MY FAVE FLATS + 20% OFF COUPON CODE

If you've ever caught a sneak peak of my closet on my Instagram or other social media accounts you know that I LOVE shoes- especially stylish, unique flats. (Hence having an entire shoe shelf dedicated to ballet flats. I won't judge if you don't. ;) Now don't get me wrong, I still love a great pair of pumps, but flat shoes have become much more practical for my lifestyle. And if there's something that makes this blog different, it's that I post outfits that I actually wear every day. There's no pretending here... give me a pretty pair of functional flats and I'm yours.

That's where Ann Blanche flats come in. I've talked about my love for these gorgeous (and SUPER comfortable) flats many times before. But what I love even more is that they continue to come out with more unique styles, textures, and color combinations for me to add to my ever-growing collection. Well, please keep 'em coming, because this girl can't get enough. 

The black and white style that I'm wearing in the outfit below is their "YASI" style. (Thank you for the name love, AB!) They are so comfortable that the first time I put them on, I felt like I was walking in tennis shoes. The entire bottom is cushioned, as is the heel and the part that wraps around your ankles (A.K.A. no more blisters!). Your feet feel like they are enveloped in a snug cushioned hug. And the other great thing about these flats is that they are treaded for traction, without looking like they are meant for hiking. They look delicate and classy and come in two additional colors, The Lorrayne (pewter), and The Rachel (burgundy). As far as sizing, I usually wear a size 7 and I ordered a 7. So if you are in between sizes, I would recommend sizing up to be extra comfy.

At only $34.99 they are already a steal, but you can also GET AN ADDITIONAL 20% OFF by using coupon code YASI20 at checkout. Happy shopping, friends!

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

BALLET FLATS [c/o ANN BLANCHE] // Exact here

BLOUSE // Love these versions here, here, & here

RED ANKLE PANTS [The Limited] // Similar here, here, & here

BRACELETS/CUFFS [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact here & here

EARRINGS [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact here

COLD SHOULDER SWEATER

Moving is a piece of cake, said no one ever. As you can probably tell, life has been a little crazy for us the past few weeks. Our moving plans have changed approximately 572 times and we've had enough back and forths to last us all the way through 2017.

Even so, we've been trying to stay positive about all the changes. But I will admit it was a little tough after the second rental home fell through. Who knew the rental home market in Charlotte was so hot?!
Since John starts his new position in the beginning of January, we are trying our hardest to set a plan that we think will stick. The new-new plan is to stay in a furnished temporary apartment (NOT ideal with two dogs and a cat!) outside of Charlotte and put most of our things in storage for a couple of months until we buy a home down there. So friends, if you have any extra prayers and good joojoo in you, please send them our way in hopes that we quickly find a home that we like near John's workplace. Apparently traffic in Charlotte is awful, so finding a home that we like close to his work is key.

But onto the good stuff... the outfit below! Confession: I wore this outfit on Thanksgiving Day and a few times after that too. Hey, when you find a sweater that you absolutely love, you gotta get the most out of it, right?! And when I say that this sweater is EVERYTHING, it really is. I love the peekaboo shoulders, the vibrant color, and I especially love the way that it hangs. Love love LOVE. If you want to check it out, you can shop it directly on Catch Bliss's website. For reference, I'm wearing a small. But it comes in small, medium, and large. Happy shopping! <3

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

SWEATER c/o Catch Bliss Boutique [Exact]

JEANS [Forever 21] // Similar here / Great pairs here & here (Both on sale!)

BOOTS [Etienne Aigner] // Similar here, here, & here / OTK versions here & here / LOVE this bootie here

EARRINGS + CUFF [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact earrings here / Exact cuff here

THANKSGIVING OUTFIT INSPO + HG NECKLACE GIVEAWAY (CLOSED)

I can't start this post without first thanking each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Your love, incredibly kind words, and genuine support of my last post made my heart absolutely burst with happiness. Thank you thank you THANK YOU! 

On the home front, things are going well. John and I have spent the past week getting the house in order and prepped for sale. It's a very strange feeling. Our house has never looked better-- which makes me kind of sad. It's like, wait, now that the house looks how I've always wanted it to look, we're putting it up for sale and leaving?! Ha. Such is life. And as if I wasn't already home-sick before leaving, it snowed a few days ago. A full blanket of beautiful, pristine, Christmas-like snow (see the pic I posted on Instagram). It was crazy and totally unexpected, and I loved every minute of it. I may or may not have played Christmas music first thing in the morning. Gotta take advantage of it before we move, right?!

Even though I've been day-dreaming about Christmas, I haven't forgotten that it's still November and that Thanksgiving is just around the bend. So I've been loving fall attire, similar to the look below-- gingham, warm autumnal colors, leopard print, and sparkle! 

Speaking of Thanksgiving, what better way to express my thanks than with a super easy GIVEAWAY of the Lillian Crystal Necklace from the boutique?!

>> TO ENTER GIVEAWAY<<

1. FOLLOW Hello Gorgeous Boutique on Instagram.

2. LIKE Hello Gorgeous Boutique on Facebook.

3. COMMENT BELOW this post with your e-mail and a quick description of what you would wear the Lillian Crystal Necklace with if you were to win.

4. CHECK Hello Gorgeous Boutique's Instagram & Facebook page on this Saturday, November 26th to see if you are the winner*!
*Winner will be chosen using a random number generator and announced on HG Boutique's Instagram and Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I hope your day is filled with great food and wonderful time with your loved ones. :)

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

NECKLACE + BRACELETS [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact necklace here / Exact bracelets here & here

JEANS [Rock Revival from The Buckle] // Very similar here / Other great pairs here & here (Both on SALE!)

SWEATER [H&M] // Almost exact here / Similar here / LOVE this chunky knit here and cowl neck here

GINGHAM BUTTON-UP [Forever 21] // Almost exact here & here / Smaller squares here

LEOPARD PRINT BOOTIES [Target] // Similar here & here

SALE ALERT: ANN BLANCHE FLATS

I absolutely love a comfy and stylish pair of flats. Enter Ann Blanche's newly redesigned ballet flats. You guys, they are SO ridiculously comfortable and versatile. They come in red and silver and for the next 72 hours they are on major sale for only $19.99!! 

Last time they were on sale they sold like hotcakes. So if you're into them, hurry! You can purchase them here.

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

FLATS c/o AnnBlanche [Exact]
BELT [Target] // Similar here & here
BLOUSE [TJMaxx] // Similar here & here
SKIRT [H&M] // Almost exact here // Similar here & here
BRACELETS // Exact: here, here, & here
SCARF [Forever21] // Similar here & here // Love these ones here & here

FALL UNIFORM

This look is often my go-to casual "uniform" for fall. It has all the things I need to feel prepared for temperamental weather: layers, tall boots, a jacket that offers just enough warmth, and a colorful scarf. Top it off with a chunky watch and earrings and you're good to go!
Most any boot will do, but two-tone boots are especially fun and add a little unexpected flair. The pair that I'm wearing in the outfit below are from Etienne Aigner, and sadly no longer available. But I love this gorgeous Tommy Hilfiger pair and this other one from Liz Clairborne (also available in wide width).

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

TWO-TONE BOOTS [Etienne Aigner- no longer available :( ] // Similar here & here / Another in regular width and wide width 

LEATHER JACKET [From Italy] // Stunning similar ones here & here / A bit more budget-friendly here & here 

JEANS [Rock Revival from The Buckle] // Very similar pair here / Cute Express pair here

SWEATER [Target] // Almost exact here / Unique half-sleeve one here

WATCH [Fossil outlet] // Gorgeous versions here & here

SCARF [Zara] // Similar here, here, & here

EARRINGS // E-mail me for details

STRIPED SWEATER DRESS

Just a few short years ago, I avoided sweater dresses like the plague. I hated how tight they were and how they clung to every part of the body. And then there was always the question of how appropriate they would look with just tights. You know, the age old "does it cover your butt?" rule. 

Well, sweater dresses have come a long way since then. Case and point, this light and cozy shift dress from Catch Bliss. I knew I was in for a treat the second I pulled it out of the bag. See that shit grin on my face in the pic below? It's because I was so excited that I couldn't stop smiling about it all day. I had a super busy day and this dress let me move and be comfortable without getting overheated. It's warm, but not too warm-- and not one bit clingy. And I don't want to spoil the surprise for you, but I can't help myself. IT. HAS. POCKETS!! All my sweater dress fears have now been put to rest. Check out the dress for yourself here. I guarantee you'll love it just as much as I do!

{For reference, I'm wearing a small. But it comes is sizes S-XL.}

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

DRESS // c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (exact)
DENIM JACKET [Forever21] // Almost exact here / Cute one here / Budget-friendly here: dark denim & distressed denim / Cute Plus size here
BOOTIES [Clarks (exact)] // Love these Clarks here and this more affordable pair here
NECKLACE // Exact here
TIGHTS [Target (exact)] // Similar here & here 

MAKEOVER

Hey guys! Notice anything...different? Does the blog look fresh? A little more polished?

That's because after five years of blogging on the same site that I painstakingly cobbled together on my own, I finally had my blog professionally redesigned. Hallelujah!! I actually began looking into a redesign about this time last year. We slowly picked things back up a few months ago, and voila!
I also thought that it would be the perfect time to switch over the blog URL from the uber long www.hello-gorgeous-blog.blogspot.com to a much simpler hellogorgblog.com. Although the old blog address will always get you to this site, this one might be easier to remember. :)

I hope that you like the blog makeover as much as I do and that it makes viewing my site more enjoyable. And last, but not least, I have to send out a big shout out to Aubrey Kinch for being so patient with my ever-present Type A tendencies as I figured out exactly what I wanted the final product to look like. Thanks so much, Aubrey. You are amazing!

THE OUTFIT //

Many of you asked about the details of this outfit when I posted it to Instagram a few days ago and were bummed to find out that I got both the jacket and the scarf in Italy. But never fear! I found almost identical versions of them for you, linked below.

LEATHER JACKET [From Italy] // Similar here, here, & here / More affordable version here
SWEATER [Forever21] // Almost exact here / Similar: with buttons, edgy, relaxed fit
SCARF [From Italy] // Similar here (in lilac) / Cute ones here & here
JEANS [Express] // Very similar here / Budget-friendly version here
NECKLACE // Exact here
BOOTIES [Clarks (exact)] // Love these pairs here & here



ESSENTIAL STRIPED BLAZER

Confession: I've been living in sweats at home and easy-to-style dresses at work since we got back from our trip last week.  I'm sure it's just a mixture of exhaustion, weather change, and some viral bug that I picked up somewhere along the way. But I'm ready to feel better already.

Since my outfits lately haven't been too blog-worthy, I thought I would share one from last month. I absolutely love this striped blazer that I bought from H&M a couple of years ago. It's turned out to be a staple in my work wardrobe. I can throw it on over any solid top and it instantly jazzes up the outfit. So if you don't have a striped blazer already, I highly recommend adding one to your closet.

I've linked a few of my favorites below! :)

TOP - Forever21 // Almost exact here , Love these styles: peplum, bow neck, ruffled, cowl neck
BLAZER - H&M // Great versions here, here, & here, Love these in petites and plus 
SKIRT - Forever21 // Similar here, here, and here 
PUMPS - Target // Similar here, here, here, & here
PEARLS // c/o Blossom Jewelry Design

SHOP STRIPED BLAZERS //

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GINGHAM VEST

If you've noticed that I've been MIA the past few weeks it's because I WAS IN PARIS AND ITALY.

WHAT?! Long story short, my sister-in-law got married in Positano, Italy (so cool!). So John and I decided to visit a couple of other places along the way.  First, Paris, a total bucket list trip for me. Then, Florence, which we've been to before.

And it.was.AMAZING!! I really can't even begin to summarize how incredible the whole experience was. It really deserves its own series of posts. But, two things have to be said: 

1. For those who follow me on Instagram, I decided to wear the yellow fascinator to the wedding reception! I wore a big red hat to the actual wedding, but that's a whole another story.  
2.This was one of the first long trips that I was truly sad to come home from. The only thing I really couldn't wait to get back to were our dogs. :)

Other than getting to shower our pups with hugs and kisses, it's also awesome to come home to my favorite month-- October!  Bring on the fall weather, boots, and lots of vests! 

I've talked about my love for vests before and this one is no exception. I'm absolutely head over heels in love with this navy and white gingham vest from Catch Bliss. Why wear a plain vest when you can wear one with an chic pattern that will go with just about anything?! 

It's a great piece to throw on over a light sweater on chilly fall days, but it's also perfect for lots of layering in the winter.  This vest is so cute that I've already had a couple of friends threaten to borrow/steal it from me. ;) But since most of you don't live in "borrowing" distance from me, you can get your own here!

Gingham vest c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact)
Striped sweater- TJMaxx | Similar here, here, and here
Chambray button-up | Similar here & here
Skinny jeans- Express | Similar here & here
Brown booties- Clarks (Exact) | Loves these others here, here, here & here
Necklace- Exact here

TWEED + YELLOW

I've been dying to wear this tweed skirt from The Limited outlet store for some time.  It's been sitting in my closet since last winter and the in-between weather we've been having lately prompted me to pull it out. Paired with a white blouse and a mustard yellow cardi, it's a good transition look-- it allows for layering, while still being fall appropriate. Full outfit details below. :)

Ivory blouse- Forever 21 | Similar here and here | Love these tie blouses here and here

Tweed skirt- The Limited Outlet | Similar here and here | Super cute pink versions here and here

Yellow cardi- Target | Similar here | Other great versions here, here, here, & here

Black patent flats- Target | Similar here & here | Similar pointy versions here & here | Love these bow ones here & here

Layered necklaces | Similar here and here

THE MODERN PANTSUIT

You know you're a true child of the 80s when you love a good pantsuit. But we've come a long way since then. Pantsuits now come in all shapes and sizes and most of them don't have huge shoulder pads. Although, who am I kidding, I love a good shoulder pad, too. ;)

The best part is that today's pantsuits don't have to be purchased as a set. Just mix and match blazers and pants that you already have on hand and voila! Pantsuit. The trick is to make sure that the fabrics and colors go together. And, as always, the most important thing of all is proper fit. If you're wearing wide-leg pants, make sure your blazer is fitted and hits right below your hips. Conversely, a longer and less structured blazer is the way to go if you're wearing skinny pants. 

Floral shell- The Limited | Similar from Vince Camuto,  NYDJ, another cute NYDJ, Macy's, Dillard's
White blazer- H&M | Similar from Target, Kohl's, JCrew, ASOS
Navy pants- NY&Co | Similar wide leg versions: The Limited (flare), The Limited (bootcut), Banana Republic | Also love these ankle pants: My Fave Limited Ones, Another Great Pair
Skinny gold belt- Forever21 | Similar from Macy's, JCrew, Talbots
Navy pumps- Target | Almost Exact | Similar | Love these Mary Janes
Necklace- Exact here