Que Bella - Owl You Doin'?

I've had this little made-up corny joke in my head all day after seeing myself in the mirror.

"Yellow. Owl You Doin'?"
"Oh, Spicy but a little Blue."

Told you it was corny but it does sum up the outfit I wore to the office today. As soon as I knew I had to head in today I planned on wearing my No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Ultra Eyelet in Chili. (That would be the "Spicy".) This was the first opportunity to wear it and I couldn't decide which top to pair it with. It was either going to be the Stripe Sequin Tank with my Featherweight Cotton Cardigan in Yellow or my Lemon Liftoff Blouse (That would be the "Yellow. Owl You Doin'?") with my Short-Sleeved V-Neck Cardigan in Navy ("a little Blue").

At first I went with the Juliets in Poppy but they kept slipping off my feet so I switched them to my Simple 70 Louboutin's in Navy. As you can see I went with the Lemon Liftoff Blouse and Navy Cardigan. I felt great and received soooo many compliments today in this outfit. The second pic was taken at the end of the day, when I got home, while the first was taken this morning. I had no idea my make-up really wore off that much by the end of the day. And no, your eyes are not deceiving you. My hair is different because I did stop and get a haircut at the end of the day. You'll see it styled much better, soon.

Do you like this outfit with or without the blue?

J Crew Spring 2012 - March, part 2

I did my weekly stop by J Crew Sunday, mainly because I couldn't get the Striped Maxi Skirt out of my head. They had a full stock of them in all sizes. As I was looking around I also found the Maxi Skirt in a solid purple (TGR, #76784, $69.50). I am wearing a size Small here and it fits the same as the Striped skirt. My PS said it also comes in solid Gray.

There was also a new dress my PS wanted me to try. It comes in this dark mustard color, HCH-Heather Chartreuse?, #72122, $138, and a navy. The Size 6 was really snug on the top. The bottom portion hit about two inches below the knee. I'm also wearing the Drea Pumps in Leopard in a size 6 1/2. They are on sale for $139.99. I tried a size 7 in the Neon Peach and they run about a 1/2 size too big for me. Most of my shoes in JC are 7 so this does not fit TTS for me. That's good to know when the rest of the colors go on sale. The size 8 in the dress fit better in the top but was a bit longer. It does have pockets.

Size 6

Size 8

A favorite of mine from last summer is back. I have this in Navy, Modern Red, and Olive Green from last year and wore them at least once a week. The Linen Perfect Shirt, this time in Festival Green (#42841, $79.50). I'm wearing a size 6 here which is the same size I took last year.  I saw Navy, Modern Red, and White in store for this year. This is a great color and I know I'll get much wear out of it this year. I hope it will come in some sort of Bright Blue.

What do you think of the new Linen Shirt and Maxi Skirt colors?

Que Bella - MWF

As the weather transitions from "Winter" to Spring here in Central Texas, we'll see a range of temperatures from week-to-week and day-to-day. Case in point is this past week. These outfits are from  Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can see I've transitioned along with the weather from Winter-ish clothing to late Spring.

Monday I had some personal meetings after work to deal with some HOA things and it was chilly enough that day for layering. I went completely matchy-matchy. I started off with the J Crew Perfect Shirt in Medium Gingham, (Pink, 8,  popback here). I think I've stated before I'm not a "pink" person. I gravitate more towards the bright pinks like the Bright Dahlia, Neon Pink, Fuchsia but I saw this pink gingham shirt and imagined it immediately with my J Crew Bubble Necklace in Gray (new colors here) that I bought from a fellow JCA. And under my Black Cashmere Tee. And under my Blue Eden Blazer. And under my J Crew Cashmere Shawl Collar Sweater, Bright Dahlia, M (sale colors here). It's a sign for me if I can immediately see an item with several pieces I already have in my closet. I added my trusty GAP Essential Jeans that I have had for about 5 years. I don't know what I'll do when they are so worn I'll have to throw them out. They don't make this style any longer and they are the perfect, almost trouser, dark wash, boot-cut, dressy jean. I added my J Crew Bronson Suede Booties (Anchor Gray, 7) that hadn't seen any action this year.This is my favorite style of bootie. It is not a typical ankle bootie in that the leather/suede material doesn't come up to your ankle bone. It's like a scoopneck but for a bootie. I stay away from any booties that come up to the ankle or over it slightly because it cuts off my leg and I look stumpy. But when these came out last year I bought them in multiples - Suede Anchor Gray, Suede Black, Leather Camel. I wish I had bought the Suede Brown but I did find a similar Cole Haan in Brown leather so I'm happy with that. Though these are around 3 inches in heel height there is an interior platform, about a 1/4 inch, that makes these quite comfortable.

Wednesday was The Boy's soccer game and the weather was quite nice. I had a few errands to run before the game and decided to wear my Kate Spade Suede Kiki Wedges. When I bought these I really didn't think I would get a lot of use out of them. I had planned on taking them back and then realized I didn't have anything that would really go with the Anthropologie Stilt Striders Skirt except for a perfect neutral shoe, like the Kiki's. I did change to my Factory Cece Leather and Tortoise Flats (retail here). The Grenada Palm Cami (8) was also a "unicorn" item that I found on ebay last week at a reasonable price and in new condition. After missing out on this originally I realized I loved the colors and that the bow can be tied in the back or on the side. I don't have a cardigan that matches the colors in the cami so I paired it with the Jackie Cardigan in Beechwood (M, new colors here). I was able to find my beloved GAP Cropped Boyfriend Jeans on ebay late last year but try not to wear them as much because I know they will eventually meet the same fate as my other ones.

And Friday...I found this amazing Michael Kors jersey dress at Norstrom Rack for $20, retailed for $100. I love the drape neck and it has some mild ruching on the left side. I also like that the sleeve is not quite sleeveless but slightly cap-sleeve. I added a little navy cami and my Kate Spade Kiki's. This was so comfortable to wear all day long and I still looked pretty chic. To help with the little bulges I added some Assets Mid-Thigh Shaper. I've been happily wearing my Assets and Spanx lately as they really do help make clothes look and fit better and now I'm not worried about those little bumps and bulges.

So, as you can see the weather went from one extreme to another with sweater weather at the beginning and a lovely Spring dress by the end of the week. Today is cool so I'll be wearing a long-sleeve tee and hoodie for The Boy's soccer game this afternoon.

Que Bella - Catchup

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I can't believe March is almost here. I promise I've been getting dressed in actual clothes most days so here are a few good ones.

I cannot remember where I wore this but I was very happy with it. I think the orange and pink great together and the little hints of leopard sort of calm it all down. I had this scarf on my Christmas wishlist but I knew it would be a popular item so I bought it for myself. It has orange, pink and green and they all blend so well together.

J Crew Elodie Sleeveless Blouse, Bright Dahlia

J Crew Featherweight Cotton Cardigan, Orange

J Crew Lolli Pants, Bright Dahlia

J Crew Wool Scarf in Orange Blossom

Prada Leopard Flats

Leopard Belt

This is what I wore to my Anthropologie visit. It was a pretty warm day and I was happy to break out my new Loft purchases.

Loft Linen Cotton Sweater, Purple

Loft Stripe Skirt

J Crew Cece Suede Ballet Flats, Wild Berry

We had a family wedding two weekends ago and I wore my $28 J Crewlet find, the Tinsel Lace Dress. And check out my handsome boy Young Man, who is wearing his first suit. It was a gift from his Godfather and I took it for alterations that came out great. He was pretty excited about it as well. 

On Me

J Crew Sequin Scarf Cardigan, Black

J Crew Tinsel Lace Dress

J Crew Crystal Colletto Necklace

Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps, Black

On The Boy

Jones New York Navy Pinstripe Suit

J Crew Shirt

Liberty of London for Target Silk Tie

I wore this last week and loved it. This was a surprise find for me from Old Navy. I love this dress so much I bought it in Printed Black, Solid Black and Solid Red aka Crimson and Clover. This was also in a gorgeous Grape color as well but it sold out quickly in my size. I will be wearing these dresses constantly through the Spring and Summer. The fit is amazing and the dress is a soft Cotton/Modal blend. This is also my first wrap dress. I really wanted this DVF dress but I will happily settle for 4 wrap dresses from Old Navy at $25 each!

Old Navy Printed Wrap Dress, Serpent, M

The Limited Cami, White

Kate Spade Kiki Suede Wedges, Taupe

That "wraps" up some OOTDs from the past few weeks. Have you seen/tried the Old Navy wrap dresses yet?

J Crew Spring 2012 - March

Here are a few other items I tried on at the B&M last week.

Linen Cable-Knit Sweater - $79.50, Sz S, #71617, Caribbean Green - This is quite a lovely lightweight linen sweater but does run a size smaller than your normal size. I didn't even try the Medium because just holding it up it look big. The Caribbean Green is perfect green for the Spring and the Navy is also quite saturated, IMO. I've paired it with the Matchstick Jean in Starlight Wash ($108, Sz 29R, #50499). I really liked these jeans. They have a little stretch to them and feel really nice on. It won't really matter whether I get the Short or Regular as I'll have to hem either one. I'm not in the market for jeans right now but I would consider these on sale.

Colorblock Stripe Boatneck Tee - $45, Sz S, #73911, Neon Pink Chalkboard - This fits like the other Boatneck and Vintage Bateau Tees. I need a size Medium to be comfortable in it. I liked the Navy Kiwi colorway more than the pink.

Striped Maxi Skirt - Sz S, possibly $79 - Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the tag for this skirt but I love it. It's comfortable and the Small was the perfect fit and length for me. My guess is that this is an in-store only skirt.

Cotton Shift Dress - $148, Sz 8, #64991, RLE Retro Lemon - This is a cute little dress but may not work for taller ladies as the length is hitting about two inches above my knee. This is not online and I was told this will come in a pink colorway as well.

City Mini in Linen - $79.50, Sz 6, #64032, Neon Azalea - I was tempted to get the 9-inch Chino Short but I love the skirt more. I think I'll wear it more. I tried on the size 8 for more length but since this is meant for warm weather a little more leg to show will be fine in the size 6. It comes in Navy, Ivory and Lemon Zest, which is much brighter IRL than online.

Raindrop Lace Tee - $110, Sz 6, #68394, Neon Azalea - Since my store did not receive the Navy color I tried on the Neon Azalea to determine size. The size 6 is a great fit and I'll add the Navy to my wishlist.

Elinor Dress - $138, Sz 6, #72114, Cerise - I tried this on only because I was intrigued by the Elinor Dress in Polka Dot. This is too similar, for me, to the Cecelia Dress from last year and I am afraid I'll snag this pretty cotton/linen dress.

I did get the Linen Cable-Knit Sweater in the Caribbean Green and may go back for the Navy. I'll wait for a sale on the Raindrop Lace Tee but do hope the Striped Maxi Skirt is still in stock at the store when I go back. 

Unfortunately, the cotton Cafe' Capris do not work for me at all. The size 6 is too tight in the booty and the size 8 is way too big in the front. I think the 8 Petite might be the best size for me but skirts and dresses are much more summer friendly for my area weather. It's too bad because I wanted the Bright Dahlia since I love my wool Lolli pants.

What has caught your eye from the March roll-out?