Stripes and Floral

If you are just starting out at the pattern-mixing trend, floral and stripes are a perfect pace to begin.

It's a fun combination that doesn't require much thought. Pair your favorite striped top with a super-trendy and available-everywhere-right-now floral bottom (my favorite on sale here). 

Just make sure that the stripes are simple and that the color theme is slightly similar to one of the colors in the floral print. Blue/navy stripes are a safe bet but red would also be a good option. 

And don't worry if this kind of floral print is too busy for you. Try an option like this (on sale) and the effect will be the same, just a little more mild.

What patterns are you mixing for spring?

 

Top: Old Navy (a spring alternative here)

Pants: H&M

Heels & blue bracelet and short necklace (similar options here): Forever 21

Long Necklace: J. Crew

Sparkly rose gold bracelet and watch: Charming Charlie

Day Trip

I'm back from Las Vegas but I still wanted to share some pictures from the previous weekend where I joined my husband who was judging a speech competition. It was held at a tiny college in Wisconsin, where one round was held in this art room you see below. In the second picture you can see what was hanging over the competitors heads as they gave their speeches. Creepy, right? Oh, Wisconsin...

After the competition, we made our way back to Chicago, but first stopped in Milwaukee where we took a few pics on my husband's undergrad campus of Marquette University.

After that there was the obligatory stop at the J. Crew Factory Store! As I've said before, always my favorite part of going on a trip to Wisconsin is the stop at the outlet mall in Pleasant Prairie on the way back!

Sweater: J. Crew
Jeans: ASOS
Shoes: Target
Jacket: J Crew Symphony Coat (found one here on eBay)
Bow Necklace: Forever 21
Scarf: Madewell
Sunglasses: Target
Belt: J. Crew (similar here in patent)
Bag: Target
Lips: Nars Heatwave

Happiness inside!

White Motorcycle Vest

Not sure if you know, but I had been searching for a PLAIN white faux-leather vest for quite some time now. If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I found this vest at Forever 21 online for a mere $18. I actually saw it first at the store but it was on the mannequin in the window and they wouldn't let me have it. So I had to order it online. Side note, I'll never understand why stores put things in the window that they don't have ANY of to sell! Super annoying.

After just a few short days, my perfect simple white vest arrived which I made work appropriate with a skirt, sparkly necklace and pearls! Yes, PEARLS & a motorcycle vest can work in the same outfit!

Since I'm on vacation, let's consider this my Friday. I'll be back posting on Monday, but until then you can follow my trip on Instagram!

Skirt: J Crew 

Shoes: Shoemint "Hillary"

Striped boat-neck tee: J Crew Factory (similar)

Vest: Forever 21 (buy here)

Necklace: Forever 21

Bracelet: Forever 21

Watch: OLD men's watch from Target

Pearl earrings: Macy's

Glad I Found You

Everything in this outfit is something I'm so glad I purchased. 

• This top may have been the only thing I ever bought full price from Anthropologie but I just love the color and frill in the front.
• This mint blazer is made of comfy cotton to keep it feeling like a classy sweatshirt. I'm sure it will sell out fast. Be sure to size down; it runs big!
• This statement necklace matched so well with my outfit I wore the minute I got it.
• These shoes I looked everywhere for, and thought they would never be mine. But good old Amy spotted a pair in Old Orchard and they have been sprucing up outfits ever since.
• The best though are these jeans. I bought them in Ireland a few years ago where I discovered the store A|wear. Now that I can still get A|wear and many other lines not sold in the US through ASOS with free shipping and returns.

I will be heading off to Vegas with my husband tomorrow. Expect pictures with less wind and perhaps even some tan skin coming soon!

Blazer: Forever 21 (buy here now while it lasts)

Necklace: Forever 21 (buy here)

Cobalt top: Anthropologie

Bracelet: J Crew Factory

Watch: Charming Charlie

Bow Bracelet: Forever 21

Jeans: A|wear bought in Ireland see here on Asos

Heels: Forever 21 

Leather Leggings to the Rescue

This striped "top" is supposed to be a dress! Problems of a tall girl, or maybe that's just what Forever 21 thinks is long enough to be considered a dress. Lucky for me these faux-leather leggings saved me from baring way too much leg to the good people of Chicago.

Striped top: Forever 21 (similar for $13)

Vest: Zara

Necklace: H&M

Faux-Leather Leggings: ASOS (buy here)

Spike Necklace: gift from Amy (buy one here)

Boots: Marks by Report

Faux-Leather Sleeved Coat: eBay (buy here for $40)

Nails: White with silver tips

Lips: Heatwave by Nars

Every Day is Picture Day

I didn't remember until I got to school that it was class picture day. I swear that every year the date always slips my mind. Lucky for me, every day is picture day so I was dressed photo-ready.

I am happy to say that my hair is finally long enough to get into little side bun of sorts which is a first since I cut my hair off! I can't wait for it to get longer so I can rock a casual side pony again. Those were the days...

Tee: American Apparel

Blazer: Express

Amber necklace: J. Crew outlet (old)

Long necklace: Charming Charlie (recent and only $10)

Watch: Charming Charlie

Bracelets: Park Lane

Skirt: J. Crew #2 Pencil in Cordury

Boots: Vince Camuto "Fivvy"

Lips: Nars in "Heatwave"

Green Skirt Downtown

This outfit was worn to work and then to investigate wedding dress options at the Nordstrom Bridal Suite on Michigan Avenue for the lovely bride-to-be, Amy.

This is my second piece from Forever 21 in this bold floral-on-bright background. See my hot pink top here!

This is also my second (see green here) color of this top! I think I'm adopting my father's way of buying 10 of the same shirt when he likes one! Oh no, I must be getting old if I'm turning into him! 

Skirt: Forever 21 (buy here)

Belt: eBay (vintage)

Top: Zara (see my green version here)

Necklace: Forever 21

Jacket: Forever 21(similar here in camo)

Sunglasses: Forever 21

Earrings: Forever 21 (buy here for $5.80)
Ballet flats: Old Navy
Nails: Mint Candy Apple by Essie 

Vintage Pearl and Floral

In an attempt to make my floral pants look less like pajamas (which is what one of my students told me they looked like last time I wore them), I paired them with this solid black sweater and white collared shirt with a vertical contrast stripe. I also added a matchy-but-not-matching vintage-pearl-necklace-and-earrings combo!

Black sweater: Nordstrom

White Blouse: Forever 21

Floral pants: H&M (buy here)

Necklace: eBay (vintage) for just $3!!

Earrings: Etsy (vintage)

Bow flats: "Patty" by Me Too
Lips: Yu by Nars

Floral Blouse

I was holding on to this top waiting for something inspiring to come along to pair it with, but that moment never came. However, my need for a put-together look that didn't require much effort came first. And thats how my "magic pants" came to meet this blouse!

Blouse: Forever 21

"Magic" Pants: Express

Bracelet and black necklace: Forever 21

Shoes: C Label Hudson 10 (on sale here for $39.00)

Long necklace: Lia Sophia

Watch: La Mer via Stitch in Bucktown

Referee Stripes

This was my first successful attempt at the super-trendy referee stripes that are everywhere right now. 

My first try was this super cute Topshop dress that had so much potential, but the fit was way too big. Too bad, because it looks great on Rachel of Pink Peonies (which is where I spotted it originally).

Have you tried ouy the referee stripe trend? How are you wearing it?

  Jeans & Top: Zara

Jacket: Ebay (buy here for $40!) Also seen here

Bracelet: Forever 21 (buy here for $6.80)

Necklace: Shop HRN

Boots: Old Navy

Snakeskin Belt: J. Crew

Inspired by Olivia Palermo

This top is not something I would have ever picked out on my own. But when I saw it here on Olivia Palermo, it was instant love. Then I saw that it was from Zara (free shipping!!!) and not hundreds of dollars, so I ordered it right away. That girl can make a two-dollar t-shirt look incredible, so I hope I did it some justice. I even tried to replicate her use of a simple-yet-interesting slipper option.

If you like this top, lucky for you this embroidered style is huge right now. See it here in this adorable  dress, this spring/summer sleeveless version of mine from Topshop (love the back on this one), and this matching shell and shorts from All Saints I stumbled upon on a trip to Michigan Ave. on Friday night. 

What do you think of the embroidery trend cropping up this spring?

Top: Zara (buy here)

Pants: J. Crew Minnies

Shoes: Target (same but different colors and prints, some on clearance for $10)

Necklace: H&M

Nails: Mint Candy Apple

And for your enjoyment, here is an outake of what was captured by my photographer Amy when a very loud fire truck with its sirens blazing came through our super-echoy underpass!

Black Dress with a Deep Back V

I wish I could tell you all to run out and buy this dress, but I can not! I swear to you the only time I ever saw this dress in-store was the day I bought it, from Forever 21, back in the fall. I kept looking online for it, but it was never to be found again.

I'm sorry that I can't, because besides being comfy and easy to throw on, it has this great deep-v back that adds quite a bit of interest to dress, especially for a school day. And did I mention it was only 20 bucks!?

Here are a few affordable spring versions of my dress in coral, black (sleeveless or short sleeve) and the most adorable striped Kate Spade look-alike!

Serious shopping weekend ahead:

Tomorrow I am off to the Gilt City warehouse sale which should be terrifying as well as fun!

And if you love a good Target collaboration line, Sunday will be the big reveal of the Kate Young for Target line which will contain some of the fanciest party dresses Target has seen in quite some time! See the full lookbook here!

Have a great weekend!

Dress: Forever 21

Belt and shoes: J. Crew Factory