Kicking off the Week in My Floral Print Pants

I’m baaaaaaaack! After a one week hiatus I’m very excited to be blogging again. Last week I was battling illness and numerous deadlines so I decided it would be better to take a few days off than to muddle through with half-hearted posts and thrown together outfits. I have a brand new look to share with you today that I hope will get this week off to a great start.

Today’s outfit features only one item that you’ve never seen before, and yet I think that one piece makes the entire look seem brand new. I’ve had my eye on some crazy printed pants for a while, but I was having difficulties finding a fit or a price that I liked. Then the other day I decided to stroll through the mall on my lunch break and I found these beauties on sale at Ricki’s. They fit great and I could immediately visualize multiple ways to wear them.

Here’s today’s look:

And the one that inspired it:

Link to the above photo: http://pinterest.com/pin/74450200062791276/

Here’s how today’s look breaks down:

-Pants: Black cropped pants with red and purple floral print. $20 from Ricki’s

-Shirt: Grey V-neck t-shirt. $5 from Target

-Blazer: Black cotton blazer by Suzy Shier. About $20 from Value Village

-Bracelet: Thick gold bangle. About $20 from Norstrom

-Necklace: Long gold chain (about $5) with antique gold heart pendant (a gift)

-Shoes: Shiny black pumps from the Comfort Plus line by Predictions. $25 from Payless Shoesource

-Purse: Silver clutch. About $20 from Bentley

I appreciate you stopping by. Last week I was reminded of the importance of taking care of myself. After spending one whole day in bed I felt much better than I would have had I been stubborn and tried to suffer it out at work. Sometimes we need to rest and recharge our batteries so that we can be our best selves in the various roles we play. So my tip of the week is to take care of yourself and to keep your germs at home 🙂

Ciao for now.

Red Lips & Leopard Print Make A Simple Outfit Complete

Today’s look is simple, yet fashionable. What I love about this look is that it is incredibly versatile. I can wear this when I teach, when I’m heading out for supper with friends, or when I need something comfortable to wear if I have errands to run. I actually wore this outfit to the office yesterday and, without changing clothes, hopped on my bike and pedalled over to the night class I am taking. I obviously wouldn’t wear this if I was planning to hit the gym, but it is a great alternative to workout gear when you just want to wear something that you can feel good in. Comfort and fashion are not mutually exclusive.

Here’s today’s look:

And the outfit that inspired it:

Link to the above photo: http://pinterest.com/pin/74450200063148588/

Here’s how today’s outfit breaks down:

-Shirt: White chiffon blouse with gold buttons by Calvin Klein. About $30 from Winners

-Camisole: White camisole by Kirkland. $10 from Costco

-Pants: Black skinny pants. About $30 from Winners

-Shoes: Leopard-print, pointy-toed pumps. About $60 from Le Chateau

-Bracelet: Thick gold bangle. About $20 from Nordstrom

-Purse: Burnt orange crossbody bag. A gift

-Earrings: Cultured pearl studs. A gift

-Lipstick: Dubonnet by MAC

We’re over the half-way point of another week and it’s been a good one so far. Thank you to all the long-time followers of the blog, and welcome to all our new visitors. I hope you found something you liked and that you’ll stop by again tomorrow for more fashion inspiration.

Ciao for now.