Hello, Gorgeous!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Our World Boutique Giveaway!!

The beginning of November is a funny time. After the candy haze of Halloween has lifted, there are still at least 3 or 4 more weeks until Black Friday and the exhilarating post-Thanksgiving sales (and lots of amazing family time, I should mention!!).

So, to fill the void of the next few weeks, I have a few spectacular giveaways lined up-- the first of which is from the fabulous Our World Boutique!

You've seen me wearing a few of their pieces, and now you can enter to win a $50 gift card to this gorgeous boutique--
Just use the Rafflecopter app below to enter!

Thank you for the fab giveaway, Our World Boutique!!

(Remember, the more points you complete using the app, the more times your name will be entered into the drawing.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The small print: Giveaway ends on Monday November 11th and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner must claim prize within 48 hours. If prize is left unclaimed within this time, a new winner will be chosen.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Learning to Layer: 5 Easy Steps.

Whenever someone asks me what my best style advice for Fall casual wear is, I immediately shout out "LAYERS!!".
Layers, ladies. That's where it's at. Because sometimes you need a warm embrace in the middle of the day. And no one is better at giving you that hug than a layered button-up/sweater combo.

And here, I will impart upon you all of my layering knowledge.

5 Steps to Layering:

1. Wear fitted button-ups. If the button-up is not fitted, it will bunch up and look sloppy.

2. Wear button-ups that have interesting patterns or colors. It will enhance the look of the outfit and look more fun while "peeking out".

3. Wear fitted sweaters for the top layer of your layering. Many people think that the bigger the sweater, the better. Not true. The top layer almost always stretches out over the bottom button-up. If you buy a too-big sweater, it will look messy and slouchy in 10 minutes' time.

4. Layer some bling over your killer button-up/sweater combo! Statement necklaces, bracelets, and watches can add some serious punch to a basic layered outfit. Most layered combos look even better with a "completer" piece.

5. And as always, have fun with putting together different layered looks! Try different proportions, textures, and colors. Find out what you like and what you don't like. If you hate what you're wearing that day, it's not the end of the world. You will take it off when you get home and try something else the next day!

Now that you know all that I know, go forth and layer!

Pink plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Fox sweater (Exact here)//
White skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Pave link necklace & bracelet set C/O ILYCouture (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Chambray shirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here, here)//
Polka dot sweater (Exact old, via Old Navy; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Burgundy ankle pants (Exact are Cynthia Rowley via TJMaxx; Similar here, here, here)//
Pointy toe black pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Necklace via Accessory Mercado (Similar here)

Chambray shirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here, here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Leopard-print scarf (Exact gifted; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Red blazer (Exact old, via Kohl's; Similar here, here, here)//
Bezel Teardrop Gemstone Earrings c/o Regina Pierallini (Exact here)//
"Be Present" bracelet c/o Ali Oesch Jewelry (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Friday, October 25, 2013

pile on the layers!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was stalling on wearing tights because once I start wearing them there is absolutely no going back to bare legs. Well... the temperature this week was in the 30's! And... it snowed.

SNOW! On October 24th. What is going on??!

Needless to say, I'm pulling out all my tights and every single layer I own. I may be somewhat used to living in cold weather, but that doesn't mean I don't get cold easily. --I have just learned to pile on the layers!

Do you layer it on in the Winter or do you brave the frigid temps?

Plaid button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Navy cardigan (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Teal pencil skirt (Exact old, via LOFT; Similar here, here, here)//
Navy opaque tights (Exact here)//
Navy round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Pave link necklace & bracelet set C/O ILYCouture (Exact here)//
Skinny gold belt (Exact here; Similar here, here)

White button-up (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Black and white striped skirt c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Black cardigan (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Pearl cluster necklace C/O T+J Designs (Exact here)

Tweed peplum top (Exact old, via H&M)//
Mustard yellow pencil skirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Necklace C/O Our World Boutique (Exact here)//
Black oxford pumps (Exact old, via Payless; Similar here, here)

Faux-leather trim maroon blouse (Exact here, here)//
Chevron skirt c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Mary Jane heels (Exact old, Nine West; Similar here, here, here)//

Designer Inspired Jewel Necklace c/o Style Lately (similar here)

Polka dot top (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
Maroon cardi (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black pencil skirt (Exact here, here, here)//
Maroon opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Renegade bracelet C/O Erika Lehman//

Necklace c/o Regina Pierallini (Exact here)//

Earrings c/o Regina Pierallini (Exact here)

Necklace c/o Regina Pierallini (Exact here)//

Earrings c/o Regina Pierallini (Exact here)

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Better than Sweats.

Since most of the clothes I wear on a daily basis are somewhat business casual, I love when I can actually break out my jeans and other non-work pieces. They don't get as much love as I'd like them to!

There are even times when I go weeks without wearing jeans-- and jeans used to be SUCH a staple in my wardrobe!

Another reason that I don't post as much casual-wear on my blog is that, honestly, my favorite thing to do on the weekends is to just shut it down and do nothing. (Which doesn't happen often!) But, when it does, I usually roam around the house in glorious sweatpants and sweatshirts. Sweet, sweet ecstasy.

Here are some casual-wear looks I've been hanging in lately. Many of them have been posted in my "threads" tab already, but I wanted to include them in an actual blog post so that I could tag them as "Casual Wear" and "Autumn/Winter". ;)

Have a great week!

Her-berry Cardigan c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Mossimo Skinny Corduroy Pants (Exact here; Similar here , here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Pave link bracelet C/O ILYCouture (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Her-berry Cardigan c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Mossimo Skinny Corduroy Pants (Exact here; Similar here , here, here, here)//

Puffer vest (Exact old via Old Navy; Similar here, here, here, here)//

Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//

Pave link bracelet C/O ILYCouture (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

"Follow in My Footsteps" top c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Chloe & Isabel Necklace C/O Sarah VanBenschoten (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)//
Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)

"Follow in My Footsteps" top c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Forever21 jean jacket (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Chloe & Isabel Necklace C/O Sarah VanBenschoten (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)//
Etienne Aigner Chip riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)

Striped dress (Exact old, via Forever21; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Striped sweater (Exact old, via Forever21; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black riding boots (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Cream blouse (Exact old, via TJMAXX; Similar here, here, here)//
Forever21 Skinny Jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Target Merona Leopard Print Flats (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Leopard-print belt (Exact old, via NY&CO; Similar here, here, here)//
Pearl cluster necklace C/O T+J Designs (Exact here)//
Alex Tortoise watch c/o Wristology Watches (Exact here)

Chiffon top (Exact old, via GAP; Similar here, here, here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Green blazer (Exact old, via H&M; Similar here, here, here)//
Leopard-print belt (Exact old, via NY&CO; Similar here, here, here)//
Leopard Print Flats (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Italian Horn Dangle Earrings C/O Feisty Christine Designs (Exact here)

H&M Chinos in grey (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
American Eagle sweatshirt (Exact old; Similar here)//
Mossimo Ona (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)

Polka dot blouse (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
TJMAXX striped sweater (Exact not available online;Similar here, here, here)// Forever21 mint skinny jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Forever21 riding boots (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Forever21 chunky pearl necklace (Exact here; Similar here)

Fabulous Fall Oatmeal Sweater C/O Flourish Boutique (Exact here)// Forever21 Skinny Jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Target Merona Leopard Print Flats (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Leopard print scarf (Exact gifted; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Forever21 jean jacket (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
NY&Co watch (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Louis Vuitton Speedy

Fabulous Fall Oatmeal Sweater C/O Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Forever21 Skinny Jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Target Merona Leopard Print Flats (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Leopard print scarf (Exact gifted; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Forever21 jean jacket (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
NY&Co watch (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Louis Vuitton Speedy

Fabulous Fall Oatmeal Sweater C/O Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Forever21 Skinny Jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Target Merona Leopard Print Pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here)//
Leopard print scarf (Exact gifted; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Forever21 jean jacket (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
NY&Co watch (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Louis Vuitton Speedy

JCPenney top, Target Mossimo skinny ankle pants, Bamboo flats, Forever21 chunky pearl necklace, NY&Co watch