Pretty Little Dots

Wool fedora: Similar HERE| Sunnies: HERE| Cape: c/o HERE (Save w/ code "inmyjoi20) 
White ruffle blouse: ZARA| Embellished skinnies: c/o HERE| Feather mules: ZARA

Wondering what to wear this weekend? I have the perfect fit for you 😉 I'm a recent convert to the embellished denim trend, (first pair blogged HERE) now it feels like I just can't get enough of them! The sparkling pair that I am wearing in today's post totally reminds me of the children's lullaby 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'. Never heard of it? No worries, here's a brief quote:
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky."
LOL! This pair is so cute, but note that the sizing is generous as they have quite a bit of stretch. I recommend sizing down by one, as they will stretch out a bit after one wear 😉 
Honestly, I don't feel like these pictures do the pretty little dots justice...It was so bright/sunny outside when I shot this, you can't truly see how much they really sparkle- by way of white pearls and silver rhinestones. Anywho, for a super chill day (including a run to the office) I paired them with a updated ruffled white shirt, an amazingly long cape (available HERE + save w/ code "inmyjoi20" at checkout), and the feathered mules that have taken my wardrobe by storm...
Until next time Loves,
Xx

Mrs. Fancy Pants

I’m closing out the first month of 2017 with my rendition of a pantsuit: Overalls topped with a blazer 😉 I’ve never been a fan of pantsuits on my frame, although I’ve certainly muddled through a few... If there’s one thing that I have learned about dressing this body, it is: Don’t force it- LOL! Everything is not for everyone! Not to be misunderstood, I LOVE stepping outside of my comfort zone! However, I avoid wearing styles that I simply do not like- styles and clothing that do not make me feel or look my personal best.

I’m a longtime member of the corporate club, at times I felt like I should wear pantsuits and ridiculously square cut blazer + skirt suits. I disliked both, but wore them on occasion because I felt like it was expected and even almost like a uniform of sorts for my field. Finally I decided to throw all that jargon to the wind- and what do you know, I set myself free! No more ill-fitting pantsuits and ugly box shaped skirt duos forced onto my curvy frame- whoo hoo!!!

Yes Babes, this overall x blazer combo suits me just fine- I think I need to add this duo to my regular rotations 😘 More overalls please!

Until next time,

XO

Blush fedora: Nordstrom| White linen blazer: Nordstrom, similar here| White button-up shirt: Jones New York, similar here

Black overalls: c/o Elvi, here (size up)| Leather pompom sandals: Zara, sold out| Blush tote: c/o YouLookFab (SIGFRIED TOTE)

How to Wear White in Winter

Hey Babes!  How are you getting on these days? It’s been a bit challenging on my end- I've received a series of bad news within the past week or so. 
Life is full of the unexpected, as I tell myself time and time again. Realistically speaking, there is never an opportune time for bad news. I took some time to reflect on the facts. Most importantly, I reflected on my core values and how I want to move forward. I spent time with friends. I remembered the things that truly matter. The end result: I remain vigilant. I remain undeterred. I am still smiling. I am still focused, perhaps even more so. 
I am determined.
Today’s look features a so-called fashion “Don’t”, that is wearing white in the Winter! I’ve never been a fan of rigidity or unnecessary rules. Actually, breaking fashion faux pas has becoming a fulfilling hobby- LOL! I’m no stranger to white in the Winter (see another example here) but this look is especially close to my heart. You see I recently won a contest hosted by Monique over at Curves and Chaos, and this dress is a direct product of that 😃 Thank you Monique!!! ---> Check out her blog and Instagram page Babes!
You’ll notice that I opted to pair this white shirtdress with black, which is in my opinion the perfect balancing act. To top it off, I can easily picture a black trench coat, a knit black shawl, or a black faux fur over-sized wrap. Getting dressed is all about wearing what makes you feel good and look your personal best. Don’t be nervous to experiment with the unexpected or to stick with your tried and true color palettes when it suits your fancy!

Until next time,
XO

Hat: Nordstrom, similar here & here| Earrings: Here| Dress: Here| Boots: Here| Handbag: Vintage

Shoulder Season

Have you heard the news? It’s officially shoulder season!!! Stop by your favorite store, flip through a fashion magazine, take a look down the street- the odds are, you’ll spot the shoulder-less trend at least once. I’ve been a fan of cut out shoulders for decades (see examples here & here), it makes sense that I’m head over heels with the modern take on the bared look.

I spotted this particular beauty online, but I hesitated to take the plunge because I prefer to shop in-store. Nevertheless, the fact that it was under $25 eventually won me over, and I finally made my very first purchase from ASOS Curve!

Tip: I’m wearing a size 14 but I find it to be a bit too big in the bodice. I’m hoping that it’ll shrink, just enough, after its first wash for a perfect fit. Any who, the sizing is generous, feel free to size down. I think I could have done a size 10 easily…Moving on, this top is actually a bodysuit with a snap closure. The fabric is soft and breathable and the color is a subtle grey that could pair wonderfully with pastels.

What I love about this top besides its simplicity is its versatility. You can choose to wear it high up on the shoulders, lower, one shoulder in/out, and so on.  I opted for a lower rise off the shoulders for this causal cowgirl ensemble, but would easily wear it higher up to the office and so forth.

Yes, shoulders are officially having a moment this season and I couldn’t be more happy about it! 

Note: This post is part of a blogger collaboration with Sahily of Pretty in Pigments (Instagram), Sheena of I am She Global (Instagram) and myself. Check out the #UnitedlyPlus hashtag to learn more about each of us and our collaboration!

Wool fedora: D&Y, worn here| Off the shoulder top: ASOS, size 14| Belt: Banana Republic 
Jeans: NYDJs, size 12 (worn here)| Booties: Steve Madden, worn here

Power Lines

My absolute favorite pattern to wear by far is STRIPES!!!
See several examples here, here, and here. 

For years on end women have been told to steer clear of stripes because they will make you look big, or goodness forbid, you might appear BIGGER than you actually are... Alas, those days are finally long gone – stripes reign supreme in absolutely every category and for every body type and size. You can find options practically everywhere, from Walmart to Neiman Marcus - in accord with you style and budget. Yes, stripes are totally accessible for the everyday woman and the variety currently available seems endless. I love it!

Black & white combinations always pack a powerful style punch and is actually my favorite color palette, for the moment. See examples here, here, and here. Yes, pairing the two basic colors together serves doses of bold and fierce in equal proportion. Now add to that a stripe pattern and wa-la ---> you have instantaneous electricity!

The beauty that I’m wearing in today’s post (SWAK Designs, see another post here) differs considerably from the other stripe sweater dresses in my collection. I think that the solid black panel that runs down the center of it and the corresponding stripes on the arms and silhouette is pure genius! Yes, yes, a prime example of the absolute ideal plus size dress for the curvy woman!

This is such an easy wear, and a perfect for sweater weather or perhaps more fittingly, what I like to think of as, “Pre-Spring” season-LOL! 
Note: If you order this number, or one similar to it, you may want to size up for added comfort and a more relaxed fit. I ordered a size 2X.

The weekend that I wore this, it was particularly chilly, even for my neck of the woods. I could have easily paired a white button up blouse underneath, along with furry outerwear, leather gloves, and knee-high boots. However, this was clearly the more fun to style it -LOL!

As I mentioned earlier the temperature was a bit nippy (especially when not in direct sunlight), so I added my staple legwarmers for functionality, and a wool hat for an additional measure of warmth. 
Oh, I’ll let you in on a little secret: I also wore this sweater dress as a sweater, with pale blue skinnies and a camel coat. If I do say so myself: Not only was combo fab, but I also had warmth in an overdose- which is just the way I like it!

Until next time Beauties!

XO

Hat:Shiraleah (worn here)| Sunnies: Tildon| Dress: SWAK Designs, gifted| Clutch: Kate Spade| Legwarmers: Loehmann's| Shoes: Pour La Victoire

Fuzzy Logic

The month of January is ramping down so quickly, meanwhile I’m still in disbelief that it is actually 2016! I was talking to a close friend about planning a get-a-away together, and as I looked for possible dates I realized that this year is quite full already, I would need to push it out to 2017!!!   O_O 

Where oh where does the time go?! Clearly it’s flying, but where to?! LOL!

Moving on… I am beyond thrilled about the plethora of faux fur options currently available! I have acquired a number of pieces, and find that they add just the right amount of warmth for chilly So-Cal days and or nights. Besides functionality, they are also stylish, and add in textural interest to any look.

If you follow me on Instagram (preview here) you may recognize this vest as the one I wore on vacay in Cabo last month. It was perfect for the chilly nights off the water and early mornings. I am totally crushing on this vest, I mean it really is so versatile! I feel like I wear it at least once a week – that is, if at all possible. As I mentioned in a previous post, hubby says a tell-tell sign that I really like a new purchase is that I wear it at least three times in a row-LOL!

We were in Arizona a couple of weeks ago, and I scored this scarf during a shopping haul. Side note: My hauls are pretty intense (I bought 14 new dresses, and much, much more), I am thinking about recapping a few of them on You-Tube. Would you watch? Comment below! Anywho, caught in the haze of my current faux fur infatuation, I did not even realize that this infinity scarf matches my vest perfectly! Generally speaking, I am pretty on point about matching up items in my head while I’m shopping for clothes…the match-up process plays a great part in whether or not an item makes it with me out of the store…

So we had plans to meet up for dinner and drinks with some friends from out of town. The restaurant that we picked tends to have an outdoor wait time of 30 minutes or longer, so I knew that staying warm would be a factor as I am almost always: C O L D. 
Running late is the story of my life, makes sense that this outing was no exception. I made a mad dash to my closet, flinging clothes left & right. Finally I settled on this look, including a twist on the classic LBD (little black dress) and a timeless red lippie.

I was pleased with the outcome and will be wearing this ensemble again...

Until next time,

Xx

Wool hat: Shiraleah| Sunnies:Nordstrom| Scarf: Nordstrom| Vest: Ross Dress for Less| Dress: Topshop| Handbag: Vintage| Riding boots: Ciao Bella

Pastel Wardrobe Capsule | Take 4

Today's post marks the end of my four part series, The Pastel Wardrobe Capsule. See Take(s) 1, 2, and 3 by clicking here, here, and here. A wardrobe capsule is 'a set of clothing items that satisfy style needs in one or more areas of your life.'  It can be as big or as small as your needs or preferences stipulate. My goal for this capsule was to use four main components to create four separate looks. I feel as if my mission has been accomplished!

I've actually been toying with the idea of taking on the challenge to create a #capsulewardrobe for quite some time. It can be particularly challenging if you have a vast of array of clothing that you love to wear, and that fit all of your lifestyle needs.

Finally I decided to take the plunge, roll my sleeves up so to speak, shortly after getting several pieces made by a friend, this skirt was one. 

If you've been reading my blog I'm sure you've probably noticed that I enjoy a variety of style genres. It was more challenging than I initially anticipated to limit my selections, but quite enjoyable at the same time! 

It suffices to say that this capsule started out as a pilot venture. Now I'm definitely interested in taking on new episodes, making this a recurring series on the blog, each featuring relevant themes. Here's where I need your help: I'd like to hear from you, don't be shy! Did you enjoy this series? If so, would you be interested in more capsule wardrobe ideas? What type of capsules would you be interested in seeing? Please do share!

Have a great weekend Style Lovers!
XO

Wool fedora: Vintage (worn here) | Statement necklace: Rocksbox (click here to find out how to receive one month free: InMyJoiXoXo!) | Top: Tildon 
Midi skirt: Custom made (worn here) | Shoes: Marshalls | Small bag: Coach