Velvet Glamour

I'm back today with my last of three outfits featuring pieces from Zaful.  If you missed them, take a peek at my cozy blanket scarf look and my trendy choker experiment!

As much as I love the pieces I've already featured, I've saved my favorite for last!  I've been itching to try the velvet trend, especially for the holiday season!  To me, velvet just exudes warm holiday glamour.  For that reason, I put together a party look featuring this beautiful blue velvet dress from Zaful.

Let's start by highlighting what I love about this piece: the color!  It is even more vibrant in person than it is on the website.  It also comes in a pretty green that I wish I could see in person.   And the price absolutely can't be beat.  I guarantee you won't find another holiday party dress for such a steal!

The one downside is that this dress can't really be worn as a dress, at least not on my body (and I'm pretty average in height).  Admittedly, the dress looks a bit short on the model but is extremely short on me.  It will definitely be worn as a tunic but makes for a super comfy holiday look paired with leggings!  I'm wearing my typical size medium but wouldn't size up because the rest of the dress fits well and I don't think it would add enough length.

If you are interested in your very own velvet tunic, comment below with your e-mail address and a link to something else from Zaful that you are coveting for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate! Today is the last day to enter!

What I'm Wearing:
Tunic: c/o Zaful (exact)
Leggings: LulaRoe
Necklace: Rocks Box (similar, similar)
Bracelet: Stella&Dot (exact)
Clutch: LouLou (similar, similar)
Heels: DSW (exact)

Where I'm linking-up!
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One Outfit, Two Challenges: Create28 and Blogging Besties

Blogging Besties is a weekly series featuring Whitney of Whitney à la mode, Alex of Undergraduate Style, Maricel of ::My Closet Catelogue:: and Selah of A Bibliophile's Style.  Each week, one of the bloggers will choose one component from the previous week's outfit to pass on in a brand new look.  This "take one, pass it on" challenge is an inspiration to stretch your closet and your imagination!

Last week Selah looked oh so ready for summer in her shorts and eyelet top!  She gave me the following prompts from which to work: pajama clothes, eyelet lace, floral jewelry or new hair.

I always enjoy Selah's creative prompts that motivate me to think about my wardrobe in a different way!  While Selah's inspiration didn't disappoint, I feel like my execution fell a little bit flat this week.  I decided to go with "pajama clothes" as my prompt since this peplum is just so darn comfortable!

Alex, here are your choices to pass on for next week's Blogging Besties: a peplum, stripes, white bottoms, metallic shoes, a glitzy necklace or a state-themed background!

While I could have taken Selah's prompt and run a bit further with it, I did double up on challenges today.  I am also participating in The Blended Blog's Create28 Summer Challenge.  Today is my day to wear a "pretty peplum!"  So here you go: a pretty peplum that feels like pajamas!

I think this top will be a staple this summer.  The stripes and peplum detail give it enough interest that the top can stand on its own without lots of layers.  It is also really light-weight and rather swing-like so it will keep you cool in the summer sun.  The top is currently on sale in navy stripes and peach!

While I think the peplum is pretty on its own, I really tried to run with the "pretty" part of my prompt.  Instead of blue jeans and casual sandals, I dressed the top up with white jeans, metallic flats and a little bit of sparkle!

Isn't this background fun?!  It is one of the walls of a delicious restaurant in Lansing, Michigan called the Soup Spoon.  Delicious food and fun blogging backgrounds?!  My kind of place!  They even have a fun gratitude wall where diners can use chalk to express their thanks.  It just so happened that the wall already had an entry about birthday dinners and I was there to celebrate my birthday with one of my best friends!

If you are wearing a pretty peplum today, make sure to show us on Instagram with #theblendedblogstyle and by linking-up with us on Wednesday.  You can find the daily prompts below if you want to play along!  And please visit Sheila at Making the Most of Every Day to see how she styles "nautical navy" for day three of Create28!

What I'm Wearing:

Top: Old Navy (exact)

Necklace: Rocksbox

Jeans: LOFT (simliar)

Shoes: DSW (similar)

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Little Changes + Link-Up

Before I got into reading personal style blogs, I would wear one clothing item only one particular way.  Take a shirt, for example.  I would wear said shirt with the same pair of pants, same necklace and same pair of shoes every.single.time.

Remixing has definitely been the biggest lesson I've learned in being more creative with what I've got hanging in my closet.  One thing that I still have to remind myself of, though, is that remixing doesn't have to be drastic.  You can make little changes to create an entirely different outfit.

Let's compare the above outfit to this outfit, for example.  Essentially, each outfit consists of jeans and the same lace top.  I think they both have a casual yet slightly more glamorous feel (perfect for a date night)!  But a different glitzy necklace, different colored denim and different shoes make for a completely different outfit without much extra effort.

Which lace look do you like better?  And what's your favorite little change that helps to create an entirely different look?

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: LOFT (similar, similar)

Tank: Old Navy (exact)

Necklace: c/o Rocks Box (similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Flats: LOFT (similar, similar)

And now it's time for our weekly Lovely à la Mode Link-Up!

Create28: Valentine's Day Look

I know, I know, it's only Monday!  But it's not to early to think about what you're going to wear for Valentine's Day this weekend!  Whether you plan to go out for a fancy dinner, spend a night on the town with your girlfriends, or relax at home with your family, it's fun to have a special outfit to wear.

I don't actually know what I'm doing for Valentine's Day.  You see, my boyfriend is planning something for us to do and he is going to surprise me!  He hasn't given me any details about what I should wear, so I'm assuming that something nice but not super fancy will work.

Layering a collared blouse under a sweater and adding a really sparkly necklace always makes me feel a little bit dressier than just wearing a sweater.  At the same time, a sweater, jeans and flats will be comfortable no matter what we do to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Plus, it might be cheesy but I love wearing pink for Valentine's Day.  I mean, I like wearing pink all of the time, but especially for this holiday!

What are your Valentine's Day plans and what are you going to do?  We hope you'll link-up your look next Monday and tag us on Instagram (#create28winterlooks).

Don't forget to stop-by tomorrow because my awesome blogging friend, Kate, will be putting together another Valentine's Day-worthy outfit of red and pink!

What I'm Wearing:

Blouse: Express (exact)

Sweater: LOFT (exact)

Necklace: c/o Rocks Box (similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Flats: DSW (similar)

Now we want to see what you've been wearing and doing for the past week!

Everyday Midi + A Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up

I've been admiring the romantic look of midi skirts for ages!  Whether I achieve it or not, I really identify with a feminine, classic-yet-slightly-quirky style, and I think that midi skirts really help to achieve this look.  But for some reason, I've never purchased a midi skirt!  I have been holding out for the perfect one.  Plus, part of me wonders if such a beautiful piece is practical for everyday life.

Luckily, I received a lovely midi skirt in my latest Le Tote!  With its polka dot pattern and neutral navy color, it just might be that perfect skirt I have been looking for!  Also, since Le Tote allows me to wear the skirt before choosing whether or not to purchase it, this was the perfect opportunity for me to decide if a midi skirt fits an average day's activities!

Cue an average summer day!  I wore this skirt to lunch with two of my favorite girlfriends and then to a pizza and game night with my family.  Perhaps I was the most dressed-up of the bunch, but my loved ones are used to seeing me in pretty skirts and bold lipstick!  While my look was a bit glamorous with the crystal jewelry, I did tone it down with a basic tee and flats as opposed to wedges.

So what's my verdict?  I do think that I can wear a midi skirt during everyday life.  But alas, at 58 dollars, this skirt is out of my price range.  Let the hunt for the perfect midi continue!

Click here for my original Le Tote review!

What I'm Wearing:
Tee: Everlane (similar, similar)
Necklace: Rocksbox (similar, similar)
Skirt: Le Tote (exact)
Bracelet: Rocksbox (exact)
Watch: JORD Fieldcrest in Maple (exact)
Flats: Land's End (exact)

Hosted by ~

Carrie/A Lovely Little Wardrobe : Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Whitney/Whitney à La Mode : Bloglovin/Instagram

Casey/A Little Bit of Cheer : Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram