good LOOK for less: Alison, casual athletic look!

Alison emailed me recently requesting a good LOOK for less consultation, here is a bit of her note:

I am turning 40 in a few weeks and I want to enter this new decade in style! I am seeking a CASUAL fall wardrobe for my non-work life which includes a lot of walking, biking, playdates, etc. Comfortable footwear is a must! I don't do a lot of accessorizing--I'm a simple gal, but having said that I love your jewelry and bag picks that work across multiple outfits. I live in Colorado with mild winters and I'd like some pieces that will take me from warmer fall days into snowboarding season.

I was excited to work with Alison, because I think a lot of women (especially moms, but not entirely) seek out this casual and comfortable look. For me the problem lies in it being translated to yoga pants and hoodies each day... or quite regularly. And yoga pants and hoodies ARE comfortable... but they are made for the gym or the yoga studio. Not so much for the grocery store and playdates.

Alison's budget was $400 and for that I was able to compile 17 wardrobe items and 6 total outfits... let's take a peek at the shopping list:



And now onto the outfits...

This is a comfy and casual option that will be perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. With extra layers and a light-weight scarf it is polished but not stuffy.

Alison had mentioned that she wasn't entirely sold on accessorizing, so by just simply adding one bangle bracelet to this outfit I am encouraging her to dip her toes into this trend and see how she likes it!

I love the casual look to this outfit... it's easy to put together and easy to wear. I chose some athletic inspired shoes that still have some panache and sophistication to keep Alison comfy and active AND still chic!

Happy Shopping Alison!

~~~

If you are interested in learning more about my good LOOK for less consults... click here! Or email me at goodlifeforless @ gmail.com - I LOVE to hear from my readers!

good LOOK for less: Rosie, summer to fall in the Bay Area!

Rosie contacted me recently requesting a good LOOK for less consultation... here's her note to me:

I have changed work recently and I'm trying to figure out how to be comfortable and casual yet stylish in an office where I don't really need to dress nicely. In the Bay Area we don't really get seasons, but layers can be key. To be honest, too, I'm still trying to figure out my style. I'd say it's pretty eclectic. I love a bit of flair, a bit of glamour and a bit of sophistication all in one. Not too out there, but not too boring. I love the outfits you've made for others. I think I have a bunch of great pieces but very few great outfits.

I loved Rosie's email because I think a lot of us can relate to her, I know I can! It can be difficult to always put our finger on exactly what our style is and even still, our style or mood can change daily! But in my opinion, a look that focuses on "flair, glamour and sophistication" IS a 'style' - and one that can be easily expressed if you try!

Rosie's budget was $500, for that I was able to compile 21 new wardrobe pieces and 10 new outfits! Here's a peek at her shopping list, the two skirts Rosie already owed: (click to see the entire list!)



Let's take a look at a few of Rosie's outfits...

Simple layers in a sophisticated color palate make this look perfect for a casual work environment or out to dinner with friends.

Layering over a simple black dress is a really way to easily bring an outfit together... I love the layers and interest that is added with just a few simple accessories!

This outfit is mostly monochromatic except for the bold patterned shirt... it helps the top to take center stage and not seem overwhelming!

I love this outfit... a great pair of jeans and a simple white tee is simply brought up a notch with a simple jacket and scarf combo! (My two favorite things! )

Happy Shopping Rosie! I hope you enjoy your new look!

~~~

Interested in more info on good LOOK for less consults? Check out my new little site devoted entirely to it!

this is cute.

...in a cheeky way, no?

Reader Style! (yes, that's you!)

I've mentioned it before... but you guys (my readers) are the best! Seriously. Seriously.

Gillian is a fan of the blog and was inspired by the black on black ensemble from this video. She sent me a picture (I was SO honnored...) check out the picture and her little note:

I just found your blog and I am in love! I listened to your video blog from this past week and made an outfit from a blazer I had left over from high school and a black ruffled shirt I had laying around. I then went to Kohls and got a $6 ring on sale (you can't really see it in the photo) with a $10 off coupon (so free!)

Cute Gillian! Thanks a ton... I think I see some black flats peeking out at the bottom too. Love it!

Want to show me how you get the good LOOK for less? (especially if you are a past client!!!) Email me your photos/notes to goodlifeforless @ gmail.com and I'll post it here!

Internet hugs and kisses all!

good LOOK for less: Lindsay, she's headed to 'Frisco!

Today I am featuring Lindsay's good LOOK for less consult! She's headed to San Francisco for a vaca (sounds super fun!) and wanted to spruce up her look before she heads out. Here's her note:

I am 24 years old and living in a suburb of Kansas City. My boyfriend and I are traveling to San Francisco in exactly one month to celebrate his 30th birthday!! We are doing LOTS and LOTS of sightseeing--which means lots of walking! You name it: Hot air balloon ride, Alcatraz, museums, Giants Ballgame etc! However, I HAVE NO IDEA what to wear?! I am typically a jeans and heels kind of girl and I love skinny jeans. I'm hoping that you can help me plan to look stylish yet comfy for the events we have planned. I prefer a classy, sophisticated style but yet relaxed and fun.

For her trip I wanted to outfit Lindsay in a wardrobe that was both laid-back and effortless but that was fun and trendy at the same time. A relaxed Cali feel with some city flair! Lindsay had a shopping budget of $300... for that I was able to compile 20 new wardrobe pieces and 8 total outfits (plenty for a week away!). Lindsay wanted to throw in a hip Kate Spade handbag and a pair of Citizens premium denim that she already owned. Besides those... this is what the shopping list looked like:



Let's take a look at a couple of the outfits... there are so many good ones, but here are a few of my favs.

This is a super casual look that is pumped up with some fun and bold accessories!

If you have a thing for premium denim (like Lindsay and I do)... you absolutely MUST check out Gap's new denim line. To die for! Here I paired the super fashion-forward distressed white skinny jeans with a fun and flirty top and whimsical jacket. I am SO loving this look!

A fun flirty dress is prime vacation wear... I love it because it can be versatile for multiple wears (let's be practical here!) and it will pack well. Pair it with some rockin' accessories and you are set for some tourist fun!

Happy shopping Lindsay and safe travels too! Send us a picture or two if you think of it!

~~~

Interested in more info on good LOOK for less consults? Check out my new little site devoted entirely to it!

my two favorite things combined.

a belt. a bracelet.

More Fred Flare...

pure cuteness. what would be a combination of your two favorite things?

yes, please.

More Free People...

How cute are these? Free People WAY discounted. Love.

good LOOK for less: Ginger, photog that wants a French-chic look!

Ginger emailed me recently and needed a new look and was interested in adding a French-chic vibe to her wardrobe. Here is a bit how she explains her style:

During the weekdays I work as a financial director which requires a bit more of a polished look. Two nights a week, I am sitting in a college classroom with 25 other students. On the weekends, I am a wedding photographer. When I am not working or at school, I am meeting with clients and other vendors, shopping, having coffee with friends and having dinner out with my husband. I love the way the women of Paris dress. I love their effortless style and simplicity all while looking elegant and age appropriate. I am hoping to find a signature look that I can not only feel comfortable in but also age appropriate in and still able to mix in a trend or statement piece here and there.

Ginger had a budget of $1,000 - for that I was able to put together 36 new wardrobe pieces and 17 total outfits! Wow!

Let's take a look at her shopping list (click on the picture to view the whole list - it's just fabulous!):



And now on to the outfits! There are so many fun ones to choose from, but here are just a few of my favorites!

What looks more french than black cigarette pants? I love the feminine and refined look this outfit has, but it's still very comfy and casual as well!

Mixing and matching bold colors makes this outfit seriously fun... but not overboard. I love the slouchy casual look of the jeans and the sweater, mixed with the feminine detail of the bow flat.

This is a perfect photographer outfit... or for a fun night out! I love this look! The gold accents are just perfect!

Again, another outfit that is great while photographing or also in a business casual environment! Simple and chic and ready for fall with those fab boots!

Enjoy Ginger! I hope you love your new look!

~~~

If you are interested in learning more about my wardrobe consulting services... click here! If you would like to see past clients I have worked with... click here!

good life for less video three: summer to fall!

[First off... huge thanks to my reader, Tara, that totally hooked me up last week with a tip on how to finally get these videos in better quality! I think this will be WAY easier to watch than previous ones! THANKS Tara! Although you may notice some little quirks still in this video... me and video editing just don't get along that well! At least it's the "real" me!]

Today we tackle bringing summer pieces into the cooler weather with layering and accessorizing! Enjoy! Don't forget to email me with suggestions for future episodes (goodlifeforless @ gmail.com)!!!



Did you like the looks you saw in the video, here are some that are similar!

work it wednesday!

I'll be the first to admit that I take a little time to warm to new trends... while I like to follow them, I am certainly not the first on the proverbial "boat." Enter the military jacket... when I first started seeing it pop up I was all: bleck, yucky, no way!

Buuuuuttt... well. Now I think maybe I like it. And you might too!


Yes, they are a bit fashion-forward and a touch "out-there" and you may ask yourself how could it even integrate into my wardrobe. Well, here it is folks, Work it Wednesday, Military Jacket style!

(for any new readers, Work it Wednesday is when I take one wardrobe piece or style and put it into three different looks for you to showcase how simple it is to make your wardrobe versatile!)

military jacket three ways by Jill GG featuring GAP

one: pulling off all black with the flair of the military jacket is just right! I love the addition of animal print flats (which I am OBSESSED with these days) and some biker chic accessories.

two: boyfriend jeans, gladiator sandals and a military jacket. Together they are a trend "power-house" without looking like a trend "three-ring-circus."

three: this is military jacket gone to work... you can simply wear the jacket unbuttoned to lessen the severity of the look.

So are you sold? I am for sure...

Interested in adding one of these to your wardrobe? Check out these amazing options:

good LOOK for less: Marci, recent grad and new kindergarten teacher!

Marci emailed me recently requesting a good LOOK for less consult. She has a ton of really exciting things going on in her life these days and needed a little closet spruce-up! Here is her note to me:

I am 25 years old and a soon to be kindergarten teacher. I am looking for some new outfits that can go from sitting on the floor with my students during the day to having dinner my friends at night. I would love to add some "pizzazz" to my clothes but don't know how to do it. To say that I am afraid of color is an understatement. Most of my wardrobe is black and blue but I want to start incorporating other colors. I am a natural redhead with fair skin and 5’9” with curves. I tend to gravitate towards more classic pieces and would love if they could carry over to other seasons.

I was really excited to dive into this consult! Marci had a budget of $200 and with that I was able to compile 12 new wardrobe pieces and 5 new outfits... not bad, huh? Let's take a look at her shopping list:



With Marci's fear of color and her fair complexion with red hair, I remained neutral on a lot of the pieces... but far from boring! Let's check out the outfits, shall we?

I just love the soft tones of brown and pink and gold in this ensemble. So sophisticated, but as Marci mentioned, still simple enough to be on the floor with her little students!

When you choose simple and classic pieces with flair, like this white ruffled top or the gold handbag, it is easy to mix and match within your entire wardrobe without getting boring.

Again, in order to make all these pieces easy to mix and match - neutrals are key! This outfit illustrates how several neutrals combined can make an effortless yet pulled together look.

Thanks so much Marci! Happy Shopping and good luck with your new class of kindergarteners!

~~~

If you are interested in learning more about my wardrobe consulting services... click here! If you would like to see past clients I have worked with... click here!

good life for less video two: belts!

As promised... here's a little episode on belts! I tried to keep it short - seems that is hard for me to do! So grab a cup of coffee... give the kids a piece of candy to keep them busy and let's dive into belts!



Comparable items to those featured:


(I am clearly having some issues with YouTube... if there are any of you technical wizes that can give me advice on getting the high-quality iMovie to convert well to YouTube email me!)

good LOOK for less: Melissa, she needs a multi-tasking wardrobe!

The good LOOK for less orders keep rolling in... I hope you aren't getting sick of them, but rather getting lots of inspiration for yourselves. As the summer begins to wind down, don't forget to sport your favorite summer duds!

~~~

Today's "look" is for Melissa... she's a multi-tasking mom, we hear you!, and she needs her wardrobe to keep up with her, we hear you again! Melissa. Here's how she explained her needs:

I have been married to my sweet husband for almost 5 years and we had our first little one, a daughter, almost one year ago. My husband's in school and works part-time, and I work full-time, mainly from home, as an editor. My job requires me to go to the office 1-2 times per week. When I visit my clients I need to look more professional (e.g., pants, skirt, blouse, etc.). I would love to have some outfits that can work at home, the office, the weekend, and on a date with my husband. Tall order, right?

Melissa, it's a tall order... but it's one that many women can relate to. I know I can... looking good and feeling good all while keeping up with your own life is important!

Melissa already had a really fabulous ruffle top from Anthro and a great new pair of gold sandals that she wanted integrated into her look... we didn't include those in the budget, but we did show them here... here is the shopping list:



With Melissa's budget of $200 I was able to compile 12 new wardrobe pieces and 6 total outfits!

Let's take a peak at some of the outfits... shall we?

This outfit can easily serve multiple purposes... date night? check. office/client meetings? check. hanging with the kids? simply swap the trousers for a pair of jeans!

Melissa also mentioned that she has recently finished nursing. So as many of us know the body is still a little, ahem, awkward. Right? This flowy top is perfect for getting over the post-baby bump. Once you are feeling tip-top again (does that even happen?) or close... simply pair a belt with the look to accentuate the waist again. Also jackets are great to temporarily "hide" unflattering features. I wore a variety of jackets through my whole second pregnancy to work every day (unbuttoned of course!)... one day it was hot and I took it off and everyone was like... wow, you really popped out! And I was like, no, I've just been hiding it!

This outfit is similar to the first. It will multi-task for all your responsibilities... and when your day is done, swap out a pair of jeans and you are all set!

Happy Shopping Melissa!

~~~

If you are interested in learning more about my wardrobe consulting services... click here! If you would like to see past clients I have worked with... click here!

Under where?

Yes, it's a post about underwear. I won't be wordy, I just have gotten some questions and these are two styles I can't live without.

Yes, they are from Old Navy. No, they will leave no hint of VPL. I have more on their way to me via FedEx right now - these are all I wear. Enough said.

More Old Navy...

Next up... IPEX by Victoria's Secret. Just enough padding, just enough support. (If you've had kids you get me on the "support" thing...) I've got two in black and two in nude. Enough said.

More Victoria's Secret...