Nip & Tuck

Top: Sold out, similar here & here| Faux leather pleat skirt: c/o HERE

Straw bag: Vintage, thrifted| Suede sandals: On sale HERE + other options here, here, and here

Today’s look features an example of how I like to nip & tuck my blouses from time to time. It’s a perfect style alternative for when you want to feel put together, minus the formal structure of completely tucking in your shirt the normal way, i.e. all the way around. I’ve found that this option is best employed with an over-sized top, this way you have enough fabric remaining for the top to hang down comfortably with ease.

Confession: I’ve been enjoying this skirt in secret for several weeks now... I figured it was high time that I shared it here on the blog while it is still available for purchase 😊 Good looking out right?! LOL! When the Babes over at ELVI sent it to me, I immediately put it to good use. 

The pleated midi skirt brigade is totally holding down the fort right now, however this beauty takes it to the next level not only b/c of its beautiful golden hue but even more so because of the material: faux leather!!! Yes, it will stand the test of time, and will remain a member of my collection long after the plethora of pleated midi options have faded out.

On this particular day I paired it with a frilly white top that I snagged on clearance online, a vintage straw tote, and neutral suede sandals.  I’ve been turning to statement earrings more and more as of late, this pair has a hint of orange, which encouraged me to wear one of my orange lipsticks that has been neglected for way too long… 

All in all: I am totally smitten with how this all came together!

Until next time,

XO

Checkmate

So the calendar says that it is officially Spring, but the weather in my neck of the woods has been all over the place (as crazy as it can get for So-Cal)! I hardly know how to dress, one day it feels like Summer, and the next like Fall, and then finally almost like a So-Cal Winter day O_O From what I’ve read, weather is on the flux all over the world, and that’s a sad thing…Heard of global warming anyone?

Today’s #ootd really came together based on the inconsistency of the weather! I figure if the weather doesn’t have to make up its mind, why should I? LOL! Insert summer scarf worn as a head-wrap, scuba sweater, leather skirt, white sandals, and a white fringed bag of course =)

Let’s start off with this peplum sleeved sweater from UK retailer Boohoo. So I’ve admitted time and again that I am not really crazy about online shopping. Not only do I find better deals in-store, but I enjoy the experience of brick and mortar shopping and all that it entails, versus scrolling and clicking and waiting on the mail. Nonetheless, there are times when I do peruse online retailers, and one day while doing so this baby caught my eye. 

So they say that peplum is out, but I say that it stays - and that it always has a place in my wardrobe. This sweater lingered in my virtual basket for several days, because let’s be honest: Boohoo’s quality is not the same as let's say Ralph Lauren... I kept debating whether or not it would be worth ordering. As it happens a coupon code started, and I decided that deduction actually took off the price of shipping plus the sweater was already on sale, so I ordered it. Would you believe that it took almost 2 months to arrive?!?! And when it did, I discovered that I probably should have went with a smaller size, but after all that hassle who wanted to send it back and so on??? This is why online shopping, especially outside of the USA, gives me cause to pause…

Moving on, you already know how much I dote on black + white combinations! I actually wore this sweater more casually to a Make-up Forever event over the weekend, but when it came time to dress it up a bit I opted for black & white, my beloved stand-by. It’s been way too long since I last wore this leather skirt (see here), a throwback from Saks in the early 2000's. I love how it looks with this sweater. I actually folded up the bottom of the sweater up to make the fit more appealing to my eye. Popped on my faithful white strappys, grabbed my fringe clutch and hit the door.

Until next time Babes!
XO

Scarf: Souvenir from Iraq| Sweater: Boohoo, size large| Leather skirt: Saks Fifth Avenue (Real Clothes, also worn here), size 16
Sandals: Tildon (also worn here)| Fringed clutch: Carlos Santana (also worn here)