Sequined

How does one get away with pairing a sequined top with a sexy pencil skirt at work? Well, I'm not really sure, because it seems I get away with everything I wear to that place. But this is what I tried, and here's why I think it worked.

The skirt. Though the wiggle shape of the skirt is sexy, its rather staid tweedy fabric and below-the-knee length keep it tame and classic. No way would I have paired this top with a miniskirt or any kind of shiny fabric. It's best to let your super flashy item be the only one in the outfit.

The waistcoat. Denim is a great way to make just about anything look more casual. Not only that, but the structure of the waistcoat gives the outfit a more suited feel; blazers are another great approach for casualizing flashy tops.

The accessories. I kept accessories to a minimum in this outfit and selected jewelry with antiqued finishes instead of polished ones. The shoes have a metallic finish, but even those have a soft sheen and are light on embellishment.

Tune in next week, when I'll feature the first-ever guest post from Mark! As you may well imagine, Mark is quite the stylish fella, and I've asked him to contribute from time to time with some perspectives on men's fashion. I'm certain you'll enjoy the post he's cookin' up. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Waistcoat: Promod
Top: vintage
Skirt: Banana Republic
Shoes: Born

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Sequined

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Pony Hair

I've had this top for a couple of years now, but I'm pretty sure this is the first I've ever worn it to work. Until now I've reserved it mainly for evenings out, because with the embellished butterfly applique it just has that feel to it. I've also taken it with me the last couple of Christmases I've spent down in Mexico, and it's brilliant on a warm, breezy evening at the beach when paired with a flowy skirt and sandals, and this same scarf loosely-tied as a belt.

With this outfit I found a way to make the top work for the office by covering the delicate spaghetti straps with the long cardigan, and holding everything together with the casual belt. I intentionally left the end of the belt flopping out to give it a more relaxed look. I didn't want the outfit to veer into the realm of club wear, particularly since I was also wearing 4-inch leopard print pony hair pumps.

I'll confess that when I pulled these shoes out of the closet the other day, I had to pause for a moment as I realized that I really had no idea exactly what "pony hair" is. I knew that it's the furry leather used in making shoes and handbags and such, but I honestly felt a little bit of a sinking feeling at the thought that this stuff might be made from actual ponies. So I Googled it. Turns out it's made from calf skin -- whew! An adorable baby cow instead of an adorable tiny horse. That's so much better.

Scarf: Banana Republic
Cardigan: Max Studio
Top: Sisley (Benetton)
Belt: Lucky Brand
Jeans: Level 99
Shoes: Saks Fifth Avenue

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Harness

This beautiful harness belt is one that Mark created recently for the Etsy shop. As soon as I tried it on I proclaimed that whomever tried to buy it would have to pry it from my cold, dead hands, until Mark assured me that he could simply make another one. Determined not to be foiled, I figured I'd better wear it straight away, just in case. Having secured my copy, I can assure you that this belt is in fact for sale, and you need not fear for your safety should you decide to order it.

The buckles on this belt are the same sort used in making halters for horses. By pairing the belt with the denim dress and boots, I played on the equestrian angle rather than taking this in a bondage-y direction, which might be crossing the line even in my anything-goes work environment. The belt is a deep chocolate brown, which pairs nicely with my well-worn riding boots. As a side note, the belt can also be made in black leather, with either nickel or antique brass hardware, and sized to order.

Ecru dress: Lady Language
Denim dress: thrifted
Pendant: Ice.com
Belt: Audra Jean
Boots: Bata

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Tights vs. Leggings

I consider myself a very lucky blogger in that I rarely if ever get anything even remotely resembling a negative comment. But every once in awhile someone will respectfully chime in with a, "that item of clothing/cut of dress/color/etc. just isn't for me" type of observation, and it's sometimes this type of comment that ends up being the most thought-provoking and productive. Such was the case several days ago when one commenter mentioned that she finds leggings to be really unattractive (though of course saying it in the nicest possible way, as my readers are all awesome people who would never thoughtlessly hurl unkind words at me). And for the next few days I contemplated leggings, because in fact I used to be opposed to them myself and have only recently come around to wearing them the way I'm showing here.

The reason I've recently seen the light has everything to do with the weather here, as I've mentioned before. Leggings are one of the only ways I can achieve a more seasonally-appropriate look while not freezing to death or scaring my coworkers with my golfball-sized goosebumps. But I get why many people don't like them, I really do. On many figures they are leg-truncating and thigh-widening, two features that most women try desperately to avoid. But even for those of you who think it'll be a cold day in hell before you'd ever don a pair of these hideous things, I'm about to explain why you just might have a need for them in your wardrobe after all.

If you hate the chopped legs look of leggings, then forget about them for the warmer months, but consider them as a layering piece for winter wear. On really cold days you can layer a pair of long socks over them when wearing dresses and skirts, which gives you extra warmth while also covering the bottom of the leggings. But if you're just going to cover up the bottom hems, then why not just buy tights, you ask? Because oftentimes that extra layer means that your shoes won't fit comfortably, whereas with leggings you'll only have one layer that goes all the way into the shoes.

The other advantage of leggings is that they tend to be available in a wider variety of colors, patterns, and textures than tights. So although you may be relegated to wearing them only with boots, don't be so hasty to pass up that amazing silver lamé or Spiderman pair simply because they have no feet.

One last thing I'll point out: though leggings are frequently built a lot like pants, and are often thicker than their footed cousins the tights, they are still NOT PANTS.

Shirt: Target
Tunic: Forever 21
Waistcoat: Last Kiss
Pettipants, worn as shorts
Leggings: Kersh

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Corporate T-Shirt Challenge

Yesterday we had an unofficial "Wear Your Company T-Shirt To Work" day. Now, I work for a company in which it's perfectly acceptable to wear T-shirts to work EVERY day, so for most people this really isn't that big a deal. But since T-shirts are not part of my normal repertoire, I was perfectly willing to just ignore the whole thing and pretend I'd forgotten it. However, on my way out on Tuesday evening I just happened to run into my boss, who just happened to casually mention something along the lines of, "If anyone could make a giant, boxy T-shirt look fashionable, it would be you." My ego and my pride both being at stake, I decided to accept the challenge.

So here is my effort. I actually didn't have any corporate T-shirts in my possession, since the ones that have been distributed since I joined the company were all huge enough to pass directly on to my stepdad, so I had to 'borrow' one from a coworker. She thankfully gave me full license to modify it as I saw fit, so I cut out both the sleeves and the neck. In order to give it some shape, I paired it with skinny jeans and a belt. It might not have looked very fashionable, but at least it was more flattering.

Hat: A gift from Kimberly
Drape-neck shirt: Sunhee Moon
Scarf: Ralph Lauren
Arm warmers: Sock Dreams
Belt: thrifted
Jeans: Joe's
Boots: vintage

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Corporate T-Shirt Challenge

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