Six Ways to Style--White Pants!

I don't really follow the old rule of "no white after Labor Day." However, I live in a state that is snow covered 5 (sometimes 6 or 7....or 8) months out of the year and wearing white does nothing for anybody. It's hard to stand out when you completely blend in with your surroundings. So, as soon as the snow melts I bust out my white wardrobe pieces. There is just something about an outfit centered around this crisp and clean hue that makes one feel stylish and pulled together. Go ahead and be bold about how you style this color. It looks fantastic with just about every other shade and you should totally experiment to your hearts content. Try out a few of the examples below and rock that white!

White Pants (1, 2, 3): Ann Taylor Loft 

White wide leg trousers (4, 5, 6): Old Navy

1. Stripe Satisfaction
White pants looks fresh when paired with a bold top in a trendy color. I adore coral this season and this shirt has the most flattering darts and tucks around the waist. A big chunky necklace takes the outfit from casual to chic. I love throwing on my cognac wedges (I am learning that cognac goes with nearly everything!) Pick yourself up a pair of reddish wedges or pumps and you won't regret it!

Shirt: The Limited
Necklace: Burlington Coat Factory (7.99!)
Shoes: Target

2. Double Dot
Owning a chambray shirt is a must. Owning one with white polka dots is just too much fun! I love this casual look that is brought to life with the polka dots. A nice, comfy neutral flat makes this the perfect running around outfit.

Shirt: Old Navy
Scarf: homemade
Shoes: Kohl's

3. Brave Yellow
The picture doesn't do this sweater justice. It is HOT yellow! Its a perfect match for the white pants because the two balance each other out exactly. I am a sucker for polka dots and this shirt brings this whole outfit together.

Sweater: Gap
Polka Dot Shirt: F21
Necklace: F21
Shoes: Target
Bracelet: Charlotte Russe

4. Perfect Palette
I LOVE these colors together! Lime green, teal and navy. The white pant is the perfect finish for this springy outfit. This would also go great with a white skinny, because the shirt is nice and flowy.

Lime Layering Tank: Target
Sleeveless: Gordman's
Blazer: Marshalls
Shoes: Old Navy
Necklace: Lia Sophia

5. Ravishing in Red
Another classic, this look is so crisp. I chose to pair it with a zebra sparkle shoe, so fun! It gave me an extra pep in my step. And who doesn't love polka dots right now? Not this girl!

Sleevless: Marshalls
Jacket: Kommothion NY (Good Will $7.99)
Necklace: Target
Shoe:Target

6. Mint+Coral=Perfect
These colors go great together! It's perfect for this spring. The mint necklace is enough color to pop against the coral. I've also done just a white collared shirt, but the chambray gives it an extra little something. The conac shoe polishes it off.

Chambray Shirt: Kohls
Cardigan: J Crew
Necklace: Groopdealz
Shoe: Anthony Gellar DSW

Sacrifice or Splurge?

Miss Holly and I are on a budget folks. We are balancing family, work, and school right along side our checkbooks. We get it. Spending money on beauty products and fashion trends can seem frivolous when you are spending money on school/college, field trips, school lunches, shelter, and just plain LIFE. However, doing the little things for yourself like getting dressed up or finding a great deal can do big stuff for your attitude and morale. We are going to give some tips on how to merge your monetary dreams and your monetary reality.

1. Set a beauty and clothing budget. 
This is actually something you all are going to hold ME accountable to. I am a very saavy, sale shopper (wow--say that 5 times fast) but too many sale items still adds up to a chunk of change. If you set an amount that you can spend in a month on beauty and clothing items (better yet--have it in cash) you will think twice about ordering a third necklace from Groopdealz! (Just say no girls!)

2. Shop the sales and clearance racks!
One of the biggest ways I save money on fashion is knowing when to shop my favorite store's sales. I sign up for emails from all my favorite stores and this keeps me in the know about good deals. For example, The Limited is a FAVE of mine but I rarely shop there unless everything (including markdowns) are an extra 40% off. Throw in earning virtual dollars and you can really score. I once bought $766.00 worth of clothing for $112 bucks using both virtual dollars and their percent sale. In addition, even my girls know to head straight to the sale racks when we enter a store. Holly is a Goodwill Genius and has come up with awesome fashion finds too. You have to be willing to browse a bit more but good finds are out there.

3. Decide which items are worth the SPLURGE and which items you can SACRIFICE on! (This is one of my biggest tips!) To sacrifice means that you are willing to sacrifice something (material, longevity, etc) in order to pay a bit less. To splurge means you are willing to spend a bit extra for some reason (use, material, longevity, etc). Check out my short (not complete) list below!

Please comment below on your SACRIFICE and SPLURGE habits! 

Six Ways to Style....NEON!

I must admit to a healthy neon obsession this season. I snagged a pair of neon green (or yellow not sure what to call them--they are WAAAY brighter than these pics even allow) boyfriend capris (#6) at Gap for $5.97 (!!) and that was all she wrote. I was hooked and made it my mission to find versatile pieces that would go with my new neon pants. It turns out that I really enjoy the color beyond my good deal pants and I have been adding neon pieces to my wardrobe this spring. I love the bright vibe they give off and I truly think the color adds a bit of a spring to my step. However, I know people can be scared of such a bold, traffic-directing hue. Even my sister wanted a pair but "not quite as bright as yours." If you want to try the trend but don't want to blind your friends, try some of the subtle versions below. Or--GO FOR IT--and rock the neon pants!

1. Say it with Stripes
If you can't bring yourself to go full, all-over-neon, find a top that uses it as a pattern, such as stripes or polka dots. This is an easy way to grab a little neon without being too over the top.

Pants: American Eagle
Flats: Old Navy
Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft
Cardigan: Old Navy
Bracelet: Gordman's
Necklace: old

2. Bright Accents
Hey, if stripes and polka dots still scream "traffic director" than pull in some neon in tiny places. This dress has a simple neon tie belt and the smallest of neon trim at the collar. Hunt for a piece like this that satisfies your trend desires but still fits within your color comfort zone.

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft
Shoes: JC Penney (Nine&Co)
Necklace: Charlotte Russe
Rings: Charlotte Russe

3. T-Shirt Details
Sometimes the key to trying out a brave color trend is to pair it with a color you are super comfy with. My FAVE color lately is navy. I grabbed some tried and true navy pieces and paired them with a tank with neon stripes. The navy kept me grounded and the neon plays a supporting role in the overall outfit.
BTW: I am obsessed with this chevron/arrow necklace from Forever 21. $3.80 people! Gah!

Cardigan: Limited
Tank: Gap
Shorts: Ann Taylor Loft
Shoes: TJ Maxx
Necklace and Bracelet: F21

4. Cardigan Comfort
This outfit steps up the neon component quite a bit. A neon piece like this cardigan is going to get noticed. Balance it out by pairing it with a calmer hue such as this turquoise dress. A little belt accent thrown in pulls it all together.

Cardigan: Limited
Dress: Old Navy
Belt: F21
Flats: Old Navy
Necklace: Charles Emerson Designs

5. Accessories Accent
You could always wear a trend simply by gathering accessories that fit the trend. This is an inexpensive way to be "trendy" so when the trend fades your investment would have been minimal. The scarf and shoes give a jumpstart to what would have been a basic white and khaki outfit.

Scarf: New York and Co
Shirt: Old Navy
Capris: Old Navy
Belt: Charlotte Russe
Flats: Old Navy

6. Pants Have It
This is taking the neon trend to a HIGH level. Bold and brassy for sure! This picture really does not fully show how bright these pants are but I could care less...I love them! I am choosing to rock this trend despite the traffic cone comparisons. Who's with me??

Pants: Gap
Shirt: Old Navy
Flats: Target

My Beauty Must-Haves

We all have those beauty items that we use EVERY day. When they run out, we make a special trip to get more. We would miss them if they were gone. Life would not be the same if they were (gasp!) discontinued. Today I am going to share a short list of a few items that play vital roles in my daily beauty routine. These products are tried and true and I stand behind each one. We each have our own hair and skin care priorities and these products reflect my own. Take the best and leave the rest!

1. Kenra 25 hairspray
 I used to be a die hard Big & Sexy Spray and Play Harder fan. However, I was noticing some residue (flakiness) in my hair after a few uses and got a little turned off. (I only wash my hair every 3 days--yes--3) I switched to Kenra 25 about a year ago and have never looked back. This is not a hairspray for the faint of heart. It has a firm hold and feels firm as well. This works for me as I want my hair (especially curls) to stay all day.

2. EOS Lip Balm
These little cuties come in about 7-8 different flavors and they all rock (mint is my fave!). The first few uses you will notice your lips "shedding" a bit due to a bit of exfoliation from the product. Pretty much from there on out your lips will feel fantastic. The balms are organic and have no wax or paraben. I'll admit-they are not the easiest things to carry around in your pocket but I could really care less. I love them!

3. Naked palette from Urban Decay
This palette is EVERYWHERE and you can watch about a million tutorials on youtube for how to use it. It is hugely popular and they even have a Naked 2 palette as well. Bottom line: a palette blessed with amazing neutral shades across a wide color spectrum that have stellar staying power. Most of the shades  (all but two--nude and buck) have a bit of shimmer. It has a steep price of 50 bucks but it could seriously be the only palette you own and you could create many, many looks with it.

4. MAC paint pots
I own two of these puppies--Bare Study and Soft Ochre. This is an excellent creme shadow and acts as a superb base to eye shadows. You barely use any at a time and my two pots have lasted for-eva!

5. Big & Sexy Root Pump
I used to complain about my heavy and thick, yet limp (at the roots) hair to my hairdresser. She told me I had two options: (1) Use some kind of root lift or volume mousse, (2) Get a good teasing comb. Well, I did both and it has made a world of difference. I think there are a few root lifters out there that I would like to try but I love Big & Sexy so much that I can't bear to change. I apply a copious amount at my roots (with the foghorn nozzle thing you can get a pretty direct shot) all over my head. Rub it in with your fingers and blow dry upside down. Voila! Instant root lift. I can even rub my roots with my fingers during the day and get a little "reactivation" when I feel my hair getting weighed down.

6. Hot Tools curling iron
I bought curling irons for YEARS at Target and Walmart and just made do. They curled my hair and with a bit of product I could make the curls last. However, it wasn't until I bought a high end straightener that I wondered what a difference heat and barrel material would make on my curls. Well folks, it makes a big difference. They usually run about 50 bucks but I held out and got my sweet pink one for $29.99 at Ulta.

7. Gel Liner
The one I have pictured here is from Clinique and is the one I return to the most often. However, I have tried other high ends ones (MAC Fluid track liner) and drugstore (Wet & Wild) and they all pretty much work the same. The precision and staying power of a gel liner is next to none. I'm not gonna lie to ya--it takes some practice to use this product well. Once its on its ON. I use short feathery strokes and simply take my time. A winged line is done perfectly with this gel liner. Two cons: (1) keep it airtight because it will dry out and then its WORTHLESS. (2) You are going to need some strong make-up remover to get this stuff off.

8. MAC Hug Me Lipstick
This may very well be the perfect lipstick. The color looks good on anybody. The texture is nearly that of a lip balm and it has a sweet smell that I'm can't quite put my finger on. I tell anyone who will listen about this lipstick. Get one. Now.

Six Ways to Style....pink skinnies!

I tell you what...the color pink makes me happy. How can you be in a bad mood when you are rockin some hot pink skinnies?? My oh-so-stylish-partner-in-crime Holly gave me a pair of pink skinnies that she found on stellar clearance last year  Boy have I put them to good use. We have had a terribly long winter here and I have found myself dragging these puppies out ALL. THE. TIME. to help lift my weather induced bad mood.  Holly herself is loving her own pair of melon/pink skinnies in a few pics here too! You need to get you some pink skinnies. Trust me.

Old Navy Super Skinnies (1, 2, & 3) NOTE: You should buy O.N. Super Skinny jeans two (yes, 2) sizes bigger than you normally would wear. The cut and fit of these does not match traditional sizing.

 Almost Famous carried at The Buckle: (4, 5, & 6): However, I found these babies at the local Good Will for $7.99! I am always searching for a good deal.

1. Dark Neutrals: Pink skinnies look great with a neutral contrast. The block top really pops against the pink pants. The gray blazer is actually faux leather (the pic doesn't do it justice) and I adore the pop of pink on the rolled up cuffs! I threw in a mint statement bracelet for a pop of coordinating color!

Blazer: Target
Tank: The Limited
Bracelet: handmade
Shoes: The Buckle

2. Navy Love: This is my FAVORITE color to wear with my pink skinnies. My fall family photos were done in this entire color scheme (try getting 6 people to coordinate, whew!) You can check out the pics here! The blazer really brings this outfit to a hip, dressy level. I am a sucker for a good polka dot so the tank just adds such flair that I can't resist.

Blazer: Forenza by The Limited
Tank: TJ Maxx
Necklace: Kohl's
Flats: Target

3. Pink Lemonade: This is the first thing that came to my mind when I styled this outfit. Lemonade is one of my favorite summer drinks and I enjoy both the pink and yellow varieties. It just felt so summery to pair these two colors with my polka dot chambray. Yum!

Sweater: Walmart
Chambray: Old Navy
Nude Pumps: JC Penney-Nine&Co

4. Cardigan Casual: It's so easy to throw on a tank & cardigan, and walk out the door. The grey and taupe are a great combination. This is a good way to tone down the pink, if you think it's a little bright.
The long necklace is the perfect accessory to give a little glam to this casual look.

Cardigan: Target
Grey Tank: Target
Necklace: Cookie Lee
Shoes: Von Maur-Born

5. Jean Jacket Pop: Denim works great as a neutral. The green necklace and shoe is the perfect accent to pull this look together. Remind anyone of watermelon?

Jacket: Old Navy
White T: Target
Necklace: Maurices
Shoes: Old Navy

6. Floral/Print: Burgandy and hot pink? Oh yes!  This "goes" perfectly together. I added a pop of turquiose for the shoe to give a little variety. The shirt is sheer and flowy. It's comfy and loose, but the sheer material helps it not look boxy either. 

Floral Shirt: American Eagle Outlet
Neckalce: Lia Sophia
Shoe: Target

Six Ways to Style...mint jeans!

It must be the weekend because a new Six Ways post is here! The central clothing piece to this post is my mint 'skinny' jeans! I have been obsessed with these for months. I don't know what it is about this color but it seems to go with any season and just about any color. My summer wish list is full of mint-hued items! (Lace mint shorts anyone?? Sigh). Such a fun color to style!

Mint Jeans:
1, 3, & 5: American Eagle
2, 4, & 6: Charlotte Russe

1. Animal Print: Mint works so well with gray tones. I chose this cheetah print gray sweater because it mixes these two great colors with a shot of animal print. Also, I have a r-e-a-lly hard time refusing animal print when I get the chance. Check out the flats too!

Cardigan: Old Navy
Tank: Target
Shoes: Style&Co for Macy's
Necklace: Kohl's

2. Khaki n'Cream: This outfit is neutral, but with a little detail. It gives a great look of spring without being too loud. This look is very classy and feminine.

Sweater: Target
Necklace: Target
Shoes: Nine & Co (JCP)

3. Navy Stripe: I used to be such a black and brown girl when it came to dark neutrals. I made a vow to not by anything black or brown for 6 months. What ended up happening is I traded my blacks and browns in for NAVY! I wear navy at least three times a week. It really acts as a dark neutral and goes with just about anything. I especially love it here as it creates contrast with the mint jeans. The lace blazer adds a simple, feminine touch that completes the look.

Blazer: TJ Maxx
Shirt: Gap
Flats: Target
Necklace: Forever 21

4. Ombre' Chambray: Think of a paint sample swatch. The colors are the same hue, but different shades. Pick the one you love and then go a couple of shades lighter or darker to compliment it. This is a good way to pull together an outfit without being too matchy-matchy. To finish it off, throw on a pop of color for a shoe. Viola!

Green cap sleeve: Target
Chambray shirt: Kohls
Scarf: Vanity
Blue flat: Target

5. Coral Neutral: Coral is in fashion everywhere right now. It's a color that has all the pop of orange without making you feel like you are marking a construction zone. The fitted khaki blazer helps to soften the color and the whole look feels serene. Throw on some comfy boat shoes and this is a perfect errand running, farmer's market, kid toting outfit.

Blazer: Gap
Lace T: Old Navy
Shoes: Sperry (Von Maur)
Necklace: Herberger's

6. Color Pop: LOVE! This ensemble is one of my favorites! I found the shirt first and just pulled together some pieces to enhance it. Every girl needs a great pop of color in her wardrobe for those days you feel like sunshine or for those gloomy days you hope for sunshine.

Print sleeveless: Marshalls
Navy Blazer: Marshalls
Mint Statement Necklace: Groopdealz.com
Shoes: Target

Trend Watch: Statement Accessories!

One of my favorite trends of late has got to be statement accessories and jewelry. If you are not familiar with the trend, statement accessories are bold, large, and colorful pieces of jewelry. Check out a few examples:

http://www.page-thirteen.com/2012/04/loving-statement-necklaces.html

These types of accessories really add a jolt of awesomeness to any outfit! I have purchased my share of statement pieces over the past few months. (Groopdealz is going to be the financial end of me!)
However, I have struggled a bit finding statement bracelets that fit my wrist. I tend to have to wear elastic bracelets in order for the bracelet to not dangle like a handcuff. Sometimes a statement necklace is not what an outfit needs, but a bracelet would do just the trick. While putting outfits together with my style partner in crime, Holly, she kept coming up with these stellar statement bracelets that added a simple finishing touch to her outfits. I begged her to tell me where she got them. Well lo and behold the little crafty gal MADE them. We immediately set up a necklace making playdate so I could have my own set of ready to wear statement bracelets. We even took pictures of our little escapade! Now you can make your own statement bracelets too and join the statement jewelry bandwagon!

Materials:

scissors--various statement beads in various colors--accent beads--stretch jewelry cord**--

**Do not make the same mistake we did. At first we went with elastic jewelry thread but it was nearly impossible to get it to stay tied in a knot. We finally found what we needed (and what Holly had used before) at JoAnn's. It is in the picture below.

1. Measure about 10 inches of the cord. We doubled ours for strength and durability. Elastic bracelet sizing is really up to the individual wrist size. 10 inches allows you plenty of cord to work with. You will then adjust, tighten, and tie it off to fit your wrist. It may take a few tries to get it just right, but you will! 

2. Lay your beads out in the pattern and number you would like in front of you. Thread the first bead to the end and tie a knot around it too hold it in place and to keep all the beads from slipping off the end and going EVERYWHERE. (Yes, this happened once. Or twice)

3. String the beads onto the cords in your pattern order.

4.  When you have strung all your beads, untie the bead at the end and carefully hold both ends. Gingerly slip your wrist through to determine the size you need your bracelet to be to slide on easily and stay put on your wrist. Once you have the size you want, tie the two ends (this is tricky because your cord is doubled so there are several strings in play here!) and cinch the bracelet down until it is completely rounded and the size you want. Secure this tie with a double knot. 

This mint is my fave. Swoon!

5. Once your are completely satisfied with the sizing, you can trim any excess cord. Rearrange the beads a bit so the knot is hidden inside a bead or two. Now put that bracelet on and work it!

See how many you can make in one sitting! Holly and I cranked out 12! We spent about $50.00 in supplies for our 12 bracelets. We still have plenty of cord left to make many more. Less than 4 bucks a piece and the exact colors and designs that we wanted!

We were so excited about our new bangles that we were wearing some when we took this pic! Ha!

Six Ways to Style....dark wash denim!

Happy Weekend! Here comes another Six Ways post! To hear my ramblings of why I love these little posts, click here! I'll keep this short simple from here on out! This week I wanted to style one of my favorite wardrobe pieces--dark wash denim. I have dark wash denim in just about every shade, weight, and color and I love to wear them to work. I can even get away with wearing them on non-casual days because of their dark color and finished look. Also, some of the looks show how to wear a dark wash trouser which are perfect for work!

Side note: I must give a small shout out to my ultimate favorite dark wash denim jeans from American Eagle. If you are in the market for super comfortable, stretchy, and flattering jeans, you must check out the Skinny Kick jean from AE. They are reasonably priced and have a really unique cut to the leg--skinny through the thigh and calf but with a slight flair at the ankle. They do have a bit of a low-rise and I understand how that can turn some people away. I also own AE's Artist flairs in a dark denim and a pair of their Skinny jeans too. All of them are in constant rotation on my outfit menu (more on outfit menus coming soon!)

Trouser dark wash denim Stoosh at Marshalls:1 & 3
Skinny Kick AE: 2 & 4
Silver Skinny: 5 & 6

1. Neutral: This is a timeless classic. I put together an ivory sleeveless shirt with a lighter cream jacket. It's just enough of a difference to look put together versus not matching. This look is perfect for all year round. The faux snake skin shoe adds the finishing touch.

Ivory Sleeveless: Charlotte Russe
Jacket: Limited (found at the Good Will for $8.99!)
Necklace: New York & Co.
Shoe: Target

2. Red Love: A red blazer has been on my wish list for months! I finally was able to purchase one for a steal at the Limited during their virtual dollars event. I paired it was a white/navy polka dot top that gave the outfit a trendy, nautical feel. I adore the sky-high (surprisingly comfy) wedges that I paired with this as well. They are strappy with cognac and navy details.

Blazer: The Limited
Tanks: Gap
Shoes: Target
Necklace: len

3. Chambray: Light blue + dark blue + a touch of green = a GREAT outfit!! This chambray shirt goes perfectly with so many things, but a dark denim is one of my favorites. It's simple, but right in style. The green scarf adds just enough color to balance out the blue.

Chambray Shirt: Kohl's
Scarf: handmade
Shoe:  Sperry-Von Maur

4. Bold Stripes: Another blazer purchase from the Limited. I have a BIG soft spot for stripes. Throw in my love of contrasting colors and this outfit suits me to a T. My obsession with this dynamite orange statement necklace is borderline ridiculous. I love it so much that I try and throw it on with anything I can!

Blazer: The Limited
Tank: Gap
Necklace: Francesca's Collections
Shoes: Andrew Gellar (DSW)

5. Green Contrast: I love the green and yellow color combo here and how it pops against the dark wash skinnies but I CANNOT help but think of John Deere! Anyone else? Gracious. This polka dot cardigan is one of my faves and I pair it with everything under the sun...and apparently a tank the color of the sun!

Cardigan: Target
Tank: Target
Necklace: The Limited
Shoes: Style&Co by Macy's

6. Casual: This is the kind of top I wear when my muffin top and I are NOT getting along. I treasure its loose fit and 80's-esque style. The sheer panel on the bottom gives this casual look a feminine touch. A cool geometric necklace gives an edgy balance to the femininity.

Top: Charming Charlie
Necklace: Target
Shoes: Sperry-Von Maur
Bracelet: handmade

Pinspiration: A Passion for Pinterest!

Wow. Pinterest is such a blessing and a curse.
So many great ideas.
So many many cute outfits.
So many yummy looking desserts!
Such a time sucker.
Such a guilt creator and builder.
I will never create, wear, or eat all the things I pin but how great is it to have them all in one place, "just in case?" In an effort to share some Pinterest love (also known as Pinspiration) I am going to share something once a week that really inspired me or that I actually could see myself creating or making.

TODAY's PINSPIRATION:

I really found this graphic super helpful. It is hard to decide at times which necklace would work for which neckline. You need to balance out the features of the neckline with the features of the right necklace.

You can follow me on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/emangel/boards/
You can follow Holly on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hmuilenburg/