Work Chic

A simple work-chic look with a girly twist (I wish the lighting had been better so you could see the pretty bright-yellow-green top):




Ruffly Cardigan: Gap
Black Dress Skirt: Banana Republic
Camisole: Banana Republic
Bright yellow-green twist top: Velvet
Bow Peep-toe Pumps: J Crew

Sunday Afternoon Shopping

Hubby and I had some errands to run last weekend and headed out on a summery Sunday afternoon to take care of them. We got our errand-shopping done in no-time and even ventured out for a cute brunch at a local restaurant.



I decided to wear a breezy skirt since the weather was pretty hot. This skirt looked a lot different on me when I bought it...I've lost about 13 lbs since then so it doesn't quite fit right any more, but I still like the pattern and cut.



Patterned Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Green Tank: Banana Republic
Braided Belt: Urban Outfitters
Sandals: Jessica Simpson
Purse: Chanel

Casual Daytime Shopping

Hubby and I went out to run some errands last weekend, and the weather was hot-hot-hot and super humid. I decided to wear a fave of mine - a J Crew jersey dress, but I wanted to give the simple gray dress some amped up style. So, I added a J Crew flower tie-on-belt for a pop of color and paired the look with some nude wedges. A hot pink, enamel bracelet gave the look another little flash of color.



Gray Jersey Dress: J Crew
Turquoise/Navy tie-on, flower belt: J Crew
Nude, Strappy Wedges: Banana Republic
Purse: Chanel
Sunglasses: Chanel
Enamel Bracelet: J Crew

Evening Couples Baby Shower Look

Hubby and I were invited to an evening couples baby shower for one of his friends. I wasn't sure exactly what to wear since I hadn't heard anything about the dress code (and hubby got the invite) but decided that a dress sounded like a good idea. I decided to try to go a bit dressy without going too over-the-top in case the event turned out to be more on the casual side. Here's what I wore:



It turned out that a few girls at the shower had flip flops and denim on, but I think I still blended in nicely.

Dress: Local boutique
Tank Top: The Limited
Cardigan (held not worn): Gap
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Linen Peep-Toe Pumps: Banana Republic
Purse: Chanel

Springalicious Ensemble

The weather has really been heating up lately, so I'm finally able to bust out some of my fave warm-weather skirts. Layers help keep me warm inside and cool outside.



Skirt: Banana Republic
Blue Top: Banana Republic
White Cotton Cardigan: Gap
Linen Peep Toe Shoes: Banana Republic

Reebok EasyTone Shoes - Final Review

I've been wearing my Reebok EasyTones for about a month now, and I'm ready to provide a final review.



Differences
Not only have a I noticed a difference in my muscle utilization as I've casually worn my Reebok EasyTone shoes out and about, but I've also made some differences in how I walk to get more "bang for the buck" so to speak. I like to think of myself as a pretty heart healthy person who makes small changes here and there to have a healthy lifestyle anyways. However, my EasyTones had me parking further, taking stairs, etc. even more than usual just to up my muscle intensity.

Final Review
I loved how the Reebok EasyTone shoes helped a busy girl like me multi-task. I could do the same things I do day-to-day, but by adding my EasyTone shoes to the mix, I got a bit of a workout in, too, without even having to really try. For example, everyday, I have to walk from the parking deck to my office and then back. Switch the heels for the EasyTones and you've just killed two birds with one stone. And who doesn't like squeezing a workout into your day without having to hit the gym? Sure, gym trips are fun now and again, but the EasyTones are great for those times you just can't pencil a workout in to your busy social calendar.

Warm Weather Work Ensemble

The weather keeps getting warmer and warmer, and I'm loving it! I recently did a slightly-nautical number with a pop of color for a work look:



The bow on the top is my fave part of the outfit.



I styled my hair curly to match the playful look.

Skirt: Banana Republic
Blue + White Top with Bow: H&M
Cardigan: Gap
Shoes: Banana Republic
Mother-of-Pearl Sunglasses: Chanel

Reebok EasyTone Shoes - Halfway Point

I'm halfway done with testing out my Reebok EasyTone Shoes (click here for the first post), and so far, so good!



Style
The Reebok EasyTone shoes look just like regular tennis shoes. Many fashionistas may find this shocking, but I actually like to run errands in tennis shoes from time to time...especially when they're doing double-duty like these are! Like I said...I love to multi-task! I found these shoes worked well with both workout gear and with jeans and a sweatshirt to run errands. I know...Stacy and Clinton would not approve, but some days, you just want to bum out. What can I say? We can't wear stilettos everyday 24/7, now can we? Ok, some people can, but I'm not one of them. Some days, I choose comfort over What-Not-to-Wear-style! Besides, jeans and tennis shoes can be pretty cute some times.

Shoe Use
When I first started wearing the shoes, they felt very..."bouncy" (yea...that's the only word I could come up with). Seriously...I felt slightly like I was in one of those kiddie moonwalk things. The bounciness was slightly awkward at first, but I quickly got used to the feeling. I first wore the shoes to run errands and noticed pretty quickly that I could feel something in my legs. I didn't feel any specific muscle twangs or anything like if I were pressing weights, but it was more like the feeling you get when you've been walking or jogging for awhile - a gentle soreness that tells you you're working your muscles. Since my walk was so short, there was barely any muscle sensitivity at all...it just felt like I'd done a light walking workout.

I took my shoes for longer walks and the feeling was amplified. I could tell I was using my leg muscles more than I would have had I just used regular shoes for my walks. Though I could tell my muscles were being worked a little more, the difference was, once again, gradual. I like how simple the change has been for me and that the difference has been effective but not a drastic change.

I can't wait to see how the last couple weeks go...

Has any one else tried these shoes out? If so, how do you like them?

Casual Chic Work Outfit

They recently changed the work dress code so I can now wear khakis! I'm super excited because I love to rock my khakis and now I can wear them a lot more...not to mention there have been a lot of fab khaki outfits in the latest J Crew catalogs.


Recently, I went for the blush-pink look for a toned done work outfit. I wore a scarf to help stay warm in the cool, windy weather outside and the icy internal temp of the office.


Under, I had a lacy-topped cardigan, shirt, and one of those Gap cardigans I recently lusted after. I don't think it's the chicest thing I've ever worn to the office, but considering how comfy it all was, I think it was a great combo.

Tank Top: Banana Republic
Shirt: Gap
Cardigan: Gap
Khakis: Banana Republic
Peep-Toe Pumps: Banana Republic

Nice Casual Wedding Attire

Recently, I went to the wedding of a long-time family friend with my husband and my family. The dress code was "Nice Casual", which I interpreted as "Nice But Not-Too Formal Dress." I don't know why, but upon investigation of my closet's collection of dresses, I realized that my dresses seemed to fall into 2 categories: 1. casual 2. formal. Luckily, I recently made a stop at the Banana Republic outlet where I scored this dress:



I love yellow clothes. Yellow clothes are just so fun and uplifting to wear...they kinda just make you happy, in general. This yellow, strapless dress seemed dressy enough, yet not too dressy to fit the bill for the wedding's "Nice Casual." Not to mention I found this dress at full price $89.99 but had a 20% off coupon to use! Score! Add some cute yet easy to wear (and dance in) heels and some pearls and you're good to go!

Dress: Banana Republic Outlet
Shoes: Banana Republic
Leather Purse: Chanel

Reebok EasyTone Shoes - Workout Solution for Busy Girls

I don't know about you, but there are days when life gets hectic and though I have good intentions to stay fit and workout, the day slips me by and the next thing I know, my day is over sans a good workout. Enter the Reebok EasyTone Shoes. These shoes incorporate special technology to help you get fit while you're enjoying (or frantically rushing through) a regular day.



About the Reebok EasyTone Shoes:
* EasyTone- Reebok’s innovative footwear technology that helps to “tone as you go” and is suited to match the demands of the modern woman

* Contain unique balance pods built in under the heel and forefoot of the shoes, which are designed to create natural instability with every step

* The pods force key leg and glute muscles to adapt to instability and encourage toning- increasing Gluteus Maximus toning by 28%, and hamstring and calve muscles by 11%

* Testing at University of Delaware proved EasyTone to be up to three times softer than conventional foam-based shoes

* From work, to school, to shopping, these stylish training shoes allow you to “Take the Gym with You”

legal disclaimer: *Increased muscle activation up to 28% Gluteus Maximus, 11% Hamstrings, 11% calves. Based on tests comparing EasyTone Go Outside to a typical foam based walking shoe (Reebok Hex Express). Testing does not include EasyTone Flip.



I'll be testing out these shoes over the next 30 days, so I'll let you know what I think of them as I go. I'm so glad to learn about a fitness solution that fits into my busy lifestyle!



I'm a big fan of multi-tasking, so it will be fun to see learn more about how easily I can incorporate fitness with every day life. Check back in a couple weeks to see how the Reebok EasyTone shoes are working out!

Relaxed Shirt Dress Look - Casual Chic

I found the cutest, off-white, shirt dress on sale at Tar-jhay (Target) awhile back for a mere $20, so I of course snagged it immediately. The only problem with the dress was that it was practically see-through and was in major need of some sort of lining.



Yesterday, the weather was nasty and rainy, and I was really feeling boots. After perusing my closet, I settled on trying out that shirt dress along with a lining dress from another one. I loved how easy the dress was - so nice and flowy and not at all binding. I used a simple brown belt to cinch the waist in so the look wasn't too dowdy.



I'll def be sporting this one again...it was so easy and comfy and just relaxed!



Up-close of the belt!

Dress: Converse from Target
Lining: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Via Spiga
Belt: Urban Outfitters

Spring Day Suit - Blue + White

I think there may be some rule about not wearing white yet or something, but rules are meant to be broken, right? I've become an avid weather-report-watcher over the years and always check the weather before getting dressed or selecting an outfit for the day. Today's weather report called for a lovely, sunny, warm 70 degree F day, so I was feeling white pants.

Although the weather outside was supposed to be quite warm, I knew the "weather" inside my office would be another story, so I added as many layers to my outfit as I could fit.


I started with a simple, blue, top from a recent shopping excursion...got this at the BR outlet for around $20! I also added this lightweight scarf that I found on the sale rack at BR for a mere $7...down from like $50!


Then, I added a Gap cardi...


...then a BR blazer to match the pants! I always try to get matching blazers to pants if I can afford to...it's so nice to be able to wear a full suit to work sometimes. I'll always regret not getting the suit jacket that matches my fave ever dress pants from J Crew.

Sadly, nearly this entire outfit, except the cardi, but including the shoes, is from BR. As much as I love BR, I really prefer to mix up different brands a bit more...gonna have to work on shopping in some new stores this season!

Still, the cool, crisp white seemed to be the right color for the wonderful weather we had today. Good thing I wore my white pants today...it's supposed to rain tomorrow!

Basic Business Casual: Khaki + Sweater

Sorry for my non-posting, but my fashion + shopping self needs a bit of a jump start. I'm hoping now that my credit card is paid off and I'm shopping (carefully, of course) again, that the love of clothes will return.

In the meantime, I haven't been sharing many outfit posts because lately my outfits are usually pretty basic (read boring) office wear outfits, like this:



Our dress code has recently been downgraded and we're allowed to wear khakis! I'm so excited because when the weather gets warmer, I'd like to work some of the super cute khaki looks I've been seeing in my J Crew mags. Till then, I have to bundle up to combat the chilly weather both outside and inside with layers including long sleeve tops and warm sweaters.

Khakis: Banana Republic
Top: Banana Republic
Sweater: Banana Republic (what can I say, I love my BR!)
Boots: Nine West
Necklace: handmade by me

Infatuated with J Crew Spring 2009

I am so in love with J Crew's spring collection. I want one of everything, but since I'm not independently wealthy, I'll have to settle for none or maybe 1 or 2 things (since I know I've already purchased some other things that were such good deals, I couldn't pass them up).

Statement Necklace

Sunray necklace - $150
Would it be wrong to spend the majority of my shopping budget on this gorgeous statement piece? I'm thinking it could be a good investment if I can use it to dress up a lot of my spring '09 outfits. With this baby, you can make a T-shirt look fab!

Girly Top

Viscose ruffle-sleeve tank - ON SALE - $29 (from $42)
Besides cardigans, my other clothing staples are tank tops. I don't like sleeves, so cute tank tops are a must for me! This one, with the adorable ruffles, is a winner and the price doesn't hurt. Hmm...Maybe I should hit up the mall today before this baby gets snatched up?

Bright Bottom

Metallic-silk mini - ON SALE - $58 (from $78)
I feel like I'm finally getting my staple bottoms down, so now it's time to play. I normally don't do orange in my wardrobe (I have nothing against it, it's just not the first color I'm drawn to) but there's something about this skirt that I simply love!

Cutesy Cardigan

Cotton-cashmere ruffle cardigan - $68
Ahh...cardigan...my love. I don't have any...wait...I only have 1 short-sleeved cardigan and this cutesy, ruffly one would make a great addition to my current cardigan collection. I also this this cardigan would look awesome with that sunray necklace I'm currently craving.

Perfectly Pastel Pumps

Joley patent-leather peep toes - $198
I think I've mentioned before, but J Crew is one of my fave brands for shoes - they are so comfortable. I have learned the hard way that only their round-toe or peep-toe shoes are comfortable for me, personally, because I have wider feet. How gorge are these baby-pink pumps!? Love them...want them...

NOTE: Images by jcrew.com

Want: Gap - The new V-neck cardigan

My dress code at work is business casual and my fave article of clothing for such a dress code is the cardigan - the ultimate layering essential, IMO.

This one by Gap is so cute - especially those little buttons on the cuffs!

Gap - The new V-neck cardigan - $44

I want one in every color, though I think I'll have to settle for just adding 1 or 2 to my wardrobe. I'm feeling the black and turquoise colors.

Image: gap.com

Dinner Date Outfit with Hubby

It's been a bit of a struggle for me to post as often as usual since I've been working on paying off my credit card, my laptop died, though I replaced a few months later with a Mac, and because I lost my photo editing software and can't afford to buy it again. Phew! It's tough to get in the mood to shop when you're trying to save every penny to get rid of stupid debt!

The good news is that I paid off my credit card (Yay!), but the new bad news (bad for shopping) is that we're saving for a house, so I'm still going to have to be tight on finances. I know I can still get some good shopping in on a budget, so I'm hoping to rekindle my love of bargain shopping.


Hubby and I went out for a simple date night a couple weekends ago so I got a little dressed up but not too much.


I got to wear some new booties I purchased recently. I almost wore skinny jeans so I could show off the shoes more, but I didn't feel them that night. At least you guys can see them. :)

Jeans - Banana Republic
Tank Top - Forever 21
Sweater - Ann Taylor Loft
Booties - Forgot the brand...will have to update later

Sephora Make-Up Shopping

Sephora is the devil when you're shopping on a budget, no? I want one of everything in there! I braved my shopaholicism and went to Sephora with a girlfriend this past weekend. I went for eyeliner and came back with some other goodies. They were all under budget, though. :)


I got the eyeliner I went for (Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes eyeliner in Black), new lip gloss (Korres - cherry), and a LORAC multi-plantinum palatte. I also got a free sample of some Sephora body cream in coconut, which smells delish!


Here's a peek under the covers.


And a closer look at the palette. I was torn between getting this palette and the other LORAC palatte, but the guy at the store pointed out that since I already have the Croc palette, I already have plenty of neutrals, so the platinum would be more fun.


Since I spent so much at Sephora, I decided to try to get as little as possible in the clothes department. I ended up just getting this adorable tank top for around $13.


Here's a closer look at the floral neckline. I love this part!

Have you gotten any good goodies lately? Are you shopping as much as you used to?

'Confessions of a Shopaholic' New York Premiere

'Confessions of a Shopaholic' star, Isla Fisher, struts her stuff on the red carpet at the New York premiere of the movie.


Doesn't she look fab? I love that dress on her!


What do you think about her hairstyle? It's like a play on the French-braid. I kinda like it, but I'd have to see it more to say for sure. What do you think?

So, has anyone seen the movie yet? Do tell! Was it good? Can you believe I haven't? I can't wait to, though!

Photo/Info from SplashNews (for both photos):
Caption: Isla Fisher at the 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' New York premiere at the Ziegfeld theater.
Copyright: © www.splashnews.com
Credit: Demis Maryannakis / Splash News

Casual Work Day

We are allowed to wear pretty much whatever we want to work, so long as we're not at a client site. Since I just rolled off of a project in corporate banking (with a very formal dress code), I am taking full advantage of my company's dress code. It's hard to not roll into the office every day in jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, and northface, but every once in awhile, I hear Clinton + Stacey in my head telling me to dress nicer no matter what.



Today was one of those days I attempted to dress up more than normal. The forecast called for cold weather, so I probably should have worn a bigger sweater, but I felt like wearing this, so I did. I love dressing in layers, but it was so cold today, I kept all these on, plus a scarf. Is it cold where you are and if so, how cold?

Turquoise long-sleeve top: Banana Republic
Brown Sweater: Target
Khakis: Banana Republic
Necklace: J Crew
Boots: Nine West

Casual Dinner Outfit

I went over to a friend's place to have a casual dinner - pizza, salads, snacks, and yummy banana pudding for dessert (thanks Michelle!). I tend to overdress for these kinds of things, so tonight, I tried really hard to keep my look casual while still looking chic.


I wore one of my favorite coats to the party - a tweed-y coat from Banana Republic. It was chilly outside, so I also wore my BR scarf.


For my outfit, I tried to do a J Crew-ish look - jeans with a simple sweater and a long necklace to dress everything up. I scored this Michael Michael Kors sweater recently at Steinmart. It was on the clearance rack for a mere $19-ish...can you believe it?

Btw, Michelle recently started a blog. Check her out at Pinque-en the City

Tweed-y Coat: Banana Republic
Scarf: Banana Republic
Jeans: Banana Republic
Camisole: The Limited (best cami ever!)
Sweater: Michael Michael Kors
Socks: Gap
Boots: Nine West
Necklace: J Crew

Kors Michael Kors - Bang Wedge Sandal - Yay or Nay?

Check out these funky wedges I found online whilst browsing the web tonight:

Kors Michael Kors - Bang Wedge Sandal - $225

It's looking like the super-tall wedge will be big this spring, so this is an interesting take on things. While the bigger wedges scare me a bit, I kinda like the v cut-out in the wedges of these shoes.

What do you think? Do you like these? Yay or Nay?

image: neimanmarcus.com

Anthropologie Does Spring Tops for 2009

Oh, Anthropologie, why do you taunt me so with your beautiful Spring 2009 tops? Look what I found when I innocently browsed to Anthropologie in search of chic placemats:


Curl & Twirl Sweater - $88


Tivoli Scoopneck - $88


Remember Me Surplice - $98


Esja Blouse - $68

Maybe if I'm a good girl with my budget this month, I will treat myself to one of these feminine beauties?

NOTE: images by anthropologie.com

Jessica Alba's New Haircut

Just when I'm starting to think that Jessica Alba has fallen off the face of the earth, here she is again!


What do you think of Jessica Alba's new haircut? I like it better when she does the long hair with the loose waves/curls. Her updos are pretty chic, too, though.


I also really like her outfit - it's so casual-chic. I think I could put nearly the same look together using stuff in my closet. Hmm...maybe I'll wear that to work tomorrow?

Photo/Info from SplashNews (for both photos):
Caption: Jessica Alba shopped on Robertson Blvd in Beverly Hills. She was proud of her new look. Her new hairstyle is very fashionable.
Copyright: © www.splashnews.com
Credit: King Paparazzi / Splash News

Holiday to Work Outfit

After regressing a bit with the non-shopping, I've been trying to will myself into returning that J Crew coat I got on that spree. So far, no luck. Although I was able to return half of the stuff I got, I wasn't able to convince myself to return some of the other items, including a cashmere sweater and this sweater dress:


Banana Republic cowlneck knit dress - $59.99 (down from $110)

I tried for a few weeks to rationalize that I needed to return some more stuff. I left all my clothes laid out on my couch as a reminder that I needed to decide on keeping or returning anything else. After admitting to myself that this baby wasn't going back to the store, I clipped the tags and wore this dress to my family's Christmas dinner. I also got to wear this earlier this week (Wednesday) to work. I love a great versatile clothes-item. It gives me more reason to keep it! Ha!

Sweater dress: Banana Republic
Knee-high boots: Ann Tayor Loft
Silk Bangle: 10,000 Villages
Black Tights: American Apparel