Going Girly with Pearls

purple argyle sweater: NY&Co., gray geometric oxford: NY&Co., denim trouser jeans: Express, black mary janes: Payless, new hair color: MINT

Today's Outfit Calendar inspiration called for Pearls...which I wear all the time.  My great-grandmother loved to give classic jewerly as a gift, and my sorority's "Jewel" in college was the pearl, so I'm outfitted quite nicely in that department.

Otherwise, it is cold and wet here, so I needed something comfortable.  Plus, I'm up and down on the floor filing again today.  This sweater is a little big by itself, but its PURRFECT for wearing over another shirt!  And you KNOW I was excited that this shirt has little geometric diamonds on it...which make me feel all fuzzy inside when paired with gray argyle!

Can you tell I got my hair done last night?  I hadn't had a cut since October!!  Sigh.

Electric in Pink Tights

black wrap dress: George (Walmart), gray ruffled shirt: Cato, pink tights: Walmart, gray booties: Cato

Frustration: Knowing your battery on your camera is going to die ANY SECOND, scrambling to take pictures of your outfit, plugging in the USB cord to your computer, opening Picasa to transfer the pictures to your computer…and having Picasa freeze up on you bad enough to have to restart your computer and kill the precious five minutes you had available on your camera battery. So, we’re back to the Iphone picture today!

I took a chance with these 80s pink tights, and I’m undecided about them. I wore them with an intentionally neutral outfit (I even took off the turquoise turtleneck that I was wearing underneath this wrap dress because I thought it was too bright with the already glowing tights).

My office is casual, but still—what do you think? Do the tights work or are they too Madonna, circa 1986 (which has never been my best look!)?

Jacket and Pretty Tee

purple 3/4 sleeve tee: Target, black short sleeve jacket: Ross, gray pin-striped pants: NY&Co., black loafers: Etienne Aigner

This is my attempt to try to get back to the Outfit Inspiration Calendar.  I'm supposed to wear a belted jacket with a pretty tee, but I really don't like belted jackets much, so I don't own one.  I figured this outfit stayed in the spirit of the calendar, but was a bit more flattering.  That being said, I feel a little sloppy today--I'm wearing new shoes I found at Target on sale for $4.99 (yep!) but I feel like my pants are too short, and I can't stand how boring my hair is today.  Oh well!  I'll try and make up for it tomorrow I guess! 

Monday's Post

denim trouser jeans: Express, pink printed tunic: Nine West (Ross), blazer: The Limited, black loafers: Etienner Aigner

I’m breaking the Outfit Calendar today. The misty, cold weather combined with the Monday after the Super Bowl convinced me that it was a jeans kinda day. So, I took Wednesday’s outfit (blazer + tunic) and moved it to today. I’ll save Monday’s outfit for another day. I bought this tunic at Ross for $9. At the time, I was hoping it would be long enough to pair with tights, but alas, it is not…I have been holding on to it for months now without wearing it, and was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to throw it in the thrift pile. I just thought it was a bit too billowy and made me look pregnant…but then I put it with this blazer and it took on a whole new shape! And I think it is the perfect mix of dressy casual when paired with jeans.

I had another great weekend with friends. Bob and Leila came down to Midland this weekend, and we went out with co-workers on Saturday to a country bar here in town (it’s Midland’s very own version of Lubbock’s Chances R). Honey Browne played (blah) and we shook our booties off. Any place that plays the Cupid Shuffle twice in a night is on my list of Potential Good Times. On Sunday, Leila and I convinced ourselves we weren’t even slightly hung over and make delectable goodies for our Super Bowl party.
I didn’t imbibe in anything heavier than Strawberry Lemonade yesterday, but I feel like crap today. Leila is messaging that Bob is hovering around the bathroom (which I’m sure he’ll thank me for reporting) and Tommy went home sick today. James called in sick this morning. I’m sticking by my opinion that it wasn’t mine and Leila’s food though…it must have been Rosa’s fajitas we got to supplement our snacks…or all the grease…or the smoke from Saturday night…anything but our food!

Pics from Saturday night…because my friends are silly!

P.S. If you thought The Hangover was good, go rent (or Netflick…whatever you cool kids do) I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. I watched it three times this weekend and nearly peed my pants every time!!!

Go Red for Women!

Brown t-shirt: Cato, red knotted shirt: Express, denim skinny jeans: Express, brown boots: Old Navy

Today’s outfit asked for us to Go Red For Women in Skinnies and a Vest. Well, I only have one vest, and I wore it on Tuesday. I just never jumped on the cotton vest bandwagon—I never really thought they looked flattering on me, unless I was going for the grandpa vibe, which I only go for about once a month anyway 

So, I wore my skinny jeans, and I wore a red undershirt, and I figured that layering a shirt over my red one still stayed in the spirit of the vest game.

And look, the old ribbon as a headband trick:

It’s Friday!! We are having some people over for the Super Bowl, and Leila is coming too…I’m going to force her to help me cook, of course!!

OIC: Go Highwaisted in a Skirt!

Black oxford (w/ rhinestone buttons): NY&Co., purple skirt: Express, embroidered tights: Express, black oxford heels: Payless

Even though it’s been rainy and cold the last two days, I’ve managed to dress as though Mother Nature has no effect on my fashion sense, thanks to the Outfit Inspiration Calendar.

This skirt is actually a deep purple, even though it comes across as royal blue in these photographs. I wanted to play it a little conservative today since I was wearing “crazy tights”. I tried a trick today that lots of the ladies I follow on their blogs do all the time…and that I thought I’d never be able to do myself…I layered my tights! (Typically, my tights are so stretched by the time I get them over my legs that I can’t imagine pulling on another pair, but I think I’ve been wearing a lot of them enough this season that they’re actually stretching out some!) In any event, after my husband telling me that the embroidered fishnet tights from Express didn’t really seem workplace appropriate (what does he know?) I decided that they’d probably look slightly more conservative for the office with something underneath them. Otherwise, they just show bare skin and they are a bit provocative, and they’re not very warm! So, I pulled out some thigh-high stockings to pair with them! I’m tugging them up a bit, but for the most part, it does look a lot better! So there, that’s my husband’s contribution to my outfit this week.

This is what he meant: (EEK!)

P.S. I’m glad I’m dressed “professionally” today, because I’m having one of THOSE days where I feel like I need at least something to be constant and stable. Grr.

Day 2: Boyfriend Cardigan over a Dress/Skirt

pink dress: TJ Maxx ($12!), black long sleeve shirt: Old Navy, gray cardigan: NY&Co., black footless tights: Target, gray booties: Cato

Gross rainy day that I’m about to get out in for lunch today. Day 2 of the Outfit Inspiration Calendar called for a Boyfriend Cardigan over a Dress/Skirt. Today I beat the issue that I had yesterday with a belt over too many layers, and stuck a black belt over my dress, but under the cardi. I really like the pop of black that it provides, along with my tights.

So far, I’m having a lot of fun with this calendar. This dress, which is sleeveless and cotton, usually hangs in my closet until summertime, but last night I decided to pull it out and “winterize” it. What a great way to add more clothes to my wardrobe! Plus, hot pink makes me feel like I can battle this rainy weather with a smile 

And, I love that I can be “matchy” with my gray cardigan and gray booties/shooties/ankle boots. Yippee!

My First Day with the Outfit Inspiration Calendar!

red polo: Red Raider Outfitters, black vest: TJ Maxx, white cardigan: NY&Co., gray striped pants: NY&Co., black mary janes: Payless, silver chain necklace: Target

Today I said I was going to start Kimberly’s Outfit Inspiration calendar, and this is my version of “Vest and Cardi Combo with a Bright Colored Blouse.” I had such a good time trying to find something to fit this description and can tell you that I would never have paired these three tops together on my own.

This polo shirt is actually a Texas Tech shirt, and usually only gets a lot of use during football season (how sad is that), so it was fun to reincorporate it into my wardrobe in a different manner. I love this vest, but have never ever though to wear it under a cardigan. I think it looks polished and shows just the perfect amount of black. The black belt ties it all together, but I don’t necessarily think it looks flattering on me. It could be because I have three layers on underneath it (and the vest has a cinch in the back that is making it even thicker), so that although I really like the belt with the outfit, I wish I didn’t feel like it was making me look bigger rather than more pulled together and tighter (as I usually feel with these high-waisted belts. Then again, I have complained about belts and cardigans before. Does anyone else have a problem belting cardigans? It always looks so cute on everyone else in pictures!

Overall, though, I really like the results of this outfit, mostly because the calendar helped me pull different parts of my closet out and put them together in a new, unique, layered way. Thanks, Kimberly! :)

Saturday Going Out and Monday Back at Work!

Two days of blog posts today:


SATURDAY

Gray dress: Merona (Target), argyle tights: Walmart, cognac boots: Rack Room Shoes, black motorcycle jacket: New York & Co., photographer: Leila

Leila and I were having fun taking pictures on Saturday. This is me posing on her bedroom dresser Saturday. That evening, we went out and stayed up way too late, which tends to happen when we go visit them! I bought this amazing motorcycle jacket from NY&Co…I wanted to buy one from Express when I went two weeks ago, but it didn’t fit as well as this jacket does. Love it!

Aren’t we cute?

Look at our “goth” fingernail polish! We had so much fun!

MONDAY

Red Chinese style shirt: NY&Co., dark denim jeans: Express, black t-shirt: Old Navy, black flats: Walmart

I decided today was a jeans-day Monday. I don’t have a lot of eye makeup on today, and I think it’s making me look even more tired than I feel. I think I’m going to try Kimberly’s Outfit Inspiration calendar (from Kimberly's Fab Finds Under $50) starting tomorrow. I forgot that today was the 1st, but today’s outfit called for leopard, and since I just wore that on Thursday, I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I doubt I’ll follow it everyday, but it might be fun to challenge myself to find new ways to wear my clothes.

My current lust:

And on top of it all, I'm fighting off a migraine! UGH!

black and gray sweater: NY&Co., coral oxford: NY&Co., boyfriend jeans: Victoria's Secret, black loafers: Etienne Aigner

This, Readers, is what happens when I don’t pick out my clothes the night before. I feel like I have a hodge-podge of items on today—casual boyfriend jeans, dressy loafers, unmatching purple socks, and a preppy sweater/oxford on top—except that the sweater isn’t really meant to be preppy. You’re the only ones I’m telling this secret to…to everyone else I’m going to appear a confident, fashionable woman who is pulling off multiple styles at one time. It’s the new Layering. Right here at Brittany’s Cleverly Titled Fashion Blog. You’re welcome!

We’re going out of town this weekend—off to Raiderland, and I am so excited! I haven’t packed a lick, and I’m going to go home at lunch and start doing that. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t decide what I was going to wear at some point earlier this week when I was feeling creative. Clearly the style muses have left me for the weekend, and I am determined not to embarrass Leila when I’m out in public with her in Lubbock.

I’m going to turn on some music and wake myself up. I plan on staying busy today so that I’ll look up and OHMYGAWD, it will be 5:00 and time to head to my friends.

This is as "vintage" as it gets, or How to Mix Two Animal Prints!

Cheetah-print shirt: Vintage, black cardigan: TJ Maxx, red snakeskin belt: NY&Co., khaki pants: Banana Republic, black socks: NY&Co. (hey, I figured since I knew...), black mary janes: Payless

I am so happy with my outfit today! It is pouring outside and a cold front is supposed to be rolling in soon, so I knew I had to wear some pants today. These khaki Banana Republic pants have never let me down, so perhaps I should lay off of BR for a while.

The real star of this outfit, however, is the cheetah-print silk shirt I’m wearing underneath the cardigan. This shirt was my grandmother’s when she was younger than me. I remember I found it out at her house one day when I was around 6, and absolutely fell in love with it (looking back, I think that might have been my drowning point when it comes to sassy clothing items). The material is silk, and it’s so thin that it really should be transparent, but somehow, it’s not. I took it from her (because she didn’t deny her darling granddaughter anything…even a Chinese-collared cheetah print silk shirt at 6 years old. I slept in it for years. My mother hated the thing. Often I would find the shirt “lost” in the back of my closet (or her’s), and she threatened to throw it away on numerous occasions. I’m sad to admit that she did throw it away one time, and I dug it out of the garbage. That’s right, this is a trash-can shirt, too. When they finally moved out of their old house into the new house (after I’d graduated from college), I was in “no clutter” mode and threw out almost every memory I had from childhood that wouldn’t fit into my memory trunk. I couldn’t bear to part with it and shoved it in there. One of the last times I went home, Mom and I were going through that trunk, and I found the shirt! I took it home with me, determined to wear it again. I didn’t remember how pretty the collar was (having worn it unbuttoned half-way to sleep in all my childhood glory and modesty), and believe it or not, I had forgotten how soft and beautiful the fabric was. So here, in all its glory, is my grandmother’s cheetah-print shirt, worn by her, cherished by a child, and loved again by me as an adult. Who knows, maybe one day my daughter will wear it…but I’m not letting my child in a cheetah-print silk shirt until she’s at least 16!

Layering a Black Dress, Tied with a Scarf

Black dress: Cato, turquoise polo: NY&Co., purple tights: Banana Republic, pearl necklace: Nana, blue brooch: Dustee’s, black sandals: Cato, scarf: Nana

In the back of my mind, I’ve known that a black dress layered over another something is always an option. I just haven’t opted for it in a while. Monday night when I was looking for something to wear with my knee-high socks on Tuesday, I initially chose this outfit. Then I decided to wear it singularly, because I think the scarf across my waist and my pinned necklace shouldn’t be outshined by the socks. (Who would have thought that socks had that power?!?)

It was a little chilly this morning, so I didn’t want to go bare-legged. I forgot I had these purple tights! They’re actually quite comfortable, too. Glamour magazine assures me that I can wear tights with gladiator sandals in the winter, so I’m giving that look a try.

This is just a big pearl necklace with a cheapy little brooch pin I’ve had for ages. It was such a simple trick to pin the brooch to the necklace and my dress, and I really think it makes the neckline interesting!