How To: Stack Bracelets

This week for my How-to series I'll be covering how to stack bracelets.  Last year everyone was "throwing an arm party," but I don't hear that term much anymore, that doesn't change the fact that I love to wear multiple bracelets at once.  Today I'll share with you some ways to stack your bracelets.

• Mix your metals. My favorite bracelets to wear are the Moxie, Gilded Arrow, Renegade, and the Chimera (which is retired). Adding in the Moxie is great to add some color and the different textures of the bracelets make this an interesting combo and my go-to for sure.
• Make a statement with your bracelets.  Pick one of two gold or silver bracelets you love, then add a bold color that coordinates with your outfit to add to the combo.  I love the Triple Wrap and Peacock.  I wear a lot of those colors, so having them as statement pieces makes sense.  Look at the colors you like to wear most, then think about adding one or two bold bracelets of your own.
• I also like to wear my silver Renegade and Urbane with my new watch too.  If the metals match, wearing bracelets on the same wrist as your watch can be really great.
• Lastly, make sure to coordinate your bracelets with your necklace.  If you're wearing a gold necklace, it goes without saying that you should wear gold bracelets and vise-versa. 
• If you're wearing a really bold necklace, keep your bracelets more basic and try not to wear both a bold statement necklace and a bold statement bracelet.
• I know I've shown you all Stella and Dot pieces, I know they are more expensive, but I've had all over mine for nearly a year and they all look the same as the day I got them.  When you spend more on pieces they can tend to last longer.  Think about a few nicer pieces to invest in, no need to get them all at once!

Have you entered my giveaway yet?

• 

I need some help from you all?  What how-to posts would you like to see next?  I want the ideas to come from what you ladies need and I want them to be applicable to you.  Hit me with your ideas!

How To: Style and Tie Scarves

Today I'll be sharing some tips with you about how to style and tie scarves.  Now, I must say, I am NOT an expert my any means.  I have a few tips to share, but I'm including Wendy's Lookbook's Video with 25 Ways to Tie Scarves below, as well as a few ideas from Pinterest too.  

• My first tip is to learn a few basic ways to tie a scarf that can be your go-to ways to tie.  Other than infinity scarves this is my favorite way to tie a scarf, in the first two pictures below I've tied it this way, I just shifted it to the side with the floral scarf for a different look.
• My second tip is to use your scarf as a simple way to pattern mix.  If you'd love to try this trend, but are nervous, a scarf is a great place to start.  Try leopard with stripes, or a a print.  This look can really make your outfit stand out and it keep it looking forgettable. 
• Basic bold colored scarves are great and super versatile.  In the winter these tend to take the place of necklaces frequently.  Work to color coordinate your scarf with your outfit, or add a cool pop of color in a complimentary color.  
•  I am a huge fan of infinity scarves as I feel like they are a not hassle way to wear scarves, but not every great scarf is an infinity scarf.  To make any scarf an infinity one, simply tie the ends together like this and voila, an instant infinity scarf.  I use this trick all the time!

Have you entered my sponsor's giveaway here yet?






Here's Wendy's awesome video to show how to tie your scarf 25 different ways.  Mind. Blown.

Here's another great resource for ideas on how to tie your scarf too, the ideas are endless!

Pin-it / Source

On another note, last summer I did a post on knowing and dressing for your body type and it was a great success. I'd like to expand on it and I need your help. I really only gave outfit ideas for a rectangle, because that's what I am. Here's my pitch: Are you hourglass, pear, apple, or triangle shaped? Send me a picture of you in all black (with or without your face) if I get more than one of each body type I'll choose at random. Then I'll create Polyvore sets for you and others with your body type as outfit inspiration, as well as tips to best utilize your best qualities. I plan to do this as part of my Tuesday how-to series. If interested email me here.

How To: Style A Necklace

This week for my how-to series I got the idea from  Laura at I do doClaire share some tips on how to chose a necklace, which can be the biggest statement your outfit will make.  I've pulled some pictures from my archives as well as some inspiration from Pinterest that I'll share with you today.

• I think it's important to have one piece of classic bling in your wardrobe.  The "bling" part of the Stella and Dot Sutton is my favorite go to piece.  It's perfect to wear with layers like a button-down and sweater, or great to finish off an outfit like I did here.
• You want your necklace to add to your outfit, not take away from it.  If you are wearing a top with a print, keep it simple with your necklace.  I wore the Sutton here too.  If you wear a necklace that is too complicated and busy it definitely takes away from your look instead of adding to it.
• Don't be afraid to make a statement with your jewelry.  I think this is best done when you're wearing a solid top like I am below.  The Phoenix is my favorite statement necklace right now.  It always can make a boring outfit become anything but that!
• It can be fun to color coordinate too.  Add a necklace that has complimentary colors to your shirt or dress, this can add such a fun final look to your outfit.  
• Add a pop of color to your outfit with your necklace.  Wearing mostly neutral colors or black and white, adding a pop of color with a necklace like the Juniper to make your look anything but boring.

Here's a visual of these tips and keep reading for more tips on how to style a necklace:

For these next tips I went to Pinterest.  I didn't have any great pictures of my own to share but there are definitely some more great tips to share when comes to styling a necklace.

• Layer your necklace with a scarf like seen here.  The overall look is so pretty!  When deciding to layer this way make sure to keep your shirt or blouse basic, if you try to pattern mix and layer with a necklace at the same time you'll end up looking over-styled.
• Layer your necklaces like seen here. Start short and then add a mid-length necklace, and lastly add a long necklace.  This works best with either all silver or gold.  If you try to add in beads or mix metals the overall look could like you were playing dress-up in your mom's closet.
• Wearing a plain blouse or t-shirt?  I long necklace can be a great addition to this look along with a layer like a chunky cardigan or sweater like seen here, and it will elongate your torso too.

Still have questions about styling a necklace?  I love this graphic I found on Pinterest.  I know I've made some mistakes in the past when it comes to a necklace-neckline combo, this graphic is great for helping with that.

Come back next week for another addition of my how-to series.  Also, want to see what I'm wearing today?  Stop by Instagram : )

How To: Style Booties

This week for my how-to series, I'll be covering how to style booties.  I love my booties and have been living in them this fall and winter!  They are such a great trend this year, but I'll be honest, styling them can be a little daunting at first.  Today I'll be sharing six ways I like to wear them.

• Booties can be a little more casual in nature, so when styling them you'll probably find they look best styled with more casual pieces.
• First, I'll be styling it with a dress and tights.  I love this combo and it seems to work best with cotton or jersey dresses.  Wearing black tights with black booties, or brown tights with brown booties will also elongate your legs, which is always a plus!
• The second way I'll be styling it is with long leggings.  I love this for a casual weekend look or a night with friends.  Tip, if you're leggings aren't quite long enough, wear black socks and tuck them into your leggings, no one will know the difference. : )  
• The third way is with boot-cut jeans. Just add either one big cuff or cuff it twice and just let the bottom of the booties show.  This is a great way to transition into booties if you're just starting to get comfortable with them.
• The forth way is with a pencil skirt or mini-skirt and bare legs.  I think bare legs and brown booties are are better combination than bare legs and black booties.  Black booties and bare legs can have a tendency to cut you off at the ankle and make you look shorter and wider than you are.
• The fifth way, and my favorite way to wear it is with skinny jeans.  You can either do one bigger cuff or cuff it twice.  The little bit of ankle that shows is super flattering.
• The last way is with tights and a mini-skirt.  This works great for both brown and black booties and if perfect for when you want to wear a skirt in the winter.

Also, a few days after I got this post ready the lovely Sarah at Sarah's Real Life created a post on how to style booties too, check out her post for some more great tips. : )

I wore this outfit on the blog here and love how the booties work with this look as apposed to a normal heel. 

Cardigan: Banana Reublic $7 (thrifted with tags) similar

Dress: $5 (thrifted with tags) cute option

Belt: The Limited $5 similar

Scarf: Craft Show $10 cute option

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Renegade, Urbane

Tights: Esprit $5 (via TJ Maxx)  similar

Booties: Jessica Simpson $37 same

I love this outfit and wore a similar one here when I discussed how to style a boyfriend cardigan.  Like I said then, I don't think leggings are appropriate for work, but I love this for a weekend look or a night with friends.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Scarf: Boutique $15 exact

Chambray: Gap $15 same

Leggings: Target 

Booties: Jessica Simpson $37 same

Here I'm wearing it with my herringbone vest.  I wore it similarly  on my how-to wear a herringbone vest post.  

Vest: Coldwater Creek (can't find similar anymore)

Sweater: Loft $30 same

Scarf: Joe Fresh $10 similar

Bracelets: Stella and Dot  Chimera, Moxie , Renegade 

Jeans: Old Navy $5 (thrifted) similar

Booties: Jessica Simpson $37 same

I wore this outfit on the blog here and it was one of my first attempts at styling booties with a skirt.  I love how this combo came together and these booties are probably the best pair of shoes I've ever owned.

Cardigan: Loft $5 (thrifted) similar

Top: Loft c/o Chippmunk similar

Skirt: Loft $40 c/o Chippmunk same

Belt: Kohl's $1.5

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Bracelets: Moxie , Renegade Stella and Dot

Boots: Wanted $29 (via eBay) similar / same in black

I wore a similar outfit on the blog here, however instead of wearing jeans I wore a skirt. I've today's look in my head for a while, so I'm glad I can show it today.

Blouse: Target $20  same

Vest: JC Penney $8 similar

Belt: Kohl's $1.5

jeans: Old Navy $19 similar

Belt: $1.5

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Bracelets: Stella and Dot  Chimera, Moxie , Renegade 

Boots: Wanted $29 (via eBay) similar / same in black

I showed you this outfit on my how-to style a boyfriend cardigan post here.  I think that wearing tights with booties is definitetly a great option once winter hits for sure.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Top: Loft c/o Chippmunk similar

Skirt: Loft (thrifted) cute option

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Leggings: Target

Booties: $29 (ebay) same in black

How To: Style a Boyfriend Cardigan

I'm excited to be starting a how-to series, which I'll be sharing with you all weekly.  This week I'll be sharing tips on how to style a boyfriend cardigan.  Now, these cardigans can be great, but the length and tendency for them to be over-sized can make them difficult to style.  I have some great tips on how to style them for you all today.

• First, when trying a boyfriend cardigan on in the store, try on your "normal" size and then one size smaller.  You might find that the small works better than the medium, etc.  Also, check the length.  For me, having a boyfriend cardigan hit right below the hips is most flattering.  Due to my short petite figure, cardigans that are longer than this are not flattering on me and look more like a weird dress with buttons on the front.  Not cool.
• One great way to style a boyfriend cardigan once you've gotten a well fitting one is with a jersey dress like this one I'm wearing in the first picture below.  Boyfriend cardigans are more casual in nature, so wearing it with a jersey dress works great.  I'll done this quite a few time and and always feel put together and cozy all day long.  A belt also helps to accentuate your waist with this combo too.
• The second ways to wear a boyfriend cardigan is with skinny jeans.  This is a great combo for casual Friday or for a weekend look.  I think skinny jeans are best because you don't want to create more volume with the outfit by adding a wider leg jean; this outfit can have a tendency to look overwhelming and make you look bigger than you are.  I styled mine below with booties, but you could also easily wear ballet flats or tall boots too. I also feel that tucking in your shirt or wearing a more form fitting shirt is the most flattering with a boyfriend cardigan too, just like with the jeans, an over-sized shirt can make you look bigger than you are.
• The third way to style a boyfriend cardigan is with a mini-skirt.  Now pencil skirts can be ok with boyfriend cardigans too, just keep in mind the casual nature of this piece, so a cotton skirt is probably best.  Once again tucking your shirt in will be the most flattering for this look and I think booties are boots look best.  I don't recommend wearing an a-line skirt with a boyfriend cardigan, just like I stated above with over-sized shirts or wider leg jeans, adding more volume is not very flattering.
• The last way I'm going to show is to wear a boyfriend cardigan with leggings.  I love this with a longer tunic and boots or booties.  I don't recommend wearing leggings to work, I'd stick to wearing this combo for a night with friends or on the weekends.  You also want to make sure your rear is covered by the tunic and cardigan and that the legging are nice and thick.  To wear this look at work, simply swap out the leggings for black jeans or the gigi pant and you're ready to go.

I've worn this look a number of times and Instagrammed it too.  I wore it like this on the blog earlier this fall when I could actually go outside without tights.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Dress: Target $22 same 

Belt: Kohl's $1.5

Leggings: Target 

Boots: Born similar

I also wore this outfit on the blog earlier this fall as part of my color series, What to Wear with Mustard.  I love this combo and blue and gold are definitely one of my favorite color combos.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Top: Loft $30 cute option

Jeans: Old Navy $19 similar

Belt: $1.5

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Booties: $29 (ebay) same in black

I've worn boyfriend cardigans and mini-skirts a number of times together before, like here and here.  It can give the look some great casual ease, but still make it totally work appropriate.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Top: Loft c/o Chippmunk similar

Skirt: Loft (thrifted) cute option

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Leggings: Target

Booties: $29 (ebay) same in black

I love this combo below and recently wore it for a girl's night in. I think this look can be great with a boyfriend cardigan, just remember, keep that rear covered. : )

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Scarf: Joe Fresh $10 similar

Chambray: Gap $15 same

Leggings: Target 

Boots: Born similar

Next week I'll have another topic to cover, make sure to come back for it! Also, is there a topic you'd like to see me cover? Let me know, I'd love to try to tackle it!

Linking up with:

What I Wore Wednesday