The Parallel Universes Resolution, OOTD 2.14.2012

OOTD 2.14.2012 :: Delayed Gratification

Whoever created Valentine’s Day was pretty smart. Sticking a warm-and-fuzzy holiday in the expanse known as February breaks up the winter blahs. (Naming it after a martyr has a whiff of smarm that I also enjoy.) I’m a hopeless romantic so this is always one of my favorite days of the year. In my circle of friends however we’re pretty split among whether its worthwhile to celebrate this Hallmark holiday or if it’s a silly day meant only to drive the sales of flowers, chocolates, cards, etc. Either way no one can deny the world is a little bit more buoyant today than other days.

One thing the fairy tales of yore forgot to mention was the reality of the modern world. So while today may officially be Valentine’s Day I won’t be celebrating it until this weekend, thanks to that four-letter word. Work, that is. Instead I’ll be out with some friends tonight and the gals in my gang have decided to dress up. (The boys will probably be in their standard plaid button-downs and jeans. Gotta love them.) My OOTE (that’s outfit of the evening) features a dress I know probably isn’t for me but I could not resist buying it in the end. You win again, Anthropologie!

The dress isn’t exactly work-appropriate sadly, so instead here’s what I’m wearing during the daytime hours:

The top is part of a recent Club Monaco haul — I just love what they’ve done for Spring 2012! Expect to see more from the store over the next few weeks. I paired it with a Gap denim skirt that’s stood the test of time — and trends — nicely. The accessories are the same as my night look with the addition of some more bangles from Kate Spade (more on those below). For my makeup, I’m doing a purple-based smoky eye with Laura Mercier eye crayon and pigment. The lips are a darker red from NARS’s pure matte lipstick line.

Kate Spade has an amazing line of bangles right now. Thin, thick, patterned, solid, everything is covered! I started off by grabbing the bow bracelet at the bottom of the pile below and ended up adding several more to my collection soon after. Though they do clank and jangle I’ve found them to not slide up and down my arm as much as other bangles I’ve worn. I especially love the little sayings inside, like “An Ace Up Your Sleeve” shown in the bottom of the two shots below.