dotty, stripes, and layers

[wearing] 
stripes: h&m (similar)
cardigan: zara (similar)
jacket: michael kors (exactly)
tights: target
boots: target

dotty, black, and gray

[wearing]
jacket: gap (similar)
gingham: j.crew (similar)
pants: target (similar)
flats: cole haan (similar)


[going]
to work and for a walk down to the loop to meet up with the boy

dotty, blazers, and professionalism

[wearing]
blazer: thrifted from the boy's section
dress: joie (similar)
tights: target
boots: old navy
necklace: charlotte russe


creative: okay, so this is really a whole lot of black and gray, but the turquoise necklace really pops that way.  and as it turns out my "creative" colleagues wear black like nobody's business.
young: this dress is borderline too short for work.  tall boots and tights seem to shift it back into reasonable territory. i should also explain here that while my office has a strict dress code for dudes (there's even a bullet point about mustaches!), the one for ladies is a bit more vague and doesn't have any sort of hemline requirements.  mostly just talk of blouses and trousers.  
professional: i am completely convinced that adding a blazer can make anything "professional".  bowties work for this too.  


(see the whole creative young professional series of posts over yonder) 

dotty, magenta, and such

[wearing]
magenta pants: target (similar)
sweatshirt: target
scarf: forever21
shoes: toms (exactly)


+
while saturated pants seem totally normal to me in my little pinterest bubble, it turns out that they stand out in a crowd.  and i live in a city populated on the weekends with midwest tourists, so they got a few funny looks.  in spite of this, i'm totes smitten with these pants.  

and just for kicks, here's the boy wearing a floral shirt!  and he's talking on the phone, not looking sadly into the water.

dotty, the beach, and peach

[wearing]
tee: american apparel (exactly)
jeans: bdg (similar)
scarf: forever21 (exactly)
belt: forever21 (similar)
flats: cole haan


+
i always think that i'm not that fond of pastel colors, but i've been super into this peachy color for spring.  this polka dot scarf is just so wonderfully easter-like!  

dotty, stripes, and belts

i haven't done a how-to post in awhile and i've been feeling a little crafty lately. anyway, i saw this stripey belt at j.crew a few months back, and thought "hey, i could make that!" and then kayley did, so i figured it was time to give it a whirl.



first off, gather your supplies:

• embroidery thread
• scissors
• a belt (mine is a cheapy from forever21)
• and some sort of glue (not pictured)

(the back)



(the front)



(making a mess and watching a whole lot of arrested development)









(pair with bright pants)

dotty, dots, and paisley

[wearing]
knit moto jacket: forever21 (really similar)
tank underneath: club monaco
scarf: vintage
skirt: thrifted (similar)
tights: target
boots: old navy


creative: there's some subtle pattern-mixing in there with the spotted tank and paisley-ish scarf.
young: this moto jacket seems to make pencil skirts seem a bit less grownup.
professional: i'm grayed out.


(see the whole creative young professional series of posts over yonder)