building blacks, part 1: coloring with belts and dresses i lust after

A few days ago I asked for your advice on how to accessorize an all-black wardrobe.  I'm still not sure exactly where to go with that idea.  Hence, a series: Building Blacks.

You know... like building blocks... only... blacks... okay, okay, I know you get it, I'm cheesy. I digress. ;) (I should really stop using emoticons in my everyday internet life but I just can't... I grew up in the era of AIM and MSN messenger.  Emoticons are just staple territory.) 

First, I will say... building a black wardrobe is more difficult than I imagined.  I was totally unprepared for that.  (I'm aware that I haven't yet disclosed my reasoning here and maybe it's irking you... it will come in time.  I am obviously the queen of vague right now.  Just nod and go with it.  Indulge me.  Pretty please?)  Really, it doesn't matter anyway because I know you lovely readers are always up for a style challenge.  Here's the vague, nutshell version... over the next few months, I'll be working on building a black wardrobe and I don't want to break the bank.  So... I probably want to focus on some basic foundation pieces like skirts, dresses, cardigans, bermuda shorts, etc... that I can accessorize and play with to create lots of different looks.  'Cause lawd knows all black could get boring fast.

I love dresses for basics and belts for a bit of fun and kazaam!, those are the things I went with first.  Since this is sort of a wishlist/brainstorming post, I went with some things that I'd like to have... not necessarily pieces that are in my current budget.  I will get to that part eventually.  A goal is just something good to have so I can browse with purpose.  Yea!  Purpose!  Then, when I come across something similar that is budget friendly (or stalk the wishlist item like a vulture until it goes on big time sale)... I can scoop it up. 

Without further adieu... my current wishlist dresses for the use in mind (all via Anthropologie):

1. Hold-the-Lines Jumper by Maeve (Probably the most versatile in terms of accessorizing with belts, shoes, scarves, under/over layers, etc...)

2. Starbound Dress by one.september (My favorite: love the beading and it's so versatile for different occasions and settings, I think. It's on sale!  What do you think... V-Day wishlist item?)

3. Peseta Dress by Fei (Another favorite... doesn't need accessories.  It pretty much stands alone.  Also on sale but outta my price range.)

All of these would be good options for my purpose.  They're black and can work with a variety of settings.  Like I said... the jumper is probably the most versatile in terms of accessorizing.  But I'd be a little worried about the length if I were belting... for being paler than Edward Cullen I sure do have some junk in the trunk.  Things could go Daisy Duke real fast if I'm not careful.  And let's not go into price.  I love the style and versatility of the pieces Anthropologie carries but good lord... the prices!  (Liefsdottir's prices... insane in the membrane!)

Anyway... on to accessories... let's pretend that I threw on some sort of dress/top-skirt combo and wanted to color it up with some accessories.  The first thing I'm probably going to reach for if I want to "pull it together" is a belt or some kind of sash to cinch the waist and break up all that black.  (Part of the reason I love the Starbound dress... the break is built in.  Woop.)  A few days ago, before I was going to go through wishlist dresses, I created a polyvore set with eighty billion different belts.  Like so:

I know, the top-skirt combo is awful (going back to the whole harder-than-I-thought thing).  But you can see the goal here.  I pulled each one over as I was going and the look of the outfit changed a lot with each belt.  How fun are the two in the upper left corner of the belt hodegepodge?  Love the navy/teal/lime scheme.  I have a steadily growing collection of belts so this round-up would be a really great option for me.  Not to mention belts are cheap (most of the time) and solitary so you can wear them a thousand different ways.  In other words... the belt wouldn't necessarily be committing to the all-black wardrobe.  It could easily go from work to school to weekend to wedding to vacation to destination wedding... (I just found out today I will be a bridesmaid for a destination wedding/vacay at the end of May... excitement! emotion! VACATION!) 

How would you use dresses and belts in an all-black wardrobe?  Is there something major I'm missing on these two pieces?  Are there other ways that you guys wear belts to jazz up an outfit?  (Wearing them as bracelets and whatnot?)  Any more ideas for building a sophisticated all-black wardrobe on the cheap?

black and grey and tired all over...

Anticipatory Set: It's only Monday but I am totally pooped already.  I didn't plan anything outfit-wise for this morning so I just kinda threw on some basic black and grey.  I actually have very little in the way of a neutral black wardrobe.  I'm trying to build one and I'll talk about that eventually but don't hold your breath... it could be a while.  (Justification: I still haven't published the wedding style post.  Oops.)  I have lots and lots of brown and blue neutrals but not a lot of black.  So, with some remaining gift cards to TJ Maxx and LOFT, I scooped up a couple of black pieces.  The cardigan below was my TJMaxx purchase (I paid less than $1 after the gift card! Awww yea.) and the headband was one of the LOFT goodies (I also got an embellished black tee - I heart gift cards.). 

Objective(s) Addressed: Work

Materials and Sources:

• Grey short-sleeve sweater: F21 (few years ago)
• Black drapey/ruffle/pleat cardigan: willi smith via TJMaxx
• Tie-waist dress pants: Old Navy (years ago)
• Headband: LOFT (50% off the sale price! with a gift card! joy!)
• Earrings: Charlotte Russe
• Shoes: Me Too

Input:
The pants aren't grey... they're a black and white herringbone (is that the right word for the pattern?) so they actually do "match" the grey sweater underneath, I promise.  You can see a teeny bit in one of the detail shots... that's why I included two.  Or maybe just because I love the cardigan so much - the material is thick but doesn't feel bulky and it's warm without overheating and the little detail on the open front is fun.  Work and weekend appropriate and functional.  Very much my kinda cardigan.  :)  Also, I swear I am not eating too many creampuffs... those are just some seriously intense wrinkles from sitting in the car.  Gotta love a commute... bleh.

And how fun is the headband?  It's almost a little much but I love it (I wore my hair down all day until I was in the car... ick factor by the time I get home.)  Most of my headbands echo the same theme but I love them all.  I am a hair accessory kinda gal when I want to feel a little more put together but especially right now with my hair in an awkward stage of growing out.  (LOFT had a lot of great hair accessories if you're looking for one.)

Only went for one "pop" of color... the earrings.  Sweet little coral color.  Nothing loud.  Just wasn't feeling the cheery colors in more than small doses today.

I felt pretty fantastic for most of the day.  On top of crazy tiredness no less.  Success!