Loop Looks

Cardigan – The Limited (similar) | Dress – Marshall’s (similar & 20% off w/code DPFWE) | Belt – Target | Earrings – Stella & Dot via Poshmark | Shoes – Bandolino (similar) | Necklace – Overstock.com (similar)

Welcome one and all to another Monday morning! Are you looking forward to this week? How about this post? Today I’m going to share with you one of my favorite ways to this lace dress that I’ve come up with yet.

But first we have to talk about the fact that the weather in Chicago is really schizophrenic right now. Hence the fact that I’m back to wearing a coat. At least it’s my spring coat.

Which is from the Gap Outlet YEARS ago, in case you were wondering.

Anyway, I’ve worn my lace dress quite a few other times on the blog and even winterized it twice before (here and here…and for some reason we tend to end up in front of this red door when taking pictures of me in this dress). I didn’t LOVE those two iterations, though, but today’s I like.

Inspired by today’s photo at Two Birds I decided to put my navy cardigan over the lace dress so that I could stay warm without wearing my denim jacket all day.

Source

And because nothing classes up an outfit like leopard and pearls, I added them both. Overall, I like that the navy cardigan gives the illusion of slimming down the sides of the outfit and also gives it kind of a colorblock effect.

This inspiration photo, though, has me thinking about more casual ways to wear this lace dress this summer. Now, if I only I had places or reasons to wear casual dresses I’d be all set!

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Blazer – Macy’s (similar) | Shirt – Gap (similar) | Pants – Express (similar) | Shoes – Lucky Brand via Marshall’s (similar) | Necklace – JF&A Show (similar)

First, I need to get a shout-out to Katie for inspiring me to put together my camel blazer with my green pants. She wore it first and wore it well, I must say. My outfit is basically a blatant copy but, hey, that’s the sincerest form of flattery, right? Or is that just what we tell ourselves when we’re feeling uninspired? Anyway, I loved the color pairing so much that I wanted to wear it, too.

I also used my own trick of adding an ankle bracelet between the clasps of my necklace to make it longer. Such a great way to get more use out of a necklace. And, yes, I’m one again pairing leopard print with brightly colored pants. I don’t know why I love to combine the two, but it always looks great to my eye. Especially when paired with neutrals on top.

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As I mentioned on Friday, I’m in Phoenix this week for a conference for work. I’m both attending and presenting at the conference and let’s just say I’m mostly excited to go somewhere WARM and SUNNY! Chicago weather is really getting me down. It snowed on Saturday, people. Snowed. Anyway, Phoenix’s 80 degree weather will be a treat but packing for it was a bit challenging.

Sunday

For my travel day I decided on a striped tank top under a sheer white three-quarter length sleeve top with jeans, my black blazer, and my leopard flats. I plan to wear the blazer throughout the week and this way it doesn’t get all wrinkled in my suitcase. Plus, you should really wear your bulkiest item when traveling and in this case that’s my blazer. When I get to Phoenix I can ditch the blazer and the sheer top if necessary and revel in the fact that it’s warm enough to wear a tank top!

Monday

For Tuesday I’m busting out my green cropped pants, a simple striped t-shirt, the black blazer again, and the leopard flats. This is my day to attend conference sessions and the dress code at this conference ranges from jeans to suits so I figured I could get away with some fun colors and pattern mixing.  The blazer is because I’m sure the conference rooms will be freezing but the short sleeves are for outside.

Tuesday

Tuesday we give our presentation so I dressed it up with my black and white polka dot sheath dress and my black blazer and open-toed black patent heels. And some jewelry, of course.

Tuesday Night

Tuesday night is the customer/attendee appreciation party which I’ve been told is a pretty crazy event. This year it’s at a Western-themed locale so I decided to bust out the gingham and pair it with white jeans and a white tank top. And nude heels because I don’t own cowboy boots.

Wednesday

On Wednesday we fly back to Chicago.  And since it will probably be in the 40s when we land, I’m adding a scarf to my black, white and leopard outfit.  Plus, this is classy enough for a casual conference attendee look if I choose to attend any last day sessions.

Other items I packed but didn’t photograph? A black cardigan, white shorts, a swimsuit and a swimsuit cover-up, one running outfit, running shoes, some other jewelry,  and, of course, pajamas and underwear. Basically, everything except the dress can be mixed and matched with the other items I brought, too, so if I need to make a quick switcheroo for any reason, it should be simple enough.

And if it wasn’t for that pesky liquids restriction I could have gotten away with just a carry-on! Sadly, I couldn’t find a hair mousse I liked that came in a FAA-approved size.

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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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Turtleneck – The Limited (similar) | Lace dress as a skirt – Marshall’s (similar) | Boots – Cole Haan (similar) | Belt – Target | Necklace – Groopdealz (similar) | Earrings – Bauble Bar (similar)

Last week I wore this lace dress as a skirt for the first time and wasn’t too sure how I felt about that outfit. But I didn’t give up!  No! Lace is very on-trend right now (I even saw an adorable eyelet lace dress at Old Navy yesterday) and I really wanted this sleeveless dress to work for colder weather. So, taking your advice from last week to add some black on top to balance out the black on bottom and using this and this as inspiration, I topped my lace dress with my black turtleneck, my leopard belt, and my black mini-bubble necklace.

Yes,  I know, it’s technically spring.  But the weather in Chicago didn’t get the memo and it’s still freaking cold here.  So a turtleneck is totally appropriate.

Although, to be honest, I’m not actually at work today!  But if I was, this is what I’d be wearing.  So what am I doing instead? I’m on my way to Cleveland, Ohio to visit my best friend from college! I’m sure much hijinks will ensue.  Well, at least as many hijinks as you can get up to when you’re in your mid-30s and one of you has a kid.

No, I don’t know who Joe is.

Linking up with Marionberry Style| Texas Lovebirds | Work Clothes, I Suppose | Mix & Match Fashion

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Blouse – Old Navy (similar) | Cardigan – The Limited (similar) | Pants – The Limited (similar) | Shoes – Anne Klein (similar) | Bracelet – Joe Fresh (similar) | Necklace – Groopdealz (similar)

I admit that I purchased this leopard print top from Old Navy last year with very little idea of what I was going to wear it with.  Turns out that leopard is so versatile that I’ve worn it with white, brown, black, pink, green, and purple just to name a few. And just sitting here writing this post I came up with a few more items in my closet that I want to pair it with.  Crazy, huh?

I’ve had people ask me if it’s okay to wear leopard print to the office. Yes, it is. If your office is more conservative I would stick to using leopard as a layering piece and pair it with neutrals like I did here with the burgundy and brown. However, if your office is a little more laid back then you could put it with brighter colors like red or bright pink or make it the focal point of your outfit.

Leopard is definitely one of my favorite patterns so it’s no wonder it’s a go-to pattern in my closet when I feel as though an outfit needs a bit of a pick-me-up.

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion

Also, because I wanted to link up with Trusty Chucks and Texas Lovebirds here’s an inspiration photo for you.

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Cardigan – The Limited (similar on sale!) | Shirt – Gap (similar) | Pants – The Limited (similar 40% off with code HOTPERK) | Belt – Target | Necklace – JF & A Show (similar) | Shoes – Karen Scott via Macy’s (similar) | Round earrings – Stitch Fix | Star earrings – gift

Apparently there was some concern among my faithful readers when my post didn’t go up this morning that I might have gone to work naked.  I promise you, that did not happen (although now I’m going to get even MORE weird searches, I bet).

Truthfully, my crazy weekend just meant that I didn’t get a chance to take pictures ahead of time and am now doing it on the fly.  And today I had an early meeting in a Chicago suburb so I had to snap pictures and write this post afterward.  On the plus side, I was able to get in the pictures before the snow started coming down.

Also, I know that so many people in the style blog world are tired of the bubble necklace but I’m here to say that people who don’t read style blogs LOVE this thing!  Seriously, a woman at my meeting today gushed over how cute she thought it was.  I love this grayish purple colored one because it almost seems to take on the color of whatever it’s next to.  Plus, it’s just such a huge statement that it adds personality to whatever you’re wearing.

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Cardigan – Lucky Brand (similar)| Shirt – The Limited | Skirt – The Limited (similar)| Necklace – The Limited (similar) (similar)| Shoes – Tahari via TJ Maxx (similar)

Remember how I mentioned I plan out my outfits for weeks in advance?  Well, sometimes you put on the outfit you planned and it just isn’t doing it for you.  This is one of those times.  I tried this on with a black pencil skirt, black pants, and this purple skirt and didn’t love any of them.  But in the end I decided to go with the purple skirt since it was the least “expected” option.

There’s a lot going on with this outfit.  The shirt is lace.  The cardigan is printed.  The skirt is a bold color.  I’m thinking now that I see this outfit put together that it would look better with a bare leg and a nude pump.  The black tights are too heavy for the top of the outfit leading it to be unbalance.  Otherwise, though, I think I like the mixture of textures, patterns and colors.  Just not with the black on bottom.

What do you think?

And while we’re on the subject of your thoughts, have you filled out the Loop Looks First Birthday Reader Survey yet?

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Shirt – LOFT (similar) | Vest – Express via Poshmark (similar)| Pants – The Limited (similar) | Shoes – Karen Scott via Macy’s (similar) | Earrings – The Limited | Belt – Target

Faux fur vests were everywhere earlier this fall and winter.  And I totally see why.  They keep you warm without causing you to overheat.  Similar to the concept of wearing a wind-blocking vest when running in the winter.  Keeps your core warm!  I’ve worn my faux fur vest to work at least one other time and I also wore a belt with it then.  The belt helps define your waist so you don’t get swallowed up by the vest.

I actually saved an inspiration photo for this outfit almost 3 months ago.

Original Source

I loved the fur and the animal print with the stripes and the neutral pants.  Apparently this is Joanna Hillman, the senior fashion market editor for Harpers Bazaar and she is known to be quite fashionable.  The fact that I was easily able to recreate her outfit tells me that it can’t be too difficult to emulate looks that you love.  In fact, this outfit may be one of my current favorites!

Of course, it helps that my husband took some rocking pictures!

Yes, strangely, the parking garage of our building has the best indoor lighting.  Who knew?

Anyway, faux fur.  Love it?  Hate it?

Linking up with Texas Love Birds

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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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