Purple Prose

Blouse:  New York & Company Chiffon Tie Front Blouse

Skirt:  H&M Silk Blend Velvet Skirt

Shoes:  ASOS Pier Pointed High Heels

Purse:  Tusk Madison Large Pocket Evening Bag

Inspiration:  via Fashionista

Triptych

Pants:  Zara Leather Effect Leggings 

Outfit 1:

Blouse:  H&M Crinkled Flounced Blouse

Shoes:  Asos Penalty Pointed High Heels

Outfit 2:

Camisole: H&M Silk Camisole Top

Jacket:  Lock and Love Denim Jacket

Shoes:  Ash Thelma Sneakers

Outfit 3:

Jacket:  Charter Club Houndstooth Blazer

Sweater:  Who What Wear x Target Fair Isle Raglan Sweater

Shoes:  Zara Lace-Up High Heel Ankle Boots

Colors Like My Dreams

Blouse:  Tahari Colorblocked Silk Blouse

Pants:  Zara Leather Effect Leggings

Shoes:  Kat Maconie Vera Gold Spiral Leather Ghillie Heels

Earrings:  Target Faceted Teardrop Earrings

Fairy Princess

Green Outfit
T-Shirt Dress:  Mossimo Short Sleeve T-Shirt Dress
Skirt: Zara Tulle Skirt, Khaki
Boots:  Eject 14078 Boot, Green/Purple

Black Outfit
T-Shirt Dress:  Mossimo Short Sleeve T-Shirt Dress
Dress:  Zara Tulle Midi Dress
Shoes:  Zara Platform Bluchers

SOS!

Reader Nicole says, "I just bought over the knee boots but I don't know how to wear them!  Help!"
(Click caption below image for details on the look!)

Military Maneuvers

Gingham Style

101 Dalmatians

101 Dalmatians

Coatdress:  Asos Skater Biker Coat with Storm Flap Detail

Boots:  Forever 21 Over the Knee Boots

Scarf:  Who What Wear x Target Printed Neckerchief

Bag:  Zara Contrast Mini City Bag

Gingham Style

Sweater:  Zara Cropped Jacquard Sweater

Shirt:  Merona Gingham Favorite Shirt

Jeans:  New York & Company Soho Jeans Curvy Legging

Boots:  Forever 21 Over the Knee Boots

Beret:  Betmar French Beret

Military Maneuvers

Dress:  Target Mossimo Fit and Flare Sweater Dress

Jacket:  Who What Wear x Target Moto Jacket

Boots:  Forever 21 Over the Knee Boots

Bag:  Who What Wear x Target Crossbody Bag

Harvest Moon

Whoo-hoo!  My 100th post!

Blouse:  Marks and Spencer Floral Print Blouse

Pants:  New York & Company 7th Avenue Design Studio Bootcut Pant

Shoes:  Mossimo Nalia Ballet Flats

Scarf:  Mossimo Floral Fashion Scarf

Eye of the Tiger

Top:  Kenzo x H&M T-shirt with Appliques

Culottes:  New York & Company Soho Jeans Released Hem Culotte

Jacket:  Zara Glossy Oversized Bomber Jacket

Shoes:  Zara V-Shape Cut Leather Shoes

Blue State

Jacket:  H&M Suit Jacket in Dark Blue Patterned

Pants:  H&M Suit Pants in Dark Blue Patterned

Blouse:  Who What Wear x Target Lace Sleeve Blouse in Pink 

Stole:  Halogen Faux Fur Stole

Shoes:  Zara Contrast High Heel

Red State

Jacket:  New York & Company 7th Avenue Design Studio Jacket in Campfire Red

Pants:  New York & Company 7th Avenue Design Studio Pants in Campfire Red

Shirt:  XOXO Cold Shoulder Ruffle Top

Shoes:  Zara Embossed Leather High Heels

Less Equals More

Sweater:  Olivia Palermo + Chelsea28 Open Back Wool & Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater

Pants:  Who What Wear x Target Cropped Flares

Boots:  Candela Floral Burnout Velvet Booties

Hat:  Scala Collezione Pecan Floppy Hat

Empire Records

What Should I Be For Halloween?  Last chance!  Channel the 90s - everybody knows it was the best decade.

Jumper/Pinafore:  New Look Check Cord Pinafore Mini Dress

Baby Tee:  American Apparel Cotton Spandex Jersey Crop Tee

Tights:  Hue Basic Fishnet Tights

Boots:  Dr. Martens Quilon Vintage 1460

Choker:  Topshop Thick Velvet Choker

Creative Mystique

What Should I Be For Halloween?  A creative interpretation of Mystique...

Top:  atelierPop Transparent Lace Long Sleeve Top
Camisole:  Topshop Textured Plunge Bralet
Pants:  H&M Imitation Leather Pants
Boots:  Zara Studio Print High Heel Leather Boots
Hat:  Bienvenu Women's Wide Brim Wool Ribbon Band Floppy Hat
Sunglasses:  Smith Optics Bridgetown Aviator Sunglasses
Mutant:  Mystique

Diamonds are a Material Girl's Best Friend

What Should I Be For Halloween?  Take your pick - Marilyn Monroe or Madonna!


               

Dress:  Susana Monaco Cameron Strapless Dress in Pink Glo
Gloves:  Ines Pink Long Leather Opera Gloves (or here's a more affordable option)
Shoes:  Jeffrey Campbell Solitaire Platform Pump - Hot Pink
Necklace:  BaubleBar Aries Crystal Choker Bib
Bracelets:
BaubleBar Quasar Bracelet Set
Charming Charlie Intertwining Sparkle Bracelet
Express Rhinestone Stretch Bracelets

Jaylah

What Should I Be for Halloween?  Kick some ass as Jaylah from Star Trek Beyond.  Who is Jaylah?!  Only one of the coolest alien chicks in Star Trek!

Photo courtesy of http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0526913/mediaviewer/rm428938496

Shrug:  Jan Hilmer and Sparrow Mini Leather Shrug

One-Shoulder Top:  Rick Owens One-Shoulder Jersey Top

Long Sleeved Top:  Merona Layering Tee

Pants:  Each and Edgy Day Moto Leggings

Belt:  Corset Buckle Belt

Boots:  Fergalicious Tarnish Boots 

Thriller

In this week's series, What Should I Be for Halloween, first up is the classic Thriller.  Number one on the bucket list:  learning the dance from the Thriller video.

Jacket:  Nova Wears Red Leather Jacket

Turtleneck:  Zara Turtleneck Sweater

Sweater:  Zara Sweater with Tie Sleeves

Pants:  H&M Slim Fit Leggings

Loafers:  Zara Penny Loafers

Socks:  ...any white ones will do, but here's a pair

The Horse You Rode In On

Jacket:  Maison Martin Margiela x H&M Narrow Shoulder Jacket

Pants:  J. Crew Pixie Snap-Front Jodhpur Pant

Shirt:  Neiman Marcus Solid Button-Front Peplum Blouse

Boots:  Zara Leather High Heel Boots with Wide Leg

Scarf:  Who What Wear x Target Printed Neckerchief 

Hat:  Merona Felt Baseball Hat

Witch Doctor

Tunic:  Who What Wear x Target Mock Neck Tunic

Leggings:  New York & Company Soho Jeans High Waist Faux Leather Legging

Booties:  Merona Benny Booties

Necklaces:

Luv Aj On the Cusp Tusk Necklace

New York & Company Sparkling Linear Bib Necklace

Style Métro

Dress:  Zara Jacquard Mini Dress (and an alternative)

Boots:  Yoki Over The Knee Boots
Choker:  Topshop Gold Bar Choker

Black Magic Woman

Dress:  H&M Patterned Dress

Shoes:  Zara Mules

Rings:  

Forever 21 Hammered Ring Set

Forever 21 Faux Stone Ring Set

H&M Wide Ring

Flat White

Top:  H&M Rust Silk Blouse

Jacket:  H&M Short Coat

Shorts:  H&M Linen Blend Shorts

Boots:  Zara Elastic High Heel Ankle Boots

Necklace:  H&M Fringed Necklace

#TBT

Throwback to when I designed a Canadian tuxedo collection (literally)...

The Sudden Appearance of Hope: I Hoped It Would Be Better

The Sudden Appearance of Hope
by Claire North
Find it on Amazon

The premise was very compelling (all of the author Claire North's plots are intriguing), but I could have done without the cutting and pasting of Wikipedia articles and Rain Man counting. Did I miss something that explained the importance of these devices? I enjoyed Claire North's other books, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August and Touch, much more. North is a good writer, and the action is interesting especially if you're into technological intrigue, but be prepared to skim large portions of the book if you're not the philosophical sort.

Patient Zero

Blouse:  Zara Gathered Hem Top

Jeans:  New York & Company Soho Jeans Destroyed High Waist Legging

Shoes:  Mossimo Deanne Ghillie Lace Up Pumps

Earrings:  Gas Bijoux Zebra Flight Earrings

It Takes Two

Dress:  Zara Long Zipped Dress

Top:  Zara Basic Textured T-shirt

Shoes:  Jeffrey Campbell Berliner Leather Platform

Backpack:  Zara Mini Vinyl Backpack

Dress:  Zara Long Zipped Dress

Jacket:  Who What Wear x Target Moto Jacket

Pants:  H&M Flared Pants

Booties:  dv x Target Nya Booties  (It looks like black is no longer available, but the grey or white pair is also very cool.)

Any basic white tank (I like Old Navy)

Rose City (Part Two)

Blazer:  Lavish Alice Tall Longline Cape Blazer

Dress:  H&M Sleeveless Dress 

Jeans:  New York & Company Soho Jeans Frayed Hem Boyfriend Jeans

Shoes:  United Nude Cupped Heels

Earrings:  Panacea Abalone Tassel Drop Earrings

Lipstick:  Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Berlin*

*Photo credit:  Temptalia

Believe in Pink (Part One)

Dress:  H&M Sleeveless Dress 

Jeans:  New York & Company Soho Jeans Frayed Hem Boyfriend Jeans

Boots:  Zara Laminated Leather High Heel Ankle Boots

Lipstick:  Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in Berlin*

*Photo credit:  Temptalia

Children of the Dark: Good Title, Mediocre Book

Children of the Dark by Jonathan Janz
Find it on Amazon

***CAUTION:  Mild spoilers, maybe?***

I liked the beginning enough to buy the book after reading the sample. And I enjoyed the middle. But the end kind of killed it for me. It dragged on and I found myself skipping large sections. Endless action, but action without a feeling of urgency. It almost read like one of those movie novelizations. If you like lots and lots of action, you will like this. Me, I get tired of oh, and here are some more of these and those and we must fight these off oh no here come some more...and there's this guy and grab that and kill that. I don't know if I'm keen to read any more of Janz's works.

Put A Bird On It

Dress:  LC Lauren Conrad Bird Accordion-Pleat Chiffon Dress (no longer available, but this one and this one are just as pretty.)

Vest:  J. Crew Lightweight Wool Jackie Sweater Shell
Scarf:  Joe Fresh Polka Dot Square Scarf
Shoes:  Maison Martin Margiela Colorblock Mary Jane Heels (alternatives:  fun, super cool, sweet)

Elvgren Acres

Skirt:  One Teaspoon Freelove (Revolve)
Cardigan:  Jubilant Jungle Cardigan (Modcloth)
Shirt:  Merona (Target)
Shoes:  Rock & Republic (Kohl's)

Always Mesh and Lace

J.Crew Sporty Mesh Clutch
Merona Long Sleeveless Blazer
New York & Company Openwork - Overlay Lace Maxi Dress
Zara Leather Mule Shoes
Inspiration:  Alexander Wang

Garden Variety Baroque

Blouse:  H&M Blouse with Stand-Up Collar
Pants:  H&M Paisley Wide-Leg Pants
Shoes: Zara Floral Print Loafers

Walking on Sunshine

T-shirt:  H&M Printed Jersey Top

Jeans:  Jennifer Hudson x New York & Company Zip Accent High-Waist Legging

Shoes:  Zara Leather Slides with Bow

Jacket:  Free People Sequin Baseball Jacket

Earrings:  Urban Outfitters Count the Stars Ear Climber

Operation Petticoat

Dress:  WhoWhatWear x Target
Vest:  Mossimo (Target)
Boots:  Tsubo Emilee
Headband:  Cara (Nordstrom)

Not With a Bang, But With a Swagger

Jacket:  Narrow Shoulder Jacket (Maison Martin Margiela x H&M)
Pants:   Oversized Trousers (Maison Martin Margiela x H&M)
Shoes:  United Nude x K Swiss
Earrings:  Armour Fan (Asos)