boom!

boom - snow! While our neighbors to the north are being bombarded with seven feet of snow, we've luckily only received a little over a foot. Not a bad start to the first week of snow though :/

So now it's officially boot and tights weather. After I finally made it to Target earlier this week, I picked up these fleece lined leggings. I wear socks with tights anyway (when I wear boots), so I figured it made more sense to get the footless kind because the toe is usually the first to rip on other tights. They are just as comfy as you guys all said! I may just wear them around the house all winter long.

Dress: Old Navy [similar]

Blazer: J.Crew [exact on sale w/ code SHOPNOW]

Scarf: Target [exact]

Tights: Target [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto [exact on sale]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Earrings: eBay [similar]

Bag: Coach

In the spirit of Bri's Third Thursday link up (fall footwear), here are my go-to pairs of boots throughout the snowy fall and winter. I have wider calves (15.5 inches) which sometimes makes it difficult to find boots because I may not always need the wide calf sizing, but the normal calf doesn't fit right either. The following four pairs hit the sweet "in between" spot. The Hunter boots are especially great - their boots come in the original style, the huntress style for wider calves, and this in between style with an adjustable back. I love that they give me the look of the originals while still accommodating my calves. They also offer a few glossy colors as well!

 one: vince camuto

two: frye

three: hunter

four: c/o sorel

not so fun.

 

It's been almost a year since I last wore this dress - I don't know how I completely forgot about it hiding in the back of my closet! I went to see how I wore it last, and I realized that I kind of miss the way I used to dress back when I was working instead of being in school. I had more time to think of how I wanted to pair my clothing, and I felt I could get away with a bit more. Not to say that a stretchy striped dress is the most professional piece of clothing I own now, but I tried to tone it down a bit with neutral colors and less layers. 

If you've had to make the transition from "freedom" to restrictions, how did you handle it? 

Dress: Old Navy [save | splurge]

Cardigan: Gap

Tights: Target [exact]

Boots: Franco Sarto via OnlineShoes.com [exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Scarf: H&M

Nails: Essie After School Blazer + OPI

Ring: Gorjana Griffin [exact]

linking up with Bri!

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

fate

You know how sometimes when we're shopping and we find something that we think is cute and it's the last piece and it's our size? We tell ourselves it's fate and buy it because the universe has clearly decided that it was meant to be for us to own that jacket / scarf / ring. Yeah, I'm not immune to that feeling either.

I mentioned that I was looking for a new pair of boots and when I saw that this pair (at the time) only had one pair left and in my size, I did not even hesitate to press buy. Obviously the fashion gods felt that I needed to own those boots. A week later they arrived at my front step, and I'm now a fashion atheist because girl, no. They look like plastic rain boots! Not what I expected from something that claims to be leather boots. I know my expectations are higher because I love my Frye boots so much, but another pair of such expensive boots is just not a possibility right now (especially since I need to be good about saving money while I'm still working). Back those go. Next up: this pair or this pair.

Maybe they'll make me be a believer again.

Dress: Old Navy  {exact}
Vest: Old Navy  {similar for less than $30}
Tights: Target  {exact}
Belt: Old Navy  {similar}
Scarf: Victoria's Secret
Boots: Frye  {exact}
Watch: Target  {similar}

Day Four of TOPIO











linking up with Sunday Style!

winterize

One of my goals for my closet is to buy pieces that work not only for my job, but also for outside of work. I love the easiness of a simple dress for the summer time, but I've never been one to winterize a dress so there's been a bit of a learning curve for me. I've learned a lot from all of the other bloggers out there about how to make a dress appropriate for the winter, so hopefully I'm not failing you! I picked this dress up as a part of my January budget but I know I'll be wearing it straight into the summer.

Dress: Old Navy  {exact}
Cardigan: NY&Co.  {save / splurge}
Belt: H&M Mens
Tights: Target  {exact}
Boots: Frye  {save / exact}
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}
Rings: Forever 21  {exact}

and for the future...

Outfit 1: Sunglasses + Cargo Jacket + Crossbody Purse + Sandals
Outfit 2: Cardigan + Necklace + Brown Belt + Boot Socks + Brown Belts
Outfit 3: Grey Sweater + Red Belt + Black Tights + Grey Boots

Linking up with wiww