31 December 2014

Plaid Shirtdress and New Year's Eve

plaid shirtdress

I've never been good at making toasts or being counted on for encouraging words of wisdom when it mattered - I'm much too uncoordinated for that. So I'll leave the "right" words for wishing you all a Happy New Year to the harbingers of wisdom themselves - author Neil Gaiman and my man, Charlie Brown:

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something. So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.
- Neil Gaiman

Peppermint Patty: What you do think, Chuck, would be good rules for living in the New Year?
Charlie Brown: Keep the ball low, don't leave your crayons in the sun, use dental floss every day, don't spill the shoe polish, always knock before entering, don't let the ants get in the sugar, never volunteer to be a program chairman, always get your first serve in, and feed your dog whenever he's hungry.  
- Happy New Year, Charlie Brown

plaid shirtdress plaid shirtdress

Vest: J.Crew factory quilted puffer (worn here - sim, belted)
Dress: Gap plaid shirtdress (now on sale - mine is in petite, sim, sim, sim)
Shirt: Old Navy jersey (worn here - sim, sim)
Bracelets: J.Crew modern geo, J.Crew factory chainlink & leopard (sim, sim)
Ring: F21 architectural set
Tights: Target (sim)
Shoes: Schuler & Sons via Anthropologie studded strap (worn here - sim, sim, pricey)
Bag: Fossil austin (worn here - sim, leather for less than $100)

 plaid shirtdress

plaid shirtdress

29 December 2014

These are a Few of My Favorite Things: 2014

Hey ladies! In no particular order, here's a retrospect of some of my favorite stylish pieces from 2014:

1. Liberty floral print blazer. This has fast become a fave Liberty of London print for me and one of my best Ebay finds. To me, it's a natural pairing with navy stripes.

gondola stripes + liberty floral liberty stripes

2. Gold sandals. I did wear these to death over the summer and into early fall.

pajama floral ivory yellow + stripes

3. Navy eartha satchel. Textured, gold-tone hardware, winged shaped, I was all in.

confetti striped

4. Striped bow loafers. Just yes, please!

cleo loafers1 cleo loafers2

5. Jacquard flared skirt. A bit out of my norm, but so fun and flippy.

flippy skirt ivroy + jacquard

6. Coral beaded necklace. Another item I wore ad nauseum over the spring and summer months.

banana republic necklace   

7. Printed slouchy pants. Printed, elastic at the ankles, slouchy. Probably a style textbook "no" but I finally found my perfect pair of dressy-cas pants.

hidden floral hidden floral popcorn turner denim

8. Striped bow pumps. Just look at them. How could I have said no?

neon + grey

9. Bright puff-shoulder coat. The color is wow and the puffed detail actually made my usual man-shoulders look nearly dainty.

gathered boulevard serape scarf, poppy coat

10. Kente print skirt. So puffy, so colorful, too fun to refuse. First Etsy clothing purchase.

kente skirt2 kente skirt 3 kente skirt1

What have been some of your own faves for 2014?

And I hope you all have a lovely New Year's and wish the best for everyone in 2015!

24 December 2014

Merry, Bright and Sparkling Right

sequin spots sequin spots

I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones. Give a little, get a little (and I mean more than just gifts - but yeah, gifts too) and a share a lot. May your days be merry and bright, and we'll see you on the flip side of Christmas!

sequin spots sequin spots

Top: J.Crew factory (worn here - sim gold spotted, solid, as mini dress, not sim but it's sequinned and plaid)
Skirt: Banana Republic box pleat (worn here - sim, steal)
Necklace: Ann Taylor pearl & pave cluster (worn here - sim, all pearl for a deal, steal)
Bracelet: Ann Taylor pearl & pave cluster (worn here - sim, in bronze, deal)
Shoes: Isaac Mizrahi mindy (worn here - this season's version is glittered, luxe mule)
Bag: Furla martha (worn here - same larger, sim, luxe, steal)

sequin spots

sequin spots


22 December 2014

Style Lately (and Last Day to Enter!)

I wish you and yours a very merry holiday season - and as an old Irish proverb goes, "May you never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is best forgotten."

(And today's the last day to enter my IG giveaway, co-hosted with my girl, Moody Girl in Style. Click here for a chance to win a whole load of goodies from Kate Spade, J.Crew, Target and Starbucks - like a $50 J.Crew gift card and more! Giveaway ends tonight!)

Dec1
A bit of bling to brighten some warm winter layers (necklace via  Rocksbox, exact sweater & sim shirt).

Dec2
Sweater, sweater everywhere (from top row L to R: this year's version, sim, exact / mid: sim, exact, factory /
bottom: sim, exact, sim).

Dec3
Rainy day wear (exact boots, bracelet (L) & sim jeans, top, shirt, bracelets (sim (M), the original (R)).

Dec4
Plaid shirt dressing (exact dress, scarf, vest & sim tote, boots).

Dec5
Some blue florals (dupe of necklace & sim blazer, blouse).

Dec6
A fave girly combo of mine (sim skirt, top, clutch).

19 December 2014

Plaid with the Fur - and an IG Giveaway

sheinside contrast plaid

Cozy sweaters make wintery cold weather just a bit more bearable and buffalo plaid seems to be the cozy print of the season, so when Sheinside graciously asked if I wanted to pick an item from their vast selection of clothes to try out, I couldn't resist this cardigan (and with the - faux - fur no less!)

This is the first time that I've ordered anything through Sheinside and knowing that Asian brand retailers often size smaller than US brands, I appreciated that they offered clothing measurements for each piece.

I received my sweater in about two weeks and had no problem with anything, but I know returning or exchanging items from overseas retailers can often be difficult and expensive, so please make sure you read their return policy and maybe check out some other online reviews before placing your order. In the meantime, I will cozy on by with my cuddly cardi!

sheinside contrast plaid sheinside contrast plaid

Sweater: c/o Sheinside contrast fur plaid knit cardigan
Shirt: Cloth & Stone via Anthropologie (worn here - sim, sim)
Jeans: Old Navy sweetheart distressed (worn here - sim, same fit un-distressed)
Necklaces: J.Crew mixed charm ribbon pendant (sim pricey, simpler pricey, grander version) & Lands' End gold initial
Rings: F21 faux pearl set & falling stars knuckle (sim simpler)
Shoes: Vince Camuto bronco (worn here - sim, sim)
Bag: Dooney & Bourke cabriolet dome (worn here - sim, deal, steal)

sheinside contrast plaid

sheinside contrast plaid

BTW, ladies, I'm partnered with Moody Girl in Style to co-host a great little giveaway on our Instagram accounts (you can enter here). One lucky lady has the chance to win a pair of Kate Spade earrings and bangle bracelet, a J.Crew jewelry tray and set of coasters, a set of Target note cards and pens, a Starbucks buffalo plaid mug and a $50 gift card to J.Crew!

All you have to do to enter is:
1. "Like" the giveaway post and  follow both @moodygirlinstyle and @respecttheshoes on Instagram
2. Repost the giveaway photo with hashtag #styleandshoesholiday

The giveaway open to US residents only and ends on December 22 at midnight (Eastern time). A winner will be selected randomly on December 23. Good luck!


styleandshoesholiday

17 December 2014

Office Party

ivroy + jacquard

Can I be festive and office-appropriate? Well here I am trying for both - flippy hint-of-metallic jacquard skirt with beaded collar and all buttoned-up with a blazer. I am calling this my "Winter Wonderland gone The Office" outfit. All I need are some shared sugar cookies with some nog while sitting around the ole conference table and I'm all set! 

ivroy + jacquard ivroy + jacquard

Blazer: Zara (worn here - sim, stand-up collar)
Shirt: F21 (worn here - sim, 3/4-sleeve, pricey, peter pan collar)
Skirt: Asos jacquard (worn here - sim pricey, darker blue, mini)
Bracelet: INPINK barnacle (worn here - sim pearl)
Ring: F21 (sim, plain stacked)
Shoes: Vince Camuto signature rekha (worn here - sim in gold or black, point-toe, all-black)
Bag: Kate Spade (worn here - sim luxe, in black for a steal, not sim but w/cute gold heart studs)

ivroy + jacquard

ivroy + jacquard

15 December 2014

Merino Tunic & Hint of Camo

red current tunic

These camo pants continue to be a bit of a challenge for me - OK, pretty much anything more than the basic blue denim jean does - but I like the fit and the subtlety of the pattern, so I'm still trying to find ways to wear these into winter. And the cozy long sweater? I am pretty much living in them this season. Wooly knits are my friend, friends.

red current tunic red current tunic

Sweater: J.Crew factory merino pocket tunic (sim, cowlneck)
Jeans: Lands' End low rise slim leg (worn here - same cut in geo pattern, sim lighter)
Scarf: Old Navy chunky knit ombre (sim)
Necklace: J.Crew factory shield pendant
Rings: F21 architectural set & geo cutout set
Shoes: Schuler & Sons via Anthropologie studded strap (worn here - sim, steal, pricey)
Bag: Coach legacy flight (worn here - sim, sim)

red current tunic

red current tunic