Category Archives: day to night

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.

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 love weddings. Have we talked about how much I love weddings? And any other fancy thing that requires you to dress up and dance and drink and be merry? I love it. So let’s be prepared, shall we, in case we have to mix business and pleasure.

• Get your hair ready. A top knot here, could also be braid, some curls, whatever you like. For dancing and merriment, I like a top knot. For cute professionalism, I also like a top knot. That is why I chose it. You chose what you like.
• Maintain your accessories. Makes it easy to change in a rush and you don’t have to go searching for another necklace in your bag.
• If you are dancing late into the night and you aren’t used to heels, I might recommend some business flats for your professional self, instead of heels the whole day. Gotta save your strength, you know.
• In between your meetings and your fun, switch your pencil skirt for a fancy dress, leave everything else. Easy!

From the commute to the business place.

Commuter outfit with commuter shoes:

Awesome outfit with awesome shoes:

Let’s take a closer look:

From work day…

…to date night

Memorial Day. That glorious day that proves summer is here. Or, in my world, the day every desperately needs off before they go crazy in the office and send one too many too-snarky emails. It’s time to bring out your whites, your barbecues, your booze, and your very stylish friends.

And here is my very stylish friend!

Everyone, meet Jedd. He’s on twitter. And he works for Politico and he’s as fashionable as he is funny, and you don’t meet too many of those.

Here he is traveling for the weekend in perfect casual cool:

And, in Jedd’s own words: Rae Rae, we were thinking of you in Youngstown, Pa. You’ve started a movement! With a change of belt and shoe, and added shirt, we went from traveling casual chic to bright and white Memorial Day ready.

I’m loving those whites. And the sexiness underneath. I mean, what? Ahem.

Memorial Day awesomeness, guys. How did you stay summer chic from day to night? And from traveling to partying?

Today was some real time day and night.

Check out my office outfit:

and my fun outfit:

Ok, this was basically the same idea as last week. I mostly want you to focus on how awesome that clutch is. Because its awesome.

lessons today:

• Accessories rule.
• As always, layer up.
• A bun during the day = soft waves at night.

Happy happy-houring!

Been a busy week at work. And it’s only Wednesday. Quick! To the bathroom to change in five minutes before you head uptown for a much needed drink.

See what I did here? It’s all about a good base layer. Black skinny work pants from the Gap can take you from the office to the party without having to bat a cat-eye-lined eye.

At the office:

• Cover up. Wear that cardigan and work it.
• Lower heels. Still cute, and brought some color, but not quite as sky high as my after-work shoes.
• Low pony. Mostly out of necessity to get my hair out of my face.

At happy hour:

• Show some skin (just a little). I have a black tube top on top of my black pants to fake out a jumpsuit. I replaced my cardigan with my kick-of-neon sweater vest for a little fun, but you could just as easily go bare shoulders here, obvs.
• Party shoes. I replaced my shoes with some that are a little sparkly, a little teal and a lot high.
• Hair. High pony. High impact.
• Make up. I did some cat eye liner and reapplied mascara. I also threw on a little Laura Mercier matte serum to take out the shine without caking on more make up.

Voila. Go enjoy the party. You’ve earned it.

The city is very large, and trains can be very slow. Sometimes I just don’t have time to go home and freshen up after work before I go out and play. And so day and night is born.

Go from this:

to this:

With just a quick change in the bathroom and freshening your make up you are ready to hit the town. All I did here was take off my button up (I was wearing the tank underneath) and switch out my skirt for some shorts. A not-so-secret commuter secret is to wear sandals or flats to work and switch into heels once you get to the office. So leave your heels at work, don your commuter shoes, throw your skirt and shirt into your bag and you are ready for a summer night.