A touch of red

The best way to chase away Friday humdrums is with a nice warm red scarf. Head to toe black needs that little touch of red. To make it better, put on a bright red lipstick too!

Knit tunic

On a freezing day, nothing is better than a soft knit tunic with a turtleneck. You can feel like wearing a blanket, all warm and cozy. It also helps if you can work from a comfortable coach in the library instead of a cold desk in the lab.

Getting your wishes

Have you noticed when you get your wishes, they are not like you imagined them to be? For example, every fall and winter in California, I was wishing for a real cold and cloudy weather so I can wear my extensive collection of colorful coats without making a spectacle of myself. This year, I am in a real cold climate with cloudy skies and chilling wind and I feel.... miserable! Also out of my 12 coats, I only have 4 of the least exciting ones with me. Yeah, yeah, convenient packing and showing the least dirt and going with every outfit sounds good in theory, but in reality? You get bored with dull colors soon specially when the sky is gray constantly.

Basic white

It has been years, maybe from my high school years that I last wore a white turtleneck. I saw this one in store on Sunday and I couldn't resist buying it. Of course I have to wear it the next day. It encourages me to wear my neglected skirt!

Blue and gray

When I started out mid-day, it was gloomy and gray, hence my outfit. But in an hour, the sun started shining and my mood improved. I even took a long walk to take the most advantage of the beautiful sunshine.

The comfort of navy

Navy is my power color but also acts as a calming color when I need it. Like this Saturday afternoon which I spend in a coffee shop and went food shopping. Too tired too even read a book, I mostly people-watched, a fantastic past time specially if you live in the middle of a university campus.

Pull on plaids

I didn't notice how many plaid pieces I was wearing until I got to work. They go together rather well though and I am happy with the mix. I guess that's all that's matter.

Red to the rescue

From the time I bought this t-dress a couple of years ago, I'd wondered if I could layer a red shirt underneath. Well, I wonder no more! It is possible but not very comfortable. A positive point for this outfit however was the uplifting color, poppy red. Despite the cold and gray of the day, I was feeling happy.

The problem with skirts

I love skirts, I adore them really. However, I don't wear them that often... or at all if I want to be honest! Why is that? Is it the effort of finding a suitable top every time? Is it the trouble of matching hemlines and shoes? Is it the confined waistband? Whatever the problem, I donated most of my skirts before leaving AZ and  brought only two skirts with me to Michigan. Being here for almost two months, this is the first time I am wearing this skirt. The conclusion? I need to stop buying skirts (no matter how pretty they are or how feminine I feel when wearing them) because in reality of my day to day life, I don't wear them often enough to justify the price or the room they take in my closet!

Gray and Down

No, you are not mistaken. That's a down coat! The temp was around 35 most of the day and the wind had a freezing chilly bite to it. Although some people looked at me kind of weird, I was warm. That's all tha's matter!

Black and white view

On my birthday I am usually nostalgic, depressed and critical of my past. Having a black and white and judgmental view of my life does not make the best past time but...sometimes you have to do a little evaluation.

Pumpkin bar

I met my friend for a little pre-birthday chit chat and chilling. This cafe had a nice range of gluten free pastries and I was able to enjoy a pumpkin bar. It was the best! A pity that the cafe is more than a half hour bus ride from my house, otherwise I could have gone there for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day!

The day at the museum

I had high hopes for my visit to Museum of Natural History, needless to say; it didn't measure up. It took less than two hours to visit all four floors and I tried to go as slowly as I could, reading every plaque and notification. My outfit was comfortably warm though, that's the highlight!

Vintage lilac and wine

Vintage lilac is the name of color for this soft sweater and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. It is a great piece for layering, thin, stretchy and deliciously warm. Also looks great layered under this boxy floral top.

Black polka

I was very happy when I found this black polka dot shirt, just what I needed. It is pure cotton and can be layered easily. Also it's thin enough that I can take it with me when I'm going back to warmer (more pleasant) climates. How forward thinking of me!

Colors of comfort

Better to say layers for comfort. Here in cold, I  keep thinking in terms of layers. There is a science to it:  1- the basic layer, color coordinated by maroon, navy and splashes of purple (I include the navy sweater in this layer since the button down is too thin and needs reinforcement) . 2- middle layer: the scarf and a tan cardigan (not pictured here) for sitting at my desk. 3- the outer layer: tan trench coat, gold bag, taupe boots and multi color scarf that can still go over everything.

Wardrobe Obsessions: Missoni Scarves

You may have noticed my little collection of Missoni scarves. Specially here in MI, I relay on them often and they keep popping up in most of my outfits. To say I love these scarves is a bit of understatement. I've been obsessed with them for the past few years. Normally I won't have looked twice at most Missoni scarves, feeling that the sharp horizontal zigzags and tired colors have become a little cliche. But three or four years ago I saw this beautiful one with vertical spiral patterns and soft colors (the one on the left) in Anthropologie and I fell in love. I paid full price for it and haven't regretted my purchase for even one second. After that I kept my eyes out for unusual patterns and found these other beauties. Their color mix makes them suitable for most of my coats and jackets. In addition to being chic and stylish items, they are distinctive and dramatic enough that I can keep the rest of my outfit pretty basic and neutral. Didn't I say I am obsessed with these scarves?

Pop of color

I am getting tried of wearing the same items over and over again, or maybe it is because my outfits relay heavily on the same neutrals, navy, gray, tan and black. Whatever it was I needed that little pop of happy fluorescent yellow to cheer me up.

Covered in fog and drizzled with rain

How do you like to start your week? Mine started by looking out the window and seeing a big white/gray nothing, courtesy of a dense wall of fog. My ten minutes walk to work had a surreal feel.

Fall floral

I am learning the first rule of northern climate: appreciating the sunlight. That's why on Sunday I put on a happy outfit of flowers and sangria (see the tangerine coat and bordeaux jeggings and scarf) to relax, eat out and do some necessary shopping (like a thick fluffy blanket for my bed). A bit of sunshine is great for the soul!

Cold move

It was 37 degree cold on Saturday morning when I was moving. Lots and lots of comfortable and snuggly layers which also offered the freedom to pull along three big suitcases. By the end of the day, I was semiconscious from exhaustion.

Friday meetings

What a day! It started with a meeting in a leasing office to sign a lease and get the keys to my new apartment. Then I had to rush out and buy beddings since apparently "furnished" doesn't include bed sheets and comforters. Back to my old apartment for lunch and my laptop. Going back to office for weekly work meeting, rushing to buy a mini vacuum cleaner ( again something excluded from fully furnished!), dropping it off at the new apartment and going back to the old one to pack and sleep. I traveled the length of the city six times in one day, taking the bus each time. It was an ordeal, let me tell you!

"Get a move on!"

Yes, another move in Ann Arbor, from one apartment to another. These days I feel like a nomad. First week of September, I moved from Phoenix Arizona to Ann Arbor Michigan with my whole life in three suitcases. I lived in a hotel for a few days and then moved to an apartment. Since I was staying there temporarily, I didn't unpack. You can imagine how chaotic it was in the mornings to get ready. Now, I moved to another apartment closer to my work and I will be staying here for the next couple of months (to the end of my stay in Michigan). You can bet the first thing I did was unpacking all three suitcases and hanging everything in the closet!  (Coincidentally, this first picture is of the building I work in.)

There is another move on the horizon in December, somewhere out of states and I am excited. Scared too, but mostly excited. As for my life style, I guess I am getting used to all the traveling, the new environments and the new people.  The living out of a suitcase too, since I did it for most of last year as well.
One thing is ironic though: after years of dreaming about a big roomy closet with customized shelving, when I finally get it I have to move for work and leave it behind. Life is definitely not fair, I can assure you! I can also complain about challenges of dressing for a very cold climate after living in CA and AZ for years and then the confusion of shopping for a hot and humid climate while still adjusting to cold of Michigan.
Can you guess where I'm going next?

"A few of my favorite things"

Let's say your outfit is made of all your favorite pieces: a burgundy top, a soft cashmere sweater, a pair of skinny velvet pants, a plaid coat and your favorite Missoni scarf... does it mean it would look good as well as feel good? That's the question!

Blue dreams

NO, I don't have time or energy for dressing up. Just enough to look pulled together and be warm.... that's my goal for the next couple of days!

Cream caramel

It is too cold for me and my flimsy winter wear don't stand a chance against this weather. I am giving them a work out however. Case in point: this new coat is not as cold-proof as I hoped. Good thing I layered a merino wool sweater under my dress. Sweater goes over the dress usually, you say? Needs must and all that, my dears!

A symphony in blue

I love cobalt blue, so much so that I didn't feel the need to accessorize this outfit. I didn't want anything competing with my favorite color!

Friday meeting

What did I tell you about meetings on Friday? Apparently it has become a tradition. Well, I make it a tradition to dress up for it. What I don't like is having the meetings late afternoon which usually extends to after 5:00 PM. Please let me go home!

Snow leopard

I like the snow leopard print more than the tan and brown one, maybe because I don't like tan and brown that much. Whatever the reason, these days I am hooked on cold gray and muted colors. I blame the weather!

Sweet and wild

This color scheme feels very sweet to me with the colors coming from cookies and caramel and chocolate. On the other hand, the prints are a bit wild and edgy... then if you look at the textures: the calf hair of the shoes, the snake print embossed bag, the silky top, the cashmere two texture cardigan...
all in all, a lot is going on this outfit... but because of the color scheme, it feels mellow and sweet and totally pulled together.

Of course there is a coat and scarf involved as well. I just didn't want to crowd the picture.

Gold and gray

At the first glance, this is a wild color scheme. I have to explain though, it was rainy and gray and I was freezing and needed a dose of optimism. Gold always cheers me up!