30 for 30: day 1

I mentioned the other day that I was going to complete another 30 for 30 style challenge for the month of April. If you're new around here, I pick 30 items and have to style 30 outfits with only those items. It usually lasts about a month, give or take a few days (I mean, I AM posting my first outfit on the 5th day of April...).

So, sit back, relax, and watch me create 30 outfits (hopefully 30 different outfits) with 30 items that I picked from my closet.

You’ve seen this chambray dress and sandals several times before (here, here, and here). So, instead of boring you with the same old thing (and on the first day of my style challenge!), I spiced it up with some leopard.

I wore a leopard print button up UNDER the dress, and also added a leopard print belt. Yes, they're two (slightly) different leopard prints, but since leopard is a neutral (truth fact. look it up.), it works. Or, if it's too busy and you think it doesn't work, then let's call it creative print mixing.

Sometimes I worry that too much leopard is just too much, but this strikes just the right balance, by allowing the collar and sleeves to peek out from under my dress.

And this is my favorite part. The shirt has a tab and button thingey-deal to hold up a folded sleeve. And so does my dress. So, being the fancy sleeve folder that I am, I used the tab on my shirt, and the button on my dress to keep my sleeves up.

And I dig it.

So much. 

First time I've tried it, and I love how it turned out.

chambray dress: Kohl's

leopard print button up: WalMart

leopard print belt: thrifted

metallic sandals: Target

GARTH BROOKS

warning: lots of pictures and talking ahead...

Two weeks ago, something magical happened.

Garth Brooks came to Denver. He hasn't been here since 1999. As soon as we heard he was coming to town, we made plans to buy tickets and go with a group of friends.

And we did - it was great. Such a great show, great company, and I think we all had a terrific time. As did the thousands of other people in the arena, and the thousands of other people who saw him perform that week.

We ended up going on a Tuesday (a school night! what?!), to one of his last shows. And then we stayed in Denver for the night, got breakfast, and took our time getting back to work the next day. If I could go to a great show every Tuesday evening and work a half day on Wednesdays after a leisurely breakfast, I'd be a very happy girl. 

from my Instagram, before the show

my friend and her husband, before the show

the girls

my friend Lyndsie - she's a wonderful photographer

obligatory mirrored elevator ceiling selfie

boots boots boots
from my Instagram

and another obligatory selfie: the bathroom mirror shot

the man himself

The Mr. is not a huge country fan like myself, but he does love Garth, and he's slowly but surely coming around to my way of thinking, almost a decade later...

And, here is what I wore to the concert. I know that's the main reason you're here.

Don't lie. Let's be real. We're all friends around these parts ;)

You might have already gathered that I like to NOT dress like everyone else. And my girlfriend, Chelsea, mentioned that almost every female at the show would be wearing some variation of either a floral print dress, white dress, jean skirt and cowgirl boots.

And she was right.

That was proven to be true before we ever entered the Pepsi Center.

So, I took a different route and opted for chambray, sequins(!!!), and my trusty Frye boots. And I didn't even see anyone wearing anything similar. I even got complimented on my ensemble a few times by complete strangers. 

Now, you might think that my boots look a lot like cowgirl boots. And you might be right. But, I was at a country concert. And, they're my favorite. And I wouldn't actually wear them to wrangle cattle or ride horses or anything.

And don't they look good?

I think this will be my country concert outfit formula in the future: sassy, fancy, shiny, sparkly, denim, boots, leather, and big hair.

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

sequin skirt: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

bag: thrifted

in the 3rd person

A few weeks ago, some friends gathered, drank some beer, ate some food, and played some Cards Against Humanity to celebrate someone's birthday. And a great time was had by all.

The above is what one party-goer wore. She was concerned about being cold as the evening wore on, but didn't want to be too warm whilst patio drinking. And somehow, she was able to strike juuuust the right balance. A white v-neck tee, black skirt, boots to keep her feetsies warm, and a chambray to take on and off according to the temperature and her activities.

And those fancy, pretty jewels she's sporting?

From Rocksbox - read more about that here.

white v-neck: c/o Aéropostale

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

black skirt: from a friend

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

jewelry: rented from Rocksbox

no fooling here

No April Fools' jokes or tricks here. I can never seem to get my act together in time to do something very creative or impactful. Maybe next year?

BUT

Check out my extreme print-mixing in this outfit. Stripes, leopard, and dots (the shoes).

It works for a few reasons:

1) the prints don't compete with each other

2) leopard is a neutral and goes with everything

3) the stripes are so teeny that from a distance, this shirt looks solid, again, keeping the prints from competing with each other

4) the print on the shoes is so far away from the prints up top, and also so small, that it looks cohesive

5) because I said it works ;)

Are you a print-mixer? I find that the more and more I do it, the more confident and comfortable I become with it. Sometimes it's even my default when picking out my outfits and accessories, and I have to remember to tone it down occasionally...

Aaaaand, I'm doing another 30 for 30 style challenge for the month of April, so look for those outfits and 30 items to start showing up in the next few days ;)

Here's to getting creative and having a capsule wardrobe for the next month!

shirt: GAP

pants: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: WalMart

flats: Target

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

monday the 30th

Good morning! How was your weekend? As far as weekends go, mine was pretty good. Lots of friends, eating, and running - some of my favorite things. I'm looking forward to this next one, too - quality time with my Dad is the big thing on the agenda. And by quality time, I mean ice cream eating, war-movie watching, Reese's consuming, and general cracking of silly jokes.

We're a pretty funny duo (at least we think so).

*carriage return*

This outfit. These booties. Not sure how I feel about this whole thing together. Black on black on black with polka dots, topped off with a purple scarf? Let's consider it a questionable marriage of winter and spring. I think I've got the elements of something great, but my execution is not so great. *sigh* I could wear this without the scarf, BUT the cut of this dress is QUITE low, so not quite appropriate for work. However, low-cut tops only showcase my sternum and a freckle or two ;)

And these booties. I LOVE my taupe ankle booties from Old Navy and wear them all the time. I have high hopes for the black ones (hence how they came to be a part of my closet), but I think they might hit in just the wrong spot to make my legs look extra beefy.

Anyone else struggle with ankle booties?

What kind of socks do you wear?!

The struggle is real.

dress: thrifted (Target)

polka dot cardigan: J. Crew Factory

ankle booties: Kohl's

purple scarf: gift

sunny sunday blues

You guys, I've had a great Sunday. I slept in, went on a great run with my best friend (so many endorphins! I didn't want to die! we only walked for about half a minute! the sun was out! there was a breeze!), caught up with my bestie, had bacon and eggs and coffee, played with my pups outside. We might have a long-boarder among our canine companions - the verdict is still out. He drags it backwards, and also tries to bite it. Maybe he thinks it's alive? Either way, it's very entertaining. And he is now pooped. So, that's a win.

In other news, this outfit. This top is actually two tank tops. The top is a sheer blue button-up chiffon deal, and the bottom is a navy blue star print ribbed tank. I thought it might be a fun way to subtley (quietly? demurely?) add some print to this blue, green and gray ensemble. And it's since made me look for a few more sheer/chiffon items to style in the same way. So far I've got a green floral top... Aaaand, I think that's it. So, stay tuned and maybe I'll come up with something. If not, you'll see this combination again. And would that be so terrible?

Hope your Sunday is pretty great, just like mine has been :)

linking up these fancy shoes over here

star tank: WalMart

chiffon tank: from a friend

gray cardigan: c/o Aéropostale

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

bejeweled flats: thrifted

purse: COACH Outlet

scarf: Pendleton (2 days in a row!!)