literally & figuratively

Even though I can’t get this chambray buttoned anymore, I’m keeping it around as a layering piece. Colorado teased us the last few weeks with lots of sunshine and warmer temperatures, and now we’re expecting snow...This summer-loving girl knew it was too good to be true – I enjoyed the sunshine, but have kept my sweaters and maternity coat easily accessible. I’ve also planned a few more outfits with layers and sweaters and fleece-lined tights, because inevitably, it will snow again. If you’re a long time reader, you’ll know that it’s snowed on Mother’s Day for the past two years...

All of that being said, the key to making your maternity wardrobe stretch (literally and figuratively, ha!) is layering and switching it up. I’ve worn this tunic with jeans, leggings, and ponte knit black pants. I’ve worn it by itself, under a sweater, under a jacket, and now under a chambray with a scarf. Keep ‘em guessing – that wardrobe is getting smaller and smaller ;) [again, literally and figuratively. I am HILARIOUS today, you guys…]

teal tunic: Target

chambray: thrifted

leggings: maternity - Old Navy

scarf: Pendleton

flats: WalMart

plaid & more leopard

The first time I wore this outfit, the shirt fully and comfortably closed – that was many weeks ago. Now, it’s a bit snug. Might be time to retire it, or plan to wear it open and unbuttoned, with something underneath it, of course. I used my trick from a few weeks ago, which is double leopard. That’s right – my shoes and my tiny belt are different prints of leopard. As long as it looks intentional and not like you got dressed in the dark, it’s ok - I promise!

Additionally, adding a belt helps to define your waist (see how I wore this last time here) by showing off the smallest part of your torso – for me right now, that is between my bust and belly. Helps me to look and feel more put together lately, when all I want to wear is maternity leggings and the Mr.'s t-shirts

red & white checkered tunic: The Screamin' Peach

red sweater: from a friend (Banana Republic)

leopard belt: thrifted

leggings: maternity - Old Navy

leopard flats: Aéropostale

bridging the gap

Hello! Good morning! Did all you mountain people survive the blizzard of the past few days? ;)

Onto the clothes (and shoes and accessories). My sweet mama got me this black plaid tunic in my 1st trimester, to help me bridge the gap between regular clothes and maternity clothes. It was originally long enough to be a short dress, but has since reached a more realistic length as a tunic. I paired it with black leggings (1 of 4 pairs of pants that fit me at the moment, 2 more being leggings), and my ever faithful snakeskin flats (they're slowly coming to their demise :/ ). I originally had a lilac scarf paired with the ensemble, but my friend stopped by my work and I liked her green ombre one so much that we switched for the day. And I like how the green makes the gray in my sweater lean a bit green. 

Have any tricks of the trade to share regarding making those "gap" clothes work a little harder? I'm all ears!

tunic: Base Exchange

leggings: Old Navy maternity leggings

flats: WalMart

scarf: borrowed from a friend

checkered & versatile

This is my last look featuring bare legs & sunshine, as well as clothes that don't have some room for an expanding midsection. That being said, I've worn this dress with booties (above), with sandals, as a tunic over leggings, and as a button-up shirt with jeans. How's that for versatile?

red & white checkered dress: The Screamin' Peach

booties: Old Navy

belt: thrifted

if you were a lumberjack

When you wish to appear as a cute human traipsing through the woods during the fall, you should wear something like this: plaid, vest, olive green & boots.

Oh wait, if you’re ACTUALLY going traipsing through the woods, you are most likely: 1) hiking, 2) a lumberjack, or 3) a forest ranger. In any of those 3 cases, you would not wear something like this (cute, yes. practical, not quite).

However, if you want to look cute in a mountain town in the fall, you SHOULD definitely wear something like this. Which is exactly what I did. Be sure to pose in front of the scenery (trees, mountains, nature), or a really neat looking garage door, wear a fancy statement necklace, and be sure you’re having a great hair day like yours truly.

plaid shirt: American Eagle

white vest: Levi's (thrifted)

olive pants: c/o Aéropostale

booties: Old Navy

statement necklace: WalMart

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

challenge accepted

Recently, a friend of mine was over while I was going through my closet for the umpteenth time this year. I was getting rid of some things, and starting to swap summer items for fall/winter items. I grabbed all of my white dresses in one handful and started to put them away with the summer clothes. And my friend said "Wait, that lace one. Keep it out. You can wear it in when it's colder."

And I said

"Are you challenging me to find a way to wear it this fall?"

And she deviously smiled and said

"YES."

So, here it is. Attempt number one. Not sure if she'll give me points for this, since we've had weather in the 80s and 90s, but I've got plans to try it again, don't you worry your pretty little head. I wore a light jacket and a scarf since I knew we'd be out and about in Denver this day - we ended up going in and out of museum exhibits (air conditioning & temperature controls, warm lobby, air conditioning & temperature controls, warm lobby, lots of warm bodies, even warmer lobby, you get the idea...). I was even a bit warm in this, but the layers did allow for more versatility than the dress by itself would have given me.

I chose the jacket because I feel like this jacket needs more wear, and because it adds a nice masculine/utilitarian element to this lacey & feminine dress. The scarf was an addition because it ALSO needs more wear, but the sequins and girlie print lend themselves to be worn with anything. And I think we all know the best to get me to wear anything is by adding lots of texture. And this outfit has several: lace, khaki/olive green cotton, ocean-inspired gauzy print, sequins, and plaid shoes. Let's not forget the braided headband.

Stay tuned for this dress's next appearance, most likely to be seen with tights, a sweater, and a scarf. Maybe a heavy jacket and snow pants. I really can't say...

dress: Kohl's

scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

jacket: thrifted (Land's End)

shoes: COACH via DSW

linking up:

Sydney Fashion Hunter // Shopping My Closet // Cappuccino & Fashion

 The Pleated Poppy // Book of Leisure // Tucker Up

Home of Malones // East Coast Nat // A Liz Adventures

Two Thirty Five Designs // Lizzie in Lace // The Sits Girls

saturday

Layers. Chambray. Plaid. Booties. Gold, and a side braid. 

Oofta. Saturday, you're here at least.

plaid button up: c/o Aéropostale

chambray dress: Kohl's 

gold belt: thrifted (Target)

ankle booties: Kohl's

teal & sky blue

Teal on teal, plus dark hair and dark skinnies. That's apparently how I roll. Or at least how I rolled on this particular day.

I've had this cardigan since high school...but the color never gets old! It's such a nice sky blue meets teal that makes my eyes POP, so, even though, it is almost the age of a 5th grader, on my sweater shelf it remains. And, wow, has the way I style it changed ten times over - Lara, Mom, can we all agree that this is very different than how I used to wear it way-back-when? (we're talking a tank top underneath, flared jeans, STRAIGHT hair, and those clog-type slide-on shoes everyone was wearing between 2005 and 2007 (mine were taupe). I might have even had a string (or five) of shell necklaces...

Back to THIS outfit: what I like about the combination of this plaid button-up and cardigan is twofold:

1) it mixes old and new(er) items in my closet; and

2) the monochromatic vibe is still there, without being TOO overwhelming,

know'i'msayin'?

plaid button up: c/o Aéropostale

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

pink flats: Coldwater Creek

linking up:

Cappuccino & Fashion // Shopping My Closet

Lizzie in Lace & I Do DeClaire

The Red Closet Diary // Sydney Fashion Hunter