Now that the Christmas craziness has passed, New Year’s is on its way. If you are like most of America you probably have to go to work this week. To get into the spirit and excitement of a new year, I thought I’d pair a cute top with a classy tuxedo blazer. The purple adds a pop of fun to an otherwise simple black and white ensemble.
Because I work in a “business casual” office, I am able to wear this to work on most days. It’s appropriate for both a day spent entirely in the office or for a day meeting with clients. I imagine that I would rock an outfit like this if I was an art teacher. Especially on a field trip.
The subtle leopard print of this bunny’s smoking jacket compliments my leopard print coat, which I scored this past January at the Forever 21 in Mondawmin Mall. It was such a deal. (I heart post-Christmas sales!) If you’re local to Baltimore you should take advantage of this End of Season sale that is going on NOW until January 15th!
Outfit details: Tuxedo blazer, Banana Republic Outlet; T-shirt, L.A. Soul; Black jeans, Old Navy (here); old flats. Photography c/o Hennpict Studios.
Outfit: Vintage Gunne Sax
Can we just talk about how fabulous this dress is? First off, it’s a vintage Gunne Sax by Jessica McClintock. (So obviously, it’s already awesome.) The moment I laid eyes on it I was immediately filled with the Christmas spirit. Just kidding, not literally. But it did remind me of a more girlish version of Mrs. Claus. The bodice is what sells it for me. It’s so pretty and it’s the perfect shade of red for the holidays. I am going to wear this dress for Christmas Eve because it’s so apropos.
I stumbled upon this beauty at Bottle of Bread while wandering around Mt. Vernon. Are you a Baltimore resident? Have you moseyed into this store? Not yet? Well if not you need to get your butt in there right now!
Everything at Bottle of Bread is of great quality and is reasonably priced. As far as vintage wares go, all of the items that I saw in this wonderland were of excellent condition and easily affordable. Most importantly, there is a wide selection of sizes in regards to clothing and shoes, which are to die for! The shop even had vintage Mary Janes. From the 1940s. Made of genuine leather! There is something for everyone. Bottle of Bread is simply one of the best places to shop with your girlfriends in this city.
Are you a non-native that is otherwise unable to get to the magic in real life? Check out Bottle of Bread’s Etsy shop to view the current inventory that is available for shipping. Seriously, you will not be disappointed.
Again, thanks for reading. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas Eve’s Eve!
XO Melanie
Outfit details: Vintage Gunne Sax dress, Bottle of Bread (similar dresses here); old boots, ModCloth (similar). Photography by Ismael Carrillo.
Outfit: Mary Tyler Moore
I thought I would channel my inner Mary Tyler Moore when I went to the Pagoda Lighting at Patterson Park earlier this month. It was hosted by the Friends of Patterson Park. (It was a fun event with free hot chocolate and cookies!) Patterson Park is Baltimore’s largest park and it’s absolutely gorgeous. The best times to visit are throughout the spring and fall.
I wear this outfit when I want to feel ultra professional. This ensemble comes in handy for attending court hearings for clients or for lease signings with landlords. (In my haste to get to this event early, I forgot to add my black blazer to my outfit, but you get the idea.)
Outfit details: Dress, thrifted Polo Ralph Lauren from Vogue Revisited; shirt, Forever 21; old sheer tights; heels, Audrey Brooke. All photography c/o Ismael Carrillo.
Holiday Outfit feat. Titanium Melon
It’s almost Christmastime! And if you’re anything like me, you probably aren’t anywhere near done with your Christmas shopping. (I myself haven’t even started.) But fear not! Today I am featuring some jewelry by my cousin Kat from Titanium Melon. Not only is she a badass artist, but she also has an Etsy shop featuring the most adorable handmade pins, charms, earrings, and necklaces.
Not only do these goodies feature throwback video game characters and original artwork, but they are super affordable! Any one of these buttons or necklaces make a great gift for your Otaku-obsessed teen. Today I am wearing this adorable Pokeball necklace with my anime-inspired work ensemble.
This outfit pulls awesome triple duty. You can wear it for date night, to work, or for a holiday party with the fam. There’s only one word to describe this dress I was lucky enough to snag on the clearance rack of Forever 21- #winning! To add more coverage for work hours, I simply threw on a blazer that I thrifted from Vogue Revisited, one of Baltimore’s best consignment stores. I chose to wear black opaque tights instead of sheer to decrease the shock factor.
I added these Audrey Brooke pumps for a polished edge. Aren’t they just the cutest? Double win: These babies are my second most versatile pair of shoes. They go with most dresses and outfits in my closet. I don’t like spending tons of money on clothes or accessories but I do find it beneficial to invest in a pair of high quality shoes. Not only are these heels comfortable but they have also lasted me two years and counting. What was your best fashion investment?
Outfit details: Necklace, Titanium Melon; Blazer, thrifted from Vogue Revisited; Plaid dress (old), Forever 21; Heels, Audrey Brooke (similar).
All photography c/o Ismael Carrillo.
Outfit: Last Days of Fall
As we head into the first days of winter next week, I find it necessary to stop and smell the roses– or, more accurately, stop and actually frolic in the remaining fall leaves one last time. If you look closely enough, it looks as if I’m actually enjoying it. (Truth bomb, I am.)
When I conduct homeless outreach in the field, you can usually find me sporting this exact outfit. It has multiple layers and the pockets from the puffer vest come in handy (bad pun intended). The three layers of clothing are more than enough to get me through this relatively warm weather Baltimore is experiencing this time of year. No need for a bulky winter coat… yet. 
Two out of the five items I am wearing I stumbled upon in Baltimore’s finer thrift stores. J. Crew tops and Talbot pants at a steep discount? Thank you very much! The only items I bought new were the vest, the sweater, and the boots. I bought the puffer vest from the J. Crew at the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth Beach, Deleware last summer. I bought the sweater from Forever 21 last year. The ModCloth boots I bought (on sale) four years ago and they still look great. I love saving money on quality clothes. Can you see how happy it makes me?
Outfit details: Quilted vest, J. Crew Outlet (similar); Checkered shirt, thrifted J. Crew from Uptown Cheapskate; Sweater, Forever 21 (similar); Side-zip pants, thrifted Talbots from The Surprise Shop (similar); Boots, ModCloth (similar). All photography c/o Ismael Carrillo.
Casual Friday: Black Cut-out Dress Remix
Remember this dress from this post here? As any reader may know, I am a fan of versatile pieces. Just by adding an accessory and swapping out the flats for the boots, this dress gets a whole new look. 
My favorite part about this outfit are these adorable boots from ModCloth. I can wear them to work when conducting homeless outreach, casually on the weekend, or when I am hiking for fun. I bought these about four years ago and I must say, I have no regrets. The neutral color of these boots can be paired with blue jeans, black pants, or khakis in addition to skirts and dresses! (Be prepared for more posts featuring these babies!) I couldn’t find the exact pair but there is a link to similar boots at the end of this post.
Outfit details:Black cut-out dress (old) Urban Outfitters; Vintage belt; Boots (old), ModCloth (similar). All photography c/o Ismael Carrillo.
Outfit: Chicwish Chic
This is skirt is part of my first order from Chicwish and I have to say that the quality is superb! It has a unique design and it can be worn to work or dressed up for a more formal occasion. I love versatility in my clothing, and luckily this skirt can be worn three seasons out of the year! I would highly recommend Chicwish for all of the professional ladies out there. With a large selection of work appropriate skirts and cute dresses, the possibilities are endless. Chicwish also has great, responsive customer service. I plan to buy from this retailer again and soon for the upcoming holiday season.
Although this outfit is rather formal for my particular workplace, I would wear this outfit to the office if I know that I don’t have an outreach excursion scheduled for the day. Or to a company holiday party. I recently found a tailored black blazer that I think would look smashing with this outfit.
The weather was wet and kind of miserably cold when my photographer and I shot this outfit. So we warmed ourselves up in one of my favorite cafes in Baltimore. The Bun Shop serves sweet and savory buns with an assortment of delicious coffees and freshly brewed teas. If you are ever in Baltimore and are looking for a relaxed atmosphere to meet up with friends and have something warm to sip, I highly recommend The Bun Shop!
Outfit details: Old sweater dress worn as a top; Vintage 1950s dinner ring; Skirt, Chicwish; Heels, Audrey Brooke. All photography c/o Hennpict Studios.
Casual Friday: Wannabe Boxcar Kid
Sometimes it’s nice to just throw on a dress and go. It’s was a beautiful fall day and sometimes when you are out exploring you just stumble upon the perfect props for a photo shoot. Enter these historic trains from the B&O Railroad.
Obviously, I wouldn’t wear this dress to my day job. But it is a rather elegant dress for date night. Sometimes I rock my pair of Audrey Brooke leopard print heels with this dress when I go dancing at my favorite dance club. (I’m not hinting at any date night ideas or anything… BUT if you are ever in Baltimore you should check out Latin Palace. The ambiance is awesome, the music is great, and the food is delicious!) Actually, I might just do that this weekend or next. If I do, I will be sure to share the some outfit photos with ya’ll!
Outfit details: Black cut-out dress (old) Urban Outfitters (similar); Flats, thrifted from Uptown Cheapskate. All photography c/o Ismael Carrillo.
Outfit: Postcards from Paris
I have always wanted to go to Paris. What with all the cultural history, the fashion, the art, the macaroons– it is my dream vacation spot! But alas, I couldn’t afford to make the trip this year. So I did the next best thing: I convinced my talented friend to snap a few photos in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Baltimore while sporting my own romanticized version of a Parisian-inspired ensemble.
I wore this outfit for my birthday but I would also wear it to work. Today, I threw on a black blazer to make it more professional. Luckily this outfit can be worn three seasons out of the year. Talk about versatility!
Outfit details: Vintage pearl necklace; Striped top, Forever 21; 1950’s diamond dinner ring; Skirt, SheIn; Flats, the Gap
All photography c/o Ismael Carrillo
Casual Friday: A Homage to Frida Kahlo
Because Halloween is coming up, I am always searching for work-appropriate outfits for the office. With the full-length coverage and the flower crown, you get a dash of fun and the necessary professional modesty. Besides, what better way to pay respect to one of the world’s first feminist artists?
Although I could get away with wearing this to work (my workplace is very accepting) I would prefer to dress it up with a denim jacket to add some structure to an otherwise flowing dress. I plan to purchase one from American Eagle during their next sale. A fitted neutral blazer would also add semblance of professionalism.
Can you spot the DIY in this post? Yes, I made this flower crown. It is super easy to make. The best part is that you only need three items, all of which can be bought at the Dollar Store! All you need is a plastic headband, a bouquet of silk roses, and some hot glue and you got yourself your very own flower crown. 
Outfit details: Dress, Milagro; Leather flats, thrifted from Hunting Ground
All photography c/o Geek Photography
Beyond Basic 
