Oktoberfest and High Latitude Style

Hi friends! Good morning!

I'm co-hosting a linkup with Nicole of High Latitude Style. And I thought this layered fall look that I wore to Oktoberfest in the mountains would be perfect to share today.

I layered a dark chambray (knotted, of course - my jam lately), over a teal midi length dress. I added a teal & blue plaid infinity scarf and comfortable flats for traipsing all over Breckenridge. Wearing so many layers gave me the ability to shed my layers to keep cool in the sun while we enjoyed Bavarian pretzels and streusel, but it was nice to have the option to add back my chambray and scarf when the temperatures cooled down and the steins were empty.

The print of the lace on my dress, the plaid in the scarf and the print on my shoes allowed for subtle, yet cohesive print mixing. A must for looking put together while waiting in lines at a festival. And did I mention this dress is stretchy? That's really the whole reason I wore it - schnitzel, bratwursts, pretzels, streusel, and German beer - to camouflage a day of indulging.

Switching gears, this is Nicole, and I love reading her blog (based in Alaska) for cold weather outfit ideas - another blogger to glean inspiration from when the snow flies! This red on red look she's got going on is just perfect for fall. Without further ado, here's a bit more about Nicole and the link up:

Nicole Mölders is married, has one cat, no kids, and is a fashion, and science enthusiast from Fairbanks, Alaska. She is the blogger of High Latitude Style – an Alaska fashion blog with science bits for the stylish 40+ woman. She shares how to dress stylishly on trend over 40 without looking like a fashion victim.  

Now let's get the party going. Everyone of any age and gender is welcome to share their fashion and style posts.

1. Please follow your Host via wordpress, twitter, facebook, google+, bloglovin and your co-host via her blog, bloglovin, twitter, instagram
2. Linkup any of your fashion/style posts by simply adding your link below
3. Please stop by your linkup-fellows' blogs, introduce yourself to them, and make new friends
4. Please spread the word and invite your friends to this party Invite your friends on twitter

not a bruise

the moody teenager

Although this outfit is comprised of the colors that make up a bruise (black, purple, and mint counts as blue, right?), I did not intend to actually dress AS a bruise. So, sorry to disappoint if you thought that's where this was headed.

I can't say enough how much I love this black chambray, and these black pants, and, oh, those python print flats. What will I ever do when they've had their last wear and must retire? T'will be a sad day, indeed.

Anyways, I like this outfit. I like all the black, all the purple, all the stripes, the good hair day (few and far between, lately - chronic oversleeping syndrome, ya know), and the handsome (although moody & easily annoyed) bully pictured above.

I know this seems a bit dark for June and almost-but-not-quite-summer, but, the high today was only in the 60s-ish, and it was rainy and gloomy, so totally appropriate.

Me says yes.

purple striped v-neck: Target

black chambray: Old Navy

black skinnies: Target

python print flats: WalMart

linking up:

Fizz & Frosting // Fashionably Employed // Cha Cha // Rhea et Cetera

Style Nudge // Garay Treasures // The Pleated Poppy // Because Shanna Said So

Pumps & Pushups // The Mummy Chronicles // Sydney Fashion Hunter // Shopping My Closet

I do Declaire // Sincerely Jennie // Middle of Somewhere // Cappuccino and Fashion

Cassidy Lou

"camouflage"

Stripes and leopard. A classic case of print mixing. I guess the only thing a bit different about this version than previous leopard and stripe adventures is that the leopard and stripes are navy blue and gold-ish, instead of black and gold-ish. Navy colored leopards exist in the wild, right? Of course they do.

And since this skirt is pretty loud, I paired it with nude flats, and jewelry in the same color family. Didn't want to distract from my navy colored leopard. I mean, "camouflage."

shirt: Target

skirt: thrifted (Target)

necklace: Target

flats: Old Navy

linking up:

A Touch of Tartan //  DC in Style

Why I Do DeClaire // Tasteful Style // The Mrs. and Co.

most favorite

This is one of my favorite outfits of ALL TIME *Kanye at the 2009 VMAs*

Let’s examine the elements that make it MOST FAVORITE, shall we?

1) the dress

It's feminine, fun, bright, and pink + navy = love

I got it last fall, and have only worn it once. I tend to not wear Lilly dresses for every day activities (work), because they are too fancy. But adding a shirt underneath disguised the dress as more of a jumper, instead of a fun party dress (which it is, in its real life).

And also, this dress is a heavier fabric, making it perfect to wear each and every season – the lack of sleeves make it ideal for summer, but the weight is heavier than a cotton sundress, so it won’t look out of place with tights, sweaters, and boots when the cold comes around again.

2) the layering of a classic button-up shirt underneath the dress

By now, I hope you know that I LOVE button-ups. However, this navy blue one always stumps me on how to wear it, because it’s so basic. And depending on the day, it feels too big and, yet, too small, sometimes. Weird, I know.

3) the shoes (the shoes are two-fold)

a) adding leopard print in the form of my shoes = print mixing (that, and they were more comfortable to walk to my lunch date in)

b) the bedazzled blue flats create a more cohesive look with the dress and button-up (I switched to these after work to run an errand to look more like a grown up)

4) good hair day

I have since gotten a trim and *dun dun dun* gone to the dark side (proof on Instagram), but sometimes my hair is long and flowy enough that I feel like a mermaid (you know what I mean).

5) the handsome pup in the last picture

O has been such a great addition to our little family, first as a companion to Turbo, and now as an only dog. He is full of personality, love, and silly little antics. #obsessed

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

button up: thrifted (J. Crew)

blue flats: thrifted

leopard flats: c/o Aero

linking up:

Classy Yet Trendy // The Red Closet Diary

Rachel the Hat

teaching & librarian-ing

Back in elementary school, I had dreams of becoming a teacher, or perhaps a librarian. And this is something I might have worn in either of those careers. But, my outfit would also depend on my location, and who I was working with – maybe this skirt would be too short for getting up and down from a reading circle in Kindergarten, or maybe not long enough to reach up to the top shelf when restacking books.

Either way, consider this peplum, cardigan, glasses, and oxfords look a nod to teachers and librarians, who are soon-to-be free for the summer!

dress: Target

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

oxfords & leopard print belt: thrifted

glasses: America’s Best

*edit: I had to add tights and booties, because, #springtimeintheRockies

tights: Target

ankle booties: Old Navy

linking up: Charming Lucy

fun, not stuffy

my friend, Cat, in her new Lilly Pulitzer for Target dress from our shopping expedition

Chelsea, our distinguished alumni scholarship recipient (she's working on her Master's - woot woot)

with her scholarship award
not pictured: me standing up to cheer and make her smile for a picture as she received her award.
she called me her Stage Mom...#stagemom #stagemomforeva





Remember a minute ago when I mentioned styling a fun, young professional outfit?

Here it is. A classy dress, classic jacket, and solid pumps – yet together, they create something a little offbeat and unexpected. 

This is what I wore for a scholarship brunch (my friend was the alumni recipient!! #stagemom #smilesweetie). I wanted to be classy, age appropriate, scholarly (even though I, myself, was not a scholarship candidate), yet stay far away from stuffy.

So I decided on lace, suede, and tweed. All of those elements by themselves are classic, and even paired together they would create a very timeless look. What makes this look hit all the points I wanted to cover is the color pairings (navv blue with varying shades of pink), and the different textures (plus the fun printed clutch). Regarding color, these shoes go with everything, turns out. And you know I luuurvvvvve navy blue. This jacket was just begging to be worn after a long hiatus of sitting in a box in a spare bedroom.

And then the textures – lace, tweed, and suede. By now I’m sure you know I’m a huge fan of different textures – whether it’s actual texture, or the appearance of different textures by using different prints. I think I really hit the nail on the head with this look – it was perfect for a Saturday morning brunch at a country club to celebrate Panhellenic scholarships, and, the icing on the cake - it was pretty comfortable, too. No pulling at Spanx, or complaining when I overate, which of course, I did…I mean, we were served breakfast burritos, and those are my love language.

dress: GG Boutique

wedges: ALDO

jacket: consignment (Express)

clutch: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

Sadly, this is the last picture you’ll see of both dogs – our handsome Turbo passed away a few days after these were taken. He went very peacefully, in his sleep, but completely unexpected. We are missing his sweet & grumpy old self quite a bit. However, Olaf is reveling in the attention of being an only dog.

linking up with:

The Closet by Christie // I do deClaire

Sydney Fashion Hunter // For the Love of Leopard

Cassidy Lou // Dressing Dallas // Cappuccino and Fashion

fancy pants

These shorts are pretty fancy. And let me tell you why.

They're a nice, light chambray material, and they happen to straddle that delicate line between dark-dark blue and black. Midnight, if you will.

They're a nice length - not Daisy Dukes, but not flashback-to-the-90s-long. Incredibly appropriate for Mother's Day Brunch (not for me though - it's supposed to snow on Sunday. gross.), but cool enough you could wear them out with friends and not get made fun of.

The cut and fit of them is similar to dress pants, but without the length (oooobviously). So what I've just described is essentially the perfect pair of shorts. Unless, of course, you're going for a Daisy Duke look, or want to wear hot pink shorts, or shorts with anchors...and then, by all means, these are not the perfect pair of shorts for that occasion.

Oh oh - and another reason why these shorts are great: I got them on super sale at an Ann Taylor outlet with a funny cousin of mine last fall. I've been saving them for this spring, and I''m so glad I snatched them up for $5 when I saw them on a brisk October day in Minnesota.

teal tunic: Target

shorts: Ann Taylor Outlet

scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

metallic wedges: thrifted (ELLE)

headband: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

linking up with:

I do DeClaire // Classy Yet Trendy

Shopping My Closet // The Farmer's Wife