July 29, Graphic T Shirt

I’ve really been ‘upping my game’ in the graphic t shirt department! (Insert laughing face here) Like many people, I own a ton of them- but never seem to wear them (except to sleep in), so today I decided to rock my Aspen T shirt.

The thing with wearing a graphic t shirt is that it can very easily look like you have put zero effort into your look. The outfit on the left is a good example of that. I just threw on a cotton skirt, a graphic t and black sandals and there isn’t much style to the outfit. Also, the proportions seem off. Both the t shirt and the skirt are too long, which can look frumpy.

To amp up the style, I decided a bright yellow skirt (that hits right above the knee) would be more fun. I then tied the graphic shirt in the front to give it some shape and sass. Finally, I changed my sandals to complete the casual look.

Jan 31st, Tying the Knot

Ok, bad pun- but I couldn’t help myself. Sorry!

Today’s ‘before’ look is jeans and a t shirt (seems to be a pattern here- see yesterday’s post), but today I’m switching up my outfit by tying a knot in my shirt instead of doing the half tuck that is so popular. The knot is a great option, especially if you have a little tummy that you want to hide.

I also added this cute long cardigan in a soft pink color, I added a necklace and switched out my shoes for the Paul Green booties that I love. I actually really like the slip on tennis shoes in my before picture- but thought the boots might be a bit warmer today.

 

The after look is much cuter- and so easy!

Jeans are Joe’s from Nordstrom Rack. They are super soft and I love the cute frayed uneven hemline.

Necklace- my sweet sisters (Kara and Erin) made this for me years ago. I love it!

Sweater- Nordstrom

T Shirt- American Eagle. This is one of the softest t shirts ever. Seriously! And I love this color. Not sure what to call it?!

Please comment with your suggestions and thoughts! I love to hear from you- it truly makes my day!

🙂 Megan

 

Jan 30th, T Shirt and Jeans

It’s a t shirt and jeans kind of day. However, to be honest, I’m not huge fan of wearing this kind of t shirt. Do you know what I mean? I’m talking about t shirts that have some sort of logo or company name on them. It just seems weird to me to wear this unless I am working out or sleeping. Now a plain t shirt… I’ll wear one of those every day.

In my ‘after’ look, I have swapped out the branded t shirt for a much cuter top in the same gorgeous color. This top has dolman sleeves and a very subtle stripe pattern which give it interest. I also like the way the top gathers around my middle- which hides my tummy. Have I talked about my grey jeans yet? I bought these last year at TJ Maxx, or maybe Marshalls- I get those two confused. Anyhow, I can’t believe how much I wear them. The grey is a fun alternative to blue jeans- and since I already wear so many neutrals- they go with most of my closet! This purply/ red top works well with the grey.

You may have noticed I changed from my orthopedic grey tennis shoes to some cute grey suede booties- which also happen to be super comfy. These boots were expensive, but so worth it since they are incredibly comfortable.

All in all, it’s a super easy- but cute look.

 

Jeans- Levis- TJ Maxx

Shoes- Paul Green- Nordstrom

Top- OC Style

Jan 29th, Casual Day

These North Face leggings are a dream.

 

They are so incredibly warm and soft. Some days as soon as I get home from work I put these on- they are just so comfy. The pattern is subtle, but a little more fun than just plain black. Today I’ve paired them with this cute asymmetrical waffle top from Costco! Seriously! Costco!  I never shop for clothes at Costco but a friend of mine had this top and I thought it was so cute! I love the fun hemline- and while I don’t hate my before look- I do like the way this asymmetrical top covers me up a bit more!

Leggings- North Face- REI

Top- Costco

Shoes- Adidas- Nordstrom Rack

Jan 28th, Comfy Flannel

Let me tell you about this flannel shirt!  I love it so much that I have to force myself to actually not wear it!  I got it at American Eagle when I was shopping for my daughter- but it caught my eye as something I could wear, so I bought it. It is so warm and soft. I love the colors and now it has become one of my weekend go to’s! But buttoned up and untucked it looks frumpy.

 

In my ‘after’ look I have layered the flannel over a black tank from the Gap, unbuttoned the shirt a few buttons, tucked the front in and added a belt.  Looking at the photos, I think I should add some necklaces as well.

On top of it all, I threw on my black down vest- which will help keep me warm in addition to adding interest and texture to my outfit. For my feet- I’m wearing my black Adidas- they just look a little more sporty and cuter than the old running shoes in the before pic.

One thing to note is this shirt is great because it hangs down really low in the back- covering my bum. (see photo below)

This is an easy, comfy but cute outfit perfect for running errands- or whatever you have planned today!

 

Jeans- Joes- Nordstrom Rack

Shirt- American Eagle

Tank- Gap

Vest- Nordstrom Rack

Shoes- Adidas Nordstrom Rack

 

Jan 26, Camo Leggings

I have had camo jeans for years, I have both a camo sweatshirt and t shirt that I love, a camo hat that I adore… but these camo leggings are my absolute FAVORITE!

I originally saw these on a blog that I love (Pinterestingplans) and immediately wanted them for myself. Then, about a day later I was at Anthropology and saw the exact leggings she was wearing. However, they were about $75. YIKES! So as much as I loved them, I was not about to spring $75. Fast forward a few days and I was at my all time favorite store- Nordstrom Rack- and lo and behold, there they were (different brand) for $20, now that’s more my style!

I immediately snatched them up and came home and started playing around with all the different tops I could think of to wear these with. These leggings are so soft and comfy- I just know I’m going to get a lot of use out of them. Plus, I read on another blog that camo is the new black- which means they go with everything!

Today I’m playing it safe, pairing them with white, black and grey

 

In my before photo I am wearing a tight V Neck white sweater with the leggings. While I love this sweater, it doesn’t work with leggings. When you are in your 40’s (or older) it is essential to cover up your lady parts. The younger gals can get away with a crop top and leggings, but for us more mature women, we need to keep it covered! Front and back. Just saying.

In my after look #1 I have replaced the white sweater with a cute loose fitting tank from Ann Taylor. I love this tank because it has a built in extra little chiffon layer at the bottom- which adds detail and length. Underneath I have on this cute lace bralette from Target. I added a necklace for variety, and since I’m living out of a suitcase for a few days, I will re-wear my giant grey sweater that I wore on the plane. This covers my parts, adds warmth and looks cute.

Another option is to pair the leggings with a white top.

 

In this option I am sticking with a white top, but instead of the sweater I have chosen a cute waffle shirt. These shirts seem to be all the rage right now. This one is OLD and needs to be replaced, but it works. The cute button detail and neckline add interest, the length is better and the thermal fabric will keep me warm. The only change I will make it that I will add a tank underneath, I don’t love that you can see the leggings underneath.

 

So… which would you suggest I wear? Option #1 or Option #2? Chime in- I’d love to hear from you, or hear what you pair camo with.

And don’t forget to come see me on Instagram. Click on the link on the top right of this page!

Leggings- Nordstrom Rack

Black top- Ann Taylor Loft

Bralette- Target

Sweater- Free People- Nordstrom

White waffle shirt- Michael Stars- Mercer (local boutique)

Shoes- Adidas- Nordstrom Rack

Necklace- Forever 21

 

Jan 24, Airplane Attire

I’m heading out of town today, so my outfit needs to be airplane appropriate- meaning comfy, warm and layers!

So what’s wrong with jeans, a white tank and a cute cardigan? Nothing really- except in my ‘before’ look the cardigan is too small, the plain white shirt is a little boring and my shoes look old and tired. All of these pieces can be incorporated into a cute outfit- but not for today!

Instead, I’ve chosen these cute ripped jeans. These jeans have so much stretch to them they are like wearing leggings- I love that. I’ve also chosen a cute blue t shirt instead of the plain white tank. Normally I wouldn’t have tried blue shirt with blue jeans, but I’ve read that wearing the same color top to bottom is slimming. So here goes! The cute thing about this t shirt is the hemline. It’s gathered in a little knot- so it’s basically doing the half tuck thing for me. So easy!

 

Now for the layers- I absolutely love this giant cozy sweater from Free People. My 15 year old daughter loves it as well- and steals it from me all the time. It’s so warm and cozy, and a great layering piece. Plus it has huge pockets to slip my phone or ID in while going through security.  Since it’s grey- it goes with everything! To top off the look, I threw on this cute blue/ grey/ pink infinity scarf. Infinity scarves are perfect for those of us who can’t quite tie a scarf perfectly (there seems to be an art to that effortless look of a loosely tied scarf). Plus, it’s a is a great way to keep warm.

As for my shoes- I’ll be doing a lot of walking through the airport, so a cute comfy slip on is a must have. These ones are amazing. They are Dr. Scholl’s brand, and so comfy. I found them at Marshalls.

 

Top- Nordstroms Rack

Sweater- Free People, Nordstroms

Jeans- 7 for all Mankind, Nordstroms

Shoes- Dr. Scholls, Marshalls

Scarf- OC Style

 

 

 

Jan 23, Black and White

Black and white is such a classic and easy go to for any outfit.

 

In the photos above you can see I have chosen black jeans, a black and white blouse and black boots. Here’s the difference: in the after picture I chose a little more fitted blouse- and I did the famous half tuck, defining my waist. I added a belt, rolled up my sleeves and added a necklace.

One thing I love about this blouse is it has really cute detail along the shoulders (see the picture below, it’s too hard to tell above). I also rolled up the hem of my jeans revealing my ankles- and switched out my boots for a lower profile bootie. This really changes the look. To be honest, I don’t hate the before picture- I actually think this blouse is cute,  but I wanted to give you a contrast so you can see the difference. Plus, plaid is really on trend right now!

*I apologize for the grainy photo above, for some reason the bigger the photo, the more grainy it gets. I have no idea how to correct that (or how to resize the photo). I am definitely in need of advice, if you have a suggestion- please send it my way! Thank you! 🙂

Jeans- Gap

Blouse- local boutique

Boots- Nordstrom Rack

Belt- Nordstrom Rack

Necklace- Gift

Jan 22, Cozy

I don’t know where you live, but here in the Pacific Northwest it’s cold outside… nothing like what you Midwesterners or Eastcoasters are dealing with, but still- to me, it’s cold and I like nothing more than being comfy and warm!

Take my outfit above- it’s simple, just a pair of grey jeans and a very soft and cozy sweater. In the before look I have left the sweater untucked and am wearing my Uggs (which are about the coziest shoe you can own), but honestly- they aren’t the cutest!  In my ‘after’ photo I have simply done the little half tuck thing with the sweater and changed my shoes to Converse tennis shoes. They are super comfy- and less bulky looking. All in all- a very easy and basic outfit- but warm!

If you want, you can follow me on Instagram (just click the link on the top right side of this page) be sure to leave me a comment!

Jeans- Levis (I bought them at TJ Max last year)

Sweater- OC Style

Shoes- Converse All Star

Happy Tuesday~

Megan

Jan 21, Day Off

Let’s talk about the outfits below!

It’s MLK Day, and since I am a substitute teacher- I have the day off! Yeah! I want to be comfy and cute at the same time- and this outfit does that. The before outfit on the left is just a little too sloppy. Mostly my pant legs- see how they bag and gather at the bottom? I bought these pants at Athleta a few years ago and they were expensive and incredibly comfortable. But now looking at the photo- they aren’t flattering. The after ones I just bought at Fabletics, and they are amazing. First of all, they were half the price (I got them on sale), second the fabric is fleece lined. Yum! And third, they have pockets! Oh yeah!

Other changes I made were swapping out the bright fleece for an understated grey sweater. I’m still warm and comfy, but the sweater just brings it up a notch. The detailing on the shoulders make it interesting. It’s simple, yet there is something there. I also did the famous half tuck to break up the straight line across my middle, and switched out the clunky tennis shoes for cute slip ons (which are the most comfortable shoes I think I’ve ever owned. If you don’t know this about me- here you go- my feet hurt ALL the TIME.)  It sucks- and shoes are an issue for me. So, I swear by these!! And- best of all,  I wear socks with them!

And there you go- simple changes, but a much cuter look!

 

FYI- if all you are interested in is the pictures,  come see me over on Instagram! Each day I’ll post my outfit photos there as well.

Also, if you have a minute, please comment! I love hearing from you- I value your feedback and plus, it’s fun to hear from readers. It honestly brightens up my day when I receive a comment.

Pants- Fabletics (I looked online and couldn’t find them, I bought them in store, but here is a link to her site in case you have better luck than me!)

Shoes- Vince (Nordstrom Rack)

Sweater- Calson (Nordstrom, it’s OLD, sorry!)

Socks- Smart Wool