super comfy outfit

Wanted to be lazy comfy. I'm going to miss my leggings this summer.

shirt, f21. leggings, h&m. shoes, aerosoles. belt, target. bracelets, bare accessories.

here's a blast

Okay, of all the fads from the past, I never thought I'd see (or wanted to see) jelly shoes again. Seriously. I used to wear the same pair until I outgrew them, then would practically liquify them with the hair dryer to stretch them to fit again. Ha! I may buy some for my daughter, but none for me this round.

1) Old Navy, $13. 2) Betsey Johnson, $64. 3) Marc by Marc Jacobs, $80 4) Mia, $35.

leg warmers?

Decided to try leg warmers for the first time. This decision resulted from a failed attempt to find some long charcoal socks.

shirt & legwarmers, f21. skirt, vintage. boots, nine west. clutch, bracelets & ring, bare accessories

booties for the savvy

Yes, I'm thrifty and completely unashamed. Found these steals at urban: the black bootie is $9.99 marked down from $98, and the brown patent tipped is $19.99 marked down from $98. Unfortunately they are out of my size, but somebody needs to take advantage of this. NOW. http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/

navy leggings?

Decided to venture out and not wear black leggings...

shirt, f21. leggings, h&m. boots, steve madden. bracelets, bare accessories

don't release the clutch

Last year we saw clutches carried mostly at night, but this year they are popping up more and more during the day. No need to save your clutch for a saturday night fling - pair it with jeans and a tee and take it to work. There's just something about the mix of casual and dressy that really balances an outfit. And if you're concerned about fitting everything in it, don't worry, the oversized clutch is becoming more attainable. Here are a few items from Bare Accessories:

time to buy outerwear...

Yep, it's that time of year again. The weather is warming up, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and it's time to find great deals on jackets, coats & sweaters. I just discovered this great deal at urban outfitters - a Kimchi & Blue Popcorn Stitch Blazer for $9.99 marked down from $68. Score.

Aerosoles? Seriously?

I have never owned a pair of aerosoles shoes......until last week. I found this great studded black wedge on their website's sale page for $29, marked down from $89. I have worn them twice, and I LOVE 'em. So I immediately went back and snatched up this pair of tan knee books for $30, marked down from $200. You just have to look past all of the chunky loafers (shudder) to find a few of the styles that are really cute...

i heart h&m

Why is there no h&m in my state? And why can't I buy online?

Sweater tunic, h&m. Leggings, h&m. boots, steve madden. scarf, f21. handbag & sunnies, bare accessories.

not exactly groundbreaking

Well, here they are - my first outfit pics. It's the definition of a lazy saturday night outfit (we made some last minute plans w/friends), but I LOVE the handbag and took an extra pic to show how it is convertible. It also has a detachable shoulder strap. I've been searching for an oversized clutch in my price range, and this one is just the right size.

tee, old navy. jeans, lucky. cardigan, urban. shoes, aerosoles. handbag, necklace, bracelets, bare accessories.

gladiator sandals?

I remain undecided about the gladiator sandal. I'd kinda rather just stick to my trusty urban outfitters strappy flip flops, but every now and again I see someone put together an outfit that somehow makes the gladiator a MUST. Seriously. So I found this bronze pair at old navy that is somewhat subtle, and the sale price of $16.50 made it an easy decision.

neutrals for spring

I am a big fan of neutral colors. Why? Who knows. My favorite color is any shade of brown. I just always feel comfortable with all of my clothing in neutral and my pop of color typically comes from my accessories (scarves, handbags, jewelry). However, this season handbags are bathed in neutral tones: bone, gray, light beige, etc. LOVE IT. I never was a big fan of the bright white handbags of past seasons.

So as usual, I have loaded my online store up with that which I covet....

I have the double zipper bag (in the color above and chocolate brown). I'm a sucker for front zipper pockets because of the easy cell phone and lip gloss access.

Scan source: People StyleWatch (February & March 2008)

Handbags by Melie Bianco, www.shopbareaccessories.com

i'll have a black & tan

Just wanted to take a moment for a quick "cheers" to Rachel Bilson for her always ROCKIN' personal style. It has been difficult for me to accept (and even harder to coordinate) the mixture of black and brown in an outfit. After 20+ years with the mindset of having to pick either black or brown for an ensemble, I find it nearly impossible to mix the two and "make it work" without looking like I tried. Rachel is a master of this feat, with her effortlessly balanced look. Mixing these two colors successfully is currently a personal goal of mine, and I'll post some pics of my attempts soon.

The tan handbag is such a "must have" right now, so of course I have this similar one by Melie Bianco available in my store....

my first blog

Well, here it is... my first blog. I've been wanting to do this for a while, and now I've finally decided to take the plunge. I guess my mission to find and develop "personal style" began in 2004, after my daughter was born. Not wanting to be a cliche in a matching velour sweatsuit (no, I NEVER owned one, I promise) and not wanting to resort back to my old jeans and tee uniform, I subscribed to a bunch of fashion magazines and started to experiment. When I couldn't find the jewelry I wanted to wear at a price that I could afford, I made it myself. In 2005 I opened my online boutique, www.shopbareaccessories.com, and the snowball just keeps getting bigger. This year I added handbags, scarves, and sunglasses to the store, which allows me access to even more variety...

So hopefully I'll have some photos up soon, and this simple blog will be the push that my personal style (and business) is in need of.