transitioning the other way, part 2

This outfit was an attempt at dressing for warmer weather, but with the colder weather clothes that were still front-and-center in my closet. So, a ¾ sleeve striped shirt, light-weight green jacket, skinnies, and flats with strawberries on them.

I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this outfit and the next couple are from back in May – feels like so many things have changed, yet so many have stayed the same…

- I’m now a redhead (of sorts)

- these jeans (and several others) are big on me since I’ve been running

- we lost our sweet Cali girl

- I got a promotion at work

- the Mr.’s work has continued to be a rollercoaster

- one best friend had a baby, and is now a mother

- another best friend moved to my city, and we see each other a lot more regularly than we have in a long time

- I got to see another best friend and her son, and friends, and family in Florida for the 4^th of July

- I ran a 10k and another half marathon with my Dad (more to come on that soon)

- I gained more Instagram, Twitter & Bloglovin followers

- I deepened some existing friendships and relationships, and developed new ones

- I spent lots of time determining what makes me truly happy, and am trying to do/experience more of that

- I still curl my hair like this

- I still like to wear blue (makes my eyes POP!)

- I’m trying to adopt the idea of simplicity into many areas of my life, with the hope that it will spill over into everything

Needless to say, this past summer, and past year, has been a season of growth and change.
What about for you?

shirt: thrifted (French Connection)

jacket: thrifted (Land’s End)

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: Keds

transitioning the other way, part 1

I’ve got 6 outfits from this past spring I never shared here. They’re “transitional” outfits (worn during icky rain-y spring weather), and by the time I would have posted them, we were well into the warmer days of June, so I decided to save them for fall. Because who wants to look at jeans&sweaters and tights&booties when it’s 90 degrees and sunny? Now that we’re slipping into 80 and 70 degree territory, I think it’s safe…

This first one is nothing special: jeans, v-neck, cardigan and sandals. But I remember being so excited to wear finally wear sandals! And not having to wear my cardigan the whole day! Here in Colorado, it feels like winter lasts from October to May (we got snow on Mother’s Day this past year), so breaking out sandals and shorts and light layers is such a treat.

shirt: Old Navy

cardigan: Hollister via Plato’s Closet

jeans: thrifted (True Religion)

sandals: Target

game day: part 1

A few weeks ago, my friend, Chelsea (her blog here) gave me an idea for a blog post. She told me she struggles to look cute at sporting events, without looking like a hot mess express student wearing a t-shirt turned strapless dress. Not that a t-shirt turned strapless dress is a bad look, but if you're trying to look a bit more mature and classy while watching your favorite team, you're probably looking for some other ideas. 

Here are five warmer-weather looks you could wear to your favorite team's football game this fall.

Look for game day: part 2 later this fall, as the temperatures drop (it will include A LOT more layers).

A graphic tee of your favorite team and white pants. Or try white shorts. I'd wear this to watch the game at a friend's house - I'd probably stay away from tailgates and bleachers in these pants...

A graphic tee, a skirt and some boots. Boots of any kind would do well for tailgating, especially if the parking around the stadium is in fields, rather than on blacktop.

Another skirt, but this one a solid. It also has pockets. 

 

Don't be afraid to layer over your shirt - sometimes it gets cold watching games, and your chambray can act as a light jacket. I probably wouldn't wear flats to tailgate or attend the game in person, but definitely to watch the game with friends at someone's house, or a restaurant.

And if you don't have a graphic tee for your team, fear not! Just wear something that incorporates your team's colors (the Denver Broncos are orange and blue) - that way you're still showing team spirit.

I found my "Broncos Pride" tee at Victoria's Secret - they've got a whole line of apparel for NFL & college teams, as well as stuff for your favorite MLB team (I've got Colorado Rockies yoga pants). 

However, there are plenty of other places to find an outfit for your favorite team. WalMart, Target, the thrift store (sometimes they have the best stuff - I got a t-shirt from the Rockies inaugural season there, 1994, baby!), JCPenney, the team's official website, or make something yourself. In high school, we used to take tees & tanks and paint on names and numbers of the guys on the football and basketball teams.

I'd love to see how you show your team spirit - do you go all out? When my brother played high school football and baseball, I wore lots of too-big sweatshirts and windbreakers in navy blue and forest green (our school colors) with our school logo & mascot emblazoned on them. I'm sure I still have a few of them around...

that being said, I like to think I've matured a bit when it comes to what I wear to sporting events.

Broncos Pride tee: Victoria's Secret 

orange striped tank top: Target

chambray: WalMart

white pants: Old Navy

striped skirt: J. Crew Factory

black skirt: from a friend

gray skirt: from a friend

tassel flats: Target

boots: Steve Madden via DSW

python flats: WalMart

plaid tennis shoes: Coach via DSW

blue scarf: WalMart

how to: mix prints

By now I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of people mixing prints (me: here). You might even be a pro at it yourself. But for those of you that aren’t just yet, here are two (easy) examples of print mixing, just to help you get your toes wet. However, if you’re ready to jump in and rock a head-to-toe print mixed ensemble, please do! And then send me pictures or the link so I can check it out and be impressed with your mad print-mixing skills.

 

 

 

 

 

But for the newbies, a few simple steps…

Step 1

Wear a striped shirt. Or maybe plaid. Or polka dots. Or just a printed shirt.

Step 2

Add a printed scarf in a similar color family (blue floral on blue stripes). Black and white stripes can really go with any floral. A similar color family keeps the prints looking cohesive, not like you got dressed in the dark.

Step 3

Put on pants. Or a skirt. Or some type of bottoms.

Step 4

Maybe add a jacket. Or not.

Step 5

Add accessories and shoes. Or not. Shoes would be another great place to add in some unexpected print mixing – think polka dots, stripes, leopard, plaid, etc. (stick with the same color family, though!)

Step 6 (the most important)

Love on your dogs.

left:

 striped shirt: Old Navy

 floral scarf: Target

jeans: Aéropostale

flats: WalMart

belt: American Eagle

right:

striped cardigan: rue21

floral scarf: thrifted

crochet skirt: Aéropostale

jacket: thrifted

sandals: Shoe Carnival

wednesday

Here's a preppy, almost nautical look for this Wednesday. A white button-up, navy & white striped skirt, and white sandals. So, Happy Hump Day!

shirt: GAP

skirt: J. Crew Factory

sandals: DSW

chambray and white jeans x2

 

 

 

 

 

Without realizing it, I wore a chambray and white jeans twice, exactly one week apart. The first with a lighter chambray, the second with a darker chambray and new floral scarf. I mean…if you love chambray like I do, then you should pair it with everything. And often.

left:

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

white jeans: Old Navy

sandals: Target

right:

chambray: thrifted

scarf: Target

white jeans: Old Navy

red wedges: thrifted

eShakti

What feels like ages ago (but was really only the beginning of August), a company called eShakti reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in ordering a dress through their site and featuring it on my blog.

Of course I said yes

I’d read a lot about this company through other bloggers and couldn’t wait to customize a dress for my short self. eShakti encourages you to customize any piece on their website – want pockets? Sure. No pockets? Ok. Need it a bit shorter? Or a bit longer? Easily done. Ordering by standard size IS an option, but if you’re interested in any of these beautiful garments, I’d go for something a bit more custom. Why not? Why not order something you know will fit you, instead of ordering it, and then having to get it tailored?

I submitted my measurements, took out the pockets, and went with a shorter length on this dress (I’m 5”4’ with short legs, a short torso, and short shoulders. However, my brother once told me I have long arms…what?).

And what do you know? This striped dress is a perfect fit.

I wore this on a date this past Saturday for wine and cheese (same place we went for our wedding anniversary, The Welsh Rabbit – highly recommend this place). Aside from the compliments from my Mr., our hostess/server gushed over my dress, as did another customer at the bar who made it a point to stop by our table and tell me she’d seen me walk in and I looked

“Fabulous. Really. Fabulous.”

Since the dress is black and white, I added some color with my shoes and jewelry, and added a thrifted gold clutch to complete my look.

I’ve wanted to order something from eShakti for a long time, ever since reading about the company through other bloggers, but I haven’t had an occasion that I NEEDED a new dress for (I’m guilty of buying dresses without an occasion, and then allowing them to sit in my closet for ages…whoops…). But when THEY contacted ME, I figured “Why not?!” I’m thinking if we get invited to holiday parties this winter, I can throw on festive tights and accessorize it differently to take this outfit from end-of-summer to colder weather (boo). Not that I want to wait that long to wear it again...

eShakti’s website has PLENTY of other options – more casual dresses, skirts, blouses, and everything in between. Something else that caught my eye was an emerald green tulle skirt…so fun. However, I think I’ll get more wear (and maybe more compliments) out of my black-and-white striped dress than an emerald green tulle skirt *sigh* There’s always the next occasion I need something fancy for…

dress: c/o of eShakti*

shoes: ALDO

clutch: thrifted

*dress provided courtesy of eShakti, however, all opinions are my own