Outfit of the Day: Preppy Profesh Cropped Pants

I've written about my amazing steal of a deal blue blazer before and it's one of the BEST deals I ever got! I love my Ralph Lauren blazer and don't get to wear it as often as I should! While it's not exactly the same thing, there's a close Ralph Lauren knit match here!

I wore LOFT cropped pants for the first time too! My mom and I stocked up on business essentials and these cropped pants were part of the haul. They have the most comfortable wide band around the top with a secure button and hooks. They have a great amount of stretch and I know they'll keep their shape. The cream crepe top is LOFT as well!

For NYE, I snagged this pair of Jessica Simpson heels that I was wearing too! They are seriously the most comfortable nude heels I own and fellow Tweeters agreed. I look for every opportunity to wear these heels that I can! They're ~4 inches but you'd never know when they're on. They also have a great grippy rubber bottom that feels secure. HUGE plus, no toe cleavage. 

Awaiting me when I arrived back in South Carolina was my Bauble Bar necklace that I ordered as a birthday gift to myself. I LOVE the large monogram they offer! It's substantial feeling but they clasp is EXTREMELY difficult to do on your own--attempt at your own risk! I am also admittedly not good at putting necklaces on so I found it tough. The gold is shiny and not a gaudy shade. I've worn it a bunch and I've seen no turning color or showing of the inner material.

I wore this OOTD to a pre-party for TEDxColumbiaSC. Our city was lucky enough to have a group of individuals who were willing to organize a TEDx event for the city and I had the unique opportunity to attend the lecture. The pre-party was held in the lobby of an IT office who so graciously offered up their space and we gladly networked and chatted with the speakers. I'll do a full recap later this week of the big show, but all in all I was SO glad to have attended the lecture!

xxKatie

Tan Towel Testimonial

I bought my first Tan Towel product at the end of the summer in a huge clearance sale from a store a few down from where I work. It was $7 and I was impulse buying because it was on sale. I'd used it a few times here and there to test it out, but I had never really tried it with a specific purpose.

That's where New Years comes into play. I was pasty and knew I didn't really want to wear tights with my dress options, so I had limited options. After having a few scary moles removed early in the summer (TMI, but one was sent for testing, and thankfully came back benign!), I swore off tanning in a bed for the rest of my life. I used to go a lot (ever seen Carolina Cup pictures of me last year? That was probably the height of my tanning...yikes!) and I don't think I'll ever be able to go back in a tanning bed. ANYWAY, my options were limited. I had tossed my bottle of Tan Towel "On the Glow" in my bag before I left for school BY ACCIDENT. I thought it was a different moisturizer I keep on a shelf in my room, but I'm sure thankful I took it!

I applied 3 "coats" of this lotion (I don't use the actual "towels" just the lotion) over two days and shaving my legs in between use 2 and 3. It's kind of a slimy lotion--but absolutely in a good way--it goes on so evenly and dries quickly. It also doesn't have a bad odor and works fast. In the span of two days I developed a GREAT color, just enough to be a-ok for NYE!

This is totally a silly picture from NYE, but I have the middle legs and you can see a little bit of the color--and my nude pumps!

Tan Towel also makes an "On the Glow" for faces, and I have that one as well, but I've never tried it! I'm always nervous to try new facial products on because with my breakouts, I can never tell how they are going to react. I'm definitely eager to try these out once I get all that under control.

Tan Towel is a bit more expensive than normal sunless/self tanners, BUT I justify it by knowing a spray tan (which can be WAY worse if you get a bad one or botched one) or tanning membership is even more expensive. An 8oz bottle runs between $11-18 depending on where you get it, but I've gotten at least 10 uses out of my bottle. Like I said, it spreads out so a lot goes a far way!

Do you use a self tanner? Which kind do you prefer?

xxKatie

Bows on Toes

"Bows on Bows" was a post that my friends enjoyed talking about for awhile and even ended up as chatter at a bar one night, so I figured I'd bring it back since it was popular!

Bows seem to be a big trend this year--color me a fan! I love bows whether they're an addition to a piece, an extra decoration or on the tips of your shoes!

Starting off with a BANG, these Ferragamo flats are the flats that made bows on shoes a staple. It doesn't get more classic than Ferragamo patent flats and these will ALWAYS be in style. Treat them right, and they will certainly treat you back! How could you not start with these shoes when you're talking about bows on toes?!?

I am SMITTEN with these bow pumps by Butter! I love the shimmer yet neutral characteristics about them and they are just girly enough! These would be great for Christmas, a wedding and anything and everything in between!

The reigning Queen of Flats, Tory Burch herself has even come out with a bow laden shoe great for fall and winter! This caramel color will look great with any bottoms of your choosing for fall and winter. I get so much use out of my TB Reva's that I'm sure I'd be able to find a time for these to add into the rotation!

What's not to love about these Kate Spade pumps? The mesh is a new look, but these would be TDF for the spring and if I was bold enough and confident enough, I would L-O-V-E to wear these to Carolina Cup or the Kentucky Derby!

These flats are so darling and have LBP written all over them! I'd pair these with SO much of my closet, not to mention basically ALL of the newest Lilly Pulitzer Resort 2012 sportswear. I'm obsessed with the multi-layer bows on these toes!

I have had a few pairs of Enzo Angiolini pumps in the past that I have LOVED. These are great work pumps that would go with so much since it has both black patent and neutral tones on it!

Do you like the bows on toes trend? I do! I do! I do!

xxKatie

Banquet Fashions

So the pink dress won! This is one of my mentee's this year, CJ! She already knew a ton about the University, so there wasn't too much teaching to be done!

This was my Lilly lovers picture last night! We have a Flor Dress, Blossom Dress, Kiki Dress, Maybell Dress, and Sandra Dress (left to right)!

I also haven't taken a picture like this since freshman year homecoming, but nude shoes and platinum metallics were definitely the shoe of choice. 

Thanks to everyone who voted! I appreciate all the votes! Here's the breakdown:

The Kiki Dress won by a pretty good comparison, and at times was 3 or 4 times ahead of the Vanna! You know what that means? I get to find something else fabulous and fun to wear the Vanna to!

xxKatie

Christmas Shoes

Everyone's heard the very sad Christmas song, "Christmas Shoes"...but this is MUCH happier! For me this year, it was the Christmas of Shoes. I got a bunch ranging from dressy to outdoorsy:

BCBGeneration Tedolie

Enzo Angiolini Elaya Pumps (These I actually got myself to wear on Christmas Eve)

Jack Rogers Collegiate Colors Navajo

L.L. Bean Duck Boots

Jack Rogers Platinum Navajo

Did you have a "theme" to your Christmas? Were there any similarities in your gifties?

xxKatie

There are Macys coupons available for shoes.

OOTD: Christmas Eve

December 24 by letsbepreppy featuring fine pearl jewelry

In my house, the way Christmas works is that we do Christmas Eve mass at 6, dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and then have all day on Christmas to lounge around and cook our Christmas dinner. We get really dressed up for Christmas Eve Mass and spend all day Christmas pretty much in our jammies! I wore this dress that I LOVE for Mass with sheer black tights from Target and heels that I just got from Nordstrom Rack. (LOVE N-Rack! So many good finds there if you're willing to look!) I added my cream colored quilted Lilly coat which worked well since it wasn't too too cold for Christmas Eve!

Thankfully we didn't get any snow or slush like we have in years past. I'm NOT a snow fan by any means and I can remember one year when my Dad had to escort all of us ladies from parking lots to restaurants or inside Church...yuck! I couldn't have asked for a better weather situation this year!

I also curled my hair, which didn't turn out as well as I had hoped! Here's for more practice with that!! I wore it pulled back in a beige headband that I've had for a few years and just seems to match everything.

What did y'all wear for Christmas? Do you usually get dressed up or is it more casual? Do you do all the big stuff on Christmas Eve or Christmas?

xxKatie

LBS

LBS: Little Black Shoes

If there's an LBD, there sure can be LBS too!

Cole Haan: Violet Pump 90

Kate Spade: Elate

Sam Edelman: Portney

Me Too: Jeanette

Cole Haan: Eve Air OT Pump

Elizabeth and James: Lilly

Nine West: Escher

Kate Spade: Gillian

How much fun are they? The holiday season is the PERFECT time to don some black shoes that steal the show!! Hopefully inclement weather doesn't impact your shoe wearing plans! One year it was so slushy and cold my dad had to escort all the ladies through the muck to the sidewalks to church and the restaurant! I hope that never happens again!

Do you have a great pair of LBS?

xxKatie

Skyler's Closet

The main players:

Ikea

Blucher Mocs (circa 1982, add in the years of being worn in AND older than us)

Lilly Pulitzer Jaiden Blouse

The newest additions:

Lilly Pulitzer Eve Dress Striped

Target Pearce Pumps

J. Crew Waverly Chinos

The can't live withouts:

Lilly Pulitzer Murfee Scarf in "Show Me Some Skin"

Lands' End Hunter Green Puffer Vest (add a monogram, duh!)

Hobo International Lauren Wallet

Want her closet? Yeah, we all do! Tweet at her if you love it @SkylerElizabeth

xxKatie (and Skyler)