Stuff I Wore: Wild Weekend and a Winner

I'm still recovering from the amazing-ness that was my Memorial Day weekend.  I did the three things I do best: shop, drink beer and eat.  So, I leave you this Tuesday morning with pictures from another amazing weekend.  Yeah, I didn't have time to edit new pictures.  So, here are pictures from (one of) my bday celebrations earlier this month.  In total I had three celebrations: 2 dinners and a day in NYC.  I am apparently very demanding...and hungry.

Tupelo Dress // Anthropologie (worn here)
Halation Necklace // Anthropologie (worn here, similar here)
Bracelet // Target (similar here)

And if you were wondering what my sister looks like...

And if you were wondering why I'm a towering monster in these photos, check out the shoes...

OOTD Bday #2 by veggielawyer

And the winner of My Favorite Things Giveaway is....

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sharon of The Tiny Heart.

Stuff I Wore: Blogger FAIL and Garden Woes

So, I attempted to publish my Weekend Sale Round Up and Beauty Deals posts from my iPhone while I was out and about on a busy weekend.  And well, as you can see....Blogger FAIL.  Has any one used the Blogger app for iPhone?  How have you liked it?
So, I will be back later today with the weekly Beauty Deals.

Noon and Night Dress // Anthropologie (worn here)
Jackie Cardigan // J. Crew (worn here)
Leopard Flats // Jessica Simpson (worn here and here, similar here)
Necklace // The Limited (similar here)

I didn't intend on talking about my inability to operate technology today.  Today I wanted to point out that I planted my little garden this weekend.  See that sad patch of dirt behind me? It now contains three different kinds of tomatoes, four different kinds of peppers, pole beans and some miscellaneous herbs, dahlias and zinnias.  And what you see in this picture is the largest bush of lemon balm ever that somehow survived the winter.  Seriously, if any one needs lemon balm, I am your girl.
However, Saturday night something dug up half the dahlia bulbs, took a bite of them and left them on the grass for me to mourn over.  Whatever little jerk did that also ate all the leaves off two pepper plants.  I hope that little brat got horrible indigestion.

Stuff I Wore: Shabby Apple

So, I finally took the plunge and bought a Shabby Apple dress.  You didn't think I'd become their "affiliate" and put their button on my sidebar if I hadn't tried them out, did you?

Dress // Shabby Apple (similar here)
Nude Flats // Steve Madden (worn here and here, similar here)
Cropped Cardigan // Banana Republic

The fit of the dress is fantastic, even though you can't tell from these pictures.  Taking pictures with a dog who likes to run around you in circles is not a wise idea in a form fitting dress.

Earrings // ??? (similar here)
Ring // Avon (vintage) (similar here and here)
Bangles // Target (similar here)

You can't even see the adorable ruffle on the back of the dress!

This dress is very well made and hugs the curves in all the right places.  There was one small problem with the dress: the arm holes were teeny tiny.  Yeah the arm holes were too small, my arms are not too big.  Although, I have been working out at the gym.  Ok, it's because I am super ripped and can punch through walls.  I couldn't even get my hulk arms into the arm holes.  So, I broke out my seam ripper and just ripped the sleeves off.  I'm not entirely sure why I own a seam ripper, since I have no business doing any sort of garment work.  But, the horror of my at home alterations were easily covered by a cardigan.  Now I just have to find someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to alterations.  I was too impatient to bring it to a seamstress.

Stuff I Wore: What do you think of knockoffs?

I was pretty bummed that I missed out on Bailey 44's Tiered Stripes Dress from Anthropologie.  And then I walked into Marshall's and I saw this beauty shining like a beacon of light in a dark ocean of ugly dresses.  

Dress // Marshall's
Necklace // J. Crew Factory, worn here and here, similar here
Yellow Flats // ???, worn here and here, similar here

It's a seriously good knockoff.  At only about 10% of the price of the Bailey 44 dress, it has the same thick bands of angled stripes that flatter any body.  In case you don't feel like doing the math, the cheap knockoff was $19.99 and the Bailey 44 was $188.  Do the comparison, scroll up and down a couple times looking at each dress.  It's an uncanny resemblance.

Bailey 44 Tiered Stripes Dress

I will spare you my tirade about cheap knockoffs as theft of intellectual property because I am a hypocrite for buying that knockoff.  However, my purchase does have me thinking about knockoffs and theft of intellectual property.  When does a cheap knockoff just become theft of another designers idea and hard work?  

In the United States the design of an article of clothing isn't protected, but a print on a fabric is.  So, you can see why Marshall's won't be sued by Bailey 44 any time soon.  I don't think you can copyright a horizontal stripe pattern. 

And my reflections about thieving ideas doesn't seem to be stopping me from finding more knockoffs of things I can't afford. I'm thinking of buying another knockoff.  The J. Crew Bubble Necklace that has taken over the blogosphere, but I refuse to pay $150 for it.  You can find an "authentic J. Crew necklace" on Ebay for $14.  Go ahead, pop on over to Ebay and do a search.  I am pretty positive the Ebay version is a piece of crappy plastic with a stolen J. Crew tag on it.

The real deal

You can also find several copycats on Etsy as well.  I am thinking about investing in an Etsy copycat because at least I know I am supporting a small-time artist and designer...and that I'm not getting plastic crap that's going to turn my neck green.

Appletini Bubble Necklace

For some reason, I am more offended by the offering of an item as real than by just offering it up as a great copycat.  What are your thoughts on knockoffs, theft? or just a way for the broke masses to enjoy fashion trends?

Stuff I Wore: And Now with More Lightbox (OOTD 2.7.12)

This is one of my favorite outfits and I ruined the picture by testing out a new iPhone app.

I downloaded Lightbox for my phone.  It's like a beefed up instagram editing.  It's great for photos and has some really cool filters, but not for outfit photos.  Or maybe I just picked the wrong filter to enhance my office bathroom photos...haha.  I'm just really lucky there aren't many women in my building because it lessens the chance that someone will walk in during my photo shoots.

Similar cardigan here
Lemon Liftoff Blouse // Anthropologie //  Similar  here and here; similar print here
Yumi Skirt // Anthropologie // Similar here

I can't even express how much i love this outfit.  It has everything I love: pencil skirt, owls and a yellow/navy combo.

Look at that adorable owl print and bow!

Bracelet from my Target Haul

Similar here

OOTD 2.7.12 by veggielawyer 

Lemon Liftoff Blouse
$60 - anthropologie.com

Yumi skirt
$50 - anthropologie.com

Mix No. 6 high heels (similar)
$40 - dsw.com

Enamel bangle (similar)
$18 - target.com

ASOS stud earrings
$4.37 - asos.com

Stuff I Wore: A Warm Winter's Day (OOTD 1.7.12)

As I look at the snow piling up outside my window, I yearn for the sunny 50 degree day 2 weeks ago.  ("Piling" might be an exaggeration.  We have about 2-3 inches on the ground now).

I wore my beloved Noon and Night Dress to the annual holiday party with my group of college friends.  Yes, we are still celebrating the holidays well into January.  We're all incredibly awesome and busy ladies, so life gets in the way of partying some times.  Our parties mostly consist of us eating and drinking too much. You should see the spread that we have at our parties.  It's pretty impressive.  In our group, some of us are good cooks and some of us are just good food shoppers.  I am the latter.

Dress: worn here; similar here; Similar Shirt; Similar Shoes; Similar Necklace (it's a bee instead of a giraffe) 

The Noon and Night Dress is definitely one of my favorite purchases.  And it seems to be a crowd pleaser as well.  When I was getting ready for the party, I texted my bestie Elena to ask her what I should wear.  her response?  Noon and Night!  At the party, my friend Tiff kept touching the skirt of the dress and saying, "it feels like a tapestry."  Yeah, that's a compliment.  We're weird like that.

OOTD 1.7.12 by veggielawyer

Noon and Night Dress
$158 - anthropologie.com

Dorothy Perkins blue shirt
£20 - dorothyperkins.com

Forever 21 ring
$2.66 - forever21.com

Steve Madden oxford pants
youlookfab.com

J Crew j crew jewelry
richgirlfashionnews.blogspot.com

Stuff I Wore: The Outfit that Saved the World (OOTD 1.6.12)

**Please note that I am typing this post with sight in only one eye because I have a ZIT ON MY EYE LID!!  How does that happen?!  It is surprisingly painful and The Scot says the only way to get rid of it is to hold a warm wet washcloth over my eye several times a day.  So, yes, I am wearing a washcloth eye patch right now.  Sorry for any typing mistakes as I have no depth perception at the moment.

January 6, 2012 will forever be known as the day I accidentally dressed like a super hero.  Awhile ago I was inspired by Pinterest to try mustard tights with a navy dress.  I was waiting until I found a navy dress.  I finally found one a few weeks ago at Marshall's for only $10!

However, I was not as happy with the outfit as I had hoped.  I guess they all can't be winners!  I went out Friday night with a friend and replaced the yellow tights with black and added a brown belt.

Stuff I Wore: My Precious Noon and Night Dress (OOTD...everyday since I got it)

A few weeks ago I came home to find a lovely little surprise on my doorstep.  The Noon and Night Dress has arrived!  (and I pretty much have not taken it off since!)

High Heeled Oxfords from the Bass outlet.  On sale for $20!!

Inspired by Pinterest: Navy and Mustard (give me more!)

Have I mentioned how much I love the combination of mustard and navy?  If you haven't realized that yet, this picture should cement my love of the combo in your mind.  I never thought about incorporating mustard with the tights.  I always thought colored tights looked a bit clownish, until I saw this masterpiece.

Source: Dee Construction

Here's my Polyvore breakdown of this picture.  I've already gone out and gotten some mustard tights from Target and I have some brown slouchy boots from Steve Madden.  I am just in search of a navy jumper dress to complete the look.

Inspired by Pinterest: Navy and Mustard by veggielawyer

Dorothy Perkins flare dress
£50 - dorothyperkins.com

J Crew crew neck top
$62 - jcrew.com

Tall hosiery
$15 - modcloth.com

Steve Madden checkered shoes
$99 - zappos.com

Max Chloe leaf jewelry
$40 - maxandchloe.com

Sequin bangles jewelry
$24 - nordstrom.com

MNG by Mango buckle belt
$28 - jcpenney.com