Well whaddya know, I got the River Island coat I've been eyeing! This muppet-esqe beauty is sure to brighten up the rest of the long winter season. That faux fur accent tho! A little punch of Bid Bird color goes a long way during these months of gray on gray on gray.  If you're wearing lots of dark colors this winter like I am, don't be afraid to add a bold pop of color. Make a statement!

But seriously, Big Bird...I love him. Suuuunnnnnnyyyy dayyyys, sweeeeeping the cloooouds aaawwayyyy...

I love the challenge of exploring style. I'm influenced by my surroundings, my research and observations...and that's where the exploration begins. Growth in design is what's important to me and I'm always striving to expand my horizon and perspective.
The simplicity of this look really draws me in. I'm actually wearing quite bold pieces yet the neutral color palette unifies the look and tones it down. The modern leopard shift dress is in warm tan and brown tones (and black) so to contrast, I paired it with a cooler colored silver pearl necklace and silver booties. See how that pops? Love it.

Hat: NastyGal  ///  Sunglasses: Bonlook  ///  Necklace: Nordstrom Rack  ///  Blazer: Goodwill - Wooster, OH  ///  Leopard Shift Dress:  Get it here!  ///  Ombre Tights: Missguided  ///  Cut-out Ankle Boots: from Ci Ci Hot brand: Qupid ///  Bag: XOXO

This look was inspired by the Coast to Coast Challenge from CoastToCoastCentral.com. The challenge was to post a look on Instagram of your outfit containing dark hues and red lips. How fun!...How could I say no? The weekly challenge was birthed out of the desire to connect women, inspire each other to try new things, and to keep up with the latest fashion trends.
Even better, they also have a shop where 50% of the proceeds are going toward building a rescue house for victims of sex trafficking in Quito, Ecuador. Make sure you read their Mission/Vison statement and their Causes page.
I really enjoy how the color pops from this outfit! I normally wear crazy color all over...so I like how this forced me to be more neutral and then play with some bright pops, like these lovely Nasty Gal Shoe Cult leopard boots. I also usually don't wear red lip color but I enjoyed the experiment...I love how it goes with my bold colored sparkly necklace.
Also, I thought my Bon Look glasses would add a punch to the outfit. They are the Crystal Sand La Marquise. They are quite a statement piece but I love how the color just kind of blends in with my skin and hair. They just add that extra layer of cool and really show my personality.

Contrast Sleeve Coat: SheInside  ///  Fringe Purse: from Banyan Tree in Cleveland  ///  Leggings: Zara  ///  Boots: NastyGal Shoe Cult  ///  Glasses: Bon Look, La Marquise  ///  Necklace: Find similar at Bauble Bar

Time for some bold, oversized goodies! Here are a few of my go-to items to begin the season:

Cat eye glasses: La Marquise, Bon Look  /// Oversized metal earrings and gold scorpion ring: vintage ///  Teardrop statement necklace: Target (clearance rack! score!)  Stripe socks: Jcrew  /// Nail Polish: Sephora by OPI, IM Beauty (yellow) & Charge It! (metallic gold)