A Movie on a Cold Day

Now, that it's stopped raining, it's getting cold around here and I'm enjoying wearing some of my cold weather wear. I'm so excited about my new sweater that I just had to share it! It's a men's sweater by Rag & Bone, part of the Neiman Marcus holiday collection at Target. I bought it on clearance and my local store, but it's also available online for only $20.  In the store, it was in the front with the other gift items in the women's section, I didn't even notice it was men's. For your sizing information, I'm wearing an XXL and it's perfectly cozy. If there's anything better than a Target Designer collaboration, it's one on clearance. As Edwin said when I texted him the picture asking if I should buy it he said, "I personally can't resist discounted designer stuff." Neither can I. I hope all this clearance doesn't mean the collection was unsuccessful, I want it to come back next year!

Target Shades /  Rag & Bone for Target Sweater / Banana Republic Bag / Old Navy Jeans 

I bought these short boots when I was living in France

All Dressed Up, With Nowhere To Go...

New Year's Eve is not my holiday. The fundamental problem is I don't particularly like staying up late. But there are secondary problems too.  My local friends are often out of town, and my friends in the city are at all night dance parties which sound exhausting.  My mother hates for me to be out driving. So as you would expect with this attitude, I rarely have somewhere to go. However, as you may have seen with my sequin post, I still use NYE as an excuse to buy something (s) sequined.  So just like last year, I depressingly dressed up my dress form to go to a mythical soirée.  I chose this amazing sequined skirt from Forever 21. I think it's really unique and detailed for $25 (and channels of all this '20s  deco glamour in the run-up to the Gatsby release) To focus the attention on the amazing detail of the skirt, a v-neck T in a neutral which matches the skirt perfectly. For accessories, I went with a delicate charm necklace in a matte metal finish and an chain mail crossbody bag with oversize bow (much more practical than a clutch--especially if you're a dress form with no arms!)

Old Navy T / F21+ Sequined Scalloped Skirt / ModCloth Bag / Urban Outfitters Necklace

On the upside, I have an outfit idea I really like at the ready for any evening occasion in 2013. Happy New Year!

Black & Blue

Old Navy Shirt & Jeans / ASOS Blazer / American Eagle Moto Boots / Banana Republic Bag / Target Shades

I really like this blazer. It's in a sweatshirt-type material. I also have a similar one in black. It's just as comfortable as a sweatshirt with the polish of a blazer. I wore it secondhand-shopping in San Francisco.   To combat the cold, I added this scarf in the same colors.

And for your viewing pleasure, the lead single of of Black & Blue. In retrospect it was their laziest video, but it holds the record for number one days on TRL.

Big Changes...

I've finished with my temporary teaching position and have moved back home. Before I moved on, however, my students saw a picture of me at my undergrad graduation and encouraged me to go back blonder. So that's what I did once I was back in town to my trusted stylist, Sharon. Too bad they won't get to see it!

During:

After:

I had my stylist straighten my hair as well, since I rarely have the patience to do it myself (it takes about an hour).

A Histrionic Holiday

ASOS Peplum (other colors available and on sale here)/  Old Navy Pleated Maxi /
ModCloth "Bollywood Starlet" Necklace  

If you know me and and/or are religious reader of my blog, you know I love holidays. Especially holidays that require specific attire and have prescriptive color palates. As such, it's hard for me to break away from the red and green. Instead of fighting the holiday cheer impulse; for my Christmas Eve outfit, I tried to mix it up with a lime instead of forest green. I paired this bold maxi skirt with a bright red top from ASOS, with the peplum hem tucked in.

 Velvet Gap City Flats

Obsession du Jour: Sequins! Sequins!

Raglan Sweater/ Pailette Bodice Dress / Feather Patterned Top

Nothing says ringing in the New Year like sequins! Here are some of the plus size pieces that I've bought or am coveting this season.

Sweatheart Peplum / Peplum Top / Tank

 Kimono Jacket (reduced)  /  Blazer (reduced)

What to Wear: Chaperone

Recently I was on chaperone duty at my middle school's semi-formal winter dance. I had a great time admiring the girls' dresses (lots of sequins, chiffon, brocade, and hi-low hems). The boys cleaned up nice, too! As for my outfit, I still wanted to be dressed up and festive but also work appropriate. I went with a lace and chiffon overlay dress by ASOS (Spring '12?), a gold skinny belt, and wide-calf leather boots by Naturalizer.  I added a faux-leather flower hair clip from Forever 21, they have some really cute hair accessories this holiday season. I got several compliments from the girls, so I consider it a successful outfit. And as for the chaperoning, everyone was well excellently behaved except for the balloon popping. But what do you expect when you put balloons on a gym floor with 13 year old boys?