Clothes Should Make You Happy

I have a hard time letting go of things... including summer. Although this pink eyelet Trina Turk dress is probably better suited for a hot spring or summer day, it's still a fun outfit to wear on a casual Friday in fall. Fortunately, although it's already mid-October, we are having some beautiful weather here in Atlanta, so it's still the perfect time for a sleeveless dress. It's also the perfect month for pink; it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Plus, I don't believe in fashion rules. I believe you should wear what makes you feel good, what makes you happy. This dress makes me smile.

My smile gets even bigger when I think about how much I paid for this dress. I recently snapped it up for just $20 at Belk (yes, the Belk at Phipps Plaza). The dress was originally $298! I certainly do love a bargain.

Outfit Details:

Dress: Trina Turk Elin Pink Eyelet Fit and Flare Dress

It's on sale at several other retailers, though not for the price I paid. (Belk.com doesn't have nearly the same selection as the Phipps Plaza store.) I love this dress so much I would have paid a lot more for it!

Find it here:

• Bloomingdale's
• Cusp
• 6pm

Sandals: SJP Sarah Jessica Parker (no longer available)

You can find SJP shoes at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's, and occasionally... Nordstrom Rack. Keep an eye out for the good sales.

The Right Way to Do Stripes

Clothes can often be an optical illusion, making you look thinner or wider through the use of color and print. Darker colors, like black, are slimming. That's why every girl owns a million and one LBDs (little black dresses). Print can also play with your perception. Horizontal stripes, for example, can make you look bigger, while vertical stripes do the opposite. BCBGMaxAzria turned this basic rule into a dress designed to make your chest look bigger and your hips and waist more narrow. What woman wouldn't want that? I also love the green and blue hues, and I played with my eye makeup to match.

Dress: BCBGMaxAzria Renley Short Sleeve Fit and Flare Dress

The dress is still available at 6pm, and you can find the same dress in a different color scheme at Amazon. I actually bought it for a steal (I think $15 maybe) at Belk. They were having a clearance sale a few weeks ago, and I scored some amazing finds. If you're in Atlanta, definitely check out the Belk at Phipps Plaza!

Arm Candy: Kate Spade New York Purse in Mint Mojito

Shoes: Kate Spade New York Wedges

These cute wedges are no longer available, but check out these similar styles:

• Kate Spade New York Roxana Wedge Pumps
• Kate Spade New York Radiant Wedge Peep-Toe Pumps

Fiesta!

After a fun weekend in Chicago with my sister, Gail, it's back to work I go! I'm trying to feature the last of my more lightweight dresses before fall hits Atlanta in full force. The weather today is sunny and in the high 70s, so although I'm seeing Halloween decorations everywhere, I can't quite resign myself to the fact that it will be cold soon.

Today's dress is from Nanette Lepore, and the crazy print makes me want to break out a pinata and some margaritas. It's actually called the Machu Picchu dress, and it's still available online at Amazon, Cusp and Zappos. The dress is a little big on me, so you could probably size down depending on your comfort level.

Dress: Nanette Lepore

Shoes: Charles David (no longer available)

Celebrity Sighting!
Mindy Kaling wore the dress on her show, The Mindy Project. I am planning to get Hulu soon just so I can watch this show!

The Keyhole Dress

The "keyhole" neckline can add a little sexy to any dress - and it's more subtle than many other necklines. Depending on the overall design of the dress, the keyhole dress can still be professional and appropriate for work. In this case, with such an adorable overall design from Trina Turk, you are certain to turn heads (in the right way) in any situation.

Dress: Trina Turk Ida Crepe Sheath Dress with Jeweled Keyhole Neckline

Available at the following retailers:

• Amazon
• Lord and Taylor
• North River Outfitter
• Zappos

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Capsize Metallic Cap Toe Pumps

Watch: Michele

Guava

The color of today's dress is so vibrant, like the inside of a guava fruit. It's the perfect dress to wear on a gloomy, overcast day. It's been raining off and on all week, and I am hoping the weather will clear up by Saturday, when I'm running a 5K in Candler Park. How could I resist a run where you dress up in 1980s garb? I'll be rocking some neon colors, for sure.

Today's Outfit:

Dress: Shoshanna Anita Dress

Shoes: BCBGeneration Jakalyn Gold and Clear Ankle-Strap Sandals

Bag: Stella and Dot Gold Perforated Clutch

I'm looking forward to seeing some of my grad school friends tonight when we meet up at bartaco in West Midtown. Getting my MBA was probably one of the most difficult and fulfilling things I've ever done, since I was also working full-time. I love seeing my old classmates and catching up with them; they are such a wonderful group of men and women!

I also thought I would start including some fun facts in these blog posts about what I'm doing in my (little) spare time.

Currently Reading:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I only get to read for about 15 minutes each day, but I absolutely love this book and am so engrossed in the story. It's set during World War II, and each chapter alternates between a young blind girl in France and an orphaned boy in Germany. I am only about halfway through, and I can't wait to see how their worlds collide. If you're looking for something new to read, I highly recommend this book!

Currently Watching:
Pretty Little Liars on Netflix (season 3)

Currently Listening to:
Catcall: I love the song "Satellites" and it's been stuck in my head all day!

Pretty Little Dress

I am completely obsessed with Pretty Little Liars. I just started binge watching it on Netflix - I'm already on Season 3 - and I am having to really stop myself from looking up spoilers on the Internet. I am usually a total "spoiler slut," but I'm having too much fun trying to guess at what outrageous plot line the Pretty Little Liars writers will throw at the audience next. If you are looking for a soapy show to watch while you're doing other things (for me: treadmill), then I highly recommend this campy little show.

The actresses on Pretty Little Liars always look perfect: shiny hair, trendy accessories, fun and stylish clothes. They inspired me to try a different look with my hair: big curls. I would love to rock this look more often, but with the Atlanta humidity, the curls last about an hour, so I usually don't bother. At the start of the day, though, they are still intact.

Dress: Shoshanna "Mermaid" Aqua and Gold Fit and Flare Dress

Also available online at Shoshanna.com and Neiman Marcus.

Shoes: Casadei Gold Croc-Embossed Sling-Back Pumps (no longer available)

You can find Casadei pumps online at Saks, Shopbop and other retailers.

The Linda Dress

I absolutely adore this dress from Trina Turk, and it's the cherry on top that it's named the "Linda Dress," which also happens to be my mom's name. I love my mom very much, and I am so glad that we have become so close as I've started getting older; now, I can truly call her my friend. Of course, she's still my mom - she still nags me about going to the doctor, she still checks up on me to make sure I'm staying gluten-free, etc. - but we have fun shopping and talking and reminiscing. I hold my mom in the highest esteem and often wish I could be more like her.

Today's Outfit Details:

Dress: Trina Turk

Shoes: Jimmy Choo

Purse: Kate Spade New York

My tastes are pretty simple: Give me a fit and flare dress with a v-neck in a solid or pretty print, and I'm sold. The basket weave print here is in pink and green with hints of blue, making it perfect for spring and summer. Since tomorrow is technically the first day of autumn, I'm getting it in just under the wire.

It's hard for me to let go of summer, but I do love the fall season with its bold colors and crisp weather. (I was, after all, married in fall, and had red roses and berries in my bouquet!) I know this fall will be hard without George. It is partly my favorite season because we could more easily do things with George outside, when the temperatures cooled off but it was still nice out. The summer is too hot for pugs to be outside very long, and George so adored being outside. I'm still so grateful he spent one of his last days on Earth outside with Chapin and Norman, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

One of the last photos taken of my sweet George.

As we go into fall, there's another reason to be happy: End of Season Sales! Make sure you are checking your favorite stores for discounts on summer clothing. At least in Georgia, you can still wear your summer clothes for awhile yet!

Happy shopping!