All posts tagged fashion

You’ve probably noticed that it’s been quite a while since I posted an outfit on this blog.  In fact, there was snow on the ground the last time that I did.  Truth be told, I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump, and my checkbook was having a slump of its own.  I’d mixed and matched, matched and mixed all of the clothes in my closet, and didn’t feel like sharing less-than-stellar ensembles with you that I wasn’t excited about myself.  Well, the slump is over, folks!  It’s a small start, but I found five new pieces on a shopping adventure with my mom this weekend, and I incorporated two of them in this outfit: the sweater and the shoes!  I’m loving these shoes!  I’ve been looking for wedges/clogs for a while, but didn’t find any that I liked until now.  It feels good to be back, and to be excited about getting dressed again. 

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Be safe and have lots of fun!

The Deets:

Sweater: Ralph Lauren

Top: Gap

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Coach

Shades: Fendi

Have you ever been asked the following question: if you could only pick one outfit to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Remember, the outfit would have to transition easily from day to night, from brunches to dinner parties and after parties.  Well, my friends, this is it.  I think I could perfectly happy wearing this (or some variation of this) outfit every day/night for the rest of my life.  The silhouette is undeniably flattering, and the color combination is timeless.  Although the pieces are traditional, they each have a little edgy twist.  Perfection.  The more I’m honest with myself about my personal style, and the more I dig through stacks of photos on blogs and magazines, the more I realize what I really like.

1. Short skirts.  Yes, I realize I can’t wear short skirts forever.  But this is now, and I’ll wear them as long as I can.

2. Structured blazers.

3. Floppy hats.

4. Knee socks/over-the-knee socks/tights.

5. Over-sized shades.

6. Classic, traditional style mixed with edgy accessories.

7. Bright colors/animal prints mixed with neutrals.

8. Sky-high heels.

Besides all of that, I want to apologize for my absence this week.  I have pictures to share from last weekend’s festivities in Madison, but my camera is dead, and I can’t find the charger.  Then yesterday, out of nowhere, I got a 24-hour bug.  All is well with the world now, and I’m finally getting my hair done tomorrow.  I should feel back to normal in no time.  (A little self-tanner wouldn’t hurt, either.)

{via Garance Dore}

I wasn’t planning on photographing this outfit.  However, almost instantly upon arrival to the office on Saturday, my newest photographer, Nanci, asked if she could take a picture of my outfit.  It’s always fun when people are as excited about what I’m wearing as I am.  Plus, if you’ve got to be sitting at a desk all day, you might as well be wearing a little sparkle, a new hat, and 5 inch platform pumps, right?  Thanks to Nanci for breaking my dry spell of posting outfit pictures.  Hopefully this will get me back on track of showing you what I wear during the week.  The snow that’s currently falling poses a bit of a setback, as do 15-hour days, but I hope to prevail.  This also marks the first time I’m actually wearing these Miu Mius on the blog. 

The Deets:

Hat: Nordstrom

Sweater: Ezra Fitch (from high school, but it’s cashmere, and there is no moose in sight, so I let it fly.)

Top: Thrifted

Jeans: Joe’s Jeans

Shoes: Miu Miu

Bracelet: Tommy Bahama

Here is the last post to catch you up on what I’ve been up to for the past week.  On Sunday, the Grandparents Rice came to our house to celebrate Christmas.  I also got my first Packer shirt from my Grandma Tiffany (a.k.a. “The Nons”), and decided to back the pack in green and gold while we watched them take down the Giants. 

Let me just tell you how super cool my Grandpa Rice is.  He is a luthier, which means he makes instruments.  He has made my brother an electric guitar, my dad a mandolin, and this year my mom got this hand-made acoustic guitar from him for Christmas.  Then, the boys played guitar, and the girls sang Christmas carols.  It was a really fun night!

A couple of days later, the one and only Amy Wedel decided to stop by Chicago for a little wedding dress shopping.  It was a fun girly day, and we found the dress! I was so happy that I could be a part of such a special day! (Note: I think it’s really funny that I’ve shown pictures of State St. three times this month.  I never go downtown to shop, but this Christmas season I was down there a ton!)

Amy’s little sister, Meghan, begged to go to the bean.  Naturally, I thought we should take the most tourist-y photo ever.

Yes, I know.  I know Christmas is over.  But, in our family my mother makes sure that Christmas music still plays until New Year’s Day.  So, because I haven’t posted the past few days, I’m going to give you a little review of what I’ve been up to.  There’s a lot of good stuff, so feel free to get really excited.  We hosted Christmas Day at our house this year.  As co-hostess, I wanted my outfit to be comfortable, fairly casual, and fashionable.  (I gained inspiration here to mix spots and stripes.)  Here is what I assembled from a pile of clothes mixed in two different suitcases.  I was going to start posting last night, but I’ve become incredibly enthralled with Mad Men this week.  I got three seasons of the show on DVD, and I can’t. stop. watching.  Be on the lookout for some 60s inspired ensembles in the near future.  

Jess’ Deets:

Jacket: Thrifted

Top: TJMaxx

Jeans: True Religion

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.

My lovely mom took some pictures with me, too!  I loved her outfit so much that I begged her to strike a pose with me!

Cheryl’s Deets:

Jacket: Ralph Lauren

Top: Thrifted

Jeans: Joe’s Jeans

Shoes: Nine West

If you know me at all (and I assume you do, because you’re reading this blog), you know that I am a girl who loves shoes.  I used to buy shoes all the time when I was in college, but my rent is a tad bit pricier now than it was when I shared a one-bedroom apartment with two other girls.  Because of this, I’ve been mostly thrift shopping for the past 1.5 years.  But, a few weeks ago, I discovered heaven on earth: the designer shoe section at Nordstrom Rack.  I put these Miu Miu shoes on “just for fun” and ended up buying them.  They are my first pair of real designer shoes, and I bought them on a whim.  Well, not a whim exactly.  I may have feverishly texted and called all of the friends that I thought would somehow justify the purchase for me.  Since I don’t have a boyfriend this year, I figured that I would just spend money on myself for Christmas.  (This whole being single thing is really working out for my shoe collection.)  I wore these shoes for the first time yesterday, and felt like quite a sophisticated lady.   I’m going to wear them again tonight for my family’s Christmas Eve party. 

Also, I have to throw in this picture of Buddy in front of our tree. It looks like he’s laughing!  I’m going to turn my computer off for the next four days to give myself a true break.  I hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Since I’ve had this blog for a year, and since I’ve been taking pictures of what I wear for a year, I decided to compile a post of my five favorite looks to date.  Enjoy!

#5.

This look was cozy and warm.  I love that this picture was taken in my old high school bedroom, and that my cat, Nolie, is in the picture.  You’ve seen this hat many times, and you will see it even more as the temperature continues to drop in Chicago. 

#4.

Although this outfit is so simple, it is one of my favorites.  Hey, the minimalist trend is back.  The main reason I love it so much is that it’s full of staple pieces.  I’ve worn the turtleneck at least 100 times.  The red mini is one of my all-time favorite thrifted finds.  These Ralph Lauren tights are perfect for chilly days.  And these black pumps are probably my favorite pair of heels. 

#3.

I love this picture because it showcases my return to blonde hair!  I can’t find this off-the-shoulder sweater which totally bums me out.  I guess that’s what happens when you move as much as I do.

#2.

How could I not pick at least one picture with my Louis Vuitton bag?  It is my summer stand-by, and I feel like it takes any outfit to the luxe level. 

#1.

Ahh! The beginning of fall.  Leopard print, camel, and black is my favorite new combination.  As you can see, these black shoes have showed up in many of my favorite outfits.  Maybe it’s time to go shoe shopping?

I got this skirt at Goodwill a few weeks ago, and I’ve been dying to style a spotty outfit around it ever since. The skirt definitely has a 90s vibe due to the side slit.  I feel like Jennifer Aniston from her Friends days.  Feeding off of that feeling, I paired it with pointy toes instead of round, and my mom’s old Coach bag. 

The weather in Chicago this week has been super crazy.  It’s freezing now! Definitely digging out snow boots and warmer coats for the coming weeks!

Is it just me, or does camel + leopard + black = amazing?

The Deets:

Blouse: TJMaxx

Sweater: Urban, gifted from Amy

Coat: Gap

Skirt: Goodwill

Tights: Target

Shoes: BCBGirls

Necklace: Made by Amy’s mom

Rings: Target

Bag: Coach via Mom

Camel is “so hot right now.” Even my dad, who happens to be the photographer for 98% of these blog pictures, was wearing camel yesterday.  What a fashionable guy.

*Hope you’re all staying warm*

One of the disadvantages of working in an office with mostly men is that I sometimes get ridiculed for my fashion choices.  Let’s take yesterday for example.  It was supposedly the worst storm we’ve seen in Chicago for 100 years. Dramatic much?  Who knows? Anyways, like any normal, city-dwelling girl, I wore these Hunter Wellies in the torrential downpour to the office.

One man asked me if I was going deer hunting, and said that I looked like I came straight from Bass Pro Shop.  One asked me if I was planning on going fishing later in the day.  Yet another told me my boots looked like highlighters.  I believe it is important to tell you that I did not wear these boots all day.  I wore heels.  I just wore these to the office and quickly changed.  Yet, I was continually teased all the day through. I even told them that Kate Moss wears the same boots.  I don’t think they even know who Kate Moss is.  For those of you who doubt me, please look at Exhibit A.

Exhibit A:

Wait, what?  Both Nicole Richie AND Kate Moss where them?  Need I say more?

It wasn’t until the absolute end of the day that a guy, coincidentally my carpool buddy, said my boots were “slick” and that he recently purchased a similar pair for his girlfriend.  Hmmm… there is a God apparently.  Whilst on the topic of my carpool buddy, we were discussing city dogs on our two-hour commute yesterday.  We discussed our desires for dogs, but complained about the inconvenience of a large dog and living multiple floors above street level.  We thought a French Bulldog could be a perfect compromise, however.  And I have this little soft spot for French Bulldogs.  Please see Exhibits B, C, and D below.

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Exhibit D:

Trying to decide between the names “Louis” and “Napoleon” for the dog that I probably won’t get for five years.  Hey, when Miss Amy Lou got a Great Dane, I decided I should maybe get a small dog so we could take really funny pictures of our dogs together.  Oh, the possibilities!

I’ve never been the biggest fan of “corporate” clothes.  I blame it on my time working as a teller in a bank when I was in college.  Button downs and trousers day after day can get pretty boring and uninspiring.  Luckily for me, I am self-employed and only really have to dress in corporate clothing one day per week.  I feel like most female suits are very unoriginal and don’t feel like my style at all.  However, mixing and matching different pieces doesn’t seem so boring to me.  I got this blazer and skirt from Goodwill recently.  Paired with new tights and some of my favorite luxe accessories, I felt dressed to impress, but most importantly, I felt like myself.  After 3 hours of straight copying and pasting, I was in desperate need of a sunset latte. 

About this skirt: a. sorry it is wrinkled. I was sitting at my desk all day.  b. I wanted a grey skirt, and this one looks grey from a distance, but it’s actually a cool black and white mini zig-zag pattern.

The Deets:

Sunnies: Fendi

Blazer: Thrifted

Skirt: Thrifted

Tights*: Target

Shoes: Steve Madden

Rings: Tiffany & Co.

Bracelets: Gifted

Bag: Coach