What I Want To Wear

Just a few street style snaps of some outfits that I would love to wear, but due to a baby budget, baby bump, or ankle hardware, I can only covet from afar and share with you!

(Click the italic links to shop the look)

Look #1: Wide brim hat, white maxi, black Birkenstocks, leather satchel

Look #2: Oversized jean jacket, floral pencil skirt, peep toe mules

Look #3: Jean shirt, high waisted white trousers, ankle strap heels, red cross body purse, statement necklace

Look #4: Vertical strip blouse, mirror print pencil skirt, white pumps, statement earrings

Look #5: Blush tank, dainty necklace, colored lace skirt, neon minibag, neutral low heel sandals
Look #6: Plaid blouse, navy culottes, neon ankle strap heels, quilted chain purse, oversized gray trench

All images via Pinterest

Crush of the Month: Damsel in Dior

While I know how much I am inspired by the many, many personal style bloggers whose sites I visit on the reg, you might not be. Therefore, I'm showcasing one fashionista every once in a while to broaden their influence and help with your daily inspiration. My next installment of the series (see the others here) is about Jacey Duprie of Damsel in Dior. 

Jacey states that the name of her blog is symbolic of her lifestyle - to never feel like a damsel in distress - and based on her simple, chic, and understated outfit choices, she never is. Her style has been featured in publications like Huffington Post, Vanity Fair, WhoWhatWear, Refinery29, and QVC in addition to appearing in ad campaigns for Gap/Old Navy, Saks, and Levi's. She appeals to all aspects of my style at the moment, which most notably is minimalism. With nary a print mix, color block, or arm party in sight, this damsel is showcasing the shape of her pieces as the trend. This simplicity is how I see myself dressing throughout the summer months. 

To you, Jacey! Xoxo

All images via Damsel in Dior

Street Style Trend: Bomber Jackets

As some of you may know, I am a blazer aficionado - bright, boyfriend, cropped, or pastel, I wear 'em all with gusto. I have less investment in toppers of the printed variety, but that doesn't mean they aren't on my radar, especially if it's in the bomber style.

It's the perfect in between for work & weekend as it is just as functional with cut offs and a boyfriend tee as it is with a button down and ankle pants. Plus there's nothing better than a tropical floral, watercolor, or paisley print to will warmer temps into staying put for a while!

Check out my current favorites:

Boho Icon Quilted Jacket; Amour Vert Art Bomber Jacket; Maison Scotch Silky Feel Bomber; ASOS Reclaimed Vintage Bomber Jacket

Crush of the Month: The Marcy Stop

While I know how much I am inspired by the many, many personal style bloggers whose sites I visit on the reg, you might not be. Therefore, I'm showcasing one fashionista every once in a while to broaden their influence and help with your daily inspiration. My next installment of the series (see the others here) is about Lauren Gould of The Marcy Stop.

Lauren hails from L.A., but resides in Brooklyn and even if I didn't tell you that, you would likely surmise it from her style. The laid back slightly boho flare from the west melts into the buttoned up, black, and boots only rules of the east. In this in between weather that Chicago is experiencing, I can appreciate her mix of current trends, like cobalt, fringe, jumpsuits, and sheer with tried & true pieces regardless of the season like wide brim hats, flowy floral, suede pumps, and moto jackets. 

Thanks for the inspiration & cheers to you, girl!

All images via The Marcy Stop

2014 Red Carpet ~ Met Gala

For this year's Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala, there were two themes (in my opinion): the named theme of "White Tie & Decorations" and the theme of the featured artist, Charles James. While the former was intended for the gentleman, the latter identified that the women should look like they came straight out of a Disney princess movie.
Named as America's First Couturier, Charles James is known for ball gowns, showcasing a woman's figure, eccentricity, and terrible business sense (undoubtedly connected to debilitating perfectionism). The red carpet was split down the middle with the women accommodating one theme or the other and I was overwhelmingly inspired by both the decorations, be they birdcage veils, statement necklaces, or embellishments, as well as the works of art that the designer himself could have created.

First, the "Charles James" inspired...

Taylor Swift & Karolina Kurkova

Karlie Kloss & Amy Adams

 Next, the "decorations" inspired…

 Kristen Stewart, Nicole Richie, & Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Margot Robbie, Beyonce, & Lake Bell

Who was my personal favorite? Model Liu Wen in Zac Posen.

All images via People and E! Online

Street Style Trend: Mules

 It may be due to my right ankle being forever swollen because of the "I shattered all my bones" hardware, but I'm over ankle straps. My cankle needs room and my request has been answered in a update to an old classic - the mule.

 I know we are all familiar with the elastic slip on platforms by Steve Madden from 2000 and this is not a battle cry to pull those out from the attic or basement. The mules of 2014 are sleek, chic, and above all else, flattering. 

Instead of looking like a clog, the mule is taking a cue from booties this time around - it's a wider piece of fabric atop your foot, a higher heel, and no platform! See how these street style stars wore this trend and shop some for yourself.

Clockwise from top left: French Connection Open Toe Mule Slide Sandals; Eris by Belle by Sigerson Morrison; Merciie by Steven; Vince Kasia Mules

2014 Red Carpet ~ Academy Awards

It felt as if everyone played it safe last night - classic silhouettes and nary a print in sight. But dare I say, even though I love my brights and print mixing, I was won over by the figure flattery of the darks, nudes, and whites. It definitely helped that a few ladies adornments made me say "Yes!," such as Anna Kendrick's matchy matchy manicure & clutch as well as Olivia Wilde's arm party. Scroll down to see my top two and the rest of my favorites.

Images via People, FabSugar, and Huffington Post

Street Style Trend: Light Pink

Despite it being the dead of winter, there is a light at the end of the tunnel…and I'm not 

talking about the fact that there are 38 days left until spring. My light is in the form of pastels 

of all shades showing up on street style shots and fashion bloggers posts during these cold months.

The fun about seeing my favorite of the pastels - light pink - is that it's being used to 

add femininity to menswear shapes and textures, like leather, boxy sweaters, and 

wool overcoats. Similarly, if it is showcased in a pencil skirt, lace dress, or silk blouse, it's being 

paired with motorcycle jackets, combat boots, army green, distressed denim, 

or a puffer vest. Top it all off by adding studs and chains, not pearls, and a red lip.

All images via Pinterest

Crush of the Month: Collage Vintage

While I know how much I am inspired by the many, many fashion bloggers whose sites I visit every day, you might not. Therefore, I've decided to showcase one stylish fashionista per month to broaden your scope of inspiration and their influence, because they deserve it! My next installment of this series (see the others here) in giving credit where credit is due is about Sara of Collage Vintage.

This Madrid-based blogger was introduced to me by WhoWhatWear (thankyouverymuch) only a few months ago. While her "about" sections on social media are sparse, she clearly has a  knack for exemplifying the type of "street style" that is all the rage around the world: mix of high & low, clean lines, lots of black, and enviable accessories (including her mane with the on trend "flip" included). 

All photos from Collage Vintage

2014 Red Carpet ~ Screen Actors Guild

For round two of the this year's red carpet season, there were a lot of hits (even more than at the Golden Globes) and choosing my favorites was very difficult, but here it goes...

Claire Danes, Malin Akerman, Lena Headey

Amy Adams, Camila Alves, Guiliana Rancic

Emilia Clarke, Isla Fisher, Laura Carmichael

My favorites? 

Rose Leslie's dress and Natalie Dormer's ear cuff got my votes for "the best" of the night.