Nov 13th, Bold Stripes

As you all know I have an obsession with stripes! I just can’t get enough of them- and I apologize if you are getting bored with seeing me in stripes day after day…

Today I am wearing a blue and camel colored striped sweater. As you can see- the stripes on this sweater are much wider than I usually wear- and I will warn you that you have to be careful with stripes this wide- they can add bulk to your frame. That’s why I went with the skinny jeans- the contrast of large on top means the bottom must be small. It’s all about balance.

On the right I have left the sweater all alone- and simply paired it with skinny jeans and flats. I think this works- its plain, simple, yet I like it.

On the left I have added a light blue oxford shirt under the sweater, and then also switched out the ballet flats for my ever present Target brown boots! By adding the shirt underneath I have added a layer of interest- and warmth. I like the shirt tails peeking out under the sweater- and I love the boots because I can wear socks and my feet will be toasty warm all day!

Which do you like better?!

Sweater: J Crew, Shirt; Target, Jeans: CABi, Boots: Target

Oct 11th, Cozy Sweater

It finally feels like fall here in Seattle, so I decided it was time for my ultra cozy sweater. I bought this several years ago at Anthropologie, and absolutely love it because of all the detail in it- there is so much to look at!

I layered the cardigan over a plain black t shirt- then added a scarf to give the look an even more cozy feel to it. It’s such an improvement over the look on the right. Please note that I actually really love the sweater on the right- but paired with this high neck black shirt and Uggs- it’s too plain.

As for my bottoms- I need your opinion.

My first look is jeans rolled to look like boyfriend jeans (note- this is the exact same pair of jeans in both pictures). For my feet, I chose my short black cowboy boots. Looking at the photos, I honestly can’t decide if I like this look or not!

Next I decided to try the sweater paired with my purple jeans- see below!

What do you think? Purple jeans or blue jeans?

To make my jeans look like boyfriend jeans, I simply rolled the bottoms. So simple!

You may notice this sweater is starting to pill a bit… I have a trick for you! Using a razor, shave your sweater and the pills will disappear. It takes a little time, but so worth it to save a favorite piece! Just be very careful- if the sweater is thin, you could easily make a hole.

You might also notice that you can see my short sleeves from the t shirt bunching up under the sweater- I will swap out this shirt for a long sleeve shirt so that the sleeves don’t bunch.

Please take a minute to comment- blue jeans or purple jeans?!

Sweater: Anthropologie (similar), Scarf: Target (similar), Jeans: Target, Booties: DSW, Black Boots: Frye

Oct 6th, American Classic

It’s another gorgeous day here in the Pacific Northwest!

We are having the best summer/ fall I can remember (according to my friend who runs the local farmer’s market, we are on 20 weeks straight of sunshine)! Thank you Mother Nature!

I’m wearing one of my favorite fall looks today- cropped jeans, ballet flats and a cozy wool sweater. It’s a good outfit for running errands, attending soccer games, going out to lunch… whatever the day has in store for you!

I know I’ve shown this before pic already- but I think it does a good job of showing how easy it is to change small details- and yet have a much better look.

Let’s start with the jeans-  the cut of these jeans is too wide- making my legs look wider than they are- and the length is all wrong (cutting off mid- calf is awkward). Next we have these goofy black shoes- which make my feet look strange. As for my top- this plain crew neck top is a boring color, and you can see the outline of my potbelly (gasp). To make matters worse, the open cardigan is actually drawing your eye right to my belly- almost framing it if you will…

On the left is my re-do. These cropped CABi jeans are a much more modern look. Here is how the Cabi describes them:

The new wash is a bit more beat up with subtle whiskering and a slight blue-grey cast. Strategic hand sanding is slightly darker on the sides to create a longer, leaner look.  This denim is a nice weight with a touch of spandex for great recovery.

On top is a camel wool sweater layered over a denim shirt (yes, you can do denim on denim- I swear). One of the things I love about this sweater is the back (hence the picture of me from behind!). It’s a small detail, but I think it adds interest to the look (not to mention a few comments of “did you know you have your sweater on backwards?”.  As for my shoes- these ballet flats match the color of the sweater- tying the whole outfit together. And of course, a necklace finishes the look.

No it’s not on backwards, I swear!

Jeans: CABi, Shirt: J Crew, Sweater: Lands End, Shoes: Nordstrom (Frye), Necklace: Lia Sophia

March 19th, Mad for Plaid

 Today it’s just Kara and me… Erin had to leave yesterday. Bummer! 

Today we are showing two versions of a plaid shirt. On the right is my before look- which Kara so lovingly described as ‘you look like you are in your pajamas!’

I think she’s right!

These loose, baggy cargos have no shape and do indeed look like jammies. Maybe that’s why they’re so comfortable.

On the left I have traded out the baggys for my new skinny cargos. I’ve layered a sweater over my plaid shirt and then, to define my waist, I added a belt.

To finish the look, I threw on a necklace. Best of all, my plaid shirt is from Target (love a bargain).

Kara, on the other hand, is wearing a plaid shirt from J Crew. Hers is paired with skinny jeans, a thin wool sweater and then she’s also added a necklace.  My favorite part of her outfit is these fabulous J Crew booties. They are so comfy and so cute- and definitely on my wish list for next year…

To those of you who have been reading for a while, you know I’ve tried plaid shirts several ways and failed miserably each time. I think I finally got it right today! Go me!

An alternative to the sweater is a denim jacket. This cropped and fitted one works.

By the way, it’s monday Mingle, so be sure to check out those cute Bonbon Rose Girls!

Me: Pants: Micheal Kors, Shirt: Target, Sweater: Nordstrom, Shoes: Nordstrom

Kara: J Crew from head to toe!! (lucky girl)