game day: part 3

More game day outfits, geared towards those of us who live where it's more often than not freezing&snowing during a game, instead of nice&sunny. Watching my brother play high school football, there were 2, MAYBE 3, games at the beginning of the season we could get away with wearing only a light sweatshirt. By the end of the season, I was wearing snow pants and a ski jacket. And the reverse was true for baseball season in the spring - it ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS snowed on the day of the first game.

*sigh*

...memories ;)

First up, striped tee layered under a logo tee, under a cardigan, under a down vest.

Add and subtract layers as you feel appropriate.

No sweaters this time, but the down vest definitely makes a huge difference in the level of warmth. I have a Colorado flag headband I would have added if I wasn't having such a good hair day, but it's in the outfit below.

 

This layered look was really practical to head to a friend's house to watch the Broncos play. She and her husband whipped up a great nacho bar, and we sat inside and watched the game, while loving on her pups. And there's that Colorado flag headband I love so much. #statepride

This last look doesn't appear to have much Broncos pride at first glance. But hear me out. Orange striped tank, under a navy sweater, add or delete or change (ikat print vs. navy plaid vs. no scarf) scarves as you deem appropriate, and mint jeans + taupe booties. I would wear this ensemble if we were going to say, someone's boss's house to watch the game, or perhaps a more dressy shindig where a t-shirt just might not be enough. Comfortable, a step above a t-shirt and jeans, and nice enough for church or work. 

Broncos Pride tee: Victoria's Secret

striped tee: thrifted (Target)

jeans: Aéropostale

navy blue cardigan: Banana Republic

navy blue down vest: Old Navy

booties: Old Navy

navy blue flannel: Old Navy

long-sleeved blue top: Aéropostale (similar)

white down vest: thrifted (Aéropostale)

Colorado flag headband:Akinz Boardwear

SOREL boots: JAX

ikat scarf: WalMart

navy blue sweater: Old Navy

striped tank: Target

mint jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

navy blue plaid scarf: thrifted (Target)

game day: part 2

Since Thanksgiving (and Thanksgiving football) is this week , and football season is well underway, here are some more game day outfit ideas. They consist mostly of layering your clothes, all in the colors of your team. Part 3 will be geared towards more and more layers! (check out part 1 here)

A striped (or maybe solid) shirt under a logo tee.

  

Flannel, my favorite, over your logo tee.

Bonus points if it's in your team's colors.

 

Chambray, chambray, chambray. Always. 

This is a little departure from the Denver Broncos blue and orange, but it still works. Black and white plaid over a logo tee, with mint jeans. This would be appropriate if you're more of an under-stated fan, like myself.

Broncos Pride tee: Victoria's Secret

striped tee: thrifted (Target)

jeans: Aéropostale

blue flannel: Old Navy

chambray: thrifted

scarf: WalMart

mint jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

black and white plaid: Old Navy

booties: Old Navy

time change

Here are the borrowed oxfords again (yesterday, too). One way to expand your "accessories palate" is to borrow items from a friend - for a day, a month, a longer period of time. You get the benefit of being able to wear the item, coupled with the money savings of borrowing, and without the commitment of purchasing an item you might not love just yet. It's a great way to try out a trend before diving in headfirst. 

Another way to incorporate accessories into your outfits is with headbands, headscarves, hats, hair clips, and maybe the occasional butterfly clip (kidding! this is NOT 1999). I added this headband, layered a variety of bracelets, and pattern-mixed a floral scarf over a striped tee. Just some subtle upgrades to pull my whole fall look together.

Also, this time change has really messed with my picture taking. Even when I get off work early, it's dark by the time I get home. I'm trying my best to not take pictures inside, but, please bear (bare?) with me until the sun's schedule is more accommodating for office-hours-working-people like me.

shirt: GAP

sweater: Aéropostale

pants: Aéropostale

scarf: Target

headband: WalMart

bracelets: Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Lia Sophia

shoes: Frye (borrowed from a friend)

brunching & accessorizing

This outfit was just about perfect for brunching. The button-up shirt and stretchy skinnies allowed for maximum food intake, with minimal discomfort. And the plaid on the shirt helped to camouflage any food or beverage spills that might have happened...

The oxfords are borrowed from a friend (I've been trying to steal this pair from her for over a year, but she just. won't. hand them over). I added a sparkly statement necklace to glam up the plaid, and threw an old seashell clip in my hair. I belted my pants and half-tucked my shirt - it's a completely different look untucked, try it sometime. And the little teal clutch matched my shirt just perfectly.

Until I started this blog, I would have never:

1) worn these shoes and this belt together (they don't match)

2) worn this clip with this jewelry (they're different vibes)

3) mixed a sparkly statement necklace with dainty gold bracelets (they don't match)

4) worn pants other than jeans or dress pants (jeans were truly my comfort zone)

5) worn a sparkly statement necklace to dress up plaid (shouldn't your whole outfit just be the same aesthetic - dressy? casual? sporty? etc.?)

Look how far I've come! All with a little courage, time, guts, inspiration, and accessories :)


shirt & pants & clutch: Aéropostale
necklace: WalMart
belt: American Eagle
shoes: Frye (borrowed from a friend

ah-sessoreez (accessories)

 

This evening, the Mr. and I went out to frolick with my bestie and her boyfriend, who was in town. I knew I wanted to wear my new Frye boots, so I (kind of) built my entire outfit around it. My bestie had also told me that when I wear this jacket, I should pair it with something very feminine – the epitome of juxtaposing. Since the jacket is so dark and utilitarian, she thought it would look great with a flirty or twirly skirt or dress underneath. So, I paired it with a lace/crochet skirt and a soft cream sweater.

Sweet and girly, topped off with a utility jacket.

AND NEW BOOTS.

Additionally, another good friend of mine, Lyndsie (she took some of our wedding photos - check out her website here) mentioned to me several months ago that she doesn’t know how to wear accessories, and could use some help and ideas. So, I’ve decided to do my best to focus on accessories for the month of November – how to wear them, how to pair them, how to use them to complete, or enhance, an outfit (thanks for the idea, Lynds!). 

I tend to view accessories as "finishing pieces," or "completer pieces." Without them, you're fully clothed, but your look might be a bit "blah," or "basic." I tend to be running late in the mornings when I'm getting dressed and forget to ah-sessorize, but have lately tried to make an effort to complete my looks by being thoughtful with my jewelry& scarves&hats&tights&newglasses.

In the above look, I added some jewelry, switched to a fun clutch, and added herringbone-print nude tights. And the jacket counts, too, I would say (and I guess the croakies and sunglasses, too...). Without all of those items, I'm still dressed, but it's not too exciting - accessories help to add depth and dimension.


sweater: American Eagle
skirt: Aéropostale
scarf: gift from a friend
tights: Old Navy
boots: Frye via Nordstrom
jacket: thrifted (Land's End)
clutch: thrifted

30 for 30: capping it off

I had a distinct thought at the end of this 30 for 30 go-round:

“This was a lot less painful than previous ones.” 

June 2013 // November 2013 // October 2014

1 & 2 // 3 & 4 // 6

I like to think it’s because I’ve matured, and my style has, too. I find myself being drawn to simple looks more than I was in the past. Solid colors, neutrals, basics, one really great pair of boots in a beautiful brown and a great bag in black. My 14, 18, and even 21 year old self would have dubbed my current self boring, especially when boots come in all colors of the rainbow (red! purple! green!) , and tried to convince me that more purses = more fun (really, I had TONS of bags. none that really fit my everyday needs, though. yes, they were cute, and yes, they were plentiful and colorful, but my smaller purse collection now has me pretty satisfied. however, if I were to happen upon the perfect bag, so be it).

7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11

So, this time, I started with a more condensed closet, more pieces that I really like and reflect me, now. From there, I chose pieces that I thought would play nicely together – gray, black, navy, a few “wild cards,” but overall, the ability to create more cohesive looks, instead of a few really great looks, and a lot more “meh” looks.

13 // 14 // 15 & 16 // 17

I’m still so intrigued by the idea of a “capsule wardrobe.” I keep thinking of things I could replace in my closet (getting rid of 2 or 3 pairs of “meh” black flats for THE pair), or what my “capsule wardrobe” would be comprised of:

all black? all navy? all gray?

all animal print? all stripes? all neutrals?

all button-ups and skinnies?

17 // 18 // 19 & 20 // 21

And while I intend to strive for a “less is more” wardrobe filled with the perfect (for me) pieces that fit and flatter, I’m also thankful that I have the closet I have now. Not just that it’s large enough that I can continue to whittle it down and “curate” it, but that it currently contains things I bought in the past that I might be too apprehensive to try now; that it has variety; that lots of things in there fit me at different sizes; that is has a lot of colors and styles to play with; that it’s something I put together over time, not over the course of a few days; that it covers me and keeps me warm.

22 // 23 & 24 // 25 // 27

Sure, there’s pieces I would love to add, and even today I got the itch to go to Target – not because I NEED anything, but because I wanted to satisfy a shopping itch. I’m really learning a lot about myself, my lifestyle, my motivations, and my choices the more I blog about my style. It’s really making me questions some past wardrobe-related decisions:

why did I buy so many tank tops?

why did I ever wear baby doll tops? 

why did I think stepping on the hem of my jeans was ok (not cool, but ok)?

28 // 29 & 30 // 31 + new boots

It’s fun to have this facet of my life documented and be able to see the evolution happening and the wheels turning.

See my list of 30 items here.

30 for 30: day 31 & new boots

day 31

I’m so glad I got this white/cream cable-knit sweater last winter. It’s so soft, and comfortable, without being oversized or making me look sloppy or frumpy, and the color is more flattering to me than stark white. This piece got worn quite a lot during the last few days of this 30 for 30...

new boots

These boots are new. They arrived just in time for me to wear them on the last day of October (so maybe I didn't need that clause in my 30 for 30 Rules?).

I’ve been saving and saving and saving, and comparing boot styles anywhere and everywhere. I finally pulled the trigger on these Frye Campus boots via Nordstrom. And I’m in love. They’re not too equestrian, they’re not too western, they’re not too edgy, they’re not blah, and they’re this beautiful brown leather with a small enough stacked heel. I’m really enjoying wearing them, and while I know they’ll look great the more distressed they get, I’m also appreciating their newness and how pretty and un-scuffed they look. I might venture to say they’re “practically perfect, in every way.”

See my list of 30 items here.