Young person in an older lady's body

Oh how I love the classics! Give me a Chanel suit any day... glad to see that Hailee Seinfeld shares my sensibilities. Shout out to Tommy Hilfiger's Prep World collection... this outfit is awesome.

Photo via WhoWhatWear

Loafers are back for fall!

The heat this summer has made it harder for me to get into fall... I can't even think about a sweater besides purchasing one! However... I can definitely get behind the loafers look for fall. Last week I saw a pair that I loved at Intermix, then I got today's shopbop e-mail re-enforcing my new obsession. 

It looks like I know what my fall update will be now!

So chic... Almost makes me wish it was cold

Oh New York in the 80's...

Furs, 5th Avenue, 1982, Photo by Richard Sandler via Time.com

Match made in heaven

Sorry I've been MIA... work has been insane, plus I'm also social media lead for an art gallery these days... Anyway, had to break the hiatus to share this! 

Shopbop has done it again with their current lookbook - Current Elliot and Equipment. 

All photos via Shopbop.com

 Simple but fantastic looks I'm going to love incorporating into the mix:

This look might be my favorite - love the colors!

Finally a romper I could wear!

Sexy while being covered up - love it!

Now if only it wasn't so hot that I want nothing to do with jeans...

Inspiration: Casual Night Out

Today's photo via Refinery29. They did a piece on Kate Foley -  a buyer for Opening Ceremony. I loved the first look in the story: 

Photo via Refinery29

It made me think immediately of my favoriate ripped up boyfriend jeans that are light weight for the summer. While I love them, I've often struggled with how to dress them up. Thanks to Kate Foley - now I'm going to look for an embellished top out of my closet, pull out my favorite pink heels and I'll be good to go!

So what if I wasn't going to go out tonight... there's no better excuse than a great outfit, right?

Summer in the City Dressing (via the Outnet)

Oh The Outnet - how I love your fantastic deals! And today I'm super inspired by the look included in their weekly e-mail. This week's trend: "Summer in the City" 

I love the perfect loop on the belt, the rose color, sleek pony tail, sunglasses, nude heels... ok the whole thing! Even love that she went for the peek of lingerie which has been so big. While I don't think I'll be able to quite show off part of my bra at work - I'll definitely want to try an iteration of this during the summer months!

The full e-mail: 

So take a piece of inspiration from their book. Or go ahead and snag one of their great deals!

I have been doing some shopping lately...

I've been in a shopping mood (which is dangerous).... and have made a few recent purchases. Look for some upcoming posts on my new finds! 

To provide you with a  preview, all of the buys are:

- Accessories (shoes count, right?)

- Purchased via sample sale / membership website (aka good deals!)

But no one's more excited than me... can't wait for these to arrive in the mail!

Must Buy: Bright Skirt

With all of the spring trends out there (70's, romantic, neons, you get the drill), its hard sometimes to narrow down the focus as to what to update in my closet for spring. As I've noted before, I work with a meager budget, so my purchases are few and far between - and more likely have to do with something I can't stop thinking about more than anything else... with that thought in mind, introducing: must buy. 

While I have a few items on the brain - the first I'd like to dive into is the bright skirt. Neons (or hyper color if you're talking to style.com) have been a big trend, and what better way to get started than to pair a simple bright skirt with my usual basics (Ralph Lauren oxford, anyone?)

So for some inspiration... 

Via my model style post

Great color with some (albeit shiny/textured) basics. 

Photo via Jak and Jil at Paris Fashion Week

 And again with the black... see why this is a great trend for me? I already own all the black... 

How about the runways then?

Loewe Spring 2011 - Photo via Style.com

Aquilano.Rimondi Spring 2011 - Photo Style.com

Sex appeal and bright crayola colors... what's not to like?

And no color conversation can happen this season without the glory that was Jil Sander's Spring 2011 collection: 

Photo via Style.com

Bubble gum pink with a white t? Thank you Yes.

Unfortunately I have not yet found my hyper-color mate yet in stores. Any thoughts on where I might have some luck in my search in Chi-town? (Online shopping suggestions are also welcome!)

Inspiration: Jade Williams

So I've kind of always prided myself in my boy meets girl style (I have more blazers than I can count)... but a big thank you goes out to WhoWhatWear with their post today on Girl of the Month: Jade Williams. I love her quirky and very UK sense of style - with a lot of high street fashion and of course an awesome boy meets girl sensibility.

I mean, how cool is she?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As my hair is getting longer - definitely need to work on rocking wavy hair a bit more often. And some sweet hats.

WhoWhatWear's post sent me on an image search to find more photos of her - resulting in me making a collage of sorts (to gush about all of her looks):

Hope you find just as much inspiration in her looks as well - and have a fabulous weekend!

(First photo from biggerthanbeyonce.com)

Sunday at the Art Museum

Had a great Easter weekend with the family, and Sunday got to go to the Milwaukee Art Museum to see the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit - spending some time at the Calatrava on the lakefront. 

the best accessory? my MAM sticker

Mom and Dad walking the hall

What I wore: Elizabeth & James blazer, Genetic denim jeans, Frye boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag

Model Style

3 things I love - Street style shots, Paris and Model style - all came together in today's WhoWhatWear story. 

As these shots were taken during the S/S '11 shows, it gives some nice inspiration for transitional dressing in Chicago - especially with that dusting of snow we woke up to this morning.

Photo by Vanessa Jackman via WhoWhatWear

I like that Sara incorporated some spring neutrals with black and all in a unique way. Definitely want to try this type of layering - buttoned up top with sweater, a long blazer, and short skirt or pair of shorts. 

Photo by Vanessa Jackman via WhoWhatWear

Anouk and Karolina bring forward some more fashion-forward takes on preppy style (note the chambray and striped sailor sweater). Both looks manage to be both casual and put together. I'm not sure how brave I am to break the rules and wear my white jeans yet... so I may wait to bring out Karolina's look for a little while. As for Anouk's look - I'll be pairing my awesome jacket (from an earlier post) with a pencil skirt, button down, and riding boots. 

Photo by Vanessa Jackman via WhoWhatWear

Can we say pop of color!! I love Tati's look - probably because she looks like a total badass while wearing duck boots - why don't I look that cool in my pair? That's right... not a model. But I digress. Taking from this look I'll be pairing my beloved leather jacket with a bright skirt, crisp white button down and keeping everything else simple in black. I'll substitute her boots for my ankle booties or my Frye's. 

See this awkward in between weather isn't so bad after all. Now all I need is to find some Parisian model style in a thunder storm so I can prep for all the rain that's ahead....

Love is in the air...

One of the great things about spring is all of the new love in the air... I've found a new love... Genetic Denim!

Due to my high paying job (note sarcasm) I don't get to go shopping that often (thank you remixing!). But, my jeans had gotten to a point where they were so worn that the holes I was rocking were just inappropriate to be seen in public. 

As if he knew, Bradley, my dear friend at Akira,  texted me that he was going to be at a location right by my apartment, and I could get 20% off! Meant to be. 

I ran in and we grabbed a few different brands. He just said "You are going to just love these genetics" - and boy was he right!!! (Of course he was - seeing as we also share a love for blazers and belts)

I ended up buying 2 pairs... extravagant I know, but these make my butt look awesome, and when you have no butt this is a big deal! 

The Shane Cigarette Jean (also available at shopbop)

Boot Cut (Similar to the Cyprus Bell Bottom available at shopbop)

See how awesome that model's butt looks? That's how awesome MY butt looks! Seriously!

These jeans are not even just made for us small butt people - they make all butts look awesome. OK sorry enough about the butt...

And did I mention the cigarette jeans are super comfortable? Stretch jeans that are great for going out but comfy like sweatpants... doesn't get much better than that! As for my new flair-lite jeans - yes I call them flair-lite, because it has the flair look that's so big this spring without being too dramatic. I'm sure I'll be wearing both of these pairs until they die.

Chicago friends... run to your nearest Akira and get these now! 

(Nordstrom and Shopbop carries Genetic denim as well)

Gah wish I could be as cool as this gal...

Sorry there have been no updates as of late... work has been insane. But while taking a quick brain break had to share this amazing outfit as captured by Scott Schulman of the Sartorialist.

Photo by Scott Schulman of the Sartorialist, Taken on Hudson St. NY

I just love the entire look - from the vintage vibe to the mix of colors and textures - I think this will inspire me to wear one of my chapeau's for Easter and pair with a skirt and sweater in similar fashion.

Chicago-Savvy Shoes

So I've been thinking a lot about shoes recently. I know we ladies tend to think of shoes often (OK, all the time). During this season though, I've found that grabbing a pair of shoes in the morning has become that much more difficult. I haven't been wanting to grab my usual winter boots, and it's still too cold to expose my feet to the weather via my usual flats or heels. 

Refinery 29 Chicago took a stab at some spring solutions for us Chicagoans (The Best Shoes for a Chicago Spring). The slideshow includes a mix of ankle boots in neutrals (both heeled and flats), flats in brights and prints, and a couple of heels options. I love some of these looks (can we say ankle bootie wedge??), but I'm thinking of a slightly different sartorial direction to take me from now to summer: Oxfords. (a.k.a. brogues, spectators, etc.)

I grabbed my trusty patent black pair out of the back of my closet this morning, and saw another fabulous pair in classic brown at lunch. 

Currently I'm wearing mine with straight leg jeans and a sweater, or a dress/skirt and tights. Come summer I'll be wearing a pair with fun flirty dresses. I love that these shoes bring a little boyishness to my more girly looks.

What do you think? Will you be wearing oxfords this spring? 

Here are some options available that I love:

Non-laced option

Steve Madden Trouser ($70, available on Piperlime)

Almost an exact match to my pair!

Chelsea Crew Perforated Oxford Shoe - also available in brown ($59, available at Urban Outfitters)

For an Italian feel

DV by Dolce Vita 'Marcella' Slip-On ($70, available at Nordstrom)

LOVE this color!

n.d.c. Briar Oxford ($415.00, available at Barney's)

And if you can't bear to wear flats... 

Of course they're Frye

Frye Block Heel Oxford ($188, available at Urban Outfitters)

Winter can't be all bad, right?

Thanks to this lovely lady's outfit (photo from the Sartorialist, taken in New York), I've learned the following reasons to be OK with this cold weather:

1) Still get to wear my fur

2) With the sunshine I get to finally bring my sunglasses out of retirement

3) Time to mix spring's neutrals with my winter black basics

Photo by Scott Schulman from the Sartorialist

See it's not so bad... just needed a little bit of optimism. Wait, it's still Wednesday, isn't it.

Still waiting on some spring weather...

One of my favorite street style looks from NYFW. I love the juxtaposition of the elegant coat with the casual all jean outfit.

Photo from Refinery 29

Spring Trend: 70's

Shop Bop does it again! 

Another great lookbook from Shopbop - this time their take on the 70's trend. It's refreshing to see a real modern take, while still looking back on the era. 

I know it sounds like a broken record (ha ha)... but can't wait to try out some of these looks (and color schemes) as well!