a perfect formula.

 

j crew factory lace blouse   ·   calvin klein skirt {thrifted}

lela rose for payless heels   ·   simonson's jewelry necklace

there are certain outfits i put on where i think to myself, "you just need to dress like this every day."  this was one of those outfits.  classic, straight pencil skirt in a neutral navy, a pretty, feminine blouse with interesting detail, a statement necklace, and fun heels.  it's definitely a formula i try to stick to, but some outfits end up working better than others!  i loved this outfit so much!  it's hard to tell, but my tights are the same maroon shade as the necklace.  thanks for visiting!

get the look:  exact blouse / similar skirt / similar heels / similar necklace

july 29th {orage & navy}

 

 o​ld navy patterned shirt · j crew blazer {thrifted} 

merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock} · lela rose heels ​

i have been shopping at old navy.com a lot lately - two orders this month! their deals are hard to resist and those additional 30% off purchases seem to come around a lot more often these days. this is a button-down i picked up in my most recent order for less than $8. i have this orange button-down (also from old navy) but i knew this darker orange top would be just as versatile. i like the subtle white medallion print too, it gives the shirt a little more interest and will encourage me to perhaps do some pattern mixing. orange & navy go so well together, so this look came together relatively easily. happy monday!

april 26th {shrunken blazers}

j crew blazer {thrifted}   ·   merona blouse {thrifted target stock}

old navy trouser jeans   ·   lela rose for payless heels

sometimes i try things on in the fitting room when i go thrifting and think, "hey, this looks good!"  so i take it home with me only to realize i had actually purchased a child's blazer and the sleeve length isn't meant to be 3/4 length on my adult sized arms...  this blazer now falls into that category.  i just can't figure it out!  i picked it up at savers mid-week when during a buy one item, get one item free promotion.  it was $11.99, which is more expensive than my old friend the goodwill prices their blazers (most of the time), but since i was getting another item for free and it's j crew and in great condition, it seemed to be worth it.

i'm not sure what the name of this style is, my googling isn't turning up any results, but the cotton fabric is really thick and sturdy, like duck cloth?  and the arms are yet again shrunken which made me question for a while if this was a little crewcuts kids blazer until i justified that it must be women's because of the cutesy grosgrain ribbon detailing.  well, it's a cute blazer so i'm committed to making it work!

have you pulled together some looks yet for me and marissa's pantone-inspired spring color challenge next week?  join us here at my blog on monday to show off how you're wearing emerald this spring!

friday (the best)

if there were ever a day to look your best... even if you are just sitting at your desk all day with limited contact with other humans... it should be a friday!  

this look comes across as being really professional, but i think the chunky necklace, fun heels, and casual ponytail keep it relaxed enough for a friday.  can you tell i'm pretty much in love with this outfit?

linkin' up with this lady today who is featuring none
other than mustard for her color challenge this month:

monday.

old navy cocoon cardigan   merona slacks {thrifted target stock}  

target belt {thrifted target stock}   lela rose for payless madison pumps

 

every day at my workplace there is a morning meeting to share updates or education related to our senior housing campus, staff birthdays/anniversaries, a verse, and we close in a prayer for the day.  almost every day it seems like the employees who attend have all received a memo to wear a certain color or print and we all have a chuckle about it.  i guess we need something to comment on or talk about at 8:15 in the morning and it is always the color of clothes we are wearing.  at least it's not usually about the weather!  isn't small talk about the weather the worst?  today a few people who were wearing dark colors/black all ended up sitting on one side of the conference table and other employees in more colorful tops and shirts had congregated towards the other end of the conference table.  whenever someone new walked in the room to join the gathering, someone would jokingly point them towards the right side of the table where they should sit based on what color they were wearing.  GUESS WHAT SIDE OF THE TABLE I WAS SITTING AT!  the boring, dark, drab colored side.  even if i put together outfits to wear over the weekend, monday always seems to roll around and zap my creativity and whatever outfit i picked out just doesn't look or feel right, so i default to repeating an outfit that worked in the past or i throw something on just to make do so i can head out the door.  so yes, i admit that this is a pretty drab and boring outfit today (and i've worn it before - i can't think of any other way to wear this sweater).  hopefully i can sit at the colorful end of the table tomorrow!

thursday.

merona dora dress {thrifted target stock}   mossimo cocoon cardigan {thrifted}

lela rose for payless madison heels

i thought about prefacing this post by apologizing for wearing this outfit before, but you know what... i'm not sure that anyone reading this would have known that i have!  i'm a pretty perceptive person but week after week, i can't remember what my coworker who i share an office with wears and i highly doubt that people who look at pictures of me on the internet really remember what i wear either.  isn't that weird, when all of us are so into personal style & following others' whose personal style influences our own?  or maybe i'm totally off.  either way, welcome to my life where i really love pairing this denim-like dress with  maroon and these heels, which were a smashing hit everywhere i went today.  i really think we all need fabulous heels in our closets and i find a lot of great pairs at payless!  i'm thinking about ordering these two pairs since there's a BOGO going on  right now and i found another coupon code online... i'd prefer the navy pair that also come in yellow, but my size isn't available.  decisions, decisions... feel free to weigh in!