Weekend round up:

Friday evening: Yes, I am switching to Fall colors. A jade silk button down and white jeans is good for both summer and fall.

Saturday: again fall colors! Burgundy top and crimson skirt. It was cool enough at night to add a leather jacket.

Sunday: something for a walk on the beach then eating cookies and hot chocolate in the coffee shop. I feel too lazy to do anything useful. 

Adding color!

I love color and texture and new things. So when my friend called me to spend a few hours window-shopping and browsing the Fall merchandise, I jumped at the chance. Just let me put a comfortable outfit together. Flat shoes, roomy satchel, soft jeans, a silky Henley shirt, and I am done! 

Worker bee!

The whole day spent in the lab. I feel like I had been through a full cycle in a washing machine, specially “Tumble Dry”.  Yes, nothing goes with nothing else but the outfit was super-comfortable!

Busy!

For a day full of appointments and lots of “meet and greet”, I had to wear something multifunctional. This polka dotted button down and washed jeans struck the perfect balance between nonchalant and formal.

First phone calls and emails, then attending my friend’s defense which she did great. She is a doctor now! Celebratory lunch with the whole department. Hair appointment after that. Then back to campus and three hours of work in the lab. Full day indeed!

Black and white

Aside from this color combo being huge for the fall, it is simple, effortless and chic. And effortless was all I had the energy to put on: A T-dress, sandals and a satchel bag.

Yes, I found my dream satchel bag (or as close to it as I could). I will introduce it to you soon.

Blue Monday:

Mixing striped blazer, dark chambray shorts and a white embroidered boho top. Actually it is a recreation of this outfit with different blazer and top.

Another meeting day! I feel the only things I’m doing these days are analyzing data and attending meetings. Neither makes for a productive day! My wrist hurts from holding the mouse for hours on end. Ahh well, there is another meeting tomorrow!

Black and neon yellow

Meeting my friend after a very long time and spending a couple of hours catching up. I tried to mix my yellow top and black shorts with accessories to avoid the “bumble bee” effect. Although the jury is still out on that one!

Polka dot and yellow

Another meeting, another semiformal outfit. Accessorizing the navy polka dot dress with neon yellow. 

Monochromatic crimson

Despite my matchy-matchy tendencies, I haven’t accessorized my red dress with red before. Well, I thought I give it a try. Added just enough tan into the mix to tie the shoes and bag to the rest of the outfit. I thought this was a perfect outfit for having lunch and doing some Fall shopping with my friend. Thank goodness for air-conditioned malls! 

Hot pink and navy

Balancing out the hot day with some hot pink color! To save myself from being vaporized I decided to go out only after sunset!

Blue Monday

Given the high temperature, wearing a breezy blue maxi dress was the only way to self preservation. And yes, it is a repeat except for the bag!

Weekend round up:

Friday, dinner and enjoying a cool breezy evening in the park. In reality the striped maxi dress, the wedges and my bag were looking more formal than I liked. The jean jacket didn’t help!

Saturday: what are you going to do if you go to the beach and it is still hot? Let the tide hit you and soaks your clothes! Pink top and white shorts are very girly. 

Sunday, relaxing and enjoying the cool evening air by taking a walk as soon as the sun set. Mixing colorful stripes with neutrals.

Black and white and blue

Another full day, working from 9:30am to 7:00 pm in the lab. This color scheme was put together out of necessity. Hot day meant shorts and a thin cotton top. Jean jacket for inside the lab temp, since it is usually around 68 or so. Comfortable shoes to stand in the whole day and a roomy bag to house all notes and reading material and snacks and other necessities. 

White and hot pink

A very hot day and working in the lab the whole afternoon. Another take on mixing a white dress and hot pink accessories.

Hot as Hades

When temperature passes 90, all I want is non-confining dresses. Anything that is light and breezy. This emerald and navy polka dot dress is the perfect solution… and of course, I had to accessorize with blue. Only problem? The skirt tends to ride up a bit when I sit. That (and AC-ed interiors) are why I carry a jean jacket.

Blue Monday:

Apparently blue means cobalt blue to me! Or it may that I own too many cobalt blue pieces. Whatever the case, matching a cobalt top and light chambray shorts with accents of lapis resulted in a very blue Monday!

Holy Grail of Style: Black Satchel bag

It seems impossible to find a black satchel that covers all the bases: casual but not too casual, roomy but not huge like a tote, goes with everything, light, structured but not stiff, have a detachable shoulder strap, from a good brand, have good quality, be reasonably priced… etcetera etcetera. And that’s not including the number of inside dividers and outside  pockets that some people prefer.

And it’s not only me who has trouble finding the right black bag. I can name three friends who consulted me in the last year and half about buying a black handbag. It’s a common problem, I tell you!

The answer: Keep looking my dears, keep looking and don’t leave a stone unturned. That means broadening your search from name brands to chains, checking websites, designer discount stores as well as department stores and in the meantime … SAVE! Yes, start saving for your dream black bag since there is a strong possibility when you find the ONE, it is going to cost a pretty penny.

My quest so far: I saw a Michael Kors ‘Fulton’ Satchel two years ago and (damn!) didn’t buy it. When I went looking for it, it had disappeared with no trace either online or in stores, not even in outlet stores. Then I decided on this Tory Burch 'Robinson' satchel at twice the cost of the last one… the reviewers however are criticizing the quality of the bag. Which means I kept looking and happen upon this Donna Karan New York (DKNY) Black ‘Saffiano’Leather Satchel. Unfortunately it is large and stiff. It also hangs funny when I tried the shoulder strap. So not the one! This week I am looking at this ‘Biennial’ medium satchel from J. Crew. It sounds perfect on the website, although I prefer to meet the bag in person, interview it and gets its measurement! That means a trip to the mall in my not so distant future. Wish me luck!

Weekend round up:

Friday evening: a bit tough, a bit rock, a lot of grays.

Saturday: I’d forgotten I have this jacket. It’s a cute alternative to jean jacket.

Sunday: on a shoe shopping expedition. Mixing my red dress with orange-y/tan accessories. 

…and with that I’m going to enjoy some BBQ!

Group meeting*

I’ve been wearing too much blue this week. Let’s go for some fun color like true pink. Setting it with crimson shorts made a little color blocking effect and the jacket dressed it up for the meeting.

*“Group Meeting” is the grad school code name for the whole research group getting together every couple of week to report their findings and data, make absurd excuses for not getting the results they were supposed to and occasionally being shouted at by their advisor! A fun occasion by definition!