Mixology

On August 13, 2012August 13, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit IdeasLeave a comment

I love mixing stripes together! It is one of my absolute favorite looks-well, that and mixing stripes and polka dots. And while it might seem counter intuitive, it is more do-able than one might think. The only thing to keep in mind is some sort of contrast, whether it be in color, size, or direction.

When I bought the below skirt (which you can also see here), I didn’t just buy it because of my fondness for stripes, but because I also knew it would be a great base piece that I could use to create a variety of looks. And even though I always seem to gravitate towards creating more nautical looks with this skirt, I have gotten quite a bit of use out of it. But it occurred to me last week that one thing I hadn’t tried was pairing it back to a striped top. And because of its wide stripe, I knew it would be an excellent candidate to pair back to my favorite mini-stripe one-shoulder top. Slightly nautical, yet playful and fun-the perfect outfit to keep me cool on a super hot evening here in the SLC.

Instagram Filter: Hudson

Mini-Striped Top: Wet Seal (old)

Striped Skirt: H&M

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co.

Watch: Michael Kors

Earrings: The Icing

Belt: Mossimo for Target

Striped Cross Body Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC

Shoes: Dolce Vita Jude

And not only do I love mixing stripes, but I also love a good one-shoulder top or dress. It is one of my favorite silhouettes-such a fun, yet refined look. It always makes me feel a little extra glamorous and is a good way to step up a look without really putting forth much extra effort-anything that shows a little extra shoulder is a winner in my book!

Happy Monday!

Watercolors

On August 8, 2012August 7, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas1 Comment

It’s no secret I love prints of all colors, patterns, and variations. They are such a fun and easy way to add interest to any outfit. Plus, with the recent acceptability to mix prints of all kinds, they lend to creating endless outfit combinations in your closet.

One of my favorite places to find a good print is at H&M. Since specific patterns don’t tend to stay on trend for very long periods of time, I don’t typically like to invest in them, but rather prefer to pick up inexpensive and fun prints that I can play with for a time and easily let go when they have run their course. Such is the case with the below top. While I have lots of great prints in my closet, I don’t have any watercolor prints, so knew it was a perfect addition to my closet the moment I saw it. I love how feminine this top is and that it is one of those great hybrids that I can wear for work or play. Plus, it’s just long enough that I can tie it at the waist if I so desire!

Instagram Filter: Earlybird

Watercolor Top: H&M (recent)

Black Ankle Skinnies: Gap

Neon Yellow Necklace: Forever21 (recent)

Charm Necklace: Personal Collection

Silver Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Silver Bracelets: Tiffany and Co.

Earrings: The Icing

Pink Studded Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

Pink Shoes: Jessica Simpson Waleo via Macy’s

In addition to being pretty, and feminine, and versatile, I also love that this top is a very unique multi-color ombre-essentially it goes with just about everything. So when you are out shopping for prints, try to look for something similar to this top that will not only allow you to be creative, but will also function as an easy piece to accessorize and pair with multiple items in your closet.

Happy Wednesday!

Two Worlds Collide

On July 10, 2012July 10, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas2 Comments

What do you get when you combine one of my very favorite things from my college days with one of my favorite places in the state of Utah? A little slice of heaven and one pretty perfect night. *Sigh*

When I was attending Vanderbilt University, I had hopes and dreams of one day becoming a country singer. And because of my love affair with music, one thing that I loved to do during my Nashville days was hit up the Bluebird Cafe and take in all of that incredible Nashville talent. It was such an amazing opportunity to have the chance to hear the incredible musicians who actually pen the tunes we hear on the radio performed by our favorite mainstream artists. So when I found out last summer that the beautiful Sundance Resort hosts a Bluebird Cafe singer/songwriter series for 3 Fridays every summer, I knew I had to go. Two integral parts of my life colliding in such an unexpected (and fantastic) way? I mean really, what are the chances???

And even though I had to wait a year (the series had already happened last summer when I found about it), it was at the very top of my summer to-do list this year. So when J’s mom and dad came to town last week, we knew it was the perfect event for the four of us. And it was.

Maxi Dress: Macy’s (recent)
Bracelets: H&M, Forever21, Tiffany and Co.
Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s
Feather Earrings: Aldo, H&M
Denim Jacket: Else by Joes Jeans via Macy’s (recent)
Shoes: Steve Madden (old)

We had such an amazing time that night that I’m already trying to convince J that we need to go again!! It really was just the perfect evening-makes my heart happy just thinking about it. Plus it was cool enough that I finally got to wear my new denim jacket-which ironically enough was at the top of my summer must-have list. Apparently it was just one of those nights when all of the stars aligned. So the moral of today’s post is that if you live in Utah, I highly recommend catching the Bluebird Cafe at Sundance, and if you don’t yet own a denim jacket, then it’s definitely time you invest.

P.S. And I made a point to use the Nashville filter on theses photos-obviously no other filter was going to do. 🙂

Pops of Neon

On June 28, 2012 By all dolled upIn Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized1 Comment

I LOVE adding pops of neon to an outfit (you can see some examples here, here, here, and here)-such a great way to add a little interest to an otherwise simple ensemble. I am also finding that I am loving adding pops of neon back to prints. And even though prints are fun on their own, those little neon accents just take them to the next level-an instance where more is more and not less.

That said, I recently purchased the below dress for three reasons: 1. It reminds me of this Marc Jacobs dress that I LOVE, 2. It is black so I can wear it to work with a cardi or blazer, 3. The cute little heart print is just begging to be paired back to a little neon and some fun accessories.

Dress: Macy’s Junior’s Department (recent)

Vest: Macy’s Junior’s Department (recent)

Neon Pink Belt: Macy’s

Necklaces: Tiffany, My collection of charms, Forever21

Bracelets: H&M, Forever21, Tiffany, Macy’s

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Hot Pink Druzy Ring: Amanda Lynne Luxe (etsy)

Sunglasses: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Aldo via Nordstrom (sold out)

The first time I wore this dress to work, I literally had people stopping me to ask where I found it. And of course everyone was surprised when I told them I found it in the junior’s department at Macy’s (and for only $18!!!). And while I don’t always shop in the Junior’s section, I do think it is worth checking out now and again. A lot of companies are now targeting the “millenial” customer who they see as a shopper between the ages of 16-31. So the breadth of assortment is slowly but surely imporving to garner a larger target audience who is on the hunt for more affordable and fashion forward pieces.

Hooray!

Wild About Rompers

On June 18, 2012June 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, Uncategorized3 Comments

Are rompers a do or a don’t? In my book they are definitely a do. They are fun and flirty and a great way to add some variety to your style. I am absolutely wild about them this season and am particularly fond of the fact that there are now so many options of rompers to choose from (much more so than in the past two seasons). I picked up the below number at Macy’s recently and love that it is not only a romper, but that it has only one shoulder (one of my favorite silhouettes). Plus because it is black, it is essentially a blank canvas which will give me the opportunity to style it a lot of different ways this summer. But for a last minute dinner date with my hubby this weekend, I decided a pop of neon yellow was the way to go.

Romper: BarIII via Macy’s (recent)

Neon Belt: Macy’s

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co., H&M, Forever21, Macy’s

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Cocktail Ring: Flea Market in Italy

Earrings: ArdenB (old)

Neon Shoes: Aldo for Nordstrom (sold out)

But alas, as much as I love rompers, there is one slight problem with them-they aren’t the easiest for using the restroom. Lol. So if you are going to invest in a romper, make sure you only wear it when you aren’t drinking too much water or imbibing in too many cocktails. 😉

Happy Monday everyone!!

Sunshine and Lace

On June 14, 2012June 14, 2012 By all dolled upIn Michael Kors, Nordstrom Rack, Outfit Ideas, Watches4 Comments

Ahhhh, lace. So pretty, so sweet, so timeless, so romantic. I have to say that I am awfully glad to see lace making a comeback. And am especially loving all of the cute lace and crochet shorts, flowy tops, and crops-some bohemian, some more fashion forward, there is a style of lace out there for everyone.

And with so many options and price points to choose from, I have been on the hunt for a perfect lace top for a while and finally found a beautiful cream lace cropped tank at Macy’s a few weeks ago (post to come). So I was surprised when I was recently in Forever21 and found another lace tank that was not only longer, but the color of sunshine and about 1/3 of the price. And I knew instantly that even though it was lace (and yellow), it was a great basic that could work back to skirts, shorts, denim, and even colored denim.

Yellow Lace Top: Forever21

White Layering Tank: H&M

Colored Skinnies: Else by Joe’s Jeans exclusively for Macy’s

Sunglasses: Calvin Klein via Macy’s Sunglass Hut

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co., H&M, Macy’s, Thailand (yes, the country)

Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack

Color Block Platform Shoes: ZigiSoho via DSW

If you haven’t already added a piece of lace to your summer wardrobe, I would highly recommend doing so. Not only is it on trend right now, but lace is timeless and will most certainly keep making comebacks as the fashion trends cycle over the years. I also wanted to point out that I did something I don’t normally do in this post-which is opt for a monochromatic look with my shoes instead of a complimentary, but different, pop of color. While the yellow heel and the turquoise platform are a shade or two darker than my top and jeans, they are in the same color family, and therefore work back to each other. The white pop on the shoe is also the perfect way to tie it all together. All in all, I am really pleased with how the look turned out and will definitely be making more monochromatic choices in the future-yet another fun and different way to change things up a bit!

Favorite Product Friday: bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lip Color

On June 8, 2012June 8, 2012 By all dolled upIn Favorite Products1 Comment

We all know colored lips are all the rage right now. From hot pink, to orange, to red, lips have become a fun vehicle to add a pop of color to any ensemble. And because I am a gloss girl (you can read about my adoration for Chanel lip gloss here) and always tend to gravitate towards a nude, glossy lip, this has been a hard trend for me to embrace-and not based on look (I love wearing a bright lip), but rather on comfort (I hate how drying lipstick can be!). That said, I have tried several lipsticks, specifically MAC and L’Oreal, based on my favorite fashion magazine and blogger recommendations, but I didn’t fall in love with any of them. So when a consultant at the bareMinerals counter recently tried to convince me to try their new Pretty Amazing lip color, I agreed-solely because I was sold on the gorgeous shade of red she was offering.

And boy am I glad that I gave it try! This product absolutely lives up to its name. It is a hybrid between a gloss and a lipstick so while it has a fully pigmented color, it isn’t drying, and has the creamy texture of a gloss but it isn’t sticky. The precision applicator allows for you to apply without a lip liner (which is how I use it) and its staying power is down right impressive. Plus the colors are vibrant and beautiful. Pretty Amazing, right?

So if you are looking to try a bright lip for the first time, or if you are looking to try a new product, this is the one ladies. Strength (red), Ambition (fuchsia), and Moxie (baby pink) are my favorite shades as far as brights go, but they have some fantastic nude and neutral shades as well. Plus they look great when you layer a gloss over them. Chanel is still my number one choice for gloss, but I also like the bareMinerals Moxie and Buxom glosses too.

Tip: I put on chapstick (yes, I am 5 and still use Lip Smackers) before I apply anything to my lips, whether it be a gloss or a lipstick. It helps the product go on more evenly, and makes it more comfortable on the lips thus extending the wear.

Summer is the perfect time to rock those bright lips, and now that you have insight to such a great product, there is no excuse not to try this hot trend-so get out there and dress up those beautiful kissers!!

Happy weekend dolls!!

P.S. Let me know if you have any questions or if there is a specific product or part of my beauty routine that you would like me to blog about on Favorite Product Friday. 🙂

I Heart Chevron

On June 7, 2012June 7, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas4 Comments

I love Chevron. It is such a cute, fun, modern print and works well in so many mediums from decor to handbags to clothing. So when I saw this sequin, cold-shoulder, chevron top-all things I’m currently a sucker for-I knew it would be a fantastic addition to my closet and a great piece to dress up or down. In fact, I can’t wait to wear it with my white shorts now that the weather is warmer!!

Chevron Top: INC via Macy’s (recent)
Skinnies: Gap
Shoes: Jessica Simpson via 6pm (sold out)
Feather Earrings: Local Boutique, The Icing (I like to layer feather earrings for a bolder look)
Watch: Michael Kors via Nordstrom Rack
Bracelets: Forever21, Macy’s, Tiffany and Co.

So if you don’t own something Chevron, make it your mission this weekend to add this fun print to your life. You could pick up or make a quick piece of art (see the DIY Chevron canvas I made here), add a great top or handbag to your wardrobe, or even a chair, rug, duvet cover, or throw to a space in need of a mini-makeover. And if you are feeling especially ambitious, you could even paint an accent wall with a Chevron shadow stripe. How fun is that? I know that when J and I decide to add a baby Doll to our family, there will most definitely be a chevron stripe in the nursery!! So whatever your preference, embrace chevron in some capacity this weekend. Big or small-you won’t be sorry!!!!

Strawberry Banana

On June 5, 2012June 5, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas4 Comments

We’ve already established that I LOVE color. However, since I started writing this blog, I have noticed (among many other things) that I definitely tend to gravitate towards more vibrant and saturated hues. I don’t own a lot of pastels and am never particularly drawn to them-BUT there are certain occasions where I can’t think of anything that would be more appropriate. And the two occasions that stand out in my mind above all others are wedding and baby showers-something about the softness of pastels just seems to lend itself perfectly to these types of events.

We had a surprise wedding luncheon for one of my co-workers this week and while it was a little casual for a dress, I still wanted an outfit appropriate for the occasion and thought it would be fitting to break out my favorite new pink jeans and pair them back to a pale yellow top complete with nude heels. A soft and sweet look perfect for such a casual celebration and a little reminiscent of strawberries and bananas. 😉

Sunglasses: Calvin Klein via Macy’s Sunglass Hut (recent)

Yellow Ruffle Top: Forever21 (recent)

Pink Jeans: The Limited (recent)

Nude Pumps: Steve Madden via Overstock.com

Necklaces: Tiffany and Co., and my own personal collection of charms

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Bracelets: Tiffany and Co.

Diamond Cocktail Ring: Macy’s

Truth be told, I don’t wear a lot of accessories during the work week. I steer clear of a lot of arm candy since it clanks around on my desk and computer, and really limit the amount of jewelry I wear in general because a) it takes a lot of effort for me that early in the morning and b) I feel like less is more when it comes to a professional environment. Plus, I like the idea of feeling like my weekend and date night outfits are extra special compared to what I am wearing to work day in and day out.

P.S. I used my favorite new Instagram filter for this post-1977. I just love how these pictures remind me of photos of my mom when she was young in the summertime.

Concert Attire

On May 31, 2012May 31, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas4 Comments

My husband and I adore the Civil Wars. Some friends of ours introduced them to us right when they came on the scene (long before the Hunger Games made them famous) and we have been HUGE fans ever since. So of course when they were playing a small venue in downtown SLC last week, we knew we had to jump on the opportunity to see them. And they most definitely did not disappoint. Haunting harmonies, beautiful lyrics, and melodies that forever wrap themselves around you-the Civil Wars are truly, truly special.

But attending my first music event of the summer got me thinking. What is appropriate concert attire? If they would have been playing an outside venue, the answer would be a lot easier. I probably would have gone with some sort of maxi dress or cut off shorts and tank-both of which are easy and comfy for an evening outdoors. But an intimate indoor concert venue? Well I saw it as an opportunity to wear something really fun that I wouldn’t normally wear on a typical night out on the town. And that my friends, is my neon pink wolf tank. Now the Civil Wars are by no means rock and roll, but something about a fun graphic print tee or tank just feels totally right for any kind of music event. And not only was the wolf tank a winner for the evening, but I paired it back to my bright green jeans, studded shoes, and super long earrings for an outfit that I think was worthy enough for such an incredible show.

Blazer: H&M (last fall)

Neon Wolf Tank: Macy’s Impulse Department (recent)

Colored Skinnies: Else by Joes Jeans (exclusively at Macy’s)

Long Chain Earrings: TJMaxx (recent)

Neon Pink Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC via Bloomingdales

Studded Pumps: Madden Girl (old)

Pink Druzy Ring: Amanda Lynne Luxe via Etsy

Watch: Michael Kors via Macy’s

Bracelets: H&M, Macy’s, Forever21, Tiffany and Co.

Maybe I’m into this tank because I love the ’80’s, or maybe it’s because I’m from Montana and have a little redneck in me. But either way, it is one of my favorite finds of the season. And not only that, but I wholeheartedly believe that it is important to have one or two items like this in your wardrobe. Graphic tees and tanks go great back to blazers, skinnies, skirts, and shorts, and are an easy way to dress casually and comfortably while still being fun and funky at the same time.

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