Worn This Way

red shirt by Calvin Klein, skirt by BCBGMaxAzria, Belle by Sigerson Morrison flats

Here's my new red blouse, paired with a navy pencil skirt. I read that one way to emulate Parisian style is to wear flats with a pencil skirt, so I am trying it out here.

Are you enjoying the fall fashion magazines? I received my September Vogue US and it is so thick! I'm not reading it until I can have a couple of hours. Maybe I'll bring it camping this weekend so I have something to do. Enjoy your day, my friends!

Accessories 1, Cropped Pants 0

knit sweater from Express, tissue t-shirt from J. Crew, ankle pants from LOFT

These cropped pants are the big loser in this outfit, outshined by the colorful necklace, ring and nails. Petites and loose cropped pants do not go well together, especially when one leg looks shorter than the other. The pants, however, may make a comeback if I roll them up.

But what makes it all better is a great hair day. Bangs win!

Color Is King

silk scarf from India, tank top from Target, knit blazer by Majestic, Joe's Jeans The Pant, Repetto flats, Nixon watch, Zoya Mieko nail polish

It seems to me that color is a driving force behind fashion. If I like an item of clothing, or an outfit, it's because of its color. Color determines how I put outfits together, it determines what season I'm dressing for, it's how I organize my closet, and it's how I think about new purchases. I also consider cut and fabric, but it really comes down to color for me.

I enjoyed putting this outfit together. I wanted to showcase this beautiful scarf my good friend brought for me from her trip to India, so I paired it with neutrals and accented it with other touches of bright color (shoes, nails, watch, and lips, though you can't see the lipstick too well, it's bright). Have a colorful day, my friends!

Late Summer Hues

jacket from Ann Taylor, t-shirt from Ann Taylor, skirt by Calvin Klein, slingback shoes from Ann Taylor

OK, so I just realized almost this entire outfit is from Ann Taylor, but all from different years. The jacket is the oldest, followed by the shoes, then the t-shirt I got this summer. And I didn't pay for any of the AT items, the jacket and shoes were gifts from my Mom, and the t-shirt I got with a birthday gift card. I'm so blessed!

It's that time of the season where I've worn everything in my closet multiple times, I'm just trying to come up with new combinations until fall hits. With temperatures around 100 degrees, literally, it's too early to break out anything fall. So I'm enjoying my creams and bright colors!

Who Buys the Same Blouse Twice?

blouse by Calvin Klein, Joe's Jeans The Pant, Nixon watch, Eric Michael espadrilles

A Zealous Blonde does.

How do you like my new blouse? Isn't it a pretty red color? Don't you love it? Does it look a little familiar? Here, let me refresh your memory:

This thrift store 70s blouse with a double-wide collar, I purchased in like April or May for $14. It's virtually the same color as my on-sale-for-$20 CK purchase. I think I have a red-blouse problem. I'm going to keep both, since CK will charge me $8 for return shipping. I'd better watch out, or I'll be buying another pair of black suede booties for fall.

I'm going to Aruba for a long weekend, my friends...see you again on Tuesday!

A Dress with a Secret

Adrienne Vittadini dress, jacket from NY & Co., Vince Camuto leather flats

Today is the first time I wore this simple black sheath dress, which I puchased from Ideeli for $2.95 (I had a store credit). It's not the most flattering dress I own, but it's a kind of wardrobe staple that I didn't have before.

Anyways, as I wore it, I felt something stabbing my shoulders. I put my hand under the shoulder straps and felt a snap closure. What is that doing there? I had to go into the bathroom and check it out. Imagine my surprise when I discovered little snaps attached to ties, to snap my bra straps into! This is brilliant. I have never heard of such a thing. But there they are, insuring my bra straps don't get exposed. Wow. I am impressed. Have any of you heard of this, my friends? Let me know in the comments!

Paisley or Indian Pattern?

blouse by Dana Buchman, pants by BCBGMazAzria, shoes by Circa Joan & David, Rimmel London Steel Grey nail polish

Usually I would call this pattern paisley and that would be the end of it. But yesterday I received a gift from a friend who had just returned from India, a patterned silk scarf, which reminded me of this blouse. Because of the varied patterns, including florals, on this top, I am more inclined to think of it as Indian-influenced.