Breaking the Rules

I'm breaking the rules again today! I'm wearing white after Labor Day and I'm not matching my shoes to my hemline.

I've posted about this ponte knit white dress before (see initial review here).  You can see it styled here paired with gray, and here for a summery look paired with a coral blazer.  I recently wore it with a jean jacket, turquoise belt and booties for a very casual look that I will post soon.  It's been a great addition to my closet.  I was hesitant when I purchased it.  My stylist from Trunk Club suggested it, and I would never have considered it on my own.  White goes with everything though.  It can look as formal or casual as you want. And, contrary to passé rules, it can easily be worn all year long.

My cropped orange jacket is from J Crew.  It's been in my closet for a couple of years. It is made from a light wool herringbone fabric which helps make my white dress fall appropriate.  You can see it previously styled here with a houndstooth skirt, and here with a denim skirt.  The collarless style is so elegant and easy to wear.

Another passé rule is that your shoes and hemline should match.  Personally, I love the look of matching my shoes to my blouse or jacket, especially if it's a bright color.  I recently purchased these suede orange pumps to go with this jacket and a few other orange things in my closet.  I get lots of complements when I wear them, so that just reinforces my own "match shoes to jacket" rule!

Recreate the look:
White dress: Similar white sheath dress from Nordstrom
Orange pumps: Exact Marc Fisher Pumps
Orange blazer:  similar collarless orange jacket
Purse:  similar pre-owned one that's brown and black


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Little White Dress in fall

In August I blogged about the Little White Dress trend (see post here).  It seems like an easy choice in summer, but it can work in fall just as easily.  Back in August I paired this same white dress with a coral linen blazer with matching belt and strappy sandals.  Here, for fall I used the same formula, but with gray as my accent color and more fall friendly materials like these suede peep-toe booties.

 

I purchased this gray blazer last year at White House Black Market.  I like the updated stand up collar and lapel. It also has two shades of gray (but not 50 tee hee!) which gives it more interest while still being subtle.

 

You can read my review about my white dress that I got from Trunk Club here.  It's ponte knit so super comfortable.  These pictures are after a full day of work and there are no noticeable wrinkles either.  The label says dry clean only, but I just washed it at home with great results.  It shrunk a tad in length which was fine with me since I felt it was tad long anyway. This exact dress is still available and runs true to size.

 

These Nine West Booties are my favorite purchase of the year!  Swoon! See how I styled them with lavender pants here, and with a burgundy jacket here.  These exact booties are still available, and true to size.  

 

 

Recreate the look here:

Jacket - mine  is old from WHBM, similar 2 tone from JCrew, also this one with stand up collar from JCrew

Booties - exact Nine West Booties

White Dress - same brand and fabric as mine with cute waist detail

 

 

I use affiliate links in this blog. That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything. I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun. All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Many thanks!

 

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Coral Blazer 5 Ways

Here's my favorite coral blazer again.  I bought it last year at White House Black Market and had no idea what a wardrobe workhorse it would turn out to be. Even in such a bold color it has so much versatility. It easily pairs with black, white, blue, and tan which are the most common colors in my wardrobe.  I've worn it to work, I've worn it on date night, and I've worn it to casual events as well.

 

The cropped style and shawl collar let it stand out.  The 3/4 sleeves and linen blend fabric make it wearable for 3 seasons here in Houston. White House Black Market brings back many pieces year after year in a new colors or a slightly different cut. I kept my eye out for a repeat of this blazer all year, but no luck.

For Look 1, I paired it with a fit and flare knit dress that I got at Marshall's. It's in a heathered blue that makes it look like denim, and easy to dress down for weekends too.

Matching shoes also from WHBM and multi strand coral necklace from San Miguel complete the look.

 

Look 2: I've worn this bight jacket over a white dress with matching belt and shoes (see blog post).

 

 

Look 3: I've paired it with a nautical stripe dress for a patriotic look.

 

Look 4: I've worn it with a navy skirt and blouse, this time with brown studded sandals.

 

 

Look 5: And, I've worn it for date night with an embroidered bustier and black skirt.

 

 

Look 6 (bonus!): Paired with a matching knit top and white skirt with lace up leather sandals (See post). 

Black and White and Bold All Over

I love how black and white is effortlessly chic in any situation.  Here, I'm in my the little white dress I just got from Nordstrom via Trunk Club  (styled before here). This time I topped it with a black pin stripe blazer with short sleeves. I just buttoned the middle button and added a belt over the blazer. I've found that while models can pull off the belted blazer look effortlessly, I can only manage it with fitted blazers that are intended to be belted like this one!

The blazer is the top half of a two piece suit. I used to hang my suits in sets in my closet.  I always kept the blazer with the skirt or pants it came with.  About a year ago I tried separating my suits so I have just the blazers with all of my blazers and the skirt with my other skirts, etc.  I found that by doing that I found other ways to wear the pieces separately; giving me more unique outfits and more mileage out of my existing wardrobe.  It's been a great trick.

 

 

White Dress - Classiques Entier, available here it comes in four colors, regular and petite

Blazer - Tahari ASL (old)

Booties - Tahari (old)

 

I've had these black and white booties for many years; long before booties were all the rage and became trendy to wear with skirts and dresses. I still think they look better with Capri pants, trousers, or jeans, but I figured I'd give the trend a go.  I think booties with skirts work better on women with super skinny calves or really long legs.  I need that extra couple inches of skin to help elongate my legs!

 

 

Charity - I use affiliate links in this blog.  That means each time you click on a link to a product I get a few cents, even if you don't purchase anything.  I have a full time job and I keep this blog purely for fun.  All proceeds I make here I donate to charity, so please click away and know it's for a great cause! Also, please tell me what your favorite charities are in the comments.  I will donate to the ones that are most popular. Many thanks!

Little White Dress

Every one is familiar with the "little black dress."  It's a wardrobe staple that is appropriate for just about any occasion.  Lately though, the little white dress has become just as popular. 

Hallie over at Corals + Cognac just did a great post on how to wear a little white dress five ways. Her post just happened to coincide with my latest Trunk Club delivery that included none other than a little white dress.  Hallie's post made me decide to keep it, so here's my first attempt at the now ubiquitous little white dress.

This dress is that wonderful ponte knit that looks professional, but stretches like a t-shirt and doesn't loose its shape.  Lucky for me it comes in comes in petites too, so it hits at mid-knee without alterations (I'm 5'3" for reference).  It's from Nordstrom via Trunk Club available here. (Read about my fun with Trunk Club here and here).

My coral blazer is a linen blend, so it's cool enough to wear all summer, but doesn't wrinkle like linen.  I got it last year at White House Black Market along with these shoes and belt.

Here are a couple of other go anywhere white dresses:
Jackie O Dress  - I've read lot's of good reviews about this dress and it comes in several colors

Tahari Dress - One of my "go to" brands