Fashion Friday 11/8/13 – MIAMI EDITION

Greetings Fashion Friday lovers! Although I am back in Chicago, I got to spend last Fashion Friday in beautiful Miami!  Technically, part of the day was spent in Fort Lauderdale, but the fashionable part was back in Miami at night   I was dying to bust out this dress that had gold and white stripes, and gold leaves across the front.  Fitted at the bottom, loose up top with a chain backing.  I’ll keep looking for pictures, but here’s a look with the general idea…

Fashion Friday 11/8/13 – Miami by fashfri featuring nine west sandals

I like the pink sandals and earrings as an alternative to the gold I went with as well.  Needless to say, I am not pleased to be back in freezing cold weather.  I did, however, pick up a few cute things in Miami that I will be working into future Fashion Fridays to remind me of the great time I had and to encourage me to go back as soon as possible   Happy Fashion Friday!

Fashion Friday 11/1/13 – BIRTHDAY EDITION!!

Although not technically my birthday, this Fashion Friday is the celebration   Going a little dark with the look today, and it’s definitely not for the office, but perfect for the night out.

It’s going to be chilly in Chicago tonight, but that’s no excuse for a bland wardrobe.  Grab a coat and a cocktail for warmth, celebrate the end of the week, and cheers to this “new year” of Fashion Fridays being even more fashionable than the ones before!

Poncho sweaters are awesome

So, back in the day (like, WAY back in the day), ponchos were invented in South America to help keep the native people in the Andes mountains warm and dry.  They were made from a large piece of fabric with a hole in the middle for the head, and possible had a flap of fabric to cover the head like a hood, too.  These days they’re made of much more breathable material and, aside from the plastic ones you get in bags at the drug store, not generally used as a water repellent.

Now that the history lesson is over, we can get to the fun stuff, such as this steal of  a sweater poncho that I picked up a couple years ago at H&M and have used as a staple in my fall wardrobe since.

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H&M, Inc. (C) 2013

I’ve worn it with jeans, khakis, leggings and any other pant you can think of.  I think it would look great with some distressed jean shorts and boots, too, but I think it’s already gotten too cold for me to give it a whirl in public.  While my version is more plain a needs a bit of “dressing up” to be a Fashion Friday participant, this next version is one that has a little more interest going on.  I love this right now, and with a birthday coming up it’s definitely on my list:

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Michael Kors (c) 2013

Fashion Friday 10/18/13

Sweater dresses are my favorite fall go-to wardrobe item, and tall boots are my favorite fall footwear so combining the two for this week’s Fashion Friday was a no-brainer…

Fashion Friday 10/18/13 by fashfri featuring black boots

Wrapping both those things up with a short trench coat is such a put-together look.  I’m loving jewel tones for makeup and nails this fall as well, and I think you can go a little brighter with those based on how neutral the outfit in general is.  I’ve got a hot date with my friend Jen for some fried chicken after work this Fashion Friday!

Fall fabric mash up!

Fall fabric mash up! by fashfri featuring heel booties

SWEATER SEASON!!!

YES!!! It’s finally here!! Sweater season is upon us, and it’s about time.  It takes a lot for me to be excited about sweater weather, since at heart I am a warm weather person.  (I’m already contemplating what to do with my sweater/coat/boot collection when I inevitably move to a warmer climate).  But this is definitely overdue.  Now, it may not be quite cold enough to wear what I’m loving in this post, but it is definitely cold enough to buy it while you wait for the cool-down. 

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(c) Polyvore.com

Which reminds me to start making some winter ski plans…

Fall Wish List Item

So fall is probably my favorite season, fashion-wise, because of the vast amount of choices based on the comfortable but not hot temperatures and the ability to dress in tons of layers and looks.  The item I am coveting for this fall (and thinking of buying myself for a birthday present) is a pair of black over-the-knee high heel boots.  Such as…

These are a few years old (circa 2009 at Saks), but the idea is the same.  I love the look when boots like this are paired with “fall” patterned shorts in houndstooth or tartan, and a blazer.  I believe the Gucci boots above carried a hefty $2,000 price tag, so I’ll be keeping my eyes open for an affordable but equally cool alternative.

Only a few weeks until my birthday, so the hunt is on!

Fashion Friday 10/4/13

Still enjoying some ridiculously warm weather in Chicago.  Every post I say “last breath of summer” etc etc and mother nature keeps proving me wrong!  Well, fine have it your way, lady – I’m wearing shorts in October:

Fashion Friday 10/4/13 by fashfri featuring khaki shorts

So in the 84 degree weather, what looks like it will be pouring rain, and presenting at a meeting today – Fashion Friday wins again.  Don’t let me catch you wearing sweatpants…

Kill This Trend

So summer has ended, and with its demise I sincerely hope for the demise of a disturbing trend I noticed: the underbutt.  The upside down cleavage trend has been the bane of my existence all summer, and I have no explanation for it.  The famous Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion fades, only style remains the same,” and I have to say that there is zero style involved in the exposed butt cheek look.  On the beach? Sure, let your ass breathe.  Walking around the city, shopping, having a coffee and reading a book? Please God, no.  Another favorite saying of mine that I like to apply in a lot of areas of life, but particularly when it comes to exposing yourself in public, is the old “less is more” adage.  Show legs, or show cleavage, not both, and definitely not butt cleavage.  So as we toast summer goodbye, let’s also give the underbutt an appropriate send-off.  Like stabbing a can of PBR with a key and shotgunning it.

Saturday Birthday Celebration

This past weekend was a good friend’s birthday, and to make sure it was a celebration worth remembering, we decided to dress up and do it right.  Despite going to some “clubs”, we had a great time and looked pretty darn good doing it.  Here’s the inspiration.  I will work on getting pictures of the outfits “out and about” in upcoming posts!

Get it Here

Halston Heritage dress
bluefly.com

Badgley Mischka pumps
bluefly.com

Roberto Coin earrings
couture.zappos.com

Michael Kors gold tone bracelet
saksfifthavenue.com

Estée Lauder shimmer eyeshadow
saksfifthavenue.com

Rocking a Wrap Dress

FASHION FRIDAY!!

Since today is a relaxed Friday and the weather is still holding up, let’s make the most of it with a summery floral before it’s too late! I love a pretty wrap dress with a cute pattern.  Since the dress is patterned, I liked pairing it with neutral solid accessories to let the dress be the focus.

I’m sad to say it, but our summer weather days are dwindling and we’re already past Labor Day.  I’m taking advantage of every chance possible to dress for cheery sunshine weather while I can!  Happy Fashion Friday to all!

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Get it Here

Sunday Funday

Sunday is the day of rest, but that doesn’t mean it’s a day of looking sloppy and resting your fashion muscles.  Not QUITE as important as Fashion Friday, but even Sundays deserve some effort.  As my grandma used to say, every time you step outside the house you are a walking advertisement for yourself.  If that isn’t motivation enough to look your best, I don’t know what is.

Here’s my submission for Sunday Funday and a relaxed yet put-together look for a lazy August day…

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Sunday Funday by fashfri featuring studded flats

I put this together with some pink sunglasses and a mother-of-pearl necklace.  Today I was wishing harder than usual that I was in a beach city in California, so I got some beachy attire practice in.

Here’s to a fashionable week!

End of Summer Work Wardrobe

So, although the summer is slowly drawing to a close, there are still enough warm and sunny days left to make use of good advice and to get those summer outfits out of the closet a few more times before fall officially kicks in. The summer work wardrobe can be a tricky animal, especially if you’re in a “work formal” environment.

This cute little guide from Vogue has some great ideas:

Summer Work Wardrobe

So if you haven’t gotten some of these pieces out of your closet yet – DO IT NOW! Or else wait another 9 months for them to see the light of day again!

Fashion Friday 8/9/13

Alright it’s been a little bit since a post, so I’m bringing the heat this Friday for Fashion Friday Date Night edition!  It’s not too hot out, but warm enough to wear this dress without issue.  So, here’s the Fashion Friday presentation for a fancy date night on the town:

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Bluefly.com (c) 2013

Grab some dinner and some drinks, pair it with some metallic heels, an updo and sparlky earrings and hit the town! Happy Fashion Friday! 

Fashion Friday 7/19/13

Fashion Friday is here again!  So it’s been pretty unbearably hot this week, and I’ve been tending towards loose and billowy fabrics to try and keep cool (while still remaining effortlessly fashionable, of course).  This week’s submission is my favorite so far:

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Get it Here

The bright colors might hit you as a bit ’80′s at first, but stick with me.  Classic pattern and color combination (black and white polka dot) made more interesting and fun with bright colored accessories!  I only went with two bright colors, as anymore I think would have been potentially clownish, but the earrings are still a point of interest as they maintain the color scheme of the dress but with a new shape.  It’s  a subtle way to make a more traditional cut and pattern a bit more fun.

Happy Fashion Friday and stay cool…. literally.

Fashion Friday 7/12/13

Alright back to a full work week, and thus a well-deserved Fashion Friday for us all.  It’s been pretty hot and humid these days, and it’s been an interesting time for people watching.  Lots of people succumbing to the heat and wearing anything loose they can throw on, regardless of how “casual” *shudder* it looks, and God bless the other half dressed up but sweating like pigs.  If pigs wore clothes.

Here’s my entry for this most difficult Fashion Friday dilemma:

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Fashion Friday 7/12/13 by fashfri featuring gold tone bangles

I am really digging the trend of the longer sheer over layer of the dress (at Maurices.com), and I love a cute flat sandal as well so tomorrow’s outfit is one I’m really looking forward to.  I haven’t managed to source a fedora that I love yet, because they seem to look better in pictures and on the shelf than they do on my head, but the one in this pic is a solid front runner.

Happy Fashion Friday!

Short Work Week!

So let’s be patriotic this week.  How about some red, white and blue??

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Get it Here

Summer weekend wear

All of these items are on my current shopping wishlist for the summer.  I love this outfit!

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Summer weekend by fashfri featuring a summer fedora

Pretty exciting new sandals…

So in preparation of Fashion Fridays to come, I got my hands on some sandals that I’m pretty excited about.  I am late to the game on the gladiator sandal thing, but only because I haven’t found any (and tried on TONS) that I thought looked particularly good on my feet.  Well, I shall suffer that fate no more after finding these gems….

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(c) 2013, Guess

High-heeled sandal? Check.  Spikey studs?  Check.  Gladiator style that doesn’t make my legs and feet look stumpy and stuffed into them?  Major check.  I couldn’t find a picture of the exact ones I have, oddly, because although these brown leather ones are just as cute, I managed to find some shiny gold leather ones at Macy’s a few weeks ago.  Yes, I know, the studs and spikes weren’t enough and I had to go with shiny gold, too.

Here’s to a gladiator-style attack on casual Fridays!!

Fashion Friday 6/7/13

WOO HOOOOO!! First Fashion Friday of June!  Being summer, wedding season is upon us, the first of which for me is this weekend up in the tropical mecca of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The weather looks like it will cooperate for the weekend, so I’m bumping the wedding outfit up to Fashion Friday for a look…

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(c) 2013, Bluefly.com

So Fashion Friday today consists of a strapless dress!  Here’s to the kickoff of wedding season!