oh, those are really cute Alecia! I love them with both outfits. I especially love the 2nd outfit-- the brown polka dots with the denim jacket is yummy!!

Awesome - way to go Alecia!

Happy yellow flats on happy Alecia! I LOVE the second outfit. It's KILLER.

Those flats are awesome! Love the little folds and the off center bow. They look perfect with both outfits!

How you decided what your signature winter shoe will be?

Love! And seriously... dark hair looks SO good on you!

Alecia, amazing! You look fantastic in both outfits. Purple/lavender is a great color for you.

These are so adorable, Alecia! And I still absolutely blown away by your new haircut and color! You look SO fabulous! :D

They definitely look like happy shoes to me. Your outfits also look fantastic, you always look so polished.

Thanks, everyone, for such positive feedback. I will think twice before going back to a lighter color again anytime soon. I'm afraid you'd mutiny after all the raves of the darker color. :-)

I agree that the second outfit is better than the first. I'm thinking the cut of the pants and the pant length is what is making the first outfit a bit off. I love that I can make that kind of assessment because the distinction is a subtle one. Yet you can see the difference it makes. I'm hoping it's an indication that my eye is getting trained.

Oh, I forgot about your question, Lee. I'm thinking I want a pair of low oxfords for the winter. I spent all last winter and much of summer looking for a flat, ankle bootie to no avail. I'd still pick up a pair if I found them but I think I'll have better luck with oxfords. Plus, I think they'd bring a fun element to my clothes.

I also would like to try the slouchy boot look. I think I may have happened upon a pair that could work. I'm keeping them whether they're slouchy or not. A post with those will be coming soon.

I'm particularly interested in the ability to wear socks with my winter shoes. So ultimately what's driving my thinking.

Alecia- While there is nothing *wrong* with the first outfit, it also doesn't wow me like the second did.
A few random thoughts...
I think maybe the black pants are too severe against the purples.
My first thought when seeing the outfit was that it would have had much more punch with a different color sweater or jacket layered over your base top - something to "marry" the purple top and black pants- so maybe the black pants would still work, just not with that lighter purple over the darker.
Also maybe the yellow shoes don't quite work with the black pants-- they might need a lighter color pants- the brown you have on in outfit 2 or denim.

oh, another thought just popped into my head- I remember Angie saying once that knit over knit doesn't always work. Perhaps that's an issue here-- if you had a woven jacket over that it might give much more visual interest.

just my unsolicited, non-professional thoughts ;-)