Talk Nerdy To Me

Gold Hoops - Mom's Closet

Watch - Citizen Eco Drive

Book - An Autobiography of B.F. Skinner

Striped Button-Down Sweater- Tommy Hilfiger

Bow Ballet Flats - Anne Klein

This is one of my absolute favorite sweaters. It was an extremely brisk day in Southern California and this sweater was perfect. Tommy Hilfiger is one of my favorite designers and I got this sweater for an amazing price. It's so comfortable and a bit heavier than your average sweater. It's the perfect essential for a cold, windy day! I love this sweater because it matches so many different items in my closet. I love wearing it with black pants and high-heeled boots. To make the outfit more work appropriate, I added ballet flats which were just as cute and a bit more practical. 

I stumbled across the shoes at T.J. Maxx and fell in love with them. Ballet flats are my best friend since I work with kids all day and am constantly running after them or playing on the ground. Anne Klein makes extremely nice shoes and if you can find them at stores like T.J. Maxx or Marshalls, you are guaranteed to get a great price. 

I wore black pants with this outfit. I would also recommend wearing red pants to add a pop of color and to brighten what was a gloomy day. I love cozy days cuddling up by the fire with a book and coffee in hand. I frequent Coffee Bean often since I'm constantly on the go with my job and this day was perfect because I had extra time between clients to grab my book and read. 

On an additional note, I did get hit on while sipping my coffee and reading which was not a pleasant interruption to say the least. I only have a few minutes to myself during the work day so I really appreciate my quiet time. If you are wondering, I love reading books that are intellectually stimulating like this one. My line of work is directly a result of B.F. Skinner's radical behaviorism so I love comparing notes and learning about his experiments. I would highly recommend this read! 

As far as jewelry goes, I would stick with gold pieces when it comes to tan clothing. Silver would look a bit tacky with such rich hued articles of clothing. I chose to go with simple gold hoops and my watch which has become a staple item in my wardrobe. I am constantly checking the time at work and using it to record behavior data! 

Xoxo!

Kate

PS. I apologize profusely for my lack of posting. I've been extremely busy with work and graduate school plans! 

Let's Sail Away in Navy

“Think, Travel, Celebrate, Charm, Decorate, Dress, Live - colorfully” 

― Kate Spade, Becoming Myself: Reflections on Growing Up Female

Peter Pan Collar Cardigan - Target

Gold Watch - Citizen Eco Drive

Red Pants - Vigoss

Boat Shoes - Gold Angelfish Sperry's 

I just recently found this cardigan at Target and I am in love with it. Peter Pan collars are such a fun addition to any top and I loved the little gold studs on the collar. Most of my wardrobe consists of navy and red so I knew this cardigan would be a welcomed addition. I love the color navy because you can wear it with red, pink, white, or a light yellow. You want to find colors that bring out the rich hue of the blue. With that said, I would not advise wearing navy with black pants or jeans because the colors are too similar. This look is definitely more on the preppy side! As far as accessories go, Peter Pan collars speak for themselves. I would not wear a necklace with this outfit. I chose gold earrings to compliment the gold studs of the cardigan, my gold watch, and my sparkly gold Sperry's! 

I love my red pants. I own pants in literally every color and it's great because you can really change up a look simply by changing the color of your pants. I actually found these in the kids section for such a great price. While I realize that my kid's-sized find definitely isn't for everyone, always keep an eye out for possible fashion finds at great prices! If you can only afford to buy a few pairs of colored pants, I would definitely recommend finding a great pair of black pants, white pants, and red pants! 

The gold Sperry's are also one of my favorite pairs of shoes! They are comfy and cushioned so they are perfect for my job working with kids and running around all day. I love that they match most outfits as well! I also own a sparkly silver pair of Sperry's, but this outfit definitely called for the gold ones. :) Not to mention that my silver ones are entirely too small, but I still attempt to fit into them because I love them. :) 

As far as hair goes, I'm lucky I actually had a good curling day. When I curl my hair, I never know how exactly it's going to turn out. If you are wearing something as poised and elegant as this outfit, I would go with curls. I definitely felt refined and girly wearing this cardigan. I'm sorry that this post is a bit overdue, but I've been extremely busy with work and new clients! 

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and New Year's! I know I had a blast. I will post a New Year's outfit of the day very soon!

Xoxo! <3 Kate

Lace with Gold Accents

Lace Cream Top - Forever 21

Red Jeans - Vigoss

Floral Cowboy Boots - Boutique

Gold Earrings - Forever 21

On occasion, I like to channel my inner Taylor Swift. One of my favorite things to do is to mix soft, girly pieces with harder, edgier items like cowboy boots. I also love wearing cowboy boots with dresses and jean jackets. I wore this outfit to work and it was a huge hit with one of the little guys I provide therapy for that loves country music. I walked in the door and he screamed "CARRIE!!!!" It put an enormous smile on my face. 

Lace always looks better when paired with gold accessories. It gives outfits a more vintage and sophisticated feel. I chose these simple gold drop earrings to compliment my outfit because they contributed to the overall effect of the outfit without being too much. Accessories should always accentuate, not take away from your actual outfit. 

The romantic curls made the outfit elegant as well. I always curl my hair the day after I wash it so that the curls hold better. They held all day and I got so many compliments along the way! I love straightening my hair, but sometimes, it's fun to change it up and do something you wouldn't normally do! I love getting ideas from Pinterest, my friends, and even random people I meet during the day.  

As for the colored jeans, I always like to add some color to my wardrobe during the colder months because as the summer tan wears away, darker colored clothes can look dull and make my skin look washed out. I recently got advice from a professional make-up artist that told me that darker colors look best during the winter months. A general rule of thumb is that you should go lighter for summer and darker for winter. 

Do not be afraid to experiment. I love trying new clothes pairings and seeing all the unique combinations that I can come up with. :) 

Hope you all had a lovely November. I know that my Birthday month was totally fabulous! 

Xoxo! <3

Wine Tasting Elegant

Lace Peter Pan Collar Dress- H&M

Tights- Forever 21

Jeweled Ballet Flats- Forever 21

Lipstick- Estee Lauder

I have been waiting all year to wear this dress! I bought it last year and I love it because it's the perfect transitional item from summer to fall. It's warmer than most summer dresses so it's great to wear on a crisp fall day. I love these tights because they can easily dress an outfit up. The tights are a cream color and match the collar on my dress perfectly. I am not typically a fan of wearing all black because it washes me out so I like to add cream accents to make the look less dramatic. Also, adding lipstick is a fun way to add some color! Since the Peter Pan collar on the dress makes a statement in of itself, a necklace is not necessary. I would suggest a simple bracelet or pearl studs if you want to accessorize! 

My pewter ballet flats added to the girly feel of the outfit. Although they are not necessarily the most comfortable shoes, they were a steal and I can never pass up a great buy. :) Metallic and jeweled colors are extremely popular for fall so add some amethyst, sapphire, emerald, ruby, garnet, and citrine to really spice up your fall wardrobe! If you want to be daring, try wearing a jeweled color outfit from head to toe. However, if you want to still embrace the trend without going over the top, let your accessories speak for themselves. Gem tones also sparkle when paired with fabrics such as satins or metallics and clothing details such as pleats and draping!

Although I chose to wear this outfit to go wine tasting with friends, it is also dressy enough to wear to a wedding or other formal event! Happy Monday everyone. Cheers to good friends, fun clothes, and fall festivities! 

Xoxo!

Fall Essentials

Leather Riding Boots - Fabianelli 

Purse - Kate Spade Gold Coast Maryanne

Black Sweater with elbow patches - Marshall's 

These leather boots were definitely a splurge, but I love them! :) They are lined with fur and so comfy. They may be a bit too warm to suit California's attempt at fall weather, but I like pretending that we are actually graced with a fall season. I was surprised to find such good quality boots at Marshall's. They were about 160 dollars with tax, however, they are made in Italy and seem like they are good enough quality that they will last me for quite some time! Leather riding boots are a great way to dress up any outfit. The chestnut brown color of the boots is perfect because it looks great with red, purple, black, or even grey. I will continue to get a ton of use out of these boots for years to come! 

I love my new red bag from Kate Spade. It is the perfect all-around bag. Who says red isn't a neutral nowadays? ;) I say that red is appropriate any time of day. Red is the color of confidence so have fun with it! This bag was also a splurge but as the savy shopper I claim to be, I am always looking around for the best sales. At retail price this bag goes for approximately 400 dollars. Kate Spade was doing a 2 day sale and I was able to snag this fancy bag for 209 dollars with tax! It's large enough for me to carry all my work supplies in and I just love the color. However, as an evening bag, I would probably opt for something smaller!

I have been searching for a sweater with elbow patches for a while now and I FINALLY stumbled across this one at Marshall's for only 17 dollars! Sewing on elbow patches could also be a fairly easy DIY and a fun fall project to do with friends. Here is a good site to refer to if you are looking to DIY! 

http://freshly-picked.com/how-to-sew-leather-elbow-patches-onto-your-cardigan-and-sweater/

Happy Fall shopping lovelies! Xoxo! <3

Frenchies and Fall Weather

French Bulldog Blouse - Keds

High Heeled Boots - Steve Madden

Pearl Bracelet - Forever 21

Black Jeans - Vigoss

Fall is my favorite season! I just love everything about it. The colder weather makes me feel refreshed and alive. I make sure that my wardrobe reflects my love for autumn. Even though the leaves are changing colors and the trees are being stripped bare, that does not mean that I forgo vibrant colors and fun prints. Fall is an excuse to really let your style shine. Anyone has the ability to dress down during the summer, but it takes a true fashionista to get creative with layers during the colder seasons. 

Blazers are my favorite go-to item during the fall. It isn't quite cold enough yet in California to wear a blazer so I really try to focus on my accessories and shoes/boots in order to make my outfit really pop! I saw this shirt in Macy's a while ago and it was just too expensive. No matter how I tried to justify it, I just couldn't bring myself to make such a lavish purchase. Anyways, the beauty of being a shopaholic is that if you shop frequently enough, things go on sale. :) About a month ago, I was shopping in Macy's and saw that this adorable blouse was on sale for 22 bucks! I got it immediately and couldn't have been more proud of myself that I had waited patiently for something I really loved! It felt great to be a smart and price-conscious shopper! When you are trying to decide whether or not to put forth the money, it is important to think of items you already have in your closet. Try to think of the practicality of the clothing (what will you wear it with and for what occasion?). 

Because the french bulldog blouse was fun and lively, I wanted to pair it with more classic and elegant pieces. With that said, the only piece of jewelry I wore was a pearl bracelet. I also opted for black jeans and stiletto black boots to give me some height. I absolutely love that it is cold enough for me to wear my boots again. :) This was a great outfit to wear to work because it was professional, but age appropriate at the same time. I got so many compliments on my outfit! 

Have a lovely fall! I'm off to indulge in a pumpkin spice latte! Xoxo! <3

Inspiration is Everywhere

Don't be close minded when it comes to fashion. Inspiration can come from anywhere! I really love getting ideas from some of my favorite television shows. I also like browsing through fashion magazines, trend reports, and exchanging ideas with friends. Here are some of my favorite fashion icons from different shows!

Spencer Hastings from Pretty Little Liars (Troian Bellisario)

I love Spencer's style on the show. She always looks like she has stepped out of a Ralph Lauren/Tommy Hilfiger catalogue. She is the perfect combination of conservative and preppy. I just love how polished her outfits are! She really knows how to pull off a look with the right layering and accessories. I always pay attention to the fun prints and patterns that she wears!

Dr. Zoe Hart from Hart of Dixie (Rachel Bilson)

Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) also is a huge style icon for me. She really utilizes classic colors such as red, black, and nude. Her outfits are fun and flirty, while always being professional. The key to fashion is knowing that you can look hot and sexy without looking trashy. Zoe Hart is the ultimate fashionista! I also love how Zoe Hart dresses well for her body type. She is a tiny person so she knows that she can accentuate her legs by wearing high-waisted shorts and heels! Learning to dress for your body type is half the battle when it comes to fashion.