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

Thursday, February 25, 2016

brand to know: vince

Do you ever come across a new (to you) brand name and think: 'YES! This is SO me!!!'  I had that recently with a brand that Nordstrom carries called Vince.  I had heard of the brand before but never really gave it a second glance until I was randomly in Nordstrom Rack a few weeks back with no real plan (dangerous!) and came across a navy v-neck Vince sweater that was so soft and luxurious that it had to come home with me.

Then this past weekend I was shopping in Chicago at Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue and stopped by the Vince area and was literally melting at the fabrics, cuts and styles that Vince offers.  All the fabrics are swoon worthy and they really take the relaxed and casual cuts to the next level.  Vince has really nailed the simple but gorgeous basics - elevated basics - that are right on par with what I crave for my wardrobe these days.

And while this brand is definitely in the "investment" category for my wardrobe - it's definitely worth putting a few of these pieces on my wishlist.  A lot of the pieces are season-less fabrics and styles which makes investing in this brand an easier decision in the long run because you can really get so much great wear out of them.  And as a bonus... they are not only available at Nordstrom, but at Nordstrom Rack online too - an at a great savings.

What do you think of this brand? Do you own any Vince pieces?  I'd love to know your thoughts! (And keep in mind, in some instances the photos do absolutely NO justice to how beautiful these pieces are... don't you hate when that happens?!)

shop the post here...




Monday, November 9, 2015

jeans I love… and you will too!

You know I am a jean fan to the end… I wear jeans pretty much 99% of the time. As a busy mom that still wants to stay stylish, these jeans are just what I need to accomplish both! Today I have rounded up 7 of my tried and true denim cuts and styles.  These are jeans that have stood up to tons of wear, always look great, and are the pairs I pull out again and again.

Read on to see check out my favorite jeans and why I love them so much. Maybe you will find a pair you love too!


7 for all Mankind Slim Illusion - on sale! … these jeans suck you in at all the right places.  7's usually run long on my short legs… so I cut off them hem on these myself.

Gap Black Coated Skinny Jeans… sadly Gap no longer makes this style. But I've found similar pairs here and here.  Coated denim add a dressed up feel to any look.

Target Frayed Hem Skinny Jeans - free shipping today!… after happening upon these jeans over the summer they have quickly become a favorite. Plus, the price is definitely right on these!

AG Stevie Ankle… these are my most tried and true jeans… the ones I always pull out, they always look great and are a great basic but refined pair of jeans.

AG Prima Legging Jean - free shipping today!… these are the best legging jeans.  They are super soft and ultra stretchy but thick enough that they are still very flattering.  These feel like sweatpants on the inside but look like jeans on the outside… can't go wrong with that!

Gap True Resolution… The Gap True Resolution jean is awesome.  These jeans fit GREAT and feel great on.  I have a few pairs of these jeans and they are a true favorite.  Plus, the price is right on these.

Blank NYC Distressed Jeans… these ultra-distressed jeans are fun to wear and are my favorite distressed jeans by far.  They are super soft, but also a nice thick high quality denim.

Or shop them all here…

Wednesday, October 7, 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, August 20, 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.

one,  shawl collar
three, military vest

Or shop the pieces below…

Thursday, July 23, 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, July 16, 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, July 9, 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, June 12, 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, jeans, tank top, sandals, milly bag, similar bracelet)

Black jacket with boyfriend jeans! (similar jacket, peplum top, bag, 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, June 10, 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!






 

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