Variation on a Theme

Top: Ann Taylor; Pants: Loft;

Shoes: Rachel Comey; Scarf: Gift;

Bangles/Earrings: Silpada 

It's a variation on a theme! I am loving these pants and apparently, I have a huge fondness for stripes! And the top worn above is in constant rotation. Seen here and here for example. I just love how neutral the pants are! Honestly, they can be worn with just about any color and I continue to love the preppy vibe they bring. Wonder how I will wear them next?

 Below is how I've worn them before.

Your Style Personality + Key Pieces

Yesterday on Twitter, Lucky Magazine provided a style personality quiz, and based on the results, it informed the reader of their style personality. Well, based on my result, mostly B's, I am Effortless Boho. I have to say, they were right on the nose! And, based on being Effortless Boho, they provided me key pieces that I needed in my wardrobe. Turns out, I already have most them there.

According to Lucky, Effortless Boho means "Your take on the bohemian look is comfortable but clean and elegant. You look for outfits that you could wear for a day on the beach and shopping with friends." They couldn't be more right! I do love to dress up, especially for work from time to time, but I do love to dress for comfort while maintaining a stylish edge. Here are the piece they say I need, the pieces I already have, and how I've worn them.

Peasant Tops:

I have to say, I haven't owned a peasant top in years. And, I owned only one and didn't hang on to it for very long. Now, I do have loose fitting tops that could be considered peasant. I often wear them belted so I can define my waist and lose some the bulk. 

 Flare Jeans:

Check! I love flare jeans! I feel they make legs look longer and can be very slimming. I actually find that I wear that style just as often as my boyfriend!

 

Wooden Platform Sandals:

In reviewing my footwear, it appears I have a lot of wooden soled shoes, but not many wooden platforms. I say I need to remedy that! In the meantime, here is a look at my wooden shoe collection.

 

 

Denim Jacket:

For me, there has been only one denim jacket worn through out the years of my blog. Okay, through out the two years of this blog, but it has suited me well. I do need to invest in one that's a tad longer and in a darker wash, but until then, this is a trusty staple! Thank goodness my mom held on to this for all those year. A true vintage piece!

 

 

You can take the Lucky Style Quiz here. Let me know what your personal style file holds for you!

Palazzos

 

Sweater: Ann Taylor; Tank: Ann Taylor;

Pants: Target; Shoes: Seychelles;

 Earrings: Silpada; Bracelet: Banana Republic;

 Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I've had my eye on these Palazzo pants all spring but hadn't pulled the trigger because sometimes I'm not willing to spend a lot of money on a trends. Good think I held out! I love when I find a trendy item that's less than $20 and that's just what I found! These pants were only $19.99 at Target! That's right, $19.99. See, you can find cute trends at affordable prices, you just have to be willing to look.   

I happened upon these pants while browsing the clothing section just hoping that I could find something similar to these. I've worn them twice and the first time was to dinner on Saturday night. An effortless piece that can be styled so many ways. I am actually planning to pack these for our trip to Chicago in May. The only issue I have is the length. Too short for tall heels and a little long for flat sandals. I'm going to have to search for the perfect heel height, but in a neutral tone. I plan to play up color in sweaters and accessories!

 

Mad Men, What I Wore and 60's Inspiration - A Look Back

I was stumped about what to post today, since I didn't get one outfit photo taken this weekend, and I had cute duds to show off! But after I saw What I Wore and her darling, self-made dress, I knew I had to blog about the 60s! As one of my favorite eras to style, I took a trip down memory lane and highlighted some of my favorites worn threw out the years! Check out What I Wore all this week as Jessica devotes her wardrobe to the early 60s!

How Bloggers Wear LOFT: Spring

On a whim, I sent my photo to Loft via Facebook to show them how I, a blogger, am wearing LOFT this spring! I am so honored to announce that I made their list! And there are some great looks that were shown! I blogged about my pastel cords just yesterday, which was the look submitted and chosen! Here is the official link to their Facebook page and the bloggers wearing LOFT!

Here is the look I submitted and a link to my blog post here!

Pale Pink + Coral + Navy

 

Sweater: Ann Taylor; Cords: Loft; 

Shoes: Camper via Habitat Shoe Boutique (won in a drawing);

Necklace: Ebay

I am in love with this outfit! I love that it's casz but preppy. And, for a color combo that I was super unsure about, I adore! Even my mom thought it was cute. (That's a huge compliment, trust me!) We are heading to Chicago in May and I have a feeling this little ensemble will make its way into my bag. And if it's not the whole look, a variation of it for sure. These light weight cords, in cotton candy pink, are going to be a staple this spring! 

Kimona Over

Jacket: Target; Tank: Ann Taylor; Belt: Ann Taylor;

Pants: H&M; Shoes: Guess via DSW; Jewelry: Silpada

  

Kimono inspired jackets are big for spring so I had to test this trend out myself. This actual jacket was featured in one of the many fashion mags I subscribe too, and since it was from Target, not a huge investment for a fun trend. Again, this was an item I was hesitant to wear and style, but I just bit the bullet and went with hot pink pants to play up the corals and pinks in the jacket. I decided to keep the shoes neutral as black made the look too heavy. All in all, a piece I'm not afraid to wear again and can't wait to styling it differently!

Below is how I've paired these pants in the past. You can also see them here!

 

Spring Cleaning; The Makeup Bag

As spring approaches, I find that I start wearing lighter shades of eye shadow, pinkier shades of blush and neutral lip color, when I remember to apply! And, as I started thinking about the switch, I realized how low I am on all of my current essentials! Clinique, I need a Bonus Time and now!!

What do I need from said Bonus Time, you ask. Well, here are some of the essentials either missing or running low in this gal's bag of tricks!

Cleansing:

I love their simply put Exfoliating Scrub. I don't use it every day, maybe three days as a week, and I love how my face feels after each use. It truly leaves my skin feeling smooth and super clean. And the scent will wake even the most unlikely morning person! 

Eyes:

I'm finding that as I apply my mascara, I'm starting to get Tammy Faye Baker lashes! They appear spidery and flaky! Pretty sure it's time to replace! I really like the High Definition Lashes Brush Then Comb. And speaking of eyes, I am loving the Quickliner for eyes. It was a sample in my last Bonus Time bag and I'm down to the nub! The one given was in Black/Brown, but I'm thinking I might try Really Black. However, I see they are introducing a new Quickliner for Eyes Intense! They claim you can find all the intensity of a liquid liner in one simple stroke. May need to test that out!

 

And while I'm shopping for these items I'm needing, I always seem to find something new! While browsing the Clinique site for this blog, I found their Almost Spring Clinique 2012. I think I might try their new Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy Blush and their Almost Lipstick in Chic Honey. (Side note about Almost Lipstick. I currently own Black Honey and love the color and feel.)

 

What's in your bag for Spring?