wardrobe wednesday

Bring on the Elastic Waists.

My outfits usually revolve around jeans, but every now and then I like to mix it up with a skirt. And as soon as I get one on, I remember that skirts are so much more comfortable than jeans. Especially when they are loose and flowy and have elastic waists. And with the traditional Thanksgiving feast just around the corner, I'm thinking I'll be grabbing skirts more often than not!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denim Jacket
Floral Tee (similar, similar)
Plaid Midi Skirt
Freebird Salmancas (on ebay)
Lanzom Hat

I grabbed this autumn plaid skirt recently from American Eagle and even though it's lightweight and great for summer, the color palette can definitely take it into fall. I paired it with a graphic tee and jean jacket here, but it would also look great with a cozy sweater or a turtleneck and leather jacket. Plus the soft elastic waist means it also pairs perfectly with a big side of mashed potatoes. And that's my kind of outfit!

Happy Friday!

Burnt Sienna - It's Not Just For Crayons.

It's not that unusual to find orange in my closet, given our household tends to cheer for the Denver Broncos (maybe more loudly in previous years than this season!). But since the Broncos aren't exactly having a stellar year, I have no problem trading in my traditional bright orange and royal jersey for a more subdued (and definitely more sophisticated!) shade of rust. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relaxed Cardi Coat
J. Crew Bow Top
Button Fly Jeans
Snakeskin Booties
Anthro Clutch (similar, similar)
Hoop Earrings

 

 

I believe Old Navy actually calls this color Golden Alder, which is probably more flattering than my term of burnt sienna, but I kind of feel obligated to give this highly underrated crayon color its due respect. It may not have made the cut for coloring rainbows and unicorns when I was five, but I sure do love it in my closet now. This sweater  - which is really well made and much better quality than I'd typically expect from Old Navy -  is also 50% off right now. And if orange ain't your thang, it also comes in black and heather grey (or Timberwolf, if you want to be Crayola-correct!)

Beyond Just Beige

I've never been afraid to mix up lots of patterns in one outfit, but most of my recent ensembles have been fairly simple without a lot of pattern play. And so today, I set out to change that! Stripes, plaid and animal print all at once? Well why the heck not!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Navy Stripe Tunic (similar)
Lucky Brand Plaid Scarf
AE Jeggings
J. Crew "Walker" Booties
Kate Spade Bow Satchel

 

In reality, mixing three patterns isn't as crazy as it sounds. My stripe tunic is basically a neutral - thin, widely spaced stripes are easy to mix with other patterns - and it looks good with just about any seasonal plaid, whether it's a shirt or scarf. A good navy or black striped top is definitely a great building block for pattern mixing, as they tend to play nicely with many other motifs.

And while the loudest part of my outfit is definitely the leopard boots, I'll always staunchly argue that leopard is a just a more interesting version of beige. And like my grandma always said...everything goes with beige! (And PS...they're also currently on sale for $95 with the code MORETOGIVE)

Happy Monday, friends!

 

Dog Drool Couture

Jeans and tee shirts are definitely the most prevalent items in my closet and what I wear on most given days. This uniform is my jam because (1) it doesn't require much thought because all tees go with all jeans; (2) it's a comfy, no-fuss combo; and (3) both are easily washed when I invariably get slimed with Great Dane drool several times each day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melody Mustard Chenille Sweater
Joshua Tree Tee
William Rast Tomboy Jeans (similar)
Freebird Salamanca Booties (on ebay)
Leopard Skinny Belt
Checkered Tote
Wrap Bracelet

 

And when winter sets in, the addition of a soft fuzzy sweater makes this uniform even better. I'm a fan of this chenille longline because it's like wearing a baby blanket and I'm also obsessed with this mustard color right now. Though I am considering this dark sage green version (on sale for under $20!) as it will almost match (er, HIDE) the daily dog boogers my outfits are subjected to. Ah, the glamorous life of a foster dog mom!

Happy Tuesday!

When Procrastination Pays Off.

Despite the fact that it's November, we've had some beautiful 70˚sunny days here in Colorado. The recent snowfall has melted away and the need for puffer coats and Sorel boots has (if ever so briefly) subsided for at least a few days. So naturally, I did what any cold-weather fashionista does this time of year and broke out my.... mini skirt! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Day Casual Fit Sweater
Forever 21 Camo Skirt (similar, similar)
Double-O Ring Belt
A New Day Sidney Boots
Universal Thread Tote

 

Actually, this skirt (that I happened to snag at an end-of-summer clearance sale) was in a pile with my shorts to be put away for the winter season, a task I've been procrastinating doing for weeks now. And thanks to my laziness, I was able to grab this skirt and style it with a winter spin, pairing it with a warm sweater and over-the-knee boots. Proving once again, that if you can fight that crazy to urge to anything productive, you just might rewarded with a fabulous outfit.

Happy weekending, my friends!

The Superhero Blazer.

It’s been years since I worked in a traditional office setting and while I don’t miss daily car commutes and that one coworker who always brought in stinky tuna sandwiches, I do often miss the opportunity to dress in professional work attire. Sure, pajama pants, oversized sweatshirts and optional bras are definite perks of working from home, but sometimes it’s nice to wear an outfit that makes you feel confident and chic instead of like you just crawled out from under a rock. And one of the easiest ways to level up an outfit is with a blazer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Blazer (similar; similar)
J. Crew Sweater (similar)
AE High Rise Jegging
Marc Fisher Booties
Anthro Clutch (similar; similar)
Wrap Bracelet

 

 

 

I’m a self-professed blazer fanatic, and I own way too many for a girl who doesn’t work anywhere near a corporate setting, but a simple black blazer is a wardrobe must-have. It can easily give an otherwise unremarkable outfit instant credibility and authority, both of which come in handy when meeting with clients (or dealing with insolent teenagers!) This vintage black number was a thrift store score from Bergdorf Goodman and proves that thrift stores are a great place to find high quality blazers. Look for clean, classic lines - I prefer a single button style - and a wool blend as they tend to hold their shape and structure.

 

Just like Superman’s cape made him faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, a black blazer can activate your superpowers, too. (Or at least make you look super fierce while fighting the bad guys!)

Tis' the Season of the Snuggie.

When it snows around here, you can bet I'm pulling out my blanket scarves! I've found that if I have cozy softness wrapped around my neck, I can wear just about anything else and still be warm. Plus the blanket scarf elicits less odd stares from strangers and less ribbing from my family than my other cold-weather option, the plaid Snuggie.  (And just a sidenote....if you haven't seen this Snuggie parody, go watch for your daily dose of hilarity!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerie Boyfriend Tee
Madewell Skinny Overalls
Plaid Blanket Scarf
Lace Trim Socks
Frye Campus Boots
Checkered Tote

 

 

I also love my trusty overalls when the thermometer dips, since they prevent any muffin top exposure to the freezing temps. So I guess my whole winter wardrobe goal is covering up as much skin as humanly possible - a revolutionary strategy, I know! I could probably wrap myself in a down comforter and get the same effect, but Madewell has yet to make one in stretch denim. (But when they do, I'm first in line!)

Happy Tuesday!

Another Fall Day, Another Plaid.

It's definitely plaid season around here, but I'm resisting the temptation to don the more holiday-inspired plaids in favor of more autumn-hued patterns. My newest flannel addition from Old Navy is making that easy. It's a longer tunic-length top in mulberry, salmon and just a touch of mustard, which may sound like a really disgusting food dish but happens to look pretty darn great on a shirt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Navy Flannel Tunic Shirt
American Eagle Jeggings
Faux Fur Vest (similar; similar)
BedStu Ashwell Boots (on ebay)
Lisianthus Fedora Hat
Victoria Emerson bracelet

 

If you're not into mulberry, this shirt also comes in five other plaids (including classic buffalo check and a festive red plaid) and it's currently on sale for under $15. I've already styled mine three ways and plan on several more  - stay tuned! It's definitely a closet staple this time of year. Another closet staple for me? My faux fur vest! It's an easy way to cozy up any outfit...Abominable snowmen and Muppet jokes be damned!

Happy Saturday!