DD's Style File - Color Wonderful

It's April! And I'm hopeful for a surge of wonderful spring like weather, however the forecast actually has me feeling like an April Fool with the mention of snow dotted over the next seven days...

Despite all of April's (snow) showers, I'm definitely in the mood to start infusing my wardrobe selections with some brighter colors. I've been rocking a lot of black and white lately, and I'm feeling ready to amp it up just a bit!

Although I didn't get to wear what I had originally intended for Easter, this dress arrived the day before I was spot on for the spring holiday (even though I totally prefer an April Easter versus a March one).

I opted to not downplay the color by pairing it with black or nude and instead dove all in. I wanted the colors to play well together though, so I used the confetti splashes on this adorable cork clutch as a guide and paired it with coral pumps and a neon yellow necklace. Even though my bag was sprinkled with color, the cork provided just the right amount of neutral as to balance out the rest of the brights I was wearing.

Dress: The Limited
Shoes: INC
Clutch: JustFab - old (similar here and here)
Bracelets: Express

This piece will totally be a great work staple and can be intermixed with base colors like white, nude and black for a more conservative feel. The sleeves can help ward off the year round office chill and the dress can even be topped with a blazer or cardigan to change up the look.

I find that I gravitate more to solids than to prints, but I find the tulip cut of this skirt provides a nice alternative to the standard shift dress.


Do you all feel it's too early in the season yet (in the Northern states, at least) to start incorporating more punches of color to your work wardrobe?

Life Lately...August, Absences & Clunky Boots

Hello World and Happy Monday!

Let me start by saying that August didn't turn out all the way I'd intended. I have been M.I.A. far longer than planned. Basically, the demands of life stepped in and pretty much took over! Between playing catch up at my 9 to 5 and school starting back for the fall I was pretty much tapped out.... The next thing I knew, it was getting well in to September.

Even better, my creativity has been given a serious challenge, as I was recently "gifted" with this:

Lovely, right?.. And oh so fashion friendly (not...).

Turns out I've got a fractured bone in my foot, so I've been sentenced to at least six weeks of living with this boot then hopefully I'll be able to gradually return to "normalcy."

Unfortunately, sometimes shoes just MAKE the outfit... There are certainly days where I get dressed based on what shoes I'm wearing. So, needless to say, this has put a serious damper on on the whole style post situation. *ugh* I  do have a couple regular style posts coming up this week, but please bear with me as I try to navigate these blogging waters sans cute shoes. *sad panda*

I'm definitely seeing some beauty reviews and DIY posts in my future!

Before I head off let me just say despite my displeasure of this whole unfortunate situation, I am certainly glad that it didn't happen before I got a chance to appear on the Today Show (could you imagine the devastation!?) and as much as I'm refusing to embrace the approaching fall season, my left foot is thrilled that it is no longer 90 degrees and humid. It's all about being grateful of the little things, right?


Pray for me y'all!!

Look, Mom, I'm on TV! - My Today Show Experience

This week I had the immense pleasure of modeling on the Today Show in a fashion segment!

It was an awesome and unforgettable experience, to which I owe a humongous THANK YOU to blogger/author/designer and all around style diva extraordinaire - Shauna Miller of Penny Chic!

Well how in the world did that happen, you ask?!?

Shauna found me through my blog post that I'd done on one of her LBD dress designs and asked lil' ol' me to be one of her models. And of course, I said 'yes,' without the slightest bit of hesitation.

NYC Rockefeller Plaza here I come!


There were flights, car services, professional makeup applications, Kathie Lee sightings, frazzled nerves, lots of stairs, jewelry, shoes, and dresses (oh my!), little sleep, oodles of compliments, lightening bolts of excitement, lots of hugs, behind the scenes chaos, sore feet, tons of texts and a lunch with my bestie all smashed into a literal 24 hour period! I was gone and then I was home, almost like I was never there...

But luckily, there's VIDEO to remind me that I was!

Click image to view video

I also have to say a big THANK YOU to all of my family, friends and coworkers who have been encouraging supporters of my endeavors! *group hug*

Life Lately...

Hello, world!

So the hubbub of the holiday festivities is all over and we're back to the hustle and bustle of every day life. There's pros and cons to both, no? On one hand, it's a good thing to have all the hectic chaos behind you and the stress of guests, housecleaning and gift buying over and done. But at the same time, there is something to be missed...the glitter, the warm, fuzzy feelings that comes with the holidays and the joys of being around your family laughing and relaxing.

Today I'm sharing some bits and pieces of my world. If you follow me on Instagram you may have already been privy to some of these. And if you don't, now is a good a time as any!

 

The Christmas gift from my bestie included the Mac X RiRi lipstick that I'd been stalking. It's frosty orange is super intimidating at first swipe, but it can be made into the perfect sexy nude lip. Loves it.

 

 

At Christmastime even penguins and leopards live harmoniously... 

 

These lips will look all the way live in 2014. The entire Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids collection is proof positive that I've become obsessed with lipstick.

 

Another recent obsession: fur. We'll chat more on this subject later. *wink* 

 

"...with a borderline obsession for leopard print, polka dots, bows and pink things!"

See, I totally wasn't lying on my 'About Me' page.

 

 

Super excited with the progress I'm making on my walk in closet! Can't wait until I can share the finished product with all of you. 

 

Planning a future style file post for this entire outfit. It was the total embodiment of girly girlness.

In other goings on, both Toonchie and I will be headed back to school this week. I'm sure there will be a brief adjustment period, specifically for me, but that can also be exciting too. I always have a little anxiety before I start a new course. It's the uncertainty of the coursework, workload and wondering if the class will be a weekly, three hour life drain.

Well, I'm off, lovies! I hope you have a fabulous week ahead of you and we'll chat again soon!

Goodbye, 2013... Hello, 2014!!

Happy holidays, lovelies!!

I hadn't planned to do an "end of the year" post, but thought twice about it because it's been such a great year for Dazzling Diva and I wanted to close 2013 out properly.

Personal style blogging has its ups and downs and certainly presented its share of challenges this year. I can't express the joy I feel when everything is going smooth and on a roll and I get to share my little piece of the world with all of you. It's exciting! And interacting with people who love girly things as much as I do is always enjoyable.

I look forward to making 2014 just as good, if not better. I was thrilled with the success of my first giveaway and look forward to hosting others in the new year.

I am still navigating the waters of social media and appreciate every single person who follows me on Pinterest and Instagram. Through these channels, I actually got to experience my very first brand feature on Instagram, which I'm sure is the norm for some bloggers, but little ol' me felt it was awesome! But that same experience also taught me a lesson about having thick skin...maybe I'll tell you all about it one day. *smile*

IFB has certainly played a major role in providing "bloggerly" guidance throughout this journey. I was also fortunate enough to have my first ever Christmas gift guide be selected for one of their holiday project roundups.

I revel in my small accomplishments, and plan to work toward more in the coming months. I'm not big on making new year's resolutions, but I do believe a new year can represent a fresh chapter, of sorts, and is a great time to recharge yourself.

As for myself, I haven't yet mastered juggling it all - work, blogging, school, family, friends, "me time," etc. so trying to better organize the time and finances in my life are on the top of my list. I also intend to push aside my shyness and reach out to more experienced bloggers for advice.

On a final note, as this year closes, I encourage you to let your loved ones know their importance to you in 2014. My family aims to keep our spirits high as we countdown the remaining hours of 2013, while we nurse heavy hearts and we prepare to send one of our loved ones off to heaven.

 "We enjoy warmth because we have been cold. We appreciate light because we have been in darkness. By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness."

~ David Weatherford ~

 

I wish all you beauties a blessed and happy new year! 

Kidecals.com - A Review & Promo Code!

Hello, ladies!

I'm sure you all are prepping for the holidays, unless you're one of the lucky girls who's all done! As I finish out my mad and frazzled dash this last week, I decided to take a moment to review one of the online retailers I'd suggested in my very first holiday gift guide: Kidecals.com.

I will preface my review by stating that this is a sponsored post, so I did receive free items from Kidecals, but the opinions stated here are purely my own.

I'm all about being able to customize things to your taste and have long been a fan of wall decals, I use them regularly throughout my home when decorating. My initial thought of the Kidecals.com site was that it looked colorful and inviting, so I was excited to dive in.

I headed straight for the keycals (keyboard decals), since I'm on my laptop a lot and thought jazzing up the keys would be really cute. I was super disappointed to find out that it would only fit the keyboards of Mac products *sad panda*. So I perused around a bit, sure I'd find something else.

And perused some more...took a break....came back and tried again.

Ok, so it took a while. But not because they didn't have other things, but because a lot of the products were geared towards kids or parents. Which doesn't apply to my life directly, though I certainly thought to grab some labels for my nieces. However, I was certain my mom wouldn't appreciate finding them adhered to her walls or dining room table, so I nixed that idea.

Ultimately I settled on some chalkboard labels and two universal use labels. My order arrived quickly in some very fun looking packaging.

You get several chalkboard labels, in two different sizes. But they are kind of small, so don't write big (as I do). I plan to "fake" the whole chalkboard look and just use a white Sharpie instead of chalk. I have yet to decide what I'm going to label yet, but probably some jars for the kitchen.

I am an avid Pinner (you can follow me here), so it's a total truth that most times I'd rather be pinning. Especially being that I even do it while waiting in the doctor's office. I'm thinking this label will likely end up on the back of my laptop, which is just basic black. But I'm curious about the removal or permanency...which is why it isn't on there yet.

The final label totally jumped out at me because in my "real life" I'm what people refer to as an IT geek, (I've worked in the technology field for about 13 years). The home décor project I'm currently working has been to make over my closet, to make it a really personal space. I've been working on it for a few months and plan to finish up over the holidays (and share with all of you). Anyway, I opted to stick this label to a small sheet of paper and frame it, in order to add it to my gallery wall in there. I thought it would be a nice quirky addition.

I think I'll color in that piece of "tape" with a gold Sharpie....
y'know, since I'm a Chic Geek lol

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give Kidecals a 6. Their shipping was prompt and fast, checkout was easy (we like people who use PayPal) and the items that arrived were great quality. I would just suggest that they widen their selection of offerings if they want to attract another section of consumers.


Why don't you try Kidecals out for yourself and get 15% off your order by using the coupon code 'FASHION' at check out.

DD's Style File - Leather Weather

The leaves fall fast and furious around these parts and nowadays sunshine comes at a premium. But it does kind of make it perfect for those darker, edgier looks. Like leather!

I've wanted a pair of good leather pants for a while, but I have yet to see a pair with a budget friendly price tag. So, I finally gave in and went for the coated denim trend when I saw these on The Limited site. They looked very sleek and had a nice sheen. I figured they'd make a good substitute. You may recall seeing them in my "Fall Wardrobe Haul" post a few weeks ago.

 

 

 

Leopard foldover clutch - Forever 21
Layered necklaces - old
Teardrop earrings - Express

 

Cropped leather jacket - INC for Macy's
Cream blouse - Material Girl for Macy's
Black coated denim - The Limited
Peep toe booties - BCBGMaxAzria

Unfotunately, it's back to the fitting room for me... Because although they fit well the few times I tried them on, when it came to wearing them in “real life” they stretched out in the rear. That in itself wasn't terrible, but they have no belt loops, so they absolutely REFUSED to stay put and constantly slid down!

  

Even while taking these photos, I would periodically have to stop and do the tug and wiggle dance. I do have a curvier bottom, but I have other ankle crop and cigarette pants from The Limited that also do not have belt loops and I have no problems whatsoever with those.

 

So, even though I was very excited to get my hands on these, they are seriously my worst purchase from The Limited. Ever. I’m even slightly peeved that I can no longer return them. I hate wasting money.

 

However, I did notice they now offer a deep navy pair that does have belt loops, so if you're still interested, those could certainly be worth a try.

 

 

This top, on the other hand, is one I consider a win. It's a summer blouse with buttons down the back and a cut out between the shoulder blades, but I actually liked it better layered under heavier pieces. I'll be the first one to say that I was totally giving the side eye when Madonna and her beautiful daughter Lourdes launched this Material Girl line, but after making two or three purchases, I'm kinda changing my tune. Am I alone on that?

Today's post is also being linked up to Style Me Friday, hosted by The Fashionista Next Door.

 

 

 

 



DD's Style File - Dress Down Day

Dress down day, that's what the kids call it in school, right?

But really though, can you guys believe it?! I'm actually rockin' sweats and sneakers on the blog today! Yep, I actually own some, which some of my close friends totally would not believe I even own and wear when I'm not working out. Hey, I like to get comfortable too, and some days its just necessary, y'know.

Cold shoulder top - Forever 21
Gray joggers - Zara
Leopard foldover clutch - Forever 21
Black wedge sneaker - Simply Vera for Kohl's
Earrings - Stately Steel

I love me some joggers though, especially the ones with the tapered ankle. I'm the first one who wouldn't be shy about wearing sweatpants and heels. I know some say it's a fashion "don't," but for me it's a little glam meets a bit of street. However, for this day, it was all about cute, cool and comfortable - hence the wedge sneakers. But either way I'd toss on a big, slouchy sweater or sweatshirt and off I go.

I'm not big on studs, but I thought the neckline added a little baddie, no?

Denim jacket - Old Navy (old)

I really gravitate to off the shoulder stuff too, pretty much just as much as I love leopard print. And even though this top was a bit different from my normal style choices, it sang to me from the rack as I walked by (think Pier One commercial). You all might be slightly surprised to know that as much as I buy new things, this denim jacket is an oldie, but goodie. I got it at Old Navy for about $20 like nine years ago and it's a workhorse, it's takes me through spring and fall with a pashmina double wrapped around my neck, wards off the chill on cool summer nights, and adds some casual ease to business pieces.

I'm curious whether you ladies think I'd be committing a fashion crime by wearing stilettos and sweats, so feel free to drop me a comment below!


Until next time, beauties, have a fabulous week!

Diva's Desires - Fall Dresses

I haven't done one of these in a minute, but let me just put it out in the atmosphere...for fall, I desire dresses, but more specifically dresses with sleeves.

I want weather appropriate dresses that compliment the figure, by skimming, not clinging, to my shape.

 

I want work appropriate choices that keep me warm in the office without needing an extra layer, but are chic enough to take me through the weekend with a scarf swirled about my neck finished off with ankle booties and patterned tights.

 

Give me cozy knit fabrics in flirty silhouettes, that leave me feeling fly, not frumpy.

 

And if you please, as wrinkle free as possible, with forgiving cuts that leave room, because I like to eat. 

 

I mean, 'tis is the season for apple cider, pumpkin laced everything, sprinkled with a bag of Halloween candy and a dash of Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner - so a little wiggle room becomes very necessary.

 

(this post has been sponsored by a frustrating shopping experience, as all these lovely ideas found online are not so readily available in stores.)

 

DD's Style File - It's Fall Y'all!

I didn't want to accept it. I was so against it that it was like being dragged someplace you don't want to go, practically kicking, screaming and clutching on for dear life.

Fall.

Yep, as in the fall season. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate fall. I find it to be an absolutely beautiful time of year and I love all the smells associated with autumn. Along with the impending holiday season happiness. And yes, of course, the love of fall wardrobes.

However, it also means I have to let go of my summer frocks. Light as air, frothy materials and mini skirts with bronzy, bare legs.

And here in the northeast, fall is brief.

The brevity happens to be the biggest problem with fall. It means "winter is coming" (shout out to all my fellow Game of Thrones fans!). Which, to me, represents cold, cold, cold. Oh, and blizzards. And ugly, frumpy boots made for shoveling and snow stomping. And big marshmallow puffer coats made for warmth, not visual appeal...even if it is leopard lined and from Betsey Johnson.

*sigh*

But I've finally accepted that I might as well embrace fall and enjoy the comfortable temps while I can.

So I did what comes most naturally - went shopping!

Red coat - Target
Black & white striped dress - Target
Polka dot blouse - The Limited
Cobalt handbag - Target
Snake print belt - The Limited
Nude pumps - old

You'll notice that the majority of this look came from Target. I have a love/hate relationship with this coat though. I mean, I love it's vibrancy and the weight of it and the cute bird lining. But I hate it for the same reasons. Because I couldn't just leave it in the store on the rack due to all it's cuteness and fall appropriateness. All on top of my need for a new trench. BUT I didn't love the price. One bit.

$50 for a trench from Target is practically wallet robbery. Yet, I paid it anyway. On the opposite side, I got this dress off the clearance rack for ten bucks. And it was ten bucks very well spent, I plan to mix 'n mingle this in my wardrobe regularly.

My "something blue" is my gorgois cobalt handbag. Which I gazed at lovingly early last month, but ultimately put it down and left the store without it. Only to ponder its eye catching loveliness for several days following... Great thing though, I got a Target gift card for my birthday, so needless to say, I made getting my hands on this bag priority one.

I will say, it is not the most well constructed bag, compared to others I've seen or purchased at Target. The quality leaves a bit to be desired. However, I plan to not love it too hard (i.e., not make it my every day bag from October to April) and enjoy the time I have with it.

Another plus to all this, is that I finally signed up for a Target Red card, the debit version. So I do get 5% off purchases and free shipping from Target.com. Why in sweet baby Jesus' name I waited so long to do that, as much a I shop at Target, I do not know.

Sike...I'm lying.

I do know. It's because I didn't realize they offered a debit version. I thought that it was credit only and I didn't need another one of those. But that Red card matched with weekly mobile Target coupons can save you enough dollars to make you feel a little less guilty about that buggy full of merchandise you rolled out of the store with. So, if you don't have one already, I'd suggest you sign up asap! (no, this is not a sponsored post, I am just a Target fanatic)

Speaking of Target....  If you haven't yet done so, today is the last day to enter to win my Fall Fabulous Mini Haul giveaway featuring a Phillip Lim x Target Yellow Mini Satchel! Now go quickly while you still have time to enter!

Have a great weekend!



This post is also a submission for IFB Project #116.

DD's Style File - Toto, Is That You??

Ok, so the road obviously isn't yellow, but as I was editing I stopped and thought that this photo seriously made Toonchie and I look like our own little knockoff version of the Wizard of Oz...

Blue dot dress - The Limited
Yellow blazer - The Limited
Multi print shoe - Nine West
Multi color necklace - thrifted

But let's talk for a minute... Let's talk about how this was just not a great photo shoot day. Like this is seriously the only photo that came out well.

I decided to do a little multitasking and take pictures in between dropping my mom off for errands. However, imagine my delight once I got to my destination and I realized that I'd left my shutter release at home. I. Was. Tickled. Pink.

And to further add insult to injury, for whatever reason, the camera self timer did not want to play nice. So, if it wasn't for this one photo, it would've been a total waste of time. So thank goodness there was at least one in the bunch.

But thankfully my little guy was being on his best behavior (unlike the other day at the park), so I guess I can be grateful for that too... I do love this photo though, so I'm probably going to get a copy framed and add it to the family portrait wall in my house.

But I have to admit that it was rather hilarious to me when I realized the blue dress, reddish shoes and a pup chillin' at my side felt kinda reminiscent of an image of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz lol!

source

 

I will say, although the story of Oz is one of my all time favorites, I'm definitely feeling my polka dots over Ms. Dorothy's gingham....but of course I'm biased. *wink*

 

 

I hope all of you all of having a great start to your week! If you haven't yet done so, I encourage you to enter my Fall Fabulous Mini Haul featuring a Phillip Lim for Target Mini Satchel! There's only two more days before the giveaway closes!

Somebody Had a Birthday!

Hey y'all!! If you follow me on Instagram then you know my birthday was on Saturday. However, since my birthday is rather special to lil' ol' me, I usually try to make it a weekend event. So, Friday I took the day off work and treated myself a facial.

My loved ones and I headed over to Cleveland on Saturday to do some celebrating. To my disappointment, the weather was a bit cooler than I would have liked (considering Friday was a warm beautiful 75 degrees), but I soldiered on in my sleeveless birthday dress anyway. I found the chill to be tolerable...especially after a chocolate martini or two!

We had dinner at XO Prime Steaks, where I was treated to my first crème brulee. Mmmm! I was quite surprised that it was actually so tasty. The creamy mousse hidden under the layer of crunchy caramel was smooth and sweet, though not overly so. And the side of mixed berries created the perfect flavor compliment.

Dinner was followed up by a comedy show at the Improv, where I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks and my tummy ached. And my celebration weekend was capped off on Sunday as I spent some time cashing in a few of those gift cards! *smile*  Why wait?...

I hope you all had a weekend as enjoyable as I did and that your week is off to a fabulous start. And don't forget to head on back here on Thursday when I'll be kicking off my Fall Fabulous giveaway featuring a yellow Phillip Lim x Target mini satchel!



DD's Style File - Cropped Top

The weather here in the northeast is straight cray cray... One minute I'm going without sleeves and turning on the AC and the next minute I need to be pulling on a knit sweater. And I'm talking major swings in temps from not only day to day, but hour to hour.

It makes getting dressed in the morning such a friggin' challenge! "Mother Nature" pick a side, will ya!



 

Of course, when it's warm, what can you do other than grasp the opportunity while you got it. So I pulled out this pretty peach crop top, which I picked up during my very first trip to a Nordstrom Rack while visiting Cleveland.

I would have loved to wear it with a loose linen pant or silky pajama like bottom, leaving a hint of tummy exposed, however such is not my life at the moment, so I had to primp it up to be work appropriate.

Pairing it with my high waisted skirt still didn't hide enough of my skin, so I layered a black cami underneath, tucking it into my skirt allowed for a more seamless silhouette.

Peach crop top - Nordstrom Rack
Black pencil skirt - Target (old)
Pink multi pumps - Cosmopolitan for JCP
Metallic handbag - B. Makowsky
Gold earrings - old
Gold lionhead necklace & woven cuff - The Limited
Peach watch - ALDO

These loose crop tops made more than a few appearances on the runways at NYFW for Spring 2014, so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of this style to come.

I personally think that the bell-like action around the waist can potentially be unflattering, unless the bottom portion is styled appropriately. This can be accomplished by keeping the bottom streamlined, with a pencil skirt or pant or by ensuring that your waistline gets a little visible action, if you opt for a more billowy shape on your lower half. Even still, I would suggest that this be kept to a pant, as an A-line skirt could cause an awkward shape unless perhaps, unlike me, you're an Amazonian with legs for days. And definitely go for a high waist, no matter what.

In other news, my birthday is this weekend and I seriously can't get motivated enough to decide what I want to do. I've been so burned out the past few weeks, part of me just wants to sleep (sad, yes, I know). However, I only get one birthday a year, so I definitely know I need to do something! But hey, I've got a few more days to figure it out!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

DD's Style File - Pretty in Pink

Attending weddings always give you a chance to get all gussied up and put on your girliest of frocks (or sexiest, depending on the mood).

I loved the deep saturated pink of this dress and decided to go with it instead of a fab black peplum wiggle dress I had planned to wear instead. Which was ultimately a good decision because wouldn't you know another diva wore that same black dress!

The horror! It would've been right out of an episode of Fashion Police - "Witch, Stole My Look!"

  

Needless to say, I would've ended up going home and changing my clothes....and  ain't nobody got time for that!

So once again the fashion goddesses were on my side, thankfully. It worked out and I've decided to save the black number for my upcoming birthday.

The only downside to the evening was that I didn't get a chance to twirl this lovely little number around on the dance floor...  And anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely, positutely love. to. DANCE!

I dance at home while I'm cleaning, I dance with my nieces, with my dog, I've  even been known to get my two-step on at a store while shopping in the mall. (Especially at The Limited where they play great songs)

Pink ruffle dress - BCBGeneration
Polka dot handbag - Lulu Guinness for JCP
Black bow pumps - Kate Young for Target
Clear sunnies - Olsenboye
Watch - ALDO
3 finger ring - Forever 21

So what was the problem, right??? Well, it's a dinged up damaged pinky toe. It looks fine if you're eyeballing it, but after being smashed into a coffee table last year, it hasn't been quite right since. I spent several months wincing in pain during pedicures before it felt rather "normal" again. (And no, I didn't go to the doctor...I can tape it to its neighbor myself.)

That was until I accidentally banged it into a doorjamb last week and restarted the cycle. I then spent several days in flats or shoes that didnt restrict its movement. But Saturday arrived and it was time to suck it up. 

I had no problems walking and standing, but that pinky toe made sure I knew that being stuffed in those adorable pumps was the last thing that it wanted to do...sooo shaking my groove thang was kinda out of the question. 

No complaints here though, I still had a great time!