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On The Plus Side: Let's Colorblock

Sarah Conley — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

$54.00$39.99 by Joseph A at Lord & Taylor

I have been in the midst of a full closet freak out. I'm not inspired to exciting looks together and when I do, I'm not thrilled with how I look (harsh handful of honesty, I know). Needless to say, I decided that an emergency shopping expedition to my favorite plus size store and in my opinion NYC's best kept secret, Lord & Taylor.

Needless to say, I went IN. This gorgeous nude and coral Joseph A tee is going to be one of my Spring favorites (if it ever gets warm enought to wear it, that is). (Editor's note: the tee isn't available on the L&T website in plus, but call your local store & I'm sure they can help you out.) I also picked up this tee in navy & purple before all was said & done.

I'm making an earnest attempt to incorporate more neutrals and color into my wardrobe this year, thanks in large part to the lovely Eye4Style holding a black clothing intervention back when we used to work together. I now plan to wear color obnoxiously and unapologetically just to remind her of those very days.

Shopping for Spring plus lady is never very easy. Generally, I hunt + gather + hoard until the weather's right. What's your strategy?

And Now, For 2012

Sarah Conley — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:57:09 EST

This holiday season was a little rough (working in ecommerce + family visiting = many, many Jessie Spano moments). so I didn't get around to thinking about 2012 until...2012. I'm not typically one to make resolutions, as I believe that I am a work in progress and my evolution isn't dictated by the calendar. The more I thought about where I'd like to evolve to in 2012, including intellectually and aesthetically, I've found myself gravitating towards the following:

A Return To Pink

Last year, I fully embraced every shade of red, including abandoning some of my favorite pink lipsticks. This year, I'm making a conscious effort to bring back the pink. Some of my current faves:

MAC's Pink Pigeon lipstick
MAC's Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze
Old Navy's Satin 3/4 Sleeve top in Fuchsia Fusion
Marc by Marc Jacobs Memphis Colorblock Top Handle Satchel

A Different Spot

Almost every day, I will end up wearing at least one leopard item thanks to years of pure obsession. While leopard will never leave my heart, it's time to move on to - to polka dots! Here's a few pieces I've had my eyes on:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dot Print Scarf (already purchased!)
Marc by Marc Jacobs Dotty Snake Print Shoulder Bag
Lane Bryant's Sheer Moon Top

Serious Skincare

There are so many things that I know that I should do to properly take care of my skin, but I fall short almost daily. It's time that I get serious before time catches up with me and takes my sins out on my face. I've been making great strides (though not consistently) with a little help from my friends:

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Midnight Recovery Eye
Philosophy Help Me
Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30
Artistry Time Defiance Cleanser

Reading Is Fundamental

Don't get me wrong - there's no way that I could begin reading Tolstoy, but it's nice to take the written experience away from blogging and back to the exploration of a story. I'm not one for serious topics, especially in my entertainment, but a few books I've enjoyed reading through lately have been:

The Hunger Games trilogy (all three only took me four days to finish)
Bringing Home The Birkin: My Life In Hot Pursuit Of The World's Most Coveted Handbag
The Secret Of Chanel No 5: The Intimate History Of The World's Most Famous Perfume

What has the arrival of 2012 inspired you to change?

On The Plus Side: Did Someone Say Office Party?

Sarah Conley — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

The outfit photo that wasn't supposed to happen - at least that's what I had planned when I woke up at 5am last Thursday. Somehow, as the madness of the day evolved, I decided that my office party was a story that needed to be told. Guessing games were played, mock movie posters hung and FAQs were sent to everyone in the company surrounding our out of office adventure. People asked was there a dress code? Could I wear a ball gown? Were sequins appropriate? The response was to dress casually, because you'll be eating with your hands.

That's right, folks. My office decided that taking 250 people to New Jersey on 5 buses to Medieval Times was the best idea. After surviving two hours of traffic/tunnel confusion, packing my own plastic silverware into my purse and getting into the spirit of things, I'm inclined to agree. When your knight is the one who wins the battle (and really enjoys flirting with the audience), somehow everything comes full circle.

Outfit details:

Faux fur collar: H&M (last season, but the current season ones are great, too!)

Necklace: Adia Kibur

Striped tee: Old Navy (no longer available, but similar here)

Boyfriend blazer: Torrid (no longer available, but similar here)

Sequin skirt: Avenue (no longer available, but similar here)

Black leggings: Teggings from Re/Dress

Grey leather sneakers: Converse (no longer available, but make your own here)

Black watch: Swatch New Gent

Bracelets: Rich Rocks, Forever 21, Bauble Bar (get a closer look here)

Scarf (on handbag): Alexander McQueen

Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag (color no longer available, style here)

Introducing Friends of Style IT: PR Superhero @DKNY

Sarah Conley — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

Editor's Note: Introducing Friends of Style IT, a new interview series that offers a bit of insight (plus a side serving of whit and giggles) into the lives of some of the most superhuman people I know.

I'll never forget the morning that I had breakfast with the elusive DKNY PR Girl. First, let's state the obvious: she has stunning red hair, is smart as a whip and an Olympic-level multitasker. While we were having eggs and getting to know one another, she's tweeting, responding to emails and managing to field calls from Donna herself without skipping a beat. The entire experience was seamless, like I had become immersed into her world where everything was a perfectly functioning machine. To this day, it's still a morning that I'm not exactly quite sure how it played out, but all I know is that it was glorious to experience.

Since then, she's made the intersection of fashion & social media synonymous with DKNY, with no sign of slowing down. Naturally, she immediately sprang to mind when I brainstormed the launch Friends of Style IT. She is fully responsible for my Cozy addiction and the sole reason anyone watches Gossip Girl anymore (let's not kid ourselves, folks).

Need any more convincing? Read on.

What's the funniest fashion mishap that you've witnessed? Bonus points if it's actually happened to you.

After hand-delivering Liv Tyler's premiere gown for "Lord of the Rings" in the middle of a blizzard (via the subway & on foot), I decided to get a frozen yogurt. Walking while eating my yogurt, I missed the curb (you couldn't see it in the foot of snow) and face planted. Smart girl that I am, I fell with my arm high in the sky (to save the yogurt naturally). My colleague Sarah screamed out "Are you OK?!!!!" and I replied "Where is my spoon?!!!!"

What are three things you'd never be caught without? One thing you'd never be seen with?

Never be caught without:

Foundation

Mascara

Brow filler

Never be seen with:

Sneakers (unless I am going to Core Fusion which is basically once a year)

The last album you downloaded was.....

Glee's version of "Don't Stop Believin'"

What is your ultimate fashion (or beauty) must have?

If it's shearling, cashmere or sequins I have to have it. Additionally if there is a bow, peplum or ruffle involved, I've pretty much died and gone to heaven.

Finish this sentence: I'm currently coveting....

A nap.

Follow her on Twitter and Tumblr, plus check out DKNY's Notes On A City.

On The Plus Side: The Gilded Age

Sarah Conley — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:48:01 EST

Returning to an office environment has been an interesting experience for me. When I was freelancing and blogging full time, some days I'd get to chill in pjs and save the great outfits for the days when I'd need to be out and about. The office environment, especially at a fashion x tech company, has certainly caused an interesting strain on my wardrobe. There are some times that I get the casual formula right and others...well I fail miserably. But hey - life's all about learning, right?

Outfit details:

Coat: Rediscovered for me by my friends at BKLYN Dry Goods, designed by Enrico Coveri

Fur sweater: MICHAEL Michael Kors, picked up at Nordstrom

White tee: Brand unknown, purchased at Lord & Taylor

Earrings: Lion doorknockers by Kenneth Jay Lane (get a closer look here), purchased on ideeli

Cuff: Safety pin bracelet by CC Skye, purchased on ideeli

Jeggings: Lane Bryant (no longer available)

Flats: Congac and gold cap toe flats, Barefoot Tess

Handbag: Halogen, discovered at Nordstrom Rack

How do you navigate your closet to fit your career?

Fashion Fix: The Top 10 Searched Brands Of 2011

Sarah Conley — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:43:53 EST

Well folks, it's come to this. Another year has come & (almost) gone, and it's time for all of those Top 10 lists that initially seem fascinating and eventually become wildly ridiculous. Fortunately, the team at Bing was smart enough to put together a slew of 2011's Top 10s, including the top 10 most searched for brands of 2011:

Top Searched Fashion Brands On Bing in 2011

1. Gucci (top of the list for the second year in a row)

2. Ralph Lauren

3. Y-3

4. Louis Vuitton

5. Chanel

6. Guess

7. J. Crew

8. Coco Chanel

9. John Galliano

10. Burberry

While most of this list is generally expected, I love that Y-3 comes in at #3. One of my favorite brands - Yohji Yamamoto doesn't get nearly enough lips service. Also it's quite amusing that Coco Chanel comes in at #8, yet Karl's no where to be found. Why so sad, Kaiser?

Did you favorite brand make the list? For more top 10 lists from 2011, visit BingTrends.com.

On The Plus Side: Dressing Up (In Bed)

Sarah Conley — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:14:16 EDT

Some nights you just have to throw on your craziest fur & hop into bed with the hottest brunette that you find...or something like that. Last night was a bit of a whirlwind, with a slew of events & parties all over the city. I opted to pop by the Racked Awards (where my day job was nominated for Shopping Site of the Year), over to the CB2 Eastside opening, and then down to favorite Delicatessen for some maple bacon beignets (which, sadly, have been taken off the menu). Naturally my partner in crime for the evening was the gorgeous - and similarly dressed - Dina from Eye4Style.

My latest obsession, aside from my beloved handbag, is my new faux fur vest from QVC (of all places). I saw it on a model during the QVC fashion show during NYFW and finally brought myself around to purchasing one of my own. After reading through the customer reviews, I knew instantly that I would love the vest for all the reasons the previous purchasers did not. It's such a giant faux animal that it causes men to stare at me strangely in the subway (which I clearly enjoy). It's best worn with Beyonce or Pitbull pumping through your headphones.

Outfit details:

Faux fur vest: M by Marc Bouwer

Black dress: Evans

Red belt: Repurposed from a Lane Bryant dress

Leggings: Teggings by Re/Dress

Handbag: Chanel

Shoes: Fitzwell (no longer available)

On The Plus Side: Your Breasts Need Immediate Attention

Sarah Conley — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EDT

You may think from the title of this post that I'm kidding. Under normal circumstances, you might be right, but not this time. Your breasts need immediate attention. It's HIGHLY likely that you're wearing the wrong size bra and your silhouette - well, it's suffering.

Here's just another reason to love Nordstrom: they're hosting a three day series of events called Nordstrom's Fits America. My personal favorite brand, Elomi, along with Freya and Fantasie, will have fit experts in store to make sure that your breasts are getting all that they deserve.

These NFA events will be held October 20th - 22nd. For more information and to find an event at a store near you, please visit the NFA information page.

You'd be surprised at how much of a difference a properly fitting bra can make to your wardrobe. It's time to throw away those old, tattered, worn out bras and wear something that actually fits. Plus, for every bra that's purchased during the event, $2 will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Beauty Best: Elie Saab's Le Parfum

Sarah Conley — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:27:04 EDT

First - I have a confession to make. I've had a sample of Elie' Saab's new fragrance, Le Parfum, since the day I went into the hospital. Then it was early August and the humidity-laden portion of the summer had just reared it's ugly head. During those days, I wear as little fragrance as possible to avoid....a catastrophic collision of odors. That can go wrong so quickly.

Towards early September - Fashion Week, to be specific - I began to play with the idea of wearing Le Parfum again. It's not that I don't enjoy the fragrance, it's just that to me, it's made for a whole lotta woman.

Allow me to demonstrate with this Beyonce dance break:

In fact, every time I smell this fragrance, Beyonce's Get Me Bodied begins to play in my head and doesn't stop all day long. I know it sounds crazy, but I double dare you to smell Le Parfum without your body beginning to involuntarily dance to the beat. The Le Parfum woman isn't using perfectly blended smokey eyes to demonstrate her prowess. This woman is powerful from the tip of her head right down to her toes.

Le Parfum was created by master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, who has created some of the most beloved fragrances, including Narciso Rodriguez's For Her and Jean-Paul Gaultier's Le Male, as well as creations for his own boutique. This fragrance is a seductive blend of floral, solar, and woody theme, calling upon orange blossoms, jasmine, patchouli, cedar woody, and rose honey to make you feel those powerful (Beyonce-like) emotions.

Frankly, you should stop listening to me and get out from behind the computer to smell Le Parfum. Just make sure you have your iPod handy to play Get Me Bodied when it becomes stuck in your head.

Elie Saab's Le Parfum, $90 - $120 at Nordstrom

On The Plus Side: By The Skin Of My Teeth

Sarah Conley — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:09:02 EDT

One of the things I love most about fashion is that you don't always have to make the pretty choice, or the most flattering one for that matter. You can express yourself without even saying a word. Today was one such day. I wasn't wearing a particularly flattering look, but something about it felt right, like the perfect mix of casual and polished.

I'll be the first to admit that this top wasn't the easiest to wear and I pretty much felt naked all day. The color of the houndstooth is so unexpected, especially for me, that I really love how much of a departure this look is for me. It's not good to get too comfortable, after all.

Outfit details:

Hair bow: H&M

Rose gold earrings: Made Her Think (no longer available)

Houndstooth blouse: Avenue

Trouser jeans: Old Navy

Rose gold watch: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Heeled loafers: Avenue (no longer available)

Handbag: Chanel