Masters Of The Universe

JCrew has truly mastered the art of layering.
I need only to look through the latest catalog to find more inspiration than my feeble mind can handle.



Or scroll through their Fall 2010 line.





They almost make me wish summer was almost over.

I said "almost".

Layer It On

Are you sick of seeing me in jeans yet?

That's too bad because I am still not sick of wearing them!

I am back in St.Louis and woke up today to rain and cold.

Everything I packed this week seems to be outfits made of layers and layers and layers.

Like this outfit.

A sequin tee paired with a gingham button up and my pinstriped blazer from Saturday night.

And jeans of course.

Boyfriend jeans that are not destroyed suited this look a little more.

My black strappy heels are my favorite shoe for the spring/summer.

It is my LBS.

As in Little Black Shoe.

The go-to shoe.

Today?

Sunshine and warmer temps.

And more layers and layers.

all 3 tops:ny&co

jeans:express

shoes:bandolino

Weekend Round-Up

What a whirlwind!

Saturday we had a bunch of nonsense to do around the house and then it was off to my Dad's 65th Birthday Surprise Party.

my brother tom, his fiancee katie and my niece vera

me and the hubs

my dad and daughter

me and my daddy

dad with tom and katie

My parents are named Tom and Katie too...isn't that weird?

Now that I am head over heels in love with jeans, I wore a really oversized destroyed boyfriend jean with a silk cami,strappy jeweled silver heels and a pinstriped blazer.
And a load of pearls that my niece enjoyed chewing on while I was holding her.

The jeans are a size up from what I would normally buy, but since they are a boyfriend it didn't matter.
They hang off my hipbones a little, but paired with a sexy top and sexy heel the destroyed extra bagginess is balanced.
I love them so much, that I packed them with another girly top to wear working this week.

I mentioned that wearing jeans to work has opened up my wardrobe in so many ways, and I feel the need to gush about it a little more.
Take the silk cami for instance.
I have owned it for about 7,8 years and rarely wear because, let's face it, a silk cami with dress pants/suiting is so typical.
Same thing with the pin stripe blazer.
But paired with a great pair of denim, and voila! a whole new look!
I am grateful that I always lean towards buying more timeless pieces, so I have closets chock full of plenty of stuff to play with!

Now, off to the airport!

silk cami and pearls:limited

blazer:ny&co

boyfriend jeans:express

heels:nina

Home For The Weekend

What a day I had yesterday!

I had to go into work until about 12, 1ish then off to the airport so I can spend the weekend here at home.

Now that I can wear jeans to work, I feel like my closet has opened up with infinite possibilities.

There are so many things that I can make work with jeans ~ things I haven't worn in a long time suddenly seem new and fresh.

The jobs I have had have required me to dress up, so dressing casually takes more thought and effort ~ and has ultimately made me feel like I have a whole new wardrobe!

I haven't worn this navy ruffle jacket since last year, but paired with a sequin tee, boyfriend jeans and ballerinas made it feel like I was wearing a brand new item!

Comfort was the key since I would be traveling, and ballerina flats work better for dragging luggage through an airport.

My flight wasn't until early evening, but I had to go earlier since my co worker's flight was about an 1 1/2 before mine.

Imagine my dismay when my plane arrived and they discovered a dent on the underbelly by the cargo hold.

After a 3 hour delay, they finally got us a new plane and we arrived back in NJ after 11pm. I didn't get home until 1am since the airport is not right by my house.

At least I am home!

And I get all day today and tomorrow before it's back to St.Louis on Monday!

ruffle jacket & bauble bracelet:jcrew

sequin tee:ny&co

boyfriend jeans:express

ballerinas:anne klein

Print Love

I'm dreaming of BBQ's just as much as the rest of you...but peeking at Erin Fetherston's Fall 2010 RTW line, I swiftly fell in love with these looks.

And now I have the need to find myself some gorgeous prints in feather light fabrics....

More Discoveries

This morning we took a different way to work from the hotel (there is someone from Chicago working here too this week) and imagine my utter surprise to discover that 2 doors down from my hotel is this.

Apparently, my hotel is in a suburb called Frontenac which is like the Beverly Hills of St.Louis.
Who knew?

Too bad I have to pack and be up by 5am tomorrow, but I am here all next week as well, so you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be there. Definitely once...maybe twice...Williams Sonoma Home?!? There are only a handful of them in the entire US!

After the heavens had parted and the angels sang, I was blessed to discover a fabulous place to eat. A place that I have never seen in NJ. Qdoba.

I just ate a burrito that could feed a small family and enjoyed every single second of the gorging.

Since I am not planning on wearing skinny jeans tomorrow ~ who cares? It was like a party in my mouth.

It is lonely being away from home ~ but if I keep finding such places to keep me busy, next week should fly by as fast as could be!

Crappy Mirror Pics,Anyone?

This is how I can now dress for work every day and I am loving it.
Jeans every single day of my life?
I think it will be some time before the novelty wears off....

It is sucky to be away from my family this week, but I am seriously happy with my career change.
My new job is great.
I actually enjoy it more than I even thought I would.

Sorry for the crappy mirror pics, but I thought it would look strange to have the cleaning woman see a tripod in my hotel room.
Might give the wrong impression if you know what I mean...

I realized today that my hotel resembles The Shining.
And the musty old smell in here must have been what the hotel in the movie smelt like too...if I see any children pedaling Hot Wheels in the hallways I will die.
Really, I will.

People in St.Louis are much nicer than people in NJ. And the ladies I am working with here are all really great.

I may be late to the party on this one, but I discovered the most A-mazing store this past week.
We do not have any really in NJ, although I'm sure some of you will roll your eyes and say,
"Really Eleanor? That store has been around for-EVER!"

But I just found Francesca's Collections and I think I am in love.
A little Anthro-ish...a little Urban Outfitters-ish...almost feels like vintage shopping since so many things seem to be one offs...it is simply delightful!

So I have one simple request -
"Francesca's Collections Executives? Can you please put some in NJ? Pretty please? I will be a seriously good customer."
Thanks.
Love, Eleanor

trapeze top and stella bootcut jeans:express
shoes:michael kors
bracelets:charlotte russe and ny&co

Greetings From St.Louis!

I flew out at the crack of dawn to St.Louis,Missouri where I will be working for the next two weeks.
I had to get up at 2am and leave at 4 to get to the airport on time.
The plane was one of those tight Express Jets that are only 3 seats wide.
And the idiot sitting next to me dumped his entire glass of OJ on both of us.
Seriously...
The worst part is, once my flight landed, I had to rent a car and go straight to work.
I was wearing my slim,black ankle pants.The fabric is a stretch twill and does not repel OJ.
Instead it made little white/grey dots all over them wherever the OJ hit.
Grrrr...

Anyway...I left work before 3 to get settled into the hotel and change out of my sticky pants.
I have been holed up in here since then just trying to relax and not fall asleep before a "proper" bedtime.
So I don't get thrown off cycle.

Packing took most of the afternoon on Sunday.



I lay everything out as I would wear it, with my "inspiration" books around me for,well, inspiration.



I brought my go to black handbag since it would go with almost everything I packed, and my Coach clutch to go with some of the others.
And of course, my Coach camera bag/wristlet in the adorable rugby stripe.



I am flying home Friday for the weekend and will be back here on Monday.
Anyone have any suggestions for anything to do in St.Louis...or better yet, any great vintage shops?

My suitcases were delightfully underweight....

My Own Knock Off

Back in November, I had found some vintage buttons and made myself a flower brooch.

I haven't worn it in like, forever, but then when I saw the jaw dropping necklaces that my Ultimate Girl Crush made for her online shop, I thought about just fastening it onto these assorted necklaces that I love wearing all together.

Kelly from The Glamourai has such an inherent sense of style, and is seriously one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I look forward to each new blog post because they are all awe inspiring.

The purple brooch looks amazing with the color green, and I have been dying to wear this white Banana Republic jacket I thrifted recently. The whole ensemble just sort of fell together.

And sometimes that is the best way to dress...

jacket:thrifted banana republic

polka dot cami:ny&co

brooch:made myself

3 assorted necklaces:ny&co

ring:target

Pretty,Pretty Polka Dots

Another accidental outfit today.

I put on slim leg khaki pants this morning, and if my rear end looked anywhere near as large as it felt like it did...I would have been an eyesore for sure.

I have had this babydoll dress since early 2007 and it is always a faithful standby.
Paired with this sleeveless,drapey racerback sweater makes it super comfy as well.
I layered a long sleeve black tee underneath since it is still somewhat cool out...37 degrees this morning going to work with open toe shoes!
By the time I headed outside this afternoon, it had warmed up to almost 70.
Even warmer temps for tomorrow are predicted!

Off I go to wrap up a little "stitchery" project I am working on...

dress and necklace:limited
sweater and leggings:ny&co
shoes:bandolino
sunglasses:adrienne vittadini

Mixed Signals

When I was trying to decide what to wear for my first day of my new job, I felt a little torn.
This is a much younger, fashion forward company than the last one. And pretty casual as well.
I came up with a great outfit idea, then decided I would keep it pretty low key first to see what kind of things other employees were dressed in.

Can't go wrong with a denim boyfriend shirt, but since it is so big and baggy, I prefer to pair it with something more dainty and feminine.
Like a lace tank.


I layered a taupe colored cami underneath and wore slim black ankle pants.
Paired with these brand new JCrew heels I thrifted last week.
Yes, the wear brand new and unmarked until today.
And I only paid $7 for them!!!!


I was glad that I kept it cute but simple, since two of the women working in the store I am in this week were wearing jeans and flip flops.
"Sooo...super casual it is!" I thought.
But then a manager showed up for the closing shift this afternoon in a suit with a button up underneath.

?!?!

I suppose it goes to show that I should just feel free to be myself (duh) and not worry about whether I am overdressed or underdressed.

So I say, bring on the super cute outfit for tomorrow!

shoes:jcrew

everything else:ny&company

Back To Life, Back To Reality

Well, the house is finally back in order.

The foyer/hallways have been reassembled


The living room has been emptied of all furnishings that were piled up in there for almost 2 weeks.

I even swapped out all my "winter" decor for my spring florals. Bye, Bye pomegranites,peacock feathers, pine cones and wheat...until the fall!

I packed away my velvet pillows for some fresh twill ones.

I even packed away the giant puzzle my husband had sprawled across the dining room table for way too long. And switched my burnt orange Vanda Orchids on the buffet for some stunning magnolia branches (faux,of course! Who has time for real?)

Come Memorial Day, I will break out the coral and shells. Lanterns and all sorts of summer and "nautical" decor.

Until then, it is nice to lighten it up and have the house really breathing the fresh spring air.

Tomorrow I start my new job.

With the home dilemma no longer an issue, I have moved on to bigger problems now...

Like what am I going to wear?!?!?!

Statement Pieces

I am a sucker for statement jewelry.

Big, bold jewelry that just says "Here I am."

And I am loving my newly acquired necklace...


The same holds true with my home.
I gravitate towards these sort of pieces when decorating and over the years I have amassed a small collection of timeless classics.

A Thai Cart Wheel

Blue and White Porcelain Floor Vases

A Wrought Iron Conservatory

A Classic Starburst Mirror

I crave a few other items that I am longing to add to my collection:

A Louis Ghost Chair (from Design Within Reach)

An Antique Altar Table (from 1st Dibs.com)

The Louis chair is most likely to join our family as the Altar tables tend to be a bit price prohibitive...

What kinds of decorative items do you love surrounding yourself with?