Summer Scarves (all under $30!)

I've been hard-core crushing on a lot of summer scarves lately.
How could I not?
The gorgeous colors...the cute patterns...the endless versatility...

What's a girl to do? Go scarf shopping, of course! 
Check out my favorites below-- all under $30!
Happy shopping!!
<3

<clicking the pics will take you directly to each scarf>

The World's Easiest Scarf Tying Tutorial (maybe).

There are girls in this world who can show you how to tie a scarf in ten different ways in under one minute. 

My friends, I am not one of those girls. 
Through the years, however, I have learned a couple of pretty solid ways to tie my scarves, and this particular tie is how I wear my scarves 99% of the time. I'm not really YouTube savvy. So, I apologize for the total newbie video. But, I put it together because I've gotten quite a few requests for a tutorial. So, here you go!  

See, it looks kind of fancy, but it's not! 
And isn't that the way all things should be? ;)

work-athon!

So...
here are a ton of work looks that I wanted to share.  Could this post get any more eloquent? ;)
  
Happy almost Hump Day!

Old Navy Women's Roll-Cuff Blouse (in fuchsia), LOFT shift skirt (in khaki), necklace and cuff via JCP, Target Mossimo Pearce Pumps (in camel)  

Old Navy Women's Roll-Cuff Blouse (in fuchsia), LOFT shift skirt (in khaki), necklace and cuff via JCP, Target Mossimo Pearce Pumps (in camel)

Blouse via Forever21 (in mint), LOFT Candy Dot Shift Skirt, Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot, Target Mossimo Pearce Pumps (in camel)  

F21 Jumbo Polka Dot Shirt (in taupe/black), The Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pant, Lauren Conrad Open-Front Ponte Blazer via Kohl's (in red), Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (in Banana Bread), F21 pearl necklace

F21 Jumbo Polka Dot Shirt (in taupe/black), The Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pant, Lauren Conrad Open-Front Ponte Blazer via Kohl's (in red), Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (in Banana Bread), F21 pearl necklace

The Limited top (in mustard), MNG by Mango blazer via JCP (in black), The Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pant,  Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot 

The Limited top (in mustard), MNG by Mango blazer via JCP (in black), The Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pant,  Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot

Blouse via TJMaxx, ankle pants via Target (in royal blue), Prabal Gurung for Target Pointy-toe Pumps (in Nolita Print), F21 Geo Cutout Cuff , Apt. 9 Gold Tone Square Hoop Earrings via Kohl's  

Blouse via TJMaxx, ankle pants via Target (in royal blue), Prabal Gurung for Target Pointy-toe Pumps (in Nolita Print), F21 Geo Cutout Cuff, Apt. 9 Gold Tone Square Hoop Earrings via Kohl's  

H&M button up (in grey), LOFT Doubleface Shift Skirt (in buttercup), Target Mossimo Pearce Pumps (in camel), bubble necklace via eBay

H&M button up (in grey), LOFT Doubleface Shift Skirt (in buttercup), Target Mossimo Pearce Pumps (in camel), bubble necklace via eBay

LOFT outlet striped sweater, Joe Fresh Denim Jegging via JCP (in white), scarf c/o The Posh'mina (in midnight), Jessica Simpson pumps (in black), Tissot watch

Candie's tweed jacket via Kohl's, LOFT pencil skirt, Nine West mary janes, F21 pearl necklace

layer up!

Even though I've lived in Michigan for over half of my life.  I'm still that girl who's always cold.  And honestly, I'm not ashamed to pile on the layers.  Why try to defy the cold and freeze all day?

So, when I dressed for an all-day conference yesterday, I made sure to layer up!  And guess what?  I stayed nice and comfortable all day long. :)

Apt. 9 Button-up via Kohls (in purple), Banana Republic V-neck sweater (in cream), MNG by Mango blazer via JCP (in black), The Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pants (in black), Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (in Banana Bread), Target Merona Cheetah Scarf  (in black/white)  

Apt. 9 Button-up via Kohls (in purple), Banana Republic V-neck sweater (in cream), MNG by Mango blazer via JCP (in black), The Limited Exact Stretch Skinny Pants (in black), Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (in Banana Bread), Target Merona Cheetah Scarf  (in black/white), F21 chunky pearl necklace 

pre-spring with skirts & boots!

The birds are chirping, the sun is coming out more often.  But, it's still pretty cold out.  So what's a girl to wear?!  Skirts, tights, and boots, of course!

LOFT top, F21 Cropped Houndstooth Jacket, F21 Zippered Contrast Waist Skirt, Dana Buchanan tall wedge boots via Kohl's, Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot

LOFT top, F21 Cropped Houndstooth Jacket, F21 Zippered Contrast Waist Skirt, Dana Buchanan tall wedge boots via Kohl's, Renegade bracelet c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot

Express sheath dress (in grey), GAP open sweater, scarf c/o The Posh'mina (in midnight), Dana Buchanan tall wedge boots via Kohl's, Tissot watch

a touch of meow.

I've brought this up before.  I was never a big animal print fan, until one fateful day when I realized how crazy that was!  Well, that's not exactly how it happened.  I think I bought a leopard print belt (below) and then it was all downhill from there-- leopard everything!

My favorite thing to do is incorporate touches of animal prints in an otherwise simple outfit.  It catches the eye and is great start for dabbling in prints.

Express button-up, GAP outlet cardi (in beige), Express pencil skirt (in black), NY&CO leopard print belt, Dana Buchanan tall wedge boots via Kohl's, F21 pearl necklace, NY&CO watch, gifted pearl bracelet  

Express button-up, GAP outlet cardi (in beige), Express pencil skirt (in black), NY&CO leopard print belt, Dana Buchanan tall wedge boots via Kohl's, F21 pearl necklace, NY&CO watch, gifted pearl bracelet

Express sheath dress (in dark grey), GAP outlet cardi (in purple), leopard scarf via Target, Dana Buchanan tall wedge boots via Kohl's, Tissot watch

The Posh'mina.

Banana Republic sweater (in burnt brown), ombre scarf c/o The Posh'mina (in sorbet), Express Zelda skinny jeans,Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots via Macy's (in Banana Bread), orange bangle via Macy's, gold bangle via Francesca's

Let's just get right down to business.  How freaking fabulous is this ombre scarf by The Posh'mina?!  I haven't seen a scarf like this, anywhere, really.  I've been so excited to share it with y'all and today's (super) Casual Friday allowed me to rock it.  The color is absolutely beautiful and get this: the scarf has slots so you can loop one end through one of the slots and make a perfect cowl neck that stays all day.  

What more could you ask for, you say?  Oh, just the fact that this is a Detroit-based business created by a group of fantastic women.  

Perfection.

The scarves are so fabulous I also gave one to hub's aunt for Christmas.  If you want in on this, check out my girls' site at:

http://theposhmina.com

Ciao, Bellas!

a place for lace.

Target Mossimo Ultra Soft Scoop Neck Sweater, F21 lace shorts, boots via DSW, watch via Target, infinity scarf c/o BellieBoop

I bought these lace shorts about 2 years ago from Forever21.  At the time, I was still in graduate school and had a pretty casual wardrobe.  Not so much anymore.  But, I had today off from work (Thank you for all your sacrifices, Veterans!), so I had the liberty to be a little bit more funky with my outfit.

I'm also rocking this great eco-friendly infinity scarf from BellieBoop.  Guilt free clothing that's cute?  Fabulous!


Hope your week's off to a great start!

nothin' a little leopard print won't fix.

Today was a doozy.  It was a long day and also a bit stressful.  But, I had my leopard print on hand.  So... RAWR!

Sheath Dress via H&M), Target Mossimo Ultra Soft Scoop Neck Sweater, Dana Buchman Tall Wedge Boots via Kohl's, Target leopard print scarf,

Watch via Kohl's 

P.S.  The above sweater is currently on sale at Target! They have them in a million colors and they are so soft! Highly recommended. :)

scarves & chambray.

Fall is here in Michigan!  

And I can't help but be SO excited about busting out all of my Fall pieces, old and new. 

My two biggest staples in the past week have been scarves & the chambray shirt from Old Navy.  

Here are two of my faves:

Banana Republic sweater, Banana Republic outlet pencil skirt, Etienne Aigner Costa boots, Michael Kors scarf, NY&Co watch

Old Navy chambray button-up, Banana Republic sweater, Target Mossimo Ankle Stretch Pant , Style&Co pumps via Macy's, Banana Republic outlet necklace, NY&Co watch

Feel free to check out my 'threads' tab to see other looks that I've been wearing lately.

Happy almost-Hump-Day!

how to "winterize" a summer dress.

F21 dress & jacket, Banana Republic belt, Etienne Aigner Costa boots, gifted scarf, watch via Kohl's

I am a big fan of multi-purpose clothing.  In fact, I usually don't buy pieces that I know I can only wear in a unique way, or with only a certain set of accessories.  Naturally, I also love clothing that can cross seasons.  Hey, if you can get more wear out of what you already have in your closet.  Why not?!

So, without further adieu,here are some things I've learned along the seasons on "winterizing" a Summer dress:

1.  Print and color matter. It's much easier to get multi-season wear out of a piece whose color/print don't scream a certain season.  I would probably not attempt to "winterize" a pastel floral dress. Actually, I probably wouldn't wear a pastel floral dress.  But, that's for another time!

2.  Texture matters.  But, only sometimes.  I have a light wool grey sheath dress that I have worn in all seasons.  It's not too hot, so it works.  If a dress is okay in print and color, but it's a little too thin or light, throw a slip under it.  It will keep you warm and give you an extra layer of fabric.  

3.  Warm up the look with a jacket or sweater.  Not only will a jacket or sweater help you keep warm, it will make the look more Fall or Winter appropriate.

4.  Add a big scarf!  Big, heavy, scarves scream Fall (and Winter!).  Throw one on.  Even better?  Try some pattern mixing!

5.  Throw on some boots (tights are good, too!).  Boots & tights are Fall/Winter staples.  Some "winterized" looks are even cute without tights.  So, experiment a bit and see what looks better!

6.  Belt it.  Belting a dress gives it a little bit more weight and can add some edge and heaviness to a look.

6.  Chunky accessories.  Chunky accessories are great for making a dress look less dainty and heavier and "warmer".  Watches are my fave for Fall & Winter!

I have now imparted all my "winterizing" knowledge upon you.  Go forth and Winterize, my friends!  (And let me know if you have any extra tips!)

what i wore: blanket scarves and crossbody bags.

Hello, Loves!  How's it going?

It's actually pretty chilly here, all of the sudden.  

But, no need to fear... blanket scarves are here!

H&M shirt, Forever21 blanket scarf/high-waisted shorts, tights/socks (various), Mossimo for Target crossbody bag,Target watch, Chinese Laundry Bosco boots

So warm, so cuddly, so all around magical!  

Click here for examples of the many ways that these scarves can be styled.

And just when you thought this Fall's new trends couldn't get any better... you see a crossbody bag that just begs to go home with you, when you're taking a 'small' trip to Target.  

Oii vey!

So, tell me...

Have you tried a blanket scarf?  How do you wear yours?

What's your "it" bag this Fall?