Outerwear + Accessories = Winter Chic!

The one thing I actually enjoy (and I use that term very lightly) about Minnesota winters is buying a new coat, gloves, scarves, and hats/headbands. I figure that if I've got to live in this frozen tundra, I might as well look good doing it. Coats, jackets, and other winter accessories are in no short supply in my neck of the woods, you can find them at pretty much any store. There's so many ways that you can mix and match your pieces to your mood or the occasion, your options are limitless! 

Let's start with coats and jackets. Here are some of my faves:

Mod Cloth You've Been Spotted Coat- $69.99

Ahh...how fun! I love animal prints!

Mod Cloth Motor City Jacket- $69.99

This would look adorable over a mini cocktail dress. Or maybe a long, sequin tunic with tights. This coat is the perfect mix of demure (in the cream color) and badass (with the studded shoulders).

Mod Cloth Good Sea-ing You Jacket- $79.99

Ohmygoodness...the stripes! The buttons! The faux fur removable collar! There isn't a thing about this coat I don't love. 

Mod Cloth Leipzing Hoodie- $63.99

This one is a little more casual, but I love all the pockets w/the zippers, and the hood is pretty awesome as well. The layers are already built in which give this jacket a very easy, nonchalant look.

Now that you've got your main piece, you can start accessorizing your look. There are really only three things you need to add here (besides your warm footwear)-a hat/headband, a scarf, and a pair of mittens or gloves. Don't expect to survive -30 windchill without ALL of those. 

We'll start at the top and work our way down...first up, hats and headbands...

Cable Sweater Visor Beanie- $5.80

I classify this as "skater chic". It's laid back enough that you could wear it with the black jacket, but still stylish and warm. Loves it!

Floral Knit Headband in Mustard- $4.80

I'm not a hat person. I love them, but I look ridiculous in them. I really love wearing headbands during the Winter because they don't mash down my hair, but they still keep my ears and forehead warm. This one is wider, which I dig, and has a cute little rosette on it. Plus, the color is bright enough to warm up any dreary day. It would look amazing with any of the jackets above, but I think it would look best with the navy blue striped one. :)

Rosette Beanie- $4.80

Doesn't this look so soft and snuggly? It looks big enough that it would cover your ears and forehead as well. I hate when hats are cute, but don't serve any purpose. Us Minnesota girls don't mess around with those! Wear this one with any of the jackets, especially the animal print one-it adds that perfect POP! of color. 

More hat links:

Mossimo Supply Co (Target) Yellow Trapper Hat- $14.99

Muk Luks Nordic Bomber Hat- $29.99

Moving downwards, to the neck...

Circle Yes or No Scarf in Green- $19.99

Infinity scarves take all the guesswork out of how to properly wrap your scarf. Throw this over your head and wrap it around a few times...VOILA! Instant, perfectly wrapped, scarf. 

Open Knit Scarf in Mustard- $11.80

I like to match my headband/hat to my scarf, so that's why I chose this. I think the mustard color looks so good with the navy, but it could also go with the cream. Stay away from the black in order to avoid looking like Bumblebee from Transformers. ;)

More links for scarves:

Merona Allover Paisley Wrap in Eggplant- $12.99

Last but no least, the hands...

(no pics here, just links since all the awesome ones are from Target):

Merona Cashmere Gloves in Black- $19.99

Cashmere gloves for under 20 bucks?! Ummm...YES PLEASE!

Merona Woven Woven Lines Leather Gloves in Pink- $17.99

These are the best color ever! I think they're pretty badass and would look stellar with the cream colored jacket. 

Muk Luks Tweed Mittens in Cream- $19.99

If you're going to survive, you'll definitely need a cozy warm pair of mittens!

Merona Long Ruched Glove in Tan- $17.99

I'm diggin' the soft buttery color of these!

As always, remember to make it your own!

Happy Saving and Happy Fall!

SEQUINS!

Yes, I said it. In all caps. Which, in internet speak, meant I was yelling...

SEQUINS! SEQUINS! SEQUINS!

Ok, but seriously, how can you not love sequins? I'm not talking Liza Minnelli-esque sequined shorts, blazer, and top hat (although that was pretty fab), but something a bit more simple and easy to pull off (are you noticing a trend here?). I have this pair of gold peep toe sequin pumps that I love. Unfortunately, I don't have many places that would be appropriate to wear them. The good news is that there are plenty of pieces you can work into your every day wardrobe (yes, even for work) with sequins. 

I finally found a sequined blazer that didn't break the bank (Maria, this is the closest thing I could find!), that was inspired by a look Lauren Conrad was rockin' one night. It's a little boxy, and I wish it were a more relaxed fit, but I think this could work. You could dress it down with jeans and a white tank (with some killer heels, of course), or pair it with a sexy little mini dress and some peep toe pumps for a night out.

Charlotte Russe Square Sequin Dress Jacket- $54.50

This cardigan is a little less "HEY! LOOK AT ME! I'M WEARING SEQUINS!" and more subdued. I'm not quite sure why they chose to button it all the way up or the elastic waist jeans they paired it with-they look like the maternity pants I used to wear-but the cardigan itself is actually pretty adorable. I would wear it with a navy blue striped tank underneath. Something about the pink and navy just seems like it would go well together.

Charlotte Russe Sequined Bow Cardigan- $26.50

I've always loved these beanies, but I've never been able to pull them off. I always look like an uber-douche in hats, so I avoid them all together. There are so many girls (and guys!) that can pull this off, and I'm super jealous of them! I think it's perfectly paired with a comfy white or gray tee, some skinnies, and some leather booties. 

F21 Cute Sequin Beret- $8.80

I really love this tote bag. If you need a new way to add a little spice to your school bag, this is the way to do it! It's definitely a "notice me" bag, but I don't see any issue with that!

F21 Sequin Tote- $14.80

OH MY GOSH-I looooooooooooooove this little jacket! It's perfect, absolutely perfect. I'm not too fond of the pleather skirt and hat with this jacket either, but the it was too cute to pass up! The gray tee underneath really brings out the color of the jacket. It's that greige color I was talking about earlier. Ya dig?

F21 Leaf Embellished Chiffon Jacket- $29.80

There's so many other options of things you can buy to incorporate sequins into your wardrobe. Headbands, earrings, purses, shoes, bracelets, the list goes on and on. It's all about having an open mind and trying new things outside of your comfort zone. I mean, you can wear a black blazer, black dress pants, and a white button up shirt to work every day, but maybe next time you're out, pick up a sequined ribbon belt to add a little bit of funk to your uniform. Even if no one else can see it, at least you know it's there and that might be the pick-me-up you need to get through that last hour or two of work.

Ok, so now I'm turning the tables on you guys...I want to see your sequins!  

Celeb Inspirations-Lauren Conrad

So I've wanted to do Lauren Conrad for awhile, but since her style is similar to Kim K's, I wanted to break it up with a different look last week. The hardest part about Lauren is that she is a California girl-and in California, they don't have much of a winter. Now that it's starting to get colder for many of my readers, I doubt you guys will be wearing tank tops and sandals anymore (or much longer, depending on where you are). I managed to find one look of hers that I really liked, and even though it's pretty simple, I really like how she pulled it off. It's easy enough that you can probably collect items from your own closet, but it's still a well put together look. This look is a clean slate, so you can add pops of color and your own personal flair to it if you choose to. Or you can stick with the simple, rustic look like Lauren.

Lauren Conrad Style Book

F21 Cream Knit Zipper Sweater- $22.80

(wear a nude colored cami underneath this)

Kohl's won't let me post an image, so click the link to view it. I'm not a HUGE fan of the pockets, because I like to be able to slip my phone/keys/ID in the back, but I can get over it because I am in love with the classic blue color of the denim. It's hard to find a genuine pair of "blue jeans" nowadays, let alone find a pair that actually fits well. I am obsessed with my Levi's skinnies, and they're actually decent quality. 

Levi's Crosshatch Skinny Jeans (Kohl's)- $48.00

I love the color of these boots. The warm, buttery brown looks so soft, and it's the perfect shade for fall. 

Charlotte Russe Distressed Leather Boot- $40.00

Your grand total is $110.80!

Just think, you got THREE key pieces that you can now incorporate into your wardrobe. These are all pretty classic pieces as well, so you'll be able to wear them for awhile. So you've got about $40 left to spend, what should we buy? Here's a few more ideas, but remember to make this look your own. Add an heirloom necklace, a fun bag, or some chunky earrings...whatever makes you feel unique!

This ring was waiting for me on Charlotte Russe's first page of jewelry. I am obsessed with turquoise jewelry, I think it's so clean and classic. The added rhinestones add the perfect amount of sparkle to the outfit.

Charlotte Russe Dramatic Turquoise and Rhinestone Ring- $10.50

I love the industrial/military look of this messenger bag. The fact that it's big enough to hold my phone/wallet/keys/diapers/bottles/pacifiers/etc makes it a winner in my book. And I can wear it crossbody which is even better.

F21 Cute Canvas Messenger Bag- $19.80

Add a pop of color with these dangly earrings. I love the shade of magenta in these earrings and how 

antique-y they look. It's the perfect way to add color to such a neutral outfit without being overly flashy.

F21 Ethnic Class Earrings- $5.80

In case you didn't notice, you can buy all three of these pieces and still stay under the $150 limit!

Happy saving!

Greige!

Greige Color Swatch

Lately, I've become obsessed with this color hybrid. In case you haven't figured it out just yet, "greige" is a mix of "gray" and "beige". It is the perfect color for fall. I bought Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel in Steel Gray and I lurve it. It's an easy way to try out the trend before fully committing yourself to it. 

Celeb Inspirations-Nicole Richie

So I found this look from the soon-to-be Mrs. Joel Madden, and I fell in love. She has the boho look down to a t, and although some of her styles are a bit too extreme, I thought this was a perfect "in between" look.

Star Style Inc.

Now, I tried to get this look for under $150, but I went a little over. Mostly on the shoes and the jean jacket, but I figure you will definitely wear those again, so you can splurge just a little. Plus, you may already have a pair of black leggings and a slouchy bag in your wardrobe, so if you do, you'll save like $38 right there! Here's the breakdown, and the total is at the bottom! The majority of the websites wouldn't let me C&P the images, so in order to keep a sense of "togetherness", I'm only posting the links today. Happy saving!

Gap Jean Jacket- $34.99

Old Navy Leggings in Black- $8.00

American Rag Sleeveless Floral Lace Ruffle Dress (from Macy's)- $34.99

Charlotte Russe Double Grip Bag- $29.50

Charlotte Russe Infinity Scarf in Black- $10.50

Minnetonka Tramper Bootie in Black (from DSW)- $53.95

Your grand total for this entire outfit is $171.93!

Celeb Fashions-ideas?

Hey ladies...
I'm going to make my "Celeb Fashions for Less" a weekly (possibly more) thing. I love doing it, and it keeps me busy during the day. Now, I know which celebrities I admire, but I'm curious to see whom everyone else likes. I know we don't all have the same style, so I'm going to take requests and go from there.

If no one responds, then I'll just keep picking celebs and hopefully ya'll like at least one outfit!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! We've been watching movies in our 'jamas all day, so I'm back to that. See ya on Monday!

Fashion Lusts for Friday 10/1

I just have to say that I hate October. I wish I would stay away and never come back. That's all, moving on...

Today is payday. Which means that I am going to pretend I have a disposable income and go online window shopping. I really want that raspberry colored bag I posted yesterday-I'm going to ask Jason if I can buy it when he gets home. I also need some new make-up. I've been trying to figure out how to do the smoky eye look for years now and I think I've gotten enough tips that I can figure it out on my own-FINALLY. Alright, on to my lusts for the week...

1. Faux Fur Vest-Forever21 $34.80- This is so cute! It would look PERFECT with my new suede booties, or even my above the knee boots! I just need to find the perfect top to go underneath it! And seriously, for $35, anyone can afford this!

2. Mark Cosmetics- I kinda just rediscovered them and WOW! They have a whole bunch of stuff! I tried selling it back when I was 17, but I didn't know anyone who wanted to buy it. Or at least, anyone who could afford or cared enough to buy it! Now that we're all a little older, I'm thinking that maybe it's a good idea to give it another go. I feel like I have a lot more knowledge on everything after working for Benefit, and I can take my business with me wherever we PCS to in the future. We'll see...

3. Twirl by Kate Spade Fragrance- $80- Oh my gosh, this stuff smells AMAZING. I got a free sample of it at the Kate Spade shop in Cali and I fell in love. Obviously, $80 is a little pricey, but I think splurging on a good perfume that fits your personality is really important. Here are the notes, straight from the Kate Spade website (www.katespade.com):

• pink watermelon mingles with blackberry and red currant
• enhanced with a heart of fresh flowers including orange blossom, star jasmine, tiare flower and sweet magnolia
• finished with luminous musks and a touch of french macaron (straight from the patisserie, of course)

LOVE.

4. Fishtail Braid- Oh man, I miss my long hair. This style is gorgeous. Yeah, it's a little summery, but I think it could easily transition into fall as well. You can always go the traditional braid route which is a bit more polished. I think braids are so chic and versatile. You can wear them down, wrap them into a bun, or add a French braid to your hairline. I think it adds more of a "personality" to your hair. 

5. Sequined Mini- Yep, I need this. 'Nuf said.