Everyone loves the polka....dot

Polka dot silk tie-neck top in navy:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Double-serge No. 2 pencil skirt in neon azalea:  J.Crew, fall 2011
Colette reptile pump:  Tahari, here

Good Monday everyone!  Hope everyone's week started out well.  Mine defnitely started better due to this peppy little top.  Did you notice how it sold out immediately online after it hit sale a couple weeks ago?  I was so bummed...but then I went to my local J.Crew and one of the awesome sales associates tracked down a size 6 for me in Louisville, Kentucky, and had it mailed to me.  (Thanks Emily!)

Isn't pink and navy just a naturally awesome combo?  It's like the whimsey of the pink perfectly counterbalances the more serious nature of navy.  Although I will say this outfit kind of seeemed more springy than fall...I still loved it today!

J.Crew is running an extra 25% online with the promo code SHOPJCREW.  Do you have you eye on anything?  I am trying to sit this one out...but we'll see if I can stay strong. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Shop Colorful Corporate updated

Sunday evening, and what better time to update Shop Colorful Corporate?  (SORRY THE PICTURES WEREN'T SHOWING UP!  GLITCH IS FIXED NOW!) I noticed it was in desperate need of a clean-up so I deleted all of the photos of sold items and added some new items for fall, including blazers and a winter jacket.  Email me if you are interested in anything! 

Reviews: J.Crew's schoolboy blazer in wool herringbone and turquoise plaid boy shirt

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  During the recent 25% off $150 and free shipping promo at J.Crew, I ordered the schoolboy blazer in wool herringbone.  It ended up being around $120, which I thought was a fair price for a nice, heavy winter blazer.  I ordered a 6 Tall, which I have never ordered in a blazer before.  I get most of my height from my legs, so I hever felt the need to order a Tall in blazers.  However, I noticed this year the schoolboy blazers seem more shrunken, so I took a chance and went for the Tall.  So glad I did!  Here are some pictures of the blazer:

Schoolboy blazer in wool herringbone, color watercolor blue

Love the inside pocket and trim!



Close-up of the buttons on sleeve



Schoolboy blazer in wool herringbone, watercolor blue:  J.Crew, here

Boy shirt in turquoise plaid:  J.Crew, here

Skinny jeans:  Banana Republic, 2009
Willow riding boots in deep cognac:  Banana Republic, here

The 6 tall ended up fitting great.  I love the length and I'm happy for the extra sleeve length too.  The color is a gray-ish blue, which I love.  I think it will look great for casual wear, like in the picture, as well as for work with a bright scarf. 

I've been admiring the boy shirt in turquoise plaid for a while but just didn't feel like spending the sale price of $44.99 on it.  But with the extra 25% off in-store promo, it brought it down to a more reasonable price.  I purchased the size 6, and the fit is TTS.  Buttons don't gape or pull at all and the sleeve lenght is fine.  I can also see this with the double-serge wool pencil skirt in retro jade for work.  It's very soft and a pretty thin material, so you could also layer under a tippi. 

Boy shirt in turquoise plaid:  J.Crew, here
Bubble necklace in brilliant blue: J.Crew, sold out online but check stores

I wore this outfit to a birthday party of a friend of my son's and it was comfortable but not schleppy at all.  The bubble necklaces definitely add a lot of pizazz to any outfit. 

Hope these reviews were helpful!  Enjoy the rest of the weekend.







Anthro's Malva top + review of J.Crew's invitation clutch

Malva Top by Leifsdottir:  Anthropologie, here
Bubble necklace in brilliant blue:  J.Crew, sold out online but check stores
Orange wool pencil skirt:  Banana Republic, OLD!
Colette reptile pump:  Tahari, here

It turned out to be a beautiful, warm day in Cincinnati, but this morning I did throw a gray schoolboy blazer on top of this outfit to ward off the early chill.  Liefsdottir is one of my favorite labels at Anthropologie, so when this top made it to second markdown I knew it was a great deal.  The colors are brilliant, but the fit is a little odd.  I'm wearing a size 4, which is my normal size in Leifsdottir.  But it's pretty big and I probably could have sized down to a 2.  Anyway, I'm willing to overlook the large sizing issue for a pretty silk top in a gorgeous color scheme. 

I have had this orange wool skirt from Banana Republic for ages...literally 8 years or more.  It has to be one of the oldest items in my closet.  And you know what I've come to realize?  The items that I keep year after year, that I never tire of, are the items that I love most and I feel good in, no matter how old they are.  And most of those items, unsurprisingly, are classic pieces rather than trends. 

Now I have a secret to share:  Run, don't walk, to J.Crew and grab one of these awesome clutches before they run out!

Invitation clutch in colorblock blue/green:  J.Crew
Buy here

It is marked from $158 to $98 online, but in-store it is marked to $39.99 plus an additional 25% off.  The leather is buttery soft and the colors are vivid, and with the additional markdown it's a whopping $30.  What a steal!  It also comes in a pink/orange combo which is equally lovely.  I love that you can carry it as a clutch or use the little gold chain strap for a shoulder bag. 

Thanks for visiting!

Naomi top + Anthro's In the Trees skirt

Naomi top in modern red:  J.Crew, summer 2012
In the Trees skirt by Floreat:  Anthropologie, fall 2010
Code pumps in burgundy:  Seychelles
Double strand sea horse necklace:  J.Crew, summer 2012

Wearing another animal melange today, with the sea horse necklace and the bird on my skirt.  But don't let my love for animals on my clothes fool you folks, as it's not always rainbows and butterflies in my world.  I may or may not have been on a short fuse today.  A few things that get my goat every time:  When someone's car breaks down in the middle of a busy street and the driver doesn't even  bother to at least pull over to the side (happened this morning), when people are unnecessary busybodies (happened this afternoon), and when my kids are excessively crabby when I pick them up (happened this evening).  AHHHH!  My "annoyance" button was hit multiple times today! 

What sets your bad mood wheels in motion?  To cheer me up, I kept looking at the cute bird on my skirt.  I think he's a pheasant: 

I love the quirky designs at Anthropologie.  Lately I have been a bit uninspired there but I won't give up hope, as they always have at least one item a season that I must have. 

Thanks for visiting!  I promise a sunnier mood tomorrow!

More pattern mixing with polka dots and flowers

Polka dot silk top:  Ann Taylor, fall 2010
Pencil skirt in island coral boom boom:  Lilly Pulitzer, fall 2010
Belt:  Banana Republic, old
Peep toes:  Tahari
Azalea necklace in vibrant flame:  J.Crew, summer 2012

Today when I bounded down the stairs in this outfit for work, my husband said, in all seriousness, "Nice pattern matching."  AWWWW.  How cluelessly adorable can husbands be?  I didn't bother correcting him that it's called pattern mixing, not matching.  But it gave me a little chuckle.  Another funny moment regarding pattern mixing in my life:  My hilariously frank 72 year old mother sat me down recently and told me that even though I think pattern mixing can be pretty, no one else does.  She said it makes no sense and that it does not look good at all.  Seriously ladies, she takes quite an offense to the trend.  So I delighted in showing her an ad from her favorite store, Chico's, where even they recommended mixing a different pattern scarf and jacket.  Aha!  Victory was mine.  She huffed and puffed but realized finally that pattern mixing was not something that her daughter just made up. 

Anyway, my favorite form of pattern mixing has to be polka dots and flowers.  I also did a floral/dot mix here and had fun with it.  What is your favorite mix of patterns?  I know stripes and flowers are also popular, and I like that look too sometimes.  My issue with pattern mixing is that it has to be cohesive in some way, or it just looks like a big ol' mess.  That's why I always get nervous when I attempt it, because in no way do I consider myself a pro! 

For you ladies who like Lilly Pulitzer, be sure to check out the Re-Lilly page on Facebook.  There are literally endless gently-used or even new-with-tags items on the page, for sale for fantastic prices.  I bought this 2010 skirt, which still had the tags attached, for around $25.00 from that page a while back.  It retailed for $128 so it was a nice steal! 

Thanks for visiting!  I'd love to hear your pattern mixing opinions.

Feeling collegiate today

Ivory/camel cardigan: J.Crew, fall 2011
Yellow silk "Elizabeth" cami:  J.Crew Factory, 2008
Sunnie pencil skirt:  J.Crew Factory, fall 2011
Velvet bow mary janes by Miss Albright:  Anthropologie, fall 2011

I felt very collegiate in this outfit today.  Sadly my college years are long, long gone but I can still appreciate this preppy, scholarly look.  The crisp fall air felt perfect in this sweater, which I nabbed last year for something ridiculous like $21.00 because no one else liked the angora blend.  I must have skin made of steel because rarely will a sweater make me itch too much. 

I missed out on the original version of the sunnie pencil skirt in 2010.  It disappeared almost immediately, sold out never to be seen again.  I was so happy when the Factory came out with an identical version last year.  I LOVE when J.Crew Factory does that, and wish it would bring back some more old favorites.

Hope you're having a great Monday!  Thanks for visiting!