Best jeans ever

If you'll bear with me... I know that I went on and on about the Ricki's pants yesterday, but today I am going to rhapsodize about these jeans. I'll explain why I think they are the best evar, and you can take what you want from it.

I feel like, at this point, many of you might be thinking that I am in Ricki's back pocket. And to that I say, I wish... everything I am going on about, I bought with my own moolah, and Ricki's doesn't even know that I exist. Sadly. Sheeit, they don't even have a twitter account, I doubt they do blogger outreach!

But I digress. Back to the pants. For a long time, Torrid has been the only place that I have been able to find jeans that I really liked. And they haven't been replaced or anything (I just bought a pair of boyfriend jeans there that I am in LOVE with... come back and see me Friday, I think they will feature in my Casual Friday post... if not here, then definitely on my Tumblr). Torrid isn't being kicked off the Queen Jean Pedestal I had them on, they are just now co-rulers. Which, if this was a real kingdom, would probably result in bloodshed, but since they are figments of my imagination... well, I'm just going to drop this metaphor now, since I've already taken it WAY too far...

How'd ya like that deep red lippy, huh? I'm spreading my wings...

I'm just going to get into why these jeans are awesome.

• They fit so well. Look at my ass! JUST LOOK AT IT! 
• They are a perfect marriage of slim and bootcut. Not too slim, not too flared.
• They have the perfect amount of stretch. They are comfy to wear, and make me feel... contained? but not so much that they feel like I'm about to be eaten by a boa constrictor.
• They stay on. Many jeans that I have are always shifting down, and I have to hike them up every 5th step or so. Not these ones. Although, I do give them a tug when I stand up from sitting. They can't help but fall a little in the back when I sit. Which brings me to my only con: when seated, they drop in the back. We're not talking plumbers crack here, but possible whale-tale sighting (if that were my thing, which I won't say they are, or aren't)
• And all this with NO MUFFIN TOP! *mic drop

I had to wear these jeans today, just had to. But I wanted to still look less casual than casual. If I had my blazer unpacked from winter storage, I would have worn that, but since I didn't, I needed something else to dress up the jeans. I was in a mad rush this morning, so I didn't accessorize like I would have liked to at all, but I did manage to pull this little beaut off. When I bought this peplum top at Additionelle (first worn here) it was on for such a great price that I couldn't pass it up, even though I didn't see myself getting high cost-per-wear out of it. But after seeing peplum tops layered over blouses (more than once) I knew I was going to get more wear out of it. And here it is. Performing exactly as expected. I love it when that happens...

On me: Peplum top AdditionElle (similar below); Jeans Ricki's (as per below); Blouse Old Navy (similar below); Shoes Isacc Mizrahi for Target (similar below).

Business Casual Peplum by Curvouture featuring a pearl bangle

Lace peplum top, 25 CAD / Soft dressing collared shirt, 21 CAD / Brooke Barely Bootcut Jean, 82 CAD / Fendi closed toe pumps, 585 CAD / Accessorize pearl bangle, 20 CAD / Juliet & Company studded jewelry, 22 CAD

My Top 5 (+1) Fall 2013 Trends

Fall is pretty much upon us, more or less, well, sort of. In the mornings...
Anywhere, here are my top 5 trending elements of the Fall 2013 season that I am going to try and incorporate into my wardrobe!

1. Menswear fabrics: Houndstooth, plaids; those patterns are going to be prominent this season. I've already seen red highland plaid leggings out and about, and while I probably won't be brave enough to try those, there are more subtle plaid leggings like the ones from Reitmans, I have already picked up the houndstooth dress from Target.

2. Winter White: It's long past Labour Day, but we don't have to hiss at white like a vampire shrinking at the sun. Provided you wear your whites in a way that doesn't scream Summer (like, say, a pair of capris), you should be good. I have a cable knit off-the-shoulder sweater from Torrid that I can't wait to wear this winter, and I have a crisp white blazer from Addition-Elle that will be making an appearance also. Or, heavens to betsy, this to-die-for moto jacket from City Chic...

3. Peplum: Yes! Still alive and kicking. One of my pieces that I bought last year from Forever 21+ is back in stock this year! Glad to be able to be getting better cost-per-wear out of those peplum pieces that I thought might have been a one-season wonder.

4. Leather: A lot of the leather I've seen has been as an accent to a piece. I've seen a lot of leather arms on fabric jackets, like the Ricki's one, below. Or, how about the pleather accents on the leggings from Ricki's? Or, knit arms and leather bodice? Or, go full leather. The options are endless. The leather waist dress is... just...

5. Military: This is a harder one for me, because I feel like military lends itself more often to casual option, but this jacquard jacket from Ricki's might find itself in my closet.

And, as a runner up, because I always plan a top 5, and then have just one more to add,

6. The Color Grey: Will grey be the new black for Fall 2013? Too soon to tell for sure, but it seems like Emerald isn't quite ready to give up its Color of 2013 crown yet, either.

Top 5 Fall 2013 Trends by awholelottafbs featuring a camo jacket

Channelling a modern Audrey

What a difference lighting makes...

I didn't intentionally try to channel Audrey Hepburn, but but I guess I kind of just fell into it. And why fight it, right?  If I had been really thinking about styling it Audrey styles, I would have worn pearls! But I think the crystals look pretty good with it as well!
Picked up this peplum top at Additionelle for a SONG the other day (just happened to go in to spend my VIP rewards dollars on a day that they were having 50% off the last sale price) and I was hesitant, but I am so SO glad I did.
Typically, I don't do sleeveless... I think the last time I was in public without sleeves (aside from the beach) was when I was married... about  6 years ago, in my strapless wedding gown.
But I've been checking out the fashion blogs, and I've been seeing other chicks breaking those "fat girl rules" (cover anything that might not be perfect, among others) and I thought eff it. I'm doing it!

I also really love the clashing of casual with dressy. This top could be black tie, with the right skirt, but I wore it with cuffed crops, and tada!

Had to take some hair shots, because I got many compliments on the bun, so it must have looked pretty good. This is another one of my "30 second updos." So easy to achieve. Maybe I'll post a tutorial on it, its to easy.

Love the really full peplum; 30-second updo. There's a big ugly alligator clip under there!

Almost didn't add this shot, because I didn't want it to seem like a gratuitous boob shot, but I really wanted you to see the lace detail on the shirt!

Accessories. 

Happy Valentines Day (Lady...that's me...in Red)

The warehouse aisle is like a giant grey concrete runway, no??

Today was almost a write-off, fashion-wise. I managed to get in a shower last night, but slept on wet hair; thought today was going to be a humdinger of a bad hair day. Which in turn meant that it would be the kind of day that I would want to wear a sweatshirt to work.
But, a Valentine miracle happened, and I was up-and-at-'em at 4 am this morning. That sounds INSANE when I say (write) it out loud. I live very far from where I work, so I leave the house at 5:30, but enough of my woeful life. Point is, I was up in plenty of time to do my hair. Just do my hair. Picking out an outfit did not get a piece of that time-pie. Fortunately, I have had this little beaut sitting in the back of my closet since the Bay had a mad sale on dresses back in late November, early December. I got this for a SONG!
Dresses are so easy. Not a lot of coordinating needs to be done, just pick some jewelry and a pair of shoes, and you're solid.
So, this morning, with hair done, and robe on, I remembered this dress, and as it was red, the decision was made. It's Valentines day lovies!
For someone who waiting so long to find something peplum, I think I've worn 2 outfits with it in one week.

Club Monaco For the Rest of Us!

     One of my favorite stores to go into look at all the pretty clothes is Club Monaco. This store first opened in Canada under the helm of the right honorable Alfred Sung. However, after years of having the company bounced around, it was sold to Ralph Lauren, making it now an American company. Dang. However, it is still classic with its clean lines and quality fabrics. I love it. 

     However, they only go up to a size 12, making this store off limits for me. Double dang. However, while cruising the site this morning, I came across two dresses that are made in plus sizes by Simply Be! Simply Be is a UK company that has great clothes at very reasonable prices. I cannot speak to the quality, as I have yet to order anything in from them. However, I like what I see. 

Finally, Peplum (is it dead??)

It has been said, that once a trend makes it to plus sizes, its officially dead. I'm paraphrasing, but you get the drift. That makes me very sad. Because a) I like to have trendy stuff, and b) I have been waiting to find a nice peplum shirt in plus forEVER. I finally found one over the Christmas holidays at Forever 21, and I only recently wore it. So if peplum is dead, Ima be pissed.
I have heard from some corners that the peplum trend will actually be carrying through to the Spring 2013 season, which makes me happy, so I can continue to get some use out of this shirt.
It made me feel very Chanel. I think its because of black on ivory. I probably could have worn it with some pearls to really work the look, but I didnt, because I had earrings and a bracelet that I got over the holidays as well, that I have been dying to wear.
The look is a little precious, but I think the borderline-stripper-shoes kept it from being TOO "Country Club." I love to mix very different elements together. There is a pin that I have of a black sequined jacket with distressed boyfriend jeans that I LOVE and I can't wait to recreate (although my sequin blazer is gold, rather than black).