Petite Fashion Challenge #18: Date Night

This month's challenge is hosted by Amber at Easy Petite Looks. She challenged us to put together an outfit for a date night or a girls' night out.

Allow me to apologize for the horrible indoor photos! I left this challenge to the last minute and it was raining by the time I got around to taking the pictures.

Here is my date night outfit. It's been so horribly hot in Boston I couldn't wrap my head around anything more than a sheer, flowy mini dress and some comfy wedges. Anything more, and I was probably going to melt. Also, this whole outfit cost me somewhere under $60! (I can't remember how much the purse was...I know it was cheap...but the dress was $12 and the shoes were $24.99.)

Dress: Ross ($12.00) / Shoes: Target ($24.99) / Necklace: gift / Bag: honestly no idea.... :)

Please go on and check out the other entries (with undoubtedly better pictures!) over at Easy Petite Looks.

Academic/Professional

Sweater: H&M / Dress, worn as a skirt: Target / Scarf: Forever21 / Booties: H&M / Bag: Olivia + Joy / Glasses: Coach

   

 On the verge of beginning graduate school (ohmygoodness, I leave in less than a month), I've been thinking a bit about what maintaining this blog as a graduate student might look like. I'm still pretty embarrassed about the blog around anyone I know not-through-the-internet, mostly because fashion and style are, often, considered frivolous and vain--two things I hope not to be. As the fantastic-and-sadly-discontinued blog academichic put it: "[Academics] are suppose to be concerned with much more important things and I guess I assume professors and even colleagues would consider this a silly waste of time."

I know that many (if not most) fellow style bloggers out there are professional ladies, and my guess is a few of them/you deal with this issue as well.

So my questions are, do you talk about your blog in your personal life?

How do you think it fits in with your role as a professional woman?

Review: Old Navy Tie-Hem Draped Shirt

Top: Old Navy Women's Tie-Hem Draped Shirt (size S, buy here, grey and blue for 10.99, down from $29.94) / Jeans: PacSun / Shoes: Macy's / Scarf: local boutique / Bag: Olivia + Joy / Bracelets: bought in England

I've been on an ongoing quest for shirts that are not short sleeved, solid-colored, cotton v-necks (my go-to for many, many years), so I was super happy to run across this shirt at Old Navy. At $10.99, down from $29.94, the price was right for me to buy it in both this grey and a gorgeous, deep royal blue.

I seriously love this shirt. The material is soft and the drape is nice and weighty, making it look far more expensive than it is. I could see pairing the shirt with casual skirts, over dresses, and of course with skinny jeans. I love versatile items that can compliment numerous outfits, so this definitely fits the bill. I bought both shirts in a size S for a slightly slouchy, relaxed fit, but I might return one for an XS, to have a bit of variety.

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In other news, I'm so glad I sucked up the courage to photograph at this location. These stairs are only two blocks from my house, and I've been meaning to photograph here forever, but...they are super-public, and I'm terrified of people seeing me taking photos of myself, because I'm pretty sure it looks as weird as it sounds.

Since I'm moving in a month, I figured it was now or never and I finally did it. Granted, halfway through a man stopped about 30 yards in front of me and vogued in my general direction, making muscle-man poses and laughing (I wish I was making that up.) Nonetheless, I persisted, if only slightly red in the cheeks, and I'm quite happy with the outcome!

Hope you are all having a great day so far!

Stay tuned for an announcement of the next Petite Fashion Challenge, which I am so happy to be hosting!

Wondering What

 Top, skirt, and boots: Urban Outfitters / Bag: Alice + Olivia / Tights: H&M

Ah, look. A perfectly in-focus palm tree trunk.... Grr. Out of focus photos (that I thought were in-focus until I uploaded them) are the worst! Especially when I'm pretty happy about my outfit.

Speaking of the outfit: I've had this grey skirt for years and bought it because I was sure it would quickly become a wardrobe staple. An easy color, a simple shape, something that would pair with many shirts without too much effort. However, I always find myself stumped when I reach for it...something about how tight it is makes me unsure how loose the top should be, and a little self-conscious to wear it without tights underneath.

Anyone have a suggestion as to what to pair with this grey jersey skirt?