Feminine Utility

Greetings Delightful readers! Terra from SWF up on the mic. I'd like to share something that I love probably more than anything in my closet. And you don't even really see them. Pockets in skirts and dresses.

I don't know if there is much else that can elevate an item from good to great quite like them. If I realize there are pockets in a skirt or dress that I am on the fence about, it goes from a maybe to a done deal. There's something about looking feminine with utility that is very enticing to me. The garment becomes like a fanny pack without the bulk and ultimate dork factor.

Here are a few of my favorites...

Skirts & Dresses: 1. Hip'tique, 2. Jupe Boutique 3. Self-made 4. Jupe Boutique 5. c/o Jupe Boutique

Trendwatch: Backwards Cardigans

You can call it a crazy trend, or you can call it dressing creatively, but I'm participating in the backwards cardi-party purely out of  fashion desperation this week... I'm visiting my family for the holidays here in sunny Arizona and for whatever reason managed to UNDERpack for our trip.  (How on earth that happened, I have no idea!)  

I've got several great basic pieces with me and lots of loungewear, but my parents surprised my husband and I with reservations for a fancy pants dinner-date tonight, and I'm scrambling to come up with something sorta sexy, but still classic.  

Enter: the backwards cardigan!   

I tried a teeny little tiny version of the trend back in October, and wore this sweater that LOOKS like it's on backwards, but it's actually just made with the buttons in the back.  I'm going full force with it tonight, though and am hoping to try it with a v-neck and no shirt on underneath (Meow)!

Image via Oh Captain, My Captain

Image via This Time Tomorrow 

I think a woman's back can be one of the most elegant parts of her body, and why not show a little shoulder instead of focusing on a plummeting neckline in the front?

I also love this look for an innovative take on a comfy outfit for a casual day of running around... it's adorable over a floral dress, and instantly adds interest to a white tee and perfectly messy hair:

Image via The Sartorialist

Image via Where Did U Get That

Alright, so what do you think?  Have you tried this trend yet?  I'm dying to hear how you'd style it up to make it work for you!

And I'll make sure to snap some photos of my own version to share with you over at Style & Pepper, so stay tuned!

XOXO - Jessie

12 Delightful Things

Welcome to another edition of 12 Delightful Things!

1. SWF's little one loves leg warmers like these from Posh Pipsqueak!

2. Fancy Treehouse says, "What's not to love about pretending you're a bunny for a bit?"

3. Blonde Bedhead needs a little pick me up with color and this yellow color block clutch does the trick!

4. Selective Potential loves this unique and fun idea of a diary. You fill in blank keywords, so you can create fun diary entries without the heavy writing of blank journals.

5. If Style and Pepper weren't on a current Jacket/Coat-Ban (too much outerwear, not enough space!), she'd snatch up this darling nude jacket with a leather collar from Heidi Merrick.

6. This picture makes Tick Tock Vintage want to chop all of her hair off.

7. Kansas Couture can't wait to whip up this decadent drink for the holidays!

8. Adored Austin is loving Le Mer watches, especially this instant arm party one.

9. Delightfully Tacky adores this perfect dress for Christmas (and any other time really!).

10. Jenloveskev would like to drink this Maple Bourbon Cider over the holiday!

11. We are loving ModCloth's stylish New Year's Eve looks!

12. This hat is so cute for winter days (now that winter is officially here!)

Music Thursday...?

Phew, we're only... three days late, right? Enjoy our holiday playlist!

Kansas Couture - Put the Lights on the Tree by Sufjan Stevens

SWF - Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie & Bing Crosby

Selective Potential - Valley Winter Song by Fountains of Wayne

Blonde Bedhead - Winter Windows by Sea Wolf

Tick Tock Vintage - The Twelve Days of Christmas by Belle & Sebastian

Adored Austin - Last Christmas by Jimmy Eat World

Delightfully Tacky - Santa Clause by Harry Connick Jr.

Style and Pepper - Silver Bells by She & Him

Jenloveskev - 12 Days of Christmas by Relient K

Orchid Grey - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Good Lovelies

Swapped blouse

Andrea from Blonde Bedhead here! I wore this a couple weeks ago to dinner with Tieka in Michigan! I work in advertising and I'm lucky that one of my clients is located near my hometown where I can visit family and friends like Tieka when I'm in town. I wore this outfit to work, but with black pants and changed into these comfy, distressed jeans once I got out.

Since the top I borrowed from Style and Pepper is loose, I wanted to add some structure with this cropped jacket I picked up in a vintage store near where I live in Chicago. I try not to be so matchy-matchy, but my suede heels matched perfectly, I just had to wear them and added a cream colored bag to finish off the look.

How Jessie styled it:

outfit details:

[vintage top swapped via style and pepper, vintage blazer, levi's jeans,

BCBG heels leather bracelet c/o the brooklyn bakery,

clyde's rebirth necklace, marc jacobs bag]

12 Delightful Things

We're back! Another edition of 12 delightful things...

1. Having just crossed over to the iPhone, little miss butterfingers, SWF, is seeking a cool cover. These custom options from Rouge & Co. on Etsy are just lovely.

2. Fancy Treehouse always ends up getting her money's worth from all the APC brooches.

3. A funky pair of sunglasses can always add the right amount of interest to even the simplest outfits, and these House of Harlow sunnies are on Style & Pepper's list of favorites!

4. A leopard print cuff? Yes please, says Blonde Bedhead!

5. Selective Potential thinks this Holly Jolly gift guide from Banana Republic, curated by Annabel Tollman, is so lovely.

6. Tick Tock Vintage would love to learn how to upholster furniture just to make this charr.

7. This gorgeous red statement necklace (or something similar) is at the top of Kansas Couture's Christmas list!

8. Orchid Grey loves these two tone ankle boots.

9. Adored Austin just got these Jolly boots from ShoeMint. In awe.

10. Jenloveskev says, "How pretty would this dress be for christmas?"

11. Delightfully Tacky made Emma's amazing pumpkin curry soup this week. It was delicious!

Texas Style Council 2012. You in?

Isn't this a fun photo?

These amazing party photos were snapped by Nathan Russell at the 2011 Texas Style Council conference in Austin, Texas last March. This past TxSC was the first time our little shindig had become a full blown three-day event, and it was so much fun and informative.

Last year's TxSC played host to D12 members Jen Loves Kev, Kansas Couture, Style and Pepper, (former D12'er) Bleubird Vintage, and yours truly (I'm Adored Austin). Since I'm kind of the organizer this year, I'll be here for the 2012 conference as well as Selective Potential, Jen Loves Kev, Orchid Grey, Style and Pepper, and a bevy of other amazing style bloggers and brands you love (ahem Kendi Everyday, Lulu*s, Refinery29....)

What is the Texas Style Council, you ask? Well, it's a three day weekend during SXSW Interactive (March 9, 10, and 11) that serves as a networking event and social media symposium specifically for female fashion and lifestyle bloggers (or aspring bloggers!) and shop owners and brands who wish to connect with young, creative, tech savvy, and influential women. We focus on networking and making legitimate connections with each other and brands that want to connect with us instead of giving talk after talk on how to monetize your blog (but if you are interested in this, this will be covered in one-on-ones). If you have a lifestyle or a fashion blog, you should come! Maybe you'll even meet someone like The Glamourai...

This makes me legit, right?

I don't think I'm supposed to use my monthly D12 post to promote things like this (verify? anyone?), but I thought it was relevant. Kind of. Um. Here's an outfit post!

dress: Lulu*s | camera bag: c/o Epiphanie
I wore this during my SXSWi talk last year (the day after the Texas Style Council) and it's the same dress (but in blue) that went around the D12 for a while. Exhibit A, B.

Pre-order the 2012 Delightful Dozen Calendar!

It's that time of year again! It's time to pre-order your 2012 Delightful Dozen calendar! It features all 12 members of the Delightful Dozen. All profits this year will be going toward Love146. They are an amazing charity that helps with prevention and aftercare for women and children in human trafficking and sex slavery. If you're interested, you can read more about them here. Last year, with all the profits we made from our 2011 calendar, we were able to help women in need afford nice clothes for job interviews. Here's a peek at a few of the pages. They are $15.00 + shipping. Pre-order your calendar here! Happy holidays!

Order your 2012 calendar here!

Love146 overview:

Love146 Overview from LOVE146 on Vimeo.

In the Navy

Hello, all! It's Katy from Kansas Couture here to share with you a couple of outfits I built around Veronika's darling blouse. At the risk of looking a bit costumey, I couldn't resist pairing it with some sailor-style jeans. Gold and brown accessories and a little pop of color in the form of red shoes complete the look.

I also gave it another spin with a more monochromatic look consisting of mostly navy. Here's how Veronika wore it. It looks amazing with a denim skirt -- almost a perfect balance of my two takes on it! How would you style it?