Stripey Splurge

I bought this skirt along with the most expensive sweater. In fact, it was the skirt that I found first. Sure, it's just a simple stripey skirt at first glance.

But look at that pattern -- the stripes are graduated, narrower at the waist & wider at the hem. It gives a subtle slimming effect when combined with the A-line shape, very elegant too.

This is not something I could recreate by simply sewing a skirt from stripey fabric in my stash -- this specific fabric had to be custom printed. No wonder it cost so much!

What I'm wearing:
Black lace jacket, Macy's
Black T-shirt, Target
Black & white striped A-line skirt, White House Black Market
Black abstract-pattern lace tights, unknown brand
Black slingback kitten-heel pumps, Payless Shoe Source
Gunmetal & rhinestone necklace, random accessory store
Black & white stripey bead earrings, Kohl's
Black & white flower hair pin, random accessory store
Silver cocktail ring, gift from Kendra, bought in Paris
Vamp lipstick, Chanel
Erase Paste concealer, Benefit (this stuff rocks!)
Powder, MAC

It's probably considered gauche, but I love wearing stockings with slingbacks. Just looks sexy to me, at least when the hose are fishnets, lacey, or stripey. The contrast of a patterned stocking & that slingback on the heel is cool.

No Earrings

I can't believe I totally forgot to wear earrings today. I nearly forgot my bracelet & rings (even my wedding & engagement rings!). Somehow, I stopped with jewelry after I put on a necklace. Weird.

What I'm wearing:
Black, white, & grey retro print duro dress, made by Donna of Original Sin Designs
Black camisole, Old Navy
Black footless tights, Target
Black beaded sandals, Mootsies Tootsies
Chunky silver bead necklace, Target
Black roses ring, Icing

White Out

Temperatures were in the 90s this week, so CorpGoth turned from black to white to fight the heat. Monday was half-white, a repeat of this outfit but with a black T-shirt, no tights, & sandals instead of boots (& no photo because my husband stole my tripod). Tuesday was this white dress. Wednesday I was home, & Thursday I wore jeans & a tank top (wasn't worth documenting here). So just one photo!

What I'm wearing:
White pleated cotton-blend dress, gift from Lisa
Black elastic belt, NY & Company
Black buckled wedge heels, Kohl's
Black & gold round dangle earrings, Forever 21
Black & white beaded cuff bracelet, bought in Kauai
Small white newsprint-fabric flower in hair, random accessory store

How do you dress at work in hot weather?

Random Friday!

Just sharing a few bits whilst I work from home...

Handy link about shopping at discount stores (meaning Forever 21, H&M, etc.). Seems geared towards more mature ladies who don't want to look cheap / too young, & has excellent tips on looking for quality, judging what items are worthwhile.

I may have to steal this idea about using kid's sippy cups for cocktail parties ... it's alcohol abuse to spill one's drink!

Speaking of drinks, I'm madly in love with Peju Province Winery's Provence wine. It's a light, fruity red, almost a rose, but not really. Tastes like sunshine & roses, serve chilled, perfect for summer.

Lest you think it's all shopping, partying, & drinking around here at CorpGoth HQ, I'm busy at work, plus all my off hours are currently filled working on a very complicated cross-dressing costume for me to portray Leonard Autie, hairdresser for Marie Antoinette, at an 18th-century event on July 9. All I've finished so far is the embroidered silk waistcoat & tall powdered wig, plus I bought a ruffled shirt & linen stock (like a necktie). I have to hustle to sew the actual suit!

This will be complicated by the fact that my husband & I are doing a little roadtrip over July 4th weekend. Fun, but no sewing time then.

Sweater on, Sweater off

Northern California can't decide how hot this summer will be yet (yes, technically it's not summer, but post-Memorial Day is usually summer weather). Some days, I freeze without a sweater in the morning & inside the office A/C. Other days, it's short-sleeves only. I was taking this sweater off & putting it back on all day!

What I'm wearing:
Black knit dress, Target
Grey & white striped cardigan, Forever 21
Grey herringbone tights, Calvin Klein
Black T-strap flats, Aldo
Hematite beaded necklace, gift from a friend
Gunmetal hoop earrings, NY & Co.

What's this summer's weather like for you?

Big Box of Awesome From Lisa

I've been slowly working new-to-me clothes into my wardrobe in the past couple weeks, because I received a bunch of fabulous garments from a dear friend. Lisa was moving across the country & clearing out her closet, so she gifted me with a surprise selection from her wardrobe.

Now, I knew she has excellent taste & that we shop at many of the same places in person & online. But I was utterly gob-smacked when I opened the box (actually, two boxes) to reveal item after item that was so perfectly right for me, plus fit me just about ideally. There were sweaters, jackets, skirts, & dresses in superb CorpGoth style, & the only reason I'm not wearing more of them is due to summer warmth.

I do feel incredibly lucky to know such a generous & thoughtful friend. I'll just have to figure out some way to repay her in kind...

What I'm wearing:
Amethyst short-sleeve wrap sweater with flowers, LaRedoute
Black T-shirt, Target
Amethyst satin bias-cut skirt, Newport News
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black ribbon-tie pumps, Clarks
Purple crystal lariat necklace & matching earrings, random accessory store

Do you swap, trade, or barter clothes with friends? I love to, even with friends online. That's how I get some of my best stuff :-)

Red, Black, Stripes, Lace, Oh My!

Went all out on the Red & Black Week yesterday, when I remembered I do have a red dress (ok, I have another one, but it's a cocktail dress & despite lots of great advice about dressing down fancy attire, that particular one has shoulder decoration that can't be made work-friendly; but I digress).

What I'm wearing:
Red knit dress, Target
Black elastic belt, NY & Company
Black cami, NY & Company
Black leggings with lace insert, NY & Company
Black & white stripe sweater, Chadwicks
Black buckle ankle boots, Aldo
Painted-black shell necklace, bought in Florida
Black & white bead earrings, Kohl's
Bright red lipstick, Sephora

Admittedly, I took the sweater off at work because it did get warm. California's summer has been much delayed, & I haven't been sure when to drop the jackets & sweaters.

Quickie Red & Black Outfit

Slept horrrrrrrribly last night & woke up late, so I just grabbed a quick outfit & made some time to snap pix before rushing off to work. So here's just a touch of red in the black.

What I'm wearing:
Black knit military-style jacket, INC Concepts
Black T-shirt, Old Navy
Dark grey jeans, Calvin Klein
Red ankle boots, Aerosoles
Red & black Venetian glass heart pendant on black glass beads necklace, made by me (closeups here)
Square pewter dangle earrings, local artisan
Silver & garnet ring, bought in Jaipur, India
Red-brown lipstick, Lorac

I do like that this outfit combines things I've bought on my travels around the world. I got to see the artist making the glass heart pendant in a tiny shop in Venice, & I picked out the garnet ring from the artist who made it too. They're very special to me.

Testing the Waters With Red & Black Week

I wasn't sure if I could really do Sophistique Noir's Red & Black Week. Didn't think I had much in the way of red clothing, & if I did, it would just be red top + black skirt, which is kind of boring for a whole week. Especially when I actually do need to be in the office all of this week (thus, 4 outfits, eeek!).

But then I thought about accessories & started imagining ways to creatively interpret the challenge. Ok, well then, maybe this is something I could get on board with. We shall see...

What I'm wearing:
Red knit top with self bow-tie neck, Target
Black pinstripe A-line skirt, gift from Lisa
Black boyfriend cardigan, Chadwicks
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black pumps with tiny buckles, Payless Shoe Source
Large silver disk earrings, Forever 21
Black & grey flower pins in hair, random accessory store
Red-brown lipstick, Lorac

I thought I'd like this outfit better. But I felt it was kind of frumpy by mid-morning. Also didn't realize how much glare I got in these photos. Better luck tomorrow...

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday - 06.03.11

June 3: Now that summer is in full swing  and vacations are coming up, let’s talk about what you’re packing to take on vacation. Courtesy of ModlyChic.

My husband & I in Siena, Italy, 2007.

1. When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?
Don't cram the overhead bins! First came the silly idea that checking bags somehow was a big waste of time -- trust me, I've traveled to all 7 continents, including Antarctica, you waste more time shoving stuff into those overheads than you would waiting a mere 5 minutes at the baggage carousel (especially for international trips, where customs & immigration are the true holdups).

Then the airlines started charging to check bags. I understand we're all pinched for cash, but let's not go nuts saving where it doesn't really help you. All this forcing into one bag nonsense makes for huge fights in the aisles & even takeoff delays because people carry on too much crap & try to shove it into the plane's overhead bins.

Now, I'm not saying you should pack a million giant bags for every trip. But if you're going for more than a weekend away or a short business trip, check one modestly sized bag & carry on only a purse or backpack that fits under the seat in front of you on the plane. Plan a coordinating wardrobe of mix-&-match separates, plus a few accessories, check it, pay the $35, & forget about it.

2. What are your must packs?
An eye mask for sleeping in hotels with insufficient curtains, & comfy shoes for walking all over town.

3. What are you happy to leave behind?
The computer (unless it's a business trip, of course).

4. Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one suitcase?
Limit your toiletries & makeup routines. I may primp like crazy at home, but on the road, I use the bare basics. Wear your heaviest items on the plane (boots, coat).  Consolidate your electronics -- this is where a smartphone or an iPad can come in handy, instead of using a phone & a music player & a computer & a stack of books.

5. Beach reading … what are you taking with you to read in the sand?
I prefer going to the beach in shoulder-seasons like spring & fall, as summer is too hot & crowded. But when I go, I grab a stack of whatever trashy fashion mags I can find! Tho' last trip, I downloaded them to my iPad (see #4).