a red dress

Dress season has arrived and I'm so happy!  I live in Southern California, so I could wear dresses year round, but I'm kind of a wimp about cold mornings, so I wear dresses far less in the than I do when the weather warms up.

I love love love the ease of wearing dresses.  I feel so much more pulled together than in a jeans look.  This dress has a flirty, swishy quality that I adore.  And I love the flattering "basketweave" detail on the front.

Do you love wearing dresses?  Do you wear them all year, or mostly in the summer?

PS--I am linking up with Passion for Fashion again today.  Click through for more style inspiration.  It is a fun little community of ladies who love all things fashion.

Outfit details:
dress:  Anthro
sandals:  Clark's

a pop of red

Happy Wednesday, everyone. Don't you love a short week? We are already halfway done!

Can I be honest? I don't love this blouse. I was so enthused by the tie detail that I overlooked the fact that I don't love the fabric. I bought it online and sent half my order back. This top should have gone with it, I suppose. But I'm trying to get some wears out of it, you know?

Outfit details:
top: Bloom (online shop)
jeans: AG
bracelets: various
shoes: Clark's

holiday

Happy Memorial Day everyone. I hope yours was a good one.

Nevermind the children playing in the background--that is just the way the photo taking process goes down over here! I wore this outfit out to breakfast on a mother-son date this morning (with Dieter) and for the rest of the day.

Outfit details:
pants:  Gap (majorly on sale in the stores right now--they ended up being approx. $12!)
top:  American Eagle
sandals:  Clark's
necklace:  Anthro
bracelet:  Etsy

what to wear to a teddy bear picnic

Rainer's Kindergarten class had its "Teddy Bear Picnic" today. It's a little performance (3 songs) and then the kids eat a picnic with their families. It's amazing that it coincided with having the day off for me (since it's difficult for me to take a day off in my work). I was SO happy to get to be there.   Rainer was adorable.

I paired this maxi dress with low boots to make it more casual.  The belt is a thrift store belt that is way too tiny to wear with jeans but fits perfectly with the dress.  I have big plans for paring this dress with different belts, different shoes, sandals, or moccasins, and with a jean jacket or denim vest over the summer and into the fall.  I'm crazy in love with the print.

I'm linking up with Passion for Fashion today.  Click through for more style inspiration!

Outfit details:
maxi dress:  Gap
belt:  thrifted
bracelet:  Target
boots:  Target

thursday at last! day/evening

Thursday at last! It was a hectic week at work, but I don't know why I'm so very stressed and on edge.  Thank goodness we have a 4 day weekend.  I am SO ready for it. 

The top look is what I wore to work today--the world's easiest outfit.  I've worn this combination many times.  When I got home I changed into the shorts look and we went out for soft-serve ice cream, to kick-off the weekend.  Much needed. 

Outfit 1:
floral blouse:  Anthro
jeans:  J. Brand
necklace:  Francesca's
platforms:  LL Bean Signature

Outfit 2:
shorts:  LL Bean Signature
striped top:  Garnet Hill
cargo jacket:  Gap
bag:  J. Crew
slip-on sneakers:  Old Navy

a simple work look

How is your week going? Mine has been so hectic at work! Thankfully, we have a short week, so tomorrow is my Friday. SO glad about that. Whoop whoop!

My main objective in today's outfit was to wear these Gap pants I bought a few months ago but have not worn as much as I thought I would. I got my black skinny black jeans shortly after and all my enthusiasm has gone toward the jeans, leaving these poor pants kind of unloved. These are cotton pants, sort of a dressier work pant. I paired them with a simple tee from Old Navy and some high wedge sandals.  The cargo jacket was for the morning hours only.

 I have a confession to make about these sandals--the wedge is almost too high for me!  I ordered them online and thought they'd be like my other wedges, but the angle of the foot is much more sharp in these.  So, I did my trick of not driving in them and I slipped into my flats for my commute (and frankly, at lunch) and I'm pretty good walking around the office in these for the main parts of the day.  I'm disappointed these won't be more useful for me though (my other wedges are much more comfy).

Outfit details:
pants, sandals, and cargo jacket:  all from Gap
striped top:  Old Navy
pendant:  gift from Ken (Forever Silver shop in Las Vegas--years ago)
bracelet:  Faith's--a souvenir from our trip to Maine.  I was pretty much obsessed with it so she gave it to me.

good for spinning

You guys, this skirt is so fun to wear. It makes me feel like spinning. All day, it gives me an extra spring in my step. It's that sort of skirt.

Here's what I do about wearing heels--I've found it's best for me to wear flats for my commute. Once I get to school, I have to walk to the maintenance barn (to pick up a golf cart--sounds weird, I know. It's for my use during the school day), so I wear my flats to get the golf cart and then change into heels in my office. For the commute back home, I change back into flats. I've found not driving in heels really saves my feet. But I LOVE the look of them. So these little accommodations are totally worth it.

Outfit details:
striped top and skirt:  J. Crew
heels:  Clark's
necklace:  Francesca's
bracelet:  Etsy

I'm linking up today for What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy.  Click through for more style inspiration.

back to work . . . monday

Here's what I wore for a Monday.  I'm back to work, but it is blessedly a short week.  We have Friday off---hooray!  You can't even imagine how much that means to me.  I'm thrilled.

I bought these white linen, off-white pants at Talbot's a year or two ago.  I love the idea of them.  The reality is that they are a bit too short and the cut is sort of "meh."  But I loved feeling a bit more dressed up and pulled together today, vs. wearing jeans to work.  Do you have any favorite, go-to sources for dressier pants for work?  I'm still looking.

As alway, thank you so much for stopping by!  

Outfit details:
linen pants:  Talbot's
striped top:  Anthro
denim jacket:  Old Navy
peep toe heels:  Clark's
jewelery:  Anthro, Etsy, J. Crew

sunday beach day

How was your weekend? Mine was great--it was such a relief to spend more time at home this weekend and not be so busy for once.  Unfortunately, I only caputured one of my outfits this weekend.  This is my Sunday outfit--we went to the beach (thus the hat) and otherwise were around the house (sans hat, of course!).

I have a lot of curiosity about how to look chic + comfortable on the weekends.  I want to look effortless and yet with a certain something.  That's one of the things I want to explore on the blog.  I admire naturally stylish women so much. 

Happy new week, everyone!

Outfit details:
dress:  Gap
hat:  Free People
necklace:  Anthro
flats:  Clark's

I'm linking up for the first time with Visible Monday!  Click through to see more fashion inspiration.

friday day/friday night

Hello nice blog readers! I really want to thank all of you who have been reading this blog.  Doing style posts has been such a fun, silly diversion, even while real life is very much happening in the background. Did you all read Kendi's post yesterday? What a brave, lovely girl she is. Turns out she is a real person with struggles just like everyone else. I'm wishing her, and anyone going through a similar challenge, strength and courage.

The above outfit was a casual Friday look. It turned out to be a perfect outfit for doing office-y tasks. At least I was comfy while shuffling papers around. After work I drove home and changed into this:
 

This is one of my other black dresses. I wore this to Dieter and Rainer's "open house" night at their school and to pick up Mexican food. Now the boys and Ken are all nestled on the sofa watching Dragon Heart: A New Beginning (they are loving it). I'm wishing you all a happy weekend! BTW, I'm linking up with Passion for Fashion today. Click through for more style inspiration.

Outfit 1:
top:  Lucky Brand
jeans:  Levi's
wedges:  Clark's

Outfit 2:
dress:  Gap
belt:  Anthro
necklace:  vintage, from Carrie
sandals:  Gap