Black and Leopard

Strawberries, Polka Dots, and Leather

Sometimes the things you just throw together end up being some of the greatest outfits!!

Serious Business

Down the Rabbit Hole

I have always loved fur. When I was about eighteen months old, my dad gave me a rabbit's foot and I carried it around everywhere in my overalls pocket! I remember taking it out and rubbing the fur and loving how soft it was. 

Night Watch Inductee

I do NOT do the cold. This morning the temperature was below freezing.

Leopard Suit

I had to go to court today, so I did have to tone my outfit down a little. 

However,  I believe that just because you work in a stuffy profession doesn't mean you have to dress frumpy. 

When you wear a black suit, it's so conservative in and of itself that you can pretty much get away with any top.

I'm convinced that animal print is one of those things that never goes out of style, but when you wear it, it always makes you look "in style."

This picture was pretty scary because it's actually about a 20 foot drop on the other side of that ledge! 

The skirt is elastic waist and the jacket is stretch jersey material, but it has the look of a tailored suit. Win!

Shop my outfit:

Skirt: Vault Denim. Find out how to order in this post. 

Shoes: Nine West

Top: Kohl's (old)

Jacket: Tart Collections

Grunge Glam

One of the things I like to do on my blog is give people something they aren't expecting or don't see often. That's why today, instead of my normal high heels, I decided to wear combat boots with my dress. I grew up during the grunge era, so in a way it's close to my heart. 

These shoes were $9.99 at Charlotte Russe. It was such a good deal (from $42.50) that I still am not convinced it wasn't a mistake.

I had kind of been avoiding the combat boot trend, but  I decided to get these and see if I could make a look that had elements of grunge but was still girly. 

I couldn't resist doing some typical 90's poses! Ha!

The lady-like pose just isn't the same with combat boots!

I do have to say that they are much more comfortable than high heels!

Sometimes contrasting trends put together turn out so cool!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone has a great week!

XOXO! - Dana

Palazzo Perfection

I have been wanting to try the palazzo pant trend forever. I bought a pair about 2 months ago, but I hadn't worn them yet because I was unsure how to style them properly for work. 

Fruit with a Punch

I love taking "Casual Friday" to the next level. I believe that when done right,  jeans and a blazer can often look more sophisticated than a dress! I have been searching for this blazer for months. I refuse to wear tight uncomfortable fabrics that don't breath and stretch. This blazer is made out of terry cloth and feels like I'm wearing a t-shirt. 

Pairing basics with high fashion shoes and a statement necklace can put a "classic" outfit on trend.

I am definitely pear-shaped. These jeans are a pear-shaped woman's best friend! They work great for women difference who have a big difference in the size of their hips and waist. They also have just the right amount of give to be comfortable and just the right amount of "compression" to slim down your silhouette. 

As you have probably gathered, I LOVE statement necklaces! Because of the "strength of the statement", you can only wear them once in a while. Sometimes only a couple times in a season. I scored this bling pineapple necklace this summer. I know it's October, but I basically refused to retire it until next spring without wearing it one more time! 

Another basic piece that will take your wardrobe many miles is a good sleeveless cowl-neck sweater. They look good on almost everyone, and the cowl neck has a softening effect on the face. If you find a good one that's semi-loose fitting, it will take ten pounds off your frame.

Every woman needs at least one pair of statement shoes! If you don't have a pair, you need to seriously consider getting some! They can be found at all price points. There are no words for how confident you will feel walking around town in a pair of amazing shoes!

As you can see, these have taken me many miles, and I think I will still be wearing these in 20 years! They are almost 5 years old and have held up spectacularly! 

When I go all out with powerful shoes and a statement necklace, I like to keep the earrings toned down. Just my personal preference, but I think it brings balance to the overall look.  

Finally, it's hard to see in the other pictures, but a bold lip was the absolutely necessary finishing touch to the ensemble! I love MAC lipglass!

That's all I have folks! Hope your Friday is fabulous!

Jacket: Tart Collections

Top: Dress Barn

Jeans: HSN

Shoes: CARLOS by Carlos Santana (old)

Necklace: eBay

Earrings: The Limited

Lipgloss: MAC