Friday 27 September 2013

royal blue

Just a quick note from me today. I'm loving the rich color of this shirt, the lace detailing, and the white hem.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

I have recently challenged myself to use creativity in wearing the items already in my closet so that I can tone down my impulsive shopping ways. Glad that my efforts are paying off, though, because it has been over a month since my last purchase (hurray for that!).

If you can recall from my previous post here and here, I've been all about re-wearing my clothes and letting my creativity take over. I'm so glad to know that I can actually survive without buying something new all the time given my already heaping closet. It's actually funny that I stumble onto other bloggers that were also having the same dilemma of having a full closet but feeling like you have nothing to wear. Glad I am not alone in this battle. HAHA

And so I decided to chronicle the same blue skater dress that I've featured in the past and showcase a different way that I've styled it. The previous style showcase was very simple and subtle. I wanted the dress to become the focal point of my outfit. But this time around, I played it up a bit with a multi-colored bauble necklace, white cardigan, and open-toe nautical flats. I feel like the second look is more feminine and delicate

9 Ways to Wear Patterned Jeans

by Natalia in Fashion, Outfits, shop your closet

I think that most of you who come here to read this blog are interested in practical fashion. Because I’m gonna be honest, if you’re interested in some high-end runway looks, you will probably be disappointed. Maybe how to translate runway looks into the everyday, but also on an everyday budget.

I am a mom of two boys. I love them like crazy, but those kids are nuts. So much energy it’s unbelievable. I am trying to find a balance that is cute but not wearing my yoga pants every day, knowwhatimsayin? Well, I’ve got a solution. Not an end-all answer, but it helps.

Patterned Jeans!

I’m in love. Well, I was in love last year when I bought my pair of funky pants in Amsterdam, but the plethora of options available just makes me fall head over heels.

So today I have three pairs of patterned jeans and I am rockin’ them 9 different ways. Yes nine!

Let’s start with the black and white ones, shall we? Can I just say, they are so stinkin’ cute. And they’re actually my mother’s. Ugh. I tried to steal them from her before I left for France, but she played a guilt card on me. “I don’t have very many cute clothes, you can’t take them! I have to try to look cute too!”

Jeans// Black & White Top: Kris& Kate sold out but here, here and here are cute alternatives // Coral Top // Green Lace top: bought in France but here and here are cute ones

You can go easy & stay black and white, which is very cute & sophisticated. Add a bright top and it’s fun with a pop of color. Or you can keep it casual with a not matching but muted (not clashing) top. The black and white top and the bow top are from an online store called Kris&Kate. I get so many cute things from there, I love it! Use the code Nouvelle5 for 5% off.

Next I have these light grey floral pants. They’re great because they’re not so in-your-face, you can mix them up a bit. Although I realize that I didn’t really do that here.

Jeans // Chambray or a less expensive version // Booties: Similar & similar

I went monochrome in the first outfit. Sometimes it’s fun to just be matchy-matchy. Then I paired it with a chambray shirt because, well, what can’t be paired with a chambray? I absolutely love this one I bought in Sweden a couple years ago (here’s a cute one!). Lastly I went winter-ish. And only ‘ish’ because while doing this it was still a bit hot outside. This definitely could be paired with some long sleeves.

Lastly I have my funky pants. Like I mentioned, I bought these on a trip to Amsterdam last year & they were such a great purchase! They are fun & versatile & definitely dress up an outfit without having to do much! I threw in a bonus outfit down there too.

I started with a solid color. You could of course be brave & mix patterns, but this is good to vamp it up without too much going on.

The second look is probably one of my favorites. These gold shoes I wore to a wedding last year, they must make me somewhere around 6’6″. Yes, I am that tall. Well, I start at 6′ and when I put on these babies (and the red ones) they add quite a bit! But with a 6’7″ husband who happens to like it, I just rock ‘em, baby! The top is a favorite too. It’s also from Kris&Kate but sold out.

The next look is comfy casual. This is for all the soccer moms out there. Everything else is toned down and by just wearing the patterned jeans you’ve dressed up the whole look. Definitely a go-to!

Adding red is such a fun way to vamp up any outfit! With this hot red StitchFix top and shoes, throw on some red lipstick and you’re ready to go! Hot date night or girls night, bring it on!

Maxi Dress for Fall

by Natalia in Fashion, Outfits

I mean seriously, they are. And that’s why we love them. Ain’t no shame, ladies! No shame! We like the right blend of comfortable and practical while we set off to conquer our world of crazy kids, dirty dishes, and loads of laundry.

So I bought this maxi dress from Target the other day and I’m in love. It’s probably my favorite one I own. It’s got sleeves so it’s comfortable, it has a waist so I don’t look like I’m wearing a tent. And it’s nice and flowy and fun.

I also realized I don’t own a lot of blue! So this was a good addition. Not to mention it was on sale for like under 10 bucks. Score!

Seriously, I think I’ve got all the easiest things going on here. A top knot + Maxi Dress = ease and comfort. I mean, you don’t even have to find a matching top, you just slip it on and you’re good to go! The epitome of laziness in cute form, right?

Outfit Details:

Dress: Target
Shoes: Nordstrom
Earrings: They’re old but these are cute
Ring: Charming Charlie on sale – similar
Bangles: They’re old, similar at Target

Here’s some cute maxi dresses for you to check out. All the maxi’s I chose here have sleeves because they’ll be perfect for transitioning into fall/winter weather! My favorite is the black sweater maxi & the Hazel & Olive maxi. What’s your favorite?

Style: One Dress, Three Ways

I will always be the first to tell you that I’m by far not a fashion blogger. With that said, I do believe there’s a whole group of us who struggle with finding our style, or are mommies who are rediscovering style after maternity clothes. I’m not saying maternity clothes aren’t stylish, but if you’re anything like me, paying $200 for a pair of maternity pants I will wear for less than 9 months of the pregnancy just wasn’t in the cards. Now, here I am 3 1/2 years after having my son, re-learning what clothes look work well for my body shape. I also started a fitness journey 4 months ago and that’s given me some added confidence to share how I’m styling what’s in my wardrobe.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that, trust me when I say we all have style, we just have to find it. Be patient with yourself along the way, there’s a lot of trial and error involved. One of the ways I’ve found some great pieces in my wardrobe is by using Stitch Fix. They are a virtual stylist agency that delivers straight to your door so you can try clothes on in front of your own mirror and pair them with pieces you already own. Double bonus if you ask me! I’ve been using Stitch Fix for the last 6 months and to show you how great they are, I’m pairing this new dress I just got in my last Fix with pieces I already own.

I love this dress because it’s a light weight cotton, it accentuates my smaller waist and it’s easy for me to wear and still be a Mom.

Look 1: Light Summer Sweater

| Dress – Stitch Fix // Sweater – GAP // Chevron Necklace – Lisa Leonard |

Look 2: Business Casual

| Dress- Stitch Fix // Chambray Blazer – Nordstrom |

Look 3: Summer fun

| Tote Bag c/o Gussy Sews // Wedges – Charles David |

See how you can take one staple piece + make 3 different outfits?! This makes me feel like I’m getting my monies worth out of new pieces I purchase. This Gussy tote is one of my new absolute favorites. It allows me to carry all my “mama gear” and still look cute and fashionable. I hope this will inspire you to take a look at some pieces you own and see how you can mix and match them. Be sure to check outStitch Fix too!

Floral Style

AUGUST 20, 2013 BY ALISSA CIRCLE

I bought this dress a couple month ago. It was one of those impulse purchases. Right place, right time, right price. I truly had no idea if I could really pull of floral, let alone red floral, but it was love at first site of those amazing blue and white stripes. I just loved how the dress was light, airy, summer and had a pattern mix all in one. I’m so pattern mixing challenged, I felt like this dress did all the hard work for me.

Fast forward a couple of months and I still have only warn it a handful of time. Partially because I was hiding my legs under maxi dresses, but with all the working out I’ve been doing, I decided it was time to show them off a little before the weather starts to cool off. I feel like I’ve completely fallen in love with this dress all over again!! Don’t you just love it when that happens?! I sure do! It will probably happen again when fall comes and I get to play around with pairing it with boots.

I decided to share 3 ways you can take a fun dress in your closet and change the way it looks with just the change of a belt or a necklace, or even adding a jacket. In my opinion that’s how you make one dress work 3 ways!

First Look: Add a Belt

Do you have a skinny belt or even a wide belt in your drawer? I bet you do! If you don’t, Target has a bunch of cute ones. Add a belt to give your dress a fun high-waisted look. It also helps to accentuate a smaller waist and who doesn’t love that?! Here I added the belt with a gold watch to pull out the tan/gold color in the dress added my favorite pair of nude heels and I was ready to go!

Look Two: Add a Statement Necklace

I just love this Stitch Fix necklace! From the moment it arrived, I knew I had to keep it in my wardrobe. I feel like the white goes with everything, but I just love the different size teardrops that make this statement piece so amazing. The necklace, itself, is gold, so I was able to make it work with my watch. See how going from the belt to the necklace changes the look, but still keeps it feeling fun and flirty.

Look Three: Add a Jacket

For this look I added a dark denim jacket, but you could add any jacket or cardigan that works with your dress to jazz it up a bit. I wore this outfit to church yesterday and received a bunch of complements. I feel like it really adds to the overall look and makes it ready for a summer date night or girls night out.

| Dress + Belt – Anthropologie // Necklace - Stitch Fix // Gold Watch – Nixon // Nude Heels – Nordstrom

Holiday Style with Love.Life.Babies

Holiday Style with Love

BY ALISSA CIRCLE

here we are, second week into my almost favorite month of the year, the month of endless
parties, december! and as much as i love attending a party every week through the holidays,
sometimes figuring out a new outfit for each shindig can get a little…stressful. can i get an
amen? so today i want to show you a super easy way to wear a dress two ways. and not
only that but how to rock a dress at a high end work party and recycle that very same
dress at your family party with burping babies and fruit cake. trust me, it can be done.