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)

Mr. Picks Mondays: Belated Black & White

I realize this latest installment of Mr. Picks Mondays is a few days late, but, as Wednesday was Christmas, my schedule has been all sorts of catawumpus. I've been thrown out of wack - having time off from work has allowed me to take a nap (almost) every day, lounge, have long lunches with old friends, and snuggle with my pups in the middle of the day. 

Let me just say, I'm loving having a few extra days off.

My Mr. pulled this out of the closet for me to wear. I'm really trying to "winter-ize" my white pants and wear them into winter, but they are such a mental hurdle for me! I just want to wear them with loose & flowy summer tops and sandals. I KNOW it's possible (and even chic!) to wear them in the winter, I'm just having a hard time making myself comfortable with it. Any tips?? And also, I tend to spill anything&everything on white pants, so, there's that...

Actually, let me clarify what I said above ^ My Mr. chose the polka dot top and white pants. I added the blazer, shoes, and the striped top underneath for some black & white print mixing - adds a bit of dimension, dontcha think? ;) 

polka dot top: thrifted

striped top: Express

blazer: thrifted (Target)

pants: Old Navy 

flats: Kohl's

linking up with...
Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Fridays
Two Thirty Five Designs for Casual Friday Link Up
Style Elixir for Friday's Fab Favorites
Simple Sequins for Fashion Item Friday

Stripes on Dots

I don't know that I would have ever done such "large scale" print mixing before I started this blog in March - I mean, my top AND bottom in different prints?! This is the girl who used to match EVERYTHING (by match, I mean shoes to belt to bag to earrings - and the. exact. color.). But, here it is!

Too much? Too risky? Or just right?

linking up with:

Two Thirty-Five Designs for Casual Friday

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

sweater: Express

pants: Old Navy via Plato's Closet

boots: Rack Room Shoes

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

Orange-ish & A Tutorial (of sorts)

I don't own much orange (it's not a good color on me), so this coral-y/orange-y sweater is the closest to orange that I own (I know - these pictures make it look pink-ish, just trust me!). But I wanted to share so I could participate in this link up with Walking in Memphis in Heels, The Fashion Canvas, and Vodka Infused Lemonade for their weekly Trend Spin Link Up. The theme this week is black and orange (for Halloween, obvi). So, please excuse my dark and grainy pictures - the sun goes down so early (curse you, shorter days!)! But please appreciate my enthusiasm for blogging/Halloween/link-ups :) 

A for effort?

.......................................

Let's switch gears. Majorly.

If you have a scarf that you think would be just divine as an infinity scarf, look below for a few simple (REALLY simple) steps to make that happen. 

Place a rubber band around both ends of the scarf, so you have a large loop, and a little "tuft" for the ends.

Place looped scarf around your neck. I put the "tuft" at the nape of my neck.

Now make a figure-eight with your scarf, by crossing one side over the other.

Flip up the bottom of the eight, and place it around your neck. 

You should have 2 loops of scarf around your neck.

Fluff your hair. 

Adjust your scarf. 

Give yourself a pat on the back. Or a thumbs-up.

You have now made an infinite scarf a (temporary) infinity scarf! Ta da! 

I've found that the "tuft" is smaller (and thus, more manageable) when you use a thinner scarf. However, it's not impossible with a thick scarf - I would recommend wearing your hair down so you can cover up the "tuft." Or, become an expert at scarf arranging so you can cover it up with the 2nd loop :)

Ever tried this? I do it all the time! It's just a different way of tying a scarf. Tell me how you stretch your existing closet and wear things in a new way.

sweater: Target

shirt: WalMart

 (temporary infinity) scarf: thrifted

jeans: Trends

Boots: Kmart

Mr. Picks Mondays: More Monochromatic-ness & Mint

what? you don't make weird faces and post them on the internet for all the world to see?

always wearing a pink ribbon - it's Zeta Tau Alpha's national philanthropy

What is the deal with me being so behind on my outfit posts?! I wish I could explain, or at least have a better excuse than 

"I got busy."

But really though, I got busy!

My Mr. picked out this get-up, and was really excited for me to go monochromatic again. Maybe this will be a trend every week? We'll have to wait and see!

It's time for me to get to bed, so that's all the regularly scheduled programming for tonight :)

linking up this over here today, check it out!

jacket: Old Navy (from a friend's closet)

shirt: Target

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

shoes: KMart

Playing Catch Up

This was Monday at my work. We closed early at 3 due to the bad weather. 

This is today at home - it hasn't stopped! Instead of grumbling, I'm just going to stay warm inside, and drink lots of hot chocolate. And coffee. Always coffee.

Highlighter Top: ??

Sweatshirt: Kohl's

Jeans: Gap

Boots: (not pictured) UGG (they were SOAKED)

Socks: (there are snowmen above the trees) from my Mama 

(she has a thing for funny socks - guess I do too!)

This is what my Mr. picked out for me on Monday. SO BRIGHT. I got lots of comments on the brightness of it - I'm trying to encourage spring! Obviously, that backfired, but hey, Jack! I tried. Or, my Mr. tried. Either way, this is the only pic I got - I was on a mission to put on my sweatpants and curl up on the couch with my Mr. and the pooches.

He gravitates towards picking out simple things. Let me explain: simple in that he likes the color. Or that its not new or trendy. Or that I've had it forever. Or that it's like something I would have worn in high school (or did wear in high school - I have some things in my closet from those days...). For example, he doesn't like skinny jeans/pants. Leggings are fine, but skinnies - he makes a face when I put them on. 

*sigh* 

Some people just hate change :) 

Top: Target

Sweater: Macy's

Corduroys: (they're navy!) Joe Fresh via ARC

Boots: Rackroom Shoes

This is what I wore yesterday. Not for very long - I went home with a bad headache and spent the rest of the day sleeping. I won't go in to detail, but I get bad headaches. Consistently. They get in the way of my life, which is very frustrating. 

Unrelated, what do we think of this sweater? I like the ruffles, and the buttons are crystal-type bling, but am afraid the sweater borders on Grandma clothes. Not that I have anything against Grandma clothes - I LOVE them (on Grandmas)! But, I'm not a Grandma. Or even a mother (yet). I can add some more pics of it to give you a better idea - I know you'll lose some sleep over this, big decision!