Decidedly D

Wearing Today...

2013-08-08T14:30:00.000-05:00

Last night I had one of those nights where I woke up and had a hard time going back to sleep. I am on a search committee for a position at the university, so I wanted something that looked put together but required minimal effort. The cardigan+button down+statement necklace combination never fails...

Wearing Today...

2013-08-07T14:30:00.000-05:00

Wednesday deserves some hot pink shoes, doesn't she?

Kate Spade Surprise Sale

2013-08-06T15:00:00.000-05:00

I'm sure a lot of you are aware by now, but Kate Spade is having another Surprise Sale. Sales like this get me so amped up because you have to act fast to get your items of choice. Below are my picks. If you click on the Polyvore collage below, you can be redirected to the item's listing. Enjoy!

Wearing Today...

2013-08-06T14:30:00.000-05:00

For some reason, I tend to shy away from red clothing, but I do appreciate some pink! I did a different take on primary colors - I kept the blue, but instead of red, I chose a magenta bag and instead of true yellow, I went with citrus lime.

Weekday Wishes

2013-08-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

Dress || Belt || Purse || Shoes

Wearing Today...

2013-08-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

When my alarm went off this morning, I felt like a freight train had just hit me. To combat my sluggishness I decided to go with some soft yet refreshing pastels.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Back-to-School Tax-Free Outlet Shopping

2013-08-04T20:00:00.000-05:00

Since I work at a university and am taking graduate courses, I am keenly aware of back-to-school season. For some strange reason, even though I'm an adult, I feel entitled to back-to-school shopping. (As if I need a special occasion to shop!) On Saturday, my husband and I headed out to our nearest outlet mall in Foley, AL with my sights set on J.Crew Factory and a few select stores. The whole store was 40% off (akin to the J.Crew Factory website), clothing was tax free, and we picked up some coupons that entitled us to get 20% off a single item and I was able to use the 15% educator discount! I never thought I would be eligible, but now that I think about it, why wouldn't I be eligible?

In addition to hitting up J.Crew, I made a purchase at Loft Outlet and the Nine West Outlet. While walking past Loft, I insisted on looking at the window dressing, where I spied the cutest little jersey shell with pleats down the front and oh my gosh - let me catch my breath - an embellished Peter Pan collar. I ran into the store on a mission and on the hunt. After searching for a while, I decided to ask an employee. There was no one working out on the floor, so I decided to stand in line. The wonderful saleslady promptly wrestled it off the mannequin. There were a few pinholes in it from fitting securely onto the mannequin, but I usually tuck in tops and/or wear a cardigan, so this was a non-issue for me. The whole store was marked down 40%, I got a 20% damage discount and I used a 20% off coupon. I got this ~$40 top for about 15 dollars!

Check out this collar!

At Nine West, I found these versatile burlapy canvas pointy cap toe flats:

What about you? Did you do a little back-to-school shopping? Tell me what you got!

The Ultimate Holiday

2013-05-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

Well, it is.

Today is my birthday. To me, birthdays are the ultimate holiday. (Please don't get me wrong, I am totally okay with and respectful of the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses - and maybe other faiths/belief systems- don't celebrate birthdays.) It's the day we joined the earth and starting contributing to the world. It's a celebration of life and how we're thankful of each other's lives.

I'm taking off work from now through Memorial Day, and don't you know my schedule has already been made since about two weeks ago. As much as I know I need to rest, there's just so stinkin' much I want to get done.

Happy Birthday, everyone, whenever it is!

Kate Spade Saturday (for the home)

2013-05-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone! How are you? Seriously, I want to know!

When Kate Spade Saturday was getting ready to launch, I was already on the bandwagon. I mean come on, Kate Spade styling and essence paired with more affordable pieces?! I was so there. When the site first launched, although I found few items that fit with my lifestyle and budget, I was excited about things to come - and I surely was not disappointed. While recently poking around on the site after seeing blogger after blogger featuring KSS items, I found several items that I'm not so sure I'm gonna be able to live without. It has a certain clean, modern Ikea-esque style that I'm drawn to. I can't resist black+white+a pop color. I even like the sampler print and that is so not what I'd usually be into. That just goes to show you the level designing genius is going on here. When you can get someone into something they normally wouldn't gravitate to, that's pretty clever. The zig zag print is the pattern winner for me, but only by a nose. :)

plates | short glasses | throw pillow covers (windowpane, sampler, zig zag) | mugs (yellow, zig zag, sampler, windowpane)

Newest eBay Auctions

2013-05-11T17:22:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone! I hope you're all having a productive/relaxing/fun weekend. I've just listed some auctions on eBay - check them out here. If you're a reader, feel free to contact me if you'd like to make an offer. Happy bidding and as always, thank you for reading!

philosophy field of flowers

2013-03-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

I was in Ulta the other day looking for rollerball fragrances (previous post on my new obsession with rollerballs). I absolutely love the delicacy of philosophy's fragrances, so I tried some of the field of flowers scents. Not all of them are offered as eau de toilettes, so I tried out the lotions. I think my favorite was the peony blossom, with magnolia blossom as a close second. Hopefully they'll consider making these scents in rollerball form!

Do you like philosophy scents? What's your favorite?

Winged Satchels & Handbags

2013-03-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

There's something so sculpted, architectural, sophisticated, and modern about winged purses. I love the silhouette of satchels, but the short handles are usually too short and I don't really like to wear the long shoulder strap. I really like to be able to comfortably wear both handles over my shoulder, so for me, the strap drop is probably the most important detail I look at when shopping for a purse.

I received a coupon for 25% off at Coach and I had had my eye on the Candace for quite some time. (True story: Like, two days before the coupon arrived in my inbox, I told myself the next time I get one of those coupons, I'm gonna go get me one a them there Coach purses. I ended up buying two, but that's a story for another time.) I chose the black color because I really love the graphic contrast of black with whites and brights and thought it would be an addition to my wardrobe that would see a good amount of action. The size is just perfect for my needs. And at 25% off, it was a good deal for an optimum quality leather purse. If you flip it around, it has a outer zippered compartment that hints to the Celine Luggage.

The Celine Luggage bag is way out of my price range, and the exact price is difficult to nail down. The Purse Forum thread dedicated to just to this subject gives a general range.

The MK Selma comes in around $350 (depending on where you buy it), the J.Crew Tartine at $325, and the Coach Tanner is $498.

What do you think of this silhouette? Do you have a winged handbag that's not on this list? I want to hear about it!

High End Fragrances in Small Doses

2013-02-26T18:00:00.000-06:00

I am fragrance-phobic. I find most of them to smell cheap even if the price tag says otherwise. If I do find a fragrance I do like and want to buy it, I'm paralyzed by the price. What if I buy it and end up not liking if after a few uses? It's not an efficient use of money, that's for sure. I've noticed that recently a lot of perfume makers/designers have been putting their scents in a smaller form in a rollerball. I love the idea of rollerballs because they're not expensive usually, they're portable and there's just not so much of it.

I was in Dillard's a couple of weeks ago and picked up the Kiehl's Original Musk Oil rollerball (I think they make other oils in rollerball form, too, but they're not on the website) on a whim. It's kind of masculine but I don't think I smell like I'm wearing men's cologne. Anyway, it got me thinking, I may be more interested in perfume if I could avoid the commitment of a huge bottle and equally big price tag.

This past weekend I found myself back in the mall and thought I'd try some smells in hopes of being able to purchase them in rollerball form. I really liked the Marc Jacobs Dot, Daisy and Eau So Fresh. I also like See By Chloe. The rollerballs were often combined into sets with other products which I wasn't interested in. When I got home, I took my search to the internet. I found a set of the Daisy and Eau So Fresh in a rollerball set with Oh, Lola!, which I haven't tried. The rollerballs are usually around $20/each on Sephora's site, and I found this set of three rollerballs for around $30 on eBay, so I figure it's worth the risk - who knows, I might like it. I was able to find a Dot rollerball, but it looks like See By Chloe isn't being offered in a rollerball form, so I bought a sample size on eBay.

I ended up spending less than $60 for five perfumes, which I think it probably less than buying one full eau de toilette or parfum.

Do you like rollerballs? Is there a scent you wish you could try out on an extended basis that doesn't come in a rollerball form?

The Uniform: I've Figured Out the Formula

2013-02-13T16:00:00.000-06:00

I've finally figured out the formula to my personal perfect uniform. I used to think that having a uniform meant recycling the same ol' things that are in the same color palette. And while having a color palette is a good rule of thumb, I found that it just wasn't working for me. I (and I'm sure I'm not alone in this) need a mix and match wardrobe that can be worn to work or for play (thankfully I work in a business-casual environment, so as long as I'm not showing any skin or wearing jeans on a non-Friday-day, I can wear whatever I want).

Have you ever noticed how the thing that you think won't go with anything actually goes with everything? That's how I feel about my J.Crew Viv Striped Flats. They're not available on the site right now, but eeeeevery now and then you'll see a pop-back or you can sometimes find them on eBay. Anyway, I mix them with stripes and plaids and solids and brights and it's always somehow perfect.

I am a huge fan of cropped pants. J.Crew's Cafe Capris are more cropped pants than capris and they hit me on a pretty flattering place just above my ankle bone. I rarely wear full length pants; I wear skirts moderately during the summer and capri pants pretty much the rest of the year. I have seven pair of this style and an orange pair of the FactoryWinnies (I'm just dying for the Minnies in the bright berry color), so I've just about got a complete rainbow of colors. I actually prefer the Winnie to the Minnie, so I may pick up a pair in navy (especially since the whole site is 30% off right now - holla!).

Okay, so I take a collared shirt, and depending on if it's a neutral (navy or black, in my case) or a bright, I pair it with a contrasting bottom. I add a sweater vest (the Jackie shell or Factory version) or 3/4 sleeve cardigan (Jackie again or Factory) for a little dimension and to keep from freezing in my office or the grocery store. I pick one of my three pairs of pointy bow flats - my favorite silhouette right now. For jewelry, I have a rather embarrassingly large number of bubble necklaces so I pick out one of those. (Styling tip: I put on my monogram necklace and layer the bubble necklace over my collared shirt.) I try to take it easy on my wrist - I've seen some arm parties where too many bracelets have been invited. I do a sensible stack of one or two bracelets and a watch. I feel so naked without earrings so I make sure I've got on either my pearl studs or my starfish studs.

And that's it. This might not work for you. Sharing my uniform with you isn't a way of telling you that you should be doing the same thing. But try it, it might work. But it might not. The whole point really is to try lots of stuff and go with what you know works.

I know I mentioned that the J.Crew Factory site is on sale for 30% off, but J.Crew's site is also doing an additional 30% off of sale items (yesterday I bought the Scout Chino in neon rose - which for some reason is showing as the sale price is the original price; I called customer service about it and they were able to do them for 30% off when I ordered over the phone - and the Jackie shell in sea glass). Shop to it.

This Week In Review

2012-11-11T17:52:00.001-06:00

View this collection on Polyvore

Scroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Workwear Wednesday: Can-Not-Live-Without Office Essentials

2012-11-07T17:17:00.000-06:00

Sheath dress: I wear this jumper style with a shirt underneath, with a blazer or sweater and it's easily accessorized

Black flats: I gotta be able to move, and these help me do that.

Scarf: Somethin' fun

Button downs: Chambray and silk aren't your average everyday office tops. Make sure to choose well-tailored tops to keep them from being overly casual.

Striped tee: A classic black and white stripe makes getting dressed a breeze and fights off an overzealous a/c.

Black slim pants: Stretchy and appropriate. Make sure they're in a suiting material.

Dark wash jeans: Casual Friday? I'm set.

Black skirt: I love my ponte skirt. I have a wool pencil skirt that I wear in the winter, but since winter is about 2 weeks long where I live, this ponte skirt sees a lot of action.

Pearl studs: Always appropriate and go with everything.

Watch: Gotta know what time it is!

This Week In Review

2012-11-04T09:58:00.002-06:00

View this collection on Polyvore

Scroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Who Loves a Sale?: Shorts

2012-11-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Interested in more than one? Email me - I'm sure we can work out a reasonable deal.

Workwear Wednesday // Having a "Uniform"

2012-10-31T08:40:00.001-05:00

The word "uniform" can elicit images of school uniforms or uniforms at fast food restaurants or grocery stores... that's what I used to think anyway. However, I have molded my definition of uniform to mean a standardized style of dressing. This week has shaped up to be a week where I'm thankful that I've somewhat created one.

My uniform is my wardrobe. It's my standardized style of dressing.

A couple of months ago, I did a huge wardrobe purge. Not so much huge, but really hugemongous. This is not a new concept for me; in the past I had done several of these, only to get lured back by trendy or seasonal items. This time, it's for keeps.

Now, this is not to say that I haven't purchased anything - there were some "holes" in what was left after the purge. I am making a personal commitment of mindfulness when it comes to adding items to my wardrobe.

If you'd like to view my currently wardrobe (not the "minimalist" version of it), scroll through the below slideshow. It does change from time to time.

View this collection on Polyvore

I built this wardrobe around what I like, what I feel flatters me (subjective!), and what I can really move in. I don't feel comfortable in v-neck tops, short skirts, super high heels, most blazers and tight clothing. I have also purged anything that I can't make at least 5 outfits with. I'm a big fan of neutrals and *gasp* black (so many people think that black is depressing or universally makes you look slim, but used responsibly, it's super chic), so that's what I've got. If I want to incorporate a trending color, I try to do that with a silhouette I often wear (like a long-sleeved tee - it goes with anything!)

What you'll see, generally, is slim cut bottoms, pencil skirts, button-downs/long sleeve tees and my third piece (jacket/vest), a few dresses, and tasteful, simple bits of jewelry. Some weeks I have "sub-uniforms" of all dresses or button-downs + skirts or long-sleeve tees + pants (all rounded out with flats and a third piece).

If I had some advice to give, it's just what you've always heard. Wear what you like, what feels good and what you feel looks good. If you find a good button down that fits you perfectly buy a couple (but not 8). And we all know how time consuming jeans shopping is, so if you find your "it" pair, buy a couple; one in a dark rinse and one in black or white or maybe a trending color if you're brave.

This week in the office, it's been bananas. Half of our office has had "life" happen to them, so we're all hustling to make our ship sail smoothly. Some people would get stressed about that, but it's really a chance for the rest of us to bring our skills and leadership to the table to truly shine. And to do that, hard work is called for. I have felt like a train wreck the past few days, so having a condensed wardrobe helps me keep me on track by not having to spend time concocting and outfit and keeps my focus on work-related issues and not what I'm wearing.

All this from a girl who likes clothes.

Sometimes, yeah, I get restless with my wardrobe, but then I reflect on all the positives and then it inspires me to try new combos of what I already have.

This Week In Review

2012-10-28T08:47:00.000-05:00

View this collection on Polyvore

Scroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Who Loves a Sale?: Tops

2012-10-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

Interested in more than one? Email me - I'm sure we can work out a reasonable deal.

Workwear Wednesday: What's Your Office Style?

2012-10-24T14:59:00.001-05:00

Today I'd like to start a conversation about work wear. So, what do you wear to work? What's your office climate?

I receive the Real Simple weekly newsletter via email. I went through a purge recently of email subscriptions and I found that I just couldn't live without my Real Simple fix - they cover it all - recipes, skin care, time management, holidays, decorating, style - and more!

They polled 2,650 Real Simple readers (via Facebook) on what they deem as appropriate for work. You can read the article here.

The results can be summarized as this:
Bare legs - 75% say yes
Open-toe shoes - 69% say yes
Jeans - 65% say yes
Cropped pants - 53% say yes
Leggings - 26% say yes (I might have croaked if it was over 30%)
Shorts - 12% say yes
Strappy tops and dresses - 12% say yes

I really liked how they gave the perspective of a corporate, business casual, and creative work environment. Most of these for me are a "Yes, if..." scenario. It's so dependent on the culture of your office. I work at a university where it's a business-casual environment, generally speaking. There are offices where staff are not allowed to wear denim at all - not even on Fridays, while in our office, it's perfectly okay to wear a nice pair of jeans in the middle of the week. I've seen chinos, I've seen wool suits (and people sweltering in them during a Florida summer), I've seen uniforms, jeans, shorts - you name it. It depends on the office, its function and relation to student service.

With items such as leggings, shorts, and strappy tops/dresses, you can find yourself on a slippery slope. You may have one person who wears leggings "responsibly" with a blouse-y tunic that hits mid thigh and the next may wear a fitted tshirt that comes to the hip with leggings (do NOT make me find you guys pictures of this). If leggings are okay, then both are technically permissible. However, I think we'll all agree that the former scenario is much more palatable for a work environment. Especially if you are a manager, you may find yourself erring on the side of caution and call leggings as inappropriate for your office setting because I guess you can't chastise someone for having bad judgement in clothing... besides, that would be a super awkward conversation.

I would say that my office is on the casual side of business casual. We have a classy crew, so there's been few work wear faux pas. This is and will continue to be my perspective for work wear. And, by judging by the high percentage of "yeses" to bare legs, open toe shoes, jeans, and cropped pants, I would say that in general, work environments are, over time, becoming more relaxed.

My verdict (as it relates to my office culture)
Bare legs - yes, especially in the summer - let's keep that air flowin'! Just make sure your hemline is at least just a hair above the knee or lower.
Open-toe shoes - sure. Although, I'm not a fan of thong sandals in the office. A nice peep toe pump or wedge heel is nice.
Jeans - yes. This depends on your office climate. Make sure you have a nice pair of jeans in a dark wash and contemporary shape that's flattering to your figure. Faded, shredded, overly embellished or ill-fitting jeans should remain at home.
Cropped pants - yes. Opt for a figure flattering cut in a suiting material. There are quite a few options in stretch twills at reasonable prices at retailers like Loft and Gap. You might even find a printed pair that strikes your fancy. Cropped pants are silhouette of the moment. They're the new bootcut trouser.
Leggings - nope.
Shorts - nope.
Strappy tops and dresses - yes, IF IF IF IF and only IF you wear a cardigan/sweater over it that you don't take off. If it's too hot to put on a sweater, please forgive me for being so blunt here, but, wear something else.

What do you think of the poll results? What's your opinion on these categories as they relate to work attire?

Six For The Mix: Fall Wish List

2012-10-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

After a careful assessment of my wardrobe, I've found some holes that need filling. Plus, it's nice to get a few things at the season change to help mix it up a little. Here are my "Six for the Mix":

1. A twinset. A twinset can be pretty versatile. It can of course be worn together, but you could wear the cardigan with a button down or other blouse while the shell can be worn like a sweater vest over an oxford button down. Or you could wear a blouse with the shell and sweater. With a little imagination, I'm sure you could come up with even more options. Try to choose a color that coordinates with your base wardrobe color. Since mine is black, and I love this shade of blue with gray and black, this is a good choice for me. (J.Crew Jackie Cardigan, $62, and Shell, $48)

2. A lined wool pencil skirt. Although I steer clear of animal fibers coming in direct contact with my skin, I do like the structure that wool gives a pencil skirt. And, with a lining and tights, there's almost no chance of the itchies. In the climate in which I live (the Florida panhandle), this skirt is only limited to the coldest it gets here, which only lasts a month's worth of days or so. However, this skirt will last years and years and years. (J.Crew Factory Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool, $59.50)

3. Mid-heeled oxfords. I don't currently have a moderately dress shoe in my arsenal. I just haven't found the right ones. After reflecting on an earlier post on black shoes, I have decided that these are the ones. They can take me to work or holiday party. These are of a fairly classic style, on trend without being overly trendy, so they can last for some winter seasons to come. (Naturalizer Jodell, $79.99)

4. iPhone 5 case. As soon as I pre-ordered my phone, I was immediately on the hunt for a cute, durable phone case. I soon found this lil' darlin' on the Nordstrom site. After weeks of waiting, I was so pleased to see that it fit perfectly and wasn't fragile. I bought a Lightning port to 30-pin port adapter so that I could listen to music through my car's speakers and at work on my little speaker. Disappointingly, the case didn't accommodate the adapter and I had to take my phone out of it adorable little case. Maybe this one will. And since tortoise is my animal print of choice, it's worth a shot. (J.Crew Tortoise Case for iPhone 5, $29.50)

5. Long-sleeved tee in a trending color. This spring and summer it was all about mint. Now it's all about bordeaux. This is an inexpensive and practical way of incorporating a trend into your wardrobe. (J.Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee, $26.50)

This Week In Review

2012-10-21T16:55:00.001-05:00

View this collection on PolyvoreScroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Who Loves A Sale?: Cafe Capris

2012-10-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

Yep, I've got the itch again. Let's move 'em out, folks! Interested in more than one? Email me - I'm sure we can work out a reasonable deal.