Bcbg darron pump

This outfit is fun and flowy - a different silhouette than I normally go for.  But it seems like a more polished version of flowy rather than bohemian, so it works for me.  I'm also wanting to wear more fall styles because all of the stores and catalogs are filled with fall clothes.  But it is definitely still summer weather here.  So this outfit works well. 

I wore my BCBG Darron rockstud-style shoes again, and I love them.  They are not my most comfortable heels, but I can wear them for a full day of work including dropping off and picking up the kids.  I can even wear them for teaching a 3 hour class.  So they are certainly not bad at all. 

When they first appeared at DSW 6-9 months ago they sold out almost immediately.  I had to stalk the website waiting for a return of my size.  But apparently they were so popular that BCBG decided to make them on an ongoing basis, and expand the selection of colors and patterns.  At less than $70 these have been more than worth it.

And, for L who is thinking about buying herself a pair :), here are a few of the outfits I've worn with these shoes over the last half year:

I tend to wear them with long wide-leg pants to the office because I felt uncomfortable showing my heels in class or at meetings.  But on Sabbatical, I'm fine with it, so I went a little bolder today. :)  And on off-hours...  These shoes look great with a dress or with jeans!  SO, that's a little overview of the BCBG Darron rockstud-style pump.  :)

(Today's outfit: Top and necklace: White house black market, Pants and sweater: Express, Shoes: BCBG Darron pump from DSW)

Comfy casual

It was a flats kind of a day.  I honestly only planned to wear the cardigan in my overly air conditioned office, but wore it a bit more than expected.  It was comfortable, but I'm not sure how I feel about the look (and I ended up playing around with alternative buttoning all day long).  Please share any cardigan tips!  :)

But I got compliments on my necklace from 3 key people - my 4 year old, my 2 year old, and the most stylish woman in my group at work (she's a little older but always looks great, and wears high-quality stuff).

(Dress and shoes: macys, cardigan and necklace: jcrew factory)

Matchy matchy - coordinating dress and shoes

When it comes to my work wardrobe I am a huge fan of coordinating tops or dresses with shoes.  When it comes to casual, I almost never do it.  And I have no idea why!  But here's one example for work.  

I've also decided that blazers are a good item to splurge on - I wear this one often and with a lot of different types of items under, but it always makes a big difference to the outfits.

(Blazer: Zac Posen from Saks off 5th.  Dress: felicity and coco from nordstroms - this dress comes in pretty much every color and in petite sizes as well.  Shoes: me too from macys.)

Back to the office

This week marks the official ramp-up to the start of the school year.  All of a sudden there are meetings, lunches, presentations, etc., to go to.  But it still feels like summer!  It is hot and humid, sunny, and the days are long-ish.  This is a good transition outfit - a little summery, but still professional.

(Top: INC from Macy's, but from many years ago.  Pants and blazer: White house black market.  Shoes: Franco Sarto from DSW.)

I'm back! :)

And what better way to resume than with a date night outfit?

I bought this dress over a year ago but hadn't managed to wear it.  I was always debating whether to have the halter shortened to raise the neckline.  But with my new smaller cup size, this neckline is actually perfect!  At least in my opinion.

And check out my back muscles!  Oh yeah.  (Lol - yes I'm totally laughing at myself right now.)

I think this dress is a perfect example of Herve Leger at it's best.  Individual bands of fabric are sewn together into this gorgeous pattern, and in such a way that they make even the most boyish figure look curvy and feminine.  The fabric and craftsmanship just don't come close in cheaper bandage dresses.  I still wouldn't pay full price for it, but I didn't have to!

I paired it with booties to avoid looking overdressed and give it a little edge, and my silver Versace Couture purse which is perfectly on trend again, about 10 years after we bought it. Gotta love how styles come back in.

(Dress: Herve Leger from lollipuff.com, purse: Versace Couture from the Versace store in Florence, shoes: White House Black Market.)