Quintessential WNTW Outfit, Minus the Big Cuff Bracelet

Oh boy have I been behind with this blog!!  Things have been a little crazy lately.  Swimming lessons are twice a week now, and getting the boys ready for this with sunscreen and changing clothes and taking them from school to the pool and making sure they've had a snack and getting them there ready within 30 minutes from school let out time --has been quite a challenge.

Also, I've been buried in books lately.  I have a THING for celebrity tell-all books!!  Every free moment I have I try to read.  I just finished Meredith Baxter's new book, Untied.  It was AMAZINGLY interesting.  Now I'm reading David Cassidy's book, Could It Be Forever?  My Story.  I'm whipping through this one rather quickly because it is SO GOOD.

This photo was taken of me at a Bunco party about three weeks ago.  This outfit, I'm going to call it the quintessential What Not To Wear recommended outfit for my body type.  I have the patterned blouse with color, embellishment at the neck, emphasis at the waist with the cinched tie; a flattering dark wash pencil skirt that is the correct length for my age; a cardigan as the completer piece, and of course, the orange clutch as my POP of color.  I have nice dangly earrings, but I did forget my cuff bracelet!!  Oops! My skirt looks like it's black but it is dark denim. 

 

Quintessential WNTW Outfit, Minus the Big Cuff Bracelet

Alfani patterned sleeveless blouse w/ cinched waist w/ embellishment, Washed Layers - Macy's

Halogen 3/4 sleeve cardigan, Ivory - nordstrom.com

Halogen denim pencil skirt, Dark Indigo - nordstrom.com

Cole Haan 'Carma Air' OT pumps, Sandalwood - zappos.com

Argento Vivo Dome Lace Earrings, Gold - nordstrom.com

Inspired by Style Underdog's Blue Suede Shoes Post

This outfit was inspired by Style Underdog's Blue Suede Shoes post, unfortunately her blog is down right now so I can't show you her photo.  I tried really hard to find her Alfani gray & white floral pencil skirt from Macy's, but it is sold out.

Instead I found this similar skirt at White House | Black Market.  Similar except that it is A-line instead of pencil and that it has black in the print.  I did find the blue suede pumps in the same brand and style, but SU's are five inch heels.... mine.... two and a half.   I'm wishing the photo showed how much the blue pops the outfit.  Too much sun here I suppose.

Up close to see color a little better:

SU Copycat

Caslon scoop neck tee, white - nordstrom.com

Old Navy boyfriend cardigan, charcoal - oldnavy.com

White House | Black Market floral print A-line skirt - whitehouseblackmarket.com

Steve Madden 'Ulltra' 2.5" suede pumps, Midnight Blue - zappos.com

Style & Co. skinny belt, black - macys.com

Alfani ball necklace, hematite - Macy's

Cole Haan 'Villiage' handbag, black - Nordstrom

A True Wrap Dress - Baby Shower Outfit

I wore this wrap dress last Saturday to a friend's baby shower.  You can't really see in the photo the tie at the side of my waist which has a wonderful slimming effect for my body.  I think nude pumps would have looked better and definitely more spring-like, but the day was a bit chilly.  I needed the boots to keep warm this time, but hopefully soon I'll be able to wear my Cole Haan peep-toe nude pumps with this dress.

I learned a bit about complementary colors in a recent article in Real Simple Magazine - they featured orange and how it goes so well with navy.  I learned they are opposites on the color wheel and that's why they look so good together.  So, I have this orange clutch as my pop of color to complement the navy in the dress.  I think Clinton would be so proud!

With cardigan.

Without cardigan.

Baby Shower Outfit Worn Last Saturday

Banana Republic true wrap dress 'Gemma', navy & cream abstract print - Banana Republic

Halogen 3/4 sleeve cardigan, ivory - nordstrom.com

Cole Haan 'Justine' 2.25" heel boots, Woodbury - colehaan.com

Calvin Klein frame clutch, coral - zappos.com

Alexis Bittar donut lucite pendant necklace, gold - nordstrom.com

Alfani wood cuff bracelet, Macy's

A Great Outfit Shown In Stock Photos

Now my older son is sick.  Last night he woke up and vomited at 12:30 am and about every 30 minutes or so through 4:30 am!  Poor little guy.  He then woke up at 6 am and vomited again.  And again at 8 am.  It's been a tough night and morning.  So lately I've been pretty frumpy, unfortunately.  So no photos again today.

I wore an awesome outfit Tuesday night for meeting up with a friend for dinner, but I was running around too much earlier to get any photos.  :(  I'll tell you about it instead.  I wore my black blazer with striped lined sleeves, another version of my horizontal striped tee.  Gasp!  I bought two of the same tee in different colors.  I couldn't help myself, they were only $9.97.  I wore my red patent peep-toe pumps with a wood-stacked heel as my pop of color and carried my B. Makowsky pewter bag as seen in my WNTW copycat outfit.  As for jewelry, I wore my new bold necklace I bought during the Triple Points promotion at Nordstrom earlier this month.  I love it when I can get something on sale for 50% off, I earn six Nordstrom Notes points per dollar, AND I earn American Airlines miles at the same time!

I absolutely loved how the big necklace looked against the horizontal striped tee.

If you're still reading Style Underdog- remember the zipper on these jeans kept falling down in Las Vegas?  I took them to the miracle workers at the Nordstrom Alterations department and they replaced it free of charge!  Now it works beautifully.  It doesn't look like I'm flashing anyone any longer.

Since I don't have a photo of myself wearing these pieces, I'll at least show you the stock photos.

 Banana Republic Lightweight Wool Crepe jacket, Black - Banana Republic

 7 For All Mankind Mid-Rise Bootcut Jeans, Rinse Wash - Macy's

Sweet Pea by Staci Frati Ruched Horizontal Stripe Tee, Grey/White - nordstrom.com

 

Tasha Multi Chain Long Necklace, Antique Silver - nordstrom.com

kate spade 'Keswick Caning' lever drop earrings, white/gold - nordstrom.com

I stepped out of the box and wore gold earrings with my silver necklace.  It looked awesome!  I like how the white of the earrings picked up the white in the tee.

 Cole Haan 'Carma Air' OT pump, Red Lacquer patent - nordstrom.com

Red at your feet is always a good way to show your pop of color.

 B. Makowsky 'Melbourne' shopper, Pewter - DSW

reasons for not posting

I haven't been posting in here lately, I know.  I've been crazy busy and haven't been able to find the time to get photographed.  I don't like any of the photos of me from the Style Nation Blogger Meet-up in Las Vegas two weeks ago, so I don't have any to share, unfortunately.  Also, my younger son just had oral surgery Thursday, and the recovery process has been slow.  I've been at his side comforting him for the majority of the last two days.  I'll be able to get dressed and photographed soon!  I'm dying to show my new snake print dress and orange clutch as well as a couple of new tops from Macy's.  Alfani and  INC collections have been very good this spring.  I also can't wait to wear and share another What Not To Wear copycat and another Style Underdog copycat.  I finally found a close copy of a printed skirt from White House | Black Market. 

A real post coming soon!

More Horizontal Stripes

Oh yay for horizontal stripes.  I love how they look on me with this top.  Oh my dear Clinton Kelly, how you are always right.

MAJOR score on the price with this top.  It was online at nordstrom.com for $44.  I wasn't really okay with that price, but I knew I could get a price adjustment later when it goes on sale.  (I do that a lot)  So I used the "buy online, pick up in store" feature on their site.  So I put the order through and I get my e-receipt for $44 plus tax.  Then I get another e-receipt from the store about a half hour later that my order is ready for pick up.  I see that I was charged only $9.97 for the top!!  That is a HUGE difference from $44.  I figured that in the store it was already on clearance, but on the website the top was not yet on sale.  Go Nordstrom!  I love you!

 

Without jacket.  I love this picture above, but the flash didn't go off.  So I took another photo.  Oops, I forgot to put my bracelet back on!!

Trying to show the earrings in more detail.

Horizontal Stripes Outfit

Sweet Pea by Staci Frati horizontal striped ruched tee, fuchsia & gray - nordstrom.com

Lightweight wool crepe jacket, black - Banana Republic

7 For All Mankind Mid Rise Bootcut jeans, Rinse Wash - Macy's

Tahari 'Carolyn' sling back pumps, Flint Grey - Off Broadway Shoes

B. Mackowsky 'Melbourne' croc handbag, Metallic Pewter - DSW

Alfani cuff bracelet, Silver w/ gold circles - Macy's

Natasha earrings with crystals, Silver - Nordstrom Trend Accessories Dept.

Cobalt Blue $9.97 Cardigan

Today was so busy I can't even think straight.  There was no time for make-up.

Here is my other $9.97 cardigan.  I managed to snag two at that unbelievable 70% off markdown.  The tank underneath is super old - I bought it four years ago when babydoll tops were all the rage.  I think there is a difference between tops that are babydoll and ones that have emphasis at the waist.  I prefer the latter.  This one is a little bit too flarey at the bottom and it just poofs out at my tummy it seems.  I'm not sure I want to wear it again.  I do like the inset at the waist, but the bottom third of the blouse is just too puffy.  I do love the color of this cardi.

Super Busy Day Outfit

Halogen 3/4 sleeve cardigan, Blue Print - nordstrom.com

Kenneth Cole REACTION blousy tank, black & white pattern - Nordstrom

7 For All Mankind mid rise bootcut jeans, Rinse Wash - Macy's

Tory Burch 'Reva' flat, Silver Metallic - Nordstrom

Alfani ball necklace, Hematite - Macy's SCOTTSDALE, AZ  :) :) :)

Macy's brand cuff bracelet, Hematite/Silver - Macy's