Royal Paisley and Purple

I was really inspired by this outfit block I stumbled upon online. The skirt alone is eye catching, and paired with bright purple and turquoise accessories- it's a great ensemble!

Here's my interpretation of the outfit block above. I actually have that same same skirt from J. Crew! I wore a navy tank below a purple cashmere cardigan. For my statement necklace, I pulled in the teal from the shoes and wore my H&M drop bead bib necklace. (I'm also sporting mint-color nails but I think it's tough to see in the photos!)

What do you think?! Is this an outfit you would wear to work?

Fall Fashion: An Ode to Naomi Campbell

An ode to Naomi Campbell...

This woman is a lot of things.

* She's certifiably crazy: She threw a cell phone at her assistant. And her housekeeper.

* She's a pioneer: First black woman on the cover of French Vogue, when she was just 18.

* She's a wanna be rockstar: After dating a U2 band member, she becomes addicted to cocaine.

But most importantly, this woman owns her fashion sense. She rocks anything she wears, and I can't ever fault her for taking risks and dressing outside of the box.

For that reason, today's outfit inspiration comes from one of Naomi's more casual looks. A simple black dress with a patterned jacket is an easy breezy look to recreate! 

Tip: This kind of outfit can be mixed-and-matched in as many ways as you like! A simple black dress can be paired with anything: a bright scarf, a fun blazer like this one, a statement necklace, a colorful belt... you get the idea!

Make it your own:

Dress: H&M, last fall, about $30

Heels: Guess from DSW, $44.95

Blazer: J. Crew Factory Store (several seasons ago)

Mirror, Mirror....

Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, I had a lot of free time. In that free time, I got bored and started looking through my photo albums. As I was skimming through my blog photo album to delete old pics & get rid of the clutter, I noticed that I had a good amount of what I call "self portraits."

Now if done in a funky way, like my girl over at LLYMLRS... self portraits can be artsy, and unique. Mine all look the same. Womp.

So, in the spirit of poking fun at myself, I've decided to share some of them with you. If you can't make fun of yourself, you lead a boring life.

Below is a compilation of some of the good, bad, and ugly self portraits, or probably more accurately coined mugshots, since the start of GJU.

Also.. a few realizations..

After looking through all of these at once, I picked up on a few things:

1. I make the same squished, pursed lips look. Often. I'd like to name it. I'm open to suggestions.
2. I wear my hair up in a bun, still wet from my morning shower, almost every day. (However, there is a reason for that. Drying my mop of hair takes a good 25 minutes, and then I have to straighten it if I don't want to look like a lioness...)
3. I've decided there's one part of myself that I'm not self-conscious about: my eyes.
4. Make that two. I like my hair, even when it's ratted up in a bun or clip.
5. I have thick eyebrows. I guess that's better than drawn-in, super thin ones.
5. I discovered that most of these pics I took right before I have the blog photos taken. Evidently, I like to test how my make up/face looks on camera each day. Too funny.

Note: Many, if not most of these are unedited. Be gentle. 

I have nothing else witty or spunky to say this morning. Still tired from the tryptophan.

Happy last week of November, y'all.

Purple Friday! Errrrr... Wednesday!

Usually on Fridays I rock black and purple in support of my home team, the Baltimore Ravens! Woot!

However, since I'm off work the rest of the week for Thanksgiving, I decided it was absolutely necessary to bring black and purple to life on the blog today in spirit & support of the Ravens game tomorrow!

Because I'm doing Purple Friday on a Wednesday, I needed a more mid-week work-appropriate ensemble. Here's what I found-- the one and only Geri Halliwell. Don't judge me. Spice Girls live on.

And, in usual GJU style, I added in a few other colors/accessories to spice it up. 

Let me first just say that my Missoni for Target bag is major. You've got my favorite color combo representing big time (purple and green), and you've got some black, white, and a splash of pink to girl-it-up. I'm excited to work this bag into more outfits. 

Secondly.. although I'm not averse to taking fashion risks, I was still a little nervous to leave the house (not on a legit Purple Friday) in purple tights. Between the bright scarf and tights, and the busy patterned bag, I felt I looked a little like this. However, after seeing the outfit come together, I was pleased with the result.

What do you think-- would you wear colored tights? 

Make it your own:

Dress: J. Crew Factory

Tights: Target

Heels: Madden Girl, Loehmanns, about $28

Bag: Missoni for Target (got on clearance for under $30!)

Holiday Wish List!

As the holiday season quickly approaches and the winter chill sets in, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. (Mostly from reading the new catalogs I receive from Loft, Urban Outfitters, J.Crew and Anthropologie, and....) But also- a little warmth from hot cocoa and the red winter holiday cups at Starbucks. But I digress.

In honor of the holidays, I began my winter wish list last night.

Let's be real. The things on this list will not magically appear in my closet/life this holiday season/tomorrow/immediately as I'd like them to.

But alas, a girl can dream.

That's why it's called a wish list. So, here's to wishful thinking...

Neon Purple and Yellow Necklace, Spike the Punch, $36

Glitter iPhone Case, J. Crew, $25

Cicely Velvet High Heel Pump, Tory Burch, $350

And while we're on the topic of Tory Burch, I sweat this bag.

Bombe Burch Tote, Tory Burch, $450

Adrienne All Lace Dress, Betsey Johnson, $398

Beaded Felt Pencil Skirt, Anthropologie, $298

Dara Ettinger Felicia Post Earring, Urban Outfitters, $75

Another pair of earrings that are just gorgeous..

Black Diamond Teardrop Earrings, Loft, $24.50

So, what's on your holiday wish list this year?

Famous People Wear Orange Scarves

Exhibits A-F:

See what I'm saying? Famous people wear orange scarves.Thus, it only makes sense that GJU has an orange scarf post... 

Quick commentary: I am not at all suggesting that Heidi Montag is a qualified actress, or a worthy celebrity. I am simply noting that she's famous (albeit for dumb reasons) and wears orange scarves. I'm making a point. 

Here's how I wore the scarf to work! I looped mine once around the neck like Reese Witherspoon did in the above photo.

Beige trench a la Taylor Swift.

Do I look famous now? No? That's fine. A for effort.

Make it your own:

Trench: Jolt, T.J. Maxx, $39.99

Skirt: Ann Taylor Outlet (several years ago), Similar

Scarf: Pashmina Scarf, about $15

Top: T. J. Maxx $9.99

Earrings: c/o EveryOccasion Designs
Stone bracelet: Chico's (Similar)

Feature Friday: Seeing Double!

Hey y'all!

First & foremost: Happy Friday! Does anyone else feel like this has been the longest week ever? I'm relieved that it's the weekend.

Now to the fashion.

You remember I did a post on black and red a few weeks ago? Well today, GJU is featuring two fabulous fashionistas who took this trend and made it their own.

First up, we have Adellyn. She lives in NYC, and is fierce in her own right. Here's how she rocked the look:

A couple things to address. 

1) Loving those rocker boots & belt! I don't have enough spunk to pull off studs and buckles like this lady can!

2) I now need a red mini. 

3) I need to wear said red mini with a black boyfriend blazer. Smokin' hot. Hot tamale. Other red hot references. 

Loving it. All around, loving it.

Next up, Katie B. is a Baltimore girl with a smart sense of preppy style. Here's how she made Black & Red her own:

I can't handle how adorbs she is in this pic. I love the red cropped pants, the red & gold necklace, and the houndstooth. Moses knows how much I sweat houndstooth in the fall/winter months. 

Let's break this down. Here's how Katie describes her outfit:

"I think this outfit displays a nice mixture of dressing during the ever-difficult transition season of clothes-where it's not warm enough to just wear a sundress or skirts anymore but also not cold enough where you need chords and cable knit layers.

I wanted to not only figure out a good outfit that can be worn in the early fall season, but also repurpose my once summer J. Crew pants to make them more seasonally appropriate. I thought the red and the black and white houndstooth is a nice holiday, festive pairing which is perfect for early November when everyone's starting to feel the holiday soiree vibe! Plus it shows you can seamlessly take summer capris and make them more fall-worthy with the right layering!"

Top-Talbots $119

J. Crew cafe capris-$118

Flats-Nine West apx. $79

Necklace-Kim Last Design
Rings-David Yurman & Tiffany

Watch-Fossil

Bangles-Pink Crab

At this point, she should just have a weekly spot on GJU. 

Hope you guys liked today's double-trouble Feature Friday! If you want to be a featured fashionista, send me some pics of you rockin' a look, and why you chose the pieces in the outfit.

Happy weekend everyone :)

And the winner is....!

Get Jessed Up! Gah!

I'm so excited to have won the Best New Blog category in the 2011 Baltimore Sun Mobbies Awards! I also placed 2nd in the Best Lifestyle Blog category.... amazing. Here are all of the stellar finalists and winners!

Quite frankly, I was honored to have even been nominated in the first place. Winning was just the cherry on top of the sundae, and man was it a sweet cherry :)

So on that note.. thank you all. Thank you for checking into GJU a few times a week. Thank you for voting for me in this year's Mobbies. Thank you for supporting this project. Thank you. Sincerely.

And now for the pics... Here are some photos from the Mobbies party. ((It was a 20's themed award ceremony.. so I dressed the part. Duh.))

ps. We were in a bar when these were taken so the clarity/lighting are a bit off. But you get the idea.

What do you think?!

More dramatic make up than usual, including bright
red lips. Not my comfort zone-- but fun with this outfit!

A feather & sequins are always appropriate. Always. 

A little blurry... and by now my arm feather has wilted. Womp. But--
isn't my winner's top hat super snazzy?!

See that?! Best New Blog - Get Jessed Up. Get friggin Jessed Up! Eeee!

Make it your own:

Dress: Sassy Flapper Costume, Target $15 

Monday Must-Haves: Hair Accessories!

Good morning, everyone! Thanks for checking in with GJU to start off your week!

Today's post is all about your hair. Well.. no. It's about jazzing up your hair with statement pieces (jessing it up, if you will)!

Here are some of my favorite pieces for this holiday season!

Warning-- You don't want to get over zealous in your attempt to Jess it up. Keep it simple. Either go sparkly, floral, double band, feathered.. keep it to one of the looks above (not all 4 at once) and you'll always be safe. Here are some ways NOT to rock embellished hear wear:

Those flowers are far too large. Reminder: you don't want to resemble an overgrown garden.

On that same token, you don't want to look like you slaughtered a peacock. You see why. 

Do you have any favorite hair accessories? I'd love to hear about them! Send in a pic if you'd like to be featured on GJU :)

Pippa Perfect

I love Pippa Middleton. I love her name. I love her sass (you guys know I love a woman with sass). I love her confidence. For all intensive purposes- she's perfect. And that includes her wardrobe. The girl can dress.

Thanks, Us Magazine!

Here's my version. What do you think?!

It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that my cardigan is a bright pop of color. I love adding a character into my outfits, so I opted for a bright fuchsia cashmere sweater to Jess Up the look :)

(Also- Pippa's dress is from H&M.. I think.. but I think my Loft version is so close!)

Make it your own:

Dress: Loft (Last winter)

Sweater: Talbots (on final sale for $66 from $170!)

Boots: Civico 10 from DSW

Trench: Michael Kors

Turquoise jewelry: Bracelet - Lucky Brand; Earrings - Handmade from Craft fair