Layers of Leopard

[Sweater: Barney's New York Outlet (old, last seen here); Blouse: J.Crew Factory; Jeans: Citizens of Humanity (similar); Booties: Report; Beanie: Asos (similar)]

A full-on leopard blouse seems like a very audacious wardrobe choice, so to get away with wearing it at work and more traditional dress code sessions, I layered it under this cozy sweater. Layers cover multitude of sins. 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Woolly

[Sweater: thrifted; Pants: J.Crew (similar factory version); Flats: Lacoste (old, similar); Beanie: Asos; Cuff: Joyo; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Coat: White House Black Market]

This outfit felt about one step away from pajamas. Cozy, slouchy, warm wool. A beanie to mask my whacky, dry, no-longer-beachy-wavy winter hair. The perfect recipe for cold weather dressing, even though that day was actually pretty warm in retrospect.

Also, pairing a $4 thrifted real wool sweater with J.Crew (retail, not factory) pants I paid $21 for just feels like a huge bargain score.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Red, White, & Layers

[Dress: Forever 21; Sweater (old) and Tights: J.Crew Factory; Boots: J.Crew (old and hand me downs; similar); Snood: Asos; Bracelet: SoWa Vintage; Earrings: Old Navy; Nails: OPI 'Dating a Royal']

I've developed a recipe for creating summer in winter.  Take summer dress, put it over tights and boots, top it off with a thick sweater and scarf, and boom! Winterized.

And I'm prepared to repeat it.

Happy Friday all!

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

The Perfect Winter Dress

Last month I was invited to a wedding last minute (perks of being the photographer's wife), and realized all my fun dresses were far more summer appropriate. I pulled a look together with a knit little black dress and some statement jewelry, but have since been daydreaming about owning a perfect go-to winter cocktail dress. Around the same time, I stumbled my way into Barney's (dream on, right?) when I had some time to kill before meeting with friends, and came across this perfect number by Rag & Bone.

I love the black and white combo, the flattering vertical color block pattern and the fun gold piping. All that in the ultra flattering shift shape? Can I please own you NOW?!. The $450 price tag, is well, shall we say unrealitsic, but I'm determined to own something similar in my price range. I took to the usual sources, and here is what I came up with.

This first row is actually a bit liberal in its interpretation: a similar shape in the center, but different colors, longer silhouettes, and other tweaks make this row more of a nod to the original dress.

1/2/3

One of the things I love the most about the Rag & Bone dress is the flattering vertically oriented pattern, so these dresses below struck me for the same reason. Some include the mirrored print look that has been cropping up in the last year, but I think the overall shape and layout is a nice nod to the original. And I love the shoulder detail on the far right dress. 

1/2/3

For this last set, I went as close to the original as I could. The gold buttons on the far left dress remind me of the piping on the original, and I love the curvier shape of the middle dress! I thought the beige was a nice twist in the third one. 

1/2/3

What do you think? Close enough? What's your ideal winter dressy dress? 

By the way Rag & Bone, you could make this easier on all of us and just send me the original? OK thanks. 

Guest Posting and Shoe Gushing

Earlier this week I was privileged enough to guest post for the lovely ladies at Paper Moss. Tuesday is always Shoesday on their blog, and they let me gush over a fabulous budget-friendly take on a gorgeous designer shoe. What was it? Visit to find out. One clue. Well, the original designer rhymes with papel (Spanish for paper) and here's the wallet friendly take. That was two.

Hi-lo Stripes

Dress: Asos; Necklace: J.Crew factory; Shoes: Payless (old); Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

I wasn't sure that the high-low trend was for me, but then I came across this lovely dress on Asos. The floaty shape and the bright candy colors were too much to resist. I had been saving this frock for my dear friend's bridal shower, which we held this weekend. A happy dress for a very happy occasion (please pardon the band-aid).

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Guest Posting: Party Looks

Here's a snippet from a guest post I did last week for Kimberlee over at I Have A Degree In This

...Summer equals cute dress season in my mind. Boston's weather really limits me to jeans, boots, sweaters, and scarves for most of the year, so I take every chance I get during these warm months to sport a short, swingy, patterned, or just plain fun dress.

Because it's been so hot and humid lately, I like to make a statement with the dress as much as I possibly can, and leave the accessorizing and layering to a minimum. This dress is one of my favorite examples. The bright color and detailed neckline don't need much accessorizing at all. I actually wore this to the office one day, but I've also taken it for a spin for social events like a friend's bridal shower two summers ago (yes, this baby is old).

I rounded up some of my favorite types of simple-but-statement-making dresses, mostly drawn from my favorite cheap chic stores (Forever21, Asos, and Dorothy Perkins, which I have yet to buy from but absolutely love to browse).

Clockwise from the top left: One/ Two/ Three/ Four/ Five/ Six

Why six dresses you ask? Well because birthdays should be-week long affairs, and I'm leaving the seventh day up to you to figure out.  (Plus six looked best laid out like this :).) As you can see, I love the shift dress shape! It's simple and sexy and can handle a bold color, pattern, texture, or embellishment. Dresses 2 and 3 have really fabulous low backs and cutouts—a detail that's too risky for the office, but perfect for a celebratory look. I'm also big fan of swingy skirts and fun stripes. I actually have Dress #6 in my closet and am planning on taking it for a birthday spin. I wasn't too sure about the high-low shape that's been big this season, but the stripes come in my favorite colors and the rest of the dress is so cute and classic, I couldn't resist.  

Finish these off with some bright studs or chandeliers (BaubleBar is my favorite source for those), classic espadrilles or peep toe heels, and fun nails (I've been rotating Essie's Turquoise & Caicos, Tart Deco, and Lilacism all summer long). 

Breezy

[Dress: Asos (sold out now, but this striped one is adorable); Necklace: H&M (old); Shoes: Payless (older, older than anything from Payless should be, really); Sunglasses: Ray-Ban]

It's too hot lately for anything but a breezy dress and some statement jewelry to spice it up. The midi length feels perfect for the office—you never have to worry about your skirt creeping up too short.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Dots & Stripes

[Shirt: Forever 21; Polka dot dress worn as skirt: J.Crew factory (old); Shoes: Sperry from Journey's (last seen here); Snood: Asos; Ring: Old Navy; Earrings: Buffalo Exchange; Bracelets: SoWa Vintage market (go check it out on a Sunday)]

I threw a t-shirt over a favorite halter, 50's-esque dress from J.Crew that's just a bit too revealing for Sundays. In the last photo you can see my favorite find from the day: a set of bangles from the SoWa Vintage market that cost a grand total of $7 (I got many more than what's on my arm). I love the leopard one; just a perfect touch of the pattern, if you ask me. Hope everyone had a great 4th!

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Orange, Blue, & Midi

[Dress: Asos; Cardigan: J.Crew factory (old); Shoes: Ruche; Bracelete: J.Crew (on mega sale); Ring: Old Navy; Necklace: H&M]

This outfit was inspired by the #StyleMeMay prompt of the day, which was to wear something that "used to scare you." Midi-length skirts scared me because I think they can come off as frumpy (maybe that's because Mikhail addressed me as Grandma the first time he saw me in one). But I took the plunge with this swingy blue Asos number. Orange is something I'm finally coming around to, but I had never really worn it with navy before.

In reality, I had a hard time finding an outfit for this particular challenge because I'm mostly unwilling to try out things that truly scare me. Pleated pants? No, my short torso just cannot handle that shape. Kudos to ladies who can rock it, though. And those floral pants that are everywhere? I just can't wrap my head around them. I'm still undecided on the re-emergence of denim jackets. Honestly, all three of these things combined give me scary flashbacks to my fifth grade fashions, and I'm just not sure I'm ready to go there.

What scares you? Any tips for conquering your style fears?

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Bright On the Run

[Coral Top: Forever 21 (sold out) ; Striped Top: Forever 21 (more options here); Navy Cardigan: Splendid via Buffalo Exchange; Jeans: Citizens of Humanity via REVOLVE, Striped snood (yeah that's what it's called!): Asos, sold out now but a here's a cute polka dot one; Bag: Vintage Coach, thrifted, Shoes: Aerosoles via T.J.Maxx, available here;]

Here's a quick look of my first-day-in-San-Francisco outfit. We had left Boston at 6 a.m., and neither of us are morning people. But it was well worth the early flight to still have a long chunk of day left on the West Coast once we arrived.

These pictures were taken with our point-and-shoot camera, and about two hours after we got in, so they might look a bit more raw than usual. But I was excited to throw on a bright, girly blouse with the cutest tiny bow details. The striped shirt underneath has my favorite turquoise blue color in it. And M captured some beautiful light, as always.

That day we ate a late lunch Sweet Maple, which had the best bacon ever (thick cut and seasoned with brown sugar and pepper) and was located near the Lower Pacific Heights apartment we rented through Airbnb. We walked all through the beautiful Marina neighborhood and ended up near Crissy Field, with a great view of the Golden Gate bridge. We ate more delicious food than I can even keep track of on that trip, but other favor spots were Uva, Plow, and Nick's Crispy Tacos (cheap but good margaritas will always win me over).

It's back to winter weather here in Boston, but I'm excited to wear that coral blouse again. Many ideas on how to layer and pair it with other stuff in my wardrobe, so keep on the lookout.