Winter What to Wear Update No. 1

As you know, I recently re-started my uber-organized-choose-what-to-wear-with-notecards-system. Maybe I should come up with a more succinct name for this thing? Any ideas?

Normally, one card lasts me a week, but since my dressing habits were a bit altered during exam week(s), I spent more than a week drawing inspiration from my last card. My items were:

• Bubble necklace
• Solid belt
• Turtleneck
• Spotted flat booties
• Vest
• Colored denim (the only item I didn’t get around to wearing!)

The outfits below should look familiar to you . . . I’ve worn all of these in the past couple weeks.

I did some shopping last month and wore a few new things for the first time. It was nice to have my little card to give me some ideas of old stuff to pair with the newbies. For example, I might have just thrown a cardigan over my new LOFT dress (upper right), but I tried a turtleneck instead, which I think was a lot more unique. And it was nice to bust out the old bubble necklace after giving it a long break. The color looked so nice with the minimalistic black and white sweater.

See these original outfit posts if you missed them: (clockwise from top left)

one // two // three // four // five

5 Ways to Wear a Flared Skirt

This navy skirt was a total clearance rack impulse buy, but it was $10 well spent. I’ve worn it so many times already, and there’s no end in sight. The above-the-knee length is perfect, as is the waist band and cute flared shape. Every girl who knows what’s good for her needs one of these babies.

So let’s get this party started. Here are 5 ways I’ve styled this flared skirt:

1.  For evening

I believe this was actually the skirt’s debut! I wore it with a silky top, a statement necklace, and bright heels to see a Broadway show this summer.

2.  With a belt

Since the skirt is solid, this patterned belt added some pizzazz. Well, maybe pizzaz is a strong word, but it added something. I’m sure of that.

3.  Disguised as a dress

I paired my navy skirt with a navy shirt to look like a dress. It’s only as I write this that I remember I already have a long-sleeved navy flared dress. So this was kind of pointless. But at the time, I was in wisdom tooth extraction recovery and was on some drugs, so I’ll blame that.

4.  For fall

This was the most recent permutation of my ever so versatile skirt. With a sweater and boots, I was ready for some cooler weather. (I’m thinking some bright tights would be another cold-weather addition. Stay tuned!)

5.  On vacation

Florida seemed like a good setting to try a knotted gingham button-up and orange flats with my skirt.

In case you’d like to add a flared skirt to your wardrobe, here are some I picked out just for you!

1.  Kirna Zabete for Target, $27.98  //  2.  Dorothy Perkins, $59

3.  ModCloth, $47.99  //  4.  Miss Selfridge, $50.00 (comes in other colors too)

5.  ModCloth, $32.99  //  6.  Topshop, $76

 

As Butch as it Gets

Oh my gosh, you guys. I’m only wearing one print. Can you believe it? And I decided to give the bubble necklace a chance at a comeback. In my extensive perusing of Pinterest and various blogs every day, I went from seeing bubble necklaces everywhere to seeing them nowhere. I’m not really sure what the traditional life cycle of a trend is, but this one seemed to mirror a fruit fly’s.

So now that everyone has apparently forgotten about the bubble necklace, you’re happy to see it again, aren’t you? OK, maybe you still think it’s overdone. But you have to admit: these big, cheery, green bubbles elevate this look at least 3 ticks above lumberjack. Right?

Top: Madewell

Necklace: available a million places for cheap, but it all started at J. Crew

Bracelet: Madewell (so darn cute, and fits small wrists like mine)

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Bakers (old, similar here)

5 Ways to Wear a Bubble Necklace

Welcome to another installment of the “How to Wear” series. This time we’re talking about the ever (and perhaps over) popular bubble necklace. I’ll admit this style has become a little overdone in the fashion and style blogosphere. HOWEVER, in my everyday life, I’ve yet to run into anyone else wearing one. Not that I’ve noticed, anyway. This leads me to believe that – at least in Indianapolis – the bubble necklace is not a huge mainstream trend, and people might still have at least a tiny bit of interest in seeing my thoughts on what to wear with one. If you’re sick and tired of seeing these damn necklaces, feel free to leave now (but come back soon…pretty please).

So without further ado, here are 5 ways I have styled my neon green bubble necklace:

1. Make something bold even bolder by putting your statement necklace over a bright print

2. Jazz up a casual top like chambray (this might be my favorite combo)

3. Make the necklace the center of attention by adding it to a monochrome outfit

4. Play with the color wheel and put your necklace against its color opposite (red/green, blue/orange, yellow/violet)

5. Wear it to work with a shift dress and jacket

Find your own bubble necklace in a range of colors and prices!

• J. Crew, $150 (it’s real gold, that’s why)
• Last Call, $44 (this one’s a little different but I love it!)
• Francesca’s, $38 (mint)
• Max & Chloe, $32 (cream)
• JC Penny, $20

Time to pick your favorite! And tell me if there’s a way you wore your bubble necklace that I didn’t cover here. See the original posts: 1 / 2 / 3 and 4 / 5

Don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin’, even if you hate bubble necklaces. I promise I wear other jewelry.

XOXO

There are lots of places people get style inspiration: magazines, store mannequins, awesome blogs like this one…But sometimes I think inspiration can sneak into your brain without your realizing it.

Exhibit A: One night earlier this week, I watched like 4 old episodes of Gossip Girl on Netflix. You can judge me if you want, but I love that ridiculous show. The next day, I got ready for work, saw myself in the mirror and thought, “Hmm, when did Lily van der Woodsen go brunette? Oh wait, that’s me.”

Unfortunately, I did not have Lily van der Woodsen’s wallet…just her typical shift dress, statement necklace, and sleek low bun. I did enjoy being a chic Upper East Sider for a day though. Next week I’m headed back to school so I have to wear my “dress up” clothes and heels while I can! 

XOXO – Gossip Girl. I mean…Sarah

P.S. You have a whole day to finish the outfit challenge!

Chicago Day 3: a “What to Wear?” Challenge

Saturday was our last day in Chicago, and we planned to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo during the day, and then head to a suburb to see a college friend star as Elle Woods in a production of Legally Blonde, the musical (SNAPS FOR ANNIE!).

The challenge: We had to check out of the hotel in the morning, so I wouldn’t be able to change between city-trekking and theater-going.

The solution: this trusty sundress. During the day, I kept it casual with a braided belt and my comfy hippie sandals.

And for evening, I just kept some wedges, a clutch, and my bubble necklace easily accessible in my suitcase. A little switcheroo in the theater parking lot led to this:

The only problem with this dress is that I can’t even take a freaking pee without someone stopping to tell me how CUTE I look. My life is really hard, you guys. But you know who else has a hard life? My friend Annie, who has a real job AND is working on getting her Master’s AND has the lead role in Legally Blonde. I might be a little biased because I know her, but seriously…she is effing amazing in this show. Anyone who lives near University Park, IL, needs to go see it. Or else. There are two more shows next weekend; check out the theater’s website here.

Omigod you guys, I know her.

Kristin, Annie (the blonde one, obviously), and me after her show

And here are some meerkats. Just cuz.

Chambray Take Two

This is only the second time I’ve taken my new chambray top out in the world. The chambray’s debut became one of my most popular posts, so that put a lot of pressure on me for take two. This is also the second go-around for my new bubble necklace. When I blogged the first bubble necklace outfit, I asked for input on how to style it next. I think the floral print dress got the most votes, so naturally I completely ignored the feedback and wore whatever I damn well felt like.

Not really…I do value your opinions, dear readers. It’s just that on Saturday, I had to go to Law Review Orientation (a.k.a The Over-Achievers Convention). It was a day spent listening to various speakers, eating pizza, and learning how to edit scholarly legal articles. Basically a bunch of smart people sitting around and soaking up each other’s awesomeness. Not exactly a sundress-worthy occasion. But I promise I will wear the dress/necklace combo sometime this summer.

Hope everyone has a great week! (I know I will, because I’m leaving for Chicago on Thursday!)

Bubble Necklace available in various colors at J. Crew or other less legit sources

Top available at Madewell

I’m Baaaack (with a new Accessory)

Greetings, dear readers! I come to you bearing good news. Although my face is still a bit oddly shaped and I have not yet advanced to the chewing stage, I am feeling a little better. I didn’t go to work, but I did venture out to lunch with friends. And by lunch I mean frozen yogurt, but the details aren’t important.

In other good news, this bubble necklace that I ordered on eBay a couple weeks ago finally came in the mail, so I decided to feature it in my “lunch” outfit. I don’t usually do the monochromatic thing, but for some reason I was inspired to try it. The lime green looked so nice against my navy top, that I just went all out and wore a navy skirt and navy shoes, too. Why the hell not?

I like how this little ensemble turned out, but of course I’m already thinking of other ways to style this necklace. Here’s a peek into my outfit-schemeing mind:

Against a Contrasting Red Dress…

Fancying up Chambray…

Adding Even More Color to a Bright Print…

Which option is your favorite? I need help deciding how to wear it next…

Bubble Necklace available in various colors at J. Crew or other less legit sources

Shoes are Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoes