fall must haves 2014: loafers!

Loafer style shoes are so classic for fall and this season there are some great loafer-inspired styles that I am really loving.  While it will be sad to see sandals go along with the excuse that a pedicure is absolutely necessary this time of year - these cute shoes make me okay with putting my toes under wrap until spring.

Loafers are this season's must-have flat shoe. I love how they can be dressed up or down… you can wear them weekends and to the office and just about everywhere in between.

above: one, two, three, four, five, six

Loafers can add a great sophisticated vibe to a simple sweater and jeans combo… or are fun to pair with a dress and leather jacket for a weekend look.

above: jeans, sweater, loafers, necklace, ring, purse

above: denim shirt dress, moto jacket, flats, earrings, bag

my everyday style: scalloped shorts three ways!

These scalloped shorts were love at first sight and love at first wear.  The sweet little scallop at the bottom hem makes for a fun addition to any outfit.   I know that this time of year the blog is a little schizophrenic… one day I'm talking about fall sweaters and the next I am wearing shorts.  So bear with me here, because while I am shopping for fall now (my absolute favorite!) there is still plenty of time to don our favorite summer pieces.  The warm weather even in Michigan is sticking around for a while.

Here I styled these shorts into three fun looks… one a little more dressed up and perfect for a date night, one a perfect weekend layered look and one a perfect everyday look with a chambray top.

(photos by Jennifer Ketchum)

top look:
Peplum Top, J.Crew Factory (similar or similar)
Necklace, J.Crew (similar or similar)
Sandals, J.Crew (similar or similar less expensive)

middle look:
Denim Jacket, American Eagle - ℅ (old, but similar)
"hello" tee, J.Crew (similar, similar or similar SUPER cute)
Sneakers, Superga

bottom look:
Chambray Top, J.Crew
Sandals, Loeffler Randal via Zappos.com - ℅

Scalloped Shorts, Gap (similar or similar)

fall must haves 2014: grey-black jeans!

Fall is knocking on our doors and while it's sad to see the lazy days of summer go… fall clothes always seem to make up for it.  For the next few weeks I'll review what's on my "must-haves" list for fall and showcase my top picks for those trends and offer a few tips on how to style them as well.  

Today I am featuring grey/black jeans… and this is one trend that I am super excited about this fall. I am a tried and true blue jean lover, but this season I am excited to try out hues in greys and blacks and in between.  These styles seem to be popping up at a lot of retailers lately and I love the laid-back rocker chic vibe these jeans exude.   And while jeans are always "in" every fall - it's fun to have a new style to add to my wardrobe.

What are you thinking of the grey/black jeans trend… you in? 

above: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Grey jeans mix and match with the other neutrals in your closet to make sophisticated looks for everyday wear. I love the idea of pairing grey or black jeans with camel, leopard, burgundy and gold accents for fall.

(above: jeans, sweater, shoes, bag, rings)

(above: jeans, earrings, tee, shoes, blazer, clutch)

 Stay tuned for more must-haves over the coming days! 

cheap thrills for fall with Forever 21!

Who doesn't love a rock bottom bargain from time to time? I always like to look in at Forever 21 a couple times a year to see what fun pieces they are offering for the season.  While I try to keep my wardrobe minimalist and high quality there is always room for a fun find at a really great price.

Checking out F21's site most recently I was pleasantly surprised to see some really classic pieces in great silhouettes for fall.  Any of these pieces I would be thrilled to add to my closet and all of them would be really versatile for fall.  Don't you think?

1. nude flats 2. dolman sweater (I can never have enough of these) 3. navy blazer (love the cut on this) 4. open front duster jacket (LOVE!) 5. baseball tee 6. striped scarf 7. chevron necklace (obsessed) 8. midi ring set (new fascination of mine) 9. black d'orsay flats 10. tote

And the best thing… shopping online allows you to skip that terribly loud music in store (am I alone?!? I can hardly think straight with music at that volume! Or am I showing my age!?!?).

my everyday style: washed out!

One sure thing (out of the million things) I will miss about summer? White.  Sure there are "winter whites" and I have been known to indulge in them… but white is the ultimate neutral all summer and I rely on it heavily for my everyday outfits.

I love that I can pair all these "washed out" colors together and make an outfit out them.  No browns, blacks or burgundy's are necessary.

(photos by Jennifer Ketchum)

Details:

Shorts, Old Navy - ℅ old (similar)

Chambray Top, J.Crew Factory

Sweater, J.Crew (similar)

Sandals, Loeffler Randal via Zappos.com - ℅ (in gold, silver, or two-tone)

Bag, J.Crew (cute navy bag also)

Watch, Daniel Wellington - ℅ 

personal style: find yours!

Finding your personal style is the key to making your style and your closet work for you.  It can really focus your spending and shopping habits; making for an easier getting dressed experience each day.  For my on-going personal style series I like to focus on 5 different types of styles and then give examples of what those styles might look like and how to achieve the look.  

As we focus on the end of summer and the beginning of fall, simple and transitional pieces are key… shorts and dresses are on their way out, but tons of layers aren't necessary yet.  Here I broke down my five favorite styles.  Often times our styles will overlap a little or we will find that we relate to two types of styles.  That is totally normal and gives your style it's own personal flair.  For more of these types of posts click here for the archives… or find great resources on my Pinterest boards as well: boho, casual, classic, modern, preppy.

Boho

Boho is carefree and relaxed, often overtly feminine and plays off of lots of unique details to make this look successful.  Details like lace, floral and fringe can be added with closet basics like white tees and denim shorts to pull off this look.

get the boho look: jeans, tee, bag, shoes, sunglasses, ring (image)

Casual

Laid back and relaxed pieces define casual style.  Sweatshirts, relaxed cuts of denim and simplicity make this look work.  To make this look successful make sure pieces are well fitting and add in a refined piece like a watch or jacket to still look relaxed and pulled together.

get the casual look: jeans, tee, sunglasses, sandals, bag (image)

Classic

 Beautiful pieces that stand the test of time make for classic style.  Leopard, denim, oxfords and accessory staples like flats and simple jewelry create a classic wardrobe. Simplicity and beauty is key.

get the classic look: jeans, top, sunglasses, flats, lip gloss (image)

Modern

Modern style takes the classics and adds a little trend to them to make them pop.  So revisions on the classics with a trendy feel will pull off the modern style.  Think classic black dresses in new silhouettes or trendy accessories like the hottest shoes and purses paired with gorgeous basics. 

get the modern look: jeans, jacket, tee, clutch, shoes (image)

Preppy

Preppy style is similar to classic style in that the pieces and looks are timeless, but preppy tends towards a more collegiate or nautical style alongside the classics.  Think stripes, East Coast flair, layers, plaids, reds/blues/whites/pinks and a monogram or two.

get the preppy look: jeans, sweatshirt, denim shirt, hat, flats (image)

What personal style(s) do you most relate to?  Lately I've been feeling the casual/classic feel.  But my style often changes!

my everyday style: looking and feeling great in your #favoritebra with Kohl's!

Is there one look that always makes you look and feel great? One that instantly puts a little pep in your step?

For me that look is a striped top, jeans and flats. I could wear this type of combination endlessly.  Whenever I pull this type of outfit out of my closet I feel like I have the day "off" from deciding what to wear, you know? Keeping this look pulled together and beautiful requires the right under-pinnings as well though right… you know that one bra that looks great with t-shirts and is comfortable to wear all day?  Yeah, we ladies need to make sure that we are covered in that department as well.

Kohl's has you covered… with tons of brands and selections and even personalized bra fitting services you are sure to find the perfect bra to go with your favorite outfit.  I recently shopped their intimates section and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful selection.

(photos by Jennifer Ketchum)

Outfit details:
Striped top, J.Crew (similar or similar)
Jeans, Gap (or similar and similar)
Clutch, J.Crew Factory (similar)
Flats, Madewell - on sale! (similar or similar)

(above photo by me)

Here are just a few of the favorites I found, from top down: pink lace bra, white lace bra, black bra, nude chevron bra

Be sure to check out the personalized bra fitting services online or at a Kohl's near you soon!

(this post was sponsored by Kohl's but all opinions are my own)