the fringe vest makes another appearance

The fringe vest makes another appearance! Aided by the colorful help of a purple dress from a sweet friend. I wore this on a date (our last as a twosome!) to dinner and a movie. We FINALLY saw Deadpool, you guys. Only a few months late...but it was good! Really funny. And I heart Ryan Reynolds.

But, when you're closing in your due date, you wear what fits and accessorize as best you can. Enter fringe vest. Layered over a sun dress. Ta da!

*all items are part of my Maternity Capsule Wardrobe

a bachelorette party

When you are expecting, things that were previously a part of your social life are not quite the same.

Say, for example, a bachelorette party. A friend of mine is getting married Memorial Day weekend in Texas, and we won't be able to attend. Her bachelorette party, however, was being held in town where I live, so I was able to go. And this is what I wore.

You might be thinking "That doesn't look like typical bachelorette party attire, Annie." And you would be quite right, my friends. Normally, I'd wear something a bit different (most likely a party dress and heels), but I attended this party during the day, right after a snowstorm. Hence, the layers and the boots.

Additionally, the bride and other party-attendees had ordered matching tank tops in dark purple and lilac, but I declined, as nobody wants to see this girl squeeze into a party tank top at the moment. So, I wore a basic black tank dress, black fleece-lined tights, rain boots, a dark purple cardigan and a lilac scarf, so I wouldn't be TOO out of place.

While I didn't attend the entire party (a Friday to Sunday event, with one evening in Denver, one in Northern Colorado, hotel rooms, and lots of champagne), I did attend Saturday day for a scavenger hunt around town in a party bus and a stop for delicious local lunch. Then we showered the bride with gifts, and while everyone else took a power nap, I went on home to lay low and watch some Netflix in my pajamas. It was a win-win in my book - I celebrated the bride, got to be comfortable, and got home at a reasonable hour, 3 of my favorite things!

black tank dress: American Apparel via sorority recruitment (non-maternity)

purple cardigan: Ann Taylor (non-maternity)

lilac scarf: gift

black fleece-lined tights: Kansas City Kitty (non-maternity)

rain boots: gift

a bulldog to match my pants

Hi hi! I'm back! Back again after a lovely vacation with great friends. I'm happy to be home, but not looking forward to re-entering the real world. But, blogging and watching NetFlix is a good first step, right?

Anyways - that handsome pup up there matches my white pants. No, I didn't wear them to play in the grass with him, but I did throw his tennis ball quite a few times.

And also, I'm on the look out for new white pants. These work for now, but just know that I'm hoping to replace them sometime in the near future.

purple button-up: from a friend, who got it from American Eagle

white pants: Old Navy

black sandals: Kohl's

necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

linking up:

DC in Style // Sydney Fashion Hunter

Shopping My Closet // The Red Closet Diary

not a bruise

the moody teenager

Although this outfit is comprised of the colors that make up a bruise (black, purple, and mint counts as blue, right?), I did not intend to actually dress AS a bruise. So, sorry to disappoint if you thought that's where this was headed.

I can't say enough how much I love this black chambray, and these black pants, and, oh, those python print flats. What will I ever do when they've had their last wear and must retire? T'will be a sad day, indeed.

Anyways, I like this outfit. I like all the black, all the purple, all the stripes, the good hair day (few and far between, lately - chronic oversleeping syndrome, ya know), and the handsome (although moody & easily annoyed) bully pictured above.

I know this seems a bit dark for June and almost-but-not-quite-summer, but, the high today was only in the 60s-ish, and it was rainy and gloomy, so totally appropriate.

Me says yes.

purple striped v-neck: Target

black chambray: Old Navy

black skinnies: Target

python print flats: WalMart

linking up:

Fizz & Frosting // Fashionably Employed // Cha Cha // Rhea et Cetera

Style Nudge // Garay Treasures // The Pleated Poppy // Because Shanna Said So

Pumps & Pushups // The Mummy Chronicles // Sydney Fashion Hunter // Shopping My Closet

I do Declaire // Sincerely Jennie // Middle of Somewhere // Cappuccino and Fashion

Cassidy Lou

monday the 30th

Good morning! How was your weekend? As far as weekends go, mine was pretty good. Lots of friends, eating, and running - some of my favorite things. I'm looking forward to this next one, too - quality time with my Dad is the big thing on the agenda. And by quality time, I mean ice cream eating, war-movie watching, Reese's consuming, and general cracking of silly jokes.

We're a pretty funny duo (at least we think so).

*carriage return*

This outfit. These booties. Not sure how I feel about this whole thing together. Black on black on black with polka dots, topped off with a purple scarf? Let's consider it a questionable marriage of winter and spring. I think I've got the elements of something great, but my execution is not so great. *sigh* I could wear this without the scarf, BUT the cut of this dress is QUITE low, so not quite appropriate for work. However, low-cut tops only showcase my sternum and a freckle or two ;)

And these booties. I LOVE my taupe ankle booties from Old Navy and wear them all the time. I have high hopes for the black ones (hence how they came to be a part of my closet), but I think they might hit in just the wrong spot to make my legs look extra beefy.

Anyone else struggle with ankle booties?

What kind of socks do you wear?!

The struggle is real.

dress: thrifted (Target)

polka dot cardigan: J. Crew Factory

ankle booties: Kohl's

purple scarf: gift

can't win 'em all

This outfit looked so much better in person. Like, 100 times better in person. Trust me. It (and I) photographed terribly. Is it all the black? All the dark colors? The stripes? The fleece-lined tights? The cold? Maybe it makes my face puffy?

I just don't know. But I do know this is clearly not a great outfit. I look a bit shapeless and that's not doing me any favors. But, in the interest of real style and transparency, here's what I wore! And as great as some looks were earlier this week (here and here, oh, and here), this one just isn't competing. 

But, I'm a real person, with real style, and a real life, and a real job, and real wrinkley dogs, and sometimes, my real outfits aren't so great. *sigh*

linking up with:

Style Elixir

dress: Target

cardigan: Ann Taylor

fleece-lined tights: Target

boots: c/o Aéropostale

olive & magenta

This is one of those outfits that came together in the early morning haze that exists before the sun is up, before the coffee has been drunk, and before I'm ready to make coherent sentences. Somehow it came together, and I simply love LOVE LOVE how the olive looks with the purple and magenta, and how the stripes look with the fair-isle print of my scarf. I think this is one of my best looks yet.

On another note, I'm on the lookout for another pair of olive green skinnies - these have been great, but after just a few minutes of wear, they become stretched out and saggy in the most unflattering of places. Any recommendations on where I should look?

purple striped shirt: Kohl's

olive skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

fair-isle scarf: WalMart

gray blazer: c/o Aéropostale

magenta wedges: ALDO

plum. 2 ways.

If you have a deep purple/plum colored dress, and you want to wear it in more ways than one, fear not! Here are two ideas for your purple-wearing self.

The first, a bit fancier. Maybe for a date night or nice party. Deep purple dress, magenta wedges, statement necklace and a clutch. Keeping it pretty simple, yet something so simple and classy packs quite the punch, don't you think?

Also, maybe I should quit with the center part in my hair? I'm not sure it's doing me any favors.

Up for discussion...

And this second look is a bit more casual. Perfect for dinner at a bar, then a rousing evening of grocery shopping and the hardware store (like I did when I wore this). Jacket, scarf, belt & boots to add a bit of depth, and also keep you warm - in case you have to park REALLY far away in the parking lot and/or wait for a table. Or something.

linking up over here, at A Touch of Tartan

dress: thrifted (Banana Republic)

wedges: ALDO

statement necklace: WalMart

clutch: thrifted

jacket: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: thrifted (Lucky Brand)

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

belt: Target

sunny days + sweater #28

We've been experiencing some really great weather lately.

60 degrees, sunny, and in FEBRUARY. It's unreal.

And I LOVE it.

I can wear skirts and dresses without tights!

And less than 3 layers at a time!

And only a light jacket!

And I can patio drink...!

**linking up this outfit over here - check it out**

dress: WalMart

sweater: Ann Taylor

scarf: WalMart

boots: Nordstrom