OOTD: The Crazy Fox Lady

Hello, lovelies! I bring you yet another "vain in le bain" snippet of my Sunday OOTD. As Instagram may tell, this past Sunday, Tony and I went out for a chic bayside brunch at the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne (best view in Miami as far as dining hotspots go). The Rusty is very near and dear to us, as it was the site of our wedding reception over two years ago. We hadn't been back since and we felt we were overdue. 

The Rusty Pelican, for which it is named.

Although we had made reservations, patio seating is not guaranteed. Fortunately, we arrived rather early for brunch (around 11:30 am) and we were able to be seated at a table with a great view of the water and the skyline for which Rusty is renowned. 

We started things off right with some mimosas and a large, beautifully arranged fresh fruit platter (I ate most of it!). Tony ordered up a lobster bisque and crab cake benedicts. I chose the Rusty salad, an unexpected take on a traditional pairing of heirloom tomatoes, avocado, and mesclun greens. While I normally don't do dressing, the jalapeño-vanilla vinaigrette is what sold me on this selection. 

Now as for my outfit of the day, because that is, after all, what this post is about... I have been loving three things as of late: foxes, skirts and asymmetry. This look combines all three elements in a casual, neutral yet assertive way. This look is also comprised of some of my most favorite wardrobe pieces at the moment: my ditsy fox sweater (an all-time favorite purchase from Forever21), the uber popular twisted high-low skirt from DailyLook, and the Erins (no longer available), the best shoes I ever purchased from Shoedazzle, both quality-wise and aesthetically. My purse is a simple white quilted shoulder bag with gold accents that brighten up the dark, muted hues of the rest of the look but remains within the neutrals family all the while.

Yes, in a very obvious way, the Erin is informed directly by the sensational Valentino Rockstuds. I just lover her because she is a fraction of the cost and lovely all the same. From afar, it would be hard to tell the difference between the two styles.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Daily Tidbits:

• After a full caffeine-free week and a half, I broke my coffee ban today for the sake of sampling my co-worker and good friend's gourmet macadamia nut coffee. In my defense, I didn't stray too far off the path, as it was decaf and I used organic soy and stevia to lighten and sweeten it. No artificial stuff!
• For the first time ever, one of my packages was stolen! Snatched right off of my doorstep! That's what I get for not being home at the time of delivery. Rather than leaving it at my leasing office, the postman left it on my doorstep when I wasn't home. I'm livid. Hoping that Forever21 can resend via a more secure form of delivery. 
• Changing up my workout routine. Making it more cardio-happy with some Turbo! 
• Restocked on z'atar on a weekend run to Daily Bread Middle Eastern Market. I'm convinced that z'atar is one the tastiest spice blends ever. It's the perfect "goes-with-anything" kinda spice, the "sazon completa" of the middle east. I especially love it on my steamed veggies and quinoa.
• Have a long weekend coming up so I'm pumped about killing it this week! :)

OOTD: Fighting for the Fuchsia

Still on my K-bun kick...

October has thus far been the busiest month of 2013. It's Hispanic Heritage Month, for one. And as the Spanish teacher that means collaborating with my fabulous students to turn our school auditorium into an aleph of the Spanish-speaking world (Borges reference, anyone?). This was the first event of October, after which Red Ribbon Week and the end of the first quarter were sure to follow. For me, this means staff meetings,  report cards, and, of course, the proverbial hunt for missing assignments and all this in the midst of fighting the flu.

It's also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause worth fighting for...in style! To show our support, our school community, students and faculty alike, put their best pink forward. I put my brightest pink forward; while classic pastel pink is customary, I opted to fight in fuchsia, a bright, in-your-face, warrior's pink. 

This bright, fuchsia blazer from Zara is the unquestionable show stopper in today's look. I love the structure of this blazer, especially the padded shoulders. Now, I know, most women of today would have ripped the shoulder padding right off the rack, but I personally just love the way it cinches the waist, creating a powerfully feminine silhouette. This particular blazer is unique in that the shoulders are not squared off as is typical of the "Janet Reno" blazers or man's sports coat. In fact, the shoulders on this blazer curve up and out elegantly and are ruched for some added feminine flare.

With so much focus on the upper portion, I went fairly neutral with the rest of my look. I chose a white tank top tucked into light wash, destroyed denim, skinny jeans from JustFab to relax the look (have you tried those jeans? They really are just fabulous!). I accessorized with my favorite Michael Kors logo belt in Vanilla.

You just can't go wrong with nude pumps. These however take the theme up a notch with bright pink soles. These are the Carringtons from the old school Shoe Dazzle Signature Sole line (back when Kim K. was the "chief stylist"). The quality of these shoes is not great, admittedly, but they are pretty, comfy, and I've put a lot of miles on them in the last 3 years. They are no longer available on SD but the design of this shoe is so commonplace you could probably get something comparable and in better quality from other designers, that is if you don't already own something like this.

Let's keep fighting, warriors, for a future as bright as dat fuchsia!

All my love, always.

Daily Tidbits: 

• Just made the Sephora VIB program for the first time ever! Although that basically just means that I love cosmetics too much, I'm pretty excited about coupons and free shipping. 
• I just received my Sigma Creme de Couture macaroon-inspired palette yesterday and I'm all too excited to start creating whimsical looks with it. Stay tuned. ;)
• I've cut back on my coffee intake to just one small serving a day and I feel good about it. The new Keurig in the teachers' lounge was leading me down the beaten path of caffeine abuse.
• I'm still sore from getting back into my workout routine post-sick week. Leg day and chest day were beastly!
• Date night last night <3

OOTD: The Not Too High-Low Skirt (Now Work Appropriate and Petite Approved!)

Standing at 5 foot nothing sans heels, I've been having a hard time participating in the whole high-low trend. I'm sure all you other petite girls out there can empathize with me. Much as I love the princess-like elegance of a chiffon train flowing gracefully in my trail as I saunter about, I find that dragging excess fabric across asphalt is quite unbecoming, which is why I am so impressed with this subtle little high-low skirt I picked up from the Sear's Kardashian Kollection. I normally wouldn't purchase anything from their "Kollection," as much of it is overpriced for such poor quality, but this little number happened to be on sale for about $7.00 (#win!). Surprisingly, it is probably the best quality Kardashian Kollection item I've ever worn. 

The first thing I love about this skirt is the fact that I don't have to hem it! The length of this skirt is much shorter than that of a typical high-low making it very cooperative with my stature. For some, this may be a con but for me this is a convenience. Second thing I love is its wearability. The difference in length from the front to the back is also far less dramatic than that of other skirts in the high-low family but it is just palpable enough to achieve a similar effect in a more demure way, allowing it to be styled in manner that is work-appropriate. And what about that print? I'm usually pretty selective about prints but this one really caught my eye... It's gorgeous! From my Instagram photo above, you can't appreciate very much of the detail that goes into the print beyond the striking geometric pattern, but the way the lion-head coins and gold chains are arranged on the light blue backdrop of this skirt creates a very beautiful and luxe nautical theme.

I paired my Kardashian skirt with a simple nude braided belt, a plain white dress shirt, and a gold chain necklace that restates the nautical theme. I also wore nude almond-toe patent pumps in order to keep the focus on the skirt and lengthen those short legs!

Have a fabulous day!

Daily Tidbits:

• I've worn my hair in a bun for the last three days in a row. The weather has been icky lately and I don't feel like wearing my hair down in this vaporous So Flo heat. A little bit of Fall seriously needs to happen soon so I can have lots more good hair days and more excuses to drink PSL's. :)
• I have been loving Revlon's Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Plum Velour lately. I've worn it almost every day this week! Great fall color.
• I am currently reading Bram Stoker's Dracula in Spanish. Like I tell my students, one of the best ways to improve your second language skills is to read, read, read.