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10.31.2012

A Cozy Go-To


What girl doesn't love a cotton dress she can throw on and wear virtually anywhere? It's kind of a necessity in my closet. When it's nice and chilly outside it's always a plus when you can feel cozy AND comfortable at the same time.

I saw this bad boy while browsing around Forever 21 looking for some costume jewelry last week. Immediately I saw like, 50 different ways I could style it and grabbed it on a whim.

Here's why (in case you're wondering):

A) I love a long-sleeved dress.
B) I love a cotton dress.
C) I love anything that costs less than $20.
D) I love wearing & pairing neutral colors.
E) I love anything with an elastic empire waist. It's universally flattering & always slimming.

Need I say more?

A dress like this works perfectly with black, burgundy, navy or brown tights (or without tights if it's not too cold), slouchy boots and a chunky scarf for a casual Saturday. For the office, you can pair it with tights, a heel and a statement necklace for a dressier option.

I see myself living in this thing a LOT over the next few months!






Dress: Forever 21 (recent); Scarf: F21; Boots: Steve Madden; Socks: Steve Madden; Belt: Target; Bag: TJMaxx; Leather Bracelet: Target; Sunglasses: Ray-ban; Watch: Michael Kors

10.29.2012

Loud


I was so overly obsessed with the fact that neons were hot and heavy over the summer that I can't bare to see them stowed away with my warm weather wardrobe over the next few months. This highlighter yellow top is one of my most comfortable and favorite of my bright pieces, so you bet your bottom dollar this gem isn't gathering dust in my closet anytime soon.

Since these leopard skinnies are basic in color, it only makes since that I throw something bright with them, obviously. And if you're wearing loud pants like these, the only reasonable thing to do is throw something even louder on top to make one big bold statement.

Just kidding. I didn't do that on purpose.
I just wanted to wear some color with my grey and black pants, not to mention I love a good grey + yellow combo.
As you can see, it turned into quite the discrete and quiet outfit for strolling around town.

I threw a denim top underneath and a cozy fleece vest on top for some layering since it was rather chilly around here this wknd.

Guys. Don't be afraid to keep the color around for the fall months. Just because things are becoming dreary and dull in most places around the country, it doesn't mean you have to dress like it.

Also: vests are an understated wardrobe item that people tend to over look. I'm pretty fond of them. Embrace them. Love them. Wear them. Just saying.

 




Denim top: H&M; Sweater: Old Navy; Vest: Old Navy; Pants: Target: Bag: Gianni Bini; Shoes: Converse; Sunglasses: Ray-ban; Watch: Fossil; Necklace: Chloe + Isabel

10.22.2012

Mixed Media


This trench has been on my radar for a couple of months now. I saw it on a few sites online and in store at Nordstrom and fell totally in love. A neutral trench is definitely a staple item to have around for the fall, but I love the leather accents that spruce up this otherwise traditional coat.
When my birthday rolled around last week, I mentioned this coat to my mom on a whim and was SO excited when I opened up my gift and saw that it was folded up inside the box! Thanks, Ma, you're the best.

You guys...I'm OBSESSED. It's thin, soft, comfortable, stinkin' cute, goes with anything...
I meannnn....

I can't wait until it's cold cool everyday here in Austin and I can wear this bad boy to my little heart's desire. It can be dressed up and buttoned up over a chic dress and some pumps or dressed down with some boyfriend jeans and a tank. Either way, it's seriously amazing.  

Seriously amazing. Seriously.

On another note, although I was unable to attend, I was so honored to have been invited to the ASOS x RewardStyle Top 25 party here in Austin this weekend. It was an event to bring together top Houston & Austin fashion bloggers for a fun little night of mingling and networking. Hate that I missed it, but I'm so looking forward to the next time the team is down here in ATX! 








Trench: BCBGeneration (also available here); Tank: Forever 21; Jeans: Gap; Shoes: Vince Camuto; Bag: Thrifted; Sunglasses: Ray-ban; Necklaces: Chloe + Isabel (here & here); Watch: Michael Kors

10.17.2012

Purp Alert







Sweater: Cotton On; Pants: Citizens of Humanity via Nordstrom Rack (similar color at Old Navy!); Bag: Thrifted; Sneakers (recent but not available online): Forever 21; Necklace: Dillard's (recently on clearance & available in different colors)

10.15.2012

A Little Burgundy

In case you didn't know, burgundy is the color of the season, y'all.
Up until this year, the only thing I owned in any sort of hue of maroon came in the form of my old high school volleyball t-shirts and my husband's college garb from Texas A&M. Now he coaches at a high school that also wears maroon and white, so, in honor of my wifely duties, I've been digging trying to find pieces to wear to his Friday night games that aren't a form of athletic gear or an old tee.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited this color is in this season because it's giving me some great options for those Friday night football games!

Also, I went to TJMaxx recently in search of a new lamp and instead found these fab denim shorts on clearance for $5. I mean if that's not a win then I don't know what is. That is all.

Happy Monday!






T-Shirt: Target; Shorts: TJMaxx; Scarf: F21 (similar here); Fedora: F21 (similar here); Booties: Dolce Vita; Bag: Michael Kors; Necklace: Chloe + Isabel; Watch: Michael Kors; Bracelets: Chloe + Isabel

10.07.2012

All Black Everything

I'm a sucker for an all-black ensemble.
It's simple, sophisticated and always chic. 
It's kind of my go-to, especially for the fall/winter months.

There's a few black staple items I consider a must in any girl's closet. I kind of combined them all in one look because they're all my favorites and an easy outfit for me to throw on and go. Black is such a versatile hue that it's always good to have your basic black pieces lying around to mix and match. Luckily, staple items are made to be those pieces that you can wear with anything, so while I'm wearing them all at once, each piece can be styled a thousand different ways with anything else in my closet!

Here are my favorite black staple items:

1) A great fitting leather bomber jacket.
2) An over-sized chunky knit sweater.
3) Leggings.
4) Tall boots.
5) A leather tote.


If you want to wear all black but still prefer a hint of color in your look, try a colored bag or pair of earrings. If you're feeling adventurous, put a pop of bold color on your lips. 
I rocked a hot pink lipstick when I wore this on a movie date with my hubs.







Jacket: Express (old, similar here); Sweater: F21; Tights: Under Armour; Boots: Jones New York via DSW; Bag: Gianni Bini; Earrings: Chloe + Isabel; Glasses: Old Navy; Lips: NARS "Schiap"

10.04.2012

Cooler Weather


This is the time of year that it's impossible to stay cooped up inside at night.
The cool evenings make me want to watch the sunset on a patio somewhere and enjoy this mild weather and transition into the cold months. 

Luckily for us here in Tejas it's still the in between phase of summer-fall so while it might be chilly in the evenings, it's still too warm to be completely covered up. So, for now, I'm embracing my sweaters by throwing them over comfy shorts and skirts and rocking a little ankle boot to keep my always cold little tootsies nice and toasty.

Naturally, because I get bored with just a plain sweater on, I like to layer them over a button down for a little extra pop of print and/or color.

Not to mention, everyone knows fall is for layering.
(A statement every female has and will make at least 5,000 times in their lifetime.)

I'm totally embracing mixed up patterns right now, too. So I went for the double bubble with the extra pop of red underneath my yellow sweater, along with the plaid print to spice things up.

Don't be afraid to pair some unexpected combinations together right now!
Polka dots & stripes, leopard & florals, stripes & florals, stars & plaid....
I meannn...you can rock it all, girlfriends.

What are your favorite things to wear in the upcoming months?







Sweater: Target (recently on clearance) (love this starred option); Plaid Shirt: American Eagle (old); Skirt: Victoria's Secret; Boots: Dolce Vita; Watch: Michael Kors (limited edition from 2010, love this similar recent version); Bag: Target; Nails: L'Oreal Paris "VIP Status"; Sunglasses: Nordstrom

10.02.2012

DIY: Fringe T-Shirt Scarf



Yes, I did a post a few months ago on my mild obsession with fringe these days. I'm channeling my inner hippie now that I live in Austin, I guess. Now that the cooler weather is rolling around (my back door & windows were open all weekend and it was glorious) it's time to find ways to bring the fringe into the fall accessories. 

Last weekend, my sister was visiting from Fort Worth and we were doing a little rummaging around South Congress downtown. Several of the cute little shops we roamed were filled with fall clothing and accessories making me all sorts of excited and, naturally, wanting to purchase the place out. However, one little common piece stood out among the shops. All of them had a stash of thin cotton fringed circle scarves. All different colors and all so thin and easy to wear with anything that Courtney and I were almost convinced that they were worth the $45 price tag. But they're not. Why you ask? Because for a mere $5.99 at Hobby Lobby, these bad boys can be made and worn just as adorably as those for sale in the posh boutiques.

That's why I'm here today, folks. To present you with a little rainy day DIY project. Of course I always love a little fool-proof DIY project. And a rainy day. And a new scarf, hence the DIY.


What You'll Need:

1) A large cotton t-shirt. The larger the better. 
(Hob Lob has a nice stash of 3XLs in all sorts of colors.)
2) A Pair of Scissors.





First up, lay the tee flat across a table or floor and cut straight across right under the arm holes.





Next, you'll want to stretch out the part that you're using for the scarf, which is obviously not going to be the half with the arm & neck holes...just in case you were confused. Stretch the bottom half of the shirt out as much as possible.





Now you'll want to start the task of cutting small slits all the way around both sides of the piece you just stretched out. I'd like to lie to you and pretend like this part is fun, but it's a little tedious and somewhat annoying. But it must be done. We can't have a fringed circle scarf sans the fringe, duh. I made each little piece about one centimeter wide and about six inches long, but it doesn't have to be perfect or pretty, I promise. The slits will end up rolling up and getting all warped as you cut, anyway. Now is not the time to be a perfectionist.





Cut these slits all the way around each side of the scarf until it looks a little something like this...





Voila! You're done! It's THAT easy, guys. 
Since it's so long and it's a circle scarf, you'll probably want to wrap that thing around your neck twice!
Now you have yourself a nice little fringed scarf to throw over a tank or a sweater or whatever you want! They're so fun and perfect for running errands during the day or make one in your school color and wear it to those Friday or Saturday night football games!






They look effortless and cozy and imperfect and all of the elements I love in a solid fall outfit :)
Enjoy!