What new style challenge are you going to tackle next?

In light of Amy's recent post looking for new style inspirations (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nspiration), I thought I'd turn it around to the group...what new style challenge would you like to tackle next? Something you've always loved but never got a chance to try? A new silhouette? Revisiting a different time period? Style moving in a new direction? Secret persona?

For me, I'm having fun exploring the flowy tunic/waist surrender camp. Having been firmly in the sheath dress/pencil skirt waist-defining bombshell team before, it's a whole new world for me. And I have to admit, it's sooo comfy! As long as it doesn't make me look too wide!

Would love to see what's next on your style horizon!

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K/R: Coral dress and three stretchy skirts

I ordered a bunch of stuff from Nordstrom to try out. Sorry for the deluge and thanks for your help sorting these out! Any of these worth keeping?

1-2. Tahari coral dress, made famous by Kari and also rocked by Rita and Vicki. Size 6. I didn't have a size 4 available to try (normally I'd order both sizes).
3-6. Polka dot Vince Camuto peasant top size S (I'm planning to order a size XS since the other VC top I tried on I was advised to size down) and VC midi tube skirt size S. It looks OK under the blousy top, but it's too body con with my apple tummy so I'm wondering if I should size up to a M.
7-9. Ella Moss high-low midi skirts in turquoise and orange (don't mind the tops, they're not styled). Comfy but wrinkly (I guess I would need to steam/iron them).
10. Caslon orange and white tee size S. Is this too baggy?

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WIW 6/29: Purple polka dots and peacock purse

Question: Can purple ever be worn in the summer or is it always an autumn color?

Here is one of my favorite sheath dresses. It is sleeveless and purple and has textural polka dots. I don't own any white accessories (shoes or bags) which would be the typical way to summer-ize an outfit. But what could be more fun than pairing it with a peacock purse? (Plus the alliteration is so fun!) This Aldo Sedlak purse was one of Angie's finds (http://youlookfab.com/2012/03/.....or-spring/) and I recently spied it in one of Laura's posts (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....p-and-gear). I looked it up and it was only $13.99 at the Aldoshoes.com website! Score!

I'm wearing it with some teal Sam & Libby peep toe wedges that I bought super cheap at DSW but have never worn because the heel is so high (which I didn't think about till I got home, you know how it is when you find something cool in the clearance rack, it clouds your judgment!). I'm going to try to see if I can actually wear it, but if they are too wobbly I have a backup pair of shoes and they'll go in the donate bin.

Adrianna Papell purple polka dot sheath dress
Aldo peacock clutch
Sam & Libby peep toe wedges
BR Trina Turk teal bracelet
Turquoise earrings

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WIW 6/27: My signature pattern cubed (hypermatchy)

I love this black and white Kate Spade Florence Broadhurst Japanese Floral pattern so much that I went crazy for it! I have the Austin sheath dress, the Melinda satchel, and a laptop carrier pouch. I know this is over the top hypermatchy, but I wore them all together today! DH told me three matching items was too much (so does that mean two is OK?). I wasn't carrying around the laptop or purse most of the time at work, but I did get a few comments of "Wow cool, your purse matches your dress!" at the cafeteria and at the bank. So is this too matchy matchy matchy, or is it OK to overindulge in my favorite pattern? I think it's becoming my signature pattern. I could even have worn my beige trench with the same lining, or my Japanese floral Tretorn sneakers, hee hee! (I guess I should also confess that I bought matching iPad and iPhone covers even though I don't have an iPad yet and my iPhone 3 won't fit in the iPhone 4 case--I may end up returning them if I don't use them). My excuse for accumulating so many matching pieces is that they make me happy, and plus they were all on sale!

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If you only had a month left to wear your favorite outfits...

...before moving into a new style direction, what would be on your list of current faves? What new thing would you like to try in the coming months?

For me, pencil skirts and sheath dresses. I love waist definition. They make me feel so feminine. I don't want to stop wearing them! However, I am interested in exploring voluminous tops over skinny legs more (I bought a couple of ponchos last year but would like to try some dolman tops like the one Kari posted and the drapey black sweater that Deborah posted).

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WIW 6/26: Coral and turquoise

Coral and turquoise is one of my favorite color combos right now. I know I've posted this coral dress and turquoise clutch combo several times but can't remember if I've shown it with my turquoise Kate Spade pumps yet. If I have already, then here it is again! And right now I love matchy matchy so all of my accessories are turquoise.

J Crew Origami dress
Kate Spade Shelly pumps
Kate Spade High Line Leica clutch
Banana Republic Trina Turk turquoise bracelet
Turquoise earrings

ETA: I also wanted to mention that these pumps are the most frequently stolen from my closet. Both DD and DS love to grab my heels and clomp around the house, and this turquoise pair is their favorite! I'm always finding them all over the house!

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WIW: Polka dot overload!

I decided I wanted to wear my new navy and white polka dot skirt from the Banana Republic sale rack. I paired it with my Anne Fontaine short sleeve blouse, and realized that it had a polka dot texture. So I decided to go all out and do polka dots on everything including my Marc Jacobs dotty snake bag and All Black fish bow pumps with dots on the toes. And even the White House Black Market pearl necklace looks like a bunch of dots. So fun to have dots on everything I'm wearing!

Yes, I admit it's a bit over the top and not necessarily the most sophisticated look, but I'm having fun with polka dot overload today! Thanks for your comments and suggestions!

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WIW 6/22: BR blue stripe shirt, orange & leopard (ETA topper options)

After I posted this Angie copycat look (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ripe-shirt) Angie suggested that I look at Banana Republic to find an updated version of my old blue striped button-down shirt. So I picked this one up (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-other-krs) but it wasn't the one she was thinking of & that it was on sale and also that I should size up from a 6 to an 8 because it was snug around my tummy. So I went back and found this size 8 in the sale rack--the last one there. I got it for $20! What do you think? I like blue shirts with white cuffs/collar--it has white underneath the cuffs and collar (1-2), but you can't see it from the front when the cuffs are buttoned and collar popping doesn't work with my long hair. So it's just plain looking. Oh well. Does it look like a better fit?

I wasn't sure whether a blue striped button down shirt was too conservative and classic for my tastes and whether the color would go well with my skin. But I think it works--I paired it with a pair of bright orange AG skinny jeans that I haven't worn in months (I was actually considering purging it because I was worried it was too bright) and some leopard ballet flats. And I added some pattern mixing with my Fossil floral bag (triple print mixing if you count the shoes and striped shirt). I wore a navy wool peacoat on top, which adds another print if you count the houndstooth lining. And I added a WHBM triple strand champagne pearl necklace to add some femininity to the outfit. I think blue button down shirts can be a little boring to me when paired with neutrals (like in this outfit with grey pants: http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....pants-yawn) but the orange pants and leopard flats give it just enough kick to keep me happy, and the blue in the shirt tones down the bright orange a little--I think it keeps just the right balance!

I don't typically go from J Crew preppy tomboy looks, but I think I managed to incorporate the "staid classic" blue button-down into an outfit that I still can consider "my style". What do you think? Thanks for your comments!

ETA: More topper options: cognac leather jacket, white cropped denim jacket & ink blue jacket.

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WIW 6/21: Denim pencil miniskirt dressed up for work

I haven't worn this denim pencil skirt since last fall I think. And pencil skirts (especially above the knee) are hard to wear for MOTG (although I may try it with leggings underneath for MOTG). What do you think, can I successfully wear this skirt to work? Is this considered a miniskirt? This combination is new too. I'm having fun shopping my closet!
Anthro mustard blazer
Nordstrom pussy bow multicolored striped tank
Anthro denim pencil skirt
Fossil cognac buckle pumps
Dooney & Bourke mustard satchel

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WIW 6/14-17: Mendocino travel capsule

We took a mini-vacation last week to Mendocino and I thought I'd share some vacation pics and what I wore! And some bonus family pics and artistic pics by DH. I had fun coordinating my outfits with the kids. The trip was really fun and relaxing (as much as a trip with two little kids can be).

1-4. Took the kids to Train Town in Sonoma. They had lots of fun riding the train, feeding the llamas and goats, and riding on the carousel and other rides. I wore my Michael Kors dress but casualized it with leggings and sneakers and a sunhat.
Michael by Michael Kors turquoise print faux wrap dress
Nike black capri leggings
Kate Spade Tretorn Japanese floral print sneakers
Dooney & Bourke yellow satchel
Columbia blue striped sunhat

5-8. We stayed one night at the Point Arena Lighthouse (they have cabins you can rent right near the lighthouse). It's the most western point in the continental US and the closest to Hawaii you can get from the mainland. DH joked that he picked it because if we couldn't be in Hawaii, at least we could be as close as possible, LOL! Pics 5 & 8 are taken by DH. We climbed all the way up to the top with the kids and it was a spectacular view! It was super windy and cold there, so we all dressed warmly. All the staff at the lighthouse were raving about my boots, hehe.
Halogen black plaid wool moto jacket
INC black turtleneck
AG garnet snakeskin print skinny jeans
Frye Melissa black flat lace-up boots
Kate Spade grey croc tote
(DD is wearing her Missoni for Target sweater, leggings and matching hat!)

9-12. We stayed in Mendocino at the Stanford Inn--they have an amazing garden, and llamas on site. DD and DS discovered some snap pea vines and kept picking and eating them off the vine! (Staff said it was OK). I wore a really voluminous top--it's like a big rectangle of fabric sewed shut at the sides to make a poncho. I'm still trying to get used to shapeless tops--I always feel I look wider in them. What do you think?
INC pink space dye poncho top (keep or purge?)
Kut from the Kloth white skinny jeans
Stuart Weitzmann red Giveable ballet flats
KS grey croc tote
(DD and DS are wearing Tea Collection and DD is also wearing a Missoni for Target cape--fun that we kind of match!)

13-15. Took the kids canoeing. DH has taken DD out canoeing before, but it was DS's first time--he was finally old enough to go. We rented an outrigger canoe right at the hotel. Saw sea otters, harbor seals, and a family of ducklings along the way.
Gama-Go jacket
Gap Long & Lean jeans
Merrell hiking sneakers
Columbia sunhat

16-17. Went to a Fun Fair in Mendocino. The kids loved the jumpy house and getting their faces painted. BTW I have got to stop wearing white denim outside for MOTG, haha! (Fortunately the dirt washed out).
Old black and white peasant blouse (keep or purge?)
Kut white skinnies
KS sneakers
KS grey bag
(DD is wearing a Gap Diane von Furstenberg green romper--found it on clearance at BabyGap. At least one of us can wear DVF! DS in Tea)

20-24. The gorgeous gardens at the inn where we stayed. DH took some pics of the flowers--DD said that the flowers in #23 look like "fairy ballerina flowers".
MMK turquoise print dress
Frye black boots
KS grey tote
(DD in Missoni for Target, DS in Tea)

25-26. Swimming. DD loves to dive to the bottom of the pool. Wearing my retro cherry print swimsuit.

27. DD and DS challenge each other to a game of chess (DD is starting to learn how to play chess, but DS wants to play too just like his big sister).

28-30. Something old and comfy for the long drive home.
Gama-go Ninja Kitty T-shirt
Gama-go black jacket
Gap Long & Lean jeans
KS sneakers

Thanks for looking and for your comments/suggestions!

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