a little red for Christmas

In outfit news, this is what I wore on Christmas Eve to a party at my cousins' house. It's always my favorite day of the year because I get to see my extended family! I'm wearing my new black over-the-knee boots from Ann Taylor that I got for 50% off during an in-store sale. They are by far the slimmest boots I've ever tried because of the stretchy back panel. My only complaint is that after wearing them basically non-stop for a week the ankles have started to sag - but I'll still overlook that because they fit my slim calves and I've continued to get compliments despite the ankle sitch. In professional news, I won my first traffic ticket trial today! I just won an attempted murder trial with my boss a few weeks ago yet I was more nervous about a traffic ticket trial, lol. I get so much more nervous about the little things! At least this was a small confidence boost. Yay tickets! 

Sweater: Old Navy (similar)

Pants: Forever 21 (similar)

Boots: Ann Taylor (similar)

Necklaces: Ebay & Forever 21 (similar red)

Watch: Michael Kors

Earrings: Givenchy

Bag: Ann Taylor (similar)

Hair: Curled with Conair You Curl

Nails: Butter London Bit Faker

navy, brown tweed, snake print

I wore this to work a few weeks ago - to court and to the office. I think the necklace and shoes add a bit of youth to an otherwise pretty normal work outfit. I got this Theory dress earlier this year and got it tailored to fit me exactly, and I have to say it's by far my favorite work dress in my closet at this point. I would wear it every day if I could get away with it, lol. I went to the Theory outlet on Black Friday to look for another suit (and preferably one with this dress but in another color) but the store only had black, navy, and grey available and ....  I already own all of those, lol. Hopefully I'll be able to find a light tan/camel suit to add my wardrobe soon. 

Jacket: Ann Taylor (similar)

Dress: Theory

Shoes: Corso Como

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Necklace: Etsy (similar)

bridal shower shift

Happy Christmas week to anyone who celebrates! I'm currently in CT visiting my family. I was under the impression that I saw my grandma not too long ago but after thinking about it I think the last time I saw her was LAST Christmas! That is NOT OK. Anyway, I didn't bring my camera...so I figured I would catch up on some outfits from a few weeks ago since I'm so far behind! Here's what I wore to a friend's bridal shower. 

Dress: Ann Taylor (love this one from ASOS)

Shoes: Ann Taylor (similar)

Necklace: Amrita Singh (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Wallet: Urban Outfitters (similar)

Camel & Tweed

This outfit is from a few weeks ago on a Friday. I got this jacket for Christmas last year and although I love the color and have worn it a handful of times, I think I would get better use out of the regular J. Crew schoolboy blazer that's a thinner and lighter material. I have been pretty sick for the last week and even (gasp) took a day off from work! That has got to be one of the worst things about working full time - not being able to just skip class whenever you want. There are always things that need to be done whether you're sick or not. Happy Holidays to everyone and I hope you have a great week! I will be counting the days til I get to go home to my family!

Jacket: J. Crew (similar)

Blouse: Ann Taylor (similar)

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Shoes: Ann Taylor (similar)

Nails: Essie Chinchilly

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Linking up for What I Wore to Work!

Black & Stripes

I wore this to court and to the office this past week. I've shown this dress on the blog a few times already. I took a chance buying this dress large and getting it tailored down, but I'm so happy I did. I can't wear the dress every week because it is kind of recognizable, but I get away with wearing it every few weeks. Here it is paired with black. I've already worn it with blue and navy, and I think camel is up next, and white and grey. 

Jacket: Theory

Dress: Ann Taylor (similar, similar)

Shoes: Cole Haan

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Earrings: Alexis Bittar (similar but same brand)

Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar)

a uniform of sorts

The past few weeks have been crazy. It all started 3 weeks ago when I had my first trial (I'm batting 1000)! I was working until 9-10 pm every night so I didn't get a chance to take pics of what I wore. But generally the rule for women is to dress conservatively so as not to offend jurors so I wasn't wearing very exciting outfits that week anyway. Then it was Thanksgiving week, which was hectic in itself. I went to MD for the holiday and had dinner with my family. I also got to see some of my biffles from college, go Black Friday shopping (got a great deal on a Theory blazer and a J. Crew sweater - will be gifts for me for Christmas), got a Christmas tree with my parents, and went to one of my favorite restaurants - Founding Farmers. Oh and I broke my first nail (alllll the way down) so I had to get a manicure and chop all of them off. Guess I'll have to start over again from scratch! Ulta had a buy 1 get 1 free Deborah Lippmann Butter London sale on Cyber Monday so I bought 4 glitter colors and am anxiously waiting for them to arrive.

I tried to pack light so I could fit 2 pairs of boots in my luggage (taking full advantage of the colder weather, lol), so I basically wore a uniform of a flannel shirt/blouse with this sweater/moto jacket, boots, and my leather jacket when I went outside. It was easy to match and didn't take any effort getting dressed every day.

Jacket: Ann Taylor

Shirt 1: Ann Taylor (similar print)

Shirt 2: Target (similar)

Jeans: Guess (similar)

Black pants: Forever 21 (similar)

Boots: Aldo (similar)

Necklaces: Forever 21, Ann Taylor (similar)

Bag: Ann Taylor (similar)

P.S. - why do my iphone pics come out so grainy? I feel like everyone else is some expert photographer when it comes to cell phone pictures! Help is appreciated!

Quick Frye Harness 12R Review

This is a review of the Frye Harness 12Rboots. I heard that these boots run narrow so I decided to take the plunge and buy them when I saw Amazon was having a 30% off shoe sale (might still be going on at the time this is published - try code 30SHOES1 or 30SHOES2). Frye boots are by no means inexpensive, but with the 30% discount on these shoes, plus the remainder of an Amazon gift card, I was able to get them for only $117 which made them much more attractive to me. The color below is Chocolate Vintage Leather, and I picked it because I thought the darker brown could go easily with blacks and other browns, and I loved the vintage/worn look. The shoe comes in many colors, including several that don't look worn like this. The shaft circumference is said to be 13.5" around and I found that measurement true to size. The shoes themselves run about a half size large, so I took the 6.5 instead of my usual 7 and they fit great. Plenty of room in the toe area. With a thick sock they fit snug but reviews online say they stretch out with wear. Given my warm climate, I doubt I'l be wearing the shoes with thick socks any time soon. 

I finally got around to measuring my calves and they are 12" exactly. I've seen ladies with even smaller ones but mine are clearly below average in circumference. Without pants on, these boots are too large. But I'm not really a "boot with skirt/dress" kind of person anyway. With super skinny jegging type pants they still look a little large (I'd still wear them though), but with "straight leg" pants, like the ones I'm wearing above, I love the look. There is just a bit of room but not enough to look like I'm swimming in the boots. And if I ever desire to wear the boots with a skirt or dress I could see thick boot socks fixing the problem. I never said I was the most practical dresser, so I don't see a problem with weather warm enough to wear dresses yet wearing boots with thick socks, lol. 

As for construction, there is no question these shoes are impeccably made. The boots are sturdy and heavy, and are made from strong, thick leather. As for comfort, my right shoe was comfortable straight out of the box. The harness portion on the left shoe, however, is rubbing into my ankle for some reason. I tried adding my heel insert (to attempt to raise my ankle above the harness portion to prevent chaffing) but it wasn't high enough. I also added a thick ski sock and bunched it down to try to prevent the chaffing but that also wasn't enough. I remember my Steve Madden boots hurting like this for a few wears before they became super comfortable so I'm not giving up yet.  If worse comes to worst, I will take them to the cobbler and see if anything can be done on the left shoe. 

Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase and would recommend these as a slimmer calf alternative. They are not my holy grail knee high boots, however, and I'm still looking for a more classic pair of black knee high riding boots. I'm considering the Michael Kors Arley Stretch Boot as I tried it on at Nordstrom and it's one of the slimmest I've ever seen, without being skin tight at the stretch part. I'm also considering the regular Arley Boot (without stretch) as it has a 13" circumference and no stretch (but haven't tried it on yet). 

Do you own any Frye boots? Please share your experiences (whether about calf circumference, quality, or anything else) in the comments!

Casual Friday

I realize this look might be a little more formal than what most people picture for casual friday, but for me, I use Fridays as an opportunity to try out work outfits outside the typical suit. For example, I wore my green pants on a Friday and I first wore this striped dress on a Friday. When I bought this tuxedo vest from Piperlime a few weeks ago, I was hoping to be able to wear it both casually and to work. I think I can definitely wear this to work on slightly less formal days. How would you wear a vest to work?

Dress: Ann Taylor (similar, similar)

Vest: Piperlime

Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar)

Belt: from AT skirt

Watch: Michael Kors

Bracelet: Ebay (similar)

Shoes: Cole Haan

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Nails: Revlon "Timeless"

Dark Purple Suit

I'm loving these sweaters that I picked up from Ann Taylor. They are pretty thin so they are perfect for my warmer climate, and I love that they can be tucked into skirts for work without adding bulk. This is my first time showing my new Ann Taylor Factory suit on the blog. I bought it a few months ago during a trip to the local outlets. I find that the material feels much cheaper and not as nice quality as my other suits, but I think the "quality" is more noticeable to me and my skin than to anyone else. I was drawn to the deep burgundy/ slightly purple color - I haven't seen any other suits this color and it's nice to be able to wear something other than black/grey/navy to court. 

Suit: Ann Taylor Factory (similar)

Sweater: Ann Taylor

Necklace: Ann Taylor (similar for only $15!)

Watch: Michael Kors

Shoes: Vince Camuto (similar)

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Sunglasses: Forever 21 (similar)

Nail polish: Revlon "Timeless"

Hunter Green + Yellow + Burnt Orange

Miami is having a cool streak (75 and less humidity than normal) so I took the opportunity to wear some boots. Full disclosure - I didn't wear the scarf outside because 75 is still too hot for that but I love the idea of hunter green + burnt orange + mustard yellow so I wanted to take a photo. Plus if you live in a colder climate you can hopefully get some "inspo" from the scarf. Most of my boots are 5+ years old at this point and they're looking a bit worn so I'm looking to replace them. I'd love suggestions for black riding style boots and cognac or brown riding boots with slim calves. I've been browsing for slim calf boots for ages and I can't find anything that I really like (and that also isn't $500+). 

Jacket: J. Crew

Sweater: Ann Taylor

Pants: Banana Republic

Boots: Steve Madden

Bag: TJ Maxx 

Necklace: Ann Taylor

Watch: Michael Kors

Sunglasses: Forever 21 (similar)

Scarf: BCBG (similar)

Linking up for Monday Funday!

The Happiest of Hours

I wore this out to happy hour Friday night. A couple friends and I went to Area 31 inside the Epic hotel. The bar area was way too packed and we couldn't get a drink let alone food (which was really why we went there), but we stayed for one drink and enjoyed the atmosphere. The terrace was beautiful and overlooked downtown Miami and had water views (although the city lights at night were more impressive than the dark water). The place was filled with young 20-30 somethings and there was a DJ playing. It was the most upbeat happy hour I'd been to in a while, haha. Anyway, since we couldn't eat there, we left and went to Doraku for sushi and sake. The night then randomly took me to South Beach (FYI I haven't been out there in like... years) where we hit up some "local" spots. Overall a very random but fun night. Unfortunately, that's where the good part of my weekend ended because the following day my garbage disposal broke and my dishwasher flooded my apartment with soap bubbles. I'm spending my day off today (Happy Veteran's Day, by the way) waiting for a plumber to come! I would have liked to go to the outlets because they always seem to have the best sales on holidays, but no time for that. Did you shop this weekend? Have any fun plans? Please share! 

Vest: Piperlime (similar)

Sequin tank: Forever 21 (love this one)

Ponte Pants: Forever 21

Heels: Ann Taylor (similar)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Bracelets: David Yurman, John Hardy, unknown

Bag: Longchamp

Nails: Revlon Dreamer

Linking up for Funday Monday!

Casual Work

I can't get enough of this sweater jacket. Sorry for wearing it 2 posts in a row! I didn't have to go to court today so I wore literally the most comfortable outfit to the office. I'm basically wearing leggings (I wouldn't recommend this but I feel I'm in a pretty unique office situation where I could definitely get away with this on a day like today) and a sweater. I added a satiny blouse with cowl detail and heels to make it look a little more dressed up.

Jacket: Ann Taylor

Pants: Forever 21

Blouse: Ann Taylor (similar)

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Heels: Ann Taylor (similar)

Nails: Maybelline Impeccable Greys

Earrings: (not pictured) Lord & Taylor

Sweater Jacket

This was my travel outfit last weekend when I flew to Maryland. I ended up wearing the jacket the whole weekend in variations of the same outfit - I just changed my shirt and my jewelry. This jacket is currently available in petites, regular, and tall and many sizes are still available. (and it's currently an extra 50% off online!) I'd definitely recommend it for days you want to look put together but still feel like wearing pajamas outside (we all have those days!). 

Sweater Jacket: Ann Taylor

Sweater: Ann Taylor

Jeans: Forever 21 (similar for only $7.80!)

Boots: Report

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Necklace: Ann Taylor

Watch: Michael Kors

Winter Coat Obsessed

I don't get to do a lot of coat-wearing in Florida, but, as a former New Englander, beautiful coats are always on my mind. I've been loving the offerings at Danier, a Canadian based company, and wanted to share my favorites. Danier has been on my radar for a few years now, as they have some very on-trend leather pieces at very affordable prices (compared to other leather jackets). They also have one of the largest size ranges I've seen, all the way from XXXS (US 0-2) to XXXL (US 22)!  I haven't purchased anything yet but maybe this is the season! I honestly want ALL of them but I am especially drooling over #3!

1. Bianca - Such a perfect, simple, streamlined and slim leather jacket. If I didn't already have a plain black one I'd buy this one.

2. Simone - The leather adds some edge to a typical blazer. I could see this working at a more creative office - or even my office on a non-court day. 

3. Colette - This would be so fun to own. I love the quilted leather sleeves mixed with the warm boucle fabric of the body. Since my other winter coat is a pretty girly J.Crew one, this would fit in well for the days I want to dress more edgy. 

4. Harlow - The bordeaux color, the asymmetrical neckline, the long length.. In love. 

5. Cara - This reminds me of Cruella Deville for some reason, but obviously a chic Cruella. The stand up high neck collar is amazing. 

6. Grace - This coat fits right in with the menswear trend, with the boyish body and mixture of herringbone and leather. 

7. Makayla - This looks like the warmest option of the bunch with the warm fuzzy collar and wool body. 

Have you ever purchased from Danier? What has your experience been with the brand? They ship to the U.S. so it's a viable option! 

October Budget Recap

I'm linking up with Franish for Budgeting Bloggers! I didn't link up last month because I wayyyy overpent. This month, I shopped way less because I was busy every weekend and was unable to go to the mall :) I give myself $200 a month to spend on clothes and $50 a month for "personal care" which includes makeup and toiletries. I don't usually include my makeup purchases on the blog because I don't get anything "cool" but I ended up getting some stuff I'm in love with during an Ulta 20% off sale. Here's what I got:

1. Ann Taylor Necklace - $48

2. Alexis Bittar Earrings via Ebay - $75 (similar)

3. Ann Taylor Red Crossbody - $17

4. Ann Taylor Jacket - $44

5. Piperlime Moto Vest - $13 (bought to replace my Zara vest which is falling apart)

6. Piperlime Tuxedo Vest - $17

TOTAL CLOTHING: $214

1. Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - $21.50

2. Benefit "They're Real" Mascara Mini - $8

3. Bare Minerals blush in Fruit Cocktail - $15

TOTAL MAKEUP: $45

I stayed pretty much on track this month but I need to calm down a bit with the Ann Taylor. It used to just be somewhere where I could get work clothes but now it's my go-to store for jewelry and dual-purpose clothing (work and casual). I'm especially obsessed with the boucle jacket above - I wore it every day on my trip to Maryland for the Homecoming game last weekend. I think it could even work on an office day, or at court on a day I didn't have many courtrooms to go to, and didn't have any important hearings. Anyway, did you stick to your budget this month?? Share what you bought in the comments!

Bloggers Do It Better - Wool Coats

This past Saturday, while I was still in Chicago, I went to brunch at a restaurant called Yolk - I'd been there before but it was good enough to go again :) My BF and I then spent the afternoon at the aquarium. The line was at least an hour to get in (ridiculous!) but it was fun once we got inside. Poor choice on my part to wear heels, even though these shoes are generally comfortable. I'm linking up with Pretty Shiny Sparkly today for Bloggers Do It Better - Wool Coats! I am in LOVE with my one-and-only coat and it's been a great purchase for when I visit Chicago - and, on the rare occasion when it's "cold" in Miami. How do you wear your winter coats? Any favorites to share?

Coat: J. Crew (factory version)

Scarf: BCBG (similar)

Vest: Zara (similar)

Shirt: Target (similar)

Skirt: American Apparel

Tights: ?

Booties: Madden Girl (similar)

Bag: B. Makowsky

Turquoise, Camel, & Gold

So, remember when I first tried on this dress? I ended up buying it when it went on super sale, but somehow it sat in the package until yesterday! I hate when that happens - which, thankfully, doesn't happen very often anymore ever since I started being more accountable for my spending. I got several compliments on the dress, and I do like it, but I will say it shows wrinkles very badly after sitting down all day. I'm going to Maryland this weekend for my college Homecoming game. I'm so excited to see my college friends - some I haven't seen in over a year! NOT GOOD! 

Dress: Ann Taylor (similar)

Blazer: LOFT (similar)

Shoes: Corso Como (similar)

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Necklace: Ann Taylor

Linking up for What I Wore to Work!

layers & primary colors

I went to Chicago this past weekend to visit my BF. I knew it was going to be cold so a majority of my suitcase space was taken up by my favorite (and currently only) winter coat from J. Crew (now available at J Crew Factory for a fraction of the price). Other than the coat, I made sure to wear my heaviest items, including the Zara tweed jacket below, and my new-ish brown booties. In trying to pack efficiently, I stuck with similar color patterns so that anything I felt like wearing would match other items in my suitcase. This time, I ended up with a lot of reds (influenced by my red coat) and blues (influenced by the Zara jacket), and I added my favorite scarf, which happens to be yellow, for warmth. I ended up with all sorts of primary color combinations but only 2 days in which to wear them! I've talked about the color wheel for inspiration before, but I'll reiterate again that using it to pack was really helpful (although it was kind of subconscious this time). I'd definitely recommend consulting the wheel the next time you are packing, you might be surprised!

I wore this to Sunday brunch at the Bongo Room. We went there the last time I visited and it was so good we decided to go there again! This time I had the eggs benedict and my BF and I shared a pancake..but this was no ordinary pancake - a pretzel pancake covered in white chocolate and caramel. DELICIOUS. The weekend unfortunately went by much too fast. I felt like I was hardly in Chicago at all. Next time I hope at least to stay for a 3-day weekend. 

Jacket: Zara (really similar!)

Sweater: Old Navy (similar)

Jeans: Forever 21

Boots: Report

Scarf: BCBG (similar)

Bag: Ann Taylor (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Glasses: Forever 21 (similar)

Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Cupcake

Teal Tweed & Grey

The days are getting shorter and it's getting basically impossible to take photos at night after work because it's already dark! I'm the worst in the mornings (always in a rush) so I'm not sure what I'm going to do! I'm going to Chicago tomorrow so maybe I can convince my BF to take some pics :) Right now I'm binge watching Dateline: Real Life Mysteries on TLC. Being a criminal defense lawyer I'm just so annoyed by this show, haha. It's so sensational. Bloody writing on the wall, body stuffed in a trunk, a drunken blackout and "dreams" of committing the murder... The evidence is always sketchy and could go either way, but the jurors alwayssssss vote guilty. I guess America (or the people who watch this show) demand "justice" and probably wouldn't feel fulfilled if it was a not guilty verdict. My limited internet research after watching each episode has shown all the convicted defendants are still appealing their cases and always adamantly maintain their innocence. It's interesting, to say the least. Anyway, if anyone else has seen the show I'm interested to hear what you think! I love crime solving type shows but it could just be me! 

Dress: Tahari (similar)

Blazer: Theory (similar)

Shoes: Forever 21 (similar)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Sensation 2013: Miami

I went to Sensation in Miami on Saturday night with a few friends. It was an all white event which was fun, but finding a dress I liked was hard for me! I went with minimal jewelry because I didn't want to hate myself for losing anything nice, and I was worried about being too hot. I was also worried that my long sleeves would be too hot but the air conditioning inside American Airlines Arena was great and I felt comfortable all night. Here's what I wore:

Dress: Lulu's 

Booties: Report via DSW

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Bag: Ann Taylor (loving the cobalt that's currently available!)

My friend in the middle is wearing a dress from Bebe and the one on the right is wearing a dress from Guess. I really liked both of them and was surprised I didn't come across either in my rather extensive search for a white dress. The girl in the middle is also wearing a really pretty chunky necklace from Ann Taylor - I ended up buying the same one! I curled her hair using the same Conair wand as I use on my hair. It's interesting to see how the same tool can work on different hair types. 

I don't consider myself a makeup guru at all but I really liked the way my makeup came out that night. I used a fun glitter eyeshadow that I got from BA Star (a sort of cheerleader/dance company). It was really pretty but it did clump quite a bit. My friend had Nars blush and I've always wanted to try it so I used that on my cheeks (I want to buy it now!), and on my lips I used Revlon Lip Butter in Cupcake. 

vest over dress

I wore this out a few weekends ago. It's funny to look back at photos before I started blogging and realize how simple my style was before. The last time I wore this dress I wore it alone and with a simple necklace. Today, I would never think of wearing it alone (and not only because I like to cover up more now). This vest  has proven to be one of my favorite purchases from the last year. Every time I think an outfit needs "something" extra I can usually add this vest. Plus, living in Florida, it's nice to be able to layer without adding sleeves. It may be October but it's still 80-85 every day :) Tonight I'm going to Sensation! I planned my outfit for months (or, rather, I made sure to buy a white dress months ago and then fussed about what shoes to wear a few weeks ago) and I'm just hoping that I'm not too hot wearing long sleeves. I'll hopefully be able to take some pictures of my outfit, but sometimes you just get caught up in all the fun and it's not a priority! Any fun plans for Columbus Day Weekend?? 

Vest: Zara (similar)

Dress: H&M (similar)

Necklaces: Forever 21 (similar)

Bracelet: Ann Taylor

Watch: Michael Kors

Bag: Longchamp

Ring: Ebay (the real deal)

Lips: Revlon Lip Butter Tutti Frutti

Shoes: c/o Alonai

dry cleaning day

Pictures don't lie - this blazer sucks. My other black blazer is sitting in my dry cleaning pile because I accidentally left it draped over a chair the other day and my dog decided to slobber all over it. This is my backup black blazer for a reason. The arms don't look this loose in person but pictures don't lie. I think this needs to be donated! To change the subject, I haven't worn gold and grey together before but it's growing on me. I can see camel and grey also being a pretty chic combination if done right. And what I like about the outfit - the mixture of textures with the lace tee and the tweed skirt. Hate that blazer though :)

Blazer: Amy Beyer (do they even make that brand anymore?!?)

Lace tee: Forever 21 (similar)

Skirt: Banana Republic Factory (similar)

Shoes: Cole Haan

Bag: Michael Kors (almost the same)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

blue & grey

I'm so backed up in outfits I can't even remember what I did the day I wore this, but I know I went to court at least. I spent this past weekend in Key West for a bachelorette party and it was a blast! I did lose my wallet but aside from that everything else was a good time. I went snorkeling for the first time! I'm glad after 4 years of living in Florida I finally was able to take a trip down to the Keys. Hopefully I'll be able to go again in the near future. 

Blazer: Theory (similar)

Dress: Theory (similar)

Shoes: Forever 21 (similar)

Earrings: Lord & Taylor

Necklace: Forever 21 (really old) (similar)

Bag: Michael Kors (almost the same)

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion & Fashionably Employed!

Black & Forest Green

I wore this to work last Friday on another day I didn't have to go to court. Friday night, some of my friends and I went to an event called "Cluck Miami" - it was a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald house where your ticket got you unlimited champagne and open bar and unlimited fried chicken "bites" from various restaurants in the Miami area. It was cool to do something different than our regular weekend activities. I'm going to look into more events like that to try out soon. I think Miami's version of Oktoberfest would be perfect, but unfortunately I am totally booked every weekend in October already! Looking forward to being busy though!

Jacket: Theory

Blouse: Ann Taylor (similar)

Pants: Banana Republic

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Shoes: Cole Haan

Necklace: Bohypsy

Navy, Tangerine, & Gold

I had a rare day last week where I didn't have to go to court, so I decided to wear a cardigan in lieu of a blazer. I haven't worn a cardigan in many months, I almost forgot how comfortable they are! I really like this color combination - I have a moto jacket in the same color and I forgot about this outfit where I went with a similar color scheme of cobalt and tangerine. I wore this outfit below to the office and then ditched the cardigan for an outdoor happy hour at night. It was a "bench & bar" mixer where the local judges and attorneys met for a happy hour. It was nice to see everyone socialize and get along! 

Dress: Theory

Cardigan: Ann Taylor (similar)

Shoes: Ann Taylor (similar)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Bag: Longchamp

3.1 Phillip Lim x Target Powerline Dress Review

I ordered the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Powerline Dress when the collection first came out. When I opened the package, the first thing I noticed was that I liked the feel of the material. It is crepe and feels more work appropriate and expensive than other fabrics from the collection. I also ordered the long-sleeve floral blouse but that was so bad (in my opinion) that it wasn't even worth a review. The material feels cheap, there were strings falling out all over the place, it's sheer, and it's very large. 

The faux leather belt felt a little cheap, but it was fully adjustable for all waist sizes and could easily be switched out with a belt of your choice. I also liked the faux-wrap front style of the dress for a bit of added interest. The allover pattern was also pretty. FYI, it looks black and white in these photos and online, but there are also hints of lime green/yellow-ish surrounding all of the black lines in this dress. I think it would look great with a black, grey, white/cream or camel blazer, and an array of colored cardigans for work.  

So everything's good, right?.... Wrong.

The dress runs very, very large. This is why I never end up buying anything from these Target collaborations. The dress is $49.99 and would require extensive slimming on the sides of the dress to fit, which will probably cost me $20-25 bucks. I have to decide if a TARGET dress is worth $70... right now I'm leaning toward no. 

If you are lucky enough to be able to fill out this dress sans alterations, I highly recommend it for work. 

Did you get anything from the 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target collection? What are your thoughts on the pieces you got?

Shop the entire collection HERE!

Burgundy/Plum & Tweed

I went outlet shopping last weekend and ended up buying a very dark burgundy suit from the Ann Taylor outlet, along with this sort of burgundy/plum colored sheath dress. I loved the color of the dress and it fit very well off the rack. I'm hesitant to say "it fit perfectly" because I think most things could use alterations, even a slight tweaking, to make it fit perfectly. I wore the new dress today to court and to the office. I can't wait to wear it with the burgundy suit too, but this was a fun first time out of the bag. If you are interested in this dress, check your local AT outlet - it's $109 originally but they frequently have 40% off the whole store sales which makes it a slightly more reasonable  ~$65. I'm sitting in my apartment as I write this waiting to go out to a late happy hour, and I'm not going to change my clothes. I love dresses like this where I can ditch the blazer and still go out at night. I would definitely say this is a more "mature" outfit for going out than I usually wear, but I'm a bit too lazy to change right now :)

Blazer: Ann Taylor (similar)

Dress: Ann Taylor outlet (similar, similar)

Shoes: Vince Camuto (similar)

Sunglasses: Forever 21 (similar)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Linking up with Style Elixer and Thirties Two Cents! 

Black & Grey

After a little more than 1 year of working as a lawyer, I am now more aware of the holes in my closet concerning work clothes. This past weekend I went to the outlet mall to look for a black sheath dress for work. I've been wearing my navy one weekly and feel like I'm wearing it out too quickly! I got distracted by some pretty, but unnecessary things, but ended up getting what I came for. I found two Theory dresses in my size, a black and the grey one below. The grey fits without alterations, but the black needs to be slimmed on the sides. The people at Last Call assured me I could take my receipt to any Neiman Marcus or Last Call store and get free alterations, so I'm in no rush since there is one close by. Have you ever gotten free alterations done at any place like Last Call or Nordstom Rack? Would you say the quality of alterations was the same as a private tailor? I always see free alterations offered but this will be the first time I actually think to use the service. 

Blazer: Theory

Dress: Theory (similar)

Shoes: Ann Taylor (similar)

Necklace: Bohypsy (similar)

Bracelet: David Yurman

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)

Linking up with Vodka Infused Lemonade & Mix & Match Fashion!

Ain't Nobody Gonna Break-a My Stride

Wore this to court and to some depositions on Friday. I normally wouldn't wear animal print to court, but it was a Friday, so, yeah. I'm noticing that matching suits are only necessary if you're going to trial. I think a lot of the rules for lawyers are about impressing a jury, and many are starting not to apply at all anymore. I thought the tweed of the jacket and the subtle animal print of the skirt were a cool combination, and although I could have chosen any color blouse, I reached for my new pink-ish one from Loft. I'm really liking the way the tie neck drapes slightly over the waist of the skirt, adding some more interest. 

I get emails sometimes from people thinking about going to law school asking advice about whether they should go or not. I want to share a story from college...

My university didn't have a "pre law" major, but a lot of students who wanted to go to law school were "Government & Politics" majors. My sophomore year I qualified for the major and officially started taking classes. One of my best friends in my sorority was also a GVPT major. One night as we were in her dorm room getting ready to go out, we were drinking and talking, and she told me about this mock trial team she was on. I immediately was like "that sounds so awesome, can you help me apply?" She immediately struck me down and said "Elissa, you need to be, like, smart, to join this team. You need to actually, like, do work." Obviously these statements stung - I wasn't a straight A student in college but I certainly wasn't stupid or lazy. I decided not to pursue joining that team because I didn't want to do anything involved with that girl, but from that moment on I focused everything on getting into law school. I took relevant courses, I applied for relevant internships, etc. The conversation may have ruined my friendship with her (she probably never noticed, but I did), but it also gave me the push I (maybe) needed to do my best and get into school. My point is, if you want to go to law school, don't let anyone tell you you can't. All types of people from all different backgrounds go to law school. You don't necessarily need straight A's (or even B's) to get into school. Schools care about diversity and what you will bring to the table that will enhance everyone else's time there. A friend of a friend who had a low LSAT score (the test you take to get into law school), and an average GPA from a not-that-recognizable school got into law school - probably because she has a very interesting ethnic background and back story about how she ended up in the U.S., and she took a few years off between undergrad and law school which gives her work experience. Anyway, sorry for this block of text but my point is don't let anybody break your stride or tell you you can't do something. If you want it, work for it. 

Jacket: Ann Taylor (similar)

Skirt: Loft

Blouse: Loft

Shoes: Ann Taylor (similar)

Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Bag: Michael Kors (similar)