has been pushed to the evenings. Not sure how I feel about that. hmmmm.

Anyway, I have to apologize for the bratty nature of this post. Lol! I promise to be in a better mood for the nest one. I guess we're all entitled to these days...

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Leather Shorts: Yay or Nay?

Yesterday I picked up a pair of black pleather shorts from Dots (thanks for putting me on, Lexy!) for a whopping $14. I am pretty damn excited about them. Leather shorts were a hot trend for spring, but 1) I just can't get with leather in the summer time, even if Alexander Wang says it's okay (it's just impractical and hot!), and 2) as with all trendy items, I just didn't want to spend a lot of money on them. Don't get me wrong, other leather goods such as skirts, pants, bags and shoes are a whole different story! These items are totally worth investing in the real thing, but leather shorts, eh! We'll give them a test run and if I totally love them and wear them out, then I'll think about looking for a reasonably priced real leather pair. So alas, cooler weather is on the horizon AND I found a pair for less than $15. I'd say it was meant to be!

One of the things I really like about them is that they are not a smooth shiny pleather. They are actually a muted textured pleather, which to me looks less...ummm..cheap! :)

Anyway, I got the shorts and came home bubbling with excitement and Fabrice quickly burst my bubble with a disapproving head nod..."hmmm, I don't know how I feel about leather shorts. I think they're tacky" to which I replied "no, they're super cute, especially with tights. It's all about how you wear them." Of course, he is not buying it yet. I guess we'll just have to see...

Here are a few examples of how I envision wearing mine ...


Kylie Minogue rocks hers with a nude blouse and tights...HOT! - Photo Credit

Rachel Bilson rocks hers bare legged and topped off with an ultra feminine floral blouse...HOT! - Photo Credit

Now you guys KNOW I would rock this denim shirt + leather shorts combo a la Alexa Chung - Photo Credit

And here are some of the runway looks that inspired this fabulous (or not so fabulous to some) trend...

Alexander Wang Spring 2010 RTW - Photo Credit

Photo Credit

What do you think about leather shorts? Yay or Nay?

Yay? Great! How would you rock them?

I can't to wear mine! Of course, you all will get a full outfit run down when that day comes! I am definitely thinking shorts + blouse + tights + booties... which blouse, and which booties? who knows! I might even steal Alexa's bare legged look... denim shirt + shorts + leapard kitten heels??? hmmmm....

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

All Tucker-ed Out in Tucker for Target

I'm giggling and the the alliteration in the title! that was a lot of "t"...Anyway, how excited are you guys that Tucker for Target is FINALLY in stores? There really are some great pieces for fall. I was fortunate enough to snag a couple pieces on Gilt, when they had the preview sale a few weeks ago. Trust me when I say it was a mad house on Gilt that morning.

The Blouse
I still have my eye on a few more Tucker pieces. I even have one in my cart on Target.com, but I snagged this "Signature Blouse" and a fabulous fleece jumpsuit on Gilt. can't seem to find the jumpsuit online anymore. I swear it was there Sunday. Anyway, it is pretty cozy and warm so there is no way it's making a debut anytime soon. The weather is just too warm, but the blouse is perfect for any season! I love the vibrant fall floral print. It can obviously transition to spring and summer, but the colors are clearly rich and fall fabulous. Now, this blouse has absolutely no shape, and that works very well on some body types...just not mine! So, I belted it (as you guys have seen me do many times before) and wore it over a slim fitting skirt for a nice balanced hourglass silhouette. Another option would be to tuck the blouse into a wide leg trouser or a flared or boot cut jean. Balancing blousy or over sized tops with wide legged pants that are fitted/tailored through the hips and thighs is guaranteed to create a flattering silhouette 100% of the time.

The Skirt
This skirt is a prime example of why I love H&M so much. For only $5.95, it is the PERFECT basic. It came in 4 colors -- plum, navy, gray, and black. Unfortunately, these things flew off the rack so by the time I made it to H&M, I was only able to get it in navy, but I am glad I did. Navy never goes out of style... it is always classic, always polished, and it is a color for ALL seasons. This lovely little skirt will look great over tights and leggings in a variety of colors... and paired back to all my cardigans, blazers, my fave denim shirt and pretty much any other blouse in my closet. Oh, and it is knit, which means it is beyond comfortable. Now, I realize that for those who work in a conservative work environment, this skirt is just way too short, but for those who work in a casual work environment (like I used to) or work from home (like I do now) this is a great option, especially over tights.

So, as you all know, I am still adjusting to working from home and getting dressed every day is a bit of a challenge. For now, I am just taking every opportunity to snap pics when I do go out. Thanks for sticking with me while I try to get on some sort of schedule. Lol! I could very well put on clothes every day just to take pictures, but that just feels so wrong and contrived.

What do you guys think? For those of you who work from home and also manage an outfit post type of blog; how do you manage taking pictures?

Do you guys enjoy seeing other types of posts? i.e. runway photos, trend reports?

What other types of content would you guys like to see on days non-outfit post days (if any)?

This picture is so blurry, but I liked it so I'm posting it anyway :)

Pardon the chipped toe nail polish! Shameful, I know :) I actually had on socks at first, but I liked the outfit better without...

I wore this outfit last night. Fabrice and I went out to dinner at The Vortex in the Little 5 Points area of Atlanta. We actually saw this place on Food Network's Man vs. Food and we had to try it. I may not have mentioned this before, but I am a serious Food Network junkie. It's one of my lifelong dreams to go on a foodie tour of some of the restaurants that I've seen reviewed.

The Vortex is known for having the "best burgers in Atlanta." Seriously, we walked into this place and there were tons of awards on the wall! I have to say that my burger -- the "Blue Shroom", was DELICIOUS...and huge! It had so much blue cheese on it, the stuff was spilling out all over the place, along with the loads of grilled mushrooms. yum! I can almost taste it again as I'm typing. Fab got the "Hell Burger" and was shocked at how spicy it actually was. He loves spicy food, and usually he boasts that nothing is ever as spicy as the menus make them seem...well, not this burger. I was laughing at him because he actually started sweating a little and he had to take a break to cool down. Apparently, there is one whole half a jalapeno pepper cooked into the patty, and it had jalapeno jelly and pepper jack cheese to top it off. ouch! I know I wouldn't be able to eat one bite of that thing.

Anyway, we had a great time and Fab took a few pics outside the restaurant with his blackberry since I left my camera at home. We ended up taking the above pictures when we got home, but there were some fun shots from the restaurant that I wanted to share anyway! :)