Pinka Dots

I thought black shoes with pink Lucite heels would be an easy thing to work into an outfit, considering my love of that particular color combo, but I neglected to consider the limitations of dressing for winter. Pumps tend to take a backseat to boots during January and February, so they were actually several months on my to-wear list before I got to don these spectacular shoes. And it was only after a good amount of hard thinking that I finally came up with an outfit that would showcase them properly without letting me get too cold.

The surprisingly simple solution was black leggings. They are a neutral color that can be worn under almost any dress, and because they end at the ankle, they call attention to the shoes, rather than letting the shoes blend into the leg the way a pair of black full-footed tights would.

I chose the white polka-dotted dress because 1) I've only worn it once since I got it and 2) It was a nice neutral color that wouldn't detract from the focal point of the outfit. And then, for a little bit of unity and so the heels didn't stand out like a sore thumb, I added a matched set of pink jewelry.

Triple V-Neck (or, how to dress down formal attire)

If I had to pick my favorite fashion flaw, it's that I can't resist buying formal and semi-formal dresses, despite the dearth of events at which to wear them. As I write this, I have 4 dresses in my closet that have never been worn, and probably never will be worn until I have accumulated 4 other dresses to take their place. I say this is my favorite flaw because I just really love those dresses! Even if I never put them on, they will always be like art for my closet.

That said, usually I prefer to wear my clothing at least 2 or three times, and then – if it's proved to be impractical to keep – sell it on eBay.

This peacock blue satin party dress is an interesting case. After one wear and one year, I concluded I would never wear it again, because the fit is not very flattering on me. But before selling it, I noticed it had some odd water spots all over it, and I was obliged to dry-clean it since I didn't think the tiny pleats would hold up too well in the washing machine. After that, I knew I'd have to recoup my dry-cleaning expenses by getting at least a few more wears out of the old rag (since I'm pretty sure it won't sell for more than 5 bucks).

I definitely wasn't going to waste one of my precious going-out opportunities on an already-worn dress I just called a "rag," so the question quickly arose...how to wear a low-cut, strappy, satin dress to the office? The answer—lots of layers!

I turned to my trusty collection of jackets first—opting for a grey checked blazer because I thought it might be nice to pair the solid-colored dress with a more textured top. This particular blazer, however, is even more low-cut than the dress, doing nothing to cover up my chest. So on to another layer! I chose a V-neck lace-edged camisole and wore it underneath the dress, which ended up creating this nifty chevron-patterned neckline which I totally love! That tiny reprise of the blue makes the whole outfit look more complete and intentional.

Because I had so many stripes of blue and black going on at the neckline, it seemed natural to add one more in the form of this outlandish blue rose necklace.

After trying on several pairs of shoes, I settled on my soft suede slouchy black boots, because they look a little lighter in color than most of my black shoes, and I felt they went nicely with the blazer.

Black Tie

 

I've had a hard time finding a basic black skirt that I really like. The one pictured in today's outfit is the closest I've come—not too short, not too long, not too straight, and not too tight. Yet, being made of satin and fluffed out with a built-in mesh petticoat, it walks the line of being too formal for everyday use. On the other hand, that makes it an appropriate pick for this modified tuxedo look.

The real centerpiece of this outfit is the matching satin sash, which I've tied into a bow and tucked into the neckline of my blazer, to evince a bow tie without actually being one. I've put my hair up into a high bun, to evince a fancy updo without actually being one.

You getting my drift yet? I'm going for a look that's inspired by formality but softened for reality.

Over the skirt, I'm wearing a short white blazer that's only formal in its tailored cut. The prominent exterior pockets and cotton twill fabric bring it down into semi-casual territory, which I've further enhanced by wearing knee-high boots (as opposed to, say, stockings and stiletto pumps).

I dreamed up this outfit with the thought of entering it into Lookbook's Black & White Tuxedo Style Contest, for which I completely missed the entry deadline. I guess you could say I was UNfashionably late to the party.

Artfully Misplaced

Try something unexpected

Wear your jewelry in unconventional places. If your necklace won't stand out enough around your neck, why not put it somewhere it will? The sparkly embellishment above is a regular old necklace, wrapped around and tucked into the top of my knee sock.

The idea for today's style tip started out harmlessly enough—as an average, everyday outfit idea: I just wanted to wear those bright green shoes because I hadn't in a while, and I added my paisley dress because it's one of the few things I own that share that shade of green. The pair of black knee socks was a necessity because it's cold outside. But even though I had come up with a nice outfit for my hard-to-match shoes, I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted more color! More!

I really wanted to do something flashy with my hair—some kind of huge headband, perhaps, but sadly, my headband collection lacked anything colorful enough. My next thought was the aforementioned green necklace, woven into a messy updo like some kind of neon bridal ornament. Unfortunately, I couldn't get that to look right either.

I almost settled for wearing it around my neck, where it would compete with all the colors of the dress, but then I though to attach it to my sock. Wow! Instantly exotic!

I thought this was something I'd never tried before, but then I searched my blog for other outfits featuring this dress. Turns out the last time I photographed it, I was also wearing DIY sock decorations. Just goes to show, great minds think the same thought over and over again.

One final note: Since I had embellishment on only one leg, I went with an equally asymmetrical one-sided bun for my hair.

One Skirt, Fifth Season

I was never really happy with the concluding outfit for my One Skirt, Four Seasons series.

Was it the tucked-in shirt, looking bulgy and unkempt? Or the equal length of skirt and shirt, making me appear boxy? Or was it simply that I failed to garner enough votes on Chictopia? I'm not sure, but whatever the reason, I wanted to give this outfit another try.

This time, I untucked the shirt, resulting in both a sleeker silhouette and a variation in lengths.

I also upgraded my jewelry to a cute matched set.

And here's just one more look at those fabulous shoes.

Which way do you prefer this outfit? Tucked and teachery? Or untucked and Unfashionistic?

My Future Valentine

I started with this new pink sweater (3 dollars, but I had to repair quite a few holes before it was wearable) and then went overboard with the analagous colors! Burgundy skirt, pink-burgundy-and-white legwarmers, and serendipitously colored boots with yet more burgundy and pink!

I finished it off with—what else—a burgundy necklace!

It's a little early in February to be wearing quite so much red and pink, but consider it inspiration for a more temporally appropriate outfit next week.

What light through yonder window breaks?

 
This dress required so many alterations before I could wear it, that by the time I finally did, I was tired of it already. I wasn't going to bother blogging about it, but sometimes you look so good in your handiwork that people just want to take pictures of you! Who am I to deny them that opportunity?

Since I had the photos, here is a short post about the dress. It's a lovely shiny jacquard with those contrasting sleeves I'm so into. When I got it, I thought it was a neutral beige and planned to wear it with tall boots or black tights, but then I realized how splendidly it went with pink, which enabled me to brighten up the look with pink tights and wear delicate little shoes, which doesn't happen often this time of winter.

If the dress was an example of my handiwork at its best, my hair is an example of my handiwork at its worst. That scruffy shaggy mane is yet another attempt at curls. One day I'll get this. One day.