Create28: Plaid for Days

Who doesn't love a plaid shirt?!  Especially a good plaid shirt.  Do you know what I mean?  There are lots and lots of plaid shirts out there but over the past year-or-so, I found myself struggling to find the perfect plaid shirt.  I wanted something thick and warm, a shirt that wouldn't gape at the buttons, and something in a nice classic color pallet (you know, nothing with a sparkly pink stripe running through it...not that there's anything wrong with pink sparkles).

Cue L.L.Bean, the haven for classic and durable pieces!  I've found myself eyeing so many of their timeless looks lately and credit them with creating the perfect plaid top!  This shirt has all of the above-mentioned qualities.  And I just have to add how very soft and warm it is.  Plus it comes in bunches of great color combinations!  I chose Grey Steward but already have a few of the others on my wish list.  Because, you know, plaid for days is the way to go!

How have you been wearing plaid this winter?  Make sure to show us on Instagram (#create28winter17)!

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Comfy and Festive

Oh my goodness, friends!  I actually made it to Winter Break!  About a week ago I was on the verge of a meltdown.  You know those moments in life when there is so much going on and none of it seems to be going well?!  All you want to do is curl up under a blanket for a few days but you just have to keep going?!  Well, I've finally made it to my day where I get to stay curled up under that blanket and I couldn't be more thankful.

I know that I'm a lucky one with two glorious weeks off of work while many of you are still putting in the hours this week.  So let's talk about a few ways that you can be festive yet comfy while surviving these last few days of work!

My first recommendation for being comfortable but put-together is a cute dress that feels like a nightgown!  Cue this little number, my most recent gift from Shein!  This dress is made in a beautiful grey, jersey material and couldn't be more comfortable.  Plus, it has adorable button detailing at the neck.  Have I ever mentioned that I'm a sucker for buttons?  I'm wearing my typical size medium and it fits perfectly!  And you aren't even going to believe the price.  I'm serious, go check it out!

A neutral dress is the perfect base for my second tip for looking festive while feeling comfy: colored tights!  These burgundy, fleece-lined tights were so cozy and warm but definitely upped the interest for this outfit.  Have you ever tried fleece-lined tights?

And because everyone loves a good blooper photo, here is me doing some sort of fabulous hair flip!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: c/o Shein (exact)

Tights: Target (similar)

Ankle Boots: DSW (exact)

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LuLaRoe Week: Carly + Giveaway

Good morning, lovelies!  I have a fun week planned here at Whitney à la mode.  It's LuLaRoe Week!  I know that I've mentioned this brand before and you've probably seen it popping-up on Facebook, but today I want to tell you a little bit more about how it works.  I will also be featuring several LLR styles throughout the coming week.  And the best part?!  A giveaway!  You can enter to win a highly coveted Carly, LuLaRoe's version of the swing dress!  Keep reading for your chance to enter.

Fall Chic

Have you ever stepped outside the box style-wise and ended up feeling like a million bucks?!  That's how I felt in this outfit!

When Make Me Chic generously offered to send me a piece to style, I spent tons of time clicking through their on-trend and (extremely) budget-friendly selection.  As I created my wish list, I found that I was gravitating towards very "Whitney" pieces like brightly-colored swing dresses and tops with feminine details.  But then I found this dress.  And I couldn't quite get it off my mind.

The dress is a bit edgier than I typically go for.  The black and red is such a bold color palate and the embroidered detail is a little bit reminiscent of a tattoo (at least in my opinion).  But at the same time, the cut of the dress is flattering and the collar adds a sweet, feminine detail.

Needless to say, I went for it!  And I'm so glad I did!  The dress is extremely well made.  It's lined and the detailing is actually embroidered on the garment.  And the price really can't be beat.  I mean it, go look for yourself!  You won't even believe it!

I really like how this outfit turned out but I'm also excited to try the dress with a denim jacket and Converse for a more casual look.  I think this will turn out to be quite the versatile piece in my wardrobe!

What I'm Wearing:
Dress: Make Me Chic (exact)
Cardigan: Macy's (similar)
Booties: DSW (exact)

Where I'm linking-up!

Styling Fall Boots with the Blended Blog

Hey, ladies!  I'm fresh off of a spectacular weekend spent celebrating the wedding of a dear friend from high school!  There is something about spending time with the people who truly get you that is so very good for the soul.  I feel blessed to have stood by Michelle for this momentous occasion in her life.  On top of that, the San Antonio weather was delightful, I felt beautiful in my bridesmaid dress and I got to meet Carrie in real life!  Talk about good for the soul!  Meeting Carrie felt like a long-needed catch up between two old friends...like we've known each other forever.  I'm happy to call her a real friend now!

After all of the activity of the weekend and missing the first two days of school this week, I'm totally taken aback that it is already Wednesday and time for the next installment of the October Style Series with The Blended Blog!  Please head over that way to see how a few of our lovely contributors are styling their fall boots!

I didn't have time to take outfit photos this weekend but I have assembled a few posts featuring my must-have boots for the chilly weather!  These have all been staples in my wardrobe for the last couple of years and I don't see that changing any time soon!  Click on the title for each picture to be taken back to the original post!

Black Wedge Booties

Riding Boots

Flat-Heeled Neutral Booties

Low-Heeled Neutral Booties

Bean Boots

What are your cool-weather boot essentials?  And which look is your favorite?  Don't forget to link-up your fall style below!

Winter Parties + Link-Up

Does anyone else ever find themselves stumped about what to wear to a winter party like a baby shower or a birthday party?  During the summer it's just so easy, throw on a sundress and a pair of wedges and voilà, you're ready to go!  But during the winter you have to account for chilly weather and the potential for snow and slush.

In the last month I've attended a baby shower and a birthday party.  Leading up to the events, I struggled in creating an outfit but, in the end, was pretty happy with what I chose!

I wore this outfit to one of my best friend's baby shower (not to be confused with the other best friend's baby shower).  The ponté dress was put-together without being too dressy for a brunch shower, the wedge booties seemed a bit more dressed-up than my usual black flats, and the scarf added interest and kept me warm!

Speaking of the elements in this outfit, they are some of my favorites for this season!  So much so that it might be time to add a few more to my wardrobe.  I wear both of my pairs of suede booties so frequently that I've been thinking it would be fun to purchase another, nicer pair in a different color.  Here are so many cute bootie choices.  I am kind of loving the H by Hudson pairs that are currently on sale!  Which color do you like better, the grey or brown?

What I'm Wearing:

Scarf: Cotton On (similar, similar)

Dress: Old Navy (similar)

Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Booties: DSW- Nine West (exact)

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

Professional and a Lovely Little à la Mode Link-Up

Monday just seems like an appropriate day to talk about work-wear, don't you think?  Often I find that my best inspiration for teaching outfits comes at the beginning of the week when I'm fresh and energized.  Last week I showed you a typical school outfit for me.  Today I'm featuring a slightly more professional look.

Truth be told, a lot of "professional" clothing feels too straight-laced for teaching.  Other teachers may disagree but I just don't feel relatable to students when I'm wearing a pencil skirt.  And I'm less apt to be walking around the classroom, helping students when I'm wearing 3-inch pumps.

One way that I do like to spruce up my work-wear, however, is by adding a blazer.  Blazers provide that extra professional touch but I still feel comfortable doing my job.  Patterned blazers, in particular are a fun way to to up the professionalism!  Here are a bunch of patterned blazers that would be great additions to your professional wardrobe (I'm particular to the plaid ones, this time of year).

I wore this particular outfit for the first night of parent-teacher conferences.  My outfit had to take me from teaching by day to talking to parents all night.  I was comfortable and I felt put-together for a crazy, 12-hour day!

What I'm Wearing:

Blazer: Macy's 

Dress: Banana Republic Outlet (similar, similar)

Necklace: Peach Jewel (exact)

Watch: JORD

Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Booties: DSW (exact)

Now it's time to link up!

Create28: Tights

No, no...you aren't going crazy.  I did write two posts about the same outfit today!  I was able to fulfill the requirements of both Create28: Fall Looks and Blogging Besties with one ensemble!  However, I have lots to say about both challenges so I decided to post about each separately.  You are currently reading my post about Create28!

Ahhh tights season, how I love you!  If you've spent any amount of time visiting Whitney à la mode you may have noticed that I'm most frequently found donning a skirt or a dress.  I really struggle finding pants that fit and I find skirts and dresses to be more comfortable, anyway.  Plus tights make skirts and dresses just that much better!  Not only can you change-up your look with different colored and patterned tights, but tights allow you to wear skirts that are just a wee bit short on their own!

While I could talk about the merits of tights all day long, I decided to focus on colored tights today because I know that I used to struggle with how to wear them!  I am by no means an expert or the most stylish colored tights wearer, but here are some tips that I've found help me to feel good about wearing colored tights!  And for the sake of this post, I'm considering colored tights to be anything except for black and brown.

For me, the colored tights struggle was always about finding footwear that didn't look funny stuck on the end of a pair of colorful legs.  The easiest way I've found to pair colored tights with shoes is to go for a monochromatic look.  Add a pair of boots or flats in the same color as your tights and you have a longer, not-so-awkward look!

My other favorite way to wear colored tights is with boots or booties!  If you are feeling really nervous about trying colored tights, I suggest a pair of riding boots because then you are really only showing a tiny bit of the tights!

And then there's this look.  But I already told you how much I love moccasins!

So tell me, are you brave enough to try a pair of colored tights?  And let's see all of your beautiful tights looks from today (#Create28FallLooks)!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: ASOS (similar, similar)

Cardigan: Gift (similar, similar)

Tights: Anthropologie (similar, similar)

Booties: DSW (exact)

Create28: Plaid

Did you know that today is Plaidurday?  Are you wearing your plaid?

I received this cozy buffalo plaid jacket in one of my Le Tote deliveries in early September.  For weeks it was too warm to even think about wearing a jacket, but I kept my Le Tote anyways because I just had to wear the jacket before I returned my goods and received another special delivery.

While I awaited the cool, crisp morning that meant I could break-out this jacket, I thought through so many outfit options.  I ultimately decided that pairing buffalo plaid with stripes is a perfect combination of classic yet creative.

What is your favorite way to wear plaid?  With stripes and booties like me?  As a scarf?  Perhaps a plaid shirtdress?  Maybe you've checked-out Adam Lippes for Target?  In any case, show us what you've got on Insta (#Create28FallLooks) and make sure to link-up on Monday.  Here are some more plaid looks that I'm loving for fall!

Follow Whitney à la mode's board Plaid on Pinterest.

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to see how Casey styles a fall tunic!

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: LOFT (exact)

Jacket: Le Tote (exact)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Booties: DSW (exact)

Where I'm linking-up!

Marsala Day to Night

Have you see Pantone's Color Report for 2015 yet?  The gurus of color have announced Marsala to be the "it" hue of the year!  "Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this robust shade incorporates the warmth and richness of a tastefully fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots point to a sophisticated, natural earthiness," (Pantone Color Report).  Fortified wine and a fulfilling meal?  Where do I sign up?

To compliment Marsala, Pantone has chosen nine other colors to be the Spring 2015 En Plein Air palette.  Lucky for you, Alex of Undergraduate Style has already done a wonderful job of showcasing and describing these lovely shades.  Today she's hosting a link-up where you get to show the world your favorite Pantone-inspired ensemble!

In a perfect twist of fate, the Anthropologie dress that I purchased in February just so happens to be Marsala!  Here are two ways I've worn this dress already!

Wearing a long-sleeved shirt under a sleeveless dress is quickly becoming my favorite way to layer!  This pairing makes the dress daytime (and school) appropriate and is perfect while there is still a bit of snow on the ground.  I'm also going to claim that this shirt is Classic Blue.  What do you think?

This is how I spiced up the dress for a special Valentine's Day date!  Suede wedge booties, a denim jacket and a tassel necklace were perfect for catching a stand-up comedy routine, attending a screening of The Princess Bride and eating deliciously greasy food with my handsome guy!

I'm also linking-up with Bri of Work Clothes, I Suppose today for Third Thursday Threads.  This month the theme is "Favorite Sale Purchase."  Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores but rarely can I afford to buy their beautiful items at full price.  For that reason, finding a great deal there is like finding a hidden treasure.  Purchasing this lovely Marsala dress for $52.95 when the original price was $158 makes this my favorite sale purchase of late!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Anthro (exact)

Gingham Shirt: Banana Republic (similar, similar)

Pearl Statement Necklace: Simply Charming Boutique (similar, similar)

Blue Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Blue Flats: France (similar, similar)

Denim Jacket: Hand-Me-Down (similar, similar)

Tassel Necklace: LOFT (similar, similar)

Black Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Booties: DSW (exact)

Other Link-Ups:

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays

My Closet Catalogue- TARDIS TUESDAY (I'm claiming that Classic Blue is the same as TARDIS Blue)