A Shade of Grey

Well hi there you! It is Friday (again!) and I am still on my dress kick. I love wearing dresses to work, don't you? It's easy, it's office appropriate, it can be snazzied up with a blazer and the right accessories or made more causal with tights/boots and a sweater.  This little dress here is something  I bought in black as well from Zara this winter and its so cute. I wear it alone (it has the cutest details on the pockets and shoulders) or with a blazer and its perfect. I tell you, I am READY for Fall. I hope this El Nino stuff is true, not only because we really do need the water here in poor thirsty CA but because I have so many new coats for fall!! Every year, my hubby just shakes his head at me as I trot on in with my winter clothes- he's like " Why are you buying that stuff? It doesn't get cold here. " (he's from Chicago, fyi). And I'm like "Who dresses for the weather? When there are fuzzy sweaters in the stores, you buy them and just deal with the sweat! " Right? Are you with me??   :)  I hope you all have wonderful things planned for this weekend! We have a birthday swim party from someone in my daughter's class  (it's a horse theme, in case you were wondering. Its so funny that horses are still popular with little girls) and we are going to spend some time with my parents and see some friends and then what do you know, it will be Monday again!  Thank you so much for stopping by, dearest ones! xx Michelle

Dress: Zara (old, but similar here )  Blazer: Banana Republic (Here)  Shoes: Vince Camuto (here)

J'adore Dior (and this dress)

Dress: CAbi (old, but similar here) Sunglasses: (Rayban) Handbag: Dior (old) Shoes: (Kate Spade)

This is my family (my parents and my grandmother) and the little dancer herself!!  

Hi there dearest reader! I hope your weekend was wonderful- mine sure was! It was my daughter's very first dance recital on Saturday and it was so fun! I grew up  dancing and there is something so...touching maybe?...about being in what is a very familiar environment to me with the stage and the music and sharing it with her. I sort of sobbed my way through it, like I do with most of the events involving her.  As a mother, your heart is filled to bursting when your child is happy and for me, that equates to embarrassing tears at least once a week! We went to The Ranch in Anaheim for dinner later that night -- anyone tried that? I had been before with clients but on Saturday we took my parents and grandmother too and it's really good. I am a picky picky eater and I dont eat red meat and even I liked it (mostly due to a nice bowl of Butternut Squash soup and a Milky Way ice cream dessert-yee yum!) 

So my dress... It's from CAbi last season and I love it. I adore the ease and the look of wrap dresses but not the wrap. I inevitably fuss with the tie all day long.  I am a pretty modest person and even showing a little cleavage is out of my comfort zone but a dress that looks like a wrap but isn't? Yes, please! This is made out of really soft material that feels like cashmere and is so cozy!  And my bag... Okay, confession time. I really love Gucci but Dior is a close second.  I could write posts and posts about the waiting lists I have been on for these crazy purses. I think investing in good handbags is totally worth it, not only because you really can use them for years (if you choose the right design) but it ends up saving money (kind of) if you avoid the interim, trendy type bags and focus on really cultivating your style.  You won't buy things that will just sit in your closet after a few months, never again to see the light of day!  Actually, I can pretty much justify any purchase. These are just things I tell myself. I also take more expensive bags and divide them by how many years I think I will keep them (20 at least) and then figure out how much it is a month. When I do this, it seems totally, totally reasonable. Cheap even!! I have even been known to share this philosophy with my husband, who does NOT agree that it is fiscally responsible to buy purses. Men! Okay, you. Happy, happy day wishes and thank you for stopping by! Xx Michelle 🍭

Lace in the Workplace

Hi you! I had an epiphany last weekend, as I was sorting through my packed closet-- not every trend is for me. I understand my own personal style, but I am still susceptible to following whatever the trend du jour happens to be.  Does anyone else do this? I looked at my closet over the weekend and found multiple items (tags still attached) that were impulse buys because they looked so good on someone else.  And I just know I am never going to wear them.  I want to try really hard to simply incorporate into my existing style a little bit of the trends I like.   I see beautiful colorful prints and bright patterns on everyone-- not really me (but maybe a bright pair of earrings is) .  I see the boho dresses on everyone- not really me (but maybe a fringy pair of boots or bag is).  I wish I was more adventurous in my style but I am just not.  I am more of a classic, simple dresser, especially at work.  Which brings me to this skirt... I actually forgot I had it (if I had a nickel for every time I found something I loved wedged behind something else in my closet!!)  I've had it for a while, but there are similar ones here and here.  Its not really lace, its just a lace pattern and it gives the illusion of lace without showing too much skin.   Pencil skirts just work for me. I like the length and the cut and they are so versatile.  Heels look just as good as a tall pair of riding boots when the weather cooperates.  Mine are from Nordstrom and you can get them here.    

How do you incorporate trends into your wardrobe?  Are you a risk taker?  However you are, I am sure you are beautiful!  Hey all! Its just about the weekend! Yayyyyyy!!! Thank you so much for stopping by! xxoo Michelle

Miami Vice Made Nice









I bought this blazer with the sheath (and matching pants) from Benetton. If you live in Orange County like I do, you will remember that there used to be a store in Fashion Island and one in South Coast Plaza right across from the carousel. I was obsessed with this store. I have been wearing their suits since law school and I just find that they have a really nice corporate aesthetic and are very reasonably priced--cute suits, cardigans and pencil skirts --and winter coats that always have a pop of faux fur on the cuff or collar (this girl is a sucker for faux fur. And feathers!)  When the South Coast store closed down, it was a dark day indeed, but it was replaced by Sugarfina, so the day brightened up in a hurry (because I am a candy-aholic!)! Now, I shop online and I still love everything I get!  The jacket is HERE the dress is HERE and the pants are HERE.  Everything is Italian sizing, so you will need to convert and figure out your size but there is a handy little chart on the website: www.us.benetton.com I really like this all white look, but you have to use caution for work (and not just when you are eating. Or drinking. Or using a blue pen!)  Bright neon shoes? Um, no. Way too Crockett and Tubbsy (names I had to Google, by the way!)  All black heels? Probably a better choice. I gave these floral guys a go and its a good pairing.  The pants looks great with this blazer for dinner or drinks with maybe a white tank underneath and strappy heels.   While I did not take my own advice ( I was busy last week, sheesh!), a spray tan or self tanner is probably a good idea with this color.  Anyone else obsessed with this all white look? Have any cute outfit ideas you'd care to share? I'd love to hear them all!  Hope you are all having an amazing week! xo Michelle