Create28: Red and Pink

Confession: I'm not actually wearing red and pink.

I do think that the two colors can go beautifully well together if done the right way.  I just couldn't make the combination work with what I have in my closet.  And if you've been following along, you know that I'm not shopping for clothes, accessories for three months!

So instead of shopping or putting together a look I didn't like, I present to you the closest I could get: pink and purple!

Like red and pink, I think that this color pairing is fun and perfectly romantic for tomorrow's holiday!

In other news, I was able to enjoy 75 degree weather while I was in Missouri visiting family this weekend (hence the short-sleeves).  I can't express how good it felt to have the sun on my arms, to be able to play outside with my niece and to be able to relax on the porch while the sun was setting.  Now that I'm back in Michigan, though, it just feels like a tease!  Is it spring yet?!

Even though I cheated on today's prompt, I hope that you've joined in with Create28.  Today is the day for our link-up so please add your looks below!

What I'm Wearing:
Shirt: LuLaRoe Classic Tee
Skirt: Old Navy 
Necklace: House of Harlow via Rocks Box (use my code for a free month: WHITNEYBFF3)
Shoes: DSW

Create28: Cozy Cable Knit

Hi, friends!  My post will be short and sweet today.  I'm currently at my sister and brother-in-law's house in Missouri so that I can meet my nephew, Harvey, for the first time!  If you follow me on Instagram and Snapchat (whitneyalamode), you've noticed that I've already been enjoying baby snuggles and giggles with my niece, Eloise.

I want to get back to family time so let's talk about Create28 real quick!  There isn't much better than a cozy sweater on a chilly day, am I right?!  And cable knit is a classic choice that adds a bit of texture and interest.

It's funny, I didn't really love this sweater for the first year that I owned it.  I tried various outfits: over dress pants, tucked into a skirt, and I just wasn't feeling it!  Then it dawned on me, this is a sweater tunic.  I had been trying to wear it like a waist-length sweater so the proportions of the outfits were always off.  Now I like the sweater...look at what a little change in perspective can do!

Make sure to come back tomorrow for our weekly link-up and to see how Carrie and I are wearing our red and pink!

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LuLaRoe Week: Nicole + Giveaway

If you've spent much time around my neck of the blogging woods, you know that I'm a dress girl!  Honestly, I have trouble finding pants that fit well and I find dresses far more comfortable.  On top of that, I love to feel feminine and pretty!  If you are looking for comfortable and flattering dresses, look no farther than LuLaRoe!

On Monday I featured the LLR swing dress style called the Carly and today I'm here to show you the Nicole.  Nicole is a fit-and-flare style of a modest length with elbow-length sleeves.  You guys, this dress is so flattering.  The material is stretchy enough to be comfortable but still thick enough to smooth out your silhouette.  I chose the Nicole in this super fun pattern and received so many compliments the day that I wore it.  I can't wait to layer it with cardigans, tights and boots as it gets colder.  For reference, I typically wear a size medium in dresses but I can wear a small or medium in the Nicole (uh oh, double the colors and patterns to choose from).

Wow!  We are almost to the end of LuLaRoe Week here at Whitney à la mode.  I've had so much fun sharing some of my favorite LLR styles with you and I hope you've enjoyed learning a bit more about the brand.  If you missed my earlier posts, make sure to check them out:

Carly
Classic Tee and Leggings
Maxi Skirt

And don't forget to enter to win your very own Carly below!  The fabulous Betsy Friedrich is generously donating the dress.  I hope you'll join her Facebook VIP page as one of your entries because she posted a really fun video about the basics of pattern mixing yesterday.  I love pattern mixing and she gives some really great tips and examples!

What I'm Wearing:
Dress: LuLaRoe
Necklace: Kendra Scott (exact)
Watch: Michael Kors c/o Shopbop
Flats: DSW (similar, similar)

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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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Create28: Fair Isle Sweater

I don't consider myself to be a super trendy dresser.  I'm not opposed to trends but, on a teacher's budget, I would prefer to purchase classic pieces that will stand the test of time.

Every once in awhile, though, there is a trend that I feel particularly drawn to and that I feel matches my somewhat classic style.  When fair isle sweaters started popping-up in stores this fall, the pretty patterns and cozy textures really appealed to me and I knew I wanted to add one to my closet.

There were so many fun sweaters to choose from!  I found Christmasy ones, neutral ones, cardigan versions, and even leggings and dresses!

But then I found this sweater from the Gap with its pretty pinks and blues and I knew it was the one!  It has that cozy, winter vibe but I think the colors will help take it into the spring transition.

 

I went with a classic look this time around with my trusty chambray and skinny jeans.  Metallic flats added a fun little pop to the outfit!  I'm thinking these shoes will be getting a lot more wear when the warmer weather rolls around.  I'm seeing lots of metallic flats and sandals on the horizon for this spring and summer!  

And you gotta love when the outerwear and purse you throw-on for errands work so well with your outfit, amiright?!

Do you have any fair isle or patterned sweaters that you are loving this winter?  Show us on Instagram (#create28winterlooks) and make sure to link-up with us on Monday!

What I'm Wearing:

Sweater: Gap (exact)

Chambray: Old Navy (exact)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Vest: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Purse: Nordstrom Rack (similar, similar)

Flats: DSW (similar, similar)

Rose Quartz January

Good morning, friends!  Welcome to the first monthly edition of my new series about how to wear Rose Quartz throughout the year!

(Follow this link if you need a mini-lesson on Pantone's declaration that Rose Quartz is the Color of the Year.)

For me, January is the month for simplicity.  Don't get me wrong, I love the glitz, the decadent food and the excitement of the holidays.  But by the time January rolls around, I'm ready to take a step back.  It's the time to clear my busy weekend schedule to snuggle under a blanket with a book, the time to start eating healthy foods again, and it's also the time that I reach for simple yet put together outfits.

In my quest for simplicity, I like choosing a pretty blouse that will do all the talking.  If you wear a top with enough detail, you don't need lots of accessories to complete your look.  I love the blush pink and gold brocade on the back of this shirt as well as the pretty ruffle and buttons on the front.

Because this blouse is pretty enough to stand on it's own, a pair of comfy skinny jeans and metallic flats easily complete this look.

So this January, choose a simple outfit!  Find a top with Rose Quartz detailing and let it be the focal point of your ensemble!

What I'm Wearing:

Blush Top: Anthropologie (option, option)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Flats: DSW (similar, similar)

Where I'm linking-up!

My Take on the GYPO Fall Challenge + Link-Up

With a blanket of snow covering the ground here in Michigan, I think it's time to recap my experience with the Get Your Pretty On Fall Challenge so that I can move on to winter style!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Get Your Pretty On challenges, I'll start with the basics.  Each seasonal challenge costs around $50.  Upon signing-up, you receive a shopping list of both classic and trendy items that comprise a capsule wardrobe.  You purchase the items according to your own budget or find the pieces (or similar ones) already hanging in your closet.  Once the trial begins, you receive daily outfit formulas featuring the items from the list.  You get twenty-some outfits that are ready-to-wear!

What I liked:

I really love this challenge in theory.  I love the idea of remixable pieces.  I love pairing classic and trendy looks.  I love the hunt for all of the items on the list according to my budget.  And I especially love having cute outfits already planned for me (that way, getting dressed for school at 5:30 in the morning doesn't feel so daunting).

What I didn't like:

But like I said, I love the challenge in theory.  In execution, it just didn't work for me.  For one, sometimes the "outfit of the day" didn't work for what I had planned.  I just can't wear distressed boyfriend jeans to work on a Tuesday.  I ended-up using the outfit ideas out of order to fit with my plans but, for me, this created more work than just choosing an outfit from my closet.  I would spend my evening combing through all of the outfit combinations to find one that would fit my needs.  The next struggle was in making sure that all of the pieces I needed for that outfit were actually clean.

The other trouble I encountered was with the clothing items that I substituted.  For example, I couldn't find the grey cable knit sweater on the shopping list so I substituted the recommended neutral sweater that I already had in my closet.  I just didn't like my outfits featuring substituted pieces as well as I would have if I had purchased the actual recommended items.  This makes me feel like I want to buy each specific piece on the lists in the future...which just isn't compatible with my teacher budget.

In Summary:

I know that lots of women love these challenges so I'm in no way trying to portray it in a negative light, I just want to be honest about my experience.  And even though I found the program to be more difficult than I expected, I did find myself in the middle of a great Facebook community of women who were participating as well.  Everyone in the group was super encouraging and supportive.

All of that being said, I will not be participating in the Winter Challenge.  I'm hopeful that I can try another one in the future but I just don't have the money or time to give this next one a go.

The Outfits:

And finally, here are two outfits that I created based on the prompts from the Fall Challenge.

This was one of my favorite outfits that I created from the daily prompts.  I really enjoyed the color pairing that I wouldn't necessary have thought of myself.

And this is an outfit that I didn't necessarily dislike but I would have liked it better if I had the grey cable knit sweater with a white shirt underneath.

What I'm Wearing:

Scarf: Target (similar, similar)

Pink Shirt: Old Navy (exact)

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

Gold Flats: DSW (similar)

Camel Sweater: J.Crew Factory (similar)

Pearl Necklace: Amazon (exact)

Black Jeans: Zara (similar, similar)

Leopard Flats: LOFT (similar, similar)

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

Create28: Fall Colors and a Link-Up

Happy Monday and welcome to the first link-up for Create28: Fall Looks!  We hope that you've joined us in creating new outfits using our seasonal prompts and we want to see what you've come up with.  You can find the link-up below but first, let's talk about fall colors!

Fall colors can encompass such a wide variety of hues, but my favorite colors this time of year are deep, bold and dark.  I know that I can wear this plum dress any time of the year but the rich color just begs to be worn when the leaves finally start changing.  My natural inclination was to reach for my mustard cardigan (a fall closet staple, in my opinion), but then I realized that I'd worn that combination before.  And this is Create28, meaning I really want to find some new combinations hiding in my closet.

This teal cardigan gets love all year-round but when I paired it with the plum dress, I knew I'd found a great fall color combination!  Metallic accessories added a perfect pop of warmth and interest.

I love that the Create28 prompts can be flexible!  What fall colors will you choose to wear today?  Will you stick with Pantone's fall colors or will you pick a combination that shouts fall just to you?  Make sure that you pop over to Carrie and Casey's blogs to see which colors they've chosen!  

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Target (similar, similar)

Cardigan: LOFT Outlet (similar, similar)

Tassel Necklace: LOFT (similar, similar)

Flats: DSW (similar, similar)

Don't forget to check back tomorrow because I'll be talking about some of the comfiest footwear of the season: moccasins!

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