Les Mis in Pastels

Details: Gap Sweater / Talbots Skirt via Avalon ($10!) / Nine West Shoes via TJ Maxx / J.Crew Factory Necklace / Target Bangles

I attended the Pittsburgh performance of Les Misérables yesterday. I loved it! Admittedly, I only became a fan of the musical after seeing the movie. So as you can imagine, I was very excited to see the live performance. When the tickets came up on Groupon, I snatched them up.  Even after I could not get anyone to go with me, I decided that I didn't care going alone.

Going to an event like that alone is such a different experience. If you're late or if you cry, only the strangers sitting next to you know about it, which is how I prefer it. I don't want anyone I know seeing me as I cry during the finale "Do You Hear the People Sing?" You also have a heightened awareness of the people around you. I loved the older gentlemen on my right who fist pumped to the opening drums and the younger man on my left who was mouthing the words to "Do You Hear the People Sing?" at the finale. He understood why I was crying! Have you ever attended an event alone?

If you are lacking the confidence to attend an event alone, wearing a polished look will help. I was waiting for the right ocassion to wear this Talbots skirt I scored at Avalon for $10. The sunny day we had Sunday and the fact that it was a matinee, made this the perfect choice. I love the way the light yellow looks with this equally sweet mint green. Do you pair your pastels together?

Love Cleveland: Goodwill Good Style Fashion Show

Close to three years ago, I decided that I needed a change of scenery. I had never lived outside of Cleveland and had never really lived on my own —not counting college. Also, I was looking for a new job that would be challenging and fulfilling and that would put me on a career path I would be happy with. I job searched in many different cities, but I inevitably chose Pittsburgh, where I found a job I can sincerely say I love. That job has lead me down the road of pursuing my MBA, and I have to say I could not be happier with everything so far.

As far as cities go, Pittsburgh rates pretty high on my list. I know it sounds like treason coming from a Clevelander, but Pittsburgh has many of the same features I love about Cleveland. That being said, there are still little things that I miss terribly about Cleveland.  The crowds for the feast at Little Italy, wandering the art museum for hours, perusing the west side market and looking at the lights on East 4th street — to name a few. That is why this year, for the Goodwill Good Style Fashion Show, I am letting the city I love inspire my runway show. Using my $125 gift card to Goodwill, I will be interpreting spring trends inspired by the many places I love in Cleveland.

If you are interested in attending the show, here is all of the info. It's going to be a great show this year! I hope to see you there!

The show takes place on Thursday, May 8 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Windows on the River. I am giving away 2 pairs of tickets to 1 reader. 

3 Ways to Enter to Win

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me what you love about Cleveland.

2. Tweet this post. Mention @cphillis07 to receive credit.

3. Share this post on Facebook. Mention The Cosmopolitan Clevelander to receive credit.

Note: Please let me know that you did these things in the comments below. Leave a way for me to contact you.

If you would like to purchase tickets, you can do so through Living Social. This year, there are a limited number of tickets being sold so don't wait.

Purchase Tickets on Living Social Here

Choose from 2 options:

Option 1: General Admission Ticket to the 2014 Good Style Fashion Show at Windows on the River. Includes: Cocktail Hour with heavy hors d’ oeuvres, the Fashion Show, dessert,  a gift bag and access to the Good Style Pop Up Boutique for $35.00, valued at $70.00.


Option 2: VIP Front Row Seating Admission Ticket to the 2014 Good Style Fashion Show at Windows on the River. Includes: Private cocktail hour with heavy hors d’ oeuvres with local celebrities from Fox 8 News, guaranteed seating in the front two rows for the Fashion Show, dessert, a gift bag and access to the Good Style Pop Up Boutique for $50.00, valued at $100.00.

Check out the Other Bloggers Participating
Blouses, Baubles & Blush
Dina's Days
Midwest Muse
Abby & Elle Upstairs Fashion 

Photo Credits: 
Cleveland Museum of Art, view from South photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
East 4th Street via commons.wikimedia.org
Arcade via http://wikitravel.org
Little Italy via www.tripadvisor.com
West Side Market Photo by Terence Burlij/PBS NewsHour

Layering with Short Sleeve Shirts

Details: Old Navy top / Gap shirt and shoes / Loft pants / J.Crew outlet necklace

Now that the obligatory freak snow storms of March are past us and we hopefully won't need to use the "S" word again for quite some time, I really wanted to wear this spring top.  It is still a little chilly as I am heading out the door for work in the mornings so I layered this shirt underneath to keep warm throughout the various temperature pitfalls of the day. I like the crisp professional look it adds to the blouse while still allowing the abstract floral print of the blouse to stand out. Of course I couldn't help myself and added complimentary brights. These shoes were basically made to be worn with these pants. Who am I to say no?

What are your layering tricks this spring?