Navy on the Job

This navy cardigan from Banana Republic is a recent acquisition. And I LOVE it. Really. My life was just one big empty shell without this cardigan. 

Kidding...

I knew I wanted a navy cardigan, but I didn't realize how much I would love wearing it. Below are two different ways I styled it for work. Both with something else navy. Of course :)

 

left: sequins & bedazzled shoes / right: flannel & tennis shoes

 

 

 

on the right: I was invited to a construction site at work for a BIG project. the timing was too perfect - I mean, I was wearing flannel, AND long pants, AND close-toed shoes.

and my pink hard hat is e'er'thang

 

on the left:

sweater: Banana Republic

sequined tank: WalMart

scarf: gift (Old Navy)

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: thrifted

on the right:

sweater: Banana Republic

flannel shirt: Old Navy

jeans: thrifted (Old Navy)

shoes: Payless

Failed Execution

This outfit had all the makings of something great, but I feel like the individual elements didn't come together well.

Plaid button up?

Check.

Embroidered cardigan?

Check.

Gray skinnies?

Check.

Whatever the reason (the fit of the cardigan? the combination of everything together?) I didn't love this outfit. And then it got me thinking that this style of cardigan is not very flattering on me. Which got me thinking about how long I've had it.

High school.

Freshman, maybe sophomore year.

So, a long time. And for how pretty it is, it's not something I wear often. Maybe once or twice a year. So, in an effort to be a grown up, we parted ways. That's happened to a lot of other pieces in my closet lately. I'm realized more and more that FIT is EVERYTHING.

Really.

Interested in hearing more about that? 

Maybe I'll share some more of my insight on fit, and well see if I've applied that to my style lately...

Shirt: from a friend

Sweater: Express

Jeans: Aéropostale

Shoes: thrifted

Mr. Picks Mondays: Shades of Blue and of Gray

This week, the Mr. chose the dress, and I included everything else - it wasn't warm enough JUST YET for bare legs and arms. Soon, my friends, SOON! However, I think the different shades of blue, gray & taupe play off of each other nicely, dontcha think?

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dress: thrifted (Old Navy) similar below

cardigan: local consignment shop

booties: Old Navy similar below

How To: Get Dressed in the Dark

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I didn't REALLY get dressed in the dark when I wore the two above outfits. However, I've come up with a formula for getting dressed quickly in the morning. It's so easy, you COULD do it in the dark, if you knew your closet by location and feel (an important piece of knowledge to have!).

Ready?

step 1: Grab pants. Feel, or squint through the early-morning light, for some that are pretty simply, are a neutral, are comfortable, OR, if you've enjoyed delicious food all week/weekend, ones that are stretchy and you know will fit. Or better yet, ones that fit all four of the above criteria.

step 2: Reach for a button up shirt. I like them because they say "I'm here! I'm present! I put effort into my outfit!", but maintain the ability to be dressed up OR down, and of course, can help hide some overindulging (are you sensing a theme here?).

step 3: Put on a neutral sweater. I do like pull-overs layered over a button up, but sometimes a cardigan can add more "depth" to your ensemble by showing off the layer underneath your sweater layer. They're also easier to take off/put back on/take off again/and put on one last time than a pullover.

step 4: Add some jewelry, but not TOO much - you're not fully awake & aware just yet, remember?

step 5: Step into some fancy-ish shoes that you can stand to wear all day.

steps 6 & 7: If you're feeling productive, do your hair and makeup.

step 8: Grab coffee, breakfast, your purse, and head out the door, knowing you look fabulous (and did it all without being fully awake, natch)!

SHOP THE LOOKS...OR FIND SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

polka dot button up: Kohl's similar below

cardigan: Maurice's similar below

pants: Aéropostale

flats: Kohl's similar below

earrings: Kohl's

on the right:

chambray: WalMart similar below

cardigan: thrifted (Kohl's) similar below

pants: Aéropostale

flats: Target similar below

scarf: WalMart similar below

Mr. Picks Mondays: Black & Tan

This week the Mr. chose the top and the pants (hooray for him finally choosing skinnies!) and I added the sweater, and of course, the brown boots. So, here it is - neutral meets neutral meets neutral, all in a classy black and brown combination. Dig it?

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shirt: Ann Taylor LOFT (thrifted) similar below

sweater: DayTrip (thrifted) similar below

pants: Aéropostale

boots: Rack Room Shoes similar below

Doubley Scarved

Ever wear two scarves at once? This is the first time I've tried it, and I think I'll try it again sometime. I'd read somewhere to try it with 2 scarves of similar weight and texture, so they look intentional. While I think that's a valid point, I'm planning to try different weights and fabrics. One of my friends recently paired a lightweight scarf with a chunky soft-knit one, and I couldn't stop complimenting her on the combination. It was such an effortless combination of textures - I can't wait to give it a try!

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

shirt: French Connection via ARC (thrifted) [similar below]

polka dot scarf: Aéropostale

light blue scarf: gift from a friend [similar below]

sweater: Aéropostale [exact]

jeans: Aéropostale [exact]

boots: Rack Room Shoes [similar below]

Black&White Stripes&Dots

In looking at these pictures, I noticed two things:

1) this sweater is not as long as I always think it is. Instead of hanging past my hips and covering my rear end, it hits AT my hips, and does NOT cover my rear. Not that this is a bad thing, it's just different than how I always picture this cardigan in my head.

2) I look really tired in these pictures. And I know why. It's because...I've been really tired lately. We're talking exhausted. Can't-get-enough-sleep-even-though-I-go-to-bed-early-exhausted. The Mr. says I'm oversleeping, but to that I say "No way, Jose." So, here they are: tired eyes. Correction: tired face.

shirt: Old Navy [[similar below]]

cardigan: Ann Taylot [[similar below]]

scarf: Aéropostale

pants: Aéropostale

boots: SOREL [[exact below]]

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

Mr. Picks Mondays: "Dweater"

You might recognize this dress from this past summer - I wore it to a sorority sister's wedding. Several other sisters came up and stayed with us, so my lucky Mr. got to be our DD, 

as well as our "chaperone."

The reason he chose this dress for the latest Mr. Picks Mondays was because I had just finished re-pretty-ify-ing my closet and re-hanging and re-folding (almost) everything. So, this dress was prominently displayed, and he chose it for me to wear. 

Since the back of the dress is open, I chose a warm sweater to make it work appropriate, and then kept the sweater on all day. My fleece-lined tights were a finishing touch - you know I love 'em (so warm & comfy!)

What do you think? Too summery? Or did the abundance of textures (lace, chunky sweater, cable-knit tights, and a polka dot scarf) make it winter appropriate? Personally, I'm a fan of how it turned out.

linking up with:

DC in Style for Monday Bloom

Fizz & Frosting for Mix it Monday

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

Life's a Party Dress Like It for Stylish Tuesday

Style Elixir for Style Sessions Link Up and Friday's Fab Favorites

Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Fridays

Two Thirty-Five Designs for Casual Friday

dress: Urban Outfitters [[similar below OR check out this similar dress in blue lace I just got from Aéro]]

sweater: Aéropostale [[<--exact in link]]

scarf: Aéropostale

belt: Target [[similar below]]

tights: local boutique [[similar below]]

boots: Rack Room Shoes [[similar below]]

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR