How to Dress a Tank Dress...

I am  Back...Full Force! With my first outfit post with my Nikon.

I must admit, I miss Cannon's self-timer that shoots up to 10 frames.

But I am loving the quality of the pictures for the price. Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd I SO recommend getting the Best Buy product warranty...at least one year! It came in handy for me.

So...today I was DETERMINED to take outfit pics.

I was so EXCITED that I picked out and tried on the outfit I am wearing the night before!

I actually started formulating this look this weekend when I purchased some of the elements of this look in-store.

But I digress.

A New Discovery

A while back on a post where I was still taking photos on my patio; I photographed myself in a racer-back dress with my bra straps showing. ... I received some feedback, privately of course, from a reader that suggested I shouldn't do such.

I tucked that suggestion in my back pocket.

It wasn't until I was in The Avenue buying a piece of their FABULOUS jewelry that I found these...

Annnnnnnnnnnnd they were marked down...I think I may have paid $3.00 for them, if that...

I used one of these nifty contraptions to hide my bra straps beneath the dress I was wearing today.

I used the wider gaited clip today.

Tips

I must admit, I use my straps to raise the cups of my bras to the highest height for optimal lift.

When using these babies, that is a no, no.

1. It's ideal to start with the strap extended out to its full length, then raise after the device has been inserted onto your bra straps. I found that I couldn't shorten my straps once my bra became more racer-back friendly.

2. Also I am one who has to put my bras on with the hooks facing in front of me and the turn the bra around.  I suggest doing so when putting the device on your bra straps. Then turn the bra with the cups facing the correct way and gently slide the straps on your arm.

Or, if you are fortunate enough to have a significant other or someone to help you, this might be even better.

The Results

No straps showing...seee!

Also as  you can see, I did some subtle pattern-mixing with this blazer.

The dress is striped and the blazer has some pin-striped detailing that adds a little something wonderful to this look.

I found it while shopping my closet a while back.  It was actually part of a set that I had stopped wearing, but didn't have the heart to get rid of.

<

Glad I didn't.

And these shoes, the PERFECT black flat in my eyes! I just LOVE pointed toe flats...

They're a great compromise to heels!

I felt so professionally clean-cut today...

Heart-Shaped Stud Earrings: Brash by Payless

Pin-Striped Blazer: Worthington by JC Penny

Black & White Nautical Tank Dress: Old Navy

Pink Belt: Amazing find from Marshall's

Black Pointed-Toe Flats: Old Navy

Stark White Carry-All: Baker's Shoe Store

Hey...I'm Alive!

I was in process of looking for an apartment.

I saw some places that made my heart go pitter patter. ...But broke it at the same time when I calculated the total cost of living there.

*sigh*

This and talking to my mom made me just give up and consider giving myself more time to look.

To tell you the truth, when I saw what was out there, versus what I already have, it made me not want to move anymore.

I'd be completely happy with this place if it had better carpet...though.

Real Talk!

Maybe I can talk management into putting in better flooring when I sign a new lease.

In other news, I have finally bought a new camera!

I went with a Nikon Cool Pix S8200...

I had another model that looked more "professional" but it took batteries!

I'm used to a rechargeable battery, so that was a deal-breaker for me.

I tried taking some pics inside before I took it back and it took some good shots from what I can tell on the screen.

That's what made me stick with the Nikon name.

 These were taken with the new cam...pretty fresh huh?

When I got my hair done Friday, I cut it shorter.

 To me, it makes it look more grown-up.

[Gotta love my heart studs in the center pic that are also a new acquisition!]

I found a stylist that seems to actually believe in customer care and protective styling.

For relaxed hair, this entails keeping it hydrated by limiting the use of heat and harsh chemicals.

Of course I have been shopping, acquiring new things here and there.

I bought this wonderful stark white bag at Bakers!

I have been looking for a white bag FOREVER!

I mean, I thought the fringe bag I showcased before was really trendy.

But it was not really my style.

This bag is!

I LOVE the silver hardware and the ostrich-print details!

I also found a boat-load of Neon Nail Polish!

I love colors that POP for the summer and these spoke to me!

They are from Rue 21 and from what I could tell, they are fabulously thick...[The saleslady at my local store modeled the marbled-purple color for me & I tested some of the brighter shades on a strip of paper...]

Not dull like some neon polishes that make your nails look like they've been colored with a highlighter.

With a 40% off coupon, I got all of these colors for $9.00.

Currently on my nails I am wearing OPI's Gargantuan Green Grape.

So...at this point I am chilling...waiting for the demise of my weekend and back to business as usual.

Ciao!

"...Missing You Insane ..."

-Frank Ocean (for the widely known -Beyonce's "I Miss You.")

An Ode to my fallen camera and style blogging in general.

It was been approximately two weeks since my mighty camera had fallen and I took it to be repaired.

The store decided to total it out and give me credit for a new one. ...Thus, there will be a delay before I can post outfits again.

...And, I MISS IT.

When I get up in the morning, I have to remind myself to put together great looks, even if I'm not documenting them.

And I have been dressing well, if I do say so myself.

Fashion Blogging has become a part of my identity...something that I miss when I'm not able to engage in it.

But, my cell phone pics, as blurry as they are, will have to do. Not to mention product pics.

I decided to treat myself to some retail after I completed my close-to-200 question take-home test this afternoon.

The torture is not over as I have to do a paper as well.

I'm beginning to resent this task.

So, after spying some blazers at Sears.com, I decided to breeze into my local store to maybe check them out in person.

I was pleasantly surprised to find SO many great pieces in the flesh today!

I couldn't help but to try a few on.

First and Foremost I was utterly intrigued by a Fuchsia Blazer by Apostrophe.

I couldn't find a picture of the EXACT Apostrophe Brand blazer on the Sear's website, sears.com, but I found one similar under the brand Name UK Style by French Connection.

The jacket is linen, which is a perfect spring fabric, (oh so breathable), and the arms of the jacket are ruched. I notice it is a trend to roll up the arms of blazers, jackets, and the like to create a 3/4 sleeve silhouette. Well, this jacket already has that built in.

I will be going back for the black one too.

& it came in cobalt in-store as well.

Sears is all the rave with their Kardashian  Kollection which has been out for some time now.

I saw some exotic pieces that were right on trend for Spring.

I LOVED this pant suit for a versatile from work to happy hour look.

It did not love me though.

It was too long and the elasticized waist was wayyyyy above where my natural waistline falls.

So unflattering.

I would have loved to wear it to work with this blazer though and some metallic accessories would have pulled this look together quite nicely.

This color-blocked dress, also by the Kardashian's, did a little better with my figure.

(I did take notice that the right foundation would have helped, but since I was just trying the dress on, I let myself make it).

I thought the jacket added something special to this piece as well.

I could also imagine metallic pulling this look together nicely.

I did not end up buying the dress...I decided to save my wallet some despair.

Today was one of those days that I had to remember to dress like I was going to be photographing myself.

I shopped my closet and wore this extremely-long dress, cropped denim and my go-to sandals when I need to add some dimension and pizzazz to an otherwise basic outfit.

The neon on my nails & toes contrasted beautifully with the color of the dress.

It's Kleancolor's TLC...bought it two summers ago.

Who knew my love for bright polish in the summer would be mainstreamed and manifested into a trend?

Fast Forward to this evening...

I have finished my section of the  paper and now my partner and I are in the final stages of collaborating and combining our parts.

When we are done, the paper will be kick a$$! I am expecting an A!

To celebrate, I went to Old Navy, which is becoming my favorite STORE! Everything is so affordable and I can wear a lot of things! It's a win/win for me.

I wasn't even going to buy anything, but this dress caught me off guard.

I also stopped by Marshall's and ended up trying these on...

I normally don't do shorts, but I think I can make these work!

Afterwards I treated myself out to dinner.

I had a lovely time. And the food was delicious.

Wedge Salad, Pasta, & Vanilla Bean Cheesecake...YUM!

So, I have narrowed it down to two cameras at Best Buy along with the store credit they gave me for the old one.

I have a price point in mind that I want to pay out-or-pocket for the camera and the service plan combined, then I will do regular posts.

Ivory+Pewter=Fabulous!

Mmmmkay,

Let me tell you how it all went down.

I saw another blogger with the most AMAZING pewter bag I ever laid eyes on...

And at that moment, the seed was planted.

I wanted something similar, but not an EXACT replica.

So I searched and searched for something in my price range.

I ended up with my silver bag by abro.

Not, pewter, but it still made a STATEMENT in all of its metallic splendor!

It wasn't until yesterday that I laid eyes on my new baby at Shi!

[Looks Black Here...But the Store Does Carry it in Black & the Color of My Bag...Pewter]

It's wonderful. My favorite part is the contrasting gold hardware that makes it oh so versitile!

When I looked at the price-tag, I was even more thrilled.

Long story short, the bag led me to buy these wonderful strappy platforms by Jessica Simpson.

Meet Parissa!

And, on another blog I saw how songstress Alicia Keys rocked a pristine white and ebony blocked dress.

I was minding my own business in Marshall's on a Friday night, (or some other week night), and I came across this dress...

ANnnnnnnnnnnnD they had the AUDACITY to have my size.

The price was right, The dress normally retails for $138.00. I got it for about 1/4 of that price.

So I bought it...Without knowing where I was going to wear it.

At the 7th hour, I texted my classmate and told her I'd celebrate Resurrection Sunday with her.

I hadn't bought a new  Easter outfit for years.

I bought this one without even knowing that's what it was going to be for.

Stud Earrings: Random...(Something about a cute pair of studs is so pure and simplistic to me)

Ivory & White Dress: Premise Brand via Marshall's

Pewter Platforms: Jessica Simpson Parissa via Baker's

Pewter Purse: Shi

Sorry about the BUSTED-Looking pictures...They were Taken with a camera phone. My camera is in the shop.