easy fall look

ditch your hoodie sweatshirt for a blazer.

as comfortable as it is there is a blazer

counterpart out there that is just as comfy and warm.

click here for stores

that $18 blazer (from kmart!) is all over the internet.

not only because it's only $18 but it's a knit 

blazer, which means it's going to be just 

as comfy as a hoodie

but you're going to look so much more

put together

and on trend.

brands and prices here

this is just as easy as putting on yoga pants a t-shit and hoodie.

i'm not telling you,

i'm showing you.

and

this is your mantra for back to school.

this is just as easy as putting on yoga pants, a t-shirt and hoodie.

will i look put together every school day to drop my daughter off?

no.

will i try?

yes.

will there be days when we sleep in 

my daughter gets a pop tart for breakfast 

and we barely miss the bell?

yes...and I probably wont even have time for a bra on those days.

but,

the days that i wake up on time:

i will wash my face

put a bra on

put on pants

a shirt

and a cute blazer/jacket

and pull on my boots

straighten my bangs

and brush my teeth

before i bring my daughter to school.

i challenge you to do the same.

and if you don't have kids or kids in school,

i challenge you to do this before you run your errands.

before you go to school.(which more than likely you're already doing)

before you join the world, take time for yourself.

some more ideas for the road:

brands and prices here

emmy night

did you watch the emmy's?

i'm totally addicted to awards shows.

i'm the only one i know.

i dvr e! red carpet (it's the best one)

and the actual show...i could never watch an entire show

fast forwarding is a must.

i was hoping that claire danes would win for her role

as temple grandin and she did!!

have you seen it?

i think tonight's the last night it's on demand if you have

hbo and comcast.

amazing story, amazing movie.

temple grandin also one best movie/miniseries

supporting actress, supporting actor and director.

it was a great night and i was thrilled to see 

the the temple grandin was there with her mother.

so, onto the fashion, right?

i loooooved that tina's dress was completely modest,

once again!

she looked great too, i like the graphic beading...and i love oscar de la renta too.

lea michele also wore oscar in that gorgeous navy.

i loved kyra's dress...i wasn't totally in love with her hair...

i wish it was messy up so we could see the neckline of her dress better.

and i know january jones is getting a lot of flack for her dress

but i thought the color was phenomenal,

i that the structure was beautiful.

i didn't love her shoes...i think something lighter would have been

more special. i did like her weird messy, hair. 

i thought it was fun.

my other fave's:

i thought claire danes looked absolutely amazing and drop dead gorgeous!

i love the blonder hair but this dress...it was stunning.

i liked emma's dress, navy was the color!

and i looooved anna paquin's dress.

i called the mcqueen a mile away, she looked better on screen

than she does in this photo, she appeared talled and leaner on tv.

beautiful.

i love keri russell's pink dress, it was fun and girly and summery.

and it was still appropriate for the event.

and i know heidi is hot, we all do.

i love her, i think she's amazing.

but this dress that was maybe 24 inches in length was

crazy.

it was ridiculous. i get you have the body of a 20 year old, 

but turns out,

you're not 20, you're 37...age appropriate dressing is a must.

this dress should have been 6 inches longer.

what were your thoughts on the fashion?

i can't wait to watch joan rivers tonight.

well, mostly it's just entertaining other times it's just plain mean.

i always wonder what these "experts" think.

the other night my husband said, 

"why does joan rivers have the power 

to say who dresses well? look at her?!"

:)

project runway re-cap

who would have thought the team of overachievers would fail?

ehh, it's kind of expected, right?

all the big head designers on one team...

they were bound to over think it

instead of design, right?

it was sad that what's his name had to go...aj?

but honestly i think we all knew he wasn't going

to make it to the end anyway...i was pretty sure.

heck, even in his exit interview he said he didn't think he'd make it

i hate it when designers say that...then why did you come?

why are you here if you don't think you have a chance?

make room for people who want to be here.

whoa, i totally just had a little rant.

anyway.

the best thing about the losing team

was seeing gretchen go from

"i love it, i stand behind it"

to

"there were a lot of issues, i'm embarrassed."

talk about trying to save your own.

also, michael kors' comment about the vest!!!

sooo good.

"that vest looks like something off the golden girls."

and the winning teams looks that i liked:

how did you think the teams fared?

fantasy friday

did you watch project runway?

i must say if you weren't drooling for military styles 

for the fall, you definitely are now! 

well, i am.

and you should be.

my fantasy this friday is all about military for fall

look on the left,

top- stella mccartney $795

jacket- balmain, $6,285

pants- matthew williamson, $3,030

shoes- gianmarco lorenzi, $690

look on the right.

top- thakoon, $390

jacket- rag & bone, $475

pants- current/elliot, $250

shoes- gianvito rossi, $1,125

ever want to find a look for less? especially after gazing at fantasy friday?

leave me a comment, for a look you want to see for less...much less!

your q's answered

hello ladies.

a lovely reader wrote in and asked about

working the work wardrobe:

I'm a part-time working mom as a speech pathologist. I can't wear jeans at the elementary school I work at. I get sick of wearing the same "business slacks" etc. I have tan pants, but I always feel frumpy when I wear them. Do you have any combo ideas using black slacks, gray slacks, and tan pants? I sure hope so. Thank you!

well yes, 

yes i do.

and for you newer readers, i'll mention that i like to give

collages so you get your own ideas, 

and find your own style.

of course i hope you find something that you love

and i always leave a link so you can find

the brand names and prices.

shall we start?

yes, yes we shall.

brands and prices here

look for tops that have details:

ruffles, lace, scallops etc.

get tops that you really love, that show your personal style.

and don't forget about accessories,

belts (skinny and wide) 

brooches (i know it sounds old lady but, they are totally in)

scarves (well...you know what a scarf is)

and cardigans...a work looks best friend...

hey, a cardigan is anyone's best friend.

brand and prices here

you can have your cardigan be an accent to a shirt 

or

you can have it be the main star.

i love all the colors of these sweaters, they are screaming fall fun!!

(oh fall, why can't thou come quicker?)

never underestimate the power of the white button down.

it really is a classic that every woman should

have in their wardrobe.

look at all the possibilities:

brands and prices

any trend and jewelry can be added to this basic

making it up to date in the matter of minutes.

looking for unique and fun tops?

modcloth is wear i would shop

if i had a job,

and all though the mention or dresses...well...wasn't mentioned.

never through it out as an option

maybe a dress doesn't work for what you do, 

but i couldn't help but put up these dazzling work wear finds.

brands and prices

a lot of these dresses are in the same boat as the button down.

you can add anything to these blank canvas dresses

to have them reflect your style.

i hope this gives you (q writer and other readers)

some fresh ideas and ways to play up

your work pants.

and don't forget that you may need to update your pants to

more modern cuts, that can help make you feel better in your clothes.

experiment with tucking in too and adding a skinny belt...so cute.

good luck.

if you have a question or want to know how to wear something

write anytime to:

[email protected]

wednesday webs

more vintage options anyone?

sometimes we live in 

places where the vintage options are...

zero.

or you have to be super lucky and patient.

(my girls don't give me a chance to be patient in a vintage store)

so, here's another option for you ladies,

"when your body craves something different"

that's her tagline.

the prices range from regular to $$$

i guess it depends on how bad you want something you see, right?

as usual.

here are a few of my favorites from her shop.

cute, right?

it's much easier for me to browse at home to find something 

i like than in a store.

plus the website is very well organized.

there are categories for era's and styles.

making my life much easier.

if you have a itch for something different,

and there's no good vintage near you

or you have little kids that don't let

you take the time to go through vintage racks...

i suggest nelda's vintage clothing.

never hurts to try something new.

happy shopping.

pj re-cap

i just realized that it would make more sense if it was a

pjr re-cap...or pr re-cap.

huh.

on with the show.

did you watch?

did you love the philip treacy hats?

i thought it was a really fun challenge,

and i was surprised by how uncreative a lot of the designers were.

my favorite was michael drummond's the structure of the top

along with that amazing orange skirt,

it was beautiful, like walking art.

which i thought was kind of the point, right?

the other outfit that was a non-winner that i liked was mondo's.

he is definitely unique and he completely 

has his own point of view. 

and i love it, 

i really, really do.

his color choices have been amazing so far!

and now for the winner and the loser.

first, the winner...it was surprising.

i didn't get it, it wasn't my favorite.

and the loser...i totally pictured this amazing chiffon, flowy ivory gown...

and she came up with black and stuffed with hot pink?

bye-bye.

kristin kind of bugged me anyway...i think it was the last epi 

before this one and she didn't have a bra on...sick.

you're on tv, go ahead and strap it on.

and then there were the designers that 

i'm sure 

will be kicked off at any time.

one of which is peaches.

seriously, 

is she even in the same fabric store as everyone else?

it's like she can seek out the old fashion old lady fabrics.

her hat was amazing, she could have done a dramatic 

black and white gown with a pop of that electric green i love so much.

that's just my opinion though, 

what do you think of her looks and fabric choices?

and then april. oh, april.

how could she not see the giant depends she was making?

i just can't believe that she's so "into" her design that she

couldn't see the diaper.

i mean isn't the first thing tim says, "edit, look at it with an editing eye"

april deserved to be booted for these horrendous shorts.

no one but rhianna and gaga will ever wear these

what were your favorites?

and your least?

any highlights for you this episode?

it just keeps getting better and better.

fantasy friday

the fall season is almost upon us

and all i can think about is

all

the boots that i want.

since it is a fantasy...

these are all the boots i would get for this fall.

and yes,

there is a time and place for all of these boots.

i would wear them all.

i might even do a wardrobe change just to out on another pair.

or just sit around in my house 

on a rainy day 

in my muumuu

with these awesome boots on.

the grand total to live in my fantasy?

$4,211

 check out the brands and prices here

guest post over at Or So She says...

i did a fun post on fall trends and how to wear them,

check it out at Or So She Says...

(one of my absolute favorite blogs...they literally have anything and everything a mom needs to know)

my post is here.

and if you're visiting from Or So She Says...

welcome!

look around at some past posts and feel free to write in with any specific

questions you have (about fashion, your body type, how to wear,etc.)

or so she says...

fall trend: lace

a lace top seems kind of 80's/90's right?

photo source

how do you make it look more like this?

photo from 1912

well first of all, look around at pics in magazines and online

to see how this trend is done right now.

not 20 years ago.

(unless that's your style...then go for it).

here's a little slide show on lace for this fall, from marie claire click here

or 

see how celebs are doing lace here on glamour.

it's all about finding cut, fit and style you like:

brands and prices here

brands and prices here

so? 

will you wear lace this season?

all over or bits and pieces?

brands and prices here

annacalista- you won the followers giveaway, you have until august 19th at 10pm to contact me with your info or another follower will be chosen. [email protected]

and the winner is...

annacalista

if this is you email me at [email protected]

to claim your new earrings:

thank you, thank you, thank you,

to all of my followers

and all of the readers.

there will be another giveaway soon for all the fb fans...

so start spreading the word on facebook now!

50 followers

yay!

i will announce the winner of these cute beauties:

later today.

i'm going to take the names of all my wonderful followers

and have one of my lovely daughters

draw it out of a bowl and that will be one of you lucky followers.

cross your fingers.

also...this is just the start of the giveaways...

next up, facebook fans.

only 3 followers away from the 

followers only giveaway

one of my lovely followers will

be picked at random

to receive these fun earrings.

fantasy friday

seriously.

love

this

look.

i wish i had all these actual pieces.

the boots, shirt and purse.

i wish i had the actual of all of those.

hoops: halleh boyd, $1200

ring: ylang 23, $3365

top: see by chloe, $335

jeggings: current elliot, $389.40

purse: chloe, $1495

boots: frye, $448

total: $7232.40

i think if i saved all of my money i could buy these boots next fall...

50 followers = a giveaway

hello ladies.

i have something special to give you.

a pair of fake pearl earrings

to set your fall season off right with the 

ever present 50's trend.

as soon as i have 50 followers i will choose one

of my wonderful followers 

to receive these fun little earrings.

game on.

wednesday webs

sometimes i wonder how i'd

look in a great proenza schouler dress...

or tracy reese...

how about some badgley mischka jewels?

welcome to existance

rent the runway

it takes about 5 seconds to set up a 

free

account and you can start

perusing the choices.

you can rent dresses by the occassion,

anything from:

work event to girls night out.

you can also specify if you want sleeves

or a certain color.

or even a certain rental price.

all dresses come with a second size

(free!)

and a 4-day rental, plus it ships back

for free

and for $5 you can get insurance on the

dresses and jewelry just in case.

here are some choices:

tracy reese $50 rental

badgley mischka $35 rental!

matthew williamson $300 rental for a $2,450 dress!

 gryphon $50 rental.

dannijo $85 rental.

coralia leets $65 rental.

kenneth jay lane $25 rental.

pretty fun, right?! especially if you had a birthday coming up

reunion, any occasion really!

the only down side is that most of the clothes are meant for

very tiny people, in fact the scale

for the clothing only goes up to a size 12 but they

don't actually carry any size 12's right now.

:(

it's pretty fun and it would be just as fun to get

an amazing designer necklace.

i'm sure if they grow with popularity and more

women get interested they'll be forced to carry more sizes.

go sign up, it's free and really quick.

have fun making up events you could wear some of 

these amazing gowns to!

tommy hilfiger, ny fashion week, runway to real way.

one of the fall trends, 

fifties.

here's a look from tommy hilfiger for this fall

and i loooove it.

here's a great way to translate it.

click here for brands and prices

you could pull the skirt up and put the 

belt over the skirt

or where it just like the original.

i really love the last two taller boots.

so fun.

locks of love

i will post later today

right now

i'm off to bring my 6 year old daughter

to get her first real haircut

after watching the documentary

locks of love: the kindest cut

she's decided that she wants 

to donate her hair

to locks of love.

i am so proud of her

and i'm also really going to miss her beautiful

hair, 

but 

i'm also 

so grateful

that she's letting another person enjoy

the beauty of her hair.

i feel it in my fingers...

i have a feeling that neon green is going to be 

this falls 

must 

have 

color

would you wear it?

i would die for that j crew cardigan.

or the scarves, 

love the idea of just a little neon to 

amp up an outfit.

pj re-cap

better late than never, right?

i had a busy weekend that you will hear all

about later today.

so the designers had to make an outfit that

embodied the marie claire woman

(i just want to say that i've been reading

marie claire for years now

and i love it because i always

learn about real world issues and

about fashion...it's like

a smart fashion magazine and

since i don't really watch the news

it makes me feel like i'm still

informed about issues- the end of my plug.)

also, the winner

got their design out on a giant billboard

in time square!

so cool.

so here is the winner and the dress that i thought was

the most interesting...kimono sleeves 

seem to be everywhere lately.

i love the navy color of the jumpsuit...and did you see the final billboard?

first, that model was amazing that did the billboard ad

and 

second, there were like 4 pics of the design...i felt so happy for gretchen!

and of course there has to be a loser.

but 

twiiiiiiiiiist,

there were two losers.

i love it when pj keeps me on my toes.

and can you blame them?

regardless of being a marie claire woman or not

i'm pretty sure no woman would be

caught dead in these designs.

who were your favorites this week?

did you think someone else should have gone?

honestly, i'm glad bowler hat guy is gone...he was pretty odd.

fantasy friday

i felt like an absentee parent with no post yesterday,

sorry.

i was having fun with my family

(happy birthday dad)

so i have two things:

1. i'm shopping this weekend in portland (yay)

and i will be purchasing something super

cool and amazing to 

giveaway

to 

you

once i reach 50 followers...

sound good?

and

2. happy fantasy friday.

i went with hippie couture..it's my favorite genre.

i love this top, it reminds me of...

well, me.

top, one vintage: $1,405

jeans, 7 for all mankind: $315

shoes, stella mccartney: $660

bag, burberry: $7,000

earrings, aurelie bidermann: $1,295

total to be the hautest hippy: $10,675

have you seen this?

pic from emma watson fb page

do you love it?

i do.

i love you hermione, you're beautiful no matter

how you cut it.