All About the Shoes

Dress: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Nine West; Sunnies: Target; Earrings and Bracelets: H&M; Necklace: Jess LJ

These are officially my favorite shoes of the moment.  After seeing them in a Nine West store, I knew I had to have them and ordered them online in my size.  They were definitely a splurge, but I think occasional splurges in the form of shoes are good. 

Stay cool!

Electric Blue

Dress: Forever 21; Shoes: Thrifted; Necklace: Urban Outfitters

I'll keep it short and sweet today, Happy Memorial Day!  

 

Summer Reading List

I know summer is not technically here yet in the U.S., but since it's Memorial Day weekend and that is the unofficial start of summer, I thought I'd post the summer edition of my seasonal reading lists.  

ReWork - This book was recommended to me a few months ago and I want to take the time to read it this summer. 

Normal Gets You Nowhere - I loved Kelly Cutrone's first book, so I definitely plan to read her second book.  I'm happy to get my dose of Kelly Cutrone through her books since her show Kell on Earth is not on right now.

The Four Pillars of Investing: Lessons for Building a Winning Portfolio - I find the idea of investing kind of intimidating, so it's time to start tackling the subject so I feel confident to do investing outside of my retirement accounts.  I love clothes and shoes and consider them to be investments to a certain degree, but I'd like to accumulate monetary assets as well : )

Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design - I love Danielle LaPorte's blog, and would love to participate in one of her workshops one day, so this is the perfect time to read her take on style.

Produced By Faith: Enjoy Real Success without Losing Your True Self - I love films and the production process of films fascinates me.  After recently learning about this book, I definitely want to read more about film producer, DeVon Franklin's inspiring story.

What's do you plan to read this summer?

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Shabby Apple dress giveaway is: Aubrey!  Congrats Aubrey!  I will be emailing you shortly so you can confirm details to receive your dress.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter : )

This giveaway was conducted through a random number generator (random.org).

Friend Friday: Hair Care

Friday's here! So this week's Friend Friday questions revolve around hair care. Hair styling is not my thing, but I do try to keep my hair healthy.  So here are my answers!

Buns and Updos are my go-to hair styles

How often do you get your hair cut? I should get get my hair trimmed every few weeks, but the reality is that I get a trim every few months.  I plan to be more consistent with trims in the future.

Do you go to the same stylist each time, try someone new, go to the cheap hair cutting chains or live it up in a salon?  I am currently in between stylists.  I haven't quite found a stylist that I like that fits within my price point.  It's been a bit of a challenge because I want a stylist that can deal with natural hair and that can give me nice styles (in my natural texture and blown out) without sacrificing the health of my hair.  I've been doing my own hair for the past several months, but when I have gotten straight hair styles, I've gone to my local Aveda school.  I've gotten twisted styles at an all natural hair salon close to where I live in DC.

Do you color your hair? How often? What’s your natural color? I've never had color in my hair, or any chemicals for that matter.  My natural hair color is very dark, nearly black.  I do try to do henna gloss treatments on my hair every few weeks, but that's mainly for it's conditioning properties rather than the reddish tint that some people get with regular henna treatments. I've purchased henna from this site in the past.

The one thing you always do to keep your hair looking great is: I am not really a "hair person", so I feel that I still have a lot to learn about making my hair "look great" but I do deep conditioning treatments every time I wash my hair and moisturize daily.  

Carol's Daughter, one of the brands I use

What hair trend do you love and wish you could rock? Sometimes, I'd like to get a crazy hair color like Rihanna and I'd love to try a big fro like Solange wears. 

Image via

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Ruffles and Dots

Top: Ann Taylor Loft; Skirt: Thrifted; Shoes: Target; Bag: Gift

I guess this is my week of rediscovering items in my closet.  This shirt was purchased post-college and is about three years old and this bag was a high school graduation gift.

I don't believe in owning clothing or accessories that you don't actually wear.
What's the point or fun of that right?

Anyone else happy that the weekend is almost here? Happy almost Friday!

What Would You Do With This Top?

I was given this (never worn) top deemed hopeless by its previous owner and challenged to refashion it into sometime more "wearable."  I really don't like to turn down a challenge : ) 

I had a few ideas on what could be done to it, but thought I'd ask you ladies what you would do with it.  Some of my ideas include: cutting off the sleeves and wearing it with black shorts, Using the top as material to decorate a plain clutch bag, making it a mini skirt....

So, what would you do with it? Please let me know in the comments!

Orange & Floral

Top: Express; Skirt: Old Navy; Shoes: Target; Clutch: ?; Sunnies: Target

I haven't shopped in Express lately, but when I purchased this shirt some time during my college years (around 2004 I think), Express's styling was geared toward "wear-to-work" items, so I purchased several and wore them to work and internships. Though I've weeded many of my button down Express shirts out my wardrobe over the past few years, I still revisit this orange version each year.  It's held up very well and rarely needs any ironing (which for that reason alone was worth the purchase). 

I obviously get enjoyment from buying clothing, but I also love putting on an item that I've had for a while, but is still relevant to my personal style.

Monday Blues

Blazer: H&M; Dress: Forever 21; Shoes: Target; Clutch: Ann Taylor Loft; Earrings: Forever 21; Necklace: Jess LC

Hope you've had an excellent weekend friends! I've got a slight case of the Mondays that I'm trying to power through.  It happens to the best of us right?  

On an more positive note, a dress with a blazer over top is one of my favorite and easiest outfit combos.  I never tire of it and wear it in some form year-round.

 

Here's to a positive, productive week (with less rain)!

Currently listening to: a mix that includes songs from the groups: The Foreign Exchange, Danger Mouse, Outkast and A Tribe Called Quest 

Currently Reading: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer

Whisper of Pink

Blazer: Top Shop; Skirt: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Zappos; Top: H&M

The leopard print heels strike again!  I love the way these shoes look, but they are not the most comfortable heels I own.  So let's pretend I didn't have to switch out these heels to flats by the end of the day when I wore this outfit last weekend... I don't believe in suffering for fashion, so any other heels I buy going forward will be purchased with comfort in mind.

Don't forget to enter my Shabby Apple dress giveaway!

Giveaway: Shabby Apple Dress! (Closed)

I've already made my love of wearing dresses known on this blog, so I was very excited when Shabby Apple contacted me and asked if I'd like to give away a dress to my readers!  Shabby Apple is an awesome online store that I've admired for a while that offers a variety of women's dresses, girls dresses, maternity dresses, jewelry, shoes, among other items.  Their vintage inspired dresses and skirts can take you on a variety of occasions this summer from a Roman Holiday inspired European vacation to a cook-out in your own back yard.

Here are just a few of the lovely dresses that Shabby Apple offers:

Green and White Sheep Meadow Dress, Red Rosso Dress, White Trade Winds Dress

To enter the giveaway, visit Shabby Apple's Facebook page, "Like" them and then leave a comment below on this post to win this tan and cream flower applique dress! Be sure to leave your blog link, contact email, or twitter handle in your comment so that I can get in touch with you.

Shabby Apple is also offering my readers a 10% discount with the code:  smallbudget10off for the next 30 days!

This giveaway will start today and ends May 24th 2011 at midnight. This giveaway is open to US readers (sorry Non-U.S. based friends). Good Luck!

Style Profile: Dash Dot Dotty

For this edition of Shen Style Profiles, Dotty of Dash Dot Dotty was kind enough to answer a few questions about her style.   Dotty combines both colorful and neutral color palette's very nicely in her outfits. Her unique photo angles and circular and dash photos are also so creative!  So now to the questions!

Shen Dove: What inspired you to start a blog?

Dotty: I had started reading other style blogs to get inspiration and eventually I wanted in on the fun! I had been taking outfit photos for a while as a personal project to dress better for work, so it made sense to start my own little blog to get feedback.

Shen Dove:  How would you describe your personal style? Since you are a recent graduate, have your studies influenced your style?

Dotty: I have a seriously hard time describing my style with adjectives, since it is still in process. Being in graduate school for the last two years I have been dressing more casually--more flats than heels, more jeans than skirts, more big scarves than crisp collars. My field of study is architecture, which is very much based on visual perceptions of drawings and buildings. Little bits of things I have learned about color and weight have found their way into my outfits. More directly, the layout and graphics of dash dot dotty are heavily influenced by my design aesthetic.

Shen Dove: How have the cities/burbs/towns you've lived in influenced your style?

Dotty: I attended grad school in a small, university-dominated, midwest city that is ridiculously casual. I can honestly say that I did not draw much inspiration from my uggs-and-leggings clad fellow students. And most architecture-related academics opt for black with a bit of dark gray for pizazz. But before grad school I lived in Las Vegas, during which time I developed a fondness for sequins. I’m not going to start wearing bedazzled sweatpants anytime soon, but I think my style falls somewhere in between the two cities.

Shen Dove: What items are you excited about wearing for the summer?

Dotty: Sandals! Sundresses! Big hats! White!

Shen Dove: You are very good at showing readers how you remix your clothing and accessory items. Do you have any clothing or accessories items that you plan to keep forever and why?

Dotty: I have a white wool lady day coat that I plan on keeping forever. It makes me feel like a princess, even when it is cold and snowy outside.

Shen Dove: Looking your best doesn't necessarily mean spending your entire paycheck, do you have any tips for shopping on a budget?

Dotty: I am a huge fan of thrift stores. Thrifting allows me to test out new colors and patterns without spending very much. I like the challenge of making an older piece look current or figuring out a way to incorporate a wackadoodle find into my closet.


Shen Dove: Do you have a piece of advice you'd like to convey to anyone interested in starting a blog that you wish someone had told you?

Dotty: My advice would be to go at your own pace. You don’t have to post everyday or follow a strict schedule. Blogs are personal, creative projects, so make it a blog that you would get excited about visiting.

Shen Dove:  Do you have "power color" which I define as a color you wear when you want to feel confident/powerful? If so, what is it?

Dotty: Turquoise! Even though I only own a few turquoise pieces, I really like how it combines with other colors (especially red and orange) and it can be cool and vibrant simultaneously.

Shen Dove: Thanks for answering my questions Dotty!

Be sure to check out Dotty's unique take on style on her blog!

Sunshine is Something to Smile About

Shirt: Tucker for Target; Skirt: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Zappos; Bag: Marshalls

Happy Monday folks! Despite the frequent rainy days this spring in DC, I still love this time of year because of the extended sunlight in the evenings.  Sunlight is always something to smile about in my opinion.  More sunlight translates into more enjoyable evenings and makes it more likely that I'll have time to fit in outdoor outfit shots on a given day. 

This outfit is not yellow, typically the color you associate with sunshine, but is still rather cheerful. 

Currently wishing for...summery shoes

Row 1: 1, 2, 3
Row 2: 1, 2, 3
Row 3: 1, 2, 3
Row 4: 1, 2, 3

Friend Friday: Outside Influences

This week's Friend Friday questions revolve around outside influences. As usual, Katy's questions are thought provoking.  As a blogger, it's a given that blogs inspire and influence me, but I have influences outside of blogs that I haven't talked about as much.  So here are my answers!

What magazine's do you subscribe to?  I am currently subscribed to Marie Claire, Lucky and Inc Magazine.  As much as I love magazines, I've come to the conclusion that 2-3 magazine subscriptions are enough reading material for a given month.  I do occasionally rotate my subscriptions, But I've consistently subscribed to Lucky for the past few years.  Inc is a newer addition to my subscriptions and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in business/entrepreneurship.

Do you watch fashion TV shows?  I watch movies more than TV for my fashion inspiration.  But I do on occasion watch fashion TV shows like Project Runway and the Rachel Zoe Project. I'll also throw in my guilty pleasure since it is a TV show but not specifically a fashion TV show though clothing is prominently featured...Gossip Girl.

Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion inspiration? I occasionally read Refinery 29, Who What Wear and the Style section of the New York Times...that's about it.


Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or a brand. What ads do you like and why?  I enjoy look books from stores I shop frequent (or aspire to shop at in the future).  To be honest, I pay more attention to television and print ads that have nothing to do with fashion that I find humorous.

Do you own any fashion books?  I've read quite a few fashion books over the past year or so. A few of them have turned up on my seasonal book lists.  But I'm pretty choosy these days about the books I actually purchase. I only have one book that would be considered a "fashion book" which is a coffee table book called Fashion: A History from 18th to 20th Century by Taschen.

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Simplify with Black and White

Body suit: American Apparel; Skirt: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Target; Purse: Gift; Earrigs: Amani Ju DC

I know bright colors are the "hot trend" for spring and summer, but sometimes it feels good to go back to basic black and white.

On another note, thanks for the awesome comments on yesterday's Everybody, Everywhere post!

Everbody, Everywhere: Florals

Dress: Forever 21; Clutch: purchased in San Francisco; Shoes: Nine West

I thought this month's Everybody, Everywhere's choice of florals was quite appropriate. Nothing reminds me of spring time more than putting on a outfit that has some sort of floral print in it.  

I guess I'm on a remixing kick because I'm wearing this dress as it was originally intended unlike the first time.

Shirt + Dress = Outfit!

Shirt: Charlotte Russe; Dress: Modcloth; Clutch: The Loft; Sandals (not seen): Nine West; Sunnies: Target

Happy Monday!  I hope all of the mothers out there had a lovely Mother's Day weekend!  This dress made a recent appearance and I felt inspired to wear it again over the weekend.  My love for this dress has definitely not lessened since I last wore it. This time around, I wore it with a shirt over it instead of a jacket for a more casual look.  I already have an idea for how to wear it next time around, so I hope you don't get tired of it!

 

Wearing this shirt tied at the waist is another example of how bloggers have inspired me to wear my clothing in ways that are new (to me).  I think I'm channeling Blue Collar Catwalk with this look. 

Here's to a positive, productive week!

Friend Friday: Shoes

Happy Friday friends! This week's friend friday questions revolve around a topic I definitely have an affinity for: shoes!  So here are my answers to the questions:

What’s your go-to pair of shoes? My go-to pair of shoes are a “nude” faux snake print pair of heels I purchased from Target. They go with a variety of things and I wear them year-round.  Here are a few outfits I've worn in the past with these shoes.

Worn April 11, 2011, Worn August 14, 2010, Worn April 21, 2011

What goes into your shoe buying decisions? My first consideration is to make the determination that the shoe(s) can fit into my budget. The second consideration is size. I wear a 5 ½ size shoe, so I sometimes have a hard time finding my size in stores. This is the main reason why I do the majority of my shoe shopping online these days.


The majority of the shoes in your closet are what color? As much as I try to wear color in my clothing, the majority of my shoes are black.  But I will say that my warm weather shoes are a little more varied in color than my cold weather shoes/boots.


When it comes to designer shoes, what are your favorite brands and why? Dries Van Noten, Valentino, Prada, Miu Miu are a few of my favorite designer brands.  I don't actually purchase designers shoes, but I love the style, craftsmanship and unique details of shoes from these designer brands. This lady has a fantastic shoe collection that includes many of my favorite designers.

If price wasn’t an issue, you’d own which shoe? I plan to do a complete summer shoe wish list (at a price point I can actually afford) soon, but if I could purchase one pair right now regardless of price, it would be these.

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to discuss/answer questions on a given topic each week. Visit Katy of Modly Chic if you are interested in participating.

Dash of Yellow

Shirt: Loft; Jeans: Gap; Bag: thrifted; Bracelets: H&M

 I love detail oriented outfits with layers and lots of accessories, but some days an uncomplicated outfit with a punch of color is called for.  I rarely carry this bag, but it is definitely a favorite.  I'm trying to do better at including the bags I carry in my outfit shots.

Minty

Shirt: Gap; Skirt: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Zappos; Necklace: Forever 21;  

Bracelet: Gift: Clutch: purchased in the Bahamas

I saw this skirt on Urban's website when it was full price but it was a little steep for my comfort. So seeing the skirt in my local Urban Outfitters on my last trip into the store on sale was a pleasant surprise. I really like this minty shade of green, it reminds me of mint chocolate chip ice cream (without the chips obviously).

 Here's to a positive, productive week! 

Currently reading: What French Women Know by Debra Ollivier
Currently listening to: random mix of 90s Hip-Hop