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

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



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

UTILITY VEST

Even though I'm sad to see summer go, I can't pretend to be too upset. Because aside from pumpkin spice lattes, the holiest grail of Starbucks drinks*, autumn also means time for #AllTheVestsAndBoots !

Utility (cargo) vests are my favorite vests to wear year-round. They are edgy, yet practical and versatile. I've worn mine with jeans, thrown it over sweaters, and layered it over dresses. And even though olive green is my go-to color, I'm also crushing on a couple of khaki and camo ones. I've linked a few of my favorites below. *Confession: I've never actually had a pumpkin spice latte. Do I still qualify as a blogger?! ;)

Utility vest | Very similar here, here, & here | Love this khaki version | Great cargo jackets here & here
Red short sleeve blouse | Similar without the gold spikes here | Love this scalloped top here
Skinny jeans- Zara | Similar here, here, & here
Leopard print flats- Target | Very similar here | Another great pair here | A bit pricier, but worth it: here, here, here, here & here 
Skinny gold belt- Forever 21 | Similar here, here, & here

SHOP UTILITY VESTS //

SHOP THE FULL LOOK //

Boyfriend Chic with UNIQLO.

Living in a small(ish) city in the Midwest, there are plenty of cool stores that we just don't have near us. UNIQLO is one of those stores. I had previously heard of UNIQLO. I remember seeing the storefront while visiting my family in L.A. But otherwise, I wasn't completely familiar with the brand until they reached out to see if I would be interested in styling a few of their pieces.

I have learned over the years to accept collaborations only after careful thought and research because I want to make sure that: 1.It's something that I am (and by extension, you are) interested in. 2.I have time to make good on the collab.

So I checked out their site and was pleasantly surprised to find that they offered a lot of great basics and other fun pieces in gorgeous colors. Think Gap meets Banana Republic, meets JCrew, meets LOFT. The prices were fantastic too. I e-mailed back and so began the creation of the look below. Other than loving every piece that I received, the thing that I was most impressed with was the quality of the clothes (especially for the price!). I fell particularly hard for the chambray button down and the sweater. The material felt thick (but not heavy), luxurious, and extremely well-made. I also loved the comfort and fit of the boyfriend jeans and the cute cuff detail on the blazer.

I'm so happy that I discovered UNIQLO because their style totally jives with mine. And now that I've actually seen and felt their clothes first hand, I am 100% going to be adding them to my "online stores that I love to shop from" repertoire. :)

This post was created in collaboration with UNIQLO & Shopstyle. 

 



Chambray shirt, boyfriend jeans (66 blue), sweater, and blazer (navy) c/o UNIQLO
Sneakers- Vans (exact) | Similar 1, 2, 3
Burberry plaid print scarf: gift from Mom <3 | Love these ones 1, 2, 3, 4 | And of course LOVE this one!
Watch c/o Wristology  (exact)| Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off
Glasses- Firmoo, style DBSN62168 in Matte Tortoise (exact)



Shop The Look:

Pocketed Perfection.

Have you ever tried on a dress and realized that it has pockets, and when you found them it makes you love the dress even more?

Well, the same thing happened to me with this fab sweater from Catch Bliss Boutique. Well, for one, it's the softest thing you've ever felt and it hangs really well. And, two, it has POCKETS! What's not to love?! 
I've already worn it twice and I'm seeing a lot more of this little number in my future. <3

Sweater c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (exact)
White skinny jeans- JCPenney | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Cognac ankle boots- Kohls | Love these styles 1, 2, 3, 4
Necklace c/o T& J Designs (exact) | Use code YASI20 for 20% off
Watch c/o Wristology  (exact)| Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off 



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Red Blazer.

Just as in the last one, I can't begin this post without thanking you for being so warm and full of love. I will never be able to fully express how much it has meant to me and how incredibly grateful I am. 
I am not one for sharing deeply personal things on here. (After all, this is a style blog.) However, it was becoming increasingly hard for me to get over the hurdle of posting about something fun like fashion when something so tragic wasn't yet properly addressed. So, thank you for allowing me to open up about the gigantic pink elephant in the room so that I could get back to the fun parts of this little blog. You continue to be the absolute best.


With that said, what's more versatile, but still appropriate for Valentine's Day than a fire engine red blazer?! 
...
Hope your day is filled with more love than your heart can handle❤️

Sweater dress | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Red blazer- Kohl's | LOVE these ones 1, 2
Skinny jeans- Forever 21 (exact) | Other great pairs 1, 2, 3
OTK boots c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (exact)
Reversible plaid scarf- The Limited outlet | Love these look-a-likes 1, 2, 3, 4
Necklace | Cute versions 1, 2
Rhinestone watch- Fossil outlet | Similar 1, 2
Stella & Dot cuff c/o Erika Lehman (exact)

Shop The Look:

Ringing in 2016 with Angel Reinares (50% OFF Exclusive Discount!)

Happy New Year, friends! 
I, for one, still can't believe that it's the beginning of a new year. It seems like 2015 completely flew by. But I'm more than ready to see what 2016 has in store us! To celebrate, I've teamed up with the great folks at Angel Reinares to bring you an exclusive 50% discount off all products on their site. Yes, everything! Even the beautiful leather Bobal satchel featured in the pic below.
Just use code "HELLO50" at checkout*.
(*Coupon code valid through 1/21/16)


Happy shopping! And the happiest of New Years to you all! <3

Plaid flannel button-up shirt- Old Navy | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Ivory cable knit sweater- Old Navy | Almost exact here | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Skinny jeans- Express | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Burgundy riding boots | Similar 1, 2, 3
Bobal satchel c/o Angel Reinares (Exact)
Champagne pearl cluster necklace c/o T+J Designs (Exact)
Pyramid stud cuff ℅ Stella & Dot stylist Erika Lehman (Exact)
Belt buckle bracelet | Similar 1 & 2 | Love this bracelet stack here

Shop The Look

Red Blazer + Plaid.

The outfit below is from a cold snap a few weeks ago. Currently, though, I am in scorching Southern California for my little brother's wedding. (When did he become all grown up?!) 
It's been a great trip so far. 
On Sunday we threw my soon to be sister-in-law a tea party themed bridal shower. Everyone dressed up in fancy dresses and hats and it.was.amazing. (Check out the pics on Instagram!)  And apart from spending time with my parents (lots of shopping with mom yesterday. Snapchat: hellogorgblog), I've been doing nothing but eating delicious home-made Persian food. 
So, basically, the trip has been perfect. Mwahaha.

The rest of the week is going to be just as busy with other wedding-related activities. Speaking of which, I better get to it!
Here's hoping that when I get back the weather has cooled down enough that I can wear outfits like this again! 

Plaid button-up: Old Navy | Similar 1, 2, 3
Red blazer: Kohl's | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4
Khaki corduroys: Target | Similar 1, 2
Cognac ballet flats: Target (exact) | Similar 1, 2
Tote c/o Angel Reinares
Necklace (Similar)
Watch c/o Wristology | Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off
"Love" cuff c/o Bauble Boutique 

Shop The Look: