Blogging Besties: Souvenir Necklace

Hi friends! It's time for another week of Blogging Besties! Inspired by Whitney's arrowhead necklace from Iceland, I chose a souvenir piece of my own! I bought mine at a Forever 21 in Indianapolis, so it's a bit less exotic, but I still think of my trip to Indy when I wear it! I paired it with this camel sweater dress, tights, and wedges!

I'd also like to mention that we will be taking a two week break from Blogging Besties! Whitney and I agreed that with the holidays coming up, we should skip a few weeks as we will both be traveling! So we will be back on our regular schedule for the New Year on January 9!

Dress: Old Navy

Wedges: Payless

Necklace: Forever 21

The elements of this outfit are: Sweater dress, leather accents, druzy jewelry, amethyst, tights, and suede wedges! Your move, Whitney!

Previous editions of Blogging Besties

Now link up with your "passed on" looks if you please!

An InLinkz Link-up

Hearts and Plaid

Ahh, the ever-coveted Zara blanket scarf (or the copy cat version, rather) makes its first appearance on my blog!  I purchased this scarf before the leaves started turning colors, let alone falling off the trees, because I was still upset that I had missed-out on the original version last year!  I'm so happy that this scarf is still the "it" thing to wear this season, even though I would have worn and loved it regardless!

From Pinterest to style blogs, there is certainly no shortage of inspiration as to how to wear this cozy scarf!  I've worn it a few times already with solid colored tops but I had so much more fun mixing the plaid with my new, heart-covered LOFT sweatshirt.  Although the prints are really different, I found that the cream colored hearts worked well with the background color of the scarf which tied the two prints together into a cohesive ensemble.

Do you own a version of this plaid blanket scarf?  What's your favorite way to wear it?

What I'm Wearing:

Sweatshirt: LOFT (exact)

Scarf: Cotton On (similar, similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Boots: Macy's (exact)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Fridays

DC In Style- Monday Bloom

Fizz and Frosting- Mix It Mondays

Greater Than Rubies and Tucker Up-The Lovely Lookbook

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays

My Closet Catalogue- TARDIS Tuesday

Pink Sole and Cha Cha the Fashion Genius- #HowIFall

Blogging Besties: Arrow Necklace

It's one week later and I still can't get over how adorable Alex looks in this outfit!

While I wish I could pass on the exact dress that Alex has, I had to settle for wearing my arrowhead-inspired necklace.  I purchased this necklace as a souvenir during my trip to Iceland last year so it's a fun reminder of my travels and adventures.  Do you have any clothing items or accessories that remind you of trips you have taken?

#teacherselfie

So here are your choices of pieces to pass on for next week: a mustard boyfriend cardigan, striped dress, brown tights, cognac boots, an arrow necklace or a souvenir piece of clothing or jewelry!

But in the meantime, what did you pass on from Alex's outfit?

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Hand Me Down (similar, similar)

Cardigan: Target (exact)

Necklace: From Iceland (similar)

Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Boots: Macy's (exact)

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

An InLinkz Link-up

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Part Two

I have a confession to make and some of you aren't going to like it: I don't like thrift stores.

I know, I know, you can find great pieces at low prices.  Typically these items are clean...and you can wash them again yourself if you want.  Blah, blah, blah.  Believe me, my friends have tried to convince me of this many times.  I just can't do it!  Something totally weirds me out about wearing something that was previously worn by some unknown being.

For this reason, I understand that I completely miss the point of a true Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.  I know I'm supposed to pay pennies for such a sweater at my local Goodwill, but this just isn't something that I can bring myself to do!

Earlier this week, I showed you a cute and festive outfit that you can create even if you don't own such a sweater.  Today I'm back with a look featuring a *gasp* store-bought version!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties have become so popular that most major retailers from Target to Rent the Runway are selling these decked-out duds!  When I signed-up for an Ugly Christmas Sweater 5k, I turned to Etsy to find my costume!

I completed my look with some comfy reindeer leggings from White Plum and an adorable hat that was the gift I received in lieu of a t-shirt for signing-up for the run.  It was so much fun watching these hats bob up and down as racers jingled their way to the finish line (some with hot chocolate in hand).  It was a fun and healthy way to celebrate the season!

What I'm Wearing:

Sweatshirt: Etsy (exact)

Leggings: White Plum (similar, similar)

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Part One

It seems like in the past couple of years, ugly Christmas sweater-themed events have been the thing to do during the holidays.  In fact, I can't think of a more fun way to celebrate the season than by sporting the most over-the-top, festive look imaginable while spending time with your friends and loved ones.

A few weeks ago I was invited to such a Christmas gathering but didn't own or have the time to find an ugly sweater to wear.  What's one to do in a such a situation?  Find as many festive pieces as possible and throw them all together in one ensemble!

The reindeer t-shirt, the plaid skirt, the red tights and the sequined flats?  These are all pieces that I already had in my closet and that I would wear in daily life...just not all together.  But combined into one outfit they made for the perfect party attire!

Do you have an ugly Christmas sweater party to attend but don't have the sweater?  Look through your closet for the reddest, greenest and sparkliest items, then put them all on together!  I bet you will be the most festive party-goer of them all!

Check back later this week for another idea of what to wear to a holiday party!

What I'm Wearing:

T-Shirt: J.Crew Factory (similar, similar)

Cardigan: Kohl's (similar, similar)

Skirt: J.Crew Factory (similar, similar)

Tights: Target (similar, similar)

Flats: From France (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

I Do deClaire- Confident Twosdays

The Modern Austen- Sunday Best

My Closet Catalogue- TARDIS Tuesday

Pink Sole and Cha Cha the Fashion Genius- #HowIFall

Blogging Besties: Fit and Flare Dress

Hey y'all! It's my week to put together an outfit for Blogging Besties, passing on a piece from this look of Whitney's last week:

I just love the maroon one Whitney chose! So much, in fact, that I decided to style a "fit-and-flare" dress of my own. I ordered this little number off of eBay, and when it arrived I learned it was new with tags from ASOS! I got it for just $10, so it's a steal, and I just love it! I styled it for the chilly weather with tights, booties, and a hat.

Some elements of this outfit are a fit and flare dress, a hat, a pendant necklace, tights, booties, a cross-body bag, arrow inspired jewelry, cognac leather, and emerald green! 

Dress: ASOS (similar, similar)
Hat: Target (similar, similar, similar)
Booties: Forever 21 (exact)

Previous Blogging Besties Segments

Now, if you please, link up your posts that incorporate one of the elements of Whitney's look from last week! We'd love to see what you have, even if it's an old one from way back!

An InLinkz Link-up

Class Reunion Style

Last week, I asked you all for advice about which of three potential dresses I should wear to my 10-year class reunion.  Merci to all of you lovely readers who provided your two cents!  You helped me to understand the look that I was going for as well as which features of which dresses fit with my desired outcome.

So, without further ado, here is the dress that I chose!

You helped me to realize that I wanted to feel a little bit sassy and sexy at my reunion.  While the lace dress was absolutely gorgeous, the emerald leopard print of this dress just had the right vibe!

I wasn't sure how dressy the event was going to be so I wore tights (also to combat the chilly Michigan air) and suede wedge booties to make the dress a bit more casual.  Hopefully someone will invite me to a fancy Christmas party so I can pair this dress with some glamorous heels next time!  I did add a bit of glitz to my outfit with a sparkly necklace (because I doesn't love a bit of shine?!).

I had an absolute BLAST at my reunion!  You know, I thought reunions were supposed to be kind of weird and awkward but I didn't find that at all!  A few of my closest friends also attended so I always had someone to talk to, even during lulls in activity.  But I really didn't need my "security blanket" too much and spent lots of time reconnecting with formerly familiar faces.  It's kind of crazy to have a conversation with a group of adults who know what you looked like when you were seven years old!  I also danced my pants off (can you do that when you are wearing a dress) to some pretty fabulous 90s music (MMMBop, anyone?) and brought out my rusty stunting skills with a few other former cheerleaders.  All in all, a successful evening!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: LOFT (exact)

Necklace: LOFT (exact)

Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Booties: DSW (exact)

Linking-Up:

Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Friday

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays

The Modern Austen- Sunday Best

Pink Sole and Cha Cha the Fashion Genius- #HowIFall

Style Elixir- Style Sessions