…and a uniform is born!

Yep! It is cold… it’s been cold for days… and it’s supposed to stay cold for a few more days. What a season! Same as yesterday!

So I am sticking to variations of the “tried and true”. Why mess with a good thing, really?!

Brrr… in spring!

It is cold… it’s been cold for days… and it’s supposed to stay cold for a few more days. What a season!

In addition to that I’m working in the lab almost every day and have to wear warm and comfortable attire. 

You remember that gold shirt from the holiday season? It got to shine in the lab!

What I loved this week:

Cat eye sunglasses. Yes, it’s all the rage but I took the madness one step farther and am looking for colored frames. All my previous glasses have dark frames, brownish or black. A light colored frame is a new experience for me!

Skinny khakis. Since I won’t wear colored jeans, adding a neutral one in ever popular and classic shade would be a good idea. Only problem? Finding the one that fits me perfectly.

Le sport sac cosmetic pouches. I’d given up on using pouches for my makeup. My bags get too heavy and my shoulder hurts! As a result I have simplified my carry on makeup to a lipstick, a tiny mirror, a lip balm or lip stain and an antibacterial hand gel. That’s it really! But I saw these colorful pouches and I want them (even if I have no use for them)!

Reality

Using the left (!) picture as inspiration, I tried to pull my Friday’s look together. Although I wasn’t very happy with the end result. Maybe next time I stick to pastels and pastels alone!

Bag of the Month:

This month’s contestant is my Kelsi Dagger New York (KDNY) Leopard satchel bag. It is made of black leather with a leopard print calf hair flap. It has a top handle and a detachable leather and chain shoulder strap. It measures W 12”, H 11”, D 5” with a cross body strap of 46”.

(Sorry! I couldn't find a high quality picture online.)

It can hold all the stuff I tote to school with me including my laptop. The huge bonus is the back/outside pocket where I usually stuff my keys and cell phone, a lipstick and a little mirror. Very handy indeed!

I have been looking everywhere for a leopard print handbag for the last 2 years (evidence here and here). Last October (2011), I was so ready to shell out a ginormous amount of money for the Banana Republic Mad Men collection version or the Michael Kors’s one. But lo and behold, I found the KDNY version and liked it so much the better and the price was just right! You agree, mine is much prettier also, don’t you?

High Contrast

Who knew the hot pink is such a great match to navy! This is my adaptation of color trend this spring. When matching colors, I either go matchy-matchy or high contrast. Between you and me, I love the shock factor!

Lust Objects

I so want these bags! I’ve been day dreaming about them for more than a month now! Can someone buy them for me, please?!

Lab Rat!

For a full day of standing on my feet, I went with a tried and true outfit. Also a couple of layers to ward of the chill of the lab. I just need a full thermos of hot tea to be a happy lab rat!

Back to Basics: Part II

Along the lines of quality and fit, a great jacket is also crucial to a Basic/Classic look. Something that has a very casual no-fuss attitude. Something like a shrunken blazer, a longish jacket, a great leather jacket… or my personal weakness: a boucle' blazer. I’ve just found this cutie. Isn’t it an absolutely necessary addition to my wardrobe? It has everything I love in a clothing item: unfinished edges, interesting fabric, form-fitting cut, the perfect mix of edgy details and classic shape… It is been made for me!

Hello skirts!

Finally! The weather is warm enough for me to go bare legged and wear dresses and skirts. Well yes, in my book the spring has finally arrived. I have been anticipating the wearing of this fun shirtdress for the last two months. What’s not to love? Polka dots? love them! Shirtdress? Favorite style! A feminine fitted bodice silhouette? So 50’s! Just add a few touches of color and you’re done!

So who cares you are going to spend the whole day in meetings and the evening in the lab. You look good!

Holy Grail of style: White Shirtdress

I’ve been looking for the perfect white dress for the last six summers. I even own a few white dresses but something is always wrong with each one. One is too business looking, one is too party-ish, one is too sheer… Well, none of them are perfect for day to day, school/casual/weekend kind of life style I have. So I kept looking… and don’t you guess it? I finally found the perfect one! This beauty from Madewell. The price is a bit steep but who would complain after six year of looking and trying on numerous dresses?! Really, anything for perfection!

Red Hot

What do you think of this pretty?

I’ve fallen in love with the intense red color of this scarf.

Back to Basics

Starting three months ago and as the result of “so many things to do, so little time”, I started to simplify my outfits. I’ve let go of layers and stopped playing with colors and am now down to the most basic of classic looks: a white shirt, a pair of skinny jeans, a jacket and a pair of high heels. The pop of color comes from my bag, belt or necklace.

The trick to pulling of this look, I’ve found out to be in the perfect fit of the clothes and the quality of fabrics and accessories. Bead necklaces don’t work in this outfit, gold ones do. Canvas bags don’t, colorful structured leather ones do. Slouchy baggy jeans don’t work, structured skinny ones do. Wedge sandals don’t work, leather pumps work great. Cotton shirts don’t work, silk ones do. Details, details!

My uniform these days:

Changing?

Well, I find myself in a dilemma: I love all the colorful and brights of this spring but don’t want to be mistaken for a college student or stand out too much in the crowd. Therefore my recent hoard of eye scorching brights is going back to stores.

Which raises the question of: after all the experimenting and having fun with my outfits, what am I going to wear for balanced and appropriate outfit?

Bag of the..

Week month:

World, say hello to my new baby, LAUREN BY RALPH LAUREN Newbury N/S Leather Tote Bag in Kelly green. It measures: 13" W x 14" H x 5" D with a should drop of 9”.

The leather is stiff and holds its shape completely. The bag looks totally structured, so unique in usually soft and foldable tote bags. It also has a very interesting texture, and of course there is the gorgeous color. I have been in search of a green bag in a nice shade for a few years and this one, in a hue between emerald and Kelly green is just perfect.

The bag is huge but it holds lots of note and papers, my laptop, wallet, two sets of key chains, make up pouch, sunglasses and a paperback novel quite easily. Plus there is still room for a snack or two somewhere in it! Of course, it becomes heavy too and my shoulder aches as the proof!

Cuffed!

I strongly believe I deserve a little treat after being such a good little worker bee this last four months, nose to the grindstone and all. So, today having taken my first real OFF day in so long, I bought a little present for myself. This pretty cuff in bright yellow seemed appropriate; sunny color, modern style and all. Happy and uplifting, it is the perfect bijou*!

* Can it be called a bijou even if it is not shiny, metallic or covered in crystals?

Happy Persian New Year

Happy Spring! Happy Persian New Year!

Wishing you all a year full of joy and health and prosperity!

عیدتان مبارک. سال خوشی داشته باشید

Meet and Greet

What do you wear for a day full of meetings? Meeting colleagues, meeting advisor and meeting your students, they all require slightly different styles. This outfit however, fits all three bills! It must be the use of color mint as accent that made it demure. Just a hint of polka dotted mint at the collar, cuffs and bottom of the shirt showing and the mint green accessories.

The sloppy effect!

With everyone going for multiple layers and loose silhouettes and florals, I am tempted to try my own version. So I switched my blouse bow to a silk floral one, added a gray tank top picking underneath, gray skinny jeans and flats.

A lot of people do the folded legs on their skinny jeans when worn with flats, I like the French cuff better, much neater!

Bag of the week:

This week beauty is my Tiny East/West bag from Nile collection by Dooney and Bourke. It measures as L 8.25" W 3" H 5.25" Handle drop length: 4.5".

I bought this pretty some years ago (4-5 maybe) and have used it only a few times. It is so darn tiny! My wallet and phone fill it up completely and can’t even add a lipstick! Despite the size, it is cute and the leather is gorgeous, so it stays as one of my darlings!

Spring wind

The flowy skirt, the flighty scarf and wind-blown hair… perfectly romantic for a gray pre-spring day, spent on running errands, lunch with friends and …emm… doing paper work!

Totally Profesh!

I haven’t done an outfit post in a long time. So here is what I had on today for a little professional symposium and lunch.

Art of the week:

Peach Tree in Blossom, Vincent Van Gogh, Arles: April-May, 1888, Oil on Canvas

Better late than never, I say!

I am a big Van Gogh fan, in case you didn’t know. There is so much energy and movement in his work. Also look at all those vivid colors!

What I loved this week:

Ah, yes! Back to our regular programming:

-“eos” lipbalm in Sweet Mint. Have been debating its purchase for sometime now. It is supposed to be “95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil”. Other flavors are: Summer Fruit, Lemon Drop SPF 15, Strawberry Sorbet , Honeysuckle Honeydew, Medicated Tangerine .

My verdict: it is wonderful to apply and feels wonderful. Is not too greasy and the packaging is ultra cute! I am going to try their hand lotion next!

-Polka dots. My polka dot frenzy not a new obsession however cute swimsuit are new! I mean I hate swimming but for the sake of these babies, I am willing to brave the tides!

-Neutral blush colored handbags. I have been looking for the perfect one for a whole year. Hasn’t found one yet. But am becoming quite interested in this one:

Looking for inspiration: Mint

How to match up mint? Since it has become one of spring’s hottest colors, I dug up a few minty pieces I had and am looking for other colors to match them with. My research indicates it is a good match for many colors specially orange and purple. Despite this spring’s trend of pairing pastels with more pastels (which undoubtedly would make me look like a zombie!), I am going to take the high contrast road and pair it with royal blue, navy, even mustard. Ooh, fuchsia looks good with it too!