spring – Page 2 – the Spiff

The Jacket You Need for Right Now

April 22, 2015 No Comments

When I say that a white jacket is going to carry you through this awkward spring/winter transition and how you should really get one, I mean it.

I’ve been shopping around for a white leather jacket to add to some ensembles I had in mind, and I finally found the perfect one.

The funny thing is, I tried this same jacket on in a medium and thought it was ok. It wasn’t until I went back and tried the small size on (only because the medium one was gone) that I really fell in love with it.

What you have to watch out for with shorter jackets like these, is you don’t want the sleeves to feel too big. Because the back of the jacket is so short, I like to make sure that the sleeves don’t go all the way down to my wrists so that it has a shrunken look overall.

If not, it just looks to me like you have gigantor arms, and no one wants to look like they have gigantor arms, right?

I’m just so happy to have found this as it was the perfect dose of edge to add to this floral pattern shirt and pink skirt.

I hope you enjoyed this post from last spring! Here is a white leather jacket that’s similar to the one I’m wearing. And even though I wrote this a year ago, I’ve been on a business trip this week where I packed this same jacket. Which means it’s lasted long and still works when I’m pregnant.

It’s definitely worth it!

dress, dress shopping, Fashion, florals, spring

A Double Dog Dare for Your Closet

April 10, 2015 No Comments

Dress Asos // Shoes Off Broadway similar here // Earrings New York & Co.

I double dog dared myself to break out of what I normally wear (leopard, animal print, black and white, leopard…) and try something new. Pastels! Floral! A dress that dips down inappropriately low!

With the addition of a black cami, I think it turned out pretty fantastically.

It’s good to know your boundaries when it comes to what you wear. It helps to really hone your style and give you direction when shopping. I know that I’m not a super girly dresser with bows and lots of frills and for a long time no floral whatsoever.

But it’s ALSO good to break out of that and push yourself a little bit. Even if you only get as far as wearing it in the dressing room, try to take a risk every now and then. It will either introduce your style to something new and fresh, or it will reinforce why it is you love what you love.

Listen, I’m not suggesting you bungee off a bridge. I’m saying try a new pattern – when you put it in that perspective it’s not so bad, right?

Now I don’t know if I’m going to go out and buy a whole bunch of floral print, but I’ve now got something I can wear on occasion that will liven up my wardrobe. And in going with a floral print dress, it really stretched my accessorizing ability. I can usually have a dress styled by the time I hit the cash register, but this one was a challenge I was completely up for. I didn’t want to wear earrings that looked like flowers, as there was enough of that going on. So I opted for a simple diamond and pearl drop. Diamonds because I wanted a little sparkle and pearls because the dress called for something soft – and they make it more daytime appropriate.

It keeps people guessing when you try something new, and can even break you out of a style rut.

To read more about how I chose this dress and get some more dress inspiration of your own, click here!

I double dog dare you to try something new this spring!

Fashion, spring, west town mall

The Season’s Most Popular Pattern: Floral

April 6, 2015 No Comments

This is me making a strong effort to introduce a new pattern to my closet. I can’t preach things like, “break out of your box, and try wearing something new!” if I don’t practice it myself.

What better pattern to do that with this spring than floral? I mean, really…even the weeds that spring up flowers look amazing. I think we can pull this off.

I’ve told you before, I’m not very girly when it comes to my style of dress. The only thing in my closet with a bow on it was bought for a Halloween costume. So going with a print this frilly and girly is definitely stepping out of my style zone. However, it can be easily pattern mixed with stripes (of which I have a-plenty), paired with edgier pieces giving you a perfectly balanced look, or patterned in such as way that it doesn’t look overly girly (as in the dress pictured below from New York & Co.)

What’s great about this pattern is it introduces so many color options into your look, so floral can easily become a neutral. I think a pair of floral pumps or flats like I’ve got in the collage would be great because they’d add a pop of pattern and color to the most basic outfits.

Take a look at the options below (all found at stores in West Town Mall) and go with as little or as much floral as your little heart desires!

1. American Eagle glasses case.

2. Altar’d State floral scarf.

3. Forever 21 floral print top.

4. JCP floral pumps

5. JCP floral flats

6. Altar’d State earrings.

7. American Eagle floral shades.

8. New York & Co. floral geo print sheath dress.

dress, dress shopping, Fashion, spring, west town mall

Good News for All You Dress Shoppers

April 2, 2015 No Comments

I bopped into New York & Co. in West Town Mall earlier this week to pick up some earrings for my Easter dress and I stumbled upon (not really because I was purposefully walking in there) their gorgeous spring dress collection!

If you’ve waited till this weekend to grab your Easter dress, definitely put then on your list of places to check out.

Because not only do they have a fabulous selection, but they also have an amazing sale going on! Plus if you’re a AAA member, you can always show your card and get an additional 20% off. I truly can’t think of any more good news to bring you my friends, short of showing up at your house right now and throwing glitter everywhere…(but that would require you cleaning it up, so more good news – you don’t have to clean up glitter!).

Hide hips and bum with the first two options below; disguise a rounder mid section and thicker arms with the blue wrap dress; and with the last dress, add shape (plus a little va-va-voom) to a straight figure, or show off your figure if you’re an hourglass!

For a more in-depth guide to buying for your body type, and for some more beautiful Easter dress options, click here!

Fashion, jcpenney, spring, west town mall, Why this works

Lace and Pink for Those Who Don’t Love Either

March 27, 2015 No Comments

My style as a child could best be described as “hot and cold tomboy.” While I really loved dresses and twirling around in them, I didn’t like lacy socks and wearing loads of pink.

I remember sitting in a restaurant with lacy socks on, tugging at them constantly because I didn’t want them on my feet. Then there’s the visual of being the only girl at a birthday party, running around throwing pine-cone grenades in a pink satin jumper (the drive to that party was not a happy one).

So for my entire life I’ve loved clothes and dressing up in them, just keep the really girly stuff away.

The lace stuff is cute for everyone else, but not for me. Or so I thought until I found this top at JCPenney. What I loved most about it is that I could give it an edge by pairing it with a black cami.

I found this pink…I mean…dusty rose colored skirt at Ross a couple years ago. A long pleated skirt is so forgiving and flattering and just everything you’ve ever wanted in a skirt. And I love the sharp contrast of the black and white up top with the softer color on bottom.

And because the top is so busy, all I had to add were these adorable white flower earrings. I love these especially in the spring because they add the perfect small visual to your ensemble.

See, there’s totally a way to mix in pieces you may not normally wear in order to freshen up what you wear almost every day (which for me in this case is black and white).

Consider a combination like this for your Easter outfit!

Also, yay for great weather to take #ootd pictures in…boo for not remembering to charge my camera and getting only 2 minutes of picture time outside. Hopefully next week the stars will align and I’ll get both back!

Previous page Next page