New Hairstyle!

I am going to get my hair cut tonight.  This is kind of what I had in mind.  It'll be a lot of work straightening and styling but I'm ready for a change and a little work in the name of a new style won't be so bad.

I had a straight style in the spring.  And then it got humid, and hot, and more humid and straightening my hair every day would have been the style choice of a crazy person.  Ironically the day I got that haircut and style it was pouring and today it is pouring again.  I hope that isn't a sign the wet, wet weather is coming back.  That style with crazy curls is not what I'm looking for.

Madden Girl Raleigh Boots

I called these boots because I couldn't stand to write booties on the header.  booties.  Seriously, that's an awful word for a grown woman's shoe.  I picked these up for cheep cheep at marshalls over the weekend and I'm a little bit torn.  Madden Girl is, to say it plainly, a cheap brand.  I know they're not leather and I know they probably won't be that comfortable over long periods.  I still think they're adorable and I'm talking myself into keeping them for slow days with lots of sitting pretty.  

It might not be so obvious in the picture but there is something charming about the lines.  Something a little forties about the overall cut.  They cover my tattoos and if I can fake enough of a tan maybe I can get away without wearing the now requisite hose* or tights.  

There will at some point be an entire post about being required to wear pantyhose to work but I don't have the stomach for it right now.  Suffice to say I bought the most ridiculous tights I could find to push the issue and I'll be showing some of them up here shortly.  

Either way, let me know what you guys think of these shoes?  Is it worth buying adorable shoes that you know might cause problems and not last forever just because they're adorable?

Xhilaration by Target

Excuse the truly horrible mess in the background, I was searching for a tank top to wear with this lace skirt.  I didn't find one and ended up buying some at the Gap the next weekend.  I thought it would be kind of fussy to wear lace out of the house but it's actually quite simple.  I treat it like any other black skirt and try to keep the top fitted.

I kind of think the point of this skirt is to see the lace so I'm not sure which tights to wear with it now that the tights police have arrived.  I'll probably go with black and sheer but I'm a little afraid that will de-casual-ize the casual-ness I try to present when wearing this skirt.  I might try footless tights but I'm a little afraid it'll be too mid-eighties Madonna.  Maybe for Halloween.

More Shoes! Indigo by Clarks

These forties inspired heels make me super happy.  I've worn them a few times with pencil skirts.  So far I've been wearing them bare legged, which is my preference but from now on I'll have to wear them with stockings of some kind.

I'm not sure which tights will suit these best, today I'm going to try some blue ones for kind of a librarian effect.  I have the perfect cardigan to go with them.  I do have my eyes open for some back seamed tights, anything to work the forties vibe.

Me Too Ruffle Flats

I bought these to wear with a very specific tunic and footless tights and I almost didn't get them at all because buying shoes for one outfit is a bit silly.   I don't know what I was thinking because I wear them with everything all the time.  I love them with pants, as in the picture, and with skirts...with pretty much anything.

I wear flats mondays and thursdays, our busiest days.  I like to save my heels for slower days so I don't grow to loathe them like I have in the past.

Clearly I have a thing for ruffles lately.  I'm feeling extra girly and I've been buying a lot of ruffly things and heels and glittery shoes.  And lace too, particularly a lace skirt which I definitely wear with these ruffle flats.  I'm much more confident mixing patterns and textures than I ever have before.  Being a grown-up kind of rocks sometimes!

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

Another monochromatic in brown.  This is part of my dear god, how can it be this hot it Maine series of outfits.  A light brown tee from the gap and a brown cotton skirt i picked up at Marshalls.  The cowboy boots I wasn't sure about and then I wore them and they're so comfortable I wear them all the time now.

No one commented on whether or not they weren't work appropriate and technically boots are on the ok list.  They covered my tattoos and that helps when big wigs come to visit.

If I wear any of this again I'll add more color, but the skirt is very summer so it might be a while.

"Sometimes the more you think about an outfit the worse it gets"

This is the outfit I wore on the first day of work.  The shirt we weren't sure about, my sister said military was over.  Fortunately I live in a place where fashion isn't so cut throat and although I have never worn anything with buttons before as a decorative element but I really like it.  

I love this pencil skirt.  Pencil skirts are another I have avoided in the past but I really love the way it fits.  

The shoes are a little obliterated by the hanger, whooops! but they're Madden Girl kitten heels from a few years ago.  I chose kitten heels for the first day to be on the conservative side.  I'm getting more adventurous with my heels as I only work part-time and I don't have to stand on my feet a full day.  

This is one of many monochromatic outfits I have been wearing to work.  I had pledged to use more color in my life but apparently I turn back to black pretty frequently.  

Style Like: Khloe Kardashian

Dare I say I love me some Kardashians!? Nothing like starting out the week with a Mojito while watching Khloe and Kourtney hitting the streets in Miami!

and as someone who can appreciates a womans curves... I'm loving what Khloe is wearing while shopping on a Saturday.

photo courtesy gossip center

Want recreate the look (on the cheap of course!)?

My personal preference is the green Old Navy dress, although the colors aren't the same as Khloe's, I thought the pattern resembled it better, but if you want something a tad truer to Khloe's outfit, I added the JCPenney dress.

Also, I used cheap sunnies, mainly because I constantly lose mine and refuse to spend more than $20 on a pair now!

Khloe Kardashian by Rebecca Muba featuring Old Navy dresses

JCPenney : women : dresses : view all dresses
$67 - jcpenney.com
More dresses »

Old Navy Womens Plus Strapless Drape-Front Maxi-Dresses
$40 - oldnavy.gap.com
More Old Navy dresses »

Yellow Box HIP HOP
$30 - solestruck.com
More Yellow Box flip flops »

nicole sunglasses
$11 - fredflare.com
More Nicole sunglasses »

denim blazer
$25 - jcpenney.com

Stitch and Swash

 I bought this bag a long, long time ago.  So long that I have since stained the crap out of it with a leaky pen and I am full of mourning.  I love this bag, it's probably my favorite accessory and definitely the most expensive.  Not that I begrudge the price.  The thing I love most about buying beautiful things directly from artists is that you know it was made by someone who cares and that that person who dreamed it, designed it and built it gets all the profit they deserve.  It's a purchase I feel good about buying, wearing and using.  I have received more compliments on this bag than any other single thing I have ever worn, even with the ink stains!

Stitch and Swash just opened their own online store where you can get this bag, in any combination of colors, and see her other beautiful work.  I am in love with the birdie print cosmetics bag to the left and the heart print bag below.

American Apparel T-Shirt Dress

I love t-shirt dresses.  This is exactly the kind of thing I never would have worn when I was twenty and only twenty pounds overweight and it's exactly the kind of thing I should have been wearing.  I did not appreciate my body when I should have so now I'm appreciating the shit out of it!  And also this dress.  I love the variety of colors and that there are so many ways to wear it.  Belted with a sweater for work, off the shoulder for a low-key evening out.  American Apparel has some great basics and this dress is the definition of versatility.

Trend: Clogs

How do we feel about clogs?  I keep seeing high heel clogs on the lists of trends for this summer and I'm just not sure.  Obviously, Kate Beckinsale looks awesome, as do all the other celebs who are rocking the high heeled clog, but I'm just not sure this is the trend for me.  Clogs make me feel clunky, even the name is like the total opposite of sexy.   

However, any opportunity to shop for shoes is an opportunity I want to take so I've been unselfishly searching the internet for clog inspired shoes that any woman would want to wear this summer, and next summer...and the summer after that.    

I'm a big fan of summer sandals, maybe because in Maine summer is a brief affair and one has to make the most of the the opportunity to shed wool socks and snow boots.

These adorable black sandals by Miss Sixty have a hint of the clog inspiration in the rivets on the toe bed and a very sexy heel for a clog.  

These gorgeous brown leather clog inspired sandals are by Biviel. I recently discovered Biviel and I love them. The reviews for fit and comfort are great and I'm really looking forward to owning a pair myself.  

The white clogs are by BCBGMaxAzria and are the most on trend.  Wood, leather, buckles, there is a lot going on with these clogs but they still have the chic look of quality that can take them beyond this summer trend.  A great pair of leather sandals is worth the money and should last more than one season.  I think each of these sandals could be staples for summers to come making any pair a worthwhile investment.

Matilda Boots by Frye

I love these boots by Frye.  Strong and feminine at the same time.  I imagine nineteenth century vixens kicking ass and taking names in these boots, while drinking a cup of tea and having a nice bit of cake!

I'm saving my pennies to pick these up for fall.  I just need some hoops skirts and a bussel to go with them!

They're available in black and brown and are on sale now at zappos.com.