Simple Favorites

layering my necklaces isn't something I've done a lot of in the past, however, I think it's something I'll start doing more of. the little clover is for my sweetie - he's a wee bit Irish ;)

my Mr.'s cousin got me these black bow earrings for Christmas, and I can honestly say I love them! some of my new favorite earrings. they're sweet because they're bows, but they're also the teensiest bit edgy because they're black. and if you know me, you know I have a hard time doing edgy, so these are perfect!

This outfit includes so many simple favorite pieces. It's a new favorite outfit, simply because it's comprised of so many favorite separates:

- chambray: do I even have to explain this one? If you don't have a chambray, I suggest you get one (or 4), and you'll quickly see they're it's so great.

- striped sweatshirt: it's a sweatshirt, it has stripes, and it's fabulously comfortable.

- down vest: it's warm. and it's navy. need I say more?

- olive skinnies: I just love these pants. they're comfy, they're green, and amazingly, they seem to go with just about everything. however, I've lost a little bit of weight since I got them this fall, so by the end of the day, they're a bit baggy on my behind. however, pulling up my britches is a small price to pay for really great looking pants, that are also a closet staple!

I'm glad this outfit came together so easily - sometimes I put together favorite separates and they don't make a great outfit. The outfit seems to scream: "STAAAAAHHHPPPP it! You can like all of us, just stop trying to make us play nice together." To which I slowly peel off all the pieces and start from scratch. Sometimes, you just have to go back to the drawing board :)

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

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

pants: Aéropostale

vest: Old Navy [[similar below]]

shoes: Target [[similar below]]

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

Mr. Picks Mondays: Navy & Plum

The Mr. chose the blue sweater dress, and I chose the purple plaid for underneath and the plum patterned tights. Looks like for the past two MPM he's got me in a dress or a skirt...I'm sure my mom is loving that! Side story: when I was really little, I would only wear dresses or skirts. Every day. 

Then, from fifth grade through high school, I hated wearing them. I think it has something to do with the fact that I have a love/hate relationship with tights/stockings/pantyhose/whatever you want to call them - yes, I have many pairs, but no, I don't find them very comfortable.

I'm coming around to them though. I'm seeing lots of value (and excitement!) in being able to wear skirts & dresses in the winter (I'm late to this game, I know!). And seems like whenever I wear them to work with boots lately, I tend to stay a bit warmer than I do in pants. Odd? Yes. Or maybe it has something to do with the outside temperature...and consequently the temperature in my drafty, exterior-walls-only, drafty office?

Either way, a sweater dress is one way to make sure you're adding variety to your winter outfits. In winters past I've just done pants & sweaters, with the occasional vest or blazer. But THIS year, I feel like I'm really mixing it up, and staying warm AND fashionable AT THE SAME TIME!

linking up:

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

Fizz & Frosting for Mix it Monday

Style Elixir for Style Sessions Fashion Link Up

Vodka Infused Lemonade for Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday Link Up

sweater dress: from a clothes swap (Target) sort of similar below

shirt: from a clothes swap (American Eagle) sort of similar below

tights: WalMart sort of similar below

boots: Rack Room Shoes sort of similar below

SHOP MY LOOK (or something sort of similar)

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)

Cold Snap

Recently in Colorado we had a cold snap. By cold snap, I mean the temperature didn't get out of the single digits, or even teens. For DAYSSSS. Denver set record-breaking temps (so many days in a row of a really cold temp; coldest temps for so many hours; temps for this early in the season - I used to work with climatologists, so I'm in "the know").

And I know it's winter, and it's almost Christmas, and why am I whining about cold weather when I live in a mountain state (that's a can of worms I don't think you want to open #beachloverforlife #everytimeitsnowsiwanttomovetothebeach)? However, 40 degree days are a whole lot different than barely freezing temps, which are a whole other ballgame compared to temperatures that stay in the single digits for days on end. When it's that cold, it hurts to breathe, and your nose hurts after being outside for 2 seconds. Forget about dashing outside for a quick second without your coat - you'll be a popsicle before too you can get back inside.

So, what's a girl to do when she experiences temperatures that usually wait until January or February to show their ugly faces? Several things:

1) sweaters
2) multiple sweaters
3) scarves
4) down vests over sweaters
5) sweaters UNDER down vests UNDER down coats
6) start the car a good 10 minutes before she needs to leave
7) lots of coffee/hot chocolate/warm drinks & blankets
8) not venture outside. for any reason.
9) make sure the puppies go in & out really quickly, so they don't freeze their little wrinkled selves
10) whine a little bit and dream about moving to Florida, specifically the Gulf Coast

while I DID all of the above, I've also decided that by having the appropriate "gear," I can save myself a lot of coldness. i.e. coats, sweaters, scarves, and new snow boots (an early Christmas gift from the Mr. - they're essential so I don't complain to him about how my toes are cold, even though I'm wearing 3 pairs of socks).

Interested in seeing my cold weather gear? I'll be honest, cold weather clothes make up way more than half of my closet, and our coat closet is quite full of coats for all different temperatures. 

Any other good strategies for dealing with the cold? And I mean REALLY cold, like "Since when do we live in Siberia?" cold?

sweater: J Crew (thrifted)

scarf: WalMart

jeans: GAP

boots: Rack Room Shoes

Green & Neutrals-ish

I wore this layered look several weeks ago, before I started my 30 for 30 for the month of November. It's an emerald green 3/4 sleeve top, a down vest, a pretty ombre-esque scarf, that goes from light green/mint to peach and back, skinnies, and my tassled loafer-y flats. I love the color of this shirt, but needed a bit of warmth, so I'm really glad I had a plain white down vest to throw on for some extra warmth. The scarf added another dimension of being monochromatic (check out how many trends I've got going on!) I've had it in my queue for several days now, but remembered I need to share it with you so I can link up with Walking in Memphis High Heels, The Fashion Canvas, and Style Cusp, for their weekly Trend Spin Link Up - this past week was "jewel tones," so I thought this pretty green shirt fit the bill pretty well - dontcha think?

shirt: Old Navy

vest: thrifted (Aeropostale)

scarf: from my best friend's springtime trip to Europe

skinnies: GAP Outlet

shoes: Target

Mr. Picks Mondays: Blue-ska-doo

Blue shirt. 

Blue sweater. 

Blue pants. 

It's all blue over here, y'all! My Mr. is really into this monochromatic thing lately - I think he's trying to see how many we can put together from my closet. Bad (is it bad?) news is, we could probably do a lot. And without repeating many items. Have I mentioned I have a lot of clothes? Like, a lot.

Along that vein, I'm trying to empty out my closet, so help me out by checking out my closet on Poshmark (link in sidebar, too). See anything you like? Purchase it on Poshmark, or shoot me an email at sweetbananie@gmail.com

Hope your week is off to a great start!

shirt: thrifted (Liz Claiborne)

sweater: thrifted (J. CREW)

pants: thrifted (Joe Fresh)

shoes: thrifted (Not Rated)

P.S. Didn't realize my entire outfit today was THRIFTED! Would anyone be interested in seeing entirely thrifted looks put together? I'm coming up with ideas...!!!

Navy & Some Hot Pink

the shoulders of this dress have a fancy-bow-thing that I'm a fan of, except for when I try to layer a sweater over my dress, then it looks like I have lumpy & knotted shoulders

Nothing super fancy for you today. Just layering a shirt under a dress, and matching my shoes ;)

Hope your weekend is off to a great start! I'm at a Women of Faith conference with my sweet mama. She attended this same conference last fall and really enjoyed it, so invited me to attend with her this year. It's gotten so big they had to change the venue from previous years, so, we'll be battling the crowds by the time you read this, with coffee and snacks for the day in hand!

Happy Saturday!

shirt: Hollister via Trends

dress: thrifted via ARC

sandals: Maurice's