Layered Schweater

If you want the truth, I wore this outfit several weeks ago, during the cold snap I already told you about. And since it was cold, you guessed it - I layered up! I put a chambray under the sweater, and am wearing AT LEAST two pairs of socks beneath those (worn) UGG boots you see. And then, when we were running errands that day (and "exposed" to the elements), I added a heavy black scarf, down vest, down coat (with the fux fur-trimmed hood UP OVER my head), and my earmuffs and gloves on. Fashionable? More like marshmallow-ey. But quite warm & cocooned!

I really like this sweater, especially with my faux leather-stripe leggings. I'm wearing them above, but didn't get any detail shots, so you'll just have to take my word for it, my friends. The sweater is just slouchy enough for the weekend, but chic enough to look put together, dontcha think? I've worn it once or twice since (without a collared shirt underneath), but with the same leggings...! I need to come up with a new way to wear it...any suggestions?? I got some great ideas the last time I asked for help - so, haaaaaalp!

sweater: Aéropostale

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

leggings: Aéropostale

boots: UGG (gift from my sweetie, SEVERAL years ago)

30 for 30: Day 12 (and some new schtuff)

yes, that is Turbo's tongue in the lower right - it's a very long dog tongue

Here is the new coat I mentioned the other day. Fancy, huh? I'm a HUGE fan. I was really drawn to it initially, then "hem-ed" and "haw-ed"over it while I perused the rest of the store. 

"Is it ME?"

"Is it too trendy?"

"White? In the winter?" 

(It comes in navy, too. So that added another 30 minutes to the decision making process)

But as you can see, I overcame all of those objections and got the coat. I've been on the hunt for a new, shorter coat. I've got a red peacoat, which I love, but it's very dressy and comes to my knees; a knee-length purple down coat, and several fleece jackets from The North Face/Columbia. I was looking for something nicer than my fleece jackets, but shorter, more casual, and not quite as heavy as my other coats (that's a lot of criteria!).

I love this coat for many reasons:

1) it fits my above criteria

2) it's got (faux) leather sleeves, which is SO on trend for this year. AND, who doesn't love (faux) leather?

3) it's two-toned - do YOU know anyone with a two-toned coat? I don't.

4) it dresses up jeans, but not TOO much

5) it was provided to me courtesy of Aéropostale, as one of their VIPs for this season

Needless to say, I'll be wearing it a lot this winter, until we hit below freezing temps for weeks at a time.

YUCK.

this pink peplum top really doesn't photograph well, does it?

I matched the pink polka dots in my pants to my top

 

Yes, that is a bulldog. On a pair of socks. They are my (2nd pair of) bulldog socks. I love them.

I can't find this sweater online (boo), but it's much prettier in person - the pink is not as blinding, I promise. I'm envisioning it with leggings (most likely these, also from Aéropostale), boots over my new bulldog socks, a large cup of coffee, and a good book (currently I'm in the middle of 2 books, and 1 audiobook)...

For something similar to this sweater, imagine:

this Sheer Striped Knit Sweater, mixed with this Marled Slub-Knit Sweater, topped off with this Sheer Ribbon Yarn Sweater.

A scarf with hearts, that masquerade as black polka dots. Could this scarf be any more darling? I think not. Can't wait to wrap myself up in it - it's nice, and big, and square-ish-ly shaped, without being too heavy, although it does have a nice weight & bulk to it. Good job, heart/polka dot scarf.

And the gray infinity scarf I wore the other day, that my husband said I didn't "NEED", is here.

Aéropostale keeps hitting it out of the park - keep it up! Can't wait to see what else they've got in store!

Hooray for the weekend! Any fun plans in store?

linking up this BRIGHT top [that looks neon in these pictures] over here

30 for 30: Days 1 & 2

Day 1

Day 1 of my 30 for 30 challenge. I chose my 30 items late on the 31st of October, and threw this together in the morning - not too bad for the first day ;)

Day 2

 

my Dad took these pictures for me, right after we had dinner last weekend.
this is me asking "do I have anything in my teeth?"

I LOVE this necklace I got at a consignment shop #truelove

Last weekend we made a trip to visit both sets of parents. They live pretty close (I could make it home for curfew in about 13 minutes), so we get to see both sets of folks. And this trip, we really DID get to see everyone - we got to see our good friends, M & L, who just moved back to our beautiful state after having spent the last year and a half out east. We are SO glad they're back - we missed them so much!

More headed your way, including a post that lists my 30 items for the rest of this month. Hope your weekend is off to a great start!

Falling Into Plaid

 

This ensemble made an appearance at a college football game tailgate. Not the game, just the tailgate. Very important distinction. I did originally wear different shoes to the tailgate, but swapped them out for something a bit fancier for dinner with that handsome husband of mine. I wore rain boots earlier in the day, as the weather called for precipitation, and I knew that the tailgating would take place in a field (of sorts). However, the sun came out and there was not a cloud in the sky. But, rain boots are a lot easier to wipe dirt & mud off of than almost any other shoe, so they were ok. 

I knew the day would be chilly, so I layered up accordingly, with a long sleeve shirt under the plaid button up, and threw this sleeveless sweater (vest?) on top, then had a jacket, a scarf, and gloves in the car. I didn't end up needing those last few accessories, but was glad I brought them - I'm almost always cold. 

I'm so glad I was finally able to comfortably wear my leggings with the faux leather panel - last time, it was still pretty warm out. I've got a feeling these will be on repeat a lot this winter. 

Today I'm linking up with Walking in Memphis in High Heels, The Fashion Canvas, and It's Not That Deep for their weekly Trend Spin Link Up, featuring gingham & plaid. I wish I'd gotten a picture wearing my rain boots - they're a black & white plaid, so I would have been able to showcase plaid (times two!) AND a bit of print and texture mixing. Better luck next time!

plaid shirt: thrifted

sweater: Eddie Bauer

leggings: Aéropostale

shoes: Jessica Simpson

Pants Decisions

I wore this combination on a particularly gray & rainy day. Sometimes I like to wear brights when the weather is cold & gray, but sometimes I like to blend right in - it really depends on my mood. 

And what items are not in the laundry...

Lately, I'm loving purple in all shades. Sometimes I just want to put on every purple item I own and dance around and pretend to be a grape. Or an eggplant (it's always food...). Anyone care to join me? 

I got this pair of coated denim on major clearance this past May at Kohl's, from the Lauren Conrad line. It was between these and a pair of (vegan) black leather pants (vegan leather is a fancy way of saying faux leather, because as you know, it is trendy to be a vegan/paleo/gluten free in this day & age). I agonized over this life-altering (hardly) decision for a good 20+ minutes. As you can see, I ultimately went with these pants. I'm just not sure that my blonde hair, blue eyed, sometimes-gets-confused-for-a-high-schooler-self could really rock (vegan) leather pants. However, as my bestie pointed out, this pair of coated denim fills that hole of "badass-ness" in my closet. 

AND, they're purple, instead of typical black. 

AND, purple was my favorite color in the 6th grade.

linking up here, here and here today - check it out!

gray lace shirt: Victoria's Secret

sweater: Maurice's

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

flats: Jessica Simpson

Fancy Schmancy Legging Pants

see the stripe?? see how fabulous they are??

These fancy schmancy leggings made an appearance on date night. We went to Olive Garden for some delicious soup, salad, and breadsticks, and then home to finish watching our latest obsession on Netflix, "Orange is the New Black." Have you seen it? It's an original series, based on the memoir of the same name, fictionalized & sensalized, of course. We love it. Watch it. And report back. Please :)

Do you see why I love these pants? Regular leggings with an edge, and I need all the edge I can get. They'll be great with a sweater and some boots this fall & winter - they're nice and thick and warm! We've had some cooler weather this past week, so I've been able to wear more transitional pieces without overheating. 

Happy Monday tomorrow!

shirt: Jones New York

leggings: Aeropostale

shoes: KMart

bag: thrifted