I'll Buy What I Want Thanks. And I'll Wear It, Too.

Cat's in the corner having a snore and I'm trying to pick what to write.  I'm exhausted.  We're all exhausted.  It's Thursday.  Yawwwwwn.

On a bright note I managed to make it outside yesterday and even combed my hair.  Sticking to my apparel conviction of soft, cozy clothes in warm colors I threw on a slip dress. layered a cashmere thermal over top and finished with a military jacket.  I'll never forget buying this jacket at J.Crew in Santa Monica.  The sales guy tried pretty hard to talk me out of it:  it's too big, he said, you're drowwwwning in it.  This was a few years ago before military really made a significant comeback, and I wasn't listening to anything he had to say.  Dude, you're wearing tighter pants than I ever have.  Issues.  Anyway it's one of those purchases I've never regretted and has saved me from multiple 'I don't have anything to wear' moments, making it worth its weight in gold.  

Confession:  I've added a few more lounge pieces to my closet as of late (ahem slip dress) and have been wearing them layered in the outdoors. Yep you read it here first: I'm cavorting about in things that are technically pj's.  No one is any the wiser and I get more than a few compliments.  The way I see it as long as I'm not going to the store in footie pajamas I think we'll all survive. 

~Outfit:  J.Crew-Military Jacket, James Perse-Cotton/Cashmere Thermal, 

Slip Dress-Pure & Good, Loeffler Randall-Boots, Anthropologie-Sunglasses~

Bracelets:  Motif 56 (here and here), PANYC (similar), and Rosa Loves DC Turquoise Friendship

Ring:  Melinda Maria

Necklace:  PANYC

Like that last one?  Imagine someone doing the basketball shuffle all around you while you're trying to walk.  That's the Chef!  He totally gets into the picture thing: lays on the ground, runs around behind trees, cars, garbage cans--you name it, and then when it's all over starts a super crazy shuffle for one last one.  It's freaking hysterical!! 

PS-is anyone else watching Chelsea Settles on MTV?  So good!  Maybe you can catch up this weekend while you're hanging off the couch.  There I go projecting again.

Hand in (Fur) Pocket

With Black Friday and Saturday having gone by, it was time to face reality:  there remained less than a quarter of a roll of toilet paper, zero razors and my deodorant was dangerously low meaning I'd have to leave the house (curses for not planning ahead). Of course that entails combing one's hair and, in the spirit of 45 degrees, donning something warm.  How does one recover from 4 days of sheer nothing? Go big and leave home in a fur coat to traipse about completing mundane tasks while strangers in the local neighborhood give odd sideways glances at your moderately overdone Sunday attire as you prep for operation buzzkill aka Monday morning by leaving your beloved sweats, UGGs and fuzzy sweaters behind.

Hmmmm I think I'll have a snack to go with all those other

snacks I've been consuming for days.  

Panic sets in as it dawns on me that Christmas is less than 

a month away and I have approximately zero gifts.

Suddenly I'm considering giving everyone I know coffee beans.

Yaaaaaaaawn.  Do I have to get that tp?  Don't I have some kleenex in my bag?

I stare listlessly into the tea as it steeps.  

All I know is this coat is fuzzy and warm, and the sleeve detailing is wonderful.

None of this, however, preps me to re-enter shopping crowds.

Check that woman tossin' elbows as she runs in the door at Target.

You know she threw someone to the ground like a rag doll for 

a 99 cent toaster oven left over from Friday.

I am happy to escape with just a tp purse (nifty catch phrase I came up with for

that little handle thing they attach...it always gets a smile from the Target ladies).

Joyriding around in the newfound "outdoors" (aka staying OFF the freeway) 

I spot a pink Cadillac and follow it around for 5 miles 

to ensure it is what I think it is...

Hells bells the recession hasn't hit everyone.  Mary Kay's selling like mad.

 

Next thing you know I come to, still in fur and chip in hand, at a fave

 local Mexican hangout.

The perfect end to a relaxing weekend.

Dear Monday:  Not now.

Outfit Details: Juicy Couture-Faux Fur Jacket, James Perse-Button-up, Juicy Couture-Riding Pants, Loeffler Randall-Boots, Foley+Corinna-Bag, Melinda Maria-Rings

Falling Into Fur

Fall fashion is in full force and I've been having so much fun checking out your wish lists and swooning over the fabulous items you've been thinking about.  The other day Alicia at Cheetah is the New Black caused my eyes to well up when she wore her fabulous fur vest.  I haven't compiled an entire wish list for fall because, well, I don't really have to.  Fur is basically it.  All of it.  Yes, the entire list.  Faux fur is the way I go and not just because of budget...it all stems back to the time I rescued a rabbit from a daycare and it became my pet for reals (but that's another story for another time).  Last year I picked up an adorable fur vest and jacket from Juicy Couture, and then it rained so much in Southern California I couldn't even wear them (suffice it to say soggy faux fur is not the new black).  In hindsight I'm kind of grateful because I feel like I've got a bit of a headstart in the fur department for this season.  There's so much out there to choose from I thought I'd pick some of my latest favorites and share them with you.  One thing is for certain - fur is a major part of this fall's top picks.  I found it on handbags, boots, collars, entire coats, gloves, hats, and the list goes on.  I even found this Cat in the Hood Hat over at Modcloth - um, kinda want it.  Badly.

How are you feeling about the fur/faux fur trend?  Are you planning on incorporating it, or simply admiring it from afar? Perhaps you even dislike it *say it isn't so!*

Starting in upper left corner and moving clockwise:  Halston Heritage - Faux Fur Vest, Guess - Bountiful Ankle Boot, Rebecca Taylor - Faux Fur Cheetah Coat, Alexander Wang - Polina Fur Ankle Boot, Anna Sui - Faux Fur Cropped Jacket, BB Dakota - Janika Faux Fur Vest, Topshop - Leopard Vintage Faux Fur Coat, Jeffrey Campbell - Dana 2, (center) Loeffler Randall - Faux Fur Military Jacket

Part 1: The Evolution and Modernization of the Sweatshirt (Dress)

I have come to the conclusion that renting a home is not the devil after all.  Now don't get me wrong - I would love to own my own home, however the alternative does not necessarily have to equal a fate worse than death.  If you had asked my opinion on this very matter just a few years ago when I was living in a duplex beneath my alcoholic VA nurse neighbor who drove around the neighborhood inebriated in the government car pretending to be out "assisting war veterans" when indeed she was just off sideswiping parked cars in the Trader Joe's parking lot en route to her home (aka my home too) where she would then smash into the garage door and eventually cart two cases of Two Buck Chucks upstairs for a day of hiding at home watching television and drinking bottles of wine on the government's dime - well then I might have had a different response.  Now I'm feeling slightly more positive.

Especially after having driven by the sweeeeetest Melrose Place like building in my neighborhood just the other day.  It's entirely white washed with dark trim.  Each apartment has its own outside door leading in, huge windows, quirky interior details and a courtyard that the back of the units are built around.  How do I know all of this you ask?  Because I got out of the car and looked around while trying not to appear too much like a peeping Tom. 

While conducting my exploration I was decked out in one of my favorite pieces of clothing that ironically is something I completely mocked when I first saw it.  Enter:  the sweatshirt dress.  Ahhhhh yes.  Hypocrisy is alive and well over here at Casa Carrie.

I consider myself very fortunate to be able to work from home.  I like being siloed in because I'm a driven person by nature and can accomplish a lot when faced with little distraction.  That being said, my attire can sometimes consist of pajamas such as boxers and tee's with not-so-fancy slippers or Ugg boots for days.  Attractive.  And sometimes I find myself in a bit of a rut, so to avoid that I picked up a couple sweatshirt dresses from James Perse.  His cotton is a drug and I am an addict.

Check this.  Who would ever think that a sweatshirt dress could be so good?  This one is particularly comfy because it is lined with the softest thermal material.  You feel all snuggled in, but the material is wonderfully breathable.  One of the reasons I really warmed up to it is because it has some structure as well.

It is form fitting without being tight, but also forgiving in the waist and derriere.  If I have to zip out to the store, I can do so at ease by throwing on a pair of sandals or, in this case, a pair of knee high boots and still be super presentable without having to go through a big to do.

The detail on the elbows is reminiscent of the lining of the dress.   It adds just that little bit of texture to the outside of the garment making it more than just a long sweatshirt.

I layered on a couple of J.Crew shiny necklaces - finds from late last fall picked up for next to nothing (seriously scour those sales for major deals - I'm not so savvy with the jewelry and pretty much get all my stuff that way).  Just those little jewels made the dress a wee bit saucier.

Of course the boots helped, but I'll totally throw it on with my Bensimon's too (seen here) just for something simple.

Even though I'm totally eating my words, as is a common theme here on the ol' blog, I have to say this dress will get a lot of wear because it marries the best of both my worlds:  comfortable and laid back with fashionable.  I'm all for bumming around in sweats and a tee, but sometimes when you're 5 days in and haven't left the house for more than half an hour you need to seek alternatives - particularly those that require a shower- for the good of you and your cats.  Except when the former neighbor is out on the lam.

Outfit details:  James Perse Long Sleeve Dress,  Forever 21 Denim Jacket (from 8 years ago), Loeffler Randall Matilde Boots, Foley + Corinna Classic Mid-City Tote, J.Crew Necklaces, Target Sunnies.

Give 'Em The Boot

I don't know about you, but Monday seemed to go by, on the one hand, at a snail's pace and on the other hand at the speed of sound.  Due to far too many exhausting issues I found myself off in la-la land dreaming about a pile of boots I can't afford, but would sure like to if the money fairies would ever show up to drop off the dollars. *Girls you know we're in the middle of an over-the-knee boot fashion swarm - but I included some others as well.*

A girl can dream.

It's a good thing I can multi-task because as the sun dropped somehow I woke up back in line at Cold Stone just as the guy was asking what I wanted (miracle).  If you're near one of their locations - hey if you can just drive to one of their locations - I highly recommend the Key To My Heart key lime summer concoction they've dreamed up. It saved me from kicking my tv out the window tonight when I wasted 20 whole minutes of my life that I can never retrieve just to find out that Ali picked Roberto (bachelorette colossal waste of air time, my time, your time, anytime).  What-ever.  It was not the most shocking finale yet.  Yawwwwwn.  But I am glad Chris escaped her evil grip with his dignity intact.  Miracles happen every day.

You hear that money fairies?  Money fairies....??

Top Row (L-R):  Nine West-OnTheMoon, House of Harlow-Samia, Loeffler Randall-Riley Over-the-Knee, Elizabeth and James-Wrapped Wedge Over-the-Knee
Bottom Row (L-R):  Miu Miu-Tall Motorcycle, Chloe-Lace-Up Wedge Tall Boot, Stuart Weitzman-Wooden Clog Bottom, Gucci-Catherine High Wedge