A Cute and Comfortable Winter Outfit

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Still taking some time to sale shop stop and reflect about the coming year ;) Enjoy today’s post from last season then tune in Monday when we set some style goals for 2016!

swacket smile jpg

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Similar necklace; swacket; skirt; shoes; undershirt came from here (believe it or not).

My favorite purchase of this fall/winter has hands down been this sweater (or jacket…maybe swacket?).

I actually took it right off the back of an unsuspecting mannequin, and I’m so glad I did (she had it coming). I love having one cool go-to piece that I can grab and consistently feel good in throughout the colder months. It’s especially nice when I’m stuck trying to figure out what to wear – I just grab this and style it differently.

This time I changed things up by buttoning it up. It works especially well with this voluminous skirt and really helps showcase this gorgeous statement necklace my Aunt Kathleen got me for my birthday this past year.

Think about any swackets you’ve got, could you get more mileage out of them by wearing them buttoned?

Maybe now that you’ve learned the word “swacket” you’re confused as to what the proper pronunciation would be, AND need help styli

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Salute to Shorts

This post is from last August, but I can guarantee you I’ll be rehashing this outfit again this year.

So please enjoy while I continue on my short maternity leave from the blog :)

gap shorts

Any 80’s kids remember that show, “Salute Your Shorts”? Today I’m going to help you get your shorts so dressy they just might get saluted. Probably not. But maybe.

This outfit was one of those downtown ensembles that I love to put together. I don’t know about your downtown, but ours has that artsy vibe. So I always like to break out of my box a bit whenever I’m going down there for dinner.

The box out of which I broke with this outfit was my “I don’t like to wear shorts” box. I’m not a fan of how they feel, and most of the time they look all bunched and wrinkly so they don’t often make it into my rotation. However, with it being a bit cooler out at night (and with a solid tan going on my legs) I thought it would be good to at least take these boys out once this summer (the shorts that is, not my legs).

Even though I’m not a big fan of shorts, this army green pair I got from Gap are pretty awesome. I love the length – not too mom, not too hooch – and the fact that they cuff and in doing so make my legs look smaller makes them ok in my book.

I balanced out the shorts with a patterned sweater and anchored the whole thing with gladiator wedges. Shorts get 1,000 times more flattering when you wear them in heels, FYI.

It’s a pretty simple outfit, in fact I’m sure you have some of these same pieces in your closet. So give it a try this weekend and see what you think!

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The Pants that Flatter Everyone

I’ve always wanted to be able to pick pocket.

Not because I want to steal things from people, but because I think being so slick with your movements and expertly diverting the attention of your target is so cool and smooth. Thankfully I can channel this weird desire for a life of crime into how I get dressed.

Picking and pairing clothes that flatter your body involves being a master of illusion, because we get to divert attention from where we don’t love to where we do.

And while there are rules and guidelines for every body type, every once in a while there’s a piece that really flatters everyone. Like fuller pants.

Think of this fuller pants shape as the magical jeans you could form a sisterhood around.

A fuller shaped pant or jean balances out the shape of someone who is bigger on top, they give your body shape if you’re straight up and down, and when worn to the ground with high heels they make even the most petite legs look miles long. You can also pull them off if you have a bigger bum, but be sure to pair them with a jacket or sweater (to balance you out) and always always wear them with something that highlights your tiny waistline.

Here are the options I’ve picked out for you – all found at West Town Mall.

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1. The Limited: Show off your best summer heels with these full culottes.

2. Banana Republic: They’re cool in every sense and would look great with a light weight summer tee and necklaces.

3. American Eagle: Loose and comfortable? Yes! Wear them with a tighter top to balance out their flow.

4. GAP: Office appropriate and perfect for summer especially when paired with a tucked in shirt and blazer.

5. Dillard’s: A dressier version of the linen pant, which means you could wear these to all kinds of summer functions.

Think about this too – their flow-y fit really mimics the airiness of a maxi dress so they are great for warmer weather (especially on that very rare occasion where you haven’t shaved your legs)!

Maternity note: I bought a pair from Gap that have an elastic waistband so I’ve been able to wear them now throughout the pregnancy and later – which is awesome!

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The Perfect Denim Jacket for Your Body Type

If your closet was a pantry, a denim jacket would be the all-purpose flour.

Useful in so many ways and often used to tone things down.

Throw one on over sun dresses and little slinky tops to make them more office appropriate. Wear it with white pants or black pants. Make a fancier dress more casual, or give shape to your shapeless pieces.

And it’s not just perfect for spring and summer. A good denim jacket will be with you through fall, so it’s a really good investment. I’ll go as far to say it’s a classic.

Which is why it’s so important to choose one that’s going to flatter your body type and make you look magically delicious. To help, I’ve put together this guide to show you which ones will work for your frame…
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1. Hide your hips with this longer denim jacket from Dillard’s. It hits a little below where the hips start which helps to visually balance them out.

2. Give a straight figure more curves with a darker Tommy Hilfiger jacket. The larger pockets add bulk in the right places, and it tapers in the back in giving a curve-less figure some va-va-voom!

3. For petites, JCPenney gets it right. This jacket helps petite frames in that it hits right at the waist/top of hips, and the vertical lines helps create the illusion of length. Also, make sure the sleeves are rolled up so the jacket doesn’t overwhelm your frame.

4. If you’re rounder in the middle, this darker denim blazer from ZapposĀ  is the answer. The darts helps it taper in which defines a waist line for a rounder figure and the open collar with the blazer structure opens up the jacket and creates a great skinny line right down your middle.

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How to Dress Up a Plain White Tee

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You know what I truly love more than shopping? Going through my own closet to see what new looks I can create.

I’ll be somewhere else in my house and get an idea for an outfit combination and immediately I’ll have to drop what I’m doing to go try it on and see if it works. I promise that’s a practice I’ll put to bed whenever this guy comes along – or else I’m going to have an angry baby on my hands ;)

The process of tweaking and editing an outfit till it works is right up my alley inside my wheelhouse (sure my wheelhouse has an alley).

Take this plain white t-shirt for example. Right now especially I’m doing my best to stretch a slim maternity wardrobe so the more ways I can wear a simple t-shirt the better.

One thing about plain white tee’s is they are very see-through. Instead of trying to fight its sheerness, use it to your advantage and wear a striped top underneath. Really almost any patterned tank will work because all the white does is mute the pattern a bit so the louder the better.

It creates a whole new look and allows you to dress it up even further by adding a cute colorful statement necklace (this one came from Rue21).

Also, lets talk about this clutch for a moment. This is actually an Ipsy bag. That’s right, I was getting ready to leave one day and in desperate need of a tiny purse, when I looked on my dresser and saw this bag. Perfect! Another point in the Ipsy category as a box would be a lot less glamorous to carry around. I can’t wait to see what next months bag looks like!

Baby Side Note: I just have to say how much I’ve enjoyed being pregnant. I want to meet this guy so badly, but I really do love getting to show off a baby bump. This whole process is so miraculous and I’m just so thankful to be experiencing it! :) Have a great weekend!

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