Daughters of Anarchy

What I'm wearing:
*Forever 21 Leatherette Drape Jacket (similar here and here)
*anthropologie Grey-Tie Top
*J.Crew (outlet) Printed Skirt
*Nine West Pewter Patent Pumps (similar here)

LOVE this F21 leatherette jacket. It has the open drape styling that I loved seeing in Rick Owens, All Saints, and Vince leather, but at a much nicer price point ($40). It's no longer online (where I bought it from) but I have spotted a few in stores recently. The faux material feels pretty great, and I love the fit. There is a knit panel along the sleeves, so it's really comfortable as well. It's a great layering piece for fall! It's nice and lightweight so I don't feel too "biker chick" in it, just a little extra bit of edge, which I love, especially paired with floaty ruffles and a feminine printed skirt.

Working Girl

What I'm wearing:

*anthropologie Reed Shirtdress (similar here)
*Forever 21 Elastic Velcro Loop Belt in Brown
*Mossimo Katherine Engineer Boots in Brown
*MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton Tote in Luggage

I haven't reached for this dress in a very, very long time and I decided that it would be perfect to wear to the office! I feel a bit prairie girl in this plaid dress/rugged boot combination, but I kind of like it! For a potentially rainy day, boots are a necessity. New York has been dreary and rainy so far this week, with no sign of letting up, but I can't say that I hate it. I don't mind rainy weather as long as I'm prepared for it, armed with umbrella, trench, and boots. The worst is when you are stuck without even an umbrella, and you get drenched and have to sit uncomfortably on the subway.

I've been so flaky about posting lately, life has been getting in the way of the blog. I'm still not 100% settled into my apartment (hopefully soon) and work takes up a lot of time. I was in such a rush this morning because I slept through my alarm. What a terrible feeling, I hate it. Well let's see how well the rest of the week goes!

I Heart NY

rosanyc.tumblr.com

Very Preppy

What I'm wearing:

*J.Crew Piazza Jacket in Navy (similar here)

*Madewell Ribbed Tank in Neon Yellow (similar here)

*anthropologie Gaillarda Skirt

*Steve Madden Yachtt Boat Shoes in Taupe

*Forever 21 Flower Poise Earrings

I feel oh so very preppy today. Daisys! Sweater jacket! Boat shoes! It's a bit of a prep overload for me, but I just ran with it. Figured I'd be comfortable today, these shoes are probably my favorite "commuting" shoe. They were purchased in a moment of necessity because I was out and about, had a ton more errands to run, it was pouring out, and my ballet flats were completely soaked through. Ducked into a Steve Madden store and picked these up, and they've replaced my trusty ballet flats as my go to flat. (Also, did you know that if you check certain Steve Madden stores on Foursquare, you get 20% off of your purchase of $50 or more?)

Olive Boutonniere

What I'm wearing:
*anthropologie Bold Boutonniere Dress
*J.Crew Jackie Cardigan in Burnished Olive
*Frye Dorado Slouch Boots in Cognac (simialar here)
*New York & Co Bow Tote in Black (similar here)

Today was definitely one of those days where I was overwhelmed by the chaos that is my closet at the moment and had to grab something quick to wear. I haven't worn this dress in ages, even though it is one of my favorite anthro dresses. The best thing about this dress is that you can pretty much pair it with any colored cardigan and it will match.

All Tuckered Out

What I'm wearing:
*Tucker for Target Signature Dress in Diamond Print
*Forever 21 Elastic Velcro Loop Belt in Brown
*Nine West "Lucero" Pump in Wine Patent (similar here)
*MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton Tote in Luggage

Ok, it's official, Tucker for Target is definitely my favorite Target/designer collaboration. I'm usually disappointed by these (I'm talking to you, Botkier, Hayden-Harnett, Anna Sui, Rodarte) but I have much love for the Tucker line. I've always been a fan of Tucker's printed dresses, but could never justify buying one at the higher price point. I love that now I can enjoy a lovely signature dress at a Target price. This appeals to the thrifty bargain lover in me.

I decided to pair this particular dress with a brown elastic belt from Forever 21 (it was under $5!) to give some shape to the blouse-y dress. The wine patent pumps pick up the bits of red in the print. I really love the bird lawn print (see it on me here) but I think the diamond print dress is my favorite out of the whole line. I'm a lucky girl because this dress was sold out at my local Target, and sold out online, and my lovely friend S snagged one for me at hers! Thank you so very much.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Mine was filled with apartment-related stuff, and I'm still no where close to being settled. I did finally grab everything that I had left in my storage space when I first left NYC, which is great, but it was a huge pain getting it all to my new place. I just have to say that I couldn't have done it without M, who was amazing and lugged all of my heavy suitcases and things up 3 flights of stairs, with no complaint. What more can a girl ask for?

On a random note, after watching Mad Men last night, I really want a pen necklace like Joan! Anyone know where I can get one?

Quick Snap: Chambray Tunic

(Edit: Tried to take a better photo on my lunch break. I miss my photog!)

What I'm wearing:
*Gap Chambray Tunic
*Fabric tie from Tucker for Target Dress
*Gap Zip Leggings in Black
*French Sole Welsh Flats in Peach

Chambray to me is just so comfortable and has a great laid back vibe. I'm not bold enough to pair it with more denim, but with dark knit leggings, I feel more city chic, less farmer chick.

To give this tunic a bit more shape, I decided to belt it using the fabric tie that came on one of my Tucker for Target dresses (see it here). If you are a regular reader of the blog you know that I love color and prints, and hate it when my outfit lacks either. So I think the printed fabric tie adds a little something, and I love that I get a use for something I otherwise wouldn't wear (I like to replace fabric ties on dresses with my own belt).

I picked up these leggings recently, and I absolutely love them. (I was in desperate need of some leg coverage, and I refuse to buy any tights because I have 1534654 pairs at home that I will retrieve shortly.) These are nice, thick, and opague, and have a cute side zipper. Also they are not too long for my short self.

Fall is definitely in the air and I LOVE IT!!!!

Quick Snap: Remixing

What I'm wearing:
*anthropologie Curated Tee in Navy Polka Dot
*H&M Olive Pocket Skirt
*anthropologie Tangled Treasure Sandals
*Forever 21 Reading Glasses Necklace

When I found out that I was moving back to New York, I was already in NY and had just one suitcase full of clothes to wear. Most of the clothes were either too dressy (from the wedding) or too casual to wear to work. I'm the type of girl who hates to wear the same combination twice, so for me to create outfits without my full closet has been challenging, but not impossible. I love this polka dot tee (worn here) and this green skirt (worn here), but never really would have thought about putting them together until today.

I've been occupied lately working on my new apartment! After a huge headache of an IKEA haul (thank you so much to my sister for helping me, I couldn't have done it without her) the furniture has arrived (all in boxes of course) and now the hard part is putting it all together. Last night I managed to put together my small sofa, a lamp, and a coffee table before I gave up. M has been nice enough to offer to build me my bed, dresser, and other heavier items, which is a huge relief. Otherwise I'd be sleeping on the floor for awhile!

Quick Snap: Tucker for Target Dress

What I'm wearing:
*Tucker for Target Signature Dress in Lawn Bird Print
*anthropologie Looping Lanes Belt
*Enzo Angiolini Maylie Pumps in Grey Snake Patent

Totally obsessed with the Tucker for Target line. I really think this is my favorite Target collaboration yet. Very wearable and the material feels and flows pretty well in my opinion. I love the colors in this print version of the dress, and I'm excited to get the blue diamond print that I've been covetting as well. (Thanks S!)

Sorry for the Blackberry photo, in the midst of moving and such I haven't really set up a place where I can take photos, and I'm at the office! Luckily for me, my office has a very casual dress code, so I can wear whatever I want. Even if I don't have to dress up, I think I'll take this opportunity to get the most wear out of my favorite items as possible. =)

Fall Essentials: Military & Nautical

What I'm wearing:
*anthropologie Lift-Off Jacket (similar here and here)
*Gap Oversized Striped Tee in Navy Stripe
*Jessica Simpson Collection Ankle Zip Denim Leggings (c/o JSC)
*Nine West Pumps in Pewter Patent (similar here)

This is another set of photos from before I came to NYC, when I was trying on some of my favorites for fall! I promise I will have some new photos soon, I've just been super busy (I just spent almost 3 hours in IKEA yesterday) and have to settle in a bit.

I love leggings, and I love jeans (most of the time), but I had always shunned "jeggings". Then I tried this particular pair with the zipper at the ankle, and I have to say that I like them! I wear leggings all the time with tunics, but I always say that it needs to cover the important bits, and it's the same with these jeggings. The oversized striped tee from Gap is super comfortable, slouchy, and gives enough coverage.

This outfit combines two styles that I love, military and nautical. This little olive green jacket is a great topper for fall's vibrant colors and prints that I can't wait to wear. I love that it is definitely military inspired, but the 3/4 sleeves and the cropped style still keeps it feminine. Stripes remind me of sailing, which makes me happy, so I am always drawn to them. I have an overload of striped tops in my closet, but I still love them.

P.S. Please ignore my hair. I have no idea what is going on with it! I need a haircut badly.

P.P.S. Sooo excited for fall in the city!! It was a little rainy and chilly yesterday, but I didn't mind.

Fall Essentials: The Blazer

What I'm wearing:
*Gap Herringbone Band Blazer
*anthropologie Pintucked Top in Mustard
*Hudson Colin Flap Skinny Jeans (c/o Hudson)
*Steve Madden "Engaged" Pumps in Cognac (similar here)
*Forever 21 Key Necklace (similar here)

Just to let you know, I'm still in NYC at the moment, but I did take these snaps right before I left for my trip, so that I could have some posts run while I was gone. Unfortunately, I didn't have access to the internet, so I'm posting this just now. 

I have exciting news, I am moving back to New York City. Of course it took me moving back to GA to get a position here. Luckily I was already here in the city and found an apartment already (which I'm very, very excited about). I was sad about missing fall in the city but here I am! Unfortunately I won't get my laptop for a couple of weeks (when I go pick up the remainder of my things) and am at the mercy of M's PC (man I miss my mac). 

But now, back to the clothes. I'm wearing two items that I'm very excited about. The herringbone blazer was on my wishlist for fall, and I absolutely love it. I can see myself wearing it all the time this fall, and I think it will be easy to pair with both skirts and pants. I think it fits really well and I still have room to layer a sweater underneath. 

I am also a huge fan of these Hudson skinnies. I haven't worn jeans all summer, but once I put these on it was love! They are super lightweight, very stretchy, and feel like I am wearing leggings. I have been wearing them nonstop while traveling, and they are amazing. I love the way that they look with these pumps, but I think I will get the most out of them by tucking them into boots.

And one more thing: especially after moving back to New York, I am on a serious no-buy for non-necessities. These boots were my latest purchase, and I think I'm set for fall. Even though I will miss shopping, and I'm sure there will be relapses, I'm determined to make this stick this time. (And I will be sure to live vicariously through my favorite bloggers.) I know I've failed in the past, but now that I'm moving into a way-overpriced-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-country apartment, one that has very minimal storage space, I know that I need to be more mindful of my consumption. Also, thinking about all the furniture and other household items that needs to be purchased is giving me a tummyache right now. So, wish me luck! Who knows if I can do it, but a girl can try right?

We Have a Winner!!!

Congratulations to Yvonne, the winner of the Double Torsade Necklace & $25 anthropologie giftcard!!!

I just emailed you, please check for it! =)

Fall Essentials: The Trench

What I'm wearing:
*Michael Kors Zebra Dress
*Zara Canvas Trench Coat
*Nine West Pumps
*Michael Kors Skorpios Ring Tote

The perfect fall topper is the trench, which has been and always will be a classic. If you already have the mandatory black or khaki colored trench hanging in your closet, try one in an unexpected color to add some spice to your emsembles.

My choice this fall is rust. This has always been one of my favorite colors for autumn, and the color reminds me of the leaves changing color. I love that it can go with both black and brown based outfits.
This particular trench is from Zara. The color was what caught my eye initially, but the fit is what convinced me to make the purchase. As a shorter gal, I sometimes have a hard time finding a regular sized trench that fits me perfectly right off of the rack.

For this fall look, I paired the trench with a zebra printed knit dress, and pretty conservative pumps and purse. The grey and black colorway keeps the zebra print from being too garish, and the comfortable knit material keeps the dress from being too stuffy. This dress can transition easily from day to night. It works equally in an office or at a happy hour. The closed toed pumps are just high enough to be worn out and about, not just in the office, and are still so comfortable. These are heels you will want to wear out, not designate a drawer at your desk, only to be worn when you forget to bring a pair of shoes to change into after your daily commute. Admit it, we all have at least one pair like that!

You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile and Some Makeup

Today's guest post is courtesy of the lovely Stephanie of Living the Life on a Budget!

The icing on the cake to the perfect outfit is flawless make up. Head to Sephora or your local Department store to stock up on all your beauty needs and you probably are going to need to open up a new line of credit just to afford that face. Next time you are picking up toilet paper and a tooth brush head down the beauty isle for more than just nail polish remover. First we start with the base; you need a perfect foundation and concealer. I am a fan of products from Revlon and L'Oreal. I like the Revlon Colorstay Blemish. It stays put and has hidden meds so it gets rid of the blemishes as the day wears on. It blends in, and covers as if it were never there. If you want Nicole Kidman skin try out L'Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation. At first you may think it is too thin, but trust me this goes on like silk evening out your tone. Added bonus is the spf. 

So after my foundation sets, I work from my eyes down. I start with a liner, specifically Almay Intense i-Color Liner, which I specifically bought to bring out my big brown eyes. Whether you have brown, blue, or green eyes there is a color to complement your specs. There is no need for a sharpener and it compares to some of the department store brands I have purchased. I kick myself for not finding this liner earlier. 

Then comes the shadow. I go a little heavy but I love the drama. With a few less brush strokes L'Oreal HIP Duos can fit into your life. They come in a rainbow of colors; you can find your basics and Fall 2010 runway favorites. There are mattes, and metallic, so shine on if you fancy that. 

The best to finish the look off is the L'Oreal Bare Naturale Luminous Lengthening Mascara which gives the appearance you are wearing falsies. The bottle must have magic inside it because I do not know how it does not clump and add that much length. 

Onto your rosy cheeks. Recently I have converted to cream blush. I was a traditionalist using a brush and a pressed powder. Then I tried the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Sheerest Cream Blush which you use with your fingers instead of that brush taking up space in your make up drawer. Its as if you came in from a brisk fall day and your cheeks were pinched by nature. Its like you are not even wearing anything. Isnt it the worst when you look as if you were playing in your Grandma's stash when playing dress up as a 5 year old. 

Then the finishing touches is your peckers. If you are going heave on the eye make up sheer is the way to go. I have always been a lipgloss gal over liptick but that is probably that I am not trying to relive the 80s beauty moments. Lip gloss is great solo or over your favorite lipstick that needs a bit of punch. The Sally Hansen Diamond 12 Hr. Lip Treatment must have stolen its formula from the department stores as well. The applicator is a brush, not the grody sponge, and the consistency is that of the fancy brands. You feel it on your lips and it lasts for a while. 

Each items comes in under $10 and your grand total is that of one or two items at the hoity toity places. You sacrifice frilly packaging but are you showing the world what container your eye shadow comes in or how well you can apply it? Smile, keep your head up, a flawless mugshot will make your day that much better. 

Stephanie Yewdell 

www.livingthelifeonabudget.com

You Think I'm Funny, When I Tell the Punchline Wrong

 What I'm wearing:
*J.Crew (outlet) Gingham Shirt (similar here) 
*H&M Faded Olive Pocket Skirt (similar here)
*Forever 21 Elastic Woven Belt (other colors here)
*French Sole Welsh Flats in Peach
*MICHAEL Michael Kors Knotted Purse in Cognac (sample)
*Michael Kors Horn Jet Set Watch

I just love checkered shirts. There's just something so home-y, downright comfortable about them. This soft color combination came together because I wanted something easy to wear and low maintenance. Soft cotton is definitely the way to go for that. Love the purple color as well, I like it in a print because it gives off less of a Barney vibe.

With these sort of gingham shirts there is a chance of looking a bit like a tablecloth, which I wanted to avoid. I think the bow flats and fun belt make my look more whimsical, less Big Love compound.

I've been looking for a green skirt for ages and had been unsuccessful, until I found this elastic waisted H&M piece. My favorite part? The deep pockets, handy for both cell phones and snacks.

Hmm, what have we here? There is a very strong possibility that there is some candy in my pocket.

As of today I will be away from my laptop for about a week and a half (maybe more). Thanks to the wonderful technology that is my Blackberry, I will still receive emails and be able to read everyone's comments, but I just wanted to let everyone know why I may seem to be MIA. Do not fret, there will be posts throughout this time - yesterday I snapped some fall outfits that I can't wait to wear and share with y'all, and there will be some guest posts! =)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!