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.

Cypress

Today I'm excited to be participating in two of my favorite link-ups!  Sometimes it takes an extra push to really use your clothes creatively, which is why I look forward to some of these blogging challenges.

Heidi from Literate and Stylish and Marissa from The Modern Austen are hosting their yearly Pantone-inspired fall color challenge.  For those of you unfamiliar with Pantone, they are the ultimate authority in color.  They declare a color of the year as well as the seasonal "it" colors.  Heidi and Marissa have chosen to feature one of the fall 2014 colors each day this week, and today we are celebrating cypress, a dark olive color.  While olive is a really versatile neutral, I don't own much in this color.  Thank goodness I dug-out this cypress Everlane tee upon which to build my outfit!

I'm also excited to link-up with Andi of Just Another Smith and her co-host Danielle from Goodwillista for one of Andi's famous theme weeks.  This week blazers are in the spotlight.  Can you believe that I didn't used to like blazers?!?  I am now convinced it was because I was choosing the wrong fits and fabrics for my shape.  This is the blazer that changed my mind!  The fit is feminine and the fabric is oh so comfy...not stiff at all!

This entire outfit was inspired by the cypress t-shirt and the blazer.  At first I wasn't sure about such a boring, neutral outfit (not that neutrals have to be boring).  Then I discovered that this jeweled necklace pulled-out all of the right colors in the ensemble!

You may notice that these are not my typical type of blog photos.  I took advantage of a trip to LOFT and used their humongous mirrors for an impromptu photo shoot.  The sales girl probably wondered why it was taking me so long to try on the clothes!  Check back next week to find-out what inspired this fun afternoon shopping trip!

What I'm Wearing:

T-Shirt: Everlane (exact)

Necklace: LOFT (similar, similar)

Blazer: Anthropologie (similar, similar)

Pants: Gap (similar, similar)

Post-Christmas Plaid

As you've probably noticed, it has been quite cold in recent months, making a cozy, plaid shirt a desirable outfit option.  However, I know that I often associate plaid shirts with the holidays...particularly this red and green plaid shirt.  My lovely best friend owns this same shirt and recently asked for tips to wearing it after the holidays and into the (chilly) spring.

Here is one way to de-holiday a particularly festive plaid shirt (or any plaid shirt for that matter).

Pattern-mixing is a always a fun way to add interest to an outfit!  By adding a boldly-patterned sweater layered over your plaid shirt, you make the plaid a little bit more subtle.  I think that a stripes would look great with plaid as well!

Another way to take your favorite plaid shirt into the spring is to find a lighter accent color in the shirt and to play it up!  For example, there is a bit of mint green (so popular this spring) running through this shirt.  I could layer a mint sweater over top of the plaid or I could wear some mint skinny jeans to really accentuate the springy hue.

Do you have any other tips for taking your favorite plaid shirt into the warmer seasons?

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Sweater: Target (similar, similar)

Necklace: Simply Charming Boutique (similar, similar)

Pants: Gap (similar, similar)

Shoes: Lindsay Philips (similar)

Linking-Up With:

Delusions of Grandeur- Favorite Fashion Friday

Perfectly Coutured and Everyday Fashion and Finance- Three-fer Thursday

Vodka Infused Lemonade- Très-Chic Fashion Thursday

Compliments

Aren't compliments just the best?  When I receive a compliment on one of my outfits, I know I've gotten it right...especially when the compliment comes from a very stylish friend. 

This ensemble garnered a couple of compliments which always leads me to contemplate, what makes this outfit cuter than others.  I really think it comes down to fit!  This outfit is comprised of pieces that are favorites, that I know fit well and that I don't constantly have to readjust (yay for working towards style resolution #3).  Also, when I observe the outfits of other bloggers as well as those of women I see out and about, it's always the girls with the well-fitting clothes that strike me as the most well dressed.  Knowing this, I'm working on being much more aware of fit so that I look as put together as I want to be.

This cardigan is one of my favorites since its neutral color works with just about any outfit and it fits well.  For these reasons, it was a natural choice to layer over one of my favorite comfortable-yet-polished shirts.  Throw-on a trendy tassel necklace and voilà, I feel put together!

To you, what makes one outfit cuter than another?  What is elusive quality that makes an ensemble more "put together" than others?

What I'm Wearing:

• Cardigan: Banana Republic (similar, similar)
• Shirt: Banana Republic (similar, similar)
• Tassel Necklace: Loft (similar, similar)
• Pants: Gap (similar, similar)
• Shoes: France (similar, similar)

Linking-up for Style Sessions with Style Elixir

Red and Green

'Tis the season to sport those traditional holiday colors of red and green, right?  Wearing red and green is a surefire way to look festive, but how do you pull-off this look without looking like a cheeseball?

My answer to this dilemma is to find an item that already features red and green together. (Unless you are looking at a tacky Christmas sweater) if a piece of clothing has been designed with these colors in mind, I find that the look is more chic than if I were to sport a plethora of head-to-toe red and green items.

Today I'm wearing a comfy, red and green flannel shirt.  Plaid is particularly à la mode this season and a flannel top is a cozy way to fend-off the winter chill while still looking stylish.  I paired the top with neutral pants, a green tank and green flats to add to the holiday cheer.

As an alternate to the outfit shown above, I've untucked the shirt and added a red belt accent.  Which look do you like best?

Head over to Greater Than Rubies to check-out how a few other fashionable ladies are looking festive this holiday season!

And here are a few of my favorite red and green items for your Christmas shopping lists!

Topshop Petite Skirts · jcpenney Earrings · Asos Scarves & Wraps

What I'm Wearing:

• Plaid Shirt: Old Navy (similar)
• Tank: Banana Republic (similar, similar)
• Belt: Charming Charlie (similar, similar)
• Watch: Fossil (exact)
• Bracelet: Alex and Ani (exact)
• Pants: Gap (similar, similar)
• Shoes: Old Navy (exact)