Black and white

Halloween and pumpkin-picking evoke black and white stripes from my closet. Here, a striped sweater layered over a boys' gingham shirt with white jeans and a suede ankle boot freshen up the look. Wear the shirt hem sticking out from the sweater, untucked, with sleeves rolled up for a casual look, or button up to the neck for prepster cool. 

Bonus: everything listed is under $100, half of it under $40!

  

Click on the links to view or purchase:

boys gingham shirt 29.95 //  stripe sweater 34.94  //  structured satchel 38.00  // ankle boot 79.90  //  glasses 58

We're all in agreement that it's ok to wear white after Labor Day, right? Don't argue with me. You can. Because I said so. (I'm practicing my mom voice.) If you don't already have white jeans, then find some great deals on designer jeans at 40-60% off regular prices: here-99.99, here-77.00, here-79.00, cropped here-77.00. Sizes are limited because they're on sale, so check each link and you may get lucky to find yours.

How are you wearing white this fall/winter?

White out

I'm trying really hard not to post anything about fall fashion, even though it's all around me.  Designers and retailers are telling us it's just around the corner, but the triple digit heat for the next two months begs to differ.  To stay focused and push ahead, I'll share one of my favorite things about summer.  It may be my only favorite thing about summer.  (Hey, I don't live on the west coast to enjoy cooler temps and time outdoors like you, so I'm allowed to be negative about the garish sun that keeps us in confined, air-conditioned spaces.)

The white wardrobe.

image credit: 1 2 3

A nod to patriotism?

 

Yesterdays outfit on today's person.  I've just realized that I'm pulling the whole "patriotic-American-look-on-foreigner" on this our nation's Independence Day.  When I bought the shirt, I was actually thinking it would be more of a Parisian look with the stripes and skinny pants.  (Ironic, oui?)  

Now, let me spell the irony out for you just so we're crystal clear:   Asian + wearing red, white, blue on Independence Day + thinking it looks Parisian = WTF.  

Side note: I also thought if I threw my white blazer over this outfit, it would look more nautical.  So now, I'm an Asian attempting a nautical look (read: fresh off the boat)???  I need to stop.

Now on to the fun stuff...we went to a couple museums, which seemed to be a popular idea as everyone was escaping the summer heat.  I was almost run over by three strollers (not including my own), knocked over by a large derriere, included in countless photos, and hugged by a child that didn't belong to me.  Despite the crowds, we had a really good time and enjoyed all of the activities for kids.  What have you been up to?

White hot weekend

I have an old white suit that I've worn about 3 times since I bought it 5,349 seasons ago.  I love the fit of the blazer but the pants have, ahem, "shrunk in the wash".  So now my nail-the-interview-white-suit has turned into my spring-weekend-casual-white-blazer.  Worn with a soft cotton tee, baggy denim shorts and sandals, my favorite suit jacket has found new life.  Unfortunately, the pants are waiting for the 30-day workout to show results.

Here's a similar look:

blazer (86.99 orig 150)  shorts (17.80)  tee (21.00)  bib necklace (16.99)  ball necklace (26.90)  sandals (49.00)

If you have an old blazer, you could crop the sleeves to give it a more casual and modern feel like the one above.  Denim shorts are best when worn a little baggy and not too short or tight.  Even though the 70's style is back, trashy is not.  Shorts not your thing?  Try boyfriend jeans for a similar, easy look.

White hot

Not wearing white after Labor Day is as old a rule as not mixing black and navy or wearing matching belt-shoes-purse.  Aside from summer weight fabrics, you can wear white all year round.  (Exceptions to that rule are: no white hosiery, white shoes or white bags.  Sure some people can pull it off, but most will look like Nurse Betty.)

Here are a couple of ideas to wear white now:

Look 1: Turn your summer white jersey dress to fall by layering a faux-fur vest over a long cardigan and pairing with over-the-knee boots.

Click on links below to purchase or view retailer's site:

Faux fur vest, Old Navy $29.50

Long boyfriend cardigan, Mossimo Black $20

Over the Knee boot, LOFT $198

Tunic dress, Vila $20.22

Double wrap bracelet, J.Crew $26.50

Look 2:  White jeans work all year when worn with a long wrap cardigan and booties.  Add a khaki sequin-front tank to add sparkle and texture.

Click on the links below to purchase or view retailer's site:

Wrap cardigan, Old Navy $49.50

Sequin front tank, Charlotte Russe $18

White jeans, MICHAEL Michael Kors $48.50

Suede lace up boot, ASOS TOTALLY $185.35

 Happy Labor Day!