Cozy Cowl

October 31, 2011







{Dark Denim Skinnies ~ Torrid / Ivory Animal Printed Dress worn as tunic ~ Calvin Klein / Black Velvet Blazer ~ Vintage.Thrifted / Black Suede Wedge Booties ~ Via Spiga / Crocheted Cowl ~ Made by the ADORABLE Jaimielee over at Hip Oh! / Leather Handbag ~ Daisy Boutique}

Of course, the first snowfall of the season this weekend called for the return of my warm and cozy crocheted cowl. It kept me nice and warm when dashing in and out of the car on Sunday while running errands and lunching with Cory. It was FREEZING!

I had plans to rock this amazing new {to me} sweater dress {via Lea's Vintage on Etsy}, this weekend:


...but I didn't get a chance to since it was so cold {and snowy}.  Hopefully, I'll get a chance to get dolled up and put it on this weekend.  We are due for a date night anyway. :)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!


xoxo, thanks for reading!

Jewel Blocked

October 25, 2011










 
{Ink Blue Ankle Length Pintuck Trousers ~ Jones New York / Magenta Silk Tunic ~ Thrifted / Teal Shirt Jacket ~ Vintage Liz Claiborne ~ Thrifted / Purple Suede Pumps ~ ASOS {last year! / Gold Stretch Belt ~ Thrifted / Crystal Bangle ~ Foreign Bazaar Boutique / Textured Yellow Gold Hoops ~ Gift from Cory; they are so perfect!


After making Salisbury steak and rice for dinner, an impromptu drop-in from my bestie, helping with homework / reading and getting a little cleaning done, I am beat! On top of that, I am getting a sore throat. :(  Let's hope this isn't the beginning of a real sickness {I was just bragging to someone that I can't remember the last time I was sick.} Ugh! I may have jinxed myself, LOL!

Decided to do a full-on color blocked look today and I loved it! Jewel tones are always so fun to wear. Pretty colors make me smile.  Are you a fan of color-blocking? :) I am still dying to try a black + white blocked look. 

 
xoxo, thanks for reading! 
 
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Floral Mustard

October 22, 2011




 


{Black Skinny Jeans ~ Torrid / Ivory Layered Lace Top ~  Newport News / Teal Vintage Oleg Cassini Blazer ~ Thrifted / Black Suede Booties ~ Steve Madden / Floral Scarf ~ H&M}
 
I thought a hot pink lip + the bright and floral shades of this gorgeous scarf was so fun for a Friday!  Absolutely loving the puff of the shoulders in this blazer.  
 
Also, note to self:  buy more mustard yellow! I love this color for fall. :)
 
P.S.: I will have to start getting really creative with outfit pictures soon; its getting darker ealier, UGH!
 
  
xoxo, thanks for reading!
 

{Flashback!} Friday

October 21, 2011

 


{me, at 16 - was a date for a friend of the family's senior prom}
 
EEEEK! Hunter green satin, with matching shoes? ...and nude hose? My aunt had made that dress and the ivory sash to go with it. Notice the floor draping ivory bow in the back too?  That was my favorite part! LOL!
 
Those long acrylics were definitely in then.  Where are my 90's teenagers? Do you guys remember them?  Please make me feel better and tell me that your prom pictures are just as hideous! :)
 
Have a great weekend!
 
P.S. Congrats to F.A.B.ellis for winning the Glamour Pouch giveaway!
 
 
•SHOP! ♥ BeautyFash Boutique•

Let's Talk: putting outfits together

October 20, 2011



Let’s face it: having a blog makes me think about my clothing / style A LOT {does that make me a narcissist? If so, fine with me! :)}.  It also makes me realize what I have and sort of curbs my shopping / spending, which I love. 

I get asked quite a bit what my system is when getting dressed in the morning and putting outfits together.  Truth be told, there is no real system in place.  I am the most random person when it comes to style and I believe in having fun and not thinking too much about it.  Most times it works; but believe me, I have days that are not pictured here on the blog when I am looking an ENTIRE MESS. LOL!

It does help my getting-ready process tremendously that my closet is still organized by color. It makes it so very easy to grab and swap out one specific colored item for another, if I need to. I have color combinations that have become favorites and just work well together.   

Like pink + red: 


or green + pink: 

or navy + orange 

and let’s not forget black/white + any other color!



A big part of why I do themed mini-series {blazers! / belts! / color! / fall trends!} here on the blog is to focus on a specific item, style, trend or color for a period of time, which MAKES me think outside of the box when getting ready.  It’s also fun to have a reason to wear a blazer {as if I really need one, lol} or a chance to highlight my belt collection.

Here are a few questions I have been asked.  I thought it would helpful {or at least interesting} to share some details.

Do you pick your outfit out the night before?

For the most part, NO.  Unless for some reason I am thinking of what I want to wear the next day at night while cleaning or thinking about my closet, I grab what I will be putting on that morning.  I do struggle sometimes with choosing combinations so early and trying to think outside of the box {oh how I could wear trousers, a t-shirt and a blazer every single week day to work} but I soon realize the ridiculous amount of clothing that I own and I force myself to JUST WEAR IT.


...and to reach for those things that never see the outside of my closet.  Or the things that I may be “saving” for a certain occasion or day to wear it.  There is no time like the present, right?  I get a huge kick out of myself when I am fancied up for work {like this themed number here}.  I also feel great and walk with my head just a little higher when I am perfectly pulled together.  After all, when you look good, you FEEL good.

How do you decide what to wear each day for different occasions and what is your process?

Outside of having a mini-series to dress for, the direction in which I go in for my outfits totally depends entirely on how I am feeling when I sashay {or stumble} into my closet, pull that string on the light bulb and begin to scan my options. 

I have come to rely on my ONE KEY PIECE {or OKP} method.  It’s deciding on that one item that I know I want to wear for that day.  Depending on the occasion, that could be a certain dress, or a fancy top.  For work, my favorite pair of trousers.  I’ve even used accessories {SHOES! a scarf, necklace or belt} as the OKP.


Once I have that one key piece that I KNOW I am putting on, the rest is easy and it’s simply building around it. 

On a Monday, when I am having a rough time even making it to the closet, simple classics are always the answer.  I pick out a pair of well-fitting trousers first.  And then grab a blouse or long sleeve t-shirt {been loving those lately} and a cardigan or blazer to pop over it.  Done!

In the summer it was a pretty dress as the OKP.  Add a blazer and that’s it.  So easy!  When getting dolled up for a date night, again, I try and find that one special piece that I want to wear and then add to it.  A newly thrifted dress or blazer that I am dying to debut is always good to grab.  Sometimes, I do have to play around with combinations until I am satisfied with the right one.  And as I am sure you know, pulling down items and trying them on can lead to a closet meltdown.  They have been few and far between for me though, all thanks to a color coordinated closet.

Specific example:


The ONE KEY PEICE was the leopard tunic; I knew it was time to wear it again, so I decided to build my outfit around it.
 
- I love the length and it would have been perfect for leggings but this was an outfit for the office so leggings were out. 

- Next was deciding on a pair of pants that would work.  I thought the cropped length of these Jodhpur pants would be a subtly trendy choice for the office and would be better than full length pants with the longer top so I pulled them to wear. 

- I also know how much I love the idea of wearing leopard with a bright color so I started searching for a bright cardigan to wear; this pink one was the first one I saw so I popped it on. 

- The shoes were easy, comfy and neutral. 

- The belt was also easy and I knew I needed one; I can’t seem to wear a tunic without belting it, so I put on my favorite gold stretchy one.

- Done!

What are your rules to live by when putting together an outfit?

# 1 is simple. I wear what I want. If I want to wear heels to the grocery store, I simply go for it.  Sequins during the day? I do it! This is MY style and it should be fun.

I have stopped saving pieces for special occasions. There is no time like the present. Wear it now! 

I try not to be too matchy-matchy.  I just love throwing in splashes of color that don’t necessarily “go” with what I have on.  You want to have FUN, remember?


------------


I have always been into style, dating back to my teenage years, when I would raid my father's closet stealing his cardigans or button-up shirts to wear to school with jeans.  I remember wanting to look good and discussing outfits in middle and high school with my girlfriends, so style is an important part of who I am.  When I get called fancy or over-the-top and when I feel over-dressed, it just makes me smile.


So there you have it.  Hopefully, I didn't ramble too much. :)


I am dying to hear from you! Please share your getting-ready tips. 


Do you pick out outfits the night before?


Do you have a system for getting ready?


Or, is there a special way your closet is organized?


Let's talk!
P.S. don't forget to enter the Glamour Pouch giveaway! I am picking a winner tonight.

Giveaway! Win a BeautyFash Glamour Pouch -- CLOSED!

October 17, 2011




 




As a huge thank you for reading, commenting and following {hello! 800+ followers!}, I am giving away a BeautyFash Glamour Pouch.
 
 
Enter to win:
 
Be sure to follow BeautyFash via Google Friend Connect
 
Leave me a comment below with your email address so that I can contact you if you win. :)
 
Giveaway open until Thursday, October 20th, 9:00 pm EST.
 
A winner will be selected using random.org.
 
Open to US and International readers!
 
Good Luck!
 
 
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That 70's Dress

October 16, 2011

 












{Printed Jersey Knit Dress ~ Vintage via Etsy / Black Suede Wedge Boots ~ Via Spiga / Gold Stretch Belt ~ Vintage.Thrifted / Jumbo Gold Hoops ~ Beauty Supply / Gold Crystal Bracelet ~ Daisy Boutique / Gold Quilted Pouch Clutch ~ Designed by ME!}


Another vintage dress that I am utterly in love with. :) Since rocking this vintage stunner a few weeks ago, I have been on the prowl for amazing vintage party dresses, via Etsy, and I have been lucking up!  Thankfully, I finally took {accurate} measurements, making it so easy finding dresses that will fit my curves. ...which can be difficult, especially with vintage peices that are cut a bit smaller. 
 
I wore this last night for a girls night out and felt perfectly fabulous and comfortable.
 
Speaking of fabulous, how AMAZING is this huge jumbo pouch clutch? I have always loved the idea of the oversized pouches but wanted a different shape and fabrication so I decided to design and have my own made. I LOVE how they came out and I am so excited to make more {which will be available in BeautyFash Boutique}.
 
...stay tuned.. I will be giving one away! :)
 
 
 
xoxo, thanks for reading!
 
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{Flashback!} Friday

October 14, 2011


 
{Isis Brielle, 8 months old - December 2003}

She was born 5 weeks early and spent 10 days in NICU.  A tiny 3 pounds and 15 ounces; she was a fighter.  She had the brightest eyes you would ever see and her smile could light up an entire room.  Just like daddy.  She has always had the thickest eyebrows {just like mommy} and the right one was wild and untamed since day one. 

...& boy, do I envy those eyelashes.

It is so great watching her grow into such an amazing little girl.  She bring us so much happiness. :)


{Isis Brielle, 7 years old - June 2010}


Have a great weekend!
 

In the Trench

October 12, 2011







{Vintage Red Lined Trench ~ Misty Harbor {Thrifted} / Dark Denim Skinnies ~ Torrid / Black and Ivory Silk Blend Striped Cardi ~ Ann Taylor / Leopard Suede and Patent Pumps ~ Isaac Mizrahi for Target / Black Leather Handbag ~ Daisy Boutique}

There is something utterly mysterious, yet sexy about a trench coat that I just adore.  The pop of red in the lining of this vintage one is so fab, I LOVE THIS COAT!  I am dying to rock it with sheer stockings and a mini skirt, belted at the waist.  :)




 

xoxo, thanks for reading!

 
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