Respect the Outfits: You Being You

Isn't it a great thing when we can put together an outfit that is stylish, chic and instantly puts us at ease? Something that not only looks good but conveys confidence at a glance? Welcome to this month's Respect the Outfits reader feature - all about YOU lovely ladies wearing what you love.

These are the outfits that these lovely fella readers have selected to represent who they are sartorially (right now at least) - because as you gals have already told me, it's our perogative to change our style!

Please read on and check out these beautiful ladies just being their chic, unique selves:

♥  Lauren from Small Talk, à la simple yet chic.

Anthro Apothecary skirt / Anthro Aviatrix Tee / Anthro cuff / Anthro Dearie Me wedges / Diana Warner earrings / Palabra Designs necklace

♥  Jessica from Monster Cakes: This picture perfectly captures me because I am a bit geek chic (hence The Great Gatsby shirt and glasses), but I'm also girly and not afraid to embrace both sides. Yey for nerds. : )

♥  Lisa from Sweet Laundry Loves, à la sophisticated and classy with a bit of a twist.

Striped Dress: Jacob / Tights: Hue / Shoes: Nine West / Bracelet: Ann Taylor / Sunglasses: Miu Miu

♥  Stephanie from Bar Chic: I think this is definitely me being me! I think of my style as being floaty and feminine, but also fairly relaxed, so I picked a girly dress and paired it with some casual flat sandals. I'm also being classically "me" here in the sense that the first thing I do when I put on a dress like this is give it a twirl!

Dress: Anthropologie Gull Wing Dress / Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft / Necklace: Kate Spade Twirl Necklace /

Shoes: Seychelles Cream of the Crop Flats

♥  Gigi from Gigi's Gone Shopping, à la modern + classic w/bright pops or touches of sparkle.

Jacket: J Crew 2010 / Blouse: Anthro 2010 / Necklace: J Crew 2010 / Jeans: J Crew 2010 / Shoes: J Crew 2008

♥  EE from Eek!, à la polished but comfy.

top: Anthro / skirt: Old Navy / pumps: Jeffrey Campbell / sunnies: Dsquared / belt: Gap

♥  TG from La Petite Anthropologiest: This look is quintessentially because this whole look is repeated in my closet a lot. My look is always about SHAPE. Shapes are sensual. And I love to shape my body in bright colors and fitted clothes.The shoes with the buckle, the fitted pencil skirt soft white shirt: that's TG.

Top: Anthro Climbing Cowlneck / Earrings: Anthro / Skirt: Anthro san pedro skirt in / Belt: sash from the Anthro Tiny Windows Dress /

Necklace: Anthro / Shoes: GUESS

♥  modernmom from I Dream of Anthropologie: I LOVE pattern mixing, and wanted to copy the product image from the catalog for this skirt. It used a pink plaid top, but I am not a big fan of that much pink. I love taking a risk with fashion, and being just outside the norm.

Shirt: J Crew Perfect Plaid / Skirt: Anthropologie Penciled Abronia / Belt: DKNY / Thrifted Shoes: Guess, DSW /

Bracelet: Anthropologie Omnifarious / Earrings: Dillards pearl hoops

 ♥  Rachel from Promises Like Pie Crust:

Anthro Verdant Slip Dress / Club Monaco cardigan / Hilary Druxman necklace / Miss Sixty Tracy shoes

♥  Jamie from Thrifty Threads: One of the things that I love about personal style is that it can be multi-faceted without being contradictory. Many of the outfits that I post on my blog incorporate beaded cardigans, pencil skirts, bright colors, and plenty of florals. I almost sent one of those signature "Jamie" outfits, but decided to send you a very different outfit: one that is more city sleek than suburban sweet. And I felt just as much myself in this look as I do in my usual assortment of ruffles and lace! I think it's wonderful that personal style affords us the opportunity to explore different aspects of ourselves every day, without requiring that we compromise our identities or chose any one aspect of our personality over another.

J. Crew Wave Tank / LOFT blazer / Hudson Collin jeans / Franco Sarto wedges / Talbots belt / Banana Republic necklace / Kate Spade bag

♥  Tara from Mix and Match Fashion, à la colorful.
 

Blouse: LOFT / Cardigan: NY & Co / Skirt: J Crew / Shoes: Nine West

♥  Kelly from Fashion Fuel: I can't say I always adhere to one particular style, but I always feel my best when I'm wearing a skirt or dress. Plus, blue and green are two of my favorite colors, which makes this outfit one that truly defines me.
 

Esprit Tunic (worn as shirt) / Anthropologie Skirt & Belt / American Eagle Necklace / Jessica Simpson Shoes

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

And here iz me in a very Me look and Lauren's skirt twin - bright colors, requisite stripes and a statement-y necklace:

  

Top: J. Crew perfect boatneck (worn here before - similar here)
Skirt: Anthropologie Parameter apothecary (worn here before)
Necklace: Old Navy ethnic statement (now on sale - worn here before)

Shoes: Seychelles she's got the moves (worn here before)

Milanese Wedge

     

Dress: Old Navy coloblock tiered (similar here, here, -ish here)
Top: J. Crew featherweight cardigan (worn here before - similar here, here)
Shoes: Toms kenya stripe (worn here before)
Necklace: Overstock overlay camelia flower (worn here before - similar here)

    

Top: Anthropologie city cousin (worn here before)
Shorts: Xhiliration via Target challis (worn here before - similar here, here)
Shoes: Toms coral canvas (similar floral here)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff trompe l'oeil mac (worn here before)

Ciao belle! I'm back home between trips for a few days so I definitely want to drop in for a bit to get blogged and play catch up. I'll be headed for France later this week, so I decided to join the 21st century this weekend and get one of these.  And so far all I've really done is play Angry Birds ad nauseum and buy my weight's worth in books. Who says high-technology is wasted on me?

In the interim, here are a few random pics from Milan - I believe I've consumed more than my fill of carbs, cheese, and red wine this past week!

What Say YOU

Thanks for all your feedback to my "what is Lisa style" post way back when. The awesome take-away I got from you all is to just like what I like and be who I be and not worry about looking or dressing a certain way. If I like it and if it goes, that should be all that matters.

So for reminding me to be happy with the way I am sartorially, let's point the ole virtual camera back at you lovelies!

For the next Respect the Outfits reader feature, let's celebrate YOU for exactly who YOU are. Send me an outfit pic with you rocking a look that is quintessentially you. Are you fun and flirty? Sweet and sassy? A floral rocker? Streamlined chic? Show us in an outfit that you think defines your personal style the best.

Please also provide the outfit deets and a link to your blog if you like. Send in your looks by June 14 - post will go up the next day! respecttheshoes(at)live.com.

And here's a previously unposted outfit of mine - me being very me:

And Pacey being very Pacey.

  

Top: J. Crew sequin boatneck (worn here before - factory version here, similar here)

Skirt: LE button-front chambray (worn here before - similar here)

Belt: J. Crew skinny (similar here)

Necklace: Old Navy ethnic statement (worn here before)

Shoes: Seychelles she's got the moves (worn here before)

Dots & Stripes Forever

Happy Memorial Day, ladies! Aside from the (hopefully) physical and mental recharge we are all partaking in these past few days, let's also spend a few moments and remember the real reason we celebrate this day - to commemorate all the US service members who have fallen while in military service.

I've had a great long weekend of eating, cooking, park-ing, lounging and generally being a lazy loaf - it's been awesome. So it should come as no surprise that with the great summer-y weather, I've spent my days in general absolute casual-ness:

 

Top: H&M stripe (worn here before - similar here, modern here)
Skirt: UO Cooperative monaco
Shoes: Keds spright wedge (worn here before - similar here, here)
Necklace: White Owl via Etsy (worn here before - similar here)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff trompe l'oeil mac

 

Top: J. Crew factory multi-stripe pullover
Shorts: Banana Republic (similar here)
Shoes: Mossimo by Target wakana (worn here before - similar here)

 

Hat: Christy's & Co. (big enough to fit my giant noggin! - similar here, here)
Top: J. Crew max & molly gallery (worn here before - similar here, here)
Shorts: Old Navy pleated (worn here before - similar here)
Shoes: DVF lush flip flops (worn here before)

 

Top: F21extended hem dot (worn here before - similar solid here, here)
Shorts: Old Navy chambray tie-belt
Shoes: Sofft woven thongs (similar luxe here, reg here)

What have you gals all been up to? Have any of your partaked in some awesome sales, or other grand (there are no small) adventures?

This Gingham Walked into an Apothecary ...

Sorry, Kim, my will is weak and I've broken the shopping ban this weekend with a trip to Anthro (though I've sold a few older pieces and had a return, so technically I didn't spend any new money). OK, and I may have visited a few other stores while I was at the mall, but I only made one additional purchase from this one ...

This outfit was inspired by a dressing room ensemble that Liz put together - and you all know how I love to treat gingham and stripes like neutrals, so this look came from the Anthro gods. Good thing the green cissus button-up was not at my local store, or I may have imbibed in that as well!

 

Top: Lands' End Canvas gingham poplin (worn here before)
Skirt: Anthropologie Parameter apothecary
Shoes: Xhiliration by Target teanna (worn here before - similar here)
Jewelry: Old Navy ethnic statement (worn here before), enamel bangle (similar here)

And the outfit I wore over the weekend that got me in the dressing room with the apothecary skirt:

 

Shorts: J. Crew chino (worn here before)
Shoes: Indigo by Clarks finch (worn here before)
Bag: Longchamp canvas/leather (gift from big sis - similar here in navy, not sim but cute here)

You gals doing anything interesting for Memorial Day weekend coming up?