Friday, March 7, 2014

Casual Day Look: Leather Wrap Watch & Printed Denim





H&M blazer - similar here, Loft tank top, Cotton On denim - similar here, Jessica Carlyle watch, BCBGeneration heels - similar here

Happy Friday!! You've all made it through the week which means the weekend is finally here and you can kick back and relax. Today's post is just a casual day look great for a simple dinner, happy hour with the girls, or (since it's got some green in it) some mid-day St. Patty's Day festivities.

The one piece that I really built this outfit around was the watch which was gifted to me for my birthday. Since it has a brown band I wanted to try to stay away from black BUT that's always next to impossible for me. Luckily I have these funky palm tree print jeans, the green goes great with brown and gold but I still get my black in the backdrop of the print. I kind of have an obsession with collecting clothes that have cool prints and any time I pass on something I deeply regret it SO of course I ended up with these. I paired the look with a deep green tank and a dark navy blazer. To keep things simple I topped the look off with some nude pumps.

As always, thanks for reading!

xxAlli

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Cheetah Print Skirt & Chambray Shirt





Hello and happy Tuesday!! Today's post is all about this cheetah print skirt I snagged at Loft this past summer. I haven't had the chance to wear it in so long with all of this cold weather, but the brief glimpse of warmer weather we had this weekend gave me some fashion inspiration.






American Eagle chambray button down, Loft skirt - similar here and here, Bar III blazer similar here and here, bebe necklace similar here and here, Forever 21 bracelet similar here and here, Jones New York hoops similar here and here, Tumi bag, Call It Spring booties - seen here

Have you ever gotten stuck in a fashion rut and just couldn't stop yourself from going to the same few pieces? Well that's been me lately, always turning to the same sweaters and everything black. Now I have nothing against all black everything, but you really can get yourself lost in the same few looks sometimes so it's nice to just take a look through your wardrobe and dig up older pieces. 

This skirt is great for making a boring work outfit a bit more fun, or even for a day out. I went with a more casual look by pairing it with this chambray shirt but if you were to switch it out with a basic button down you'd be business ready. Personally, I love the look of a statement necklace tucked underneath a collared shirt. The one I've chosen has mixed metal so you're not stuck with just gold or silver accessories, and it has rhinestone details on the gold spikes for some added bling ;) I paired it with this woven bracelet from Forever 21 because it kind of reminded me of the cheetah print pattern. The mix of black and gold really plays off the print well. To finish the look I added some funky silver hoops, a basic blazer, and this fantastic briefcase from Tumi.

What do you do when you're stuck in a fashion rut? Tell me all about your inspirations in the comments below!

xxAlli

Friday, February 28, 2014

Fisherman's Sweater & Leather Skirt











Loft Textured Open Stitch Sweater, bebe leather circle skirt similar here and here,  Forever 21 knee high socks similar here, thrifted boots, Lucky Brand earrings, Hamsa bracelet from Israel similar here , vintage rings

Today's look was built around this leather circle skirt from bebe. I've dressed it up for work in the past but I wanted to show how to take a more elegant piece such as this and make it wearable for your daily life. Since we're in the midst of the never ending snowstorms and deep chill in the northeast I really wanted to pair the skirt with something warm. I chose this soft textured open stitch sweater from Loft. Since it is an open stitch you might have to wear a camisole underneath depending on the color of your bra. This comfortable sweater comes in a few different color options, but I chose this color because I already own a million black pieces, plus this color just looked really nice to me.

So that my legs wouldn't be totally bare I added these knee high socks. I rolled them down in the pictures because I like the gathered look at the ankle but when it gets a bit too chilly you can just unroll them so you're more covered. I chose to wear dark brown heeled hiking boots because I like the look of brown and black together especially when paired with an off-white like that of the sweater and socks. When it came to accessories I picked gold toned jewelry. It is a bit of an eclectic mix of jewelry but I usually just grab whatever pieces I really like at the moment and these happened to be it.

I hope you like the look and as always thanks for reading!!!

xxAlli



Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Scalloped Sweater & Coated Jeans





Loft Scalloped Neck Sweater, bebe coated jeans similar here and here, bebe metal stretch belt similar here and here, Sam Edelman boots seen here, INC silver tone studs, CBC midi ring similar here and here

Today's look is something I put together for a warm and cozy yet work appropriate look. Keep in mind that I do work in retail so what is "work appropriate" for me may not be the same for you.

With the freezing temperatures we've been having here I really wanted to wear a sweater, but I didn't want to look too casual for work. Pairing this top with your basic denim jeans is great for a casual day look but it just didn't do enough for me. To dress the look up a bit I paired this sweater with my coated jeans. They're just as comfortable as denim, but they look a bit more sophisticated because they have that leather look. 

I added shine through my accessories: a silver stretch belt, a midi ring, and these super cute fireball studs. The little details really bring a look together whether it be through your accessories or even the details that your clothes offer like the scalloped neck on this sweater. You don't need to play with prints to have fun with your outfits. If you're a bit timid, playing around with cuts and finishes can bring the change you've been looking for in your wardrobe.

As always, thanks for reading!!

xxAlli


Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day!




bebe zip racer crop top, bebe mesh panel pencil skirt, BCBGeneration nude pumps - similar here, J. Crew bracelet - similar here and here, vintage gold necklace, Lips - Portland Black Lipstick Co. in Undead Red

Happy Friday readers!! And happy Valentine's Day!

Whether or not you actually have a date for today, holidays are always a great reason to dress up. Personally, I love being festive and today is just an excuse to wear a ton of red and pink. Of course, I usually tend to wear a lot of black and my outfit choice for today is built around this super chic skirt from bebe. I love pencil skirts, but I've seen them so many times that it can get a bit old. When I spotted this one I just KNEW I had to have it! The mesh panel adds some edge to this classic look. I love pieces like this because they silhouette will never go out of style but it still has a modern touch.

I paired the skirt with this red crop top from bebe to get in the spirit, and so as to not compete with the bright shirt I chose these nude pumps from BCBGeneration. I am in love with these shoes! I wore them for my birthday and they just feel so good on my feet! To complete the look and add some detail and sparkle, I added a diamond stretch bracelet and a vintage gold necklace. I love the way gold looks with red,  plus there is a cute gold zipper that runs down the back of the top and these accessories accent that.

What does your Valentine's Day outfit look like? Tell me about it in the comments below, and as always thanks for reading!

xxAlli

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Flare Skirt & Purple Peacoat






Loft top - similar here, Tome paneled flare skirt, H&M peacoat - similar here and here, Sam Edelman boots, Aldo clutch - similar here, Kathy Jeanne hat - similar here, Lips - Portland Black Lipstick Co, in Artificial Amethyst

Hello hello and happy Fashion Week readers! 

I know I've been talking about it nonstop in these last few posts, but we do not stop getting snow up in the northeast! I am so tired of wearing a ridiculous amount of layers and covering up which inspired today's post. I wanted to pull out a skirt and show off a little skin but still be warm enough to fare the outdoors.

The first two pieces I grabbed when putting this look together were my purple H&M coat and my Sam Edelman boots. I love this coat because it's warm and, unlike most of my wardrobe these days, brings some color into this dreary winter. The boots are so comfortable and I love that I can pair them with anything from skirts and dresses to leggings and jeans. They're great for a night out or just a casual day around town. 

Inspired by fashion week and the AMAZING show I unfortunately had to miss due to work, I wanted to wear this beautiful flare skirt from Tome. If you want to check out their newest collection you can watch the runway show here or just click through the collection here. These designers are always inspired but such amazing women and want to make clothes that any woman could wear. Their collections are always super chic.

I topped off the look with this shell from Loft and a Kathy Jeanne hat that belonged to my grandmother. I wanted to add some texture to the look so I thought this top would be perfect, it actually is two layers with a sheer black top layer and a nude cotton slip underneath. It definitely adds some sophisticated detail to a basic black look. The hat is 100% wool and is a chic way to stay keep my head warm and my hair dry while it's snowing. I do love the look of a floppy brimmed hat, but I really do like the structure that hats like this bring to a look.

Thanks for reading! I'll be posting some Valentine's Day inspired looks later in the week :)

xxAlli

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

All Black Everything With A Pop of Gold









American Rag Faux Leather Peplum Top - seen here, H&M faux fur vest - seen here, bebe basic legging, Loft flats - similar here, gold belt from a dress - similar here, vintage necklace

Happy Wednesday my lovely readers!

This weeks post is an outfit that I wore to work the other day. I wanted to dress up but still be warm enough to survive this week of snow storms, if you haven't heard the NorthEast keeps getting hit with snow storms :( 

I paired this cute peplum top with my faux fur vest to both stay warm and hide the fact that this top doesn't quite fit me around the shoulders. (Quick tip: when it comes to items that don't quite fit right but you're not sure about hemming, layering is a super easy way to hide the imperfections and get creative with your looks!) 

I really wanted this necklace to stand out with this look, hence the black on black on black. It belonged to my grandmother and I found it while rummaging through some things of hers that I had. I thought it was super chic and modern but loved that it was vintage! I added the gold belt, which came with a random dress, to make the color pop a bit more. A quick sock bun, some black flats, and my go-to black and gold watch completed this look.

How do you make your focal pieces pop? Let me know in the comments below<3

As always, thanks for reading!!

xxAlli