Black & White - Casual vs. Fancier

 

 

 

 

I didn't realize until I was looking at outfit pictures and putting posts together how much black I've been wearing lately. It's not the "color of my soul," or anything, it's easy to grab when I'm foggy in the mornings, and it goes with just about everything. So, since I've worn it pretty often lately. and some white to go with it, here are two different black and white looks for your viewing pleasure...and maybe some black & white outfit inspiration, to boot ;)

On the left: more casual - stripes, flannel & warm boots

On the right: fancier - peplum, blazer & bright flats

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

striped top: Old Navy similar below

flannel: Old Navy similar & exact below

jeans: Aéropostale exact

boots: UGG similar & exact below

on the right:

 striped peplum: Ann Taylor Factory sort of similar below

blazer: thrifted (Target) similar below

jeans: Aéropostale exact

neonflats: Kohl's similar below

An Evening Out

if you look closely, there's a little bitty Cali-pup photo bomber...

Several weeks ago, the Mr. and I went "out" on a Friday evening. We met up with friends for drinks and a light dinner, then wandered the streets of downtown and made stops at several old favorite watering holes. 

As we left the house, I said to D: 

"Who AM I? 

Going out on a Friday? 

We haven't done this in ages! 

At LEAST since I was in college!" 

But, it was nice to spice things up and get out, although we were back at home,

enjoying Netflix the following evening :)

linking up with:

Vodka Infused Lemonade for Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday

Everyday Fashion and Finance and Perfectly Coutured for Three-fer Thursday

The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR:

shirt: Old Navy [[exact and similar below]]

jacket: thrifted (Plato's Closet - Miley Cyrus + Max Azria) [[similar below]]

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's [[similar below]]

clutch: thrifted [[similar below]]

booties: Old Navy [[exact and similar below]]

"Why Would You Wear Shoes that Make You Not Know How to Wear Your Pants?"

I really like the color of this sweater, and it's perfect to pair with this flannel button up. However, the sweater is very lightweight & not-quite-almost sheer, and would look funny with a dark button up shirt underneath it. So, I pulled the ole' switch-a-roo and wore the sweater UNDER my flannel shirt (kind of like a regular long sleeve shirt), and VOILA! I packed a punch with neon while keeping the rest of my outfit pretty simple (and warm).

I didn't get the chance to take pictures of this outfit when I was in Minnesota, but I did recreate it for  blog pictures just for you! 

As I was putting my booties on, I asked my Mr.

"How should I wear my pants? Tucked in? Rolled up? Or just however they end up?"

He replied with:

"Why would you wear shoes that make you not know how to wear your pants?"

I cracked up at this and could hardly get out my answer to him:

"Because. I like them. And, and, *giggle* they. are. fashionable."

So then, a few minutes later, I put on my snow boots (since they are what I wore when I wore this outfit in Minnesota) and asked him:

"Do these pants look ok? Do they look ok with these boots?"

I got the same response.

But what I really meant was "Do these pants fit me funny?"

The point is, sometimes you have to question how to wear your pants when you wear some funky little booties. Because getting things right and feeling comfortable in your own skin when it comes to fashion & trends takes time. and lots of experimenting. 

 

shirt: Old Navy similar below

sweater: Old Navy similar below

pants: thrifted (Joe Fresh) similar below

booties: Old Navy exact & similar below

snow boots: SOREL exact below

scarf: Aéropostale

SHOP SOMETHING SIMILAR

30 for 30: Day 27 & Day 28

Day 27

I feel like I spent this day running around like a chicken with my head cut off – work was BuSy! And then, since I’d been slacking, I had to go to the store after work to get everything for our Thanksgiving Dinner. The grocery store was a MADHOUSE. [Note to self: don’t ever, ever, ever, EVER wait again until the day before Thanksgiving to go shopping] People were blocking the middle of the aisles (pet peeve of mine), cutting each other off, and generally not being very “thankful” the day before Thanksgiving. 

*harumph*

However, I did make it out alive, and with all the fixin’s we needed for the next day! Oh, and the liquor store was a happenin’ place – I gave them some business, too, in the form of wine (white for myself & my mom, and red for my Dad). The Mr. had plenty of beer in the fridge, and my mother-in-law likes to bring her fancy cocktails when she comes to visit. This time it was “Hot Apple Pie" (she threw a Halloween party this year and made a “Dumpster Sludge, which was a really gross-looking brown-ish gray color, but was really quite yummy). I didn’t have any (I just love a good Pinot Grigio, or Riesling), but imagine Apple Pie, but with vodka & caramel & other yummy flavorings instead. Sounds pretty delicious, right??

Day 28

Day 28 was Thanksgiving. My mother-in-law came to visit, along with her sister and her husband. They are the first company we had in our new house (my folks came up Saturday - Sunday, so they were a close second)! Everyone loved our new home (we do, too!) and our meal feast was AAAAAMAZingggggg.

My sweet Mr. wanted to be in charge of the turkey – he didn’t let anyone else do anything to it. 

He also made sweet potatoes and apple dumplings (from my new Pioneer Woman Cookbook!).

He followed the recipe and prep and carving instructions in the book for the turkey, and it. 

Was.

DELICIOUS. 

I’m not normally one to go gaga over turkey at Thanksgiving, but as soon as the delicious aroma of turkey began to fill up the whole house, I couldn’t wait to dig in.

We had a nice Thanksgiving Dinner, just the 5 of us. There wasn’t a lot of stress – we’d told our visitors we’d still have boxes everywhere, so they weren’t expecting our house to be put together. We didn’t end up having boxes EVERYWHERE (we grouped a lot of them in the basement or the garage…aaaah, the joys of having a basement AND a garage!), but we did have them placed in corners and a few in every room.

All in all, a nice & relatively quiet Thanksgiving, made even more special by the fact that we celebrated in our new home – just one more thing to be thankful for :)

linking up here today

30 for 30: Day 22 & Day 23

Day 22

Not sure if you can tell or not, but I LOVE this plaid flannel shirt from Old Navy. I wish I'd gotten it in every color so I could wear it every. single. day. (that's an exaggeration...every other day!) I love it so much I keep wearing it, keep wearing it, and keep wearing it. 

But if the shoe shirt fits, wear it!

Day 23

You might have seen on my Instagram last week that the Mr. and I went to see "The Book of Mormon." It's a Broadway show created by the same guys who created the show South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (both guys are Colorado natives - woot woot! AND South Park, Colorado is a real place #truestory). 

Whatever your views on organized religion, Christianity, Mormons, missionaries, or even musicals, the show was very well done - the tunes were catchy, the singing and dancing impeccable, and the acting superb. It had all the elements of a great musical (I love musicals, did you know?).

We had a wonderful time catching up with the friends we saw the show with, and it was a welcome reprieve from the cycle of packing/moving/unpacking we'd been in for a few days at that point.

goofing around during intermission - he doesn't like to take selfies. boo.

I wore this outfit (with gray tights) to see the show. Yes, that is a flashy gold handbag.

30 for 30: Day 8

my lovely moustache earrings

Before I started this blog, the above outfit is something I would have worn on a very regular basis. Jeans and an uncomplicated top. However, since I started my blog this past March, I like to think I've "stepped up my game." I wear less gimme outfits, and try to put more effort & thought into the outfits I put together, and subsequently post here on Sweet Bananie. 

But sometimes it's nice to revisit the basics :) 

Have I mentioned before how much I love this plaid flannel shirt? As much as I love my ankle booties.

My lovely scarf is new - it's from Aéropostale. I was asked to be a VIP for them again this season, and I happily accepted. I came home with this scarf, and my Mr. said:

"Really? Do you REALLY need another scarf?" 

and I replied:

"But this one is plain gray - I have a striped one, and a printed one, but not a plain one, so this one I needed. AND, it's an infinity scarf. So, I guess I did NEED it. Oh, and I got another scarf, too..."

I'll be showing off my new stuff from Aéropostale over the next few weeks - they include: a coat (!!!), a pink sweater, that other scarf I mentioned, and some sweet socks. 

Today I'm linking up with:

and at Two Thirty-Five Designs

Double-y Plaid

if this picture doesn't perfectly encompass autumn, I don't know what does

I thought this was the perfect fall outfit for the perfect fall day. It incorporated some very fall-esque items: plaid, flannel, olive, booties & a down vest. Oh, and the requisite pictures with leaves (above & below). 

The weather this day was perfect, and it made me fall more in like (we're not at love. yet.) with fall. Normally I hang on to summer with every fiber of my being, but this year I've embraced autumn with halfway-open arms. Maybe it's the beautiful colors, or the slight chill in the air. Or that this summer was SO. HOT. Whatever it is, I don't hate it!

don't worry, we were stopped at a red light :)
I really dig the double plaid we had going on

This day was also amazing because this is the day we made an offer on our house, and it was accepted! I can't help but think that both of us in plaid is good luck. Don't be surprised if you see a lot more plaid over the next few weeks!

shirt: Old Navy

vest: (Aéropostale) thrifted

pants: Aéropostale

booties: Old Navy

sunglasses: Kohl's

his shirt: Kohl's

linked up over here with my layers

Two-fer

I wore the above combination to work, and then the below to run some errands in the evening, so I thought I'd share them both with you. I'm still hanging onto summer with my shorts & neon sandals, but stepping into fall with the flannel. I'm really digging the print and fit of this shirt - it's a feminine take on a masculine classic. 

And the colors! 

Navy blue! Bright green! Neon!

*be still my heart*

It was starting to get a bit chilly in the evening, so pants and close-toed shoes it was. The 

nude & "rose-gold" flats are from Target, and the purse is from Kohl's. Do you remember the brand 

Mudd®? Those were the only brand of jeans I wanted to wear in middle school, and into high school. However, I grew out of them, and went in search of other (more expensive) jeans. So, imagine my surprise when I saw this brown & neon pink purse (ON THE CLEARANCE RACK!) 

and it was by Mudd®. Obviously, it came home with me. 

And I've been receiving compliments left & right, ever since. 

Do former favorite brands ever jump out & surprise you? This seems to be happening to me a lot lately, and in the best way possible!

shirt: Old Navy

shorts: Old Navy

sandals: Target

jeans: Trends

flats: Target

purse: Mudd® via Kohl's

linking up over here today :)