It's Black, It's White

Today's outfit details:

Dress: Black Halo

Shoes: BCBGMaxAzria

Foiled

I am going with a bit of a 60s vibe today with this Shoshanna shift dress, which shines bright like a piece of foil, and light pink lips. 

You can see I look especially tired today - I'm so glad it's almost the weekend and I can sleep in. I'm also really excited to get my first blowout tomorrow at Dry Bar for my friend, Emily's, wedding. Then Sunday, we are planning to see Gone Girl! I can't wait.

Dress: Shoshanna Silver Foil Herringbone Fit and Flare Charlie Dress

Shoshanna.com still has the dress available for just $99 in a few sizes. Also check out the top, skirt, and a more dressed up version of the dress. All these pieces are made with the same fabric as the dress I'm wearing today.

Shoes: BCBGMaxAzria

Julia for a Day

Whenever I wear today's dress, I think of Julia Roberts and her brown and white polka dot dress from Pretty Woman.

I was 12 when the movie came out, and it was a big deal that my parents allowed my sisters and I to watch it. It remains one of my favorite movies of all time. It's hard to believe Julia was just 21 years old when she made that movie.

Dress: Shoshanna Brown and White Polka Dot Maxine Dress

Shoes: BCBG MaxAzria

Celebrity Sighting!

Michaela Watkins was seen in this dress last year when doing press for Trophy Wife.

Golden Delight

Dress: Ali Ro Lurex Mini Stripe Fit and Flare Dress

Sandals: BCBGMaxAzria

Petite, or Not Petite

Friday, June 10th, I wore a dress that had not been previously documented for the Fashion Challenge, so I wanted to share the picture here.

I think this BCBGMaxAzria one-piece tie dress is perfect for a casual Friday, and definitely works better than jeans in these soaring, dry temperatures. (I think it's been 15 days since Atlanta had rain.)

The dress is comfortable, too, although looking back I really should have purchased the petite version. My torso is so short that I am constantly pulling the dress up to keep it from completely gaping open at the neckline. There are no buttons, and the slit is pretty deep, so if I'm not careful I can put on a bit of a show.

I am five feet and three and a half inches tall (don't forget that half), so I'm really borderline when it comes to choosing the petite version or normal sized clothing. Most of the time, I go with the normal version since I am always in heels anyway, but in some outfits, it's really just better to go petite. That's the trouble with buying clothes online -- you really don't know if you need the petite version until you try it on.

Just the Way You Are

It's hard to believe it's my last day in the office in 2010. This year has gone incredibly past, and has been marked with so many different types of moments, from the agonizing and sad to the happy and relaxing. I have to admit I will be glad to ring in a new year.

Today I'm wearing a cheerful color because of two reasons: I still feel run-down and like I'm getting sick, and because Chapin woke me up several times so I failed to get a good night's sleep. This is not Chapin's fault - he is stuffed up, and has thus started snoring - but I'm grumpy nonetheless.

- The dress: Magenta BCBGMaxAzria light sweater dress

I remember wearing this dress on the plane ride to Ohio for my cousin, Tara's, wedding last year. It's so comfortable!

- The shoes: Oh Deer... Palace Tortoise Pumps

I find these shoes to be very comfortable. I wore them to Christmas Eve mass last year, and since we arrived late, we didn't get a seat, and thus had to stand for over an hour. I was very glad to be in these pumps if I was going to be in any high-heeled shoes. I actually completely forgot I had these pumps... and then I found them when trying to organize my shoes a few weeks ago. Clearly I do not have adequate space for all my things!

Someday

This morning while getting dressed, after I could not find the dress I had planned to wear, I settled on this simple BCBGMaxAzria long-sleeve v-neck dress that I've had for several years. This dress is fairly comfortable, but the neckline is a little deep and doesn't sit that well on my frame. (BCBGMaxAzria tends to run large on the top.) But the dress is great. It has a cute tie in back, and I love the design with its combination of flowers and polka dots. It's not something you see everyday.

I'm wearing my BCBGMaxAzria Michelle flats, and frankly, I think I look weird when I'm not in heels. I am so short I almost look like I am curtsying in the picture, but I had to choose this one becuase my arms were down. My husband keeps telling me not to put my hands on my hips for all the pictures, and how could I deny his request today? (He's home sick with a virus or flu.)

I am loading up on vitamins to avoid getting whatever he has, but I'm not that hopeful. As you can see in the picture - despite going to bed at 10 p.m. last night - I still look incredibly tired. I think something in my system is about to rear its ugly head... and just in time for New Year's Eve. Oh, what luck! I did buy a Mega Millions ticket today, so hopefully my luck won't be all bad. :)

It Can't Rain All the Time

Although Christmastime and cold weather seem to go hand in hand, the weather outside today seems more suited to January: cold, wet, dreary. It's raining outside as I write this entry, and I'm glad I had time to walk George at lunchtime so we don't have to venture out in this freezing rain anytime soon.

Although I don't normally wear this dress with tights, there was no way I was showing bare leg today. I bought this BCBGMaxAzria puff sleeve dress back in 2009. I guess you would call this color teal, although it looks more green in the photo. I remember wearing this dress to Christmas Eve mass last year with my parents, so I wanted to wear it again around this time of year. Don't you like how clothes often represent memories for people?

The shoes are also BCGGMaxAzria: the black patent leather Dida Square Toe Pumps I've had for several years. I usually wear these shoes a lot in the wintertime, since they go so great with black tights.

Last night I was up way too late - midnight! - wrapping gifts. I definitely didn't realize I had so much to do when I started, but I'm glad that I put a major dent in my wrapping. I generally like to wrap gifts; I just put a Christmas movie on TV, and set up on the floor with all my supplies. George usually leaves me alone, too. He would much rather veg out on the couch than investigate the gifts, wrapping paper and other necessities.

One thing I do want to mention:  Chapin bought me the hands-free tape dispenser that I had seen advertised on TV. You can't imagine how excited I was about this invention... but it really doesn't work as advertised. We'll probably be sticking with normal tape dispensers from now on.

Miss You Much

It's suddenly freezing cold in Atlanta, and I still have short-sleeve dresses to wear for the Fashion Challenge. Thank goodness for tights to keep my legs warm! Today is actually Day 73, if you can believe it. I only count the outfits I wear to work, so I am not even including any of my cocktail dresses or weekend outfits in that tally. Clearly I am a bit of a shopaholic! I have completely taken over Chapin's pull-up bar with clothes.

Today I'm in a "two-fer" ruffled dress from Max and Cleo. I love the blue on this dress, and it's really very waist defining. I am also wearing flats for a change: my Michelle jeweled jelly flats from BCBGMaxAzria. They are actually peep-toes, and I realized after I'd already left for work that my tights had a hole in the left toe! Fortunately, I was able to hide it all day. :)

One thing I also have to mention is what a wonderful man I am married to. After hearing me nag him for weeks that I want cupcake pajamas for Christmas, he surprised me with a Pajama Gram today. (It's my first!) Inside was a pink tank top and cupcake pajamas shorts. I am so excited. The card read: "Merry Early Christmas. Love, Chapin." What a sweet man!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Today it really feels like winter, and it's funny, because it's also the first day of December! Due to a bad rainstorm yesterday, most of the trees have now fully shed their leaves. Those bare branches are one of the things I like the least about wintertime.

I am starting to pull out some of my heavier clothes now that we're getting into 40-degree temperatures, and today's outfit is one of my winter favorites. I love this BCBGMaxAzria sweater dress-- it's comfortable and looks so cute! I also think it's one of the more unique items in my closet due to that crazy pattern. I actually bought this dress at full-price because I wanted it so badly. Let me tell you - that is rare!

I am also wearing BCBGMaxAzria pumps and black tights with a subtle stripe pattern. You can't even tell there is a pattern in the picture.

I'm trying to do more poses because my husband tells me I do the same pose everyday. Well, it's actually harder than you think to stand every morning in front of a camera and think of different ways to position your arms and legs.

Last night Chapin and I had a great night, so I woke up feeling good. He made duck for dinner - it was delicious! - and then we finished decorating the tree while watching Scrooged on TV. Later, Home Alone 2 came on, and Chapin asked me, very seriously, if Susan Boyle was in the movie. I could not stop laughing. The actress who plays the pigeon lady actually looks very much like her!

Beat It

It's back to the grind today, and Atlanta decided to welcome everyone back from vacation with cold temperatures and a rainy ride home. I had so much going on in the office today I didn't even leave for lunch until 1:45, and then I rushed home to quickly walk George before the rain hit and scarf down some sweet potatoes and stuffing for lunch. Gotta love those Thanksgiving leftovers!

Here I am in today's outfit, and as you can see, I am in desperate need of a hair cut. I am wearing a simple BCBGMaxAzria blue/black/gray colorblock dress, black tights and Charles by Charles David Curtsy pumps in black tweed. This dress is comfortable and I love the colors. I matched my eye shadow today to the blue in the dress using my NARS trio eyeshadow color palette. I'm sure it's too matchy-matchy, but I love experimenting with eye shadow.

It's also Cyber Monday today, the biggest online shopping day of the year. Hopefully you are filling your virtual shopping carts with gifts for friends and loved ones. It's hard to believe Christmas is less than a month away.

You've Got a Friend

Chapin and I had a wonderful evening last night visiting with our friend, Rahul, and his girlfriend, Vinnie. Rahul and Chapin have been friends for almost 15 years now, and he was one of Chapin's groomsmen when we got married.

I also consider Rahul a good friend. He is such a kind, caring, intelligent, generous individual, and you can always depend on him. He even watched Izzie for us when we needed someone to help out. Rahul is always a person you want on your side, and I am honored to call him my friend after all these years.

Our dinner reservations were at a restaurant called Craft in Buckhead. Rahul was the only person at our table who had eaten there before, and he swears by their steaks. As many people know, I no longer eat cow, pig or lamp, so I opted for the Red Snapper, while Chapin had the duck. I honestly wish I had ordered the duck, because it was so delicious!

The dinner conversation was fun and friendly, and we enjoyed getting to know Vinnie, who is awesome! Dessert was pretty good, too. I enjoyed the Toasted Pecan ice cream, while Chapin had the Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Roulade.

As we were leaving, we had a funny encounter with one of the valets. We stood outside for maybe five minutes before a valet even showed up, and when he did, he swore up and down that Chapin had been there "waaaaaay" before Rahul, even though Rahul actually walked outside first. It was so random it made us laugh. Maybe you had to be there.

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Rahul and Chapin, from our wedding in 2003. They always laugh when they're together.

I also can't forget to mention my outfit: I am wearing the Black Halo Kimberly Satin dress, which has been seen on celebrities like Olivia Munn. I am also wearing my BCBGMaxAzria Two-Toned Sequin Pumps that Chapin bought me in San Francisco.

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me

I have a very busy day ahead of me, so unfortunately I won't have too much time to blog today. I am very excited that Thanksgiving is exactly one week from today. Work has been so crazy for both me and Chapin that we could use a nice break, not to mention all the good eats that await. Turkey and stuffing is one of my very favorite meals.

Anway, I am wearing the Trina Turk Belted Kiss 2 Dress with black tights and black patent leather shoes from BCBGMaxAzria. This dress is comfortable and definitely emphasizes a small waist. Although the back is a bit open, it is still very professional looking. As I have meetings and interviews today - we are hiring! - I needed something that I'd feel good in all day long. I can't wait for Friday!

And Then You

The week is off to a rainy start, and Chapin and George got soaked at the end of their walk this morning. Today will probably also be the last day this week where a coat will be optional. I will miss the gorgeous, sunny, 70-degree weather we've been experiencing lately.

My outfit today is one I call my "black and blue dress": BCBGMaxAzria's Color-Blocked Ponte Dress that you can purchase now on the BCBG.com website. This style is probably my favorite, as I find it to be very flattering on all types of figures.

You may have noticed that I have several ponte dresses from designers like BCBG, Cynthia Steffe and Shoshanna. They are also great to wear to work because they are both chic, professional and comfortable.

I don't own any booties, so I opted for my Betsey Johnson mesh pumps with rose detailing. They are high - about five inches, I think - but I love them. I think Carrie Bradshaw would understand...

Let's Hear it for the Boy

It's been a busy week, and I am so glad it's finally Friday. Chapin and I have plans for a low-key weekend, and we have decided to make a pact to try to eat more healthy foods and limit the amount of junk we put in our system. With Halloween candy, cupcakes and other sweets in the house, it's just not easy to watch our calorie count.

I definitely stayed up too late last night, which is why I think I look so tired today. Chapin and I watched a scary movie -- Daybreakers, with Ethan Hawke -- that had some disturbing images. So, rather than go to bed and risk nightmares, I ended up watching reruns of The Golden Girls until midnight. Sophia always makes me laugh!

Anyway...Today's dress is from BCBCMaxAzria, a "combo" dress that looks like a top and skirt - but it's not! I am also wearing my Modern Vintage Eligia T-Strap Suede Pumps.

Just Can't Get Enough

As a marketer, I love testing out different things to see what works and what doesn't. In the business world, it's all about ROI. In my personal life, a lot of times it's about what looks good and produces the most enjoyment. So, I tried something different with my makeup today, and I'm not sure it garnered good results.

Bare Minerals from Bare Escentuals has a new type of eye shadow out: High Shine. Although I originally though it would be liquid, it's not - it's dry and flaky, with a heavier consistency that normal eyeshadow. I purchased the gold color, Bronzed, thinking I'd like to try a lighter, glittery eye shadow on my lids to see how it would work. Well, as you can see in the picture, the gold is just too light, and I really need a darker color to make my eyes pop. Oh well. You live and learn, right?

As for my outfit, I am wearing a green BCBGMaxAzria dress that my in-laws gave me for Christmas last year. It's hard to believe the holidays are almost here! Although I know I will have difficult days ahead - Izzie seems to be on my mind more and more lately - I am excited to spend time with my family. I can't wait to see my nephews in just a few short weeks! I'm sure they have grown so much since I saw them last.

The shoes today are the Charles David Soulful pumps in Camel, and the necklace is from Betsey Johnson. I'm not sure you can see it clearly in the picture, but it's a red apple. I just think it's the cutest thing.

Beautiful Day

Today's dress, from BCBGMaxAzria, was featured on a recent episode of ABC's Modern Family. Chapin and I love this show, and if you're not watching it, you are missing out on one of television's funniest half hour comedies. My favorite character is probably Manny (Rico Rodriguez), though the goofy Phil (Ty Burrell) runs a close second.

The BCBGMaxAzria Black & Jade Dress in question was worn by Chapin's favorite character, the beautiful and voluptuous Gloria (Sofia Vergara). Although the day we watched the episode I pointed out that I had this dress and that this t-shirt look was a recent trend in fashion, I'm sure all he heard was "wa-wa-wa" like in Charlie Brown movies. When she's on the screen, little else matters!

I paired the dress with some fancy pumps: Betsey Johnson "Neville" Mesh Peep-Toe Pumps. I could not find the exact shoes online, but here is a similar pair. You can't tell from the picture, but the pumps are covered in subtle roses. They are so pretty!

Life is a Highway

It's another cold, rainy morning here in Atlanta. I'm really missing the sun! Hopefully this dreary weather will end soon.

Today I'm wearing a dress from Lauren Moffatt. The purple version of this dress has been featured on Gossip Girl, and Venus Williams was also spotted in the exact dress back in 2009.

This dress is very comfortable, and has some great detailing. I like the neckline as well! I paired the dress with some anthracite peep toes from BCBGMaxAzria. I don't wear these shoes too often, because they are squeaky, but they go perfectly with this dress.

You will also see in the picture that Zooey spent another night at our house. Unfortunately for Zooey - and me - she's in heat, so she has to wear a diaper. She is very sweet, though, and follows me wherever I go. I could never get George to sit for a picture like this!

If Only We Could Sleep

I am exhausted today, probably because I have not been getting enough sleep lately. So, I apologize in advance for the bags under my eyes. The alarm went off as usual, but I turned it right off and went back to sleep. Although I didn't get my workout in, I hope the extra sleep did me some good!

Today I'm in a simple brown Eva Franco dress and BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Harper Peep Toe Wedges in Dark Taupe.The dress is very comfortable, which was my top objective when choosing my outfit this morning. I went light on the jewelry simply because I was in a rush to get dressed after sleeping in a bit: just my diamond studs and rings.

It's Not Easy Being Green

It's been warm and humid in Atlanta the last few days, and Monday was very rainy and stormy, so I decided to start back at work after my vacation wearing a bright, vibrant color: this beautiful emerald green. The dress is from Rebecca Minkoff, who is definitely more known for her handbags than her clothing, but I fell in love with the cut and color of this dress at first sight.

The dress is the Rebecca Minkoff Ilaria Dress, which is still available in black, red and a sweet floral pattern on RebeccaMinkoff.com. I also realized as I was researching this dress that Buffy star Michelle Trachtenberg recently wore this dress in red. How cool!

Although it wrinkles easily, I like many of the unique aspects of the dress: the tulip design of the hem, the low cut and knot in front and the puff sleeves.

I paired the dress with my bracelet watch (from Stacey and Daniel) and java brown BCBGMaxAzria Deivis Pumps.