Stilletos and Diaper Bags - New York City Style

Today I am trying my hand at fashion blogging. I was lucky enough to be able to guest blog over at Stilettos and Diaper Bags. Lisa is a fashion blogger and mommy- Busy? Yep, that she is. So, in much need of a break, she put the call out to Guest Bloggers and I happily said 'yes!'.

So if you'd like to see more of my New York City style, Click the link and show some love and visit Lisa's fabulous site! 

Click here: to head over to Stilettos and Diaper Bags

New York Street Style

Change is coming - Fall Fashion

It begins gradually, an extra layer, a pair of gloves, a scarf or colours mixing. Though these changes be small, we all know what's happening. Yep, fall is upon us! As I look out my window I can see the leaves on the trees starting to show the changes.

Personally, I love sunshine and Summer. I love not needing a jacket when I go out. I love feeling the sunshine on my skin. It is definitely my favourite season. But, there's something quite special about Autumn. It's that in between where we still get light and we don't feel so cold we think our skin is going to drop off. One of my favourite things about fall? Probably the fashion. 

I wanted to share some of the essential items I will be searching for this fall:

A hat
It covers a bad hair day, keeps the heat in and protects from the gusty wind that swirls around the UK!

Accessorize - £14 [Link]

I am loving this leopard trim beanie from Accessorize. And only £14 - it's on my list!

A leather skirt
I am still on this trend and still looking for the perfect skirt for me. Pair it with tights, sheer top, skyscraper heels and you have an outfit just for me!

River Island - £18 [Link]

I wouldn't mind this quilted skirt from River Island turning up on my doorstep.

A statement coat
I like to wear coats, which is a good job considering the amount of time I spend in one in good old Britain.

Oasis - £98 [Link]

This drape coat from Oasis says Autumn with just one look. Elegant and statement worthy.

Skinnies
No matter the weather, I can not and will not be torn away from my skinnies.

Rag and Bone -  $253 [Link]

These Rag and Bone skinny jeans are amazing and I love the zip detail!

Cosy Knitwear
Why do I love knitwear? It's oh so comfortable, it's casual but pair it with skinnies and heels and voila - hello night out! Also, it is the best to get layering with.

Next - £32 [Link]

I love this roll neck jumper from Next. Cosy and warm!

After more ideas? Check out the links below:

Glamour magazine - The DO's and Don'ts of Fall Fashion

Elle magazine - 50 Fall Editors' Favourite Pieces

Teaching Fashion...

I have been back to school for nearly 4 weeks and I also work hard to try and look my best. A favourite song quote of mine is:

" No challenge should be faced without a little charm and a lot of style."
The Bluetones

So for that reason I always try and dress my best. If you look good you feel good. I decided I would link up with Nicole at Bloom and share a couple of my work outfits!

Do you have a favourite work outfit?

Kohl's Discount Code

Today I want to share a special offer with all you guys. I was emailed by Kohl's explaining how much they enjoyed the blog and had seen a special guest post: Colour Blocking by Miss Tiffany at Pinstriped Penguin, which included an item from the Narcisco Rodriguez collection.

I have been asked to share the new collection with you all and the best part? A 10% blogger discount for all you at Kohl's online. If you ask me, there's as good as incentive as any to get shopping!

Check out the the new collection for Kohl's with the following link:

Narcisco Rodriguez at Kohl's

You'll find some fabulous items such as these:

You know what to do now, head on over to kohls.com and browse away. The code to use is: 

TENFORBLOG

 
You can use TENFORBLOG through March 9th. It can be used to stack savings with one other code as well.

What is your dream fashion item at the moment?

Colour Blocking : Guest Post

Today I have something a little different, a guest post from a new favourite blogger of mine. Miss Tiffany from Pinstriped Penguin! After she contacted me to guest post I was very excited to work for her. I hope you enjoy the post (I did- I am a huge fan of colour blocking!) and head over Pinstriped Penguin to read my post for the day and more on fashion!So please show some love today...

______________________________________________________________

Hello Everyone! My name is Fanny and I write the Pinstriped Penguin! I am so excited to be guest posting for Missy today :) I write a little about fashion, food, crafts, weddings, etc. etc. This list goes on and on. 

I decided to share a little fashion with you guys today.

Color blocking, have you heard of it? I can't say I truly knew what it meant until just recently. Here's one of the definitions I found on the web, it explains it pretty well.

Color blocking is a technique where blocks of various fabrics are sewn together to create clothing with a few different solid colors...

So, there you have it! Color blocking was huge for Fall/Winter 2012/13, and don't expect it to go anywhere for Spring 2013. The trend can be found everywhere, from handbags and swimsuits to casual wear. Here are a few pictures I found of the trend on the runway and in real life.

I find this to be a very easy trend to follow. Just mix and match different color clothes and you've got it!

I found this shirt on sale for $10-$12 at Kohl's just recently. It was part of their Narciso Rodriguez designer line. Pair that with with some black skinnies or even dress pants and you've got a trendy outfit for work :)

First, let's get some things straight. I am not a model, nor is my husband a professional photographer - don't judge!! I also didn't have any make up on *sigh*

I didn't want to add too much jewelry to this outfit. The color blocking can be a lot sometimes, so simple is better. Some large retro black studs, a couple of bangles and my watch. Classic enough for work, yet still keeping that trendy vibe.

What do you guys think about color blocking? Do you see yourself getting into this trend for Winter or Spring?

Link Ups

Packing my bags...

My flight to NYC is tomorrow and I am so excited to be having a break. I do love my job but after 7 weeks my body (and mind) are ready for a break. Exhausted does not cover it, I've worked twice as hard the past few days to bring less work home for when I return.

I am currently packing my suitcase and feeling stressed!! I always have the thought process of:

- Have I charged my camera/phone/Ipod and included charger for all items mentioned.

- Do I have enough underwear? For some reason I always over pack on this item.

- Do I have clothes for all days?

- Is my case too heavy?

- Do I have suitable shoes for day/night/ice/snow!?

- Do I have all my toiletries and make-up?

I could go....no really...I could. I will stop there though before you fall asleep. I'm sure you have panics of your own? On the subject of clothes,  I have to admit I create something which I am quite renowned within my friends for doing. I create a clothing itinerary.

The clothing itinerary consists of :

- Brief outline of what you are doing each day.

-Images of outfits taken to match days.

-Options page with 2/3 extra outfits...you know...just in case haha!

It sounds silly and hard work but it pays off. It keeps my suitcase streamlined and hopefully (please!) underweight. I remember the time my case was lost.... along with my itinerary!! When I realised I exclaimed, " Nooo!! My first days outfit will not happen?! My itinerary is all over the place now!" I then had to buy a spare outfit which became an option haha!! I'm really not that high maintenance as this post may make me to look.... I just like organised clothes. Even a friend of mine tried it and was converted :-)

Here is my itinerary I am currently working on (it spans a few pages...):

OCD? Possibly!

Anybody else out there who does the same?! Or do you have some other way of making sure you just pack what's needed and a couple of extras?

Ultimate Fashion Statement...

I blogged the other day about my experience of what I liked to call 'Peacocking'. I decided to gain some other opinions on the subject and posted on 20sb about it. It was there I conversed with the rather witty El Grande. Our discussion progressed from 'What if you saw someone with an actual peacock on his head,' to as a woman, 'Wearing lynx cats'. Yes, I'm well aware that it all sounds a bit of a departure from the original topic, maybe it was a had to be there moment but it resulted in something quite spectacular.

A new outfit for going out on the pull:

"Bow chicka-bow-wow. Rawwl..".El Grande.

Note: this is a Couture outfit so would probably be slightly scaled down for the high street.

I for one am sourcing a peacock and lynx cats at the moment...Bye bye single life!!!

Thanks to El Grande for the brilliant fashion designing skills... if the Lucha Libre Life life doesn't work out you will always have fashion!

Female sports fan...no way!

Yesterday I blogged about seeing my hockey team play and lose a match which quite frankly they were unlucky to lose. I made references there to being labelled a ‘puck bunny’. After a comment by one of my favourite bloggers (Hockey Wife) where she too admitted to some ‘He’s hot!’ moments it got me thinking about female sports fans.

I grew up in a house full of brothers and I have always been involved in rough and tumble games because of that. One of my favourite games when younger was to play wrestling. We would pile the settee cushions on each other and do various flying moves haha! It wasn’t just me, as you know I also have Miss Twin in my life. The two of us were a bit crazy if I do say so myself! So from a young age we watched football (or Soccer to my American friends) and wrestling. I loved it and in some ways that has helped me to be good in my jobs as I am able to relate to the boys I teach by talk of football and sports etc as well as fashion etc with the girls.

Bear in mind I have always had a love of sport and could have a technical discussion about cricket, football, wrestling (and by technical I mean discuss the story line haha) and hockey I still get judged. The first hockey match I attended I dressed like I would any other day: skinny jeans, knee boots (it was cold), pretty top, nice coat and a chained handle handbag (my favourite at the time). A friend who sat in front of us- Mr JD- (who now attends games with us) said he looked at me and thought – nah she wont last more than a few games. Now? I’m there more than he is, I can tell you which player has transferred and where to, the standings, the latest rumours etc. This is because I genuinely enjoy the game and have an interest in it. How do I dress now... further down the line since that fateful first hook up with hockey? Exactly the same- still the heeled boots and pretty tops. Obviously I own jerseys too which I wear regularly of course! However, as much as Mr JD knows now that I am there for the game it doesn’t stop random people around the rink looking at me like ‘Yep..you’re here for the players.’ As mentioned yesterday...of course I’m going to look at the players. They’re attractive but I can still recount the game.

Choose your weapon...

*Image from Every stock photo

The same with girls and football. If you say you like it, you get the usual...You just want to be a WAG look (that’s Wives and Girlfriends if you’re not familiar). Then when they mention the off-side rule and you recount it perfectly the face changes into an, ‘Ahh so you do like the game.’ If you want my opinion, I don’t actually find many football players attractive, except David Beckham of course! The thing is though, after they realise you do like the game, 5 minutes later they are back to thinking you’re eyeing everyone up.

The funny thing is, is that what seems to be a deciding factor in whether you are judged to be a ‘real fan’ or ‘puck bunny’/ ‘WAG’ etc seems to be based a lot on how you dress. Yes, I’m into the rough stuff of hockey etc but I still have many girly qualities and I am renowned at work and out of it for always looking ‘preened’. Now put this down to a confidence thing... my fashion, make up and clothing is like my mask, It’s something which I find comfortable to hide behind. To others, well I am perceived to be high maintenance. At sporting events this takes a turn into the realm of being ‘pretty for the players’. Strange or what? It’s something that’s never going to change. If  I’m going to a game I’m going to make sure my hair is done, my makeup is on, my clothes look nice just as much as I would when going out for a shopping day.  Will I start ‘dressing down’ just to not be judged? No way!! I am what I am and people can say what they want because I really don’t care.  I am quite content being a mulberry bag toting, preened and glam sports fan!! If the games good- well then I’m good. 

My weapons of choice... :-)

To all you female sports fans out there...it’s tough but whatever you wear, whatever people say, whatever people think just don’t let it bother you. Laugh it off, enjoy the game and by all means check out those hot guys!! After all, that’s what they’re there for surely?!