Wicked

On September 10, 2012September 10, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas5 Comments

A couple of weekends ago, my sweet hubby surprised me with tickets to go and see the off-Broadway rendition of Wicked. And being the musical theater geek that I am (let’s just say I went to both choir and musical theater camp in the summers growing up), I was beyond ecstatic. The singing, the dancing, the bright lights, and the incredible talent all coupled with a fantastic storyline is my definition of the perfect night.

Without hesitation, J and I both dressed up for the occasion. I went with a simple ensemble of black and white and he with a blazer, button down, and jeans. But during intermission when I was waiting in line to use the restroom and people watching (of course), much to my surprise, I noticed many people weren’t dressed up at all (seriously people, SWEATS???!!!). So this obviously got me thinking, when it is it appropriate to dress up? I know that as a society we don’t hold tight to many rules when it comes to fashion and dressing up anymore, but there is a little old-fashioned piece of me that still believes there are certain events that one should dress up for and I think these events (at least for me) are the following:

The theater
The symphony/orchestra/chorale/etc.
Church
Weddings
Showers (baby, wedding, luncheon etc.)
Work (depending on your job, put a little effort into it if you are able!)
Parties, or big events
Charity Events

Instagram Filter: Earlybird

One Shoulder Dress: BCBGeneration via Macy’s (last fall)

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co.

Cocktail Ring: Saundra Messinger via Sundance Catalog

Clutch: Nine West via TJMaxx (old)

Earrings: ArdenB (old)

Shoes: Michael Kors

I love a chic black and white ensemble-it is one of my all-time favorite looks. And as we move into fall, black and white is going to be more popular than ever. In fact, when I went shopping over Labor Day weekend, there was hardly any color in my bag when I came home-if that’s any indication! But one of the great things about black and white is the ease of adding a pop of color. For my theater look, I threw on a bright red lip and red nails which gave me just enough color to balance my simple black and white dress and accessories.

But I am dying to know, what do you all think about dressing up for specific events and special occasions?

The Planner In Me

On July 24, 2012July 24, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas3 Comments

I am a planner, both personally and professionally. And when I have fun or important events on the horizon, I most definitely like to plan my outfits ahead of time. In fact, I found the dress I wanted to wear on our 5th wedding anniversary before we had even made plans! And while I knew we would ultimately do something where I would be able to wear it, my plan was solidified when we booked a condo on Main Street in Park City for the weekend. And even though a big storm came through the evening of our anniversary, the sun came back out and the temp rose just enough for me to get away with this hot pink one shoulder BCBGMaxazria dress. And thank goodness, because I didn’t pack any other options!

Dress: BCBGMaxazria via Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets: Oia Jules, Thailand, Macy’s, Tiffany and Co.

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Cocktail Ring: House of Harlow via Nordstrom

Shoes: Michael Kors via Dillards

I mentioned a few posts ago that I got an amazing deal on this dress, and I did. Let’s just say that Nordstrom Rack came through for me for me once again. My pink dress was originally just shy of $300, but I found it at the Rack for $34.99. (my jaw about dropped when I saw the price tag). And not only that, but I recently saw the same dress at the BCBGMaxazria outlet for over $200. So if you haven’t already been let in on the secret, I am here to tell you that with a little patience and time spent sorting through the racks at Nordstrom Rack, you can almost always find incredible name brands pieces for a fraction of the price. Everytime I take a shopping trip there, it tends to be well worth my time. So while I adore my dress for it’s rich fabric, gorgeous pink color, and one shoulder styling, perhaps the purchase price trumps all on this one. 😉

LPD

On July 2, 2012July 2, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Outfit Ideas, TJMaxx, Uncategorized4 Comments

One of the cardinal rules of fashion is the importance of owning at least one LBD (little black dress). It is the perfect answer for date night, or when you are in a pinch and need something nice to wear last-minute, and a great blank canvas that you can constantly reinvent with different shoes and accessories. Plus, black is super slimming and looks fabulous on everyone. And while the LBD will always be important, this season it seems the trend is all about the LWD (little white dress). Now don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of the LWD, but it obviously doesn’t quite cast the same universal appeal as the LBD. So if you aren’t ready to jump on the LWD band wagon, perhaps you should consider adding an LPD (little print dress) to your wardrobe instead.

Now when I say LPD, I am not talking about a cotton, ditsy print dress that you would wear to the farmers market or to lunch with your girlfriends. I am talking about a print dress that you would wear to a wedding, on a date nite, or even for a girl’s night out on the town. Something similar in silhouette to your LBD, but with a fun print instead! I picked up the below BCBGeneration dress with some money that I received for my birthday, and I have to say that for the summertime, I think it is definitely rivaling both my LBD and my LWD as my current go-to choice for a night out.

Dress: BCBGeneration via 6pm.com (sold out-but they have a great selection of BCBG dresses!)

Neon Belt: Macy’s

Long Chain Earrings: TJMaxx

Labradorite Cocktail Ring: Sundance Catalog

Bracelets: Macy’s, H&M, Forever21

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Clutch: Michael Kors via TJMaxx

Shoes: Simply Vera by Vera Wang via Kohl’s

It was such a gorgeous weekend here in the SLC (minus the the smoke from the fires) so J and I took full advantage enjoying dinner on the patio at one of our favorite restaurants, The Copper Onion, followed by a long walk around our downtown, where we discovered beautifully painted pianos every few blocks. Apparently they are part of the Play Me, I’m Yours street piano tour which began in 2008. There are over 600 pianos in cities across the globe and they are open to anyone in the public to play. So, needless to say, I sat down and played a couple of numbers entertaining people passing by. It was the perfect end to a perfect balmy summer night (which had already given us the excuse to get all dolled up and hit the town in the first place!). Boy do I heart summer.