spring calls for skirts

Back when I was a rebellious teenager, I would cringe at the thought of wearing a skirt. All I wore was jeans and combat boots. Then somewhere along the years I finally discovered my feminine side and started wearing skirts and dresses.

After I started working in office settings, I ended up buying tons of suits, including skirt suits, but I had to keep my choices safe, which meant a lot of boring pencil skirts in all the colors of a sad rainbow (blue, gray, black).

Lately, I have not bought any new skirts and all I wear is pants, except for a pretty dress on special occasions.

If I have to come up with a reason why I don't wear skirts anymore, I would say it's a matter of comfort (you can't wear sneakers with a skirt), meaning once you decide to wear a skirt, you can't mess around with the rest of the outfit. You will need pretty shoes and your legs need to be shaved. ;)

Another reason why I stopped buying skirts is because I don't need more than one black (gray ad blue) pencil skirt. I already fell in that trap once in the past, when I had six pairs of black suit pants and nobody noticed the difference but me (other people probably thought I always wore the same clothes).

But this year is different. This year I'm looking at skirts again, and I know why: I love pretty patterns, and this season, everywhere I look I see a pretty skirt in the prettiest colors and styles:

Z Spoke by Zac Posen $355

American Living $39.99

Rebecca Taylor $245


.

these new flats from miu miu are adorable

I hate ballerina flats.

They're missing the most important part of a shoe: the heel.

Plus, since I'm pretty short, ballerinas make me look even shorter. I mean, even sneakers make me look taller!

But, since a couple of years and the Tory Burch flats, I've been thinking about giving flats a chance. I've been mentally putting together little outfits that would work with flats, like cropped white pants and a navy ruffled top, or skinny jeans with a girlie top, or a colorful sundress...

I've been doing a lot of thinking but not a lot of buying, because I'm still deciding about it.

And then Miu Miu starts making gorgeous ballerinas!

And my personal favorite

Now the question is not "Should I or shouldn't I buy a pair of flats?" anymore, but "Tory Burch or Miu Miu?"
.

when you are picky even about underwear

Yes, that's me.

I am picky about panties, but it's because I have a hard time finding underwear that fits comfortably.

No, not because I have a huge butt or no hips at all, the flaw is not in my body... it's in these underwear designs!

I buy most of my underwear at Victoria's Secret, because honestly I don't know where else to find underwear. I mean Frederick's of Hollywood?!

If I go to Macy's or any other department store, I have to filter through all the grandmas panties, and if I go to Madison Avenue I have to pay $100 for one pair.

So I am better off at Victoria's Secret. And I love their Pink patterns, they make me feel 16 at heart (and at butt).

The problem I have with Victoria's Secret is that they have a lot of different styles, but most of them are uncomfortable for me.

Like the boyshort.

It looks adorable but ouch!!!

I feel like I have to keep pulling the fabric down because it just wants to ride up!

Is it just me? Is it a body flaw?

Anything cheeky.

Look at this picture.

Do you think this cheeky style will always stay put like that?

Or will it migrate north?

Is it my body flaw?

At one point, about 6 months ago, I had found the perfect style, it was called something like V ruched-front bikini. It fit snugly and it was perfect! It had a V indentation of the fabric in the front and a wide enough back that didn't give you a constant wedgie. I was so happy. And then Victoria's Secret stopped selling it! Are you kidding me? Why????????

What was wrong with it? I would love to know why they retired it! Was there something wrong with it? It did not fit the average woman? Everybody hated it?

I mean, it's only human to wonder why the only pair that worked for me got axed! Or maybe it is a body flaw!

Fortunately, they have a new style that works for me: the new lace-waist string bikini.

No strings that cut into your hips, but a gentle lace band.

Wider ass-area.

Pretty patterns.

I am tempted to buy 30 pairs just in case they stop making this one too.

But at least I am saved from going around town commando! ;)

Oh, by the way, who picks the writing that go on these underwear? Prison inmates?!?!

i think i want a diane von furstenberg wrap dress

I was never into Diane von Furstenberg's wrap dress... until now that is. Don't ask me what has changed, because I have no idea, all I know is that it's been two days that I keep looking at Bloomingdale's waiting for a good sale on one of these dresses.

The prices are a bit high for me, but I have a gift certificate from Bloomingdale's that will cover the cost, so maybe that's the reason why I'm looking at them now.

Maybe I always wanted one of these wrap dresses, but somehow I convinced myself that I didn't, and the reason why I did that was probably because I knew that the price was too high for me.

What would you do? What would you spend $500 on at Bloomingdale's???

alexander mcqueen is dead

I'd been thinking about a post dedicated to Alexander McQueen for a while now. Actually, it was supposed to be about McQueen and Galliano together, because I find both designers equally theatrical and highly fascinating.

Unfortunately, today I have been given a reason to forget Galliano and only focus on McQueen.

Alexander McQueen is dead. The how and the why are not important to me.

He was 40 years old. He was a great fashion designer. Such a terrible loss for the world of fashion.

I can't even think of much else to say, I just want to close my eyes and play a silent tribute to all the beauty and all the art he's left behind.

Goodbye Alexander.

gift ideas for valentine's day

Valentine's Day is around the corner once again, but for the first time in my life, this "holiday" is not getting to me! Yay! ;)

What I mean by that is that in the past there was so much pressure built up around this day because

a) I was single and it sucked, or
b) I had just started dating someone new and I wasn't even sure if we were supposed to exchange presents, or
c) I always had "high expectations" while the better half always thought that V-Day was a big scam invented by florists.

This year is different, for some reason.

I think it has to do with becoming a mom and my attention and focus shifting from "me" to "my baby".

So this year I even told him that I didn't want anything, maybe to just go out to a restaurant, to make it more of an experience memory instead of a materialistic memory, I mean how many "heart" necklaces you need to have before you say enough?

But even if I am skipping on V-Day (this year, at least) I still have a few ideas for those of you that aren't:


American Express introduces two new gift card designs which serve as ideal tokens of affection.

The new American Express Valentine’s Day Gift Cards are available in denominations of $25, $50, $100, and $200 and are available for purchase at www.americanexpress.com/gift. (Use promo code BAL534 to take advantage of free standard shipping now through February 14th.)


You know I love Tory...

This year, Tory Burch collaborated with renowned artist Leanne Shapton to create an exclusive collection of items for Valentine’s Day. They include cosmetic cases, totes and pajama sets.

I like the pajamas on the right, available at ToryBurch.com










Alphabet Photography was the first company to create personalized artwork from a multitude of iconographic images that make up a diverse assortment of every letter in the English alphabet.

(Can you read what it says on the picture?)

Any name, meaningful word or phrase can be spelled out and elegantly framed. Save $10 off with Valentines Day promo code "LOVE2010". Visit alphabetphotography.com to find out more.


Texting with Benefits!

Go to Giiv.com and choose from a variety gifts that will be delivered instantaneously via text message.

Using this just launched service, the sender simply selects a gift – a bottle of wine, bouquet of flowers or a 60-minute massage, for example - and enters in the recipient's cell phone number with a personal message. The recipient then instantly receives a text message with a gift code to redeem in store or online. No paper, no plastic, no shipping, no waiting.


Mrs. Field's Chocolate Drenched Berries and Cookies!

Mrs. Field's Traditional Bundle!

Anything from Mrs. Field's looks and tastes delicious!!!

From under $25 up to $80 you will find something for every palate. Yum!

reader's question: what to wear with boots

I recently purchased some *amazing *boots and am trying to figure out what to wear with them. Jeans tucked in are one choice. What else? I'm in my 40s (and don't want to look like I'm trying to be in my 20s), and petite (no supermodel height in my family). Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,
Wendy

Dear Wendy,

you don't specify much about your boots, so I'll proceed with the assumption that they are a pair of black boots with high heels.

There are a couple of options for your age range and you can play around with those options to get the most wear-time out of your boots. I have looked around for some pictures to help you visualize better these looks:


With jeans. Absolutely. Tucked when the jeans are tight. But you can also wear boot cut jeans over the boots. Experiment with different color of jeans to get different looks. Finally, try with tight corduroy pants tucked in, too.



With tights. Use this picture as your inspiration and try to recreate this look. It is edgy and modern and mature. Wear the boots with dark tights and a long sweater on top. You can add the scarf too, to focus most of the attention on your top. I like this gray/black contrast, but you could also try this in all black.




With a dress. Again, here you have plenty of room to experiment. I love the boots with a black dress, leaving the legs bare. Choose a casual dress, nothing remotely fancy, or it won't work. If you pick a colored dress, mute the legs with black tights.




With a leather skirt. This is my favorite look. Presented to you by another petite. :)

I wouldn't go as far as Halle with the leather, but a black leather skirt (not too short), a black top and a brown blazer will make you look "oh so beautiful!". Perfect for a night out. You can substitute the leather skirt with a regular black skirt, but I believe the leather look (it can be faux) brings it up a notch.

Wendy, enjoy your boots! :)

A note to my readers: feel free to share your boots-looks in the comments.
.

25% off at gorjana