Spring to Fall

Denim Dress: JCPenney (great option); Belt: Ann Taylor (fun option); Heels: Coclico (staple pair); 

Shades: Target; Rings: Gorjana (similar); Necklaces: The Zoe Report/Stella & Dot; 

Bracelets: Kate Spade/Tulip Boutique; Nail Color OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

I love a piece that can be worn season after season. This denim dress was something I wore in late spring for a day out with McKinley and if it ain't broke.... I wore this dress yesterday for another day out with McKinley and I love that I can take it from spring to fall! Yesterday we went to story time at the library, had lunch with Meme, and then I ventured out to the grocery store while he opted to stay at Meme's and play. I would have chosen that as well! But, having a dress like this to get me through a busy day, just enhanced it's closet power!

I had a hard time styling the shoes. I literally tried on every "fall" pair I could think of that weren't four to five inch heels. I love the booties with dresses/skirt trend, but it cut off the length of my leg, and it left my legs looking stubby. Not a good thing! I'm not ready for tall boots, it just feels too early, but it turned chilly this afternoon, so maybe I should have worn them. In the end, a low neutral heel was the way to go.

Styling Tip: Be mindful of trends. Again, I love the bootie trend that's currently taking place, but be careful of length. A bootie that comes over the ankle, but a skirt that comes to the knee, you run the risk of cutting off half the leg. Don't do it! A tall boot with the same length skirt, that's okay. Just play with proportions and make sure you're showing off those gams!!

 The Dress: Before and After

   

 

 

One more thing, when looking at pieces that you want to take you from season to season, invest in key pieces like a denim dress. What I love about this one is the length, the versatile sleeves that can be rolled up for a 3/4 look or rolled down for a full sleeve. This will be great paired with a chunky sweater and tights. There are so many ways to style it which makes it a wardrobe staple!

Hope your Wednesday is stylin!

My DIY - The Vintage Hand

Years ago I was a young entrepreneur who had her own jewelry business. I designed, made, and sold my own pieces. I rented booth space for two years at the annual Overland Park Arts and Crafts Fair, I sent out monthly newsletters to my customers, held home parties, and consigned pieces with two boutiques. After several years of sporadic sales, and becoming a repair shop for pieces that weren't mine, I decided to close shop. I loved it and wanted to to become so much more, but in reality, I just didn't have the man power (or funds) to grow it.

My booth decor was very vintage inspired. I hung pieces from antique jewelry boxes, wrought iron stands, and this vintage ceramic hand. It was one of my favorites and my rings looked darling dangling from the funky piece. It's actually one of the only pieces I kept. I've tried incorporating into my bedroom several times, but the white and pink dots just simply clashed. Then I got the brilliant idea to paint it gold! Where this idea was five years ago is beyond me!

So ran to Michael's and picked up a couple of tiny cans of gold spray paint and got to work. 

At first I was worried about the polka dots. They're raised so I thought I might take sandpaper and try to sand them down. But then I feared I would completely ruin the piece. So I painted right over them. The result, cute! I don't mind the dots and they aren't nearly as distracting as I thought they would be. I love it! It took two coats and a thorough exam to make sure all the white had been covered. In between the fingers was where I found most of my missed areas.

I love how it looks with all my other pieces on my dresser. It really does compliment the rest of the decor. And I love how it showcases some of my favorite rings!

 

I love that paint is such a simple way to turn nothing into something! A piece I almost parted with, because I couldn't make it work in it's original state, gets a little face lift while adding a sophistication to my dresser. 

Are there pieces in your home that you've looked at time and time again and thought it needed a little upgrade? Share with us what it was and how you made it new again. I love breathing new life into tired things. 

And I promise, we're still working on the chair. It's slow going when you only get a day here or three hours there. I hope to have it completed by the end of the year. As for the bar? I have a few finishing touches to add and will be sharing it with you all soon!

That One Other Time...

 Vest: Zara; Tank: Loft; Jeans: 7 For All Mankind; Sandals: Rachel Comey;

Bracelets: My Own Mix; Shades: Target; Necklaces: The Zoe Report/Stella & Dot

I purchased this vest back in the spring and haven't worn it. Wait, I take that back. I wore it with those awful white Gap jeans I purchased for $10. It poured down rain, my pants got dirty from leaning up against the car to get McKinley in and out, and I was miserable for the rest of the day. Then summer came and I just didn't get a chance to style it.

I love it paired with flares. I was leery at first. I was afraid the bulk of the jean would be overwhelming with the vest. Turns out, it elongates instead. Happy girl when I can appear taller and a little thinner! 

 

 

 I definitely think this vest will pair well with dresses. I just have to find the right style. Could be kind of cool with a maxi. Thankful for fall and the ability to layer! 

Hope you guys had a great weekend! Start the new week of flare!

Happy Monday, Fashionistas!

It's All About Change

 Top: LC Lauren Conrad; Tank: Loft; Jeans: Loft (similar); Heels: Rachel Comey; 

Handbag: Kooba; All Jewelry Silpada

With fall comes change and I decided to make a change with the old do! I blogged a couple of weeks ago regarding shaking things up in the hair department, and when I walked into my stylists room yesterday, she was ready!! I was so excited that we were both on the same page! She is amazing! Thanks for the new me, Lisa!! 

This sweet LC Lauren Conrad top is so romantic! I love an edgy look, but I do love to play around with feminine pieces from time to time. I'm looking forward to taking this darling top in a dark direction! Post closet clean out, I'm having so much for with my wardrobe. I think a lot of it has to do with the change in the weather and I'm okay with that. Change is good! It keeps you motivated, and in this case, challenged. 

 

 

Top: LC Lauren Conrad; Tank: Loft; Jeans: Loft (similar); Heels: Rachel Comey;  

Handbag: Kooba; All Jewelry Silpada

With the change of the season, is there anything that you are motivated to change? If so, share it with us! I love hearing everyone's stories!

Happy Friday, Fashionista's! Make it a great one!!

Wednesday Wants - Gray Over-the-Knee Boots

Ever since I saw Rachel Zoe in the look below, I haven't been able to stop thinking about over-the-knee (OTK) boots. And we're not talking just any OTK boot. We're talking about thigh high and I am obsessed! I've been searching for about a year for the perfect pair, but nothing has caught my eye....until now! 

I've found the six perfect pairs of gray OTK boots that I think would work to pull off this look. I realize her's are more on the taupe side, but I'm thinking gray will go with more of the pieces in my closet. I'm hoping my look comes close. I mean, who can really emulate Rachel Zoe? No one! We've all tried but there's just no second best! 

So here is the look I adore!

And here are my picks!

 1/2/3/4/5/6

Aren't they all simply amazing? I love them! I'm especially partial to pair number one from Steve Madden. I love the length and the cool tie in the back. So chic and a little on the tough side, no? Obsessed!

What do you think of my inspirational look from Rachel? A great transition look and could be worn for both fall and spring. This look is the epitome of why I think of her as my style guru. She's flawless!

What do you think of the boots? A style you would consider? Let me know your favs! 

One Last Summer Carnival

 Blazer: Loft (cute option); Tee: Target (similar); Jeans: Loft (similar); Sandals: Rachel Zoe (similar); 
Shades: Karen Walker via Gilt; Necklaces: The Zoe Report/Stella & Dot; Nail Color: Chanel

A couple of weeks ago we attended Old Settlers Days which is what I consider the end of summer carnival here in Kansas City. And as always, we had a blast! McKinley rode rides, we ate typical carnival food, drank a giant hand squeezed lemonade, and I rode a mama ride that left me dizzy for the rest of the day! 

The day started out on the cool side so I went with a cute blazer and boyfriend jeans look. Had I known it would warm up like it did, I would have gone with shorts like in the look below! All was good though. I simply threw the blazer under the stroller and rocked this 3/4 sleeve tee for the rest of the afternoon.

The Blazer: Before and After 

    

  

Blazer: Loft (cute option); Tee: Target (similar); Jeans: Loft (similar); Sandals: Rachel Zoe (similar); 

Shades: Karen Walker via Gilt; Necklaces: The Zoe Report/Stella & Dot; Nail Color: Chanel

I'm having a blast dressing with this early fall weather! It has me in the mood to move a little further into the sweater department. I'm not ready for tights, but tall boots are just around the corner!

My Kick Off Look

Blazer: Ann Taylor (similar); Tank: Ann Taylor (similar); Culottes: JCPenney; 

Heels: SJP Collection (similar); Handbag: Balenciaga (similar); Necklaces: Ann Taylor (similar)/Tori Spelling;

 Belt: ASOS; Shades: Karen Walker via Gilt; Bracelets: J.Crew/BaubleBar; Rings: Gorjana/Etiquette Boutique

Yesterday I attended a kick off event for KCFW at Kendra Scott on the Plaza. I adore that store and can't seem to leave without a little shopping bag in my hand. This trip was no exception! I had a great time chatting with friends and sipping Prosecco. A pretty great Sunday afternoon, no?

And because it was the kick off to fashion week, I had to get dolled up! I'm loving my new faux leather culottes and I knew I had to wear them for the event. But how to style them was the big question. I played around with a couple of pieces, but in the end, there is nothing more chic than a tuxedo jacket. I thought about going with a fancier shoe, but when your wearing a Sarah Jessica Parker Collection shoe, that's fancy enough! Fun jewels and a classic bag complete the look!

 Blazer: Ann Taylor (similar); Tank: Ann Taylor (similar); Culottes: JCPenney; 

Heels: SJP Collection (similar); Handbag: Balenciaga (similar); Necklaces: Ann Taylor (similar)/Tori Spelling;

 Belt: ASOS; Shades: Karen Walker via Gilt; Bracelets: J.Crew/BaubleBar; Rings: Gorjana/Etiquette Boutique

I'm having a love affair with black and white (winter white) so far this early fall. It really is the most classic color combo and can be styled dressy or casz. And this combo has to be one of my favorite stylings to date!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and have started off this Monday in the most stylish way possible.  

The Great Closet Clean Out

 I mentioned about a week ago that I was going to begin a secret mission. I've been worried about my style choices, or lack there of lately, and I think it all had to do with the contents inside my closet. Most of the items, if not the majority, were geared toward a girl who used to work full-time in Corporate America. That girl doesn't exist anymore. Instead, she's running errands, taking her son to the park/farmstead/zoo, playing, going on the occasional lunch date with girlfriends, hanging out with friends for much needed mama nights, and not once wearing a pencil skirt or suit.

I decided it was time to truly go through the pieces I own and take a look at each one. Do I really need as many dresses as I have? No, but I do need a simple black sheath, a cute cotton dress for spring and summer outings, and some chic dresses for the times I do go out for fun events in town. I did this with suits, skirts, pants, tops, and blazers. And the result? A streamlined closet that works for play, date nights, and dressy occasions. And I am one happy girl!

It all started with a closet that looked like this. You can see why I was completely uninspired! I couldn't see my way through what I owned to put together anything cute.

I bought a rolling rack and literally took sections at a time out of the closet and looked at each piece one by one. I did this five times with a load like this each time! I made a consignment pile, a donation pile, and a maybe pile. I then weeded back through the maybe pile to see if I really wanted to keep it. From that pile, I think I might have kept three or four pieces. Not too shabby, if you ask me.

   

Then I got down to this. Once I got all the pieces back in the closet, I went through them again and organized them by groups. Starting with the far left it's pants and dresses from long to short. The middle is tops. It goes from sleeveless to long sleeve. Then shorts, short skirts, long skirts, vests, blazers, and leather jackets.

 

 

After all the hanging things were organized, I moved on to sweaters in the boxes below, scarves, the piles of unfolded sweatshirts and miscellaneous stuff on the sides of the jeans, and shoes. I am down to one sweater box, a few sweatshirts I actually wear, a few scarves that all fit on the scarf ring and not hanging over my beautiful shoes, and shoes are all in their respective boxes (if they have one). It's simply amazing and incredibly efficient!! See the results!

 Would I give anything to have a giant walk-in, yes! But, if I had that, I think my hoarding issue would be even worse! The 1960s closet works for me, now, because I'm trying to take an artful eye to my wardrobe and keep it to pieces that I will actually wear and can style for an easier lifestyle.

I challenge you to try it too! It truly does make you feel accomplished and I feel like I have a much better handle on my style! Now, if you are in the market for a cleaner closet, but feel you don't have the patience or haven't a clue where to start, call me! I am up for the challenge! And, while we're at it, I will make sure you have multiple looks when all is said and done!

I am one happy girl after a week of hard work! Up next, the big consignment sale!! Can't wait to see you all there!

Happy Friday!