Ensemble du Jour

I was really impressed and inspired by the Kate Spade Fall Lookbook. These clothes are totally in line with how I would like to dress this Fall. Cute. Whimsical. Filled with flirtatiousness and color. I actually think these would be really doable by Target too, don't you think.

But since the prices for the Kate pieces are pretty high, I'm going to have to try and recreate this wardrobe myself. I do have some graphic pieces already and I love colorful tights so I think I can make this happen... with maybe a few additions.



One thing I wanted to try was the whole mid-calf/knee-sock look done both by Kate Spade and by JCrew this season, especially when I found some really bright red socks I had after switching my closets this past weekend.



I'm not quite sure how I feel bout the skirt look but, hey... I'm willing to look a bit ridiculous for a day.



The top is from Anthropologie from about 5 - 6 years ago (I love this neckline detail), the skirt I just bought from Target and the peep-toe patent shoes are Target too.




Here's the outfit sans socks.

A little more boring. More "normal", less quirky. Maybe more flattering but I like the bright pop of red better. Maybe taller socks next time or trying this calf or ankle sock & heel combo with cropped jeans or pants. What do you think?

Stew for Dinner

I don't know if it's this weather or some work stuff or what, but I am in a totally foul mood. It doesn't help that the weather is all rainy/sleet-y/icy outside. I'm just so over everything and every one right now. Do you ever get in one of those moods where you are so where you just want to stew in your own crankiness until you get all prune-y. And you want to take everyone else with you.

Let's all be pissy together, shall we!

Anyhow, I suspect my bad mood has translated into a drab boring mostly monochromatic outfit today.

The Outfit
Black, black, black, black, black! Cable-knit JCrew sweater, A-line skirt from Target, ribbed tights and patent mary janes. I did pull on some bright hot pink argyle wellie socks to go with my black and white polka-dot wellies (with hot pink interior) and grabbed a matching wrap. So at least I have some color. The necklace is a black lace necklace from Cursive.



The Focal Point
I can't even claim to have one other than my bad attitude today. I think that is what everyone is noticing.

I'll promise to be in a better mood when I come back.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
I admit, this looks a little ridiculous here in my Polyvore collage, but in person it's a lot better. Really. I swear.

The top is a very dark forest green and is a lightweight sweater from Gap. The skirt is kind of a mouse-grey corduroy above the knee skirt from Old Navy. I'm wearing my Tabio socks that are a darker grey with dark green bands at the top and across the instep.



Here is what they look like:



I have all these colors:



I was struggling at first this morning with what shoes I wanted to pair up with this since the socks can be kind of tricky. I ended up with the cream and black Nine West "Ruffled" pair and needed jewelry to tie those colors into the outfit, so I decided to have the inaugural run of my Paraphernalia Anatomica Arm bracelet.

From far away you can't really tell what it is but up close you see the detail and its slightly morbid nature.



It's a bit scratchy though.

I didn't want to wear anything too frou-frou, so I am wearing my vintage Trifari owl necklace. It's pretty big - about an inch and a half tall. And he's very touchable. I love him.


Hoot! Hoot!
Someone as cute as me will never be out of style!

Here is a better picture of the shoes. They live up to their name and would be good with dark tights and a winter white skirt, or even really bright tights.



Focal Point
But the focal point has to be the socks. Mainly because they made me have to work for it this morning.




And on 4 hours of sleep that isn't an easy task. But that's how dedicated I was to getting dressed today.

- yawn -

P.S. The stylish Queen Michelle has these as well and I borrowed a few of her images as mine were not nearly as good. So photo credits are due.

Ensemble du Jour

So, yesterday's ensemble was kind of "safe" compared to today's - not that I'm pushing too many boundaries! Geez!

It's that darn Target! I really need to stop going in there but I had to! And of course, what would it hurt to look around for a few minutes, right? Well I wandered in to the sock department and there were more cute soooocccckkkksssss! Sparkly Silver and Gold! Whoo Hooo!

The Outfit
Sparkly silver top (more sparkly!), dusky purple skirt from VS, Silver sparkly socks (of course) and a dark grey cardigan from Target. To really amp up the sliver, I paired the sparkly socks with the burnished metallic silver Miu Miu double strap mary janes



Cardigan -



Oh yeah, and a stack of these bling-y bangles, also from Target -



The Focal Point
SIL-VER!!!!!! (in my best Yukon Cornelius voice) -





My legs lurv the sparkles!

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
On Monday I decided to push the envelope a little bit and really start wearing the knee socks more, so I wore my '06 JCrew tan sweater with the lion crest (with little orange crown to tie back to the bag), a brown skirt and tan/taupe knee socks from SockDreams.com.




The Focal Point
This whole outfit is to bring out the colors and the quirkiness of the Miu Miu brogues with the ruffles.



I debated about wearing lavender socks but the browns and tans all worked together. My socks were a little chunky (they were the O Lovelies) but they stayed up well. I would like to wear a shorter skirt with them, but maybe when it gets more to Spring.

That is the good thing with these shoes. Even though they are for Fall, with the chunkier heel, the colors are delicate enough to work for Spring.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
I've been very excited about my new socks from Tabio which are reminiscent of the Prada socks and have been pining away for a chance to wear them. As these are a bit adventurous for my neck of the woods, I wanted to "test" them out on a day I knew I didn't have any external meetings.

I started planning my outfit the night before but found when I was putting everything on that the reality was a bit more challenging than I planned. It was kind of a struggle to find the right balance - I went through a few shoe and skirt wardrobe changes in the process. What I ended up with is my new grey kimono sweater from Gap, a stretchy pencil skirt from Victoria's Secret, my Etsy flower pin and the charcoal and burnt orange knee socks from Tabio.




I struggled with the shoe pairing because I wanted to balance the chunky socks but still be able to see the colors. So I ended up with these pewter Franco Sarto ankle-strap heels.



Cool stripes, huh?



The shoes by themselves...



The Focal Point
The socks, of course. Duh!



They're sporty and warm and kinda sex-ay! Or at least I think so.

Out on the Town

During the week I have to dress up (somewhat) for work but on the weekend I tend to slug out. Now most of the time I could spend the entire day in my bathrobe, but I do actually have to get dressed and essentially "arm" myself when I go out to take care of my chickens.

Yes, I actually do have chickens and, while they are fun and I like them alot, they are also messy and like to peck at me sometimes. So I grab an old t-shirt from the pile, pull on my "yard" jeans and my fun polka-dot wellies.



My chickens don't appreciate my fancy shoes...

But I do have an outfit worth mentioning this weekend. We decided on Saturday to go out to a casual dinner and see a movie, which we never have time to do anymore it seems like. I wanted to go see Sydney White but they hubby said "Hell, no!" so we saw the Bourne Ultimatum - and Matt Damon was rockin' the shit in this one!

Anyway, since it's been too hot to wear any of my new stuff during the day AND because I got my new Miu Miu Spazzolato on Friday, I decided to "test" them out. I wore a new dark grey pin-stripe mini skirt from Old Navy, a black v-neck top, black knee socks and my new shoes.

Look at 'em, just look at 'em!



I have been a bit Miu Miu obsessed this Fall and, I think, with good reason. Plus, Miu Miu shoes are amazing! They have a built in cushion in the sole that makes them the comfiest shoes I've work in a very long time. I had no idea but am totally sold on them. Plus they're soooo pretty!