Happy Valentine's Day! In honor of the holiday, and girlie girls everywhere - I'm looking back at outfits from my closet that are red, pink and/or purple.
Click the image to read! Which outfit is your favorite?
This time of year is tough for fashion - I'm so impatient for spring to get here! Add to that a slew of distractions (both personal and work - positive and negative) and I haven't felt excited about fashion lately. I have yet to spend my Jan. or Feb. budget but I did a place a Limited.com order recently. Most pieces are online exclusives and I had a 40% off coupon. The majority of it didn't work out, but I thought it would be fun to share anyway - to see what didn't work and why, and to help if you have been considering ordering any of these pieces yourself. (The Limited is in no way affiliated with this post.)
Dress, $79.95 ($39.97 now)
I can never find wrap dresses that fit me, but this faux wrap dress has a beautiful fit. I would remove the knotted ribbon on the left side (and also the hanging tag of course). Ultimately though I wanted this to be a work dress and it's about 2-4 inches too short on me, so it's going back.
Dress, $98 ($48 right now)
Dress, $98 ($48 now)
I was so excited about this online exclusive dress, I ordered it in two colors! The pink and blue fabrics are beautiful in person and the length is perfect, but the fit is wrong (it looks a bit different on the model). I love full skirts so much, but the waist needs to end 2-4 inches lower to be ideal for my body type. Great dress overall though.
Skirt, $59.95 ($41.96 now)
I took the belt off for the picture, which is how I had planned to wear it. The color is darker than I expected and I was also expecting a fuller/slightly different fit. I'm not feeling it so it's going back.
Skirt, $59 (sold out - pencil version)
This sold-out online exclusive was listed as the A-line shape. (Pencil skirt version is identical pattern and still in stock.) I'm head over heels for this pattern and the colors are amazing. But the fabric wrinkled terribly when I wore it for a news segment last week. I've actually never been in this situation and not sure what to do. I took the tags off and wore it for about 2 hours, and I would never consider returning something I've already worn. But the wrinkles are bad enough that I would never wear it again, and I'm not feeling great about spending money on a skirt I can't wear. I'm going to explain the situation to a store manager and see what they say!
And now... for some other favorites from their website, below! Which items strike your fancy?
Inspiration: JustJared.com
Inspiration: Lookbook.nu
I finally ended my search for the perfect plaid scarf, and the next question was - how do I wear it? I tried a dark chambray top and red cords first, but then I was stumped. So I Googled "burberry scarf outfits" and found the two inspiration photos in today's post. A black leather jacket and jeans was an easy pairing, and a lighter chambray top with a camel blazer came next (red shoes would be cute, too!). I have three options to start, and I know there are more options in my closet just waiting to be discovered! How would you wear this scarf?
OUTFIT 1
Chambray shirt: Mudd c/o Kohl's, $24
Red cords: Gap, $20 (similar)
Belt: H&M, $20
Scarf: Eliza Ash c/o, $20
Shoes: Nine West c/o (similar, designer)
Clutch: Limited, $23 (similar)
Approx. dates: Cords are 3 years ago, top and shoes are 2 years ago, clutch is last summer. Scarf is new.
OUTFIT 2
Leather jacket: Victoria's Secret, $257 (vegan)
Scarf: Eliza Ash c/o, $20
Jeans: Gap, $35 (similar, similar)
Boots: Report/Piperlime, $10 (same)
Purse: Michael Kors, family gift
Approx. dates: Jeans are 4 years ago, jacket and purse are last year. Boots are this fall. Scarf is new.
OUTFIT 3
Camel blazer: Express, $25 (similar, similar)
Chambray shirt: Mudd c/o Kohl's, $20
Scarf: Eliza Ash c/o, $20
Jeans: H&M, $32 (similar, designer)
Belt: Forever 21, $3 (similar)
Shoes: Nine West c/o (similar, designer)
Clutch: Limited, $23 (similar)
Approx. dates: Blazer and belt are 3 years ago. Top and shoes are 2 years ago. Clutch is last summer.
Inspiration: Le 21ème | Adam Katz Sinding via Who What Wear
I’m so excited to introduce you to a new jewelry website today – The Jeweler’s Wife! They offer a wide range of jewelry from personalized pieces, budget-friendly finds, and designer brands like Michael Kors, Kendra Scott and Alex and Ani. In honor of Valentine’s Day, Jeweler’s Wife is holding a fun Alex and Ani Instagram contest and three winners will win $100 gift cards. To enter the contest, follow @jewelerswife on Instagram, and upload a picture using the hashtag #showyourstack. Contest ends at 11:59PM EST 2/14/14. You can enter as many times as you'd like.
My bracelets in today’s post are by Alex and Ani. Their earth-friendly products are made in America and a portion of proceeds go to nonprofit organizations. Their designs include officially licensed sports teams, colleges, military and more so you can create a truly personal stack. Here's what I selected/what’s pictured in the post:
1. "J" Charm Bangle, $28
2. Set of 3 Wire Bangle Bracelets, $38 (split between both wrists)
3. Quill Feather Wrap, $58
4. Luminary Beaded Bangle, $38
5. Trident Wrap, $58
To give The Jeweler’s Wife a try, use code JW1030 and get $10 off your first order of $30 or more. (Restrictions apply.) Happy shopping!
This post is sponsored by The Jeweler’s Wife. All opinions, editorial decisions and images are my own.
Inspiration: Mode/AKM-GSI via Who What Wear
Inspiration: Where Did U Get That
I take tons of outfit photos that never make it on the blog. I believe there's no wrong answer during brainstorming, so I snap things as I go, and decide whether to share it later. These are two outfits that didn't get the approved stamp. How I determine where to draw that line is difficult to define, because hardly any outfit I post feels like a "perfect 10" to me, and perfect isn't really ever the goal. (Wearable and gets the job done, is!)
Top outfit: I love the idea of pastels in the winter (I was freezing when I snapped that photo!), but my outfit feels like one too many colors - I'd switch the purse to a gray tone perhaps?
Bottom outfit: I love mixing two different kinds of leopard print, but this one just didn't flow like I wanted it to. I'd prefer it with plain black pumps.
Some things that do get a perfect 10 from me - these new arrivals from Banana below. It's been my favorite store for many years now, and this collection in particular caught my eye. Plus get 35% off today with code BRFUNMON. I will be sale stalking all of it!
"From My Closet: 17 Ways to Wear a Graphic Tee"
Two new Babble posts today - click each image to read! Which outfit is your favorite?
Also, I tried a new format - instead of clicking through slides, the posts below is laid out on one page (no clicking required). I'm not sure I like it (the photos are small), but let me know if the functionality is better on your end!
After Fox 35 yesterday morning, I headed to Tampa for Christian Fashion Week. I've mentioned my friend Katie and her company Elegantees several times on the blog - they presented at the show and did a knock-out job! (That's Wildy, Katie and Sarah with the models after the show in the last picture.) Elegantees is a nonprofit organization based in NYC that raises money to fight sex-trafficking and employs women in Nepal to make their clothes. You can shop Elegantees and learn more about them here!
The weather was cold and rainy yesterday, so it was the perfect opportunity to wear a thick long-sleeve dress. (I first shared this dress here in a petite size.) These pictures were snapped around 10 p.m., I did my hair and makeup at 6 a.m. for my TV segment, had been rained on all day, and spent 4 hours in the car - I was definitely not looking or feeling my best by that point. Worth every minute though. I loved the show, and it was great catching up with and supporting these awesome ladies!
ps. I posted a fun pic of all the bloggers I met last night on Instagram here!
pps. I found out yesterday that Sarah joined the Elegantees team as a result of this blog post a year ago. How cool!! (I'm in no way affiliated with Elegantees or Christian Fashion Week.)
It's National Wear Red Day! I was up bright and early this morning on Fox 35 Orlando sharing three ways to wear red today (four if you count my outfit). I did a similar segment on Daytime last week, see those pictures below.
Most items are older, but my rainbow striped skirt is new (shop 5 items in this pattern here). Sitting in the car for an hour did a number on it - it went from perfect to perfectly wrinkled in an hour flat. (Thankfully I was sitting down for the segment.) How are you wearing red today?
I shared a similar outfit a few months ago (here), but today's version feels new again thanks to some new bling - a spiked yellow necklace! I'm also trying out new bracelets (below), and a new "J" initial ring. Jewelry is definitely my weakness (okay, and shoes), so I love hearing about new places to find fun, unique pieces. What are your favorite places to shop for jewelry?
Jacket: Spiegel c/o (similar, similar)
Top: LOFT, $25 (similar, similar)
Jeans: H&M, $32 (similar, similar)
Shoes: BCBG/Ross, $20 (similar, similar)
Bag: Calvin Klein/Saks Off Fifth, $130 (similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot, $98
Approx. dates: Shoes are 3 years ago. Blazer, top, jeans and purse are one year ago. Necklace is new.
Plain bands (wearing 4 out of 5): My Stella & Dot $39
Initial "J" ring: The Silver Loft c/o Jane.com $13
Other rings: Banana Republic, old
Dress: ASOS c/o Chippmunk, $37 (original price $120)
Blazer: H&M, $37 (similar, similar)
Shoes: Enzo Angiolini/Piperlime, $32 (similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot, $118
Clutch: Sole Society, $30 (similar, similar)
Approx. dates: Blazer is 3 years ago. Shoes and necklace are a year ago. Clutch is last summer. Dress is new.
I'm so excited for today's Valentine's Day post with coupon website, Chippmunk! I started hunting for the perfect Valentine's Day dress a few weeks ago, using Chippmunk to surf for the best deals. A promo for 20% off dresses at Asos popped up one day and lead me to this floral dress. It was "love" at first sight! I paid $37, which is 70% off the original price, and well under my $100 budget! It fits me a bit differently than the Asos model because I removed the tulle underneath and had the loose fabric (from removing the tulle) taken in. I'm wearing a size 6 (I always go 1-2 sizes up with European brands).
I also picked up the silver shoes below from Wet Seal for only $8.80 (original price $29.90) with a 10% off Chippmunk coupon. I decided against wearing them for Valentine's Day this year, but I have a feeling they will be a major staple this spring!
Today's post is thanks to Chippmunk. They gave me a chance to find a Valentine's Day outfit on a $100 budget and now it's your turn! Use the Rafflecopter box below to enter to win a $100 Visa gift card. And for even more giveaway fun check out their "Share the Love" contest on Facebook here.
The next time you're shopping, check out the Chippmunk website - it's easy to navigate and has a clean, user-friendly design that removes the clutter to help you find the best deal. Happy shopping!
Inspiration: Hello Magazine
Rent the Runway / Asos (plus) / Michael Kors
H&M / Ralph Lauren / H&M
Asos / Asos / Nordstrom
Three variations of the same necklace/blazer/top combo. It would also look great with black dress pants or black jeans. Which version would you wear?
Blazer: Banana Republic, $69 (similar, similar)
Top: C. Wonder c/o - sold out
Skirt: Limited, $30
Jeans: AF c/o (similar, similar)
Black shoes: Chinese Laundry c/o (same)
Nude shoes: Enzo Angiolini/Piperlime, $32 (similar)
Black purse: Michael Kors, family gift
Nude purse: Calvin Klein/Saks Off Fifth, $130 (similar)
Necklace: Everyday Icing c/o - sold out
hApprox. dates: Blazer is three years ago. Purses and shoes are last year. Skirt and necklace are last summer. Top, jeans are this fall/winter.
Calvin Klein / Nordstrom / GUESS
Alloy / DKNY / Vince Camuto
Joie / Express / Forever 21
Inspiration: Ruche
Sweater: Old Navy, $25
Belt: Limited, $20
Skirt: Banana Republic, $25
Purse: Melie Bianco c/o (similar)
Shoes: Nine West c/o Ross, $20 (similar, similar)
Rings: My Stella & Dot, $34
Approx. dates: Skirt is 4 years ago, purse is 3 years ago. Belt is 2 years ago. Shoes and sweater are recent.
Sweater: Old Navy, $25
Blazer: Victoria's Secret c/o MJR Sales (similar, similar)
Belt: Limited, $20
Skirt: Banana Republic, $25
Shoes: Nine West c/o (similar, designer)
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar)
Approx. dates: Skirt is 4 years ago, blazer and purse are 3 years ago. Belt and shoes are 2 years ago. Sweater is recent.
New Babble post: "Get Excited for Spring: New Arrivals to Wear Now, Wear Later"
There are so many great new arrivals in stores right now and they are making me seriously crave spring! Check out 11 favorites and my suggestions for how you can wear them now and wear them later! Go here or click the image to read.
Inspiration: Limited
This was my Thanksgiving dress. It's similar to the print in the inspiration photo, so I utilized one of my favorite tricks for making a dress more versatile - wearing it as a shirt! It works best when the dress is a thin material, and the skirt is a thick material, or if the skirt has a lot of volume or pleats. I put a thick pencil skirt over it, and finished it off with a tweed blazer, tights and boots for a chilly day. I like today's version even better than my original Thanksgiving Day look!
Blazer: H&M, $60
Dress (worn as shirt): Love Shopping Miami, c/o
Skirt: J.Crew, $45 (similar, mini)
Belt: Limited, $15 (similar)
Purse: Emma Fox c/o Ross, $60 (similar, similar)
Boots: Chinese Laundry c/o (similar, similar)
Tights: We Love Colors c/o
Necklace: C. Wonder c/o (similar)
Rings: My Stella & Dot, $39
Approx. dates: Boots, tights, purse and belt are 3 years ago. Blazer is last year. Dress is from Thanksgiving.
ModCloth / Tahari / Gap
Anne Klein / Michael Kors / Anne Klein
Target / Anne Klein / Amazon
Inspiration: Tanvii.com
I had the pleasure of getting to know Tanvi during two blogging-related work trips to Austin in 2011 and 2012. I've kept up with her blog Tanvii.com ever since! I love her bold use of color, and I love the way she unabashedly speaks her mind on her blog. Her outfit here is perfection - especially the printed scarf and clutch. I was inspired to try a similar look with printed pants and a pink top. The result feels over the top (hello, studded Barbie shoes, I'm looking at you!) while totally doable at the same time. Perfect for those days that call for something with a conservative fit, but you're feeling sassy and bold. For a more casual look (errands, mom-on-the-go, teacher), I'd switch to pink or black ballet flats, and a colorful scarf in place of the necklace.
Blazer: C. Wonder c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Top: LOFT, $30 (sold out - similar, t-shirt)
Pants: Gap, $28
Shoes: Colin Stuart c/o MJR Sales (similar, similar, similar, no studs)
Purse: Francesca's c/o (similar)
Necklace: Ily Couture c/o, sold out
Approx. dates: Shoes are 3 years ago. Top, blazer and necklace are about 6 months ago. Purse and pants are recent.
This baseball sweater makes me nostalgic for high school. Have you ever seen the movie "Saved" with Mandy Moore? That pretty much sums up my high school experience, minus some of the bigger drama. There were 33 kids in my class, and it was a bit like having 32 brothers and sisters. I had house keys to several friend's houses and as if we didn't see enough of each other during the week, we almost always hung out as a big group on weekends, too. I wore sneakers and jeans every single day, and I had an American Eagle sweater pretty similar to this one. Dressing it up with heels and/or a military jacket makes it feel grown up and ready to wear all over again!
Jacket: Gap, $52 (similar, similar, similar)
Sweater: Conversation Pieces c/o, $24
Jeans: AF c/o (similar, similar)
Hat: Gap, old (similar, similar, similar)
Heels: Nine West c/o
Sneakers: Guess c/o Ross, $26 (similar)
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar)
Approx. dates: Hat is 5 years ago. Purse and shoes are two years ago. Sweater and jacket are last year. Sneakers and jeans are this fall/winter.
Forever 21 / Asos / Dillard's
J. Crew Factory / Forever 21 / LOFT
Billabong / Revolve / Asos
Check out my new Babble post: "How We Wore It: Style Ideas from Two Blogger's Closets"
While browsing Style Cassentials the other day - I realized Cassie and I have so many similar pieces in our closets! I thought it would be fun to do a round-up and show how we each wore 5 things - red pants, pink blazer, primary colors, cobalt jacket and tie dye jeans. Click through to see how we wore it!
Also new on Babble: "Six Unexpected Places to Shop for Cute Team Apparel"
In honor of the big game coming up, here are six unexpected retailers that carry the cutest team apparel out there!
Also, my Abercrombie check arrived this week so it's time to pick a charity! These are all the charities you recommended, and one I stumbled upon a couple weeks ago. I value your input, so let me know which charity you'd like to receive the donation in the poll below. I'll send the check to whoever has the most votes on 2/3!
Update 2/4: The charity with the most votes is Girls on the Run! i'm unfamiliar with this charity but it looks amazing. I just made the donation online!
Inspiration: Versace
Blazer: Banana Republic, $17 (similar, similar, similar)
Top: LOFT, $27 (similar, similar)
Jeans: Gap, $35 (similar, similar)
Belt: Limited, $20
Boots: Report/Piperlime, $10 (same)
Purse: Michael Kors, family gift
Earrings: My Stella & Dot, $44
Approx. dates: Jeans are 4 years ago. Top and purse are 2 years ago. Boots and blazer are this fall/winter.
I'm loving this mix of sweet pleated top and soft pink blazer with edgy, buckled boots and a statement belt. I really only ever imagined wearing this belt around my waist with a dress (like I did here), but it looks great around the hips in belt loops. I have a feeling I'll be wearing this belt + jeans + boots combination a lot, with tons of different tops and sweaters. I'm all about finding shortcuts like these in your closet - such as a pair of jeans and boots that were made for each other, a work skirt and pumps, or a cardigan and statement necklace that are a match made in heaven. Having those shortcuts makes getting dressed in a rush that much easier! What shortcuts are in your closet? Would you wear a statement belt?
Asos / C. Wonder / Chico's
Kate Spade / ModCloth / Rachel Zoe
Limited / Arden B / Asos
Asos (plus) / Michael Kors / Asos
Inspiration: J. Crew
Cardigan: Limited, $18 (similar, similar, similar)
Shirt: Ralph Lauren outlet, $45 (similar, similar, similar)
Skirt: Limited, $25 (similar)
Shoes: Colin Stuart c/o MJR Sales (similar)
Necklace: Stella & Dot, sold out
Purse: Calvin Klein/Saks Off Fifth, $130 (similar)
Approx. dates: Skirt is 7 years ago. Necklace and shoes are 3 years ago. Cardigan and purse are last year.
When I first put on this outfit, it seemed familiar and I was convinced I'd already done a post with it! I had to look through old outfits on my Facebook page to make sure it was new. Turns out I just really like this color combo. I paired the same top and cardigan with pink jeans last year here, and the same shirt tied over a mint dress here, but not this exact J.Crew-inspired combination.
A lot of you have asked how you can quickly look through outfit ideas and history, and I recommend using my Facebook page. Every outfit I've ever posted is organized into 5 photo albums in chronological order, and you can easily scroll through the thumbnails in just a couple minutes. I depend on those albums for writing new posts everyday - that's how I remember the prices of items, and how I provide similar links. I simply go back to the last time I wore that item, and copy and paste the pricing and any similar links that are still applicable. That's also why the dates purchased are approximate. I use the most recent post where the item was worn, NOT the original post, so those dates are based on my foggy memory. (Heavy emphasis on the "approx.")
My initial reasoning for the way I organize my FB page has nothing to do with writing blog posts though. When I started my FB page in May 2010, it was more of a marketing tactic. My "big idea" was that FB is the #1 social site in the world, so why not publish blog content right there where people could see it and read it? Versus directing people to blogs to read the content there - especially since not everyone is/was familiar with reading blogs. Facebook was a totally different world then - within a couple weeks I had 200 fans. A good chunk of them were friends, but their friends were organically discovering my page because FB was interconnected and everyone could see that their friends (my friends in real life) were commenting and liking. I hit 20k fans in my first year, but my blog was much slower to build at first. Three years later I'm at 69k fans (people) on FB, and 1.2 million unique visitors* (people) on the blog, so growing a following on FB first wound up organically, in this case, gaining a much bigger following on the actual website.
Unfortunately, if you are starting a blog or social media page now, FB is a different world and the exact methods I used wouldn't necessarily work the same way now. FB has changed their algorithms several times, most notably (for me) in November 2013. As a result:
1. About 50% of my FB followers were seeing my posts in their newsfeed everyday. Since November, it's more like 1-5% of fans seeing my posts. FB was not at all shy about their motivation behind this. The same week of the change, I received a straightforward email that I would need to start paying FB in order for people to see my posts. Due to my fan count, it's $75/ per post minimum** or well over $4,000 per month. I've never paid for an ad anywhere*** so I haven't been quick to jump on that train. For now growing my page isn't a huge priority so I'm not actively working on it, but I may try some guerilla (or paid - gulp!) tactics I've been brainstorming at some point.
2. At the same time, FB's spam filters changed. One day I noticed that 20 or so outfits were missing from photo album #5. Turns out, one of the links that all the posts had in common was marked as spam. The posts were gone - the photo, the caption, all the likes and comments were all deleted. I kept doing my daily posts with the full outfit details for a bit longer, but more and more photos kept getting deleted so I stopped. Now I just provide a link to the blog for details. The exact opposite of my original method when I started. I hope to find a work around and go back to the old way of posting soon!
That's probably way more information than you ever wanted to know about Facebook, but the moral of the story is: you may not always see my posts in your newsfeed as a FB fan, but the page is still a good resource for scrolling back through old ideas or trying to find something that caught your eye a couple weeks ago. You can visit my FB page here. To access all 1,300+ outfits go to Photos --> Albums. Look for 5 albums called "J's Everyday Outfits." I hope this helps!
*That's 1.2 million in the year 2013. Source: Google Analytics.
**Since writing this post, the minimum for advertising is now $30 per post, down from $75. Things change quickly on FB.
***To post a coupon/offer on FB you have to pay a fee, and I did three last year. I wouldn't consider that an ad, but some might so it's worth mentioning. Those fees are covered by the company offering the coupon.
Banana / J.Crew / Sabine
Banana / Juicy Couture / Piperlime
J.Crew / Banana / Forever 21
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