Fall Style for Everyday

I just wanted to share some of my favorite types of outfits to wear for all different occasions this time of year, showing ways to layer and be all cozy and warm, regardless of what you’re doing! Happy Friday Eve… we are almost there!!!!!!

 

Grabbing Coffee with a Friend: Whether during the week or on the weekend, grabbing coffee or lunch with a friend (I am a fan of pumpkin spice lattes!) you want to look cute but not over the top. A pair of colored skinnies or dark skinnies, a sheer blouse and a vest, like this faux fur vest, gives you layers to help keep warm! Also, I love a little heel when I know I’m going to be inside at a restaurant or coffee shop (and not walking around a ton), so I’m digging this cap-toe, heeled oxford! Otherwise, flat or heeled boots do the trick too! Still cold? Add a scarf for some extra warmth (this is true for any outfit in the cooler weather!)

Going to an Apple Orchard or Pumpkin Patch: Now it’s time to pull our your best warm outfit! Layer a knit scarf over a plaid button up blouse (layered over a cami or plain tee), skinny jeans and tall, comfy flat boots work perfectly.  Stay warm while still looking chic and by adding a pattern (like plaid) with some texture (a heavy knit scarf) gives your outfit some extra pizzazz! Wearing a warm cardigan or loose knit is a much better idea than a blazer or collared button-up which can be constricting when you are trying to move around a lot.  You can also go for a dress with tights and a looser-fit cardigan and still be completely comfy and chic for this type of outing.

Date Night: Sometimes it is just as sexy and fun to throw on a pair of skinnies and a cute button-up and pair of boots for date night, but when you are going to a nice dinner or something, it is also nice to have some dress options that are still keeping you warm.  One of the easiest things to do is throw a blouse or sweater on over a dress for extra layering and warmth.  A cute pair of knee highs and fun pair of booties will keep you warm while keeping your cute date look.  My bf doesn’t necessarily love my bright red lipsticks, but hey I do, so if you want to make it more vibrant and fun, add a bright lip! A nude gloss and smoky eye also does the trick.

Work: Good old work… ! Seems to be the hardest to dress for (for multiple reasons) but especially for temperature and functionality (especially when it starts to snow… if you live in an area where it snows you know what I’m talking about). In the summer when it is 90 degrees out, I am still layering because the air conditioner is always super cold.  It seems though that during the fall and winter, even if the heat is on, I still get cold so dressing for the office to stay warm (without being hot) is the goal!  I love to wear blazers or tweed jackets over a collared button-up or ruffle blouse along with a bright, metallic or fun-detailed pencil skirt.  Add a pair of tall heeled boots (with tights) and you are pretty much set.  Statement jewelry is the easiest way for me to add something extra and more fun to an office outfit, and for the cooler temperatures I think a faux fur scarf helps keep you looking professional and dressed up as well as warm!  I have two faux fur scarves, one in a brownish color and one that is gray/black so that I have options to work with.  More dressy scarves work as well. Still cold at the office? Try fingerless gloves (you can still type just fine and use your cell phone!) Find a cute bow pair here!

What are your fall go-to outfits for different occasions?!

Tweedy Florals & Messy Hair

This combination is an easy one, I believe the big floral prints on this bow-tie blouse and the classic black and white tweed jacket just work together.  Adding a strand of pearls could look quite nice with this too, but I’ll be honest that I only had 20 minutes to get ready yesterday so accessories were lacking.  I did mange to put on some sparkly bracelets and earrings though!

And this quote found on my Pinterest account is why I allowed myself to walk out of the apartment this way:

I embraced it by letting it do its own thing (but tried to control it in a bun) and by adding a small detail: my black bow headband.  I think this quote is more for messy beach waves? But hey, you know when you only have 20 minutes to get ready in the morning, you really have to do what you have to do :) Totally my fault, but this is how real life goes.

Floral Blouse, TJMaxx (Similar here) Tweed Jacket, Express from Goodwill (Similar here) Pants, Vintage (Similar here) Flats, Nordstrom Rack (Similar here) Headband, Primark (Similar here)

Skulls

Now is the perfect time to accessorize or wear a little skull… it is October after all!

1. Skull Blouse

2. Skull Earrings

3. Skull Toms

4. Skull Stretch Bracelet

5. Skull Scarf

6. Skull Belt

A Zombi-fying Weekend!

In the process of getting ready... make up complete!

So this weekend was AMAZING. Just amazing! This was my first time attending the Minneapolis-St. Paul Zombie Pub Crawl and let’s just say I had a ton of fun.  A lot of the fun for me though came through getting ready and turning into a scary, bloody, zombie creature! I wanted to share my photos, which are mostly just close ups (I only had my iPhone with me) but hopefully I might be able to share more after my friend sends me some of her photos!

Anyway, it was fun to see people’s ideas and how they did their makeup.  My friend and I were zombie flappers but some of my favorites out and about included a zombie banana, zombie Quail Man and zombie vikings. Have you ever been a zombie for Halloween?!

My friend Robin and I dressed up as zombie flappers.

This was my complete look, pearls, headband and all!

Ran into my friend Sara out and about :)

Sometimes zombies smile :)

 

Thrifting Haul & Shopping Tips


I have been a  thrifter for quite some time and I have my mother to thank for that.  We have always shopped at Goodwill, Salvation Army, local vintage stores and second hand item stores.  As a teenager I thought it sucked… I wanted everything new and my own (and everything had to come from Abercrombie & Fitch).  Now I can appreciate the story behind vintage clothing or take someone else’s throw aways and re-purpose them in my closet. Sorry for my bratty teenage years mom, at least I can enjoy the thrill of thrifting with you now!

Lately, as I have almost completely halted my monthly shopping budget, I have been thrifiting more than ever (and justifying it as “okay” and separate from my typical shopping budget).  I wanted to share my finds in a video and share my tips with you! If you aren’t a video person… here are my tips in writing:

  • Shop at a variety of stores including Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, Salvation Army, Closet Mentor and other local vintage boutiques as well as online at Etsy and Ebay.  You never know what you’ll find or where you’ll find it! Be open to all of these places… I have found plenty of work appropriate things at Plato’s Closet even though it is more focused on teenagers and I have found less expensive items at local vintage stores even though some of the items in the store were very high in price.
  • Go thrifting with something specific in mind.  This isn’t always necessary, but having something in mind gives you a place to start looking and going through hanger by hanger.  Unlike shopping at your favorite store where everything screams buy me, you have to find the treasure at these types of stores.  For example, I usually start in the blazers at Goodwill by a specific color because I wear blazers all the time and even if I don’t find one in the color I’m looking for I may find another one I’ll wear a lot.
  • Take a friend or family member! Two sets of eyes are better than one! My newest vintage addition (the polka dot skirt) is something I originally saw and thought that my mom would like.  She tried it on and didn’t like it on her so suggested I tried it on, which I did, and fell in love immediately.  It helps you narrow in on things you would like and your shopping buddy may see something for you that you would never find on your own.
  • The official shopping rule in general: TRY THINGS ON! Of course, you can’t do this through Ebay or Esty, but in the store make sure things are worth the purchase.  I know it is a lot easier to say “screw it” when the price is so low to begin with, but the last thing you want to do is be taking something back to Goodwill to donate after you just bought it for yourself the day before because it didn’t fit or you didn’t like it on. This is especially true for vintage items.  Sizing was much, MUCH different back then, so if you like something it is worth trying it on to make sure it fits.
  • Finally… get creative! When some of these pieces are buried in with other pieces you would never wear or use, it can be hard to picture just what you would wear something with.  Don’t let this distract you.  Try to picture the piece hanging next to items in your wardrobe and how it would be worn with those pieces! Also, there are plenty DIYs out there, so remember that if you are crafty and want to spend the time transforming something it could be fun and totally worth it!

 

Hosting your own Halloween Party

Today I am sharing a guest post from Curvissa about hosting your own Halloween party.  Some helpful tips as Halloween is now only 19 days away and the parties may be taking place even sooner (Have you seen the countdown on the side of my blog? Yeah I’m that excited!) Hope you enjoy the post!

As we begin the hunt for evening dresses for the party season in plus sizes, petites, maternity and every shape in between, it can over-shadow the preparation for another seasonal event which takes arguably as much preparation in the clothes department: Halloween!

It can take a while to decide on the perfect Halloween costume, and if you’re home making a costume it’s bound to take longer. If you’re hosting a Halloween party this year then you also need to factor in decoration, entertainment and tasty treats (and of course the tricks!) so today’s post is all about the top tips to throw the perfect Halloween party!

       

Decoration

In order to really get in the Halloween spirit, decorating your house is a must. Hang orange lanterns and scatter plastic creepy crawlies throughout the rooms you will be entertaining in. Hanging bats and spider web decorations will also help create a spooky theme.

        

Entertainment

Bobbing Apples – You can’t have a Halloween party without this classic game. Fill a large bowl or tub with water and place a dozen or so apples into the tub. Guests have to try and catch an apple with their teeth without using their hands

Pumpkin Carving – when your guests arrive, pair them up and give each pair a pumpkin to carve. The best / freakiest / most creative carving wins! You can then use these as lanterns for ghost story telling, later on.

Ghost stories – After you’ve eaten, drank and bobbed apples till your heart’s content, it’s time to get spooked. Get your guests in one room, and sit in a circle on the floor. Place the lit pumpkins around the room and turn the lights off so you’re left with a spooky orange glow. When it comes to the stories, take it in turns to tell the freakiest stories you can think of – it helps to pretend it’s a true story!

And to really get the competitive spirit going, why don’t you have a costume competition for your guests? That way, you can guarantee that everyone will make an effort, and no one can weasel out! Happy Halloween!

Images via Pinterest here
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Snakes on a Jacket

Okay so there really aren’t snakes on this jacket… just snakeskin print. I don’t know, sometimes I just think I’m clever and I laugh like it’s funny.  This happens a lot at home and the bf doesn’t even know where it came from, what I’m thinking or what I mean by it.   It comes from my mother because I act the same way my bf does when she says things sometimes and I usually end up saying “Oh Mom” but I love her, she’s the best!
Anyway, enough blabbing… so I never thought 1) that I would ever end up wearing this jacket to the office… I thought it might be a bit too crazy for the environment I work in and 2) I never thought I would wear a denim dress to the office thinking it is just too casual.  Well,  this outfit just goes to show that you should always push yourself to try more and be more creative with your wardrobe. If it is straight out not appropriate, it just isn’t appropriate, but I think the blend of a plain casual denim dress and the dressy features of my snakeskin jacket magically balance each other out.  Let’s just say I couldn’t resist a double dose of snakeskin and added one of my go-to work shoes to this outfit, as well as an edgy necklace, a buckle belt and watch to keep the balance between work appropriate and fun/crazy. I got a compliment from a co-worker so I’m going to call it a success!

Jacket: Nordstrom Rack (Similar here) Dress: Lucky Brand (Similar here) Necklace: Target (Similar here) Watch: Nordstrom Rack- BCBGMaxaxria (Similar here) Shoes: Target (Similar here) Lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupte – Color 17 Red Muse (Buy here)

 

Sneak Peek @ Life Lately

Fall leaves and my favorite heels with bows (More here).

A little fall decor in the kitchen.

My friend’s wedding a couple weekends ago wearing a $6 dress and $6 necklace I found at Plato’s Closet.

New iPhone case.

Vintage + Primark bracelets.

Emma giving me kisses while trying to take a picture with her.

Oktoberfest time.

Sequin cardi from Nordstrom Rack, vintage coral belt and polka dot skirt from Goodwill.

State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.

Close up of details: Charming Charlie’s cocktail ring and vintage rose earrings.

A perfect red wine for a night in.

Organized my sister’s closet by sleeve length and color.

And what would my Instagram life be without Emma pictures?

Monday Blues & THE WINNER of the Lia Sophia Giveaway

Happy Monday everyone! Although I do not really have a case of the Monday blues… I am wearing blue in the outfit I’m posting today, so it seemed to fit… right?!?! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I went to visit my older sister in Madison and helped her with her closet doing my first wardrobe consultation.  I will be working with another client in the next couple weeks and can’t wait, it was fun to play with someone else’s closet and give them new insight.  As far as this outfit… this is a tunic that I used as a swimsuit cover up but I wanted to wear it with my cobalt jeans… of course it has been a bit more chilly so I threw on the leather jacket. Not exactly the outcome I expected, but oh well, it worked!  How was your weekend?!

 

Tunic: Vintage (Similar here) Leather Jacket: Nordstrom Rack (Similar here) Cobalt Jeans: Younkers (Similar here) Wedged Booties: Steve Madden (Similar here)

AND the winner of the first blog giveaway for a gold stretch Lia Sophia bracelet is Sumera! Congratulations Sumera, I will be contacting you to find out your address so I can ship this gorgeous bracelet to you ASAP! Thank you to everyone who entered! I will be having more giveaways soon, so stay tuned!

Linking up with Callie from Coffee and Cardigans for Thrifter Thursdays!

Last Chance to Enter!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter for a chance to win this gold Lia Sophia bracelet! It is so versatile, as you can see above, go to this post to enter and win! I will be accepting entries through Midnight tonight (Central Standard time– in US). This is open to EVERYONE and the winner will be announced Monday. Good luck and Happy Weekend!