Main Accessory

Dress - Maggie London via Marshalls, Shoes - F21, Bracelet - Target 

I was asked to sing at a friend's wedding last weekend, and I couldn't have felt more honored to be a part of the happy couple's special day. I also freaked out, got hit with a torpedo of nerves and nearly swallowed my tongue about 10 minutes before I had to go on, but it actually all went well. I think. When I can work up the courage, I'll watch the video of it that the Boyfriend took and let you know for sure.

I wanted to wear something a little special for the event since I'd be standing in front of 200 people, but I also wanted it to be demure and church-appropriate and COMFORTABLE since I needed to breathe deeply to sing. I looked everywhere for a dress but had no luck. Everything was strapless or backless or tight and binding. Everything else was too casual, too bright, too thin, too short, or too low-cut. I finally found this delightful dress at my local Marshalls about three days before the wedding. I love the deep violet color, the Marilyn Monroe-esque pleated skirt, and the dramatic high-low hem. You can't tell from the pictures, but the dress had great movement when I walked, which was perfect for the stage. I went simple with gold jewelry and nude shoes...and chose to make my main accessory the Boyfriend (see photo below).

What do you guys think of coordinating your date's outfit to your own for a special event (we always do!), yay or nay?
 

I like to coordinate the Boyfriend's formal wear with my formal wear when we go to weddings (thus the purple-hued tie). He was looking so dapper here, and he's so good about taking my outfit photos that I thought I'd turn the camera on him for a change. 

Here Comes the Sun

Blouse, Mary Janes - Forever 21, Skirt - old?, Bracelets - Vintage

Sorry for the quickie outfit post, but I'm currently in a frenzy getting ready for my trip to Miami (frenzy = trying to figure out how to fit five pairs of shoes in my suitcase without Boyfriend finding out). Mustard yellow is one of my new obsessions for the fall, and this sheer fitted shirt was just too much to resist. I don't know if it's because I've been drooling over the vintage fashions on one of my new fave shows Pan Am (yes, it's very possible that I only like it for the clothes, it's too soon to tell), but the minute I saw this shirt, I knew I wanted to style it with a vintage look. Luckily, I have held onto this sheer black pleated skirt for YEARS, and I love how the two pieces play off each other. All I need now is a gorgeous, quiltedclassic Chanel bag to complete the look. Ahem, Boyfriend, I am talking to you.

I am flying off to Miami in a few hours, and I can't wait for the sunning and eating and shopping (of course!) awaiting me there. We're also going on a nice leisurely boat excursion on Saturday, complete with tanning deck and a water trampoline(?!), so I'm also planning to do some serious work on my tan. We got really lucky, and it looks like we're going to have a break in the tropical storm just for the few days we're there. Yay! I've never been to Miami before, so you can bet that I'll be taking a ton of pictures, and I can't wait to come back and share them with you next week. I'm also excited to work on some plans for ways to celebrate my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY here on BSMMH, coming up in a couple of weeks. I can't believe it's already been a year! I want to make sure to celebrate it right, so I've been brainstorming a few ideas. Stay tuned, loves...and have a GREAT week!

Snow Leopard

Military Jacket - H&M, Tee- Target, Skirt - F21, Shoes - ModCloth

I didn't even realize when I picked this outfit that this skirt has a "SNOW leopard" print, but how perfect was it that I wore it in the...SNOW? Yes, these are the things I find amusing, people, and yes, I probably definitely need to get out more. Seriously though, I am really digging animal prints these days, and this leopard print, pleated skirt combines two of my favorite current trends. I also love the idea of winterizing something chiffon and summery (Yes, I just made up that word, but I am expecting it to take off any day now), which was a former fashion rule I have been breaking repeatedly this season. I feel so...rebellious and naughty! OK, not really, but I still love the idea of breaking my fashion rules.

Despite how cold it was in the snow in my summery skirt, I love how the wind kept swirling my skirt around!

I picked this military jacket up a year or so ago and love the fact that it's in such a non-military color. Plum is one of my favorite colors...and this jacket has proven to be a great way to brighten up any outfit.

One more snow picture to come later this week ( I love taking photos in the snow!), but unfortunately, I have no more super, ultra-cool snow animal-print-clothing-in-the-snow photos to post. I'm only that cool once in a while.

You Com-pleat Me

Top - F21, Skirt - H&M, Heels - Zara

One of my wardrobe essentials is a black pleated mini skirt. It's just so classic, and you can remix it a ton of different ways. I love that I can dress it up a bit like I did here, or dress it down with a bright scarf or jean jacket, funky tights, and booties. It's a little more exciting than a plain black flouncy skirt, and pleats always create such great movement, which is such a bonus, I think.

I love black pleats so much that I have another one that's a bit longer and sheer. Yes, they are totally different, and yes, I absolutely need both of them. Oh, sorry, I'm so used to answering these types of questions from Boyfriend that I now just automatically offer justifications for my purchases. I should stop though, since the girls working the register are starting to look at me weird. Seriously though, both skirts are great takes on a closet basic (a black skirt), and if you're a curvy girl, look for tighter pleats for a more flattering look.

Never Never Land

Top - Forever 21, Watch - FrockCandy

There is something that I just adore about a Peter Pan collar. Maybe it's because it's so dainty and feminine, or because it's so vintage and yet timeless, or maybe it's because it's named after a fictional character that sort of embodies my own personal disposition of never wanting to grow up. It's kind of funny that this is named a Peter Pan collar, by the way, because I have never seen Peter Pan actually wear a collar like this. Anyway, I love this collar, whether it's in tank tops, shirts, or dresses. Since the blush color and the sheer fabric make this top so amazingly girly, I thought I'd tone it down a bit with some simple dark skinnies and platform pumps.  I can also see myself wearing this shirt with a short pleated skirt and mary janes to play up the girly look or with a simple pencil skirt and pumps for work.

Versatility in my clothing is a new quality that I have found myself searching for more and more. I used to just see something I thought was cute and then buy it because I wanted it. Now, I think to myself, "Where would I wear this? How would I wear this? Could I wear it more than once every couple of months?" I'd like to think that this new way of thinking is a sign of maturity and growth as a shopper, but in actuality it's probably because my closet is literally bursting at the seams. I need to start shopping smarter if I want  to have room for...you know, more clothes. Viva la Peter Pan!

Candy Coated

Coat - Lulu's, Scarf - F21, Top - Old, Flats - Local Boutique

So if you're not new to BSMMH, I think you know that I have a serious affinity for bright colored coats in the winter time. I am a bit coat-obsessed actually! Nothing cuts through the gloom of winter quicker than a spiffy, bright coat, whether it be yellow, lime green, or deep plum. And with my very public love of orange, you knew it was only a matter of time before I had a bright orange coat to round out my collection. Sorry the coat turned out a little more red than orange in the pictures. Sometimes my camera has a mind of its own.

I love how this coat just adds such pep to an otherwise simple outfit. The key with wearing bright colored coats is to keep the rest of the outfit simple, since you don't want to attack anyone's eyes. I usually wear complementary or color blocking colors underneath to keep the attention on the coat (as if you could look anywhere else with that bright orange, I know). I thought the polka dots added a little extra fun and allowed the white to break up all the blue. Because the coat is not too bulky, I plan on wearing this puppy well into spring, with skirts and dresses, as well as jeans.

Do you have a bright colored coat you like to wear to combat the gloomy days of winter? Here are some cute, versatile, and affordable options, if you're in the market for one!

ModCloth

ASOS

John Lewis

ModCloth

Bloomingdales

Highs and Lows

Shirt - some mall store in LA, Belt - F21, Skirt - local boutique, Booties - F21

I searched high and low for this skirt...HA. Get it? Sorry, it's late and I'm all out of funny. But seriously, I have been wanting an assymetrical hemline skirt, or a "high-low hem" skirt for the longest time but could never find the one. So many of the ones I tried on were too short in the front, too pleated, too long in the back, or too flowy. For a curvy girl searching for a high-low skirt, I'd recommend finding one that isn't too short in the front and I would also avoid pleats or skirts with too much, well, skirt. Pleats and skirts with too much material made me look ginormous for some reason in this silhouette, so take it from me, simple, sleek and less flowy is the way to go.

I was thrilled when I stumbled onto this skirt in a new local boutique that I had never noticed before. There was a 20-minute wait at my favorite Mexican restaurant, and I took a walk down the street to kill time. There I found it (last one in the shop and in my size!), tucked into a small vintage and new clothing boutique just waiting for me. It was like destiny wanted me to have that skirt, and who am I to fight with the mighty gods of shopping? Clearly, I had to buy it. I was powerless to resist. Yep, I take my ridiculous rationalizations for shopping pretty seriously, folks. I can literally convince myself to buy anything. Except maybe vegetables or a "sensible" pair of shoes.

Happy weekend!