Turn the Channel

This weekend flew by but there are a lot of things I'm looking forward to this week so I have no complaints. It was sort of dreary out today but I liked it. I'm finding myself longing for a true autumn day.  Uncharacteristically, I ended up wearing black and white from head to toe today (and to add to the uncharacteristic ensemble, I wore pants!). 

If you look closely you'll notice polka dots (on the pants), bunnies (on the shirt), and a bow (on the jacket) so not really as dark or as urban as this outfit might first appear.  It's funny but lately I've been drawn to some clothing items that are definitely out of comfort zone, like plaid skinny denim pants and a black lace blouse. I'm still a sucker for bright colors and twirly dresses, but it's good to mix things up. 

It's interesting how when you wear something different from what you usually do it can have such an impact on your outlook. I definitely feel like I'm in disguise or something when I put on clothes that fall outside my usual style. In all things I think it's important to find ways to extend beyond one's comfort zone and to see things from different perspectives.  While pushing styling limits may seem insignificant compared with other aspects of life, I still think it's a good test. Tapping into new styles stretches creativity and really makes one reflect on personal style preferences.  Clothes are more than things we wear, they are messages and reflections of ourselves.  And while we all may have a message we choose to project more often, it's nice to switch the channel every now and then.

Outfit Details:

Pants (old): AG Stevie Polka Dot (I actually purchased these from Lord and Taylor but their link is now longer active; you can find a lot of AG Stevie polka dot denim on Ebay right now)

Shirt (old): Banter Tee, Anthropologie

Jacket: Nanette Lepore via Ebay

Light Layers for Cooler Temperatures

Just a quick outfit post from the other day. Although Fall doesn't start officially until Sunday, the temperatures are already reflecting the season.  Last week we had a few days in the 90s and yesterday we had a high in the 60s! Needless to say I was freezing and have started to dread winter already.  This is all to say that I wasn't in any mood to linger outside, at least not take photos without a coat on.  I'm sure I'll start to enjoy the cooler temperatures soon but the abrupt change was a little much.  

One thing fun about cooler temperatures is all the options you suddenly have in terms of styling. Layering pieces in your wardrobe is one of the best ways to explore new looks.  Layering means playing with color, textures and prints and the smallest change can really make such an impact.

Yesterday, I wore some light layers that were just right for the seasonal shift.  I love the combination of stripes, polka dots and playing cards, plus the colors in this outfit work well for any season.  And the best part is I felt warm AND stylish!

How do you stay warm yet remain stylish when the temperatures begin to fall? 

Outfit Details:

Skirt (old): Pinochle Skirt, Anthropologie

Olive green t-shirt (old): can't remember where this is from, it's really really old

Striped tank (old): Anthropologie

Cardigan: Pattern Ponder Cardigan, Anthropologie

Necklace (old): I've had this Pied Piper necklace since I was a child and find it as charming now as I did then

Pattern Mix in Black & White with a Splash of Blue

Testing out how different patterns look together is one of the fun things about getting dressed. This outfit actually has four different patterns playing off and complimenting one another, and that doesn't even count the bright blue tights and eyelash shoes.  I've had this polka dot sundress for years and years.....since high school!  I love that it still feels current and more importantly, I still enjoy wearing it.  Black and white polka dots will never go out of style and what makes this dress a little unique is the smaller dots on the top with the larger dots on the bottom.  The "is it a blouse and skirt or is it a dress?' effect really appeals to me.  I still have the polka dot sash that goes with this dress but lately I've been adding different belts to this dress instead and using the sash with other outfits.  

Yesterday I decided to pair this dress with a soft velvety tee that has a marbled or animal print type pattern. The blurred print and soft texture worked well with the more defined and bold dot print in the dress.  When I got chilly, I threw on a textured white cardigan that has a softened architectural print, like a draft or blueprint, on the front and back. All of the lines in the architectural landscape contrast nicely with the other prints in this outfit.  The only pops of color I added to this mostly all black and white outfit were the blue tights and the gold and red heart earrings I wore.  Who ever said that black and white was boring? Not me.

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Guess (similar idea here and here)

T-shirt (old) - ? (similar idea here, here and here)

Cardigan (old) - Frieze Cardigan by Angel of the North, Anthropologie

Shoes - Pinch, Lash, Smidgen Flat by Loly in the Sky, Modcloth

Bow Belt - Mexx (all kinds of bow belts here)

Bright Yellow and Plenty of Polka Dots = Mid-Week Cure

Well, it’s mid week, summer seems to be disappearing before my eyes and I have a million things on my mind….nothing a little (okay, a lot) yellow and some polka dots can’t cure. I really am in denial that this is the last full week of July. I have several unused vacation days so I’m looking forward to taking a few days off here and there and making the most of these days. Let’s face it, soon enough we’ll all be piling on the layers again.

Outfit Details:

Dress (old): Melora Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Anthropologie (similar idea here and here)

Cardigan (old): Pattern Ponder Cardigan, Anthropologie

T-shirt (old): Vintage Cotton Tee in Stripe, J Crew

Necklace: Kate Spade Picnic Basket Locket (similar here)

Earrings:my nana’s (similar here and here)

Shoes: Suprega Classic Lame Sneakers in Gold, Bloomingdales

The Simplicity and Joy of a Dress

As much as I sometimes grumble about all the little annoyances that seem a part of getting from one place to another in the city, there are many more things that I enjoy. There are always interesting things to see, whether familiar sights that I’ve grown to look forward to seeing or new surprises. Today on the way to work I stopped to read some of the playbills and other material posted up at The Actor’s Temple. I’ve walked by many times thinking that it looked like such a cool place but never actually paused to take a better look. One of the bonuses of getting up early is that I can make little detours on the way to work without risking being late and it definitely keeps the morning “commute" from ever getting dull. One thing I never fail to notice no matter where I’m headed in NYC is all the flower stands, popping up along the sidewalk or of the more permanent kind attached to a store. It’s pretty hard not to notice these pops of color dotting the busy cityscape.

For some reason, the dress I wore today reminds me of fields of flowers…or more accurately, something I’d wear if wandering in fields of flowers. I can picture the subdued lavender color absorbing all the colors and reflecting them back, the perfect “neutral" to allow the other colors to burst out. I’ve had this dress for awhile and tend to style it in a similar way, letting the soft color and raised dots on the dress stand out. Over the years, I’ve experimented by changing the tights, jewelry, cardigan, and/or shoes paired with this dress. It’s a simple dress with a definite vintage vibe. On its own the dress can sort of look a bit like an old nightgown but with the right accessories it can be pretty lovely. It’s also a dress that I seem to wear for every summer occasion, from picnics to outdoor movies to Shakespeare in the park to lunch and shopping dates with friends, to museum visits and more. I love when a dress feels right for a variety of occasions, when a dress is “just" a dress.

Today, I wore grey sheer polka dot tights, pink floral peep-toe kitten heel shoes, an oversized necklace, and some flower post earrings with the dress, giving it a slightly more contemporary look (and giving a nod to that field of flowers). I usually like mixing more patterns and colors into my outfit but sometimes it’s nice to just enjoy the simplicity of a dress….after all, isn’t one of the best things about dresses is that they are complete outfits all on their own?

Outfit Details:

Dress (old) - Tiny Windows Dress, Anthropologie

Shoes (old) - Nelumbo Kitten Heels by Miss Albright, Anthropologie

Tights - Hue Sheer Polka Dot Tights, Lord and Taylor