Showing posts with label closet staples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label closet staples. Show all posts

Wednesday, 7 October 2015

fall closet staple: the blazer!

It's no secret around here that I am a blazer fanatic… I'm guessing a few of my you gals reading right now are too.  In my opinion there is a blazer for every occasion and an occasion for every blazer.  I definitely could wear this closet staple everyday… especially this time of year.  Blazers are the absolute perfect transitional wear… which means for me they get heavy wear in the spring and especially the fall.

I love that you can layer a blazer over a tank, tee or even a sweater… so you can really customize your outfit for the seasons and your style effortlessly.  Here are eight of my favorite blazer looks that I have worn here on the blog… PLUS my top picks for blazers that are in stores this fall. There are seriously SO. MANY. GORGEOUS. OPTIONS.  It's darn near impossible to even choose a favorite here… but tweed, velvet and houndstooth have got to take the cake here.  But all of these are gorgeous and classic pieces that would be perfect in any fall wardrobe.   What are your favorites? I'd love to hear!



or shop the pieces below…



Thursday, 20 August 2015

closet staple: military-inspired vest!

When I randomly picked up this military-inspired vest over two years ago I never thought it would be as versatile as it has turned out to be.  It's been a real gem.  It's been a life-saver for adding a little extra something-something to an outfit no matter the season.

As you can see below, I've worn this vest spring, summer, fall and winter.  It's one of only a handful of items in my closet that can truly be worn all four seasons with ease. It's perfect to layer with sweaters, dresses, chambray and I especially love it with the faux fur collar! I can't wait to try that again this fall.


Or shop the pieces below…

Thursday, 23 July 2015

handbag basics...

A good handbag or purse can really pull an outfit together - we all know that, right!?! There is something that carrying a gorgeous handbag does both to an outfit and to the gal wearing it.  It feels great to carry a beautiful bag. There is no doubt about that.

About three years ago I made a promise to myself to start investing in quality handbags from there on out.  A gorgeous handbag isn't always an easy acquisition. If you are on a budget you really have to shop the sales and be mindful about your purchase.  But I honestly believe it is one of the best investments you can make for your wardrobe.  Once you own a beautiful leather bag that is butter soft and looks and feels luxurious, you will know you can never go back!  Not to mention that a high quality leather bag will last nearly forever.  So it's an investment that definitely pays off.   Especially when you stick to classic colors and shapes that live through the trends.

These are a few of my favorites styles that I rely heavily upon in my wardrobe. I don't own a ton of handbags but the ones I do own I absolutely LOVE.

tote bag: left | right
black satchel: left (on sale!) right (on sale!)
cream satchel: left (on sale!) | right (on sale!)
black cross-body bag: left | right (on sale!)
bucket bag: left (on sale!) | right
burgundy cross-body: left (on sale!) | right (on sale!)
camel satchel: left (on sale!) | right (on sale!)

What is your favorite handbag style? Do you believe in investing in quality handbags too?
(on another note… I have a girlfriend that got one of these and says she'll never carry another bag besides it - do you agree?)

Thursday, 16 July 2015

closet staples: how to style a summer tunic!

Today I am pulling some inspiration together on how to style summer tunics.  As I mentioned earlier this week… tunics have quickly become a mainstay in my summer wardrobe. They can be paired with shorts and jeans alike and on top of that they are perfect over swimwear for the summer.  So they can really be a workhorse in your closet in the spring and summer.

I have used tunics as a kind of "cheat" a lot so far this summer.  While they are laid back, they are also a tailored piece that makes an outfit look instantly pulled together.  So every time I throw them on I feel like a little bit more dressed up than maybe I really am.  Which is always a bonus.


one, white tunic - on sale!
two, pale blue - on sale!
three, grey/white striped - under $30!
four, lilac - under $30!
five, black/white striped - under $15!

tip: pair these tunics with your favorite cut off shorts, white jeans, distressed jeans or over a swimsuit!

~~~

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Thursday, 9 July 2015

closet staple: white shorts!

White shorts are on serious repeat for me during the summer.  They are easy to throw on and can be mixed and matched with just about any top for an easy summer look.  Here are a few of my favorite ways to style white shorts…

What are some of yours?

white denim cut-offs (similar) with a navy sweater (similar) and bold bracelet (similar)

white twill shorts (similar) with a striped top (similar) and nude sandals (similar)

white denim cut-offs (similar) with a chambray top (similar)

white denim cut-offs (similar) with an oxford (similar) and navy blazer (similar) and add a classic watch too!

white twill shorts (similar) with a grey tank and dainty bracelet


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Friday, 26 June 2015

closet staple: military-inspired jacket!

One of my staple jackets - pretty much for any season - is this military-inspired jacket… I love to layer it up with sweater, tees, tanks, oxfords, you name it.  It goes with absolutely everything in my closet and it's comfortable to the max.  So it's no surprise it gets ton of wear.  

Here are a number of ways I have worn it… not all of these styles are for summer, but it speaks to the versatility of this piece, for sure.

Enjoy the inspiration and see my top picks for this style of jacket at all price points below…

Military-inspired jacket (save $ | spend $$ | splurge $$$)



above: jeans, bag - on sale!, sweater, similar flats



above: shorts, tank, shoes

above: bag

Thursday, 18 June 2015

closet staples: sneakers!

Like I mentioned last week, once a week I want to pull back from the new-new-new and really focus in on what the staples in my closet are right now.  While I, like most gals, just absolutely love getting new clothes and shopping in general. There is equal joy in pulling out an old favorite from the closet… especially when you know that the pieces that you have in your closet already fit you great, integrate into your wardrobe and your life well and of course, make you feel good when you are wearing them!

These sneakers have become an absolute necessity in my life! I don't know how I lived without them before… they are great for busy moms and weekends, farmers market and toting around town, sporting events and any time you have to walk for far. I just love 'em.  Here are some of my favorite ways I have worn them in the past!

If you are looking for a pair, these are from J.Crew… they don't make this EXACT color anymore but they still have very cool styles… HERE or HERE.  Nordstrom also has very similar pairs to these but they keep selling out, so if they don't have your size, check back. They can be found HERE, they also have some other fun colors here and here if you like bright and bold.

above: jeans & bag

above: jeans & bag






So what do you think? Are you loving sneakers too? 

Friday, 12 June 2015

closet staples: the little black jacket!

I'm quitting blogging as I know it.

After blogging for about 7 years now, I can honestly look back and say that I found my personal style over the years by "playing" with clothes right here on the blog.  There are times when I look back at old posts and cringe… those styles weren't "me" they were very often who I thought I should be at that time in my life.  I am thankful for that bad style because I know that life is a lesson lived and learned daily - but there is also a part of me that is sad for wasting time on styles that I knew weren't "me" but that I admired on other women.

Lately I am much more no-nonsense with my clothes. I know what I like. I know what I feel good in. I don't care if I wear the same jeans for a whole week or the same top over and over. If I love it, I'm going to wear it.   I always think of Vera Wang and her commitment to wearing the same style of black leggings every day because that is what she likes and what she feels comfortable in. Or the art teacher in high school that I adored that only wore black and accessorized with different bold jewelry each day.  THESE women know themselves and more importantly these women know that clothes help make the woman but the clothes aren't the woman.  Sometimes it's necessary to take a risk in fashion, and sometimes it's completely unnecessary.

I think you can still have really great personal style while sticking to a tight palette.

Maybe you have noticed around here that my clothes aren't always new, flashy or ultra trendy. I have found my happy place with clothes.  Some of you think what I wear is boring (and have voiced that not so kindly in the comments - no thank you.) and others of you breathe a sigh of relief when you click on my blog and see an outfit you relate to and could see yourself wearing on a daily basis (and have voiced that very kindly in the comments - thank you!).

So I officially quit blogging outfits that I don't feel comfortable in. I quit following trends that don't work for me. I quit wearing clothes that don't feel good on me.

I can promise you with plenty of confidence that the outfits you see here and will see here aren't that exciting. They aren't the latest trends, from closets full of expensive shoes and purses that would make a normal person gasp for air at the price tag, full of clothes I bought just so I can have my picture in them or featuring the "IT" bold color and patterns of the season.  That is not me. That is not most women.  Those styles aren't bad… I like to look at them too! I just don't gravitate towards them when I am getting dressed on a regular Tuesday.

I've found as I grow older that when I quit the things that don't work, it feels amazing! It opens me up to so much more in life and in my creativity.

With that in mind, I'm going to start a new series called 'closet staples' where I round up the pieces I wear a lot, love a lot and depend on in my wardrobe and feature them together as inspiration. I've done this before on the blog and I want to make it a regular series.  My hope is that these posts will help us style up the staples that we wear a lot, or the investment pieces we want to make sure we wear a lot. And of course that they will give us plenty of outfit inspiration so that getting dressed each day is easy and fun.

Daily outfit posts will be limited… but serious day-to-day inspiration will NOT be.  I want this to be a place where we feel beautiful and confident but not at a serious cost to our true selves.

~~~

A black jacket… of all sorts, is a definite go-to in my wardrobe.  The three that I own get worn constantly… a black leather jacket, a black ponte blazer (like a very thick cotton/poly blend) and a black wool blazer. It doesn't even matter the season usually… (except for the wool) a little jacket can always come in handy!  Here are some of my favorite ways to style a little black jacket…

Black on black… so easy! (similar jacket, jeans, shoes, bracelets, tank top)

Black with white jeans… one of my favorite spring into summer combos! (similar jacket, jeans, flats, bag, bracelet via Rocksbox, get your first month free with code: jillggxoxo)

Black with the classics: leopard shoes and a white blouse! (similar jacket, similar flats)

Black with a white tank for summer! (similar jacket, jeanstank top, sandals, milly bag, similar bracelet)

Black jacket with boyfriend jeans! (similar jacket, peplum topbag, jeans, shoes)

Black with a grey tee an ankle boots! (similar jacket, grey tee, necklace via Rocksbox, get your first month free with code: jillggxoxo)

A little black jacket over your favorite dress! (similar jacket, dress, bag)

Is a little black jacket one of your closet staples too? How do you like to wear it?

Wednesday, 10 June 2015

summer staple: the little white dress!

Each summer I am pulled like a magnet to all the sweet and spunky little white dresses that are on the market.  The pull to these dresses is likely that the window in which to wear them is so small… but also because they are just so versatile. You can dress them up with heels, or down with sandals or even sneakers.  Simply popping a blazer or denim jacket on over top of a little white dress pulls the look together or makes it more weather appropriate as needed.  And don't stop there… the options are limitless with accessories and jewelry as well.

I hope you have fun wearing a little white dress this summer!