Lei Ann...Off Duty

*neon abstract floral print for a rainy day*

i wanted to wear something fun, flirty & BRIGHT to the marshalls spring #fabfound event the other night.  easily done with another PBxT dress in striking neon colors & abstract “kaleidoscope” type print. 

however, the rains we recently had in boston also put a damper on an *almost* carefree evening.  don’t i always have a clothing item to the rescue though?  hahaha!  this newly found goodwill treasure of a rain jacket fit the bill quite nicely :)  added some equally fun & bright arm accessories & i was on my way.  

whoops, forgot the kicks ^_^  since this was a marshalls event, i took off the shelf, probably still my *best* marshalls find EVAR!  stuart weitzman lavender cheetah print heels, but neutral enough to conform to any outfit…for $75.  oh yeah!

wearing: prabal gurung x target dress || cynthia rowley ruffled coat (via goodwill) || kohl’s multichain bracelet || stuart weitzman heels

*a pop of color*

the most overused terms in fashion blogging (in my opinion) are “obsessed, chic, stylish, pop of color & date night.”  with that being said, on this most rainy, windy & dreariest of days, here’s my outfit featuring “a pop of color.”  hypocrite much?  hahaha!

wearing: michael kors fishermen net sweater || wet seal bodycon black dress || target neon pink bandeau || JC thigh high boots

*prabal gurung for target sweatshirt*

i am in love, LOVE with this sweatshirt from the prabal gurung x target collab.  it’s just so bright & FUN!  in fact, i also like the proenza schouler one from a few months ago as well.  these are such easy pieces to wear…the comfort of sweats, yet not too casual or boring or covered with some high school/university logo :)  plus, more groundbreaking news…i wore pants!  i so hate pants, but these ann taylor ones gifted to me fit excellently both waist-wise & lengthwise.  some days just call for pants as well.  as much as i love tights & knee high boots & the whole rigmarole…there’s also the simple ease of pulling on a pair of pants, slipping on ankle booties & then just go :)

a side note on this sweatshirt…i wore it when i was in florida recently visiting my brand new niece.  my youngest brother said to me “the baby can’t hear you…your shirt’s too loud.”  so funny!  that’s my brother…gotta be such a goofball XD

wearing: prabal gurung x target sweatshirt || moda international striped shirt (very old) || c/o ann taylor black curvy wide leg pants 

*sweatshirt snow day*

wore this last week when there was still snow on the ground.  nothing new to report.  just a casual, yet fashionable take on the classic gray sweatshirt & my reliable, thick neoprene skirt that keeps my legs warm outside in the cold.  plus, a braid & beret to deal with unwashed hair days…hahaha :)

wearing: proenza schouler x NM/target sweatshirt || asos neoprene skirt || F21 knit beret || simply vera tights || aldo faux fur boots 

*transitioning trends towards fall*

trend checklist, here we go!  neon (still???)…check! floral print on black background…check!  peter pan collar…check!  ombre hair…check!  super chunky mary jane platforms (always!)…check, check, *check* & CHECK!  

while neon is still a favorite staple of mine, it’s definitely more of a summer time thing, but this skirt is made of neoprene, so it’s heavy & sturdy enough to carry me well into fall.  already starting the transitioning…dare i say it, *pre-fall*…process though by wearing it with a darker top & closed-toe heels.  like mike tyson singing along with phil collins, we can feel it coming in the air tonight, can’t we? oh who am i kidding…we’ll probably get a sweltering heatwave with 90% humidity next week o.O  it is new england after all XD

wearing: asos neoprene skater skirt || swapped blouse || target watch || hawaiian gold plumeria necklace || piperlime mary jane platforms

*neon, navy & neoprene*

putting some of my favorite trends together in a primary color kind of palette…although the neon kicks it up a notch!  i remember getting this neon yellow blouse several swaps ago (did you get your swap ticket yet?) & who knew then that neon would be such on the fashion forefront?  see, another reason why swaps are so great :)

wearing: a|x swapped blouse || asos neoprene skater skirt || isabel toledo x payless wedges || DIY friendship/chain bracelets || LF skull bracelet

*ego & greed hot pink neon boots*

nothing interesting about my outfit at all today *except* these hot pink neon beauties :)  a conquest from the infamous solestruck black friday mad sale (lucky me), plus i never had trouble checking out my shopping cart like other chicas did.  BTW…if these look powerfully bright in the photo, oh man, they were more like neon beacons in the night.  i caught myself in a mirror walking around downtown earlier & yeah, powerfully bright…yeah…

*business up front…80’s party in the back!*

wearing: koan studded sweater (swapped) || wet seal lace skirt || target sunnies || DIY (painted) neon jewelry || ego & greed grey/neon wedges

can’t seem to shake my 2 loves these days.  number one…my need for neon.  it just never seems to get old.  that’s what happens when you grow up in the 80’s ^_^  number two…my affinity for shoes that contrast from front to back. for example, demure leather up front & then punked out spikes from behind :)

so, you can imagine my utter delight with this two-fer :)  got these beautiful wedges during the crazy mad solestruck black friday sale…half off!  i was lucky too.  i didn’t seem to experience server crashing problems like other good friends did that, even with their shoes in their shopping carts & being unable to check out, caused their lovely footwear to be sold out right before their eyes.  i love this color combo too of a nice dark, steely gray & this gorgeous true neon…not just a bright yellow.  my friends joke about me being a ninja (because of my kung fu background, even though it’s not the correct terminology as ninja is japanese & kung fu is chinese, but whatevs…hahaha!), so you may not see me coming, but you sure can’t miss me going!

*(finally) walking in a winter wonderland!*

well bostonians…who whined for snow?  you got it!  i’m *meh* about the snow.  i was totally fine with this mild winter but we all knew we wouldn’t get away with a snowless winter.  so, brace yourselves boston…this was only the “dusting”…the “practice” snow if you will.  a bigger snowstorm is coming tomorrow!  guess it’s time to bust out the big boots…hahaha!

wearing: h&m grey shirtdress || thakoon for target batik print skirt || DIY neon necklace || c/o kmart tights || simply vera for kohls booties

*black with neon circles & stripes*

sorry for some awkward face & the dark inside-the-house-because-it’s-raining-outside-(again) photo, but i was rushed for time.  i wore this outfit on friday for a quick meet & greet which i’ll describe in my next post & then i was headed out of town for a fun quick weekend away! 

wearing my DIY (nail polish painted) neon jewelry i made the other week & really loving the very vibrant pops of color.  i know neon isn’t one of the trends that everyone can get on board with, but i’m a child of the 80s…what can i say?  hahaha!   plus when you don’t go overboard (really just the skirt & the necklace are the accent pieces) & tone it all down with black, i think neon is quite wearable for the day ^_^

well, off to meet someone special who also likes to wear lots of black, so felt like sorta matching him today.  if you follow me on twitter, you already know who this person is ;)