Military Coat

I got another coat tonight for my trip to New York! This time, I did get a black one. So now I feel totally ready for this cold New York weather. I love how this one flares out at the bottom- I think it will dress up the look a little bit. I also love the gold detailing...AND the best part about this coat is, I only paid $30.00 down from $200.00! It was on sale and missing a button, so I got it way marked down! I have an extra gold button at home, that I will just sew on! I am being a little lazy...so I just posted pictures from online instead of actual pictures of the coat....

I hope you all had a great weekend! I sure did :)

NEW YORK FASHION LIST

As I mentioned, I am going to New York in February. Yes I am still reeling with excitement! I did some shopping to prepare myself for the COLD weather. My friend that is living there now, texted me the other day saying "It was warm today..It reached 35 degrees!" Uh..excuse me..no hablo cold weather! On average, he said it has been below 15 degrees at night..sometimes even negative with wind. So imagine a Southern California gal's horror at the mere thought of that! Brrrrrrrrrrr....teeth chattering! Forget trying to look cute..just trying to stay warm will be a feat in itself.

I ran off to Nordstrom and scoured the coat section...which there wasn't much of a coat section left by the time I got there. I was originally on the hunt for a black coat as it goes with everything, but found an off white/beige Jessica Simpson coat and it was love at first sight. I wear so much black, I think it will be a good off set and perhaps a bit more fashionable than black. I also picked up a black infinity scarf, 2 cute beenies and 2 pairs of over the knee socks. I have a few more things to check off my list, but I think I am almost set to look this cold in the face and say.."Ha!...I can still look cute and stay warm!" 


COAT:

I tucked the infinity scarf inside the coat. The scarf is oversized and thick, so it will keep me warm! All the winter items were on sale, so I got everything for a very good price! :) 

I am also bringing this brown leather jacket with me. I have the same one in black, which I will be bringing as well. It will be good to wear on our fabulous nights out in the big city. (Of course heavily layered with scarves, gloves, and hat)

HATS:

 I already had the grey beenie and I picked up the royal blue one from Nordstrom and the black from Arden B. 

 The bow and jewel detailing is so cute on the Arden B beenie. 

OVER THE KNEE SOCKS:

These over the knee socks will be great with knee high boots. I think it will look adorable over grey leggings or heavy tights!

BOOTS:

 I bought these boots last year and barely wore them. Finally I have an excuse! I think they will be great with the over the knee socks, leggings or tights, bandage skirt, and layers and layers of tops, jacket, coat, scarves! 

I bought these boots from LF (a high end boutique) last year. They are real leather and I love how they are unique with the overhang. They have a teeny, tiny, itsy, bitsy heel which I can totally handle walking around. I will save these for only nights out. 

Here are a few pictures my friend has taken while in New York: 

West Village- It reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw's apartment ;) 

@ a Nightclub

 Hello Snow and Starbuck's!

 Where did the cars go?

 Rooftop of the nightclub 

Little Italy

My dear friend in NEW YORK, NEW YORK

There is no place like it in the world :) I can't wait to meet you in person. It has been years of anticipation!

Cosmic Bowling!

As I mentioned in my last post, I had a very mellow weekend. Saturday night, I went cosmic bowling with the boyfriend and a couple other friends. It was a lot of fun! I bowled a 162! Pretty good considering I haven't bowled in over 4 years. I felt like a girl of 14 again! My friends and I used to always hang out at the bowling alley on Friday and Saturday nights when I was 14/15. It was the "cool" thing to do. Hehehe. I wore a new royal blue beanie I picked up at Nordstrom and my black Trouve' off the shoulder, black sweater and my emerald cocktail ring.

 Enough with the pictures! ;)

What did you do this weekend? Hope you had a good one!

Gold and Blush

Hello Gals! Hope you all had a fab weekend! I did! I finally saw Black Swan. It was so intense..I loved it! I also did some shopping for New York (soon to come in another post) and went cosmic bowling Saturday night. It was a very mellow, fun weekend! I recently bought a few items from Forever 21 and wanted to share it with you!

Forever 21: 

This is actually 3 necklaces layered! I didn't necessarily like the pieces alone, but layered, it looks like a stunning, statement piece necklace comparable to Banana Republic jewelry and at a fraction of the cost.

I also have a pretty emerald stone necklace and turquoise necklace that would pair great with this piece.

 I loved the tiny, crystal pieces in this one. It reflects light beautifully.

I love the color of this stone against the gold. It will look great against black, white, emerald green and royal blue.

 It reminds me so much of Banana Republic jewelry which would cost upwards of $70.00-$100.00. All of these combined cost around $15.00!

I also picked up this blush colored hair clip/pin. I think it will look great in a low, messy bun or pinned on a sharp blazer to soften the look!

I hope this work week goes fast! I have a lot of projects and deadlines to complete, so I will be relieved when Friday rolls around again! Hope you all have a great week!

Weekday Wardrobe

Happy almost Friday gals! I just wanted to post a quick outfit of the day. I haven't done too many because I really need to get a full length mirror! The pictures are not that great because I just took them with my phone, which doesn't have a flash...I also added in another picture from a night out on the town! I am so happy tomorrow is Friday!

 I didn't wear the top off shoulder during my work day because it just isn't appropriate for my office, but just pulled it down to show how I prefer to wear it :) Top: Express, Jeans: ? They were really cheap from a boutique in San Diego, Flats: Jessica Simpson, Watch: Michael Kors, Purse: Michael Kors, Necklace: Franchesca's Collections (boutique)

 I wear this necklace all the time! Love it!

 I like to keep my makeup simple for work. Sometimes I will do a red lip. Today I just had on See Sheer by Mac.

This was from a night downtown! Such a fun night with Noelle! Top: Forever 21, Jacket: Express..Most weekends, I wear some sort of flower or pretty bow in my hair. 

If I don't post another blog soon, I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! :)

Less is not always MORE

I wanted to post a blog about a few jewelry items I recently purchased, but due to camera technical difficulties with uploading, that is not happening. But it got me to thinking about my M.O. when it comes to accessories- jewelry, scarves, purses, shoes, sunglasses, watches, etc... I just love to pile it on..to an extent. I wouldn't wear huge earrings with a huge necklace necessarily, but I think in certain situations it can work.

One of the best things about fashion is you can make your own rules. I think it is important to not follow too many and just wear what makes you happy. Wear what works on you, what makes you feel good, not necessarily what works on someone else. If you feel beautiful wearing the big necklace and big bracelet and big cocktail ring, ROCK IT! If you are comfortable in what you are wearing, you will own that look, make it your signature style and create your own set of rules. How do you think all of our fabulous designers got to where they are today?...I can tell you it wasn't from staying inside the lines..they went outside of the box.

Sorry Chanel- I know you say to take off the last piece of jewelry you put on..and there is a time and a place for that, but I say only take it off if you want to. Rules are in fact meant to be broken..right?! I was reading Glamour magazine the other day and came across a picture of a woman with a big, crimson flower in her hair. I thought "that looks so pretty..so boho glam!" Then I noticed a big black bar across her eyes as to not embarrass her as Glamour stated big hair accessories are a fashion no-no. In the past, when I was less confident in my style, I would have probably listened thinking I must look a fool if I wear my huge flower clips out in public. Shame on you Glamour. Save the black bars for people that sport acid wash jeans. ;)

If you exude confidence in what you are wearing, people will pick up on that..even if it isn't their style. At work, the ladies will always tell me "I saw this necklace..ring...watch..that was just so you." I think to them, it may seem a little over the top for their taste, but I take it as nothing more than a compliment. :)

These are some people that I look to for fashion inspiration when it comes to accessorizing:

Rachel Zoe

 

I love her 70s style. Love love love and love. Bananas!

 

Margherita Missoni

 

Nicole Richie

 

The best accessory a gal can adorn herself with is confidence. So ladies, no matter what your style is, minimalist, glam, boho, hippy, vintage...OWN IT, ROCK IT, EMBRACE IT!

I'm in a New York State of Mind

It is finally happening gals! Yours truly is going to New York next month..a few days after Valentine's Day! I have literally been dreaming of this moment since I was a little girl. It was a very spur of the moment planned trip with some dear old college friends. One moment I was saying "I want to go" and the next..Poof! I have a ticket to go!

Oh New York..New York...New York. I am so giddy with excitement! My poor boyfriend has only heard me talk about New York since I found out I was going. I do wish I had known sooner, so that I could have planned better. I do not own a coat. Nope...not even one. Living in San Diego, the coldest temps we usually hit are in the 50s and that is on a very "cold" day by our standards. So I am in a flurry to get over the knee socks, over the knee, flat boots, at least 2 coats and a pair of gloves. My Mom is sewing me a huge, cable scarf. She said it is charcoal gray on one side and black with silver peekaboo thread on the other..I trust it will be cute as she has good fashion sense.

So New York...you captured my heart as a child and my love just grew for you from afar throughout the years. Get ready, because here I come! :)

Here are some reasons why I am so in love with this city, even though I have never been:

My favorite movie in the entire world, that I have been watching since I was a little girl, Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Sex and the City

Sleepless in Seattle 

 The Seven Year Itch and Marilyn Monroe

As my Mom always tells me, "There are country mice, city mice and suburb mice...Katie, you are definitely a city mouse at heart" <3