Loop Looks

Cardigan – Target (similar) | Shirt – The Limited (similar) |Pants – LOFT (similar) | Shoes – Lucky Brand via Marshall’s (similar for $12!) | Bracelet – Gorjana

Today I’m actually contributing over at Work Your Wardrobe with some hints about how to wear colored pants. Since I’m featuring my cobalt blue pants over there I thought I’d show you a few more looks here.

Outfit 1 | Outfit 2 | Outfit 3

Still not a fan of colored pants? What about colored skirts? All the same advice applies!

Have cobalt pants or a skirt in your closet and looking for some other outfit inspirations? Here are a few of my favorites that I will be recreating in the future!

1/2/3/4

And don’t forget! Any time you have a style question you can ask and I’ll feature it on You Pick Wednesday!

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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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Turtleneck – The Limited (similar)| Dress – The Limited (similar)| Tights -  Target (similar)| Boots – Cole Haan (similar)| Necklace – JF & A Show (similar)

You probably have a sleeveless dress in your closet, right?  Have you ever worn it in winter?  Sure, you could wear it over a button-down collared shirt but what about wearing it over a turtleneck?  I have no idea why it took me so long to pair these two items together, but now that I have I think I’ve opened up an entirely new area of my closet.  You mean I don’t have to buy long-sleeved dresses for the winter??

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean every single dress can be worn with something underneath.  It probably works better with more tailored dresses.  Although, admittedly, I haven’t tried this pairing with any other dresses in my closet.

Still, I’m excited to find new ways to wear my “summer” dresses in the colder months of the year.

P.S.  Do you need somewhere to store your jewelry?  Well, I’m giving away a jewelry holder over at Frills for Thrills!  I actually own this one and find it to be super versatile.

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion.

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Blouse – Macy’s (similar) | Pants – LOFT (similar) | Belt – Target | Booties – Liz Claiborne via DSW (similar) | Necklace – Macy’s (similar)

This outfit looks very spring-y to my eye what with the colored pants and the white top.  You’d never guess it was 20 degrees F outside.  And windy. And my poor husband was taking these photos and freezing his fingers off.  Ah, the sacrifices we make.

I suppose I could have made this colored pants look even more winter appropriate but after I saw the inspiration photo I knew I wanted to wear this blouse.

Lauren Conrad

Sure, Lauren’s blouse doesn’t have any black on it, but I knew that my blouse would have enough billowiness to drape the way I wanted it to.  To make this even more Chicago-winter appropriate I’d probably throw a black cardigan on over the top to help stay warm.

And aren’t her ankle boots adorable?  Now I’m inspired to wear these blue pants with my own tan ankle boots in the future.  See, multiple ideas from one outfit!  Score!

Would you wear Lauren Conrad’s outfit?  How would you interpret it with your own items?

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Blazer – old (similar) | Shirt – Old Navy (similar) | Pants – LOFT | Necklace – The Limited | Shoes – Sole Society

You already know I own red pants.  And green pants.  Now?  Now I own blue pants.  I got these for a steal from LOFT (they’re cheaper in the store than they are online, FYI).  Not only do they fit great, they are actually the right length to wear with flats without needing to be hemmed!  And since I’m only 5’4” on a good day, this is exciting for me.  PLUS!  They come in petite and tall.  And in lots of other colors.  Seriously.  These are amazing pants.  Especially when you pair them with a leopard top.

I sort of threw this outfit together knowing I wanted to wear the blue pants with the leopard top.  But other than that I didn’t know what to put on with it.  Enter the trusty tan blazer and my new nude flats.  I’d like to think these keep this outfit from looking too “old lady” but I’ll let you be the judge.

What do you think?  Would you wear blue pants? 

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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 – 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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Welcome to this week’s installment of You Pick Wednesday!  Kim contacted me with a really good question this week.  How do you take a brightly colored blazer that you have only ever worn casually and turn it into something office appropriate?

Here’s what I came up with:

       

Source

Navy shorts, striped top, blue cardigan?  How about a navy pencil skirt, a striped top, and a blue blazer? (Outfit 4)

3.  Search Pinterest for the color of your item.  Searching for “cobalt” got me the following:

Blue and turquoise?  Of course!  In this case we’re using it for color pairing inspiration since we’ll put the blue on top instead of on bottom (Outfit 2)

All of these outfits also treat the blazer like an accent piece.  Since it’s summer chances are good you won’t be wearing a blazer outside.  However, if you work in an office that is over air conditioned it’s the perfect item to throw on to keep warm and complete your outfit.  Roll up or push up the sleeves and you’ll look more summery. But even without the blazer the outfits still look good.

There you have it!  Ideas for making your blue blazer work appropriate and some tips on how to do it yourself in the future!

Now, what do YOU want to see for the next You Pick Wednesday?  Send me your ideas, questions and suggestions.

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Blazer – Forever 21

Dress – BCBG outlet

Shoes – Bandolino

Necklace – The Limited

Our warm weather has finally arrived (again) so I’m breaking out the dresses!  I actually wore this outfit last Thursday to the Dots Spring & Summer Style Party but since I spent most of that event trying on other clothes I feel that it didn’t really get a chance to shine.

Dresses are great because, as evidenced by this one, you can wear them to work AND you can wear them to fun events.  Don’t have a job that is conducive to wearing a dress?  You can always dress them down with casual footwear and a cardigan or denim jacket.  See? Versatile!

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