Friday, July 29, 2016

Mom Is Always Right

OK, my mom might not always be right, but she did talk me into buying today's dress. I was on the fence about it, but I'm so glad I did. I have gotten so many compliments on it!

Dress: Lauren Ralph Lauren Floral V-Neck Dress


The dress ran large, so try sizing down in this brand. (It's my first dress from Lauren Ralph Lauren, but normally what's true of one style of dress is true for them all. I'm normally a size 4, and this dress is a size 2.)

You can still buy the dress at the following retailers:


I actually bought mine at Belk, but it seems to be sold out there.

Sandals: Manolo Blahnik Patent Leather T-Strap Sandals (sold out)

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Show Off...

Square neck dresses are super chic and sexy, and this new dress from BCBGMaxAzria is no exception. I am just so in love with it, and even though the material is heavy, the dress is still perfect for summer.

Dress: BCBGMaxAzria Wilma Knit Jacquard Sheath Dress


For reference, I'm wearing a size small. The dress, my current favorite, is still available! Buy it now (while you still can) at the following retailers:


I am just loving BCBG this season!

Sandals: Jimmy Choo Atlas Patent Leather Crisscross Sandals


If you find the square neck a bit revealing, the brand also has a similar dress that's a tad more conservative.

Here's a quick update on what I'm reading/listening to/watching at the moment:

Listening to: Panama Wedding
I just discovered this band and I'm obsessed. Check them out if you like alternative music and/or you're fans of bands like Keane or Snow Patrol.

Reading: Two books at once!
I just finished The Book of Unknown Americans: A Novel, and I loved it. It's so well written, and the characters and overall story pulled me in from the start. My mother-in-law, Sheila, had me buy it since I share all my Kindle books with her, and I'm so glad she recommended it. It's not a novel I would normally pick up.

I'm also in the middle of the new Emily Giffin novel, First Comes Love. I am enjoying it so far!

Watching: Grace and Frankie
As you know, I just finished Stranger Things on Netflix, but I'm also watching Grace and Frankie, a Netflix comedy from one of the creators of Friends. I am almost done with season one, and I have just fallen in love with the show and its characters. The story centers on Grace and Frankie (Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin), two wives whose husbands leave them... for each other. In addition to seeing how Grace and Frankie wrestle with this new development so late in their lives, we also see how the husbands adjust to being out in the open about their love. And don't forget the kids from each marriage! I highly recommend the show. Netflix is just on a tear lately with good programming.

Monday, July 25, 2016

What's Your Best Color?

I'll be the first to admit that this light of shade of pink doesn't do me any favors. I don't think it matches well with my skin tone, and although I love the print, the overall look is just too muted on my frame. Not every color or print is going to be a good fit, so trust your instincts when it comes to fashion. You know what looks best!


Dress: French Connection Bacongo Daisy Floral Sheath Dress

Available at:


If you love the print -- just not the sheath style -- it also comes in more of a fit and flare silhouette, which you can find at Amazon, Belk and Nordstrom. There's even a tank top!

Sandals: SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker (no longer available)

I'm gearing up for a super busy week, and of course it's so hot in Atlanta right now. To top it off, our Internet and cable went out yesterday afternoon, so we have to wait until Tuesday for Comcast to come out and fix it. That means I will be reading actual books instead of watching TV or Netflix.

Thank goodness we finished binge watching the first season of Stranger Things on Netflix late Saturday night. Chapin and I were both hooked from the first episode, and I definitely recommend you check it out if you like movies like Super 8, The Goonies or Firestarter. It's kind of a combination of all three. Just don't watch it alone... or in the dark. Cue scary music here.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Doily of a Dress

It's been quite a busy week for me, and I am so grateful that it's finally Friday. Things at Local Marketing, Inc., are busier than ever. We are signing new clients and staffing up, which means chunks of my day are spent interviewing candidates. I know that's a good thing in the long run, but it's a definite time suck. Fortunately, we are finding some great digital marketing talent in the Atlanta area.

Today's dress is both casual and fun, perfect for a Friday.

Dress: BCBGMaxAzria Crochet Amberly Fit and Flare Dress


Pumps: Also from BCBGMaxAzria (no longer available)

This dress could easily go from day to night: Just change out the footwear (funky high heeled sandals would work), add a clutch and maybe some dangling earrings, and you're set for dinner or drinks.

In my case, I will be going home straight after work to crash on the couch. Chapin and I just started watching a new series, Stranger Things, on Netflix, and we are hooked. I love that it's set in the early 80s, and it even has 80s "It Girl" Winona Ryder back in a leading role. Looking at her, I realize why we hate for celebrities to seem older; it's a bitter reminder that we're getting older as well. Winona is in her 40s now, but she still looks great! I think her performances as Lydia, Veronica, Kim, Dinky, Lelaina, Jo, Finn, etc. are too fresh in my head. Can you name the movies those roles go along with?

The dress was recently worn by "Jennifer" on Days of Our Lives.


I remember when my sister, Gail, and I used to watch soaps, mostly during the summertime when school was out. We liked The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, and our cousin, Alicia, got us hooked on General Hospital. It's funny to me that these shows just go on and on, often with the same people in the same roles. I guess that's why people love soaps; the drama never ends, and the characters are always more miserable than you are.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

My Sisters and Me

Today's dress was a gift from my little sister, Laura, and her family. I am so blessed to have not just one but two amazing sisters in my life. They are my best friends, the people I turn to in times of joy and grief, and they can make me laugh harder than anyone else.


Dress: Catherine Catherine Malandrino Women's Baum Dress

I love colorblock dresses, and this one is no exception. I just wish it had pockets.

Sandals: Kate Spade New York (no longer available)

Monday, July 18, 2016

Tips for Workplace Dressing From a Corporate Fashionista

One constant refrain when it comes to getting dressed for work: What is appropriate and what is too casual in today's office environment?

Early in my career, fresh out of college, I wore jeans to work pretty much every day... because I could. It was the early 2000s, the Internet bubble hadn't quite burst, and working environments were accepting casual wear as the norm. I think I suffered for my choice of attire, though; I wasn't taken seriously as a career woman dressed in a casual top and jeans. I was a content writer, seen as more fluff than substance.

It probably wasn't until I started graduate school in my late 20s that I realized that old adage, "Dress for the job you want," is really true. I started wearing suits and dresses to work, and things started to change.

Now, as my blog readers well know, I am always "dressed up" for work. The reason? I never know when a client is just going to show up at the office, or I'll be asked to sit in on a meeting that wasn't on my calendar. As a leader in my company, I have to prepare for the unexpected, and that means setting a good example and dressing appropriately for all occasions. But as a "corporate fashionista," I still want to look cute!


Dress: Nine West Floral Fit and Flare Dress in Sunshine

Macy's carries Nine West dresses, as does Amazon. Nine West sundresses tend to be cute and inexpensive. Here's a similar floral fit and flare dress in a different color palette if yellow isn't for you.

Pumps: Giuseppe Zanotti Daisy Pumps (no longer available)

Today's dress is an example of something that is borderline too casual for me. The dress is fun and pretty, but it's also a sundress. It works for a casual office day, but also for brunch on a Sunday or a dinner out with the girls. That said, here are my basic rules for dressing for work:

1. Try not to show too much skin, especially above the waist. Revealing bare shoulders (like in a strapless dress with no sweater or jacket over it) or an open-back dress where it's clear you aren't wearing a bra should be saved for weekend outings.

2. Shorts are never appropriate for the office - I don't care how cute they might be. Rompers are generally out as well.

3. Always wear a bra and underwear. If the dress or outfit doesn't allow you to wear one or both of these items, then don't wear it to work.

4. Know your audience. If you are meeting with someone more conservative, try to dress that way, and save your "borderline" outfits for Fridays or days when you don't have to make a big presentation.

5. Use good judgment. If you feel like you need to hide behind your desk as soon as you get to work, then next time leave this outfit hanging in your closet.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Powder Blue

This light shade of blue, what I'm calling powder blue or maybe cornflower blue, seems to be a popular shade this season. I have seen several dresses in this shade of blue from different designers; in fact, I own a few of them! I wore a Halston Heritage dress in this shade on my recent Charleston trip to meet author Emily Giffin.


Dress: BCBGMAXAZRIA Cassandra Lace Fit and Flare Dress

I bought this dress on clearance at Belk.com. I love a good deal! Although it's sold out at Belk, it's still available at the following online retailers:


It's a little short, but the dress is super comfortable and lightweight - perfect for a hot summer day.

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Peep-Toe Pumps


I had a pretty low-key weekend. I saw my mom, my sister, Laura, and my nephew, Cole, on Saturday (lunch and shopping at Target), and then I hit Phipps for the big sale at Herve Leger. I scored a beautiful dress at 70% off!

The rest of the weekend I spent working and binge watching Jane the Virgin on Netflix. It's such a cute show - very soapy - and I highly recommend it. I'm so addicted! (Thanks, Gail, for the recommendation.)

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Every Rose Has a Thorn

The pattern on this dress is truly unique; the bold orange and pink roses against the black and white background really make the flowers pop. But... it might be just a tad too short for work.

Dress: French Connection Midnight Rose Short-Sleeved Dress


The dress is still available at Amazon Fashion, 6pm and eBay. The dress runs small, so size up. (I'm normally a size 4, but I'm usually a size 6 in French Connection if the dress is at all fitted.)

I feel like French Connection makes about five dresses, but sells them in so many different patterns that you feel like you're buying a whole new dress. I think I have this same style in at least three different prints. Fortunately, French Connection is usually pretty cheap; I bought this dress for about $20 at Belk.

Pumps: BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Nate Platform Pumps

These pumps are about eight years old - I purchased them in 2008! - but I love them. They are very comfortable for heels, and I always get so many compliments on them.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Getting Old

I hope everyone had a Happy July Fourth! I love this time of year, when the days are long and you spend a lot of time outdoors. I'm realizing more and more, though, that I am getting old. This year marked my fourth time running the Peachtree Road Race (10K/6.2 miles) , and at 38, I sure did struggle in the heat and humidity. I had my worst time ever (around 53 minutes), but when it's hot like it was this past weekend, it's just hard for me to run at my normal pace. I had to stop twice for fear that I might pass out or just fall over. I just don't do well in the heat, and today, my calves and my back are killing me! Yep, I'm definitely getting old.

Today, I wanted to wear something fairly comfortable, since most of my body is still recovering from the race (and the huge hills in the second half of the course). But I still needed to look professional since I had a client meeting this afternoon. The answer: this sheath dress from Tahari ASL.


Dress: Tahari ASL Tri-Tone Sheath Dress in Grey/Neon Pink/Black

The dress is no longer available in this color scheme, but I did find it in a pretty blue on Overstock.com. Here is also a similar style to check out at Neiman Marcus Last Call.

Sandals:  Manolo Blahnik Chaos Metallic Mesh Ankle Strap Sandals

Here's a photo taken early Monday morning. I knew going in it was going to be a difficult race (the humidity was at 85%), so I was just dreading it. The shorts I bought especially to wear on the Fourth -- there are stars on the sides -- but they ended up chafing my lower back. At least I was somewhat dressed up for race day.

July 4th, 2016, around 7 a.m. (no makeup)

Friday, July 1, 2016

Red, White and Blue

I'm feeling patriotic today, the last workday before the Fourth of July holiday, so here I am in my red, white and blue.


Dress: Taylor Dresses White and Navy Floral Embroidered Dress

I actually bought the dress for my recent trip to Charleston, but never had a chance to wear it. I guess it worked out, because it's the perfect casual dress to wear on the Friday before a long weekend. You can still buy it at several online retailers:


Sandals: Jimmy Choo Lang Sandals in Flame

I'm excited for the long weekend, even though Atlanta temperatures will be in the high 90s. I'll be running the Peachtree Road Race on July Fourth, and Chapin and I will be attending a cookout on Sunday. The rest of the time, I plan to relax, read and write.

Happy Fourth to All!