Texture Overload

 [Blazer: Forever 21 (similar); Shirt: Behnaz Sarafpour for Target, via Buffalo Exchange; Pants: Francesca's (similar); Shoes: Zara; Ring & Earrings: Forever 21; Nails: OPI 'Skyfall']

I would normally balk at sticking a shiny pink & grey blazer, lace top, and black baroque print pants all in one outfit. But I couldn't find the right dress to wear to my office holiday party earlier this month (all my dresses are suited for the summer months), and this combination seemed to provide just the right dressy feel. I've since stocked up on some more season appropriate dresses, and I guess will have to wait until next year's office soiree to sport them. Unless any of you has a fancy party you'd like to invite me to? 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Fall Frock

[Dress: Forever 21(appears to be sold out but here's a similar one); Flats: Zara; Cardigan: Splendid via Buffalo Exchange; Earrings: BaubleBar; Ring: Old Navt; Nails: Essie 'Merino Cool']

I thought my love of cutesy dresses would retire come the colder weather. Nope. And I've been avoiding peter pan collars due to PTSD from my one year of Catholic school in third grade (the uniform was a burgundy plaid jumper over a white peter pan-collared blouse). But this pretty stripes-and-dots combo won me over. Navy and nude is a favorite classic color combination of mine. And I've quickly lost the little summer tan I had, so the nude shade seems to be matching my skin tone lately. Not that that's a good thing...

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Nautical Blush

[Dress: H&M, earlier this year; Jacket: Forever 21; Shoes: Zara; Necklace: H&M; Earrings & Ring: Forever 21;] 

The shape of this dress is oh-so-girly, so I paired it with the more dude-like jacket (minus the shiny pink-ness of it, of course). We took these photos minutes before last Saturday's downpour began, so I was quickly back home and in comfies, ready for a night of Mexican food and movies with family that was visiting. Happy weekend, all! Don't melt.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Neon Head to Toe

[Dress: Old Navy (old); Cardigan: Zara; Sandals: DSW; Necklace: Christmas gift from Nana years back; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Earrings: Rocks Paper Metal for BaubleBar]

For a long time now I had been planning to write about certain trends I am wary of buying lots of, and neon was definitely on the list. My value shopper self loves to have clothes around for seasons on end, even if they cost $20. So I've hesitated to buy any neon apparel for fear that it would be long gone next year. Until I remembered I had this Old Navy maxi dress from 2010, which is 1/3 neon yellow. Whoops.

But neon accessories are a different story. I can confidently say I love using them to explore the color trend. Like with these cap-toe flats (also from Old Navy), this scarf, and now these earrings. BaubleBar is one of my favorite new discoveries this year. Their jewelry costs slightly more than what I was used to spending at my go-to Forever 21, but it's so unique and interesting that it's worth the bit of extra dough. I often find store e-mails annoying, but BaubleBar is certainly an exception on this front. I'm always lured into checking out their inventory, and recently took the leap on this pair of earrings from their newest designer collection.

I was even inspired to submit a photo to a neon styling contest on their Facebook page. If you feel inclined, it'd be great if you toss a vote my way. I'm kind of a newb when it comes to contests like this and haven't really done any self promotion, so don't judge my low tally of votes.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Morning Blues

[Striped top: Buffalo Exchange; Blue Dress: H&M (old); Scarf: Target; Flats: Zara; Bracelets: J.Crew and flea market; Earrings: Buffalo Exchange]

Promise I'm not doing the fake blogger laugh thing in the second pictures. Mikhail had just told me I look "very morning," and I laughed because I knew it was true. I felt like a zombie and my eyes clearly look half closed and anyone who's ever talked to me before 10 am can attest to the fact that I am barely human at those hours.

I'm covering this dress up with a scarf and t-shirt (my favorite way to create a fake skirt), but it has a fabulous top that slightly tapers in at the shoulders and is covered with this cool geometric clear shapes (great description, right?). I came across it at the sale racks at H&M two summers ago, when I had a tote bag full of fresh fruit from Haymarket. It looked luxe but I was worried it would fall apart at that price point. Two years later and still going strong. I can't wait to show it off in it's full glory in another outfit post.

Stripes, blue, and a shift dress. These are a few of my favorite things! (Said in a sing-songy voice). I showed them off at my first BostonBloggers meetup later that night. It was great fun and I got to see old blogger friends (dating way back to March), bloggers I had only talked to online, and completely new ones. I can't wait till the next event.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Colorblock Frock

[Dress: Forever 21 (sold out); Flats: Zara; Necklace: Banana Republic outlet (old); Sunglasses: Ray-Ban] 

I had a blast at Forever 21 this weekend in the Northshore Mall. More and more I find myself wondering why I bother to look for clothes anywhere else. Their cute summery dresses are especially to die for, and this colorblock one is no exception. I bought it a few months ago online when I was really ready for some warm spring weather. I styled it with minimal accessories and nudish flats to let the colorblock scheme get all the attention.

I was happy to kick off the unofficial start of summer with this dress and some tacos in Allston. It was my recovery treat after a half marathon that morning. More on that later.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Tough Floral

[Cardigan: J.Crew factory (old); T-shirt: Two Arms Inc.; Jeans: James Jeans via Gilt, Necklace: J.Crew factory (old); Flats: Zara]

I've had this cardigan for two years now, before these big floral patterns became ubiquitous this season. I'm still not sure what to do with it at times, because it reminds me of a dress I'd wear when I was little to a fake tea party (yes, my friends and I had those). And there's my husband's cool grey Brooklyn T-shirt, which was too small for his gym-frequenting self. We popped it in the dryer to get it even smaller for me. Yay!

It's May and I'm almost completely burnt out on the pastels, neons, florals, and pattern mixing trends for spring and summer. I love color and I love all of those things on their own, but seeing them EVERYWHERE has made me retreat a little bit. That's what I get for packing 60 fashion blogs into my Google Reader. It's really my own fault.

I love discovering and following new trends, but I see them as a starting point. I think they should be tweaked and re-worked to reflect your own personality, not simply regurgitated from catalogues and style mavens (no matter how fabulous they are). So I decided to pair this pastel, floral, five-year-old-girl-inspired cardigan with a dude's grey T shirt to give it some edge, rather than going for the Easter egg look with more pastels. Oh, and my favorite turquoise necklace. I don't care if that color is in or out, I plan to wear it until I die. Like, paint my wheelchair that color when I'm old and senile.

You'll notice these photos are indoors and not sunlit. That's our kitchen and these were taken at 11 pm on Friday night. I'm a rebel, I tell you.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets 

Swapped Style

[Cardigan: Old Navy, last seen here; Pink Shirt: Gap, swapped; Jeans: Citizens of Humanity via REVOLVE; Flats: Zara; Earrings: BaubleBar; Ring: Old Navy; Necklace: J.Crew factory (old) Bracelet: Flea Market]

I have been so excited the wear the goods from my first ever Swap party. The ladies at The Swapaholics put on this incredible event where you bring in three to five items in exchange for new (to you) pieces. I've heard that previous events are reminiscent of a Filene's Basement running of the brides, but this particular night was leisurely and lovely. Whenever you saw an item you wanted on the racks, you simply replaced it with something you brought. The idea was to hang out and see what else made its way onto the racks as more people arrived and swapped in their own items. You could even sip wine, munch sandwiches, and meet new people in the process. Way better than the mall or Newbury Street, if you ask me. And way greener, of course.

Sad you missed it? Don't be. That party just kicked off their swap season, and there's even another event coming up in Boston May 16. Oh, and expect to see more of my fun finds on the blog. I'm finally starting to embrace the color red, which inspired me to pull this awesome number off the racks. I have so many ideas on how to style this maxi dress, which I admittedly don't think I would have sprung for at any retail price. And the pink oxford in today's outfit is something I had been wanting to buy anyways, so being able to swap it out for something I didn't want anymore felt quite lucky.

Boston has slipped back down to its normally chilly winter temperatures, so I was happy to layer this pastel pink shirt (trendy this season but also timeless, in my opinion) with the Old Navy cardigan that looks and feels far too well constructed and luxe for its $15.99 (on sale) price tag. I played up the pastels even further with blue ring and lavender nails (Essie Lilacism). I think the color trend is really cute, but am a little wary of spending much money on pastel clothing just in case those shades become stale next year. But an $8 bottle of nail polish? I can do that.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets