Sunset Sparkle

Wearing: Jennifer Lopez sequin top, Forever 21 tuxedo blazer (similar), Cheap Monday jeans, and Glaze heels from gojane.com (similar to Steve Madden Grettta heels)


Although I still don't have plans for New Year's Eve, this is what I may wear if I opt out of donning a dress.  Predictable, perhaps, but nonetheless comfortable given the boxy shape of the sequin top and the ideal amount of stretch in the skinnies. 

While my plans are still up in the air for ringing in the new year, I still have plenty of time to decide what to wear.  I'm hoping the evening includes a sunset as pretty as this one, lots of laughter with loved ones, a champagne toast, and some festive sparkle.  Thank you to my readers for making the past six months on The Key To Chic beyond my expectations, and cheers to a happy, healthy, and stylish new year!

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City Print in the Harbor

Wearing: Mossimo bowler hat, H&M sunglasses, Motel Zoe city scene dress (current version), Forever 21 leopard print faux fur jacket (similar), handbag from Charlotte Russe (similar), and Steve Madden Grettta heels


There's something intriguing about the NYC scene on this dress. Even though I've had the dress for about two years, it still appeals to me as every bit as much as the day I bought it.  The photographic effect of the print and the dynamic energy it imparts stand in stark contrast to the reality of my everyday scenery, which includes relaxing water vistas, palm trees and rolling hillsides. The aforementioned relaxing views work especially well as backdrops to my personal style photos, and for that I'm very grateful.  Despite not being a city girl, I still love the energy of NYC, and having visited the city on multiple occasions, I like to think of the dress as a wearable postcard/homage to one of my favorite cities. Now if I could only find a similar dress with a London-inspired print.

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The Price of a Pajama Top

Wearing: vintage Escada blouse, Zara coat, vintage Dooney and Bourke handbag, Cheap Monday jeans, and Mossimo Kacey boots


As a frequent secondhand store shopper, I'll let you in on one of my thrifting strategies. Rather than just walk in and look for anything that interests me, I'll sometimes scan the racks focusing on print or fabric, or both. For instance, I'll zone in on a specific criteria such as: silk, cashmere, velvet, animal prints, or floral prints.  Anyone else do this?

When I discovered this blouse, it was a triple jackpot. I was initially drawn to the floral print, and then I realized it was silk. A quick peek at the label and I was as ecstatic as in the photo where I'm jumping. Vintage Escada! I glanced at the price tag, where I happily saw that the blouse was $2.99.

The pajama-like shape and feel of the top lends it a level of comfort that I can always appreciate, and while it pairs easily with my skinny jeans, I envision it dressed up with a beaded jacket and A-line skirt for fancier endeavors.

I absolutely love it when thrift stores undervalue items like this, although how they determine their prices is a mystery to me.

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Staring at Stars

Wearing: Forever 21 hat, thrifted T-shirt, White Stag crochet cardigan via Buffalo Exchange, Timing faux fur jacket (my dream version here), Staring at Stars cruched velvet bell bottoms, Steve Madden Collosul boots, Bakers studded handbag, and assorted jewelry.

When it comes to shopping, few things are more exhilarating than walking into my favorite secondhand store and finding just the piece I've been looking for at an amazingly low price. My current preoccupation with star and galaxy prints was met when I found this tee in the Men's department of a local thrift haunt.  I actually have a whole drawer dedicated to my collection of Men's tees, and you'll find me wearing them during daily workouts and when I crave the comfort and ease of an oversized tee.  The print on this one evokes an ethereal spirit that I felt would be fitting for my newly purchased crochet cardigan, faux fur jacket, and very comfortable velvet bell bottoms.

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Hearts and Waves

Wearing: Mossimo bowler hat (similar), Forever 21 heart print cardigan (similar style in gray) and high-low dress, mirror necklace c/o Crossroads Trading Co., H&M satchel, and Dolce Vita Jamison boots

After admiring women with loose, wavy locks for years and having one too many unsuccessful hair styling sessions with my curling iron, I finally attempted to master the wavy hairstyle that I've always wanted.  Instead of my go-to method of loosely braiding my hair in order to get wavy texture, I sat down to watch a few YouTube hair tutorials and then used a 1" curling iron to get the desired results.  The key for me to get the look I wanted was to curl the hair a few inches down from the roots instead of from the tips. At just under twenty minutes, the whole process took less time than expected.

My current hair care routine is very low maintenance; I admit that it involves as little effort as possible. My newfound interest in creating wavy hair might have me spending more time getting ready, although with practice, I hope to be able to achieve full body waves in about ten minutes.  Next up, I may attempt the waterfall braid or who knows, perhaps the smoky eye.  For a look at my personal fashion and beauty-related photos, you can now keep up with me on Pose @thekeytochic, where I'll be posting unique content and sharing what inspires me.

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Biker Ballerina

Wearing: Forever 21 faux fur cossack and studded biker jacket, H&M tulle dress, Topshop rabbit tote bag, New Look tights, and Aldo Maune wedges

Oddly enough, my latest dress obsession does not involve sequins or sparkle. As much as I adore shiny textures for the holidays, it's all about the ultra feminine ballerina dress for me right now. I'm intrigued by the juxtaposition of a voluminous tulle dress and heart print tights topped with a tough, casual jacket to tone down the daintiness and give the outfit some streetwise attitude. A bit biker, a bit ballerina.

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Falling Stars

Wearing: Forever 21 sequin jacket (similar), Lush star print dress, Wild Pair Sister WP heels (same as Steve Madden Shazzam), and vintage handbag


Presenting my outfit for the Two Point Oh! LA Snowball, with the exception of a last-minute change of shoes out of these leopard platforms and into my reasonably comfortable Collosul boots by Steve Madden.  When planning a party outfit, shoes become my most significant consideration.  No surprise, considering that I'm a self-professed shoe addict. After years of going out on the town in high heels, I've learned to put practicality at the forefront and select shoes that I can stand, walk, or dance in for several hours without requiring a nearby seat.  I don't want my shoes to potentially ruin my night or cause me unbearable amounts of pain because that's no fun.  Therefore, my less comfortable shoes are reserved for dinner or the movies, or when I'll be on my feet for brief amounts of time, and when I know I can rely upon the comfort of a chair.  At the end of the Snowball, I thanked myself for switching to the Collosul boots, since as much as I love these leopard heels, the boots provided more warmth and stability.  Just one of the many reasons why boots form the cornerstone of many of my outfits.

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The Multi-Colored Maxi Sweater

Wearing: The Mountain "Summoning the Storm" T-shirt, Forever 21 hat and maxi cardigan, fringe handbag from a boutique called Eris in Orange County (similar style), Mossimo jeans, and Steve Madden Hamptinn boots

I wandered into Forever 21 this weekend in search of some sparkly party-appropriate pieces for upcoming events, but quickly became sidetracked when this sweater caught my attention.  Just when I was trying to stick to my shopping list, this cardigan had to go and tempt me.  At first sight, it looked like it belonged layered over a diaphanous lace dress on the pages of a Free People catalog. Perhaps that's why I gravitated towards it; I imagined styling it in a slightly bohemian way with a nod to rock 'n' roll.  Its mix of colors and dual front pockets makes it an effortless throw-on-and-go companion to my arsenal of oversized Men's tees, skinny jeans and ankle boots.

On the subject of boots, Steve Madden's Hapmtinn boots are the latest addition to my rapidly growing collection of ankle boots with heels under 3".  The high comfort factor and quadruple buckle detail have me seriously considering buying them in black (and applying for the Steve Madden Shoe Addict Club).  The pretty Australian Shepherd that approached me while these photos were taken must have liked them too. Or perhaps the dog's owner, a friendly young guy who inquired if I was taking photos for a match.com profile, to which I hid my surprise and replied with a grin, "Oh! Nah. These are blog photos!"

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Hemline Highs and Lows

Wearing: Zara studded beanie, H&M aviator jacket, Forever 21 graphic T-shirt, Foreign Exchange skirt (similar version in green), Mossimo Kacey boots (similar to Steve Madden's Pembrook), vintage handbag, and H&M 200 den tights

I finally figured out exactly why high-low hemlines appeal to me so strongly. It's the graceful movement of the fabric created when the wind flows through, as well as the drama and unexpected shape of a hemline that's both demure and flirtatious at the same time.  Sans tights, they allow me to simultaneously show and hide some skin. Furthermore, such hemlines lend themselves well to slightly breezy days, especially if opaque tights and a carefree attitude are involved.

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Pink and Pastel

Wearing: Asos top, vintage cardigan, Cheap Monday jeans, Charlotte Russe velvet glitter booties, rings from Forever 21, and satchel from Nordstrom


This fall I'm not underestimating the value of a cozy, textured sweater. Soft knits are so comfortable and effortless to wear when temperatures drop.  Purchased at one of my favorite thrift stores for less than the price of a cup of coffee, this pastel pink cardigan practically challenged me to style it in a non-prissy way.  So out came the Miu Miu-inspired glitter booties I bought in October and my softest pair of faded skinny jeans.  Regarding the heels, they're hands down the most affordable version of Miuccia's glittery creations that I've spotted, albeit without the signature curved heel. After almost buying versions from Topshop and Jessica Buurman, I'm now grateful that I opted for the buy one, get one for $15 promo that Charlotte Russe offered.  My other pair, which now appears to be sold out on the website, is baby pink with silver glitter, and can be spotted on my Tumblr in a somewhat obnoxious animated gif.

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December Blues

Wearing: Forever 21 blouse and sequin shorts (similar), Old Navy sweater, vintage handbag, H&M tights, and Dolce Vita Jamison boots

My hunt for the perfect winter tights came to an end at H&M last month.  Their elusive 200 denier version is not only completely opaque, but seemingly indestructible due to their near-legging like thickness.  Naturally, I bought multiples since they're almost impossible to find in my neck of the woods.  They make wearing short shorts possible on chilly fall days, and for that, I'm very appreciative.  Speaking of appreciative, my love of practical and comfortable low-heeled ankle boots is still growing. Gotta love a wearable boot with a simple silhouette that can be worn all day without the pain of higher heels. No plans to get rid of my five and six-inch heels anytime soon, though.

My low-heeled obsession all started with the Aldo Qualheim and Sam Edelman Louie boots I bought this summer, and with the addition of the Dolce Vita Jamison to my closet, my collection is almost complete.  After debating between the Dolce Vita Jamison, Steve Madden Pembrook, and Report Marks, the Jamison became the clear winner. The combination of stacked brown heel, black suede upper, inside zip, and black pull tab all had me at hello. I've always had a weakness for boots with a brown heel and black upper; they have a rugged vibe that appeals to me. Once I break them in, they'll be paired with the skinny jeans that I've rekindled my romance with.

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