Reader Question: Gaga For Neon

I'm in love with a pair of neon yellow heels. Does that make me weird? Is that okay??!

That definitely does NOT make you weird, but actually makes you extra fabulous.  Neon is definitely the color theme for this spring and summer.  Adding a bright pop of neon color is a super fun way to spice up your wardrobe and brightening up your day.  I know I'm in love with some neon!  How about you?

Juicy Couture, $278

i.cco, $12 @

Kelsi Dagger, $109.95 @

Reed Krakoff, $590 @

Rare, was $63.63, sale $25.45 @

Zara, $35.90

TopShop, $92

Joia, $12 @

Brian Atwood, $595 @ *

ASOS, $13.63-27.27 @

Deborah Lippmann, $45

@ Available in more colors
* EWP Fave

My NYC Purchase

Since I know you must be on the edge of your seats waiting for my best and worst dressed at the Emmys post, I thought I'd tide you over with what I bought in NYC this past weekend.

EVERY time I go to NYC I spend ridiculous amounts of money on shopping. It's just so fun and there are so many stores. And the sales tax is way less than Chicago's. Who could resist?

This time around I was much more limited in what stores I could shop in, but I did google for maternity boutiques in NYC and found a few. My fearless shopping guide Alexis trekked through Soho to the one place in all of Soho with maternity clothes, according to Google anyway, only to find out it was no longer there. Undeterred, Alexis did some more googling and led us to the West Village where we did in fact find a maternity store. Phew! There was no way I could leave NYC without even trying on a piece of clothing!

And try on I did, unfortunately, I wasn't too big a fan of what I found. For some reason maternity stores think pregnant women are in mourning and only wear black. Where's the color? Where's a print? Where's the fun?

But I did use the all black options to find a black pencil skirt for work. Not too exciting of an NYC purchase, but at least it was something. If I hadn't bought this, I would have left with NOTHING for myself. And that, my friends, has never ever happened before. And I wasn't about to let it happen this time.

Belly Dance Maternity, $67 @

@ Available in more colors (i.e. gray)

Website Spotlight: Basic Boutique

I have friends who blog, but I've never made friends before from blogging. Until recently that is. Yesterday I had the great delight to meet up for brunch with some blogger buddies. They're a great group of girls and I had a blast.

It just so happens that one of these lovely blogger friends I've made is also the owner of Basic Boutique. You might recognize the name from the shopping links on the side bar or some clothing options I've featured here. For an avid online shopper, it was a pretty fun meet up!

This is the lovely Andrea who created and runs Basic Boutique in addition to working a full time job. She's only 29. Isn't that crazy??

So I thought it made sense to do a little spotlight on Basic Boutique and give you some of my faves from the site. Happy shopping and check out Basic Boutique for yourself!

Vena Cava, $395

Loeffler Randall, $325

Velvet, $152



Velvet, $141

Ulla Johnson, was $275, sale $192.50 *

Myne, was $167, sale $83.50

Laila Azhar, was $385, sale $192.50

* EWP Fave

Pencil Skirts Continued: Fab Find

This pencil skirt didn't make the last post because I would hardly call a yellow, tweed-like skirt a basic essential, but gosh, I really do love it!

The Limited, $69.50

Reader Question: Back to Basics

my wardrobe is in big time trouble. i still have stuff from high school in there. yikes. i just got a little birthday money (little being the key word) and would like to update a little. what are some basic pieces that i need to build a good wardrobe from?? i am fashionally challenged. baby steps here. i'm talking the most basic that it gets. what are your recommendations?? :)

What a great question! It's always best to start your wardrobe with a few, can't-live-without-'em basics. Invest in some good pieces you can wear over and over and switch in and out of outfits, and build from there.

Here's EWP's list of must-have essentials:

1. Nice jeans that fit you well
2. A pencil skirt (for the working woman)
3. A basic, fitted cardigan
4. A great basic dress - to dress up or down
5. Neutral pumps
6. One great bag
7. Makeup essentials: mascara and lipgloss
8. Spanx (they will change your life)

Put these in your arsenal and you are ready for whatever life throws at you. Okay, no tops actually make the list, but you can always grab cheap tops for each season to mix in and out of this list. So while it is essential to own a top to go with your jeans or skirt (no toplessness allowed!), I wouldn't call one shirt an essential (i.e. I don't stand by the addage that you have to have a white button-down. Button-downs are not the friend of any woman with a chest, and white ones are boring. You add fun with your top, not boringness). I treat shirts like I do accessories - use them to bring pop to your outfit.

Throughout the week I'll be bringing to you options in each of these categories so you can get your wardrobe started off right.

Oh, and time to ditch the high school duds. I can guarantee none of it is wearable for an adult woman. (Unless you really want to wear your high school tennis shirt to bed, then maybe).

Filling Up on Full Skirts

As this cheerful late spring rolls into summer, all I can seem to think about is skirts. More specifically: a full skirt paired with a fitted blouse and pearls and pretending I'm a 50s housewife. You know how I love pretending to be a 50s housewife.

I know I'm always extolling the virtues of a pencil skirt, but this spring/summer I think the must-have item is a full skirt. Nothing could be more flattering than a full skirt hitting at or above the knee, a fitted top, and a high-waist covering up any flubber we haven't quite worked off for beach season.

Anthropologie, $128

Anthropologie, $98

Anthropologie, $148

Tory Burch, $395*

Nanette Lepore, Sale $89.99





The Limited, $59.50




The Limited, $69.50

Lane Bryant, $49.50

Lane Bryant, $49.50

Banana Republic, $69*

Ann Taylor, $99*

Ann Taylor Loft, Sale $29.99

*EWP Fave

Dressing With the Stars: Private Practice

You've heard me go on and on about my love of the stylings of Gossip Girl. But those looks don't really translate to everyday workwear. Many other shows have great looks for work, and I'm going to show you how to get these tv looks without breaking the budget.

First up, a little tv show that I keep rooting for but still hasn't found its own - Private Practice. Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery is one hot doctor, and rocks her super chic style regardless of the circumstances.

Check her out here in a classic trench and gold brocade skirt while she helps a call girl whose Tom beat the crap out of her. Not even dealing with hookers can keep her from strutting her super style.

Get the look:

Banana Republic, Sale $69.99

Jessica Simpson, Sale $105.90

This look is a great everyday business casual outfit. Not the sexiest thing she's worn on the show, but, hey, you shouldn't be dressing sexy to work anyway.

Get the look:

Banana Republic, $59

Ann Taylor, $34

Esprit, Sale $59.70

Sometimes the other doctors get in on the well dressed action. Here's Naomi in a classic black sheath dress for work contemplating helping a cancer victim get pregnant, but the cancer victim is a patient at the rival practice! *GASP*



Get the look:

Diane von Furstenberg, $365

And Addison put on her serious ruffle neck top to tell the other doctors they need to turn their practice around.

Get the look:

Geren Ford, Sale $120

J. Crew, $98

Forever 21, $6.80

We will ignore the unfortunate hairstyle and focus on the funly printed dress Addison wore to tell the man with a secret wife that his non-secret wife was pregnant.

Get the look:

Diane von Furstenberg, Sale $219

Forever 21, $5.80

Yesterday's Deliveries

Like many days at my house, yesterday was chock full of deliveries. Most were not note-worthy (i.e. the flapper beads I got for my 20s-themed holiday party this weekend), but here are a couple worth sharing.

After some suggestions from K, I decided I just needed a skinny belt to wear over a cardigan for an unbeatable work look. Too bad I got the advice entirely too late that if you want to wear the belt at your waist, maybe you should order a smaller size. So my belt which would be perfectly sized if I wanted to sling it on my hips was a couple sizes too big, but lesson learned. Maybe if I'm feeling crafty I'll hammer some new holes in it.

J.Crew, $38

And a funly colored skirt to keep my winter wardrobe from being drab. Now all I have to do is come up with the perfect top/tights/shoes color combination and I'll be all set.

J.Crew, Sale $59.99