This gorgeous burgundy sweater with ruffle sleeves is a perfect choice for my outfit today (OOTD). I’m teaching school then heading to a Happy Hour after work, so I wanted to wear something sort of dressy, but also comfy and warm.
I started with my black jeans and sweater. As you can see in the before photo- the outfit is a little plain and not very exciting. So, I rolled the hems of my jeans and added cute leopard flats. These shoes are a great way to add pattern and style to an otherwise plain outfit. I also pushed up the sleeves on the sweater a bit, added a belt, did the half tuck and threw on a necklace.
Hope you have a great weekend. See you tomorrow! 🙂
PS- check out my month in review to see all of February’s outfits at a glance. It’s at the top of the page!
In today’s before look I paired this cute geometric print skirt with this giant sweater. I LOVE this sweater, just not with the skirt. Since the skirt is so voluminous, I need something fitting on top. This sleek black turtleneck is perfect- it balances out the top and bottom. Adding this cute necklace gives the outfit a little color and I completed the look with these black booties.
I bought this skirt years ago at Target, and I love it because the waistband is elastic, and so it’s super comfy. The length is good for me (not too short) and the black and white make it easy to pair with anything. It would be fun to try a colorful top with it, but today I’m playing it safe and sticking to black and white.
True confession here- I am not really wearing this outfit today. I actually have a tennis match, so I’ll be wearing a tennis skirt and hopefully kicking some ass on the court! But… since you probably don’t want to see me in my tennis skirt (those things are SHORT!) I decided to show a different outfit.
I’ve always been a fan of J Crew. Their clothes are well made, classic- and totally my style.
Today’s outfit started with blue jeans and this checkered blue and white shirt from J Crew. Untucked and buttoned up, it looks boring- and the bulky Uggs aren’t adding any style.
To add some interest to this outfit (and because I am always cold!) I threw on this cute blue sweater over my shirt. I love the tails peeking out underneath. To top it off, I added this cute military inspired jacket and rolled up the sleeves. This style of jacket is very popular right now- and let me tell you a little secret, mine is from Ross, I think I paid about $30 for it. What a steal!
To complete my outfit I swapped out the Uggs for my favorite boots- my Paul Green grey suede booties. These are almost as comfy as my Uggs, and much cuter!
If I get too warm, I can take off my jacket and still have a cute outfit.
The school I’m teaching at today is having a ‘Wear Blue for Kindness’ day today! I love that elementary schools are teaching kindness! We could all stand to be a little kinder!
I wanted to show how this cute sweater dips down in the back.
We all know how much I love my camo leggings! If not, check out these posts here and here. But I do want to say, there is such thing as too much camo- as seen in the photo below!
I would have never really worn the outfit on the left, but I wanted to demonstrate how a little camo goes a long way. This pattern is so strong that the outfit it much cuter with this plain top and bomber jacket.
I love this top because of the length and neckline. It covers my butt- plus has draping in it to give it interest and shape. See photo below-
The draping is great for hiding my tummy!
This bomber jacket I bought at H&M and I love it.! It’s a nice alternative to a cardigan, plus it’s warmer! Best of all, it’s fun to wear! In the next few months I will pair it with jeans, joggers or even over a dress. It’s a perfect staple piece.
What is one of your wardrobe staples? I love hearing from readers to get inspiration. Have a great day!
Leggings- Nordstrom Rack
Top- this top is very old. I bought it about 6 years ago!
A reader commented that she can’t see the side by side photos when she opens my email on her phone. This post is a test to see if I can correct that. I apologize for the repeated content from yesterday. But… if you didn’t get a chance to read about my jeans try on session, now’s your chance! Click here for yesterday’s post!
This is not a weight loss post, it is me in both pictures demonstrating how size and cut of your jeans matter!
In yesterday’s post I tried on several pairs of jeans to discuss what works best for my figure.
Here is another example side by side of me:
These cropped jeans make me look wide.
Holy moly do I look like a pear in these jean joggers! Yikes!
Do you remember pajama day in grade school? Today’s look is like pajama day for grown ups! I know I’ve said this before, but I am so excited that joggers have become mainstream. They are just so comfy to wear! However, you have to be sure the fit is right. For instance, in the look on the left-the joggers are too baggy, my giant fleece is too big and my tennis shoes are ugly. It’s not a cute or flattering look.
These cute ones come from Target. Yes, you heard that right, Target! They are Champion brand and were only $29. They come in a variety of colors. Mine are sort off grey-ish green, and they are the most comfortable thing in the world! Today I’ve paired them with this cute black top that covers my butt (notice the half tuck to give my waist some definition). I’ve rolled the hems to show a little skin, and threw on my slip on tennis shoes. I’ve mentioned this before, but I am wearing my no show Smart Wool socks with these shoes- they are the best. It’s a simple, casual look- perfect for everyday moms!
This top is sweatshirt material, softest ever! From Nordstrom Rack. Champion Joggers from TargetSmart Wool socks!
Today’s look is all about finding good jeans that fit right. I’m wearing a simple, casual outfit- that’s sort of a staple for me. It’s my uniform- when I can’t think of anything else to wear, I rely on skinny jeans and a sweater. Which alone can be kind of boring, but with a little attention to detail (belt, shoes, jewelry), and the right jeans, it can be a cute outfit.
For a little research project, I went to my local Value Village (which is sort of like a Goodwill) and tried on lots of different pairs of jeans so show how the right cut and right fit make all the difference in the world. All of these are a size 6 (28). Notice how differently each brand fits.
The Gloria Vanderbilt jeans are probably the LEAST flattering ones I tried on. Notice how they dart in at the hip- I’m not sure what this is all about, but it creates saddlebags. It also has way to high of a rise (length of zipper) and the waist is too high. Yes, I know I mentioned a few weeks ago that I like high rise jeans- but not this high! And the solid blue is not flattering at all. This is definitely a mom jean, just not this mom!
These are Loft brand. The waist height is better on these jeans, and the color is better. Notice the whiskering- which are the lines formed by natural creasing over time, giving them a well worn look. Nowadays whiskering is made in the factory- and it gives jeans a natural distressed look. The problem with these jeans is the cut of the legs. Notice how they bag and gape around my thigh/ knee area. There is just a little too much fabric there.
Not your Daughter’s Jeans- This is another pair where the rise is too long, the knees are baggy and the whiskering is bad- it makes my tummy look big and my legs look short. These are not flattering jeans.
This is a brand I’m not familiar with, called Silver. In my opinion, this much bling is dated and out of style. The shorter rise is more flattering to my tummy area and I like the rips at the knees, the white stitching, and the boot cut, but I wouldn’t wear them simply because of the bling!
These are Banana Republic. I like the dark wash, but they are a little plain- they look like leggings, there is nothing to trick the eye (which is what good fading and whiskering will do). They make me look extra curvy. Quick note on that- I know I am thin- but I am also curvy. All this means is that my hips are way wider than my waist- which gives me the curves. Some women are built straight up and down- and clothes look totally different on them. Other women are pear shaped- small on top and big on bottom. Some women are big on top and skinny on bottom. We are all different and we are all beautiful- and we should embrace our shape and work with it, not against it.
Calvin Klein- these are too short, and the high rise, giant pockets and tummy area is not flattering. These look like mom jeans to me.
Denizan jean joggers! You know I love my joggers, but not so sure about denim ones! I will admit these were incredibly comfortable, but they make me look pear shaped and there’s just something weird about denim joggers. I think it’s an oxymoron?!
These are Free People- and clearly they are way too long. They have a totally different style- with the buttons at the side instead of a center zipper. On a really skinny straight body, these would be really cute. To me- they just make me look even wider through the hips.
Joe’s Jeans- These Joe’s fit me the best, although I still don’t love the straight leg. However, if you absolutely refuse to wear skinny jeans- than try something with a very straight leg. To me, the boot cut is a little outdated.
These are the Gap jeans I am wearing in the photo at the top. Notice the whiskering and the stitching. Both of these details add interest and help minimize my tummy area.
These are my Paige jeans. I love the skinny cut and the high waist. These jeans hug my curves, but don’t make me look huge. The dark wash makes them great for dressy occasions.
These are my Joe’s jeans, which I mentioned earlier and I love them! So comfy! Great fit. The lighter wash makes these more casual.
Here are some of my favorite jeans that I own:
From left to right: Top Row- Joe’s, Paige and Gap jeans.
Second row- 7 for all Mankind, Joe’s and Good American
Below are all the jeans I tried on! As you can see, my body looks totally different in each pair. When jean shopping- try on as many pairs as you can and don’t get caught up in sizes! Ask the salesperson to help you- that’s what they are there for. I suggest jean shopping at Nordstroms- they have a great selection and very helpful salespeople!
What are your favorite jeans? Do you have a ‘go to’ brand that fits your body great? And if so, what body type are you? Since I am curvy, I really only know what works for me… as mentioned previously, all of us are shaped differently.
It’s finally the weekend, and I have a lot to do around the house today, so I want to be comfy and casual. I’ve chosen leggings and a top, but in my before look my plain black leggings and black top aren’t very interesting. There’s nothing really wrong with the look, it’s just a little boring. To add interest and color, instead I will wear these patterned leggings from North Face.
I’ve then replaced the fleece with this great long sleeved work out top I found at Marshalls. It has detail at the neckline (see below). I like the length of this top because it covers my butt, which is important when wearing leggings!
To add warmth and color I threw on this vest I just bought at Loft outlet. I love the color (I seem to be into purple these days!), and I like that it’s not bulky at all, so it doesn’t make me look top heavy. To complete the outfit, I’m wearing my black Adidas. I swear, these are one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I got them at Nordstrom Rack, and I wear them all the time! I just think they better than my old tennis shoes, and they are so comfy!
My before look in today’s outfit is something I actually wore a few months ago. It was such a comfy outfit, and I thought it was cute at the time. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my joggers, but now looking at the photo I realize that the bulky sweater needs a slimmer bottom to balance everything out.
I love this sweater for both the color and the texture. I’m not sure if you can tell from the photos, but it’s a soft lavender color, which is something I never wear! Paired with my ripped skinny jeans and cute slip on tennis shoes and I am ready to go run some errands today. My sister gave this purse to me years ago, but I thought it would be fun to show with my outfit. Do you change out your purse everyday? I never used to, but now that I’m trying to be more stylish, I am making more of an effort with purses and jewelry!
One thing you may have noticed about me is that I very rarely wear any patterns, except for stripes. However, occasionally I like wearing a patterned camisole as a way to add a little color and interest to my outfit.
In my before picture I am wearing a printed t shirt (and for you eagle eyed readers that is from Free State Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas. That shirt is from back when I was in college, it is almost 30 years old and I still have it).
As much as I love it for the memories, the T shirt does not look good in this outfit. The neckline is way to high, it is super wrinkly and way too big. In my after look, I have replaced the t shirt with this cute printed camisole. Yes, it’s 40 degrees outside, but layered under this cozy long cardigan I am warm. The pattern on the tank is fun- and the neckline is more flattering.
Instead of blue jeans, I am wearing grey ones- and as you can see, I rolled up the hems a little. For my feet I replaced the orthopedic Danskos with my cute Paul Green booties.
One thing I’m trying to be better at is wearing more jewelry. I love the look of stacked bracelets, yet rarely wear them, so today I’ve added a few.
Everyday Mom Style 