Looking Back, Part III

This set of outfits is the last of my favorites from this past year. I had so much fun trying to decide which to pick, looking back on this year has been a great process for me, helping me figure out what I need to do to make 2011 even better.

Ever since I was a little girl, September always seemed to be a time for new beginnings. It's probably because September was when the new school year started. In 2010, September was when I started my new job in Manhattan! After not working in an office environment for a couple of years, I decided I had to re-invent what I thought of as business casual. Luckily my new office has a very lenient dress code policy, so I am able to wear whatever I feel like!

This was a landmark month for me as well because I moved into my new apartment. I had a few hiccups along the way, but now I am finally settled in a place I love and can call my own. With the cooler weather came more opportunities for layering.

Bold, rich colors seem appropriate for fall, with the changing foliage and everything. Autumn is my favorite season, the cool weather with a hint of chill in it is my ideal temperature!

The holidays just make me want to wear sparkly and festive pieces! Not just for fancy occasions, but for days at the office as well. You just have to mix the fun pieces with more basic ones to get the right mix.

I can't believe this will be my last post of 2010! It has been a really fun year when I look back at it. I am really excited to see what 2011 will be like. Tonight I'll be celebrating by going to a NYE potluck and house party! I am a big fan of low key celebrations. Although there *is* a dress code, I need to wear black & white. I'm not really sure what I'm wearing yet, but it may involve a pair of sequin shorts.

And now here are my favorite blogs that cheer me up with their fun and interesting writing! These gals crack me up and I love reading what they have to say!
*Chloe of The Chloe Conspiracy
*Anjali of golden means
*Stephanie of Living the Life on a Budget
*Kim of Anthroholic
*Amy of Kelinda Kelinda
*Carol & Kathryn of In Pursuit of Pretty Things
*Where are you from originally?
*Man Repeller

I hope everyone has a fun and safe New Year's!

Looking Back, Part II

On to the warmer months! It is way more fun to take photos outside when it's nicer out than when it's freezing cold.

Darn I wear a lot of anthropologie, as you can see in this set of outfit photos. I can't help it, I fell in love with a lot of their pieces this past spring/summer. I think it's the unique prints and soft fabrics that I really enjoy. 

Fun sandals and heels are my favorite way to dress up an outfit. I had a lot of fun in June exploring the city in the summer, and definitely felt like I could get away with wearing anything. I love that in New York, anything goes. I love quirky animal motifs, like the turtle-printed dress and the kissing mice belt.

In July I was busy trying to stay cool in both New York City and Las Vegas. Easy dresses and short skirts were what I kept reaching for. Colorful prints and lightweight textures kept me from overheating during the summer!

I was home in Georgia for the month of August and had a great time relaxing with my family and my puppies! I also had the advantage of having my OOTD photos taken by my sister. This set of photos may be my favorite on my entire blog! Can you tell that I was obsessed with my Steve Madden "Nataliaa" sandals this whole summer?

Here are some more blogs that I really enjoy reading! These in particular, I really enjoy the beautiful photography that goes with the great outfits! =)
*Tara of Little Girl Big Closet
*Tien of adiaphane
*Alix of The Cherry Blossom Girl
*Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere
*E of District of Chic
*Joelle & Noel of the owls are not what they seem
*Jane of Sea of Shoes

I'll be back tomorrow, New Year's Eve, with the rest of my favorites!

Looking Back, Part I

I can't believe 2010 is nearly at a close. It's been an interesting year to say the least, full of many changes and ups & downs. The interwebz is full of "best of 2010" lists of all kinds, but I decided that I needed to have my say, too! Thank you to all the lovely readers out there who stuck by me all throughout 2010, and I love getting to know new ones every day, I hope y'all stick around for more in 2011.

Here is a compilation of my favorite outfits from January-April. I think it's really interesting to go through old posts and not only see what I was wearing during a particular time, but to also read what I was up to, and get a glimpse of the what was going on in the past year.

January was a very exciting month for me. It was when I first moved to New York City! I was thrilled to be in a new and exciting place, but also a bit afraid of what the future would bring. I've never regretted moving to the city! In this month I was obviously gravitating towards bright colors to combat the dreary cold weather. I'm a huge fan of prints and there are very few that I will shy away from.

I chopped my hair off earlier this year and I'm still not sure if that was the best decision. Right now I am currently growing my hair out and it is a tedious process. (Plus, I'm very, very impatient.) In February I gained a new addition to my family, Savannah! I was a huge fan of belting everything, and I favored rich jewel tones. 

March is the month that I turned a quarter of a century old. My style was, and still is, all over the place. You'd think that I'd have figured that out by now. I love everything and anything, and I'm up for trying anything once (eep, yes I see the liquid leggings). 

April showers bring May flowers! And in April NYC got a glimpse of warm weather, which I took full advantage of. I love it when you can start walking around with bare legs (*shakes fist at winter right now*). I also love warm weather because people can actually see what you are wearing, instead of having it hidden under a coat. 

Also wanted to share these bloggers that have been great to follow in the past year! This particular set consists of some ladies that I've had the privilege of meeting in person, even if it was just for a quick word. It's always amazing to see someone in real life, versus their blog presense. 

*Jinah of Bonjour It's Jinah

*Roxy of Effortless Anthropologie

*Maria of Infinite Whimsy

*Jess of Consume or Consumed

*Jessica of What I Wore

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

What I'm wearing:
*H&M Blush Cowl-neck Pleated Dress
*J.Crew Chevalier Cardigan in Heathered Graphite (similar here)
*Black H&M Tights
*Lanvin Cap-toe Slingbacks (similar here)
*J.Crew Flower Headband (similar here)

You know what's a truly amazing feeling? The feeling of coming home. I didn't grow up in Georgia, but my parents live there right now, and it's been where I've been going on holidays and breaks for a few years now. After living in the city for almost a year now, I still love it, but sometimes the hustle & bustle can get to you. I'm so lucky that I'm able to come visit for Christmas, my office is closed until the new year! I'm excited to eat some yummy food, sleep in, snuggle with my puppies, and hang out with the family.

Instead of going for traditional holiday colors, a soft blush and heathered grey was what I reached for. I think it invokes feelings of soft snow, ballerinas, and the military style sweater reminds me of the Nutcracker!  

I just wanted to wish everyone a very *Merry Christmas*! Hoping everyone is enjoying their holiday and spending quality time with loved ones. 

On the 10th Day of Christmas....

I'm featured on Little Girl Big Closet! Check out my interpretation of the 10th day of Christmas here! 

Precious Scallops

What I'm wearing:
*anthropologie Precious Materials Cardigan
*J.Crew Victoria Knit Cami in Spicy Olive
*anthropologie Scalloped Dots Skirt
*anthropologie Leaps & Bounds Belt
*Black H&M Tights
*Black Taryn Rose Heels
*MICHAEL Michael Kors Large Hamilton Tote in Luggage

This is kind of a busy outfit for me. I do love layering, and this started off with just the knit cami and the scalloped skirt. I then piled on the belt and threw on a embellished cardigan. It seemed a bit much, but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I've been very frustrated wit my closet lately and been very uninspired, so I've just been pulling out random items and trying to make them work.

i just want it to be love...

What I'm wearing:
*anthropologie Sweater
*anthropologie Fulmar Sweater Skirt
*Taryn Rose Red Patent Criss-Cross Mary Janes
*Gap Sequin Tote (similar here)

After seeing both Anjali and Tien rock the Fulmar Skirt recently, I knew that I had to take mine out for a spin. This is one of my favorite anthropologie pieces, I love the color and I think it is such a unique skirt. It also reminds me of the short stint I did working part-time at anthropologie during the fall of 2008. This was the skirt I just wasn't sure about, even though I thought it was awesome (I hadn't quite developed my creature motif obsession quite yet). But I am so glad that I did purchase it in the end.

This time around I paired the skirt with a cozy sweater from anthropologie, bright pumps, and a sequin tote. (See how I wore it before here, here, & here.) The sequin tote was such an impulse buy, but I am obsessed with sequins this season and thought that it would be a fun bag to tote around to add some sparkle to my outfits. And how I adore sparkley things.

P.S. Make sure to check out new anthropologie sale markdowns (w/ additional 25% off!) at Effortless Anthropologie. Roxy is awesome and compiles the most comprehensive list! Surprisingly I am not really wanting anything new lately so I will be sitting this one out (unless I find a Peppered & Striped Skirt in a size 4 somewhere), but there are a lot of great markdowns!

Yes, My Shirt Has Cats on It

What I'm wearing:
*Zara Cat Print Blouse (similar here)
*Gap Ponte Knit Dress (similar here)
*anthropologie Looping Lanes Belt (similar here)
*Black H&M Tights
*Joie "Veronica" Mary-Janes in Caviar
*Foley & Corinna Red Patent Flap Bag

Now I am a huge dog fan, as readers of this blog can see that I am obsessed with my puppy, Savannah. But I am not one of those dog people that hate cats. In fact, I really love the kitties! I think that they are super snuggly and can be just as affectionate as dogs. You just can't play fetch with them. Trust me, I've tried. Cats will just stare back at you with a "what the heck" superior expression on their little faces. So when I saw that Zara had a blouse with cats printed all over it, I knew that it had to be mine! I'm sure now all of my co-workers think that I am a crazy cat lady. 

I figured layering the loud printed top underneath a sleeveless dress would tone down the cat craziness at least a little bit. Also I am feeling very Christmas-y lately so a bright red patent purse was the finishing touch that I reached for.

Happy Monday! I normally hate Mondays but since it's a short week (I leave for home after work on Thursday!) I am not feeling too terrible about it. I had a great weekend spent with lovely friends, and am excited for Christmas!! (and to see my puppy!)

Quick Snap: Layered Lace

What I'm wearing:
*BCBG Cashmere V-neck Bell Sleeve Sweater
*H&M Lace Dress (similar here)
*Fleece-lined tights from Korea (similar here)
*Taryn Rose Red Patent Criss-Cross Mary Janes
*Forever 21 Necklace

This is one outfit that I really wish the photo came out better. I decided to layer one of my favorite soft sweaters over a lace dress that I really had not been reaching. I've only worn this H&M dress once before (see post) because it's a little hard to wear. It's short, and it has a front zipper that I don't love. But I did get this dress for 50% off, and I was determined to make it work. I actually got the idea to layer this when I was in an H&M the other day and picked up this adorable cropped sweater, and thought that it would look great layered over this dress. But then I told myself that the last thing I need is another sweater, so I talked myself out of it. Today I decided that this one would work just as well as the one from the store.

Currently I'm wearing a pair of fleece-lined tights and they are AMAZING! So warm and toasty. My lovely friend J bought them for me from Korea, where she is living and working right now. We had a little mini reunion with some high school girlfriends last night, and it was really great to catch up. J was also nice enough to bring me an adorable headband and some great face masks!

How cute is this? It's a little knit headband!

I am obsessed with cheap jewelry from F21. It's an addiction, I swear.

I am absolutely delighted that it is finally Friday. This week felt like it was an extra long week (especially because I am sick right now) so I am excited to just have a couple of days off. And then next week is a short week and then I have 10 glorious days off until the new year. Can't wait!! I promise to try to take some better photos this weekend.

Quick Snap: Tuxedo Blazer

What I'm wearing:
*Gap Tuxedo Blazer in Heathered Grey
*Martin + Osa Snowflake Ruffle Cami
*Hudson Skinnies
*Nine West "Sitcom" Over the Knee Boots in Black Leather

I'm a huge fan of knit blazers because they look a little nicer than just wearing a cardigan, but since they are knit they are extremely comfortable to wear. I wasn't too sure about the satin-y collar, but I think it's pretty subtle and the blazer can still be worn casually.

When I put this Martin + Osa cami on, I felt a little pang of sadness because they are no longer open... I may be a bit biased because I used to work there part-time but there are a few pieces from them that I really truly love!

Holiday Oh Holiday

What I'm wearing:
*J.Crew Victoria Cami in Abstract Rose (similar here)
*Vince Cashmere Cardigan
*Gap Pleated Bow Skirt in Ochre
*Black Hue Tights
*Taryn Rose Red Patent Criss-Cross Mary Janes (similar here)

I have two different holiday parties to go to today and really wanted to wear something that was festive yet can transition easily from work. I've been eyeing this pleated bow skirt for ages, and finally got it for a great price with Gap's BOGO 60% off deal. (Is anyone else not ever going to be able to pay full price at Gap ever again? That's how I feel.) I am in love with the ochre color, and thought it went nicely with my abstract rose ruffles. I thought this look was appropriate for work during the day with the cardigan on, and appropriate for a soiree without it.

I apologize for the lighting issues, and the yellow photos. I need to find a better way to take photos indoors!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

What I'm wearing:
*American Apparel Interlock Turtleneck Tent Dress in Cranberry
*Zara Faux Fur Hooded Vest (similar here)
*anthropologie Speckled Sweater Tights in Sand
*anthropologie Bowtied-Beauty Boots
*Forever 21 Reading Glasses Necklace

Love these Bowtied-Beauty Boots, I've had them for months but just have not worn them that much. I usually go for more simple boots but these bows are just too cute!

If you were in New York City this past Saturday, you may have noticed the hordes of Santas that took over the city. The event was SantaCon, which is pretty much a gathering of people dressed up as Santas or other holiday costumes congregating in various parts of the city, imbibing and having a good time. I've never seen this before, and I was intrigued! I didn't want to invest in a Santa or an elf costume just yet, but I still wanted to look festive. I decided to go with a cozy cranberry colored t-neck dress & a faux fur vest to go with my striped Santa hat. I layered a thin knit turtleneck underneath for extra warmth. Sweater tights and boots were also key in staying warm. Luckily it was a beautiful day out, and it was a lot of fun traipsing around the city with a huge crowd of Santas.

After a full day of Santa-ing, I still had more holiday celebrating to do. I was invited to an "ugly sweater" holiday party where we went between several different apartments and enjoyed yummy punch and holiday sweets (I think my favorite was the pumpkin woopie pies at my friend Stephanie's apartment!) It was fun to see people's fun outfits, and I was amused that some of these "ugly sweaters" weren't really ugly at all. I didn't really prepare for this party, so I just wore my fair isle cardigan which felt holiday-ish to me. I'm just happy no one told me they loved my ugly sweater! 

The One Time I Wore a Blanket Around All Day

What I'm wearing:
*H&M Grey Knit Poncho (similar here)
*aerie Navy/White Long-sleeve Striped Tee (similar here)
*Hudson Skinny Jeans
*UGG Lynnea Ankle Boot in Cognac

Some days a girl just doesn't want to put real clothes on. Some days a girl just wants to wear what resembles a giant blanket around all day. This is a look that my bf refers to as "hobo clothes". (I have a vast hobo collection which includes several Lululemon wraps.) This poncho is huge & warm and so comfortable. I just threw it on over a basic tee and jeans outfit.

This look is not for everyone, and it's definitely not workplace appropriate, but it's a cozy winter outfit! Especially when paired with these ankle boots. I love that you can wear them both up or folded down with the shearing showing. When they are folded down I feel like they seem more cozy!

I hope everyone has a great weekend, I'm excited because my girlfriends & I are going out for Italian tonight to celebrate the holidays, and will hopefully be going to SantaCon tomorrow! And an ugly holiday sweater party. I love this time of year, there is always something to do and it is so festive all throughout the city.

Crazy Pinwheels

What I'm wearing:
*LOFT Cable Sweater Dress in Mill Neutral
*anthropologie Pinwheel Tights (similar here)
*Christian Louboutin Brown Suede Pumps (similar here)
*Rebecca Minkoff Nikki Bag in Leaf

Just a quick snap of my new cozy sweater dress! I was waffling between this oatmeal color and the charcoal, but decided that grey is normally the color I reach for, and that I should try something new. I bought the orange pinwheel tights earlier this year when they went on sale, but never reached for them because I thought that they were just a little bit too crazy looking. 

They are still pretty crazy looking but I'm glad I finally wore them! With the neutral colored dress + shoes, the tights definitely stand out, but I love them. 

I'd Rather Be With Your Friends, mate

What I'm wearing:
*LOFT Tiered Tank (similar here)
*J.Crew Boyfriend Blazer (similar here)
*J.Brand Houlihan Skinny Cargo Pants in Vintage Olive
*Taryn Rose Pumps
*Forever 21 Layered Necklace

Rust & olive is one of my favorite color combinations. These skinny cargoes had not been getting worn that much lately, but I do love them. I also have not reached for this boyfriend blazer in ages, but I decided that I need to wear the older items in my closet more often. As a shopaholic I love getting new things, but once in awhile I need to be reminded that I need to appreciate what I've already got.

Anyone else in NYC notice how cold it has gotten? Brr... I was shivering while taking this photo! Luckily my French Connection jacket fits nicely over the whole thing to keep me warm. I'm not sure how much longer I cane take outdoor photos! I'm such a weenie about the cold. Well I hope everyone is staying stylish and warm!