Oct 10, Denim Shirt

Today’s OOTD is another Nordstrom inspired look from the email marketing campaign I received over the weekend.

The advice for today was to build a look around a classic accessory like a wool felt hat, which is adorable on some people, but not me! Instead I decided to build my outfit around a classic piece- my denim shirt.

I’ve had a denim shirt for years now, and if you don’t own one- I highly suggest you buy one asap. Either that or a denim jacket, which may be my all time favorite! A denim shirt (or jacket) is so versatile, it literally goes with everything. I always pack one when I travel, as it is the perfect layering piece. The one I’m wearing today is from American Eagle, but I also have one from J Crew that is more fitted.

Today I have paired my shirt with joggers. I like the casual, loose fit, but I don’t want to look messy, so I needed to tuck it in and roll the sleeves. To really add some style I have chosen snakeskin slides. While it’s tempting to just wear my comfy slip on sneakers, these shoes are a statement piece and truly complete the look.

Joggers- Marshalls

Shoes- Nordstrom Rack

Shirt- American Eagle

May 28, Black Dress

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.

Dress- Nordstrom, here is a similar one

Shirt- J Crew

Shoes- Superga

March 28, The F***ing Half Tuck

One question/ comment I get a lot is how to do the half tuck. If you’re a regular reader, you know I love doing the half tuck. I think it makes my outfit look more polished, it defines my waist and makes my legs look longer.

One thing to know is that it’s super easy to do. I literally just take the front of the shirt and tuck it in. Sometimes I just take a tiny part of the front and tuck it in, as seen here. I always leave the back out so that my butt is covered.

I jokingly call it the f***ing half tuck because it drives a lot of people crazy. I get it. On days when I’m feeling bloated- the last thing I want is a tucked in shirt.

But, if you are skipping the half tuck- then think about other ways to spice up your outfit. Unbutton a few buttons at the neck, roll the sleeves, wear fabulous shoes, add a statement necklace or scarf. Throw on a jacket or cardigan. Or forget the button down and try a bold print rayon (or silk) top that drapes well.  Do something to make the eye look anywhere but your tummy!  

In the photo above, I skipped the half tuck, but it still looks better than the before photo because I’ve done a few things to add some style. I’m wearing sandals (yes, my feet might freeze). I’ve rolled up my hems of my jeans, and added necklaces and bracelets. All of these minor details add appeal and interest. 

Shirt- J Crew

Jeans- J Brand

Sandals- Target

Feb 13, I’m Outta Here!

I think I’ve mentioned that we have been snowed in for days, and I can’t take it anymore- so I am getting out of town! I’m heading down to Palm Desert to see my folks for a few days, and hopefully get some much needed warmth and sunshine.

The before outfit is just a little boring, so to add some interest, I’ll tuck in my shirt, put on a belt and add cute booties. Since I’ll be on an airplane, (and I’m always cold on planes) I’ll need to add a little warmth by throwing on my Mer-sea shawl. This was a gift from my sister- and let me tell you, it is fabulous! Especially for traveling. First of all, it’s like having a blanket, it’s so cozy. Next, it has pockets! Oh yeah! Plus, it’s machine washable- which will be necessary after being on a plane. And (saving the best for last), it comes with its own little pillow case and can be folded up and turned into a pillow if I want to sleep! How cute is that?

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

When I arrive in the desert, I will put my Mer-sea shawl in my carry-on, roll up my sleeves and throw on my flip flops. Then I’ll be ready for the sun!

First stop- getting a pedicure! 🙂

Shirt- J Crew

Jeans- Levis, Marshalls

Boots- Paul Green, Nordstrom (similar)

Scarf- Mer-sea

Feb 4, Snow Day

Well, I guess it was finally our turn for the cold bitter winter weather to hit. We got a snow storm last night in the good old Pacific Northwest, which means everything will be shut down today, including school! Can you say ‘Snow Day’?!

For this cold, snowy day I want an outfit that is comfy, cozy and casual. The 3 C’s if you will.

So I’ve chosen my black leggings AGAIN! I swear, if you don’t own a good pair of leggings you need to go get some asap. These should be a staple in everyone’s closet- no matter what size you are. Think of leggings as you do jeans- a perfect bottom for any outfit. They are not just for going to the gym.

Buy expensive ones, ones that are thick and absolutely NOTHING shows through. When you try them on, sit down and see what happens, does the fabric stretch so much that you can sort of see skin? If so, do not buy them. You also want some with some spandex in them to hold you in and hide lumps. Cheap, thin ones will not do the trick. I love my Athleta ones- as seen below.

In my ‘before’ look, my denim shirt is too short to wear with leggings. I know I say this a lot- but for us more mature women, we need to wear longer tops that cover more.

I have replaced the chambray shirt in the before picture with a longer version. I like how it is peeking out under this big chunky black knit sweater. I just got this shirt at American Eagle. It is super soft, a great color- and I love the length.  To add a little interest, I threw on a long necklace. It breaks up all the black a little bit.

The Hunter Boots are perfect for walking through wet snow or rain. Plus, they are cuter than the Uggs. Don’t get me wrong though- I do love those Uggs… they just aren’t as cute. But boy are they warm…

Feb 6th, How to Wear all one Color

You may have noticed this about me- but in case you haven’t, I’ll state the obvious. I love neutrals! I feel very comfortable in neutrals- and especially love wearing clothes in the same color family. The only problem is that it can be really plain and boring- as seen on the right!

In my ‘after’ look, I replaced the tan t shirt with a cable knit sweater. The cable knit adds a subtle pattern, and the denim shirt underneath is a nice contrast. I especially like the tails hanging out below the sweater (breaks up the solid cream) and the sleeves rolled up (another place to add a bit of color).  As for my feet- I chose my loafers.

Now I have a comfy, warm and cute outfit- too bad I’m just heading back to lay on my couch! LOL!

Pants: Nordstrom, Shirt: J Crew, Sweater: Madewell, Shoes: Target, Necklace: Gift

Jan 10th, Three for Thursday

Hi friends! Sorry I skipped yesterday. I actually had a very early appointment with a specialist about my sciatica- and then spent the rest of the day in bed resting. ARGH!

Anyhoo… it’s Thursday, so time for another edition of Three for Thursday. For you new readers, this is where I show 1 item worn 3 ways. Pretty simple stuff!

As usual, my lighting in my bathroom is terrible, so you can’t really tell- but these are my purple skinny jeans. They look black in the pictures- but they are actually purple- I swear! To give you a true idea of what color they are, I included the picture (above right) from Pinterest.

In my first outfit I chose to keep it very casual and just added my blue and white striped shirt and my denim jacket. For shoes I chose my short boots.

For the next outfit, I also kept it really casual. This is a great weekend outfit- very simple, yet stylish. I chose my denim shirt and then added this cool infinity scarf and some fun bracelets. For shoes I chose my brown boots.

Denim shirt- J Crew, Scarf: Macy’s

My third look is more for a casual work outfit. Here I chose to wear a sweater (notice the cute ruffle detail around the neckline), and then I added a necklace and a stack of bracelets. For fun, I rolled the hems of the jeans and chose my leopard ballet flats.

Sweater: Loft, Shoes: Target, Necklace: Stella and Dot

Because I was inspired- I decided to try 2 more looks with these purple jeans. The first is a bit strange- and I’m not sure if I like it or not. Here, I chose a blush colored silky blouse and then added a cable knit dark grey cardigan. I like the contrast of the feminine blouse and the chunky sweater. It’s the shoes I’m not sure about. I love these slip on loafers- but the bare ankles paired with a big cardigan may be too much of a contrast.

For the last look I chose to show a date night look. Rather than just wear regular denim or black jeans, I decided to try a cute going out top with these purple jeans and added strappy black heels. Since the neckline of this top is so decorative, I skipped a necklace. Instead I added a fun chunky silver bracelet.

Which outfit would you wear? Any of them? Please comment, I love hearing from you!!

Nov 22nd, Three for Thursday

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.

Nov 21st, Disneyworld: Day 3

We did Epcot yesterday, and I am exhausted! I loved every minute of it though… friends had told me that it wasn’t that great- and to even skip it- but boy am I glad we didn’t! We had so much fun, saw so many things, and did some amazing rides!

Here is what I wore:

Again, I dressed in layers- and am glad I did! I kept changing my outfit throughout the day- it would be warm, then cold and windy, then warm again… crazy!

I wore my skinny cargo pants, a tank top, a white waffle style cotton shirt over the tank and then my denim shirt on top. As you can see, I have a small black cross body bag to hold my essentials (lip stick, sunglasses, map and tickets) and then on my back I have my backpack with the bigger stuff. I’m wearing my Puma’s- which proved again to be a great choice! My feet never hurt!

As I stated on the first day- I know this isn’t the most fashionable look in the world- but it is cute enough to not embarrass my family!

Pants: Micheal Kors, Shirt: Micheal Stars, Denim shirt: J Crew, Shoes: Puma

Not to be mean- but I did see some things I would advise not to wear.

It’s a horrible picture, but can you see this gal’s stretch pants? I wonder if she looked in the mirror before she left the hotel room? This is awful!

This family decided to wear matching tie dyed shirts…

It’s hard to see, but this gal has little Winnie the Pooh on the back of her socks… seriously?!

Today we are hitting Universal Studios! I’ll post my outfit from today tomorrow!

Nov 2nd, Denim and Black

I like this casual- perfect for running errands or attending weekend sporting events- type outfit.

I’m wearing my black skinny pants (these are not leggings- these are actually pants) worn layered over a black tank, then a denim shirt, then a black puffy vest.

It’s warm, comfy, and sort of stylish!

On the right, I’m showing a before picture of how not to wear denim! While I love the denim on denim look- this is too much!

This is such an easy outfit!

Pants: Gap (old), Tank: Gap, Denim Shirt: J Crew, Boots: Nordstrom, Vest: Nordstrom Rack