Cutting Loose...Footloose

It's the endless winter. I'm sitting in my house, waiting for yet another round of a snowfall. It's March 24, guys, and the official start of spring was 4 days ago. Perhaps it's for this reason that I haven't yet been inspired to shop or plump up my closet, and thus uninspired to post. I love finding you guys things - especially when I hear from you about it! - but we're all tired of winter wear.

It's why I was happily piqued with excitement for an outfit from The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Did you guys see the entrance/tribute to Footlose that Jimmy and Kevin Bacon did last week?

What about this is inspiring? Look again.

Whoever dressed her deserves some made props, because that floral on blush outfit definitely garners a spotlight. Midi skirts are back for the spring, with a little extra midi to the skirt, and entering the business world. I like the idea of a midi skirt with booties (and likely tights) as stylish, modest work attire. The one pair of booties I own are a bit higher on the ankle and tend to be too tall for the few cropped pants I wear them with, so a midi skirt of this length would be a perfect pairing.

Want to dress like the dancer on The Tonight Show?  Here are a few under $50 options below:

FAVORITE FIND: Petal Jacket from Anthropologie

I should probably finish going through all the sales at Anthropologie before declaring a Favorite Find...but blame that on my excitement after the first Favorite Find.

Either way, you win with this Petal Jacket in pink from Anthropologie.  Marked down from $168 to $49.95 (Anthropologie's favorite number), this beautiful blazer swoops gracefully in the front and back with a hemline that extends well past your waist.  Call it a sophisticated version of boyfriend blazer.

Petal Jacket

What I love is how long this jacket is without feeling like a leftover from the 80s.  With a longer hemline, this blazer from Anthropologie provides maximum coverage without sacrificing on style or modesty.

FAVORITE FIND: Taylor Sleep Shirt from Anthropologie in Pink

You've probably noticed I've been all over Anthropologie lately.  While I usually like browsing through they racks, that I have two gift cards from a recent 30th birthday that are burning holes in my pocket.

Anthro has the possibility to make dressing fashionably, stylishly, and modestly one of the easiest things in the world...but oh, how it makes us pay for that possibility.  Which is why I'm happy to find this Favorite Find - the Taylor Sleep Shirt (in pink).

Taylor Sleep Shirt

The polka dots with the delicate lace detail are nice touches to what could be an otherwise ordinary button down top.  While it claims to be a sleep shirt - and I'm sure it's uber comfy - it would be a great tunic-length top to throw over a pair of wide OR skinny leg pants, some flats, and call it a day - without spending hours in the closet, layering top over top to ensure full coverage of all the important parts of your body.

Spring Midi-Dresses!

Ever wish you could carry those midi dress + tall boot looks over from winter to spring without looking so...well, warm?  Oftentimes it's tough to do, given the cold-weather vibe that boots tend to give off.  So what to do when the spirit of the season calls you down the calf-bearing spring dress isle?  Well, we've put together some looks that can hopefully bridge the seasonal gap and allow you sport those moderate-weather dresses when it really counts - in moderate weather!

Adventures in dress-up have taught me that the key to spring dresses with tall boots is to pair bright, effervescent colors in airy fabrics with boots in subtle hues and playful styles.  Hope you like...

Recommended footwear: try these chic ruched over the knee boots or this casual cowboyish pair, both in gray.  Or this ruched pair in brown which dresses the outfit either up or down.

Blazers by Talbots
Cardigans at Kohl's

Here's an even springier spread.  If you dare to go with the peach wrap top, I'd lose the green belt and sport something more like this skinny brown one or this wide brown one, and these pale blush colored boots.  Otherwise, I'd go with something like these gray skinny or broad belts with the following gray boots:  gray high heels, or gray flats.

Day Dresses by Asos
Longsleeve Tops by Asos

And last but not least, this 3/4 length sleeve dress in royal blue.  Wear with any of the boots suggested above, or these skyscrapers in gray.  Top the outfit off in stripes for an electric look.

Blazers by Forever 21
Day Dresses by Asos

More Charlotte Russe...

Wanna Dress to Impress?

Not much to do to this one folks.  Throw on a slip, slap on a belt, grab a great bag, and out the door with you.  Hurry though, only a size or two left and going fast.  I might snag one myself and wait for that cold day in hel(sinki) when I'm a 6 again.

More Asos...

Business Essentials: The Office Fling

Create sparks with your style. Slap on some leggings and let the fellow worker bees fall in love with this blazer and skirt combo. I certainly find it hard to resist...

Shortsleeve Tops by Gianni Bini
Boots by C Label

Business Essentials - Color Your Corporate Style

Something I love most about today's trends is the revelry in weaving together bold color statements and contradictory prints.  I do a lot of people-watching to see which seemingly unthinkable combinations can impress me most.  Here's my crack at the game.

Longsleeve Tops by Coldwater Creek
Suits by Dolce & Gabbana

Either top with either pant

Longsleeve Tops by Asos
Wedges by Nine West

Business Essentials - Along Came the White Suit

Wearable as-is of course, but I like the idea of replacing the jacket's pre-fab white belt with this tan one.  Summer interview anyone?

Suits by Anne Klein
Platforms by Restricted