Today's Everyday Fashion: The Morning News

Last weekend I had my most challenging fashion question EVER. While I was in Kansas, Fox news got in touch and wanted me to come for an interview on their morning show. An amazing opportunity, but I didn't bring a single thing that was appropriate!! I groaned out loud when I thought of all the perfect dresses and shoes at home in Orlando that would work, but of course I packed very casual for my trip so all I had was short shorts, too short dresses, and casual shoes. And get this: I only had 5 minutes of time to spare for a shopping trip to the mall. So how did I wind up with this outfit? Instead of wasting time running through the mall on a goose chase, I came up with a plan! I figured that these were the dressiest shoes I brought, I had 3 cardigans with me, along with some fun belts and necklaces. I essentially decided that a white dress would be the perfect fill-in-the blank piece, and after a quick internet search I headed to American Eagle. I asked a manager for help and within 5 minutes I was in this dress for only $20! (This dress is very similar if you are looking for one.) Not my ideal outfit for the news, but it did the trick. And now I have a cute white dress to boot.  :-)

What was your craziest fashion emergency and how did you solve it?

Occasion: Fox 4 morning news interview
Dress: American Eagle, $20
Belt: Gap, $40
Cardigan: Gap, $18
Necklace: H&M, $14
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry

Today's Everyday Fashion: Home Again

I'm completely exhausted. I had a blast in Kansas doing both personal and business stuff, and now it feels great to be home! This was my outfit for the plane ride(s). Totally comfy, totally chic and perfect for the 90 degree weather on both ends of my flight! What is your ideal plane attire?

Occasion: Flying home
Shirt: Nordstrom Rack, $10
Jeans: Gap, $30
Belt: H&M, $20
Shoes: Chinese Laundry/DSW, $27
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8

ps. Don't miss it - tomorrow (Wednesday) night I will be selling tons of my clothes for cheap! Everything is first come, first serve and the items will be post on my Facebook page with instructions at 7pm ET.

Interview on Fox 4 Kansas City

 

A couple days ago I got an exciting email - a producer at Fox 4 in Kansas City read that I was in town, and wanted to have me on their morning show! I made my debut bright and early this morning, and you can watch whole thing by clicking the video above. I'll be posting about my outfit later this week - let's just say that I had 5 minutes to find something at the mall and I have never shopped so fast in my life. :-) Hope you enjoy the video!

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Family Function

My nephew's graduation party was yesterday (Sunday) and this is what I wore! My sister lives in the country so I knew there would be plenty of running around. I wound up spending almost the whole day four wheeling with my nephews (including what they like to call "mud road") so this type of casual, I can get dirty, but still look cute outfit was perfect. I had an absolute blast with my family and already can't wait to come back and see them again!

Styling tips: If you have a very casual occasion where you might get dirty, wear some simple shorts and a tank but punch things up with a fun color combo like I did here. I also added a couple of necklaces that added interest but wouldn't get in the way. I am loving these two Stella & Dot necklaces worn together (and an added bonus, they are both on sale for Memorial weekend). I think you can still look cute while playing in the mud. :-)

Occasion: Family function
Sweater (left): J.Crew, $28
Shirt: Moda c/o MJR Sales, $6
Shorts: Gap, $25
Shoes: Guess/DSW, $21
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Gold necklace: c/o Stella & Dot
Turquoise necklace: c/o Stella & Dot

I love wearing these necklaces together

Four wheeling with my nephew

Today's Everyday Fashion: High School Reunion

I had WAY too much fun at my high school reunion last night! I went to a private Christian high school in Kansas and our class of 33 was like growing up in a family of 32 brothers and sisters. :-) I was SO excited to see everyone - some of my good friends I see quite often but others I hadn't seen in 10 years! I had an amazing time and was so glad to be able to make it back for the event.

About my outfit: I completely packed wrong for the weather in Kansas!! When I checked the weather before I left, it said it would be 90 degrees so a simple dress was my top choice. The weather turned out to be a lot cooler and was rainy all day though, so I would have preferred to be in jeans and a jacket. I also didn't love the cardigan with this dress, but sometimes you just have to roll with what you brought. Today's outfit post is proof that even fashionistas like me have off days! :-)

Occasion: My high school reunion
Dress: c/o MJR Sales, $17
Belt: Gap, $40
Cardigan: Gap, $18
Necklace: Forever 21, $8
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8

My high school class

ps. If you live in the Kansas City area - I'll be on Fox 4 tomorrow (Monday) morning! Tune in at 8:20am to see me!

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

I'm so excited for the "Shop with J for a Day" event in Kansas today! I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone and doing one of my favorite activities - shopping!! There are going to be so many awesome things to browse from The Unique Closet, It's In the Bag and Stella & Dot and most of it you can only buy online so this will be a great opportunity to see everything in person. Details on the event are below - hope to see you later!

About my outfit: I'm wearing my new The Unique Closet shorts that will be available at today's event! For this outfit idea, I copied this past outfit and simply switched out the pants for shorts, and changed the shoes. I love using ideas from past outfits to come up with something new!

Occasion: Shop with J for a Day in KS
Sweater: H&M, $18
Shirt: Forever 21, $22
Shorts: c/o The Unique Closet, $34
Belt: American Eagle, $15
Necklace: Forever 21, $8
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry

What: a free shopping event presented by The Unique Closet! You can stop by anytime between 11am-3pm to browse tons of affordable clothes, jewelry and handbags. I will be there to help you put together outfits and answer style questions. (You can watch a video from my Austin event to get an idea of what it will be like.)

When: Saturday, May 28, 11am-3pm

Where: Holiday Inn & Suites
10920 Nall Avenue
Overland Park, KS

Happy Birthday! Win $100 to LOFT [now closed]

J's Everyday Fashion turns ONE year old today! To celebrate, and say thank you for being the most amazing fans on the planet, I'm giving you a couple of well-deserved birthday presents. Not one, but two readers will receive $100 gift cards to the LOFT! (I really wish I could win this one!) Winner will be selected at random and announced on Thursday, June 2nd. Disclaimer: LOFT is not sponsoring this giveaway, they simply gifted me these gift cards to give to you.

To enter:
1. The only requirement to enter is to leave a comment below. I also encourage you to "like" the LOFT Facebook page though - that's how the winner will be announced and you don't want to miss your name being called!

Extra credit:
1. Tweet about the giveaway and tag me (@jevrydayfashion) for one extra entry!
2. Post about the giveaway on Facebook and tag my Facewbook page for an extra entry!

Good luck - and *thank you* for making this such an awesome year! xoxo, - J.

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Fashion Show

The first half of yesterday was spent running around in the yellow and blue look I posted. The night was spent in this ensemble, going out to dinner with my friend Alison, and then attending a fashion show put on by my friend Layne. I had an awesome time catching up with Alison, enjoying a yummy dinner at Kona Grill and of course, Layne's fashion show was tons of fun and the best part - it raised money for breast cancer research! (check out her photography website)

About my outfit: It was so nice being able to wear a blazer and not sweat to death! (File under: annoying things Florida people say about the weather.) I took advantage of the cooler Kansas temps to wear my white blazer - this time pairing it with browns and a double-necklace look I stole from Gwenyth Paltrow. It was really comfy and fit the occasion!

Occasion: Dinner and a fashion show in KS
Inspiration photo: FabSugar
Blazer: c/o MJR Sales
T-shirt: Gap, $10
Jeans: American Eagle, $33
Belt: H&M, $20
Shoes: c/o Chinese Laundry
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Long necklace: Banana Republic, $20
Short necklace: c/o Stella & Dot

Sassy models on the runway

Me and Alison

First Episode of My Show!!!

It's here! It's here! It's finally here! (CLICK HERE to watch.) About 6 months ago, I started doing free personal shopping trips in the Orlando area. I would always think "wouldn't it be cool to capture these experiences and post them on the blog?" That turned into an idea for a makeover show, and while I never thought in a million years it would happen this fast - here it is!! A HUGE thank you to IzonOrlando for believing in my vision and helping me bring it to life. The next steps are to shoot 12 more episodes this summer (I'll be doing a city-wide search for women to be on the show), and after that I hope to take J's Everyday Fashion national!

I can't wait to hear what you think - please leave your comments below, and if you like the video share it with your friends. (the more views we get, the better chance we have of making the show a regular thing!) Also, please keep in mind that this is a pilot - it was a learning experience for all of us so there are already some big improvements we have in mind for the next episode. Let me know what you'd like to see in future though!

Today's Everyday Fashion: LearnVest

Today's inspiration comes from my most unusual source yet... a financial website! This is a stock photo from LearnVest, which just goes to prove that you can find inspiration anywhere. I mean, how cute is that belt she is wearing? Today is my first day in Kansas and I have lunch plans, plus I'm visiting a few friends and their kiddos. This outfit is super-comfy but still really fun! I'm looking forward to spending the day catching up with friends.

Occasion: Lunch and visiting friends in KS
Inspiration photo: LearnVest
Cardigan: Express, really old
Shirt: LOFT, $20
Belt: Gap, $40
Shorts: Gap, $25
Shoes: Guess/DSW, $21
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot

And speaking of LearnVest... they recently published my "6 clothing items you can repurpose now" article on their website (woo hoo)! You can see it here!

Today's Everyday Fashion: New Hair

If fashion is my strong point, then doing hair is my absolute weakness. My hair is crazy thick, slightly wavy and I have no idea how to manage it. There, I said it. (acknowledgement is the first step, yes?) I like to reach for the stars in most areas of my life, but when it comes to hair, I pretty much do the bare minimum. I need help. Lucky for me, I have found a hairdresser that is willing to teach me and I hope (fingers crossed!) help me really improve my hair. Check out the before and after pictures below - I'm loving the new color she did! (Now I just need to learn how to style it.) If you live in Central FL be sure to check her out, she works in both Kissimmee and Clermont.

About my outfit: I am headed to Kansas today and this is what I'm wearing on the plane! It's both a personal trip (I'm from there) and business (I'm doing a "Shop with J for a Day" event on Saturday). I'll be posting all my outfits as the week goes on. I have my high school reunion, a family function, a sorority function, a shopping event and much more so stay tuned!

Occasion: Air travel
Shirt: Banana Republic, $45
Jeans: American Eagle, $33
Belt: H&M, $20
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Purse: Juicy Couture/Neiman Marcus Last Call, $115
Necklace: c/o Stella & Dot

New hair color - Before & after

Today's Everyday Fashion: It's All Good

You may not always agree with my fashion choices. Which is okay, because I think fashion is just about the most subjective thing on the whole planet! (For example - I love today's inspiration photo but there is no way I could rock nerd glasses and oxfords without feeling uncomfortable.) Instead of knocking each other for our fashion decisions though (hello tabloids and your constant criticism of celebrities, I'm talking to YOU), I think we should celebrate our differences. (Nerd glasses look great on her! I may not wear them, but I would never tell someone else not to wear them!!) I answer tons of style questions everyday, and the first episode of my makeover show is coming out this week, but during all that advice you won't hear me say something negative. Telling you what not to wear is none of my business.  I will give you positive suggestions for what to wear if you ask me, but I usually back my advice up with "at the end of the day it's about what you like to wear. Feel free to not listen to me." ;-p

I think this idea of knocking people for what they are wearing is SO widespread that it's tough not to do it. But I'm on a mission to make fashion a positive thing, at least in this corner of the universe. We should all follow dress codes (for church and work) and to some extent, social norms, but otherwise don't be scared to wear what you want. What some may consider gaudy you may love. What some may consider boring you may love. And that's okay with me! (I hope it's okay with you too.)

Inspiration photo: Atlantic Pacific
Shirt: Forever 21, $18
Vest: Banana Republic, $35
Skirt: Forever 21, $16
Belt: American Eagle/Filene's Basement, $5
Shoes: Bandolino/TJ Maxx, $22
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Bracelets: Forever 21, $8
Earrings: c/o Mikel Maia

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?

Shop with J for a Day

Good news: if you missed my "Shop with J for a Day" event in Austin, TX you can watch this video and catch all the highlights! Even better news: I'm doing another "Shop with J for a Day" event in Kansas this Saturday! Come see me on May 28th between 11am-3pm. For details and to RSVP go here.

"I'm on camera!"

"Add a belt"

"No really, add a belt..." :-)

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