Inspiration Monday – Breaking the Rules
5 Nov
Cardigan – Target (similar)| Blouse – Gap | Pants – Gap | Scarf – San Francisco Chinatown (similar) | Necklace – Store in NYC (similar)| Boots – Bandolino via 6pm.com (similar)
Welcome to another Monday installment of Inspiration Monday from Two Birds!
Lauren Conrad (pictured above) tends to get emulated a lot in style circles. The outfit for today isn’t anything particularly special. Boots, leggings, a big sweater, and a scarf but she always manages to make whatever she puts on super-chic, am I right?
This outfit is perfect for traipsing about on the weekend but not so perfect for a Monday morning in the office. So, I broke a few rules. I went a little bit more casual than I normally would for a Monday. I like to think the heel on the boots dresses it up a notch. And speaking of the boots, I stuck with brown shoes with black pants.
Although, black and brown is okay now, so it’s not really breaking a rule anymore.
Actually, when you look at it, they’re all neutral colors so why not wear them together?
P.S. Huge thanks to this week’s guest photographer, Molly!
P.P.S. Like my scarf? Pretty sure you’ll be able to pick up the exact same one at the next JF&A Show. If you’re in the Chicago area mark your calendars for the afternoon of December 2nd. I’ll be leading an outing to the show.
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0Tags: black skinny pants, brown boots, oatmeal cardigan, scarf
A reader recently contacted me and asked for help with a pair of ankle boots she just bought.
Right now I’m pretty happy with my closet. But even so there are days when I stand there and stare at all the hangers and think, “I wish I had….”
I’ve had all of these clothing pieces in my closet for a long time. I keep wavering on whether or not to keep the cardigan and then it keeps staying. 
Pairing the fancy sequined skirt with a neutral colored cardigan and nude heels helps keep it from being too bling-y or overwhelming.
The fact that I paired two pieces that could be considered slightly casual but added heels and a blazer makes my outfit work appropriate without being traditional.
i think you look cozy and professional at the same time…so maybe just a small breaking of the rules, but you still look fabulous!!
I don’t have nearly as much trouble with black and brown together as I do with black and navy blue. I think you can wear black and brown in a way that looks intentional and classy, but I think it’s a MUCH bigger struggle to wear black and navy blue in a way that makes it look like you didn’t get dressed in a poorly-lit closet.
(Ahem. Says the girl who is most DEFINITELY wearing a navy blue sweater and black sneakers today. In my defense, I still haven’t bought new brown sneakers, so the black ones were my only footwear option, I’m not particularly worried about my co-workers judging my shoe/sweater combo choice, and when I’m actually able to be seen by other people on my commute, I’m wearing a coat. So there’s that.)
I did mean want to tell you, though, that after deciding to wear this very-plain sweater, I was like, “Oh! I should wear a scarf with it to make it more exciting! But what scarf should I wear…?” So I referenced that handy dandy color wheel you posted on Wednesday and BAM. Coordination. I feel so fashionable today
Hooray!! I’m so glad I was helpful. Thank you for sharing that with me.
I’m actually thinking about doing a post on wearing black and navy and black and brown together. I’ve done it and,yes, you have to make it look very intentional and that’s not so easy.
I registered for the JF&A show! I’m very excited!
That outfit looks cozy and would be something I could definitely wear to work!
Hooray! I think it will be a good time.
Cute! I like this. And I love intentionally mixing black & brown, or other colors that aren’t supposed to go together.
Oh and count me in for the jewelry show!
Awesome!
What are your thoughts on black and navy together?
Is there items at this JFA show that you can purchase already made? Like it’s not just a bead show? I’m looking for bridesmaid gifts and I’m sooooo stumped.
YES! It’s actually mostly jewelry and accessories, not craft items.
I loved the posing in this outfit. I am saying the outfit is awesome but I loved your modeling skills.
Thanks! I hate looking at the camera so I’m trying to perfect the “looking at my shoes” pose.
I’m a big fan of neutral colors, so an all neutral color outfit gets a big thumbs up from me. This was a fantastic inspiration Monday, Lauren Conrad has a pretty easy to wear style, I’ve always enjoyed her looks. You take on this came out lovely, I think the brown boots dress it up quite a bit and it doesn’t look to casual at all but very put together!
Why thank you! Will we be seeing an interpretation of this from you in the future since it’s right up your alley?
love that gray scarf
i honestly could not believe i didn’t own a gray scarf
brett
I, apparently, own three gray scarves. I may have a scarf issue….
Here is someone I do not know who it is – Lauren Conrad.
I just gave my sexy healed brown boots to my sis (they were real leather). But I have fake leather black ones with heals.
I admit, I’m not sure how Lauren Conrad got famous, but she’s all over the place in the fashion world.
The longer I wear this outfit the more I like it. So thanks for pushing me out of my comfort zone!