What I Wore To Church - My Fashion Truth

 

Top: Pink Rose Stripe Roll Sleeve Henley
Skirt: ModCloth Breathtaking Tiger Lilies Skirt in Orange
Scarf: H&M Tube Scarf in Woven Fabric
Shoes: ShoeDazzle Omaira (no longer available)

ModCloth has a campaign going on that I absolutely love. It's called #FashionTruth. They say to "be what you want to see in fashion", and to show off your fashion truth. So I'd like to share mine.

I'd always loved shopping and clothes, but fashion and blogging has been so much more to me than I expected. I was going through a really rough time about a year and a half ago. I lost a baby at 23 weeks, and I was just devastated. It was a very traumatic experience for me, and I spent a month and a half doing nothing but grieving. I rarely left the house, and I was lucky if I got into more than yoga pants every day. I was looking for something to get me out of that slump, and my sister encouraged me to get into blogging. I chose fashion blogging because I got to showcase my styling abilities (that have come a long way since then), but I didn't have to get personal. It was a great distraction and a creative outlet.

Pretty quickly I figured out I absolutely LOVED it. It gave me reason to get out of my yoga pants and start to feel beautiful again. I gained back my confidence, and I started taking better care of myself. I don't blog a ton, but I've been realistic about how much I'm capable of doing so I didn't let myself down. I've blogged at least once a week, almost every week since then. I still look forward to putting my outfits together each week, and even though my blog doesn't get a ton of hits, it's important to me.

So my #FashionTruth is that fashion and blogging pulled me out of a rut and helped me get back to me. I'm not always on the forefront of fashion, and my outfits aren't always edgy or hip, but I love doing it. Fashion blogging helps me feel confident and beautiful.

What I Wore To Church - Heart Cut-Out Blouse

Top: HauteLook (Sugar Hill Boutique)
Cardigan: ModCloth Charter School Cardigan in Jade
Skirt: ThredUp (LOFT)
Shoes: ThredUp (Mojo Moxy Bettie Pump, similar)

If you read my blog frequently, you may have heard me say that a pencil skirt and blouse is my "signature look". You may also have noticed for a signature look, I wear it very rarely. I'm realizing that 2-3 years ago I wore that combination almost every Sunday (I had maybe 8 pencil skirts in different colors, materials, and prints), but since I got pregnant, and after having the baby, I've had trouble buying ones that fit. You might think "well she's wearing one today. I guess she found one that fit." You would be wrong. While this skirt fit when I bought it about a month ago, it's too big now. I usually like to wear my pencil skirts a little higher-waisted, but because this one was too big, I had to sit it lower on my hips, and it was still a bit big. *sigh* I guess there are worse problems to have. Now I go on the hunt for another good (low-priced) pencil skirt.

I think if I were to style this again, I probably would've left the blouse un-tucked and belted over the cardigan at my natural waist. Next time!

The blouse has been sitting in my closet begging to be worn since I got it for a steal off HauteLook. The heart cut out and bird print are just TOO CAYOOT for words. I purposely didn't wear a necklace today because I didn't want to cover up the cut out. The minty color of the cardigan brought out the same color that was very subtle in the print.

Now the shoes (THE SHOES!) were a result of perfect timing. I'd been eyeing these shoes for awhile, but wasn't a fan of the price. Then one day I was doing my usual scrolling through ThredUp on my phone (the app is SO handy), and BAM! There they were! And for under $30! They had never even been worn. I love the cute cut outs, the scalloped trim and of course, the bows. It really helped that they were much lower than my usual heels too. I had no problem wearing them while carrying a baby around. It's odd for me to be on the constant lookout for mid heels. A couple years ago, my motto was "the higher, the better". Oh, how my collection has morphed.

If you've never shopped with ThredUp before, you can read my post about it here or just use my referral link here for $10 off.
If you've never shopped with HauteLook before, you can read my post about it here or just use my referral link here to take a look around.
If you've never shopped with ModCloth before, you're clearly living under a rock and you should check it out immediately by using my link here for $15 off $50. This cardigan is on sale in limited sizes as well as the shoes I wore last week!

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore to Church - An Unusually Fall Outfit

Cardigan: ModCloth Charter School Cardigan in Camel
Skirt: ModCloth Breathtaking Tiger Lilies Skirt in Stem Green
Scarf: Zulily
Shoes: ShoeDazzle Omaira (from a couple years ago)

I'll be honest. I did not plan my outfit to look this "fall" and now that I see the pictures, I'm kinda kicking myself for not trying to work with different colors.  I was inspired by my sister's outfit last week. She looked so good in her scarf, and it made me want to plan an outfit with a scarf. I've had this cute summer scarf that I bought on Zulily for awhile now but I hadn't found anything to wear it with. It's so airy and light and I love the floral pattern. Also, I love infinity scarves because I'm too lazy to figure out how to wear the non-infinity ones.

Long story short, I tried on about 3 different combinations of skirts and cardigans and this is the one I liked the best. Now that I see the pictures, it definitely looks like a fall outfit. Oh well. I still thought it was cute. Just wrong season. Sigh. Well I guess I can't get it right every time.

Despite the season mismatch, I love this skirt. The last time I wore it I was pretty pregnant, but that just tells you how comfortable this skirt is. It's got an elastic back and pockets! I desperately want it in the mustard color, but it's been sold out of my size forever.

Should I talk again about the cardigan? I'll spare you. Hopefully by now you're well aware of my love for the Charter School cardigans and this is no exception.

Moral of the story, sometimes it's good to just dress in what feels good and ignore the rules.  In my world, fashion is about having fun and feeling confident. My world may not be the real world of fashion, but I'm ok being delusional.

What I Wore To Church - Animal Print Skirt

Shirt: Old Navy
Cardigan: ModCloth Charter School Cardigan in Orchid
Skirt: LOFT via ThredUp
Shoes: JustFab Cecily

For church today I decided it was time to go back to my signature style of a blouse and pencil skirt. Thanks again to ThredUp, I was able to get this awesome pencil skirt from LOFT for $15. I took a gamble on the size since I wasn't sure where I'm sitting post-baby. Turns out I guessed right and it fit perfectly. The print is a stylish animal print (although you've got me on what animal, maybe a snake of some sort?), without being tacky. Also, SURPRISE! It has pockets! Seriously the perfect skirt.

I wasn't going to wear the cardigan, but I felt like the outfit needed just a bit of color and what better color than orchid? If you've read more than 2 of my posts, you know how much I love my Charter School cardigans. Right now ModCloth has 2 deals going on. They have a one time use 20% off your order deal, and a Charter School cardigan specific code. The 20% off can be found as a side banner on the site. Click it to take the 20% off your order. The cardigan code is CARDI and it takes $10 off your order if you buy 2 or more Charter School Cardigans. I'm assuming they can't be used together.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'd been stocking up on lower heels and wedges. These shoes were part of that. I was so happy when JustFab released these because they are quite unlike their usual 6" platform heels. They were quite comfortable, and I didn't feel like I was going to trip and drop my baby.

It was nice to get back into a pencil skirt (that wasn't maternity), and the price I paid for it made it even better. I'm telling you, ThredUp is addicting!

If you’re interested in trying ThredUp, use my link here and get $10 off your first order.
If you’re interested in trying JustFab, use my link here and get your first pair for $20. They are also doing a site wide BOGO right now so it’s worth a look-see. Standard warning applies that it is a shoe club membership so be sure to read the terms and conditions.

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore To Church - Is It Too Early For Florals?

 

 

 

Skirt: ModCloth Breathtaking Tiger Lilies Skirt in Stem Green
Shirt: LOFT Maternity (passed down from my sister)
Cardigan: Tilly's Essential Elbow Sleeve Cardigan
Shoes: Jessica Simpson Cheetah

I thought the title of today's blog was an excellent question. How early is too early for florals? My answer: it's never too early for florals as long as the color of the florals can be paired with fall or winter colors, and the florals aren't the most prominent part of the outfit. I think the opposite is true as well. If you have a skirt in a color that is more of a fall or winter color, you can make it more spring-like if you add some fun, coordinating florals. A nice floral summer scarf would be a great touch.

I picked up the skirt at ModCloth recently. It comes in a couple of different colors and I'm tempted to pick up a few of the others,  especially if they ever put it out in mustard. It's a versatile skirt with lots of "swish" to it. It also has pockets and an elastic back waist. What more could I ask for?

Mostly, I'm just thankful for the warmer weather giving me some freedom on what I can wear. I'm going to be in trouble when it gets too warm for cardigans. I don't think I leave the house without one these days. Maybe I overuse them in my outfits, but they are just so simple to style. In my mind, you can't own too many. What do you think? Do you have a go-to piece of clothing that you wear with everything? My opinion is that if you find something that works for you, then work it!

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore To Church - Navy Colorblock Dress and Mustard Tights

   

Dress: eShakti Shawl Collar Colorblock Dress

Tights: Merona Women's Opaque Tights (Target)

Shoes: Qupid Suede Bow Mary Jane (UrbanOG) 

I have another dress from eShakti to feature today. I got this one a couple weeks ago, but was waiting to wear it because I had a specific pairing in mind, but didn't have all the pieces yet. When I bought it, I had the idea that I wanted to try out the bright tights trend. With the dark colors and classic shape of the dress, it was perfect to let the tights take center stage. The tights were easier to find than I thought they would be. I was pleased that they weren't that expensive either. Props to Target! They had a very large selection of colors, and I was so happy to find them in mustard. You may already know my obsession with the navy and mustard pairing, as can be seen here, here, here, and here. 

Once I found the tights, I knew I had to find the right shoes. They needed to be plain black to avoid overdoing it with color or prints, and I love mary janes with bright tights because the straps stand out so well. The lace bow on these adorable shoes added that last bit of cute oomph to the outfit. 

I know I say it practically every week, but I can't get enough of eShakti. They have some fun prints and shapes, but they also have retro classics like this one. They can be worn as is with classic accessories, or they can be jazzed up with colorful cardigans, tights, or shoes. I love dresses that have options, and this one has lots. I think next time I wear it, I'll try it with red accents. eShakti is doing another Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale. Their winter clearance is also still available, but the offers can't be combined. Be sure to check it out and pick up something fun, or something classic. 

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore to Church - Sequins and Sparkles

Dress: eShakti Sequin Chiffon Print Dress
Cardigan: Tilly's Essential Elbow Sleeve Cardigan (no longer available in navy)
Shoes: Frederick's of Hollywood

Since I didn't get a chance to go to a New Year's Eve party, I thought I'd pizzazz it up for the first Sunday of the year. I thought sequins and sparkles were appropriate.

The dress is (of course) eShakti. I got it in the overstock section for a steal, and it's so much fun! It's flowy, it's sparkly, and it's festive (and pockets! How many fancy dresses have pockets?). Right now it's sold out, but give it time. It'll be back in stock before you know it.  eShakti is currently finishing out their 50% off sale. Today is the last day, and it's totally worth a look-see. I hope you all don't mind reading about eShakti because thanks to referrals (I can't thank you enough, for serious), I have a couple more dresses and skirts to feature on the blog!

The shoes were from a couple years ago. I'm pretty sure I got them for about $15 at an after NYE sale at Frederick's. I don't think I've ever actually walked into one of their stores, but I do love browsing the shoes on their website. This is actually the first time I've worn them. I've never had a fancy enough outfit to pair them with. I thought the sequins on the shoes went great with the sequins on the dress.

I also added another layer of fancy to the outfit with the accessories (please excuse what Kyle is calling my "senior photo" pose. It was the only way I could get all the accessories in). I loved the idea of a fascinator to add that retro glam feel to the hair style. It took me 30 min of playing with different hair styles to come up with this, and once I did it, I totally face palmed. It was so simple yet it worked so well.

Hopefully you got to wear something fun for the new year, whether on NYE or today. Everyone deserves the chance to feel glamorous at least once a year. I also hope your year is full of sparkles, and rainbows, and puppies.

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore To Church - Pencil Skirt and Blouse

Sweater: American Eagle
Shirt: Zulily
Skirt: H&M MAMA Pencil Skirt
Shoes: Iron Fist Indecent Obsession

Since it's been rainy and chilly today, I decided to dress a bit warmer. My signature look used to be a pencil skirt and a blouse with tights and heels, but once the belly started showing, none of my pencil skirts would work. So, I was delighted to find this one at H&M in their maternity line. It worked out even better than expected because I bought it on Cyber Monday for 40% off.  It's nice and stretchy and should fit through the whole pregnancy.

I bought the blouse on Zulily awhile back and was saving it for when I got a bit bigger. Well that time has arrived, and I thought it went well with my pencil skirt. I bought the cardigan years ago, but pull it out every so often when I need a warmer layer. It was nice that it complimented the tights too.

The shoes (quite accurately named Indecent Obsession) I bought from Iron Fist directly probably a year ago, but could never find quite the right outfit for them. Well they are just too darn pretty to be kept on the shelf, so I was super happy to finally be able to wear them. They didn't match the blouse perfectly, but they were far enough away from it that it didn't matter. I love how stinking cute they are. Strawberries, roses, polka dots, and bows, in mary jane form. What more could you ask for? They may be too much for some, but I absolutely love them.

I'm so happy to be able to reclaim my signature style, and I'm sure this pencil skirt will get a lot of use. A pencil skirt is the closet staple that I most suggest everyone have. It's flattering on almost everyone if you get it to fit right, and it can be worn with so much. It always looks super classy and gives you a pulled together look without much effort. If you don't have one, I suggest you start the hunt to find a good one.

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore to Church - Anchor Print Dress and Mustard Mary Janes

Dress: eShakti Retro Anchor Print Shirtdress
Shoes: ShoeDazzle Malese

What can I say about this dress? I absolutely love it! It's super soft corduroy (Yes, corduroy!). It has an adorable anchor print that is right in line with the current nautical trend. It's warm, which is perfect since it's been cooling down around here finally. It fits like a dream, and like most eShakti dresses it has POCKETS!   This is seriously the most perfect dress I've ever worn. I fell in love when I found it on the website, and knew I had to have it.  It was a bit pricey, but between various coupons/giftcards and taking advantage of the buy 2 get 20% off deal they had over Columbus day, I got it down to a reasonable price. That's why I always encourage people to sign up for eShakti despite what appears to be higher price-ranges. There are ALWAYS opportunities for coupons. Each time you receive an item, there is a delivery survey to fill out. Once you fill it out, BAM: $10 coupon. Occasionally they send out surveys to fill out and occasionally they give coupons with those. Sometimes they give coupons just because. Not to mention the awesome sales they frequently have, as well as the overstock section. There is always an opportunity to get these adorable dresses for way less than full price.

Now onto the shoes. These were another pair from the heyday of ShoeDazzle. Back when this was considered pretty tall for them instead of the 2-3 inch platforms they have now. I so wish they would figure out that there is still a market for shoes like this. I absolutely adore these shoes and am so glad I snagged them when I could. I thought the mustard paired perfectly with the yellow anchors in the print, and brought a nice fall feel to the outfit. And who doesn't love mary janes? I'm such a sucker for them. I'll share a heel wearing tip with those of you that don't wear heels because you think you won't be able to walk in them. Start with a mary jane. The strap (or in this case, straps) hold your foot in so all you have to worry about is balance. Without the strap, you may also have to worry about keeping your foot in the shoe, especially if the shoe doesn't fit quite right, and the result can look like a baby giraffe learning to walk. Not an attractive look.

The referral program for eShakti is still going strong so if you'd like to try them out, use code ELIZABETH92SP for $30 off. If you're in love with the corduroy anchor print, but maybe not the design of the dress, check out the Peter Pan Collar Anchor Print Dress or the Colorblock Collar Anchor Print Dress. Both are equally adorable.

If you would like to sign up for ShoeDazzle, just to peek around in hopes they might get better (or who knows, maybe you'll find something you actually like), use this link. If you sign up for their new VIP Elite program which is the same subscription model as JustFab (and the same as it was previously with ShoeDazzle), you get 50% off your first pair. Just make sure you read the terms and conditions prior.

Happy Shopping!

What I Wore To Church - Polka Dots and Red Accents

Shirt: H&M
Skirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Iron Fist Society Suicide
Jewelry: Monica's Fantabulous Fashions

Since I'm trying to take my own advice and try new things, I challenged myself this week to create an outfit I've never tried before using things I already had in my closet (novel concept, right?), instead of just wearing an outfit I've tried and proven before.

I'm totally digging the retro look of high-waisted skirts these days, and had this one in my closet from Old Navy. I bought it over a year ago but had never worn it. I wasn't quite sure how to style it because when I bought it, I was stuck on the idea of skirts being worn on my hips. When I dug it out this morning, I had the perfect combination in mind. It originally came with a black sash belt, but how boring is that? I love how the red belt brings attention to the smallest part of the waist and adds some fun. It also brings out the red in the shoes.

I originally bought these shoes when JustFab was featuring the Iron Fist collection. The biggest downside of Iron Fist is that they only carry full sizes. I first bought them in an 8 and they were far too snug, but by the time I decided to exchange, they were sold out of the 9. I had to stalk the website for months before I finally got them in a 9 and they were SO worth the wait. The details on them are too adorable for words, and I love pairing the polka dots on the strap and bow with other dots. Seriously, bows and dots are my favorite details.

Overall, I loved the retro look of the outfit, and how all the little details worked well together. I got lots of compliments at church so I'll take that to mean it worked. Again, I guess I should continue to take my own advice and try new things. It seems to work out in my favor.