{Style} Contempo Casuals...

I have this theory that every time I wear my camo jacket, my blog photos somehow get jinxed. I don't know what it is, but I always end up hating how I look or some aspect of how the photos turn out (thus many an unused post). Regardless of how much I love it in real life � and how conscious I am about its photographic shortcomings � I never seem to give up on this camo cutie. So you can imagine my delight when, for some inexplicable reason, things actually worked out this time. Be it luck or the simple fact that I voiced this little theory aloud, but I can officially bring you a camo-filled post without cringing... Things are looking up, my friends.

Happy long weekending to all! xx

Outfit details: camo jacket- Zara; floral tank- Forever 21; faux leather shorts- H&M; booties- Shoe Mint; bag c/o Handbag Heaven; necklace & watch- Michael Kors; bracelet & ring- Forever 21

{Style} In the Pink...

Outfit details: blazer- Zara; t-shirt- Club Monaco; faux leather skirt- H&M; pumps- Shoe Mint; polka dot tights- Forever 21; bracelet- The Bay; watch- Michael Kors; necklace & ring- Forever 21

{Guest Post} Pop of Pattern...

Hello sugar plums! I'm guest posting over on Style-Isle today, so be sure to head on over there to see the full post... Happy Wednesday! xx

Outfit details: denim shirt- Forever 21; dress- Simons; quilted clutch- Michael Kors; booties- Aldo; beanie- Old Navy; polka dot tights- Joe Fresh; necklaces- Zara & Forever 21; bracelet- Forever 21; watch- Michael Kors

{Style} Springing Forward...

Nothing says spring quite like polka dots and bright, vibrant hues, which I'm desperately trying to channel in my fair winter city. Any excuse to don playful separates sans parka and snow boots is fine by me, so naturally I jumped at the chance to bust out these polka dot skinnies at a social media conference over the weekend. I got to learn from some of my city's finest (including homegirls Kastles and Britl� what what!) while basking in the glory of these white, spotted jeans... I'm not shallow, I swear. xx

Outfit details: denim shirt & polka dot jeans- Forever 21; cap toe pumps- Zara; mini tanner crossbody- Coach; necklace- Zara; bracelet- Forever 21; watch- Michael Kors

{Style} Weekend Wear...

My mister and I had a delightful trip to the art gallery this weekend, complete with shots of espresso and pastries that were promptly dropped on the cold, cement floor. What ensued was about 10 minutes of me trying to convince him not to eat said floor danish, culminating in my having to physically remove the contaminated pastry from the vicinity... Let's just say Mr. AiF really, really likes his sweets.

And speaking of sweet, take a look at this adorable vintage crossbody I rediscovered in my closet! I bought it many moons ago during a particularly fruitful thrifting sesh, but somehow space case over here forgot all about it... Typical. It may not hold much (no need to test that assumption like in this post), but it sure is cute! xx

Outfit details: gingham shirt- Joe Fresh; leather jacket- Zara; lilac jeans- Joe Fresh; booties- Shoe Mint; crossbody bag- vintage; necklace- Forever 21; ring- YSL

{Style} Stripes, Stripes Baby...

This blouse was an impulse purchase last weekend (along with these pants) that's somehow turned into the greatest decision of all time, style-wise. I mean seriously, not only was it super affordable (it's F21 for crying out loud!) but the alternating stripes, vibrant hue and tie-up detail has my heart all aflutter... I think this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Happy weekending, friendlies! xx

Outfit details: striped blouse- Forever 21; jeans- Target (borrowed from Kastles); spike pumps- Shoe Mint; necklace- Forever 21; bracelet- random NYC find; ring & watch- Michael Kors

{Style} Opposites Attract...

Forget variety, juxtaposition is the spice of life, so why not thrown on a jumbo-sequin mini with an army coat? Any excuse to pair the unpairable is fine by me, so bring on the unlikely combos. Sweatpants with spike heels? Sure. A leather pencil skirt with a slouchy sweater? Totally! A fabulous gown with a bomber jacket? Why not! Anything goes, or at least that's what I tell myself to justify the way I dress... Break it to me gently, guys. xx

Outfit details: camo jacket- Zara; striped shirt- Gap; paillette skirt- Joe Fresh; booties- Michael Kors; necklace- Les Arts Plastiques

{DIY} Marc Jacobs-Inspired Ball Necklace...

With more things on my calendar and to-do list this week than I care to count, I was in the mood for the quickest, easiest possible DIY... Enter the ball necklace. When I saw this simple yet oh-so chic necklace from Marc by Marc Jacobs, I realized that I could put something similar together in five minutes flat. Sound doable? Here's what you've got to do!



1. Cut a vibrant embroidery thread into a 16" piece.
2. Take a crimp bead and tightly secure it to the end of the thread.
3. Repeat on the other end of the thread.
4. Add three medium sized ball beads to the thread. I chose these white ceramic ones, but the sky's the  limit here friends.
5. Add jump rings to each crimp bead.
6. Secure a lobster clasp to one of the jump rings and throw on that shiny new necklace of yours!

{Details} Plaid & Lace...

Outfit details: dress- Loft 82 (borrowed from Kastles); plaid coat- The Pretty Secrets; polka dot tights- Joe Fresh; booties- Aldo; necklace- Forever 21; ring & watch- Michael Kors; bracelet- Joe Fresh

{Style} The Dotted Line...

I was going to name this post "Dotting Trou," but at Mr. AiF's insistence I decided not to. You know, in order to keep the classy quotient of the blog at a respectable level and whatnot. I personally thought it was kinda funny (or, well, punny), but I'm also known to delight in such oddities as singing millipedes, so maybe I'm not the greatest judge of these things.

Blog post titles aside, can we just talk about my new polka dot trousers for a minute? Seriously, how cute are they?! It's been ages since I've worn trousers (I've been on a coloured/printed denim kick lately), but these badboys were just too cute to resist. I've already dreamed up dozens of ways to wear them and my closet suddenly feels all shiny and new again... Oh the power of retail therapy. xx

Outfit details: striped blazer- H&M; tee- Zara; polka dot trousers- Forever 21; pumps- Shoe Mints; neon bag- Urban Outfitters; necklace- DIY; neon stacking rings- Forever 21; watch- Michael Kors

{Details} Prints & Pops...

This week has been all kinds of busy, with highlights including a cough-my-lungs-out kind of cold and another generous helping of snow juuuust as it all seemed to have finally melted away... Fantastic. Thankfully the weekend is here, and I for one chose to make the most of it. Any free time I have will be devoted to resting up, de-phleming and general self-indulgent "me" time... Doesn't it sound glorious?

What are you guys up to this weekend? I wanna know! xx

Outfit details: blouse- H&M (borrowed from Kastles); red jeans- Joe Fresh; cap toe pumps- Zara; necklace- Forever 21; bracelets- House of Harlow, the Bay, Michael Kors & Forever 21; watch- Michael Kors

Sandwiched

At last, I got to wear my fabulous new dress! The folded neckline is what really sold me on this one, and the shape and pattern are classic enough that I'll be able to wear it for years to come.

I tend to have a difficult time with springtime fashions, mainly because soft pastels don't look so great against my skin tone. This dress solves the problem by putting the deep midnight blue up near the face and right at the hem, and keeping the softer shades sandwiched in the middle. Once it warms up a little I think this dress is going to look great with bare legs or nude fishnets.

The cute teal clutch doesn't get a ton of use, so I was glad to realize after buying the dress that it would be just the thing. I love how it plays off the lighter shades in the floral pattern and keeps the outfit bright.

Dress: Karen Millen
Clutch: Tracy Reese
Pumps: Paolo

{Style} The Wonder Years...

I'm not sure if Kevin ever gave Winnie his varsity jacket back at McKinley High � or if he even wore varsity jackets, for that matter � but since I keep meaning to rewatch The Wonder Years (I'm currently deep in Felicity and Buffy the Vampire Slayer land), the title just felt right. I mean, can you think of anything more quintessentially "high school" than a varsity jacket? I keep picturing the Wakefield sisters (or some other stereotypical teen dream) running around in their boyfriends' oversized jackets looking all cute and popular... But as someone who had neither the boyfriend nor the varsity jacket in high school, the closest I can get is this Forever 21 version I bought for myself well into adulthood... Hey, it's never too late. xx

Outfit details: varsity jacket & top- Forever 21; skirt- American Apparel; tights- Joe Fresh; booties- Aldo; clutch- vintage YSL; necklace- Moon Raven; bracelet- H&M; watch- Michael Kors