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

Closet Remix: Layers on Layers

[Blazer: Forever 21 (this Theory one would be a good investment); Blouse: J.Crew factory; Sweater: Banana Republic outlet (similar); Jeans: Seven for All Mankind (similar); Boots; Salvatore Ferragamo (vintage & thrifted, a similar super dreamy modern version is here); Ring: Forever 21; Beanie: ??? (similar)]

I've said before that one of the best things about reading style blogs is getting inspired to look at your closet in a whole new way. In this case, My Style Pill's mix of blazer/sweater/blouse here and here pushed me to recreate my own version. This blazer has been a great staple, and the blouse and sweater are oldies. Throw it all together and it felt brand new without having to spend a single dime! Talk about wallet friendly.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Plum, Navy, & Cobalt Inspiration

OK, so I've had a change of heart lately on a couple of the trends I've been avoiding. As seen with my hi-lo dress purchase. And I recently, finally, caved on the colored jeans thing. (I get to wear jeans to work, so avoiding any sort of jeans trend is just plain stubborn and silly.)

What won me over? This top. I'll explain.

Well, we already know I love navy. And I am growing ever enthusiastic on cobalt blue. The combination of those two colors plus a pretty purple (it looks more violet than the fuschia pictured here) is absolutely darling.

So back to the jeans. Through my almost daily browsing of Forever 21's site, I came across a couple awesome pairs of plum jeans, one of which made its way into my shopping cart (a birthday gift to myself). The great color combo in the top made me realized just how versatile the plum pants could be, so I'm already lining up plenty of outfits that work with them.

First: pairing them with the navy blazer seen here, a laid-back T-shirt like my Brooklyn one, and simple navy flats. A fun fringy necklace like this would be the perfect accessory.

I'm also thinking about wearing the jeans with my navy polka dot shirt from the J.Crew factory, or my classic Gap boyfriend shirt in navy (scored with a great Gap online discount), plus a navy/cream striped scarf I picked up in the H&M men's section.

To bring in the cobalt blue, I could always do this blouse I bought in the pretty blue shade, or my favorite blazer from spring with a simple white v-neck T (I love Target's).

A chunky white sweater I thrifted and black booties will make a great mod look when paired with the jeans, too. And the ideas just keep on coming.

What about you? Have you come around on any trends? What fall piece has been inspiring you lately?

Airline Chic

[Blazer: Forever 21; Top: J.Crew factory (old; last seen here); Shorts: DIY cutoffs from old J.Crew toothpick jeans; Flats: Old Navy; Necklace: Forever 21]

Gotta love some good ol' Pinterest inspiration. (I refuse to call it Pinspiration—it looks/sounds like perspiration.)

I always thought loose-fitting navy blazers were just a one neck tie shy of an airline counter attendant uniform. Then I saw this amazing shot of Style.com market director Marina Larroudè on Pinterest. Weeks later I somehow ended up in Forever 21 (shocking, I'm never there), saw this baby on the rack, and threw it on over my floral top and cutoff shorts.  A fabulous street style look replicated for fast-fashion and DIY prices. You can call it an impulse buy; I call it a classic piece on the cheap. And the perfect transition item: great with shorts and white jeans in the summer, and can totally work over long-sleeve tops, print blouses, and knit dresses in the fall and (no, please not yet) winter.

My most recent outfit was a transition from my stripes kick (or obsession), to a floral one. I think this one will be a bit more short lived than the last, though.

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

Girly Stripes

[Dress: Forever 21 (old but similar); Jacket: Banana Republic outlet (old); Shoes: Sperry (bought on sale at Journey's); Necklace: J.Crew factory (old); Ring: Old Navy] 

A random stop into Journey's at the mall produced these cute Sperry's on sale. As if the stripes and navy blazer weren't nautical enough, these shoes give the outfit that extra punch.  The messy side braid is brought to you by day 24 of #StyleMeMay: a new hairstyle. Happy start of Memorial Day Weekend (consider the navy stripes in the dress your welcome into the holiday). 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

The Blush Gray Lady

[Blush & Gray Jacket: Forever 21 (similar); Blouse: Forever 21 (similar); Gray cords: J.Crew Factory (old); Shoes: Old Navy; Earrings: Old Navy]

This blazer looked odd but awesome on the rack at Forever 21, and I'm so glad I bought it. The menswearish shape, muted palette, and different colored sleeves set it apart from the other more tailored, bright blazers I've been gravitating towards.

This outfit is another in a string of style blogger inspiration I told you about last week. I had been pairing this jacket with grey T's and jeans and had been wearing the blush print blouse separately, and then I saw this post in eat.sleep.wear. The color tones are bit different, but the shape of Kimberley's blazer is similar and inspired me to pair my blush pieces together and pull out the grey cords that have been sitting in my closet, mostly untouched this season!  Oh, and these flats were such a fun last minute buy at Old Navy and added my twist on the outfit, with a pop of my absolute favorite color.

Side note: today's blog post title is a play on the New York Times' nickname, The Great Gray Lady. That's what you get from journalism dork like me.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Colorblocked Irish

[Blazer: Forever 21, sold out now, similar available here; Green Shirt: Forever 21, old; Jeans: Joe's Jeans (Chelsea), old; Necklaces: Gifted & J.Crew factory (old), Heels; H&M; Ring: Forever 21]

I kept it pretty low key on Saturday, so Sunday was my day to rock the St. Patty's day signature color (with a name like Erin, I pretty much have to).  I wore this outfit for a lunch with some lady friends after church. I played the green down a bit, pairing it with this bright, fitted cobalt blazer from Forever. This piece was a great buy and I kind of want to wear it every day, with everything I own, but I'll control myself. Oh, and I distressed my denim the good ol' fashioned way: wearing them so much I ripped a hole in the knees.