chance of flurries

oh hey! surprise! it's still snowing here in Wisconsin. I know that if you read any fashion blogs at all you would think that spring has sprung, that the birds are chirping, and that flowers everywhere are blooming.

not here.


don't worry, we're used to having flash blizzards in May so a few flurries in March is fine...

...except when you try to take pictures of yourself outside.

Blazer: H&M  [similar]
Tee: Forever 21  [exact]
Jeans: Joe's Jeans  [same style]
Scarf: H&M
Shoes: Crown Vintage [save | splurge]
Purse: Madewell  [exact]
Watch: Target [check in stores]
Glasses: c/o Firmoo*


*I received this pair of glasses from Firmoo last week and I've really enjoyed having a second pair to rotate with my other glasses. I really like the color and style of frames available - I had a pretty hard time deciding which frames to get so I choose to get something similar to what I already works on my face. The glasses are great - my only hesitation with ordering glasses online is that no one fits them specifically to your head like they would at the optometrists. If you are interested in trying out a pair, Firmoo offers first time customers a free pair - you can find out more here.

Also. The nice thing about documenting what I wear every day (ok, most days) is that I can go back and see how I've worn items in the past. I went to go see how I've worn this blazer and I realized that the second to last time I wore it was the day after I found out I was rejected from my #1 school choice. Today when I wore it I turned in my notice for my last day of work for when I leave to go to my #2 choice. Kind of interesting, no? No? Fine.











Linking up with Style Elixir and wiww. 

poke a dot

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone in the winter funk of dressing ourselves. I mean, I'm not glad you're in a funk too (that would be mean) but that I'm not the only one - misery loves company, blah blah blah. 

ANYWAY. Like I mentioned, polka dot pants were purchased as a way to break out of the funk. I've actually wanted a pair of printed pants after admiring Liz's extensive collection for months but haven't really found anything I liked. But for $18 and covered in polka dots, I figured it was time to finally pull the trigger. Being relatively tall means that pants that don't come in tall sizes are short on me, and after consulting the ladies on instagram, Gracey, Lindsay, and Whitney thought they might be a bit too short on me as well (thank you for being honest ladies!). Luckily, there was an easy fix - I just removed the stitching of the hem, and with it still having a finished edge, I added about an inch in length. I plan on rehemming them properly the next I can use my mom's sewing machine to hid the edge but I think I'm the only one who would notice anyway.

Can we talk about this new watch? As you know, I'm a watch girl. I feel naked without one on my wrists, so I'm thrilled to add this beautiful watch to my collection. While admiring it today at work (shh, don't tell my supervisor), I realized that I don't own a watch with a simple white face. With it's classic style and rich leather,I know this watch will quickly become the front runner in my collection.










linking up with Plane Pretty.

Sweater: Gap  {save / splurge}
Pants: Gap  {exact}
Scarf: H&M
Belt: The Limited  {similar}
Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington  {exact}
Shoes: Old Navy  {very similar}
Nail: Essie Ballet Slippers

















and just a few ideas for the future with pieces (mostly) in my closet...

Outfit 1: Mustard Cardigan + White Blouse + Leopard Belt + Loafers
Outfit 2: Maroon Tee + Gold Necklace + Anchor Belt + Gold Watch + Leopard Loafers
Outfit 3: Lace Top + Blue Necklace + Bangles + Blue Belt + Wedges

Advice for Shopping at Forever 21

I mentioned on Monday that I think I've figured out how to shop in Forever 21, and several people asked for tips, so I've been thinking about how I figured out how to shop there. Hopefully these help you in the land of inexpensive clothes and accessories.

1. Take your time getting to know the layout of the store. When F21 first came to our mall, I did not set foot in it for at least a year. It's huge, and has so much in it that I always felt overwhelmed. I slowly worked my way through the store and figured out the layout of the sections - the boho, the glam, the girly, the sale, the basic, the "kinda for the office" section.

2. Once you know what is found in each section , you'll slowly figure out what sections resonate with your style. I generally stick to the girly and the "office" section.

3. Take your time and walk around. I'm a big "toucher" when I shop. It drives Chris crazy but I like to walk around and just feel the clothes. I usually do 2 loops around the store and pick up anything that catches my attention. Don't feel that you have to look at every single piece in the store.

4. Try on anything that caught your attention. I generally try on 6-10 items when I shop at F21, and tend to buy maybe 1 of them. Which leads to #5...

5. Figure out what pieces work and which don't. Many items are cut similarly at F21 (and most stores). At Forever 21, I can't buy blazers because they are too tight on my arms, dresses because they are too short, and jeans because they too short. That limits me to tops. I basically eliminated a majority of the store, but that also means I skip over a lot when I'm looking for things. By knowing what pieces won't fit me, I don't bother trying them on, thereby bypassing any feelings of annoyance while in the dressing room.

6. Don't be afraid to size up. I'm generally a size medium in tops in other stores, but am almost exclusively a large at Forever 21.

7. Don't forget the accessories department. I like the jewelry at Forever 21 more than the jewelry at H&M and you really can't beat the prices. When people ask me where my jewelry is from in real life, they are always surprised to hear Forever 21. They also have inexpensive scarves, bags and hair accessories.

8. Don't buy something just because it's inexpensive. What's the point if you aren't actually going to wear/love it?

I hope that helped! What advice do you have for shopping at Forever 21?

Blouse: Forever 21  {exact}

Scarf: H&M

Jeans: American Eagle  {exact on sale}

Belt: Target  {similar}

Shoes: Tory Burch {20% off with code FANDF}

Watch: Kate Spade {exact}

Bracelet: DIY, J. Crew via eBay

Linking up with Real Girl Style and Work it Wednesday.

never going to give you up

It's starting to get chilly around here which means winter is fast approaching (I feel we get like 2 weeks of fall here and then boom, winter - many Halloweens growing up were spent in snow suits). While nautical stripes, blues and reds are considered summer looks, I refuse to give them up...I just have to layer them a little bit!

Shirt: Forever 21  {similar}

Scarf: H&M

Jeans: American Eagle  {exact} from my September budget

Shoes: Old Navy  {very similar}

Watch: Fossil

Bracelets: Birthday present from a friend

 P. S. If you are Mad Men fan, you need to go watch  this video. You just got drapperrolled.

Uniform

My fall uniform: blazers and scarves. It's the easiest way to layer easy and there are endless combinations. This look is inspired by the styling from the J.Crew website for this blazer. A collared shirt, swater and blazer was a bit much for me so I just added a scarf instead. See, easy!

I have wanted this watch ever since I saw it on Kelly at Alterations Needed. I haven't been able to afford buying it for myself so I begged hinted at Chris that it would make the perfect birthday present.

He's too good to me.



Like Kelly, I plan on replacing the watch band. She used a brown band but I think I'm going to go for navy.

Blazer: J. Crew in tall  {exact}
Sweater: Old Navy  {similar}
Scarf: H&M
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}






Linking up with Real Girl Glam, Work it Wednesday and wiww.

2for1

Today I was at the shipping dock, which is in a different part of the building than I work in. A man I occasionally work with was also there and asked if where I work is cold enough to warrant a scarf. It's a silly question to have to ask someone in August, but the room I sit in IS really cold. Hence the scarf. It looks a bit silly coming out of a lab coat though...


Cardigan: thrifted J. Crew
Tee: Target
Scarf: H&M
Jeans: Joe's Jeans
Purse: Coach - graduation present
Shoes: Simply Vera Vera Wang
Watch: Boccia

I went in the opposite direction as last week and went dark. Remember that there are 6 days left to win an intro box from Julep Maven. You can enter here!

Blue: Essie Midnight Cami
Gold: Julep Oscar, c/o



P.S. I'm guest posting for Jen at Librarian for Life Style while she is on vacation!

Linking up with Mani Monday and the Nail Files.