Fishnets & Wool

It was FREEZING today! But I wanted to show off my new boots, so I pulled out my trusty cowl-neck sweater dress (though it's so short some have argued it's just a sweater...) and some fishnets over sheer black hose.

I'd been eyeing these boots on the Steve Madden website for awhile... I love the look of a feminine outfit paired with heavy lace-up boots... I'd really love a pair of Frye Engineers, but they're a little out of my price range right now!

photo courtesy of Chictopia

Dress: H&M

Tights: Express

Belt: Vintage

Boots: Steven, Steve Madden

Shades of Gray

It was cloudy & cold today, and I was inspired to dress in shades of gray. When I'd first bought these tights, I was afraid that they'd make my legs look bruised... Instead, I like them a lot!

I also really love the high-waisted zipper skirt. In the summer I pair it with a black tank top, but this is the first time I've worn it this winter. I like the look of long sleeves with a mini-skirt. I think it's sexy without being too slutty...

My friend Arielle came up to visit for the long weekend, and I really loved the bright sapphire color of her dress - her eyes are really blue, so the bright blue is a fantastic color on her!

On Me:

Turtleneck: Express

Skirt: H&M

Tights & Socks: HUE

Purple Wings

I needed something comfy & flexible for piano class today - I love this sweater! I added a couple statement jewelry pieces to give a little excitement to what would be a pretty boring outfit & tried out my cowboy boots for the first time since coming back to the cold. I've been afraid to get them salt stained, but since I only had one class and no walking today, I figured they'd be safe!

Man's Shirt

Well, it was only the second day of school and I was already running late. To make it to class on time, I threw on a pair of grey leggings & a lace tank under this man's dress shirt I found forever ago. A couple of quick accessories and some wool socks & I was ready to go!

Leggings: HUE

Lace Tank: Vintage Victoria's Secret from Mom

Shirt: Express, thrifted

Bracelet: local artist

Watch: Fossil, Barbie 35th Anniversary Ed.

First Day of School

It was my first day back to classes, and the weather was horrendous. I needed something cozy to brave the snow, so I threw on this sweater dress (with a VERY generous cowl) and a pair of thick woolly tights I picked up in Chicago. For a quick pop of color to pull me out of my winter blues, I dug out this bright red Birkin knockoff - it's gorgeous and big enough to carry around a few notebooks... (although, I feel bad calling it a knockoff - I bought it when I was living in Florence, and it's handmade from real leather...)

Dress: H&M

Tights: unknown - picked up in Chicago

Boots: Steve Madden

Bag: Vera Pelle, purchased in Florence

Stop & Smell the Flowers

Today I had a meeting with my French professor, since I missed a big exam - She's EXTREMELY stylish (about 60, and a former designer for Victoria's Secret - I hope I'm that stylish when I'm her age) so I always try to look extra polished on days when I have her class. I found this skirt in the back of my closet the last time I visited my apartment, and I can't believe I forgot about it! I'd bought it about 3 years ago for a New Year's Eve party (after a VERY long search for a pencil skirt that was fitted enough for my skinny legs) and even though I'm still really skinny, I've gained a lot of weight in strange places because of the steroids I was on, so it barely fits... I can't wait to get back to Pilates to get toned up again!

The sweater is a great find from Urban Outfitters - I've been looking for a big grey sweater to replace my favorite one (it died a very noble death by overuse after many, many winters). Now I'm on a search to replace a couple of my solid colored turtlenecks (my winter go-to staple for under all kinds of dresses) - mainly a couple of black ones...

I love the buttons up the back of the skirt - sometimes I would unbutton the bottom one if it got too hard to walk around, especially in heels. This skirt is so hard to keep smooth - the material is very difficult to iron, and it picks up wrinkles at the drop of a hat...

Details from the purse - I bought this in Paris, from a tiny shop full of these hand-beaded purses made by a tiny old Frenchwoman. I wish I'd bought more than one! It's extremely roomy, and has a HUGE bone button to keep it closed. The handle is bamboo, and I couldn't get a picture of it because my camera died. The only thing I wish this purse had was an interesting shoulder strap - it's so big that it's a little hard to carry in my hand or on my elbow if it's got a lot of stuff in it! I've thought about adding one, but I don't want to ruin it!

Skirt: Bebe

Turtleneck: INC, Macy's

Sweater: Silence & Noise, Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Steve Madden
Purse: unknown shop, Paris
Earrings: American Eagle

Around Ludlow

I had a couple friends visiting from Cleveland, so we stopped down to Ludlow/Clifton and CCM's library. I LOVE this sweater that I'm wearing, and just recently decided to wear it OVER dresses as opposed to with pants or skirts (it's slightly cropped, so it always rides up with the pants & skirts)

You can sort of see that it has crystal buttons down the back - probably my favorite part of the sweater!

Dancing Girl fountain - I wanted to get in and dance with her, but her pedestal wasn't big enough for me to stand on it as well!

This leather jacket is one of my favorite/most expensive articles of clothing. I bought it while I was living in Florence two summers ago, and spent a TON of euros on it. Totally worth the money, though.

Does anyone else have amazing investment pieces that ALMOST didn't seem worth it at the time?

Sweater: Anthropologie

Dress (underneath): American Apparel

Tights: H&M

Jacket: Moda Italia (handmade in Florence)

Scarf: handmade by my little brother

Purse: thrifted, Coach

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

A Little Advice on Tall Boots

I absolutely LOVE over the knee boots. I got my pair four or five years ago on sale before they were popular. People were always giving me really strange looks when I'd wear them out, but now I'm getting TONS of compliments. The only problem with my boots is that since I got them on sale, my actual size wasn't available - I had to go a size up, which isn't too bad but it makes them a little difficult to walk in sometimes. I'm considering talking to my cobbler and seeing if there's any way the soles can be taken down a half size or so (not sure if that's even possible!)

I also think it's VERY difficult to wear over-the knee boots without looking like a hooker (hopefully I've pulled that off). My best advice is to keep the skirt short, but everything else long and NOT revealing. That's why I chose to pair them with this sweater dress - despite the short skirt, on one would ever accuse this dress of being too sexy on it's own! Finally, ALWAYS wear tights or something - don't show too much leg above the boots...

Sweater Dress: H&M

Boots: Steve Madden

Tights: Betsey Johnson

Belt: DIY out of gifted scarves