I apologize in advance for oversharing, but I’m a bit bloated today- and didn’t want to squeeze into jeans, so instead I opted for this long black cotton dress. It’s the ultimate in comfort- no tight waistband, no clinging in the hips, no pinching seams… just a super easy black dress.
All alone though, it’s a little basic, so I wanted to add something to it. I decided that since the dress is so comfy, I needed to stick with that and add even more comfort- hence, the teddy coat. This is actually my daughter’s coat from American Eagle, but she let me borrow it for today. And oh my gosh, I may never give it back! It’s like wearing your favorite blanket, but better! It’s truly the coziest thing ever and may be my new favorite item!
Keeping with the comfort theme, I decided to wear my black tennis shoes. To be honest, I struggle with what shoes to wear with this dress because of the length. In the summer I wore flip flops or flat sandals, but now that it’s cold and I need a closed toe shoe, I find it to be a challenge . The black Adidas tennis shoes give the outfit a casual, street style that I like. Plus, they are super comfy- so win- win! Here’s to the weekend! 🙂
Today is my first day going back to school. For those of you who don’t know, I’m a substitute teacher in elementary schools. I have missed teaching, and am excited to be back in the classroom!
For my back to school outfit I have chosen this black eyelet dress. While it’s still chilly this morning, I will add a denim jacket, and since I will be on my feet ALL DAY I need super comfy shoes like tennis shoes. But, comparing the before and after photos- you can see that subtle changes make all the difference. In the before photo my jacket is too dark and the sleeves are too long. I also have on white tennis shoes, which I usually love- but in this case feel like they look like nurse shoes. In the after outfit I have replaced the dark denim with a more faded one- which gives contrast between the dress and jacket. I also rolled the sleeves to give it a more casual vibe. I chose my Converse All Stars instead of the white tennis shoes. They are still super comfy, but look better. My last little detail is a necklace that I threw on. It’s so hard to see, but if you look super close, you can see a little black dot at my neckline. Tiny detail, but it still matters.
In my opinion, every girl (or, mom) should own at least 1 LBD (Little Black Dress). When you can’t think of anything else to wear, you can always throw on your LBD. Personally, I own at least 6…
Today I am showing 2 different cotton versions that are perfect for casual summer day.
Both of these are SUPER old- the one on the left is Lucky Brand. The one on the right is from Macy’s. Both are made of cotton- so comfy, casual and easy to wear. It is perfect for running errands, lunch out with friends or even date night.
Now I have to decide which one I will wear this evening…
For my OOTD I am wearing a black safari style dress. I bought this years ago, but this is a classic style that will be around a long time. A safari style dress is characterized by a few things. It usually is very similar to a shirt dress, yet has a little bit of a ‘going on an adventure feel’ to it with pockets, open neckline, belted waist (usually a tied belt)… if you need a visual, think Indian Jone’s sidekick!
I made a few small changes to create the look I wanted.
1. I rolled the sleeves- which is a subtle change, but it does make a difference.
2. I added a chunky belt to define my waist. I chose brown braided leather to play up the safari look.
3. I chose brown ankle strap sandals. Some might think it’s weird to pair brown sandals with a black dress, but in this case I think it works, especially with the brown belt.
I think I bought this at Off 5th, but honestly it was so long ago I can’t remember. It’s made of a jersey fabric, which means it hangs really well and doesn’t cling anywhere!
That’s it- a super easy, yet cute outfit appropriate for my National Charity League meeting this afternoon.
I bought this simple dress three years ago when I was going on a trip to Europe. I wanted something super casual, super easy and super versatile. This dress is definitely all that! It fits loosely, is made of cotton and is incredibly comfortable.
Alone it might be a little boring, but by tying a J Crew denim shirt at the waist, I have added interest and variety, not to mention made my legs look a lot longer! The cute long necklace also adds some style. Since I’ll be on my feet all day, I’ve chosen my Superga tennis shoes. A sandal would also be really cute.
Now for my public service announcement. Yesterday I was at our local pool and a 5 year old boy was found unconscious at the bottom of the pool. It was absolutely terrifying. Fortunately, a few bystanders (one of which was a doctor) sprang into action- pulled the child out and performed CPR until the paramedics arrived. The child survived (thank God), but it was a horrific moment that I hope no one ever has to witness.
I share this today because drowning is the number one cause of death among children ages 1-4, and can happen in an instant. And the scary thing about it happening at the pool- is that the parents were right there, but they probably thought the life guards were watching, which I’m sure they were, but there were a ton of people in the pool, and it’s impossible to watch everyone. I remember when my kids were little we went camping on Puget Sound with a bunch of families and one of the moms stated- ‘when everyone’s watching, no one is watching’ which really struck a nerve with me. She’s right, it’s easy to assume somebody else is paying attention and let our guard down a little. We simply can’t do that. So, please be safe with your kiddos this summer. Sorry to preach, but I felt it was important to share this important reminder.
You may remember on Easter I wore my white eyelet dress from J Crew. I loved that dress so much, that when I saw the Target version (a few years ago) I snatched that up as well. Today, I am showing how I wore it last week in Vegas.
It’s a cute, comfy dress perfect for a casual day outfit- or even for a night out with friends. I kept it simple and casual by adding flat black strappy sandals and my denim jacket to keep warm. The length is appropriate for my age (over 40), and the cute v neck and capped sleeves add nice detail. As you can probably tell lately, I really love wearing dresses. They are perfect for Spring weather- and easy since you don’t have to worry about matching top and bottom. Plus, they are so comfy!
And if you are thinking ‘dresses are too dressy… I’d feel silly wearing a dress to the grocery store’, here’s a super casual option. Throw on a baseball cap, tennis shoes and grab a big bag that holds everything. Add a denim jacket to keep warm & dangly earrings to add a touch of fun! Honestly, dresses can be worn anywhere!
I bought this black cotton dress at Nordstrom three years ago when my hubby and I were going to Europe to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I thought it would be a great staple to have on vacation- since it is a perfect base piece that you can add anything to!
Today I’m keeping it super simple and easy by just throwing on a cute long chenille cardigan and my slip on tennis shoes. This is such a comfortable outfit, the cotton dress is not too snug, my feet are in heaven and the sweater is keeping me nice and warm. I love outfits like this!
Dress- Nordstrom here is a similar one! And another! (these are actually cuter than mine!)
Three for Thursday is perfect when you are on vacation. It’s great to be able to pack one staple item and get several different looks out of it.
That being said- here is today’s 3 for Thursday! I’m starting with my little black cotton dress all alone:
And here it is with a gray t shirt over the top:
A simple t shirt over the top of the dress totally changes the look- it now looks like a skirt with a top…
Not my favorite look- but since I’m working out of a suitcase, tying my denim shirt over the top of the dress also gives it a fresh look.
A simple, cotton dress is a great item for your wardrobe- especially when on vacation. As you can see- there are so many options and your look can easily be changed with a few simple changes. In case you didn’t see my outfit from the other day- here is a 4th way to wear it!
Since it’s Thanksgiving, I think it’s appropriate to share what I am thankful for- and without trying to sound cheesy- I am incredibly grateful for my health. I have come to realize that being healthy is truly a gift, and I am so grateful for that- and that my family is healthy. Thank you God for that blessing. May I never take it for granted.
Well, we’ve made it through 2 whole days of touring Disneyworld, my goodness this place is HUGE!
I wanted to share with you some more tips about what to wear. As I mentioned yesterday, layering is the absolute key. It is very chilly in the morning- and as it warms up (or cools down) you want to have appropriate clothes.
Today’s outfit is actually what I wore yesterday- and it worked out great. It was cold all day and I never even needed to remove any layers- but had the sun come out- I could have removed the jacket- or the leggings, or the scarf…
I took a simple cotton black dress (black works because it will hide dirt- in the heat of summer I wouldn’t wear black- but for Nov it works). Underneath, I wore black stretch pants, then on top wore a cardigan (not pictured- I had to add it because it was so cold- these pictures were taken before I left), then on top of the cardigan I wore this utility jacket. To top the whole thing off, I added a scarf. I love this outfit because of the many layers- and because this jacket has large- deep pockets perfect for holding my map, my phone, anything!
As for my shoes- these are my Dansko sandals- and they worked perfectly! My feet were incredibly comfortable, my back never ached (as it usually does after a lot of walking) and let me tell you- we did A LOT of standing in lines and walking around! Â Comfortable shoes are an absolute MUST for Disneyworld.
My cross body bag ended up being too heavy to use, so instead I opted for a plain black backpack. I carried snacks, a bottle of water, my guide book and camera. Not super stylish- but it certainly worked to carry the essentials!
Drink lots of water to stay hydrated!
If you are visiting Disneyworld in the winter, be sure to pack warm clothes! Even thought the forecast was 72 degrees, it was 58 today! Very chilly, I can’t tell you how many people we saw who had to make an ’emergency purchase’ in the gift store of a dorky Disneyworld sweatshirt. Plan for chilly weather- I’d rather be over dressed than freezing! Keep in mind, every item pictured above is rolled up and stashed inside my bag on the picture on the right.
Dress: Macy’s, Jacket: Marshalls, Shoes: Dansko, Scarf: Boutique in Yakima
Welcome to a second week of Reader’s Request! This week’s question has come from more than one reader- and I’ll admit it’s a tough one. It almost stumped me!
The question is: what to wear in Disneyworld?
This is a great question because while you want to look cute, you must also keep in mind that you will be on your feet all day!
No matter how comfortable you want to be, please- whatever you do- don’t wear the outfit on the right!
This oversize t shirt is so unflattering, and the cropped yoga pants make my legs look really short! Don’t even get me started on the tennis shoes!
However, you do want to wear something that is very comfortable.
That being said- my suggestion is a short, loose, cotton dress. The fabric must be breathable (hence the cotton), and the length should be at the knee. I wouldn’t suggest a maxi dress because climbing in and out of rides could get tricky with a long dress. I like black because it won’t show dirt as easily- and the loose fit will allow me to eat all day long and not worry about a food baby!
Remove the scarf as soon as you warm up.
I love a dress because it can transition from day to night easily- (especially if you are going to Disneyland- it gets cold in CA at night!).  A dress is so easy to layer- throw a scarf, a cardigan and a pair of leggings in your backpack- and when the sun goes down you can easily add whatever you need.
By far, the most important part of your outfit is your shoes. You will be on your feet for probably 12 hours, so more than anything you need your feet to be extremely comfortable.
Let me just share with you my new FAVORITE shoe! It’s a Dansko sandal and I am seriously in LOVE with this shoe!
I wore it last week when I flew to California- I put them on at 4:30 am and wore them until 9:00 pm and my feet did not hurt at all. I swear!
This is coming from someone who usually has horrible lower back pain, serious fatigue and aching feet and I honestly felt amazing. I never knew a shoe could make such a difference.
Please take my advice and go buy yourself some. Wear them around the house a few days before you go- don’t ever wear brand new shoes to Disney (I’ve made this mistake and had to wear my clunky tennis shoes on the second day- and you know how I feel about that!).
There you have it- please feel free to comment and let us know what you would wear to Disney!
Use your scarf as a blanket when the sun goes down!
Throw on a cardigan if you get chilly.
It’s Fashion Friday– so be sure to click over to see more inspiration!
Everyday Mom Style 