Mom Style Inspiration: Wearing Lately

As a pseudo-style blogger, i find my wardrobe is kind of boring. I don’t really consider myself super stylish, more classic and comfortable. I keep thinking about a capsule wardrobe and maybe for spring I’ll do one – I know the same colors dominate my wardrobe (olives, navy, blush, black and white), I really rotate through 3 or 4 pairs of pants regularly, and the same few tops, I just need to spruce up the combinations instead of the same thing..over and over and over again.

Lo, here are a few of the outfits that I’ve been rotating through over and over and over again. Over the past few weeks!

This is an oldie but such a goodie. The sweatshirt (out of stock now) is so comfortable and the perfect business casual piece to dress up or down on days when you just don’t want to think or worry about what you’re wearing. 

{Sweater: Loft (old – similar) | Shoes: J.Crew Factory | Pants: Stitch Fix (similar) | Necklace: J.Crew Factory}

This one with my favorite Lululemon leggings is a weekend staple. Saturdays have become really hectic for us with E having OT, my MRTT group runs so I really just want something that’s easy to throw on and comfortable in most cases. Obviously, this one doesn’t work in super cold weather but it’s done the trick the past few Saturdays 🙂

weekend casual outfit

{Pants: lululemon | top: Athleta | vest: Amazon}

We’ve seen this outfit before – it was what I wore to our family Photos back in November but it’s such a comfortable and classic casual Friday outfit that I had to include it. Especially as it gets warmer and we don’t need jackets, still appropriate for those 40 degree days where you’re not quite ready to go short sleeve.

{Vest: Amazon | Pants: Old Navy | Boots: Lucky via Amazon | Sweater: J.Crew (old, similar) | necklace: J.Crew Factory | white shirt: J.Crew Factory (similar) }

{Leggings: LOFT | Boots: Amazon | Sweatshirt: Nordstrom | Vest: Amazon}

Because it wouldn’t be an outfit post without my favorite Tippi sweater from J.Crew – a staple in my winter wardrobe for both work and play (as seen above).

{Sweater: J.Crew | Pants: Stitch Fix (similar) | Shoes: Target | Necklace: J.Crew Factory}

Happy Friday friends!

What are YOU loving in your wardrobe lately?

 

 

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OOTD: Bell Sleeves & the Winter Blues

I haven’t done an outfit post lately but man, winter is tough y’all! Like – 7:15a the sun comes up and is when I try to leave my house at (note: try). Until the past couple of weeks, it would be dark when I got up and left, and dark when I left the office. Winter is the pits yo.

But slowly, over the past few weeks, the sun’s been out by the time I leave between 4:30 and 5 pm. The hints of orange and blue over the river peek in through the bathroom windows as I’m getting ready, and signs that spring is a mere 54 days away makes my heart dance with joy.

I haven’t done much shopping but when this top came back in stock, I had to grab it – on clearance and 50% off?! Heck yeah!

Kind of boring with the black pants but what can I say, I’m a little basic when it comes to my work wardrobe.  The top itself is a little outside my comfort zone – I wanted the plaid one initially because [insert heart eye emoji here] but really, I sometimes/often associate plaid with Christmas and we’re past that. So red it was! The bell sleeves are cute without being over the top, and the color is a nice pop. Plus it’ll be really pretty in the fall when it’s too warm for a jacket but not warm enough for short sleeves.

 

[Top: J.Crew Factory | Pants: Stitch Fix (similar, similar) | Shoes: J.Crew Factory | Necklace: Nordstrom (similar) ]

 

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What to Wear: Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

My family has never been a “formal” dress kind of family for any holiday. I personally err on the side of classic and comfortable when it comes to my holiday attire. This, to me, means ponte pants, nice sweater, boots or heels, or jeans, a nice top and flats.

I dress, in the words of a few, dressy casual.

This year, like the past couple of years (excepting the year my Nana passed), we’ll be traveling up to New Jersey to spend with my Brother-in-law’s in-laws (his wife’s parents – who are absolutely lovely and put up an amazing Thanksgiving spread).

So even though most days off from work, you’ll find me in leggings, boots and comfy sweaters, for family affairs, I generally step it up just a notch or two without going full-on “business casual”

So here are four comfy, and slightly dressed up casual outfits that’ll be in my suitcase for the holidays.

Outfit 1 – Butter top and Ponte Pants  

{ Top: Nordstrom | Pants: Loft | Shoes: Old Navy, similar | necklace: Nordstrom }

I saw this top on another blog and it is one of my favorite purchases this fall. It’s super comfy, cozy and with the right shoes – either boots, booties or even flats/mules- it’s perfectly dressy casual for a nice Thanksgiving feast, but can also be dressed down if needed.

Outfit 2 – Ponte Pants and Knotted sweater 

{Sweater: Nordstrom | Pants: Loft | necklace: J.Crew | Shoes: J.Crew}

Another comfortable find is the Gibson knotted fleece pullover which I picked up early this fall. I have it in Olive and Heathered grey – both would work with either knee-high boots or nice flats (as shown) or heeled booties.

 

Outfit 3 – Ruffled Hem Sweatshirt with Jeans

{Sweatshirt: Nordstrom, similar | Jeans: Old Navy | boots: Macy’s, similar | Necklace: J.Crew, similar}

If you’re apt to wear jeans,  a fun, cozy top, and nice flats. Personally, Jeans are uncomfortable for me after a large meal (hi Food Baby hahaha) so I err on the side of Leggings or ponte pants. Just me?

Outfit 4 – Jeans with Tippi sweater

{sweater: J.Crew | Jeans: Old Navy  | boots: Macy’s, similar | Necklace: J.Crew}

This is one of my favorite outfits for fall, I have the Tippi sweater in four colors – it’s a solid piece and a staple in my winter wardrobe because it’s so versatile for work and play. (Today the Tippi – and everything else at J.Crew.com – is 40% off with code THANKU!!)

I’m not a dress kind of gal for Thanksgiving – mostly because I grew up in VT and if it wasn’t snowing, it was usually in the 30’s and hardly dress weather. On top of that, I still haven’t figured out how to wear tights with dresses so it doesn’t look like I’m 12. That being said, I love this swing dress, and this pretty ruffle shoulder sweater dress if you’re looking for something a step up that’s comfortable and casual.

What’s your holiday wardrobe go to?? 

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What I Wore: Family Photos

So we had our family photos this past weekend – it’s become a tradition every year and one that I always enjoy.

We had a new photographer that I found via a recommendation in a Facebook group since our usual photographer moved earlier this year. Our new photog was super fun and accommodating – especially when little man kept jetting off.

{photos via Jess Lombardi Photography}

Does anyone else feel this pressure to have the perfectly styled family pictures though? Just me? I usually coordinate and move away from being matchy-matchy, but this year Hubs forgot his sweater, and I didn’t take off my vest so my attempts at coordinated were foiled.

Here’s what it was supposed to be… (sorry about my sad attempts at a flat lay 😉 )

flat lay

[sweater | jeans | boots (similar) | necklace | button down (similar) ]

I even got my hurrr did. I was due for a cut, but my stylist (love her!) curled it for me. If only I had someone to curl my hair every day (insert crying emoji here) because every time I try? It looks like garbage. Yes, I’ve even watched all the YouTube videos.

 

Here are my top 3 tips to low-maintenance styling for holiday photos

  1. Consider the weather
    it was 35 degrees when we got our pictures taken on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully it was a mini session so we were only out for about a half hour (which is about the length of little man’s attention span for these things). But make sure you layer up. Subsequently, if we were to get our pictures taken earlier in the year, we probably wouldn’t wear sweaters if it were an 80-degree day.
  2. Be complementary
    I don’t like being too matchy-matchy when it comes to photos. Some families do that – like the beautiful photos where the whole family wears khakis and chambray and they all look perfect, but that’s not us. I usually pick a neutral (grey or tan), a solid and then some sort of complementary pattern – this year we were red and grey – well, little man and hubs were in red/grey, and I was in green. But hubs forgot his grey sweater. So he was in red gingham. Thankfully with little man in a grey sweater over his red plaid, and my grey vest, I think it all worked quite nicely.
  3. Dress like yourselves
    Don’t wear heels often? Don’t wear them to your pictures. Is your little one never in dresses or dressy clothes? Do dressed up casual. Don’t style yourselves in a way that screams uncomfortable OR a way that is inappropriate for the setting you’re in – probably not going to put a little girl in a velvet, frilly dress on a Christmas tree farm right?

 

Do you do holiday photos? How do you style yourself and your family? Matchy-matchy? Complementary or free-for-all?

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What I wore; Gingham Top Two Ways

There is nothing that I love to wear more in the fall than a gingham top. It’s just one of those versatile, any season top. It can be dressed up for office wear and dressed down with leggings and boots for the weekend. So many pieces in my wardrobe are dual purpose – tops that can be dressed up for work and dressed down with leggings for the weekend.

My weekend outfit this past weekend channeled my inner Audrey  with navy and yellow – it’s a damn shame I wasn’t hitting up a Navy football game but nope. It also reminded me that I desperately need new knee-high boots (Christmas maybe?) because these ones that I picked up (…2014?) are ancient and look like garbage. But that’s another post for another time.

Button Down: J.Crew Factory
Tank: lululemon
Leggings: LOFT
Boots: Macy’s (Similar)
Vest: Old Navy
Scarf: Amazon

For work, I mixed gingham with leopard print heels and a leopard print belt (what’s up pattern mixing!) and a light tan cardigan. I love these navy pants from JCrew factory that are really the perfect length for me (i’m 5’1″ for record)

Button down: J.Crew Factory
Pants: J.Crew Factory
Shoes: Thirfted – J.Crew, Similar
Sweater: J.Crew Factory
Belt: J.Crew Factory

What piece in your wardrobe is your favorite for business and play?

 

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What I wore: Casual Friday in All Navy

I’ve never met a mono-color outfit I didn’t like. Granted, I haven’t been brave enough to try the white on white outfit and really the only other ones I’ve tried have been all navy or all black. This casual Friday all navy outfit with accents in leopard print shoes and the striped pleats didn’t disappoint either. All navy ftw! 

I picked up this adorable french terry top during the big Nordstrom Anniversary sale in August and lo, it’s been too flipping warm to wear it. But it is quite perfectly, a fantastic casual Friday outfit or good for kicking around on the weekends when you want to look…slightly more put together than just leggings (as most of my weekends are spent). 

The top itself, I was worried about because the cut to the pleats is a little funky and I think it’s probably not the MOST flattering of tops but man, is it comfy as all heck. The pleats are kind of a pain – unlike most of my other peplum/pleated tops that are more of a crepe type material, these are more of a stiff cotton so they get wrinkled super easily and don’t like to lay flat and look pretty like they should. Silly pleats.

[jeans | Sweatshirt (similar) | shoes (similar) | Necklace (similar)]

 

 

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What I Wore: Twist Front Sweater

So when I buy something, I tend to buy it in multiple colors. I have no fewer than FOUR of my favorite JCrew Factory Daybreak dresses (three get worn consistently, one shrunk terribly and one I bought second hand off poshmark…so five). The same was true when I saw this beautiful twist front sweater on Pinterest. I fell in serious love with this sweater and it’s been a fantastic addition to my closet for fall…in two different colors.

 

 

gibson knotted sweater

[Sweater | Pants | Shoes | Necklace ]

The sweater itself is available in multiple colors and is soft and almost fleece-y like. It runs big so I did size down, and it comes in petite sizes as well.  I picked up the dark grey and Olive Green – both fit into my wardrobe seamlessly.

There are so many fun ways to wear this sweater for fall – with jeans and boots, with leggings and casual sneakers while running errands on a weekend, or dressed up for work like I did with nice pants (in my case these are my favorite Ponte pants) and a pair of flats.

Now that there’s finally fall-like weather here, well, you might see this one again if you’re following me on instagram.

[Sharing on Hello Monday]

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What I Wore: Weekend Casual

This weekend had some pretty amazing weather for an August in Maryland. The high seventies, zero humidity. Completely unlike Maryland weather for this time of year.

Friday night, I kicked off the weekend with a solid closet clean-out (see some of my listings on Poshmark with more to come!) and was super excited to come across an old black Lululemon racerback tank I had. Even working moms need to have casual attire and I’m a HUGE fan of athleisure (though you probably wouldn’t know it from my mostly office friendly outfit posts).

This outfit was super comfortable and perfect attire to hit up the Annapolis 10 miler expo, a nearby brewery and run some errands in Annapolis with the boys. As long as the weather is cooperating, this will probably be a weekend wardrobe regular (at least for the time being!).

black and white outfit

[Tank (old, similar, similar, similar) | Jeans | Sandals (similar) | Necklace]

summer casual outfit

Fun fact: I bought these pants pre-Body Back to replace an old pair that tore (damned chub rub rubbing holes through the thighs of my favorite pants) and now, they’re too loose in the waist by a solid couple of inches… Even after I dry them. *sigh*

Happy Wednesday my friends!!

Linking up with Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday 

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Giving the Cold Shoulder

There are many trends when it comes to fashion that I kind of… raise my eyebrows at. Wide-legged pants. Off the shoulder tops (as much as I wish this worked, it’s simply not practical for me). Cropped anything (specifically cropped tops), midi skirts (I wish. I’m too petite), but there was one from this summer that kind of grew on me…

The cold shoulder top. AKA the less annoying sister of the Off the Shoulder top.

I was skeptical initially because some styles are just…over the top and impractical for those of us who need to support the ladies. But, once I tried them on, I really really liked the subtle flirtatiousness of the style. Granted, some are REALLY over the top and frilly, but LOFT, IMO has been killing it with the cold shoulder look this summer.

cold shoulder top

[top (similar) | white jeans | shoes (similar, similar) | sunnies | necklace]

loft cold shoulder top

Black and white is such a classic, classic look and one that I wear often – I loved this find from Loft. It’s great with a pair of shorts on the weekend OR a nice pair of pants for work. I spotted my HR director wearing white jeans dressed up – previously a “friday only” type of piece for me but I dressed these up last week and it worked perfectly for my business casual office.

Here are a few of my favorite cold shoulder tops lurking around the interwebs right now:

What about you? Have you tried the “cold shoulder” trend? What are some trends that you love (or love to hate?)? 

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WHAT I WORE: Summer Florals

Mostly in summer, I tend to wear a lot of dresses. But occasionally, I’ll sport pants on the days when it’s not sweat-your-tuckus off hot. White jeans are great for casual Friday, and most often, I’ll sport black pants for the every day.

When I saw this peplum back top on Audrey’s blog earlier this summer and I bought it up in 3 colors – black floral, red floral and white. Mostly because, like I’ve said, I like to buy things in multiples. Which I do. Often. (I have no shame in admitting this.)

 

I dressed it up with a pair of nice black ponte pants (that were too hot for the weather outside. WHOOPS) but because this top is black, you can sport it with any number of bottoms – white, olive or maroon.

And because I’m original (NOT) I love the black and white look of this same top… in white. With black pants and a pop of cognac with the shoes (though today I’m rocking leopard print heels)

(Also this pic totally captures my summer ‘do that I recently got updated. So fresh and delightfully blonde!)

As for the fit, definitely size down – the black top is a small (though tight in the arms) and the white is a medium but it’s a touch big in the body. Some colors are currently on sale for $29.90 so snatch it up! It’s a great transition/summer piece that I’m sure I’ll be sporting well through the fall even with a bright cardigan.

Summer Florals
Happy Monday my friends! 

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