Decision made!

To those who voted on the two dresses, thanks for your input! 

If you saw any of the photos posted last night to my Facebook, you would have noticed that I went with Dress B! Ultimately, I fell in love the lace-covered bodice on the front, the deep V in the back, and sweet bow around the waist. 

Thanks again for weighing in!

The wedding I attended was beautiful! I was honored to be part of Dani and Amanda's special day. Here are some more photos from the ceremony and reception:

Every wedding should start with a selfie. Here's one of me and my mom!

Family photo before the ceremony

Two beautiful brides. What a lovely ceremony!

Mother/daughter photo, with an adorable flower girl photo bomb

With my friend Tiffany, my date for the evening :)

Mom and Dad

The cutest little flower girl I ever did see!

They're married! 

Their first dance as newlyweds. So sweet!

Make it your own:

Dress: Cache, $198

Heels: Jessica Simpson, $99

Earrings: Cache (Similar, $48)

Bracelet: Coldwater Creek (Similar $49.95)

Which LBD for the Wedding?

Hey guys.

I'm going to a wedding this Saturday, and I'm torn between two little black dresses! I posted the pics to my Instagram for some feedback, but figured I'd share the two options on GJU and get your thoughts.

Dress A:

Black Lace Back Dress, Cache $188

Dress B:

Black Lace Bow-Tied Dress, Cache $198

Which do you prefer? I love the cut out on the first dress, but I equally love the lace-covered sweetheart bodice on the second dress. Let me know what you think!

Back to Blogging: This time, I mean it.

So in January I wrote a post about about getting back into my blog, and re-committing myself to my Get Jessed Up readers. Well... I failed at that effort. I wrote a handful of posts and then fell off the blogosphere again.

Now I'm here to tell you: I truly miss you. I miss my blog.

I thought I was done and I thought I was over it, but I'm not. I missed my readers sending in comments and questions, and Facebook-ing me, and tweeting me, and emailing me... and you get the idea.

From this point forward, I am ready to actually commit to Get Jessed Up. For real, though.

I feel like we have a lot to catch up on.

To name a few:

1) The Grammy's happened.
2) Kim K. has been seen strutting her pregnant style and flaunting her baby belly fashions on magazine covers everywhere. Some of her choices have been questionable.
3) In anticipation of the 6th season of Mad Men, Banana Republic has reintroduced its Mad Men inspired collection. If I may, I will speak for Joan lovers everywhere and declare that I need every dress in that line. No, it's not a matter of want. I need.
4) It's Spring... and the weather is finally starting to catch on. Spring trends are some of my favorites, and I'm excited to share them with you!

On a personal level, let's see...
1) Still single.
2) Living in my new apartment with Bruiser. We LOVE it!
3) I have added more scarves to my collection. I'm an addict.

Hope you're all doing well, and hope you're all ready for more posts from GJU!  Let's get it started!!

Until next time,
GJU

p.s.
Here's a litte of what I've been up to... and what I've been wearing.

St. Patrick's Day 2013

Baltimore Oriole's Opening Day 2013

Baltimore Oriole's Opening Day 2013

Cupid's Undie Run in DC, benefiting the Children's Tumor Foundation

I turned 25! This cookbook was one of my favorite gifts: Fifty Shades of Chicken

Animal Themed Party for my friend Christine's Birthday

*St. Patrick's Day Outfit: Scarf, LOFT $34.50; Plaid Shirt, J. Crew $59.50, Green Tank, Francesca's Collections; Watch, Michael Kors $250
*Oriole's Opening Day: Sunnies, Ray Ban Aviators; Shirt, Dick's Sporting Goods; Pants, Gap; Studded Bag, Francesca's Collections $38
*Cupid's Undie Run: I mean.. I wasn't wearing much (but hey.. it's for a good cause, and it's the one time you can run around the Capitol in your underwear and not get arrested!) Bra is from Victoria's Secret $45; Panties are from Nordstrom $8.
*Birthday: Top (Similar $34) and Earrings, Francesca's Collections; Skull Scarf, Nordstrom $18
*Animal Party: Top and Pants, LOFT; Shoes, Jessica Simpson at Nordstrom $69

Birthday weekend!

Hi everyone! Hope you had a great weekend!

My weekend was full of awesome food, great friends, and a good time out in Baltimore to celebrate my birthday. I wish I'd taken my actual camera and gotten higher quality pics, or even just taken more diverse photos on my iPhone because I really liked my dress and wanted to show it to you guys on GJU!

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I had originally planned on wearing a dress from Rent The Runway for my birthday night out. Unfortunately, it came and didn't work out due to a stain. Even though I was disappointed not to be able to wear the dress, the RTR customer service was stellar. I'm being fully refunded and was also given a credit to use for a future rent/purchase. Looking very forward to trying it again sometime soon!

So, since my RTR dress didn't work out, I went to Francesca's - a boutique I absolutely love - and picked up another option! The dress I chose was a pink, light satin-y material. It cinched at the waist and was just above the knee in length. My favorite part of the dress: the shoulder ruffles at the arm cutouts! I thought they were fun :)

I wore black tights and black heels, and finished off the look with a gold watch and a long, gold locket necklace.

Here are some pics from the night:

My girls! I had a such a blast with these ladies!

Me with one of my best friends and sorority sister, Leland!

Group shot.

Toward the end of the night, I put my hair back in a ponytail. I also, apparently, look a lot more tired haha.

The arm cutout on the dress went a little low on me, so I wore a neon green bra
to spice it up. If its gonna show, might as well be a pretty color.
And on that same note.. for your birthday, neon undergarments are a must! 

Last pic of the night taken with one of my best friends from high school, Britt.

Once people ( who brought real cameras) stat posting pictures to Facebook, I'll upload more to this post.

Hope you had a great weekend!

<3 GJU


Make it your own:

Dress: Francesca's, $44 (Similar)

Necklace: J. Crew $55 (Similar)

Heels: Guess at DSW $44.95

People's Choice Awards 2012: Hits & Misses!

Happy Thursday, GJU readers! This means that tomorrow is Friday (whoop whoop!!) :)

I love award show season! This time of year is a dream for fashion lovers and critics. You've got the Golden Globes coming up in a few weeks which promises to be a stunning red carpet. Last night, the People's Choice Awards provided a healthy mix of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I thought I'd show you a few of my favorites, and least favorites.

Here we go. Let's start with the misses so we can end this blog post on a positive note.

The Misses

Ashley Greene

First and foremost, I can see the outline of her underwear. I can actually see almost everything under her dress. The leather is too tight so it crosses the line from form fitting to skeleton showing. The ruffles at the bottom, combined with the awkward lace faux-turtle neck with a 3/4 length sleeve makes me uncomfortable.

Jennifer Lawrence

Cut outs are definitely on trend this year, but Jennifer Lawrence took it too far. She looks like she's lost in the Atlantic Ocean. To top it off with cut outs on her heels? I can't. Someone needed to stop her.

Vanessa Hudgens

It's unfortunate to see Vanessa on my Miss List. She's really into the hippie-chic outfits these days. However, this hippie-Elvira-goth ensemble isn't doing it for her. The train is beautiful. The idea of the dress is beautiful. But that awful sheer mesh halter kills it.

Nina Dobrev

Green is my favorite color. I love being adventurous in my outfits and going for the bold, bright choices. But.. the lace on her arms? Nina Dobrev looks like she has moss growing on her upper limbs. Also those shoes-- awkwardly strappy. And on top of that? It's January. Who wears strappy sandals in January?

Kristen Bell

I love my girl Kristen Bell. But I don've love this borderline dominatrix red number. Too much is going on here: We've got a cropped sleeve mesh fabric covering up a lace sweetheart top. Then we go into a leather bell skirt. It's just not attractive to me. Call me crazy. Maybe if her hair was up in messy bun it would make it a little less unbearable, but still this is an unfortunate red carpet look.

Lucy Hale

Lucy Hale is known for her role in Pretty Little Liars. I'm sorry, Lucy, but someone lied to you when they said you could leave the house in this disheveled mess of a dress. Asymmetrical hemlines are on trend, but this is way too extreme. Also the heels are beyond platform. She's standing on stilts at this point.

Jennifer Morrison

Stars were having a field day with mesh over lace last night, apparently. Love the statement hair and the nude heels, but not loving the frock. It looks like my great grandmother's table cloth from 50 years ago. This is not how to wear fringe. Definitely not.

Lea Michele

Along the same lines of the tablecloth frock above, Lea Michele's dress is fringe gone crazy. Way too much draping is going on here. It's just weird looking. And the silver shoes don't help.

Now moving onto the good ones! Many celebs came out rockin' their looks. Here are some of the ones who I consider the Best Dressed.

The Hits

Emma Stone

Quite frankly, Emma Stone can do no wrong in my book. Godbless a redhead who wears green. Such a beautiful, complementary color combination. I'm super into this version of glamorous menswear. The blazer in bright green paired with fitted trousers and a peep-toe heel is perfectly nonchalant. It's like she didn't even try-- just threw it all on and showed up at the red carpet. Also loving the asymmetrical tux-like tails on her white shirt. That's fashion, ladies and gentlemen.

Demi Lovato

The reason why I love this is because it's figure-flattering. As we all know, Demi has been battling eating disorders. She's finally back at a healthy weight, and I think it's great she's showing off her assets in this dress. The cinched waist is gorgeous on her figure. The plunging lace-lined neckline is stunning (I've always wanted a dress with that neckline) and different length hems make for a pretty silhouette.

Chloe Moretz

Finally, a star under 25 who actually dresses her age! This black and green belted number is absolutely adorable. Paired with those nude and black pumps, this outfit is a definite win. Also loving that she pulled up her hair to show off her beautiful face and neckline. Work that skinny arm, girl!

Stana Katic

This Little Black Dress is major. It hugs all her curves and has a beautiful off the shoulder, deep neckline. The simple jewelry doesn't distract, allowing all attention to go to the dress, the gorgeous hair, and miss Stana Katic herself. This may be my favorite look of the night!

Faith Hill

I love this simple dress on Faith Hill. It's such an easy breezy silhouette- cinched waist, halter neck, tea-length hem. It's beautiful. That's all I really need to say. She looks beautiful.

Miley Cyrus

Miley's all grown up! She's certainly come a long way from her days on the Disney channel. This is an instance where the mesh atop the cut out is working. This dress is classy yet simple. Also the fact that she paired the bright white frock with deep red satin pumps is fantastic. Her side-swept hair is perfectly understated. Well done, miss Cyrus.

Side note: I discovered a bit of a Gladiator meets Spartacus trend last night at the People's Choice Awards. These two looks stood out.

Cobie Smulders

Elisha Cuthbert

I don't dislike these looks, I just can't get past their reminiscent gladiator qualities. The corset structure of the blue dress above is gorgeous, and the length on the second gown is also pretty. However, the chunky gold choker and the top of the second gown remind me of Halloween costume pieces that come in a bag from Party City. 

Photo credits: Thank you StarPulse, The Insider, and The Huffington Post

So.. what were some of your favorite looks from last night's People's Choice Awards? Did you have any least favorites?

Consignment is the New Black: Part Deux!

Here is round two of fabulous holiday and winter looks you can find at one of my favorite, fabulous high-end boutiques, Wear It's At!

Look #4
This sweater dress was so cozy! On top of it, to add a little color and cinch the waist, I threw on a purple belt. I really love the contrast in colors! Also... the sewn in pearls along the collar are tres chic.

And here it is again without the belt. Which do you prefer?

Also this studded clutch-- ugh. NEED.

Make it your own:

Dress: Rebecca Taylor, $148

Clutch: Whiting & Davis, $98

Purple Belt: $28.95

Look #5

O.M.G. Seriously. If this doesn't make you drool I dont even know what to say to you. This outfit drips elegance in a funky, fashion forward, female empowerment way. It's reminiscent of a tux but remains flirty and feminine.

Out of all the outfits I put together, this was definitely the most "splurge" outfit! I would kill to wear this out somewhere. If only I had a place to wear it... which I don't. Might have to create a reason...

Or-- Will someone please go buy these pieces and let me borrow?

Make it your own:

Shirt: St. John's, $198

Skirt: Dolce & Gabbana, $248.95

Heels: Ramirez, $78.95

Now that you've seen a ton of great outfit ideas, it's important to have outerwear as well. Gotta keep our clothes safe from the elements!

Outerwear #1

This thick, wool trench was so comfortable! It was soft, yet heavy enough to keep you warm. To jazz it up, I chose a Yurman necklace-- probably the most expensive necklace I could find in the store (obviously). Had to live it up while I was there.

Make it your own:

Jacket: Calvin Klein, $78.95

Necklace: David Yurman, $995

Outerwear #2
Burberry is so classic, and always exudes elegance in an understated way. This jacket has such a fun twist on the everyday Burberry coat. The metallic gold color, and fun beaded buttons totally spice up the look.

This is the shirt I was wearing under the Burberry jacket! Love me
some holiday sparkle :)

Also-- this handbag should be purchased by now. Why is it still available? So cute. Someone go get it. Similar to the splurge outfit.... can I borrow once it's yours?

Make it your own:

Jacket: Burberry, $248

Bag: Leather Rock, $78.95

Top: Adam Lippes, $98

If I haven't convinced you to check out Wear It's At, or your local consignment store if you're not from Maryland, than I have failed. If anything, I hope you leave this blog post re-thinking how you can Jess Up your holiday outfits. Mix and match vintage pieces from consignment stores. Wear that one-of-a-kind dress versus the mall-bought frock. You won't believe the compliments you'll receive. Trust.

Let me know what you find. Send in pics!

Happy Holidays :)

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)