Petite Fashion Challenge #17

Candy Colorized

This month's challenge is hosted by SewPetiteGal.

The challenge:

“Take a bowl full of colorful candies (M&Ms, Jolly Ranchers, jelly beans, etc.), close your eyes, and draw 2-3 pieces.  Now use those colors (+ a neutral of your choosing) to form the basis for your ensemble.”

The candy:

I am more of a chocolate girl so I had to stock up on candy for this challenge and was happy to renew my Jelly Belly fever. 

For chances of bolder color I chose different Jelly Belly bags and Skittles before picking one candy from each container.

The random selection:

The challenge was to draw 2-3 candy pieces to mix with a neutral of your choice with extra cool points if you did a DIY element. I chose 4 candies plus a neutral, so brace yourself...

The color comparison:

Check out the candies with the colors they inspired:

 

The outfit:

...Tadaa! I think that describing my outfit would make it seem crazier than it looks. 

Does your work wardrobe reflect that the world is full of color? 

Depending on the work environment and dress code, I could definitely see myself wearing an outfit like this to work beyond Easter office attire. Why? The silhouette works. If you imagine this look in a grayscale, you can see the shapes are office appropriate.

The neutral:

Yes, I went with a cobalt blue as my neutral shade. Usually a navy is more of a neutral but with this rainbow outfit I think a cooler shade of blue might just draw more attention. Although adding this blue to my already colorful outfit might seem like overkill, I think it works!

Passion tea lemonade, yum!

Outfit details:

Amrita Singh necklace, J Crew dress, J Crew flats

Chanel purse, Mango sweater, Hermès twilly, Rolex

Some ways to wear a twilly scarf: 

as a bow on your head or tied on your wrist:

alone as a belt:

A single one as a belt and a second tied as a bow:

I love that this dress has pockets!! The fit got a little loose throughout the day so I am not happy about the fit in these pictures. Still, thank you for letting me share. ♥

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Dress in a lawyerly fashion

Le Smoking is the original "borrowed from the boys" look, created by Yves Saint Laurent in 1966.

These timeless tuxedos were exclusively worn by men with power until YSL came along. These have fallen out of favor daily wear even amongst the crème de la crème. Still, I think an attorney should not leave all the 3-piece suits or tuxedos for defendants... of course we ought to leave all of the polyester ones alone for the pimps.

I was a girl scout so I believe in always being prepared. As a teen, my "being prepared" motto covered having a nail repair kit in my purse (you never know when impromptu rock climbing or intensive shopping might chip your nail). Now I manipulate this motto into sartorial splendor: a lady must shop for clothes for occasions that may come up. Besides, if you buy it the occasion will come a la Field of Dreams.

Source: snapwidget.com via Fashion on Pinterest

   

I have heard that some law students go through their first year of law school without a suit. I think lawsuits--err, suits are just as important as laptops. Budget a quality suit into your loans. My first suggestion is Theory suiting. The quality is good, they offer free tailoring, and the cuts are classic. It is not at all that I am against cheaper clothing, as long as it is cheaper in price--not quality. I shop with longevity in mind so quality and classic looks are important to me. I will splurge on designer items but I definitely love well made affordable pieces and will not buy something just because it is designer if it is made of low quality. 

Have you bought a designer item that did not live up to your expected quality? 

  

Classic cap toe pumps

I came into law school ready to suit up at a moment's notice. I was 14 when I got my first suit because I was working in a professional environment. Since I was less than 100 pounds and just 5 feet tall, I had to get all my work clothes tailored. The fit of my professional attire looked so much better than my velour sweatsuits and made me feel so polished and grown up that I was immediately hooked. So it is hard for me to imagine not having even one suit in my wardrobe.

When did (or will) you get your first suit? 

See what this little charmer is wearing? The look is not only timeless but ageless too! 

A quality navy suit was a smart splurge for me because the pieces are versatile for work and casual attire, the color goes well with my natural or (spray) tanned skin, and the look is timeless. I feel the same way about all of the pieces in my look here. 

Outfit details:

YSL Le Smoking

Haute Hippie blouse

Banana Republic tank

Chanel heels

Rolex watch

Hermes Birkin

(Check out my other suit related posts: The interview suit, Get ready to suit up, Case: clothes; Bebe tweed suiting review, Keep it a boardroom not a bored room.

♥ Thanks for reading and supporting my blog! ♥

How to dress for graduation and a cocktail reception

Bonjour tout le monde! Only if you follow my social networking accounts have you been hearing from me as of late. I was busy earning my JD, after which I enjoyed a new found freedom; however, the end of law school is bitter sweet. I am finished with school but I start studying for the bar exam soon.

With graduation season upon us, I am posting what I wore to mine and I feel inspired to give a speech: 

On our very first day at Harvard, a very wise Professor quoted Aristotle: 'The law is reason free from passion.' Well, no offense to Aristotle, but in my three years at Harvard, I have come to find that passion is a key ingredient to the study and practice of law - and of life. It is with passion, courage of conviction, and strong sense of self that we take our next steps into the world, remembering that first impressions are not always correct. You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself. Congratulations Class of 2004, we did it!

Oops, that was Reese Witherspoon's speech as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.

I was glad that the graduation gown perfectly showcased my heels and pink pedicure. If only I had a little chihuahua to walk across the stage with me to finish off my 'Legally Brunette' look...


Still, the most important thing for walking across stage is how your feet look feel. Heels add height and look great but if you are uncomfortable it can spoil your day. Lining up and being ushered around means you should opt for something comfy. The picture above of my feet was after six hours of wear. Just like my dress, my shoes were already part of my wardrobe so I knew how I would feel in them. Be sure to test out new shoes. Maybe invest in a shoe stretcher or wear socks with your shoes around your home.

I sported a fabulous suit to my graduation dinner but I wore this dress to commencement and my school's reception because becoming a lawyer does not mean you must don professional attire 24/7. Besides, I find lightweight dresses to be best under those graduate hoods and gowns. I also think sleeker dresses are better than something that puffs out. As you can see, my skirt has a thin petticoat attached. Leaving my petticoat bigger could have made me appear too wide. The robes add enough bulk.

I also opt for something classic instead of on trend because I want to look back on pictures from big events without focusing on outdated aspects of my look. Similarly, any makeup you wear should not be too punched up. I saw one face that seriously made me wonder if the girl under the layers of makeup was acting in a play right after the ceremony. I went with eyeliner, mascara, light blush, and lipgloss.

Outfit details:

Silk dress purchased 5+ years ago,

Chanel handbag, Chanel heels,

OPI polish, Rolex watch

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