Work Staples: Business card cases

You're rockin' it at a networking event when you meet someone important – a rep from your dream company, a potential BFF or a like-minded entrepreneur – and they hand you a business card.

What do you do?

(a) Stutter, "Oh, I don't have any cards with me now, but I'll email you."
(b) Rummage around the bottom of your bag and pull out a dirty wrinkled card.
(c) Pull out your snazzy business card holder and hand them a crisp clean card with your contact info.

I wish I could say it was always (c), but for me, the answer is usually (a) or (b). I have a few cards (for work, freelancing, my volunteer work and the blog), so it's hard to keep them all straight or in stock in my purse. I use a Coach coin purse that was a gift back in grad school to tote some around, but I have to admit I usually forget to switch it when I switch purses. For that reason, I usually keep 1 or 2 cards in my wallet, too.

Card cases keep your cards handy, clean and crisp. They're also a fun accessory, so let your personality come through!  Check out these sweet options.

Clockwise from top left: Aluminum card holder ($5.50), Moo MiniCard holder (from $4.99), MotherofPearlShop card holder ($28), Coach legacy leather card case ($58), DFauberWoodsmith padauk wood business card holder ($42),  CreationsbyAngel fabric business card holder ($15)

How many cards do you have, and what do you use to hold them? 

It's in the (work) bag

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I began searching for a laptop bag. In a "doh" type realization on the eve of starting my new job last month, I pulled out this trusty standby from a box in my closet. The perfect work bag was something I already owned.

This bag and I go way back. I bought it in college when I was interviewing for internships. I used it almost daily back then, and lugged it all over NYC with me in grad school, too. It has a large main compartment (big enough for any folders/documents/books), four outside pockets, two inside pockets and a zippered slot. Not too shabby for a $25 Marshall's find.

What to look for in a work bag:

• Space. It should be big enough to hold everything you need, but not so big you look like you're going on an overnight trip. If you're throwing in a laptop, folders or notepads, look for a bag with dimensions around 9" x 13" x 3". Other things to consider: pockets, inside or outside (personally, I like outside pockets).

• Color. Aside from Day-Glo brights and too-cute prints, I'd say color is fair game. Let your personality show. Remember, though, that you'll be carrying this bag a lot, so it should be something you wouldn't mind your CEO or clients seeing.

• Fabric. Sturdiness is key, but you can also find some great bags in luxury finishes, too, if that's your thing. This one is a thick canvas with PVC trim.

• Weight. Technology is getting smaller and lighter, so help ease the burden on your shoulders by keeping your bag light, too. 

• Shoulder strap. It just makes life easier and frees up your hands.

What does this bag hold on a daily basis?

• Document envelope. It's big enough to fit my supersleek work laptop and some papers, too. I ended up sewing a laptop sleeve for my personal laptop, so I can toss that in if I need it.
• Umbrella. This is Miami, after all.
• Wallet
• Sunglasses
• Make-up bag
• Pens

Apt. 9 Colorblock Tote ($42 Kohl's), AK Anne Klein Small Perfect Tote ($51 Macy's), Sag Harbor Bel Air Shopper ($54 Kohl's)

What do you look for in a work bag?

Lotuff and Clegg review and giveaway

I love leather goods. I really do. I understand some of you may not agree with real leather, and if that's you, you're welcome to ignore this post completely.

If you're a fellow leather lover like me, you know how good the buttery leather feels to the touch, how durable it is, and how it ages beautifully with time and care. Quite a few months back, Lotuff & Clegg, a New England-based leather goods company, asked me if I'd be interested in telling my readers about them and testing out a bag. A quick glance at their website confirmed that these goods, while beautiful, do not come cheap, and low prices are one of the main things I look for when I shop. I told them my qualms and asked if there was something they could throw in for my readers, since the product sounded great, but the price, not so much. I wasn't going to plug something that my readers have no way of getting their hands on. They agreed, but more on that later.

They sent me one of their leather working totes in chocolate. And it sat in my apartment for, oh, four months. Where in the world do you take such a thing? The only use I could imagine for it was as a travel tote, so I waited until my trip to Southern California in October to try it out.

Check out the size of this thing (yes, those are workout clothes).

It fits a lot. Shown: purse, iPad, thick book, water bottle (to fill up after getting through security), scarf, point-and-shoot camera, cardigan, bag of food (gingersnaps and a sandwich), bag of liquids, bag of electronic chargers and cords.

Pros:

• Quality. This is the real deal. The leather is thick and sturdy, and the stitching is tight and even. A lot of care went into making this bag, and it shows. Makes sense, since the company is known for their craftsmanship. They even have a cool video on their website about it. They manufacture all their bags in Massachusetts.
• Color. The tote I reviewed was a deep, rich, goes-with-everything brown. Lotuff & Clegg uses a vegetable dying and tanning process using all organic ingredients. I thought that was pretty cool.
• Capacity and sturdiness. In addition to the stuff shown above, I also ended up stuffing in a laptop and board game (to give to my nephew). 
• Perfect travel tote size. It's large enough to fit all my essentials and still fits under the seat in front of me. When I had the laptop and game in there it fit best lying on its side, but on my most recent trip (without laptop), it actually fit just fine standing up on its bottom since there weren't any tall items that couldn't squish.

Cons:

• Price. Quality does not come cheap (although a girl can dream). But if you're on the market for this type of leather good, you're probably already used to these prices. The tote I reviewed retails for $750 (three times the price of my wedding dress).
• Weight. Leather is heftier than synthetic materials, and when you combine that with the large capacity of this tote (and how much you're tempted to cram in), you've got yourself quite the shoulder weight.
• Practicality (for me, at least). Like I mentioned, this tote sat in my apartment for four months because I couldn't figure out how to use it. But that's just this item and my lifestyle. If you're a tote carrier already, you'd probably get a lot of use out of this.

And now onto the fun stuff.

Lotuff & Clegg is giving away a red leather iPad sleeve to one lucky New Professional reader!
Keep your iPad snug and safe in this beauty or wrap it up for the technophile on your holiday gift list (retail value $150). No, the iPad does not come with it.

To enter, just leave a comment below telling me your favorite leather product and leaving a valid email.*

The giveaway ends Monday, December 5, at 11:59 p.m. EST and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, December 6. Prize will be mailed out as soon as winner provides their address (can be yours before Christmas).  

Edited to add: Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. I will be doing the shipping and it is just too pricey to ship internationally. Sorry!

*Please note: Just because you are commenting from a Google or Blogger profile does not mean your email is automatically attached to your comment. To make your email visible from your Google/Blogger profile, you must go into your profile, click "Edit," enter an email under "identity," and make sure that privacy is set to "show my email address." If you have already left a comment but forgot your email or if your email is set to private, you have two options to complete your entry into this giveaway: 1) leave a second comment with your email referencing your first comment by date/time/name or 2) email me with your email address and referencing your first comment by date/time/name. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Lotuff & Clegg loaned me a leather working tote free of charge and donated the iPad case for giveaway. No compensation was exchanged for the review or giveaway and no agreement was made to guarantee positive coverage. I'll be putting the work tote back in the mail to Lotuff & Clegg next week. Aside from this review and giveaway, I have no other relationship with the company; clicking on the links in this post will not benefit me in any way. I just wanted to pass on some leathery goodness.

Fall uniform [outfit]

Bobeau sweater from Nordstrom Rack - 2011 - $8 on clearance (purchased with birthday money) / Ella Moss tank from Anthropologie - 2010 - Christmas gift / J & Co jeans from Renew Denim - 2010 - $40 / Franco Sarto boots from Macy's - 2010 - birthday gift / London Fog bag from Amazon - 2011 - birthday gift + $5 shipping

After a week of not taking outfit photos, it's a little odd to start again. That's why you get this crappy cell phone pic instead of the usual crappy indoor pic. This is basically my fall uniform.

Flat knee-high boots
(I might need another pair to spread out the wear on these)

+

Skinny or straight jeans
(blue or gray)

+

Drapey cardigan

(gray or tan)

+

Top-handle bag with longer strap

(black or brown)

Optional: scarf, fun jewelry

Seeing that I have at most two of each of the core items to the look, I'm going to have to switch it up here soon. Like, maybe switch to a straight cardi instead of a draped one.

The day I wore this (Sunday) I mulled over my upcoming Christmas List (due at Thanksgiving) as well as my October spending. I've been rather uninterested in shopping and acquiring new things lately, so the Christmas List has been tough. As for spending, I'm still going through my birthday money (in September and October combined I only spent $106 of my $150 birthday check...I bought a dress, a pair of shoes, a top, a sweater, and a ring so far). I'm thinking I'll use the rest of it to get a haircut. I need some shaping. Or should I save that for my Christmas List?

What's your fall uniform?

A night out and regional style [outfit]

Esley dress worn as top - 2009 - $63 (similar) / J & Company jeans via Renew Denim - 2009 - $40 on sale (similar) / Kate Spade pumps - 2011 - gift (similar) / J. Crew belt - 2011 - $10 on sale (similar) / Thrifted clutch - 2004 - cheap (similar) / NY & Co. mesh bangle - 2010 - gift (similar) / Tiffany venetian link bracelet - 2011 - gift card + gift (available; similar) / Forever 21 large link bracelet - 2010 - $5 (similar)

[Worn: 09.08.11 | To: Fashion's Night Out in Coral Gables, FL]

Fashion events are not something that's usually on my schedule, and I always draw a blank on what to wear. Luckily, I have you all by my side and through quick and insightful tweets and Facebook comments, you all (really, all) picked this option: the belted dress and skinny jean combo. Several of you mentioned throwing a blazer on top, so I brought along my trusty black one, making this outfit almost exactly like this previous one.

A few of you mentioned that the jeans might be a little underdressed, but to be honest...I wasn't so sure. But I have to admit...I felt a tad underdressed (there were some women in full-length gowns, but not many). I feel that way a lot here, hence my little personal goal for the month. I've heard from many non-Californians who had been transplanted into the Golden State how laid-back California style was compared to general style elsewhere (especially the Northeast and South), but I never really understood what they were talking about. But I'm starting to.

And so, in the muggy heat, I kept that blazer on all night. And I have you friends to thank.

Have you noticed any regional style differences in your moves or travels?

Mirror-free is not the way to be [outfit]

Mossimo dress via Target - 2011 - $10 on clearance (available) / Aerosoles suede loafers via Macy's - 2007 - $30 on sale (similar) / Emilie M. bag via Marshall's - 2011 - $25 (similar) / Dark pearl necklace and matching studs - 2011 - gift (similar) / Ball chain necklace - old - cheap (similar)

[Worn: 09.07.11 | To: Meet w/ Dress for Success Miami and run errands]

I really need to get a full-length mirror. I felt great in this outfit, but that's mainly because I didn't see what the dress + shoes looked like until I got home. My feet were a bit sore (I wore heels Wednesday and ended up spending 4+ hours on my feet), so I wanted to be comfortable. I love the dress and shoes separately, but never again will they be worn together.

Yesterday, I met with Dress for Success Miami/Suited for Success to discuss volunteering options. The organization is basically about everything I love...helping women and men prepare for careers through training and wardrobe. And now that I have a flexible schedule, I wanted to get involved and meet new people. Turns out, what they need help with is what I know how to do, so we have a follow-up meeting next week, and I'm helping at their Fashion's Night Out table tonight.


Where do you volunteer?

[Edit: I couldn't remember where I first saw a necklace worked this way, but now I know it was from Elaine at Clothed Much. She tricked out her pearl strand with a ribbon, which works great if you don't have a shorter necklace that complements your strand. Thanks, Elaine!

Feels like new [outfit]

BR Monogram top - 2011 - $15 on sale (similar) / Merona jeans via Target - 2011 - $18 on sale (similar) / Rubbish scarf via Nordstrom - 2009 - $10 on sale (similar) / J. Crew outlet belt - 2011 - $5 on sale (similar) / Rampage wedges - 2009 - $25 on sale (similar) / Emilie M. bag via Marshall's - 2011 - $25 (similar)

[Worn: 08.30.11 | To: Mall and Target, my regular haunts]

Yes, I realize my feet are cut off. It was so easy to find an outfit spot when there was nothing in my apartment. That's why you get a dedicated shoe shot. I also realize I'm not too consistent with labeling [outfit] in my titles. Working on that. Moving along...

I've been in a bit of a funk so far this week, mainly due to the eczema outbreaks. Just when they were starting to get better, our stuff arrived, bringing in all kinds of new dust and dirt from the month spent in storage and the various trucks it traveled on to get here, and aggravating my skin even worse than it was last week. I've been in hiding.

But this blog would suck without outfits, so I came out of hiding for a bit yesterday to stock up on more skin care supplies. Aveeno, Cetaphil, Aquafor, CeraVe, and Cortisone line my bathroom counter, waiting their turn to attack.

This outfit is way dressier than I would have worn in my previous life on a random Tuesday errand run, but I was so excited to have my clothes (and shoes!) back that I had to bust out the big guns (aka, heels). I'd guess that about half my shoes are heels, and it's going to be interesting to try to work them into daily wear.

Do you wear heels casually or just for work and dressier events?

What's in the bag? [IFB Project]

Emilie M. faux leather tote from Marshall's for $25
(one of my Miami purchases...my usual bag just isn't a good shape for the iPad).

Confession: I love "what's in your bag" posts. I've been looking for a good excuse to do one, and just this weekend the latest Independent Fashion Blogger Project popped up in my reader. So here you go!

Day-to-day

• Moleskine planner. See planner search here.
• Envelope for coupons, receipts, and other notes.
• Wallet. Found at Urban Outfitters a few years ago. Space pen, bobby pins, and hair ties go in the clasped compartment (there's also a snap side with the card/cash areas and a zippered coin holder, see inside pic here).
• Sunglasses and over. Sunnies from BR Factory, case is from an old Michael Michael Kors pair of glasses that I have since scratched and tossed.
• Umbrella and plastic bag. For the daily rainstorms.
• Lotion and lip goods. There's a lipstick and little mirror in that green case.
• Cell phone.
• Keys, parking pass (the black card in the side), coin purse. Also holds my blog biz cards on the other side.
• Knit blazer, or any other coverup. For air conditioning.

If I'm wandering around and plan to sightsee or stop and hang out a bit, I'll also toss in my iPad and little PowerShot camera, too.

Check out all the other bag ladies (and maybe gents) over at the IFB blog.

So what's in your bag?

Throw on and go [outfit]

Ann Taylor top - 2010 - $20 on sale (similar) / BR Factory Store skirt - 2011 - $20 on sale (similar) / Enzo Angiolini pumps via Piperlime - 2010 - $35 on sale (available) / H&M leather mini duffel - 2007 - $40 on sale (similar) / Premier Designs faux pearl necklace - 2010 - free with purchase (similar) / BR Factory Store sunglasses - 2011 - $8 on sale

Outfit analysis: I'm not sure if green and purple are supposed to go together, but I was feeling it. Another qualm I had about this outfit was the pleats on the skirt and the top...I have a preconceived notion that if one piece is detailed, it should be worn with a simpler piece. But this seemed to work okay, too. I like how the paper-bag waist of the skirt stands out more because the upper ruched part of the skirt blends into the top (does that make sense? Not sure how to explain it). Neutral accessories help the colors stand out.
___

This had to be one of my laziest mornings ever, and to be honest, I loved the result! This outfit was pretty random. I picked out the skirt and top separately as things I might want to wear together, and just put them on. I air-dried my hair (usually I blow-dry with round brush...not really a blow-out cuz my hair is straight already). And to top it off, I even ate almost the same meal for lunch and dinner: chicken and french fries. Out of one rut, into another.

What odd color combo do you like to wear? How did you discover it?

Mad, mad world [outfit]

Gap dress - 2011 - $25 (similar) / Nina Paladin pumps via Ross - 2009 - $16 (similar) / J.Crew outlet belt - 2011 - $5 (similar) / Vintage frame bag via Bows and Arrows - 2010 - $12 (similar) / Necklace via Gottschalks - 2009 - $6 (similar) / Silver ball studs via Target - cheap (similar)

Outfit analysis: The sleeves, wide neckline, and defined waist of this dress really hearken back to the Mad Men days. I think the bag only adds to that vibe, and I like it. Looking back at this outfit now, I sort of wish I'd tried it with my braided leather belt, to carry the color of the bag through to the outfit, and maybe another necklace. Although I really do think the leopard print of the belt is a nice touch. Well, that was rambly. Bottom line: I liked this outfit. It was easy. It was comfy.
___

When I get a new item of clothing, I tend to start out simply and then branch out. That was the case with my gray Target dress (iteration 1, 2, 3), and that's how I'm approaching this dress as well. Sure, I have an idea of how I'll be styling the item when I buy it, but in reality it often takes me a few tries to figure the piece out. This styling isn't all that different from the first time, but hey, it's only my second try, so cut me some slack, okay? Any ideas for my next try with this dress?

How do you approach working a new piece into your wardrobe? Do you try out the waters one toe at a time or do you cannonball right in?

Date night

Final Touch top via Heart Clothing Boutique - 2011 - $32 (similar) / The Limited tulip skirt - 2009 - $20 (similar) / Mossimo gladiator heels via Target - 2010 - $25 (similar) / Premier Designs faux pearl necklace - 2010 - free with purchase (similar) / Coach outlet bag - 2010 - Christmas gift from mom (similar) / BR Factory sunnies - 2011 - $8 (similar) / Sephora lip pencil No. 411 (discontinued)

Outfit analysis: I'm loving this silhouette right now--a blousy top with a fitted skirt. And comfy as all hell. This top is so soft and silky that my skirt kept twisting around the whole day. I realized after I got dressed that I was wearing all black, so I went with a bold red lip. I need to wear lipstick more often...I really like it.

___

Mondays are date nights for K and I. It's a little unconventional. K teaches a class in Sacramento on Monday nights, so he takes the train in (reimbursable by the university), and I pick him up after work and we have dinner in Sacramento. It's helped us finally keep regular date nights, and is really precious time for us. And it's given us an opportunity to try more restaurants in--there are sooo many good ones. Tonight we went to Petra for Greek food. Have you ever had saganaki? If you haven't tried it, you need to. Especially if you like cheese. Yummmm.

There's a funny story behind this bag. Lately, my mom has taken to hitting up outlets with her friends, and when she sees them buying things for their daughters, she decides she wants to buy me one, too. So she was at the Coach outlet with a friend, who was buying a bag for her daughter, and she buys one for me. Our family is not good at keeping secrets, so she tells me over Thanksgiving that my Christmas present is a Coach bag. Do I want to see it? (see, not good at secrets.) I decline...Christmas is less than a month away.

But before I leave, I get curious, and I sneak over to where my mom has always kept presents before she gives them. I poke around and see a Coach shopping bag almost right away. I look inside and it's a small-ish brown (or black?) shoulder bag. Nice, but not spectacular. I think about how much I appreciate my mom for buying me something I wouldn't buy myself.

Come Christmas, K and I are on dinner #3 and finally make it to my parents house Christmas evening. Good food and good times are had, and after all the other guests leave, we bring out the presents we brought for my family. My mom remembers her present for me and runs to get it. She emerges with a huge Coach shopping bag. I wonder why she's repackaged the small bag into such a giant bag. And then I pull out the tissue paper to find this beauty. I don't use it too often because it's pretty big, rather heavy, and a obnoxiously labeled, but lately I've found myself needing a large bag, so this one it is. Usually it's my travel bag, because it's huge inside, it zips closed, and it has a long strap so I can wear it across my body.

Right now it's only about half full, but I'll fix that.

Do you prefer big purses or little purses? Marked or anonymous bags?

Plain white tee

A'gaci blazer - 2011 - $26 (available) / Gap favorite T - 2011 - $6 on sale (available) / Merona trouser jeans via Target - 2011 - $18 on sale (similar) / Enzo Angiolini Maylie pumps via Nordstrom - 2007 - $70 on sale (similar) / H&M leather mini-duffel - 2007 - $45 on sale (similar) / Natural pearls - 2007 - gift (similar)

Finally back at home, which means back to work. I slightly altered my hours at work today so I could get some extra sleep (didn't get home from my weekend trip until 1 a.m.), but even with a little extra sleep, I still wasn't completely up to getting fully dressed. I knew it would be a quiet day (a lot of folks were out of the office), so I pulled out my trusty trouser jeans and plain white tee for comfort.

What worked
This is a perfect Casual Friday outfit (or Casual Monday, as it were).  The blazer and heels help dress up the plain t-shirt. The pearls instead of my usual layered long necklaces is a little more classy (versus the usual boho/rock vibe). Love.

What didn't
My hair is in the weird growing-out stage. I blow-dried it this morning with a round brush, pulling the ends under, but as you can see, they didn't feel like staying there. Trying to wait out the growing period, but I'm thinking a quick trim and shape is in order.

Do you work plain t-shirts into your work wardrobe? How do you style them?

Pardon the pics...forgot my point-and-shoot at home today and had a post-work date night w/ K, so I had him snap these shots on his new smartphone (it has an 8MP camera). Not too shabby, but not as good as the DSLR.

Packing by the numbers

If y'all don't already know by now, I love to travel. I don't go to exotic places, but I do like to go normal places pretty often. And as you may have heard, one of the things I take a lot of pride in (in a good way, I think), is my ability to pack lightly.  I've been meaning to get some photos of my packing process, but usually it only takes me about 15 minutes (and includes K's clothes), but I lucked out last week! I went a little liberal on the toiletries (no plan means no liquid limits), so this is actually packing "heavy" for me.

Trip details

• Conference for work (business casual): Wednesday-Friday
• College roomie's bachelorette (massages, dinner/drinks): Friday-Sunday
• Method of transportation: Driving (Sac-SF, SF-So Cal, So Cal-Sac)

What I brought (includes my Wednesday clothes)

• 3 pairs of shoes
• 2 pairs of pants
• 1 dress
• 2 skirts
• 1 blazer
• 2 cardigans
• 1 short-sleeve shirt
• 2 sleeveless tops
• 2 belts
• 2 bikinis
• 5 days of unders (in the bag)
• 4 toiletry bags (one for lotions, one for contact lens stuff, one for makeup, one for supplies)
• 1 jewelry pouch
• 1 tech pouch (chargers, headphones, travel mouse, etc.)

Not shown: Laptop bag (laptop, portfolio, laptop charger, external hard drive) and purse

While some people stand firmly behind rolling their clothes, I am a flat packer. I actually ended up with extra space and so I threw in my skinnies, an extra blouse, and an extra belt...just in case.

Some tips on packing:

• I lay my shoes on their sides and then in a plastic bag. Unless I'm carrying anything heavy-ish, shoes go toward the bottom of the suitcase (when it's upright). That way they don't press down on the clothes and wrinkle them as badly.
• Many little bags are easier to pack than a few large bags.
• This suitcase doesn't have a garment area, so I folded the blazer with the lapels out and laid it on top. First thing I did in the hotel was take it out and hang it up.
• If you wear pajamas, I recommend placing them in last. Usually they're the first thing you'll want to grab.
• I had mostly sleeveless tops, but if you have long sleeves, I leave the sleeves hanging over and fold them over on top at the end. Almost like your tops are hugging everything else on top of them.

While it doesn't seem like a lot, there really is no way I could go through all of these clothes even once in my five days of travel (although some pieces are likely to get reworn). But I always like to have a few wildcards just in case I feel like mixing it up!

What did I end up wearing and what got left behind? Check back tomorrow. :)


Are you a heavy or light packer? Any tips?

Thankful [13 of 30]

Giving the booties another try for my half-day at work Wednesday.

The Rundown:
4 + 17 + 24 + 28
Premier Designs faux pearls - 2010 - free w/purchase (similar)
H&M leather mini-duffel - 2007 - $45 (similar)
Target sunglasses - 2008 - $17 (similar)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I am thankful for:

• A warm bed
• My husband
• My family (and his)
• Amazing friends
• My job
• Two (and a half) days off from my job. 
• A place to live and a way to get around
• Having more than 30 items of clothing + shoes
• And YOU! 

Hope you have a great day full of love and thanksgiving.

Inspired by...Vogue (and Style Underdog!)

What I wished I'd worn.

 

What I actually wore. The framed bag would definitely have been a better choice.

 

The Rundown:
Corduroy blazer - 2010 - swapped (similar)
J. Crew blouse - 2009 - $20 (similar)
Old Navy trouser jeans - 2010 - $12 (similar)
Gap belt - 2010 - $10 (similar)
Target shoes - 2010 - $7 on clearance (here)
Nancy Rosetta circle ring - 2010 - gift (here)
Forever 21 chain bracelet - 2010 - $5 (similar)
Vintage framed bag - 2010 - $12 (similar)
H&M leather mini-duffel - 2007 - $45 (similar)

Although I no longer subscribe to 11 monthly magazines, I do still love the feel of the glossy pages between my fingers. Heck, I even made it my career (well, some of the time).  Fashion mags, like fashion blogs, continually inspire me, and I ripped this photo out of Vogue several months ago.  It's been a while since I intentionally based my outfit on a magazine clip, and I have plenty sitting around just waiting for some use.

 Vogue, May 2010, Americans in Paris

Isn't it a great look?  I sure think so. So did Style Underdog. She featured her take on the look last week, which reminded me of my little treasure hidden in my file folder of magazine cutouts. Since the office is pretty empty this week (it feels like half the organization is off at this annual conference we sponsor), I figured I could work in some jeans on a Monday.  For those with stricter dress codes, save this for Casual Friday.

What worked:
I love that this outfit is super-basic without using any trace of black, which is so common in the office.  The colors (tan, blue, red, stripes) and textures (denim, corduroy, leather, suede) combine without looking over-the-top.  The layers really helped keep me warm (or at least not freezing) in my icebox of an office. And can you say comfy?

What didn't:
Nothing in particular.  I wonder what it would look like if I belted outside the blazer next time...the fit is a bit baggy so I think the cinching would set off the trouser legs more.  Oooo, ideas!

Have you ever copied a look from a magazine verbatim (or close)?  Which magazines or blogs do you get the most inspiration from?

p.s. Like the pics? K (plus my b-day presents from his parents and grandfather) got me a new camera for my birthday, which of course, he gets to use to take my outfit pics. Maybe it's just me, but the photos look better already, even though we're still shooting on auto.

Twenty-one!

J. Crew shirt (1) + J & Company jeans (15) + Merona flats (28) + H&M bag + Target sunnies + random earrings

OId Navy tank (10)+ Target shorts (21)+ Gap sandals (30)

JC Penney top (6) + Rockabilly jeans (17) + Gap sandals (30)

The end of this 30 for 30 is so close I can almost taste it.  Twenty-one already! These outfits were worn Friday, Saturday, and Sunday respectively.  I did nothing but work and work at home in these outfits, with small breaks for food, church, and Target.  Oh, and I bought some books at Borders on Friday (buy one, get one free!).

My fave of these weekend looks was Friday...I love button-ups, but I had absolutely no will to iron this one this week, but this casual look does not require any ironing.  Or at least that's what I'm telling myself. Saturday and Sunday I really didn't put much thought into, but I really had no reason to look anything but halfway decent. At least I showered...that's gotta count for something.  I have some crazy deadlines this week at work so don't get your hopes up (I work better when I'm comfortable so that will be the name of the game).

Do you prefer laying low on weekends or would you rather be out and about?