channeling cyndi lauper.

i've gone a little awol on the blog lately, thanks to training for my triathlon, working, doing the family thing, and making excuses, apparently. the real reason is i just haven't really felt inspired for some reason and decided to take a short break. what finally spurred me to get motivated today? the 80s, of course!

a friend is throwing a birthday party for her sister-in-law tonight, which includes everyone getting decked out in their finest neon, tulle, leather, lace and leggings (wait...is this the 80s, or 2012? sounds the same) for pre-drinks and dinner before heading to muvico to catch tom cruise belt it out in rock of ages. and if it's 80s, i'm all about it, as you can see from my past experiences...or just a peek into my closet for that matter...

this first photo is from my 21st birthday when i lived in tallahassee. it's fsu tradition for girls to throw a "waltz," which really just means picking a theme for everyone to dress in before hitting every bar along tennessee street. most girls picked a theme they'd look hot in - barbie and g.i. joe, kentucky derby, playboy bunny, etc. - but not me. i went with 80s prom and rocked a hideous hot pink, off-the-shoulder puffy bridesmaid dress from goodwill; lace fingerless gloves; a cassette tape charm necklace; big strands of pearls; crimped hair and bright blue and pink makeup, hence the ridiculous face i'm making above. only some of my friends were amused by my choice of theme, including my high school girls here, casey and ali, who played along in their cyndi lauper-inspired tutus and side ponies.

i went with something a little classier (or as classy as you can get in tight neon clothing) about two years ago at a friend's house party. shockingly, i already owned all of these items like the leather vest, purple converse and purple houndstooth wayfarers, which you've probably seen in past posts. what i really love about this pic is mark's 80s volleyball player look...complete with socks and sandals.

and let's not forget aly's legwarmers...

want to know what we'll be wearing around cityplace tonight? follow on instagram or check back over the weekend for a new post. 

preview: my husband has some sweet vintage gnr shirts i've been begging to wear for a year now and i finally got approval on one, and my friend julie found a pretty little neon green accessory studded in rhinestones to tie it up with :)

the rise of converse...again

pete wentz and kristen stewart may have caused the recent spread of chuck taylors, but converse sneakers have been alive and 'kicking' since 1908. from basketball, badminton and world war II, to 80s concert stages, twilight sets and even the red carpet, these rubber sneaks have been everywhere.

i bought my purple chucks for $20 on a whim in hot topic about five years ago. it may have merely been an exchange for a gift, but that is still one of the best shoe purchases i've made to this day (considering the heels, sandals and running shoes practically falling out of my closet right now, this is a huge statement).

they added style to my uniform at my college restaurant job. while other students wore rainbows and crocs they helped me pass as a brit during my six weeks in london. and last week they protected my feet from the dirt and rain at the no doubt/paramore concert at the cruzan amphitheatre...which is when i realized...my old shoes helped me fit right in with all the high schoolers! (if my gossip girl and twilight obsession didn't already do that for me...)

my bright plum shoes, which i wore with a long, baggy grey tank and black leggings, stood out among the sea of black converse. check out this other stand-out pair i found on an unsuspecting concert-goer...

if, like me, you are not a fan of those, check out three other options converse offers: the chuck taylor all star slip in conch shell, chuck taylor all star double tongue in blue & yellow bee print or the jack purcell ltt in white & navy seersucker print, all of which are perfect to match a colorful j.crew outfit on a summer day in palm beach. there's a fun make-your-own section on the converse web site you'll want to check out too.

converse also works with target now on some cheaper options of the choice sneaks. my vote is for the converse one star oxford, but definitely steer clear of the mary janes and wedges, which i can guarantee will not be emerging on the feet of our favorite vamps or other celebs.

which converse pattern/style fits your personality? are you a pink & purple checkered low-top girl, or a are you craving the ozzy-inspired, buckled jack purcells?

out of the closet: in my yellow skirt

ok, so i'm a little behind in my posting, but in my last post i talked about my mom's holiday dress, and my easter outfit turned out to have a story too.

i typically wear this forever 21 faux silk skirt to work or out at night, but because of the yellow color, i thought it might work for easter too...which got me thinking (and experimenting!)...there are actually a lot of ways to wear this gold skirt...

on sunday i wore it with a white ruffled shirt and accessorized it with gold coach sandals, a gold bangle from forever 21 and gold hoops (not seen here) from anthropologie. this dressed-up daytime look is good for a brunch or afternoon tea.

this is my favorite because the colors don't really match, but it works anyway. i also love all of the pieces separately, which helps. they include a red ruffled tank from zara, black michael kors gladiator heels and a simple black bangle from forever 21. this look is good for going out to dinner and then wherever the night takes you.

with an intricately patterned, silk bcbg blazer, kenneth cole satin shoes and layered gold chains, this look is good for a dressed-up work event because it takes a simple suit up a notch.

so this is one i was experimenting with...i thought it would be fun to wear the bright blue leggings with the shiny gold skirt. the plaid jessica simpson wedges add the perfect touch for a summer night out, while the white, sleeveless tommy hilfiger top and vintage pendant are just extras to the already color-energized outfit.

if you like lsu, this one's for you! as a former nole, i'm not necessarily a fan of the school myself, but purple and yellow have always been my two favorite colors. i put this look together because i love my purple converse, but it's hard to wear them without looking like a little boy. dressed down with the bright skirt and girly graphic tee though, it's good for a day of shopping, meeting up with friends or even a football game!

this final look is better for fall or winter florida because i was just too hot even modeling it outside! i paired the skirt with a black lace camisole, a pleather bomber jacket i bought online from sears for $9.99, and suede ankle boots from banana republic. i think this look makes you seem a little dangerous, but still feminine.

what do you think? which was your favorite style, or how else would you wear it?