Daily Style: Wednesday, 4/3

print top (iJeans by Buffalo @ JCP)

embroidered faux leather peplum top (Worthington @ JCP, $25)

faux leather skirt (Worthington @ JCP, $25)

blue open-work tights (KMart)

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

Open-work tights never cease to amaze me. They have proven to be comfortable and now, resilient. I tripped on my own feet the other day while walking the Beast, landed on my leg and was SURE I ruined my tights, but not a scratch on them! My leg, on the other hand, is a different story.

My Mom told me a story from my childhood that pretty much sums up my reaction. I was probably in 1st grade and while playing on the playground at school, I fell. The teacher rushed over and asked if I was OK. The only thing I complained of was that I had ruined my tights. Makes sense, I mean, my skin will heal, but now I have to buy new tights!

Daily Style: Monday, 3/4

 

jersey pencil skirt (Old Navy, $20)

floral top (H&M via Clothes Mentor, $4)

embroidered faux leather peplum top (Worthington @ JCP, $25)

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

You guys, I swear Old Navy is not paying me this... (that's not to say I won't accept payment) 

These jersey skirts are the freakin' best. They are so comfortable, figure-flattering, and inexpensive. They come in a wide array of colors and stripe patterns, which seem to change from time to time. They can be worn to the office or styled for weekend wear. I recently bought 3 more of these suckers. One in red, one in tan/black stripes and another solid black. 

Currently they are on sale for $17 (down from $24.94) and you can get 15% off your entire online order from now through Thursday. 

Um... what are you still doing on this page? Go! Buy!

(BTW... I cannot be held responsible for any actions from my site that may have led to the breaking of any shopping bans.)

Daily Style: Saturday, 3/2

fruit-print dress (MNG by Mango, c/o JCP)

leggings (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

cropped denim jacket (Highway Jeans via PayHalf, $22)

engineer boots (Mossimo @ Target, eBay, $15)

I own these boots in brown and they are the best $40 I never spent (they were a gift). I've been thinking about getting them in black for awhile now. Of course when I finally decided to pull the trigger, they weren't available in my size anymore. So, I hopped onto eBay - a quick search, some waiting, and $15 later, these babies are mine. Genuine leather for $15? Can't beat that.

Daily Style: Tuesday, 2/19

leggings (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

sheer black shirt (Allen B. @ JCP, $25)

horse-print blazer (Worthington @ JCP, $35)

knee-high socks (Betseyville, JCP, $8/2)

tall boots (BearPaw via Famous Footwear, $80)

So, I want to thank Nathalie @ Purple Closet Beauty for nominating me for the Liebster Award. If you like food (um, who doesn't?), you should check out Nathalie's blog. She posts a lot of yummy looking recipes (with pictures!) and she even made a wedding cake. Mucho respect.

Since I'm a rebel, I'm gonna do things a little different for this award. Nathalie posted 11 questions to ask her nominees, which I will answer here. If you want to post the answers to the following questions on your blog, do it! If you want to list 11 random facts, ask your own 11 questions and nominate some other blogs, do it! (Basically, do whatev-ah you want.)

Okay, here we go!

1. What is your current obsession?

Neon. I've been into neon for awhile now, but I just recently got REALLY into it after purchasing the Prabal Gurung for Target neon heels. Since it's cold as f*ck in Chicago, I can't wear them yet, so for now, I'm just prepping for when I can. (If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen my indecisive picture post.)

 2. What food do think everyone should try at least once?

Cheese fritters from the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, WI. They are worth the year wait and the $20 ticket fee. 

3. What is your favorite dish?

Do I have to pick just one?! <whine> Um, I really like steak. And burgers. And pasta. And Queso Fundido. Seriously, I can't just choose one.

4. What is your favorite town/city?

Chicago.

5. Your ideal vacation spot: beach or lake?

Neither. I'm not much of a water person. I'd rather be exploring a city. Preferably shopping & eating.

6. What makes you cringe?

Honestly, bad grammar and misspelled words.

7. What was your biggest surprise?

Not sure... I don't get surprised very often. Getting this award was unexpected!

8. What colour is your favorite room?

I live in an apartment that will charge me if I paint the walls, so they're all some form of white/off-white. At this point though, I like all the rooms in my apartment equally, so the answer is - white.

9. What book made you laugh out loud?

It's been awhile since I've read a funny book, but I'm pretty sure The Fat Girl's Guide to Life made me chuckle.

10. What's the last movie that made you cry?

Year of the Dog. In the first 10 minutes, too.

11. What changes have you made in your life that you are most proud of?

I quit smoking over 5 years ago. You can read the short version of the story here.

Daily Style: Friday, 2/8

tennis-ball yellow tunic (a.n.a. @ JCP, $25)

leggings (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

camel sweater (Mossimo @ Target, $30)

brown boots (Steve Madden via Amazon.com, $80)

leopard belt (Merona @ Target, $17) 

On Friday I went to Trenchermen for Restaurant Week. Some dishes were OK, but most of the meal was terrible. I was mad for days later. There are 2 things one can fuck with that will turn me into 4 year old (i.e. temper-tantrum-inducing) - money & food. They fucked with both. Not cool, Trenchermen... Not. Cool.

Daily Style: Wednesday, 12/12/12

pink sweater (Savers, thrifted, $7)

blue/white stripe skirt (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $9)

pink fishnets (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

pink pumps (Madden Girl "Sursey" via Plato's Closet, $12)

 One of my guilty pleasures is reading the advice column on Slate, Dear Prudence. There is always, at least one question a week that addresses some drama related to Facebook. I have to tell you, I got off Facebook, personally, some time ago, and I couldn't be happier. I went off Facebook for a myriad of reasons, but one of them was how impersonal it is. People no longer need to make an effort to stay in touch with their friends and family, they just post ALL their personal information on Facebook, and all their friends and family can just "follow" along, knowing every detail of their lives, without actually contacting one another. Like a celebrity! Or a stalker! No thanks. You can reach me by email, or phone, but I will not be following your every move on Facebook, pretending we actually have a real relationship.

Daily Style: Tuesday, 11/20

jersey pencil skirt (Old Navy, $20)

white tank (a.n.a. @ JCP, $8)

stripe sweater (Nicole by Nicole Miller @ JCP, $25)

black belt (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $15)  

ceramic watch (Fossil via TJ Maxx, $39)

black fishnets (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

zipper booties (Dollhouse via Marshalls, $25)

I want to rant discuss the (unspoken) rules of the CTA, because it's my blog, and I can.

- You should start moving towards the doors when the train is pulling into your stop, or when it is near your stop, NOT when the doors are open at the stop before yours. If you do this, everyone will assume the current stop is your stop, and act accordingly. Therefore, if I'm behind you, and this is MY stop, I will assume you are going to exit the doors, NOT stop moving right before the exit, impeding me from getting off on my stop. I will then panic because I don't want to miss my stop.

- If you are sitting on the inside and need to get out, and the person next to you is wearing headphones, and their eyes are closed, DO lightly tap them on the shoulder to get their attention and signal you need to get out. DO NOT repeat the same statement over and over, when it should be clear they can't hear you, as they're wearing GIGANTIC HEADPHONES. Also, DO NOT waive your hand frantically in front of their face. The previous was slightly stupid, this is just plain rude.

- When exiting the CTA station on the escalator, if space allows, STAND on the right, WALK on the  left.

- For Pete's sake, when you get in the train car, MOVE! There are, most-likely, several other bodies behind you. We all need to get in; move with a purpose. If you want to stand, that's fine, but I see 1 seat available, and you're making it very difficult for me to win it. I don't want to push, but I will, if it means I can land a seat, and nap on my way home.

 - As the conductor has stated, several times now, move to the middle of the car.

If there's any rules I missed, let me know in the comments. Happy transitting!

Daily Style: Tuesday, 10/23

floral top (H&M via Clothes Mentor, $4)
black accordion skirt (Liz Claiborne @ JCP, $30)
blush pumps (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's, $49)

Can I get a show of hands for all those that think a bra is top 5 most uncomfortable shit women wear on the regular? (Pantyhose are vying for position #1.)

I think all men, everywhere, should have to wear one for a day, just one day, to understand the scope of pain we women have to deal with, on a daily basis. It will become quite clear why is it the first thing that gets removed once stepping foot into our homes.

Daily Style: Monday, 10/8

faux leather sleeve sweater (Nicole by Nicole Miller @ JCP, $20)

jersey pencil skirt (Old Navy, $20)

"Anna Bells Trolley" (Irregular Choice via Akira, $60)

black fishnets (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

Aye-yey-yey, (how do you spell that?), it's been soooo long since my last outfit post. This sweater is new, as are most of my clothes that actually fit. This is my favorite sweater, it's extremely comfortable and I'm in love with the leather sleeves. I've recently become obsessed with faux leather (or real leather, if I can afford it). I'm trying to make it a part of every day wear. 

What's your fall obsession?

Daily Style: Tuesday, 8/28

peplum dress (Love Reign @ JCP, $25)

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

silver bracelet (gift)

I had just given up my search for peplum when I spotted this dress at JCP last weekend. It was the only one there, my size and the color I've been wearing a lot of lately. Plus it had sleeves and I always prefer sleeves to no sleeves. I admit it's a little short and tight, and you could call me a hussy, but I feel a little Joan Hollaway (the modern version), so bite me.

Daily Style: Friday, 8/17

chevron maxi (Bisou Bisou @ JCP, $45)

denim bolero (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $45)

brown wedge espadrilles (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's, $40)

This is THE most comfortable dress on the planet. Period.

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, 4/12

black/white skirt (H&M, $15)

white "boyfriend" shirt (H&M, $30)

black boots (a.n.a. @ JCP)

black fishnets (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's), turquoise beaded necklace (thrifted, $6)

This entire outfit was built around this thrifted necklace and it's still oh, so wrong.  I've been trying to figure out a way to wear this thing since I bought it a few months back, and it looks like it's back to the drawing board.  Any ideas?

Daily Style: Tuesday, 2/14

pink pleated dress (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $32)

red silk jacket (Spencer Jeremy, thrifted, $4.50)  

red platform lace-up booties (Glaze via GoJane.com, $39)

ballet pink fishnets (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's), "Gatsby" bracelet (JewelMint, $12), vintage rhinestone bracelets (G'Ma's), CZ ring (Kohl's, $9), silver chain/ribbon necklace (JCP)

Happy Valentine's Day!  

I've always had a special place in my hate heart for V-Day.  When I was younger, it was a day I would dress in all black.  One year I made black roses (by letting white roses soak in black-ish water - they turned out more grey than black) and carried them around all day.  It was kinda my "thing".  Now that I'm older I don't enjoy V-Day any more, but I do enjoy wearing pink and red together and what a perfect day to do so!

Today I'm participating in Everybody, Everywear's Pink + Red challenge.  Check out the rest of the participants.  I'm also participating in Bloggers Do It Better RED challenge.

Daily Style: Tuesday, 2/7

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

beige blouse (MNG by Mango @ JCP, $30)

teal velvet blazer (Bloomingdale's, thrifted, $5)

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

Inspired by Joanna Coles on Project Runway All Stars: Season 1, Episode 2:

 

If you wanna, go on over to Refinery 29 and vote for me in "THE NEXT BIG STYLE BLOGGER" contest.

Just search (CTRL+F) the page for "Piper" and click on the heart on the top left of the picture.  K, thanks!

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: Tuesday, 1/17

olive skirt (c/o eShakti)

white oxford shirt (Merona @ Target, Mom's, $free)

Holly Hobbie jacket (storage space find, $free)

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

Daily Style: Tuesday, 1/10

black/white skirt (H&M, $15 w/coupon)

black tank (Worthington @ JCP, $7 after coupon)

yellow top (nicole by Nicole Miller @ JCP, $26)

maroon lace-up booties (Vince Camuto via Clothes Mentor, $30)

maroon tights (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's),  ceramic watch (Fossil via TJ Maxx, $29), "Gatsby" bracelet (JewelMint, $12)

This look is loosely inspired by a costume in the San Francisco Ballet's Little Mermaid.

Long black dress on the Right w/yellow, red, and pink stripes

You know the worst part about winter?  It's not the cold.  It's not the snow.  It's not that there's nothing good on TV...  It's the static cling.  It seems no matter how much Static Guard I use, my clothes still cling to my body, to other clothes I'm wearing, and crackle as I move them.  Why can't we come up with a product to get rid of static cling?  We can put a man on the moon, but we still have to deal with static-y clothes all winter long?

Today I'm able to participate in this month's Everybody, Everywear - Black+White challenge.  (It's a suprise to me, too.)  I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but I love, love, love black+white and I'm excited to seeing what everybody else brings to the table.

Daily Style: Tuesday, 1/3

 

ruffle top (Kenar via Marshall's, $15)
green cardi (J. Crew via swap)
plaid wool skirt (Otterburn Tweed, thrifted, $2.50)
ankle boots (MIA via DSW, $60)
nude fishnets (Simply Vera by Vera Wang @ Kohl's)

This skirt was one of my best finds, to date.  I didn't fit that well over my leggings (standard thrifting outfit) but I'm glad I decided it was worth the $2.50 risk.

Don't forget to enter my DIY Giveaway!  There's still 5 days left to enter and 4 different ways to enter.

Daily Style: Friday, 12/30 + DIY Giveaway

cropped jeans (ELLE @ Kohl's, $23)
black/white tie-neck blouse (east5th @ JCP, $15)
black vest (PayHalf)
tall boots (BearPaw via Famous Footwear, $80)

I feel like I should be out riding horses today.

I know we were all excited for awesome pictures with the new camera -

But I have no place to set it at home, and I don't have a photographer either.  I need a tripod.

I did, however, take some lovely pictures of the next giveaway!

This is a multi-tonal chainmaille and stone necklace.  This necklace has 4 links done in the byzantine chainmaille design incorporating nickel and bronze in the first, followed by a silver-toned bead (grey), nickel and copper in the second, followed by a copper-colored (orange) bead, copper and bronze in the third, followed by a bronze-colored (brown) bead, and ending with bronze and nickel.  The necklace is finished with double links of copper and a copper hook closure.

I apologize for the blinding qualities of my skin.

This giveaway is open to all US Residents.  The giveaway will close at 12:01 AM on 1/9/12.  You have until the end of the day Sunday, 1/8/12 to enter.  A winner will be chosen on Monday morning and contacted, as well as announced in a separate post.  You have 4 ways to enter this giveaway - Follow me on GFC, "Like" me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway.  Good luck!



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