WIW: Snakeskin & Red

Good morning my lovelies :)

Since I brought back this red blazer into rotation (thanks for the inspiration Amy!), I've wanted to try the pairing of snakeskin with red. I love animal print with red so why not try another critter, right?

I started the outfit with my bootcut jeans and added my snakeskin belt. Then I chose a plain white tee (I'm still on the hunt for my perfect white slightly slouchy tee but this one is a decent placeholder) and topped it with my red blazer worn with scrunched sleeves.

I chose my red booties to bookend the blazer and my snakeskin handbag to bookend the belt and play up the snakeskin in the outfit. A gold watch and my gold wedding band, plus a swipe of red lipstick, finishes off the outfit.

I really like this for a casual Friday look - do you think it all works together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Blazer & tee: Gap
Jeans: Jessica Simpson
Belt: Olsen Europe
Handbag; Elliott Lucca
Boots: Sam Edelman

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38 comments

WIW: Graphic print & polka dots

Today's outfit started with my black sheath dress - the better fitting and slightly dressier of the two black sheath dresses I have. It's funny how I'm not reaching for my printed or more body con dresses these days but I do still feel like wearing a simple black sheath….hmmmm….

Anyway, I've topped the dress with my graphic print blazer and added my large polka dot hose for a bit of fun. For footwear I chose my black patent booties and then finished off the outfit with a grey/silver bangle and my black/white leather handbag.

I'm leading a tour today involving both health care professionals and the general public and wanted an outfit that achieved the balance between professionally appropriate and fun/approachable. Did I get it right?

Blazer: RW&Co.
Dress: Jones New York (thrifted)
Hose: Hue
Booties: Ara
Handbag: Danier Leather (thrifted)
Bangle: thrifted

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WIW: Winter White Leather

Pre YLF there's no way I would have chosen any white items for winter - YAY for moving forward! :)

Today's outfit started with my burgundy skinnies to which I added an animal print tank. In order to lighten the outfit and bring out the white that's dotted throughout the tank, I topped the outfit with my light cream/white leather jacket and chose my python booties to bookend. I then furthered my winter white choice and am carrying my large light cream handbag. When I head out the door, I'll be adding a white scarf and gloves and my citron puffer. 

What do you think? does it all work together? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Jacket & handbag: Danier Leather
Tank: Nygard
Skinnies: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Booties: Sam Edelman
Puffer: Esprit

P.S. Gain says "good morning" :)

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WIW: Leopard & Leather

This outfit is a take on Angie's "pencil skirt with leather jacket" formula. I realize it's a bit heavy with the amount of black leather and won't be to everyone's liking. If I had time this morning, I would have switched my handbag to a red clutch but no time…

The outfit started with my leopard print pencil skirt to which I added my black knit tank and topped with my black leather blazer. I added sheer black hose and my ancient knee high black leather boots. They are not as refined as the new styles that are available now but these are very comfortable, fit well and will get me through one more winter. Handbag is black leather and jewelry is just my gold wedding band and a rose gold ring. Red lip of course!

What do you think? Does it work or is it just too much black leather? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Jacket & handbag: Danier Leather
Tank & skirt: Sears
Boots: Clarks

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WIW: Foxy Lanai

This is the type of outfit I'm craving these days - simple trousers with a fluid top and a structured topper to rein it all in. 

I started today's outfit with my Jay Manuel dress trousers - they are a hybrid of bootcut and wide leg and IMHO just the right amount of volume for a short legged gal. I added my foxy tee with a "lazy full tuck" (my term for a full tuck and then pull a bit of the top back out to create a slight blouson effect) and my black leather belt. On top of that I'm wearing my navy Theory Lanai blazer. Love pairing navy and black - although poor hubby's comments this morning was "you know your jacket and pants don't match, right?"…sigh...For footwear I'm back to heels so am wearing my back patent booties. I chose my black handbag and jewelry is my rose gold/black watch and gold wedding band.

So what do you think? Does this all work together? Does it bother you that the pants and jacket don't match? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Blazer: Theory
Tee: Olsen Europe
Trousers: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Belt and handbag: Danier Leather
Boots: Ara

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WIW: Spreading the love

Nine times out of ten these days, when I wear jeans, I reach for my TR Cameron's. I'm so in love with those jeans it's crazy! But today I decided to spread the love a little and grab an old pair. 

A year or so ago, Angie had done an outfit spread with Canyon River Blues slouchy skinnies from Sears. I fell for those jeans and promptly bought them in three sizes since I didn't really know which ones would fit. The smaller pair didn't do up, middle pair was a snugger fit and fit like regular jeans and the larger pair slouched nicely and were the ones I wore for a bit. Then I shrunk a little and moved down to the middle pair. I had never returned any of them since the price was so reasonable and the shipping cheap. Well the middle and larger size are gone now since they ended up being much too big and today I'm wearing the smallest of the sizes (whoo hoo!) I'm not entirely sure the whiskering at the front is the most flattering but I don't mind - I really like the jeans and with the flat pockets (unlike the Cameron's), they give a bit of a sleeker slim BF silhouette. Plus I like the more indigo colour for a change.

I've paired the jeans with a colour block winter white and black knit that I bought in August waiting for the cold weather. It is a lovely weight with decent slouch so have semi-tucked and added a red leather belt. To bookend the belt, I'm wearing my red booties (back in a heel - yay!). I've added my black leather handbag, black/white oversized watch and silver wedding band.

When I head out the door, I'll be wearing my fauxberry scarf (look MaryK - I have one too!) and cranberry coat. 

What do you think? Are these jeans working? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Sweater: Cleo Petite
Jeans: Canyon River Blues
Belt and handbag: Danier Leather
Boots: Sam Edelman
Coat: Anne Klein
Scarf: thrifted

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WIW: Something Unexpected

When I bought this cascading Eileen Fisher merino wool cardigan in the summer for fall/winter, there were a few raised eyebrows on the forum as this is typically not my style at all. I adore structure and low fuss factor, so why was I buying a piece with flow and drape? At the time I bought it because it just spoke to me in some way. I have since figured out that it is my "chicken soup" sweater - the type of piece you put on and it wraps you in warmth and comfort. Today's weather forecast is for bitterly cold, snow and high winds - calls for some chicken soup, don't you think?

So because this is quite a statement item, I've kept the rest of the outfit streamlined and simple - my first outing of my ponte knit leggings, a black asymmetrical tank and knee high black boots. I hope I don't look too much like a pirate - lol! For jewelry, I went with a large gun metal cuff and my silver wedding band and stayed with the over sized clutch that I used yesterday.

So what do you think? Can I pull this off? Do you have a "chicken soup" item in your wardrobe? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Sweater: Eileen Fisher
Tank: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Leggings: Lord & Taylor
Boots: Clarks (ancient but comfy and warm)
Clutch: XOXO (thrifted)

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WIW: Skinnies & a scarf - who me?

Talk about two things I NEVER wear - coloured skinnies and a scarf! I bought these burgundy skinnies last week and after playing with them some on the weekend for outfit ideas, I'm busting them out today. 

I decided to pair them with my grey Gap mesh sleeve sweater as I do love the combo of burgundy and grey. I added my black leather belt and a semi tuck. I know some do not care for a semi tuck with skinnies but I'm discovering that I really need a semi tuck for two reasons - with the belt lower than my natural waist, the semi tuck can visually elongate my torso which is very short. I also find that the semi tuck actually gives me a waist. 

I had to choose my black Clarks shooties again for comfort and would have preferred my pointy toe black patent booties but that's life. 

I've been toying with trying scarves as I do like the look on others and can see how they work to tie in colours. Since I wanted to find a way to repeat the burgundy in the top half of the outfit, I went digging through the scarf bin at my local Goodwill to see what I could find - a "test" scarf if you will. I found this dark red (not quite burgundy but close enough) scarf with a light grey and black abstract print (sort of a faux animal print) that fit the bill. One of my issues with scarves is the fuss factor - always adjusting, making sure the ends don't get caught in something, etc. So I went on Pinterest to look at different ways to tie scarves and found exactly what I was looking for. This makes the scarf almost more like a necklace, less bulky and less "flimsy". In fact, it actually gives the scarf structure - PERFECT!

Jewelry is my black/white oversized watch and silver wedding band and I chose my animal print oversized clutch for my handbag.

When I head out the door, I'll be wearing my berry coloured cashmere-blend knee length coat which amazingly, works perfectly with the scarf.

So this is a new look for me with new items - my happiness factor? SKY HIGH!!! What do you think - does it all work on me? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Sweater: Gap
Skinnies: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Shooties: Clarks
Scarf: Goodwill
Clutch: XOXO
Coat: Anne Klein

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WIW: Old FFBO

Today is  a day full of lessons: I did too much walking yesterday and this morning my ankle reminded me it's only been two weeks since I sprained it. So once again, I had to choose my footwear carefully and today's choice was my cognac knee high Hush Puppy boots.

I paired the cognac boots with sheer black hose and my old black sheath dress. My newer sheath dress is a bit long and dressy for these boots. I topped the dress with my cropped denim jacket and added my vintage men's tribal belt to add a bit more cognac. My handbag choice was my Fossil two-tone cognac satchel and jewelry is my rose gold/black watch and gold wedding band. 

My other lesson is that this old FFBO no longer makes me as happy as it used to. Something has shifted in my style over the last year and although the formula is still my favourite (dress, topper, boots) this particular combination which I used to love (black, cognac and denim) just doesn't feel like ME anymore. I'm not entirely sure why that is though - got any ideas? 

So based on my footwear needs I'm going to work in an outfit I feel rather "meh" about. Oh well…what's a gal to do? What do you think of the outfit? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Jacket: Brody Jeans (thrifted)
Dress: Banana Republic
Belt: vintage
Boots: Hush Puppy
Watch & handbag: Fossil

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WIW: Blackwatch & Leather

I'm soooooooooo glad I bought a second pair of these trousers in order to achieve the right fit - I LOVE THEM!

I've paired my blackwatch tartan trousers with a simple black crew neck knit tank with a semi tuck so that the leather yoke trim on the pants is visible. I then topped that with my black leather blazer. Unfortunately I still have to go with completely sensible shoes as my sprained ankle is still giving me some issues. As a result I went with my trusty Clarks shooties. I chose my black leather handbag (is that too much black leather?) and of course, finished off the outfit with a swipe of red lipstick. 

I forgot to take an outerwear pic but will be wearing my new cashmere-blend Anne Klein cranberry coat with faux Burberry scarf when I head out the door.

I gotta say that I feel rather fab in this outfit despite the boring footwear (would have preferred my heeled patent booties). These trousers are going to be absolute favourites of mine this season and I always feel good when wearing this leather blazer. What do you think of the outfit? As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Blazer & handbag: Danier Leather
Tank: Jessica (Sears brand)
Trousers: Lord & Taylor 424
Shooties: Clarks

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36 comments