copycat dress.

merona button down   ·   old navy ponte sheath dress

impo tesla booties   · forever 21 belt   ·  one wink necklace

{ similar button down / exact dress / similar belt / similar booties / similar necklace }

i am one of those people who doesn't mind drastic changes in the weather from week to week at all.  last week we had warm temps in the low 70s and this week it's 20-25 degrees cooler.  perfect opportunity to wear more outfits like this with tights, booties, and thicker weighted materials before "spring" hits.  it's hard to see, but there the pindots on the shirt are the same color as the pink belt.  :)

if this old navy dress looks familiar it's because i also have it in navy (review here, outfit here).  it fit so well that i had to buy it in a second color (this one is a charcoal gray) when i came upon it for a pretty good deal online.  i also just have to share a funny story: these booties get such a rise out of some of my older residents.  one of my memory care residents wheeled up to me in her wheelchair today and said, "WOW!"  i bent down and said, "do you like my shoes?" and she gave me the biggest nod and smile.  i said, "do you want to try them on?!"  and she vehemently said "no!" and wheeled right on by me.  haha!  i know i don't talk about my job a lot because hipaa and confidentiality (in fact, i probably shouldn't share that above story at all), but my residents lift me up so much.  i wrote in my five year diary right around a year ago, "i feel like a tool for goodness at work.  that feels amazing.  i thank god every minute for the love he lets me share, because i know i do share it and that it is received" - and i feel blessed that i continue to have interactions that resonate the way i felt a year ago.  i hope all of you, my dear readers, have equally as fulfilling jobs!

thanks so much for reading!

gray & purple

j crew factory peter pan top

j crew factory skirt {via thredup*}

impo tesla booties

this is a skirt i purchased in my last thredup order.  i'm always excited to find j crew skirts on thredup and this one started out at a pretty reasonable price.  believe it or not, i don't own a purple skirt so this one definitely found a nice home in my closet!  i owned this skirt a couple years ago in fluorescent yellow until i decided that color shouldn't have a place in my closet and promptly sold it on ebay - so i was happy to find it in another color for a cheaper price-tag.  i can't seem to stop wearing this heathered gray peter pan top either and thought it worked well with the purple.

get the look:  exact skirt (this season's colors) / similar top / exact booties

*join thredup through my referral link and you'll get $10 to spend; i receive $10 once you've made your first purchase!

dressed with a scarf.

merona fit & flare dress

world market scarf

impo tesla booties

i have to give a shout out to my pal katie for inspiring this outfit!  i couldn't sleep one night and was scrolling through my blog reader and saw her in this dress with matching black tights, booties, and a scarf and knew that's what i was going to wear the next day!  and just like that--done!  i think the size of the print in the scarf and the combination of colors works really well with the black & gray striped dress.  the only change i would have made was a different colored belt, but otherwise i was so pleased with this outfit!  

i'm really thankful that i felt so confident and comfortable in this outfit as well, as it got me through an hour long continuing education presentation, about five care conferences, and a bedside memorial with other staff at the nursing home where i work and family of a dying resident.  my job has been so crazy and emotional lately, but i always have more confidence to push through when i feel good about myself and what i'm wearing and this dress always does that for me!

get the look:  similar dress {with short sleeves} / similar scarf / exact booties / similar belt / similar earrings

the replacements.

 

 

old navy sweater & button-down

the limited skirt {thrifted}

impo tesla booties

one wink casted crystal necklace

last month, i mentioned i got rid of a few pairs of shoes, including this pair of fioni booties from payless.  i snagged them on ebay after having kept them in mind for years and years, seeing them on one of the first style bloggers i ever followed.  unfortunately, they were pinchy tight and uncomfortable and i didn't wear them that much!

i had some  reward money to use up at dsw by the beginning of the month, and after two trips to an actual store and multiple searches online, i finally bought both the necklace and the booties you see me wearing here.  black booties seem kind of like a boring purchase to me, kind of like toilet paper -- necessary, but money you'd rather spend on a new purse or something.  either way, i was happy to find a more simplistic style with lower heel that appealed to me for a reasonable price tag.  i've also been looking for a statement necklace with predominantly black/clear stones ever since this one arrived broken, so i was glad to also find one at dsw.com i could add to my order to qualify for free shipping!

it feels good  to make replacement purchases that i know will have much more staying power in my closet!  do you often get rid of specific items in your closet as you know you can replace them with a better alternative?

get the look:  similar sweater / similar skirt / exact booties / exact necklace