Leopard Skinny Belt

 

Ensemble

Navy Blue Capri Pants (hard to tell the color! Sorry!)  - New York and Company

Black Long Cardigan: Express

Tank Top: New York & Company

Peep-Toe Pumps: Paris Hilton (Burlington)

Leopard Belt: Lulu (Burlington)

In my previous post this morning, I mentioned how I've always wanted to wear a skinny belt with a cardigan, so I thought...why not do it today! So I knew I wanted to wear this cardigan and this belt, but what to wear with it.  It's supposed to be a high of 76 today, so I decided wearing cropped pants would be appropriate. I also get to wear these shoes for the first time! The heel is sky high, but since they are platform, they aren't that uncomfortable!

I'm still in love with my "I want to be a lone star" color for my nails from OPI's Texas Collection, haven't changed it yet!  All in all this cardigan is very fitted, but the belt adds an illusion of an hour glass. Can't wait to try out my other cardigans.

The Best Accessories Are Cheap

So there's a Burlington Coat Factory near my job, and sometimes over lunch, I'll eat quickly and then peruse this store. What I love about places like Burlington, Marshall's and TJ Maxx are the prices they have on designer items.  Only qualm is they don't have a lot of "sizes" and the racks seem to go on FOREVER! So one could feel overwhelmed shopping in these stores, but I don't mind. Take time out to look for really great finds. 

Anyway I've been in the need for skinny belts. I've always wanted to wear a skinny belt around a cardigan...but I actually don't own "cute" skinny belts.  But why pay an arm and a leg for a belt? When I can buy 3 for under $10 each at Burlington! I also bought a wide-band snap belt, in a great neutral off-white color for the Spring ($7.99)!! The Lulu belts came 2 for $9.99. I finally own my first leopard print belt (a staple for any woman's wardrobe).

While in line, ready to buy my belts, I noticed bins full of colorful bracelets!!

I am ALL about cheap accessories, one because I manage to lose them all the time, and if I spend an arm and a leg on a bracelet or pair of earrings  and I lose it, I would be upset! LOLOL. Anyway so don't forget about stores like Charlotte Russe (you may think you've grown out of this store, but check them out the prices are great), or what you can find at a cash-wrap at Burlington. I think these bracelets are really fun for Spring, and single strands are $.99, if they're grouped together they may be $2.99. I purchased these 3, can't wait to wear them with an earth-tone attire:

I'm planning to go back and buy white, purple, yellow, and maroon ones!

Accessories Every Women Should Own

Sometimes outfits are made by the accessories you add to them.  Accessories go beyond shoes and hand bags, and they can enhance any outfit. I believe you can never have too many things going on at once.  Try buying these items and keeping them ready in your closets for quick go-toos.

1. Fashion Scarves

2. Cocktail Rings

3. Patterned Tights/ Colored Tights

4. Bangles/Cuffs

5. Hats (Bowler, Artsy, )

6. Oversized Watches

7. Hair Clips and Headbands

Love,

Shasie

City Cowgirl - Houston BBQ

Last night I went to the World Championship BBQ Contest at the Houston livestock show and rodeo.  Now you know with a title like that and living in Texas, that one has to bring out her cowgirl persona.  I am sad that I do not own a pair of cowgirl boots yet :(. I know I know, I've been in Houston for 8 months and own no boots. But I will be getting a pair for the actual rodeo so that I can fit in. I also think I want a black hat!

Tired of the mundane pics in my apartment, I went to the top of my apartment complex to capture the city.

Choosing this outfit:
Originally I was going to wear boots, so I knew that I wanted skinny jeans.  Skinny jeans fit inside boots nicely, and they don't bunch like wide-leg jeans.  Then I wanted a button-down country shirt feel. I don't own plaid shirts, so I wore this Converse button-down.   Then I chose a belt with the biggest belt buckle out of my collection.  I originally had the button down on it's own, but then decided I wanted to be able to unbutton it.  I grabbed a tan tank top to wear underneath.  I changed from the boot idea to kitten heels, after my experience at the Pasadena BBQ where I walked around a lot. I decided these shoes would be more comfortable to walk in verses heeled boots.

This is where I come to the point where I can't explain why I chose the red shoes.  I looked and them and decided it would work.  Some people may have back away because compared to the rest of the outfit they really stand out, but I liked that.  They were the first shoes I saw in my closet and I went for it.  To compliment the shoes I chose a red necklace, and my friend Colette let me borrow her cowgirl hat.

 
Later I decided that the necklace was too girlie, and opted for a neck scarf.
Ensemble:
Necktie:  Self
Hat:  Friend
Necklace:  Charlotte Russe
Jeans:  NY&CO
Shoes:  Payless

 

~S

Storing Accessories

I don't know about you ladies, but I know that I have a ton of accessories and very limited space to store them all!!  I live in a one bedroom apartment in the city, and trust me, they weren't thinking of a fashionista with this closet they gave me!

My closet has no room for purses :(.  I would have had to pile them on the floor if it weren't for my lucky catalog day. One day, while roaming through a Bed, Bath, & Beyond Catalog, I stumbled on to an overthedoor purse holders.   Each pack comes with 2.

After finding a space for my handbags, I needed storage locations for my long necklaces.  Remember those?  Long necklaces were a big craze and still are, and I have a bunch.  Unfortunately these necklaces are too long to fit in your average jewelry box.  This is what I did with mine!  All you need is a pack of 3M wall hooks!

Also you may want to try color-coding the hooks. I tried that, but I shuffle so many different pieces it became a nuisance! As far as the rest of my jewelry I use basic jewelry boxes.  Both of the brown jewelry boxes I received as presents from my parents.  A girl should also have travel jewelry cases (those are the small ones on top).

My tip on earrings is as follows. If you don't have a lot of rings, use the ring section of your jewelry box to store small earrings, like studs, etc. I used to lose mine all the time, until I started doing this!

 ~S

A Blue Hue

Tights, ladies and gentlemen are the easiest accessory in the world.  This may take us back to our childhood of wearing tights as little girls....Grown women are supposed to wear shear pantyhose, right?  Wrong.  Colorful tights can take any bland outfit to the next level.

My favorite tights are Hue brand.  I buy mine from Macys.  2 for $20, and depending on the time of year, some colors may be on sale.

Tights:  Hue Brand (Macy's)
Shirt Dress:  NY&CO
Booties:  Payless
Earrings:  Self

~S