Denim Week: Heart On My Sleeve

Today's denim look is a recent casual Friday work outfit. 

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

I love the Stiletto Skinny Jeans from Torrid.  When I got my blue jeans (see here, here, and here), the store didn't carry different lengths.  Now, Torrid carries both 26" and 28" lengths in this style, so I was able to get these black ones in a better length.  The shorter length works much better for me!

If you're 5'3" or under, you will likely prefer the 26" length for more of a true ankle fit.

Cardigan:  Target (Available here)
Bracelets:  The Limited and H&M

I recently picked up this cardigan with faux leather heart elbow patches.  This is an early fall clothing purchase.  I start thinking about fall fashion when it's still sticky and humid out - probably because I'm longing for cooler weather. 

This summer has had some oddly cool, but delightful, weather, so I was super comfortable wearing this outfit - even in July!

I kept the look simple and neutral for work, but I think this cardigan will be cute with more faux leather touches when fall actually gets here.

Purse:  The Limited

Sandals:  Payless

Are you thinking about fall fashion yet?  Any trends on your radar for fall?

Building a Casual Wardrobe

Hope you're all having a great week!

Jeans:  Torrid (Available here)
T-shirt:  Torrid (Available here)

Today's look pairs my Torrid stiletto skinnies with a comfy tee and cropped blazer.  I wore this outfit last Sunday to run a few errands.

Bracelet:  The Limited
Sandals:  Payless

Clutch:  The Limited

The low-heeled sandals kept the look comfortable and gave the outfit a feminine charm.

Earrings:  The Limited

I love that the back of this jacket has interesting detail, giving this simple look a cooler vibe.

Jacket:  Torrid (Available here)

Building a casual wardrobe has been a difficult process for me.  My personal aesthetic tends towards evening looks and more polished pieces.  When I get home after a long day of work, I often reach for sweats and grubby tees.  Being so petite, most of my jeans require heels, which doesn't work well for running around with the kids or other casual events.  I've been working on building a stylish casual wardrobe that tows the line between my ultra-casual lounge wear and my work and evening wardrobe.

I think this outfit does just that.

What do you like to wear for casual wear?

To see these jeans in another look, see here and here.
For this tee in another look, see here.
To see this jacket in another outfit, click here.

Adventures in Traveling: Plymouth, MA and Middletown, NY

Jeans:  The Limited (Available here)
Blouse:  Target Petites (Available here)
Sandals:  Kohl's (Available here)

On our trip back home, we became pretty determined to make good time and kept our stops minimal.

The last of our featured stops were in Plymouth, Massachusetts and Middletown, New York.

After we left Highland Lighthouse, we got back on the road.  We soon came upon Plymouth, Massachusetts.  I knew we couldn't pass without at least taking a look at Plymouth Rock.  We drove into town and stopped at Plymouth Harbor where we took a look at some of the boats.

Purse:  The Limited
Bracelets:  Prabal Gurung for Target; Express; The Limited

We then found Plymouth Rock.  It is down in a pit in the sand, with a viewing area built around it.  The tide is still able to wash over it as the observation deck sits above the ground.  As we learned from a Park Ranger, the current Plymouth Rock is about a third to quarter of the size that it would have been back in 1620 and the "1620" was carved in the late 1800s.  The decrease in the size of the rock has more to do with human intervention than natural erosion.

We didn't spend much time in Plymouth, but it's definitely a place where you could spend the say going through the museum, enjoying the Boardwalk, and taking a boat ride.

We continued on down the road and stopped for the night in Middletown, New York.  We went out to a few bars in town and spent some time visiting with a friend.

Jeans:  Torrid (Similar here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Available here)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

The remaining two days of our trip were very low-key as we were worn out and eager to put an end to all the driving.

Hope you enjoyed my travel pics.  Outfit post tomorrow!!

Date Night Chic

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

I come up with more evening/date night clothing ideas than I get a chance to wear.   My personal aesthetic in fashion steers more towards evening looks.  Unfortunately, my work life (corporate office) and home life (five kids and a man who both works and is in school full-time) mean limited opportunities for going-out fashion.

Blouse:  The Limited

Heels:  Target (Available here)
Earrings:  Target

That's where playing dress up comes in.  I have loved playing dress up ever since I can remember.  I didn't play dress-up to engage in fantasy play that I was a princess or a superhero.  Instead, I made up commercials in front of the mirror advertising the "new fashion boutique" that just opened, describing in detail whatever crazy look I had created. 

Clutch:  Target (Available in stores)

My love for playing dress up has never really gone away, and today's look was one created while doing just that.   Today's look pairs skinny jeans with a sequined blouson tank and tuxedo blazer.

Bracelet:  eBay (Similar here)

I love the sexy laid-back vibe of this look.  I would definitely wear this look out for a dinner date with the man.

Do you like to play dress up?

For this blazer in other looks, see here and here.
To see this blouse styled differently, see here and here.
For these jeans in another look, see here.

Casual Monday!

Jeans:  Torrid (Available here)
Blouse:  The Limited (Sold out on-line; may be available in some stores)

Today is the St. Louis Cardinals' season home opener, so we had a casual day at my job.

I decided to wear my new stiletto skinny jeans from Torrid and mixed them with a red and navy printed top.  The ankle-zip jeans are just a tad too long, but I'm hoping they'll shrink up a bit.  

Blazer:  The Limited
Tote:  The Limited

I was hunting for for a pair of distressed jeans, but I couldn't find any that I liked.  Most factory-distressed jeans are overdone, in my opinion.  I am planning on giving these a DIY-distressing job but decided to wear them today before they get too casual for work.

Necklace:  Vintage Judith Leiber
Clutch:  Vintage 1980s

For work, I added a red blazer to dress the look up a bit and to show support for the Redbirds.

I'm not much of a professional sports fan, but I decided to take the opportunity for another day of casual at work.

Heels:  Target (old)

Hope you all had a great day!!

Do you like sports?

To see this top in other looks, see here, here, and here. 

Cutouts and Coated Denim

Hi everyone! 

Today, I ran to Tar-Jay to do some last minute Easter shopping and this is what I wore:

Sweater:  Forever 21+ (Available here)

I recently got this sweater from Forever 21.  I love the cutouts and the seafoam green color. 

I love wearing oversized sweaters with skinny pants for a casual look.

Coated denim jeans:  Target (Available here)

Necklace:  ILY Couture (Available here)

I wore the leopard flats to the store. The man and I were thinking about going to the movies.  We opted not to go, but I probably would have worn the heels for the date.

Flats:  Target (Similar here)

Heels:  Target (old)
Rings:  New York & Company

What's your go-to errands outfit?

Happy Easter to all those who celebrate!!

For these jeans in other looks, see here and here.
For more oversized sweater/skinny pants looks, see here, here, and here.

Because We Can - Bon Jovi :-D

Last night, the man and I went to a Bon Jovi concert.

Tie-dye jeans:  Torrid (Available here)
Jacket:  The Limited (Available in ivory here)

I wanted a casual look with a bit of an 1980s vibe.  The neon yellow stilettos and neon pink shirt gave a nod to all the fluorescent colors of the 80s without looking like a costume.

Blouse:  The Limited (old)
Shoes:  Target (Available here)

Earrings:  Prabal Gurung for Target (Available in stores; see here)

The concert was amazing!  We had great seats (10th row).  The music was wonderful, and Jon Bon Jovi is as sexy as ever!  :-D

A few of my poorly made videos:

 What would you wear to a rock concert?

See jeans in another look here.
See jacket in other looks here, here, here, here, and here.

Fit to be tie-dyed

Today's evening look is more casual than yesterday's artsy date night outfit.

Blouse:  Target Petites (Available here)
Jeans:  Torrid (Available here)

I would wear an outfit like this for a casual evening out.  It would be perfect for going out to the movies or to a bar.

I love the bold color pop of the top.  The tie-dye jeans are slightly bohemian, which I love.   

Shoes:  Payless
Clutch:  The Limited (old) (Similar here)

Necklace:  Target (Similar here)
Bracelet:  The Limited (old)
Rings:  Purchased at local jewelry shows

Paired with the fringed purse and necklace, the outfit has a casual rock-n-roll vibe.

What would you wear for a casual evening out?  

Like me on Facebook and show me your favorite going-out looks!

To see this blouse in another look, see here.

I See London...

Today's casual look centered around this comfy sweater.  

Sweater:  Forever 21+ (Sold out on-line; may be available in stores)
Coated denim jeans:  Target (Available here)

I added coated denim skinnies and these amazing spiked ballet flats I just found.  

Flats:  Target (Available here)

I love getting the comfort of flats with a touch of bad ass. ;-)

I went for dinner later in the day and decided to swap the flats for heels to dress the look up a bit.

Satchel:  Target (Available in blue here)
Heels:  Target (old)

Hope you're all having a great Saturday!!

To see these jeans in other looks, see here, here, here, here, and here.