BROADWAY STYLE

I got to see a few Broadway shows on a recent quick trip to New York. (Spoiler alert: they were overwhelmingly wonderful.) I love getting dressed up for theater but also have to keep practical limitations in mind, namely that my entire trip's worth of clothes has to fit in a carry on and that formal Broadway attire isn't the norm any more. I try to bridge the difference. Here's what that meant this time around.

Bright trapeze dress + boyfriend cardigan + tights + flats

Graphic tee + patterned midi skirt + (comfy!) heels

In the first look, the cardigan gives the dress a more relaxed vibe. In the second, the skirt takes center stage and elevates the t-shirt. Both make a fun yet chic statement for a night at the ballet.

What do you wear to Broadway shows or to the theater?

FIXED UP

To say I was excited for my second Stitch Fix order to arrive is to put it verrrrry lightly. While I allowed myself to be totally surprised by not peeking at the items last time, I Googled my way through every single item the second I got my shipment notice this time around. I couldn't find two of the pieces online, so there was still an element of surprise, but I was psyched about what I did see! That included something I had pinned on my Pinterest board and had been eyeing for quite a while. In the notes for this fix I asked for summer clothes and noted that I had never (ever!) found a pair of shorts that I truly loved (I know!). My stylist this time around was Julie and she brought it. I absolutely felt like she got me and my style right off the bat. That's not easy to do with me and I give her all the props in the world for it. Thanks, Julie!

If you've never tried Stitch Fix, check out my first review for more details. I've found myself getting annoyed with regular shopping recently because I can't try on the items with everything else in my wardrobe, in different lighting and for as many hours as I want. That, plus the super fun element of surprise and the fact that I can't easily source any of these items near me, are some of the biggest reasons why I love Stitch Fix and schedule fixes roughly quarterly. I get to refresh my wardrobe and try something new. I couldn't be happier with that.

Now, onto the clothes! 

1. Laila Jayde Cheryl Chevron Stripe V-Neck Tank ($54)

I pinned this on my SF inspiration board a while back and was so excited to try it out. I loved the pink and grey color combination, loved the cut, and thought the style was perfect for me in the summer. Unfortunately, this tank was just too big. I found myself constantly pulling it up by the straps and under the arms. Plus, as you can see, the high-low hem dips really low in back. I'm definitely between sizes on top and this just fell to the wrong end of the spectrum. Regrettably, it had to go back.

2. Mystree Wendy Crochet Detail Hi-Lo Dress ($68)

First things first: I loved this dress. The high-low hit me perfectly in front and in the back. The stripes and crochet detail in front felt fresh and a little edgy, and the fit was perfect. I really struggled with whether to keep it. Ultimately, a few practical concerns won out: I was worried about the cost of the dress versus the number of wears I would get out of the very thin jersey fabric, and I just don't wear casual summer dresses that much. This one couldn't do double-duty at work and I couldn't rationalize that I would get enough wear out of this dress to make it worthwhile. I still think of it fondly. 

Fingers: Revlon Top Speed 320 Jaded

Toes: Julep Lauren

3. Zad Zoe Open Shape Metal Earrings ($32)

I definitely liked these, I just couldn't justify them versus the price tag. A statement piece, absolutely, but a pair of delicate everyday earrings, not so much.

4. Collective Concepts Mason Abstract Chevron Print Layered Tank ($58)

I adored the colors and the pattern on this tank. The fabrication was great - it could've just as easily gone under a blazer for work and added a fresh pop. I just wasn't completely sold on how it fit me. It felt boxy and not particularly flattering on my body. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the layered hem at the bottom. Maybe it would've worked in the darker blue or the orange, but I didn't love so much of the lighter color popping out.

5. Liverpool Narra Cuffed Denim Short ($44)

Yes, I saved the best for last. I found shorts that fit me! I can't believe Julie got it on one try when I have been trying to figure this out for years (not an exaggeration). These have no waistband gap, aren't too short or too long, can be cuffed (as shown) or unrolled, are a perfect go-with-everything dark denim wash, and just generally feel like I could live in them all summer totally comfortably. A win on all fronts, plus a great price ($24 after the styling fee was applied!). I was/am completely thrilled.

Any lingering questions about Stitch Fix?

Disclosure: I paid for my Stitch Fix as I do all of my clothes. If you place your first Stitch Fix order through the links on this page, I get a small credit toward a future fix. Many thanks if you do!

FASHIONABLY SURPRISED

Historically, I would NEVER order anything online that I hadn't pored over for at least several days, if not weeks or months. But just lately, I've been taking more risks with a couple of fashion websites to see what happens. First, I gave Stitch Fix a try. Then, last month, I took the ultimate (non-returnable!) leap with ModCloth's Stylish Surprise.

ModCloth periodically offers Stylish Surprises as $5-$10 "mystery" items on their website. You choose your category - apparel, shoes, or apartment - and size (if applicable) and they send you literally anything. I assume they use it to clear out extra stock seasonally. I'm totally okay with that, because I got two super cute items for $20 + $4 shipping. You can't return anything that doesn't fit (we all know how widely brands vary in sizing) or isn't your style. I read a lot of reviews before clicking "Buy" and some people reported a box full of duds. Others got super lucky with gorgeous dresses and other items they loved. I went against my no-surprises nature and bought two of the apparel items, hoping that I'd like one and feel good about dropping $24 on it. In the end, I liked them both!

The first item was this dark purple jersey dress with elastic waist and included skinny belt. It fit beautifully, is totally my color (hard to see in the pictures, where it skews almost black), and is super soft and very versatile. In the pictures below, I dressed it up for work, using the belt and adding a lace cami, zigzag tights from H&M, and silver peacock-etched hoop earrings.

The second item was a plaid blazer with elbow patches. It's the slightest bit smaller than I'd like it to be, but as long as I wear something sleek underneath it totally works. The buttons are a little loose so I need to quickly re-stitch those before I wear it, so for now it's on my dress form. I love how the piece has my menswear vibe but is still super fitted, and I can imagine throwing it on with a white tee and skinny jeans or with a skirt for work.

All in all, I'm thrilled with what I got and now shamelessly have the "surprise" bug. I can't wait to do it again! Are there any other fashion surprises I should try?

Disclosure: I paid for my Stylish Surprise as I do all of my clothes. If you make your first ModCloth purchase through the links on this page, we both get $15 to spend there. Win-win!

RUN IT

After I finished playing basketball in high school, I struggled to find ways to work out that I actually liked. When I lived in New York and walked absolutely everywhere, that helped, but once I got back to Madison, just shooting around on a local court wasn't really cutting it. Meanwhile, I thought running was the worst thing I could imagine doing to myself. (When I played basketball, I would run up and down the court all day, but if we just had a running workout? I lagged behind everyone and hated every second of it.)

Then, one day, after months of taking quiet walks to a nearby lake, I thought, "I'd like to be moving faster." Yes, it was as ridiculously simple as that. I thought, "I'm bored with this now," and started jogging. I had to work my way up to being able to run for even a minute straight, but I just kept moving. I've had a lot of stops and starts over the years, most recently because of a totally unrelated knee injury. But I keep coming back to it, and most importantly, I enjoy it more and more. 

Below are the three things that make the biggest difference for me in motivating myself to run.

1. Love What You Wear
I used to work out exclusively in old t-shirts and basketball shorts. There's nothing wrong with that, but as someone who loves fashion, I eventually learned I would be waaay more likely to want to throw on my gear and pound the pavement if I felt good about how I looked and my clothes were truly functional. Seamless, wicking fabric is truly a revelation. I went to Target and pulled a bunch of pink and black C9 by Champion layers of running gear from the clearance rack. I've only had to add a few items here and there over the years - those compression tights still work great. Below are a few of my favorite items.

More Old Navy...

2. Music Matters
I have playlists for everything from driving to showering and running is no exception. Mine include a healthy mix of rock and hip hop and I pepper in some pure pop of the kind that makes me smile no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I go to one of those songs if I need a boost (no one does this better than Ke$ha, and "Blow" is my absolute go-to). I also look for stuff that makes me want to push harder for speed, like the number embedded above. A friend just asked me for a Broadway-musical theater running playlist and I was more than happy to oblige. Check it out on Spotify! (It's very heavy on the rock musicals, of course.)

3. Make it Fun
I like to run outdoors rather than on a treadmill so that I feel stimulated and actually go somewhere. I try to vary my route every single time I run and take the time to look at the urban scenery around me. I also try to take advantage of my surroundings. If I run past a park with an empty swing set, I will stop and swing. It still feels like flying 20 years later, and it's a fun diversion halfway through a run. If I take it too seriously, it becomes work. If I keep myself on my toes, mix it up, and indulge in my inner child, it's exhilarating.

MY FIX

A colleague of mine is super well-versed in everything subscription boxes and has already gotten me addicted to Julep's nail polish. When she told me about Stitch Fix, I had to give it a try. 

Stitch Fix is basically a mail order personal stylist. You choose when to receive a box (or "fix") and answer a bunch of questions about your body and style. Stitch Fix's stylists curate a box of five items for you and they're shipped to your door. You try them on, decide what to keep and what to return, make your selections online and give feedback about your items. You only pay for what you keep and the $20 styling fee is credited toward any items you purchase. If you buy all five, you get 25% off everything. I reasoned that even if I bought none of the items, $20 was a great price for someone hand-picking five unique items in my style and sending them to my door to try!

Let's review my first Stitch Fix box!

They include a note from your stylist responding to your requests and needs, plus little cards suggesting how to style each item.

1. Fun2Fun Montreal Arrow Printed Henley Blouse

This top feels great, flows over the body well, and looks polished but not too buttoned up. Plus, you know I love a graphic print. At $48, it's more than I would generally spend on a shirt, but I tried on a few different looks and reasoned that its versatility made it worth the splurge.

2. Last Tango Bernice Chiffon Pleated Skirt
I had noted I was on the hunt for a black faux leather skirt and my stylist included this one as a substitute. It was a great idea, but the chiffon is just too flouncy and light a fabric for my style and life. There was also a seam that wouldn't lie flat, and while I know accordion pleats are hard to seam, it was still a silhouette issue. Even at $28, this had to be sent back.

3. Kut From The Kloth Danny 5-Pocket Knit Pants
I have no idea about these brand names, either. These skinny black knit pants actually fit better than most pants do on me, but the knit was thin and the pants were skintight. I only need so many pairs of black leggings and at $78, these just weren't worth it. (I'm wearing these in the photos for items #1 and #5.)

4. 41Hawthorn Maddy Ponte Fit & Flare Dress
I hadn't mentioned this to my stylist, but I had been on the lookout for a solid color dress that I could wear to work, especially with blazers. I love this dress' scoop neck, empire waist, fit and flare silhouette, and how it hits right above the knee. As you can see, I played around with several different styling options and I like them all! The proportions just work, which isn't easy to find. That's why I'm keeping it despite the $78 pricetag.

5. THML Lyla Striped Button-Front Cotton Cardigan
This was a good idea with a few key execution issues. I'm not much for pastels, especially peach, so I would have liked to see the color panels be brighter and/or darker. The fit was also strange. I have long arms, but the sleeves still pooled on my wrists (check the picture). The torso was the exact opposite - it was too short as it barely hit my low waist. Finally, as you can see below, there was a bit of fabric pooling in the lower peach panel. This $64 sweater clearly wasn't in the running.

Overall, I'm super happy with my "keeper" blouse and dress and scheduled another fix for a few months out. I'll be ready for some spring and summer items by then. The entire process is fun, especially the anticipation and excitement of unwrapping five new items without setting foot in a store. I'm already looking forward to checking out what the stylists pick next!

Have you tried Stitch Fix? Any questions about the process?

REAL WOMEN WEAR TIES

It was Dylan Lauren (daughter of Ralph) who made me want to wear a necktie. She stood next to Project Runway's Tim Gunn in a fitted shirt and standard-width tie (not extra skinny just because she's a lady) in the brightest candy colors. I sat straight up and thought, "I need to rock that look."

It took me a little while to find the right ties and the right way to wear. For the ties themselves, I go with standard widths just like Dylan and follow her lead of slightly more feminine styles (for me, that means a purple and silver pattern in one, a solid chartreuse on another). I wear them with standard knot and dimple, but just slightly pulled away from my neck for a more casual bent without looking sloppy or over-styled. I pair them with a fitted collared shirt and sometimes a fitted cardigan. A pencil skirt or slim pants and a ballet flat or kitten heel (rather than a loafer or oxford, so that multiple menswear pieces don't combine to veer toward costume) complete the look. Mostly, I try to keep a little humor and a lot of feminine detail in a necktie-based ensemble for balance. Check out a few styling examples below! My next goal is to tackle the bowtie (without looking twee).

I was inspired to share my love of reappropriating menswear while reading Leandra Medine's new book Man Repeller (based on the blog of the same name). I've never encountered someone whose approach to style is so similar to mine in so many ways. Each chapter is titled for a special item of clothing or accessory in Leandra's closet and the chapter shares the story behind it and her experiences (and often misadventures) wearing it. A great read for twenty-somethings and, of course, anyone who loves fashion. That goes triple for anyone who, like both me and Leandra, has fawned over perfectly draped harem pants, leather overalls, and oversized blazers.

I also pin a fair amount of menswear-inspired work looks on my "Work" Pinterest board - follow me there for everything ladyties and much more.

FANTASTIC

I saw Elton John live just outside of Chicago on a recent Saturday night (yes, it's alright for fighting - we all have to get that out!) for what I believe was my fifth EJ concert. He's simply one of my all-time favorite artists and he never disappoints. I recommend trying to sit on the side of the stage (but only the audience left side) if you can; you get closer than any other section (except the first few rows on the floor), you get to see his piano work firsthand, and the tickets are generally not at the top price because you're not looking straight on. You get plenty of Elton face time between songs, too! Check out my show photos below and a peek at what I wore (rainbow glitter manicure optional but highly encouraged)!

Blazer: H&M (out of stock)

Jeans: Old Navy

Raglan: eBay

Shoes: Boston Store (may restock at Amazon)

WARMING UP

This week's challenge is all about scarves. I love them and am extremely specific about them. (Shocking!) My favorites are big and square so that I can fold them in half along the diagonal, let the point rest on my chest, and pull each end around. While square scarves are harder to find and not trending right now, they definitely work best for me. I am cold pretty much constantly from October through May so piling up a cozy scarf, half gloves, and half a dozen layers is my fall and spring M.O. This scarf from Urban Outfitters rarely spends 24 hours in my closet. It goes with absolutely everything, which allows me to keep making bright choices in the rest of my clothes, like today's hoodie ... 

Scarf: Urban Outfitters

Hoodie: ModCloth

Jeans: Old Navy

Gloves: H&M (sold out)

Jacket: Forever 21 (old)

Shoes: Cliffs by White Mountain

Earrings: Claire's 

Nails: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength 18 Private I

In case you can't see the earrings in the closeup, I'm calling them out here because I'm pretty obsessed with them. I stumbled on them while looking for jewelry to pile on for my Halloween costume and they are a perfect combination of understated and edgy, matching my style perfectly. I haven't shopped at Claire's in probably 10 years, but I give it up to them for their front and back earrings. My friend got an adorable dinosaur pair and I may have also purchased a pink headphone pair. 

Basically, I want everything I wear to say something about me, but I'd prefer not to have everything speak at once. I adore how these, much like my UO scarf, help me strike that balance. They are definitely two of my workaholic pieces.

ALL BLACK EVERYTHING

This is my very first fashion post on this blog! It's probably pretty obvious that I love style, and one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Eboni of Fashionista Next Door, made it so darn easy to link up to her Style Me Friday challenge that I just couldn't resist anymore. Here's hoping this becomes a regular feature! (And that I get much, much better at fashion self portraits. Yes, I need way more light.)

I love color and pattern like no other (if you peeked into my closet right now you'd probably conclude that absolutely nothing matches anything else) but the all black everything challenge let me play with texture, pattern and sheen in ways I can't when colorful patterns are fighting for attention, too. 

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target

Tights: H&M (sold out)

Boots: Born "Lizzie"

Rings: H&M

Polish: Colorblocked Revlon 320 Jaded and Sally Hansen 220 Celeb City

Art: Xavier Nuez Alley #38

JUST HAVING FUN

Halloween is probably my favorite holiday - I love, love, love doing a total makeover and inhabiting someone else for a few hours - but I haven't dressed up in a few years for lack of a place to show off a fab costume. We did a major costume contest at work this year, though. Cue Lauren to go a little nuts.

Since Cyndi Lauper's show was fresh in everyone's minds, it seemed the perfect time to whip out some fishnets, neon eyeshadow and tulle. I also get teased about my age, and proving I could go full-on 80s was a bonus wink to my colleagues. Check out some of my inspiration and the final product below.