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.

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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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Cardigan – The Limited (similar) | Top – The Limited (similar) | Pants – Ann Taylor (similar in black & white) (similar in navy) | Shoes – Sole Society (similar) |Necklace – JF&A Show (similar)

This week I’ve been feeling rather uninspired. Then I remembered I hadn’t worn these navy lace pants since November and knew I wanted to wear them this week! But then I couldn’t figure out what to wear with them. Purple cardigan? Okay. Lighter purple shirt? Okay. Oh! Purple bubble necklace! Got it!

Still, I think my husband had to take about 100 photos of this outfit to get two that I liked. Not sure if it was the outfit, my (lack of) posing skills, or the angle of where he was standing, but it just wasn’t happening for me.

So these are the two I liked the best. And even then I don’t love them. But, I do love the purple paired with the navy. Such a fun color combination! I’m also hoping to wear these pants a bit more this spring since I bought them right at the tail end of cropped pants season last year. What colors would you like to see with them?

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Cardigan – The Limited (similar) | Blouse – The Limited via Poshmark (similar) | Pants – The Limited (similar) | Shoes – Anne Klein via Marshall’s (similar) | Bracelet – Gorjana

Ever have one of those days when an outfit looks better in your head than it does when you put it on? Yep, that was today. I wanted to participate in today’s Pantone link-up with The Modern Austen and wear something linen colored but my outfit just wasn’t doing it for me. Original plan? This top, untucked, with a linen (or oatmeal, as I prefer to refer to it) colored boyfriend cardigan and the brown pants. But the untucked top and the long cardigan just weren’t doing it for me. So, I tucked in the top. Nope, that just looked weird. So I swapped out the cardigan for the navy one. Better, but not great.

As a last resort I buttoned up the cardigan leaving the tie on the neck of the blouse sticking out. But now I just look lumpy.  Sigh. Win some, lose some.  This will definitely not be one of my favorite outfits of the month.

Speaking of which, Kelsey suggested that I start doing recaps of my outfits each month and tell which ones are my favorite. Since I’m not in the office tomorrow I will be sharing that information with you! The best part, you get to vote on YOUR favorite outfit from April! So, if you’re stopping by from Work Your Wardrobe or the Pantone link-up, I hope you stick around and share your opinion.

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Still catching up from being in Phoenix for the first part of the week.  I left this:

And came home to this:

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Which is why for this week’s outfit photo you get office bathroom selfies! I wanted to participate in Bri’s Third Thursday Trend of florals but the only thing I own that has flowers on it is a scarf. This scarf, actually.

I originally had this on with gray dress pants but there was a button incident before I left for work and now those are in the repair pile.  Also, after my trip I had to say goodbye to my pink gingham shirt.

Turns out that this:

Leads to this:

RIP, pink gingham shirt. I will mourn you and then I will replace you. The question is, do I go with this one from J. Crew Factory or do I hunt for one on Poshmark?

At least the pink gingham shirt had one last hurrah. Not only did it get worn on a mechanical bull, it also got to pet a miniature horse!

Finally, many of you know I am a runner. I had many, many friends at the Boston Marathon on Monday and, as I wrote on my fitness blog, my heart broke on Monday. But on Tuesday I went for a run in the dessert and knew we would persevere.

Next week I will be back to the normal posting schedule. Enjoy your weekend!

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Blazer – Express (similar) | Tank – Banana Republic Outlet (similar) | White shirt – The Limited (similar) | Skirt – The Limited (similar) | Shoes – Gabriella Rocha via 6pm.com (similar) | Necklace – JF&A Show (similar)

Did you know that my very first You Pick Wednesday post was helping Jen figure out fun ways to wear her striped blazer? She’s gone on to create some fun outfits with hers so I thought I would give a nod to history for today’s Mutually Inspired Series post and showcase a way that she created to wear her striped blazer.

I kept the same silhouette with the pencil skirt and blazer and also stuck to the same color palate with gray and magenta. At first I was struggling a bit to figure out how I was going to recreate this outfit because while I have similarly colored tops I didn’t know how to make any of them work. But then it struck me: wear a tank top over a collared shirt! So, that’s what I did.

Yes, this is a tank-top that has almost gone to the donation pile a few times.  In this case, though, I’m glad I held into it because it was fun to give it new life as a vest!  Sure, I could have worn the tank top by itself but I thought that layering it over the white shirt gave it more visual interest and dressed it up a bit more just like Jen did by adding that little bit of white to her original outfit.

What do you think? Would you ever turn a tank top into a vest?

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Sweater – Forever 21 (similar in more sizes) | Shirt – The Limited (similar) | Skirt – J. Crew Factory (similar under $25) | Shoes – Bandolino (similar) | Necklace – JF&A Show (similar)

First things first: the outfit.  Inspired by ShopGirl DC and worn on one of our first bare legs days this year (apologies for the starkness of my gams!) I am in love with this outfit. I love the pop of pink. I love that it consists of my favorite color of the moment (navy), and I love that it gives me a way to wear this shirt that I’d never thought of before.

You know what you love about it? You can recreate it with the pieces linked above for under $100.  Yes, I’m serious. And even though the Target website says that polka dot skirt isn’t sold in stores, I know I saw it at my local Target recently.  So there.

Anyway, Lauren over at Lauren Runs to Tri tagged me for one of those Liebster Awards where you list 11 random things about you and then answer 11 questions.  You all seemed to enjoy learning some random facts about me last week so why not have a few more?

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I was on the dance team as a senior in high school and also graduated with a perfect GPA. I was an odd mix of cheerleader, outcast, and nerd.

2. My undergraduate honors thesis was on the differences between male and female serial killers. Yep.

3. I’m married to the guy I started dating the summer before my senior year of high school. We had to date long-distance for four years while I was away at college but we made it! Our 10 year wedding anniversary is in May.

4. I used to hate all pies made with fruit. Now I enjoy apple pie and some berry pies but blueberry, cherry or peach pie are still on the no list.

5. I will try most foods at least twice before I make a determination about whether or not I like them.

6. I have two tattoos.  The one on my foot that you’ve probably seen in outfit photos and one on my back above my left hip.

7. I would rather read a book than watch a movie.

8. I got my first email address in 1996. I had a dial-up modem and AOL.

9. There is a birthmark on my left leg in the shape of a paw print but it has significantly faded as I’ve gotten older.

10. I’m terrified of snakes.

11. I’ve never worked in retail.  Food service, yes, but never retail.

Lauren’s Questions

1.  What time did you go to bed last night?

11:30 PM. I usually try to be in bed by 11:00 but lately it’s been 11:30.

2. How do you feel about public speaking?

I don’t mind it at all.  I’m technically an introvert but one who loves public speaking. Seems contradictory, but it’s really not. I like being in control of when I talk and public speaking is one way to do that! Good thing I don’t mind it, too. Part of my job involves leading training courses for other staff members!

3. If you were invisible, where would you go?

Skinny dipping in an infinity pool overlooking some gorgeous view somewhere

4. What do you want to do for your next birthday?

My birthday is in January so I always have to think of indoor things to do. I had a really good time doing a wine and painting class for my birthday this year, though, so I’m actually thinking of making it an annual event!

5. Where would you like to live when you retire?

It would be great if I could have a place in Chicago and a place somewhere warmer.  Just so that when I get tired of cold I could escape for a week. Now that I live in an apartment building and don’t have to shovel, I don’t care about the snow but sometimes the cold and the gray just gets to me.

6. What’s your favorite strength move that is quick to do?

I hope straight-legged deadlifts count because those are my favorite.

7. What is your favorite pair of shoes?

Either my nude heels or my brown riding boots.

8. What type of art do you like best?

Not knowing enough about art to be able to describe it, I guess I’d have to say in terms of paintings or photography I like geometric designs, urban landscapes, and colors.

9. Sweet or salty?

Both?  Although I more often crave sweet than salty. And if I eat too much salt I DEFINITELY want something sweet afterward.

10. Who is the last person you talked with on the phone?

Um….does leaving a voicemail count? No? Then I guess it was Kim. On Sunday. No, wait, I made a hair appointment yesterday over the phone. Yes, seriously, I can go entire days without talking to someone on the phone even at work.

11. What is your mousepad like?

At work it’s a plain purple pad. At home it’s a random mouse pad I stole from my husband YEARS ago. It’s an underwater photo of a dolphin. Told you it was random.

I’m not going to tag anyone, but feel free to answer those questions above in the comments or on your own blog. Or just tell me something random about yourself!

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Blazer – Express (similar under $35) | Top – Gap (similar under $18) | Pants – The Limited (similar under $30) | Shoes – Gabriella Rocha via 6pm.com (similar under $40) | Necklace – JF&A Show (similar under $25)

Do you ever get an idea in your head and you can’t wait to implement it? That’s what happened with this gray and navy outfit.  I realized I hadn’t worn my striped blazer in awhile and got the idea to put it with my gray pants. So I created a Polyvore board to remind me to put the two together. The hardest part? Decided if I wanted to wear my navy crewneck sweater or my navy and white polka dot top.

Obviously I went with the polka dots. But you know, for someone who once despised navy I am continually surprised at how much of it I now have in my closet. Also, believe it or not, a few years ago I bought these pants to wear with one top. Now I want to wear them all the time (although looking at these pictures they need a date with the iron before I wear them again). Crazy how that happens.

Have you ever found yourself wearing a color you didn’t used to wear?

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Cardigan – The Limited | Shirt – The Limited (similar) | Skirt – The Limited (similar)| Necklace – Overstock.com (similar) | Shoes – Gabriella Rocha via 6pm.com (similar)

So, today is Valentine’s Day.  Are you celebrating it in any way?  My big plan for the day is to go to work, come home, go to the gym, and then make Italian Wedding Soup for dinner.  However, on Friday evening my husband and I are going to a trapeze class!

As you can probably tell, we’re not big into a romantic, mushy Valentine’s Day display over here.  I still like to wear a little something to acknowledge the holiday, though.  Last year I wore pink.  This year I decided on red.  But by pairing it with navy and gray it keeps it from screaming “I’m dressed up for the holiday!”

This could be a very blah outfit.  Just a cardigan, a pencil skirt, and a blouse.  But the pattern on the blouse amps it up a little bit.  Keep that mind when you’re shopping or getting dressed.  A little bit of pattern can go a long way.

You know what else goes a long way?  Wind.  It was SO WINDY when I was taking these photos.  My husband caught my frustration with the wind on camera.

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Recently Kelsey commented and asked:

Two years ago I hated navy.  I owned exactly one navy top and I wore it the same way every single time: with white and navy pinstriped shorts.  But then I was in Old Navy (pun not intended) and fell in love with a navy striped top.  Then I bought a navy and white polka dotted top.  And suddenly navy was invading my closet!  But Kelsey’s question is a good one.  What DO you wear with navy?

She informed me she was especially struggling with two tops from The Limited.

Merino V-Neck Cardigan            Button-Detail Boatneck Top

I took these two tops and made several outfits for Kelsey.  I tried to use as many items from The Limited as possible since I know that’s her favorite store.

Jacket | Pants | Necklace |  Shoes

Necklace | Plaid Shirt | Jeans | Boots | Bracelet

Shirt | Skirt | Earrings | Bracelet | Shoes | Tights

Scarf I Leggings | Boots | Tank

As you can see, I mostly stuck with using other neutrals.  Because, well, navy IS a neutral color.  Which means that is can go with just about any other neutral.  Including black!  Yes, I know, gasp.  The key is to make it look intentional so the navy and the black should be different enough that you can tell they are different.  Otherwise it looks like you got dressed in the dark.

Want to branch out and wear navy with a bit more color?  Here are some fun navy and color combinations:

And, yes, you can wear navy with jeans.  Just make sure like with black that the colors are different enough that it doesn’t look like a uniform.

Finally, because it’s Wednesday and that also mean’s it’s Marionberry’s Trend of the Month Style Challenge.  So I decided to incorporate Kelsey’s question about navy and this month’s stripes trend and show you how I wear them both together!

Striped shirt – Old Navy (similar) | Polka dot top – Gap (similar)| Pants – Target | Shoes – Bandolino | Necklace – J. Crew via Poshmark (similar)

I love the sheer stripes on this top since that allows them to take on the pattern or color of whatever you wear underneath.  Stripes are already so versatile and this top is even more so!

Now, go forth and wear your navy or your stripes!  And, remember, if you have style questions send ‘em to looplooks@gmail.com to have them answered in an upcoming You Pick Wednesday!

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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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