Black and White

Second day in a row you have seen this faux-fur stole. It was just so darn cold in my classroom I had to wear it around. I was kinda giving off a Cruella De Vil vibe here but I'm ok with that. Black and white are just such an easy combo I couldn't resist.

My photographer's selfie

Dress: CK (similar)

Necklace: Oia Jules

Watch: Michael Kors

Tee: Ann Taylor (similar)

Booties: ShoeMint

Lips: YSL Glossy Stain #9

Silk Pants

My faux fox-fur stole I got for Christmas has been getting a lot of wear. It seems to make all my bulky layered looks seem just a bit fancier. I'll take any kind of pick-me-up I can get in this weather, so expect to be seeing it around here a lot! I also got the same one in black, which I picked up after loving this one so much. 

That one will be no stranger as well.

Sweater (similar) and Jacket (similar): Forever 21

Silk Pants: H&M (similar)

Booties: ShoeMint

Stole: Boo Hoo

Hat: J. Crew

Watch: Michael Kors

Necklace: Oia Jules

Hot Pink Moto

When it comes to shopping, I'm not a digger. I hate to dig through piles of sale items from who knows what brands. The only place I am willing to do that digging is the Bloomingdales Outlet at the Chicago Fashion Outlets because my track record is so good. I scored a pair of Seven jeans for $65 and then I found this hot pink moto jacket that was screaming my name. There was not much digging involved in finding this one actually, it was pretty hard to miss.

And speaking of good deals, let me call to your attention my amazing new Joie sweater that I scored for $49 (down from $198) at Roam Chicago! They provided all the clothes that the girls and I wore on WGN so I just had to go in and check out what they had. And what they had was a SALE! I got some pretty spectacular deals on some labels I would otherwise never be able to afford.

Booties: Shoemint (similar for just $29)

White button-down: Forever 21 (just $9)

Sweater: Joie via Roam Boutique Chicago

Pants: Nordstrom (my favorite most comfy black pants)

Moto Jacket: Calvin Klein via Bloomingdales Outlet at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago

Lips: Mac "Up the Amp"

Hey There Stud

Nothing spectacular here, just a casual Friday outfit. Apparently, if a simple sweatshirt is studded, it then becomes fancy enough to wear to work and goes especially well with my favorite studded booties. Pretty fancy sweatshirt for under 20 bucks!

I'll be out of town again this weekend so posts will be back early next week. Expect many outfits featuring pencil skirts! I've been wearing them nonstop now that the weather has been getting nicer.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 Sweatshirt: Forever 21 (buy here)

Jeans: Zara

Booties: ShoeMint

Earrings: Forever 21

Wear Neon Any Time

Neon may be seen as a spring/summer statement, but I'm all for working it into my chilly weather attire. I know it's warming up outside and my pictures in a trapper hat are making you sad but they are only from just a few weeks back! (sorry it took so long to get these posted.)

This sweater was stalked till I found it at a prime sale price. I had my eye on it for a long time and actually would have loved to have found it in white too, though the neon shade was my first choice.

Also as you may have started to notice I'm getting really good at finding J Crew necklace knockoffs at super cheap prices! This one was the "Grand Stone Necklace" sold for $165. Mine was found on eBay for just under $30 with shipping! Sure it's not exact but its pretty darn close!

Oh and btw, no joke, these are straight-up Lululemon tights I wore to work! I had to coach after school so I eliminated half the pieces of clothes I had to change into. Not bad, eh?

Necklace: eBay (this seller has 10 more)

Neon Sweater: Gap

Leggings: Lululemon

Booties: ShoeMint Francoise

Spike Bracelet: Ebay

Watch: La Mer via Stitch (very similar La Mer for Target version)

Hat: Norsdtrom Rack

Sunglasses: Target

Scarf: J. Crew

Lips: Nars "Heatwave" (buy here)

Theme: COLOR! - Red, Navy & Cream

This is what I wore to the Spring Cosmetics Trend Show at the ripe old hour of 7am on a Saturday at Nordstrom Michigan Avenue. As you might notice, Ariel (my name for my extensions) came out with me for the day, as did my new StyleMint blouse.

Blouse: StyleMint Birch Shirt

Jeans: Zara

Booties: ShowMint- Francoise

Necklace: Gifted by Amy but similar here on Pink Peonies

Lips: Nars-Heatwave

Olivia fit into the "color" theme nicely!

 A black-and-white scene from the show.

 A full row of pretty ladies with me!

Theme: Pattern Mixing Look Four

I was without a photographer for this day of the pattern-mixing challenge, so I decided to do some selfies in the mirror. I apologize in advance for the fingerprints on my mirror. Pretend they are a really cool bokeh effect from Picfx or something like that.

I hope that you all believe that this is still technically pattern mixing. After the first two days it became kind of hard, considering many of my patterned options were in the hamper. I still mixed the animal-print scarf with the abstract-patterned skirt and the metallic-knit sweater. What do you think? Does this still count?

On the plus side, you get a little peek into the bright yellow photo collage wall in my home! As I mentioned earlier this week, you can see my strategy for picking out patterned outfits: simply pulling out patterned pieces from my closet and tossing them into a pile to see what works. That pile has moved onto the bed as you can see. :)

Hat: J Crew Factory

Necklace: HRN original cuff

Sweater: H&M

Skirt: Forever 21

Leggings: Aritzia

Booties: ShoeMint: Francoise

Coat: Macys Nine West

Scarf: ??

And in case you want a little more pattern mixing, here is a shot from an outfit that didn't photograph very well! (probably because I was having a bad hair/face/skin/weather day.)

Polka-dot Chambray, Neon belt and geometric print skirt: J Crew Factory

Necklace and earrings: Forever 21

Staying Warm

I'm at the point in the winter where I'm over wearing a coat and wish I could just wear a bunch of layers and be warm enough. Sadly, it didn't work but it sure looks like I'm staying warm in my four top layers! 

Jeans: Zara

Sweater: ASOS

Booties: ShoeMint -Francoise

Vest: Forever 21

Striped Button down: Uniqlo

Almost Outside...

When it's too cold outside, my blogger friend Amy and I come up to this hallway/room to take pictures. And since it started snowing this day, the background was so pretty that we just got up in the window and pretended we were standing outside. What a nice illusion we created.

This outfit was going to be worn with a navy pencil skirt and tights but upon stepping into my pencil skirt the tights got caught on the hook clousre on the skirt and snagged a giant hole in them. My frustration led me to my trusty magic pants that never seem to let me down.

Button Down: J Crew Factory

Sweater: J Crew Factory Charley

Pants: "Magic" Pants from Express

Belt: J Crew

Necklace: Oia Jules via Etsy

Bracelet: Forever 21

Earrings: Forever 21 (buy here)

Booties: ShoeMint Francoise

Green and Snow!

We finally got a little snow here in Chicago! When I got to my car I was reminded why you never wear  short booties if you plan on wiping the snow off your car because they act like a little cups for the snow to fall right into. Luckily they zipper right off and can be shaken out!

I got this green blouse at Zara a few days ago as part of their sale that is going on now. Check it out here if you would like to see the whole thing. It's the same material as this other Zara blouse that I have and love, so I also bought this top in black too. A girl can never have enough perfectly drapey black blouses.

And since I'm dressed in almost all Zara, what better day to share this artice from the New York Times my husband found that makes me love and appreciate Zara on a whole different level. It also made me realize that if I like something I see there I should purchase it and return it later if I change my mind. Because of how they stock their items it may not be there later or ever again! Interesting read and worth your time.

Blouse: Zara (buy here)

Jeans: Zara

Booties: Francoise on Shoemint

Infinity scarf: dkjones on Etsy

Toggle Coat: Andrew Marc (old from Nordstrom Rack)