Winter White

With the holidays fast approaching, and for us in MN the inevitable large amounts of SNOW, you may find yourself searching for that perfect outfit for a date nite, or perhaps a festive holiday party.  

What I love about my close group of girlfriends is that we've decided to always have a "theme" for our annual holiday party. 
This will only be the third year with a theme, but it has made getting dressed SO much simpler!  I wish there were more parties/events that had a theme for "dressing up"....it's SO much fun, and again, easier to know what you will be wearing!

Our first "theme" was, of course, the "ugly sweater" party. It was fun, and we even "voted" on the ugliest sweater & the winner received a fun "door prize!" Last year's theme was SPARKLE! Everyone layered on the sparkle, sequins, glitter & bling!  So fun! 




This year we have decided on "Winter White." I am very excited about this year's choice, as lace, ivory, white, and cream are so so fun to layer & then pile on the jewels of course!  


I purchased a pair of MiH velvet ivory skinnies (from houndstooth) that I'm very excited to wear....now it's just down to finding that perfect top, or sweater, or combination of the two to complete the look!  I do have several choices to choose from in my closet, it's just a matter of creating that look I've imagined in my head....we'll see how it goes! 

It's always fun to see how others take a "theme" and create their own look within that same idea! Everyone always adds their own personal style & touch to what they put together!  

Here are a few of my favorite items & looks that fit into our theme, Winter White.

Halloween

Halloween is probably my favorite "holiday" of the year.....

I LOVE the crisp fall evenings, the colorful leaves, a fire in the fireplace, carving pumpkins, and of course-dressing up!!!

Now that I am "too old" to trick-or-treat, I have yet to be invited to a Halloween party, but as a teacher I can dress up for the day (school appropriately of course)! I also love just staying home to answer the door & see all the costumes the kids from the neighborhood are wearing.
Pinterest has made the idea of dressing up even easier, as it's so simple to find costume ideas-whether it's just for yourself, for you + one, or a group costume idea!

Here are just a few of my favorites I've seen or heard about this year:
(all of the following photos/pictures were taken from Pinterest)

Any of the Harry Potter characters is always fun....this could be a single costume, a couples' costume, or a group costume!!

I've recently seen friends dress up as Paul Bunyon & Babe the blue ox! ...maybe just a common costume for those of us in the Midwest/state of MN??!!

Here's another fun costume for couples: Marilyn Monroe & Joe DiMaggio!

I'll always be a fan of the "zoot suit + flapper" costume idea as well...who doesn't love dressing from the '20s??!!

There are SO many adorable costumes for kids....especially now with etsy as a great site to find handmade costumes and/or props or even just another place to peruse for ideas!

Love this one (mouse trap):

Fabulous scarecrow:

...and of course, a "mini-Audrey":

Check out this LINK with 10 "last minute" costumes....some fun ideas!


Check out my costumes Pinterest page for more fabulous costume ideas HERE!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Style

Just thought I'd share some of my favorite quotes & items that I'm loving right now!

LOVE this:

J.Crew does it again...SO in love:

...loving this double initial necklace, AND it's shown in MY initials! Fabulous!

This neutral ombre mani is so fun:

LOVE both of these too:

For more Style Love check out "my STYLE" board HERE on Pinterest!

Fall Fashion: MINT

Mint is no longer a color that is solely reserved for spring/summer. I'm seeing it more and more in stores' fall collections and I'm loving it! 

Blair Ritchey

This gorgeous clutch by Blair Ritchey is one that if I was lucky enough to own, I'd never "put it away for the season"...I think it's a rich enough color to use all year round.




JCrew continues to amaze me, as always. 

The fall collection has several mint hues....from the classic mint-heathered v-neck sweater to the gorgeous print shift dress and the fabulous baubles for your wrist! 
LOVE it all!

Jade = mint's darker version - is also a great way to wear this color into fall....love this silk JCrew blouse! (pictured right)


You can also easily pair 2 shades of mint together without looking too crazy...love this denim + blouse combo! Just make sure that your accessories are neutral & that the 2 mint shades are different enough in color that it doesn't look as though you were trying to match & miserably failed!

Another fashion/style blogger, J of J's Everyday Fashion shares her love for mint + camel in a somewhat recent post....which I couldn't agree more with--LOVE this color combination! Here are a few of her outfits where she pairs these 2 colors together....often with just her accessories adding that pop of color. 

As I've blogged before, I am a total sucker for MINT....and love that I can continue to wear what I have (& possibly find more fabulous pieces) all fall+ winter long!

Seeing Spots

Animal print.....treat it like a neutral or use it as a simple, yet perhaps unexpected statement. 

It's easy to think about throwing on a leopard or cheetah print scarf with an all black outfit as your pop of print & color, but you can also mix it in with other prints as if it were one of your neutral pieces. 

Animal print has changed over the years, and there are now so many new versions of this print that may have been viewed at something a "much older" woman might wear. I am loving the prints I'm seeing on bloggers and in stores this fall, and can't seem to find enough reasons to wear my own Madewell printed heels.

This leopard jacket is an unexpected & updated version of the classic blazer. Throw it on with jeans and a tee and you now have a chic & put together look.

I love pairing my Madewell leopard heels (circa fall 2011) with one of my favorite polka dot blouses (Zara)....it's such a fun way to mix prints!

Dots & Spots

Madewell is very much in on this trend again this fall, as they just recently sent out an email about "Trend Spotting." They have fabulous pieces, and always unique versions of the cheetah print. My above shoes are from Madewell last fall -LOVE them! 

Here's a better shot these fabulous heels:


I love how fashion/style blogger Julie (Jules) of Sincerely Jules styled a similar version of my dots & spots:

JCrew is another retailer in love with the leopard look. I'm loving this "wild side" bangle, and these leopard round toe pumps are fabulous as well!

Here's another chic look that includes a leopard jacket paired with denim and the very on trend cap toe heels. LOVE!

Another way to embrace the animal print is to add a simple skinny leopard print belt to a dress or with denim and a print blouse. This is one easy way to slowly begin mixing prints.

above 2 photos courtesy of Pinterest

Animal print is a chic & easy way to add something new to your wardrobe. Whether it's a simple bangle or skinny belt, or an investment pair of pumps or printed jacket, you are sure to be spotted in style!

Always Overdress

If I've learned anything from my father working in the high-end retail business, and having his own great personal style, it's that it's always better to be overdressed.

No matter where it is you are headed, once you get there, you'd much rather be turning heads because you look fabulous and not because you are the worst dressed person in the room!

Thus "when in doubt, overdress," ~always!

I think this is especially important when considering what to wear to a wedding. At every wedding there will always be two people who are dressed in their best as they say their vows...and if nothing else, it's better to be the next best dressed at the party!

I would never recommend wearing jeans to a wedding, except in a few rare occasions, and only if you are a male. Women should never wear jeans to a wedding, ever!  Guys can pull off the look if it's a beach, or perhaps barn, wedding, the denim is very dark in color (with no holes of course), and is paired with a dress shirt, jacket & tie! Then, and only then, can it work.

Ladies--pull out that fabulous dress you haven't worn in a year, put on your favorite heels, and grab a fun clutch--why not?  I think there are far too few events these days where we can really get all dressed up! So take advantage!

....I would have loved to live back in the 1920s....they always had excuses for parties & dressing up in fabulous gowns with gorgeous jewels!!

I also believe very much in this:

I think that showing up to an event or party dressed up shows the host/hostess that you cared enough about the party to put on your best! And again, if you have an excuse to go out, why wouldn't you choose to wear something fun & exciting that you don't normally get to wear on a regular basis?!?  Seems like a "no-brainer" to me!

Traveling is another "event" that I think people tend to under-dress for. I don't quite understand the people that basically wear their pajamas on an airplane....aren't you going someplace new? Isn't that exciting and worth putting some effort into your appearance for?   I am a firm believer that comfort doesn't have to come in a velour jumpsuit, but clearly many people feel otherwise.

I do believe that whatever you put on each morning, no matter where you are headed, should at least tell the world a little about you: who you are or maybe who you feel like being that day....if nothing else, have fun with your style and when in doubt, 

ALWAYS OVERDRESS!!

Fall Fashion: Favorites

With the first "official" day of fall just around the corner (Saturday, September 22), I'm getting more and more excited to pull out my boots and sweaters.

It's still been fairly warm here in MN with even a day earlier this week that reached 90 degrees!!! Since then, temperatures have remained in the 70s, which is the PERFECT weather for jeans, a sweater, and boots (no jacket, hat, scarf, or mittens required)!!!

With that, I thought I'd share some of my favorite fall pieces from my own wardrobe and a few other items that I've seen & love for this season.

AG jeans

Printed & Colored Denim

Houndstooth boutique

I still can't seem to get enough of the colored & printed denim. I am so excited to pair mine with a sweater & boots!
I am a lover of the "color of the season," oxblood, in all of it's varieties of shades, and I am SO excited to wear my JBrand gold brocade skinnies (pictured right).






Denim/Chambray Shirts
I will also continue to be wearing my denim/chambray shirts throughout the fall and into winter. They are another fabulous pairing with the printed & colored denim, as well as a fantastic layering piece. As the temperatures continue to drop, throwing a chunky knit sweater over my denim shirt makes a chic outfit that's winter-weather appropriate.

shopmama.com

Here are a few of my favorite looks from Nordstrom's fall catalog showcasing printed denim, chambray shirts & vintage inspired jewelry:

Vintage-Inspired Jewelry & Stacking your Wrist
I can't say enough fabulous things about our local jewelry designer Jen Scheffler and her jewelry line, realia. I am obsessed with my newest piece, as I have worn it 3 times in the last week! (pictured left)

Stacking your wrist with fabulous jewels is also "on trend," and I love the look! Now, you don't want to go too overboard, but if done right, it can look fantastic! Check out realia's selection of fabulous wrist baubles to create the look that works for you!



With that I'll leave you with just a few more looks/pieces that I am loving for fall! Here's to enjoying the crisp, colorful days ahead!!!

7forallMankind

Burberry