Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Years Eve



For the first time in 8 years I am not working on New Years Eve. This not only means I can go wherever my little heart desires, but most importantly, I can WEAR whatever I want! To me, Carrie's dress is NYE perfection. All the drama, beauty and sparkle that a girl could want. In lieu of emptying my savings though, I'm debating between a multitude of outfit options. Tutu? Feathers? Sequins? Scandalous origami dress?

I'm hoping for a last minute stroke of inspiration, so your guess is as good as mine at this point! No matter what I wear or how the night ends up, there is nothing like the endless possibilities of a fresh new year. While I feel like I've made a lot of positive changes in my life since the end of 2012, there are still a million and one things I want to challenge myself with next year...

A Glitter Girl's 2014 Resolutions

I wish you all the best for the New Year!

Birds of a Feather


// Sequin Tank: Clover Canyon {try this or this} // Feather Skirt: Sparkle & Fade {similar here and here} //

 // Tux Jacket: French Connection //

// Cape: Forever21 {love this one} //

// Tights: Wolford // Ring: Consignment // Nail Polish: Essie 'Devil's Advocate' //


// Earrings: Lulu Frost for J. Crew // Bracelet: Banana Republic // Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim //

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! | photo by Chelsea Fullerton, styling by Grown-up Shoes

I may not believe in Santa anymore, but Christmas is still my favorite holiday of the year. The music alone is enough to make me grin ear to ear! Its always such a fun treasure hunt finding the perfect give for everyone...and yes the {ahem} occasional present to myself too if we are being honest. Its also one of the few holidays where we still have many of the same family traditions that we did when my sister and I were children. While some parts may have evolved over the years {OJ replaced with coffee, chocolate Santa's replaced with..oh wait there IS no substitute for that one!} we still gather around the tree in the morning listening to carols and opening stockings just like we did growing up.

When I start to get a stressed and a little too wrapped up in the millions of commitments, errands, etc that lead up to the season, I just remember how wonderful that day is and how that is what really matters. In the end, it always seems to work out, and I feel truly lucky to have such a wonderful family and memories.

Have a wonderful holiday!
xoxo

Why Hello There...

And the obsession with graphic tees and sequins continues! Apparently, I've decided to attempt to wear every piece of sequin clothing I own before New Years. What can I say, a rainy grey day just becomes infinitely better with a shimmering skirt. I'd been eyeing this t-shirt for a while but have been trying to hold off on online shopping...so of course when they had it in store on sale it was only logical to snap it up. I can rationalize anything, but add in the holidays and I'm pretty much done for. Ah well, Tis the Season!

T Shirt: J. Crew {on sale!} // Skirt: Lulu's {old but similar here and here}

Sweater: J. Crew 

Ring: H&M // Bracelet: Vintage
Nail Polish: Essie 'Lollipop' layered under 'Twin Sweater Set'

Jacket: J. Crew 'Icon' Trench Coat // Ballet Flats: Report Shoes

Friday, December 20, 2013

Fancy Friday

"Haute Life": Shalom Harlow in Couture by Bruce Weber for US Vogue March 1995
This dress is everything. It puts my feather skirts to shame, and I am on a mission to one day own something similar. Until then, I'll just jump on my bed for joy in REGULAR feathered clothing. Granted, I feel like this MOST Friday's, but its especially appropriate today. I get to see "The Nutcracker" with my Mom tonight, a ballet which I have never outgrown. I listen to the music on repeat and it pretty  much signals the holiday season for me (though I've been known to play it year round...sshh!)

In addition to "The Nutcracker," there's a girls night on tap, and oh right THE HOLIDAYS! I think we can all agree that this season snuck up even faster than last year, so I am going to attempt to cram all my Christmas spirit and shenanigans into less than a week, starting the second I get off work today. Bring on the cheezy  movies, the crazy crowds and all of the candy canes a girl could dream of!

Shiny Objects

Some people have coat closets, I really need a sequin closet. No matter how many sequin items I have, I just can't get enough. Even in the summer when its a million degrees, if I see a vintage sequin dress? Done. Do I already have two? Ok maybe, but shiny things just make me so happy. Once you throw the holidays into the mix, when it is socially acceptable to stock up on sequins, I am a goner. 
Don't even get me started on sparkly jewelry {that addiction is equally as obvious anyway!}

This outfit was for the last of the work holiday events, a lunch, so I wanted to be festive but not over the top {hey, it IS still a work event after all.} I love a good cowl-neck but often find the color of this sweater {rust??} a bit meh, so it was the perfect foil to my sequin skirt. I may need a 12 step program for my addiction to these Stuart Weitzman boots too, has there even been a day I haven't worn them this week???

Sweater: J. Crew {similar here and here} // Skirt: J. Crew {similar} // Tights and thigh highs: H&M

Bracelet: J. Crew {try this or this}  // Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami'


{details}
...I also did not intend to be a walking J. Crew advertisement when I got dressed, but oh well!


Coat: H&M // Boots: Stuart Weitzman 5050

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Faux Real

I can't even remember when I first became obsessed with pretty much everything French {minus you know, having to study it and all in high school} so it goes without saying that I have a strong desire to make any item emblazoned with French words or phrases mine. You know what makes a French phrase better? Putting it on a perfectly fit and cozy sweatshirt, so perfect that I even work it to work.

Another obvious obsession is with anything leather, real or faux, which you should already be aware of if you have met me for even a second {or of course read my blog..and thanks!} Combine all of these and you have my perfect uniform.


Shirt: Elizabeth and James // Sweatshirt: Madewell // Skirt: H&M {similar here and here}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami' // Bracelet: HRH Collection 


Can't stop doing the whole thigh socks + over the knee boots! Love how it looks, and major bonus that it keeps me warm too

Why yes, I am wearing my Stuart Weitzman 5050's for the millionth time!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Business on top, Party on the bottom

Even on days where I need to dress more business lady/conservative than I like, I can't resist adding at least a little something to make it feel more me. Big chains and statement rings are practically a uniform, so those don't count. Nope, I am talking about my badass Frye boots. I can't say enough how much Frye's {and good boots in general} are worth investing. I've had these for years and in spite of a 3-4 inch heel, it feels like I am wearing flats.


Jacket: Zara {try this or this} // Sweater: Vintage {similar here} // Skirt: Diane Von Furstenberg


Necklace: Vintage Ben Amun {very similar here} // Bracelets: J. Crew

Nail Polish: Essie 'Midnight Cami' // Rings: gift from an amazing girlfriend, Ambiance


Boots: Frye {old but try these}

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Plaid Party

How do you a) dress for work b) dress for a work holiday party c) not freeze to death all in one outfit? Ta-da! I wanted to be festive, but  not over the top (well, for me at least) and still be able to survive the metro track without turning into an icicle. Over the knee boots and faux fur are the key to winter survival. Granted I was still cold, but not so much that I spent the WHOLE day complaining. I call that a win.

Other than the boots, I'm not wearing anything even remotely new. I know I know, shocking right? I'm pretending its because I am so resourceful and don't waste things I buy...but its probably just BECAUSE of all the things I buy that I can still manage to mix things up. This dress has worked for a blind date, a girls night, and now work and a work party. Pure magic. I'll take one in every color please...


Dress: Amanda Uprichard {old, but loving this Zara one now} 
// Tuxedo Jacket: French Connection {similar here and here} // Faux Fur Collar: Asos {similar}

Necklace: Forever21

Nail Polish: Essie 'Twin Sweater Set' // Rings: Consignment, Charlotte Russe // Bracelet: J. Crew {similar}

Coat: J. Crew// Boots: Stuart Weitzman 5050

Friday, December 6, 2013

Fancy Friday: Feeling Festive

Red Dress
{source}

While I love red dresses, I don't always love them on ME. While I have no problem wearing bold colors, sometimes it can feel a little too va-va-voom. Of course, now that its the holiday season, my head is filled with visions of sequins, sparkles and gorgeous red frocks like this one. Not that I don't already have ridiculous amounts of fancy dresses, but there is no time like the holidays to help rationalize buying a new one {or two.}

Even though my apartment is too teeny for a real tree, I'm determined to at least do something to make it feel more festive. Since I've put myself on a temporary shopping ban,* this weekend is the perfect opportunity to get creative and dress up my apartment as opposed to myself.

Are you ready for the holidays yet? Any plans for the weekend?

Whatever you have planned {even if its just some R&R}, enjoy!






*Different than a spending ban. Hey, its the holidays people. A girls gotta eat and drink!

Oops I Did it Again...

I was racking my brain trying to think of a title when the Britney song popped into my head...and now its probably in yours too{sorry!} Not only am I wearing the same jacket as Wednesday's post {not that scandalous} but {gasp!!} I'm also wearing the exact same color combination as I did in that very same post. Totally by accident. Apparently my memory is so short term that I can't even remember what I wore this week...or I just like the color combination.

Whether its a potential fashion rut on the horizon or not, its time to mix things up a bit more! 

Jacket: Zara {similar but long sleeves} // Top: Marc by Marc Jacobs {love this one}
// Pants: Zara {need these next}

Nail Polish: Essie 'Thigh High' 

Ring: Consignment // Earrings: World Market // Bracelet: Vintage from my Grandmother


Bags:  Forever21, 3.1 Phillip Lim // Jacket: H&M // Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Seventies Safari

I don't know if its the corduroy jacket, safari skirt, over the knee boots or my unruly hair, but I am feeling a definite 1970s Parisian graduate student vibe. Ok, the Parisian part is probably just the stripes and wishful thinking, but I'm still going with it. I stopped questioning the way my mind works (at least when it comes to outfits) a looooong time ago, it just makes things much easier.


Sweater: Alice & Olivia // Stripe top: Zara {similar} // Skirt: Milly {try this}

Ring: H&M // Fishnets: Wolford // Bracelet: J. Crew

Nail Polish: Essie 'Thigh High' // Jacket: Theory {try this} // Necklaces: Max & Chloe

Bag: Phillip Lim // Boots: Vince Camuto 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Fashion Freedom

As much as I absolutely adore pretty much any and everything vintage, one of the few negatives from 'back in the day' were those pesky fashion rules. No open toes in winter! No white after labor day! And of course, NEVER pair navy with black. I'm not sure when exactly these rules went out the window, but no one bats an eye anymore these days if you break one of the 'cardinal' fashion sins of the past.

Do any of those rules still really exist? Maybe, don't wear white to a wedding, though I've seen that done and in rare cases encouraged. There are a lot more 'important' things to be thankful about living in present times --hello longer life expectancy...and technology of course-- but I still think our fashion freedom is something to be celebrated!


Sweater: 3.1 Phillip Lim {old but try this or this} // Skirt: Asos {similar here and here} // 
Jacket: H&M // Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim

Necklace: Baublebar {similar} // Nail Polish: Essie 'Wicked'

Heels: Zara {sold out online in black, but gold version here}

I've been lusting over these heels for ages, and finally scored on Black Friday for almost HALF off!

All About Oxblood

Dress : Petit Bateau {almost identical here } // Jacket : Rachel Zoe {try this , this  or this } // Necklace : Baublebar // Hat...