what's black & white and red all over?

These silk pants are a great alternative for anyone who has thought about harem pants but doesn't want to actually commit to them. Totally chic, and they don't give you that dreaded diaper-butt associated with harem pants. Success!

The top is actually a full length blouse and looks cute as is, but I tucked the bottom into my strapless bra because I'm like, so edgy.

These strappy sandals are beautiful and worked well for what I got them for (to match a midnight blue bridesmaid dress) but generally I would advise staying away from anything beaded; it's just too delicate. The beads were falling off of these after one night out in Chicago; I would expect way more from designer shoes.

Obviously a black clutch would work well with this but would be understated; I wanted something that really added some pop, hence the overly tacky Vegas purse.

Silk top: $28, Forever 21
Pants: $68, Hinge, Nordstrom (these are now at The Rack)
Heels: $100 (215), Badgley Mishka, Nordstrom Rack
Purse: $1, Goodwill

the russian

Unfortunately when you start a new job and move to a new place, there isn't a ton of time to do much else besides eat grilled cheese sandwiches on the go.

Or at least that's what I've found personally; maybe others are better at multitasking.

(Okay- the other part of that excuse is that I still don't know my roomates well enough to be like, hi, I know I just met you through craigslist, but please take a billion photos of me so I can hopefully get ONE with my eyes open.)

However. What I have found is that I can purchase briefs for boys, and they will email me photos of themselves in said briefs on mountain tops:



Briefs: $28, Calvin Klein, Nordstrom

outfit no. 17

Top: $38 (98) Free People, Nordstrom Rack
Trousers: $58 (108), Bebe
Pumps: $48 (98), BCBG, Nordstrom Rack

These tweed trousers are still on sale at Bebe- they have leather trim around the waist which I think is really tacky, but I just wear shirts that go past it.

outfit no. 16

Flower Dress: $29 (49), by & from Free People
Lace Top: $48 (98), same
Flannel: Thrifted
Darth Vadar Costume: Apparently "very, very expensive"

outfit no. 15

The great thing about J. Crew is that you can buy any one thing there, and it will most likely complement something else that you bought there months ago; everything there just goes together.




I attempted to create the illusion of just one top by tucking in the corners of my cardigan underneath the ruffles of the blouse. (Someone actually asked if it was a necklace.) This outfit would be really easy to recreate just because J. Crew consistently offers cardigans and ruffled blouses. (I bought the cardigan last September and the blouse in December; I bought the (super soft) skirt this past weekend).

The skirt can also be dressed down with an embellished t-shirt and skinny belt; more casual but still chic. (I'm thinking specifically of my J Crew tee with a big satin flower on the neckline.)

I swoon over J. Crew's jewelery selection, but the prices are ridiculous. Target, Forever 21 and BP are great for finding similar styles. These are some J. Crew-esque things that I found at Forever 21 for under $20 (the rings are under $5):




I LOVE these linen pumps in general, but with this outfit especially because of the contrast; it breaks it up so it's not too "matchy-matchy." If I didn't wear them, I would opt for a patent nude pump.


Blouse: $48 (78)
Cardigan: $78 (98)
Skirt: $98
(all from J. Crew)
Pumps: $20, House of Dereon, Marshall's
Cocktail Ring: $4, Forever 21

this is what a graduate looks like!

UW Snuggie: $20, Bartell's

outfit no. 14

Tunic: $39, Isaac Mizrahi, Target