Today's Everyday Fashion: Holiday Colors

Inspiration: J.Crew

Normally I'd see bright colors + light wash jeans and think warm weather, but there's something about this bright red and turquoise color combo that's reminding me of the holidays. To make it even more holiday appropriate, I'd try the top half with gray wool pants (similar to the inspiration but more tailored than sweatpants), or a dark wash jean with gray pumps. 

Blazer: Banana Republic, $35 (similar, similar)
Top: J.Crew, $35 (similar, similar)
Jeans: Gap, $48
Shoes: Guess c/o Ross, $28 (similar, similar)
Purse: Sole Society, $30 (similar, similar, similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Top is 3 years ago. Shoes and purse are 2 years ago. Jeans are last year. Necklace and blazer are this year.

Michael Kors  /  Bar III  /  Isola
Steve Madden  /  Blondo  /  Vince Camuto
Tommy Hilfiger  /  Ralph Lauren  /  Nine West 

Also, I'm on the hunt for new cognac boots this season so I do what I always do - comparison shop! I like to gather lots of options and start sale/coupon stalking. Which pair would you pick?

Today's Everyday Fashion: Nordstrom Sale

Inspiration: Sharky/Splash News via Who What Wear

Blake Lively: I'm a big fan of your all-black outfit paired with a waterfall cardigan. In fact, I'd be happy to wear it myself, hat included! She looks like she's at the airport, and I'd wear this on a chilly day for a walk downtown or outdoor shopping. Speaking of shopping - Nordstrom's big sale starts today. Thousands of items are up to 40% off and I picked out some favorites below (I ordered the first dress and these boots). Go here to see everything that's up for grabs!

Cardigan: Gap, old (similar)
Top: Lamixx c/o, $20
Jeans: American Eagle, $37
Shoes: Report/Piperlime, $10 (same)
Purse: Michael Kors/Macy's, $270 (same, same)
Hat: Express, $12 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot 1, 2, 3
Approx. dates: Sweater is 9 years ago. Hat is 3 years ago. Purse and top are 2 years ago. Shoes are last year. Jeans are new.

Dress  /  Coat  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Coat
Jeans  /  Jeans  /  Boots  /  Bracelet  /  Purse  /  Skirts
Sweater  /  Sweater  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Coat
Boots  /  Boots  /  Pumps  /  Pumps  /  Pumps

Disclosure: The folks at ShopStyle asked me to share Nordstrom's sale with you today. All editorial decisions, ideas and shopping picks are my own. 

Today's Everyday Fashion: Eyelash Knits

Inspiration: Stella & Dot

I experienced some serious fashion envy when I saw this inspiration photo. I think her ivory sweater and glammed up jewelry are the perfect holiday look! I searched my closet for ivory sweaters and this was the only thing I had that was relatively close to my inspiration. I wasn't sure at first if necklaces would work over the turtleneck, however I kind of like the end result (from far away it almost looks like the sweater has jewels attached to it). And if you prefer sweaters without turtlenecks, there are plenty of eyelash knit options similar to hers below. I may just scoop one up myself this season!

Sweater: American Eagle, old (similar, similar)
Skirt: LOFT, $36 (similar, similar)
Shoes: Banana Republic, $50 (similar, similar, similar)
Clutch: Limited, $15 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot, My Stella & Dot
Nail polish: Essie "Wicked"
Approx. dates: Sweater is 12 years ago. Shoes are 4 years ago. Clutch is 2 years ago. Skirt is 1 year ago. Bottom necklace is new.

Piperlime  /  Forever 21  /  Forever 21
Forever 21  /  Forever 21  /  Forever 21
Vince Camuto  /  Forever 21  /  MissGuided

Today's Everyday Fashion: Mint Polka Dots

Inspiration: Pinterest (via Hello Gorgeous!) 

This inspiration photo was a no-brainer, because polka dots plus mint is always a good call! To make it more professional I paired it with cropped trousers and black heels, but jeans would also work well (blue, black or ivory). Also - by blind luck I stumbled upon some great prices at J.Crew right now. I've been wanting the jeans top left for awhile and right now you can get them for almost half off. And the rest of my picks are all under $100. Use code FALLSALE to get the extra 30% off in the shopping cart!

Cardigan: Limited, $18 (similar, similar, similar)
Top: J.Crew Factory, $40 (similar, similar, similar)
Pants: Ann Taylor, $18 (similar, similar)
Shoes: Chinese Laundry c/o (same, similar, similar)
Purse: Michael Kors/Macy's, $270 (same, same)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Shoes and purse are 2 years ago. Cardigan and top are 1 year ago. Pants are last summer. 

Jeans  /  Dress  /  Scarf  /  Pants
Vest  /  Jeans  /  Top  /  Pants
Skirt  /  Necklace  /  Pants  /  Hoodie

Extra 30% off with code FALLSALE through 11/4.

Today's Everyday Fashion: Puffer Vests

Inspiration: Lucky Community member Tilden Brighton

I've been looking for a new way to wear this puffer vest from last year. Two ways I wore it last year are pictured above, and I'm loving the idea of wearing it over an open button front with jeans and sneakers like today's look. I think I'd like to experiment with more variations like a different color button down and a different shirt underneath, but overall it's a casual style idea that would be fun to try for fall/winter. Which puffer vest look is your favorite? 

Vest: Banana Republic, $50
Plaid top: Limited, $25 (similar, similar)
T-shirt: Maison Jules/Macy's, $11
Jeans: H&M, $32 (similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Sperry/Macy's, $45
Purse: Calvin Klein/Saks Off Fifth, $130 (similar)
Approx. dates: Purse and jeans are 2 years ago. Plaid and vest are one year ago. Shoes and tee are recent.

J.Crew Factory  /  Amazon  /  Gap
Lulu's  /  J.Crew Factory  /  Gap
Zappos  /  Lord & Taylor  /  LOFT

Today's Everyday Fashion: Houndstooth

Inspiration: Limited  TOP  /  SKIRT  /  CLUTCH

I arrived home from the cruise to an inbox full of adorable new arrivals. First up, I saved this inspiration photo to re-create using old items already in my closet. I don't wear a ton of black, but I do love an eclectic mix of black and white prints. I also fell in love with the leopard shirtdress below. I'm loving shirt dresses for fall and Limited has several different prints and solid black here. Today only full price items are 50% off (code DAY5) and I'm thinking I may just have to give some of the new arrivals I picked out below a try! Which ones do you like?

Top: Express, old (similar)
Skirt: Limited, $35 (similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Chinese Laundry c/o (same, similar, similar)
Purse: Sole Society c/o (similar, similar)
Necklace: Stella & Dot
Earrings: Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Top is 8 years ago. Shoes are 2 years ago. Skirt and purse are 1 year ago.

Dress /  Dress  /  Clutch  /  Skirt  /  Leggings
Poncho  /  Coat  /  Blazer  /  Sweater
Jacket  /  Blazer  /  Top  /  Skirt

50% off full-priced items with code DAY5. Today only.

Cruise Diary: What I Wore, Part 4

METALLIC TATTOOS /  NAIL POLISH

Our last two days on the cruise were days at sea. The first time I took a cruise I remember thinking “a day at sea – what in the world would I do all day?” But the fact that this Carnival cruise had two days in a row at sea is one reason I chose it. Days at sea are blissful – no cell service, no agenda, and nothing to do but relax and unwind.

The first day at sea I put on this cover up (old, from 4 summers ago) and headed to the deck to read for an hour. I was also rocking my second set of metallic tattoos. I’ve always wanted to be that glamorous person who wears jewelry with her swimsuits, but these tattoos (applied with water like regular temporary tattoos) give you that same look for just a few dollars and without worrying you’ll ruin your favorite jewelry. They were perfect for a cruise.

After the pool, I headed to the gym. This picture was taken on our balcony post-gym and I'm a sweaty mess. 

Our 7th night at sea was the second formal dress code night. This time, I wore a dress I’ve had for approximately 8 years. I can’t remember the last time I wore it or even tried it on, but when I love something I hold onto it stubbornly and generally wind up wearing it again at some point. It felt like a brand new dress, and exactly like something I would buy again right now. It doesn’t get any better than “already in your closet!” I loved wearing it for dinner.

On day 8, our final day at sea, we experienced our only bad patch of weather. It was rainy and overcast that day, so we decided to take our time and get breakfast in the fancy dining room. I wore this outfit (first featured on the blog here) for the second time that week (the first time I’d worn it was day 2 for same occasion - breakfast in the dining room). When I packed, I focused on swimwear for day, and dinner outfits for night. I didn’t bring a lot of “in between” outfits like this one, and could have used a couple more in my suitcase (if not repeating outfits was the goal). I also wore the black jumpsuit from day 1 again, for the ride home after the cruise.

With the inclement weather, it was a good time to hit the gym, so I threw on one of my favorite t-shirts (a party favor from SXSW a few years ago). I normally wear this shirt with neon gym shorts but I had already worn them over a swimsuit earlier that week, so I paired it with yoga pants instead. (I had planned to take a yoga class on board, but all the yoga classes on our cruise were at 8am and I am not a morning exerciser.)

CLUTCH  /  SHOES

That night I wore one of my favorite outfits of the cruise. I originally wore this hot pink dress to JJ’s birthday this summer (here). I liked these accessories so much more though – punches of neon orange in my shoes, clutch and necklaces. I got lots of compliments that night! 

After our final yummy dinner, we watched another comedy show and caught the end of the baseball game in the EA SPORTS Bar.

NECKLACE  /  NECKLACE  /  CLUTCH  /  NAIL POLISH

Overall this vacation hit the spot. My favorite part was spending uninterrupted time with JJ and going on dinner “dates” every night as we called them. You also can’t beat relaxing sans cell and internet (despite what that gym t-shirt might say; and Carnival does offer internet, but I limited my time). And of course soaking up the beauty of the Caribbean and all that it has to offer. I can’t thank Carnival enough for giving us the trip of a lifetime. I hope to be back on a Carnival ship someday soon! 

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

Cruise Diary: What I Wore, Part 3

On Day #5 of our Carnival cruise, we stopped in beautiful St. Martin/St. Maarten. This was a new island for both of us and we didn’t plan an excursion. We opted to wing it and find something fun to do spontaneously instead! First, while still onboard the ship, we headed to breakfast in the dining room, which is a sit down experience and requires nicer clothes than just grabbing something from the breakfast buffet (no denim shorts or swim wear). I wore this neon t-shirt and shorts together. Not an outfit I had planned to wear together, but it wound up being perfect for breakfast in the dining room that day. 

At breakfast we met a couple who told us about Maho Bay in St. Martin. JJ had seen videos of Maho Bay but he didn’t realize where it was located. As soon as he heard those words, that was our plan for the day! He couldn’t wait. 

NECKLACE  /  METALLIC TATTOOS

We took a group taxi and arrived at Maho Bay after a 30-minute drive. I wore my favorite swim cover up (from this post) and my new fedora. The beach was jam-packed and there’s no shade or umbrellas so bring SPF if you go. The water was insanely blue; that’s not editing, it really looked like that! The main attraction at Maho Bay, though? The planes!!

This pretty much sums it up:

It was the most thrilling experience. JJ’s dad was a pilot so this was his favorite part of our trip. Having planes fly over your head as they land was fun, but the real drama happened when the planes took off. Their jet blast hits the beach behind them as they take off; it was akin to being in a tornado. My skin got whipped with sand through my towel and hat. I was finding sand in my hair for days afterwards. Daredevils like to hang onto the fence for dear life, and sometimes the blast knocks them over. During takeoffs, for those who may be a little less thrill seeking, I recommend moving down the beach a bit from the direct flight path (as I did after that initial takeoff).

After our aviation adventure, we headed back to the cruise ship to grab lunch. Then we caught a water taxi across the bay to explore the beach and shopping area in St. Martin that’s visible from the ship (behind us in the photo above). The boardwalk along the beach has live music, inexpensive drinks and tons of shopping, including brand names we all know and love in the states. 

We headed back to the ship to shower before the sun went down, so these pictures are a little dark as a result. My hair also wasn’t quite done drying yet, but standing on deck in the wind takes care of that nicely as I discovered. I originally bought this dress for Valentine’s Day with JJ last year (here) and loved styling it for warm weather with sandals and a pink clutch this time.

That night after dinner we watched a magic show. Carnival had Bobby Borgia, a world famous magician, on board. He put on a spectacular show! I changed into sports gear (here) after the magic show and watched my favorite baseball team win a big game in the EA SPORTS Bar.

Our fourth and final stop on our cruise was San Juan, Puerto Rico. Many years ago I stayed several nights in San Juan and fell in love with this city. I couldn’t wait to see it again and share it with JJ. What’s cool about this stop is it’s more of a city tour vs. a beach/snorkel type destination so a Carnival cruise that goes to San Juan gives you the best of both worlds. 

We spent the day riding the free trolleys and visiting both forts (only $5 per person for both). The views are just completely out of this world, and doing both forts (with a stop back on the ship for lunch) took pretty much all day because there’s so much to explore! The weather was incredibly hot so I was thankful I wore a casual tank top and denim shorts (first featured on the blog here). I had considered wearing some dressier shorts and shoes, but we walked so much and I was sweating buckets so I was thankful to have gone casual. Here are some more of our photos from San Juan:

After our tour through San Juan we headed back for dinner. My hair was still wet (again), but we snapped these photos from the deck as the sun set. I wore this dress on the blog this summer (here) and loved wearing it again. White is a great choice on a cruise for showing off your fresh tan!

Tomorrow’s post: my two favorite dinner outfits for the whole cruise. I saved the best for last! 

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

Cruise Diary: What I Wore, Part 2

Day 3 of the cruise, and our first stop was Grand Turk! We booked the Gibbs Cay Beach & Stingray Encounter through Carnival and it wound up being my favorite experience on this trip. I did a stingray encounter in Grand Cayman on a Carnival cruise years ago, and couldn’t wait to try another one. Grand Turk was absolutely breathtaking – the water was a beautiful blue, and there’s a beach immediately in front of you when you exit the cruise ship, so you could easily lounge there all day, right off the ship.

Instead, we boarded a small boat and headed to a private island for the day: 

Absolute paradise! You can see our cruise ship in the distance, and the smaller boat we took parked on the beach. In the shallow water surrounding the boat is where we held stingrays. The dark patch to the left is where we swam out and did some snorkeling, over the reef. 

Needless to say, I was loving the view!! 

In between snorkeling and when the stingrays showed up, we climbed up the hill to take in the view and get some shots of the water surrounding the island. 

Moments later a couple stingrays graced us with their presence! I wanted to be a marine biologist as a kid and my love for marine life knows no bounds. I didn’t even mind giving him a kiss! (I don’t recommend trying this on your own in the wild, we were with experienced guides.) Overall, we gave this excursion high marks. They stayed an extra hour over our allotted time and in general went above and beyond, and we only had about 20 people on our boat. Highly recommend.

DRESS  /  SHOES

After an exciting day in Grand Turk, we boarded the ship and got ready for dinner. For dinner #3 (a casual dress code night), I wore my new black slip dress with cognac shoes and purse to mirror the hints of brown in the floral pattern. Most nights JJ wore t-shirts to dinner. Dinner dress code is fairly lax –rules are no denim cut offs, no flip flops. I was happy to wear a dress and heels though, especially one that's this comfy!

We enjoyed another yummy dinner, then headed to the first of four comedy shows we attended. I’ve seen comedy shows on Carnival cruises in the past, but the talent on this trip was top notch. They had at least 4 comedians on board (at different times throughout the week), and offered both family friendly and adults only shows. 

NAIL POLISH  /  RING  /  BRACELET

The next morning, we arrived in beautiful St. Thomas. I’ve been to St. Thomas on a Carnival cruise ship previously, but this was my first time snorkeling there. We booked the Two Island Snorkel & Beach Safari by FastCat excursion through Carnival. There were about a hundred people on our catamaran, but we managed to find a little corner to take this photo of what I wore, below. Normally I wear dresses as a cover up but I was in the mood for something sporty that day so I threw on a pair of gym shorts and a tank top I had packed for the gym.

We headed to a nearby reef first. There were several boats already anchored and a good amount of people in the water. In the grassy areas, I was mesmerized by the huge sea turtles feeding and surfacing, and I spotted a stingray and cuttlefish (which look like hovering squid). Then we swam over to the reef, which was gorgeous. The water clarity was amazing, and there were tons of colorful fish. The snorkeling was outstanding!

METALLIC TATTOOS  /   TOENAIL POLISH

After snorkeling concluded, the party began as they dished out generous quantities of rum punch. They took us to secluded Honeymoon Beach, where everyone split up and did their own thing. JJ played beach volleyball with a group and I lounged on a beach chair and cheered them on. We watched the sun set as we took the boat back to the cruise ship. 

LACE TOP  /  SHOES

Back on the ship, we quickly showered and got dressed for dinner. The sun had already set, so we couldn’t take a photo of my outfit that night. I took this photo a few days later to show you guys what I wore for dinner. Another comfy outfit – I paired my favorite linen pants with my newish pink lace top. After dinner, JJ fell asleep and I watched the first game of the World Series on the TV in our room. (I grew up in Kansas and am a huge baseball fan.) 

In tomorrow's post: JJ’s favorite experience on our trip, sightseeing in beautiful San Juan, and two colorful dinner outfits!

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

Cruise Diary: What I Wore, Part 1

I just got back from an 8-day cruise with Carnival; JJ and I had such an amazing time!! Over the next few days I’ll be sharing a diary of everything I wore (even to the gym). Generally I don’t divulge a lot about my daily life, so I hope it will be fun to switch it up a bit and go behind the scenes and see what I wore, as well as get some ideas for what to pack on your next cruise!

First up is what I wore to board the ship. Orlando is only a quick hour drive to the port in Cape Canaveral, however, it was a long day for us. We made a detour to drop of Bella (my dog) and eat lunch with JJ’s mom, and boarding the ship takes about an hour, so I was going for comfort. I also could not wait to bust out these printed pants and the fedora I bought specifically for the trip! (here)

After safety drills and getting settled in our room we were ready to chow down at our first dinner, so I changed into this black jumpsuit. We did “your time dining” which worked really well for us. On Carnival cruises usually you pick one of two times for dinner – 6:15 or 8:15pm, but with “your time dining” you can eat dinner anytime you want. You just show up to the reservations desk and let them know you are ready – most nights we walked right in, or sometimes there was a short wait. You can ask for a private table, or sit with a group. We met a lot of new people that way, including different waiters. As always on Carnival cruises, the food was delicious and I ate way too much at dinner! 

This was probably the most casual outfit I wore to dinner all week. I was exhausted and this jumpsuit is one of the most comfortable things I own so it was the perfect thing to throw on. (Side note: I think I wore this jumpsuit more than any other outfit this summer! I lived in this thing. First featured on the blog here.) I headed to bed straight after dinner – I was fast asleep by 10pm thanks to the ship rocking me to sleep.

The next morning, I was ready to hit the pool! We had a day at sea, which means spending the whole day having fun on the ship (there are several pools, hot tubs, water slides, mini golf, to name a few). On a cruise you will find most people running around in swim wear all day. Dress code when you enter the casual dining areas is to add a cover up, so this dress (from this post) is what I wore over my suit off and on all day.

After the pool, JJ and I hit the gym for a bit. I was rocking my usual colorful gear for working out!

Night #2 on the ship was a formal night. For a week-long cruise, generally two nights will be deemed “formal” night and the dinner dress code is different for those nights. I like to think of the dress code as wearing something formal enough to consider wearing it to a wedding, and this sequin dress I wore to the ballet last year (here) fit the bill. I loved having an excuse to wear it again!

Generally after dinner we would do something fun like the free shows and movies they have on-board, but this was another early night. We had a 7am port time the next morning in Grand Turk and a stingray excursion booked, so my next outfit was pajamas for bed. 

We had a blast on the first two days of the cruise, but really the fun had just begun. Stay tuned to see our four stops on the cruise: Grand Turk, St. Thomas, St. Martin, and San Juan. As well as two more days at sea! 

This post was created as part of my collaboration with Carnival. As always, all of the opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.

Today's Everyday Fashion: Handbag Giveaway

Inspiration: J.Crew

This is quite possibly the softest purse I've ever held. It's exquisite in person - the rich color, the buttery leather, the gold stud details. I'm giving away this bag to you guys (more on that below), and to demonstrate the purse in action, I recreated this plaid catalog outfit. I am digging the preppy vibe combined with eclectic plaid print mixing, even with the purse (rightfully) stealing the show.

The purse was created by luxury handbag brand Hammitt, exclusively for Stearns & Foster. The American-made bag has a retail value of $700(!) and there are several opportunities to win. Stearns & Foster is giving away more than 20 of these purses on their Facebook page this fall, and they sent me this one to give away exclusively to J's Everyday Fashion readers. 

To enter to win the purse I'm holding, all you need to do is "like" the Stearns & Foster Facebook page and let me know you've done so via the Rafflecopter box below. (Once you're on the S&F Facebook page, you can decide if you'd like to enter their separate contest for more chances to win this handbag, but entering their contest is not mandatory for this contest. Just visit their FB page to check it out, and don’t forget to let me know by commenting via the Rafflecopter box below.) One lucky winner will be chosen by random, U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Blazer: C. Wonder, $90 (similar, similar, similar)
Top: A&F c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Jeans: Hudson/Filene's Basement, $70 (similar)
Shoes: Nine West c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Belt: H&M, $20
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Jeans and belt are 7 years ago. Shoes are 2.5 years ago. Top, blazer are 1 year ago.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today's post is brought to you by the Stearns & Foster sweepstakes run by Tempur Sealy.  Official rules here. All opinions, editorial decisions are my own. Thanks for entering!

Today's Everyday Fashion: Boots and Pants

Inspiration: Chinese Laundry

I'm a big fan of short boots. Tall boots never fit my calves, and in general short boots are so easy to slip off and on. They do present one challenge though, which is figuring out how they fit together with the end of your pants. My favorite scenario is when your pants fit nicely just inside the top of the bootie (like here). You can also wear them with your pants rolled at the bottom (LOFT example below).  And if your pants are bootcut, then you can wear them over the top of the boot so only part of your shoe sticks out (like here). And then there's today's look, which is something in between. I wanted to re-create this outfit, but I fear these pants are too long to wear with boots and the zippers make them tough to roll. Do you ever have difficulty wearing pants and short boots? 

Tee: LaMixx c/o, $20
Pants: A&F c/o
Shoes: Chinese Laundry c/o DNA Footwear, $83
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar, similar, similar)
Hat: Express, $12 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot, My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Hat, purse are 3 years ago. Pants, top are 1 year ago. Shoes are recent.

Sanctuary  /  Target  /  LOFT  /  Joie
J.Crew  /  Lucky Brand /  H&M  /  Ralph Lauren

Today's Everyday Fashion: Shortcuts

Inspiration: J.Crew Factory

When you find something you like, it bears repeating, especially when it comes to getting dressed. In today's case, this shoe/skirt/purse combo is something I came up with a few weeks ago (here). Outfit "shortcuts" like these can be repeated again and again just by switching out one or two things like a different top and sweater, and they can be especially helpful for getting dressed for work five days a week. Do you ever use shortcuts in your closet?

Sweater: Old Navy, $16 (similar, similar)
Top: Mudd c/o Kohl's, $20
Skirt: LOFT, $36 (similar, similar)  
Shoes: Call It Spring c/o, $29 (similar, similar)
Purse: Emma Fox c/o Ross, $60 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot, My Stella & Dot
Earrings: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Purse is 3 years ago. Sweater, top, skirt are 2 years ago. Shoes are last summer.

J.Crew  /  Michael Kors  /  Forever 21
LOFT  /  Delia's  /  Ralph Lauren
Gap  /  Target  /  Sam Edelman

Today's Everyday Fashion: Peep Toe Booties

Inspiration: JACOPO RAULE/GC IMAGES via InStyle

Rosie is rocking an asymmetrical leather skirt, tuxedo blazer and matching top. The hardest part of her outfit to pull off though? The suede booties with bare legs, in my opinion. It’s a look I’ve worn before and probably will again, but I always struggle with feeling 100% confident in it. That’s where peep toe booties come in (the kind of shoes I’m wearing). I hadn't tried this type of shoe until this season, but I’m kind of hooked. They are the perfect solution for getting the look of a boot without having to wear hot socks for those of us in warmer climates. Not to mention they look perfectly at home on a bare leg. I’ve rounded up a bunch more of this type of shoe under $100. Is this a shoe you would wear? Why or why not?

Blazer: Express c/o (similar, similar)
Top: LOFT, $27 (similar, similar)
Skirt: Vince Camuto c/o Nordstrom, $49 (similar)
Purse: Michael Kors/Macy's, $270 (same, same)
Shoes: Vince Camuto c/o HSN
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot, My Stella & Dot
Earrings: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Blazer is 3 years ago. Top and purse are 2 years ago. Skirt and shoes are this summer.

Nine West  /   BC Footwear  /  GILT
Steve Madden  /  Michael Antonio  /  Vince Camuto
Kelsi Dagger  /  Steve Madden  /   DSW
Steve Madden  /  Target  /  Dolce Vita

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Pink Coat

Inspiration: Pink Peonies via WhoWhatWear

I’m so excited about this pink coat from ASOS. I had a pink wool coat when I lived in Boston years ago, and I gave it away to a friend when I moved. Pink coat karma came back around because this one was a great shopping find. I love the collarless trapeze shape – it feels vintage and modern at the same time, and it looks great with a dress (an outfit option for Valentine’s Day, perhaps?) and works equally well casually with jeans. Which pink coat outfit is your favorite? More options under $150 below.

Coat: ASOS c/o ShopStyle
Dress: Piperlime
Shoes: ShoeDazzle
Purse: My Stella & Dot
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Shoes, dress are last spring. Purse is this summer. Coat is new.

ASOS  /  Forever 21  /  ASOS
Forever 21  /  ASOS  /  ASOS
ASOS  /  Jessica Simpson   /  Piperlime

Inspiration: Forever 21

Coat: ASOS c/o
Tee: Maison Jules/Macy's
Jeans: A&F c/o
Shoes: Banana Republic
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Clutch: Sole Society
Approx. dates: Shoes are 6 years ago. Jeans and clutch are 1 year ago. Top and coat are new.

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Green Parka

Inspiration: Instagram user wheresmydriver via PopSugar

Today’s post is part one of a two-part series on coats from ASOS.com. I’ve been wanting to add a long, soft coat like the one I'm wearing to my closet. I love the deep olive color and you can’t beat the $73 price tag. I styled it with all black like my inspiration photo above, and with a sundress and boots a la Jenna Dewan’s outfit below. This coat is incredibly versatile – the outfit above is polished and dressy, while the one below is boho and casual. Check out more of my favorite ASOS coats under $150 below. They have so many cute ones to choose from, and there’s free shipping on orders over $25. I’ve ordered clothes from ASOS in the past but can say trying coats for the first time was a huge success. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post: I also ordered a pink wool coat that I can't wait to debut! 

Coat: ASOS c/o ShopStyle

One  /  Two  /  Three  /  Four  /  Five
One  /  Two  /  Three  /  Four  /  Five
One  /  Two  /  Three  /  Four

Inspiration: PopSugar

Today’s post is brought to you by ASOS.com and ShopStyle. All opinions, editorial ideas and decisions are my own. 

Today's Everyday Fashion: Bright Red Boots

Inspiration: Couture Candy

I may not be able to pull off bright red boots like Jaime King, but I figured “hey, I can do that with red pumps!” Normally I don’t love the boxy cropped fit of this navy striped blazer on me, but it works well in this outfit, similar to Jaime’s cropped fit on her jacket. I would nix the smaller gold necklaces (didn’t even realize I still had them on when I snapped the photo) and jeans without distressed patches would be a good option as well. I love the overall idea, and it’s one that’s easy to re-create!

Jacket: Express c/o MJR Sales
Top: hand me down from JJ (similar, similar)
Jeans: 7 For All Mankind c/o Shop It To Me (similar)
Shoes: Guess c/o Ross (similar, similar)
Purse: My Stella & Dot
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Blazer and jeans are 3 years ago. Shoes are 1 year ago. Purse is this summer. 

Choies  /  Nordstrom Rack  /  Charlotte Russe
Forever 21  /  Ralph Lauren  /  Gap
ChicNova  /  Old Navy  /  Pendelton

Today's Everyday Fashion: Zippers

I can't get enough zipper details this fall, as my two latest purchases reveal. I didn't intend to pair this colorblock sweater and wool skirt together when I bought them, but the military vibe of both lead me to give it a try. I plan to pair the sweater with jeans this winter, and the skirt with a bow blouse or striped top. More zipper options under $100 below; is this a trend you are planning to try?

Sweater: J. Crew Factory, $44 (price in store, no coupon)
Skirt: J.Crew Factory, $35 (price in store, no coupon)
Shoes: Nine West c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Purse: Emma Fox c/o Ross, $60 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot 1, 2
Earrings: My Stella & Dot
Nail polish: Essie "Wicked"
Approx. dates: Shoes, purse are 2 years ago. Sweater and skirt are new.

NM Last Call  /  J.Crew  /  Michael Kors
Jones New York  /  ModCloth  /  Calvin Klein  /  Romwe
Nine West  /  Macy's  /  JCPenney

Today's Everyday Fashion: Cognac Pumps

Inspiration: J.Crew

This tweed skirt has hints of pink and brown in the pattern, and yet, I'm not sure I ever would've put this outfit together without the inspiration photo! Last year I paired it with navy and camel (here), but I love the addition of pink. Also, one of my most-loved pairs of shoes, cognac pumps for under $100 below!

Blazer: J.Crew Factory, $83
Top: LOFT, $30 (similar, similar)
Skirt: Boden c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Nine West c/o
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar, similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot, My Stella & Dot
Earrings: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Shoes, purse are 2.5 years ago. Skirt, top are 1 year ago.

J. Renee  /  Elliott Lucca  /  Rockport
Jessica Simpson  /  Pour la Victorie  /  Pour la Victorie
Anne Klein  /  Carlos Santana  /  Corso Como
ALDO /  Franco Sarto  /  Ralph Lauren

Shopping for a Cruise on a $100 Budget

DRESS

SHORTS

I'll admit it, I love buying something new to wear on vacation. There's just something so fun about debuting a new item in a new destination! For my upcoming Caribbean cruise with Carnival, I decided to issue myself a little challenge. I gave myself a $100 budget and a limited time frame (a couple hours) to get these items on my wish list:

- denim shorts
- fedora/sun hat
- swim cover up
- dress to wear to dinner
- those comfy, printed pants that look like pajamas

I did not plan to cross everything off my list. Shopping in October for summer clothes is out of season, so I didn't think much would be available, not to mention five items for under $100 is a tall order. I ran into some serious shopping luck though and wound up with everything on my list with a grand total of only $88! Score!

Here's what I bought:

- shorts: American Eagle, $18 (pic 3)
- hat: Francesca's, $10 (pic 3)
- swim cover up: Forever 21, $22 (pic 4)
- dress for dinner: Forever 21, $18 (pic 1)
- printed pants: TJ Maxx, $20 (pic 2)

Total = $88

(FAR RIGHT:  AE PANTS)

I tried on several pairs before I purchased the printed pants in photo 1 from TJ Maxx. Photo 2 is at Macy’s, photo 3 is at American Eagle. 

(BOTH: AE TOP  /  LEFT:  SHORTS)

I searched for denim shorts all summer with zero success, so I was thrilled to finally find a pair! The denim shorts at American Eagle were on clearance, hidden on the bottom of a table in the back. I must’ve tried on 15 pairs. I bought the ones on the left, which are a Boyfriend fit. The ones on the right are Boy Midi fit.

(DRESS ONE  / DRESS TWO  / DRESS THREE)

One retailer that’s summer-friendly year round is Forever 21. I tried on a ton of dresses for the trip. I got the first one to wear for dinner. (Bonus: I can wear it with a coat and booties this fall!) I also got the floral one, bottom right, to wear as a swim coverup.

(DRESS TWO)

Having a couple new things has made me even more excited to go on this cruise, if that's even possible. The real challenge will be waiting to wear everything until the trip! (Totally cheated with the shorts here.) Check out my shopping tips for a cruise/vacation below and tell me – do you like buying something new for vacation or do you stick to old favorites? What are your best vacation shopping tips?

Tips for cruise/vacation shopping:

1.  Consider every possible scenario for your trip. What activities will you be doing and do you have something to wear for each possibility? What can you wear in case of inclement or unusual weather?
2. Give yourself plenty of time. For my trip to Europe three years ago, I spent several months planning outfits and researching climates and activities in advance. Don’t wait until the night before to take inventory of your closet and make sure you have everything you’ll need.
3.  Fashion means function. On vacation you may find yourself on your feet sightseeing for hours, or snorkeling, or doing a number of things you wouldn’t normally do. Consider the function of what you’re wearing – shoes that can withstand a beating, swim cover ups that you can throw on fresh out of the ocean, etc.
4. Think beach brands. If you’re going on a tropical vacation out of season, then head to stores like Pac Sun, Hollister, American Eagle, Victoria’s Secret that carry bathing suits, shorts, cover ups and flip flops year round.
5. Only buy things you can wear outside of vacation, too. The fedora, printed pants, and dinner dress will work for the current season (fall) and I'll get plenty of use out of the summer items I purchased as well. Don’t buy it only for vacation, buy it so you can use it after vacation, too!
6.  Don’t blow the bank. Along the same lines, vacation is really fun, but it’s only a few weeks out of the year. So I recommend putting the majority of your clothing budget towards your usual daily activities.

Today’s post is brought to you by Carnival Cruise Lines. All opinions, photos, and editorial decisions are my own. Thanks for reading!