5D5W: Casual Friday

I think this may be one of my most favorite outfits I've ever worn. I was trying to figure out why that is exactly. Some theories:

+ I just feel best in these jeans. I think bootcut really just looks best on me. I haven't had any luck finding a second pair on eBay yet, but I continue to be hopeful that a pair will come my way eventually. I still will not pay full price for them because once school starts I won't be wearing jeans much, but some days I'm tempted. Some one hold me back.

+ This blazer rivals my schoolboy blazer for most worn top. I love the neutral color, the fit, and the elbow patches. The blazer is from H&M which has always been kinder to me than Forever 21. I may have to see if they have anything similar currently...in April (side note: budgeting bloggers goes up tomorrow! eek.)

+ My new soft striped tee. This outfit was inspired by Chioma - I don't think I would have paired stripes and plaid like this on my own, but it works. right? yes. stripes + plaid = win

+ Cognac on cognac - my closet neutral color. 

Okay so I may not have a concrete answer...but I really did like wearing this.

Blazer: H&M  [similar]

Tee: Tahari via TJ Maxx

Jeans: Joe's Jeans [same style]

Belt: H&M Mens

Shoes: Crown Vintage [similar]

Watch: Kate Spade [exact]

Bracelet: "J.Crew" via eBay [similar for less than $20]

Nails: Essie Fifth Avenue

Today is the last day for the 5 Day 5 Way link up I put together with my good friend Whitney. It brought such a smile to my face going to all of your blog posts and see you guys commenting, encouraging each other, offering advice, and just connecting in general. I love blogging because of my new found group of friends - you guys honestly bring so much joy into my life with every comment, email, and tweet. I hope this little challenge brought new readers, followers, and friends into your lives. Can we do this again soon? Maybe a end of spring 5 Day 5 Way Challenge? Please say yes.

Now onto the challenge - Casual Friday. Every day of the week is "Casual" for me - I could wear jeans and sweatshirts every single day. I make the effort to look just a little bit more pulled together than that (mostly so I can blog about it, amiright?). Here are 5 of my favorite "casual" looks from the past couple months. Jeans, flats, layers - doesn't get a lot more "work appropriate" casual than that! Go check out everyone else's definition of Casual Friday over on Along the Lines of Style....and thank you again for reading / participating / bringing joy into my life. You are all great :)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Linking up with Plane Pretty.

5D5W: Dresses!

 

I don't really own a lot of dresses that I really like. In fact, I'm taking a bunch to be consigned soon because I feel guilty about them hanging in my closet. I've actively been working on getting rid of any clothes I don't wear in my closet, but what tricks me is the other closet that we don't use that holds all of my dresses. Every single dress since my senior year of high school hangs in there, and I don't wear a single one. Most don't fit correctly (please, like you fit into the clothes from when you were 17), are too short for a 25 year old lady to wear, or just have no place in my life. Anything that hasn't been worn in 2+ years is getting consigned in the coming weeks.

But not this dress. This dress is like wearing pajamas but without having to be embarrassed about wearing them in public. She's soft, surprisingly flattering for a striped tee shirt material, and best of all, didn't cost me more than $20. The cost per wear is lower on this dress than I think any dress I've owned before, and I've only worn it 4 times (twice not blogged - I know, I'm shocked too). I wish Fran from 3 years ago would have made smarter shopping decisions.

Dress: Old Navy  [save | spend | splurge]

Chambray: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Tights: Target

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Belt: Gap

Watch: Fossil [exact]

Necklace: gift from Whitney

via instagram

How have you worn the dresses in your closet? Are you a remixing master when it comes to dresses, or are you a shameful neglecter like I am? Link up with Whitney for the second to last day of 5 Days 5 Ways. Tomorrow is Casual Friday...which means you can just show us 5 ways you've worn a more casual outfit, or how you've worn jeans 5 ways, or a comfy skirt, or...whatever you feel defines a casual Friday for your life! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve :)

 1 | 2 | 3

5D5W: Accessories

I kind of stumbled upon this groundbreaking outfit while I was trying to figure out what accessory to wear for 5D5W, but also for Bloggers Do It Better. My boatneck tee is so soft, so it was perfect for a more casual day. Mixed with my favorite scarf, it's a little bit of pattern mixing, a little bit of Little French Girl, and a little bit of Hamburglar. 

Shirt: Gap [exact]

Scarf: gift from my friend Alexa

Pants: Urban Outfitters [exact]

Shoes: Old Navy

Watch: Fossil [similar]

Bracelets: Forever 21

And for 4 other ways I have worn my favorite scarf:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Linking up with Whitney for our 5 Day 5 Way Challenge, for Kristina's Bloggers Do It Better Challenge, and WIWW.

5D5W: Pants

For today's 5 Days, 5 Ways challenge we have pants (or if you want, skirts!). I obviously do not struggle with wearing pants since it is what I wear ~95% of the time (but not always by choice). I originally was going to show ways I've worn my favorite pair of jeans, but after Kimmie pointed out that wearing a black cardigan is just about the easiest thing out there to do (so true) yesterday, I felt I needed to step up my game for this blogging challenge.

A few weeks ago AJ posted the cutest outfit - I needed those pants in my closet immediately. I have always wanted to wear floral pants, but almost all of them out there are printed denim, and as I've learned the hard way, I just don't like printed/colored denim on myself. But these were dress pants - much more flattering for my thighs. I went to Target in hopes that I could find a pair for myself - and I did find them on the mythical clearance rack that everyone always has so much luck at, but I never find anything on. Except these pants. I found these pants for $12 and change. TARGET DOES IT AGAIN.

But because they require a little bit of alterations at the waist, I haven't worn them yet in the "real" world. Instead I played dress up in my bedroom. I came up with the following six (overachiever status) outfits. Which one is your favorite?

Outfit 1:

Blazer: Overstock.com  [similar]

Blouse: Banana Republic

Necklace: Souvenir from Australia

Shoes: Old Navy  [similar]

Outfit 2:

Sweater: Gap  [similar]

Button-up: J.Crew Factory  [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21  [save | splurge]

Shoes: Tory Burch  [exact]

Outfit 3:

Tee: Target

Necklace: Forever 21

Bag: Coach  [current version]

Bracelets: Forever 21

Sandals: Target [very similar]

Outfit 4:

Jacket: Souvenir from Germany [similar]

Shirt: Forever 21

Necklace: Gift from my mom/sister

Watch: Target

Shoes: Crown Vintage [really cute option]

Outfit 5:

Blazer: Old Navy [similar]

Tee: Gap

Necklace: Wal-Mart [very similar]

Watch: Fossil

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Outfit 6:

Chambray: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Scarf: H&M

Shoes: Aldo [similar]

And all together now:

Looking to add neutral colored floral pants to your closet? Try this Tilly pair for $14, this pair F21 pair for $23, or this Ann Taylor pair for $60!

Your turn! How have you worn different bottoms? Please link up below. Tomorrow's challenge is accessories - the link up will be on Whitney's blog! I'll give you one guess what my accessory will be.

<div align="center"><a href="http://franish.blogspot.com/2013/03/5d5w-pants.html" title="Franish" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/GYAUGRG.jpg" alt="Franish" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

5D5W: Tops

Today is the first day of 5 Days, 5 Ways (#5D5W) and I'm so excited to see all the different ways you have worn tops in your closet. I initially wanted to have my item be my J.Crew leopard button up. I don't wear it a lot because I think it's kind of loud, and I wasn't sure really how to not look like Peg Bundy wearing it. I think by also adding interest to the bottom half of this outfit with these green pants that it somewhat balances out the loudness of the shirt. But because I haven't worn the leopard shirt a lot, I figured my black cardigan was a great 5 Days, 5 Ways item to showcase instead. 

Blouse: J.Crew  [save | extreme splurge]

Cardigan: Old Navy  [similar]

Pants: The Limited  [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch  [exact]

Belt: J.Crew  [similar]

Watch: Target

Bracelet: Forever 21

Nails: Essie Fifth Avenue

After these pictures were taken, I re-tied the belt so it didn't look so...phallic. 

And for the 5 ways I've worn this black cardigan:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

<div align="center"><a href="http://franish.blogspot.com/2013/03/5d5w-tops.html" title="Franish" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/wOxqLIp.jpg" alt="Franish" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

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5 Days, 5 Ways

It was so so bright out when I tried to take these pictures - my eyes are either closed in the pictures, I look angry, or I look like this. You just can't win! 

In other not weather related news, Whitney and I will be holding a week long link up the week of the 25th of March called 5 Days, 5 Ways. As women who blog about their every day style with their every day closets, we repeat item pieces all the time and we're always so inspired by you guys when we see all the different ways you've worn something.

This link up is an opportunity to share how you've styled certain items different ways - you can either pull looks from your archives, make new ones, or even make polyvore sets of how you would wear that piece of clothing different ways (and if you can't come up with 5, do 3 or 4! or be an over achiever and come up with 10! no hard rules here kids). The first two days will link to me (tops and pants) and the last three days will link to Whitney (accessories, dresses, and casual Friday looks). We will of course remind you of everything the closer we get, but now you have a few weeks to come up with some ideas, or find a new way to wear something you've worn a lot in the past.

I really hope you guys join us - I'm so excited to see all the ways you've worn items already in your closets!

Blouse: Forever 21  [very similar]
Sweater: J.Crew Fact. [exact on sale | splurge]
Jeans: Joe's Jeans*  [same style]
Necklace: Forever 21  [similar]
Watch: Fossil  [similar]
Shoes: Tory Burch  [exact]
Nails: Essie Berry Naughty





*I've come to realize that as comfortable as skinny jeans are, I think that bootcut jeans help balance out all the junk I have going on in the hip region. I'd love to own another pair of these jeans, possibly in a longer inseam so that I can wear them with wedges (I think I could probably get away with that at work). I've been stalking eBay for a pair in my size so wish me luck - $180 just isn't something I'm willing to drop on jeans right now but I can probably manage $50 ;)

via instagram

Have a great weekend!






Linking up with Plane Pretty.