embracing a neutral.

ab studio dress   ·  old navy open-front cardigan

fergalicious 'irene' heels   ·  target belt

{ similar dress / exact cardigan / similar heels / similar belt }

i purchased this cardigan in a recent old navy order because it will complete a look i want to put together for an upcoming trip.  i almost never purchase an entirely new outfit for an event (unless i need a dress to wear to a wedding but those events are rare), but even if i had this cardigan is already proving its place in my closet!

i went through a phase years ago where i got rid of my "neutral" cardigans because i didn't want to blend in with so many working women i interacted with who typically wore neutral colors like black head to toe.  i still feel like all-black outfits are a default i want to avoid but i am working gray and tan back into my closet and in doing so have realized that they definitely have a place there.  this cardigan is nice and lightweight and i love the openness that gives it a different look.  and i'm realizing how many items i have that this tan cardigan matches with like the top i wore a couple friday's ago and today's dress!

primary.

merona head to toe

thanks everyone on your support on my post the other day. your comments were so sweet and supportive and really gave me that extra push to get back to a place where i am happier with myself and it helps knowing i'm no the only one going through these issues!

i felt great in this outfit and loved the addition of the yellow belt and matching yellow flats. i haven't felt like i've been taking many color risks lately so i grabbed a matching yellow belt out of a big box where all of my belts currently live in a tangled up mess.  i really liked the outcome with the orange and navy.

linking up with andi & kate's navy week. thanks for visiting!

get the look:  exact cardigan / similar button down / similar skirt / exact belt / exact flats

candy colored.

  

old navy blouse   ·   merona skirt & belt

born pretty necklace (c/o)   ·   dexter flats

the online jewelry and accessories retailer born pretty recently sent over this necklace for me to review and i have been pretty excited to put an outfit together with it.  i love colorful statement necklaces, so this is a great addition to my jewelry collection.  the candy colored stones offer a starting point for many combinations of outfits--actually, i'm sure it would look great with any solid colored top!

if you're interested in some new jewelry for yourself, be sure to check out born pretty's jewelry & accessories page.  there is so much to choose from!  they are also offering 10% off your purchase with the code "HAT10."  happy shopping!

get the look:  similar blouse / exact skirt / exact necklace / exact belt / exact flats

june 11th {perfectly plaid}

merona lawn shirt & skirt & belt

cl by chinese laundry whitnee sandals

am i dressed in enough color today!?  i know, i couldn't help myeslf.  i also have to draw attention to these sandals.  i am not an open-toed shoe kind of lady but as each spring rolls around i find myself searching for a pair anyway, maybe to revolt from my feet having been in tights for so many months.  these were a splurge on amazon (i literally stalked them in my shopping cart for a week until one pair was remaining in my size) but i'm really happy with them. it's nice to know i can still push myself out of my comfort zone but be happy with the end result.

thanks for dropping by!

may 29th {we love target accessories}

mossimo sweater {thrifted}   ·   handmade (by me) skirt

merona emma flats   ·   target necklace & belt

 

we love target accessories, do we not?  one of the first areas of the store i veer towards whenever i go to target is the accessories section.  i love finding clearance necklaces and scarves, and sometimes i find pretty good deals on purses and bags, too.  this necklace is just another example of all of the identical target items my friend whitney and i have in our respective closets.  see the other ways i have worn it here.  and be sure to head on over to her blog to see how she wore hers & link up your outfit to show off whatever target accessory you are wearing today!

 

{sorry about the frumpy, stretched out sweater... it got very humid & i got very hot by the end of the day!}

 

tomorrow whitney and i will be wearing the same pair of shoes from target, which if i think about it would have gone really well with this skirt (another easy elastic-waist skirt i made a couple weeks ago.  if anyone is wondering, i go by this tutorial but as you can see, i make an actual waistband to cover the elastic and sometimes i skip the pockets).  we'll be linking up our target shoe posts here at my blog tomorrow, so be sure to come on back!

 

 

may 27th {we love target... tops!}

merona lace popover blouse  ·   handmade (by me) skirt

mossimo pearce pumps {thrifted target stock}

welcome to day one of the we love target link-up whitney from along the lines of style and i are hosting.  be sure to head on over to her blog to add your link!  today we are featuring tops and we are both showing off our merona popover lace blouses.  i tell you, i have been yearning for a lace top for a while.  i thought i had found the perfect one when i bought an xhilaration lace blouse, but it is unlined. so, my search continued and target came though for me again with this merona blouse.  i think it's utterly perfect and i'm sure many of you who also own it probably agree.  what are your other favorite tops from target?

http://alongthelinesofstyle.com

may 13th {colorful in floral}

old navy surplus roll-up shirt    ·   merona iconic floral scarf

calvin klein skirt {thrifted}   ·   dexter kylie wedges

i am slowly working on adding colorful, printed scarves to my collection.  on monday mornings such as this, it is the perfect accessory to build an outfit around that requires minimal thought but looks as thought it was created with much more effort.  i stuck with a basic navy skirt and navy wedges to tone down the floral print and other colors i incorporated, but if i were feeling bold i would have worn my magenta wedges.  one of these days i'll work them into an outfit, one of these days!  until then, i'll keep looking to jess for inspiration {that girl knows how to rock the magenta wedges}.

thanks for visiting!

may 9th {bullseye!}

merona doubleweave skirt & skinny belt {both thrifted target stock}

merona floral scarf    ·   gap cardigan {thrifted}   ·   merona emma flats

if this isn't the easiest outfit i've ever put together, i don't know what is.  the scarf and the shoes were ridiculous deals from target yesterday, so why not wear them right away.  have you used your target coupons yet?!  these shoes were an online return priced at $9.06, you can do the math to what they came to after using my $5 merona shoe coupon.  i know!  i also used my $5 off accessory purchase of $20 or more on two clearanced scarves, including this one, and a tote {mine's emerald green} that was marked down to $8.98 {what?!} bottom line:  one pair of flats, two scarves, giant tote for $23.  have you gotten any deals at target lately?

speaking of target, i spotted two new pencil skirts today... restraint, stay with me!

april 10th {belted blazer}

isaac mizrahi blazer {thrifted}   ·   old navy oxford   ·   old navy flats {thrifted}

limited scarf {thrifted}    ·   merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}

i am so happy with this outfit!  if only i were wearing different shoes and the lining of the skirt wasn't showing i would have felt unstoppable but, well, this is what i really wore and how i really looked.  :)  i saw a woman at ikea over the weekend wearing a blazer belted with a skinny yellow belt and a floral scarf, jeans, and boots, and i loved how put together she looked.  i didn't think that i could recreate the look with my limited scarf options, but somehow this outfit came together.  i picked up this blazer over the weekend as well from the goodwill, brand new with the back vent still sewn shut, for less than $5.  a great gray blazer has been lacking from my blazer collection, so i was so happy to finally find a nice, fitted one at the GW.  thanks for dropping by!

january 11th {merona}

merona button-down {thrifted}   ·   merona cecila skirt

merona erin mary janes   ·   merona skinny belt

today i clearly wore merona everything, even down to the tights - and the belt for the second day in a row.  oops.  you'll see when i post my week in review post this weekend.  i also have to say, i get more compliments on these shoes than possibly any other pair i own and people are pretty astonished to hear they are from target!  they are turning into major faves and i have a goal to add more colored heels to my closet this year... i think other people find that they're really fun too, i mean how often do you see people wearing green shoes?  but i have to agree.  have a great weekend!