Formal Fall

"I know that I am good enough to have the life I want."

Today may be the first day of fall, but the forecast for the weekend says we are going to have just a little bit more summer, and I'm perfectly okay with that. Still, I know that I've got weddings and showers coming up this season, so when I was at Clinton Crossing on Sunday and came across this navy lace sheath dress, I decided I just could not leave without it! Plus when it's 40% off, and then an additional 40% off, how do you pass up that deal?

Because this dress is navy lace over a black lining, it easily solves the black/navy dilemma, and looks quite lovely with other prints and textures as well. If you caught my previous post you might have spied this dress with the tweed blazer, and that simple addition would make this dress work for the office as well. This dress also comes in an equally lovely and fall appropriate bordeaux shade, and has a really pretty back keyhole detail. Naturally I forgot to get a photo of it, but next time! Hopefully this dress will serve me very well this fall.

       

The Rundown
Two Tone Lace Sheath Dress Banana Republic Factory
Black Pumps "Natalie" Naturalizer
Leopard Clutch Clare V. c/o Shopbop
Grey Tassel Earrings Pearls and Plaid
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye similar
Diamond Chip Ring c/o Crown Jewelry
Pearl and Pave Ring Forever 21 similar

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flasback Friday (One Year Ago Today)

Sleeveless Sweater Weather

"I allow myself to accept and enjoy all that is good and positive in my life."

Later this week we will be marking the first day of fall, but I'm enjoying our little heatwave at the moment - it feels good to have the windows open and the fan on. I'm not always sure where pieces like sleeveless sweaters really fit into my wardrobe, but hopefully I'll find some great ways to layer it up as the days grow colder.

        

The Rundown
Ribbed Knit Sleeveless Sweater Banana Republic Factory
Denim Pencil Skirt Banana Republic similar
Black Slides c/o Soak
Tilly Tote Matine
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye similar
Filmore Earrings Rudiment via Rocksbox
Chandler Ring Ava Rose via Rocksbox
(Use code lydiaxoxo for a free month of Rocksbox!)

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Spring

and

Oh To Be A Muse's Lookbook Linkup
and
By Lauren M's Mix it Monday

Velvet Bodysuit

All my thoughts for the coming new year are positive and inspiring.

A curve hugging head to toe silhouette is not one that I typically gravitate towards - the mantra of balancing something tight with something voluminous and the abundance of fit and flare dresses in my closet clearly speak to that. Yet something about this black velvet bodysuit gave me the confidence to ditch the wide leg pants I'd intended on pairing it with and don the skinny jeans.

And the tuck. How amazing is it to have a perfect tuck? And it won't come untucked! I don't know if everyone has these problems, but trying to get a shirt tucked and not look bulky or bunchy or blousey is pretty much impossible for me, and then when I do somehow manage it, the second I raise my arms for any reason, it's completely ruined.

This velvet bodysuit is going to be my new favorite piece for the winter.

       

The Rundown

Draped Velvet Bodysuit H&M similar
Yoga Jeans Second Denim via Coco & Vera's Giveaway
Studded Pumps c/o OASAP similar
Bag "Lewis Drive Michela" Kate Spade similar
Leather Pom Matine
Earrings Kohl's
Triangle Necklace Moon & Lola similar
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye similar
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color "Nothing Else Metals" Essie

Linking up with Mix and Match Fashion's What I Wore to Work

and

Elegance & Mommyhood's Thursday Moda

More fun than a maxi

I really did not think I was going to jump on the culottes trend, especially after having done them (probably poorly) the last time the trend came around about six years ago, only we were calling them gauchos then. Then I spotted this vintage pair for only $10 and just had the most enjoyable day in them. Perhaps it was simply the comfort afforded by their elastic wasit band and more than ample width - such a refreshing change from sitting all day in my slightly too tight skinny jeans. I suppose I'm just a convert now.

Oh, and this Springbok clutch. I'm seriously smitten with it. When the clutch is laying flat, the fur in the center lays flat as well, only when you fold it does it stand up. Plus is so amazingly soft. I feel like before pointing out that yes, it's real fur, the fact that it's not an endangered species and it's killed for food, in my eyes puts it on the same level as wearing real leather, which I do frequently and without shame. I used the last little bit of my Shopbop credits to get it, and I'm not regretting it.

Hope you all had a good daylight savings time weekend - while I dread the early sunsets - on Sunday, and Sunday alone, there is something kind of nice about looking at a clock which doesn't automatically change and thinking, oh hey, I've got a whole extra hour. As if I'd actually do something worthwhile with it!

         

The Rundown

Camel Sweater Thrifted similar

White Culottes Thrifted similar

Toe Cap Heels Me Too via TJMaxx similar
Springbok Clutch Oliveve c/o Shopbop
Ear Jackets TJMaxx
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye c/o S&G
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Gold Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Linking up with Pink Sole's How I Fall

and

Monday Mingle
and
Fizz and Frosting's Mix it Monday

Grey denim

I like the way these jeans look on me. I feel like I don't often feel that way about skin tight, curve hugging pieces, but as I was looking at these photos the first thought which came to my mind was "Damn, I look good in these jeans."

Now, you will have to ignore the crazy things the wind was doing to my blouse - it's inevitable that I will wear a billowy silk blouse on a day when the wind is raging, only amplified by the fact that I have a penchant for wanting to take my photos by the water.

I feel like the wind worked for me, rather than against me in at least a couple of frames, which is the best you can hope for. As any blogger who's dealt with fighting the wind during outfit photos knows all to well.

The Rundown
Blush Silk Blouse Max Studio via TJMaxx similar
Grey Skinny Jeans Gap
Nude Peeptoe Pumps BCBGeneration via TJMaxx similar
Grayson Bar Bag Linea Pelle
Earrings Lauren Conrad for Kohl's similar
Pave Triangle Necklace Meredith Leigh via TJMaxx similar
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye c/o S&G
Stacked Rings Gorjana via TJMaxx similar
Sunglasses Kenneth Cole Reaction via Marshalls

Linking up with I Do deClaire's Confident Twosday
and
Cute and Little's on Trend Tuesday

Disillusions

Do you ever find yourself on Pinterest, pinning away, finding all this great outfit inspiration only to realize that you don't actually own any of the pieces in the looks that you are pinning? Or maybe it's not everything, perhaps it's just one thing.

Then the more you think about it, the more fixated you become. You think about all these amazing outfits you could be wearing if you just had that one thing. You convince yourself that if you had it, suddenly getting dressed would be a piece of cake because it's the one thing missing from your closet which would somehow magically pull it all together, from the sequined blazer to the floral joggers.

I know I've gone through that, countless times, and more than likely, I'll do it again. Right now, I have these grey jeans to show for it, and am currently on the hunt for nude pumps.

The Rundown
Pink Sweater Banana Republic thrifted similar
Grey Skinny Jeans Gap
Boots "Jabine" Adrienne Vittadini
Leopard Clutch Clare V. c/o Shopbop
Ear Jackets TJMaxx similar
Necklace Lauren Conrad for Kohl's
Gold Twisted Bracelet The Cavernous Jewerly Box similar
Mini Punk Princess Bracelet CC Skye c/o S&G

Gold Herkimer Diamond Ring c/o Lumo

Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry

Sunglasses Kenneth Cole Reaction via Marshalls

Linking up with Jeans and a Teacup's Flashback Friday (One year ago today)