The Holiday Series: Black Friday Shopping Outfit

Happy Last Day of School Before Thanksgiving Break, friends!  I don't know about you but this teacher is ready for some sleep-ins, delicious food and time with family!

I'm back today with round two of The Holiday Series, a multi-blogger collaboration organized by Ada.  For our first post, we featured lots of Thanksgiving style inspiration and today we're showing you some looks you could wear on your Black Friday shopping excursion!

Truth be told, I'm not a black Friday shopper.  Don't get me wrong, I love to shop!  Just not on the craziest shopping day of the year.  I would prefer to spend the morning in my pajamas, sipping coffee from the comfort of my own (or this year, my sister's) home.  Maybe I'll snag some deals on cyber Monday!

But in any case, I will be doing some holiday shopping soon and will most likely be wearing something very similar to this outfit (which I actually wore on a movie date).  For big holiday shopping trips, I try to wear something warm enough, like this cozy sweater, so that I can leave my coat in the car.  Who wants to carry a coat around all day?!  Also, comfy shoes are a must for walking around any shopping center!

What I'm Wearing:
Sweater: Local Boutique (similar, similar)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Shoes: Kids (exact)

Keep on reading for more holiday shopping ensembles!

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Clockwise:

ADA from Elegance and Mommyhood

KIMBERLY from Kandidly Kim

KRISTIN from Countdown to Friday

KELLYANN from This Blonde's Shopping Bag

ELIZABETH from Lizzie in Lace

LINDA from A Labour of Life

SHELBEE from Shelbee on the Edg

MONICA from Jersey Girl, Texan Heart

WHITNEY from Whitney à la Mode

MICHELLE from Michelle's Pa(i)ge

CHRISSY from Granola and Grace

 LEE from Wine and Couture

JENNIE from A Pocketful of Polka Dots

Clockwise:

Whitney: "As much as I love shopping, I am not a Black Friday shopper.  I prefer to sleep-in, eat Thanksgiving leftovers and avoid the major crowds.  I still love holiday shopping expeditions, though!  It's fun to look festive but comfort is really key for a day of walking around and carrying shopping bags!"

Linda: "In Canada we are still going full out on Black Friday but I do like dressing a little festive knowing that you are enjoying a special Holiday. Wearing my new embroidered blazer from Target with a pair of plaid pants I have owned for a few years. I will not be hitting the sales on Black Friday but I will be thinking of all my American Friends enjoying this time with their families."

Shelbee: "For Black Friday shopping at the mall, I must be warm and comfortable for waiting in outside lines.  But I also must wear enough layers to shed if I get too hot.  I chose a lightweight hoodie, stretchy jeggings, and flat boots for lots of walking.  I layered up with a leather jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves. Minimal jewelry to prevent snagging...just earrings and my wedding ring.  Let's go shopping! "

Kellyann: "This is an outfit I'd wear if I was actually going shopping on Black Friday.  A crossbody bag is a necessity for me so my hands are free to shop! I want to be comfortable so I chose skinny jeans, a lightweight plaid shirt, and a v-neck sweater to keep me warm.  Knowing my Florida climate as I do, the sweater will come off by noon!  Right now I'm only planning on shopping online.  I want to spend as much time as possible with my boys and soak up all that I have to be thankful for."

Jennie: "I rarely actually go to any stores on Black Friday and stick to shopping on my laptop, but this year I may actually visit our local outlet mall and catch some sales. A lightweight jacket, hat, and boots will keep me warm and comfortable throughout the day without extra bulk."

Chrissy: "Black Friday has always been a fun shopping adventure to me. I can recall standing in crazy lines for Bath & Body Works candles and Air Freshner plug-ins.  On official Black Friday you’ll find me traveling on the road back to GA with hubby and boys."

Lee: "This year on Black Friday instead of running around spending money and buying things we don't need I am going to volunteer.  I am apart of a local service league which holds an event called Christmas House which gives underprivileged children a new coat, 2 toys, and 2 new books for Christmas (or whatever holiday they celebrate).  In order to have the items to offer we work with other companies to raise money or get donations.  This year to get books we have partnered with Barnes and Noble (New Hope Commons Durham NC).  As part of our partnership we will 'man' the gift wrapping table.  So my black Friday will be spent wrapping gifts for shoppers at Barnes and Noble while spreading the word about Christmas House.  Head to my blog to learn more."

Kristin: "Since I live in Germany, Black Friday isn't as big of an occasion as it is in the States. This year I'm going to be shopping online so I can still get in on all of the sales! I'm always looking for great deals on expensive winter items like boots, coats, and cashmere."

Kimberly: "I would wear something comfortable and dress in layers so I can take things off if its crowded or the stores are hot.  A lightweight/loose top, vest and scarf would complete my look."

Ada: "This year on Black Friday I will be working and give or take I am going to be out and about for 12 hours straight so a comfy and warm outfit with black skinny jeans - still work-appropriate - a black long-sleeve wool tee and one of my long and cozy chenille cardigans will be what I will wear. I chose burgundy desert booties for comfort and a wool-blend blanket scarf to keep warm. My workplace is doing the "Simply Give" event this year on Black Friday. I will be doing a food-drive for families in need and after that a mittens+socks drive+deliver. Between all the driving and being in an out of my car, I wanted a layered look. I think my 'Fall Uniform' is also perfect for shopping on Black Friday since layers are a must.

Lizzie: "On Black Friday, I like to wake up super early to take my siblings on a shopping spree in our PJ's. We have a lot of fun picking out presents for our family and making memories along the way."

Monica: "Oh Black Friday, so many people get up so early to go shopping and I think it's become its own holiday as well.  I like to be lazy Thanksgiving weekend and I'm not one of those people who wakes up early.  I worked in retail for about 10 years, so I like to sleep in and take my time shopping.  I usually can't find anything on Black Friday besides certain electronics.  So my plans are to sleep in, and relax until I'm ready to shop."

Michelle: "This outfit is totally ready for some Black Friday shopping. If you plan to shop online, then you will be cozy in this pullover and comfy leggings & if you plan to head out to stores, sneakers & a cross body bag are a must for a full day of shopping! Either way, go get those deals!"

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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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Blogging Besties: Blue and Green

Blogging Besties is a weekly series featuring Whitney of Whitney à la mode, Alex of The Cheerful Closet, 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!

I just love this skirt every time Selah wears it!  I really like the creative silhouette she created with the boxy eyelet top, and don't even get me started on kitten heals!

While the book lover in me really wanted to go with the prompt to "show us your shelves," fate struck and I ultimately choose to feature "blue and green."

You see, earlier this week my mom, niece and sister raided my closet for a Styled by Someone Else post.  When my sister created an outfit, she just so happened to put together a blue and green ensemble without even knowing my Blogging Besties prompts!

Please forgive the wrinkly skirt as we had just spent the afternoon playing around in my closet.  It was so much fun to have my favorite girls choose outfits for me since they picked things I wouldn't have thought of myself.  This top is a little bit more form-fitting than I usually go for but my sister convinced me I could rock it!  What do you think, a good date night look maybe?

Alright, Alex my darling, here are your prompts for next week: styled by someone else, form-fitting, lace-up or a classic white top!

What I'm Wearing:
Tank: Old Navy (exact)
Skirt: Banana Republic (similar)
Necklace: Stella & Dot (exact)
Shoes: Modcloth (exact)

Where I'm linking-up!
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Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed and Something Red, White and Blue

Happy Fourth of July, my dear blogging friends!  May your day be filled with friends, hot dogs, cold drinks, sparklers and a swell of pride for the 'ole U.S. of A!  And while you're at it, will you have an extra hot dog and cold drink for me?  Because I will be spending today driving across this great country of ours for about ten hours.  It's not exactly the way I would prefer to spend my holiday but I will make the most of it by taking in the landscape that our nation has to offer!

For the past two years, I have been invited to a wedding during Fourth of July weekend.  I love holidays and I love weddings so I think that this is a perfect way to celebrate the Fourth!  Add to the mix a self-imposed challenge to create a wedding-appropriate, not cheesy, red, white and blue outfit?!  I am in closet remixing heaven!

I purchased a beautiful, red maxi dress for the wedding last summer and decided that because I love it so much, I wanted to wear it again for this wedding!  I wanted to do red, white and blue again but in a different way than I did last year.  The dress and the shoes remain the same but I spiced up the accessories!

When Bri hosted an online Stella & Dot party a couple months ago, I found the perfect necklace and clutch to create the look I had been daydreaming about!  By purchasing these items, I won the spot of surprise hostess for the party and received some credit to purchase another couple of Stella & Dot pieces.  Thank you, Bri!

With that, have a lovely Fourth (and don't forget about that extra hot dog)!

What I'm Wearing:
Dress: Nashville Boutique (similar, similar)
Wedges: DSW (similar, similar)
Necklace: Stella & Dot (exact)
Clutch: Stella & Dot (exact)

A Nautical Look for Style Perspectives

It seems to me that nautical-inspired outfits are a fresh and in-style look each time summer rolls around.  Because who doesn't think about the seashore and salty ocean waves when the weather is warmer?!  I think the reoccurring appearance of nautical pieces every year makes this look a true summer classic!  Nicole has picked this sunny style for the ladies of The Blended Blog to feature today.

What comes to your mind when you think about putting together a seafaring-inspired outfit?  Stripes, navy, blues, espadrilles and gold accessories are, to me, defining elements of nautical style.

Stripes, check! Navy, check!  Blues, espadrilles and gold accessories, check, check and check!

I wanted to wear this swing dress from Old Navy as soon as it arrived at my doorstep!  It is so so comfortable and flattering (not to mention classically nautical).  It will be fun to play around with different cardigans and accessories but for its first outing, I stuck with monochromatic blues.

I actually wore this outfit on Mother's Day.  My mom and I had a lovely day spent shopping, indulging in sushi and sipping on wine.  I'm lucky to have a mom who I have so much fun with!

Can we take a quick moment to admire this purse?  This is possibly the nicest purse that I've ever owned.  I love the color for spring and summer but the quality leather and shape make it a purse that I can use for years to come. I purchased the purse using Shopbop credits.  I'm so grateful for my experience working with Shopbop because I can treat myself to quality pieces that I wouldn't normally be able to afford.

Well friends, this wraps up the Style Perspectives series for The Blended Blog!  Please link-up your nautical looks below!

But before we get to that link-up, I'm excited to announce the next style series with TBB!  Do you remember Create28 that I've done with Carrie and Casey?  Well we are switching it up and doing it with our friends from The Blended Blog this time.  YOU are still an important part of this challenge so you will still receive daily style prompts and link-ups will be available on Wednesdays.  Here are the prompts for the first week!

Oversized

Bri's Third Thursday Threads theme "Oversized" couldn't have come at a more perfect time of the year.  I don't know about you other teachers out there, but March is one of the most difficult months to get through.  Waking-up early is a challenge, getting through the school day with a smile on my face is exhausting, and wearing real clothes everyday?  Now that's something that I really don't want to do.  Combine my midyear ennui with a couple of extra pounds gained from snow days spent lounging on the couch and snacking, and all I want to wear are comfy, oversized  pieces.

On this particular day, all I wanted to do was wear leggings to work.  Unfortunately, I don't have any tunics long enough to make leggings appropriate for teaching.  But isn't a swing dress really just an oversized tunic?  I thought so!  And somehow the all black made my practically pajamas ensemble somewhat chic.  I even had a seventh grader tell me that it looked like I had spent hours putting together my outfit.  No no, darling girl, I somehow managed to make this work before my eyes were fully open in the wee hours of the morning.

While I'm thinking about it, though, perhaps I should invest in some nice tunics so that I can wear them to work on difficult mornings.  I'm loving the ones with the feminine embroidery for spring!  Or maybe I should just tell it like it is and wear the one that very accurately describes the current state of my body.  Or I could continue the trend and swear swing dresses as tunics.  What do you think?

What I'm Wearing:

Swing Dress: ASOS (similar, similar)

Leggings: Nordstrom (exact)

Necklace: Gift (similar, similar)

Flats: LOFT (similar)

Where I'm linking-up!

Create28: Rose Quartz February

Good morning, lovelies!  I'm back today with my second post about how to wear Rose Quartz, one of Pantone's colors of the year, all year long!  Here's how I wore this pretty shade of pink in January!

To me, February is the month of romance!  I know that Valentine's Day is only one day out of the month but all 28, err 29 days have me thinking pink, flowers, chocolate and love!  And in my opinion, nothing is more romantic than a blush pink, lace dress!  And there are lots of these lovely dresses from which to choose.

Since it's a little too chilly for just a romantic dress, my trusty denim jacket  (I've been wearing this hand-me-down for a decade, maybe it's time for an upgrade?), grey tights, cozy socks and booties create a look fit for the February weather.

So this month, use Rose Quartz to create an outfit with a romantic, feminine vibe!  And let's see your version of Rose Quartz at our weekly link-up on Monday or on Instagram (#create28winterlooks)!

Monthly Rose Quartz Series

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Hand-me-down (similar, similar)

Tassel Necklace: Raw Sugar Sunday (exact)

Jacket: Hand-me-down (similar)

Tights: Anthropologie (similar, similar)

Socks: Gift (similar, similar)

Booties: Kohl's (similar)

Where I'm linking-up!

Create28: Mocassins

I have a confession to make.  Boots and booties are not my favorite fall footwear.  Gasp, I know, what kind of personal style blogger am I?

While I love my cognac riding boots and have multiple pairs of suede booties sitting in my closet, moccasins are my favorite cozy shoes to slip into on a casual fall day!  There is something so effortlessly cool about a pair of moccasins.  They state, "this is who I am, I'm comfy and that's all that matters!"

Despite the inherent chicness of a pair of moccasins, their best feature is that they are so darn comfortable!  Who doesn't want to wear a pair of shoes that feel like slippers?  This fall, a stretchy pair of skinnies, a soft sweater and a vest make for the perfect, comfy Saturday uniform (yes, I know it's Tuesday but I took these pictures on Saturday #truthfulblogger).  By the way, this sweater (which might just be my favorite piece this fall) is on super sale in several different colors.  I want one of each, please!

After years of wearing moccasins purchased from Target, I decided it was time to step it up and buy some good-quality moccasins (I did love my Target pair but I wore them until they ripped last year).  I recently invested in a pair from Minnetonka and I couldn't be happier!  Have you checked-out Minnetonka before?  Not only do they have classic moccasins but they have some really fun colors and designs, too (I'm eyeing you, hot pink pair).  And if I can't convince you to step out of your boots, you could wear a pair of moccasin boots!  Here are some of my favorites!

Do you love moccasins as much as I do?  Share your love on Insta (#Create28FallLooks) and by linking-up on Monday.  I also hope that you'll stop back tomorrow because Casey will be sharing a look featuring falls hottest denim trend: flares!

What I'm Wearing:

Sweater: Gap Outlet (exact)

Tassel Necklace: LOFT (similar, similar)

Vest: Eddie Bauer Outlet (similar, similar)

Skinnies: American Eagle (exact)

Moccasins: Minnetonka (exact)

Where I'm linking-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!

September Wedding

It seems relatively easy to think of a pretty outfit to wear as a guest during "wedding season."  You know, June through August when it seems like you have a wedding to attend almost every weekend.  Just throw on your prettiest sundress and your strappiest sandals and you are ready to go!

Now fall weddings, that's another story entirely...especially in September!  First of all, there is the weather to contend with.  The temperatures could soar into the 80s or dip into the 60s (here in Michigan at least).  And weather aside, I know that I'm ready to look a bit more ready for fall.  So what's a girl to do?!

It's a good thing my friend Ada of Elegance and Mommyhood invited me to collaborate with her and two other lovely bloggers to feature our favorite fall-transition wedding guest looks!

So what's my answer to the September wedding-wear conundrum?  Two things: light, pretty layers and fall colors!  I know I've discussed my trouble with kimonos before, but I do love this one!  Not to mention its floral print gives it a feminine and romantic vibe-- exactly what I'm going for at a wedding.  On the practical side, it provides a bit of extra warmth on a chill almost fall evening but can be easily removed for a night on the dance floor!

Using the quintessential little black dress as a foundation, I've added elements in colors that make me think of fall!  Vibrant orange heels and floral print plus a deep green clutch take this basic dress into the cooler months.

And did you notice that my clutch speaks French?  Le Tote sure knew the way to my heart with this one!

And now let's take a look at how Ada, Carrie and Jennie dressed-up for a September Wedding!  Make sure to stop by their blogs to read about their beautiful choices!

Looks like I missed the pink memo!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Banana Republic Outlet (similar, similar)

Kimono: Ruche (similar, similar)

Heels: DSW (similar, similar)

Clutch: Le Tote (exact)

Where I'm linking-up!