Deutschland x Zwei

Guten Tag! Another little update from Germany (see the first update here). Since leaving my grandma's, we've been in the city where my aunt and uncle live. I lived here in 8th grade when I went to school here for a year, and it's interesting to see how much, and at the same time how little, has changed. Here are a few snapshots...





The pharmacies are always so fancy here, especially the signs...

...and so are the jewelry stores.

Enjoying a mid day beer down on the river with my uncle.

My aunt makes amazing quilts. She made me one back in 8th grade, and I still use it all the time. She made this one for my cousin, her stepson, for his 30th birthday.

Out in the city with my aunt's dog, Hermione. She's the most playful dog I've ever met. She looks like such a little teddy bear!

Blazer: J. Crew  {exact}
Scarf: DIY
Shirt: H&M
Bag: Mountain Stone via Boston Store  {similar}
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact, on sale}
Boots: Steve Madden  {similar}

We went shopping at Hof - of course we had to go in and look around (and buy a few things)!

Yesterday was my cousin Johann's 30 birthday. Family members, co-workers, and childhood friends all came together to celebrate.

He was thrilled that his uncle, my father, was there.

At 82, my grandma was the first up to dance! Ok, just kidding, but she was having a great time.


Now my second cousins (I consider them first cousins because we're close in age and because our family is so small) are here with their babies. Tomorrow we leave to fly back already. I'm sad to leave, but at the time same I'm happy to going back to my own bed, my own schedule, and not eating all the time (ok, I will miss that).

Behind the Blog: Putting Me Together

If you've spent any time on Pinterest, you have seen Audrey from Putting Me Together. She blogs about her experiences in learning how to, well, put her self together. She talks about the process of putting an outfit together, and how little changes can make all the difference. I'm so glad she agreed to participate in Behind the Blog!

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

I started my style blog in June 2011, and I had only discovered style blogs two months prior to starting my own.  I was an avid fan of What Not to Wear for years, but there was something about style blogs and the style blogging community that was fresh and invigorating for me.  I really wanted to evolve my own style, to be in contact with a community of people who cared about style, and to hopefully one day help other women feel put-together and confident about getting dressed.  I toyed with the idea of starting my own blog and brainstormed names and potential focuses for it.  Even though I didn't feel near ready to start a blog, my husband bought a domain name for me as a little kick in the pants to do it.  It worked.  

Which blogs do you read every day? 

There are a lot of blogs that I follow regularly and of which I read every post eventually through out the week, but the ones I will always go to every single day no matter how little time I have are Kendi Everyday and J's Everyday Fashion. 

Who takes your pictures? What cameras/lenses do you use? Have you ever been "caught in the act" of taking these pictures?

I take pictures with a $20 tripod from Amazon and the self-timer on my Canon S95 point-and-shoot.  No fancy operations here!  I've gotten caught a few times when I used to take pictures outside.  My neighbors have seen me, the gardener, and some random strangers that were walking in my yard.  But, honestly, when I encountered the random strangers I was more startled as to why there were random strangers wandering through my semi-enclosed yard…

What programs do you use to edit and upload your pictures? You often times make collages of outfits - what program do you use for that?

Again, nothing fancy here.  I edit pics using Preview on my Mac.  As for collages and other graphics, I'm a little embarrassed to tell you how shoddy things are around here--I use Pages on Mac, take screenshots, and save them as jpegs!  I toggled between using Pages and Pixelmator, but Pages is just so much quicker for most of the stuff I need.  I used to play with Photoshop in high school, but Pages, Preview, and occasionally Pixelmator have gotten the job done so far.

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

Ha!  I've had a blog for over a year and I still try to keep it a secret from most people I know.  But as my blog has been growing, I probably have at least two people I know in real life tell me they found my blog, EACH DAY.  I'm learning to just brush it off, say, "Oh, haha, cool!" and become sneaky and savvy at diverting to another subject.  

You've documented the act of "putting yourself together" for over a year now. What are some of the biggest closet and clothing lessons you've learned?

Oh gosh!  Definitely how to have a mix-and-match wardrobe through buying the right pieces and learning to accessorize.  I have so much to say about this that I wrote a whole series on it: Building a Remixable Wardrobe Series!

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How do you try to stay on trend while working within your budget and closet?

I believe you can have a great sense of style without having to follow trends.  I usually don't go looking for trends because, but I do sometimes participate in them--usually on accident.  Usually if I see something that I like in magazines, blogs, or Pinterest, I will go for it whether it's on trend or not.  In fact, if I know it's on trend I'm more cautious about it and I'll try to evaluate how long it's going to be around for and if it's worth investing money into.  

If I know something's a trend and I want to try it, I will look for it at Forever 21 or at a consignment store.  I got my first pair of colored jeans (the ones below) and my first two colored skirts at a consignment store, and I ended up sticking with them and growing my collection! 

Also, every fall you hear that animal print is "in" but I honestly don't think it ever went away.  In my mind, animal print is a classic.  However, I was unsure if animal print was good for me, so I started with something small, like a belt.  Then I got a leopard print scarf and ended up loving it.  I ventured out into leopard pumps, and then got an animal print top.  I'm totally on board with it now!

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

It can be really scary if you give it too much thought.  People are meaner on the internet, you know?  But personally, for the most part, people have been pretty polite and respectful, though I have gotten a bit of criticism.  A couple have been ridiculous--like someone telling me that one of my eyes was deformed and that I should get surgery.  When things are that ridiculous, you just have to brush it off and assume it's a 14 year old with nothing better to do.  And even if they are an older person, one who acts like a 14 year old doesn't deserve your attention.  

Others have been more polite and respectful with their criticism, saying they don't like my shoe choice or something.  But the way I see it, style is subjective and everyone will have a different opinion.  And at the end of the day I have to remind myself that the goal of me posting is not to make other people love my outfit.  I'm trying to dress for ME, so that I feel confident and comfortable.  If other people love it, that's a bonus.  My style is not everyone's preference, so of course there are going to be outfits I wear or parts of my outfit that someone will dislike.  That's what personal style is--the expression of yourself through what you wear.  And if everyone liked the same things then we wouldn't be uniquely us.  If there's something someone doesn't like no one is asking them to like it or wear it.  And if they'd prefer a different shoe or cut of pants, then that's great!  They should wear that shoe or pant--that's how you personalize your style.  But I try hard to resist the pressure of having to dress in such a way so that everyone will love my outfit.  That takes the fun out of blogging and getting dressed.    

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

Learning to be more myself.  Though I wouldn't say that I was marked by insecurity pre-blogging, the comparison game is heated in style blogging.  I had to fight to not try to be like other people and just be ME.  I wrote about it here.  

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

Early on in blogging I decided that I didn't want to have anyone reading my blog with "strings attached," meaning the kind that would only read my blog for something in return besides content.  I sometimes leave my URL when I comment on blogs (and used to do that a lot more earlier on), but I was never the type to ask to follow each other.  I wanted readers who genuinely wanted to read my blog, so I tried not to do anything gimmicky.  That's why I also don't usually require people to follow me for giveaway entries.  I just want readers who genuinely want to be there.  And I've never pinned my own look--mostly I focused on trying to create good, consistent content.  And then I think I got kind of lucky.  Other people started pinning things from my blog and mentioning PMT on various forums and somehow my blog grew to what it is now.  

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

Number 1: Know your target readership, and be specific.  Whether it's a style blog or a lifestyle blog, who are the types of people you want to write for?  I really hoped my blog would be a resource to the woman that has trouble with style and has no clue how to put together an outfit.  For me that meant I wasn't going to let myself worry about attracting or impressing the people looking for high fashion dressers or creative or unique dressers.  It was hard, because that's what many people look for in a style blog and sometimes I felt kinda stupid being a style blogger with such a "simple" style, but I learned to be myself and share my heart of wanting to help other women in a very down-to-earth way.  It took a while, but I think I finally hit the niche I was hoping to write for, and I love it!  I love helping people, not just showing off my newest purchase or having an audience to express myself to.  I love all of the emails I get telling me how PMT has helped women feel great about getting dressed!

Number 2: Be true to yourself and finding your voice.  You hear this a lot, but I cannot stress it enough.    In blogging there is always the temptation to be like someone else.  Of course!  We read blogs to be inspired, so it's natural.  But it's not helpful when you start to lose that sense of who YOU are, here and now, because you're trying to be someone else.  My favorite quote right now is this Dr. Seuss quote: You are you / This is truer than true / There is no one alive / Who is youer than you.  I took it to heart, and I believe I'm a freer person and a better blogger for it.


Thanks, Franziska, for letting me talk everyone's ear off!  :)


Thank you Audrey! I'm skipping next week's Behind the Blog because we'll all be in a food coma, but on the 29th we'll have Laura from Twelve by Six!

To the Fatherland

Hello! I'm currently sitting in my Oma's living room in a food coma from all of the German food I am stuffing into my mouth. I'm here for the week to celebrate my cousin's 30th birthday. We're all really excited to get together - I only see my family every few years, and we've recently added some new members to our small extended family so this trip was needed! Here's what we've been up to the last few days...

Cuddling with my favorite aunt's pets. This is my sister Viktoria and my aunt's new kitten...

...and here I am with her dog. Doesn't she look good in her glasses?

Yesterday we drove up to the city my parents studied at, where they married and where I was born. My dad was in a fraternity there, so we went for a vist. We brought over a beer pong table from the States that we gave to the house.

Then shenanigans ensued.

I found new clothes to wear...

....my dad and his fraternity brother showed the youngins how it's done...

...we practiced our dance moves (please note my sister on the floor)...

...and I found a car plate that combines my two homes.

The next couple of days will include shopping, picking out new glasses,  more eating, and family! I also will be posting pictures on instagram (@fhasselhof) if you want to follow along :)

I'm wearing:

Shirt: H&M  {similar}
Jacket: Forever 21  {similar}
Scarf: Scarf Obsession (the one I won!)
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact on sale}
Hat: Forever 21  {similar}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

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.

Behind the Blog: The Preppy Leopard

Tierney is an adorable Southern fashion blogger who blogs at The Preppy Leopard. She's my go-to girl for her opinions on lipstick, hair bows, and anything preppy.

Quick Intro:

My name is Tierney (Tear-a-knee), and I live in Northern Virginia right outside of DC.  I work as a consultant and business analyst for an IT firm that caters to government clients and blog in my spare time.  I also am very active in my church and with volunteering.  I've been to Kenya four times and St. Kitts twice to work with children, and those experiences really changed my perspective on life.

The Preppy Leopard was created from my love of classic styles with touches of personality--my father was in the military and my mother is from New Jersey, and I like to think my style reflects both of them.   Lots of nautical pieces with pops of leopard.  I also have an undying affection for bright red lipstick, and my style inspiration would be the love child of Dita Von Teese and Blair Waldorf.

Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?

While I was at George Mason University, I worked in the Student Media offices.  There, I got to write articles for the campus magazine and website.  I even hosted a talk show, but rewatching myself is kind of embarrassing.  I had really huge dreams of writing full time after college, but I graduated in the middle of a recession and ended up waitressing and working retail until I found my salaried job.  A coworker faithfully read College Fashion and kept telling me I should give it a try.  So, I started reading that, and started my first blog, Ruby Woo Loves You.  (I now blog at The Preppy Leopard.)  It provided a great creative outlet when I really needed one, and I would love to use my blog as a springboard to full-time creative endeavors--specifically writing.

Which blogs do you read every day? 

Besides you, Fran!?!  Obviously, Atlantic-Pacific is pretty much the pinnacle of style blogging.  She's actually from my hometown in Northern Virginia, and I remember when I first "discovered" her a year or so back, I left an enthusiastic comment on her blog--not realizing she was legitimately famous.  She actually returned the comment back on my blog, and I remember being slightly awed that she had taken the time to write back when she gets hundreds of comments on every post.  I really love the way she mixes very classic, almost preppy pieces in these new interesting ways. 

Some of my other favorites include Glitter & Pearls, Stripes & Sequins, The Glossarie, Nautical by Nature, Classy Girls Wear Pearls, Vixen Vintage, College Prep, College Fashion, Necessary & Proper, and Capitol Hill Style.

Also, one of my favorite things to do is to go back and re-read some of the more famous bloggers--only starting at the beginning.  It's so cool to see their journeys from random life stories and grainy outfit pictures to the style behemoths you see today.  (My favorite blog journey is Atlantic Pacific, who pretty much wore every trend ever before anyone else.  That freaking bubble necklace everyone wears now?  She wore that in 2010, yo!  Tieka from Selective Potential also has a really cool story.  She's also a legit nice girl.)

When you do take outfit pictures, who takes your pictures? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?

 I actually rarely take outfit pictures.  It's something I keep promising myself I'll start doing, but I'm not sure how to actually execute.    

It might be how I was raised, but I really get nervous about imposing on people.  I feel so vain asking "Hey, so I have a style blog, can you take your time to snap some pictures of me?"  It's probably something I just need to get over, but I've always been inwardly disdainful of those girls who used to do those self-portrait sessions on Myspace and Facebook.  Now it's like my life is one, and I'm not sure how to get over feeling awkward.

I actually used a tripod for awhile, but I'm really tall and I have a hard time fitting in the frame.  It's probably a matter of figuring out a new lens, but right now it's a good excuse to not do them.  Another good excuse is time.  I have a normal job, and I'm really active at both my church and volunteering.  Many times I go straight from work to church to hanging out with my friends--sometimes I'm gone from like 7 am to 10 pm, and the thought of freshening up to take pictures is exhausting.  Maybe I should bring a camera to work..but then I would feel awkward asking my coworkers to take pictures.  Ahhh, a vicious circle!  Haha.

Do people in real life know about your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?

Yes, my friends and family know about the blog.  They're super supportive, and my mom is always emailing me new ideas for the blog.  I do think that some of them think it's a little superficial, but once they find out that I got some awesome product for free or that I negotiated some killer retail discount, they're pretty jealous.  

I do sometimes get embarrassed telling people about it though.  Again, it's the whole insecurity about being perceived as vain.  Sometimes people repeat it back to me like, "Oh, a style blog?  How...interesting."  I think fashion is perceived as a superficial industry, and I sometimes feel the need to defend my interest.  I think being defined by fashion is superficial, but I think enjoying it is the same as anyone else's hobby.

A major theme of your blog is discussing the great sales going on. How do you hold yourself back from not buying all the things?

Ahh.  This is the HARDEST part for me.  I really do find some killer deals, but a huge part is knowing both your closet and your budget.  Since I mostly gravitate to the same kinds of styles over and over, I usually already have a variation of what I want hanging in my closet.  So, it's a matter of saying, "No, you do not need another navy and white striped dress."

Usually, I have a few questions I ask myself before I actually pull the trigger.  Do I already have something like this?  Can I afford it?  Am I buying it just because I'm bored/hungry/discontent?  How many times will I actually wear it?  If I can answer all those questions correctly, even then I'll usually sleep on it.  I used to be a really impulsive shopper, and I know I'm only a few clicks away from reverting.  My parents always taught me about debt and budgeting, and I aim every month to contribute more money to my church, missions in Africa, or other charities I'm involved in than I spend on myself.   I think balance is the key.

Also, becoming a really good window shopper helps.  Sometimes, just the act of filling up my online shopping cart or going to Nordstrom to try on shoes helps take away those sporadic, crazy urges to shop.  

Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next but I feel you stay pretty true to "the preppy aesthetic". What trends have you tried out in recent months, and how do you make sure you aren't breaking the bank while staying on trend?

I was cleaning out my closet this past year and rearranged all my clothing by color.  Navy and red dominated about 70% of my wardrobe.  Despite my blog name, a lot of times I define my style as "classic" rather than "preppy".  (The Preppy Leopard was just so much more fun to say than The Classic Leopard!)  

I think I hold true to that classic, preppy aesthetic because it's timeless.  A navy cardigan layered over a white oxford is never going to go out of style.  A nicely cut red shirt-dress will always look appropriate.  I used to be a girl who wouldlove going to Forever 21 between classes and dropping $50 on some cheap, trendy items...only to find myself going back again once those were out of style.  You ended up with a whole closet full of trends that look really dated after a few months.

To me, that's the appeal of preppy dressing.  It's investing in classic pieces that you'll wear forever, rather than succumbing to every single trend that skips by.  One of my favorite blogs is Classy Girls Wear Pearls, and whether or not she is your favorite style aesthetic, Sarah always looks polished and put together.  And, she's not running around in oxblood, sequins, and peplums.  I was at a CapFabb event recently, and there was a fellow blogger who was wearing at least five different trends all at once (oxblood, peplum, lots of sparkly necklaces, mixed media trench, that Rebecca Minkoff bag everyone has, big black booties, fun nails).  When I looked at her, I saw the trends, and not the girl.  There's a quote somewhere that says people should never remember what you wore, but just remember how nice you looked.  I like that philosophy.

I think trends are fun when taken in small doses, but personally, I'd rather save my money and put it towards a gorgeous, well-made coat I'll wear forever rather than scoop up the New Arrivals at H&M every few weeks.

Now, for brands I like?  I think Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, and Talbots are great retailers who produce good classic pieces.  I also obviously love J.Crew, but I really feel like their quality has gone down while their prices have increased.  I usually will only shop there when they're having a good sale.  When I do want to play around with a new trend, I really like ASOS and H&M.  For great dresses, I like Dorothy Perkins and Oasis.  And finally, my one stop shop is Nordstrom.  I work with a really amazing personal shopper that makes shopping more a relaxing, fun experience than a chore.  I tend to get stuck in navy, navy, navy, and she does a good job of helping me expand my style palate without looking like a fashion victim.  Also, I have really big feet--size 11!--and Nordstrom is one of the few stores where they always have my size.  Finally, some of my more "preppy" guilty pleasures are Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, and Brooks Brothers, but all three can get really pricey, so that's more of a save-and-spend scenario.

Putting yourself on the internet comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do you handle it?

I haven't really seen a lot of criticism, which is good because I really don't handle it well.  I still live in the same town I was born in, and I've know the majority of my friends through the private, Christian school we all attended from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade.  I'd like to think I get along really well with everyone I meet, so when I do encounter someone who isn't as OMIGODILOVEYOUANDYOURNEWDRESS as I am, I get really uncomfortable.  I know that not everyone is full of sunshine and puppies, but I really take things personally.  

I remember while in college, I did an interview with a band that is now all over the Top 20 stations.  The interview was posted on Youtube, and I had asked them about how they travel from gig to gig.  Apparently, it wasn't a tour bus, but instead a van they all squeezed into.  I made an offhand comment like "That's so rockstar of you!" and was totally kidding since obviously it wasn't.  Anyway, some guy on Youtube called me an idiot for thinking that riding around in a van was considered "rockstar", and my feelings were really hurt.  They shouldn't have been, but they were.

So...yeah.  I don't like criticism.  Not at all.  

What has been the best thing to come out of blogging? 

I actually got to film a pilot of a reality show about shopping!  I don't think it ever got picked up, but the experience was really cool.  A producer found a haul video I had made about Jason Wu for Target, and send me an email asking if I wanted to interview for a segment on a show about people who go to crazy sample sales.  At first, I thought it was a creepy scam thing and ignored it, but then I googled the woman's name, and she was actually legit. 

I did a series of Skype interviews and auditions with the production company, and it was a little nerve-wracking.  Finally, earlier this summer, they flew me home early from a vacation to film the episode.  With a producer and small camera crew, we filmed some interviews at my house and seeing the whole process was so interesting.  

I even had to learn how to answer those questions she would ask me for those on-camera interviews that are the staple of reality television.  You couldn't just answer "I like J.Crew" if they asked you your favorite store.  Instead, you had to rephrase their question to sound like part of your answer.  "What is your favorite store, Tier?"  "My favorite store is J.Crew."  There would be very specific questions because you could tell they were trying to create a story.

We filmed over two days, and unfortunately, the sale we picked ended up not being crowded.  (I had actually told them I didn't think it would be a really busy sale before they came, but they came anyway.)  It was still such a fun experience to shop with a secret camera person, since we weren't sure the store would let us.

I had been really afraid of being portrayed a certain way because of my religion or that they would spin me as a crazy shopping person, but the producer I worked with was really amazing and honest.  We ended up actually hanging out after we finished taping, and I took her to Georgetown in DC to walk around.  She had some really cool stories about the business, and later admitted that she never actually cared to hang out with people after they taped.  I felt special.  :)   

Later, when she talked about the possibility that this show would even air, she admitted that she had shown her CEO ten-twelve different prospects for this episode.  Each person had a rough five minute interview that had been cut together from the Skype interviews.  She said he watched all of each one, and would pass judgement after they finished.  Then, when he got to mine, he watched thirty seconds and said, "I'm sold.  She's great.  Her, for sure."  She explained that some people just have IT, and you can tell.  Apparently, I was one of those people.

Anyway, I still keep in touch with her through FB, and that was my coolest blogging experience by far.

When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?

I know I should probably do more promotion, but I just don't have the time to really pour into it.  I do comment on other blogs sporadically, but usually only those with whom I have actual friendships.  I really don't like those comment-for-comment bloggers.  

I do have a Pinterest and an Instagram, and I get some traffic from sites like Style Buzz.  I also recently joined the Lucky Collective, so hopefully I can start posting there as well.

What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow bloggers? 

I think my best advice for blogging is similar to my advice for style.  Don't get caught up on doing what's trendy or what you see bigger bloggers do.  Figure out what works for you--what your classic staples are--and stick to it.  

If you insist you are a REAL GIRL WITH REAL STYLE but then mimic what you see everyone else doing, then your readers won't trust you.  I get really tired of seeing variations of the exact same outfit on the majority of blogs that I read--it's always the sock bun/sunnies/bright lipstick/IT bag/skinny pants/J.crew cardigan coupled with the knock-kneed pose.  What works for Blair isn't going to work for everyone else, and it comes across as inauthentic.  

In hand with authenticity is being able to relate to your readers.  Sure, I have one or two blogs on my reader that are full of impractical outfits and high photo-shopped outfit pictures, but I really love the ones that talk about what to wear in a semi-professional work environment.  Or how to get more use out of that leather peplum you were so excited to buy but then felt like a biker girl.  (Oh wait.  That's me.  Haha.)   It's kind of like the difference between Vogue and Lucky.  I read Vogue to swoon over the photo shoots of gazillion dollar dresses, but I get my real style advice from Lucky when they lay out how many different ways I can rock a leopard print pencil skirt.

How would you create the perfect "preppy" wardrobe?

Ooh...great question!  Okay, here's a basic shopping list to get you started:

1.  Navy or Dark Gray wool blazer with gold buttons

2.  Navy, red, and gray cardigans and sweaters. I also love Fair Isle and Woolrich sweaters!

3.  Oxfords!  Gingham, plaid, polka dots, critter print.  Have fun with these and show off your personality!

4.  Dark dark denim.  A skinny cut or a nice bootcut.

5.  White pants--I like a slim white jean.

6.  One or two fun colored pants.  Nantucket red or kelly green.  

7.  I love a pleated skirt because of my body type, but you can go for pencil too.  Keep the color scheme simple.  Navy...plaid...gray.

8.  You don't need a lot of jewelry.  Maybe a nice strand of pearls and some delicate gold studs.  I don't like a bunch of jewelry clanking around all the time.

9.  Invest in a nice handbag.  I love the old-school Coach bags that are all leather and have the long strap.  Or Longchamp is nice too.  Pick something that will go with everyone you own.

10.  Shoes!  Sperry Topsiders are my favorite, but Jack Rogers makes really cute sandals.  I also love Tory Burch Revas--I wear mine at least four times a week!

Take all of the above and mix together as desired.  If you stick to a complimentary color palate, you'll be able to create dozens of outfits from only a few pieces.  Worry about what fits well--not the brand name.  I also love little touches like getting your cardigans monogrammed, or adding a bow in your hair.  

Really perfect your preppy look by figuring out how to layer effectively.  When I worked for J.Crew, we had to follow the 3-Piece Rule.  Always wear at least three pieces of clothing at all times.  I rarely go out with just a t-shirt and jeans.  I have so many cardigans for just that reason--light weight is great for summer when it's chilly in the AC, and heavy weights are lovely for winter.  I also love flipping through the lookbooks for J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, and Ralph Lauren for inspiration.

Thanks so much for allowing us into your world Tier! Next week we have Audrey from Putting Me Together!

It's Geometric

In my October budget post I mentioned that I wanted to find a printed sweater this month. After spotting this sweater, I knew I wanted to try it out. I got a little click happy and ordered several other items from Urban Outfitters, and told myself I would either keep some of them, or this sweater. Although I really really liked the watch I ordered, I did just receive a beautiful watch for my birthday, and I don't own a big comfy printed wrap sweater, so I returned the watch along with another sweater and a pair of shoes to keep this sweater. The sweater costs a bit more than I would normally spend on a sweater, but I'm trying to buy fewer pieces with higher quality than a bunch of lower quality items.

I know for many items I buy I say that I have to think of at least 5 outfits I can put together with that piece of clothing. While I do think that should apply to the majority of one's closet, every once in a while it's nice to have that statement piece that may only be able to be worn a few ways.

Sweater: Urban Outfitters  {save, exact}
Belt: The Limited
Pants: Urban Oufitters  {exact}
Shoes: Old Navy {very similar}


Linking up with Work Clothes, I Suppose (comfy knits!!).

A friend at work told me I looked very "tribal" today but I told him it's more geometric than tribal...and then I had "It's Electric" stuck in my head all day. And now you probably do too - you're welcome!

State of Blue

...and that's all I'm going to say about that. I can't vote (I'm a registered felon on parole. Kidding! I'm not a citizen) but I hope you exercised your right to vote, not matter what side you fall on.

Blouse: Old Navy
Cardigan: Old Navy  {exact}
Belt: Old Navy
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact, on sale}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {20% off with code FANDF}
Watch: Fossil  {very similar}

On a different note, I won Story of My Life's scarf giveaway and I need your help deciding which one to get (as if I need another scarf...yes, I do). I'm torn between this grey one, this paisley one, and this red one. Which one is your favorite?

Linking up with WIWW.