Workin’ 9 to 5

On May 2, 2012May 2, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas3 Comments

I love the movie Nine to Five, and I especially love Dolly Parton (I am a country girl, after all). I however, am incredibly fortunate that I am able to do something I love everyday. So even though I don’t quite share the same sentiments as the movie, I love it anyway (especially the theme song!!!). I am also in the fortunate position that I don’t have to wear a suit (or skirt and tights) to work everyday-thank goodness!! But my dress code is business casual, which presents challenges all of its own.

I mentioned a few posts back that I have to wear black when I visit my stores (typically two days a week), but on my office days, I can wear whatever colors I choose. And since my office days are mostly spent behind my computer, it is important for me to not only obviously fulfill my dress code requirements, but to be comfortable (and stylish, of course) at the same time.That said, I wanted to share a couple of staple items I have added to (or distorted in) my closet that have allowed me to attain success in achieving all of the above. .

1. Skinny Ponte Pants: Best. Invention Ever. They are much thicker and obviously more appropriate than a legging, and while the finish of the fabric gives them a dressy feel, they are still incredibly stretchy and as comfy as your favorite sweats.

2. Jersey Blazers: I LOVE blazers. You could actually say I am obsessed with them. And the jersey version that is out there right now is a huge win in my book (H&M has a ton of cute ones in lots of fun colors). They are comfy and stylish, yet totally appropriate for the business casual dress code. I also get a lot of cross over use with them and wear them out on the weekends as part of an outfit or as my jacket.

3. Boyfriend Shirt: Again, comfort rules supreme here. Such a great staple that is comfortable and casual but can be dressed up with a great pair of shoes or some really fun accessories-a great blank canvas that can be styled a lot of different ways.

Pink Blazer: H&M (recent)

Blue Boyrfriend Shirt: H&M (recent)

Ponte Pants: Express (recent)

Shoes: Vince Camuto c/o Macy’s

Necklaces: Tiffany, Personal Collections, Monogram (gift from my mom)

Bracelets: Macy’s, Tiffany

Moonstone Ring: Suandra Messinger for Sundance Catalog

Watch: Micael Kors c/o Macy’s

Handbag: Michael Kors c/o TJMaxx

So there you have it. A look that is work appropriate, simple and easy, comfortable, and still stylish (thanks to great shoes and accessories), And now that I’m dressed for success and ready to face the day, I suppose it’s time for me to pour myself a cup of ambition and accomplish some great things today. Happy Hump day everyone! Looking forward to starting the back end of the work week and inching closer to the weekend!

Mix Master

On April 29, 2012April 29, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Outfit Ideas, TJMaxx6 Comments

Not only do I love mixing colors, but I also LOVE mixing prints-particularly stripes or polka dots back to florals. It feels so fresh and so new to me-just like spring. And who doesn’t appreciate spring???

That said, this might come as a shock, but when I first laid eyes on these (AH-mazing!) shoes, I was on the fence about buying them. I adored them, no doubt, but was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to wear them very often, or that they might be a “one hit wonder”. So I gravitated towards the gray and black version thinking they were still fun (kinda) and definitely more practical. BUT when I went to check out, the fabulous sales clerk steered me in the right direction and said it wouldbe an atrocity if I didn’t purchase the blue and pink version. And I guess all I needed was a little validation, because those were the ones I took home. And it was definitely the right choice!!!

Polka Dot Silk Top: Nordstrom (recent)

Pink Tunic: H&M

Skinny Jeans: Gap Jeggings (sold out online)

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: Got Beauty (local SLC boutique)

Earrings: TJMaxx

Cat Eye Sunnies: Guess c/o TJMaxx

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Macy’s

Bracelets: Macy’s, H&M and Tiffany

Surprisingly, I have gotten quite a bit of wear out of these fun shoes. They really do go with a lot, largely in part because it is acceptable to mix prints with stripes and polka dots (which it should be!). And while I bought them when I was living in SF this fall, I am confident that they are going to get far more love from me during the warmer months of spring and summer. Not only do they make my outfits fun, but they are one of those pieces that make me feel extra special every time I wear them-add that extra little kick in my step, if you will. And as a self-proclaimed shoe addict, I can definitely appreciate that!

Favorite Product Friday: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide Eyeliner

On April 27, 2012April 27, 2012 By all dolled upIn Favorite Products, Uncategorized10 Comments

I rarely wear eye shadow, but I LOVE eyeliner and wear it almost every day. I have light eyes, and think it really helps define them so that they don’t disappear into my face. So of course I have tried a lot of different eyeliners over the years and was in fact a fan of MAC for a long time (I still have one that I use, which you can see here). But a couple of years ago when I kept seeing Urban Decay touted as the best black eyeliner in several of my favorite fashion magazine (including Allure and Glamour), I knew I had to try it. And I have to tell you, once I tried it, I never looked back.

Black is a little harsh for my coloring so the first color I tried was Stash (a greenish/gold) and it wasn’t just the gorgeous color that won me over, it was the product as a whole. 24/7 Glide is the softest and creamiest liner I have ever used-no pressing or stretching of your lids to get a nice even application. And because it goes on so soft and so easy, I was initially concerned that it would smudge or melt away during the day, but that was not the case at all. This liner lasts, and lasts, and lasts. It doesn’t smear or fade away-it looks exactly the same when I take it off at night as it does when I put it on in the morning. And while I probably shouldn’t admit this, I have had several lazy nights where I have slept in my make up (yikes!) but wake up with it looking exactly the same as it did the day before. And perhaps even more amazing than that, despite its staying power, it comes off easily with eye makeup remover or face wash in the shower.

I can’t express enough how much I love this eyeliner. And not only is the product itself fabulous, they offer so many colors which range in a spectrum from wild to natural. In fact, my mom and aunties now use these liners, as does my sister-in-law, lots of my friends, and several of my co-workers. And everyone I know who has tried this product is now a convert too. So if you are looking for a new eyeliner, this is truly the one to try. People ask me all the time how I am able to keep my makeup looking the same throughout the day (without any touch ups), and this little liner is just one of my many secrets.

Happy weekend!

P.S. My favorite colors are: Stash, Oil Slick, Demolition, Bourbon, and Crash. There is also a 24/7 Glide Eyeshadow pencil which I have not tried, but it gets rave reviews. Check out reviews for both products here and here.

This or that?

On April 25, 2012April 27, 2012 By all dolled upIn Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, Watches2 Comments

Sometimes I come up with different variations of outfits, and while most of the time I typically gravitate towards one more than the other, sometimes I find myself perched a top a fence and can’t decide which one is the winner. Hence was the case a few days ago when I was getting ready for work. Because I work for Macy’s, I have to wear all black when I visit my stores, which is typically two days a week. So when I am in my office (we do have a business casual dress code), I try to wear color as much as I possibly can.

That said, let me preface by saying that if you take one thing away from this blog today, let it be the fact that turquoise and coral are ALWAYS a winning combination. Always. The question I had however, is because the two colors are so saturated and warm (and perfect together), would it be possible to add another hue to this combo? And while I might still be on the fence as to the definite answer to this question, I am kind of thinking that the answer just might be yes. So after trying out a very safe coral, turquoise, and black combo, I decided to get a little wild and try my turquoise and coral back to…RED!!

Silk Blouse: Forever21

Turquoise Cardi: H

Black Jeans: Gap Always Skinny

Red Jeans: American Eagle

Shoes: Steve Madden c/o o.co outlet

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets: Macy’s, World Market

Ring: Deco Fox (etsy)

Turquoise Necklace: BasiltheCat (etsy)

Cateye Sunglasses: Guess c/o TJMaxx (recent)

In the end, I went for safe and wore the version with the black pants to work. BUT, if I were going to try this look again for the weekend, or a night out, I would definitely choose the red. The more I look at the colors together, the more I like them, and the more I like them, the more I love that I can put so many colors together and be on trend!!! It ‘s also a great bonus to be able to come up with multiple outfits using essentially the same pieces. Maybe it really is true that less is more-well at least in an instance like this. 😉

Nautical Inspiration

On April 24, 2012April 24, 2012 By all dolled upIn Uncategorized6 Comments

I have always been a fan of all things nautical and generally find that the looks inspired by this fun fashion trend tend to be timeless and easy to recreate. I mean seriously, what’s not to love about Sperry Topsiders, stripes, stripes, and more stripes, preppy sweaters, white pants, the liberty to mix red, white, and navy (without feeling like you’re dressing for the 4th of July), and how about all of those adorable little anchor embellished polos and shorts? Nautical inspired looks are not only easy (try mixing a navy and white stripe back to a red or white base), but always a winner in my book (as long as you don’t go too overboard-no pun intended!). 😉

So when the thermometers hit 80 degrees the afternoon I was headed out to see the famed Clinton Kelly do a presentation at our new Macy’s store in the downtown City Creek Center, I had the perfect outfit in mind to tackle both a warm afternoon in the city, and hopefully impress one of my favorite fashion icons (if our paths were to cross-which they did!!). Inspired by JCrew (of course!!) and my new favorite striped skirt that I picked up at the H&M in Seattle a couple of weeks ago, this is what I wore…

Cardigan: JCrew

Red Silk Shirt: Forever21

Striped Skirt: H&M (recent)

Belt: Mossimo for Target (recent)

Shoes: Chinese Laundry Love Me

Sunglasses: Calvin Klein c/o Macy’s Sunglass Hut

Monogram Necklace: Keti Sorely Designs (Etsy)

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Nordstrom Rack

Gold Bracelets: Macy’s and H&M

Silver Bracelets: Tiffany

Handbag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier

There is nothing better than feeling confident in an outfit, and while I wish I had that feeling every day, that is not always the case. BUT, despite showing my legs and bare toes in public for the first time this year, I felt pretty darn confident in this selection. So when Clinton and I walked past each other in the Impulse department at Macy’s and he smiled approvingly and said “hello” to me, I managed to give him a huge smile, but couldn’t get a single word to come out of my mouth. It was an awkward moment, no doubt, but at least my outfit was fantastic-and I feel pretty happy about that.

Rachel Roy for Macy’s

On April 23, 2012April 23, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit IdeasLeave a comment

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I LOVE it when designers team with up with various retailers to create more affordable lines for us regular folk. In fact, I relish the opportunity to buy from these style icons without breaking the bank (or having some serious explaining to do to my hubby). And while most of the time these special collections are a one time only deal, Macy’s has been able to create a partnership with Rachel Roy and carry her line RACHEL Rachel Roy ALL YEAR LONG. And if you haven’t checked it out yet, you need to, because it is absolutely fabulous.

In fact, when I first started working with Macy’s last fall, I discovered their Impulse division (Macy’s boutique/fashion shop which features designer and trend clothing), and then, within Impulse, Rachel’s line. And let me tell you, I have been a big fan of both ever since. Rachel’s prices are reasonable, the fabrication and colors she chooses are gorgeous, and her style is classic and chic-appealing to a very wide audience. I have collected several of her pieces over the last few months and have been nothing but impressed with each one. So when I saw this little bird dress on sale at our new store in the City Creek center over the weekend, I knew it had to be mine.

Dress: RACHEL Rachel Roy c/o Macy’s

Cardigan: H&M (recent)

Belt: American Eagle

Shoes: Steve Madden c/o O.co outlet

Earrings: Target (old)

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets: Style & Co. c/o Macy’s and H&M

I think that what I especially love about this dress is that it is essentially a blank canvas. I kept it pretty simple for this look adding a bright pink belt for a pop of color, but already have a lot of other ideas in mind of different ways to style this dress for future ensembles. In fact, I have a hunch it is going to be one of my favorite pieces this spring/summer. It isn’t very often you find a piece that can be dressed up for a wedding, or dressed down (with flats) for the farmer’s market, but this dress definitely fits the bill. And with that, make sure and check out Rachel’s line on macys.com, or if you have Impulse at a Macy’s near you, head into the store to try a few things on. Friends and Family starts on Wednesday and the entire store will be 25% off, so it’s a great time to add some Rachel to your collection!!!

Happy Monday!

Let’s Talk About Leopard

On April 19, 2012April 23, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas1 Comment

I LOVE animal prints (and when I say love, I mean LOVE). As I have talked about in previous posts, they can be a great neutral due to their grounding colors, but because they are a print, they also have the ability to create an element of interest and creativity. As a matter of fact, I use them frequently in both home decor and in fashion. But the print that has really drawn me in as of late is leopard-and even more specifically, leopard shoes. I have actually collected a small assortment of them over the last couple of months, and due to the variation in style and color, I use each pair for different intents and purposes (you can catch a peek of a couple of them in my shoe closet shown here).

So when my best gal pals were visiting a couple of weeks ago and I picked up a fun new yellow blazer on our marathon shopping spree, I knew immediately it would look amazing with a pair of boyfriend jeans and (of course) sky-high leopard heels. And one thing you will find if you follow this blog, or look at my Pinterest boards, is that I am a sucker for the mix of a beat up baggy jean with a more sophisticated heel and blazer. In fact, when you combine all of these things together, there are a very wide breadth of occasions where an outfit like this would be appropriate: brunch, errands, lunch date, a movie, or even a casual dinner with the hubby or friends. Spunky, yet casual and sophisticated-definitely right up my alley. 🙂

Blazer: Forever21(recent)

Gold Foil Striped Top: JCrew (last fall)

Boyfriend Jeans: Rich and Skinny c/o Nordstrom

Leopard Shoes: Steve Madden c/o Macy’s

Necklace: H&M (last summer)

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Nordstrom Rack

Bracelets: Macy’s, H&M, and World Market

One of the reasons that I picked this specific leopard shoe to complete this outfit over any of my other options is because the tone of this particular leopard shoe is very warm and compliments the warm tone of the yellow blazer and gold foil stripes on my top. Some of my other leopard shoes were too cool in their coloration to work with this look. So with that taken into consideration, the possibilities of what you can do with leopard are not only pretty endless, but a whole lot of fun.

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

On April 18, 2012April 23, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized2 Comments

I was a really, really good little girl-and that is not an exaggeration. In fact I was often teased by my peers and called a goody-goody-two-shoes, a brown-noser, and the teacher’s pet (which was probably true). And of course it all seemed so horrible at the time, but in hindsight, I am proud that I was indeed all of those things growing up!! However, none of us are perfect and I of course had my challenging moments, just like any other kiddo.

In fact, my beloved grandma loves to tell a story about me when I was in the 3rd grade and visiting her in Detroit with my family. She and my mom had taken me shopping, and while I have always been opinionated about what I like to wear, for whatever reason, that opinion reached a fever pitch during this particular outing. My grandma wanted to buy me a Polly Flanders dress-white with pink and lots and lots of ruffles and smocking. She and my mom thought I looked ADORABLE in it and both ranted and raved in the fitting room about how excited they were for me to have it. I, however, was not convinced. And so, when my mom left the fitting room, my grandmother said I looked her squarely in the eyes and said “You can buy that dress for me, grandma, but I won’t wear it.” And oh the drama that ensued. To this day, my grandmother still laughs as she relives the shock she felt when her sweet little Abigail uttered those defiant words to her. But in the end, as I was a spoiled first-born grandchild and had previously done no wrong, ended up getting the dress that I wanted that day-a purple dress with white polka dots, and some really cute leggings to match. And as a budding fashionista who knew what she wanted from a very young age, it ended up being one of my favorite outfits during my 3rd grade era. So when I was at the Rack a couple of weeks ago and saw this cute polka dot number, I knew I had to have it in memorandum of that infamous day…

Sunglasses: Cole Haan c/o Nordstrom Rack

Dress: c/o Nordstrom Rack

Leopard Belt: Express (still in stores!)

Mustard Cardigan : H&M

Leggings: c/o Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Jessica Simpon c/o Macy’s

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Macy’s

Necklaces: Tiffany, and my personal collection of charms

Many people reflect on defining moments in their life and as I look back, I can’t help but think that maybe the incident with my grandma and the Polly Flanders dress was perhaps my defining fashion moment. But whatever the case, I still love polka dots-so am thrilled that they are back with a vengeance this season. And as you may recall, I talked about chambray being one of the new neutrals of the season a couple of posts back, well, leopard is the other-which is why I selected a leopard belt to accessorize this dress. It might seem busy, but leopard really goes with anything due to its neutral coloration. Plus a leopard scarf, belt, shoe, or bag is a really great way to spruce up an outfit without having to put forth much effort.

Here’s to dressing in what makes us happy!!

P.S. Click on the “Follow Me” link on the right nav to receive email updates alerting you to new posts!!

Date Night!

On April 17, 2012April 24, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas2 Comments

I have a lot of what I like to call “Vegas” dresses. You know, the ones that are short, and colorful and perfectly appropriate for a night out at Tao (but few other occasions). And I also have a lot of fab sun dresses, which of course are a little more on the conservative side, but lots of fun, none-the-less. And every year, when I start to feel that spring fever set in, I want nothing more (besides a tan), than to pull all of these fun little numbers out of hiding for the season. But alas, the temperatures are far to cool, and I am far to old to be strutting around in barely-there dresses this time of year. So what is a girl to do?

Fortunately, this is an example of where mixing medias can come in pretty handy-particularly the willingness to combine sweet and tough trends together (which is one of my favorite combos). I like how it not only balances out the soft and sweet by giving a hint of edgy-ness, but also creates an element of surprise and a look that is a little out of the norm. So for a recent date night with my hubby, I pulled out one of my favorite red, ruffle-y dresses and decided to forgo my go-to blazer and pumps, and instead paired it back to a beat up leather jacket, tights, and some pretty special booties for a look that’s a little more rock-and-roll.

Dress: Forever21 (recent)

Leather Jacket: H&M (fall)

Earrings: Arden B (last summer)

Tights: HUE c/o Macy’s

Booties: Kelsi Dagger Rosabella $199 (some available on eBay and Amazon in limited sizing)

And while I love how the look turned out (as did my hubby), I am so looking forward to ditching the jacket and tights and enjoying warmer temperatures. But for now, at least I have a means to enjoy all of my fun little dresses while not blinding anyone with my pale winter skin. 😉