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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Worth it




Sweater: JCrew (last season, but there is a Factory version here that maybe you can find in stores?) | Necklace: Banana Republic (option) | Bag: Chanel (option) | Bracelet: Tasha (option) | Skirt: Express | Tights: Nordstrom layered over black opaque DKNY | Wedges: Tory Burch (optionoption in black)

The most time consuming part of blogging isn't picking out the outfits or taking photos or even writing the posts. What takes me the absolute longest is finding dupes for  the items I'm wearing that I either can't find online anymore or are past seasons. As I was trying to link to something similar for the pieces in this outfit, I realized that sometimes splurging is worth it. 

This sweater I fell in love with instantly. It's cashmere for one. It's color block for two. AND it has elbow patches? Shut up! But, of course, it was full price, at the start of last season, and nowhere near getting marked down. I hemmed and hawed about it for a little while, then decided to just bite the bullet and buy it. And honestly, it's probably my most favorite sweater I own. I was a little disheartened when JCrew made a Factory version of it, but seeing as though it's now sold out, I still have no regrets for paying full price back in the day. Especially since I've been enjoying it for almost 15 months now and I don't see this leaving my wardrobe anytime soon.

The wedges. I did a whole Shoesday post about them back in the day here if you want to see more detailed photos. You have no idea how much I agonized overnight about these shoes. About the size, about the price (even at the mark down price)… but do you ever get that feeling that you will just regret it if you don't buy something? After searching the web back then as well as tonight and finding nothing quite like them, I know I would have regretted passing on these. The suggestions I found were good dupes, but these are just perfect. And sometimes it's ok (as long as you can still pay your bills and feed yourself!) to pay for that perfect piece.

Today I'm linking up with Erin and Laura. Each Tuesday they host the Trend Spin linkup, and last week's feature trend was the statement necklace. My look from last week's Holiday Style Linkup was picked as one of their favorites, and I am just SO excited and flattered! Please be sure to visit their blogs to check it out and say hello! And join the linkup while you're at it!

Speaking of linkups - the Holiday Travel theme is now live as of yesterday! Feel free to join the party whether you have a holiday travel post to share or not! The more, the merrier!

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Linking up with ShannaLauren, Erin and Laura.

42 comments :

  1. Ooh la la...I love this outfit. I love the mix of pattern and fabric. You sure know how to pull off this fab look. I'm sooooo jealous you all received snow. Enjoy your day!

    ~Skye
    TheShopaholicSAHM

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    1. So very sweet - thank you so much! And really, no need to be jealous of snow! It gets old pretty pretty fast!

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  2. Ooooh, your nails look amazing...what color could that be? Haha! You did a fabulous job of styling the sequin mini skirt! And I know that exact feeling you had with the JCrew sweater from the initial "price is too high but I LOVE it" all the way to the, "now Factory has a version for 1/4 the price!" I hate that! But it's a great sweater so it was worth it. :)

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    1. When I saw this comment on my phone earlier, I was so confused because I didn't realize I had a shot of my nails! It's freaking cold which means I've been forgetting to take more detailed photos! But hey, thanks for noticing! A pretty fabulous someone told me about the color!
      And glad you can relate to my worth it story!

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  3. Your outfit is great and I totally agree - finding duplicates is the hardest part!!! Usually I purchase on clearance and the item is no longer available by the time I post an outfit!!!
    xo, Lee

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    1. Oh yeah, that's the worst! I mean, it's great for your wallet, but makes blogging that much more time consuming! And yet I still love love love to blog! :)

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  4. Love this! I have this sequin skirt but I never could figure out how to style it for winter. This is perfect! The gray tights and those amazing wedges really make the look.

    Katie
    Style Diary

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    1. I hope you winterize it soon! Would love to see what you come up with! Thank you so much!

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  5. Love this outfit!! I love the pop of orange in the sweater! It really looks great with the skirt! :)

    Erica
    www.casuallystyled.com

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    1. Thank you! I'm so glad this looked as good on me as it did in my head! It doesn't always work that way! :)

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  6. Love this pairing! Serious props for putting that skirt and sweater together-- it's totally ingenious!

    jenna @ sincerelyjennamarie

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    1. Ha! Thank you! I knew I wanted to wear the skirt, and I saw this sweater folded on the shelf. I thought it was solid grey, and I pulled it off the shelf to take a closer look. When I saw it was the color block sweater, I gasped with delight and crossed my fingers that it would pair well with the skirt. I was thrilled with the results! Thank you again for the very nice comment! Ingenious - I love that!

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  7. Hi There… Visiting from the linkup! Happy to find your blog, love your style!!!

    XO Barbie
    The Parlor Girl

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  8. wow! you look amazing! very cute outfit and i love your tights!

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    1. Thank you! The tights are a bit risqué for work without the opaque under layer, but I still love them!

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  9. that necklace, that skirt! love them both!!

    xo,
    Sandy
    Sandy a la Mode

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    1. Thank you Sandy! For some reason I have a tendency to reach for this necklace when I wear this sweater! I need to switch it up a bit! :)

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  10. Ohhh I have that skirt, I would have never thought of styling it like this, it looks great.

    Natalia
    http://leavingthecorneranddippingmytoes.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you! I'm glad this sweater worked out because I was really trying to style it with something other than solid black!

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  11. I have that sweater and also paid full price for it last year, but yes, it was so worth it. It looks great with white jeans too (if you haven't tried that option yet :-)) but I love how you styled it here. Great necklace!
    Tracy Its Mostly About Fashion

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    1. I will def have to try it with white jeans! That sounds awesome! I've paired it with wine colored skinnies and nude heels, which was surprisingly pretty perfect, too! Yay for being sweater twinsies!

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  12. I agree! Finding the links is really difficult for me! I feel like even though I utilize reward style, I still have a hard time finding the right items. Very time consuming! You look wonderful here, I'm in love with it all :)

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    1. Thank you so so much!
      I use Shopstyle, which definitely is way better than straight up googling, but yes, sometimes it still feels like a wild goose chase!

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  13. Oh my gosh, I LOVE that bag!! So pretty! And YES I agree. The hardest part is finding the items to link to!!
    www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com

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    1. Sigh, my bag. Yeah, speaking of things that are worth it! No regrets on that purchase either! :)
      And glad you can commiserate with my time consuming blog complaint. But it's worth it knowing I am enabling others to shop! Ha!

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  14. You know, I really need to get more skirts like yours! It is so nice and I love how it looks so effortlessly chic with tights. Love this look. And those wedges! LOVE! Happy Holidays xo

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    1. Yes, you sure do! Dresses/skirts/tights gets me through the monotony of the dreary winter! And its lower maintenance than most people would think!
      Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. I have the factory version of this and love it! Got it on black Friday :) So cozy and darling, I especially love the elbow patches!! And that skirt you're wearing with it is stunning!
    Visiting from the link-up!
    Jessi
    http://haircutandgeneralattitude.blogspot.com

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    1. Yes, the elbow patches are fab! I was THISCLOSE in ordering the Factory version in the maroon/tan color, but ended up not. I'm kind of regretting it now that they're sold out because this one is just so amazing!
      Thank you so much for the sweet note!

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  16. I have so had that exact feeling before, that if I don't buy this thing to wear right now--I'll regret it forever!! Okay, a little over-dramatic, but I can think of at least one dress right now that I didn't buy, never bought, and I'm sure does not exist because that was 6 years ago I saw it and decided to skip it. I still regret it!

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    1. Haha not dramatic! I can totally relate! I always feel like buyer's remorse fades almost immediately for me, but the regret of losing out on that *one* piece haunts you! I'm so glad I'm not the only one!

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  17. Wow, your sweater is so original :) I love your whole look <3
    http://crafty-zone.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you so very much! I just love this sweater!

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  18. Lovely! All the textures in this outfit are really interesting all mixed together. That colorblocked sweater is fantastic, and loving those sweater tights. Visiting via the Style Sessions linkup :)

    Jen @ Librarian for Life & Style

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    1. Thanks, Jen! I can't even describe how smitten I was when I realized this sweater would be great with the skirt! Now I can't wait to style it for the warmer months!

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  19. You are such a gorgeous lady! Love your whole outfit; your skirt is such a statement piece and your sweater looks absolutely divine. :)
    ~Callie
    www.creationsbycallie.com

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    1. Thank you so much, Callie! Sequins and cashmere are def two of my favorite things! Together, they are quite the duo!

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  20. I totally agree! Trying to find "similar" options can take a long time! I use rewardstyle or polyvore though to help!- J

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    1. I predominantly use ShopStyle, and I can't even imagine how difficult it would be without sites like those!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  21. Love this skirt, I remember trying it on at Express, but it just didn't look right on me. Now on you darling, - on you it looks fabulous! And congrats on being featured on another link up! Love seeing my blog buddy getting the attention she deserves! xoxo

    -http://chelseypatti.blogspot.com

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    1. Aww, boo, because I would have loved to be skirt twinsies with you!
      Thank you so so so much for the support! You're one of my favorite things I've discovered through blogging! <3

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