Rehearsal dress

I bought this dress about 2.5 years ago for my wedding rehearsal dinner and I haven't worn it since, so it's exciting to break it back out! I didn't really know how to wear it then, and was really tired and rushed so I just threw on my flip flops and threw my hair up in a bun and called it a day. I was so uber coiffed on my actual wedding day though I think it balanced out. I really think the belting adds a lot to this dress- it's probably not the best shape for me but the belt makes it work! I think it looks best without the sweater, but it's just too cold right now- look for it in the warmer weather solo!

This picture of me elicits one reaction: pale arms FTW!

Grey stripe day 2

Cardigan, shirt: H&M; Skirt: Gap;
Tights, belt: Anne Klein;
Shoes: Me Too

Again with the grey stripes! Also more grey and purple. Maybe I'll just go for a theme week :D The tights and belt we also purchased this weekend- and do you see how happy these awesome tights are making me???

*Such* a great color. They are also very comfortable- very soft. Also, they are not control top, which I shall try to never purchase again. Previously I was under the crazed assumption that's what I should be buying, but I never make a point of encasing my torso in spandex on other days, so why should tights be any different?

This belt and my shoes from yesterday are clearly sole mates what with their purpleness and teeny studs!

More comfy shoes!

Back to glasses, and more properly straightened hair :P I am taking the night off front the gym so the husband will actually get to see me all dolled up! I've owned the skirt for years but haven't worn it in awhile as it's kind of business-y, but for these tights I would wear just about anything :)

Grey stripe day 1

Cardigan: Old Navy; Shirt & Pants: NY & Co;
Belt: Betsey Johnson via TJ Maxx;
Shoes: Me Too

I apologize for the horrible picture- the sun was determined to get some blog action for itself.

I picked this belt up (and the shoes! and other fun stuff!) this weekend at TJ Maxx and was very excited to give it a try, even with my husbands many jokes about it being so 80s-tastic. I rummaged around my closet trying a few different things and wound up with a grey striped shirt and grey striped pants. What can I say- I like grey and stripes!

The belt is all it's bigness!

If you don't own any shoes by Me Too you are denying your feet their due happiness in life. Seriously- so comfortable! And they're purple! And ruffly! With little teeny studs things! Eeek!

I am testing out some new contacts so you'll see them a few times this week. I am not quite used to how I look without my glasses though- is that really me??? I'm going to be shopping for some frames too- maybe some cheap ones so I can have a few different ones to mix things up. I really love glasses and don't think Ill be switching back over to contacts 100% but it's always nice to have options!

seeking warmth

Sweater: Banana Republic; Pants: J Crew;
Shoes: Audrey Brooke; Necklace: F21

It is definitely sweater season. Which means for me, it is itchy season. I have yet to find a sweater that doesn't make me want to rip my arms off at least a little. Cardigans, well those are fine. But for some reason all my sweaters drive me at least a little bonkers. Perhaps it's the looser arms on cardigans? The lighter weight nature of them?

Instead of trying to hide my belt, which always ends up looking lumpy and terrible, I'm instead purposefully hiking the sweater up a bit to make it more purposeful. It feels catalog-y to me.

It's a pretty simple and boring outfit, but I like simple and boring it turns out :) I tried piling on a few other necklaces to make it a little more interesting, but found that none of it looked right so I went with just the leaves (which I do love).

Tassels! I love the tassels.

Stronger adhesive needed

Button down, pants, belt: NY&Co;
Cardigan: Target; Shoes: Aldo

I picked up this belt Friday afternoon- it's grey and was on sale :) I like it a lot, but the long end doesn't want to behave. I've got 2 glue dots on there- two! I may have to break out something stronger. I really like the idea of belts- they add a lot to an outfit, but I still have some figuring out to do to make them work for me. I feel like it's making my sweater bunch up in questionable ways.

This is the most accessorizing I think I've ever done- I like it!

I love these shoes. I'm pretty sure they love me back.

A whole lot of new.

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft; Dress: Laundry;
Boots: BCBG; Belt: Lauren by Ralph Lauren

So there is a whole lot in this outfit which is new to me, fashion wise. First off, you may have noticed skirts don't get a lot of action in my daily wear, and dresses appear for events only. It's not that I don't *like* skirts or dresses, it's just that I still harbor a lot of body image hangups associated with them. I think I may be changing my ways though! I'm really enjoying wearing this dress today and feel extra pretty in it, even with today being an atrocious hair day :)

Also, I have for a long time harbored a strong disdain for tights/hosiery in general (even knee highs). I must say though, having not worn stockings of any kind in a few years, I may even change my tune about those! These are not nearly as uncomfortable to wear as I remember! Granted, I've had some body changes since the last time I worn hosiery of any sort and I think that is a big part of it, but still, I think I may have to keep my eyes peeled for some cute dresses and tights for the Fall season!

I've always liked the belted look on other women, but never really knew how I myself could pull it off. Well all it took was a chilly morning apparently! I started the day wearing just the dress (it has 3/4 length sleeves and pretty poofed shoulders), but got cold pretty early on so I ran upstairs to grab something to throw over it. I realized this teal cardigan would add the perfect splash of color, and that I had a belt staring right at me that might work over it. Ta-dah! I'm all sorts of pleased with myself today!

I've owned these boots for a few years but the lack of skirts/ dresses, and up until recently skinny cut jeans, meant there was no way for me to show them off- how sad! So I was excited for cooler weather to come because I wanted to give them a try with this dress, which I think of as the super-autumn-fall dress. I mean come on, it's too perfect of a fall color scheme!

Taking a picture while wearing these was nigh impossible!

So in summary, dresses and hosiery are off my 'evil' list, I've realized I have to stock up some on cooler weather wardrobe items, and I have a lot of new types of items I want to shop for. My strong desire for tall boots seems reasonable!