Nov 15th, Three for Thursday, Utility Vest

Welcome to another edition of Three for Thursday, where I show 1 item worn 3 ways!

Today I am highlighting my utility vest.

I first saw this vest all over style blogs last summer. I immediately drove to my local Old Navy and snatched one up! It is a fun piece to have, and I continue to see women wearing it, so this trend is going to be around for a while.

My first look I have paired the vest with jeans, a striped shirt and a scarf. This look is super casual, easy and fun. Don’t be afraid to mix a striped shirt with a floral pattern scarf. Pattern mixing is another trend that is here to stay. Quick note about my scarf- please make sure you buy scarves that are large and have some bulk to them. A scrawny scarf will not look cute, instead it will look like you are trying to hard- and missing the mark.

This scarf is one of my favorites! I love the floral pattern!

My next look is a fun one- I decided to pair the rugged vest with a dainty lace shirt. To add a little more  interest I chose my red jeans and my Tory Burch flats. I think a necklace might be the perfect final touch!

Contrasting the feminine lace top and the rugged vest is a fun way to mix things up.

My last look is one you’ve probably seen me do before (and will see a different version of next week).  Here I have layered my vest over a dress. It’s a fun way to make a dress casual enough for day use (you could wear this anywhere!). To keep warm, I have on socks and boots. To add a little color and interest, I chose my Stella and Dot statement necklace.

I love this necklace, but not sure it’s totally right for this look… hmmm…

Top Picture: Jeans: Nordstrom, Shirt: J Crew, Vest: Old Navy, Scarf: Boutique in Yakima, WA

Middle Picture: Jeans: TJMaxx, Lace shirt: Madewell, Vest: Old Navy, Shoes: Nordstrom

Bottom Picture: Dress: Land’s End, Boots: DSW, Necklace: Stella and Dot

Nov 7th, Feeling Patriotic

 I probably should have worn this outfit yesterday- but I didn’t- so here I am feeling very patriotic today.

The thing is though, wearing red jeans can be tricky. They are so attention seeking, it’s important that the top doesn’t compete too much with the bottom. On the other hand you don’t want to be too boring!

As you can see on the right- the white t shirt and the jean jacket are a little too plain. Plus, the jean jacket sleeves are too long and the fit is too boxy. Finally, my red shoes are a little to ‘matchy, matchy’!

On the left is my reworked outfit. Here I’ve selected a blue and white silk tank with an interesting print. I layered it under a more fitted jacket and rolled the sleeves up.

I love the loose, flowy style of this tank because it allows my tummy plenty of room to breathe- and the jacket ads a layer of warmth and texture. To complete the look I chose my Stella and Dot statement necklace. As for my shoes, instead of the matching red shoes I chose my wedge loafers. Now I can wear socks and my feet are toasty warm.

Jeans: Marshalls, Tank: Banana Republic, Jacket: Gap, Shoes: J Crew, Necklace: Stella and Dot

Oct 8th, Red Jeans

Today I am sporting my bright red jeans- which I love! It’s fun to have an alternative to plain old blue jeans!

When wearing pants this bright, it’s important to keep the top neutral- however, the outfit on the right is a little too neutral,  ahem, boring!

In the outfit on the left, I have replaced the white crew neck t-shirt with this cool black wrap shirt I bought several years ago at a boutique in LA. The asymmetrical hemline gives the top interest, and then I added a striped scarf- which adds a subtle pattern to the look.

It’s a simple and extremely comfortable outfit.

Here’s a hint about the scarf- I bought it at Target- and in order to make it into an infinity scarf, I simply safety pinned the ends together. I then looped it around my head 3 times. So easy- and it looks great!

A close up of the wrap top and the ‘infinity’ scarf.

When wearing bright pants, I am more comfortable keeping the top neutral- but that doesn’t have to mean boring!

Pants: Marshalls, Top: Old, Scarf: Target, Shoes: Nordstrom (Puma), Bracelet: Khol’s

June 2nd, Red, White and Blue

 I used to avoid wearing the colors red, white and blue together for fear of looking too patriotic.

Silly, I know.

Especially since these colors are meant to be together. They are so complimentary, so classic and so perfect!

Today’s outfit is based around my red jeans.

Originally, I paired them with this beige/ gray t shirt with the ruffle detail down the middle and my denim jacket. Although I liked this look at first- looking at the pictures, it seems a little blah. And I always struggle with the half tuck- it never looks right on me!

I then decided to pair it with my blue and white checked shirt- layered over a white tank- and then rolled the sleeves up a bit.

It’s a more stylish look- and I love the way the dark blue in the checks is complimented by the dark wash on the jacket.

I like the sleeves rolled up- a much ‘cooler’ look!

Jeans: Marshalls, Shirt: Land’s End Canvas, Jacket: Gap, Shoes: Nordstrom

April 13th, Cheap Thrill

Let me tell you a little story about a mom who wandered into a consignment shop and found a cheap thrill!

My son was getting his hair cut the other day- and lo and behold right next door was a consignment shop, so of course I had to go in and explore.

Let me tell you- it was SO MUCH FUN!

I’ve always been a fan of bargains- and love finding something on sale, but I never imagined the thrill I would get in a re-sale shop!

Who knew?

Yes, it smelled a little funny in there.

Yes, there were a lot of awful clothes.

Yes, I felt a little weird looking at other people’s discards.

But- there were also some great finds and great prices- including this fun little vest I’m wearing today.

Now, here’s the weird part.

Just the other day I was at an intersection and saw a cute gal walking by. She had on workout pants, a t shirt and the coolest vest.

I wondered where she got it- I thought it was so unique and so interesting.

I walked into the consignment shop and the first thing I find- I swear- is this vest.

It is almost the exact same vest as the one I saw!  It was fate!

And it was only $12!!

I brought it home, washed it in hot water (twice) and now here it is, complimenting a white V neck shirt and paired with red jeans. It adds so much interest to what otherwise would have been a boring outfit (as seen on the right).

The morale of the story is- if you are wanting to re-fresh your wardrobe, and don’t want to spend a fortune- consider checking out your local consignment store. You may be surprised by what you find.

A piece of advice, go with an idea in mind of what you are looking for- and it’s ok to leave empty handed. The thrill is in the hunt!

And for a good laugh, check out this post on jeans I found at the Goodwill! It shows some really bad Mom jeans!

This vest was meant to be mine!

These pockets are perfectly placed!

Don’t forget to check out Fashion Friday over at Girlymama!

I’m being profiled on Mommypage.com today- so if you want to see my face, here is your chance! LOL! Click here!

Feb 27th, Red Jeans Again

I talked a bit the other day about my shopping/ wish list for spring.

One of my items was colored jeans. I resisted this trend for a while, worried that I was too old for it- but when I saw a cute pair (that actually fit me… more on that in a minute) at Marshalls I had to snap them up.

I have a real problem getting jeans to fit me- my hips are larger than my waist, and my butt is large- so I end up with a huge gap at the waist. I hate that!

These jeans actually work for my figure, and I like that the red is somewhat muted- although in these pictures they look really strange, it’s just bad lighting- I swear! To see their true color, click here.

In order to keep the outfit sophisticated and age appropriate, I’ve decided to stick to a neutral black top. On the right you can see that this plain black t shirt is not quite right. The high neckline is unflattering, and the plain style of the shirt adds nothing to the look.  The ugly black shoes aren’t helping at all. The whole look is too plain and simply boring.

On the left I’ve replaced the bad t shirt with this cool wrap shirt that I bought years ago on a girls trip with my sister to LA. As much as I love it, I rarely wear this shirt, partly because I never knew what to pair it with. I think it’s perfect with the red jeans.

I like the draping of the material, love the asymmetrical hemline and love how it covers my bum! To add a little rocker glam to my look I’ve added this cool chain style necklace. I’ve also replaced the ugly shoes with these patent black ballet flats- my black wedge heels would work as well (for the office).

Thanks to the advice of Musing of a Housewife– I now feel confident and stylish in my new red pants!

Also- it’s Monday, so time for Monday Mingle! This week it’s hosted by BonBon Rose Girls! Be sure to check them out for some other cute styles!

Play it safe and pair your red jeans with a neutral top.