Blogging Besties: Teal

Hey gang! It's my turn to pass something on from Whitney's look last week:

Whitney paired the navy stripes from my last look with teal and cognac accents, and it was absolutely adorable! I decided to "pass on" the color teal! I don't usually wear teal, but on Black Friday I picked up a teal peplum top at LOFT and I'm in love with it! I wore it with black skinnies and booties to a party with some of my girlfriends.

Top: LOFT (similar sleeveless, similar)

Skinnies: Forever XXI (similar, similar, similar)

Booties: Forever XXI (exact)

Bag: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Other Editions of Blogging Besties

The elements of this element are teal, lace, peplum, black skinnies, cognac, leather, crossbody bag, and gold jewelry!

If you "passed on" an element of Whitney's outfit last week, please link up here!

An InLinkz Link-up

Buffalo Plaid

I spent last winter admiring other bloggers' cozy buffalo plaid looks so when I found this shirt at Gap earlier this fall, I knew I had to add it to my closet!

I really like the soft green and grey tones of this shirt!  I feel like the color combination is a little bit more "me" than some of the bolder buffalo plaids I've seen.  I think by now it's pretty clear how much I love grey, so I topped-off the shirt with some cozy grey layers.

I do feel a little stumped, though, about some other creative ways to wear this shirt.  Do you own a buffalo plaid top?  If so, how do you wear yours?

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Gap (similar, similar)

Sweater: LOFT Outlet (similar, similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Boots: DSW (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Fridays
I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays
My Closet Catalogue- TARDIS Tuesdays

Blogging Besties: Navy Stripes and Teal

Is anyone else as I happy as I am that it's Friday!?!  I don't know if it's the dreariness of winter or the post-holiday blues, but work weeks have felt particularly challenging to survive lately.  Alas, it is practically the weekend and let's kick things off by taking a look at Alex's classic look from last week!

When Alex and I started Blogging Besties, I only ever envisioned passing on basic items from week to week like skinny jeans or riding boots.  I've really had fun getting creative, though, by drawing inspiration from the details like an aztec print or a souvenir necklace.  This week I felt so inspired by Alex's outfit that I recreated then entire thing but in dress form!

I loved Alex's pairing of navy stripes with the color teal...a combination I wouldn't have thought to put together myself!  I also thought that Alex's brown accessories gave her look a classic and preppy look.

So, my friends, here is a list of the basics and the details from which you can choose what to pass on for the link-up next week: a fit and flare dress, an open cardigan, colored tights, riding boots, navy stripes, the color teal, a bow belt and cognac accessories.

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Gap Outlet (similar, similar)

Cardigan: LOFT (similar, similar)

Belt: Target (exact)

Tights: In France (similar, similar)

Boots: Macy's (exact)

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

But in the meantime, show us what you passed-on from Alex's look!

An InLinkz Link-up

Stepping Out

One of the reasons I started Whitney à la mode was to motivate myself to look at my closet and use my wardrobe more creatively.  In other words, I wanted to get out of my style rut!  I think that this goal is more about the journey than the achievement.  No matter how well I master remixing my clothes, I can always look at what I have in a different way.

I'm writing this post as a motivator more so to myself today than to anyone else.  I feel that I've fallen back into a style (and therefore a blogging) rut.  Part of the problem is exhaustion due to work.  I think I mentioned before that I've taken on more responsibilities this year and they have left me feeling drained of all my creative juices.

The other factor to blame actually sounds like the opposite of a problem at first: I really like all of the pieces in my closet!

I know, I know, this is great, right?

YES!  This is something that I've been working towards!  The problem, though, is that I like my pieces so well that I can get away with boring and repetitive combinations.  As a result, I haven't felt excited about getting dressed lately.  This really isn't me and this certainly isn't à la mode behavior!  It's time to step out of the box!

Two of my favorite bloggers receive inspiration credit for my first step out of that box!  Last week, Maricel layered an open button-up and an open cardigan over a shirt.  I thought to myself, "Why haven't I tried this before?"  So I did!  And I liked it!  Layering is one of my favorite ways to add interest to an outfit so double the layers is double the fun in my book.  

Over at Putting Me Together, Audrey is putting together weekly challenges to encourage all of us to use our closets more creatively.  This week our task is to wear a bright color.  Done, done and done!  As much as I love color, this was a bit of a challenge this week since I've been so drawn to neutrals lately.  I liked the outcome so much, though, that I've been reaching for more and more of my vibrant pieces.

Have you gotten into any style ruts lately?  How can I help you out of them?  Let's do this together!

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: LOFT (similar, similar)

Gingham Shirt: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Cardigan: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Skinny Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Booties: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Styled Honestly- Fab Five Fridays

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays

Putting Me Together- Style Challenge

Blogging Besties: Striped Shirt

Hi friends! As you may remember, last week Whitney put together the cutest grey and pink look.

I just love the way every piece fits her perfectly and how the color combination dovetails with Whitney's personal style. The element I chose to "pass on" was the striped shirt! I paired my navy striped tee with a cardigan, pants and flats for a comfortable yet polished outfit to wear to a long day of RA training. Also pictured is my trusty handbag! It was a birthday gift to myself, and it is just perfect for things like training and sorority meetings where I need to bring my iPad, a notebook, waterbottle, and a million other things but still want a cute bag.

The elements of this outfit are: striped shirt, cardigan, skinny dress pants, emerald green, camel, ballet flats, and a leather handbag.

Shirt: Target (similar, similar)

Cardigan: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Pants: Old Navy (exact)

Flats: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Bag: TJ Maxx (similar, similar, similar)

Other Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured on:
Undergraduate Style
Whitney a la mode

What element of Whitney's outfit did you choose to pass on? Link up and show us!

An InLinkz Link-up

Pink and Grey

Bonjour, mes amis!  I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever!  I didn't intend to take a blogging hiatus over Winter Break, but alas, that is exactly what happened.  How were your holidays?  Mine were spectacular, even more so than they typically are.  My days were filled with family, friends, and lots and lots of love!  I spent quality time with the people who mean the most to me...including a new edition to my family.  Meet my beautiful niece, Eloise!

I am so totally smitten by this little darling!  I'm a first-time aunt so this little girl is going to be so spoiled with love and adorable baby clothes (I have to make sure she's fashionable, right?).

In order to see all of my favorite people and to meet Miss Eloise, I've spent lots and lots of time traveling over the past couple of weeks and I am exhausted.  This is why I've struggled to get back into the blogging groove.  I also think that this is why I have been drawn towards slouchy, comfy tops and muted grey and pink tones lately.  There is something soothing to me about this color combination.  I wore it to meet Eloise for the first time, in my last post, and here it is again!

And for the record, Eloise looks fetching in pink and grey, too!

What I'm Wearing:

Gingham Pullover: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Scarf: Lou Lou (similar, splurge)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Boots: Kohl's (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Fridays

Greater Than Rubies and Tucker Up- The Lovely Lookbook

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays
Work Clothes I Suppose- Third Thursday Threads

Blogging Besties: Suede Boots

Happy New Year, friends! It's Whitney here with the first edition of Blogging Besties for 2015.

Alex looked super chic in her all-neutral ensemble with leather details last week!

While mine aren't wedge booties, I chose to "pass on" my favorite pair of grey boots.  I love them so much, in fact, that I had to retire them after this shoot.  Fortunately, I found a new, similar pair at Kohl's shortly after.  I can't wait to show them to you!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love the color blush pink!  And when it's paired with grey?!  Perfection!  Also, note how I tried to be a fancy fashion blogger and pose with a to-go coffee cup.  I'm not sure I achieved my intended effect but I sure did enjoy that Biggby coffee (Michiganders, you know what I'm talking about)!

The items you have to choose from to pass on for next week are a striped shirt, skinny jeans, suede boots, a statement necklace and the colors blush pink and grey!

But for now, let's see what you passed on from Alex's last look!

What I'm Wearing:

Striped Tee: Old Navy (similar)

Cardigan: Old Navy (exact)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Boots: DSW (similar, similar)

Necklace: c/o Rocks Box (similar, similar)

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

An InLinkz Link-up