Trends you should never try!

Faux leather leggings...........are just not cute. Sometimes called liquid leggings, these pleather looking contraptions look more like wet suit bottoms then pants to wear in public. A good rule of thumb is that you should never wear leather that looks more like rubber than it does a natural fabric. Trade these troublesome trousers for a metallic dark skinny jean or a double knit dark legging, like the one shown below. Tory Burch and J-Crew both have a great pair out this season!

Always looking out for you!

~S

Holiday Heros

Here are my foolproof outfits to help you through the holidays!!

New Years Celebration: Rave or Gala, either way you're going to celebrate so why not do it in style! Use these looks as inspiration and your new year will start with a bang! Look for mediums that are unexpected like leather, feathers, lace, hardware studs or foil like taffeta!

Look 1: Edgey Partygoer

Earrings: leather and rhinestone: Forever 21


Sue Wong feather and crystal gown
Studded Pumps, Dolce Vita

Look 2: Elegant Evening Gala

Bib necklace
DVF taffeta cocktail dress

Lace Tights, Anthropologie

Calvin Klein Suede Sandals

Christmas Morning... Whether you are going to Christmas brunch or your family is just sitting around the tree, these cozy but chic outfits are perfect to open your presents in!! Layers are key!! Leggings and tights are always a plus under layers of chiffon and cashmere!

Option 1: Weekend leisure

Floral Sweater jacket

Chiffon Tunic

Anthropologie Cable knit tights

Loeffler Randall Safari Boots

Option 2: College break relax

Knobby Sweater, Anthropologie

light blue oxford shirt, Zara

skinny black jeans, Zara

Loeffler Randall black booties

Holiday Party Attire! There is no end to the parties you'll have to attend this holiday season. So prepare now! Look for great dresses or separates in rich jewel tones that have texture detailing everyone will want to touch!

Look 1: Winter Wedding Guest

Accessories:

j crew earrings

rosette clutch from Anthropologie

Cathrine Malandrino cocktail dress

Christian Louboutin glitter pumps



Look 2: Office Christmas Party

Accessories:

JCrew earrings

Mui Mui blue silk top

Derek Lam gold velvet draped tulip skirt

Christian Louboutin Suede Platforms

Skirt Story

This is the story of a skirt....one lone skirt worn 7 different ways.

Let's meet our main character:

Skirt: Tweed pencil skirt, multicolored navy and green, only $79 from Zara.

She is classic, basic and so warm for fall.

#1 Equestrian: skirt is paired with a ruffled white collar shirt and a Huntington plaid blazer with leather buttons. Add some riding boots and you'll be mistaken for a thoroughbred!

#2 Boho Chic: This jewel tone tunic is shown on top of skirt with a long necklace. Spray on some patchouli oil and your chakras are aligned!

#3 Evening out: A metallic shirt with gold accessories like this statement necklace, studded belt and d'orsay pumps dress up skirt for any special occasion. Date night anyone?

#4 City Chic: Skirt is downtown ready with a pleated silk top in an evening tone with a gold chain and grey over the knee boots! Any cabbie will stop for you in this outfit!

#5 Suit: Here we made skirt into a suit! Just add a camel wool jacket and silk blouse and you are CEO for the day!

#6 Romantic: When skirt is worn with a pink blouse with bow sash, swoon, love is in the air!

#7 School days: Skirt is now paired with an oxford blue shirt and a boys corduroy blazer. Don't forget your books because a great satchel would really complete this look!

After 7 days, worn 7 ways our hero the skirt needs a rest (and maybe some dry cleaning)! Thanks for following her through it all!

Love,

S

A Walkable Wardrobe

Every time I go on vacay I want to bring my most fabulous outfits...of course my most fabulous outfits only go with my most fierce shoes which all happen to be high. After many a painful holiday I have now given up on heels for traveling. I vowed to make cute outfits I could wear with boots made for walking and here they are!

Note: I challenged myself not to over pack on my latest weekend away to Boston and here are my results. Evey outfit shown is being worn with the same pair of standard flat riding boots in brown leather. I only had to pack one pair of shoes!!! I know what you're thinking, "Only one pair of shoes!! It can't be done!" I assure you my friends it can be done and its great when you have to carry your own luggage!!

Day 1: A vintage dress with a lace trim is sweet but modern when paired with colored tights and riding boots.

Day 2: Here a vibrant silt tunic is belted and worn over skinny dark jeans which are so chic when tucked into your tall fall boots!

Day 3: Mixed prints!! I love a floral or watercolor print dress paired with an animal print accessory! This mad hatter approach to prints is both artsy and fun! Make sure your dress is short enough to show off your fall tights and riding boots:)

Take the walkable wardrobe challenge! Be liberated! Pack only one pair of shoes on your next weekend getaway and see how great it is. With all the extra room in your suitcase you can shop and have room to haul it home!

Cheers!

-S

"Wear/Where" to shop...

People are always asking me what my favorite stores are or where I like to shop. So, I’ve put together a breakdown of WHERE I shop for what I WEAR!!!

Work Attire……Zara: Hands down Zara is my favorite store! My most favorite clothes are my more dressed up outfits that I wear to work or church. I love Zara for their European chic look that is so different then anything else out there. A suit from Zara is so different then the two button Banana Republic suit that every other woman lawyer I know wears. Dare to be different ladies…Lets stand out!!! The only downside to Zara is that they have no online shopping and no store in the Twin Cities! But Chicago, New York, Dallas, and Boston all have great stores and who doesn’t travel to at least one of those places?? In the meantime lets hope someone from Zara reads my blog and decides to open an online store!!!

Shoes………Nordstrom: The selection and the sales team is Amazing! They carry great high end designers like Jimmy Choo as well as the constant crowd pleasers like Steve Madden and Jessica Simpson. I would also like to give a shout out to DSW that happens to carry a good selection of obscure brands that are really cute and affordable! Ohh and for online: Piperlime! Look up Rachel Zoe's picks.

Accessories……….for costume jewelry I like Forever 21 online and J-Crew. Both have affordable and extremely on point trendy collections! At forever 21 they have earrings galore and at J-Crew the coolest necklaces for everyday! For the real deal I love David Yurman, Van Cleef and Cartier. I am saving up my pennies right now for the Panther ring at Cartier!!! Grrrrrr!

Make up…….Cos Bar: Located in only the best shopping destinations…including at 50th and France, Cos Bar is the best place to get a makeover! They carry all the best lines in makeup and skin care under one roof. If Sephora is a candy store, Cos Bar is the Godiva chocolatier!! Chanel, YSL, Bobbi Brown, Nars, Kevin Aucoin… and on and on! Also they carry so many of the Bond St. fragrances!! You must go in at least to smell them…divine!

Evening Wear…..BCBG: It can be dangerous to for me to go to the BCBG store. I like almost everything they have. If I am ever looking for a great dress for a wedding or event they never let me down! I also love their great jackets to pair over something I am wearing out on the town! It can also be a one stop shop for me when looking for a night out look…they also have GREAT hand bags, shoes and scarves!!!

Weekend Wear….Anthropologie: Artsy and playful, Anthro’s clothes just put me in the mood to unwind, relax and have some fun! I want to go to the Apple Orchard in their new cape for fall with a great pair of their flat boots and maybe one of their cute headbands. Anthropologie not only carries some of the cutest pieces to make to-die-for outfits, on their website they will even show you how to put it all together under their “outfits” tab!!! I also LOVE to shop in the store because their displays are for sure works of art!! Just drive past one of their windows and you will see what I mean! Every store should hire Art directors like Anthropologie!!

So Sorry its been a while! Not to worry I am newly committed to posting regularly!!

This post is a shout out to my followers still young enough to go to homecoming:) or those fabulous enough to need a glamour moment...which all of us are!! Here are the 3 best trends for evening wear, in my opinion ;)!

#1 Which happens to be my favorite trend for evening wear.......... it's the BELT!! This modern marvel not only gives you a teeny tiny waist, it multitasks to give your frock the cool factor! My favorite version is jeweled like the one Beyonce and Ashley are wearing. And I love this look paired with messy hair (see Jen Garner in the green!). A tailored dress calls for some wild hair…No?

look at the difference a belt makes!

#2 Asymmetrical Floral: This structural feature meets Anthropologie femininity is so great! Here are my two favorites!!

#3 The hottest color combination…White with Turquoise! You can do it with an all white dress and add your pop of color with jewels…a la Eva…or you can build it right into your dress like January. Either way this combination of startling white and bright blue is a winner!!!

Happy Evening OUT!
Till next time,

~S