Warm in Wool

I love wool dresses, and they are perfect for cold, windy days like today. But living with two pugs means any fabric like wool is immediately covered in pug hair. Oh well, what can you do? I'm not going to give up my two cuddle bugs. Norman was being especially sweet this morning, wanting to nestle in my lap while I ate my breakfast.

Today's outfit is from my favorite designer, Shoshanna: just a simple blue and black wool sheath dress. Colorblocking is one trend that I have embraced wholeheartedly.

Dress: Shoshanna Noura Wool Colorblocked Dress

The dress is still available on Gilt.com. Click on this link to get an exclusive invite and save 30% off your first purchase.

Booties: L.A.M.B.

Here is a shot with the blue Kate Spade purse that perfectly matches the blue in the dress.

Purse: Kate Spade New York

Wine With That?

The new hot Fall color is apparently "wine" (also known as Bordeaux or maroon). Fortunately, I have several dresses in that color, like this one from designer Rebecca Taylor.

Dress: Rebecca Taylor Bordeaux and Black Colorblocked Dress

The dress is on clearance at Bluefly for a great price! It's also available at SaksOff5th.com in just a few sizes.

Shoes: L.A.M.B. Glance Wool Booties (no longer available)

Last Christmas

I am excited because today is my last day in the office for the week. Christmas is now just a few days away! Atlanta is also experiencing some surprisingly nice weather: it's going to be in the 60s today.

I decided to take advantage of the warmer weather to get out the dress I wore last Christmas: this silk Betsey Johnson red and black polka dot dress. I love the puffed sleeves and overall 50s look of the dress, and it's pretty comfortable. I paired it with my Stuart Weitzman Conchita red patent flats that I haven't gotten to wear in ages. I tried on a few different pairs of shoes with this dress, but these go the best.

I couldn't find the dress online, but Dolce&Gabbana just released a beautiful red and black polka dot dress that Reese Witherspoon actually wore to accept her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It's nice to know I'm "on trend"... though I will never in my wildest dreams be able to afford D&G.

Chapin and I are staying in Atlanta for the Christmas holiday, so we're happy we don't have to spend half our vacation traveling. I'm excited to get to relax and spend time with my family. Merry Christmas!

Hazy Shade of Winter

I love a fabulous print, and the green and navy tartan pattern on today's dress is no exception. I bought the Nanette Lepore Pretty Plaid Dress back in 2009, so it's no longer available for purchase, but you can find other fabulous plaid prints from the designer online, including the Nanette Lepore On the Beat Plaid Dress.

There are a myriad of reasons why this dress is both flattering and chic:

- The cap sleeves are endearing and help slim the arm. If you're self conscious about your arms, a cap or puff sleeve is always going to be your best bet. It cuts off to help make the arms look thinner.

- The silhouette defines the waist, yet doesn't hug the hips to make you look bulky.

- It's made with 100% wool, so it's quite warm for a cold day like today, but it's lined inside so the wool doesn't touch the skin directly. (I have very sensitive skin, so this feature is a major plus!)

As for accessories, I went pretty light today, since the decorative buttons on the dress are enough to grab the eye (so no necklace needed). I am wearing my sapphire and diamond earrings and using my Michele black purse. The shoes are the Black Suede Braid Elisha T-Strap Pumps from Modern Vintage. I could only find them on eBay; I bought these shoes over a year ago.

I also thought today's picture looks pretty cool. We own a loft, so from first glance it looks like the wall above me just kind of ends... but we painted part of the upper wall and ceiling dark green to get that cool visual effect. I think the photo captures it just right.

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.

Black Magic Woman

I'm not sure why I decided to go all black today, but here I am in a black dress, black tights and black shoes. It's probably a little too much black with no color to break it up, but since I've already started my day, I guess it's too late to go back now...

The dress today is one that I'm not completely in love with, although it is by one of my favorite designers: Cynthia Steffe. I think this dress was meant to be worn by someone with a larger upper body, as the ruffles overwhelm me a bit.

You also can't see it in the picture, but the left side of the dress has a gold zipper running up its length. This makes it difficult for the dress to lay correctly at any time, so that's another frustrating detail... which may be why I don't wear this dress too often. However, I am pulling out everything for the Fashion Challenge. Today is Day #61! So far I have worn 60 dresses and one suit. 

The official name of this dress is the Cynthia Steffe Sleeveless Ruffled Cotton Eyelet Dress. I could only find it online in a size zero at Lord and Taylor, but who knows - you could see it on Smart Bargains or Bluefly in a few months.

The shoes today are just my Charles by Charles David peep toe pumps that I've had for years. I'm exhausted today and it's only Tuesday! I can't wait for Thanksgiving!

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!

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Today I wore a sleeveless floral dress because I'm not sure how much longer these high temperatures here in Atlanta will stick around. The dress in question is the Leifsdottir "Shadows Cast" Printed Spun Silk-Cotton Day Dress, which unfortunately I could not find for purchase online.

Leifsdottir is available at many major online retailers, so if you like the dress, check out these stores to see what else the brand has available today.

• Leifsdottir at Bloomingdales.com
• Leifsdottir at Saks Fifth Avenue
• Leifsdottir at Bluefly.com
• Leifsdottir at Nordstrom

The Leifsdottir.com site also tends to have a great sale section, so refer to it first whenever you are thinking of making a purchase.

I love the neckline on this dress, and it's very comfortable, yet still looks chic and professional. I actually don't think this dress is all that flattering on me, which could be because it's a little big on me. Oh well.

I also wore my bracelet watch, diamond/ sapphire earrings, and scuffed up blue BCBGirls pumps because they are the only navy shoes I own! It's actually hard to find nice navy shoes these days! If you see any online, let me know...

Halloween is coming up, and I ordered costumes today for me, George and Chapin. I won't reveal our costumes just yet... you will have to wait for this weekend to see the pictures. As many of my friends and family members know, Halloween is one of my favorites holidays. Dress up, sweets and parties... who could ask for more? :)

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.

On My Way

I've gotten several comments on my outfit today, I guess because it's a little out of the ordinary for me. But I think that's what I like about this dress... and why I ended up buying it in the first place.

The dress in question is the Alix Bead Neck Silk dress from Frock by Tracy Reese. The necklace is part of the dress, which has become a trend in the past few years. (I have another "necklace dress" that has been in my closet for about a year now, but I need to get it altered a bit, so I have yet to wear it!)

I don't like wearing this dress, though, because the top always gets so wrinkled. I had to quickly iron it this morning, which made me a little late for work! Good thing I will be working late tonight anyway... :)

I paired the dress with my "Michelle" jelly wedges from BCBGMaxAzria. I like these shoes, but they are a bit squeaky when I walk.

Since there is so much going on with the dress, I kept my jewelry simple: just my diamond studs in my ears.

We Are Family

It was hard coming back to work today after spending a wonderful weekend with my sisters. My sister, Gail, came into town on Friday night with her husband in tow, and I was so excited to see her. I don't think I had seen her since June, which is probably the longest we've ever gone without an in-person visit.

I also got to experience Laura's cooking for the first time. In my mind, she's always the little sister who played with Barbies and watched 90210 and 80s movies with me -- Dirty Dancing! Dance Til Dawn! -- but she is a married lady now with a home of her own. And she's a great cook! Too bad Chapin had to miss out, because he went to the Auburn game on Saturday with some friends he knows through work.

I worked through lunch today and will need to stay late, so I haven't been outside since walking George this morning. It looks overcast out right now, but I don't think rain is in the forecast.

As for my outfit today, I'm wearing a gray and black dress from Max & Cleo, one of the brands under the BCBG umbrella. Max & Cleo is definitely a cheaper brand, and the clothes are not usually that well made, but there are some really cute options out there - like this dress!

I am also wearing Charles by Charles David Curtsy Slingbacks in Black Tweed. These shoes pinch my toes, but they sure are cute!

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Although it's Friday and I am so excited to spend the weekend with my sisters, I decided to wear black today. I was in a rush to get dressed this morning due to an early meeting, and this Betsey Johnson dress was the first item I pulled from my closet. I like the details on the dress, though they are hard to see in the picture: the white scallop edging at the top, and the white buttons down the entire front side of the dress. It ties in back.

I paired the dress with my black L.A.M.B. Quincy Pumps. Even with the height on these shoes, they are surprisingly comfortable! And I just think they are so beautiful. Maybe I do love shoes a little too much. :)

Manic Monday

Well, it's another Monday in Atlanta. It's a crazy day here at work, as usual, so my posting will be brief as I wait for a call from Chapin to let me know our new mattress has been delivered.

Today I'm wearing a Stripe/ Solid Mini Dress from Ella Moss. I could not find this dress for purchase online, though it was formerly available at Saks and a few other stores. I am not the biggest fan of this dress because it is made with a jersey material that is extremely thin. It's fairly snug, and it is not lined, so it shows everything. Oh well!

I paired the dress with Betsey Johnson accessories: my black satchel and Betsey Johnson Lavant black suede sandals with red accents. I think the red on the shoes give this black/ white ensemble a much needed extra pop of color.

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want...

It's another week in Atlanta, Georgia! The temperature has dropped significantly, and I actually had to wear a jacket when I walked George this morning. It's nice to know that Fall has finally arrived!

 
Here I am in today's outfit:
- Brown dress with red belt and red buttons down the back by Alice + Olivia
- Red Stuart Weitzman flats
- Red Nine West purse

I want to write more but I'm exhausted. Is it really only Monday?

Perfect Symmetry

I know I'm behind on all my blog posts, so I want to apologize. Tuesday I was not in the office, so here is my Wednesday outfit:

- Nanette Lepore Stella Dallas Black Multi Dress

- Purple Studio Pollini Platform Sandals

I like this dress because it is like a work of art. I have always loved pointillism (painting with dots), and one of my favorite paintings is Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. It was very exciting for me when Chapin and I saw the real thing at The Art Institute of Chicago in 2007. (We were there for Gail and Rich's wedding shower.) You may also remember Ferris and Cameron viewing this painting in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

The dress also reminds me of the poster for The Truman Show, which hung in my dorm room in college.

The dress looks very different up close than it does from farther away.

BCBGMaxAzria Khaki Dress on a Crazy, Cupcake Day

As you can see from the fact that I am just now posting my update at 10 p.m., today has been a crazy day. I went from meeting to meeting to meeting, but did manage to pick up some Cami Cakes for a colleague's birthday. They are the best cupcakes I've had so far in Atlanta, and believe me, I've tried a lot of different places.

Anyway, the outfit today is fairly simple:

- BCBGMaxAzria Khaki Belted Dress
- Modern Vintage Eligia T-Strap Pumps

The dress is lined and fairly comfortable. The gold button accents and cute belt are nice details. I love this dress, but I do have one issue with it after wearing it during my crazy day: it wrinkles incredibly easily.

I went light on the jewelry for this outfit: just my rings and diamond studs.

After looking at the picture, I also think I probably could have chosen some better shoes for this outfit, but I guess it's too late now... 

9-02-10 Day!

Today is September 2, 2010, or 9-02-10. As someone who grew up watching Brenda, Dylan, Brandon, Andrea, Kelly, Steve and the whole (original) 90210 clan, I can't help smiling at the date. Hopefully that means it will be a good day. George is getting his teeth cleaned at the vet, so I will be a nervous wreck until Dr. Woods calls to tell me he's recovering. I have been very nervous about vets every since our experiences with Izzie.

Anyway, here is my 9-02-10 outfit:

-Grey/ cream Cynthia Steffe dress with front and pocket zippers and a tie in front.

-L.A.M.B Veena heeled sandals

In case you had not noticed, I am in love with these L.A.M.B sandals. I think they are so beautiful! They are not Fall/Winter shoes, so I'm trying to get as much use out of them right now as I can! :)

Aug 27, 2010

It's Friday and Day 10 of the Fashion Challenge. Today I'm wearing a more casual dress, since I have no client meetings - just a bunch of conference calls. I am meeting a friend for lunch, so I wanted to be casual, chic and comfortable at the same time. Hopefully this outfit achieves all that!

I am wearing:

-Theory navy striped dress

-Charles David Forward navy shoes with red accents

*I could not find them online in this color, but here is a pair on eBay.

-Red Nine West patent leather purse


Chapin is coaching me on these poses, so hopefully I don't look too cheesy. Apparently all the celebrity pictures you see feature about 4-5 standard poses, including: both arms on hips, one arm on the hip, one leg crossed, etc. It's been very interesting learning all these techniques, although Chapin may be enjoying the research a little too much. :)

Aug 25, 2010

Today is Day 8 of the Fashion Challenge. Even though the temperature in Atlanta is not supposed to reach the 90s today, in my office, the air conditioning is not working, so we are all hot, irritable and sweaty. What a day! A few weeks ago the air conditioning wasn't working at home, and now it's not working at my office. Hopefully things will be back to normal tomorrow.

Today I am wearing a white Cynthia Steffe dress that features a zipper running up the side, as well as L.A.M.B Veena Sandals.

If you like the L.A.M.B. brand, it is featured today on IDEELI, a discount site. You have to have an invite to join: www.ideeli.com/invite/mseashellf. This type of discount site, along with GILT, Rue La La, Haute Look and others, is becoming more and more popular. IDEELI has limited inventory, so the faster you act, the better.

Here is a picture we took tonight after Chapin gave me lessons on how to stand correctly for these types of photos.
I look quite tan in the picture, but I don't think I am this dark in real life. I think it's the poor lighting in the loft combined with the stark white of the dress.

I have never worn these shoes with this dress before, so let me know what you think.

Aug 24, 2010

Today is Day 7 in the Fashion Challenge, and here's what I'm wearing today:

-Juicy Couture grey belted embroidered dress
*I could not find a picture of the exact dress online, but here is the dress in black

-Stuart Weitzman Lowkey cherry red patent open toe flats (picture on the right)

Many people have been asking some questions about the challenge, so I wanted to lay down some "rules":

-The clothing must all be "never worn" during the challenge to count as a different outfit. That means I can't wear the same pants with five different shirts and have that count as five different outfits.

-Shoes don't count as part of the challenge. I know I only have about 50 or 60 pairs of shoes. I think I have a lot more dresses and outfits than that.

-No shopping during the challenge. I will not add any work clothes to my wardrobe during the challenge time frame. However, I can still buy cocktail dresses and shoes and purses... oh my!

I'm going to get a small tripod so I can take a photo each morning to document each outfit. I would have Chapin take the photo before we leave for work, but he leaves about an hour before me, so that's not really an option.

Since skin care and beauty are also part of my blog name, I thought I would mention the eye shadow I'm wearing: NARS. I am a new follower of NARS beauty products. I love their blush in Orgasm and their eye shadows.

-NARS Orgasm Blush

-NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Brumes


One last thing: Today is the 24th, which means my little Izzie passed away exactly seven months ago today. I loved Izzie so much, and I miss her everyday. Here is our family in 2007: