checked.

j crew gingham shirt {thrifted}

calvin klein skirt {thrifted}

american eagle (payless brand) heels

target belt   ·   wifeysinger earrings

{ similar button down / similar skirt / similar heels / similar belt / similar earrings }

this look was based around the earrings i'm wearing but it feels silly to point that out as my earrings are so hard to see around my hair!  there is a detail shot in this post.  i love the combination of the navy, mint, and dark red beads that comprise my earrings and found similar colored items in my closet to wear.  this classic navy skirt pulls through for me time and time again; it almost feels magical because it always fits despite any weight fluctuations that cause me to shift other skirts to the back of my closet for being ill fitting.  isn't that the best feeling?  i pair just about every color with navy (even black!) but especially liked it with this burnt orange color.

i mentioned in a "20 things" video i posted many months back (i shudder to link to it as i don't know that i want anyone watching it again!) that i didn't really have any favorite etsy shops, but i've realized that is totally incorrect!  i forgot about wifeysinger's shop where i ordered these earrings - she has adorable beaded hoop earrings and a tassel necklace i have my eye on.  plus another new favorite, octavia bloom, who i referenced yesterday.  a friend purchased earrings for me from sweet & simple a couple birthday's ago so i try to remember to visit her shop once in a while as she's a local designer.

i never really think to go to etsy because it can feel overwhelming to browse, but i also never really remember to check out these shops that i've purchased from before.  i wish there were an easier way to keep up to date on favorite etsy shops - does anyone know if there is?

thanks for visiting!

dress week: day 1

gap sateen fit & flare dress   ·   old navy chambray {thrifted}

crown vintage tisha pumps   ·   mossimo belt

i am so happy to be co-hosting this dress theme week with andi of just another smith!  andi is known for her great theme weeks that have helped me to plan my wardrobe on more than one occasion and i was so glad she wanted to collaborate with me in bringing you this theme week of dresses.

i certainly love a good dress, but i don't know that i am always that good at picking out dresses for myself.  in planning for this theme week i realized i have a lot of sleeveless dresses that i never wear on their own - i always layer a shirt underneath or a blazer/cardigan over.  i knew that's exactly how i wanted to wear this dress this week though with alice as my inspiration!  i loved the look of the chambray she wore underneath this same dress that she styled back in april.  the stripes on the dress are dark navy, as are my shoes, and i accented with a mint colored belt.  i'm not sure why i didn't add a statement necklace?!  don't you hate when you realize something was missing from your outfit after you take pictures?

get the look:  exact dress / similar chambray / similar belt / exact heels

i'm looking forward to seeing how you find different ways to style dresses this week.  you can add your link to this one link-up tool andi and i are using all week either here at my blog or at hers so join in whenever you can.  see you again tomorrow!

An InLinkz Link-up

spring pantone challenge (radiant orchid)

merona tie front dress & merona bella flats

limited floral scarf {thrifted}

i am so excited that today is the first day of the pantone-inspired spring color challenge marissa from the modern austen & i are hosting!  we really enjoyed the participation we received with this challenge the last two times we hosted it and we are glad to be back again with some more spring colors.  in fact, i think this may be my favorite collection of colors yet!

we're starting off today with radiant orchid, "THE" color of spring 2014.  i interpret it as a bold violet, but i think any shade from dark purple to mulberry to magenta works!  i have a handful of items in these colors to choose from, but i settled on this dress as it was what first popped into my head when i saw the color radiant orchid.  i didn't plan too well since you may remember i wore the shirt version of this dress on friday but honestly, i doubt anyone noticed!

how did you interpret this color?  grab a button and add your link below, then join me back here tomorrow for paloma!  we'll be linking up with marissa wednesday-friday.

get this look:  similar dress / similar scarf / similar belt / exact flats

<div align="center">
<a href="http://literatelystylish.blogspot.com/" title="literate & stylish"><img src="http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a240/whatwedo/SpringPantone-InspiredColorChallengeButton3.png" alt="literate & stylish" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

malfunctioned.

 

mossimo dress {thrifted target stock}

old navy crepe  blouse   ·   merona bella flats

mossimo belt   ·   wifeysinger earrings {via etsy}

i got caught in the middle of a wardrobe malfunction this morning that i was certain wasn't going to end well - there is a zipper along the back of this dress and it caught in the fabric of the blouse as i was zipping it up and it wouldn't budge!  i couldn't get the dress over my head because it was zipped up too far and i couldn't wrangle out of the blouse because it only buttons halfway.  i was nearly ready to cut myself free, even if it meant ruining the blouse, because i needed to get to work!  the fabric finally came free from the teeth of the zipper before i reached for the scissors and the blouse appears to be in one piece... but what an ordeal this morning!  have you ever had to rip/cut/ruin a piece  of clothing because of a similar malfunction?  i'm so glad i didn't have to!

i am trying to think of other ways to wear this dress aside from with a navy blouse, cardigan, or blazer. i thought the mint looked nice to get me out of that rut and i have a green button-down i may try layering underneath it next. here's my tag for this dress if you want to see other ways i've worn it.  thanks for visiting!

get the look: similar dress / exact blouse / exact flats / similar belt / this season's scarf

linking up with andi's green week!

rewear.

old navy plaid shirt   ·   merona doubleweave skirt

chaps blazer {thrifted}   ·   merona bella flats

i've never been too concerned about waiting a certain length of time before i rewear items; i wore this button-down not even a month and a half ago and i'm already reaching for it again when i realized my orange skirt would bring out the orange in the plaid.  i hate the idea of buying something i really like and then only wearing it a couple times a year.  if my closet were smaller i'd wear all of my clothes more, sure, but i don't want to let too much time pass and then forget about certain clothes entirely... especially when i only have a few more months (fingers crossed) when i can wear flannel and long sleeves.

 

how do you balance the desire to show all your clothes equal attention but still appear as though you have a versatile wardrobe, even if it means only wearing a certain item a couple times a year?  does that matter to you much?  i think it's definitely a balance!

get the look:  exact button-down / exact skirt {similar in orange} / similar blazer / exact flats

a dress for a wedding.

 

ab studio ikat dress   ·   mossimo cocoon cardigan {thrifted target stock}
amiana booties   ·   target green belt {thrifted target stock}

a few weeks ago i solicited your advice on a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding in a few weeks.  i ended up not going with any of the dresses i'd originally highlighted when the one i liked the most ended up selling out in my size, but i quickly found another dress at a more reasonable price -- this one.  of course i'm not going to wait until the wedding to wear it for the first time, nor will that be the only time i wear it, as i think it will be a great dress to wear to work!  there are a lot of different colors to accent with and since our high temps this week are hovering around the low 50s i decided to dust off my tights and try this look with some olive colored booties and matching belt.

it will probably be just as chilly at the end of the month so i anticipate wearing black tights, black shoes, and a black blazer to the wedding.  honestly, i know no one is going to pay attention to what i'm wearing so i'm no longer worried if it's "wedding attire" enough!  i'm just glad to have found a fun dress at a decent price!

get the look:  exact dress / this season's cardigan / similar booties / similar belt

july 15th {husky}

old navy boy's poplin shirt   ·   merona doubleweave skirt

merona bella flats

i think button-downs are one of my favorite articles of clothing to wear.  they are so easy to throw on, especially ones like this that area pretty, colorful plaid.  it takes the guesswork out of what color bottom to pair with it {just pick one of the colors in the plaid!} or how to accessories {no need, the plaid is busy enough}.  even in the hot summer months, rolling the sleeves up like this keeps me cool enough while hiding my upper arms that i'm not always confident enough to show off.

this is a little boys shirt from old navy just like this one is that i wear often, but there is less puckering from my bust (oh my gosh, i hope no one ever googles that phrase and happens upon this post) along the placard as i ordered the "husky" version.  honestly, i would never suspect this shirt to be for a little boy and hopefully no one else would either unless they look closely and realize it buttons on the opposite side!  thanks for dropping by!

march 4th {neglected vera}

simply vera skirt {thrifted}   ·   merona tiered top

merona belt {thrifted target stock}   ·   inpink necklace

i am going to hit the ground running today as i join kate in finding items in my closet that have been neglected for far too long--something i haven't worn for a really long time or at all.  today's outfit features a mixture:

skirt:  thrifted in georgia last november (almost four months ago)
belt: thrifted a couple weeks ago (but not yet worn)
necklace: last worn seven months ago

yeah, i would say all of these items have definitely been neglected! honestly, i am not sure if i will keep the skirt around for very long as there doesn't seem to be a lot of options to wear with it aside from cream or gray, but we'll see.  thanks for visiting!