Author Archives: Rae Nudson

more clutch

Day to night, new clutch style

As promised, a professional look with the clutch. Dressed up with some pants, red shoes, and a sweater over a button-up, you can go to work with a daytime clutch and not look out of place.

A closer look at my accessories (yikes, that top knot looks a little lopsided):

We got bracelets, we got watches, we got necklaces and we got PS I Made This’ hair comb!

To take this look from day to night, I just switched the bottoms to something more casual, easy peasy.

Enjoy your day, and daytime clutches!

obsessed

I’ve seen these bags around but hadn’t learned who made them until this past week. Meet Clare Vivier.

I love the bright colors and the simplicity and how I can picture any one of these bags sprucing up an outfit and taking a look from day to night. A few days ago, I filled my online shopping cart and was ready to drop the $468 it would take to get the bare minimum of bags I want. Then I woke up and realized I don’t have $468 plus shipping to spend on clutches, no matter how cute they are. So, while I scrimp and save and wait to buy one, I will have to make due with this:

I made it! I based the construction off of a bias tape zipper bag tutorial in the Purl Bee. I made it bigger and added some interfacing and lining for support and cuteness. The inside is black, outside is gray and zipper is white, which gives it a nice, clean look, I think. I’m looking forward to picking up some more zippers and making more in different colors/sizes soon!

Some weekend looks with my new cool bag.

Ways to dress it (and PS I Made This’ hair accessory) up professionally tomorrow!

Like what you see? (Or not.) Tell me more by emailing me at raesdays@gmail.com, tweeting me @rclnudson, or leaving a comment here or on Facebook.

simple

Day: black on top, white on bottom.

Night: White on top, black on bottom.

You cant tell, because it’s hard to fit both tall hair and tall shoes in one mirror, but my hair is a top knot. Make up is cat eye.

Show me yours? Email me at raesdays@gmail.com, tweet me @rclnudson, or leave a comment down below or on Facebook.

Fall office wear

“I tried to get crazy for fall. Really, I did. This morning I tried layering two tank tops and a vest. I even tried multiple scarves. But I felt like I was still too casual to work. Can you recommend some crazy-for-fall-but-still-professional-enough-for-the-office layering ideas?” — Commenter Jewels

Great comment, Commenter Jewels! Here are some ideas for fall office wear.

  • Like a T shirt? Got an outfit you love but aren’t quite sure about for work? Throw a blazer or light jacket over it. Roll up your sleeves if you want, and let the underneath layer show.

  • If you have some open-toed shoes you aren’t quite finished with, throw on some black tights or cute socks before the weather gets too cold and you have to close-toed everything.

  • On the flipside of that, got boots or booties you are already ready to rock? Throw them on underneath a skirt or cropped pants and show them off before it gets too cold to show off anything.
  • For winter, I like to use the biggest scarf I can find to bundle up, but that is usually too bulky for inside wear. Get a light scarf or pashmina to throw on to keep the chill off at your desk. This is also a fun way to play with color and patterns.

  • Got a great sleeveless dress? Throw a button up on underneath it to keep it ready for work. Got a colored shirt and a colored dress? Even better, my color-blocking friend.

  • I also like to do this with shirts or sweaters. A collar poking through can add a little bit of professionalism to basics already in your closet.

Mix and match any or all of these ideas in your look to layer it up for fall. This is just a place to start, got any ideas? Want to show me your look? I’d love to hear and see them! Email me at raesdays@gmail.com, tweet me @rclnudson, or leave a comment down below or on Facebook.

    Birthday fun (not mine)

    It was my nephew’s birthday this past week (also my Dad’s, big birthday week for us). Unfortunately, I don’t live by either of them, but if I did and I was running from work to a kid’s birthday party, this is what I would do.

    Believe it or not (ok, it’s not hard to believe) that is a sleeveless dress with a black shirt underneath it. You know, for when you aren’t quite done with that summer-time dress. I actually like the way it looks with this one, sort of geometric. For the party, I would take off that dress and don:

    Those pants. Thanks, Polyvore. Ok, I cheated and am demonstrating with my fantasy closet again, but only because I don’t own those Rag & Bone jeans in real life (even though I’ve been wanting them for months. MONTHS.) Same shirt—all you have to worry about is throwing your dress in your bag and putting on a fun pair of jeans. Instant style, no? And you need jeans and flats when you are at a three-year-old’s birthday party so that you, too, can join the bounce house. And/or tag playing. And/or whatever it is three-year-olds do at birthday parties. (If your nephew is anything like my nephew, you will end up playing hide and seek over and over again, as he hides in the same spot.)

    The thing I like best about this trick is how different you can look with just one item of clothing. And it’s easy to carry and easy to change into.

    Transitional dressing

    You know that in-between time, when summer is leaving, and you haven’t switched out your winter and summer clothes, and you aren’t sure if its going to be warm or cold or how many layers you should be wearing? This is that time. Run with it. Use it as an excuse to do crazy things that don’t make sense in any other season. Like wearing scarves with tank tops. Or wearing knee socks and shorts. Or gloves with a T shirt. See below.

    Work it:

    OK, I don’t have a cape, but if I did, I probs be wearing it. I had to make do with a sweater draped over my shoulders, but that’s cool—I like the look. Wide leg pants, my favorite most versatile tank, my layering necklaces (that I plan on adding to), and fun shoes peaking out below.

    Go run those errands:

    Heyyyy, socks with shorts. Tank top and sweater stay the same, switch the bottoms and add a scarf. I also switched the fun shoes for ballet flats, ‘cause errands require quicker feet.

    Your turn. Email me at raesdays@gmail.com, follow me @rclnudson, and I’m trying this Facebook thing, I hear it’s popular.

    I kind of have a thing for fur. I know, I know, it’s bad. And expensive. So that’s why I’m so intrigued by this PS I Made this post. Looks easy, right? And can add a little bit of glamor to any outfit if you don’t mind also sort of looking like a stuffed animal. (I don’t mind.)

    ps-imadethis:

    Fur-get about authentic pelts!  Fakes are Faux-real! Everyone should have a furry luxe vest in their wardrobe, no ifs ands or buts about it. With a trip to your local fabric store and your trusty scissors, you will have chic traffic-stopping outerwear in minutes!

    Get approx 1-2 yards of faux fur fabric, lay out on a flat surface. Cut a large circle.  Measure the width of your shoulders and make two narrow openings in the center.

    Brooch it!  Belt it!  Bear it!

    fashion week round up

    Fashion week is over, Twitter just got a lot more boring, and I’m sure the people participating are now getting a lot more sleep. Some of my favorite things of the latter half:

    • Jacket and shorts from Proenza Schouler, because whats a better mix of work and fun than that? And look at the structure of that navy jacket, mmmm. Also this, because you know how I feel about pops of orange. And this, just because. Mostly because of the color of that skirt, which, by the way, is made of eel. EEL. Actually, you should probably just look at that whole collection.
    • My girl Victoria Beckham rocks the professional look, as per usual (more orange, sue me), and you could take this interesting white maxi anywhere.
    • Always the lady at Carolina Herrera, I’d wear this bird print to brunch and work and play and sitting at home looking all whimsy and ladylike on my couch. And I just had to show you this, no reason except that its geometry but pretty, yellow and sheer.
    • I can’t even talk about Oscar. These brightly colored ball gowns with crochet-looking tops are purely for night, but if I got my hands on them I would make occasion to wear them to the grocery store if I had to. With these colors and perfectly put together pieces, this is your day and your night. That’s it, you’re done.
    • The neon at Nanette Lepore. Oh, the neon (and look at that professional shape).

    Check it all out for yourself on NY Mag.

    let’s talk blazers

    If anything can add some quick professionalism to your outfit in a pinch, it’s a blazer. (As my friend at work says: I can wear a T-shirt under this and still look good. I may be paraphrasing.)

    Let’s go shopping in my fantasy closet, courtesy of Polyvore:

    So many colors! And so many ways to play with your look. Throw it on in the office, and take it with you when you go out and things get a little chilly.


    One blazer can work as a statement piece to tie all these things together. I put business on the left and play on the right—but, really, you could mix and match any of these items and be good to go.

    My advice? Invest in one you love, and keep it handy!