Today's Everyday Fashion: Scrapbook Originals

"Michie" dress





































Today's Everyday Fashion is a special edition! The folks at Scrapbook Originals asked me to style a few of their pieces into cute outfits and I wanted to share the photos with you today. This adorable LA-based brand is sold at specialty boutiques and department stores such as Macy's and Nordstrom, but you can also buy their pieces directly from their Facebook page! I love the African print they use, plus tons of lace, bold hardware and other amazing details. This is definitely not your average line of clothes, and everything pictured is under $100. Check out the shopping section on their Facebook page by clicking here, and then click "New Items" to shop these pieces.

Please note: none of the Scrapbook Originals clothes in this post are mine. I borrowed them to take these photos, and then sent all of them back!


"Alexis" top

"Julia" dress

"Kami" top








































































































"Natalie" top









































Which one is your favorite?

Today's Everyday Fashion: LaMixx


Styling tips: Charcoal gray is a great neutral that can be worn with both black and brown. Check out the other look I did with this dress using a black jacket and shoes here. I love the laid-back vibe of the brown accents in last night's look. You could even pair it with brown gladiators for a muy casual occasion!

Inspiration photo: Banana Republic
Dress: c/o LaMixx, $35
Belt: Abercrombie, really old
Necklace: Forever 21, $8
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry

My April Budget


































Here's what I bought in the month of April! My planned purchases for the month were the red and blue skirts, top row. I had bright mini-skirts on my wish list for color blocking, and found exactly what I was looking for at Forever 21. Colorful cardigans are another item (always) on my wish list, so adding this teal number from H&M was a no-brainer. Fun purchases for the month included the rainbow print shirt from Forever 21 and the army vest from Banana. The vest is a unique piece that while it wasn't on my wish list, the price was excellent and I have absolutely nothing like it in my closet, so I went for it! Finally, my practical purchase of the month was the American Eagle jean shorts, that will mostly get worn while I'm walking the dogs. :-) What were some of your great buys this month?
  1. Forever 21 orange skirt, $16
  2. Banana Republic army vest, $35
  3. Forever 21 blue skirt, $12
  4. H&M teal cardigan, $18
  5. American Eagle denim shorts, $30
  6. Forever 21 rainbow shirt, $16               = Grand total, $127

Today's Everyday Fashion: Hot Pink Shorts







































Have you ever bought something that you absolutely love, but you can't figure out what to wear with it, so it just sits in your closet? This happens to me all the time. I'm usually pretty confident that I'll be able to style an item so I go ahead and buy it, but then it takes many tries before I find something that works. Take these hot pink shorts. I love them - I love that they are linen (perfect for sweaty summers), hot pink is my favorite color at the moment, and they are really comfy. But I'm still playing around with them and figuring out what to wear them with (I feel like the linen makes them hard to dress up). I've come up with these two casual looks so far. I would wear these to a day at Disney or running errands. What would you pair these pink shorts with? What items have you bought but then had trouble styling?

Inspiration photo: Zara
Shirt: c/o MJR Sales, $6
Shorts: Forever 21, $15
Shoes: Rampage/Endless.com, $20
Necklace: Banana Republic, $20
Charm: c/o Stella & Dot, $19







































Inspiration photo: J.Crew
Shirt: American Eagle, $12
Shorts: Forever 21, $15
Belt: Limited, $10
Shoes: Rampage/Endless.com, $20

6 Clothing Items You Can Repurpose Now


























When budgets are tight, what’s a girl do to make her closet stretch? You can make your closet work for you by using items in new ways and doubling their use. Here are six items that you can repurpose now!

1. Wear a dress as a shirt: Is your closet full of sundresses that only get used on the weekends? Or special occasion dresses that are reserved solely for nighttime events? Don’t let them sit in your closet anymore, because dresses can make great work blouses. Simply layer them under a skirt with enough volume to hide the bottom of the dress, and you’ve suddenly expanded your blouse collection!

Dress (left): Target, $40
Dress (right): H&M, $14

Just like J:
1. Sparkle & Fade Linen Pull-On Skirt, $54 at Urban Outfitters
2. Forever 21 Dreamy Springtime Skirt, $17.80


























2. Fake a dress: Do you wish you had a white or black dress in your closet? Try creating one using a monochromatic shirt and skirt instead. It gives the illusion of a dress without having to buy anything new!

White skirt: Banana Republic, $35

Just like J:
1. The Limited Sateen Pencil Skirt, $49.90
2. Halogen Cotton Sateen Pencil Skirt, $59 at Nordstrom


3. Wear swimwear for day: Intricate swim cover-ups are simply too pretty to be reserved for the pool. Pair your detailed swim cover-ups with a pencil skirt for work, or over some skinny jeans for a casual day of errands!

Cover-up (left): H&M, $10
Cover-up (right): Forever 21, $30

Just like J:
1. Victoria’s Secret Paisley Cover-Up, $68
2. Victoria’s Secret Gold Bead V-Back Tie-Dye Dress, $49.50




















4. Wear a brooch as a necklace: Get twice the use out of your brooches by looping a chain through them and wearing them as a necklace! Easy to do, and your pretty brooches will get the wear they deserve.

Brooch (left): Banana Republic, $20
Brooch (right): Boutique in Kansas

Just like J:
1. missgaylee Shoulder Sitting Green Eyed Panther Brooch, $19.50 on Etsy
2. 2028 Brooch Red Crystal Flower, $25 at Macy’s


























5. Wear a dress as a skirt: Don’t have a black skirt? A black dress will work in a pinch! Don’t be afraid to layer a shirt or sweater over your dresses to wear them as skirts. It completely changes the look of your dress and eliminates the need to buy a new skirt! 

Dress (left): The Unique Closet, $40
Shirt (left): TJ Maxx, $15
Dress (right): H&M, $18
Sweater (right): H&M, $15

Just like J:
1. The Unique Closet Zip Me Strapless Zippered Pocket Dress, $39.50
2. ASOS Lace Dress with Peter Pan Collar, $83.09


6. Replace the self-tie: One of the quickest ways to give your old pieces a new look is by replacing the “self-tie” (the piece of fabric that comes with coats, dresses, shirts and ties around the waist) with a real belt. I looped a leather belt through the loops of my sweater, and even switched out the tie in a winter coat!

Coat (left): Banana Republic, $125
Belt (left): Filene’s Basement, $5
Sweater (right): Banana Republic, $30
Belt (right): H&M, $20

Just like J:
1. American Eagle Cinched Leather Belt, $29.50
2. Ann Taylor LOFT Chevron Beaded Belt, $34.50

This is a guest post for Shecky's.com. You can see it on their website here.

Today's Everyday Fashion: Clothes Hound






































You know that dress - the one in your closet that you can wear pretty much anywhere? A BBQ, to run errands, but also an event at night? This for me, is that dress! The raised navy blue embroidery has that Tory Burch vibe going on (love), and the addition of the braided belt I've had for ages was a match made in heaven. I picked it to wear today because I have errands to run (I'll wear flats for that part), and then I'm headed out at night to celebrate IzonOrlando's birthday, with no time to change in between (other than my shoes). Should be a fun night and I can't wait to take my new Clothes Hound dress out for a spin! :-)

Occasion: Errands + an event
Dress: c/o Clothes Hound (use code "Hautechild20" on their website and get 20% off everything!)
Belt: Abercrombie, really old
Purse: Juicy Couture/Neiman Marcus Last Call, $115
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry

















ps. I had the absolute pleasure of co-hosting this week's episode of Central Florida Top 5 on IzonOrlando! You can watch the whole episode here!

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Orange Skirt






































I love that Katie Holmes is rocking her ladylike outfit with a fun orange skirt and leopard purse. I decided to give her classy-meets-sassy look my own spin with my favorite crazy shoes and a leopard belt. Of course, a short skirt and high heels enough skin for one outfit, so I made sure to cover up on top. Gotta keep it classy, Katie Holmes style. :-)

Style tip: Punch up your style this summer with a sassy skirt in a fun color such as orange, red or bright pink!

Occasion: Definitely not work appropriate with that sassy short skirt :-)
Inspiration photo: PopSugar.com
Shirt: Express, $25
Skirt: Forever 21, $16
Belt: Urban Outfitters, $20
Shoes: Aldo, $50
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Earrings: c/o Mikel Maia

Today's Everyday Fashion: Shop McAuley's






































One of my favorite parts about blogging is learning about new boutiques to love. I used to be a retail-only type girl, but I am really into boutiques now! As soon as I saw this unique shirt from Shop McAuley's, I fell in love with the color, and I had a hunch that it would work for re-creating this Anthropologie look. I love the varying shades of blue and green, and the yellow shoes were the perfect touch. (I also tried nude shoes but it was pretty blah.) What are some of your favorite small boutiques online? Submit them below and I'll add them to my online shopping guide!

Occasion: Work
Inspiration photo: Anthropologie
Shirt: c/o Shop McAuley's, $58
Skirt: LOFT, $55
Belt: American Eagle, $15
Shoes: Bandolino/TJ Maxx, $25
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Earrings: c/o Mikel Maia






ps. I also wanted to share this video with you! Career Reality TV had me on as a guest last week to talk about fashion in the workplace and you can watch the whole thing here.

Today's Everyday Fashion: That 70's Trend

































I don't know what's gotten into me lately. I have never been a huge fan of the boho look, but I am loving the 70's trend that is so hot right now! I can't get enough fringe, flares and 70's silhouettes such as today's shirt. Tell me - are you rocking the boho trend or passing on it?

Styling tip: This blush pink shirt has a lot of volume, and is also a size too big for me. You can make shirts that are too big work in a couple ways - you can belt them over skinny jeans, or tuck them into a skirt like I did in today's look!

Inspiration photo: Shopbop.com
Shirt: TJ Maxx, $17
Skirt: J.Crew, $45
Belt: American Eagle/Filene's Basement, $5
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot
Earrings: c/o Mikel Maia

Win Earrings from VDazzled Jewelry! [now closed]

























A girl can never have enough jewelry. Or at least that's how I feel. :-) That's why I'm excited to share my latest find: VDazzled Jewelry. This awesome Etsy retailer has generously offered to give away TWO pairs of their wire wrapped earrings to one lucky reader (one for you, one for a friend?). I will randomly select a winner on Saturday. Good luck!

To enter:
1. Keep in touch with VDazzled Jewelry by "liking" their page on Facebook.
2.  Leave a comment below.

We have a winner, congrats Katherine!


 

Today's Everyday Fashion: Ahoy Matey






































Some outfits have a theme or genre. Like today's look, which would clearly be marked "nautical." You can also create outfits that mix genres - such as a girlie pink dress with combat boots (romantic + military). But with all these themes flying around, how does one not wind up going overboard? (nautical pun intended)

I have a quick test for this: if your outfit would could be worn to ANY costume party (including a Mad Men themed party!), then you might want to switch something out (use a piece from another era) to make your outfit a bit more modern. I think today's look is about as far as I would take one theme, and although it could be the start of a great costume, for Halloween I would wear it with red pumps, a full skirt and a sailor hat. :-) Tell me - how do you determine if an outfit has crossed over into costume territory?

Inspiration photo: Guess
Sweater: Banana Republic, $20
Shirt: H&M, $13
Jeans: Gap, $30
Shoes: Banana Republic, $25
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot (detail below)

Flashback Friday: Cropped Khakis






































I have always hated dress pants. I don't know if it's the fabric, the fit, or both, but they have always bored me to tears. I spent years of my corporate life searching for unique fabrics or colors to punch things up, but it wasn't until I found this pair from Banana Republic (for only $14!) that I truly fell in love with a pair of dress pants (meaning, something fancier than jeans). I know a lot of women struggle with loving dress pants, and I always use these pants as an example. A fun, unique fit (pleated top, cropped/skinny bottom, high-wasited, wide legs, for example) can be a great way to have fun with dress pants!

Shopping tip: Try looking for a unique fit for your work pants at stores like Urban Outfitters, ASOS or Zara. My picks:

1. Urban Outfitters, $59
2. ASOS, $53
3. ASOS, $62
4. Gap, $60
5. Forever 21, $18

Today's Everyday Fashion: How To Select Comfy Shoes







































Last night I had dinner with a friend and attended a Pulse of Central FL event and this is what I wore! I'm often asked how I wear heels so much, and/or how to find comfy heels, so I put together a few of my best tips for you guys. Not all shoes are created equal, and footwear often dictates the rest of my outfit depending on how comfy I need to be for that occasion. This was the case last night. I picked some of my most comfy heels since i had a fair amount of walking and standing to do. Here are my best tips for finding comfy heels:

1. Angle of foot. Most people think that heel height makes the biggest difference in comfort, but even more important than that is the angle of your foot. If your heel is 5 inches high with no platform, you are essentially walking on your toes, which is not comfy. If your heel is 5 inches, and the platform is 3 inches, your foot will only be at a 2 inch angle, which makes a huge difference! You can do this math on websites that list their heel and platform height (heel ht. (minus) platform ht. = foot angle, the lower the better).
2. Stiletto width. Another huge factor in the comfort of a shoe is the size of the stiletto. If the tip of the heel is the size of a pencil eraser, it's pretty tough to walk in. A wedge, on the other hand, is the most comfy heel out there. Another way to think of it - view the shoe from the bottom. How much is touching the ground? The more, the better.
3. Shoe material. My strategy for shoes is to shop for brand names at DSW, TJ Maxx or Ross. This is not because I'm a label snob, it's because a higher quality shoe is way more comfortable! Natural and real leather shoes are much more comfortable than man-made materials, which is why I try to find brand names with higher craftsmanship at discount stores. I stay away from buying shoes at stores like Payless or Target.
4. Correct size. This may seem like a no-brainer, but we've all been tempted to buy a shoe that was the right price, the right style... but not quite the right size. If your shoe is too big or too small, you will likely never be comfy in that shoe, so just pass on it.
5. Padding. I haven't tried them personally, but if you are still having troubles with heels, I suggest giving some gel inserts or extra padding a try!

Occasion: Dinner and tweet-up
Shirt: Forever 21, $16
Skirt: Forever 21, $16
Belt: American Eagle, $15
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Earrings: c/o Mikel Maia
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry

Today's Everyday Fashion: Color Blocking






































Color blocking: if you read fashion websites or magazines, then you've definitely heard of it by now. By definition, color blocking means blocks of solid colors worn together, and as you may have surmised it is a super hot trend for spring. You can buy items that come already color blocked, or you can do it yourself by pairing brightly colored separates together as I've done in today's look. You guys know that I'm color obsessed and can never get enough, so color blocking is definitely a trend for me! I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this trend though. Are you a fan of color blocking? Would you wear head to toe color like in today's look?

Occasion: Work
Inspiration photo: FabSugar.com
Cardigan: H&M, $18
Shirt: Banana Republic, $30
Skirt: Forever 21, $12 (recent)
Shoes: Bandolino/TJ Maxx, $25
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8

Today's Everyday Fashion: Spotted



































Who knew this seafoam LOFT skirt could be so versatile? So far I've paired it with bright colors and pastel pink, but I love today's unexpected combo with an animal print shirt. I used the general idea of Jessica Alba's outfit - an animal shirt, greenish skirt and army jacket to come up with a look for work that I think is fun and funky. I also can't wait to wear this shirt with jeans and/or shorts for a more casual look!

Occasion: Work
Inspiration photo: FabSugar.com
Jacket (middle): Gap, $25
Shirt: Moda c/o MJR Sales, $17
Belt: Urban Outfitters, $20
Skirt: LOFT, $55
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8

Today's Everyday Fashion: Function vs. Fashion






































Sometimes comfort wins. I had a super-cute outfit planned for Saturday night out in Austin. But after a 3-hour speaking engagement, a 3-hour shopping event and being on my feet all day... I just didn't have the energy left to wear the heels and cute skirt I had planned to wear. :-( Thankfully, nightlife in Austin is super-casual and my friends assured me I would be fine in this look, which is usually something I would wear for the mall or running errands NOT for a night out. I would have loved to have worn the other outfit, but like I said sometimes you just have to go with what's practical vs. what's fashionable. Tell me - have you ever been in this type of situation? Did you choose function or fashion?

Shirt: c/o Saivana
Jeans: Gap, $30
Belt: Limited, $10
Shoes: Rampage/Endless.com, $20
Necklace: Banana Republic, $20
Charm: c/o Stella & Dot, $19
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bangles: Forever 21, $8
White bracelet: c/o Pop of Chic, $25 (detail below)

Pop of Chic white starfish bracelet (middle)




















ps. I will be on the radio show Clothes Line tonight talking about dressing like a celebrity on a budget!  I'll be on from 7:30-8:30pm ET and you can listen online or via phone at (347) 843-4266. [The show is archived if you missed the live show! Just visit the blue link.]


Today's Everyday Fashion: Headed Home






































I have a confession: I've been wearing this outfit a lot lately. I threw it on in a hurry one morning, and then it became my go-to for a couple (errr several) other days that I was in a hurry. This outfit is so comfy though; I had to wear it (yet again) for my plane ride home from Austin. Tell me, what do you prefer to wear for air travel? Jeans, a maxi dress, or something else? Do you wear mostly flat shoes or sometimes heels?

Occasion: Air travel
Shirt: c/o MJR Sales, $14 (Enter this into the search box: FAMOUS CATALOG CUT OUT SHOULDER TOP)
Jeans: American Eagle, $33
Belt: H&M, $20
Shoes: Guess/DSW, $21
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot

Today's Everyday Fashion: Shop with J for a Day






































I've been looking forward to this day for awhile now, and I'm so excited it's finally here! I'm spending the morning with 20 lovely bloggers from the Austin, TX area for a blogging rountable on social media and building a brand. In the afternoon I'm attending "Shop with J for a Day" which is a free shopping event where I'll be playing the role of personal stylist! I can't wait to meet everyone and help them put together some amazing outfits. If you're in the area and want to stop by details are here.

About my outfit: I got the color combo from my inspiration photo, but then I ran with it! I thought this necklace from JcPenney tied the whole look together and I chose these shoes because they are SO comfy and I'll be on my feet all day. I hope Austin, TX likes color because I am certainly not shying away from it today!

Occasion: Blogging seminar and shopping event in Austin, TX
Inspiration photo: Refinery29
Dress: H&M, $30
Cardigan: H&M, $18 (recent)
Belt: Gap, $10
Necklace: JcPenney, $9
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry

Today's Everyday Fashion: Traveling to Austin






































By the time you are reading this, I will be halfway across the country, landing in Austin, TX! I'm going straight from the airport for lunch and sightseeing, so I needed something comfy and that could adjust to changing temperatures. This dress is also appropriate because at Saturday's event you'll be able to shop for this dress, along with tons of other goodies from The Unique Closet and Stella & Dot!! Here is the event link if you live in the area and are interested in attending. I can't wait to meet some of you tomorrow!

Occasion: Air travel, lunch and sightseeing in Austin, TX
Dress: c/o The Unique Closet, $42.50
Leather jacket: Banana Republic, $150
Shoes: Guess/DSW, $21
Earrings: c/o Stella & Dot (close-up below)