Above is a picture of my newest office shoes that I bought at Violette (hopefully more to share about that store later).   I was hesitant to buy them at first because they’re not your typical office shoes with the studs and all.  However, I went ahead and took the plunge to add a smidgen of excitement to work outfits.

I haven’t really invested in a new office wardrobe in a long time since I’m coming off of a long break and my previous job was pretty casual.   I mostly wear what I have now and make it look a bit more polished while slowly adding in an item here and there.  I’ve been trying to see how I can keep elements from my personal style and incorporate them into the office environment (plus, it saves $$$).  So, on my morning walks to work and during my lunch break, I have been comparing my outfits with the other ladies and came up with a few observations:

• Shift dresses = much easier to throw on and look put together in a matter of minutes.

• Leggings as pants?  I’ve seen that a few times and I always thought that leggings were to be worn with a dress or maybe a long sweater?  Are they legit as pants these days (I’m honestly asking).

• I still haven’t warmed up to the idea of  wearing gym shoes to work and then changing into work shoes once I’m there.  I feel like it’s just easier to wear a comfortable pair of shoes that can work throughout the entire day.  No?

• I’m mourning not being able to wear anything with skulls.  This means no Wendy Brandes skull necklace or Alexander McQueen skull scarf.
• Skinny trousers that hit right above the ankle the best.  Always.

• I like to defer to wearing all black, but I’ve found that it can make me look a bit depressed.  I mean, when the guy at Starbucks keeps asking if you’re okay, geez.   So, I’ve compromised with wearing more gray and brown with a pop of color here and there.

• Menswear-like looks are so easy and work so well for the office.  Blazers+trousers+oxfords is the best combo.

So, what’s your professional style like?  I’m still observing and learning how to put my own twist things over here, but I’d love to hear what everyone else thinks!

-Fall leaves

-Listening to the new Feist album and the latest Little Dragon album on my walks to work.

-At-home facials (minus extractions).

- This Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Ipad app.  The app is interactive with sound effects, cool little animations and surprises at almost every page turn.  When you have a limited attention span for leisurely reading,  sometimes you have to inject some fun.

- Sally Hansen Salon Effects.  These should have been invented years ago.

-This gorgeous skirt that I ordered after Chandra at More Modern Modesty pinned it on Pinterest.  Can’t wait for this to arrive!

-Exploring this local popular apothecary in Chicago.  Merz’s has been around for nearly 135  years and if you are a beauty fanatic, you will love this store.  It’s not very big, but it’s packed to the brim with all types of natural beauty, hair and health products.  It’s so crowded that you mainly want to get in and out, but go on a weekday and you can peruse (relatively) uninterrupted.  I usually go for different hair oils like these:

-Reading everything I can from welikewelove magazine.

-Finding new home decor tips and tricks.

What have you been up to lately?

Fall is definitely my favorite season.  I’m anxiously waiting for the colorful leaves to drop, the crisp weather and  a chance to throw on the jacket.   I haven’t done much shopping (unemployed student here), so much of my shopping has been in my own closet.  However, I realized that I bought a lot items last fall that will easily carry over.  My one splurge?  That pair of boots above were a “hey, why not?” present to myself that arrived last week.   I’ve been stalking a pair of Rachel Comey boots for the longest time, but I found these on Topshop and decided to order them.  So there you have my black boots for the season.

Below are some of my other favorite picks for wearing this fall.  These are some other items that are not in my regular “rotation” as of yet, but I can’t wait to add them in.

Wide leg jeans that I bought in New York City this spring.   I didn’t have much of a chance to wear them this summer since Chicago was scorching hot and I still have to get them tailored.

Colored denim on weekends when I want to switch it up from my regular blue or black denim.  I bought these pants a couple of years ago and I love pulling them out in the fall for a pop of color.  I’m hoping to add a pair of cobalt blue jeans to the collection soon.

These two fall jackets will be in constant rotation: my lavender trench and my black moto jacket.   I bought the lavender trench earlier this spring, but I think it’ll translate just as well into the fall.

Colorful print dresses like the one above are a great way for me to mix it up instead of the black dresses that I usually wear on outings.

Any particular pieces that you are looking pull out of your closet this fall?

Image from Chance.com

Lately I have been obsessed with finding the perfect boatneck striped tee for fall. While some may consider the striped boatneck more of a summer staple,  I’ve always felt like striped boatnecks work much better for fall weather.   It may seem that finding a simple, boatneck sweater should be easily found at any department store or mid-priced chain,  but I’ve found that it’s not always the case because you want it to fit just right.

So I’ve been stalking this boatneck longsleeve tee from Chance for the longest time.  Chance is a clothing and lifestyle brand founded by  Julia Leach, the former Creative Director for Kate Spade.   Chance focuses is mainly on the classic “staples” such as the perfect striped tee, the button up shirt and the tote bag.

As you can see, I’ll be waiting for some time to buy this boatneck, if I ever do, because it’s currently sold out.  In the meantime, I’ll keep looking elsewhere, but I have a feeling that this just may be the one.

I’m participating in this week’s IFB Project  “What’s In Your Bag” since I’m that girl who has always been more curious about what’s in someone’s bag rather than the type of bag they have.   I’ve always felt that the content of a bag can give so many clues into your background: what you do, your interests (and sometimes passions) and your priorities.

Above is a photo of my Hayden Harnett bag that I’ve had for over a year and I wear almost everyday.   The bag has held up pretty well through my roughness.   I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty simple and might even be considered a “boring” bag, but it works so well for so many occasions, so I rarely switch it out.

On to the contents of my bag:

Not pictured: iPhone, gum, makeup bag and business cards.

Honestly, I think I have bit too much.  I rummage through my bag each morning  and try to find one thing that I can leave out, but I really can’t let anything go.  I suppose you can argue that I can either carry the Wet Wipes or hand sanitizer, but if you haven’t guessed, I’m a bit of a germaphobe.   If I’d add anything, I’d say some lotion (it’s usually readily available in my car) and a book or two.   On the other hand, if you’re running to catch trains and buses all day, I think you want to have the least amount of things bogging you down.

And since you know that I’m nosy, I really want to know: what’s in your bag?

There are very few collections that I really fall in love with as a whole.   Most of the time,  I like a few pieces here and there, but I rarely feel like the entire collection is wearable for me.

Well, that’s changed with the A.Friend by A.F. Vandevorst Spring/Summer 2012 collection.   I’ve been a fan of the Belgian design duo for quite some time and this collection just completely won me over.  Asymmetrical stripes?  Right down my alley.  What I love most about this collection is that I feel like you can wear any of these pieces for just about any occasion and pull it off.

Enough of my blabbering on.  Let’s look at the clothes.

All images courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week website.

I bought Amanda Brooks’ 2009 book,  I Love Your Style, a few weeks ago after casually flipping through it at  Borders.  I was sold due to a sweet discount and after being to the inspirational pictures and tidbits scattered throughout the book.  Admittedly, I had no idea who Brooks was in the fashion world, but found out via her autobiographical account that she was the Creative Director and Muse of Tuleh and recently  appointed to Barney’s VP, Women’s Fashion Director.

I really like how Brooks broke down each chapter by style genre/type and further went on to highlights key closet staples, style icons that represent the genre and sources for further inspiration.   There are also many of great tips and quotes scattered throughout the book.  As for the photos,  Brooks showcases just about every stylish celeb/icon from Sophia Coppola to Brigit Bardot and Diana Ross.

I wouldn’t call I Love Your Style a “how-to” guide per se, because I think that style is much more organic than a paint-by-numbers guide, but I do think that it’s a nice source of inspiration.   Or to put it this way, it’s one of those books that you put on your coffee table and you leaf through on a lazy Sunday.

1. Which side do you take… Copycat designs are a way for the average consumer to stay current and wear runway styles without breaking the bank OR Copycat designs take business from the designer and cheapen the value of their work. Explain.

Honestly, I can see it both ways.  I don’t necessarily care for copycat designs, but eventually, every trend starts from higher up and trickles down to the “lower” chains.   And if the average consumer sees something that they like and admired on the runway, but can’t afford it at all, can’t they buy a more cost-friendly version of that particular piece?   Plus, many designers are inspired by trends, particular time periods and cultures as well.  I think the line is drawn when inspiration crosses over into just plain old copying.

2. Sometimes we do things, even if they are unethical or illegal (downloading music for free, watching full movies on YouTube). Do you think it is unethical for a designer to copy a vintage piece, make it current and sell it?

I don’t know if I would call it unethical or not, but I do think it’s not very genuine.  If your specialty is copying vintage and making it current, then just say it, but don’t try to pass it off as your own.

3. Would you buy an items that is a very well done copy of a runway garment if it fell within your budget?

You know, I probably shouldn’t say no.  Last year, I bought a pair of the Jeffrey Campbell 99 wedges that were a pretty darn close substitute for the Acne Atacoma wedges.  In all honesty, I really did just like the style and the Jeffrey Campbell shoes were right within my price range.

4. According to the fashion laws, at least in the US, apparel design is seen as too utilitarian to qualify for copyright protection. Would you think this is detrimental to the industry or beneficial. (Check out this video on The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe to get a better idea of this concept: http://taxonomyofmywardrobe.blogspot.com/2010/08/fashion-and-copyright-laws.html)

Hm…I think it can go both ways.  I appreciate and admire the taxing time, energy and innovation many designers put into their work.   To see their work ripped off and reproduced by retail chain X, without as much as a nod to all of the creativity and energy the designer has put forth has to be frustrating.   Plus, the quality fabrics and details of design are hardly ever perfectly replicated.

However, after watching the video,  I can see the point of view on how copying designers establish trends.  The “trickle down” effect booms throughout throughout the retail industry from the big wigs to the street style chain stores.  Is that not helpful for the industry overall with the growth in sales?   It can be that it’s not that people aren’t interested in fashion–you can look on Chictopia and Lookbook.nu to see that, it’s about accessibility and the lines  of exclusivity in fashion are becoming more blurred.

5.  Own up… share the things in your closet that is a knock off. You know those things you got in China Town, on the streets of New York, or where ever.

I just have this faux-Chloe bag that I bought online a few years ago:

And I knew that it was faux-Chloe, but I really just liked the shape of the bag–Chloe or nameless designer.  I’ve never tried to pass it off as a real Chloe bag and if someone asks, I’ll tell them that it’s a “faux-Chloe bag”.  Other than that, I really don’t go out looking for copycat designs or fakes.  I really try to just find clothing and accessories that fit my budget from lower-priced lines or independent designers.

My recently found glasses

A couple of weeks ago, I was forced (well, almost) to stop wearing  my contacts after a nasty eye infection from…well, wearing my contact lenses too frequently.  I guess after a solid 3 year run, the jig was up.   Now, I’m still learning how to navigate while wearing my glasses and feeling comfortable about wearing them.

I bought a pair of cheapo geek glasses a few months ago that had no prescription, but I loved wearing them because they gave off a different look.

The non-prescription glasses!

Now that I am forced to wear glasses, I long for my contacts, mostly for the comfort and ease they provided.   However, since I am ever the browser for anything slightly relevant, I have found some wonderful frames from Warby Parker.  Honestly, these frames have me second-guessing my whole anti-prescription glasses stance.

Here are a few of my favorites:

(all photos from Warbyparker.com)

The best thing?  Their frames are only $95 dollars, and that includes prescription lenses.   That sounds pretty sweet, especially if you know how expensive one visit to the eye doctor can be.   I’m still doing some “browsing”, but I am seriously thinking about buying one of these frames.

What’s your stance on glasses?  Love em?  Hate em?  Don’t care?

I’ve been contemplating my Fall wardrobe and slowly but surely planning everything out.   The catch is that I’m not going to be buying much of anything this fall and I feel like I’ve already gotten everything that I set out to buy.   I’ve been planning on cutting down my fall wardrobe drastically.  I’ve bookmarked an article in the New York Times about people who are making an effort to have a more minimalistic wardrobe and put an end to the conspicuous consumption.   While I’m not necessarily going to pare my wardrobe down to 6 pieces, I am looking to only have a few key pieces and accessories for the Fall/Winter and use what I already have.  My goal is to make this a complete lifestyle change.

So what is a better way to hold myself accountable?  Documentation, my friends, is everything.

I began this season with shoes as I was pretty sure of what I wanted to buy this season: 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of oxfords and 1 pair of flats.  I began a passive search a couple of months ago, but it wasn’t until pre-fall sales started popping up in my inbox that I was able to really capitalize and get what I wanted for a reasonable price.    After receiving an email from Steve Madden with a great sale price on their fall shoes, I decided to buy 2 pairs of shoes from their store.  I have not bought anything from Steve Madden in a long, long time and I remembered it was because the fit could be quite unpredictable.   So I decided to go ahead and give them a try.

I’ve been looking for a nice pair of oxfords for the longest.  I knew I wanted a them in a nice, brown color.   The verdict is still out on these since I’ve only put them on once.  They are a little narrow, so I want to see how they will fit once I break them in more.   I plan on doing a lot of walking in these shoes, so comfort is key.

The boots!  I think I’ve become obsessed with finding the perfect “granny” or “combat” boot.  I wrote a past last winter about finding a perfect pair of boots and while these are not among my wishlist candidates, they will do.  The price was perfect and I while it might sound like a weird detail, I love the larger laces.   I was happy when I opened this pack until my mom had to burst my bubble with:

“Wait, didn’t you buy a similar pair of these shoes last winter?”

“Um…I don’t think I did…”

“Look in your closet and see.  You bought them at that huge, loud store (Zara) and you got all giddy about those, too!”

So I went home and put the shoes side by side.

Well damn.  Well, I can say that the Zara boots are taller and they have a zipper on the side.  Plus, I see the Zara boots as more “combat” style and the Steve Madden boots as “lace up” style.   Could that be right?

The only other thing I’d like to find is a nice, durable pair of flats.  I mostly wear flats year round and I buy 1 good pair each year.  With these purchases, I also bought a pair of Delman flats, but they were way too narrow.  So the search continues…

Have you bought any new shoes for fall?  Any shoes on your wishlist?