{Style} Denim Nation...

You can't really tell from these pictures, but shortly before these photos were taken I maimed myself making breakfast. It was like a tsunami-sized wave of scalding oil coming right at my unsuspecting hand... Not fun. But after Mr. AiF took me off pancake duty and kissed it better, I felt good as new. And speaking of new, how cute is this H&M clutch? It was a Valentine's day surprise from my mister, and I couldn't love it (or him!) more... Happy Tuesday, friends! xx

Outfit details: denim shirt- Urban Outfitters; faux leather short- H&M; booties- Shoe Mint; polka dot tights- Forever 21; clutch- H&M; sunnies- Karen Walker; watch- Michael Kors; bracelet & necklace borrowed from Kastles; burn c/o pancakes

{Style} Flower Pop...

Outfit details: blouse- Forever 21; blazer & floral leggings- Zara; clutch- BCBG; pumps- ShoeMint; necklace- Urban Outfitters; bracelet- House of Harlow; watch & ring- Michael Kors

{Valentine's Week} The Pants...

As I write this, I'm slowly coming down from a sugar-induced Valentine's day high (you don't even want to know how many macarons I've had today!), where lethargy and writers block are apparently the main side effects. Mr. AiF surprised me with some special treats, bubbly and a homecooked meal, and now I'm crashing... hard. So with that said, it's time to wrap this thing up, people!

Thanks for baring with me through all this (V-Day isn't for the faint of heart, after all), and I hope you guys have enjoyed reading these silly little posts as much as I have had creating them... Until next time, love bugs! xx

Outfit details: faux leather detail peplum top- Urban Outfitters; red jeans- Joe Fresh; studded leather jacket- Zara; booties- Aldo; quilted clutch- Michael Kors; necklace- Urban Outfitters; bracelet- vintage Whiting & Davis; Bulova watch c/o WatchCo

{Valentine's Week} Pink + Red...

You guys know I'm a sucker for girlie, over-the-top proclamations of love and the like (ummm, hello!), so naturally a theme week was in order... First up, the colour scheme. Nothing says Valentine's day quite like a little pink-and-red action, so to honour that I went waaaay overboard with both. Typical. To bring this point home, let me tell you a little story: When I described this outfit to my friend Ashley yesterday, she lifted her hand, drew a deep breath and matter-of-factly said "no" before I could get past the varsity jacket. She was probably right but what can I say, I'm a sucker for a little festive colour blocking... Bring it on, Valentine's! xx

Outfit details: varsity jacket- Forever 21; blouse- Topshop; dress- Forever 21; necklace- Urban Outfitters; navajo sequin clutch- Topshop; pumps- ShoeMint; bracelet- House of Harlow; watch- Michael Kors

{Details} Weekend Essentials...

If you ask me, weekend wear should exclusively consist of oversized denim shirts piled with heaps of accessories. Simple, relaxed separates paired with a statement necklace and a great watch are all I need to get through the weekend — Well, that, and maybe a little Netfix-filled cuddle session... Wink wink.

So tell me friends, what are YOUR weekending essentials? Happy Friday! xx

Outfit details: denim shirt- Urban Outfitters; necklace- Forever 21; Bulova watch (on sale) c/o WatchCo; bracelets- vintage & Joe Fresh

{Style} Bundled...

When a scarf simply won't do, sometimes you need something a little more akin to a blanket wrapped around those shoulders... Enter my Urban Outfitters plaid cape. I bought it last fall, and on particularly cold days, it gets to come out of closet hibernation and resume its rightful place — Strewn around my neck in jumbo scarf form. Oooh yeah. xx

Outfit details: sweater- Talula (Aritzia); skinnies- Forever 21; plaid cape (worn as scarf)- Urban Outfitters (old; similar here); booties- Aldo; ring- Forever 21

{Details} Casual Club...

Now don't judge, but every now and then I feel compelled to bring my vintage Club Monaco sweatshirt out of hibernation. I don't know what it is about that old, familiar logo and its circle-engulfed crest, but I love it. Maybe it's because these sweatshirts saw me through my childhood (that, and pacifier jewelry) making them steeped with nostalgia, or the fact that every crush I ever had ages eight through 10 sported these bad boys too. Shrug. Whatever it is, the CM sweatshirt is alive and well in my heart and on the blog today... I'm sorry and you're welcome. xx

Outfit details: sweater- vintage Club Monaco; plaid shirt- thrifted; jeans- Urban Outfitters; cap toe heels- Zara; necklace- Forever 21; ring- YSL

{Style} Gingham Style...

Well it's official— Gingham is my new jam. I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to get enough of those little squares. They're like the perfect blend of casual and preppy, anchoring dressier elements while adding visual interest. What am I even talking about? Who cares, they're totally cute... Let's just go with that.

Happy Wednesday, friends! xx

Outfit details: gingham shirt- Joe Fresh; jeans- Urban Outfitters; blazer- Zara; clutch- thrifted; booties- Aldo; necklace- Forever 21

{Style} Plaid & Persona...

Nothing says fall quite like forest green, so I figured why not double up with a blazer-boot combination? These boots were an Urban Outfitters find about six or so years ago, and they only see the light of day during certain circumstances; namely, clear days when the suede won't get utterly destroyed by rain and gooey dirt... Yes friends, I'm smart like that.

In other news, I'd like to draw your attention to the snazzy new bracelet on my wrist... My good friends at Persona were kind enough to pop it into the mail for me, and I couldn't be more thankful. It's a super versatile piece from their Black Label, and I love how I can mix it up and wear different combinations with the marcasite beads (and even mix metals— peep the gold watch combo!). Thanks, Persona!

Outfit details: tartan blazer- Joe Fresh (old; similar here); denim shirt- Forever 21; jeans- Michael Kors; suede boots- Urban Outfitters; head band worn as necklace- Forever 21; bracelet & beads c/o Persona; watch- Michael Kors

{Houndstooth Week} The Sweater...

Outfit details: sweater- Urban Outfitters (old); faux leather shorts; tank- H&M; Giant Hummingbird necklace- Moon Raven Designs c/o Shoppalu; boots- Aldo

{Style} Falling for Plaid...

I bought these pants a few weeks ago while in New York, but for some reason I forgot all about them until this past weekend. Super lame on my part (what a dumb dumb!), but awesome because their reappearance couldn't have come at a better time. You see my friends, the impossible is happening— I, Vickie Laliotis, shopping junkie and clothing fiend, am embarking on a month-long shopping ban. So if anything, rediscovering these bad boys eases the pain that not shopping has left in my heart... Sigh.

So why am I putting myself through such anguish, you ask? Well lovelies, let me lay it all out for you. First of all, I went a little crazy in NYC (you'll be seeing more of the damage in upcoming posts!) and I need to spend a little time paying off the old credit card. Second, and most important, I think it's time I came back down to earth and worked with the existing pieces in my wardrobe, of which believe me there are plenty. Blogging can sometimes skew your perception of what's important, and as much as I love shopping and putting together outfits, I don't think it's always healthy to let yourself get carried away. Somewhere along the way I lost that sense of balance, so I figure one month sans shopping will help me appreciate what I have and show me that I don't always need to buy something new to stay relevant... At least I hope not.

So here's to one month of recycling, remixing and shopping my own closet... Happy October! xx

Outfit details: military vest- Old Navy (similar here); tank- Urban Outfitters; plaid pants- Uniqlo (similar here); cheetah pumps- Calvin Klein (similar here); oxblood tote- Zara; watch- Michael Kors; necklace- Forever 21

Weekend Dreaming...

Outfit details: tshirt- Club Monaco; skirt- Urban Outfitters; quilted clutch- Michael Kors; pumps- Zara; jewelry- Forever 21; watch- Michael Kors