Loop Looks

Dress – Stitch Fix (similar)| Camisole – The Limited (similar) | Necklace – JF&A Show (similar) | Belt – The Limited (similar) Booties – Old Navy via Threadflip (similar)| Tights – Target (similar)

Welcome to another Monday morning! How was your weekend? Did you have Friday off or was it just like any other week? I ran 22 miles (yay marathon training), hung out with friends, and tried my hand at making a glass paperweight.

And now it’s Monday and back to work. I’m glad I have Two Birds and their Inspiration Monday series to help me pick out something to wear. I admit, when I first saw this photo I thought, “Yeah, right.”  Turns out, though, it was just the thing I needed to remind me to wear this dress.

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However, I still can’t love the look of booties with bare legs on myself. So I have to give you the photo of what I prefer.

Which look do you prefer?  Heels or booties?

Also, I want to give you a head’s up on a fun series I’ll be doing next week with Jen from Librarian for Life and Style.

We’re going to be sharing our own takes on outfits inspired by one another! This should be a great way to see how you too could use someone else’s style to remix your wardrobe!  Be sure to follow both of us so you can see all the outfits.

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Shirt – The Limited (similar) | Scarf – JF&A Show (similar) | Jeans – Express | Belt – Target | Boots – Macy’s (similar)

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m off work for a few days. So today you get a weekend casual outfit from me instead of a regular casual Friday outfit! Yes, yes, I know I’m wearing boots with a heel, but flat boots like the similar ones I linked above or even boat shoes in warmer weather would also work with this outfit.  The key here is that I kept the visual interest with the striped shirt and the patterned scarf.

Next week I’m participating in Whitney’s and Franziska’s 5 Days, 5 Ways Link-Up so get ready to see how I’ve remixed pieces in my wardrobe into many different outfits.

Until then, I’m off to enjoy my weekend.  I hope you enjoy yours!  See you Monday!

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Blazer – ?? (similar) | Shirt – Old Navy (similar) | Belt – The Limited (similar) | Pants – The Limited (similar) | Shoes – Ann Klein (similar)

Pairing the polka dot chambray shirt with these plaid pants has been an outfit on my mind for a few months.  I loved the idea of mixing the two patterns but breaking it up by wearing the tan blazer over the top.  A great way to do pattern mixing is to do two subtle prints but add in some solids so you don’t look too crazy.

I even mentioned wanting to wear this outfit the last time I paired these plaid pants with a plain chambray shirt.  Yes, I own two chambray shirts.  No, I don’t think that’s too many.   Chambray is just so versatile.  Wear it with black jeans and boots and a scarf and you have a casual weekend outfit.  Pair it with dress pants and a blazer and you’re ready to attend a monthly meeting of your professional organization (at least, that’s what I’m doing today.  Your mileage may vary).

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Blouse – J. Crew Outlet (similar)| Necklace – JF&A Trade Show (similar) | Belt – Target | Jeans – The Limited (similar)| Shoes – Anne Klein

Ever notice how guys have it so easy on casual Friday at the office?  Jeans and a nice button up shirt and they’re good to go!  I decided to borrow from the boys and do the same.  Jeans and a button up shirt.  Add some fun accessories to glam it up a bit and I’m ready to take on my casual Friday nemesis in style.

This top has been in my closet for years and years.  Every now and then I think about getting rid of it but then I decide not to.  Wearing it tucked into jeans is new for me but I think I like it!

Thanks again to Molly for playing photographer for me this week!  Not only did I get to hang out with her but she also showed me a new part of Chicago that I’d never been to.  If you live in Chicago and haven’t wandered down Prairie Avenue or visited the oldest house in Chicago I suggest you do.

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Blouse – Alfani via Macy’s | Skirt – Banana Republic | Belt – The Limited | Shoes – Via Spiga via Loehman’s | Necklace – Overstock.com | Jacket – Wilson’s Leather

My new camera arrived yesterday afternoon.  And you know what else arrived with it?  A tripod!!  So now I can take pictures in all kinds of new and exciting places.  Provided I don’t care if people look at me funny.

I’m still using a Canon point-and-shoot but I think it takes pretty decent pictures.  Sure, it doesn’t have all the fancy options and I can’t make the background all blurry, but it works.  And it’s easy to use.

Changing subjects, I fell in love with this top at Fashion’s Night Out and my mom got it for me as a gift a few weeks ago.  I’m really loving the rolled tab sleeve chiffon-esque blouses this year.  This one in particular is so lovely in it’s simplicity that I’m pretty sure I’ll be wearing it a lot.

And, yes, I had to wear a jacket today.  Welcome to fall!

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Blouse – Gap | Pants – The Limited | Belt – The Limited | Necklace – Jeans and a Cute Top Boutique | Shoes – Bandolino via Macy’s

It’s Inspiration Monday from Two Birds!    Today’s inspiration?

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White blouse?  Check.

Belt?  Check.

Printed bottom in a brown pallet?  Check.

Beige shoes?  Check.

Puppy?  Sadly, no check.

I recently purchased a brownish-red pencil skirt but I wasn’t in a skirt mood today.  So, I pulled out these plaid pants instead.  I’ve actually never worn them with anything other than brown or, once upon a time, an off-white turtleneck.  They were strictly winter pants.  Even though they are lightweight.

Which just goes to show how an inspiration photo can make you rethink the things you already have in your closet.

How would you interpret this photo?

P.S.  I need some suggestions for You Pick Wednesday.  What do you want to see?

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Don’t forget about the BISTM giveaway!  The tote bags are totally worth it!

Blouse – Gap | Pants – Gap | Shoes – Lucky Brand via Marshall’s | Necklace – Accessories Palace in NYC | Belt – came with a top from The Limited | Jacket – c/o Holly Haley, independent CAbi consultant

Holly Haley, a friend of mine from way back, recently became a CAbi consultant.  She generously sent me this jacket because she thought I could pull off the unique color and style.

I admit, when I pulled a short-sleeved trench coat out of the box I was a bit stymied.  Perhaps a short-sleeved trench works in California (where Holly lives) but I didn’t know about Chicago.  But then I realized that for those few days we have when it’s 55 degrees in the morning and 80 by the time you leave the office a short sleeved trench is the perfect accessory.

And since today was one of those days, I took my inspiration from What I Wore and threw it on over a simple black and white outfit.

CAbi has some really cute options and their website even allows you to play virtual dress up!  Here are some of my favorite outfits I put together.

If you’re interested in shopping the CAbi catalog, contact Holly and she’ll get you set up!  Or, if enough Chicago-area people are interested I’m sure we could convince her to come out and do our own shopping party.

Until then, I’ll be figuring out new ways to wear my California-inspired jacket.

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Blouse – Macy’s | Dress (as a skirt) – Max Studio via Nordstrom Rack | Belt – Target | Necklace – The Limited | Shoes – SE Boutique via DSW

Today is CopyCat Friday!

I was torn as to what to wear so I turned to Facebook for help deciding.  Thanks to those of you who weighed in!  The consensus was that I should go for a maxi skirt look.

This outfit from Lilly’s Style turned out to be perfect.  One of the reasons was that her skirt?  Exact same style and brand as my dress!  Now that’s a copy cat idea if I ever saw one.

I believe this is my first attempt at actually wearing a dress as a skirt.  How do you think it turned out?

And don’t forget about the jewelry giveaway!  You still have some great chances to win!

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Tank – Ann Taylor | Cardigan – Nordstrom Rack | Pants – The Limited | Belt – Old Navy | Shoes – Tahari via TJ Maxx | Necklace – New York & Co

Sometimes you just have to go with the old standby – black.  It always looks professional, you can dress it up or down and it goes with just about anything.  In fact, when I got married I asked my bridesmaids to wear a black dress.  They got to choose whatever they wanted.  I knew that black dresses accentuated with lavender shawls (my gift to them) would look incredibly classy.

So when I don’t know what to wear I pull out my black pants and pair them with a fun top.

Black may not be the trendiest thing on the planet, but it’s always in style.

But what about those trendier items?  Do you want to see what they look like in the real world?  Or maybe you just want to see how to jazz up a pair of black pants in other ways. Well, now’s your chance!

You Pick Wednesday starts tomorrow!  So, send your picks to looplooks@gmail.com to get in on the fun!

• See a photo of an outfit online that you love and want to know how to make it happen in real life?  Send the photo to looplooks@gmail.com and I’ll show you how!
• Have something in your closet that you’re not sure how to style?  Send a pic or a link to a similar item to looplooks@gmail.com and I’ll take on the challenge.
• Did I wear something that you want to see again?  Let me know and I’ll make it reappear!

Basically, Wednesdays are YOUR day to tell me what you want to see!

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Shirt – The Limited | Skirt – New York & Co | Belt – The Limited | Shoes – Nine West

Welcome to the first day of a whole week of Open to Interpretation!

Erica, Kayla, and Grace are hosting a whole week of Open to Interpretation challenges.  Not sure what this is?  Well last week they posted photos that they thought would make good inspiration photos.  The idea isn’t to copy the look exactly but to let it inspire you to put together an outfit you might not have otherwise thought of.

Monday’s OTI pic?

I have been craving a pink skirt and finally found the perfect one at New York and Company on Friday.  And since I love to wear my new items ASAP, this was the perfect opportunity to put it on.  A skirt is much more work appropriate than shorts!

I took the bright bottoms and paired them with the white button down that has a little sass in the form of the silver threads.  Boat shoes instead of heels give a nod to the casual footwear in the inspiration photo.  An animal print belt gives the look a bit more dimension than just a bottom and a top (and goes with my Three Things rule).  No hat, though.  I look ridiculous in hats.

What do you think?  <b>How would you have interpreted this look?</b>

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