Fedora and a maxi skirt and a visit from Santa

I really like this outfit. Although I didn't get many comments (may be the hat was too much) I really liked it myself. My inspiration came from this:

The key is the blouse has to be no collar type I think. And this Tucker for Target blouse was perfect. I think the flower design add a nice touch.

I rarely shop from Banana Republic. I know there are millions who love the store but for me it is a bit too conservative and 'classic'. I do however go in usually due to people I am with wanting to and I have occasionally found things on the sales rack. This skirt is one of them. I have worn it quite a lot for work when maxi skirts were in. It has been sitting in my guest closet for a few years now waiting to be in style once again. 

I first tried my flat leather black boots but just did not go under this skirt. Looked too stumpy. So out came my high heeled boots. I wish they were just an inch shorter so they would be a bit easier on my feet but I managed. Things we wouldn't do for style!

My mom bought this hat in France and wore it during her trip but never again after she came back. Last winter when I told her I was looking for one she gave it to me. This is the 2nd time I am wearing it. The first time I only wore it for my photos and chickened out to wear it during the day. I guess almost a year of blogging my fears are gone cause I wore it all day today!

In a rush to catch my husband to take my photos (it saves so much time than setting up the tripod) I had not put on my ring yet. So here is the ring holding my newly ordered coffee mug:

Here is a close up of the blouse, belt and the boots. Notice I wore burgandy tights underneath. The skirt has to big slits on both sides which make it easy to move in and my tights did show.

   

Blouse - Tucker for Target

Skirt - Banana Republic (very very old)

Boots - J Crew (again very old)

Belt - Forever 21

Hat - Mom's from France

Ring - black onyx from Turkey

Today's Activities: We had holiday potluck and a visit from Santa at our preschool today. They will be closed in the next two weeks so it was a nice last day. The 'santa' was very tall and when he came in he knealt by my daughter she freaked out. So of course she wouldn't sit on his lap but did say 'hi Santa' from the safety of my arms. So cute. In the afternoon we just stayed in so I can at least start and make some headway on my giftwrapping.

Here are the kids getting their book gifts from Santa which my son pointed out this is NOT the aladding toy set he specifically asked for. :)

Openning their books:

Class photo. My son is in the middle area and my daughter is on the teacher's lap:

Velvet and rhinestones

Wore this to a family and friends holiday dinner hosted by my mom and step dad. A bit dressy perhaps but I wanted to wear this outfit. I was inspired by the photo below:

When I saw this photo I immediately remembered my (very) old light blue velvet tank top. Than I feared I might have given it away (I usually do) but was happy to find out I had kept it. So, than paired it with a big rhinestone necklace (unlike the real thing she wears) and a cream/white fur coat. For to the bottom thought my nude/blush colored brocade skirt and nude heels would do the trick as they won't take away from the focal point of the tank and the bling.

This skirt is part of a bustier-skirt suit my mom bought years ago to wear at a wedding. There have been different times in our life time we were skinny enough to wear it as it is very tight and a small size. Other times it sits and waits either her closet or mine for us to be slim again. I am lucky to be able to fit in it although it is not without effort. The good thing is the skirt is very high rise so I can wear the very crop tank top.

The coat is another vintage fur left over from my mom's thrift store business. Wish it was a bit whiter but I think it looks fine.

Bought this necklace at Forever 21 for the purpose of this outfit. Among everything else it might look cheap but I think on its own it looks very pretty. The photos are just bad quality so you can't tell. The ring is CZ and I love it. My mom bought it as a b-day present this past summer.

Realized other than the first photo I cut off my shoes from every other one but here they are in close-up. Had to try over 5 pairs of nude heels that looked almost identical at Steve Madden to find the one that actually blended with my skin tone and feet.

Here is a close up of my rhinestone barette.

The kids insisted we pose together. My son's forced smile is cute...

Brocade skirt - Anne Klein

Velvet Tank - French Connection (thrifted a long long time ago)

Nude Heels - Steve Madden

Necklace - Forever 21

Ring - from Turkey

Earings (which you can't see) - Ross Simmons

Today's Activities: Ditched the outdoor preschool class today as my son was not feeling great. Instead went grocery shopping than stopped at our local park for 30 minutes or so than came home for a soup lunch. My son fell a sleep on the couch listenning to xmas music. Put my daughter down as she was fussy even though it was way before nap time. Then moved my son to our bed and napped together. Had them play in the house while I cleaned up and got ready. Mailed some more xmas cards (the international ones) than went to my parents house for a holiday dinner party. They went all out with the dishes and it was yummy.

Here they are infront of the Turkey:

Mustard Cords

Very few photos today. I was running late and really did not have any more poses in me. Today is the debut of my mustard cords. I got these and the burgandy pair I have worn a few times at the same time from F21 for $14 each. The fit, the quality and the color just all too amazing for the price.

I had this combo in my list with a green LS top under this sheer halter. But it was too warm today and I wanted a light top under my layers so wore the halter on its own and topped it with a cardi instead. The halter top is super old purchse from Turkey. I am happy to be wearing it again and the mustard colored flowers totally match the pants.

Mustard Cords - Forever 21

Sheer halter top - From Turkey

Cardigan - Guess?

Flats - Enzo

Today's Activities: Preschool in the morning. Finished unpacking and laundry and more xmas projects during nap and in the afternoon. Accomplished some of this by taking the kids to the indoor play area. Ah, last night the final bulb in my closet burned out so I had absolutely no light. I was horrified. The bulb I bought was the wrong kind. So, today even though it was already nap time and the kids had not had lunch I had to go to Home Depot after preschool which was right across the street. Had to ask for help to find the exact bulb. Why would the previous owners install a fixture that requires such a unique bulb is beyond me. As soon as I put the kids down had to bring up the ladder and installed the bulbs and voila light again. Fashion blogger without a light in her closet is not a good thing!