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1.25.2012

White, Black & A Little Pop

There are SO many things you can do with black and white. It's so easy to create an outfit with the two colors together and it looks so classic and chic on anyone. On top of that, nothing tops off the look like a fun pop of color. The best part about it is, ANY color works! And you'd be amazed at how much a little pop can do! Whether it's a fun bright shoe, printed scarf or chunky jewelry, adding any little pop of color to the traditional black and white look is perfection. This look can be worn by any age and any body type any time of the year. The old "no white after labor day" rule is as outdated as popcorn ceilings. Or wood paneling. Or green shag carpet. You get my point. White and black is a great combo all. of. the. time. So chic. Here are some of my favorite black and white looks with some fun pops of color!




















Shirt: Madewell; Jacket: F21; Pants: Old Navy; Shoes: Vince Camuto; Jewelry: Express, Fossil, KJL, James Avery


 

Blazer: LOFT; Shirt: Francesca's Collections; Shorts: F21; Belt: Francesca's; Shoes: Guess; Bag: Marc Jacobs


Sequined Shirt: Joe's Jeans; Shorts: F21; Scarf: Unknown; Boots: Jones New York; Jewelry: Nordstrom, Fossil


 Shirt: BCBG; Scarf: Old Navy; Cropped Boyfriend Jeans: Gap; Shoes: Steve Madden






Jacket: Express; Dress: Urban Outfitters; Belt: Old Navy; Necklace: Francesca's; Shoes: Carlos; Clutch: Coach


Coat: Banana Republic; Shirt: Urban Outfitters; Cropped Pants: J.Crew; Belt: Francesca's; Bag: Gianni Bini; Shoes: Steve Madden; Watch: Michael Kors




1.18.2012

A Fresh New Look!

A while back, my good friend Kristen asked me to go shopping with her to help her find some new items to add to her closet. She's a successful nurse and devotes so much time to her career that she hasn't had much time the last few years to step out of her scrubs and give herself a fresh new look. Her wardrobe was a little dated and needed a facelift. Our mission was to find her pieces that were trendy, flattering, fit her personality and of course, low cost. We ended up finding some great new additions for her closet, all of which fit her style, and she can use them to make endless outfits through all four seasons. Our finds included some staple items and some vibrant pops of color.



With these new items and some of the pieces she already owned, I put together several outfits and styled her with a few of my favorite pieces we found. My goal was to put together several looks, showing her just how much she can do when mixing and matching just a few of her new tops with her new bottoms. She now has an amazing closet with SO many cute options and just a stinkin' adorable new look. Here are some of the outfits I put together for her..and seriously, how fashionable and gorgeous does she look in all her new finds!? I'm kind of obsessed and kind of wishing that this was my own closet.

With her new emerald green pants, I put a nude, sheer lace top (LOVING all things lace these days) with a fun nude blazer, layered gold necklaces and some matching nude pumps.

Blazer: F21; Lace Top: F21; Pants: Zara; Shoes: Steve Madden; Jewelry: Express, F21, Francesca's Collections; Wristlet Clutch: Coach

Then we did a little black and white mixing with the green. Love the polka dot printed top, it literally goes with anything! 

Top: Old Navy; Pants: Zara; Belt: Express; Scarf: Unknown; Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection; Jewelry: modcloth.com; Purse: LOFT

Next we did some color blocking. I love mixing vibrant, complimentary colors like these and they're so fun to wear! Not to mention they all look so amazing on Kristen! This might be one of my favorite looks I put together. So fun.



Top: Old Navy; Pants: Zara; Necklace: Nordstrom; Shoes: Steve Madden; Clutch: Unknown


With her super cute, super flattering new wide-legged jeans, I paired a comfy white tank, chic leather jacket and layers of gold and turquoise necklaces for a small pop of color. She looks SO cute and effortless and I love the whole look!







White Tank: F21; Jacket: Express; Jeans: Express; Jewelry: Nordstrom, F21, Express


For a softer look, we paired her new blush pink silk top and some girly accessories for a preppy, clean, spring outfit! Love how dainty and girly she looks! I added a light cardigan for some color contrast, as well. Doesn't the denim make her legs look so long and slim!? She's got some sky-high heels on her feet too. I'm obsessed.




Blush Top: Old Navy; Cardigan: F21; Belt: Target; Jeans: Express; Necklace: Nordstrom; Bag: Coach


We also paired this amazing plum-colored top with the same jeans and heels and threw on a printed scarf for some detail. Plum is SUCH a good color on anyone and it can be worn year-round! Pair it with some turquoise jewels for an amazing contrast of color!



Top: Nordstrom; Scarf: Old Navy; Jeans: Express; Jewelry: Francesca's Collections, F21; Shoes: Steve Madden


With her new black skinnies, we put together a fun, flirty look for her to wear out at night, and a comfy, casual jet-setting daytime look.  



First Look - Cardigan: Old Navy; Sequined Top: Express; Pants: Express; Necklace: Nordstrom; Ring: Francesca's; Shoes: Steve Madden
Second Look - Sweater: Nordstrom; Scarf: Old Navy; Jewelry: Modcloth.com; Boots: Steve Madden

And finally, excited about spring on its way, I put together a fun daytime spring look for her! This is my absolute favorite. It was a little more of my style and a little out of her comfort zone, but after seeing it all together she loved it! It's fun to branch out and try something new sometimes. I love the nautical stripes with the floral scarf and the denim shorts with the combat boots...it's just all so stinkin' cute. She looks amazing! This makes me so ready for warm weather!

 Top: Zara; Scarf: Old Navy; Denim Shorts: Abercrombie&Fitch; Fedora: Nordstrom; Boots: Steve Madden; Jewelry: F21, Express, Francesca's; Bag: Coach

 We put together so many cute looks for her with just a few items that we mixed and matched. She'll have endless outfits and continue looking adorable and trendy each time she gets dressed! It's amazing what you can do with just a few fresh new pieces and experimenting with them for many different styles and looks! Play around in your closet or if you're in need of a wardrobe re-vamp then treat yourself to a few new items that will give you a fresh new look!








1.14.2012

Brown & Black

All the old rules are out about mixing and matching and clashing. One of my favorite things about fashion now-a-days is that you can pretty much make your own rules. That being said, brown and black went from being a huge no-no to being one of my favorite color combos and I'm constantly mixing the two. From leopard prints to tortoise shell jewelry, brown and black combinations have been around forever. I'm so glad the time has come when wearing the two colors together no longer looks like you made a mistake and got dressed in the dark. I rock the brown and black ensemble all the time..so don't be afraid! It's a great trend and so easy to wear because most of us have plenty of these basic colors lying around our closet already! Find an item that might have both colors in it, such as a fun printed scarf or great shoe, to tie your look all together!



Brown Leather Jacket: JouJou; Knit Top: Anthropologie; White Tank: F21; Black Jeans: Old Navy; Shoes; Jessica Simpson Collection; Scarf: F21; Cross-Body Bag: Michael Kors; Jewelry: Michael Kors, Waxing Poetic, Target, Stella&Dot, F21, 10/20 Boutique (Lubbock, TX), Francesca's Collections






1.09.2012

Hands On Bracelets

I think it's no surprise to anyone around me that I love me some arm candy. And by that I mean bracelets. And the occasional watch or two. It's rare that you find me without something to decorate my wrists. In fact, I almost feel totally naked when my wrists are bare. Over the years, I've built up quite a collection of jewelry and bracelets seem to be my go-to. I love layering them and pairing them up as an accessory to whatever outfit I might be wearing.



If you're wondering, yes that is an expensive bracelet holder old rusty paper towel holder that I use to hold my jewels. I like to be frugal and thrifty...don't judge me.


I've had numerous friends and family members ask me about my bracelets and how I wear them, and here's my secret: I have no secret. The best part about bracelets and watches is that when they're layered all together, they create such a fun accessory that it doesn't matter that one of them may be cheap metal and turning your wrist green or another is being held together by a safety pin. I've collected all sorts of pieces over the years and I've got a wide range of selections from cheap to vintage to homemade to expensive designer. I mix them all up with no rhyme or reason and it always works. Also, don't be afraid of mixing your gold and silver pieces...I love the look they create together. Who matches anything these days, right?

Watches: Silver: Fossil; Gold: Michael Kors; Tortoise: Michael Kors; Bracelets: F21, Waxing Poetic, Dillard's, James Avery, Target, Four Chicks in the Park boutique (Corpus Christi, TX), Lucky Brand, 10/20 Boutique (Lubbock, TX), Stella&Dot


Another tip: a GREAT bracelet to keep around is the good 'ole wrap bracelet. Mine is leather and beaded and wraps around my wrist about four times, giving the illusion that I'm wearing several bracelets! I wear it all the time. Love it.

                                           Watch: Michael Kors; Bracelets: Waxing Poetic, Four Chicks in the Park Boutique


Bangles are also fun and festive to wear and can be a great accessory or pop to any outfit. Don't be afraid to pile those babies up on your wrists, either. However, because bangles are such attention-grabbing pieces, I usually am a little more careful with how I wear them. I find it's usually best to stick with a common color theme. I love pairing up my black and white ones.

                                                                                  Bracelets: F21, Target, Kenneth Jay Lane


Bracelets are such a great accessory to make any outfit and are the perfect, feminine touch to your look. They're so fun and easy to collect and even easier to pile up on a wrist and go! So pull together all of your wrist jewels and mix and match them to your liking! Gold, silver, beaded, colored, plastic, fabric...whatever it may be...don't be afraid to put them all together. Wear one or two alone, or pick a few and layer them up and you'll have an effortless, fashionable accessory on your hands! You can wear them with a plain t-shirt and jeans for a casual look or use them to dress up your favorite dress for a fun night out or office party. For some great priced bracelets and bangles to add to your collection, check out some of my favorite spots for jewelry! Stella & DotThe Bauble Bar and Max and Chloe each have an amazing collection of fun, fashionable and well-priced pieces!

1.04.2012

Southwest Prints & Greys

I'm totally loving all the southwest prints and grey hues that are everywhere right now. If you're like my husband you might think that the southwest print looks a little "old-timey" or "like you should be sitting in a log cabin in the mountains in Colorado"..(yes, that's what he told me). Regardless, southwest prints and greys are neither of the two. They're so fun to wear and such a good combo for the cold (or semi-cool) Texas winters. Definitely a perfect print and color for a casual, comfy look! If you're looking for more bold tones instead of the warmer blue and grey hues that I prefer, check out Whitney Eve. She has a great collection with some fun southwestern-inspired prints!



 Sweater: LUSH c/o Nordstrom; Tank: F21; Jeans: Gap; Belt: Target; Shoes: Gianni Bini; Bag: Mossimo; Jewelry: Fossil, Nordstrom, James Avery, F21, 2Die4 Fashion Boutique (Austin, TX), American Eagle, Lucky Brand

1.03.2012

Staple Items

I walked into my closet last night feeling a little overwhelmed. I've got so much stuff in there and am in dire need of a little spring cleaning. After looking through it all, I did a little thinking about my favorite pieces. My staple items. The items that I mix and match and pair with multiple outfits to create numerous looks. Here are my ten staples that I feel every female (of any age!) needs in her closet right now:


1) A great, fitted (or not if you prefer), long white tank. Mine was literally $4.99 from Forever 21 and I wear it probably much more than I need to because it's such a great layering piece. Here is a similar one.

2) Extra long, wide leg trouser jeans. You probably think I'm crazy, but I'm convinced that there really is not a single woman out there that doesn't look phenomenal in a pair of these bad boys. They make the legs look super long and balance out the width at the hip and are just oh-so flattering. Seriously. Not to mention I love pairing them with some high heels for a chic, boho 70s look. I have this pair from 7 For All Mankind, and I swear by them. However, Express and Joe's Jeans also have some fantastic, somewhat less pricey denim.

3) A black leather biker jacket. I absolutely LOVE leather jackets and think they add just the right amount of edge and sophistication to any outfit. Not to mention they're warm, so they're a bonus when the weather in Austin drops below 50 three times a year. Mine is definitely a go-to this time of year! Here's a great one from my favorite, Michael Kors. So fab. Have I mentioned how much I love black leather biker jackets?

4) Black skinny jeans. Jeggings. Whatever you may call them. I'm not kidding when I say I wear mine probably 4 times a week...which is borderline gross and embarassing. They are perfect for pairing with an over-sized button-down, scarf and some riding boots. Or with the white tank and biker jacket that I mentioned? Truly, they're so versatile and can go with all outfits, casual or dressy. Love them with a fun pair of pumps, as well. They make the legs look so long and slim! Gap has a great pair that is well-priced and will last for years. Totally worth the investment!

5) Anything leopard print. I love animal prints and leopard is so fun and so easy to wear in so many ways. Not to mention its the perfect, natural combo of brown and black and lets be honest, I love mixing brown and black. Leopard print is a great pop of a little something extra and is definitely on-trend through every season.

6) A gold watch and a fun statement necklace. Both of these items are simple and can be worn with a casual tee and jeans or dressed up for a night out on the town. When it comes to watches, Michael Kors wins my heart. This gold watch is my favorite and is chunky enough to be a statement piece. I also have this tortoise shell watch that I'm obsessed with and get compliments on probably once a day. Bottom line..Michael Kors watches=perfection. Every girl loves perfection, right?

7) A denim button-down. Oversized or fitted, whichever you prefer to wear. They are so fun and cute and can really transform any outfit for whatever look you want. I pair mine with pencil skirts for work and with my skinny jeans for nighttime outings. You can make them country and cute or chic and sophisticated..they really are a great piece to keep around! Here's a great one from Madewell.

8) Striped tee shirts. I love stripes, especially navy and white. The nautical look is one of my faves and I probably own too many navy and white striped tees. Regardless, whatever the color may be, stripes add a great pattern to any outfit. A striped tee with a pair of denim shorts or pants is definitely a weekly outfit for me. And you can find basic striped tees and shirts pretty much anywhere, which makes me happy.

9) Your favorite, best fitting little black dress. This is so cliche and exhausted, but you really can't go wrong with keeping one in your stash. Dressed up with sexy heels or down with ankle boots, the LBD is a must for any female.

10) A bright cardigan sweater. Or one in every color. Cardigans are SO easy to wear and really just make for simple, classy outfits with a great burst of color. You can wear them with anything at any time of year and they will make for a timeless, effortless look. J.Crew carries them pretty much year-round and has them in all different colors and prints. Definitely a favorite of mine!



These ten items are just a few of my go-to pieces that I find myself mixing and matching to create endless looks and outfits. It's amazing how far you can take just a few pieces, you'd be surprised at the cute and fashionable outfits you can create out of your ten favorite items in your closet!