goldenpig

Embracing my goth/noir persona.

1-3. Karen Kane leather sleeve cardigan, Vince mesh tank, Alexander McQueen Obsession skull scarf, Halogen red pencil skirt, MZ Wallace Empire Tote with skull charm, MZ Wallace skull pouch, Hermes CDC bracelet, Frye Melissa lace up boots. At the office.

4-6. Karen Kane leather sleeve cardigan, Vince tee, Gap snake print scarf, AG jeans, Ugg moto boots, MZ Wallace black metal Tribeca, Spring St. cuff. Mom on the go.

7-9. Maggy London lace floral sheath dress, Alexander McQueen skull knuckle clutch, Halogen flats, Alexis Bittar necklace, Hermes CDC bracelet, Kate Spade trench. Date night for DH's birthday.

10-12. Diane Von Furstenberg lace sweater and lace pencil skirt, Ugg ballet flats, MZ Wallace Bea, Kate Spade trench. Running around on call.

I don't have an equestrian jacket, but I did recently wear an equestrian theme outfit. Pony print shirt, pony print bag, and pony print pumps. Saddle up!

Pony print shirt
Leith leather skirt
Longchamp pony print tote
Gold chain necklace
Sam Edelman pony print Okalas.

I have a lot of great heels in my shoe collection, but lately I've been reaching for flats a lot more because they're so much more comfy. Whether it's running around the hospital at work or running after the kids at the park, I feel like I can walk farther and faster in low heeled or flat sandals/shoes/boots.

For example, today was an office day so I decided I could wear heels and pulled out my Fauxstuds. However, I ended up having to drop the kids off at school on my way to work. We usually park a few blocks away and walk in to get to class on time instead of slogging through the carpool line traffic, which would make us late. So I was tromping through the field with the kids and my spike heels were starting to sink in to the dirt, and then I was click clacking down the sidewalk when all of the other parents were dressed in yoga pants and sneakers.

I did get lots of compliments on my shoes from my patients and coworkers, and they are fairly comfy for heels (2 3/4"). But later in the afternoon I changed into very similar studded black flats, and I was thinking how comfy they felt in comparison and how I should have worn those flats the whole day. Of course the heels always elevate (literally!) a look, but wondering if it made enough of a difference compared to the flats that it's worth it? What do you think, do you prefer the outfit with heels or flats? I liked how the flats had a matching stingray texture that matched the stingray textured tote. (And the necklace that matched the geometric pattern on my knit jacket).

I've been wondering if I should maybe purge some of my higher heels. I have a few pairs of Chie Mihara pumps and even my Tory Burch dragonfly pumps that are 3.5-4 inches. I very rarely wear them and when I do I always bring flats along to change into. Yes I know it is sacrilege to consider getting rid of these, and I do worry that I might regret getting rid of some of these works of art. but if I don't wear them for more than a couple hours at a time is it worth keeping them? Not sure of the right answer!

Classiques Entier knit blazer c/o Mary at OC swap
Black tank
Alexis Bittar necklace
Spring St. cuff
Halogen pleated leather skirt
Dagne Dover onyx stingray tote
Sam Edelman Ollies/Halogen flats

Speaking of pussy bow blouses...I went crazy for the pussy bow blouse when I first joined YLF five years ago. I had at least five! They fit perfectly with my demure bombshell style. But I haven't been wearing them lately because I felt like my style was moving in a slightly darker, edgier direction. Angie's post was a good reminder that the pussy bow blouse can still be cool!

This blouse was my favorite and was part of my "signature outfit" (http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....ure-outfit) which was the outfit that I thought best defined my style (6/7). In fact I made it my profile pic and haven't changed it for the last five years! Well I pulled out the blouse and skirt to wear them in honor of Angie's post and was embarrassed to find out that the skirt no longer fits. I've gained 15 lb since then, and the skirt shows off my food baby in all its glory. I had a few moments of pity party and almost put the shirt back in shame, but then picked myself up and made it work. I picked a black leather flared skirt and studded stingray pointy black flats, my black Belle (I love the red lining and red edge leather trim), and pearl and gold spike bracelet. I think I actually like this version better! Classic with a bit of edge. Seems my style is going more from boho luxe to edgy luxe. What do you think, did I rescue this blouse, and is it finally time to update my profile pic?

ETA: And is this the "killer twee" that Angie and Xtabay were talking about? Because pussy bow blouses are definitely twee. I think I'm going to have to embrace this new moniker!

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ot-to-twee

Hinge blouse (NAS 2011)
Halogen black leather midi skirt
Halogen Olson studded black stingray print flats
MZ Wallace black Belle
Stella and Dot bracelet

Hi, sorry I've been sort of MIA the last month or so. As you know I have worn the heck out this MZ Wallace tangerine Tribeca ever since I got it a couple of years ago--orange is definitely a neutral for me! This summer I went to a girls' weekend where three out of the six of us were carrying MZ Wallace bags. I got sucked into an MZ Wallace Facebook group that the others belong to, and before I knew it I had become obsessed and had developed a whole MZ Wallace collection! I picked up the MZ Wallace Dawn small Nikki at NAS, and then the Pixel print small Sutton at the MZ Wallace pop-up store in SF (I got a 15% off introductory coupon). I also had to have the hedgehog charm and coin purse to add to my hedgehog collection including my Kate Spade cross body (#4). I love this pattern because it kind of reminds me of a galaxy print. Normally I try to stick to solids for my bags since I wear so many prints, but this one seems to work quite well with a lot of colors from blue to pink to purple to burgundy to grey. Outfit in 9-13 is one of my work-to-MOTG transition outfits. I also got several used bags from the MZW group (they have an active buy-sell-trade thread), and can show you more WIWs with the other bags if you like. I don't see much posted about this brand on here, except for Diana who seems to like them--anyone else an MZW fan? I've been posting on the FB group, but notice that there everyone seems to post just pics of their purses on their car seat (like #5). I feel like a bit of an oddball posting my outfit shots there, but I feel like I always want to see the purse in context with the outfit! I guess I'm just used to YLF style WIWs!

Hi! I'd love to play too...who do you think is my style icon? I thought maybe Zooey Deschanel, who also rocks glasses with long dark hair and bangs, and has a girly, colorful, playful and whimsical style. Definitely a match for my matchy matchy Kate Spade persona. And how can you not love someone who gives their daughter the middle name Otter? But then I found this quote in an interview she did:

"But first, let's get one thing straight: As far as Zooey's concerned, "quirky" is just "a nice way of saying 'weird.'"
"It's an annoying word," she explained.
Hey, what a quirky thing to say!
...Heh. Sorry.
But while most of us probably would describe Zooey's vintage-inspired and offbeat style as...well, you know, she has some better adjectives to define her unique fashion sense."I would say girly, flirtatious, colorful," she said. "Feminine, maybe, and soft. But yeah, definitely colorful."
And when it comes to putting her outfits together, she's got quite the interesting criteria: "What if I need to run away? Just take off at any minute? I want to be able to run away and dance at all times."
Meanwhile, with her self-confessed frilly sensibilities, the 1990s-inspired trends that have hit L.A. recently aren't up Zooey's alley. "I’m not a leather-dress, bondage-pumps type of person," she said. "All those straps and zippers look horrible on me. Am I going to kill someone with that shoe? I like things that are pretty. I like dressing up.""

So what about my UWP shadow persona with the tougher, edgier style and the black, studs and leather? Do I need two style icons? Or is there someone you'd suggest that can represent both my style personas? And is there a fashion descriptor(s) for my current style? Because I don't think Demure Bombshell is sufficient anymore...

I'm including a couple of recent outfits I wore showing my two styles with two different black bags, and here's a thread with more pics of my style and shadow style:
http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....comparison

I was only able to shop in store for 2 hours at the beginning of presale. I ordered a bunch of things online but am returning most of it after trying it on at home. Here is what I've kept. Some wild card UWP like pieces including the Zella jacket, Vince mesh tank, Karen Kane cardigan with leather sleeves, the silver puffer, and punk zipper jeans. The Paige Edgemont jeans were not on sale, but they fit the best of the many different pairs of jeans I tried (thanks for the recommendation UmmLila). My belly bulge limited a lot of items including the R&B gilet and Halogen sleeveless tunic and wrap dresses, which I guess is a good thing because I had to really edit. I ended up with four pairs of higher waist jeans (one distressed, one non-distressed, one burgundy (thanks for the rec Angie!) and one white--guess I'm into skinnies lately!) to accommodate my food baby, two graphic tees, two tank tops which skim over the belly, two cardigans, and two puffy jackets (one short, one long). It all looks like a black and white capsule, doesn't it? Let me know what you think of these pieces on me! Thanks!

1-2. Zella jacket
3-4. Vince mesh tank
5-6. Karen Kane cardigan and burgundy Jen7 jeans
7. Laundry silver puffer
8. Halogen sweater
9-14. Paige Edgemont jeans with zippered pockets
14-16. AG Leggings jeans with distressing

17. Vince Camuto floral top and white Kut Diana jeans (size up from my previous white Diana pair)

I know it's totally ridiculous that I already have two puffers (white and brown) and yet want another one even though it doesn't even snow here. (Calling Rachylou for support on this!) But this is filling my UWP gunmetal parka wardrobe hole (yes I am creating a hole to justify this). I like the fitted silhouette and the contrasting patterns on the side panels. It is quite light and not bulky at all, yet visually it feels like I'm wearing a coat of armor. I love it! What do you think? Is it a keeper? 5-7 is not styled at all, just threw it on before I changed out of my outfit. But I wanted to show a pic of it open, which is how I would normally wear it.

Laundry by Shelli Segal parka in charcoal (they also have a fab electric blue version). $99! Sizing info--I normally run between a size S and M on top (size 6-8) and sized up to a M on this which was perfect. 

I'm always up for a good challenge, so since Angie has encouraged us to wear our wonderful wardrobe items, I picked something something really difficult, totally impractical but totally fabulous that I never seem to find the occasion to wear...a white tulle ballerina skirt! I bought this on impulse last year but was going to return it because I didn't think I would really ever wear it. But once DD saw this skirt she loved it and wouldn't let me return it! When she was four, she said that she wanted to be a doctor and a mommy and a princess and a ballerina when she grows up. (Now at age 8 she wants to be an inventor, a detective and a ninja). So I'm helping to role model for her that you can be all those things! I have to admit this outfit is way outside my comfort zone and I kept thinking I was going to chicken out and change into something more practical. But at the last minute I decided to put into practice my motto of "Always Be Fabulous", said WTH and went for it!

I initially wore the denim jacket to try to dress it down. I went to drop off DS1 at a new camp and got the camp tour. It was hot and I didn't really need the denim jacket for work, so I left the denim jacket off and went full on ballerina girl. Shadow persona is nowhere to be found today! I'm doing the super sweet girly girl today with the cotton candy pink cashmere sweater, white tulle ballerina skirt, pink flats, pink bird feather necklace (with pink leather and white tulle feathers) and kissing bird bracelet. Totally ridiculous to be swanning around the hospital in a tulle skirt seeing patients and doing procedures (it's OK, I cover up with mask, gown and shoe covers so I'm fully protected) but everyone loved it and several people called me a princess ballerina. All I needed to complete my look was my tiara, but that's on loan to the national museum so I had to do without. 

Bonus throwback pics of the 4 year old princess ballerina, because she is just too stinkin' cute. Miss those days!

Everlane pink cashmere sweater
Bailey 44 white tulle midi skirt
Halogen Olson studded blush flats
Kate Spade white Hayden
Stella and Dot Birdie necklace
Kate Spade bird bracelet

1-4 is what I wore to shop at NAS--Tokidoki casual. DH hates these Rag & Bone pajama jeans. He calls them my "I've given up" jeans. I agree they are kind of sloppy but I've gained some weight and my regular jeans are getting pretty snug and uncomfortably digging into my sides and giving me muffin top. So I decided I would try to find a new pair of jeans at NAS. My current jeans that still fit are 15-16. Vigoss ripped jeans size 28 (my favorite but they're getting kinda snug), 17-18. Kut from the Kloth Catherine boyfriend jeans size 28 (below the knee length), 19-20. J brand size 30 (too long so I rolled the hem), and 21-22. Banana Republic cropped flare size 29 (I don't know why but these always seem kind of weird/frumpy on me).

I tried on three pairs of jeans in store--5-9. Rag and Bone Dre size 29. DH hated the turned up hem and yellow stitching and said it's too baggy on me (I agree the rear view is rather unflattering), 10-14. AG jeans size 30. OK but kind of boring? I kind of like a darker wash. And 15-16. J Brand size 29. DH does not like these ones because they "don't look like real pants". He doesn't like jeggings I guess! He also doesn't like ripped knees or baggy jeans. He's super traditional. What kind of jeans are "in" nowadays?

Anyways, I have a few more on order to compare, but what do you think of the first three so far? I'm not entirely sure any of them are the right one. I've got another two Kut from the Kloth ones and another Rag and Bone on order as well. I just think the ones I currently have look better but I wish they weren't quite so snug on me! Gotta get cracking with the exercise and diet again!

Thanks for your help! By the way, I got the Halogen cardigan below and a swimsuit and some underwear as well when I went in store. I have a lot more on order, but surprisingly everything is very drab and grey/black/navy (see my NAS finds collection). Where did all the color go?