April's Work Wear Remix

Happy Monday, ladies!  I'm excited to be starting a new, monthly series today!

Do you struggle with what to wear to work?  I know I do!  Sometimes it feels like it takes so much effort to even put clothes on at 5:00 in the morning, let alone wear something cute and creative!  Most of the outfits that I find inspiring from blogs or on Pinterest are more casual looks and I know I'm guilty of featuring lots of jeans ensembles here at Whitney à la mode.

But no more, my friend Carrie (the queen of nine to five style, in my book) and I will be collaborating to bring you a monthly post featuring some great wear-to-work looks!

My goal for these posts is to show you one piece, two ways: a work look and a weekend outfit.  For our inaugural post, I'm featuring a floral blouse.  Since it's been so chilly in Michigan, I've been wearing my warmer floral-print pieces in an effort to embrace spring.

For my work look, I chose a color from the floral print and found bottoms to pull-out that hue, in this case olive!  Some cognac accessories complete the look.

For my weekend ensemble, I wanted to do a bit more than just pair the blouse with jeans.  A sweater vest is a fun completer piece for this time of year!

And there you have it, a floral blouse that's great for work or play!  What are you wearing to work this week?  And don't forget to head-over to Carrie's blog for some more, great work-wear inspiration!

What I'm Wearing: Work Look
Blouse: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Skirt: Le Tote (similar, similar)
Wedges: Nordstrom (similar, similar)
Earrings: Nickel and Suede (exact)

What I'm Wearing: Weekend Look
Blouse: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Vest: Gap Outlet (similar, similar)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Flats: Target (exact)
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When Sweatshirts are Pretty

Can we take a quick moment to observe the massive ice sheet that I'm standing on?!  For whatever reason, the patch of sidewalk right outside my front door turns into an ice skating rink regardless of how much salt is used.  The rest of the sidewalk will be completely cleared but this ice remains.  It's a wonder I've made it all winter without falling.  Although now that I've said that, I'm bound to wipe-out soon!

Alright, alright, now we can get to the clothes!  I've reviewed some pretty fun pieces from Zaful in the past but, you guys, I've found my favorite!  This sweatshirt!  First of all, it's super comfy (you know, being a sweatshirt and all).  On top of that it's super pretty and will be easy to dress up or down.  Who doesn't love a sweatshirt you can wear to work!?

I wear a size medium in most brand but typically size-up with Zaful.  I'm wearing a large here and still had plenty of room underneath to layer my chambray shirt.  I would very highly recommend this sweatshirt if you are thinking about it!

Anyways, Happy Hump Day!  I hope you are having a fabulous week!

Le Bon Macaron

You know those days that are just good for your soul?  The days where the simple pleasures show you just how beautiful life is?  I had one of those days back in January and I'm just now getting the chance to post about it!

On a lovely day off from school, my best friend and I took a day trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan.  We started the day at the cutest coffee and macaron shop, Le Bon Macaron, the site of this photo shoot.  After coffee and sweets, we shopped all afternoon and then had dinner and drinks at Brewery Vivant. Amidst our busy lives, it was just so nice to be able to spend a day together doing fun things and experiencing some great places that Michigan has to offer!

For our date, I wore an outfit I loved!  Plenty of color, a whimsical print and classic lines are features that feel very me.  Evidently, my favorite kind of outfit is sort of reminiscent of a bunch of macarons!

So thank you, my beautiful friend of the past decade, Nicole, for being with me through thick and thin (and for taking these pictures)!  I can't wait for our next day together!

LuLaRoe Week: Maxi Skirt + Giveaway

So are you sold on LuLaRoe yet?  If not, I'm back again today to convince you to try one (or all) of their fun and comfy styles!  If you missed it, I wrote an "all you need to know" post about LLR and styled a Carly swing dress on Monday.  Yesterday I styled the Classic Tee two different ways, including an outfit with the super-popular LLR leggings!

Today I'm featuring my brand new LuLaRoe Maxi Skirt.  So brand new, in fact, that I received it yesterday and had to wear it today.  You guys, this skirt is made of such smooth material and skims over any curves you may have.  As is the case with all LLR pieces, it comes in lots of different colors and patterns.  I usually wear a size eight on the bottom and I'm wearing a small Maxi.

I actually won this skirt!  If you start following multiple consultants, you'll find that they often offer giveaways for various pieces.  Usually all you have to do to enter is leave a Facebook comment responding to a fun question posted by the consultant.  So thank you, Pink&Lee, for the adorable skirt!  And speaking of giveaways, don't forget to enter below to win your very own Carly compliments of the sweet Betsy Friedrich.

What I'm Wearing:
Denim Jacket: Hand-me-down (similar)
Top: Banana Republic Factory (similar)
Maxi Skirt: LuLaRoe
Flats: Target (similar)

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All Wrapped Up

It's already the last week of our October Style Series at The Blended Blog and this week we are featuring scarves!

I know that some people feel overwhelmed by blanket scarves but I absolutely love them!  There's something so comforting about be wrapped-up and cozy even during the most chaotic of weekdays.  I'm also relieved that the blanket scarf trend seems here to stay, at least for one more year.  I've been seeing them everywhere!

I received this great, neutral version in the Fall FabFitFun box.  It's originally from Modcloth and was included in my box full of seasonal goodies.  I found everything from a cute travel mug to an awesome eye shadow pallet in this season's delivery.  Interested in receiving a box for yourself?  You can get $10 off your first one if you use my code (plus I get a bit of credit, too)!

What are your thoughts on blanket scarves?  Love 'em or leave 'em?  And don't forget to link-up your October looks below!

What I'm Wearing:
Tunic: Wilt (exact)
Ponté Pants: Gap (similar)
Scarf: Modcloth via FabFitFun (similar)
Flats: Target (similar)

Currently: July 2016

toasting: nothing in particular.  And there isn't anything wrong with that!  I've reached a span of time without any major celebrations, just time to relax!  And one of my favorite ways to do so on a summer evening is with a Dark and Stormy cocktail!

going: downtown Nashville!  As I write this post, I am staying at my sister and brother-in-law's home in Tennessee.  They are on vacation and my mom and I are watching my niece, Eloise.  We are going to spend a night on the town, though!  The neighbors graciously offered to babysit so that my mom and I can head to The Listening Room for a delicious, southern meal and to hear an up-and-coming country artist!

smelling: this Fig Tree candle by Detroit Rose, a Michigan company that makes delightfully scented candles.  I purchased it at a pop-up market for local artisans and I adore the simple aesthetics and delicate scent.  I am already anticipating ordering the Campfire scent...

wearing: outfits created for the Summer Style Series of The Blended Blog!  Having trouble thinking of new and creative outfits?  Use our "choose your own adventure"-like tool above!  We are linking-up on Wednesdays and you can find my first outfit for the series below.

wishlisting: anything and everything yoga-related!  I have wanted to try yoga for years.  The blend of focusing on the mind and body really appeals to me.  When school let out for the summer, I signed up for my first few classes.  I love it!  I actually feel happy and peaceful when I leave class (this is an odd post-exercise sensation for me).  Now at any given moment you can find me at yoga class or googling the best mats, how to improve my balance or pretty yoga-inspired baubles.

And now for my first outfit of the Summer Style Series: black + stripes + shoes!

These striped and studded shoes are the absolute best!  I love them so much, in fact, that I was afraid to take them out of the box for the first two months I owned them.  So silly, right?  Now that I've convinced myself that something so cute deserves to be worn in public, I've decided to highlight them for my first Summer Style Series outfit!

To keep the focus on the shoes, I decided to wear them with my simple, comfiest black romper and a bold coral necklace to bring out the color in the studs.

This was the perfect comfortable yet "I feel cute" outfit in which to explore Pittsburgh with my family while we were there for a wedding.  We visited the Strip District, an area with a fun ambiance, lots of little shops and some delicious restaurants.  We ate french fry-filled sandwiches at Primanti Brothers and browsed the wares for sale.  It was a delightful afternoon and a fun wedding weekend!

What I'm Wearing:
Romper: H&M (similar, similar)
Necklace: Silpada (similar, similar)
Flats: Boden (exact)
Purse: Cambridge Satchel

As usual, linking-up with Anne and Jenna!
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Blogging Besties: Cardigan

Didn't Alex look perfectly ready for fall last week?

Speaking of perfectly fall, I'm excited to announce that Carrie, Casey and I are hosting our next seasonal Create 28 Style Challenge.  Create 28 Fall Looks starts next Thursday and we hope that you will join us in creating 28 brand new outfits based on our daily prompts!  You can link-up your looks every Monday and share your looks on Instagram with #Create28FallLooks!

Alright, back to the task at hand!  The primary component of Alex's outfit that I decided to pass on is a cardigan but I also incorporated lace and flats into my look!

This striped number is another borrowed Le Tote item!  I can't stress enough how Le Tote is helping me transition into fall.  It's keeping my look fresh while I try to hold off from shopping until I see what I really need for the season.

Here are your choices of pieces to pass on for next week: a cardigan, a lace top, colored pants, pattern paired with texture or something borrowed!  But first let's see what you passed on from Alex's look!  Please link-up below!

What I'm Wearing:

Top: LOFT (similar, similar)

Cardigan: c/o Le Tote (exact)

Pants: c/o Stitch Fix (similar, similar)

Flats: Land's End (exact)

Watch: c/o JORD (exact)

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

Where I'm linking-up!

An InLinkz Link-up

Blogging Besties: Hot Pink and Cobalt

We've once again made it to Friday!  This one in particular feels pretty darn special because it's the last Friday of the school year.  Time to pop the champagne and enjoy my first hot summer evening (one of the few perks of being a teacher)!

Last week Alex shared quite the glamorous little ensemble with us!

Isn't she gorgeous!?  In the past week I didn't have a reason to get quite as jazzed up as Alex so I chose to pass along her color scheme: hot pink and cobalt!

It feels a bit serendipitous to be posting such a perfect warm-weather work outfit on the last Friday of the school year!  If I had to work during the summer, I imagine I would wear lots of outfits like this: a comfy skirt with a light-weight, flowy top...and some cute flats, of course!

Speaking of this top, Rachelle raves so much about the Portofino tops from Express that I decided I had to try them for myself.  You guys, they are great!  Super comfy and minimal button gaping (a problem I have with most button down shirts).  Plus they come in so many cute colors and prints.  Obviously I had to pick up this one as well!

And without further ado, here are your choices for next week: hot pink + cobalt + button down + comfy skirt + belt + (patterned) flats!

What I'm Wearing:

Top: Express (exact)

Skirt: J.Crew Factory (super similar)

Flats: Land's End (exact)

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

What did you pass on from Alex's look last week?

An InLinkz Link-up

Parisian Café

Yesterday I went on a lovely afternoon excursion.  My friend and I ate a late lunch at a French café and popped into a few art galleries.  If you are in the D.C. area, I would highly recommend dining at Le Diplomate.  The ambiance and the food really made me feel like I was back in Paris!

Quite coincidentally, when I posted this #ootd picture on Instagram, my best friend commented that I looked like I should be in Paris!  I suppose I was channeling my love for all things French yesterday!

And keeping with the French theme today, my dear friend Maricel, the intelligent and witty creator of My Closet Catalogue, has nominated me for a Liebster Award.  You may recall learning more about me than you may ever want to know the last time I received a Liebster Award (which is a way for us small-time bloggers to talk about how wonderful our blogging friends are).  Anyway, Maricel has written several thought-provoking prompts and has challenged me to respond in French!  Allez-y!

-Je vois...trois photos: une photo de mon église à Bordeaux, une photo de ma meilleure amie et moi, et une photo du mariage de mes parents.

-Je trouve...que le temps fait trop chaud aujourd'hui.

-J'ai...le chat le plus mignon du monde.

-J'aimerais...lire beaucoup de livres cet été.  J'en ai déjà lu trois : The Goldfinch, The Storyteller et Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?  Je viens de commencer The Silkworm de Robert Galbraith.

-Michigan me manque beaucoup.

-J'ai peur...des araignées.

-Je me sens...contente parce que c'est dimanche et je suis chez moi avec un café et mon petit chat.

-Je désire...un cupcake d'Occasionally Cakes à Old Town Alexandria.  Miam miam!

-Je cherche...la paix dans ma vie.

-Je me demande...où voyager pour mes prochaines vacances?  Vous avez des idées?

-Je ne regrette rien!

(And just in case you don't speak French)

-I see...three photos: a photo of my church in Bordeaux, a photo of my best friend and me, and a wedding photo of my parents.

-I find...that the weather today is too hot.

-I have...the cutest cat in the world.

-I wish...to read lots of books this summer.  I've already read The Goldfinch, The Storyteller and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?  I just started The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith.

-I miss...Michigan a lot.

-I fear...spiders.

-I feel...content because it's Sunday and I'm at home with a cup of coffee and my cat.

-I crave...a cupcake from Occasionally Cakes in Old Town Alexandria.  Yum yum!

-I search...for peace in my life.

-I wonder...where I should go for my next vacation?  Any ideas?

-I regret nothing!

Instead of nominating the wonderful bloggers who have become my friends for yet another Liebster Award, I am instead going to simply list them.  If you have a couple of free minutes, I hope you will visit the pages of these inspiring women!

Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood

Alex of Undergraduate Style

Allie of Buttons and Bees Beauty

Brynn of Brynnash

Carrie of A Lovely Little Wardrobe

Danielle of A Little Bit of Wo.We.

Inge of This Ever Evolving Life

Maricel of My Closet Catalogue

Selah of A Bibliophile's Style

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: ASOS (exact)

Purse: Coach Outlet (similar, similar)

Shoes: Aldo (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

Cha Cha the Fashion Genius and Pink Sole- #HowISummer

DC In Style- Monday Bloom

I Do deClaire- Confident TWOSday

The Modern Austen- Sunday Best

Style Elixir- Style Sessions

Life is Great

I've been feeling particularly into graphic tees lately.  T-shirts are obviously comfortable, can be dressed up or down, and graphic ones are such a fun way to express your personality.  If you love something, why don't you tell us about on your shirt?!?

Me, for example?  I adore my home state of Michigan!  I mean, I'm pretty obsessed.  So many miles of beautiful coastline along the greatest of lakes, four very different seasons, Michigan State University AND the nicest people around...it's my kind of place!  That's why, when I spotted this Michigan tee at an art festival, I knew I had to have it!  Because life is great in Michigan (not to mention we are surrounded by the Great Lakes...did you pick-up on that play on words?).

As I mentioned above, a graphic tee can be dressed up or down!  I wore mine with my new scalloped shorts and some pop-of-color flats for a casual Saturday spent at a wine and beer festival in Washington D.C.  My t-shirt gave me an instant conversation starter as I wandered around the festival...not to mention it attracted all of my fellow Michiganders!  I'm looking forward to pairing it with skirts and cropped pants for the rest of the summer!

If you could express something that you love on your tee, what would it be?

What I'm Wearing:
Michigan Tee: Smitten Designs Studio (exact)
Shorts: Anthropologie (exact)
Flats: Aldo (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:
Cha Cha the Fashion Genius and Pink Sole- #HowISummer
Fizz and Frosting- Mix It Monday
Greater Than Rubies- Remix Rewear Restyle: T-Shirts
Style Elixir- Style Sessions

This Skirt Again

Do you ever go through phases when you just can't get enough of a certain clothing item?  Oh good, me too!  Right now I can't stop wearing this skirt!  I love that the polka dots add a fun feminine touch.  At the same time, the dots are so small and the skirt is grey so it works as a wonderful neutral base to an outfit.  (And the elastic waistband doesn't hurt.)

I went with a neutral and lace look for this outfit by adding a white lace top, grey tights, grey and lace shoes, and a pearl necklace (of course).  I think the overall look is soft and feminine and I love it!

I'm participating in some fun link-ups today!  One of my link-ups is with the Modern Austen for the Pantone-Inspired Color Challenge (I'm wearing Paloma).  I'm also linking-up at Greater Than Rubies for a "one piece many ways" challenge.

What I'm Wearing:
Shirt: Loft (exact)
Skirt: Loft (exact)
Necklace: Simply Charming Boutique (similar, similar)
Tights: Anthropologie (exact)
Shoes: Gift (exact)

Linking-Up:
The Brandied Pair and Style of One's Own- Sit-Down Style Sessions