Mixed prints

This outfit was recently styled with Alethea. I really like the Ikat print scarf mixed with the floral sweater. Its warm and cozy. Add tall girl shoes and it makes the look a little dressier. 

Travel gear

This jacket is so great for warm weather. It is beige, but with a blush tint. I can't normally wear beige because of the yellow tones, but this works. It's also meant to be a bit wrinkled, which is required for travel. The dress is jersey and ruched at the waist for great comfort.

The French have a term called the "third piece" which means you should always add one interesting element to each outfit. You can have on a white tee shirt and jeans and then grab a fantastic scarf or bright bag to pop it up a level. Do I always achieve this pentacle of fashion? Hells no. You don't want to see me at the coffee shop on Saturday or Sunday morning when I have barely gotten out of my jammies. But we all have something to strive for. So my "third piece" here is the leopard print shoes. They aren't super gaudy 5-inchers. Just subtle 2-inch heels, but unexpected or interesting is the key.

And this is all recyclable travel garb for warm weather. The dress gets more rotation with little sweaters and scarves. The jacket is in heavy rotation with colorful blouses and jeans. One pump, one flat, and one running shoe and I'm done packing. I hope this helps my other traveling sisters.

Style Illiterate

Travel lesson #1

You forgot your workout socks and you have to borrow some from a colleague. Luckily, Jeff's socks don't have holes, unlike others we know.

The fashion files return

All right, friends. It has been a long hiatus. Since we last spoke, I followed my vision quest to work in the fashion industry and concluded that its not that important to me at this point in my life. That doesn't mean I've fully rejected fashion in favor of Birkenstocks. It just means I don't have to kill myself to do it for work.

The big lesson is this: I have come to realize that the pain one is willing to accept in work changes throughout your life. In my 20s, I was definitely willing to burn the midnight oil and clock ridiculous hours to learn quickly. Early 30s (read: pre-kidlet), I pursued big hairy challenges that made my brain turn sideways to solve. As I broach my 40s (still two years away, bi-yaches), I am really happy working with smart, talented people I really like (i.e. I can happily celebrate my birthday with them) on problems we all agree are interesting to solve. And I like helping other people be better at what they already do well. Particularly encouraging my female friends how much they rock and are really capable of.

Ok. So now that I've left my fashion vision quest, what does that mean to my personal fashion? Well, its become a little more comfortable. The trick is making comfort still fashionable. Right, ladies? AG Stevie jeans are a comfort staple for my body shape. Cute sweatshirts from Nike? Check. Purple Pumas? Check. And the five inch pump still comes out once or twice a week. I haven't died.

I have also returned to working with my original stylist, Alethea, and it is so inspiring. Here is what I love about Alethea:
1. Her ability to work with any budget in natural textiles.
2. Her ability to style and find the fun in each outfit.
3. Her ability to draw out and elevate your unique style
If you want her contact details, just email or face friend me.

Finally, I have bought the beloved new iPhone, so no more complaints about my crappy pictures.

With that, I have a few topics I've been thinking about. I'm just going to jot down some of the upcoming subjects so I don't forget. Remind me if you don't see them soon.
1. How to pack for work trips that cover hot and cold climates
2. Brand badging and other adventures in Louis Vuitton
3. Should I wear red pants?
4. What to wear for a complete dousing in lobster and white wine
5. Convention go-ers fashion - does it exist? Discuss.

Thanks, friends, for encouraging me to get back to my blog.

-Still Style Illiterate

Putting blog on pause

Well, some of you have been kind enough to notice that I stopped posting. So thank you for your continued support. I have decided to put my blog on pause for now for a few reasons.

1. My friend Kaye is right - I should change the blog name.
2. My friend Maren is right - I need a better camera.
3. My new job in apparel at unnamed big company has allowed me to find a lot of other great personal fashion blogs and I realize I really need to step it up.

So during my hiatus, please follow some of my other favorite blogs I have found:

What Katie Wore
Kendi Everyday
In Her Stilettos
The Glamorai

XOXOX,
Style Illiterate

My case for the new iPhone and more on scarves

New iPhone

All right. First, I have heard from many of you that my pic quality sucks. Yes, my friends are very delicate with me. I agree and this is my public pitch to my hubby for the new iPhone. See the pic quality difference between the two images? Vote for me to get my new iPhone now.

Second, remember Ms. M who recently met with a stylist? Here she is sporting a new scarf. Scarves are such an easy way to make a very basic outfit look interesting - adding color, texture and form. I asked her how she formed it and she was coached by her stylist to make it the messier the better. Just tie it around loose and tuck. I think it looks very French.