Fall Must-Have: A Dress (Any Dress)

There's nothing better than throwing on a dress when you're rushing out the door because to me, you'll still look put together because the dress does all the work for you.  I believe you can never have too many dresses, which is the reason why I keep buying them.  My plan is to have enough dresses that I'll always have one on hand in my closet for that oh-crap-I-just-slept-in-and-have-to-leave-my-house-in-ten-minutes-to-catch-my-train-kinda-day (which is almost every day).  One might think a dress isn't as exciting as putting together an outfit, but with a dress you can be just as creative.  Belt it (or switch up the belt that comes with it), throw a scarf on (perfect for transitioning into fall), switch up the sweaters you wear with it, belt it over the sweater, throw a jacket over it, wear something under it (i.e., turtleneck, t-shirt, blouse), wear with different coloured tights (great for transitioning summer dresses into fall) and/or switch up the shoes you wear with it (i.e., heels, booties (with socks or tights) for fall, knee-high boots for winter).  Now, if only I would apply this to my own wardrobe and stop shopping so much.  Challenge accepted.

Now I may have to look in my closet and make sure I have at least one dress that falls in each of these categories.  If not, all bets are off.

Coloured 

Ella Moss Girl's Best Friend Dress:
shopbop.com

Soft Joie Lynn Ruffled-Skirt Dress: neimanmarcus.com

Love the turtleneck under this dress.  Add to "need" list: purple turtleneck to go under purple print dress I already own + gray tights.

Viscose Dress with "Small Flowers" Print:
chloe.com

Halston Heritage Three-Quarter Sleeve Dress: saks.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Michaela Silk Dress:
nordstrom.com

Shirtdress

This one's under $60!

Mango

Gazette Shirtdress: madewell.com

T.Babaton Lange Dress: aritzia.com

Letticia Shirt Dress with Belt:
aliceandolivia.com

Sweaterdress

Most of my dresses for fall would fall under this category.

Lynna Lurex Sequin Sweater Dress:
Guess by Marciano

Opening Ceremony Dropped Ruffled T-Shirt Dress:
saks.com

This would be a great dress to layer with.

Test Pattern Sweaterdress: anthropologie.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Viva Wool-Cashmere Dress:
bergdorfgoodman.com

Embroidered Argyle TNeck Dress:
millyny.com

I love the look of white in the winter.

Tibi 3/4 Sleeve Dress: shopbop.com

Cloud Leopard Dress: rebeccataylor.com

Black

This one's only $58!

Essential Knit Long-Sleeve Dress: bcbg.com

James Perse Dolman Easy Dress:
revolveclothing.com

Ponte Dress With Bow: juicycouture.com

Elsie Dress: dvf.com

Striped

Nola Dress: Guess

Michael Kors

Fulton Dress: rag-bone.com

Striped Dress: rebeccataylor.com

A perfect example of wearing a blouse underneath.  Add to "need" list: blouse with long sleeves.  (I believe I only own short or 3/4 sleeves.)

T by Alexander Wang Striped Ruched Knit Dress:
neimanmarcus.com

Did I mention how much I love this dress?

Marlo Striped Maxi Dress: bergdorfgoodman.com

Wear Me Already: Guess by Marciano Wedges - The Final Days

It's September.  Ugh.  I am not prepared.  Today I saw a woman, once again, wearing tights!  It is still warm out, people!  I know fall is coming, but you don't need to rub it in my face.  Don't get me wrong, I love tights, boots, sweaters, the whole bit.  It's my favourite season for shopping.  (Mostly I dread it because it means winter is also coming. I think I lived in California in a previous life.)  I especially LOVE looking through September issues.  But I'm trying to cut down on shopping here and fall is going to be the most challenging season.  I'm not going to pretend I won't be buying anything because I'm desperately looking through my closet to see what I can put up on eBay, just to make up for my purchase(s).  And I'll be working a bit of overtime, which I may have offered to do just so I can go shopping.  I already have a long "need list" and a much longer "wish list". It's too bad I just started falling in love with these wedges.  But like Jay-Z, it's "on to the next one".

Top: Guess; Skirt: FCUK; Shoes: Guess by Marciano;

Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Wear Me Already: Guess by Marciano Wedges - Days 2 & 3 + Nude Shoes

So my challenge was to wear these wedges I bought earlier this summer all week to make up for the fact that I didn't wear them all summer, not even once, until last week. You know how you wear a pair of shoes once or twice then need a break from them? Wearing these yesterday and today, I realized this is going to be the easiest challenge yet because not only are they really comfortable but I love wearing them.  I love the buckles and the colour.  Because they're nude, I look really, really tall.  Well, taller than I would in any other colour.  Then I got angry at myself for not wearing them all summer! At least I'm making up for it.

(First time I've worn this top too!)

Top: Zara; Pants: Jacob; Shoes: Guess by Marciano;
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Top: Jacob; Skirt: Zara; Shoes: Guess by Marciano;
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I think I need to invest in more nude shoes.  I mean, they make me look taller!

These have a bow at the back.  Cute!

aldoshoes.com

A nude wedge for fall: must-have!

stevemadden.com

Alana Mesh Bootie: bebe.com

Starla Pump: Guess by Marciano

Michael Kors Odin Patent Flat:
michaelkors.com

Miu Miu Patent Platform Pump:
neimanmarcus.com

Wear Me Already: Guess by Marciano Wedges

I sold my first and only pair of Christian Louboutin wedges on eBay this summer.  It's really hard to talk about.  I probably would've been wearing them every day but they just didn't fit properly and I thought they deserved a better home.  (Maybe if I had started this challenge before I decided to sell them, I would've worn them more often or figured out some way to wear them.)  When I sold them, I took the money and tried to fill the void immediately with these Guess by Marciano wedges.  They're beige (they'll match everything!), they're wedges (so comfy!) and they fit perfectly (!) = I'll wear them every day!  Or so I thought. Today is actually the first day I've worn them.  Maybe I'm just having a hard time moving on.  So my next challenge is to wear these wedges every day next week to help me get over those Christian Louboutins.  Kinda like a new boyfriend would help you get over an ex.  If only the Christian Louboutins would stop calling me.

Top: H&M; Pants: J Brand; Shoes: Guess by Marciano;
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Wear Me Already: Dior denim handbag and Juicy Couture necklace

Manic Monday?  Talk about a manic week!  On Tuesday I decided to declare it "Dress Week" (to myself and maybe one other person), seeing as I had no time to put together any outfits since I wasn't home all weekend and, really, I'm just lazy/tired during the week.  I did have time though to grab this Juicy Couture necklace on my way out the door because I'm also trying to wear all the jewellery I own.  I hardly ever wear accessories, except for sunglasses.  Then why do I bother buying them?  Again, the whole reason for this challenge.

Bag: Dior; necklace: Juicy Couture; Dress: Ella Moss;
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Last week I said I needed to wear my Dior bag more often, along with my other neglected bags since Louis came into my life, but when I looked back at pictures I realized I don't neglect it as much as I thought, so I feel much better.  Usually when I dress up, it's my go-to bag because it pretty much goes with everything.  Here's my Dior at BED in Miami in '07.  Great, now I want to go back to Miami.

Buying the Dior bag almost never happened.  I was shopping on Rodeo Drive for the first time, searching for the Louis Vuitton denim monogram bag.  It was my honeymoon so I thought it was a great excuse to spoil myself with my first designer bag.  I had just recently started to fall in love with Marc Jacobs and I had to have it.  I just thought it was fun and would go with everything.  Of course, I couldn't get my hands on it.  So I walked into Dior and saw my bag.  But I hesitated because I did really want to try to get the LV bag.  (Of course, I had no idea I'd be buying the green version less than a year later.)  But I loved how you could dress the Dior up because of the silver metal detail.  I tried on the matching shoes and I fell in love, so I went for it.  But just the bag.  I mean, it was our first day of shopping and I realized I wasn't Julia Roberts shopping with Richard Gere's credit card.  I wonder if everyone thinks of that scene in Pretty Woman when they're shopping on Rodeo?  Anyway, this trip changed me forever.  I don't think I had ever heard of $300 jeans before this trip and now when I come across a pair, I don't even bat my Dior-covered eyelashes.

Just as I don't with the price of the bottom two bags.  But the Christian Louboutin one is on sale!       

Guess Dena Box Satchel: guess.ca

Christian Louboutin Sweet Charity Denim
Shoulder Bag: neimanmarcus.com

Prada Denim Shoulder Bag: Saks.com

Wear Me Already: Bright Green Handbag

My husband bought me this Nine West bag for my birthday a few (several?) years ago (that I'm sure I pointed out that I "had to have!"... I was "in love"!... "I love hearts!"... "Look at how cute it is!").  I'm embarrassed to say how many times I've used it.  Actually I don't even remember because it was so long ago, but I'm going to guess no more than twice.  See, I have a problem.  But today I fell in love with it all over again!

Blouse: Marc by Marc Jacobs;
Skirt: Guess

Bag: Nine West; Shoes: Guess;
Sunglasses: Juicy Couture

Love green?  This is a great casual bag.  (Plus, it's on sale!)

kate spade new york 'sporty - stevie' nylon shopper:
nordstrom.com

This bag is great for those easing into the bright colour trend.

Kate Spade New York Kyra Straw Turnlock
Clutch: saks.com

Wish list worthy.

Bottega Veneta Woven Leather Tote:
Saks.com

Bright Colours for Fall!

I hear (and see) bright colours are not going away anytime soon (yay!).  Now that I've started this challenge, I'm happy that I can carry my bright bags well into fall.  Thinking about what to pair with my bright green and bright orange bags (seeing as they haven't been used in years), I thought I would look for inspiration.  Love these looks from Dior and See by Chloe.  

Dior's Fall 2011 Collection.  (Not sure if I'm ready to rock bright green boots though.)

  

See by Chloe's Fall and Winter 2011 Collections.

Thinking I might look like I'm dressing for Halloween if I paired my bright orange bag with a black dress, I no longer hesitated after seeing this look below (love!).