Excuse the Radio Silence...

Please excuse the radio silence...I'd much rather be blogging, but I need to take mini hiatus for a few days to work on a paper...I'll be back soon!

Orange You Glad

My post title is a bit lame, but I wanted to take advantage of the fact that I'm wearing orange (again) in my photos. My mind goes a bit blank when trying to think up post titles occasionally. My orange shirt matching my mood today which is bright and happy.
I'm going to keep it short and sweet today, happy (almost) Friday!

Shirt: Express
Skirt: Thrifted
Shoes: Target
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Earrings: Eastern Market vendor

Faux Corporate Look

The weather is gradually cooling here in D.C. and for the past few morning's, wearing a blazer or a jacket en route to work until the temperature rises a little has been a necessity. As such, I decided to go for this faux-corporate look. I love the lady-like cut of this blazer and decided to wear it because I was going for a more professional look. I don't have the type of job where a blazer is a daily requirement, which is probably why I still enjoy wearing them occasionally. I'm loving my new Tucker for Target top (I love wearing polka dots!), I look forward to wearing more casually next time with some jeans.

Blazer: Tulle
Top: Tucker for Target
Skirt: H&M
Shoes: Zappos
Earrings: Spotted Moth
Headband: Mod Cloth

Song Currently on Repeat: 'Sex Karma' by Of Montreal featuring Solange

Currently Loving...

1.) L.A.M.B. RTW Spring 2011 Collection

2.) Shea Moisture Shea Butter

3.) Rachel Stewart Jewelry

4.) Airtight's Revenge album, Bilal

I'll have some outfit photos for you tomorrow, but for now, here are a few things that I'm currently loving...

1. L.A.M.B. Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear Collection. I'm still wading through photos of New York Fashion Week coverage on Style.com, but so far, I really loving L.A.M.B's African print-inspired collection.
   
2. Shea Moisture Shea Butter. I love all lotions and potions but shea butter is by far the best skin moisturizer I've been able to find. I use it year-round, but it really comes in handy during the chilly winter months to keep dry skin at bay. The Shea Moisture brand I've been using lately is organic and does not use animal testing and many of the ingredients are fairly traded.
   
3. Rachel Stewart Jewelry. I discovered Rachel Stewart jewelry first on Fly, a regular read. I'm loving this distinctive jewelry that I would definitely invest in. I'm trying to make an effort to support artists in my jewelry purchases these days so I'll build up my collection of quality pieces that I'll have for years to come.
   
4. Album: Airtight's Revenge, by Bilal. I've been listening to Bilal since his first album came out while I was in high school. He also happens to be from my hometown, Philly. I've got to support hometown artists!
   

What products, music, style are you currently loving these days?

World Traveler Necessities: Weekend Bag

1. LeSportsac Patent Sydney Overnight Bag
2. Olive N Figs Brown Rexine Weekender/Duffle with leather trims and handles
3. J.W. Hulme Co.Hemingshore Traditional Carry On Weekender
4. Sonia Kashuk KL Duffle Bag Weekend Bag
5. Diane Von Furstenberg Betty 20" Wheeled City Bag
6. Zambos & Siega Mansfield Bag

I didn't do much traveling this summer, but I see a lot of long weekend trips to make up for that in my future, so I'll need a 'weekend bag' for the short travel jaunts I visualize myself taking in 2011. Short trips are going to be the only way my wallet and schedule will allow for mutiple travel destinations throughout the year.

These weekend bag options are more than aspirational (well some of them still are, when I actually purchase a bag, it will be $100 or under). I am still working on my efficient packing skills, I tend to carry everything with me except my kitchen sink when I travel somewhere for more than a day, but having the proper sized bag should help.

In 2011, I hope to make at least one trip to the west coast (California dreamin'), one brief international trip and I've never been to Chicago, so I think that really must be remedied as well.

Where are you dreaming of traveling in the future?

Random Wednesday

I have a few random thoughts for this late summer Wednesday:

• I don't have much photographic evidence (shame on me), but I attended the Chictopia 10 Media Tech Summit on Sunday in New York City. I thought is was a very nice event and I enjoyed meeting some talented, stylish bloggers and hearing some very insightful panel discussions on trendsetters, visibility in the online world, the effect of technology on the fashion industry and its debatable inclusiveness and a designer showcase of some talented up-and-coming designers . The advice to 'stay true to yourself' was reiterated through out the day.
• I need to start picking out my outfits the night before like I did during the 30 for 30 challenge. I still spend entirely too much time staring at my closet trying to figure out what to wear or to realize at the last minute that whatever I want to wear is in the laundry.
• I made cupcakes last night from a recipe in this book that I got from the library. They turned out better than my first attempt. I like this book so much that I think I'll buy it.
• The season premiere of Gossip Girl (yes, I watch that show) made me want to hop on a plane and go to Paris immediately.
• I saw Janelle Monae perform live earlier this week and she sounds great live! I forgot how much I love going to concerts. Now I have to figure out how to do my hair in a pompadour like hers...
• I'm so ready for the weekend to arrive!
• That's it for the random-ness, Happy Thursday!

Shirt: H&M

Skirt: Nordstrom BP Junior's

Shoes: Target

Belt: Nordstrom BP Junior's

DC's Fashion Night Out-fit

On Friday I made a brief visit to Georgetown DC's Fashion Night Out. I didn't stay all that long, mainly because I'm pooling my money toward savings these days (and not shopping) and I had a midterm on Saturday I wasn't finish preparing for. DC isn't usually though of as a fashionable city, so I was happy to see that there was an event like this in the city. I kept my outfit simple and wore jeans. I really do wear jeans more than it would appear that I do on this blog, I just don't always manage to get picture evidence when I do wear them.

I didn't actually buy anything at DC Fashion Night Out, but I came pretty close to purchasing a dress in the Bestsey Johnson store. I'll spare you the blurry iPhone photos of myself trying on the dress; just take my word for it, that it was awesome. I have to go to a formal event in the fall and I tried on a gold strapless dress that fit like a dream and wouldn't need any alteration which is rare for me because I am a shortie. I put it on hold for 24 hours and managed to talk myself out of purchasing it because it would have put me over my shopping budget for the month. But I'm feeling a little regretful about it. Have you ever felt regretful about not purchasing an item? I'm very familiar with that feeling, not sure if it's a Pisces thing or just a Shen Dove thing. Oh well...if it was meant to be, I'll see the dress again, or something better.

Blazer: Gap
Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Sequined Tank: Charlotte Russe
Bracelet: gifted from Nigeria
Earrings: H&M
Shoes: Nine West via Zappos

A Look Back: Shen Dove a Year Ago

My outfits for the last few days haven't really been very photograph-worthy, so instead of posting them, I looked in my photos to see what I wore a year ago. At this point last year, I hadn't yet started this blog, but was posting my outfit photos on Flickr and Weardrobe. I've added a few items to my closet since last year, but my style hasn't really changed much in the last year, or the last few years for that matter. All of the items I'm wearing in the picture above are still in rotation in my wardrobe. Now that I think about it, I think I'm due for a 'style shift', get out of my 'style comfort zone' a little. I'll have to ponder on that.

Well, that's all for now! I really must get back to studying for an upcoming mid-term...

Sweater: Old Navy
Shirt: The Loft
Skirt: H&M
Shoes: Payless
Belt: H&M

Song currently on repeat: "Power" by Kanye West

Georgetown DC's Fashion Night Out - September 10th

In an effort to meet my personal goal of attending more fashion-related events in my (current) city and to network more in general, I've decided that I will stop by Georgetown DC's Fashion Night Out on September 10th. I'm so happy there is a local option since it's not really convenient for me to drop everything and head up to New York City for their Fashion Night Out events. We'll see how much shopping I can actually do at Fashion Night Out because I am a girl on a budget, but regardless of that, it seems like it will be fun. If you are in the DC area and plan to attend, let me know!

The Color Purple

This is one of my favorite dresses, but because it is vintage and a little fragile, I had to retire it from regular wear. I haven't worn this dress all summer, so I decided to wear it today since the season is winding down. Maybe when I really learn how to sew, I can make a copy of this dress, I really like the classic fit of it. The length and high neckline make it perfect for work. I also forgot how much I loved wearing the color purple.

I'm so excited the weekend is almost here! Happy (Almost) Friday!

Dress: Vintage

Belt: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: random shoe store in Philly

Necklace: Eastern Market vendor

Earrings: Eastern Market vendor

Currently listening to: Nothing... I could really use some music recommendations right now!