dress up files - a chicago fashion blog: August 2012

Affordable Leather Skirt

Splendid t-shirt | Forever21 skirt | Chanel handbag | Zara necklace (similar) and shoes (similar)

A big Giuliana and Bill fan, I was excited to finally dine at their restaurant, RPM in Chicago. No sightings though! I think they're expecting their baby any day now. Everything was delicious and it was the perfect setting for a girls night out.

I am dying for anything leather these days and I was so excited to find this faux leather skirt at Forever21 for $17!! They had several other options but they all looked really cheap, pleathery and shiny. This one had a more subdued matte look and I liked the zipper and quilted detailing. It fits great and is such an affordable way to try out the trend. Order one online here before they sell out!!

Leather Pants At Every Budget

Steal: Forever21 Ankle Zip Faux Leather Pants $24.80
Deal: Blank Denim Vegan Faux Leather Leggings $88
Splurge: J Brand Super Skinny Leather Pants $895

Looking ahead to Fall, leather is showing up everywhere and I'm definitely on board. J Brand came out with the most amazing fitting pair but I definitely don't have $900 laying around for leather pants. I started my search for a faux leather alternative that wouldn't break the bank...too much. Luckily, there is a ton out there right now and you can find a pair at every price point!

I currently have the faux leather leggings from Blank, Paper Crown and Zara all on order and am hoping at least one of them will fit and feel right.

Will you be partaking in the leather soiree?

Woven Shorts & Winner

Aritzia shirt (similar) | Lucca Couture shorts | Tory Burch flats | J.Crew hat | Michael Kors watch

Here's another extremely belated outfit post from our trip to Provence. These shorts are pretty much perfect summer shorts. Colorful, high-waisted, and textured...I've been wearing them non stop. Here, I paired them with a crisp white button down for a relaxed and comfortable sightseeing look. They are high waist-ed so I also love them with a boxier cropped top (like this one) or just a plain, white v-neck t shirt (my fave!) You can also tuck in a camisole and leave the button down open for a different look.

The BEST part is...the shorts are on sale here for $36 (down from $63!) so pick up a pair before they sell out!!

In other news...

Congratulations to Christie McDougall and Liz (ButterflyLilies) for winning Midi Ring Sets from Glam Rock Jewelry!!

What I'm Reading

To be honest, it's been a while since I've found a book I was really into. But here are some books that I've read and enjoyed recently.

Recommended to me by a reader on this blog, I really enjoyed this book. Admittedly, it did take me awhile to get into it and past all the medical jargon but once I was in, I could not put it down. This book really takes you away to a foreign place, living and feeling right along with the characters. And at the end of the day, isn't that escape the best part of reading?

I enjoyed this book immensely and finished it in record time. The story starts off in Korea around the time my parents were in their twenties and I felt like I was getting a glimpse into what life was like for them back then. The story also has a "Sliding Doors" element to it, where one decision affects every aspect of your future. This is a fast read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

And, of course like everyone else, I jumped on the naughty book bandwagon. I'm still in the middle of it and I can't seem to get into it yet.

What books have you been reading lately? I would really love some recommendations!

Mom, Inc

A friend forwarded this to me a couple of days ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. The possibility of owning a business while remaining at home with the kids is exhilarating. But it's difficult to think of an original service or product to offer and more than anything, fear stands in my way.

What are some of your dreams and what is standing in your way?

Also, the midi ring giveaway is ongoing and will end on Monday, 8/13 at 5 pm CST. Please enter if you haven't had the chance to yet!

Midi Rings Giveaway

I first became obsessed with midi rings when I saw them gracing the fingertips of fashionistas like Rihanna and Lauren Conrad. At the time, I didn't even know what they were called so searching for them online proved to be a challenge. "rings worn above knuckle", "knuckle rings", "tiny rings for finger tips"..you get the point.

My efforts finally led me to Catbird rings. I was in love but I wanted something more affordable. And then, at the Reward Style event, Mary had on the perfect set of midi rings. Simple, clean and minimalist: exactly what I was looking for. I immediately pounced on her for more info on the rings and I'm happy to share it with you all today. Thanks Mary!

Here are my set of 3 midi rings from Glam Rocks Jewelry on Etsy.

Here are the 3 rings on my hand, next to my love knot ring, from another vendor on Etsy.

I got the chance to meet Kristen, the designer behind Glam Rocks Jewelry and she graciously agreed to giveaway 2 sets of 3 midi rings! If you are interested in winning a set of 3 midi rings, please leave a comment with your email address. The giveaway will end on Monday, August 13 at 5pm CST.

Also, she is offering 20% off to my readers with the code glamrocks20. The code will be good through the end of August.