blues & greens

Unintentionally, I paired together ALL OF THE SHADES OF BLUE with some olive green skinnies. And since blue and green are both such nice, cool colors (I mean color-temperature wise, but they're also pretty cool/kool/kewl), they played well together. I love it when that happens!

ombre chambray: Target (maternity)

olive skinnies: thrifted (maternity)

teal scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

cobalt flats: Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx

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

tone it down

This cable knit gray sweater is officially retired until next winter. It was a great layering piece over this midi dress, though (last seen here – it was much less snug this fall…), and helped to tone down the brightness of this dress for the cold and gray weather.

I’m looking forward to wearing this dress a few more times before it becomes too small. It’s non-maternity, but I’ve included it in my maternity capsule wardrobe (more on that coming soon, promise - I know, I've failed to deliver so far) because of the stretch that it offers (love it when that happens).

teal midi dress: WalMart

gray cable knit sweater: thrifted (J. Crew)

black flats: BCBG Generation

statement necklace: Old Navy

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

teal teal teal

This bodycon-ish, midi length dress is a new thing for me. I tend to lean more towards A-line or shift dresses (my wedding dress was four feet wide. true story), so this curve-hugging style is…new

However, I think it packs a lot of punch. So, when wanting to stand out and make an impression, wear a bodycon(ish) dress.

As for the length, I tend to shy away from this length, as it usually makes me and my legs look much shorter and thicker than we (collectively) really are. However, I think it works with this dress – perhaps because the snugness of the dress is a bit lengthening? And nude wedges are always a win.

dress: WalMart

nude wedges: DSW

statement necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

(use the code: sweetbananiexoxo for a free month of jewelry rental)

linking up:

A Touch of Tartan // I Do deClaire

Style Sprinter // DC in Style

neon shoes

Let's discuss ALL OF THE COLORS going on here:

mint. good.

teal print scarf. good.

gray. good.

olive. good

neon. good.

I added the neon shoes for a bit of pop to an otherwise gray and rainy day (we've had a lot of those in Colorado lately). I think the blues/grays up top are a nice counterbalance to the olive and neon going on down below.

Thoughts?

Ever pair wildly different color families together?

Or wear neon shoes to brighten things up?

mint v- neck: Old Navy

teal print scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

gray cardigan: c/o Aéropostale

olive skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

neon flats: 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

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

for the love of scarves

When it's warm outside, but your office/where you work/where you spend most of your day is freezing, what do you wear?

*not a trick question*

LAYERS.

Additionally, scarves, boots, and jackets. Extra points if you print mix, mix color palettes, try something monochromatic, and/or do something interesting.

Aaaand, that's what I did here. I've been getting some, *ahem* "feedback" on my wearing of scarves (how often, how many, how big they are, etc., etc.), and to that, I say:

"They help to keep me warm, transition my outfit for different events, and transition my outfit for different temperature extremes (from warm to freezing to hot and back again).

And, I like how they look and help to make my look 'complete'. For the love of scarves, people!"

;)

striped dress: WalMart

floral scarf: Target

navy cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet

teal faux leather jacket: local boutique

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom