Red Leather Blazer with Black Jeans

Kat's Style Formula

It has taken me a long time to find a style that speaks to me and FOR me. In the last 6 months or so, I believe that I have found a style formula that works for me. 

Work: 3 pieces - 2 formal, 1 casual/edgy piece. Off 

Duty: 3 pieces - 1 formal, 2 casual edgy pieces.

This is a work outfit, so I break the dress down into "top" and "bottom." Since the top is very intricate, more fitting for evening wear... it serves as my edgy piece. The "skirt" portion fits like a pencil skirt, so it's business/formal, etc. If I pair it up with a leather jacket, there's too many edgy pieces and would not be appropriate for work. So, I chose a very basic suit jacket that can be worn in any boardroom. Dress is from JC Penny. The Jacket is Ann Taylor Loft. The shoes is the BORN sandals I wore with the pink leather jacket from yesterday's picture.

Here is a picture of the shoes.

Pink Leather Blazer with Black Dress

I love love love love leather jackets, but they tend to be more rock and roll or biker chic.  I wouldn't mind either one, but I love them so much that I want to be able to wear them to the office.  So begun my journey for color leather jackets.  Here is one in soft baby pink.  This one is from St John by Marie Gray (the brand that makes sweater suits).

Jones New York has been a favorite of mine for work clothes and this dress is no exception.  Beautiful on its own or as a base for showcasing my color entourage of jackets and blazers.  Icing on this cake is this beautiful BORN black leather sandals.  Finally found it in my price range and I grabbed it.

Hmong Purses From Ebay Seller

I saw this wonderful seller on ebay.  I bought this purse and another one.  They are both gorgeous.  Will need to find time to take a photo of the other one.  This is a wonderful seller to work with.  Easy communication.

Yes, I did wear this outfit to work with this purse.  The dress is a lace-ish from JC Penny.  The leather jacket is from Catherine Malandrino.  And of course, my trusty BORN black mary jane shoes.

Here is the link to the ebay seller.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/141340308122?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

This auction is still going as of August 5, 2014.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164330168/hmong-classic-handbag?ref=listing-shop-header-4

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188870520/handmade-vintage-ethnic-hmong-tote?ref=shop_home_active_10

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131082576924?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Total Cost = $125 plus $15 Shipping and Handling.

Black Lace Dress

I wanted this black lace dress badly.  There were hardly any and the few that ebay had were size small.  When I saw this one in my size, I grabbed it.  The price is a little more that what I normally spent on a dress, but it's BLACK... it's LACE... it's BCBG!  

This is really really bad camera quality, but I promise to re-do this photo when I get my camera back.  I was attending the Jacksonville, Florida Chambers of Commerce 2014 Celebration so I decided to wear my new black BCBG lace dress.  I knew that many of the other ethnicity will be wearing their traditional clothes, but it was still work related so I wanted to play it safe.  The only "Hmong-inspired" piece I added was the Hmong padau belt.  This belt usually have coins attached to it with beads, but I bought this specifically to wear to wear with American clothes so I did not bother to attach the silver coins.  The shoes are my trusty red BORN mary janes.  Yes, I live in BORN shoes.  No sense in killing my feet just to look good.  I topped it off with my new favorite "formal leather jacket."  It's made by Tahari.  I have been wanting a black Tahari leather jacket for a long time.  This one is perfect.  It is in the shape of a blazer and and fits perfectly everywhere. 

My JC Penny Pearl black lace dress.  It is quite short, so I added a Bebe Satin moto trench to balance it out.  finished with nude Guess heels.