Random Roundup

Holy crap, guys. I have 12 random roundup outfits to share with you. They appear to be multiplying by the second, so let's just get right to it, shall we? You know the drill - I'm only linking to items that are still available.

Scarf: Express | Tunic: LOFT | Leggings: Express | Booties: Hinge

Scarf season is in full effect! Anything + a scarf = an outfit. This tunic was a Columbus Day sale purchase, and what can be better than stripes AND pockets! The scarf is one of my all time favorites, and really finishes off every outfit perfectly.

Scarf: Francesca's | Top: LOFT | Bottoms: Forever 21 | Boots: Naturalizer

Seriously, I wasn't lying about scarf season. I'm *pretty* sure I got this scarf at Francesca's. I've had it for almost 4 years now, and it, too, is one of my all time faves. And here are my new favorite Naturalizer boots again! I just can't get enough of them already.

Scarf: Express | Trench: Ann Taylor | Dress: Bailey 44 | Booties: Hinge

This is the same dress and bootie outfit I wore in Montreal here. But, it wasn't quite cold enough for a blanket scarf this day. I've realized that this trench really is the perfect transitional piece! It was completely temperature appropriate, and the sleeves of the dress plus the scarf kept me comfortable it the cooler, but not cold, weather.

Top: J Crew Factory | Bottoms: Express | Booties: Nine West

This is what I should call the trilogy top because I have it in 3 colors. You can see the other two here and here. And then, you can see the last time I wore this exact top here. I really love that you can throw it on and not have to wear any other jewelry if you don't want to. I always feel a bit naked though when I'm not wearing earrings and my hair is up. Am I the only one?

Sweater: Express | Skirt: Express | Boots: Naturalizer

This was the weekend I was horribly sick. I have never had such a bad "cold" in my life, if that's really what it was. All I did was sleep, and I couldn't breathe - it was awful. I actually had to sleep in the recliner the whole time because I couldn't breathe laying on my back. But the day I wore this, the husband needed me to leave the house, so I was all about comfort and soft things. This skirt will be in my wardrobe for quite some time! It's the best!

Necklace: Stella and Dot | Blazer: Halogen | Tank: Express | Bracelet: Forever 21 | Jeans: Express | Heels: Sam Edelman

I stole this white blazer outfit straight from Gina's horoscope post here. And I'm not even a Scorpio! I always have trouble coming up with ideas to wear this blazer, so any time I see a good one, I jump on it right away! The last time you saw this blazer was over the summer here. One of my favorite summer looks!

Necklace: Premiere Designs | Dress: Gap | Jacket: Express | Boots: Naturalizer

Ah, the sweater dress! I just love me a good sweater dress, and I found this a couple seasons ago at the Gap outlet. Apparently I love wearing this dress with these exact boots because you can see this combo from over TWO YEARS ago here. Holy crap that's a long time to be taking outfit selfies!

Scarf: Kate Spade | Vest: J Crew Factory | Top: J Crew Factory | Jeans: Express | Booties: Sam Edelman

I seriously can't believe how much I love this vest. I would never ever have imagined I would get as much use out of it as I have. And this scarf - this scarf was my subject in my scarf tying video here. This time though, I looped the scarf around my neck twice, instead of just once, which is why it's tighter and less loosey goosey than in my older post. I think I prefer it this way better!

Jacket: Express (other colors here) | Tee: Cardinals store | Skirt: Express | Boots: Naturalizer

Ugh. This outfit just makes me sad, but not because I don't like it. I won't go into too many details, but long story short, the Cardinals lost their right fielder, Oscar Taveras, to a car accident in the Dominican Republic.  His girlfriend also died in the accident - it was during a torrential downpour when it happened. This guy was SO young and at the start of his career. The team was basically built around him, knowing his potential and capabilities. As much time as I invest in watching this team, it was pretty sad for me, and also touching to watch not only the team and its fans, but the entire MLB community, show compassion and respect for this lost player. There was a bit of a rally on Twitter to wear red the day following his passing, so this was my homage.

Jacket: Pulse | Top: LOFT | Scarf: H&M | Jeans: Express | Booties: Hinge

This scarf will always be my forever scarf. It's just such a good one, that no matter how many other blanket scarves I may fall in love with over the next season, this one is just irreplaceable! I try really hard not to wear it every. Single. Day. This is the outfit that I was experimenting with when I posted my outfit flat lay on Instagram here.

Scarf: J Crew Factory | Jacket: Express | Dress: Express | Boots: Vince Camuto

Speaking of staples - here's another one of my many striped dresses from Express. I always tend to pair a red patterned scarf with it, so this time, I decided to be so super adventurous and try it with this green floral one instead. What do you know? Still pretty fabulous.

Jacket: Express | Top: Express | Bottoms: Express | Boots: Coach

And last, but not least, is the oversized plaid top you previously saw here. I decided to wear it the more traditional way - buttoned up with a partial tuck. And ok, I admit that in these photos, my bun may be just a weee bit on the big side. Don't cameras add 10 pounds? Well, then, I blame the camera for making it look bigger than real life!

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Linking up for:  Midwest Bloggers, Fashion Item Friday, Friday Favorites, Casual Friday, Favorite Fashion Friday, Weekend Wind-down

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Pinspiration and lesson learned

This week has been a whirlwind. Montreal was awesome, but to be honest, it's thrown my blogging schedule a bit off since I didn't get to photo all my outfits on the weekend in advance. So I've been kicking it old school (i.e. like when I first started blogging a year and a half ago) and have been photo'ing and writing my posts the day I wear my outfits. Let me tell you, I much prefer scheduling them over the weekend. Needless to say, when it came to picking out today's outfit, I needed help. So, natch, I turned to Pinterest.

Pin/Source

Earrings: Stella and Dot | Scarf: Anthropologie (budget option, budget option)  | Bag: Stella and Dot | Top: Express (option) | Bracelet: Stella and Dot | Watch: Kate Spade (option) | Bottoms: Express (option, option) | Booties: Nine West (option, option, option)

Pretty easy to re-create this outfit, right? Except no. How is it that I don't have just a plain old white longish sleeve tee? The best that I could do was this dolman sleeved top, which I've decided I need to give up on because it really isn't flattering. It was fine for the purposes of this last minute outfit, but I know this outfit would be so much better with a regular white tee. So, this is another time when blogging has made me shop. I ended up ordering this top in white and 2 colors since it was half off.

If you are wearing a top when you feel self conscious lifting your arms from your side, then it's probably best to retire it! And no, no, I'm not fishing for compliments. The outfit is fine, I just know it could be *better* is all. And I also know from Clinton and Stacy that I should always give the illusion of an hourglass figure, and this just doesn't do it for me. Lesson learned! 

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Linking up for: Thursday Favorites, Tres Chic, What I Wore to Work, Working Girl with Style, Spotlight Weekly Linkup with Elle and Jacqueline, Look What I Got with Sharon and Tara.

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Planning around a baseball jacket

Top Right: Source | Bottom right: Via Instagram

I really try to have my outfit picked out for the next day before I lay down to go to sleep. I try. Because when I don't put any thought into it at all, it usually results in me being late (later) to work. Normally I have a piece in mind that I want to wear and it's just a matter of figuring out what I'd like to wear with it. I bought this baseball jacket from Express and I love it! But I couldn't stop picturing it with leather pants or my leather skater skirt. I feel like I've been over-doing it with my faux leather stuff, so I was trying not avoid it for this particular outfit. And that's where my search began.

I did a search on Pinterest for "baseball jacket outfits" but wasn't really finding much to grab from. Then, I just ended up doing a google image search of the same key words and found this image. A-ha! Not sure why I didn't think of pairing it with olive skinnies. Totally makes sense. As I was playing with the outfit in Polyvore, mentally scanning my closet room, I decided against a graphic tee, for the mere fact that I honestly don't have too many. I also figured that if I went with the solid black tee, I could add some wow with my leopard booties. And then the red interior of my booties inspired me to use my red cross body, which I hadn't used yet since I treated myself to it on Black Friday!

Baseball jacket: Express | Tee: Marshall's (option) | Necklaces: Gifted (option), Express (option) | Rings: Gifted (option), Kate Spade Saturday (option) | Bag: Gucci | Pants: Express (option) | Booties: Nine West (love these) | Polish: OPI Russian Navy

Unfortunately you guys get indoor photos today because the streets are still caked with a layer of snow, which really has turned into ice at this point. I'm thankful that we got to and from work ok, and am hoping for a less stressful commute tomorrow! 

I won't say I never come up with outfits without the need for inspiration, because I definitely do. But in an effort to "shop my closet" as people like to say, seeking out inspiration is the best way to make your closet instantly bountiful! And how did we survive before the internet? I remember keeping a binder of pages from magazines of outfits I liked. Now there's an app for that. What about you? How do you plan your outfits? And do you plan them the night before?

Linking up for: What I Wore Wednesday, Random Wednesday, The Hump Day Blog Hop, I Feel Pretty, Whatcha Wearin Wednesday

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Bootie Pinspiration

It's no secret. I love shoes. And I have a lot of them. I love each pair equally (honest I do, I can't hurt their feelings), but since I could easily go almost a half year without repeating a pair of shoes… well… you sometimes have to consciously dress around your shoes or else they may never be worn. Last year I was dying for some wedged desert booties. I scored these from a Nine West outlet - they're amazing, but I realized I hadn't worn them yet this season. Last time I styled them with jeans...

…so this time I wanted to style them differently. You know how I love remixing. That's where our buddy, Pinterest, comes in. To be quite honest, it's hard not to think of any other way to style these booties outside of jeans. Nothing wrong with jeans, but with as much stuff that I own, other things in my closet need their day in the spotlight too. Voila - I found this photo. Hers are not lace up wedges, but the color is a great match to my pair.

Unfortunately, I was not skilled enough to locate the original source of this photo, but you can see the pin here.

I originally had dismissed this outfit for today because I already wore my chunky maroon sweater last week for Thanksgiving part 3 and for Black Friday shopping. BUT! I forgot about this cashmere number I got on clearance last season AND it has the contrasting cuffs and button detail that would go perfect with the booties. I doubled up on the tights because I can't do the sheer tights look with a short that skirt for work.

Necklace: Express | Sweater: Last Call Neiman Marcus (chunky option) | Ring: Kate Spade (splurge, save) | Skirt: ASTR (option, love this!)  | Tights: DKNY (two layers) (option) | Boots: Nine West (option, option)

Oooh, this post just made me think of a good New Year's resolution for the last week of the Holiday Style series! Which, BTW, if you have not had a chance to check out week 1 that debuted on Monday - go! On the Daily Express and I have a great group of bloggers linked up, so read, get inspired, comment, and mingle! And it's not too late for you to join either - Holiday Style related or not!

Linking up with Sherry, Alison, Lindsey and Shanna.

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