Pretty is

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Pretty is: Striped Top and Striped Shoes

What do you do to brighten up an ordinary, flavorless hump day?

Find something fun to wear!

What ‘s more fun than stripes?

More stripes!

This springs stripes are everywhere… especially in blue and white. As of today, I own four of this season’s nautical inspired tops.

Stripes take the place of a statement piece. Who needs a colossal neck adornment when you’re styling stripes.
Today I pulled out a go-to top that I purchased during an online shopping spree at Shein.com.

The colors are fun, the stripes are amusing, and I’m entertained with myself for having sandals that seem to have black stripes that match my top.

Happy Hump-Day Y’all… we’re halfway there!

“Stripes are the equivalent to what a white t-shirt used to be back in the day,” says Roopal Patel, fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue. “They have nine lives. We’ve seen the trend now for two to three seasons and it will continue to carry forward.” (Source)

Pretty is: Little Black Blouses

“I’ll stop wearing black when they make a darker color.” – Wednesday Addams

Black is noted for its ability to slim and add drama to outfits and décor alike.  No other color conveys elegance like black.  Although it seems contradictory to the bright happy colors of spring, it is actually a color that was featured frequently during New York Fashion Week.  While the Pantone Color Institute did not declare black as one of the top 10 spring 2017 colors, no other color is as timeless, and therefore is not to be neglected during the spring and summer seasons.

One of my “Pretty is” picks this season is this black crochet trim chiffon halter top that I purchased recently from Shein

Halter Top: Shein, $13
Shorts: Forever21 (similar, similar)
Sandals: Forever21 (or these will work)
Bracelets: Brighton
Earrings: Kohl’s
Sunglasses: Coach

These are a few little black blouses/tops that I think are pretty.  Whats even prettier is the fact that each of them cost less than $20

 

Amazon / Forever 21

Lulu’s Boutique / Burlington

TJ Maxx / Lulu’s

Little black blouses… gotta have ’em

Pretty is: Black and White

Black and white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, and hyphenated black-and-white when used as an adjective, is any of several monochrome forms in visual arts (source).
You can find it when watching movies or television

appreciating art

listening to the words of a song

shopping in a particular retail establishment

and on MY DRESS TODAY!Dress: Shein
Cardigan: Target
Purse: Michael Kors, Dillards
Shoes: XOXO, Amazon
Bracelets: Brighton

In my closet, if there is one color that stands above all the rest, it is black. Right behind at a close second is white. Most of the time I’ll be styling either black or white in my outfit ensemble
For my fabulous Fashion Friday entry, I respectfully submit

TGIF!

 

“Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” – Coco Chanel

Pretty is: the Right Shoes

Give a girl the right shoes… and she can conquer the world. ~Marilyn Monroe

Perhaps Marilyn learned this from Cinderella, who showed us that “one shoe can change your life”.

More recently, Carrie Bradshaw taught us that a great pair of shoes can make everything all right.
Most women would have to agree that shoes are obsessive.


I’ve mentioned before that there is something satisfying about shopping.  This includes shopping for shoes.  Perusing through a magazine today, I came across an article that provided enough proof for me in this statement [regarding shoe shopping] “The neurotransmitter dopamine is released, providing a feel-good high, similar to taking a drug,” (source).
I told y’all!

Another detail I learned is that there is an additional desirable sensation that is brought about by wearing high heels. It seems that wearing high heels can bring a woman to a state of euphoria as the height provides a level of confidence that brings with it a sense of power.

Little Girl, High Heels, Pink, Dress

This is not something I have experienced firsthand, as I typically keep my heels at or under a controllable 2 ½ inches

Feeling euphoric, dominant and more self-confident helps empower women, so why stop at one pair of shoes? Thus the addiction; the purchase of shoes will be continual, in order to keep these sensations alive.

It doesn’t matter how many shoes I have, I am always finding that I have an outfit that requires a pair that I don’t have.

Therefore, I keep shopping.

 

Amazon / Payless / Amazon

LOFT / Payless / Payless

Amazon / Amazon / Amazon

Amazon / Banana Republic / Banana Republic


Pretty is: Spring Cardigans

It has been surprisingly chilly the last few days.  So much so, that I won’t leave the house without a jacket or sweater.

This morning I am styling my green/black kitty cat cardign to keep warm in the cool morning air.  This cardigan came from Grease Rags Clothing Co. and I mentioned it in an earlier post.  It is perfect weather for it this morning and I’ll likely need it when I leave the office later this evening.

If you’re in a shopping mood… here are some cute cardigans

http://amzn.to/2sQvuwj

Macy*s / Amazon (my favorite) / Macy*s / Macy*s

J.Crew / Macy*s

Macy*s / LOFT / Talbots

Notice how the cardigan is versatile.  And it has several other good points.

These are shown paired with different items.  Most with pants, some with shorts, and one is paired with a skirt.

Cardigans add another layer (3rd piece) to an outfit.  If you aren’t familiar with the 3rd piece rule of thumb it implies that your pants (or skirt) and top are your first and second pieces, and your third piece is an extra outfit component such as a jacket, sweater or possibly a statement accessory.  The 3rd piece adds distinction to an otherwise nondescript outfit, making you look put together, polished, and like you put a little effort into your look.

Cardigans help with an easier transition from season to season.

Almost every store that specializes in ladies clothing carries them.  There is an unbelievably HUGE selection of cardigans on the Macy’s website… 673 results if you search the word “cardigan”.  The black Tommy Hilfiger open-knit is something that can be worn comfortably year round and currently a great buy (Extra 20% off code: MOM; Final Cost: $23.99).

Now that I’ve completely worn out the word CARDIGAN, I’m going back to shopping for my upcoming tropical vacation.

Happy Monday

 

Kentucky Derby Day

LOVE LOVE LOVE the horses

and I especially love their names!  California Chrome was a favorite, as was American Pharoh.  American anything would get my vote.  Always Dreaming was a little different than my usual pick, but nevertheless, it was my pick.  Next year I may have to place a bet… I’ve picked winners for several years in a row now.

Anyway, as I was saying, I LOVE the horses… But it is the Hats that sets the Kentucky Derby apart from other sports events!  THE HATS!

Whether it is southern tradition or spectacular spectacle, part of what makes this event the greatest two minutes in sports are the hat wearing fashionistas that are believed to bring good luck.  Much like getting into costume, hat wearing has been embraced by men, as well as the women who started the tradition.  These wide-brimmed, southern belle inspired Kentucky Derby hats can be anywhere from simple and elegant to flamboyant or gaudy when decorated with flowers, feathers, bows, ribbons, or any other little ol’ thing.

Recently, thanks mostly to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (aka Kate Middleton), the fascinator has become a Kentucky Derby trend.  A fascinator is a headpiece and is worn as an alternative to a hat.  The headpiece is a large decorative disc topped with such items as feathers or netting attached to a band, clip, comb or headband.  When the design resembles a miniature hat, it may be called a hatinator.  Here are some that I like

Black / Black / Red

Ivory / Black / Peach

I love the fascinators, and I have the ivory one in my shopping cart.  But I also have a wide brimmed hat on order…

 

 

GiddyUP

 

Cinco de Mayo

The plan was to go out for Mexican Cuisine as soon as I finished my shift this evening.

LB managed to rustle up some amigos to join us for dinner.

My idea of a good time is to go to my favorite Mexican restaurant La Nopalera.  There are several locations in town and I’ve been to almost all of them.  We met at the La Nopalera in the Oakleaf Town Center.  This location is notoriously crowded and there is ALWAYS a wait.  And unlike their website, they have NO music.  Fortunately we managed to secure a table [within the three hour wait period] and enjoy several baskets of chips accompanied by queso, salsa and guacamole.

chips, crisps, mexican

Now for the real 411… I wanted to wear my Lauren Conrad red/orange crochet dress to work today, but it was forecast to be too chilly tonight for this particular dress.  Instead I was unprepared and ended up wearing an orange blouse and skinny jeans.  Today I am shopping for Cinco de Mayo outfits so I will have something appropriate as a back up plan.  Below are my better late than never outfit ideas that I am sure will work just as well next year and throughout the summer

Venus / Shein  / LOFT / Payless

The Mint Julep Boutique / World Market / Venus / ASOS

Amazon / Similar  / SAKS / Venus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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