Blazer Love

Earlier this spring I made a goal to wear my blazers more.  I noted that I have plenty of blazers that I really like just hanging in my closet, but I hardly wear them.  I've set about to change that!

I've worn a couple of my blazers since making this goal but am finally documenting an outfit here on my blog!  It helps that Bri's Third Thursday Threads prompt this month is "Blazers!"

Of the blazers currently hanging in my closet, this is one of my oldest.  A few years ago, a friend of mine had a very similar blazer and I absolutely loved it.  It took me almost a year to find my very own but I finally tracked one down!  Once I had it, though, I had trouble styling it.  Do you have any tips for styling a navy and white striped blazer?

What I'm Wearing:
Blazer: Banana Republic (similar, similar)
Blouse: Banana Republic Outlet (similar, similar)
Necklace: Rocks Box (get your first month free with code whitneybff3)
Pants: Gap (similar, similar)
Shoes: Born (exact)

Now it's time for the Lovely à la Mode Link-Up!  And with mixed feelings, Carrie and I would like to announce that this will be the last of our Monday link-ups.  Both of us are increasingly involved in link-ups through The Blended Blog and want to make sure that your energies are being devoted to quality not quantity.  TBB hosts link-ups every Wednesday so we hope to see you there instead of here!  But link-up with us one last time below.

Rose Quartz April + Link-Up

Happy Monday, friends!  Before I launch into my post for today, don't forget that you have an opportunity to win a super cool, custom fashion sketch by my good high school friend, Kristine!  Enter the giveaway here and take a look at a few of her pieces (including a sketch she made of me).  A custom illustration would make for a fun gift or personal gallery wall piece!

I am back today with the fourth installment of my series about how to wear Rose Quartz (Pantone's color of the year) all year long!  For a quick review, in January I suggested a pretty top with Rose Quartz detailing for a simple look.  I used this pretty pink hue to create a romantic and feminine outfit in February.  And in March I paired Rose Quartz with pops of bright colors for a fun spring look!

This month, I'm actually wearing rose quartz...as in the stone!  I received these dangly Kendra Scott earrings in my most recent Rocks Box and knew that they would be perfect for this month's RQ feature!  So for April, I challenge you to wear Rose Quartz jewelry!

I wore this outfit for a fun day out!  I went to brunch and saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 with my parents.  The first film is one of my all-time favorites so it was so fun to revisit all of the characters in the second movie.  I think it is so cool that all of the actors from the first one were on board for the second project.  What a fun group of people!  After the movie, I spent the afternoon and evening with one of my best friends.  I swear we laughed the entire time.  Have you ever eaten such a terrible meal at a restaurant that you had to leave and go to another restaurant for a second try at dinner?  We did and we had the best time cracking-up about it!

I really wanted it to be spring-like for my day of fun but alas, there was snow on the ground.  As usual lately, I went with light and bright colors so that I could at least channel the more cheerful weather!

But let's get back to those earrings for a minute!  I don't usually wear dangly earrings because I don't feel like they are very "me."  But one of the joys of Rocks Box is that you can borrow jewelry you wouldn't usually purchase, wear it for a little while and then send it back!  If you are interested in trying Rocks Box, use my code, whitneybff3, to receive a free month!  I've been using this service for about two years and I couldn't speak more highly of it!

What I'm Wearing:
Sweater: Gap (similar, similar)
Earrings: Kendra Scott (exact)
Jeans: LOFT (exact)
Converse: DSW (exact)

Now it's time for the Lovely à la Mode Link-Up!

Diner Cool + Link-Up

You guys, this is my 400th post!  Whoa!  It sure has been a fun journey so far.  Here's to the next 400!  Anyways...

I always admire personal style bloggers who seem to find the coolest backgrounds for outfit photos!  I'm lucky to live in an apartment complex with old brick buildings that make for pretty backdrops, but I'm always excited when I find a new location for pictures!

I (re)found a fun photo shoot spot during Spring Break last week!  I spent the week with my boyfriend in St Joseph, Michigan (my hometown) and had been craving a milkshake for several days.    I remembered a restaurant called Roxy's that I haven't been to since I was in high school!  Roxy's is a 50s style diner with delicious burgers, fries, and of course, milkshakes!  We had such a fun afternoon date and we got to take some really fun pictures!

A colorful and comfy graphic sweatshirt, my stretchiest skinny jeans and a pair of Converse made for a fun getup...perfect for an afternoon at a diner.  And by the way, I can't stop, won't stop with this new jacket of mine!  I'm finding that the bright, spring color adds the perfect pop to so many outfits!

And yes, I finally got that milkshake!

What I'm Wearing:
Sweatshirt: Washington D.C. Boutique (similar, similar)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Jacket: Gap (exact)
Converse: DSW (exact)

And now it's time for that weekly Lovely à la Mode Link-up!

Spring Dress Wishlist + Link-Up

Good morning, y'all!  (I don't know where that "y'all" came from...perhaps my recent trip to North Carolina?)  In any case, I hope that you are having a wonderful Monday morning!  It is officially Spring Break in my neck of the woods so I'm enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee with my cat, Izzo.  If only all Monday mornings were this pleasant!

My post today is a bit different from my usual outfit posts because I need your help choosing a new spring dress!  I have two special events to attend this month.  I will be going to a "Heels and Hats" Tea Party hosted by my local Junior League and then at the very end of the month I will be attending my niece, Eloise's, baptism.

Special occasions call for a new pretty dress, right?!  I've set aside a portion of my quarterly budget to go towards a new frock and here are the choices from which to choose!

Please leave a comment below letting me know which I should purchase!  Tune-in later this month to see which I've chosen!

1. Moonlit Garden Dress
2. Dolly Dress in Green Paisley
3. Feeling All Bright Dress
4. Dolly Dress in Caligraphy Graduated Tile
5. Eyelet Poplin Shirtdress

And now it's time for that weekly link-up!

Create28: Favorite Winter Look

You guys, where have the last few months gone?!  It's already time for the next seasonal round of Create28!  This time, Carrie, Casey and I will be joined by some of our blogging friends to show you 28 brand new looks inspired by our daily prompts.  We hope that you will join in the fun by linking-up your looks on Mondays or by posting pictures to Instagram (#create28winterlooks).  Here's a look at what we have coming-up this week:

When deciding what my go-to look has been this winter, I thought about what I've been reaching for in my closet the most frequently.  My most-worn items have definitely been thick, over-sized cardigans!

One of these cozy little numbers with skinny jeans, camp socks and booties have been my uniform lately!  So much so that you will see similar combinations for a few other prompts this month!

A lot of the cardigans that I have been drawn to are in soft, neutral tones like these.  bb dakota sweaters just seem to have the perfect drape to them, don't you think?

What's your favorite look lately?

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: LOFT (similar, similar)

Cardigan: Gap Outlet (similar, similar)

Necklace: Raw Sugar Sunday (exact) <--Can't say enough about this Etsy shop!

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Socks: L.L. Bean (exact)

Booties: Kohl's (similar)

Where I'm linking-up!

And now it's time for that Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up!

Last of Le Tote + Link-Up

Well friends, I started using Le Tote back in May and have decided that it is time to say goodbye to this clothing rental service (at least for now).

Overall, I have to say that I have been very pleased with Le Tote.  Of course there have been items that I haven't much liked, and pieces that didn't fit well, but I've been able to find something I've enjoyed wearing in each box!

Here is a peek into several of my past Le Tote deliveries.

Since I've been enjoying Le Tote, you might be wondering why I've discontinued the service.  This mostly has to do with my busy schedule.  You see, with LT, you pay around $50 per month to receive unlimited clothing deliveries.  The "unlimited" aspect is contingent, however, upon you wearing pieces promptly and then getting them returned to the post office.  Unfortunately, with my crazy teaching and coaching schedule, my last Le Tote sat on my closet floor for well over a month before I was able to return it.  I decided that this wasn't a responsible way to use my money.  Perhaps in the future when my schedule is a bit more flexible, I might revisit this service!

But before I say my final farewell to Le Tote, I have a couple more outfit pictures to share with you that have been sitting on my computer for a couple of months!

This fun, floral dress arrived in one of my deliveries this fall!  I had fun pairing it with metallic flats and a rose quartz necklace (literally rose quartz the stone, not just the Pantone color) for brunch with my best friend.

This dress had the perfect touch of glamour so I chose to wear it with heels and black tights for a special date night to see the Nutcracker with my boyfriend in November.  The "Bonjour" clutch was also a Le Tote item!  By the way, can you find the cat tail hiding in one of these pictures?

Now it's time for our weekly link-up!

Lace + Link-Up

On Saturday, Carrie posted the style prompt Upstyle, Update for Downtown.  I had so much fun participating in her little challenge from the previous Saturday that I immediately knew I wanted to try this one, too.  One little problem though, I had no plans to get gussied-up to go downtown this weekend.  In fact, my plans were quite the opposite.  I wanted to do absolutely nothing!  You know, this kind of weekend:

So this may be considered cheating, but I had these pictures sitting on my computer from the last time I dressed-up for a night!  I wore this outfit to my parents' restaurant's holiday party.  Have I ever mentioned that my parents own a restaurant?  If you are ever in Lansing, Michigan and are looking for a delicious bowl of soup, fresh salad or sandwich, please head to Zoup! and say hello to Mark and Sue!  Anyways, I've worked for them before and am there eating frequently enough that I'm friends with most of the crew.  I was pretty excited when they all wanted me to attend their holiday party so that we could have an opportunity to socialize beyond work hours!

Now, there's something about lace that just feels so fancy to me!  I know that you can wear it during the day as well, but it really does add a little something to an evening outfit.  The same thing goes for white jeans and heeled booties.  They feel a little bit more special than the usual jeans and and flat shoes that I wear to work and run errands.  Do you agree?

If you are looking for a special something to spice-up an evening look, here are some beautiful lace blouses, good quality white jeans, and fun taupe booties!

What I'm Wearing:

Lace Blouse: LOFT (similar, similar)

Necklace: Gift (similar, similar)

White Jeans: LOFT (exact)

Booties: Target (similar, similar)

And it's that time of the week again!

Winter Parties + Link-Up

Does anyone else ever find themselves stumped about what to wear to a winter party like a baby shower or a birthday party?  During the summer it's just so easy, throw on a sundress and a pair of wedges and voilà, you're ready to go!  But during the winter you have to account for chilly weather and the potential for snow and slush.

In the last month I've attended a baby shower and a birthday party.  Leading up to the events, I struggled in creating an outfit but, in the end, was pretty happy with what I chose!

I wore this outfit to one of my best friend's baby shower (not to be confused with the other best friend's baby shower).  The ponté dress was put-together without being too dressy for a brunch shower, the wedge booties seemed a bit more dressed-up than my usual black flats, and the scarf added interest and kept me warm!

Speaking of the elements in this outfit, they are some of my favorites for this season!  So much so that it might be time to add a few more to my wardrobe.  I wear both of my pairs of suede booties so frequently that I've been thinking it would be fun to purchase another, nicer pair in a different color.  Here are so many cute bootie choices.  I am kind of loving the H by Hudson pairs that are currently on sale!  Which color do you like better, the grey or brown?

What I'm Wearing:

Scarf: Cotton On (similar, similar)

Dress: Old Navy (similar)

Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Booties: DSW- Nine West (exact)

And now it's time for that weekly link-up!

A Year in Review + Link-Up

Happy New Year!  How did you ring in 2016?  I had a low key evening with my family and boyfriend while watching the Michigan State Bowl Game.  Unfortunately the Spartans didn't win, but I had a relaxing night with my loved ones while wearing my comfy green and white garb.

For our Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up this week, Carrie, Casey and I will each be sharing our favorite looks from 2015.

Which one of the looks below do you like the best?  Let me know by leaving a comment, and cheers to another great year!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Now it's time to link-up!

Break Brain + Link-Up

Welcome to the weekly Monday Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up...on Wednesday?!

Yes friends, this teacher brain is officially on break and completely forgot to post the link-up a few days ago!  I wasn't planning to take a blogging hiatus but apparently I needed one!

I don't have an outfit post ready for you today but here is a little peek into my holiday season.

And now it's time to link-up your favorite posts from the last week!

Comfy Christmas Break Style + Link-Up

Ahh, I have finally made it to Christmas Break!  While I am super passionate about teaching, it can be a physically and emotionally draining job.  Lately I have been feeling particularly zapped of energy and a little bit down in the dumps so I am really ready for this time away from work.

I'm not going to lie, I plan to spend most of my vacation days in leggings, a comfy top and fuzzy socks.  But when I do actually have to get dressed, I plan to be in outfits just like this one!

Tunic top + cozy scarf + comfy jeans + Converse = done!  I think that the scarf and the Converse take this outfit from a little bit boring to put-together without being much work at all!

And since it is winter in Michigan, a cute coat is a must for any last-minute holiday errands I will be running.  I bought this coat years ago at H&M when I lived in France and I still love it as much as the day I bought it.  The plaid and toggles add fun details to any outfit!

On the day that I wore this ensemble, I actually took a turn behind the camera to take maternity photos for one of my best friends and her husband!  (Fun fact: I have two best friends and they are both pregnant right now!)  We had so much fun and I don't remember the last time I laughed as hard as I did while trying to pose the two of them in Pinterest-y ways.  Luckily, Best Friend's Husband was accommodating enough to snap a few photos of Nicole and me, too!

Showing Best Friend's Husband how it's done!

Nicole is due on Thursday and I CAN'T WAIT to meet the little one!

What I'm Wearing:

Top: Banana Republic (similar, similar)

Scarf: LOFT (similar, similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Converse: DSW (exact)

Coat: H&M (similar, similar)

Now it's time for that weekly Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up!

Winter Wedding + Link-Up

There isn't a whole lot in this world that I love more than a pretty dress, the holiday season, or a sparkling wedding.  So when I get to wear the above-mentioned pretty dress to a sparkling wedding during my favorite season, you could say that I am in heaven!

I attended a beautiful celebration of love at the end of November.  The event was lavish and the dress code was black tie only.  And oh do I love an excuse to wear a beautiful, formal dress!  

For this occasion, I chose a mixed media dress made of black lace and berry brocade.  The materials felt well-made and decadent and the colors were perfect for the holidays!

To complete the look I added a velvet clutch and pumps.  I felt comfortable and beautiful as I danced the night away with my family.

Are you wondering what to wear to a holiday event or winter wedding?  I think that lace makes for a perfectly elegant and holiday-ready look.  Here are a few beautiful lace dresses for you to peruse.

Perhaps it was serendipity, but earlier in the fall, the lovely Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood invited me to participate in a Winter Wedding collaboration.  I had enjoyed working together to feature Fall Wedding Looks so I jumped right in!

Please visit these other beautiful bloggers today to see what they chose for their Winter Wedding Looks!  I love how different yet perfect for a holiday occasion each of our looks are!  Which would you wear?

Doused in Pink     /     Elegance and Mommyhood     /     Curly Crafty Mom

Whitney à la mode     /     A Pocket Full of Polka Dots     /     Garay Treasures

And now it's time for that Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up!