the jennifer

I really like Jennifer Aniston's "off duty" style - she's mostly found in jeans, blazers, a big belt, and a scarf and I think she always look so chic.

So instead of attributing my plain outfit to my impending sickness and the fact that my hair wasn't doing what I wanted it to this morning, let's all pretend that I'm channeling Jennifer and applaud me for my efforts on not going to work in sweatpants.

Blazer: J. Crew  {exact}
T-shirt: Target
Scarf: Forever 21  {exact}
Belt: Target  {save / splurge}
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}
Watch: Fossil  {similar}
Nails: China Glaze Red Pearl*




*that I got for free this weekend during a deal at Sally Beauty...but I hate it because within 12 hours (8 of which were slept) there were 3 chips! This was my first bottle of China Glaze and needless to say it did not impress.

Have you entered the Posh'mina giveaway yet?

Linking up with work clothes I suppose!




I'm doing a little guest posting on Oh, She Dabbles today about 3 ways I'm going to wear my mustard cardigan this winter. You can see all of the looks here!

the posh'mina showoff + GIVEAWAY!

As you ladies (gentlemen? doubt it) know, I just about live in scarves. I wear one almost every single day and although I sometimes know how to tie them (ok...so hope that all of the twisting and tying somehow works), it's nice when something comes along and makes it easier. The wonderful ladies at The Posh'mina sent me this scarf (as well as this one!) and I'm so excited because not only does the design make it easier to nonchalantly drape across your neck, you can also use it as a shawl or belt it or even as a top. Since I was wearing this to work (and therefore under a lab coat), I went the conventional route and used the slots to secure the ends. The scarf feels and looks so expensive - I especially like that this one has 2 different sides as I think it gives the scarf more depth.

The Posh'mina has generously afforded to give one of their scarves away to one of you! Just enter the Rafflecopter below. I apologize to all of you international ladies, this one is only open to US residents.

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Outlet  {save / splurge}
Tee: Gap
Scarf: c/o The Posh'mina
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Belt: J. Crew {exact but cheaper in stores!}
Boots: Frye  {exact}
Purse: Madewell  {exact}
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}
Bracelet: DIY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

behind the blog: respect the shoes

Lisa from Respect the Shoes is one of my new favorite reads. She has that classic style while still having fun with her outfits. She's completely adorable and I know you are going to be so inspired by not only her style but also her attitude.

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

wind like woah

You guys. It was so windy this morning. I had no idea what to do with myself...or my hair which was all over the place. That's what I get for even attempting to do anything with it - a face full of wind. I was doing all these unnatural (more unnatural than standing in front of a camera taking pictures of yourself already is) poses and nothing worked. So this is what you get today. At least I tried...

Blazer: H&M  {similar}

Chambray: Old Navy  {exact}

Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}

Belt: Gap  {save / splurge}

Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Watch: Target  {similar}

Ring: Stolen from my sister Karoline

I'm in love with this belt. I bought it when Whitney and I went shopping and got it for a song. Since I now realize what I was missing out on with mustard colored items (hey, only like 4 years behind), I am trying to play catch up.


via Instagram

black & white & striped all over

This month's Marionberry Style "Challenge" is stripes...which is why I put that in quotes because with my collection of striped shirts, it wasn't really a challenge. When I was trying to figure out which shirt to wear, I realized I haven't actually worn my sequin striped shirt to work. Back when Whitney and I did our 4-ways-to-wear-this-shirt challenge (mine here, hers here), she layered a collared shirt underneath it. I thought it looked so great on her that I wanted to try it too. 

The shirt I used for layering used to have sleeves - until I hulked out in it during a time I was doing 60 pushups a work out session (which no longer happens, because my body structure does not need more bulk in the arms). I was wearing it mostly as a layering shirt at that point anyway, so I just cut off the sleeves where the rips had started. It actually makes it easier to wear now since I don't have to worry about rolling sleeves and adding even more bulk. 

Also, my nails have been bare for the last 2 days and it's driving me nuts. I hate the feeling of bare nails, but I just ran out of my favorite top coat (Seche Vite...go buy it immediately) and I'm doing some physician shadowing on Friday so no crazy nails for me. But trust, come Saturday my nails WILL have color on them.

Shirt: Loft  {similar}

Under-shirt: Francesca's  {similar}

Trousers: Gap

Watch: Boccia

Bracelet: DIY

Bag: Kate Spade  {similar}

Tassel on Purse: DIY by my mom

Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Please go check out how everyone else wore their stripes today - and then wish Marion luck as she's due to give birth any day now!
















also linking up with wiww.

inspired

This is a slight rip-off of this outfit with a few adjustments to my accessories. My second favorite part about blogging (the first is all of you ladies) is how inspired I am by other bloggers. I sometimes I look at my closet and wonder how I have all of these clothes but can't come up with an outfit...but then I just head to my Pinterest board full of outfits I pinned with pieces I already own and instantly find something to put together. Isn't providing and finding inspiration the whole point of blogging? 

But don't forget - there is a difference between finding inspiration and straight up copying. Give credit where credit is due and find your own style somewhere in the middle :)

And if you need more inspiration for styling a mustard cardigan, check out Audrey's recap of the way she's worn hers! I'm also doing a little guest post for her so please check it out!

Cardigan: thrifted  {save / splurge}

Blouse: H&M  {similar}

Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}

Necklace: Ann Taylor Outlet  {similar}

Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}

Purse: Madewell  {exact}

Shoes: Crown Vintage  {save / splurge}

hussy ankles via Instagram

friend ♥...and cold ankles

After I graduated from college in May 2011, I had somewhat of the "recent graduate blues". Besides the whole "real world" stuff, I'm not exaggerating when I say that all but one of my girl friends moved away to go to graduate school, or go on adventures in other states/countries. Chris was also in the middle of hardcore studying, so I felt really alone a lot of the time. I mentioned that I'm so thankful for all of you blogging friends I now have because you make me feel like I have friends I connect with every day...which is probably why Chris doesn't always understand why I spend so much time typing on my computer ;)  

But we all need to have people in our real lives, so this is all just a rambling way to tell my last Madison friend standing, Lizzi, how much I appreciate her. She's the friend that I go to concerts with, the girl I go pilates-ing with, and the girl I call when things don't happen like I want them to. We met up Saturday afternoon just to chat, and I think the signs of a true friend are when you get chat for hours and could keep the conversation going with ease. So thank you Lizzi, for being a true friend, my confidante  and sometimes photographer.

Sweater: J. Crew Factory  {exact}

Scarf: Forever 21  {save / splurge}

Jeans: Gap  {similar}

Boots: Frye  {exact}

Belt: H&M Mens

Watch: Fossil  {similar}

Bracelet: J. Crew via eBay  {similar}

P.S. I know some of you have expressed a bit of concern about my bare ankles during the work week. Please know that I'm not some cold ankle baring hussy all day - I park my car in our attached garage at home, and only have to walk about 30 yards from my parking spot into work, so I spend minimal time outside during the winter. On days where it has snowed, I wear either my real boots, or I'll wear my ugly $10 Target fake Uggs into work and change. I didn't want you to think that wearing thin ballet flats is the norm for Wisconsin winters ;)