Black and white

Halloween and pumpkin-picking evoke black and white stripes from my closet. Here, a striped sweater layered over a boys' gingham shirt with white jeans and a suede ankle boot freshen up the look. Wear the shirt hem sticking out from the sweater, untucked, with sleeves rolled up for a casual look, or button up to the neck for prepster cool. 

Bonus: everything listed is under $100, half of it under $40!

  

Click on the links to view or purchase:

boys gingham shirt 29.95 //  stripe sweater 34.94  //  structured satchel 38.00  // ankle boot 79.90  //  glasses 58

We're all in agreement that it's ok to wear white after Labor Day, right? Don't argue with me. You can. Because I said so. (I'm practicing my mom voice.) If you don't already have white jeans, then find some great deals on designer jeans at 40-60% off regular prices: here-99.99, here-77.00, here-79.00, cropped here-77.00. Sizes are limited because they're on sale, so check each link and you may get lucky to find yours.

How are you wearing white this fall/winter?

One vest: Two ways

For those of you that missed my guest post on Juggling in Heels, here it is again. (Yes, I thought it was good enough for a repost. That, and I've got nothing else for you today.) I've put together two looks touching on almost every one of my picks for fall trends: fur, color blocking, pleats, gold, and lady chic.

Click to view details or purchase:
fur vest 135 || cuff 150 || boots 199 || bag 54.89 || dress 64 || belt 34.50 || heels 175

Look 1: Casual weekend wear

• White v-neck tees are a basic wardrobe builder. You can wear them with skirts, jeans, under blazers...you name it. The key is a v-neck vs. a round neck. You want the V so it shows more skin and elongates you, especially if you're petite. The high round neck just visually cuts you off at your neck.
• Skinny jeans are also a must-have because they are the one pair of jeans that you can wear with any heel height. Buy them with a bit of stretch for comfort and I prefer an actual jean over a legging because it's more versatile.
• Riding boots in taupe are more unexpected than a cognac, brown, or black, though a cognac tall boot is an essential in the fall.
• Accessorize with a snakeskin cuff trimmed in gold and structured handbag.

Look 2: Date night

• Color blocking is all over the place this fall and not just limited to one piece. You can color block by wearing one solid color piece and pairing it back with another complimentary color. There are really no "rules" for picking colors. You can stick with shades of one color (like this dress) or you can pick two colors opposite each other on the color wheel (like blue and orange).
• When it doubt, belt it out! Wear the fur vest over the dress and belt it closed. It will give you back a waist and balance out a full, fluffy top. The vest and belt add dimension and interest to your look.
• To add a touch of lady chic, wear black suede t-strap heels and opaque tights if your legs need more coverage on cool nights.

Would you wear real or faux fur?
 

Building a closet

Every season, people ask me what they need to buy. But sometimes, 'what to buy' is not as important as working with what you already own. Having the basics in your closet make it easy to layer the season's trend or add an accessory to change up the look. Here are a few of my essentials for any wardrobe:

Click to view or buy: 
Trench 388 || Blazer 73.50 || Striped tee 39.50 || Black dress 168 || Skinny jeans 98 || Flats 195

PS - Your votes would be much appreciated!

By Best Mom Fashion Blog

{chic finds} F21 slip dress

If you're on a budget and looking for one piece to add to your wardrobe this fall, this is the dress for you. Only $15.50 at Forever 21, it's available in this season's must have color - wine - as well as mustard, cobalt, black, and rust. Here are two looks incorporating fall trends for under $150 each.

dress 15.50 || blouse 13.50 || belt 21.99 || bag 35.94 || boot 52 

  sweater 98 || desert wedge boot 36.94 || cuff 4.90

Look 1:
This season is all about ladylike fashion so after seasons of telling people to not worry about matching shoes, belts or handbags, this season you get full permission to be matchy-matchy. A sheer blouse in a similar hue with a red belt and structured handbag gives this dress a lady chic, color-blocked feel.
To wear the blouse with the dress and belt, twist or pin the ends so it looks like it's tucked into the belt and makes the dress act like a skirt. You can also skip the belt and tie the ends of the blouse in a knot. Obviously, ditch the belt that comes with the dress for either of these.

Look 2:
For a more casual fall look, pair the dress with a textured fisherman's sweater and desert wedge boot. A longer sweater with a long skirt evokes a easy 70's boho style that begs to be worn every weekend.

Other ways to wear it:  With a black or creme blazer, a cobalt sweater, a knotted v-neck white tee, a long chunky cardigan, a loose crochet sweater...if I get ambitious, I may actually take outfit pictures featuring one (or more) of these suggestions. But don't get your hopes up.

Wild Things

One of the classic pieces you will always have in your wardrobe is animal print. Consider animal another neutral. A leopard print pump can go back with any dress and add an unexpected twist to an outfit. And a zebra print top under a leopard cardigan or jacket is just as good as mixing stripes and dots. Yes, you read that correctly. You can mix your animal prints - if they can live in the wild together, they can live in your closet together.

 jacket 169 || jeans 180 || top 15.80 || cuff 13.72 || bootie 137.21 || clutch 564.30

Yes, there is a lot of wildlife in this outfit, but you don't go to fashion shows to see something boring.  (Ok, this is just a line from one of the fashion presentations I did earlier.)  The stripes will be toned down once you throw the jacket on and the snakeskin accessories add texture.  Wide leg jeans bring a 70's chic to the look, rather than skinny jeans that just make it more like Jersey Shore.  Or Peg Bundy - depending on how old you are, you can choose which reference you relate to. (It would be the latter for me. I've never watched a second of Jersey Shore.)

And b-t-dub...if you have a sec, put in a vote for me, won't you?  Thank you!

By Best Mom Fashion Blog

Red, red wine

The Row and DVF via style.com || Neiman Marcus September Book

I love it when designers are inspired by drinking.  From shoes to furs, they are giving us a little cabernet everywhere we turn.  (Side note: currently enjoying a glass of shiraz.)  To make it modern, consider wearing the color from head to toe.  This doesn't mean the exact same color (though, that's not a bad thing these days - see image above), but try mixing different shades of cab sav.  Maybe a bordeaux blouse with wide leg red pants.  Or a red-orange top with a merlot skirt.  A blouse-y cranberry tunic tucked into a maxi skirt or high waist pants to carry spring's boho chic into fall.  And structured handbags put back with any of these looks add polish.

sash-tie blouse 44.90  ||  maxi skirt 39.50  ||  chiffon tank 39.90  ||  lace sweater 17.80

wide leg pants 345  ||  handbag 375  ||  tunic blouse 178  ||  oxford pumps 110

ankle-strap pumps 275  ||  structured tote 348

Now, if there is one bordeaux item you must add into your wardrobe, it is shoes.  This color will be your new neutral and you will wear it forever with any and every color in your wardrobe.  There really isn't a color that it can't go back to. Really. If you find one in your closet, email me and I'll tell you you're wrong.  Find a bordeaux shoe now while they're so available in a range of styles and price points to fit your closet and your budget.

Questions about how to wear one of this season's trends or how to update a favorite piece in your wardrobe? Email me here.

Now & Later: Color Block Dress

This dress from Urban Outfitters is one of my favorites from the summer.  With one or two extra layers, it can easily transition into fall.  If your legs need more coverage on cool nights, add gray or black opaque tights, like these reversible ones.  The dress would also be great with a thin, double wrap belt - but avoid the urge to use a wide belt, or you may end up looking like Wonder Woman.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Which look do you like?

 

dress 59.00  ||  sweater 98.00  ||  oxford heels 98.00 ||  satchel 54.89  ||  blazer 118.92  || cuff 4.80  ||  clog wedges 295.00

{DIY} no-sew shirt-to-skirt

I was intrigued about the idea of wearing a long-sleeve button up as a skirt (from Chictopia via The Hidden List).  Cool, effortless, and a way for me to wear a high-waist pencil skirt on the weekends?  Done. 

You can use any loose-fitting, long sleeve shirt for this, but I used a man's shirt since my button-ups are fitted.  I think the 'shkirt' is too big and long for my frame, but at least I don't have to worry about indecent exposure when bending over to pick up the Bitty.  Love this pop of color for the end of summer and the comfort of a stretch poplin!  *Style Tip: Wear it as a high waist skirt and tie it at the skinniest part of your torso (even if that's not your natural waist) so it doesn't add bulk to your hips.

What do you think?  Would you wear it?

{How To} wear a scarf as a top

With the heat barely dropping below 105 degrees the last 40 days in a row, I've wanted to wear as little clothing as possible.  So when it was time to go to brunch with friends, I thought, "Could I just go naked?" (Answer: not again.)  Instead, I pulled out this old scarf and wore it as a top.  It's so thin and lightweight, I'm planning to wear it every weekend until the weather drops well into the double digits.

Wax on, wax off

via

Are the racks in your closet so crammed that it's hard to slide the hangers and they drag along the metal rod like nails on a chalk board?  Here's a trick for that problem: wax paper. 

Tear off a piece of wax paper and wipe the metal hanging rod in your closet.  (One of mine is wood and it worked on it too.)  This leaves a little film of wax and makes it oh-so-easy for your hangers, metal or plastic, to glide along.  You can use a candle if you don't have wax paper handy.

I also tried this with drawers and it worked like a charm.  Just pull the drawer out (again works on wood or metal) and wipe the rail in the cabinet as well as the actual drawer itself and it will slide in out out with no problems.

And that, my friend, is your Good Houskeeping tip of the day.  You're welcome.

Bonjour!

 

One of my favorite bloggers at The Hidden List is enjoying a fabulous French vacation and finding some treasures to share with us along the way. While she is out, I'm sharing my own Frenchie find with her readers.

Check out my guest post about Parisian chic tips here.  And subscribe to The Hidden List to get daily temptations for yourself and your home delivered right into your Inbox.

Merci!

image via

End of season sales + shopping tips

It's that time of year again.  The time of year that retailers are marking down their end-of-season items to make room for the next season.  While it's tempting to start filling shopping bags with found bargains, before you walk up to the register, consider these things:

1)  Three Outfit Rule.  You must have three outfits in mind before you buy that one piece. (Bonus points if you can make it work into both spring and fall seasons.) Think about what's in your closet and how this piece integrates into your current wardrobe.  Just because you love it at the moment doesn't mean you need to own it. 

2)  Trend or Staple?  If the item is a strong trend piece, is it something you can only wear once before people will say, "Oh, here comes Jill in that same color block Marc Jacobs dress"?  If so, is it worth that one wear to you?  That's your decision.  (I say yes if you look fabulous!)  If it's a trendy item that you'll only have a few seasons, at least you got it on sale.  Hey, it's 65% off and you look hot!  If you find a good deal on a basic piece that you'll have forever and wear all the time (see sample list here), then you don't have to feel guilty about buying it, especially when it's on sale.

 

3)  Don't get excited just because it's on sale.  Think of the item being full price when trying it on.  When you're not blinded by the sale tag, you will be more thorough in the dressing room.  How does it fit?  If it needs some alterations, will those negate the mark down?  Is it flattering for your figure?

 

For most major retailers, current mark downs are just beginning.  You still have another couple of months before they're at their lowest prices.  If you're not familiar with the store's sales cycles, ask the sales associates.  They'll probably tell you they don't know when it will be marked down again, but they can tell you if there will be another sale.  If you're just sport shopping (the kind of shopping you do when you have no real agenda or occasion you're shopping for), then consider returning for another round of cardio when the next markdown hits.

The good thing is that the stuff on sale right now is wearable right now.  Spring items are being marked down to make room for fall deliveries, so if you need a few updates to your current season's wardrobe, sales are a good time to do it.

Do you have any good rules you follow when shopping?

What {knot} to wear

Ok, one more post to add to last week's theme.  One fabulous scarf.  Eight  more ways to wear it. 

PS - see how I wore a scarf as a top here

What {knot} to wear

This week seems to have a multi-tasking-transformer theme to it. (See here and here.)  It must be a reflection of my current persona - one mere mortal cleverly disguised as 100 different things:  mom, wife, creative, designer, writer, maid, dishwasher, cook, dog walker, daughter, sister...exhausted...

So to conclude the week's unintentional theme, I leave you with this: 

Every purchase of a Hermès scarf includes a box of cards to show you all the fashionable ways to wear it.  If a Hermès is not currently in your budget, you can purchase the knotting cards on ebay, though it will still cost you a pretty, albeit colorful, penny.  Or you can save your pennies and just try some of the looks below.  You're welcome.

source: credit

PS.  See how I wore my scarf as a top here.

Classics for your closet

image credit
"50 classics" via

White hot weekend

I have an old white suit that I've worn about 3 times since I bought it 5,349 seasons ago.  I love the fit of the blazer but the pants have, ahem, "shrunk in the wash".  So now my nail-the-interview-white-suit has turned into my spring-weekend-casual-white-blazer.  Worn with a soft cotton tee, baggy denim shorts and sandals, my favorite suit jacket has found new life.  Unfortunately, the pants are waiting for the 30-day workout to show results.

Here's a similar look:

blazer (86.99 orig 150)  shorts (17.80)  tee (21.00)  bib necklace (16.99)  ball necklace (26.90)  sandals (49.00)

If you have an old blazer, you could crop the sleeves to give it a more casual and modern feel like the one above.  Denim shorts are best when worn a little baggy and not too short or tight.  Even though the 70's style is back, trashy is not.  Shorts not your thing?  Try boyfriend jeans for a similar, easy look.

{DIY} Embellished ruffle cardigan

 

via J. Crew

Cardigans are a year-round staple no matter where you live.  Even when it's 114 degrees outside, air conditioners blasting inside keep the temps just above freezing, so you'll need something to throw over your sleeveless top.

You can find a basic cardigan anywhere, any fabric, any price.  The ruffle embellishment in the one pictured above adds a fun bit of detail to a basic piece in a simple color.  Unfortunately, it is no longer available, but that doesn't mean you can't add the same flair to one of the cardigans in your closet.  Thanks to the girls at Mismatcherie, all you need is an old top and old sweater and in no time you will have this:

Click here for the DIY details and let me know how it turns out!

Top it off

I was recently reading questions about what tops are cool and comfortable to wear in the summer as a replacement for your basic t-shirt.  While I generally advise quality over quantity - and by quality, I mean, something you'll wear over and over again and will last through the wears - summer is not the time for that.  Summer pieces are light and flimsy, so whether it's $20 or $200, the fabric won't stand through too many washes.

Here are some ideas for you, all under $25:

click to buy: 1  2  3  4  5

Bell bottom blues

I took inspiration from my own post and dug out the high rise, wide leg Sevens I bought a couple season's ago.  These jeans are ridiculously soft and comfortable, so I'm uber excited to be wearing them this spring. 

We were having random spring-like weather over the weekend, so I threw on a heathered oatmeal tee, stacked some bangles, a clear ring and owl necklace.  Because I'm a munchkin, I can't wear a wide leg without heels, and these heels are straight out of the 70's so I they're forever married to these jeans.

Make it work for you:

• Sandals like these, on sale (and maybe not such a wide leg jean unless you're over 5'6")
• A darker wash would make it dressier.  Add a blazer for work.
• Sweater.  Winter is back so if I wear this again this weekend (probably definitely will), I'll add a chunky knit cardigan like this one (also on sale for $24)
• Turtleneck or fitted long-sleeve top
• A wrap bracelet like this one, rather than a stack of bangles so you don't have to hear them all day long

Boho chic

Bohemian influences are everywhere this spring.  The skinny pant is being replaced with a wide leg pant and flat sandals are taking over 5" heels.  This is not to say that you still can't wear your skinny jeans or high heels (I know I can't afford to lose the extra height!) but designers are showing an easier look on the runways. 

Boho-chic is about flowy pieces, fringe, macrame and owls.  (Lucky me.)  You can wear a flat sandal, wedge or platform shoe for a fresh spring look. Jeans and pants alike are getting wider leg openings and higher rises.  (A plus for those with problems finding jeans that fit the hip and rear but always gap in the back.  The higher rise should eliminate the gap and the wider leg will give you more room in the thighs and balance out full hips.)

Fringe, this spring, is like last fall's fur.  It's everywhere.  And no rabbits were harmed in the making of said fringe.  (Cow's didn't get so lucky. Sorry.)

So pick up one piece or try them all, but get ready for a bohemian rhapsody.

blouse, hat, necklace, clutch, gladiator, jeans