Pants and Pumps

For someone who claims to prefer skirts, I'm wearing a lot of pants lately.  My new uniform is fun pants and awesome shoes.

Red Old Navy pants and spiked Louboutin Pigalles…

Black diamond Old Navy pants and mint Kate Spade Karolina Bow pumps..

Jcrew olive military-inspired tuxedo-stripe pants plus old Jimmy Choo Thunder slingbacks…

Old Navy red print pants plus Manolo Blahnik red sequin heels...

Plaid pants and red Valentino Rockstud kitten heels…

I think I can make it through winter like this.

Clearly Sophia Webster

Last June I wrote about a new designer that I was keeping my eye on - Sophia Webster.

Her first designs were bright and bold and I was expecting to see her gain more coverage.  I'm excited to say that she continues to delight with here designs out for Spring and Summer.  I'm especially smitten with her ruffle-bow and sequin-bedecked PVC "Lana" t-straps.

I saw these in a number of colors on her site, including red and blue iterations, but the bold black and white is more my style.

These are party and dancing shoes.  You want to kick up your heels and step out and get noticed!  I have another pair I'm dreaming about from Ms. Webster.  She's all the fun, flirty, girly that I love.

I think I have a new favorite designer!

Mint Makes Me Happy

January and February makes me feel so "grey".  It doesn't help that my car is wrecked, the weather is drab and I have a crummy cold.

Some bright mint with a shiny gold bow would make me happy.

I love the freshness of these Kate Spade Karolina pumps. I wouldn't mind tip-tapping into Spring with these.

Shoe Focus - Manolo Blahnik Fiocam Mary Jane

What can I say that isn't already obvious when you look at this shoe?

It's Manolo Blahnik, my favorite designer.

It's a patent mary jane, one of my favorite styles.

It's got an adorable bow.  I can't resist a cute bow.

But it's the combination that makes it irresistible!

Manolo has taken his power shoe - the urban shoe legend, no less  - the Campari, and evolved it.  The heel is not as overtly sexy.  It's a bit lower and more walkable.

And adding the peek-a-boo window and a sweet bow... now you have sweet and sexy.

Of course I got them!

Manolo Blahnik Fiocam... get them at Saks!

A-dor-a-BOWS!

I'm so sorry to have left you with those hideous monstrosities over the weekend.

Here is a refreshingly adorable palate cleanser in the form of bow-tie sandals from Gianvito Rossi.

They really are too cute for words!!!  I can't wait to wear them!

Ensemble du Jour: 1-9-11

We sort of had a date night today.  We went to see the Winston-Salem symphony play  Finlandia by Sibelius and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, so I got to wear one of my party dresses. 

I don't believe in restricting clothes between work and play but some dresses I think are a mite too short for the office.  Maybe they are, maybe they aren't but I play it safe.

But I love this little Neapolitan-colored dress from Lulu's. I actually wore this same outfit to the IFB Blogger's party, but we were running around so much I didn't get any pictures. That time I wore it with black tights, a longer belted cardigan and patent heels.  Here I changed it up with a shorter cardigan, white tights and black velvet peep-toe slingbacks with sweet bows on the front.

Here's a better look at the dress...

And the shoes...

First outfit post of the year, so we're starting off on a fun note!  By the way, I can't believe it's only been one week since I've been back in the office.  I'm ready for another vacation already!



Crafty Crafterson

Last year I saw this adorable felt bow project on Twig and Thistle and new I had to make one of my own.  They actually used a tutorial from How About Orange on making bows from magazines and other papers as the inspiration for the felt version.

Isn't this sweet?  I love it on the presents as a special topper but it's so perfect as a classy yet festive holiday brooch.

I had almost forgotten about it but yesterday it popped into my mind again and I ran out to grab some felt.  Luckily I already had pin backs. It takes a bit of time to cut out all the strips so they stay even.  That was the longest step.  This is the first bow I made so it's a bit of a test bow but it turned out great, I think!

So, unoriginal, I know but I styled it with a grey blazer as well.  It jazzes up my otherwise boring work outfit of jeans and black flats.

The red bow is classic but I'm going to try a nice dark evergreen green (maybe for the hubby to wear) and I found this amazing alligator print embossed felt in red that I'm really excited to try out next.  I'll post pics.

If you want a simple yet festive bow to wear or decorate with this is it.  Plus it's inexpensive.  I only needed 1 piece of felt which is $0.29 and the pin back which are 50 for $3. If you have a glue gun already, you're set!


Photo Credit (all but last two) from Twig and Thistle.

Two Sides of the Coin

I need some opinions here.  I have my company holiday party tomorrow (Saturday) night and I'm trying to decide what to wear.  This is a pretty low-key event - just a cocktail party at a local, nice restaurant with our small group plus spouses.  But since I feel like I never get out of the house, part of me wants to go a bit crazy... at least by North Carolina standards. 

To put it in perspective, I wore fake eyelashes last year and caused quite a stir.  So yeah...

Anyways, I've narrowed it down to two options.  One a bit "crazier" and the other an outfit I picked up today that I really like which also happens to be a bit more elegant.  So here are the choices -

Option 1 - Short dress with added crinoline, cardigan and uber-high heels.

The black and white petticoats I bought a long time ago.  The dress is from Forever 21 about a year ago and the cardigan is Twelve by Twelve also from about a year ago.

I hate going sleeveless so I would add the cardigan no matter what, but the fact that it's chilly means it's going to be necessary.

I love these fabric rosettes and the rhinestone buttons. Gives is just the right amount of shine.

Now, if it wasn't winter I'd be totally wearing my Alexander McQueen rose heels.  They are just too smashing.  But, even though bare legs and these peep-toes look great with the short, short skirt, I think I would look ridiculous as it is 20 degrees out.

So I was thinking of these sheer black tights with the thigh bow detail from Cynthia Rowley (bought from Gilt Group - really loving the tights they get on there).

And pairing them up with my Manolo Blahnik Campari black patent mary janes.

So that's my wacky options. 

Option 2 is a bit more subtle. 

I walked by a New York and Company store today and, which I never do, decided to pop in.  They merchandised well because my eye was caught by this paillette skirt right off the bat. Not surprisingly of course.  I love the muted olive-y green sheen and had to have it.  I wanted to keep it low key but glam so I found a heathered bronze v-neck sweater and, just in case, a taupe cami for layering. It seems a bit loose here but the look is more relaxed and slouchy, contrasting with the fitted gleaming skirt.  I probably wear just a simple necklace and maybe my watch.

To keep the neutral elegance going, I was thinking of my Le Silla Stardust heels. 

They have a beautiful, almost retro shape, handcrafted heel details and a subtle metallic gleam as well.



Of course, the second option would be more comfortable but I kinda want to wear the more silly dress.

What do you think???