Daily Style: Thursday, 12/20

cashmere short-sleeved sweater (hand-me-down, $free)

faux leather skirt (F21, $16)

"zig dot" scarf (JCP, $9)

"Dempsey" boots (DV by Dolce Vita via Akira, $45)

This short-sleeved sweater was another piece I received from my swap club (of 2). I almost love it as much as the corduroy dress.

Patti @ Not Dead Yet Style recently talked about fashion "rules" as they pertain to age and I'd like to start the conversation here. I felt super cute in this outfit, but I worried that I'm too old to wear short skirts like this. Then I think "f*ck that! I'll wear what I want!". It's a constant battle in my head. (Very noisy, you don't want to be there. Trust me.)

What do you think? Do you live by these fashion "rules" or do you ignore them? Do you have your own set of "rules" you follow or expect others to follow?

Daily Style: Saturday, 6/9

cut-offs (Xhileration @ Target, $13)

black tank (Gap Outlet)

coral blazer (east5th @ JCP, $22)

floral printed platforms (Decree @ JCP, $25)

gold necklace (Claire's), gold ring (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $15), gold bow ring (F21)
skull printed clutch (Loungefly, $gift)

Don't look @ my toenails, please!

Oy, I wore these new babies out for drinking on Saturday.  I fell out of them 3 times and eventually took them off and went barefoot.  A word to the wise - Practice walking in your new heels for a full day sober, before you decide to take them for a spin under the influence.

How was your weekend?!

Daily Style: Monday, 4/30

crochet / lace cropped top (F21, $18) 

white oxford (Merona @ Target, supa old)

white tank (Worthington @ JCP, $7)

black cigarette pants (Gap Outlet, $30)

blush pumps (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's, $49)

gold ring (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $15), ceramic & rose gold watch (Anne Klein via Amazon.com, $74), bowtie necklace (Etsy, $gift), lip color (Sephora Maniac Matte in 07 Peach w/Make Up For Ever lip liner)

This weekend I went to my very 1st Roller Derby bout.  A friend is on the Chicago Outfit team.  It was fun!  If I wasn't such a wimp and could skate for shit (two very big contingencies), I might try it.

Daily Style: Thursday, 3/29

faux leather skirt (F21, $16)

lace tunic (nicole by Nicole Miller @ JCP, $12)

black tights (American Apparel, $15)

"Dempsey" boots (DV by Dolce Vita via Akira, $45)

OMG, this blog, WTF, Pinterest?, has a series called, "How To Be A Fashion Blogger", that is so, so true, and very, very funny.  Check it out, I deliberately took some pics today for every number in the series:

#4 - It's all about balance.

#3 - Show us how touchable your hair is.

#2 - Perfect your pigeon-toed stance.

#1 - Cross your legs and contemplate your shoes.

Sick of seeing the white cord in my pictures?  Me too.  Talk to my landlord, he won't answer my calls.

Daily Style: Saturday, 2/11

faux leather skirt (F21, $16)

red Norwegian sweater (storage space find, $free)

black tank (H&M, $5)

white tights (Merona @ Target, $8)

black suede boots (Victor by Victor Alfaro via eBay, $25)

Daily Style: Monday, 1/23

camel high-waisted pants (Worthington @ JCP, $5)

beige bow tie neck top (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $33)

crochet / lace cropped top (F21, $18)

brocade jacket (Ann Taylor, thrifted, $5)

black pumps  (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's, $49) 

gold ring (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $15), gold/pearl ring (thrifted, $5)

This look is loosely inspired by "Andie" in Pretty in Pink.

I saw these high-waisted pants first on Inez at Style Chic 360.  I've since seen them on another blogger, but I can't remember which.  I'm obsessed with high-waisted anything, but they have to be just right to work on my body.  This is one of the reasons I love style blogs - I can get a better idea on what will work for my body type.  Since I believe Inez and I have a similar body shape, I thought these would work well for me, but didn't know what size to get.  Luckily I stumbled upon a couple pairs in the clearance section at JCP last weekend, in both sizes I would have tried.  Even luckier was the $4.74 price tag!

Daily Style: Saturday, 12/31

faux leather skirt (F21, $16)

black tank (H&M, $5)

crochet / lace cropped top (F21, $18)

black leather booties (Steve Madden via Filene's Basement, $45)

black sweater tights (Target), vintage rhinestone bracelet (G'Ma's, $free), "Gatsby" bracelet (JewelMint, $12), silver spoon ring (flea market find), gold ring (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $15), vintage rhinestone necklace (G'Ma's, $free)

I hope everyone had a safe New Year's celebration.  I heard about this story yesterday.  My thoughts are with this teen girl and her family and I hope that the police can find her assailants, though I'm not expecting they will.  It seems I hear very few, if any, stories about the police charging anyone with crimes.  For instance, it would be nice to know why these 3 men were released. 

(Sorry for the downtrodden post.  This was in my neighborhood, so it's got me shaken up a bit.)

Daily Style: Wednesday, 11/2

black cropped pants (Gap Outlet, $30)
white oxford (Merona @ Target)
bird print top (F21, $20)
blue patent pumps (City Streets @ JCP, $25)

I'm not feeling this look.  I've been incredibly tired & uninspired lately, so I apologize for that.

Daily Style: Saturday, 10/1

faux leather shorts (UK Style by French Connection @ Sears, $22)

sheer top (Charlotte Russe, $10) similar, similar

grey/silver blazer (H&M, $24)

black tights (American Apparel, $15)

black booties (Dollhouse via Clothes Mentor, $15) similar

white clutch (nicole by Nicole Miller @ JCP, $35)

necklace (F21, $4), ring (F21, $3), ring (mng by Mango @ JCP, $15)

Friday, the 30th, the day after I turned 30, I went shopping and stopped into kiddie stores, Charlotte Russe and Forever 21.  Throughout my time in each of these stores I wondered if I was too old to be there.  And in planning and putting on my faux leather short-shorts get-up, wondered if I was too old to be wearing short-shorts and sheer tops.  I don't want to get caught up in "should" statements, but what should a woman of 30 (or older) wear out?  Do you think we should get away from "should" statements all together, in regards to dressing, and just wear what we like and what gives us joy?  Wouldn't that negate the whole purpose and idea of fashion? 

On another note, I now have another reason not to shop at Forever 21 - their return policy.  I'm not sure what the time limit is, but they don't offer refunds, only store credit.  I'm not a fan of stores that hold your money hostage forever.

Daily Style: Wednesday, 5/4 (Evening)

Wednesday night was the Blue October acoustic show @ HOB.

So many of my clothes are for the office that whenever I go casual, it's a struggle to put something together.  Especially when it requires flat shoes as well.  To be honest, I wasn't too happy about this get-up, but I didn't have time to change (again), so I had to deal with it.

chambray shirt (Converse One Star @ Target, $12 on clearance)
black cropped tuxedo-style jacket (Mossimo @ Target, $25)
skinny jeans/jeggings (Gap Outlet, $40) similar
black boots (Big Buddha "Casi", gift)
jade ring (Forever XXI, $4)
chainmaille necklace (HS project, free) similar

Here's what I have to deal with some days when taking my daily style photo -

Daily Style: Monday, 5/2

UPDATE: I'm a quitter.

I've decided to postpone the 30 for 30 challenge until June for a couple reasons.

1. If you are in the Chicago-land area, you know that it isn't exactly Spring yet.  It's somewhere in between Spring and Winter, and I expect Summer will get thrown in here and there.  This makes it increasingly difficult to choose items, because I need to incorporate coats and sweaters, tights and boots, open-toed shoes and tanks... It's too much for me for the first go of 30 for 30.

2. I wasn't prepared for the 30 for 30 - I didn't have my list ready on the first day and I want to do it right.  So I need to start it right.

3. I must confess... I have my eye on some new items and I'm weak enough to give in to my urges.

So, stay tuned for the 30 for 30 in June.

floral dress (Tucker for Target, $20)
wine tights (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's, $4) similar
maroon lace-up peep-toe booties (Vince Camuto via Clothes Mentor, $30)
mustard belt (Merona @ Target, $13)
jade ring (Forever XXI, $4)

Daily Style: Thursday, 4/21

Denim skirt (American Living for JCP, $23 (similar)), white oxford (Target, really old), Big Buddha Lana boots (Bakers Shoes via Amazon.com, $79.95 (now $99.99)), Infinity scarf (Torrid, $12 (now $16)), Nude fishnets (Simply Vera, Vera Wang for Kohl’s, $3 (now $7.20)), Jade ring (Forever XXI, $4)

Not having a great fashion week.  I think this weather is taking everything out of me, including my creativity.