Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!  I'm not one to wear a costume to work, but I did feel festive this year.  I decided to show my spirit with this belt.  Look closely-those are skulls! 

These pants don't have belt loops, so I ended up tightening the belt and wearing it over the sweater, which allowed me to showcase the skulls even more.

Sweater: Old (meaning, don't remember)
Pants: Dahlia via Marshalls/TJ Maxx
Belt: Target
Necklace: Old

 

And of course after work, we had some fun.  Both Rodney and I love sushi...

  

Technically I think they might be sashimi

 

The chef

And don't forget the soy sauce!

Happy Halloween!

Mood Nails

Since I have two giant zits on my face I am foregoing the outfit post to tell you about my fabulous new nails.  My lovely coworker, who gets her nails done regularly, recently showed me her heat sensitive nail polish.  It changes color based on body temperature, akin to mood rings.  After my oohing and aahing she offered to take me to her nail salon.
So we went, and I am so happy with the result!  I have these beautiful nude nails that turn a deep pink when I am cold, which is often.  These not only change color based on my mood (ok body temperature) but they also change my mood, because I get so excited when I see them!  They are gel nails, which also means they last a little longer than traditional nail polish.  Ultraviolet light is used to set them.  Not that much longer, mind you, within 5 days I noticed peeling at the corners, but considering I normally ruin my nails before I leave the salon that is definitely an improvement!

At the salon, after dipping two of my fingers in cold water

Changing colors at a stoplight on my way home

My Achilles Heels

My weakness is jackets.  How many can I possibly need, living in the Deep South?  Doesn't matter- I have a closetful, and I just bought two more for my upcoming birthday!  I can only imagine how many I would have if I lived somehwere it actually gets cold.
So now that it is officially jacket weather I am showing off one of my beauties. 

 This is the cobalt blouse I mentioned in my Menswear Post.

First this sweet boy wanted to be in the photo

Then this one started clamoring for his turn!

And finally these boots!  My other Achilles heel (I know) is boots.  I remember at one point in my midtwenties having tall brown boots, tall black boots, short black boots, short tan boots, and if memory serves even short red boots in my closet all in the same season.  Alas, I was not careful about my purchases back then, and all those cheap boots did not last very long.  This time around I wanted to do a better job.  I tried on many many pairs, but I really wanted weathered gray boots.  This pair is my most expensive purchase to date (other than my wedding dress of course).  I bought them last year when I was pregnant, so I justified the cost since I wasn't buying a lot of (or really any) other clothes or shoes.  When I took these out to wear (I waited a whole year to wear them!), they now appear more brown; I guess it's a warm gray.  But I love them!  They are so comfortable.

 

Jacket:  Marshalls/TJ Maxx

Blouse: Marshalls/TJ Maxx

Skirt: Target

Watch: Husband

Boots:  Naturalizer Juletta Gray

Cool

The temperature here finally dropped over the weekend.  Oops.  I didn't get around to wearing this new sleeveless tunic.  I don't generally wear tunics, but the burgundy shade and leather accents screamed fall, and the lack of sleeves fit well with the then 80 degree weather.  But now it's 60 degrees, so I am wearing it with a sweater underneath.   And I didn't even wear it with my burgundy shoes, aren't you proud of me?  

Tunic:Target
Watch: Husband
Pants: Not Sure

Turquoise

One of my mom's favorite colors is turquoise, so many of the items she has bought for me over the years are in that family.  She always told me it was a good color on me, but I suspected she just likes it.  So naturally I never buy that color for myself.  Until I was in the dressing room trying on this blouse in black, and I noticed that the turquoise really did look much better on me.  Damn it, she was right.

I don't generally wear tunic type blouses, I generally wear blouses that either stop at the waist (the most flattering length on me) or I tuck them into my pants.  I think next time I will try the latter.  This just doesn't feel right.  (Or is that the turquoise?)

The clock is ticking- Got to get to work

Blouse: Target
Pants: Loft
Necklace:  India
Watch: Mom

Matchy Matchy

Isn't this a great blazer?  When I bought it my dear friend Supriti suggested I remove the sequins.  And I remember thinking, why would I do that?  I do like the sequins, but even though they are much sparer than on my other blouse (here) these feel much more obvious.  I hesitated to wear it to work, but I figured I could take off the blazer when I got there.  Then a couple of coworkers complimented it, so it stayed on.
The necklace comes with a matching bracelet.  I bought the set for my mom, knowing full well she wouldn't like it and I would get to keep it!  Devious, I know.  But it is the only time I have pulled that trick.
Now we come to the shoes.  My recent closet cleanout also involved going through my shoes (even though they are in a different closet; talk about dedication!).  I've had these for a long time, ten years or so, and as you can see they are in great shape.  Mainly because I have barely worn them.  For some reason I feel the need to match part of my outfit to these shoes, and I draw a complete blank coming up with other possibilities.  Any suggestions?

Menswear

When I saw that Third Thursday Threads was Menswear Inspired, I knew exactly what I wanted to wear.  I have been wearing this vest for years.  Lucky for me it is now in fashion!   And before I wore the vest with slacks I wore it with a black mini, red silk button up, and red tie.  Back in my single days.
This blouse is one of my favorites.  I saw it in a store in the Village when my now husband and I were walking in NYC.  I was immediately drawn to its perfect shade of pink, as well as the silk ruffles.  I didn't buy it because of the price tag.  Instead I came back to my new home Atlanta and found a similar cobalt version (again, before the color was in fashion- I'm two for two!).   Then on my birthday a few months later Rodney presented me with the blouse! 

 

 

 What trends did you wear before they became trends?  I'd love to hear!  Linking up with Work Clothes, I Suppose.

Blouse: NYC
Vest: Mom
Slacks: Marshalls/TJMaxx
Watch: Husband
Shoes: Old, don't remember

Stud

I have a thing for studs.  In addition to my husband (Hi Rodney), I love studs on belts, boots, buckles, jackets; you get the idea.  In the past I have bought very rough edgy pieces with studs.  Since I do not own a Harley those pieces sat in my closet, or just looked out of place when I wore them.  This blouse is definitely a step up from those- a nice fabric I can wear to work with just a teasing of studs on the collar.   Unfortunately I threw this blouse in the washing machine (there's a better chance of clothes getting up and washing themselves than me hand washing something) and several of the studs did not make it.  I may try to MacGyver them.  Right after I hand wash some things.

No shoes yet!

Blouse: Target
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Max Studio via TJ Maxx/Marshalls
Watch: Mom

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Daytime Sequins

After recently cleaning out my closet these items ended up hanging next to each other because of their similar colors. Voila, a beautiful serendipitous outfit.  Also, who doesn't love sequins in the daytime?  The sequins on this blouse are clear, which mutes the overall effect and makes the shine more subtle.  It's a way to jazz up my work outfit without feeling like a disco ball or looking like I am doing the walk of shame (which for the record and for my husband if he reads this, I have never done). 

Blouse: Loft
Skirt: Target
Shoes: Target
Watch: Mom

RRRING

Yes, I know.  2010 called, and it wants its outfit back!  Neon yellow and bubble necklace, two trends from circa 2010 made their way into my outfit today, in 2013.  In my defense both of these items are about a year old, so I didn't wear them in their heyday.  At least I'm not stuck in a time warp, right?  I actually tried the outfit with a different necklace this morning, to avoid being passe, but I like it with the bigger necklace to break up the sea of yellow.  Also, I always get multiple compliments when I wear a bubble necklace, still, because they are just now making their way into the community where I live.  I promise I will retire the bubble necklace by the end of the year.  It won't see 2014, at least not on my neck.  Though you might see it a time or two before then!

Blouse: Loft
Pants: Loft
Watch: Mom

Delicate

I actually bought this dress after seeing it on Audrey from Putting Me Together.  I had been wanting to try stripes (can you believe I did not own a single striped item of clothing?), and this dress just caught my eye.  On my first wear today a woman in the elevator complimented it.  As I told her, it's SO COMFORTABLE.  I just might wear it everyday.  My blog is done!  Just kidding, of course.
For the inaugural wear I paired it with this beautiful delicate necklace I bought years ago when I was in Oaxaca, Mexico.  I saw it in the store and loved it, but since I do not really wear green I didn't buy it.  I tried to be responsible by not purchasing something that would not match anything in my closet.  Then the next day I went back and bought it anyway.  And I have no regrets.

Still trying to figure out photos

Dress: Kohls
Cardigan: Target
Necklace: Mexico
Watch: Mom
Black Pumps: No idea, so old, but aren't they cute?

Awkward Pose, Anyone?

These are both bathroom shots, the top one taken by my husband before I headed out for the day, the bottom one at work when I arrived.  I somehow made it that far without any major disasters on my outfit.  The accessories on this outfit don't match exactly- leopard calf hair with metal buckle, gold necklace, and rose gold watch, but I feel the warm colors still go together nicely.  I wonder what my high school friends ("you can't wear black with brown", or "silver and gold") would say about it.
Dress: Target
Belt: Nordstrom
Necklace: Mom
Black Wedges: DSW
Watch: Mom