Neutral Ground

July 7, 2015July 7, 20158 Comments

I’m actively trying to rotate items in my closet and wear as many things that I own as possible. Today’s outfit was a result of that attempt. The top, believe it or not, had been sitting in my closet for 7 months! My sister gave it to me for Christmas and sadly, it had just sat there…for months. The skirt had been sitting in my closet for over a year, sadly. Sigh. Partly because I could not fit into it a few months ago, but also because I have a bad habit of not circulating my clothes often enough. That ends today!

Details: Skirt – Forever 21 old, similar here, here, here, and here and here; Top – Windsor Store, similar here and here; Shoes, $30 Nine West via Marshalls, check stores but similar here and here; Necklace – Walmart here; Bracelets – Forever 21, here.

For those who love the shoes in this post, know that they are currently sold at a Marshall’s store near you! They were $30, are super comfy, and a must-have for any professional wardrobe. Highly recommend you get them if you don’t already own a pair! The pearl cluster necklace is also a must, in my opinion. It’s classic, goes with so many things, and for $5 it’s a purchase you just cannot pass up.

Well, friends, hope you enjoyed this outfit recap! Have a happy Tuesday and I look forward reading your comments in the comments section below!

Until next time! Stay ‘Chic’!

Instagram Lately

July 6, 2015July 6, 20154 Comments

Happy Monday, Friends! Hope everyone had a fun/restful/food-filled holiday weekend! I was fortunate to spend mine with friends and family, so for all intents and purposes, it was perfect.

Week 4 of my Get Yo’ Fitness On is coming on the blog later this week, but in the meantime, I thought I would share a bit of what’s happened on Instagram lately. I also made sure to highlight some fun purchases I made this month. All super affordable of course! 😉

First up, are a pair of JCrew statement earrings. I found these by chance on eBay not long after they sold out online. They are SUPER fun to wear and add a great pop (or pops) of color to any outfit! I could not find a pair anywhere, so I linked some others I’m coveting at the moment.

Details: J Crew earrings (sold out), other versions here and here.

The skirt in the photo below is Milly for Kohl’s and I had my eye on it from the moment I found out the Milly for Kohl’s collaboration was happening. I waited and stalked it much like a hunter does it’s prey, then pounced the moment it went on sale! It’s SUCH a fun skirt, and paired with the chambray top pictured below, or a crisp white shirt, very workplace-appropriate, in my opinion. Well, at least my workplace, haha.

Details: Skirt, Milly for Kohl’s. This one is sold out, but you can find it on eBay here, or other items from the collection here. PS – Do you spot my little photobomber?! #photobomblove

You may or may not already be familiar with the Kendra Scott necklaces that are EVERYwhere, but if you’re not, allow me to educate you. Kendra Scott is what Juicy Couture jewelry was in the early 2000’s. Err-body wants it and most err-body owns at least one piece. Well, go ahead and count me as one of the molecules in the mole (he he he!). I TOO wanted this jewelry. BUT, I didn’t want to pay the price, so I waited and waited and sure enough, someone produced a dupe. I happened to have found mine for about $9 with free shipping, so I call that a pretty savvy purchase for an on-trend item. Hold your applause, por favor. #gracias

Details: Tassel necklace, eBay here.

I recently mentioned that I made a trip out to LA, and while there, stopped at Forever 21 where I found the necklaces below for less than $20 combined. They are actually sold separately, but the part of my brain that processes fashion information quickly computed that these two might in fact look amazing when paired together. I listened and voilà – genius pairing in the making. Is there a MENSA for fashionistas?? Just saying’… See Exhibit A, below.

Exhibit A: Forever 21 necklaces, here and here.

Last month, I happened to be shopping for my boys’ birthday party goodie bags and stopped by my go-to spot for such things – Walmart. A true fashionista seeks inspiration everywhere she goes, so naturally, I took a stroll through the clothing and jewelry department. That’s where I found the two necklaces pictured below. At $5 a pair, they had to come home with me. Both are very work-appropriate and paired with the right outfit, can look like you paid far more than a mere five buckaroos!

Details: Walmart, similar here and here.

Also while in LA last month, I found a skirt for work. I found that I’d been slacking on the office-formal wear, so I decided to step up my game again and try to dress up a little more, again. 😉 Part of the reason I think I’d been slacking is because I felt so out of shape. Many of you will understand this, but when one has packed on the pounds, pencil skirts aren’t always the most flattering items of clothing one can or should wear. But, since I’ve started working out (see Get Yo’ Fitness Challenge workouts here, here, and here) and eating healthier, I find that I can fit back into my fitted pencil skirts; or, in this case, buy new ones, haha!

Details: Skirt, Forever 21, here.

It seems I found lots of items during that Forever 21 trip in LA, because I also purchased the pearl cuffs pictured below! These in particular I also loved because they’re subtle enough to wear to the office, AND – added plus – they don’t get in the way while typing! Fashionable and functional. Done and done.

Instagram Lately, http://chicinacademia.com Details: Pearl Cuffs, Forever 21, here.

Well, that’s my Instagram Lately recap for ya! Hope you found some of these pieces inspiring for your own sartorial adventures this month. Should you find yourself on a tight budget, worry not! I have a giveaway active on Instagram for a tassel necklace of your choice (see below). They are Sift With Style necklaces from Heart and Home Collection, worth over $20 a piece! Enter on Instagram to win!

Details: Free beaded tassel necklace to one luck winner! Check out Instagram to enter.

That’s all for now, friends! Let me know if you know of any other deals on either clothing or accessories. In particular, I’m on the hunt for a pink tote or satchel so holla at ya girl if you spot any under $40!

Until next time! Stay ‘Chic’!

How to Pack a Single Carry-on for a Three-day Conference

March 7, 2015March 8, 201512 Comments

This past week, I attended a conference for work. I try to avoid checking luggage whenever possible, so I aimed to pack all of my outfits into a single carry-on. I was successful! AND…it was pretty cold where I was going, so I was pretty impressed with myself for traveling with winter-wear and managing to not over-pack or check a bag.

View from my hotel room. Can you spot the snow flurries?

Here’s how I did it:

1) Pick a comfortable pair of shoes and plan your outfits around them

I chose a pair of super old Marc Jacobs heels that I purchased brand new on eBay for $30 years ago. They are patent black with cute – not overly obnoxious – bows, which I also know pair well with opaque tights. Conference rooms in hotels can be super cold, so layering and pants and/or opaque tights are usually a must for me. The heels have a high-ish heel, but nothing that would make it uncomfortable to walk from room to room, or to stand on my feet several hours a day.

Details: Heels, Marc Jacobs, similar here and here // Sunnies, here // Necklace, similar here // Lipstick, YSL, here

2) Pick a color, any color!

Because my shoes were black, I decided to go with a black base for all of my outfits. Hence, I packed the following:

1 black blazer
2 black and white dresses
2 tops (in case I needed options)
2 necklaces
1 pair of earrings
2 pairs of opaque tights (just in case I happened to ruin a pair somehow)

My strategy was to wear my coat on the plane and wear pants that I could wear on my return flight. So, I packed a second top to wear with those same pants on the way back. I also wore my second pair of shoes on the plane. In this case, I wore knee high boots just in case I should happen to need to walk outdoors somewhere, in the snow.