Berry Bright

One of the things that people often comment on about my blog is that it's very colorful. I am never sure if that's a compliment or not, but who doesn't mind a little color in their lives? Apparently my outfit today was so colorful and eye-catching that a few people stopped me to say how much they liked it, which just goes to prove that color makes everyone smile or at least take note of what one's wearing.

If you've followed my blog for a while, you'll know that some of my designer goods (among other things) were stolen a year back when we had a break-in our house. These stolen items included some of my sunglasses, including a colorful pair of turquoise Ray-Bans and lavender Prada sunglasses. I finally found a replacement for my purple Prada sunglasses this winter at the Neiman Marcus outlet in Las Vegas. This was actually the same place where I bought my original pair of purple Prada sunglasses many years ago. Finding the replacement, just like a look full of color, definitely made me smile!

 

Linking Up With: Fun Fashion Friday
Passion for Fashion and Skirtista Diaries

Totally J. Crew Today! (Except for the Sunglasses)

Tee: Donald Robertson for J. Crew Dancing Ladies Tee

Skirt: J. Crew Factory no. 2 pencil skirt in double serge wool here

Sweater: J. Crew cashmere cardigan

Shoes: J. Crew "Valentina" leopard pumps

Bag" J. Crew "Claremont"

Bracelets: J. Crew Factor

Sunglasses: Prada

Spotted: Brown, Black and Bunnies

I've heard a lot of bloggers debate the very heated question of whether or not brown and black go with one another. I'm not sure how I would weigh in on this question of the utmost philosophical importance, but like a lot of things I think it just depends. If it's just the right shade of black and just the right shade of brown, I think it can work. Sometimes manufactures make it easy and put the two colors together, which is the case with this skirt I am wearing today from Madewell.

Now, should you wear bunnies and dots with brown and black? Why not? I decided to be a little playful today with the addition of my bunny loafers from Minna Parikka and my spotted Sandrine tote from Clare Vivier (now known as Clare V., I think?). Well, both the tote with its whimsical polka dots and the loafers with their cheeky ears pointing up bring a smile to my face, so whether or not they go together with my brown and black stripes is a moot point in my book!

Linking Up With: Trend Spin
 Work Style Wednesday
Random Wednesday
Treat Yo Self
A Labour of Fashion

Top: J. Crew

Skirt: Madewell Similar Here

Shoes: Minna Parikka "Caracal" here

Bag: Clare V. "Sandrine" here

Sunglasses: Prada "Baroque"

Elephants Aren't Just for Kids

When I first saw J. Crew's Origami skirt in Elephant Parade print, I kind of wanted it, but, as always, I wanted to wait for a sale. But then when it sold out, I suddenly became obsessed with it and wondered why I just didn't spring for it sooner before it was gone forever. (It's funny how that works!) While I was checking to see if my pretty golden parade of elephants had marched back in stock on the J. Crew website, I stumbled upon the kids' version of the skirt. I am one who will occasionally peruse the kids' section, but I haven't done it for a while. I used to shop at Gap Kids in college, but only for tops since the bottoms were too short and ill-fitting for a tall person such as myself.

Well, I took a gamble and ordered the girls' elephant skirt in a size 16 from J. Crew, despite my reservations. The fact that J. Crew offers free shipping on kids' items made it all the more enticing and less of a risk. When my child sized pachyderm skirt finally arrived at my doorstep, I was pleasantly surprised that the fit was perfect. Here are some differences I observed between the adult and girls' version of the skirt: first, the girls' version is fuller than the straight, mini style of the adult version and the girls' also has an elastic "pull-on" waist. The length on the girls' version is longer than the women's, which makes it more appropriate for work. (Go figure!) The icing on the cake is that the girls' version was about half the price of the adult skirt!

All in all I would highly recommend checking out the kids'/girls' section of J. Crew. The styles are super cute and will probably fit you if you are in the 00-4 adult-size range. Now I am a convert and I'll be checking out the J. Crew kids' section a little more closely in the future!

Linking Up With: Let it Shine and How I Fall
Shoe and Tell and Celebrate Southern

Skirt: Adult Version here , my girls' version here

Shirt: Kohl's / Elle 

Belt: Brooks Brothers 

Bag: Louis Vuitton Epi Brea in "Rubis"

Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Simple" Pumps

Sunglasses: Prada "Baroque"

Priceless

I don't pretend to understand everything about modern and contemporary art. Some of it I get through classes I took in college and books I've read in my free time in addition to my own intuition. Some of it still leaves me a bit baffled. And then there's the ever present question that my husband and countless others ask: "If I can do it, then why is it art?".  I can see the validity in that argument too. It is amazing that a piece that many people might easily confuse with something their child posted on the refrigerator door could sell for upwards of 100 million dollars, but perhaps that is just the Philistine in me talking.

Going to museums is meditative for me. It started in college when my best friend and I would visit the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena as a study break during finals. During my brief stint living in NYC for two years, I could see just about any museum for free thanks to being a graduate student, which was also a nice diversion from my studies. Today, now that I am working, a visit to the museum has become even more of a respite and escape from the hectic pace of the work week.

Below you will see some of the pieces from the MOCA, including a few shots of Andy Warhol's "Shadows", that I contemplated on my most recent visit. I think regardless of if you love, hate, or feel indifferent about art, especially contemporary art, being at a museum opens up a dialogue and that in and of itself is a worthy thing.

If you would like to see more pics of a previous visit to the MOCA, check out my post: Fancy Pants at the Museum

Brushstrokes and Shadows

Somehow I end up going to the MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) every year for one reason or another. This time I had a coupon for admission for two and a $10 credit to the gift store, thanks to Groupon, so I decided to bring my husband along for the journey, which always makes me nervous, because he isn't so much into art works that involve random brushstrokes splashed across a blank canvas or various found objects glued together!

Speaking of brushstrokes and found objects, my dress features a pattern which is clearly suggestive of paint being hastily applied on canvas, which I thought would be just perfect for a day viewing contemporary art, or just art period. Also, I am standing next to Nancy Rubin's gargantuan statue of airplane wreckage which is a beautiful conglomeration of found airplane parts. At the museum, we (maybe I should say "I", since my husband wasn't so enthusiastic) were lucky enough to see the first western viewing of the series of all 102 of Andy Warhol's "Shadow" paintings. It was quite an impressive sight and certainly my dress fit the bill. Stay tuned for a brief glimpse at what I saw at the museum!

Linking Up With: Work Style Wednesday , Random Wednesday
Passion for Fashion
Fun Fashion Friday
Fab Favorites

Dress: Anthropologie "Pinion" 

Jacket: H&M

Shoes: Christian Louboutin "Simple" pumps

Bag: Prada Saffiano Lux tote in Papaya 

Necklace: J. Crew

Sunglasses: Prada "Baroque"