Happy Friday!! The first week of April is officially under your belt. That is crazy talk, but that just means that hopefully it's one more week closer to me feeling the heat of spring on my skin for real! This weather has been such a tease! I want to dress for spring so bad, but long sleeves and layers are still a necessity as you will see in today's random roundup of selfies! Let's get started!
Last week, I recapped what I wore on my work trip to Providence and Boston, so I figured this week I would do the same for my Toronto trip I went on late last week. Packing for work trips is so hard for me. My struggles for this trip were: 1) I had never met anyone I was meeting, so I had no idea if they were casual or super dressy 2) I hate meeting new people wearing flat shoes, but I also knew I'd be doing a lot of walking so the shoes needed to be comfy. 3) The weather seemed to be cold, windy, and rainy. With that in mind, let's get started!
Oh hey, guess what! I get to go to Denver this weekend, which I'm extra excited about. I'm meeting some of my internet friends out there - ha! But it's true. And I don't know if it's funny or sad that my husband doesn't even bat an eye at it because I seem to have more internet friends than I do real life friends that are local! I've met a few of these girls in real life already, so it's not going to be all brand new. Though, I've never been to Denver before outside of the airport!
Annnnd, I get to meet a couple of other blogger friends there, too, and I can hardly contain myself! I may as well just tell you guys I'm breaking my shopping ban again this weekend. But, I mean, I'm meeting internet friends that I met on a SHOPPING FORUM. It would be blasphemy for us not to shop while we're together! I promise to do it in moderation though. Because I really don't want to check a bag. :)
Where do I even begin with this post?! Well, let's just jump right into the goodness. This tassel necklace is going to be on repeat. Just a warning for you. Coincidentally, I had been lusting over a tassel necklace that Gina has, and was a bit sad because I put myself on this self inflicted shopping ban. Then, Stacy from CS Gems contacted me about collaborating with them and styling one of their tassel necklaces. Needless to say, I jumped at the offer immediately and was ridiculously grateful!
How gorgeous is it? Vintage simplicity at its finest. If you've never checked out their goodies, I highly suggest you do - their new site just launched here. And while you're at it, follow them on Instagram here. I truly don't follow many shops on IG because they can be a bit too spammy and catalog-y. I love that GS Gems applies their products to real life on their Instagram page, and they're genuinely nice and engaging on top of that! The fact that they have great products is really just an added bonus. I am very thrilled to be collaborating with them.
I thought the necklace would pair perfectly with this fringe poncho. The weather a couple of weekends ago was gorgeous - in the 60's! I was very comfortable in this knit number. Yes, it's a bit flowy, which is why I wanted to wear my skinniest leggings with it. I was THISCLOSE to wearing wedge sandals instead of these booties, but I couldn't bring myself to tease my feet into thinking it was spring just yet.
I originally paired this with peep toe booties and my wine colored bag with a low pony. But it was SOO windy the day I took these photos, that it was difficult to get more than one good shot of the poncho. For take two, I decided to get my hair out of my face and go with full on black booties and my turquoise bag. Excited to wear both the poncho and the tassel necklace through all seasons!
Shop CS Gems and use code "CARYLEE15" for 15% off! This code does not expire, so shop to your heart's content!
NOTE: CS Gems gifted me this necklace, but all opinions expressed in this post are my own.
PS Enter to win the perfect scarf HERE and a $600 Visa Gift Card HERE!!
I gotta say, I'm glad you guys like these roundups so much because it definitely makes it a lot easier on life to "only" photograph 4 outfits for the blog each week vs. 5. Really the best solution would be if the husband would just let me quit my day job so I had all the time in the world to invest in this little corner of the interweb! Ha - that may take some time to convince him, so until then - here's your random roundup for the week! I will only be linking to the items that are still available, unless I have a good option handy!
I really love this vest, you guys. It's one of those pieces that I wasn't sure if I should take the plunge on, but am glad that I did. I also love me a good mini skirt in the winter. Maybe even more so than the warmer months! Oh, and these fleece lined tights. You need them. The softest most comfy pair of tights ever, and I love how super opaque they are!
This is what I call my Gina outfit. She's a master at styling her olive cargo skinnies, as evidenced by this post here. I'm not sure why I never would have come up with this classic combination on my own, but I adore the way it came out.
This ruched skirt is a fan favorite. Don't believe me? See it on Gina, Rachelle, and Noelle. It all started with Rachelle and kind of had a domino effect from there. That tends to happen with this circle of ladies. And it's awesome because that means 4 times the fashion inspiration when it comes to styling the same pieces!
I feel like this is just a couple bars higher than leaving the house in pajamas. Ok, perhaps that is being a bit dramatic. But I had to wake up and pick the husband up Saturday morning at the airport, and I thought about just going in jammies and Ugg boots, but realized he'd probably be hungry and want to go to brunch. So, I reached for comfy things that were still acceptable to be seen wearing in public. And in a selfie. Glad you guys keep me accountable!
The husband had to take a picture of my hair this day because he said it was ridiculously big. Haha! #sorrynotsorry One of these days I will do a tutorial for you guys. It's what I call my prom updo, which is a bit different than my regular top knot. And yes, I love this vest. And the scarf. Together, they are unstoppable.
REMIX RECAP
Left and Middle: Same vest, two ways | Middle and Right: Same skirt, two ways
Same jacket: Two ways
Left and Middle: Same chambray shirt, two ways | Middle and Right: Same scarf and boots, two ways
Same vest: Three ways
And here's a quick recap of all the remixes since last week. Three weeks into the challenge, and I'm still feeling good about it. And it's quite gratifying to see all of the looks I'm able to create with my limited stock of pieces. Kind of excited to see this through!
This week will lock in my capsule pieces for the #RemixFix2015 challenge. I've got a few different polyvore sets started where I've been cataloging each piece I've worn over the last 2.5 weeks. I will have to share the completed capsule with you next week and then it will be full on remixing from there!
Seeing all my items nicely categorized and next to each other has really helped me understand where there are gaps. One thing I was missing was a simple graphic tee. I have a few in my collection, but ultimately decided this one had to make the cut. I discovered it on Instagram here thanks to Andrea from Momma in Flip Flops. It was designed by one of her blogger friends, Ellen, from That Chic Mom. While this tee is not currently available, if there are enough reserved, another batch can be printed! You can reserve yours here.
Throwing a blazer over a tee shirt is one of my most favorite styles, yet I don't nearly do it enough! Add a good pair of destroyed jeans, and you're basically making me weak in the knees, SWV style. Finish it off with some animal print, and well, one could say -- outfit on fleek. :)
Happy Friday! You know what that means! iPhone selfie dump time Random Roundup! I actually love doing these posts for you guys, as to be quite honest, the proper blog photos are fun and I enjoy them - and I miss them when I don't get to do them. However, you can't get more real than the selifes! Plus, they're easier to "pose" for. I'm just not a good poser. Ha! But anyway, as with all other random roundups, I will only be linking to those items that are still available, so let's get started!
So, everything that I am wearing for the rest of the month really, will be everything in my #RemixFix2015 capsule. I knew I wanted to add some vests to this collection, and it was a task trying to choose which ones I wanted - as I could not pick ALL of them. I decided to have this cream vest be one of them - I feel like it looks just a little bit less sporty than my other ones, and easy to transition from business travel to a casual meeting. Not to mention that it will basically go with any other color.
Necklace: Express | Sweater: Neiman Marcus | Chambray:JCrew Factory | Bracelets:H&M (gifted) | Dress: Bailey 44 (worn as a skirt) | Fleece Lined Leggings:Target | Booties:Cole Haan
This was actually my airport outfit to travel home in. Sometimes I prefer traveling in skirts and dresses - especially ones like this that are breathable and not constricting. This dress is the perfect canvas for layering, which is why it was a no brainer capsule piece.
And just like that, now I'm in New Orleans. We did a bus tour on Friday, and I wasn't sure how much walking we would end up doing so I opted for flat boots, and layers for warmth. It wasn't too terribly cold in New Orleans, but it wasn't necessarily warm either.
Speaking of layers, we ended up going to the movies Saturday night - I know, kind of silly to do on vacation, but we had done our share of sight seeing for the day and just needed to unwind for a bit. Rather than nap, we did a movie instead to relax. We watched American Sniper, which was heavy and heartbreaking, but very good. Layers are totally a necessity for the movies.
Top: Gap | Long Sleeve tee: BP | Necklace: Vince Camuto | Skirt: Express | Fleece Lined Leggings:Target | Boots:Vince Camuto (limited stock)
And this was coming home Sunday evening. I ended up layering a long sleeve tee under the plaid top because I wasn't sure how cold it was going to be when we landed, and frankly, I needed to wear as many clothes as possible since my suitcase seemed heavier on the way home. How does that happen?! I ended up being hot ALL day, but I was still happy with the way the outfit turned out, and it was comfortable for the plane.
I just finished the first week of the #RemixFix2015 challenge, and have been able to remix a few pieces already, which is where the fun begins. It's always helpful for me to see the outfits next to each other to full appreciate the remix.
Left (original post here) and Middle: same Bailey 44 dress
Middle and Right: Same sweater, necklace, booties
Wearing a dress as a skirt is one of my favorite ways to remix. I purposely picked a dress that I knew this would be possible with. The black cashmere sweater is definitely more of a no brainer staple.
Striped long sleeve tee 3 ways
Left: Original post here
I knew this long sleeved tee would make my capsule. Not only does it add a nice pop of color that pairs nicely with other palettes, but it's a great base for layering. Even though it's pretty lightweight, it definitely made the flannel shirt feel more like a sweater than just a plain top.
Left (original post here) and Middle: same striped sweater and jeans
Middle and Right: Same jacket and plaid top
Pattern mixing is also pretty important to me and my capsule. It just helps break up the monotony of looks, acting as its own accessory. And finding pieces like this plaid top that I can wear multiple ways (i.e. open or tucked, casual or more dressy) will help you style the same piece again and again.
I'm excited to get other remixes going! We would love to see your remixes on Instagram - post yours and use the hashtag #RemixFix2015!
It's Friday so that means another random roundup for you! I got a couple of comments last week that I was overloading you guys with outfits, and although I did take them as positive comments, I think I will still try and limit these to be about 5-6 outfits. As with other random roundup posts, I will only be linking to the items that are still available! Hope you like!
I don't know how many times I have to say this is my favorite winter outfit formula. It's all about the layers - and I especially love this for errands like shopping when I don't want to lug around a big coat with me! These Fryes are my favorite in my collection. The color and the fit are perfect - even though they aren't stiff, I love how they don't gather at all at my ankles like most boots do. I think this is my third year I've had them and they still look brand new. Definitely a worthwhile investment.
One Sunday a month, I put together outfit inspiration posts for the Pulse flash sales. I featured this top last month, and well, one thing led to another and I decided I needed it myself. I loved pairing this sweet top with some edgier moto inspired pieces. I actually styled this directly from my Polyvore, which surprisingly, I always forget to refer to!
Coat: Tahari | Scarf: H&M | Tank:Express | Cardi: Express | Jeans: Express | Boots:Vince Camuto (in black leather here)
I'm sick in this picture, can you tell? Ugh, as I type this I'm still coughing up a lung and I wish I could shake it. I had to go into work on Wednesday to get some stuff done - and all I wanted was anything cozy, so I got bundled up and made it through the day. I favor these OTK boots with my faux leather leggings, but loved the way they looked with jeans also!
Top: Old Navy (other colors here) | Leggings: Old Navy | Leg warmers:Grace and Lace | Socks:Toesox
I thought I would break up the monotony of the outfit posts and share a workout OOTD. I wore this to my first Pilates class of the year and was psyched when Toesox regrammed my selfie here. I realized that leg warmers are a great way to wear your cropped leggings in the winter. And since I never get super sweaty in Pilates unless I'm doing jumpboard (which I was not this day), the leg warmers worked perfect and were pretty dang cute, too!
I had actually planned to wear this for proper blog photos, but that was before I decided to commit to the #remixfix2015 challenge. While I love all these pieces, I wasn't sure if I wanted them to be part of my actual capsule. So, instead, I decided to wear it just before I started the challenge. The camo pants may end up making its way into my remix collection, but I was just feeling like I have a ton of pants already. We'll see after the end of week three!
The last time I wore this shirt was the last time I wore this vest. Ooops! Clearly I felt they were meant to be together! I love this vest a lot and need to wear it more. Bethany wears hers a ton, which inspires me to do the same. It really is a versatile piece!
And that ends this week's roundup! Have a great weekend! The husband and I are in New Orleans! I'm probably eating beignets as we speak!
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays! Since I couldn't take proper blog photos for you, it actually worked out quite perfectly for a random roundup post instead. It also gives me a good opportunity to recap the week for you in one concise post, so let's begin. As with other random roundup posts, I am only linking to those pieces that are still available.
Necklace: Stella and Dot (gifted) | Blazer:Express | Tank:Express | Bag: Stella and Dot | Bracelets: Stella and Dot 1, 2, Nadri | Bottoms: Express | Shoes:Sam Edelman
This was my travel outfit on Monday except that I wore these black booties instead of the heels. We were meeting Gina and Noelle for dinner that evening and I knew I wouldn't have time to do much more than just freshen up when we landed. I would have opted for something a little more festive but needed something that would be easy to transition from airport to evening. I've had this tank for a few weeks now, but it's never been worn. This was the perfect occasion to break it in - meeting two fellow Express lovers!
This was a backup outfit for the blogger meet up - hence the head to almost toe Express pieces. This tank is another piece that I hadn't worn yet, and since I didn't wear it to dinner that night, I thought sequins would be appropriate for Christmas Eve on Wednesday when we started AND finished Christmas shopping for my family. Tuesday was spent recovering from whatever bug happened to hit both of us, and while I did manage to get dressed that day in my new blue plaid top, it quickly got ditched for pajamas.
My dad always has Christmas Eve service at his church, so this is what I picked for the occasion - my take on green and red. These wouldn't have actually been my first choice for heels for this dress, but for the sake of packing light, I thought they would do. Oh, and my brother walked in as I was taking a selfie, so naturally, I had to take a sibling version.
I'm sporting a couple of Christmas gifts - the clutch was a gift to myself. I could not resist it at half off, and Gina said this purchase was justifiable even though I already have this bag seen here. So, how can I say no to that? The bracelet was one of two gifts from the husband. I mentioned recently that I would love a blue box one day, and this Christmas he got me two of them!
The blue box and white ribbon themselves are just classic and pretty. I love that the necklace is dainty and simple but the bracelet is the perfect statement piece. A very well rounded gift!
And last but not least, is my outfit for Christmas day. We celebrated with my extended family - the typical eating and gift exchange frenzy. I definitely didn't need to be fancy, so I just gave my plaid top a second go at it and wore it over this tee that ended up being an impulse buy while I was getting a gift card at American Eagle. Pop, fizz, clink, repeat. Definitely appropriate for family time, eh?
Thanks for stopping by - now to spend my Christmas money!
