Because I use affiliate links on this site (I get a few cents each time you guys click a shopping link) I am able to see a dashboard of what items were the most clicked on each week. I think it's really interesting to see which clothing links you guys are engaged by and click a bunch. And then compare those to which ones you decide to pass over.
It's relatively easy for me to dump out the top clicked on items into a table like below. Is this something you would find useful/interesting to see periodically - so you could also see what is popular around these parts? And if so, what kind of frequency would be good to get the update - weekly, monthly? Or is this a bad/boring idea and you'd prefer the blog just to continue with the normal type posts?
Thursday, February 27, 2014
outfit post: mustard blouse, jacquard weave skirt, ankle boots
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Inspiration - H&M
I'm having lots of fun playing with different ways to wear my new skirt. (Wore it with navy sweater & tights here.) The H&M website has like five different tops paired with this skirt so I pinned all the pictures to Pinterest to recreate. Yay for options!
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
outfit post: pink knit sweater, black pencil skirt, black pointed toe pumps
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Inspiration - H&M
Wordless Wednesday. :)
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Monday, February 24, 2014
outfit post: green shirt dress, oatmeal cardigan, brown mary janes
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Inspiration - To Vogue Or Bust
Working on putting together my Germany trip packing list. Very very similar to my Minnesota one. I basically just dumped my suitcase out, washed everything, put it all back in plus a few extra things and left again. But I'll list it out because two weeks seems a lot different mentally when I'm packing then one. :)
I'm excited for spring! All this cold weather travel - makes me really appreciate wearing Florida allowing me to wear a dress & light cardigan in February. :)
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Saturday, February 22, 2014
outfit post: february 2014 shopping wishlist #2
Today's post is the next segment in the discussion about my shopping habits (first post here):
How do I decide to buy something?
When I go shopping I have my mental list of items I'm interested in finding. When I come across one of the items, or a cool new find I hadn't considered, I always try them on. I try to be super good about only only purchasing things that I really really love. Things that I get excited about when I try them on. Excited being when you do that little happy dance/twirl/pose in the mirror when you see yourself. Or when you like it even more then what you're wearing at the moment and wish you could change into it for the rest of your shopping day. Excited not being a discussion with yourself welllll mayyyybeee if I lose 5 lbs/stand up straight/try it on at home it might be okay. If you're talking yourself into it for any reason - pass.
When I'm doing a good job at only buying pieces I love, then I don't end up returning very many things. (I haaate returning things. I just don't often have time to go to stores twice in the return period.) But every so often I will realize something doesn't work and I will take it back. But that's a pretty infrequent occurrence. Less then once a year?
As far as factoring price into those happy-dance items - I'll pay a little more for things that I know I'll wear more often (jeans, blouses I really love) and things that should look nicer for big events at work (suits). But as a really rough estimate if something is worth the price - I calculate $1-2 per wear for normal clothes and $5-10 a wear for special occasions. So if I really like a $12 shirt at Target it'd be worth buying if I'd wear it 6-12 times (and if I'm at F21 - will it survive 6-12 washes!)... and likewise I could justify buying a nicer dress for $50 if I'd wear it to 5-10 special events... It's not a hard and fast rule - if I reeeeally love something I might just ignore it - but as an estimate tool, to figure out if something costs too much, it gives me a good starting place to make the decision...
- Lace Top - I like really like basics with a twist. White shirts go with everything but when you add a little lace it makes the outfit a little more special & interesting.
- Options I like: purchased this one, similar, similar
- Green Khaki Pants-I wear jeans all. the. time. So I'd like to find an alternative casual pant (full length or cropped) to throw on with a t-shirt & jean jacket to run around doing errands in.
- Chambray Dress - I wear my chambray shirts all the time. I think I would get a ton of wear out of a chambray/denim dress also. I could see wearing it with ankle boots and a knit cardigan this spring and with a metallic belt and colored flats all summer long. The one in the picture above is Target. I need to get myself to a store to try it on!
- Options I like: target love, F21, Old Navy, polka-dot
- Metallic Flats - I love my red round toe ballet flats. I think it would be fun to add a pair of pointed toe flats to my wardrobe. And metallic could be really cool done right.
- Options I like: tons of nine west options, bronze, cap-toe snake print
- Gold Studs - I had a Target pair of woven knots that turned green/gross. I'd like to keep my eye out for an understated nicer upgraded pair for work.
- Options I like: cute kate spade, similar, similar
- Printed Pant - I like the top half of my body better then then bottom half. So I'm always hesitant to draw too much attention to it. It took me forever to join the colored pant club but I eventually did with blue pants and purple pants. Both of which I wear a ton. So I am thinking about branching out into some printed pants this summer. It'd have to be just the right pair.
- Blue Cardigan - I love cobalt blue. I have a cardigan addiction. Realized I have light blue/teal and navy cardigans but no royal or cobalt blue. Should probably fix that.
- Mirrored Sunglasses- My sister has a pair of green mirrored Ray-Bands. I love love love mirrored lenses. I want to steal them from her. Probably would be better just to buy my own. Maybe in blue?
- Navy Pumps - Now that I have my navy suit I think a pair of navy pumps would be a good work closet addition. I think navy can look so sophisticated done right. I particularly like it with greys, bright pinks & kelly greens...
Friday, February 21, 2014
outfit post: navy zipper sweater, jacquard weave skirt, black riding boots
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Inspiration - Kenzas
Wore this on the last Friday of my Germany trip. Little more casual then I typically dress onsite with client but I knew from previous Friday that everyone else would be in jeans - so I figured it was okay. (And the tights I wore to work were completely opaque but I accidentally ripped those so this picture is in normal tights that are sorta sheer. With darker tights I felt better about the skirt length.)
I feel like planning clothing for winter work is so utilitarian. I'm always focused on keeping warm so I lose a lot the fun that can be part of getting dressed. So it gets a little boring. I really liked adding a fun patterned skirt in a twirly shape to my normal uniform of pants & sweaters and more sweaters & pants.
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Thursday, February 20, 2014
outfit post: patterned wrap dress, black pointed toe pumps
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Inspiration - DVF
I went to the mall with my little sister, who is a college senior lining up a series of interviews for her first 'big girl' job, to help her look for appropriate interview attire. And while we were in Banana Republic I couldn't help but look around myself and I found a wrap dress that I love! (Had it listed in my February Shopping Wishlist post.)
I meant to style the dress with either fun colored shoes or fun colored accessories - but these past few weeks of travel to both Minnesota & Germany, plus lots of social events (super bowl party, grandpa's 81st, junior league charity event, college roommate reunion - some a few hours drive away), plus the normal full work schedule - my brain is starting to short circuit a bit. All I could manage this morning in my delirium was a dress, bracelet & necklace. It was quite a feat to not pull the covers over my head and refuse to come out. But it's nothing a few good nights of sleep and some downtime won't fix! :)
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Wednesday, February 19, 2014
outfit post: pink check shirt, grey cashmere sweater, black pants
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Inspiration - Actor Brian J. O'Donnell (found googling 'pink check shirt')
Over the two weeks I was in Germany I noticed that lots of the guys I worked with would wear plaid shirts, layered sweaters and work pants as a basic daily uniform. They looked professional, comfortable and stylish. I'm always one to jump into things guys are up to if it suits my needs - so I put together this outfit to mimic the 'boys club' look. Added a fun pink color check and a pretty necklace to girly it up a little bit. :)
After I wrote a whole post about how I curate my shopping list last weekend - I had the opportunity to stop by the H&M in Heidelberg after work one day. I didn't come across anything I mentioned in the list but I did find quite a few other things. So to be more accurate I need to go back to that shopping post and add an asterisk that says, "I mostly shop for these things in this way by making a list blah blah blah... unless I go rogue and impulse shop."
Here is what I purchased at H&M on my impulse trip:
- Pink check shirt (from this post - can't find shirt on site)
- Grey cashmere sweater (so soft!)
- Pink knit sweater
- Turquoise knit sweater
- Jacquard weave skirt
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Tuesday, February 18, 2014
outfit post: white puffer vest, white long sleeved shirt, black skinny jeans, brown riding boots
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Inspiration - Lilly Pulitzer
I think puffer vests are so cute but they confuse me a little bit. When it's cold enough to wear a vest then I feel like its cold enough to want thick sleeves on my arms as well. But I see lots of cute outfits with light shirt layered under the puffer vest. I wore this on a day that went from chilly to quite warm and ended up removing the vest half-way through the day. Any thoughts on how to wear a vest like this and in what kind of temperature ranges?
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Monday, February 17, 2014
outfit post: striped shirt, cognac jacket, rockstar skinny jeans, mustard scarf, black ankle booties
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Inspiration - See Jane
Finally made it home! I got to the Frankfurt airport early Friday morning to find my flight home through Charlotte was cancelled due to weather. So they had automatically rebooked me on the same flight on Monday. Um, Monday? After waiting in a million lines I was able to get a flight to a different Florida airport early Saturday morning. (The new flight went through "Dusseldorf" which for a moment thought was "Dumbledor" which would have been awesome for a Harry Potter geek like me.) So I spent the night at a hotel next to Frankfurt airport and had myself a romantic Valentine's dinner for one.
Thankfully travel on Saturday was smooth. I arrived in Florida, rented a car and was able to make my Grandfather's 81st birthday dinner with about an hour to spare! Yay!
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Here are some airport snaps from my travel days:
Friday, February 14, 2014
outfit post: white lace top, rockstar skinny jeans, red flats
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Inspiration - Olivia Palermo
Just got a call that might flight through Charlotte home this morning is cancelled due to weather. Going to head to the Fankfurt airport anyway to see if they will send me to the US via another route. Fingers crossed! Might be doing some airport camping. Not sure if I'll be able to get any other posts up this weekend. Will try to resume normal posting on Monday! :)
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Thursday, February 13, 2014
outfit archive update - by seasonal temps
You can find the new groupings using the links here or by navigating using the menu bar above. Hope this is helpul!
- Fall/Winter (2011/2012)
- Spring/Summer (2012)
- Fall/Winter (2012/2013)
- Spring/Summer (2013)
- Fall/Winter (2013/2014)
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
outfit post: navy zipper sweater, blue pinstripe button down, grey dress pants
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Inspiration - The Limited
I've been repeating my warmest & favorite clothes lots and lots lately. Mostly because I've been living out of a suitcase for three of the last four weeks. But, as a general life rule not just a traveling guideline, I think it's fine to get tons of wear out of classic neutral items. I'm all for wearing the same sweater a few times in a week for a few weeks in a row. I think because things like this navy sweater is an understated items - when you re-wear it, it is less obvious you're on repeat then if you wore trendy bright item like say a embellished pink sweater. When I get busy with work and have less time to think about clothes - or I don't have lots of options in my suitcase - I'm totally fine with wearing a small set of the exact same outfits for weeks on end.
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014
outfit post: purple striped sweater vest, white button down shirt, grey dress pants
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Inspiration - Jenna Ficher
I need to get back on track with my New Years resolution to drop a few pounds. I don't feel too bad about my body being a little heavier then normal until I try to wear pants that I have owned for past ten years and all of a sudden they are super tight with crotch whiskers. It would be so stupid to have to buy a whole new wardrobe when I have a perfectly good one already.
I haven't had much luck with working out here in Germany. No gym in the building, incredibly long work days (excuses, excuses) and delicious things like Schnitzel for dinner. Whoops. Back on track when I get home on Friday!
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Monday, February 10, 2014
outfit post: polka dot blouse, black pencil skirt, black pointed toe pumps
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Inspiration - J.Crew
Egg-zackly same outfit as this post from last week but with different top.
I've had a great time so far on my work trip Heidelberg. I am working with a great team of people for this project, I was able to see some cools sites this weekend (castle!!) & I've been working learning a few German phrases - but with a week to go - getting a little homesick for the hubby and the furries. My plan is to focus on getting lots of work accomplished, eating as much schnitzel as possible and hopefully before I know it - it'll be time to head home to Florida. :)
(Sorry about the delay in responses/comments - internet can be spotty at my hotel. I'll try to respond to everything latest next week!)
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Saturday, February 8, 2014
outfit post: february 2014 shopping wishlist
Over the past few months I've gotten a lot of questions around my shopping habits. How do I decide what to buy? How much do I spend? How frequently do I shop? I thought I'd try to walk through a few of these questions in a couple of posts to share my thoughts, habits & preferences with you for those who are interested.
First off - how do I decide what to buy?
The way I organize my outfit inspiration photos is to dump them in seasonal Pinterest folders. Basically fall/winter & spring/summer. Any outfit photo that contains colors, shapes, ideas or similar items to those that I already own and is even remotely possible to use for outfit inspiration get saved.
Oftentimes I find super cute outfits that I would love to recreate but unfortunately I don't own anything slightly similar. Those pictures get saved in a "shopping ideas" folder. Over time I will notice trends to the items in the shopping folder - pieces of clothing that I can see being used in a lot of different ways and owning them would add some specific dimension currently missing from my wardrobe. Those items with both multiple pins & multiple uses get added to my short list of things I keep my eye out for when I'm shopping.
I thought I'd share the items at the top of my current list with you. (I've already purchased three of them between when I jotted down items to list in this post and this actual posting.) The 'similar' links below are items similar to the ones in the image above.
- White Blazer - I love that adding a blazer on top of basic boring clothing pieces magically pulls them all together and transforms the look from separate items into an "outfit". I currently own black, grey & navy blazers and basically only wear them for work. I have been wanting to incorporate a fun relaxed blazer into my casual looks and I think a light, bright casual white one could be a good jumping off point - especially for spring.
- Options I like: classic, interesting collar, ex-boyfriend, classic (also in navy polka-dot)
- White Pointed Toe Pumps - The addition of pointed toe black pumps to my wardrobe a few months ago gave lots of my favorite work outfits an updated feel. I think a fun pair of pointed toe pumps in white would do the same for some of my favorite casual outfits.
- Options I like: similar, similar, similar, similar, ankle strap, color blocked
- Trench Coat - Love love love a classic trench coat. I have a navy one from Banana Republic that is about 12 years old that I have worn to death and now has ripped lining, missing belt and some mysterious stains. I would love to find a upgraded replacement.
- Contrast Collar Shirt - I am always on the hunt for fun work clothes. My husband has a few button-down dress shirts that have contrasting collars and I think he looks super sharp when he wears them. Women's version of the same shirt were all over the runway - which means they will be popping up in the stores this spring.
- Options I like: love - pink & blue, similar, scalloped collar blouse, expensive (Theory)
- Printed Wrap Dress - These dresses always seem to find their way onto "50 items every women must own" type lists. They are great for work, social events and just being casually fabulous. I love DVF's patterns & colors but the price point is pretty steep.
- Options I like: classic dream dress (DVF expensive), similar, similar, similar
- Neutral Sheath Dress - Some days my brain isn't functioning in the morning when I'm getting dressed for work and I lose all ability to think critically about what sort of impression a particular outfit will have. This often happens when traveling for work and I am very low on sleep but I need to look polished & professional for an important meeting. I think suit/sheath dresses are the best no-brainer un-screw-up-able option. Put on one piece (plus perhaps a cardigan/jacket) and you're done.
- Options I like: purchased from Banana (navy), similar, similar, similar, similar
- Gold Link Necklace & Bracelet - I am slowly trying to upgrade some of my work appropriate jewelry from Target & Forever 21 type to better quality classic pieces. I think a basic set of gold chain necklace & bracelet is a great place to start.
- Options I like necklace: purchased from Stella & Dot, similar, similar
- Options I like bracelet: purchased from Stella & Dot, similar, similar
- Navy Pencil Skirt - Navy pencil skirts can be core work wardrobe workhorses. They go with everything. I have black, grey, brown, mustard & patterned pencil skirts but no navy. So I was on the lookout. In this post I talk about how I decided to make the jump and buy a full navy suit - the jacket, skirt, trousers and sheath dress. (Tried the straight legged pants first and the cut didn't look good on my body at all. But the trouser cut was cute.)
- Options I like: purchased from Banana, similar, similar, old navy denim
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