Snakeskin

This Monday, I needed a little change of pace, so I decided to wear some snakeskin, but not in the way I normally do by sporting this funky animal print on my heels shoes.  Instead, I found a snakeskin shirt that was classy for work, but fierce enough to wear on a Monday Morning to spice it up a bit.  I threw on some bangles to add a bit of color and wanted to add something to add a softer look.

Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft ($19 on sale), skirt: Ann Klein (suit bottom $35)

I decided to throw on a set of pearls to balance the snakeskin, for a different vibe.  Side Note: I also purchased Toms for my walks to work, and they are definitely worth buy for on foot commuters. 

Pearls: gifted

To finish the look- I put on my snakeskin headband, and wore simple black pumps to work:

Headband: Ann Taylor Loft: $5 for a pack of 3

Make shift Tailoring

I wanted to share one of my favorite tricks, for those of you that have stuck true to the New Year's Resolution to get in shape and go to the gym, eat healthy- you get the gist.  Anywho, I bought this skirt a year ago as part of a suit and it is too big this year.  I want to get it taken in, but didn't want to do that until the spring hit when I wouldn't be wearing a heavier tweed suit.  To hold over, I made a makeshift front pleat to keep it real until, well now!


What you need: safety pins and a thick belt:


Below is my skirt, so you can see the size of it:

Let's go step by step what I did, to make it look like it came with a front pleat:

First scrunched it up in the middle of the front (slightly off center to make sure when you lay it flat, its in the middle) and safety pinned the crunch together:

Next, I flipped the scrunch to one side to keep it flat and safety pinned the scrunch down to one side:

Next, I secured it flat with one last safety pin  It should look like this when you look at it from the top:

I laid the skirt out on my trunk, so you can see the end result...VOILA!:

So after the safety pinning is over, pop it on, and put a thick belt over to cover any part of the pin that was hard to cover completely:

This was the end result.  At work, I put on the matching jacket and it looked like it was supposed to be that way:

Do you guys have any quick tricks?  I have a couple that I will share for men!

Happy St PAtty's Day

Here are some things I threw together for work last week in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day!  Everyone in Boston enjoy the parade and be safe!!
I like to start off with neutrals- and then add the pop of festive green:

The Blazer is $19 at Forever 21 if anyone needs last minute green!

Here is another look I chose with the Oscar De La Renta scarf and Elizabeth and James boots:

Snow White

With Spring in the air especially today and tomorrow in Boston, I thought I better get my winter whites in a couple more times before I have to put them away.  This is one of my favorite dresses to wear.  Some pieces in your closet never get old, and this is one of those type of things for me.  My love for this dress started when my friend Emme brought it to our tailor Beauge and he told her it wasn't worth the alterations.  She brought it in and I marched on down and got it hemmed the same day I liked it so much.  She found it at Filene's basement for a crazy deals- final sale type situation.  So this kind of dress I have worn just plain black tights and my red wedges or switched it up with a bunch of different things- I have learned the hard way not to think I won't spill on it when cooking like I am some kind of fashion super hero.  We all know when we were white we only have special powers to attract spills, splashes, lipstick stains and more, but we all end up going back to white even with the chance of stains because it's so pretty!!  The leaves on this dress are subtle enough, but make it so easy to wear as is with no extras:

Now, I am going to add one piece- which is the theory blazer I found the weekend I went shopping with Jim's Mom and Sis.  It was on clearance for $28 from $380.  How can you say no? Anyways- let's pop this blazer on.  It has been great for work and fun, and is very versatile.  If you look closely enough it has a light white pin stripe.....there is something about blazers this year- I seriously can't get enough of them.  I love a great boyfriend blazer with a dress- it's easy and you can wear it with so many combinations!

Sometimes keeping everything real neutral gives a nice clean look.  I wore my north face boots on the bottom because it was the day of the snow storm last week and I really got to put the boots to work- the thing that is great about them is they are so comfortable, that you don't have to wait for the first snowstorm of the year to wear, they're cool with anything.

One last piece that I decided to add was a necklace from FrenchConn with just enough bling.  Talk about foggy- oops- it was a long day ahead and I wanted to snap a picture before I was off for the day!

So on a brighter note, outsides of neutrals, I am excited for Marni coming to boston tomorrow.  I hope I can see some pieces left behind similar to Jason Wuu at Target, but who knows what will happen.  My friend Ashley showed me a clip for all of us fashionistas out there in anticipation of tomorrow- remember to keep your cool in these long lines with a lot of customers- and get amazing pieces for me, because I will have to be at work!


   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAAf-Zo6_lg


I totally have these moments where I ask if I absolutely "need this" haha-
 I am going to try to check out the line ahead of time to see how intense it is on my walk to work.  Rest up fellow shoppers and good luck to those who brave it tomorrow morning!!

Something Old, Something New, Part deux

I hope everyone had an amazing weekend.  Friday was filled with Seaport fun with some of my favorites!  My brother came into town; we don't get to hang out enough, so it is always fun to meet up with him.  I somehow fit 10 people in the smallest apartment possible this Friday and it was fun to entertain with a stove filled with unlimited french fries (ketchup extra), DJ on my mac computer and use any type of my trunk, windowsill, loft, and floorspace for sitting space to entertain.  It's nice to roll with it and made due with tight quarters.  It also gave a little bit of a flashback to my college dorm room.   

 If anyone can make it to H&M this week, Marni is doing a line there on the 8th!  I am hoping to see some spotting of really cool shoes.  

For, now I am trying out another day of color blocking and a polka dotted scarf to add to the look.  As you can see, I kept the tights and shoes and tank from the post last week, and changed the skirt and the blazer. Here is another simple outfit that includes color blocking and a fun scarf to mix it up.  I really like the way that navy, purple and pink look together.  I have seen clothing that incorporates these three colors and it is nice to make your own color blocking outfits, because unlike that dress, you can keep switching it up.  

Blazer: Ann Taylor, Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft ($35)

One fun thing about the skirt....its the skirt that I wore the day I met Maria Stefanos from Fox 25. Keely and I desperately needed caffeine and Maria was in line as well.  She walked up to us to compliment us on our outfits. AMAZZINNGG! 

 She is such a local fashion icon in Boston and Keels and I were stoked she approved.  She was the sweetest person ever and naturally, we asked if we could take a picture with her. It's funny how clothes sometimes have a story behind them.  A little piece of me was extra sad when my green Lacoste rain boots started to leak.  They were the boots that I had on with Keels (and she had amazing plaid rain boots too).  We spotted Steven Tyler and he said we had nice boots!

Below, I added a light polka dotted scarf from JCrew outlet.

Something Old, Something New

I am going to try something out, where I will try to add just a simple change to see how it changes the outfit.  For today, I started off with this basic color block, and then added a scarf that pulled in the colors in my shirt and the tights for a slightly different look.  It is the simple things that can make a different look sometimes.  I am proud to say that the skirt was purchased from the gap for $3.50 on a mega-sale- it was a fun purchase.  I really need a steamer, because pleat maintenance is harder than I thought with an iron!  Happy Friday!!

Tank top: Express, Cardigan: Jcrew outlet ($20), skirt: Gap ($3.50), tights: Hue: Shoes: Nine West, Marshall's( $39

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