Loop Looks

Blazer – Forever 21 (similar)| Sweater – Old Navy  (similar) | Jeans – Express via Poshmark | Scarf – Gift (similar) | Necklace – NY&Co (similar) | Shoes – Eric Michael (similar under $30)

So, there was a sort-of unintentional theme to my outfits this week.  Can you guess what it was?  Here’s a different picture of my outfit that might help.

Still stuck? What if I told you that this week’s Friday’s Fancies theme is…..

Polka dots!

Yes, I seriously wore something with polka dots four out of five days this week. How did that happen?  Well, I knew that Friday I wanted to wear polka dots. And Monday was my polka dot dress because it fit the Inspiration Monday outfit so well.  After that I thought, hey, why not wear something polka dotted every day this week (minus Wednesday when I had already sent in my contribution for Work Your Wardrobe). So, I did. Turns out that I went from hardly owning anything polka dotted to owning enough items that I could wear polka dots every day for a week. Seriously. This isn’t even everything I own! There’s still a shirt and a scarf and another dress that I didn’t wear. Crazy, huh?

Which was your favorite polka dot outfit this week? The dress? The blue suit? The pencil skirt? Or today’s casual Friday look?

And don’t forget, next week I’m pairing up with Jen from Librarian for Life & Style for our Mutually Inspired Series!  Be sure to follow both of us to see how two different woman inspire one another.  Jen’s also giving away a $25 Old Navy gift card so be sure to get entered before Monday.

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Blazer – Forever 21 (similar) | Pants – LOFT (similar) | Shirt – Gap (similar) | Necklace – NY&Co (similar) | Shoes – Eric Michael 

In the horrible lighting in my closet these two blue pieces looked similar enough to pass as a crazy colored suit.  In actual sunlight, though, they are just a bit off. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that.  Maybe it’s cool because then it looks less like I put on a blue suit? Or maybe it’s cool because everything is in the same color family and it’s just a great monochromatic look. Yeah, I’m going with that one.

Also, it was FINALLY nice enough to go take pictures down by Lake Michigan. I’m lucky in that my office is less than half a mile from the lakefront so on nice days it’s lovely to go for a lunch time run along the water or just sit nearby. Sometimes you have friends who will join you.

Hello there, Goose Friend!

So, what do you think? Too much blue?  Not enough blue? I actually have another outfit in mind for these two blue pieces with a different top that I just got via Poshmark so hopefully we decided the blazer and pants look okay together.

Finally, can I ask you another favor? Can you go to the BlogTrends website and vote for me to be chosen as their featured blogger for next week? All you have to do is click “Like” on my entry, which is #32 in the list. Simple!

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Blazer – Bergner’s (similar) | Shirt  – Old Navy (similar) | Jeans – The Limited (similar) | Necklace – The Limited (similar) | Shoes – Anne Klein (similar)

As I’ve mentioned before, casual Friday is my nemesis. I want to wear jeans but I still want to look professional.  So what do I do? I default to a blazer! Seriously, I bet if you look through most of my posts on Fridays you’d find that I’m wearing some version of this. So, in an attempt to spice up today’s 5 Days, 5 Ways post, I’m going to give you 5 random facts about me (thanks to Valerie)  to go along with five of my other blazers.  Let’s get started.

Random Fact #1 – I am horribly allergic to cats but didn’t develop the allergy until I was in high school. Now, cats make me sneeze and my eyes itch, but they also cause my lungs to feel tight and, in severe cases, my throat to close up. I have been known to steal hits off my husband’s asthma inhaler when visiting people who have cats. I am, however, not allergic to dogs which is good because I LOVE dogs.

Random Fact #2 – The instant my fingernails grow more than a centimeter past the tip of my fingers I unconsciously bite them off. Yes, I’m a nail-biter and a cuticle-gnawer. I have tried to stop many times, even getting acrylic nails to see if that helped. Nope. I am the only person I know who chewed off her acrylic nails.

Random Fact #3 – I have run 3 marathons (my fourth will be at the end of April), twelve half-marathons, and I’ve lost count of how many other races of other distances I’ve done. Although if I wanted to I could count them up because I scrapbook all of my races. But that’s the only thing I scrapbook. And I’m over a year behind…

Random Fact #4 -  I don’t drink coffee or caffeinated soda and gave it up my freshman year of college. I will drink caffeinated tea but only one cup a day.  When I was in college I worked at the campus police station (random bonus fact!) and the officers and dispatchers couldn’t believe I gave up caffeine as a college student.

Random Fact #5 – I have not seen a lot of tv shows since I don’t watch much tv  but my brain is a sponge and soaks up random pop culture references. So even though I haven’t seen most of the shows, I can usually fake it in a conversation.  We also don’t currently watch tv other than Netflix (and Mythbusters, gotta watch Mythbusters) so I’m always several seasons, if not several years, behind. I prefer police procedurals (NCIS, Bones) and dramas about the supernatural (X-Files, Supernatural, Medium, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). I dislike sitcoms and reality tv. And when a show goes on hiatus for the summer (or longer)? I apt to forget about it entirely!

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Blazer – Forever 21 (similar) | Tank – The Limited (similar) | Skirt – Banana Republic Outlet | Belt – Target | Necklace – NY & Co (similar) | Tights – Target | Shoes – Via Spiga via Loehmann’s (similar)

Some days you just want to wear something fun, am I right?  And what could be more fun than pairing bright blue with a touch of leopard?  I actually have several outfits pinned on my Pinterest board that have cobalt and leopard but it just occurred to me to wear my cobalt blazer with my leopard belt.  Crazy, huh?

Anyway, the black top and bottom basically form  a blank canvas to show off the accessories and the blazer.  And I thought about wearing my leopard heels but, in the end, decided to go with the plain black to draw the attention up instead of down.

Don’t have a reason or don’t want to wear a black skirt?  Try this outfit with black jeans or black dress pants.  Don’t have a blue blazer?  What about a blue sweater or cardigan?  Make it your own with what you have!

P.S.  Did you find yourself lusting after a bubble necklace after yesterday’s Gift Guide post?  I’m actually giving one away over at Frills for Thrills!  There are some other great items up for grabs, too.

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Blazer – Forever 21 (similar)| Shirt – Old Navy | Necklace –NY & Co (similar)| Pants – Ann Taylor | Shoes – Anne Klein

Last night I stayed up way too late reading superstorm Sandy updates on Twitter and through various websites.  I was also following the news about the Chicago lakefront and the 60 MPH winds we’re supposed to get today.  The radio even specifically told women not to wear dresses or skirts today!  I think they were joking but I totally understand why.  It’s windy out there!

(Side note: Chicago is not called the Windy City solely because of the wind.)

As a result of staying up too late with my jaw hanging open I grabbed my trusty Pinterest inspiration board this morning for an outfit idea.  This one grabbed my attention:

Turns out there’s a reason I like this look.  I’ve worn it before!  I try not to duplicate outfits on the blog but I knew it was bound to happen.  So, here you get a taste of the same look with a few minor changes.  Different pants, shoes, shirt, and accessories.

Also, lest you think it’s nice enough outside to commute to work sans jacket, here’s what I actually wore on my windy walk to the train.

Just imagine the jacket buttoned up and some black gloves on my hands and you’re got the picture.

I’m thankful that today all I have to deal with is wind.  My thoughts go out to everyone in NYC, New Jersey, and other areas along the East Coast.

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Blazer – Express (similar) | Blouse- Gap | Pants – Express | Necklace – JF&A Trade Show | Shoes – Bandolino via Macy’s

Green and navy may seem like more of a springtime combination but there was something about this outfit that screamed that it just needed to be worn today.  Maybe it was the slightly warmer temps.  Maybe it was that the sun was shining.  Maybe it was that I’m not quite ready to give up on wearing my cropped pants.  Whatever it was, this is what called out to me so I wore it.

Sometimes you just have to buck the expected color combinations for the season and wear what you love.

Also, I added some links to similar or to the exact products of some of the items I’m wearing.  Do you like having the links there?

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Jacket – Wilsons Leather | Blazer – Gibson via Nordstrom Rack | Scarf – H&M via Poshmark | Dress – The Limited | Boots – Cole Haan

Do you have a black dress in your closet?  One that can be dressed up or down?  If not, I highly recommend getting one.  I don’t really like to make lists of items that you HAVE to have in your closet because everyone’s lifestyle and favorite looks are different.  But a versatile black dress?  It’s pretty hard to find a woman who couldn’t benefit from having one.

Take this one for example.  I’ve also worn it two other ways since I started this blog.   Anything you can wear in both June and October just by switching up the accessories is a closet workhorse for sure.

Do you have a versatile black dress?  Would you want to own one?

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Blazer – Forever 21 | Sweater – Old Navy | Pants – Gap | Booties – Liz Claiborne via DSW

It’s Monday and you know what that means!  Another Inspiration Monday from Two Birds Boutique!

The outfit they chose for today’s inspiration is absolutely adorable.  I wish I could have worn an exact copy of it to work.

Rachel Bilson

Sadly, jeans on Mondays are frowned upon so I had to wear something else.  Also, I don’t have an navy blazer.  Yet.

So, I took my cues from the individual pieces of the outfit. A gray sweater with a design on it.  A blazer in the blue family.  And, yes, I have on ankle boots although because they blend into my pants it’s difficult to tell.

However, I love Rachel’s look so much that it’s definitely going to stay on my Outfit Inspiration board for a future casual outfit look this fall and winter.

Would you wear Rachel’s outfit?  How would you interpret it?

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Blazer – Bergner’s | Sweater – Express | Pants – Express | Necklace – J. Crew via Poshmark | Shoes – Bandolino via Macy’s

It’s another Inspiration Monday from Two Birds Boutique!  And what, exactly, was today’s inspiration?

Olivia Palermo

But here’s the thing:  I don’t own anything yellow. Not one single thing. The closest I can get is this camel colored blazer.  So, I went with it.  I suppose it’s a more muted or toned down approach to Olivia’s look.

A blazer and a sweater are a great way to transition your cropped pants from spring to fall, too.   It’s pretty chilly in Chicago right now but I was nice and toasty in this outfit.

How would you interpret this look?

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Blazer – The Limited | Dress – Classiques Entier via Nordstrom Rack | Belt – The Limited | Shoes – Bandolino via Macy’s | Earrings – JF&A Show

The roof of my building (where I take my pictures) was cold and windy this morning!  Just a taste of what I have to look forward to this fall and winter, I suspect.

I originally thought about wearing my heeled , knee-high boots today but a part of me isn’t quite ready to admit it’s time for boots.  Boots, though, would give this sheath dress and blazer a slightly different look than with heels.

Speaking of which, this is the third way I’ve worn this dress this year.  Here are the other two:

So I think I’ll be trying it with boots later this fall.  Because there’s a thrill in being able to wear one piece lots of different ways.

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