From Brunch to Business: Cute Tops from Express

I even talked myself into one of these cuties.

If you haven’t walked into Express in a while, you need to change that. They have a hot selection of clothes that tip on the dressy scale of dressy/casual (and a beautiful collection of business pieces) but they also have polished casual clothes, which you’ll see below.

I walked away with one of these pieces (and have already worn it twice in one week). And as I loaded these pictures I regretted not having taken home another top.

At the time I tried these on (which was a week ago) these tops were all under $30. They may be even cheaper now – clearance was an extra 30% off (isn’t that a beautiful sentence?)

Here’s the top I’ve worn twice now… Once with leopard pants and once with ripped gray jeans and pink heels.

Sorry the quality of the picture isn’t great – it was low lighting in there. This top is a satin material and I absolutely feel in love with the long, un-done tuxedo feeling sleeves.

Of all the tops I went to try on, this was lowest of my list of “need”, however trying it on I realized how many holes it would fill in my closet (case in point: I’ve already worn it twice). So my advice? If you’re headed towards the dressing room anyway, grab something you never would have thought about, it may be your favorite piece.

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This is more a lavender color in person, and I thought I would love it more once I tried it on, but it’s still something beautiful that could get tucked into a skirt or some high wasted jeans… You could also balance it out with torn jeans and booties.

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This is the piece I’m now wishing I would have grabbed. Love that it’s a higher quality material (silky feeling) and not just another striped top.

Another great thing to do, is style something you’re trying on. Don’t just throw it on and say no. Play around with it for a second. Don’t force yourself to like it, but give it a chance!

It’s got a t-shirt hemline which I’m typically not a fan of, but it’s long enough to overcome my annoyance.

express, west town mall, striped top, knoxville blogger, knoxville fashion blogger

express, west town mall, striped top, knoxville blogger, knoxville fashion blogger

 

The next two are tops that fall in the “casual but still polished” category. Such a fan of the silver thread in the button down shirt. Gosh, that with a pair of ripped jeans or shorts and some slip on sneakers – you are ready to stylishly pound down some brunch.

express, west town mall, ootd, knoxville fashion blogger, knoxville blogger

express, west town mall, ootd, knoxville fashion blogger, knoxville blogger

 

Like I said, all of these tops were under $30! You can find them (except for a small in that black one *muahaha) at Express in West Town Mall!

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Plaid Got a Makeover

plaid, tommy hilfiger, banana republic, the limited, express, forever21, plaid 2015, fashion blogger, knoxville fashion blogger

My son has pooped in a JCPenney three times now. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t like the place, or because he’s so relaxed.
Yesterday while the lady in the checkout line was oohing and aahing over him, he’s lying in the stroller straining. 

I’m just glad he got it all out because I was in a rush to put together an outfit. It was during that rush that I became thankful for two things…
One: I’m thankful he’s a good shopper and able to sleep while mommy drives his stroller like a bumper car (I’m still getting used to it).
Two: I’m thankful for plaid.

Sure the right kind of animal print makes me salivate and of course stripes are always a safe bet, but I was craving something new. Something fall-like but without the country feel (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

I needed a great pattern and I was pleasantly surprised to find that plaid has been given a makeover. Everywhere I turned there was an updated version of what can sometimes be a homely pattern. Whether it was incorporating new colors like the purple pictured above from Tommy Hilfiger or the orange and gray from Banana Republic, or by going bolder and wider with the stripes like Express has done, or maybe it was how The Limited printed it on a softer, flowy fabric – all of those upgrades made the pattern more appealing to a city gal like myself.

I tried with all my might to not title this post, “Mad for Plaid” but I have to say, the 21st century versions of this classic pattern and all the pattern mixing possibilities it brings with it, makes it hard not to go a little mad for a lot of plaid. ;)

Pick up any of these great options at West Town Mall!

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Interview Your Next Purchase With These 4 Questions

My boots are inching closer and closer to the front of my closet.
Those sweet cozy shoe days are almost upon us.

I know I’ve talked a lot about transitioning your wardrobe into fall lately, but the conundrum of what to wear is only going to get more complicated as we start to inch away from 90 degrees.

If you’re still shopping the summer sales, but want to get the most for your money and not have to wait till next year to wear what you’ve purchased, here’s what you do…

fall wish list leather cami

You put new criteria on what you’re buying (this top from Express is a great example).

This time of year I’m very careful to buy off the summer sale rack. I don’t want to be filling up my closet with floaty summer pieces unless I can answer yes to some questions.

This list will help you determine what to save for the coming months as the days grow shorter (yay!) and cooler (yay!). So when browsing through your closet or the summer sale racks, trying to figure out what you’re going to wear this fall, look over your summer things and ask these questions…

1. Would it go well with a jacket or a sweater?
If it does then it’s golden, because it will help you formulate oh so many outfits well into fall.

2. Does it go with boots?
This could even be something sleeveless because if it still goes with boots then you’re good.

3. Can it be worn belted or tucked in?
Remember, a top doesn’t just have to be worn plan. If it does look good either of those ways then it may be salvageable with a jacket thrown over the whole thing!

4. Is it a good foundation for a scarf?
Again, even if it’s sleeveless, the two may go very well hand in hand.
Asking these questions will not only stretch your summer wardrobe, but will also help you make the transition into fall-flawlessly (or fall-lessly)!

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