Two Ways: Watercolor Pencil Skirt

Skirt: Factory Printed Pencil Skirt (J.Crew, $75)*

From Left, Sunglasses: Vince Camuto CatEye Glasses ($70) Earrings: Lydell Turquoise Earrings ($20) Bag: Trump Top Handle Shopper ($150) Blouse: Freesia Tie Neck Blouse ($81) Shoes: Sydney Patent Sandals ($228)

From Right, Sunglasses: Cole Haan Aviators ($98) Necklace: Kenenth Jay Lane Statement Necklace ($102) Bag: Andrea Crossbody ($238) T-Shirt: Splendid Tee ($46) Shoe: Signature Carolina Flat ($185)

Polyvore Set Here.

For Casual Monday.  There is a lot of color in this skirt, so the first reaction for most women will be to tone it down.  But you don't have to.  You can wear a bright blouse in pink or orange.  You could also go for an olive green blouse if you want some color but not the whole Crayola box.

A tie neck blouse and a patterned skirt is one of my wardrobe staples.  It's easy.  Can be worn with a jacket or without.  Transitions to dinner out easily.  And no thinking is required to put it together.  As long as the pieces fit, it always looks good.

The accessories are simple.  I like the cloudy, aqua earrings.  They coordinate but don't match, which is becoming a signature slogan for this blog.  I hate when things are too matchy-matchy.  I love this bag, the shape is really interesting and the size is neither too big or too small.

It's a tie neck, so I'd wear my hair up in a loose, wavy chignon.  I'd do a light pink blush andlots of eyeliner.  If you like lippies, feel free to coordinate your lip color with the blouse.  This shade looks like NARS Schiap to me. 

For Casual Friday.  It is my belief that you can wear a clean, crisp white t-shirt to work.  However, too many young women are buying the cheap, practically see through tissue tees and strutting around in those, and that's wrong.  A t-shirt for work must fit well, be made of a heavy gauge cotton and be painfully opaque.  Not all t-shirts are created equal.

When I wear a tee to work, I always wear a statement necklace with it to dress it up a bit.  I debated doing an aqua or an orange necklace hee, but I decided to go with a chunky gold necklace.  It's more versatile.

Add a pair of aviator sunglasses, a bright bag and a pair of cute gold flats and you're set.  I especially love these flats because they are neither too dressy nor too casual.

If you're going to wear a tee to work, everything else has to be on point including the hair and makeup. For the hair, I'd wear it in a low bun. For the makeup, a bright pink pedicure (the shoes are open toe after all) and contour eye-makeup (two steps below smoky) in taupe will bring it up a notch.

Discuss: Birthday Expectations

image found on SweetapolitThere are two kinds of people in this world: People who are enamored with their birthdays and people who don't think that birthdays are such a big deal.

My brother is the former.  I am the latter.

Growing up, The Boy didn't have a birth "day," he had a birth "week."  Typically, this week included a family party, a large gathering of friends (at a bowling alley or a pool), a school party and then a smaller slumber party comprised of only a select group of friends.  And if you dared refuse to acquiesce to any of his requests you would be met with an emphatic, "But it's MY BIRTHDAY!"  And so it was.

My birthdays, on the other hand, were usually spent at home with my family and one or two friends eating Chinese food and chocolate birthday cake with vanilla icing.  My Nana and Papa would come to visit, and the highlight of the day was wearing the new "birthday" dress that they brought me. 

The disparate nature of these celebrations wasn't personal.  My parents certainly didn't love The Boy more than they loved me. (At least, I don't think they did.) My low-key birthday celebration was usually due to logistical concerns more than anything else.

You see, the 29th of May either falls during or immediately after Memorial Day weekend, so no one is ever around.  They're camping, they're at the beach, they have family in town, etc.  So planning a party for the day of my birthday is impossible, and coordinating everyone's schedules for something in the weeks after is like planning the invasion of Normandy. 

Thanks to that fluke of the calendar, I never really had big birthday celebrations growing up and I still don't have them now.  I tried a few times, but planning your own birthday party really stinks.  This is especially true if your birthday falls on a holiday weekend.  So I just got to a place where I rather enjoy having a small celebration or none at all.

True to form, I don't have any plans for my 30th birthday.  I might get a drink with friends or dinner with whoever is around.  But when people ask questions like: Do you have something special planned?  Or what are you doing for your birthday?  The implication is that doing nothing, and not living up to the socially accepted birthday expectations, is not okay.

The news that I'm not planning something has been met with surprise, disgust, ambivalence, frustration, mocking and even a few whiny complaints.  It's deeply frustrating.  And, in a way, it's hurtful.

Some people are happy to mock me for not having a party, "Of course, you're not having one. You're not fun." That really helps.  But it was just a joke, right?

Several folks are happy to remind me how special birthdays are and how I NEED to have a party, right before they tell me that they're busy/out of town for most of next month, but if I could find a date that worked for them, they'd be happy to attend. But don't suggest that you might do something on a day when that person cannot attend, because then they'll feel left out and send you an e-mail telling you so (happened this morning).

I think what it boils down to is this: We should be able to spend our birthdays however we choose, and I am not a birthday party person.  That doesn't mean I need your pity or concern.  It doesn't mean that you need to express your disappointment that I'm not planning something.  And it doesn't mean that I am some how emotionally stunted or malformed.  Because it's my party, and I'll spend it drinking $200 champagne and eating Georgetown Cupcakes all by myself if I want to.

So ladies and gentlemen, are you on Team Belle or Team Boy when it comes to birthdays?  Do you want the big party or something low key?  And do you judge people who either a) don't celebrate their birthday or b) celebrate their birthday too much?

10th Commandment: May 25

 

Factory Printed Pencil Skirt (J.Crew, $75)*

*Because this skirt is J.CREW Factory, it can only be purchased online during the weekend.

The soft brushstroke print on this skirt is fantastic.  It's a little bold, but I think the bright color palette makes it a fresh choice for summer.  Check back at 1:00PM for Two Ways to wear this skirt.

floral skirt

Two Ways: Dotted Sleeveless Dress

 

Dress: Mango Polka Dot Dress ($40)

From Left, Earrings: Monroe Feather Earrings ($175) Belt: Old Navy Leather Belt ($13) Bag: Little Edie Bag ($168) Cardigan: J.Crew Cashmere Cardi ($178) Shoe: Aldo Parm Flats ($80)

From Right, Sunglasses: Oversized Sunglasses ($35) Bag: Linen and Leather Bag ($198) Earrings: Gorjana Bloom Earrings ($35) Belt: Asos Metal Keeper Belt ($11) Shoe: Seychelles Stick to Your Guns Flat ($80)

Polyvore Set Here.

For Casual Monday.   I've said it before, and I'll say it again, navy is to summer what black is to winter.  Here, I paired my go-to neutral with this citrus-hued cardigan for a preppy but punchy combination. 

Usually, I like to choose a belt in a contrasting color.  But with British tan shoes and a British tan purse, a British tan belt just felt like overkill.  So I added a navy belt in a cool shape to coordinate with the dress.

I always like to wear yellow gold accessories with yellow attire.  I think it enhances the richness of the metal.  I also made sure to choose a bag (Yes, the Edie, again.) with yellow hardware to match.

For the hair, I would wear it down and loosely waved.  For the makeup, a sheer red gloss and a neutral eye palette with defined brows will do the trick. 

For the Market.  How awesome is this Ann Taylor bag?  I love the pop of bright pink.  It would make a superb choice for the beach or the farmer's market, if you are so inclined.

To carry the fuchsia into the outfit, I chose a patent leather belt from Asos.  If you ever need an inexpensive accessory to boost an outfit, Asos is the place to go.  They have the best clutches, belts and trendy accessories for a lady on a budget.

These shoes from Seychelles are very comfortable.  I bought a pair on Gilt Groupe last summer and had to replace them because I wore them so frequently.  A word of caution though, on me they ran a bit large.

For the hair, I would want to keep it off my neck in the summer heat, so a loose updo or a braid.  For the makeup, a light pink gloss, a pop of pink blush and a hint of bronzer is all you need.

Faux Pas: Something Borrowed, Something Shearling

The emails started arriving last week.  Their subject lines said it all:

"This has to be a joke."

"OMG! You are going to D.I.E!"

"You are NOT going to believe this."

"Brace yourself before reading."

"Holy F**k."

The Wedding Uggs had officially arrived.

 When it comes to weddings, people tend to go a little crazy.  A cake made with $33 worth of ingredients can cost upwards of $1,000.  Bridesmaids dresses that can only be worn once cost more than business suits that can be worn for years.  And women who have never spent more than $100 on a pair of shoes in their lives rush to buy Jimmy Choos and Manolos and Louboutins for their Big Day.

No wonder the evil-doers at Ugg Australia want to jump, shearling-clod feet first, into the wedding business.

After all, why should any occasion be considered too sacred for fuzzy flip-flops?

Being from a small country town out West, I've known women who wore Uggs to their wedding ceremony and/or reception.  Of course, I once knew a bride who wore platform, Lucite "stripper" heels, complete with flashing rainbow lights, but that doesn't make it right. 

I could wax nostalgic about the evils of Uggs and the belief that avoiding momentary discomfort is far more important than being appropriately attired on your wedding day, but I won't.  Instead, I will simply share a few of the one liners that popped into my head as I was preparing to write this post.  Because if we couldn't laugh about it, we would surely cry.

"Your wedding day, now with a side of foot fungus."

"Something old, something new, something tacky, something blue."

"I do! by Ugg: Everyone will be so distracted by your shoes, no one will even notice that your pregnant!"

"Today, wedding shoes by Ugg.  Tomorrow, wedding gowns made by Forever Lazy."

"The Bailey boot by I Do! Because nothing says classy like a giant plastic diamond."

"Because no Big Fat Gypsy Wedding would be complete without them."

"Wedding Uggs: Buy some for your bridesmaids, and guarantee that they won't look better than you."

"Because your reception venue has a strict, 'No shirt. No shoes. No service.' policy."

That's all I've got ladies, make sure to tip your waitresses.  And if you have a comment on this new low for the American wedding industry, please leave it in the comments.