Loft Best Dressed Teacher Event - VOTE FOR ME!

If you hadn't heard, I was lucky enough to be selected as a finalist for the LOFT Best-Dressed Teacher Contest! I'm so excited to share with you a recap of the event they held to announce the finalists.

I also need YOUR help to vote for me! Voting only lasts a week on the LOFT Facebook page, so read below for the details!

Let's start from the beginning, shall we? My blogger/teacher friend April shared the LOFT + Lucky Magazine contest link with me, which boasts a prize of $1,000 for our classroom and $500 in LOFT reward money to spend on cute clothes! After consulting with my friends on which of my blog looks was the most "teacher-y" we all decided that this preppy look was the most fitting for my submission.

A few weeks later on my drive from school to my workout, I got a call from Lucky Magazine telling me I was one of only five finalists! I was so excited I had to pull over to call Amy and share the good news! 

On March 20th, LOFT hosted a finalist reveal party at the Michigan Avenue store. We shopped spring looks, got our hair and makeup done, then shot a video interview that can be seen on the LOFT Facebook page. Basically we were treated like LOFT royalty the whole time!

Voting begins today on the LOFT Facebook page and ends April 6th! If you have time, please stop by and cast your vote for me by "liking" the little blue "like" button under my video. that is how your vote is cast! I'd truly appreciate it, and just think of how many new books for my classroom library $1,000 could buy! It would make such a huge impact on my students! Thank you!

Shopping pretty new spring arrivals in the Michigan Avenue store before the event!

So many girly pieces to choose from, where do I even begin?

Playing dress-up in this gorgeous lace dress and anorak at the step-and-repeat.

What I finally decided on wearing for the interview. Thanks Amy for hunting down this crisp white blazer!

My husband showed up looking quite dashing to support me.

One stylish group of teacher finalists!

Gap Fit and Flare Dress

If this look doesn't scream teacher I don't know what does! A fit and flare dress in such a pretty shade of cobalt paired with a J. Crew plaid button down makes this spring dress wearable while it's still pretty chilly out. Tights don't hurt the situation either even though I wish they weren't necessary still.

Dress: Gap // Shirt and necklace (look alike on super sale): J. Crew // Tights: DKNY // Heels: Forever 21 (cute option here) // Lips: YSL

15 Pieces

I'm just going to come right out and say it. This 15 pieces series of mine is a bad idea. No, not for you to read, but for me to compile. You see I want to buy EVERYTHING!

Topping this springy set for me is the rose tinted silver rimmed Ray Ban aviators. And who doesn't love a midi skirt? I'm so itching to wear one that I picked up in months past but cant bear to pair it with anything but bare legs.

Happy shopping everyone!

Workout Wednesday: Galaxy Pants

I would just like to say how very sorry I am to everyone who had to see my dirty hair this weekend. Lucky for you I put a hat on to hide it from you for these pictures. Don't forget that this is post workout hair too! Consider yourself lucky!

I found these leggings in the Nordstrom active wear sale section online and all they had left were my size so that worked out really well! If you have not checked out the sale workout section on the Nordstrom site, I highly recommend it. See some of my faves below, all on sale of course!

Tank: Ellie // Jacket: Lululemon // Pants: UnitY // Hat: J. Crew (on sale) // Shoes: Saucony (cute options)

Winter Maxi Skirt

Who doesn't like looking long and lean? Well that's exactly what a maxi skirt can do for your body. Even though I usually reserve this skirt for the warmer months because it's made of thin cotton and makes for a salt-and-slush magnet near the hem, I still gave it a try. This was a "warm" day for this horrid Chicago winter so it was actually not too bad. And by that I mean I only needed a scarf and 3 layers of shirts. Indoors.

Skirt: Express (almost identical and only $18)

Blouse: Forever 21 (similar)

Scarf: Nordstrom Rack (similar)

Bracelet: Express (similar here)

Jacket: Zara (old but loving this option here)

Booties: Old Navy (cute option on sale here)

Lips: Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Smitten (my fave!)

Wade and Belle: Not Too Tights Giveaway X3!

Have you ever heard the words "amazing" and "tights" in the same sentence? Probably not, because most tights are not what women would refer to as "comfortable." I am about to let you in on a secret of mine that will change your mind forever on how you feel about tights. I have discovered the BEST tights in the world. I'm not joking when I say that Wade and Belle "Not Too Tights" tights are the most comfortable, best-fitting tights I've ever worn. 

You know how you can't wear certain dresses because of the line they leave around your waist? The muffin top you didn't have but now you do because of your tights? Well NO MORE! Wade and Belle have anti-muffin-top technology built in. I swear to you there is no line!  I was showing coworkers the waist band or should I say lack thereof in the bathroom at work! That's how excited I was about these tights. 

And since winter is never going to end here in Chicago, a Wade and Belle giveaway is just what we need! THREE lucky winners will get a pair of Wade and Belle tights of their very own to fall in love with! I swear you will! Enter below! Good luck!

Coat: Andrew Marc // Skirt: J. Crew // Sweater: JC Penny // Booties: Old Navy // Gloves: Nordstrom Rack // Hat: J. Crew // Scarf: Zara

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Leather Skirt to Work

Every now and again, you stumble across a great deal. This outfit is a prime example of two of those great deals. I found this faux-leather skirt for a minuscule $7 at the H&M sale last winter (I would say two winters ago, but this one is STILL HERE). The blazer was found in the clearance section at Target! What is a perfectly good timeless black blazer doing in the clearance section. Waiting for the right home I suppose.

Skirt: H&M (cute faux option here)

Blazer: Target

Plaid top: J. Crew

Nails: Essie Truth or Flare

Necklace: H&M (old but super cool pendant here)

Boots: Ivanka Trump via Nordstrom

Lips: YSL

Keep it Simple

Silver heels can really dress up a fairly simple outfit and make it a little more special. Even if it is just for the middle of the school week. And hey, it was even kind of warm that day so my bare ankles made an appearance! 

Shoes: Dillards (similar)

Pants: J. Crew

Sweater: Gap

Watch: La Mer Collections (customized by me here)

Necklace: H&M

Bag: Sam Edelman (similar)

"Chalk It Up To Style" Chicago's Best Dressed Teacher Event

Join me tomorrow night at LOFT Michigan Avenue where the 5 best dressed teachers in Chicago will be revealed! I couldn't be happier to announce that I'm one of the five finalists!

Come join the party and win some pretty great LOFT giveaways while your at it!
Hope to see you there!

Black and White

Second day in a row you have seen this faux-fur stole. It was just so darn cold in my classroom I had to wear it around. I was kinda giving off a Cruella De Vil vibe here but I'm ok with that. Black and white are just such an easy combo I couldn't resist.

My photographer's selfie

Dress: CK (similar)

Necklace: Oia Jules

Watch: Michael Kors

Tee: Ann Taylor (similar)

Booties: ShoeMint

Lips: YSL Glossy Stain #9

Pink Day!

We had a breast cancer awareness day at school yesterday, and we were asked to wear pink to show our support. Done! I'd been looking for a reason to wear my J. Crew window-pane blouse and pink pleated skirt together and not look insane! This was the perfect opportunity to pull off a pink overload.

Cardigan: Martin & Osa (old, but similar here for under $30!)

Blouse: J. Crew (one for sale on eBay here)

Skirt: J. Crew (one here on eBay)

Stole: BooHoo

Tights: DKNY
Boots: DSW

Winter Wonder Woman

It makes no difference if I'm only wearing jeans and a sweater: every time I wear this white cuff bracelet I feel like Wonder Woman! Totally elevates this super-casual outfit to a whole different level. And the best added bonus? The faux-leather is against your skin, not the cold metal. So it's actually quite comfortable to wear in the winter, which I find very hard with bracelets during cold times. Double score for this cuff!

Happy Friday!

Jeans: Forever 21 (similar at Gap)

Booties: Old Navy (similar in price and color)

Sweater: Joe Fresh via JC Penny

Purse: Sam Edelman

Watch: La Mer Collections (custom order! Make yours here)

Cuff: Milk and Honey (on sale for just $12 right now!)

Scarf: Nordstrom Rack (similar)

Hat: J. Crew

Lips: Revlon Matte Stick