Denim Week 2: Longing for Summer

Today's denim outfit was a look from last summer.   I never got around to posting it when the weather was warm, so I decided to post it now.

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Top:  Ann Taylor Petites

Cardigan:  LOFT Petites (Similar here)

White jeans can definitely work for winter.  Gone are the days when white was reserved only for spring and summer.  This outfit could easily be winterized with a pair of black ankle or knee boots.

The fringe top is fun, and the black and white color palette is always a favorite of mine.

Purse:  The Limited
Sandals:  Payless

Earrings:  Target
Cuff:  The Limited (old)

Would you wear white jeans in the winter time?

For these white jeans in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.
For this top in other outfits, see here, here, here, here, and here.
For this cardigan in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.

Go Bold, Go Casual

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that getting back to work today wasn't too rough!

Sweatshirt:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)
Earrings:  Torrid (Sold out on-line; May be available in stores)

Today was dreary here in St. Louis, so I decided to feature a colorful outfit to beat the early fall blahs!  

This look is actually from the last casual Friday at my job.  I like jeans, but I do not always reach for them on casual Fridays.  Instead, I like to take pieces that are usually too casual for work, like this sweatshirt, and give them a little professional polish.

Pants:  The Limited (Similar here)
Button-down shirt (Available here)

Boots:  Payless (old)

Casual Friday also gives me permission (at least in my own mind) to add boldness to my look by mixing red and leopard print.

Ankle booties and dangly earrings lend an edge to this outfit.

Purse:  Express

Bracelet:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Do you like mixing red and leopard print?

If you work in a professional work environment, what do you like to wear on casual Fridays?

For this sweatshirt in another look, see here and here.
For these pants in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.

Candy Stripes

Happy Friday, everyone!!

Today's casual Friday look has a slight naval flair thanks to the military-inspired knit jacket and nautical striped scarf. 

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Jacket:  Forenza by The Limited (old)

I'm not crazy about the heels with this outfit.  I would have preferred shoes that were more causal, but outside of boots, I didn't have any casual shoes that worked with the length of these pants. 

Blouse:  The Limited (Similar here)
Scarf:  The Limited

I got this shirt hemmed since the last time I wore it (see here). I think it is much more flattering now; small changes can make SO much difference!  I prefer my tops with slightly longer hem lengths, but it can be hard to find the right balance between preference for a longer length and being too long.  Shirts that are too long can make petite girls look super short as they give the appearance of the leg being cut off.

Purse:  The Limited (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target (old)

Do you alter your clothing?  What are some of the ways in which you get your clothes altered?

For this jacket in another look, see here.
For these jeans in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.

Eyelet & Denim

For the last casual Friday at work, I paired an orange eyelet blouse with dark denim and a black blazer. 

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)

This is definitely a go-to casual Friday look for me (dark jeans/blazer).  It's relaxed but still feels very professional and put-together.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target (old)

Necklace:  The Limited (Available here)
Purse:  The Limited (Available at Eloquii here)

I love this shade of orange mixed with black.  It's such a great color pop.  A Deco-inspired necklace with paler orange stones added a touch of bling to the look.This blouse definitely makes me think of spring and summer, but it's still been too cold here to be too serious about spring fashion (despite my better wishes).  It does appear that spring is on the horizon though, and I for one can hardly wait!

I am looking forward to pairing this top with white bottoms and turquoise!

Hope you all have been having a great weekend!!!! 

See similar looks here and here.

Denim and Tweed

This is a look from a previous casual Friday at work.

Jacket:  The Limited (Available at eloquii.com here )
Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)

I like mixing tweed with denim and other non-traditional fabrics.  I also like the mix of pastels with off-whites, like this mint and cream combination.

Blouse:  New York & Company (Available here)

Shoes:  Target (old)

This outfit isn't groundbreaking fashion, but it's a good way to do casual at the workplace.  Dark denim is crisp and looks professional.  A slightly unconventional blazer adds a personal twist but keeps the overall look work-appropriate.

I'm usually against any lists that tell people what they should or shouldn't wear; however, we all have to follow certain rules at work.  

Tote:  New York & Company (Similar here)

Ring:  The Limited
Earrings:  Gift (handmade)

Work dress codes vary, so it's important to know yours.  Generally speaking, if your work place allows denim, it's important to keep it fresh and crisp with no holes or stains.  Denim that is super-faded or is overly trendy, such as floral, reptile print, or tie-dye prints, should probably be saved for evenings and weekends.

Do you wear denim to work? 

For this blazer styled differently, see here.

Sportin' Stripes

Happy Friday everyone!

On today's casual Friday, I was feeling a little bit sporty.  I paired a striped tank with a colorblocked cardigan.  I then decided to mix prints by adding leopard print heels.

Cardigan:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)
Tank: The Limited (old)

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Heels:  Target (Available here)
Bag:  The Limited (old)

I'm not in love with this outfit, but sometimes it's fun to experiment with different color and pattern combinations.  It's not a winner for me, but I did like the mix of colors and prints, so I'll just have to keep trying combinations until I get it right!

One of the great joys of developing a personal style is figuring out what works for you and what doesn't, what you like and what you don't.  That takes trial and error.   

Don't be afraid to shop your closet and try new looks!

Preppy Color

Hi everyone!

Hard to believe it's been a week since I posted.  Between the kids and me, this has been one sickly household the last few weeks!!! I hope you all are staying healthy!

I have decided to postpone the rest of my Spring fashion forecast for now.  I will have more spring preview some time in February.  It is bitter cold in my neck of the woods, so even though my mind is on spring colors and styles, the temperatures are forcing me back to the reality that we still have a lot of winter left!!!

Tee:  The Limited (Available here)
Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)

Corduroy pants:  Forenza by The Limited (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target

I actually wore today's look last casual Friday.  I wore the green flats to work for comfort, but I've also shown the look with navy heels.  The green flats add a fun pop of color that add to the look's classic preppy vibe. 

Heels:  Target (Available here)
Bracelets:  Express, Zoppini

I personally prefer neutral pants to color, but it's definitely fun to experiment.  While this look is winter appropriate, it does play on two big trends for spring - stripes (which I've already discussed here and here) and COLOR (more on this trend later)! 

Bag:  Target (old) (Similar here)

Do you like wearing color to beat the winter blahs?

At ease!

Happy Friday!!

For today's casual Friday, I paired a striped tee with this comfy knit military-inspired jacket.

Jacket:  Forenza by The Limited (old)
Tee:  The Limited (Available here)
Satchel:  The Limited (Available here)

I didn't realize until this evening that the stripes on the tee were actually navy rather than black, but I don't mind it with the black pieces and think it will work with both black and navy pieces.

Pants:  The Limited (No longer available on-line, see them here)

Shoes:  Target (Similar here)
Jade ring:  Gift

Military-inspired looks were all over fall's runways (See more here).  To maintain the military theme of the jacket and sailor tee, I added some cute anchor earrings.

Earrings:  Gift (Similar: here)

Stripes never really go out of style, but they are having a major moment this spring.  I can't wait to mix this top with bright colors and even some fun prints.

Oscar de la Renta spring 2013, Source:  Marie Claire

Dolce & Gabanna Spring 2013, Source:  Harper's Bazaar

For on fall's black and white trend, see here.

Shopping Failures and Pitfalls

Happy Friday everyone!

I've been trying to add more color to my work outfits this week.  I really love wearing black and dark neutrals in the fall/winter time and tend to use a lot more color in the summer when my style gets more bohemian and more casual.

Blazer:  The Limited (Available here)
Jeans:  The Limited
Clutch:  The Limited

In an effort to add some color splashes to my blog posts, I wore this lime and taupe blouse with teal and yellow beads in a causal work look. I was drawn to the color when I bought this last spring, but I haven't worn the blouse much.  It would look great with teal pants or a skirt or toned down with taupe or navy, like I did here.  

I can think of several different outfit possibilities for this blouse, but at the end of the day, I've come to the conclusion that it's been hanging in my closet not getting worn simply because it just isn't me.  It's a pretty blouse, and I would like it on someone else.  I think this one just goes down as one of my shopping blunders. 

Blouse:  The Limited
Heels:  Target (Available here)
Bangle:  Target (old)
Earrings:  The Limited

Over the years, I have gotten better at avoiding shopping pitfalls.  I used to buy lots of multiples, but then I would get bored with wearing the same thing everyday in a different color.  I still buy multiples on occasion (especially shoes since I have a lot of trouble with fit), but when I do, I do so with more purpose.  Buying multiples of everything discourages creativity in your wardrobe and gives you fewer options for mixing and matching.

I also used to purchase items when they were on clearance sale simply because they were a great deal.  I still love a bargain, but I have learned to weigh the benefit of having a wardrobe of pieces that I want to wear often vs. a closet full of clothes that I find "just okay."  The likelihood is that the higher priced item has more use value and will get worn more often than items purchased simply for their low initial costs.

Nowadays, I have largely learned to purchase items that I really love rather than just pieces that are "nice" or "cheap."  I have learned to appreciate having less clothes, but spending more money for quality.  I've also learned that having a large diversity of clothing isn't necessary if you are comfortable in your personal style and know what you enjoy wearing and feel comfortable in.  

Unfortunately, this top was a bit of a blip in my improved shopping skills.  I had noticed this blouse when it first came out, but it wasn't something I liked enough to purchase - even after several shopping trips.  At some point, I decided to buy it because it was a pretty color, or on sale, or it was different than other things in my closet.  I can't really remember.

What I do know is that it hangs in my closet simply because I didn't listen to my shopping instincts.  I was attracted to the color and the beading.  The problem was that I settled for an item that wasn't quite my personal style.  

Assessing your closet and making a running shopping list can be a great way of avoiding some of these shopping mistakes.  It helps focus your shopping to avoid impulse purchases and mistakes that initially look tempting due to price, color, or attractive store displays.

How do you avoid shopping blunders?

Black and Yellow

Happy Friday everyone!!!

Today was a casual day at work, so I chose my favorite jeans.  I think these skinny bootcut jeans are the best fitting jeans I've ever had.  They have a lot of stretch, so they are super comfortable, but they retain their shape during the day without bagging the way that a lot of stretch denim does.  

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here)

I added my trusty black blazer and a citrine silky blouse for a happy pop of color.

Please forgive the lint on my jacket.  I only got a few pictures in when the camera needed a re-charge.  It was then that I noticed the white lint.  :-)

Purse:  Express (Available here)
Bracelet:  Target
Shoes:  Target (old)

Hope everyone has a delightful weekend!

Leopard & Neutrals

Happy Friday everyone!!!

Jeans:  Target (Available here)
Blouse:  New York & Company

Today, I mixed my cognac coated denim with a chiffon leopard print top and black cardigan.

Cardigan:  LOFT Petites (Similar here)
Shoes:  Target

I love the mix of cognac, ivory, and black.  The leopard print, texture of the jeans, and bangles add visual interest.

Scarf:  Paul Harris (15+ years old)
Bangles:  The Limited, Claire's, Target

The scarf added needed warmth while also providing a shot of flattering ivory which really brightens the face.

Tote:  The Limited (Similar here)

Do you like mixing neutrals? 

To see top styled differently, see here.
To see jeans styled differently, see here

Thanks for reading!  Have a great weekend!!!!

Fashion by Bob Ross: Fall Color Inspiration

Happy Friday!!

Purse:  The Limited
Shoes:  Target

Today, I was very inspired by fall colors.  I have always loved watching Bob Ross do his amazing artwork on "The Joy of Painting", and I especially love the autumnal nature scenes that he painted.

Bob Ross fall painting

Bob Ross "Evergreens at Sunset"

The mix of browns, yellows, oranges, reds, and greens is just so lovely!
So with all these gorgeous fall colors in mind, I paired my cognac coated denim with a silky citrine blouse, chocolate brown blazer, and orange bag.

Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Pants:  Target (Available here)

I got these jeans around the same time as my black ones, but I've had more trouble deciding what to wear with them.  I don't have a lot of browns and warmer colors in my wardrobe, but I was drawn to these pants and their possibilities.

I'd like to find a sweater or blazer that works better with the cognac than this deep brown, but sometimes you have to work with what you have.

Ring:  The Icing

I added this cool snake ring and burgundy nails for one more pop of fall color.

Blazer:  The Limited (Similar here) (Styled differently here)

Happy Fall.  Enjoy all the "happy little trees"!!  ;-)

Cat Scratch Fever

Happy Friday, everyone!!!

Today, I was feeling less than inspired in the fashion department.  

Knowing only that I wanted to wear jeans on this casual Friday at work, I scrambled through my closet and came up with this fall denim look.  

Cardigan:  The Limited (Similar here)
Top:  The Limited (Similar here)
Jeans:  The Limited (Similar here)

 My favorite kitty print top paired with on-trend burgundy!

Purse:  Express (Available here)
Heels:  Target (Available here)

Dangly earrings:  The Limited
Studs:  New York & Company (Available in stores)