A little alteration to Friday's outfit

Mini Dress Mix Up by aliciablyyours featuring h&m blazer

So I ended up altering my outfit a little bit on Friday night to include one of my favorite things ever: LEOPARD PRINT. Now leopard print can sometimes overwhelm an outfit, especially if you're wearing it on everything from bags to shoes to earrings. But if you play it right, it can be a really fun way to jazz up some of your regular basics. I originally had planned on wearing my striped tank dress by H&M, but then remembered I had a similar dress hanging in my closet in a different print. I don't wear this dress all that often, because where does one wear a grey leopard print tank dress to, without getting too many looks of "OMG why is she wearing that," thrust upon them? 

Well it just so happens that this dress is the perfect city night out ensemble, if apply it to the same outfit I was planning on. Throw on a blazer to compete with the shortness of the hemline, and also the loudness of the print. Then throw on maybe one really fun eye catching piece of jewelry, ( I always go for my aqua Kate Spade statement necklace) flats, and a small shoulder bag (Hello, Nine West.) 

This was my result:

Long sleeve shirt
£8 - desireclothing.co.uk

H m blazer
£15 - hm.com

Steve Madden gold ballet flat
$60 - heels.com

Nine west handbag
$59 - ninewest.com

Kate Spade statement necklace
$130 - nordstrom.com

How to rock the short dress without giving it all up

Another night in Manhattan by aliciablyyours featuring steve madden flats

The weather is perfect, not too hot, not too cool, and it's still perfectly acceptable to throw on a really short dress, especially for those Friday nights out in Manhattan, which is exactly what I intend to do tonight! 
The problem I have with short dresses is that I feel uncomfortable in a short hemline, either because it keeps riding up, or I think I'm showing off too much skin. Here is a quick way to solve that issue, especially now that we're in the transition period. 

I bought this striped dress from H&M but am never quite sure of what to wear with it. I decided to pull out my trusty blazer, also from H&M from another shopping trip, and my favorite Kate Spade statement necklace.

You probably can wear this look with heels, but it's probably less dangerous and a little more unexpected to tie it all together with a neutral flat. I like the Steve Madden glitter flats in gold because they look polished without looking cheap. 

Also, it's good to remember to keep the accessories to a minimum if you're wearing a flashy statement piece. You can wear bangles, or a ring, but not both. 

This look can also travel into fall with sheer black tights. 

I own all of these items, so I'll try to take some pictures tonight so you can see how it turns out! 

Also, you'll probably see me to start using more of the same items in fashion sets because I'm trying to stick to items that I already own in my wardrobe in order to shop my closet the best to my ability, something that helps out A LOT financially, but also assists in a creative spark. 

H m dress
£7.99 - hm.com

Steve madden flat
$60 - heels.com

Kate Spade statement necklace
$130 - nordstrom.com

Product Detail | H&M GB
£15 - hm.com

Transitional Dressing

It’s that time again. That time between early September and late October where it’s still warm enough to wear some summer items, but chilly enough to mix it up with new fall wardrobe pieces. However, if you jump in too quickly and wear too many fall-esque, winter wear, you end up wearing the same thing all through the cold season.

This is the perfect time for flats. If you skip right to wearing boots every day, you get sick of them by February, but if you ease into it and wear your summery and spring flats a little longer, you’ll look fashionable and not too predictable either. Pair some canvas flats with jeans and a long sleeve shirt. Throw a blazer on if it’s cool enough, to keep it looking polished and not too casual. Keep all the other accessories simple though.

My favorite jeans are a skinny pair, but flairs are making a big come-back right now. Since you’ll most likely be tucking your jeans into boots later on in the year, showcase your flairs now. Throw on a satchel, which goes with EVERYTHING and be ready to run for coffee with a friend. Simple & put together.

The Perfect Saturday in October Outfit by aliciablyyours featuring flare leg jeans

Knit jacket
$52 - meetmark.com

Old Navy flare leg jeans
$35 - oldnavy.gap.com

Hollister co
$20 - hollisterco.com

TOMS espadrille shoes
$60 - asos.com

Chocolate bag
$60 - topshop.com

Dressing down the LBD.

LBD meets casual by aliciablyyours featuring leopard print scarves

Mod Retro Vintage Clothing & Indie Clothes | ModCloth.com
$25 - modcloth.com

Steve Madden cognac sandals
stevemadden.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors drawstring handbag
$348 - michaelkors.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors rose gold jewelry
$250 - bloomingdales.com

Metal jewelry
$12 - modcloth.com

Fendi leopard print scarve
£210 - harrods.com

UO vintage belt
$13 - urbanoutfitters.com

Ah, the LBD, or Little Black Dress. We all have one and we usually whip it out for weddings and last minute engagements where nothing else quite works. However, that doesn't mean we can't work it in a more casual setting. The 2010-2011 fashion season has been seeing some interesting mixing on the runway, which definitely means we are allowed to play around in our own closets. I styled a more casual look around the LBD I purchased from modcloth.com for a wedding recently, and not only does it work, but you can also take this look into fall as it gets a little cooler out.

When you add just the right amount of laid back accessories, you can take any look to a bohemian level, meaning you can look fashionable, but also care-free at the same time.

Inspired by Sara Bareilles

Inspired by Sara Bareilles by aliciablyyours featuring beading necklaces

Polka Swiss Dress - Polka Dot Dress - Black and White Dresses -...
$45 - pinkice.com

Steve Madden glitter flat
$60 - heels.com

Urban Outfitters longs jewelry
$34 - urbanoutfitters.com

Beading necklace
$6.90 - nordstrom.com

I went to the Sara Bareilles concert last night with my other favorite blondie, Heather. She was AMAZING. Her voice is so strong, but sweet at the same time,...the girl has got pipes.

I was also admiring something else, she wore a polka dotted dress with a heart cut out on the back that I was in love with. I googled around for similar dresses and found one! I had to have it, even though I've been practicing being a picky buyer lately due to my current financial situation. I have a new rule, if it's not something I can't live without and it's over $20, I put it back. So far it has been working, since our trip into Manhattan did include lots of fun places to shop, but I walked out empty handed every time. Maybe it was just so I could see this dress and find it the next day! Crazy!

DOI: Daily Outfit Idea--What I'm wearing now! (Or something quite similar)

What I'm wearing today by aliciablyyours featuring stainless steel watches

Hollister Co. skinny leg jeans
$25 - hollisterco.com

Tom
$56
toms.com

Michael Kors stainless steel watch
$250 - amazon.com

14 karat gold earrings
$32 - anthropologie.com

UO leather buckle belt
$13 - urbanoutfitters.com

Outfit Styled around SM: MADEE Loafer

Simple Outfit Styled around the Steven Madden MADEE Loafer by aliciablyyours featuring slouchy tops

I was playing around on Polyvore, and decided to style an outfit around the loafer I wrote about last week, just to show how one can make it work. Suede loafers usually show off the narrowness of the foot, which can create a really polished look if you pair them with skinny jeans. Every store sells skinny styles now, but Hollister is having a great sale on their super skinny jean, which I love because they are the perfect navy color and just the right amount of stretchy-ness for those days when I have just a bit too much mexican food. 

A tailored blouse and eye catching blazer top off the look, making you look casual yet professional at the same time, an ideal that is not always easy to achieve. 

The best thing about all of these pieces is that they work with so many different outfits, really making it worth the money.

Happy shopping! 

ASOS slouchy top
$55 - asos.com

Striped jacket
$60 - anthropologie.com

Hollister Co. embroidered jeans
$25 - hollisterco.com

MADEE LEOPARD women's tailored man tailored loafer
stevemadden.com