Ladilike Birthday Style (OOTD)

Last week I celebrated my 27th birthday. I had a mini-meltdown the first time I was referred to as being in my late(!) twenties,  but I am truly happy to see another year, and I always say that you are as young as you look and feel.  For my birthday look, I turned to Asos to find something chic and unique, and this sheer, burnout midi skirt fit the bill perfectly.  Because the skirt was the star of my look, I kept the rest of my outfit simple with a black tee and booties.  Of course, a dark fall lippie finishes the look!

Holy Chic OOTD

For the first time in ages, I found myself inside of Old Navy doing a little browsing.  I found a number of adorable little statement t-shirts that were super cheap...so I picked up two! I paired this "Holy Chic" tee with a pair of high waist jeans and my new d'orsay flats.  I have been eyeing a pair of d'orsay style flats for a while now, but never took the plunge because I thought they may look funny on my feet. I'm happy to say that I was wrong and these are now my go-to neutral shoe.

Lippies for the Low: Fall Lipstick Shades Under $7

Long time no talk, but I come bearing gifts--the gift of knowledge that is! LOL.  I love MAC as much as the next girl, but sometimes my budget does not allow me to splurge on $16 lipsticks.  When  I want my beauty fix on the low, off to the drug store or the beauty supply store I go. I have found some great lipsticks in rich, pigmented shades perfect for creating your Fall beauty looks.  Best of all, each lipstick is under $7! Check them out below:

Stripes + Maxi OOTD

This look features two of my wardrobe staples--a striped shirt, and a basic black skirt.  Stripes are a very friendly pattern,  playing nicely with both solids and other prints, so a well-fitting striped top like this one is the perfect outfit starter.  This black maxi skirt was a clearance find from Target and happens to be the best maxi skirt I've ever worn. I have a hard time finding a maxi that is the proper length for my short legs, and without all the extra volume that many pleated versions have.  Hopefully I can go back and snag the print version! 

Come Out and Play(suit)

Part of what drew me to this romper was the fact that it reminded me of something from my childhood. Despite it's feminine appeal and it being pretty short, I can totally picture a fashionable mom and her stylish toddler (Bey & Blue Ivy?) having a mommy-and-me moment with matching playsuits.
As I wore this look, I couldn't help but let out my inner child and found myself giggling, skipping over cracks in the sidewalk, and telling the nearest adult when I had to go potty lol. Sure, I could reach the rear zipper on my own, but it was so much faster and easier to get a little help from my husband.

A Midi Moment

Lately my style has been all about easy, flowing pieces, and this Asos midi dress definitely fits the bill.
Is it me, or does this dress look like the shorter, younger, cooler version of this floor length number Kim Kardashian was spotted in recently?

source: US Magazine

NYC OOTD

Last weekend, my husband and I hosted a Father's Day cookout at our house...when I tell you it was hot out, it was HOT.  Apparently it wasn't hot enough for me to reconsider wearing all black (smh), but the heat did result in a cute little make-shift bun hairstyle and short skater skirt.

Kimo-No OOTD

I am loving the kimono trend this Spring/Summer, but because I have been on a self-imposed shopping ban I cannot make the splurge to buy one :( But no worries, by shopping my closet I was able to achieve a similar look with this floral high-low number by Jessica Simpson.  I wore it this past weekend to a family cookout, and even wore it on vacation as a swimsuit cover-up.  Just as a heads up, you will probably see this top on the blog again a few more times in the next couple of months!

Island Dreaming OOTD

I spent the last week soaking up the sun and relishing in the perks of an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas.  Of course it was extremely hard to come back to real life after spending time in paradise, so for my first day back home I chose to infuse some island flavor into my look.  This palm print short set from the Gap was the perfect 'fit to remind me of my vacation, and it matched well with my new tan! 

Me and My Boyfriend (Jeans)

The Printed Pant (OOTD)

Not Your Mama's One-Piece: Stylish Swim Under $50

Gone are the days of the frumpy, boring, figure-hiding one-piece swimsuit. Designers are realizing that flattering doesn't mean only wearing black, and you can be sexy with more coverage than a bikini. With well placed cutouts, mesh panels, and fun color play,  the options for stylish one-piece swimwear are limitless.  A few of my favorite styles are below:

One Piece Swim Under $50 by carmeme featuring a high waisted swimsuit


For more swimwear inspiration, check out my 5 Days of Beach Style series.  

Easter (Jump) Suit

Jumpsuit: NY&Co / Jacket: Sonoma (Kohl's) / Flats: Mossimo (Target) / Necklace: BCBGeneration / Earrings: Target

A Pop of Color (OOTD)

Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking (OOTD)

Everytime I talk about florals in the Spring, my mind instantly goes to The Devil Wears Prada.  Who could forget Miranda Priestly's sarcasm and shade-filled quote that I borrowed for the title of this post. 

Source: KontrolMag

Bikini Time! 2-Piece Swim for Under $50

I have been in a great mood since Spring weather finally arrived. For the past 5 days, the temperature has been consistently above 70 degrees, which makes it much easier to start shopping for swimwear! I experimented with the 2-piece "fatkini" last year and loved it, so this year I will be picking up a new 2-piece this year.  Below are a few of my favorite mix-and-match bikini sets that don't break the bank--each piece is under $50.

2-Piece Swim Under $50 

Be on the lookout for my next swimwear post--One-Piece swimsuits under $50!

Ladi Life: Wedding Events

The last few weeks have been a blur for me.  From my bridal shower, to my first dress fitting, to an engagement photoshoot, it's safe to say I am in "wedding mode." After months (ok years) of planning, this special day has gone from being sooo far away to being just around the corner. Last week I went to "the country" where I'm from for my bridal shower.   I wore an adorable fit-and-flare brocade dress by Kensie:

I loved my dress, even after I found out it matched some of the furniture in my future in-laws' living room...

B**ch stole my look. But I look better :) 

This past weekend, my fiance and I took our engagement photos! For days leading up to the shoot I was worried that we would get rained out, but luckily the weather cooperated long enough for us to get some amazing shots. Here are a couple:

Philosophy peplum top, A.n.a Jeans, Matisse Sandals

Worthington blazer, Old Navy cami, Phillip Lim for Target skirt, Jessica Simpson heels

My next big event coming up is the bachelorette party/weekend!  I rarely go out partying so I am having the hardest time trying to find something to wear, but as soon as I figure it out, of course I will share ;)

Shop The Ladi Like Closet!

I've been doing a little spring cleaning and closet organizing, so I've decided to offer a few new and gently worn items up for sale on Poshmark.  Some items may look familiar--like the maxi skirt from my Big Fat Summer Challenge Cropped Top post! Head on over to my Poshmark Closet to see what I have up for grabs! 

CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE LADILIKE CLOSET ON POSHMARK

Blonde Bomb{er}Shell

Up until recently, the bomber jacket brought up images in my mind of those puffy "flight jackets" that all the boys and some hip-hop loving pseudo-tomboys like myself had in high school. Huge, shapeless, and at times a little noisy, these were not the bomber jackets of today.  These jackets have gotten a face-lift and now come in a number of colors, fabrics, and prints, perfect for stylish spring layering. 

Animal Print OOTD {Phillip Lim for Target}

Before there was Peter Pilotto for Target, there was the Phillip Lim for Target collection. My favorite print from that collection was by far the animal print--I bought the top and skirt!--and I'm shocked that this is my first time doing an OOTD post featuring this cute little sweater in an oversized leopard print. Despite being long-sleeved, this sweater has sheer sleeves and back, making it perfect piece to transition from these last cool days of Winter to the Spring sunshine.   

Ladi Like Style: White Out

Maybe it is because I'm in wedding mode, but I have been drawn to the color white lately.  What started as a plan to wear white to every wedding related event (from the bachelorette party to my bridal shower) has turned into a full blown obsession.   I love a clean, crisp all white look, and of course the combination of black and white is classic.  With Spring right around the corner, I am expecting to see an abundance of white in the stores as it pairs perfectly with pastel shades--a big trend for Spring 2014.  

Are you fan of white, cream, and ivory? How do you plan to wear it this Spring?

OOTD: Camo & Leather

Ladi Like Style: Fan Girl

As a lover of music, I can appreciate the trend of artist and music inspired clothing.  I have a few souvenir t-shirts from concerts I've attended, so rather than just keeping them in a shrine in my room it would be nice to get some wear of them. Although I prefer statement (word) tops to those with a huge face on it. Unless that face belongs to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.  Yes Lawd. 

Would you rock clothes with a celebrity's face, or lyrics on it? 

Peter Pilotto for Target: How I Wore

The weather was gorgeous in NC this weekend, so I took the opportunity to wear my new Peter Pilotto for Target tank top and wrap skirt.  The two pieces came together nicely and gave the appearance of a fun, mixed-print dress.  For date night, I completed my outfit off with a black blazer and comfortable wedge booties. In puting together this post, I went to the Target website and was suprised to see there were still a lot of items from the Pilotto collection available online. Each piece that I  am wearing is still available, and they have some left in all sizes!  Hopefully this means that I will be able to snag a few more items on clearance soon!

A Ladi's Tresses: Back To A Relaxer

I made the big reveal on instagram a couple of weeks ago that I went back to the "creamy crack." Honestly, I've wanted to get a relaxer for a while (maybe a year?)...but I didn't want to feel like a failure, or as if I was doing it out of self-hate. Eventually, I reminded myself that it was only hair, an accessory that I can style anyway that I please.  

My Vampy Valentine OOTD

Let me paint a picture for you.  At around noon on Wednesday, February 12th, the bottom falls out of the sky and in less than 2 hours, the ground is completely covered in snow. With sub-freezing temperatures, closed businesses, countless winter weather horror stories on the news, the possibility of following through on Valentine's day plans (dinner and a movie) were bleak.  On Thursday evening, a young, stylish couple head out to test out the road conditions and pick up some snacks, only to see that most grocery stores and even shopping-mecca Target (!) were still closed. Luckily they found one open grocery store and made the decision to pick up a few items for an at-home V-Day celebration-- wine, chocolate cake, dinner, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Reservations are postponed, perfectly styled outfits are put back into the closet, and the YouTube searches for V-Day appropriate make-up looks are aborted. Valentine's Day comes, and while there is still snow on the ground, the weather takes an unexpected change for the better.  By early afternoon, the sun is shining brightly and  temperatures are pushing 60 degrees. What? Needless to say, by Saturday everything was back to normal and despite delaying their official Valentine's date plans for a week, the couple were pressed to leave the house...which brings me to my OOTD:

Peplum Sweater OOTD

Can I be honest for a moment? I'm no in love with this outfit. This was my first (and probably last) attempt at wearing this denim dress as a skirt and the length is not ideal for me.  What I do love is this peplum sweater! I can't wait to pair it with something a little more fitted.

Peter Pilotto x Target: My Buys

My local Target didn't have a wide selection from the #PeterPilottoforTarget collection, but I was able to get the wrap skirts I wanted!
— Carmesha (@CarMeMe) February 9, 2014

The tweet above sums up my shopping trip to Target on Sunday Morning. I ventured out at about 9AM, not out of necessity but because I couldn't get back to sleep. On my side of town, I'm usually the only one who cares about the Target designer collections dropping and--as expected--I was the only person shopping the collection that morning. This actually was a good thing, because they only had one of each size out on the racks at a time (WTF?).  There was not a lot of variety in the store--no rompers, no jackets, no pants, and only one cardigan.  This wasn't that big of a problem for me, because I would never pay more than $35 for any item of clothing from Target, "designer" or not, and the jackets and most dresses were $50 and above.

I really only *had to have* the printed wrap skirts, and they were as cute in person as they were in the look book.  I saw a cute little tank that paired nicely with the black/gray/red wrap skirt so I scooped that up as well.  I tried on a sweatshirt, but I didn't love the print. To be honest, some of the prints in this collection were a little much for me, so instead of grabbing up everything like a fashion-hungry hungry hippo, I selected pieces that I loved and knew I would wear...unlike this dress from a past Target-designer collab.

What are your thoughts about the print-heavy collection? Did you buy anything, or are you waiting until they hit clearance racks?

Neon Brights (OOTD)

I'm pretty sure this sweatshirt is the brightest article of clothing that I've on the blog, mainly because it is the brightest thing that I own.  Since I was stepping out of the box with a darn-near glow-in-the-dark fluorescent top, I figured I would make an even bigger statement by adding a bold purple lippie to my look.  Speaking of fluorescent...I only used that word because  I just learned  how to spell it (lol), and because I love how Beyoncé says it in her Houston twang on "Drunk In Love." Yes, I'm still blasting that album.

My Pretty Valentine: Whimsical Style

Today's looks are not for the faint of heart. These are for the ladies who are not afraid of color, prints, and a little bit of kitsch. I instantly fell in love with this drape neck jumpsuit, so if I was going to cover it up in any way, it had to be with an item that is equally as fabulous...like this floral print blazer.  For the look on the right, I wanted the outfit to serve as a simple canvas upon which I could paint a playful and romantic picture using accessories.  How did I do? Let me know in the comments! 

My Pretty Valentine: Red Hot Style

For the ladi spending Valentine's Day with her girls on the dance floor or having a romantic outing with her *special someone*, a sultry look is in order. Nothing turns heads like a curve hugging little red dress, paired above with gold accessories and a gorgeous fuchsia Chanel bag.   Channeling your inner 'Yonce/Sasha Fierce/Crazy Horse dancer/seductive goddess? Try these thigh-high lace up boots on for size! I love how the boots and the cropped top show only a hint of skin, and how the clothes forego the typical red/pink color palette allowing you to incorporate those colors in a more subtle way, like in your make up.

I hope you are inspired by these looks! I can't wait until you guys see what I have in store for Friday's looks ;)

My Pretty Valentine: Sweet Heart Style

If you've walked into any Walmart, drugstore, or greeting card store you have probably noticed an abundance of teddy bears and and heart shaped candy boxes. Valentine's Day is clearly upon us, and if you are a fashionista I know your first thought (after deciding on your holiday plans) is "what to wear?" I've got my look planned already (of course lol), but that hasn't stopped me from putting together outfit ideas! This week I will be sharing some of these ideas in a series of Valentine's Day style inspiration posts entitled "My Pretty Valentine."

First up: Sweet Heart Style, a collection of pretty, feminine looks for the girl opting for sweet rather than sultry ensemble.

Let My Coat Speak For Me (OOTD)

There is nothing like a great statement coat! 

All Black Everything OOTD

I lied.  With my chunky black boots, black maxi dress, and black leather jacket, I felt a little goth, and a little bit like a star on an angst-filled  90's teenage drama.  Very "My So Called Life."  My gorgeous yellow abstract scarf added a nice pop of color to my all black ensemble.