Intro to Fall

Scarf: (**shakes head no**)

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Express

Shoes: Payless

I love fall clothes. It's my favorite time of the year so I get antsy to start introducing new items and colors to the wardrobe. This scarf seemed like a perfect way to make a start into fall because it has oranges and browns which are traditional fall colors --- but all mixed in with hot pink! I started the day with it looped like this but after 10 minutes in an un-air-conditioned building, it became a sarong around my waist!

After playing keep or giveaway

I was evaluating this skirt a while back and determining whether to keep or giveaway. I was feeling bored with it and was thinking it was going to be on its merry little way to a consignment shop somewhere, but the overwhelming result of the post was to keep the skirt, so I decided to.

One of our readers suggested wearing it with the lime color I have been incorporating into my wardrobe this spring and summer. I really thought the skirt was more yellow but imagine my surprise and excitement that the lime color actually matched perfect! I'm pleased with the match -- wearing black always felt more formal but the lime tee takes the skirt and makes it more summer casual.

Thanks for all the ideas...and saving a worthwhile wardrobe item!

Lesson Learned

Dragonfly Sweater: Old Navy

Floral Shirt: Old Navy

Chino Skirt: J Crew

Heels: Fioni by Payless

I'm glad there isn't a lot of natural light happening in this picture so you can't see the mess that is my legs. I've been wearing pants for a few days straight for a reason. All I can say is you know how they tell you to not use sunless tanner if it's more than a year old because the color may be blotchier or not as good? Well, I had never abided by that. My lotions had always been fine. But I pulled out my Loreal Sublime Glow spray (was my favorite last year and they stopped making it) and let's just say it wasn't real good after a year. Lesson learned. Sprays are fickle. Fading is almost complete.

If only I had time for real sun....

Vacation is soon enough though and that will be lots of real sun...I'm putting together my list of beach reads/summer pool time reads. If you have any suggestions for me leave them in the comments section. KT has already advised me of the Luxe, Rumors and Envy series which are on their way to me via Ebay but I need more!

Weekend -- Ally

I'm admittedly a little lazy and a bit of a slacker when it comes to some stuff, and this blog entry is no different. I have a BIG weekend of horseracing, brunching, and celebrating going on, so these pics are from last weekend. I planned ahead, ladies. The only reason I even mention these are old pics, is b/c of the rain boots. You local ladies will know we have nothing but clear and sunny skies in our forecast, but last weekend was another story. Sunny then rain then sun again.

We went out with some friends and I was in no mood to get cute shoes all wet and dirty so I wore my trusty rain boots:
Cardi: Target

T-shirt: Old Navy

Denim pencil skirt: Lands' End

Leopard belt: JCP

Necklace: Ice.com (check back tomorrow for more about this necklace!)

rain boots: Payless

Per usual, you'll have to excuse the lack of make up. I usually put it on in the car en route to dinner/drinks :)





Sunday was Easter and nothing is Springy to me more than polka dots, pink and green:
Cardi: same from above, Target

Dress: Target

Belt: NY&Co.

Necklace: Walmart

Shoes: Target

Sunnies: MaxStudio

Bracelets: Old Navy

Bag: Furla




As you may remember, Leslie and I both have this dress and once, even wore it on the same day :) I've had this dress for a while and it's so versatile. Of all the places I've worn it, this is my favorite. Can you guess where I am??


Note: Not a former boyfriend; just a friend. And no, he's not an alien with no face. Merely protecting the innocent!

Cold Snap Dressing

Green Sweater: Old Navy

White Tee: CAbi

Scarf: The Limited

Navy Pants: CAbi

Camel Boots: Payless

I'm behind in posting but last week, we had a major cold snap in the Ohio Valley. As in from 75 degreees one day to in the 30s the next (sinus infection here I come...). When I woke up and the wind chill was below freezing, I had no clue what to wear. I wanted to still feel like spring but obviously wanted to stay warm. My office is floor to ceiling windows so it's warm on warm days with the sun coming in and freezing on cold, dreary days.

I love the combination of kelly green and navy--it just feels so preppy and bright and seemed like the solution to countering dressing for the cold snap. A scarf is needed in temps like those but this scarf was at least bright bold colors. It may not have felt like April outside--but I felt like April when I looked in the mirror!

Layering without bulk

Red Cord Jacket: Mossimo (appox $20)

Black Wrap Tee: CAbi ($54)

White Shirt: Banana Republic (approx $20)

Camel Pants: Ann Taylor (approx $80)

Boots: Payless (approx $15)

It's hard to layer without looking bulky but it's a necessity when it's bitter cold! Today was a perfect example. I hate being cold in my office and my space heater has died a slow death so I wear as much as possible. Two shirts and a jacket with wool pants keep me very comfortable! (I even had a zebra print scarf to wrap around my neck when needed--I am cold natured!) The hardest part is finding a piece of outerwear to wear overtop of all this!

This outfit does a good job of slim layering though because all the layers are so very thin. The white shirt is basic, the black tee is a hanky tee meaning it's very thin and the wrap feature gives some shape to the shirts under the jacket and the jacket has some shape to it and is cropped. All in all, I think the effect is one of extreme warmth all while staying chic!

So where do your toes go?

Scarf: Contest gift from Kimberly

Cashmere Sweater: Lands End

Gray Wool Pants: Banana Republic

Camel Boots: Payless

You've probably noticed that, more often than not, I'm in pointy toe shoes of some sort. They're sort of a trademark-- I have peep toes and a pair of round toes, but nothing makes me feel more confident than a pair of pointy toe shoes.

I've had these boots for years--since college actually (and for the record, I graduated in 2003 if that tells you anything)--I run down nice boots in no time but cheapy Payless boots last forever! Anyhow, these were one of the first pointy toe shoes I ever bought. I'll never forget walking into the Greek Lounge (Delta Gamma here) one day and there were some fraternity guys I knew hanging out. Well I see them all whispering to each other and kinda looking at me and the ground and I was starting to really get a complex! I finally asked them if something was wrong and one of them looked at me completely seriously and said, "We're all just wondering where your toes go in those."

Haha! I showed them that my toes didn't go all the way to the top but it cracked me up that they were so perplexed!

Weekend -- Ally

Once upon a time, this was a dress. I'm not sure for whom it was a dress, but it's now a tunic as it has shrunken considerably over the years.

Dress/tunic: Target

Yoga pants: Danskin

Boots: Payless

Necklace: Walmart












As much as I hate the new legging trend, I can see their purpose in outfits like this. It's inappropriate to just wear tights with this to work (and anywhere else!), but leggings provide coverage and warmth. Since I refuse to purchase leggings, I made these yoga pants work. I've worn this outfit before without the boots in my vacation post.

I've had these boots for years too. They come up right to my knee and the fold over flap could be flipped up, but that's a little too street walker for me. Hell, these boots are sorta street walker if I don't watch what I wear with them. Too short of a skirt and the wrong hosiery and I'm workin hard for my money!

I wish I could find another pair of boots like this. I've decided an over-the-calf height looks best on my short legs, but it's hard to find a style I don't hate.

I may swing by Payless today and pick up these. They're on sale for $49.99 and they're doing BOGO right now! They're a little higher of a heel than I'd like, but they're awfully cute!



Since it's BOGO, I need a 2nd pair of shoes in mind, huh? I really like the colors and woven toe on these:

Weekend -- Ally

Tracey and I both had a day off and we spent it together. We had the BEST day and it was some much-needed BFF time.

We started off with brunch at Toast on Market, did a little shopping on Market Street, and moved on to the mall for a Sephora and Coach stop. After that, I popped in the salon to get my bangs trimmed (Finally!!!) then we ended the day at Churchill Downs for their Fall Meet. I won a whopping $5! We met up w/Al and some friends for dinner/drinks and called it a day. It was the ultimate battery charge for us both!

I can't stop wearing this wrap despite it being difficult to wear. I gave up on tying it and just let it hang! I had a lady stop me on the street to compliment it, so it couldn't have been that bad!
Wrap sweater: Target

Thin, black long sleeved T: Old Navy

Denim pencil skirt: Lands' End

Green tights: Target

Boots: Payless

Bag: Furla

Jasper stone necklace: Sarah Balmer via Scout

Sunnies: MaxStudio




Isn't this necklace beautiful?? Scout was having their holiday open house and everything was 20% off. I couldn't resist!!! It's so heavy and substantial too.

I love the colors of the stones - you know it'll match anything.







All smiles after a couple $2 Hurricanes and $2 bets!

Monday -- Ally

Fall is here! Finally!!! The weather has been in the 40s today and I couldn't be more excited. This is the last pic of my herbs and flowers until spring. I winterized them yesterday afternoon so cross your fingers my sage, mint, lemon balm, and rosemary make it through the winter. The rosemary came to work w/me today because from what I've read, they don't do well in cold temps even if properly mulched.

Jacket: Isaac Mizrahi/Target

Orange shell: Target

Denim pencil skirt: Lands' End (it's on sale for $25 right now)

Tights: Target

Boots: Payless

Necklace/earrings: courtesy of V/accessory swap







I'm a bad swap buddy! V sent me this necklace and awesome earring set (along with more great goodies!) a month ago and I'm just now posting them. The necklace and earrings are both totally my style - thanks, V! OhThatGirl is hosting another accessory swap this month, so click the link above to sign up!
You can see the collar of the jacket in this pic. It and the elbows are faux-suede (like the boots). It's very English Professor :)

Still sporting the red, white and blue

Scarf: Thrifted gift from Kimberly

Wrap Dress: CAbi

Heels: Fioni

A couple weeks ago, the fabulous Kimberly had a giveaway on her blog and I was lucky enough to win the sunglasses! Imagine my surprise when they came in the mail--wrapped in this beautiful thrifted scarf! She said it reminded her of me and this way, I could show my Olympic spirit all year long! Thanks Kimberly--you are too sweet and I hope I'm doing your scarf justice in its first wearing today!

You could also enter this post under "Blogger Challenge" in the colors of the New England Patriots. I'm wearing the red, white and blue in honor of Jamie's blogger challenge eye candy--Tom Brady. Poor Tom tore his ACL. Ouch. But worse than rehab is not being able to see his oh-so pretty face for an entire year. All the women of America say get well soon, Tommy!

Wednesday -- Ally

Today was an early morning for me. Had a longish meeting that started earlier than I normally start my day and I picked up donuts for everyone on my way there. If I have to get up early, I'm going to need some sugar too!

I usually take my pictures in the morning while I'm still freshly caffeinated and not wrinkled, but not so lucky today. You'll have to excuse the wrinkles in the satin top.

Cardi: NY&Co. ($30)

Pleated satin tank: NY&Co. ($15-18 - I forget!)

Skirt: Banana Republic ($15!!!)

Shoes: Payless

Belt: NY&Co. ($14)



























This color combo went so well last time, I just had to try it again. It's definitely my new favorite!

The belt, while cute, was a real annoyance and came off after lunch (Who had too much to eat at Big Boy? haha). It actually looked just as good without it. Whew!













<--- Wrinkles. :(







These shoes are really hurty. :( They're great when sitting or if you stand for a second. But if you walk anywhere OMG. I think I was just in shoe-lust at Payless and didn't feel the pain. Ahh well. You live and you learn.

For those who wonder, they're not silver in person like they are in the photo or on the website. They really are a nice pewter color.





Funny aside for the day: I am still carrying that raspberry patent bag from the weekend. As we were leaving Big Boy, the girl checking us out looked at me and said in the most stoned voice ever, "Woah...your belt and purse...match...." I agreed with her and she then said, "It's like...you meant to do that..."

*sigh*

Monday - Leslie

Dress: CAbi

Blazer: Ann Taylor Loft

Shoes: Payless

Well, I promised to show the good days and the bad. And today was a classic case of taking a picture and realizing after looking at the picture that the outfit wasn't as flattering as you thought it was. I think I just gained 20 lbs in this picture. It happens. A fashion oops.

This is the same "After-Five" dress that I wore last week--very cotton, very breathable, very stretchy, very comfortable. You can't really see but it actually has ruching all at the waist which is quite slimming. It is however a sleeveless dress and we aren't allowed to wear sleeveless at work so I simply grabbed a blazer to throw on over top for the office today.

The blazer served the purpose of meeting dress code but unfortunately, it meant losing all the shape of the dress. Lesson learned: this dress needs either a fitted jacket or something belted at the waist to keep the shape--a boxy jacket kinda ruins it.

But hey, it was 90 degrees. And I was walking outside and sitting in meetings. And I was comfortable. So that has to count for something.

Tuesday - Leslie

Shirt: Bitten

Skirt: Express

Shoes: Fioni

Bag: B's Purses

I gave Ally advanced warning that I was going to rock the exposed zipper trend today, since she commented just a couple weeks ago about not being sure of the trend. :-) I'm not sure it's my favorite trend persay, but for the price I paid for the skirt, I figured it was a simple basic and had an extra punch so I'd take it home with me. The skirt actually has a bit of "bubble skirt" shape to it.

This may actually be the cheapest outfit I've ever worn (excluding the bag)! My skirt was $9.99, the shirt is Bitten so I know it was under $10 and the shoes were like $20 from Payless. Can't beat an entire outfit under $50!!