Day to Night

On July 3, 2012July 3, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas1 Comment

People often ask me for tips on how to create an outfit that you can take from day to night. And while the task might sound daunting, it is actually a pretty simple thing to do. All you have to do is think layering and remember that in these instances a cardigan or blazer can be your best ally.

Take the below outfit, for example. I paired my neon skinnies back a crisp white off-the-shoulder tee (perfect for an evening on the town), but layered it with a conservative white blazer to go about my day. Two looks, one day. Pretty easy, right?

White Blazer: Forever21 (recent)

White Off-the-Shoulder Tee: H&M (old)

Neon Coral Skinnies: American Eagle (recent)

Neon Necklace: Forever21 (recent)

Bracelets: Tiffany, Macy’s, Forever21

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Neon Pink Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

Nude Pumps: Steve Madden via the Overstock.com

J and I still love to go on dates, and due to our opposite schedules, I often find myself going straight from work to dinner or drinks. I run into the same issue when traveling for work, heading directly from the office to dinner with friends in whatever city I happen to be visiting. And because of these frequent situations, I find myself constantly having to create these types of looks. So with that said, the best words of wisdom I have to offer you when faced with creating a look you can take from day to night, is to really utilize those layering pieces in your closet. A blazer can be your best wardrobe friend. AND you can also bring a change of shoes and throw on some bright red lipstick to really up the ante for your evening look.

Hope everyone has a fabulous 4th!!!

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.

Happy Monday!

Silver or Gold?

On June 26, 2012June 26, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, TJMaxx, Uncategorized, Watches7 Comments

Growing up I HATED gold. Absolutely hated it and refused (for the most part) to wear anything besides sterling silver or white gold. In fact, I think I remember telling my mom once that gold just wasn’t “cool” and that it was meant for “older ladies”. So it seems that now a days I have either had a change of heart, or fall into that whole “older lady” category, because I am a HUGE fan of gold. And I am pretty sure it all began because of Michael Kors and his fabulous watches. Thanks to MK, gold watches have been all the rage for the last couple of years, and with a gold watch, one must have gold accessories. So, I have slowly been picking up gold baubles here and there and am LOVING that I now have the option to wear either silver or gold, and sometimes even both together. I feel like it makes my wardrobe more well-rounded and allows for me to change things up on a daily basis. So when I picked up this cute dress at TJMaxx a couple of months ago, I knew that because of the cute gold buttons flanking the top and the warmth of the orange base, that it would be the perfect item to wear back to a lof of chunky gold jewelry.

Dress: TJMaxx

Double Wrap Belt: Down East Outfitters

Monogram Necklace: Keti Sorely Designs (etsy)

Bracelets: Left Hand: Forever21, Macy’s, Right Hand: Oia Jules (etsy)

Gold and Tortoise Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Ring: Decofox (etsy)

Earrings: Macy’s

Shoes: Chinese Laundry Love Me

Sunglasses: Steve Madden via TJMaxx

And while I am pretty sure I will always be a silver girl at heart, I definitely find myself gravitating more towards gold in the summer months. The warmth of it compliments a nice tan and just feels like it belongs with the current summer trend-particularly white. But the good news is, for those of us with a preference between the two, you can get away with either silver or gold . But I definitely recommend having the option of both in your accessory collection.

P.S. Please excuse the crease in the bottom of my dress. Funny thing is, you can’t see it in person, but for some reason, it showed up when I put the photos through the Instagram filter. Yikes! 😉

Hindsight

On June 21, 2012June 21, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas3 Comments

I don’t always love the outfits I put together. And usually when I wear something that isn’t quite right, I find myself wishing for a “do-over” all day long (don’t you hate that feeling?). And since starting this blog, I now have my daily ensembles documented which has been an interesting journey in and of itself. And let me tell you, it can definitely be a blessing and a curse.

Take for example the below outfit. This blouse is one of my favorite items that I own and I thought I loved this look the day I wore it. BUT in reviewing these photos, I’m kind of having that “do-over” feeling-but can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s the belt? Maybe it’s the yellow cardi? Maybe the blouse is better suited with a skirt? Maybe I should have worn my hair down for this particular look? So i want to know what you think. Is this an ok outfit and I’m just being critical? Or am I correct in wishing for that “do-over”??

Silk Ruffle Blouse: JCrew (old)
Yellow Cardi: Nordstrom Rack (recent)
Skinny Jeans: Gap
Sunglasses: Calvin Klein via Macy’s
Belt: Mossimo for Target
Bracelets: Tiffany and Co., Forever21
Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack
Shoes: Chinese Laundry Love Me (last summer)

So while they say hindsight is 20/20, I’m not totally convinced that is exactly the case in this instance. So I suppose I will have to resolve myself to staying on the fence about this one. BUT the good news is, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Which indeed I will. 🙂

Wild About Rompers

On June 18, 2012June 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized3 Comments

Are rompers a do or a don’t? In my book they are definitely a do. They are fun and flirty and a great way to add some variety to your style. I am absolutely wild about them this season and am particularly fond of the fact that there are now so many options of rompers to choose from (much more so than in the past two seasons). I picked up the below number at Macy’s recently and love that it is not only a romper, but that it has only one shoulder (one of my favorite silhouettes). Plus because it is black, it is essentially a blank canvas which will give me the opportunity to style it a lot of different ways this summer. But for a last minute dinner date with my hubby this weekend, I decided a pop of neon yellow was the way to go.

Romper: BarIII via Macy’s (recent)

Neon Belt: Macy’s

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co., H&M, Forever21, Macy’s

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Cocktail Ring: Flea Market in Italy

Earrings: ArdenB (old)

Neon Shoes: Aldo for Nordstrom (sold out)

But alas, as much as I love rompers, there is one slight problem with them-they aren’t the easiest for using the restroom. Lol. So if you are going to invest in a romper, make sure you only wear it when you aren’t drinking too much water or imbibing in too many cocktails. 😉

Happy Monday everyone!!

Sunshine and Lace

On June 14, 2012June 14, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, Watches4 Comments

Ahhhh, lace. So pretty, so sweet, so timeless, so romantic. I have to say that I am awfully glad to see lace making a comeback. And am especially loving all of the cute lace and crochet shorts, flowy tops, and crops-some bohemian, some more fashion forward, there is a style of lace out there for everyone.

And with so many options and price points to choose from, I have been on the hunt for a perfect lace top for a while and finally found a beautiful cream lace cropped tank at Macy’s a few weeks ago (post to come). So I was surprised when I was recently in Forever21 and found another lace tank that was not only longer, but the color of sunshine and about 1/3 of the price. And I knew instantly that even though it was lace (and yellow), it was a great basic that could work back to skirts, shorts, denim, and even colored denim.

Yellow Lace Top: Forever21

White Layering Tank: H&M

Colored Skinnies: Else by Joe’s Jeans exclusively for Macy’s

Sunglasses: Calvin Klein via Macy’s Sunglass Hut

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co., H&M, Macy’s, Thailand (yes, the country)

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Color Block Platform Shoes: ZigiSoho via DSW

If you haven’t already added a piece of lace to your summer wardrobe, I would highly recommend doing so. Not only is it on trend right now, but lace is timeless and will most certainly keep making comebacks as the fashion trends cycle over the years. I also wanted to point out that I did something I don’t normally do in this post-which is opt for a monochromatic look with my shoes instead of a complimentary, but different, pop of color. While the yellow heel and the turquoise platform are a shade or two darker than my top and jeans, they are in the same color family, and therefore work back to each other. The white pop on the shoe is also the perfect way to tie it all together. All in all, I am really pleased with how the look turned out and will definitely be making more monochromatic choices in the future-yet another fun and different way to change things up a bit!

The Long And The Short Of It

On June 11, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas7 Comments

I love shorts, but truth be told, the majority of the shorts in my closet have always been some form of denim or another, and the majority of those have had cut off hems-which is great for summer, and might I add practical (yes, practical). But now that shorts have taken on a whole new meaning and are a must-have summer fashion staple, I knew that in preparation for warmer weather I had to reassess and add some pieces to my wardrobe that could be worn with sky-high heels or in lieu of a skirt.

Featherweight Sweater: JCrew (recent)

Purple Sateen City Shorts: JCrew (recent)

Yellow Bubble Necklace: JCrew via eBay

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets: H&M, Forever21, Tiffany and Co.

Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW

There are so many fun options out there when it comes to shorts-from bright solid colors, to fun tribal patterns, to sweet lace versions, I guarantee there is a style out there for everyone. And while I won’t be giving up my cut-off denim shorts any time soon (and you shouldn’t either!), I am happy to add some of these fun, dressier options to my wardrobe-it’s always good to change things up a bit!!

Happy Monday!!

I Heart Chevron

On June 7, 2012June 7, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas4 Comments

I love Chevron. It is such a cute, fun, modern print and works well in so many mediums from decor to handbags to clothing. So when I saw this sequin, cold-shoulder, chevron top-all things I’m currently a sucker for-I knew it would be a fantastic addition to my closet and a great piece to dress up or down. In fact, I can’t wait to wear it with my white shorts now that the weather is warmer!!

Chevron Top: INC via Macy’s (recent)
Skinnies: Gap
Shoes: Jessica Simpson via 6pm (sold out)
Feather Earrings: Local Boutique, The Icing (I like to layer feather earrings for a bolder look)
Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack
Bracelets: Forever21, Macy’s, Tiffany and Co.

So if you don’t own something Chevron, make it your mission this weekend to add this fun print to your life. You could pick up or make a quick piece of art (see the DIY Chevron canvas I made here), add a great top or handbag to your wardrobe, or even a chair, rug, duvet cover, or throw to a space in need of a mini-makeover. And if you are feeling especially ambitious, you could even paint an accent wall with a Chevron shadow stripe. How fun is that? I know that when J and I decide to add a baby Doll to our family, there will most definitely be a chevron stripe in the nursery!! So whatever your preference, embrace chevron in some capacity this weekend. Big or small-you won’t be sorry!!!!

Strawberry Banana

On June 5, 2012June 5, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas4 Comments

We’ve already established that I LOVE color. However, since I started writing this blog, I have noticed (among many other things) that I definitely tend to gravitate towards more vibrant and saturated hues. I don’t own a lot of pastels and am never particularly drawn to them-BUT there are certain occasions where I can’t think of anything that would be more appropriate. And the two occasions that stand out in my mind above all others are wedding and baby showers-something about the softness of pastels just seems to lend itself perfectly to these types of events.

We had a surprise wedding luncheon for one of my co-workers this week and while it was a little casual for a dress, I still wanted an outfit appropriate for the occasion and thought it would be fitting to break out my favorite new pink jeans and pair them back to a pale yellow top complete with nude heels. A soft and sweet look perfect for such a casual celebration and a little reminiscent of strawberries and bananas. 😉

Sunglasses: Calvin Klein via Macy’s Sunglass Hut (recent)

Yellow Ruffle Top: Forever21 (recent)

Pink Jeans: The Limited (recent)

Nude Pumps: Steve Madden via Overstock.com

Necklaces: Tiffany and Co., and my own personal collection of charms

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co.

Diamond Cocktail Ring: Macy’s

Truth be told, I don’t wear a lot of accessories during the work week. I steer clear of a lot of arm candy since it clanks around on my desk and computer, and really limit the amount of jewelry I wear in general because a) it takes a lot of effort for me that early in the morning and b) I feel like less is more when it comes to a professional environment. Plus, I like the idea of feeling like my weekend and date night outfits are extra special compared to what I am wearing to work day in and day out.

P.S. I used my favorite new Instagram filter for this post-1977. I just love how these pictures remind me of photos of my mom when she was young in the summertime.

Favorite Product Friday: Skinny Belts!!!!

On June 1, 2012June 1, 2012 By all dolled upIn Favorite Products, Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized6 Comments

Since this was a short week (which by the way felt like one of the longest weeks EVER), and I only got around to one true outfit post, I thought I would make this Friday’s Favorite Product post a bit of a hybrid. That said, today I want to talk about skinny belts.

I have never been a huge belt person, but because of my obsession with TLC’s What Not to Wear, Clinton Kelly planted a little bug in my ear many years ago: you always want to accentuate the smallest part of your waist. Seemingly a no brainer, but tougher than you would think given the current trends-all those long, flowy tops which are not particularly easy to wear. But about a year and a half ago, I discovered J’s Everyday Fashion and noticed she was putting belts back to just about every outfit and a little light went off in my head. What better way to accentuate the smallest part of your waist than with a belt??? Duh!! At that moment, I started collecting belts here and there and find that I now wear them all the time. And not only are they a great way to feel thinner by accentuating your waist, but because they are available in so many colors and styles, they are a fabulous accessory and a great way to add a pop of color to any outfit.

Striped Top: H&M (recent)

Skirt: BCBGMaxazria (last summer)

Sunnies: Guess via TJMaxx

Earrings: The Icing (recent)

Necklace: Basil the Cat via Etsy

Pink Skinny Belt: Cotton On (recent)

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Overstock.com (old and cute, but horribly uncomfortable) 😦

You can also check out some other examples of how to wear skinny belts here, here, here, here, and here.

One word of caution. Be careful of the width of the belt. Sometimes the wider the belt, the less it does for your figure. I find that skinnier belts seem to work better and be more flattering. But have fun and play around with them to figure out how to make belts best work for you. Just remember to make sure you accentuate the smallest part of your waist to achieve the most flattering look!!

Happy weekend and Happy June!!!!