Introducing Style Swap with The Brandied Pair

I’m excited to me starting a new weekly link-up with Jenn from The Brandied Pair called “Style Swap.” 

Our goal is to help you share your great style, as well as a blogger whose style you love.  Each Friday you can link up in one of two ways:

1. Pick a blogger buddy and choose to do a “Style Swap” with each other, just like Jenn and I did today.  Pick one of each other’s looks you love and create your own spin on it, therefore “swapping styles,” then link to each other and to us.  This will build your audience in two ways: one, with the blogger collaboration, and two by linking up with us.  Awesome, right?
2. The second way is to simply choose a blogger you love and take one of their looks and swap your style for theirs.  Then, link to the blogger out of courtesy and link up with us as well.

At the end of each link-up Jenn and I will take one of the looks we love best, and we'll “Style Swap” your look and create our own spin on it.  Then, we'll showcase your look and link to you on the next link-up.

We politely ask that you follow Jenn and I on at least one social media outlet before linking up.  Here's all the links you need to easily follow:

Jenn: Bloglovin / Pinterest / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook
Ginny: Bloglovin / Pinterest /Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / GFC (use button)

Here’s our button to grab, and the link-up will go live each Friday at 7:00 Central time.

<div align="center"><a href="http://mynewfavoriteoutfit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="My New Favorite Outfit" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIZWTYTcMqUO2REcZWFW86uC0YMqbBnxJPMUoWwR_zq0hp7RRHRX_ZTiLSNHxZqlwFoeiLyE_aDxLq0UB70ojbkO9oKPmHF277iklFirSOMenRUpr-Ca6TCtpq0V8nnCU_LQw3J6zXrA/s1600/style+swap+12.png"/></a>

I'm looking forward to next week's first link-up and I can't wait to see all your "Style Swaps!"

Make sure to stop by The Brandied Pair to see Jenn's Style Swap with me too. : )

Jenn has such a great chic style it was hard to pick one, but I loved her look featured above. On her original post featured here, Jenn has really created the perfect dressy-casual combo.  I have the same red sweater, so I decided to pair it with my navy blazer, jeans, and leopard heels.  I'm wearing this for casual Friday today at work, but this look is perfect for a girls' night or date night with Brian.

Blazer: Loft c/o Chippmunk.com almost exact

Sweater: J.Crew Factory exact

jeans: Old Navy similar

Necklace: Stella and Dot  same

Bracelets: Stella and Dot same, same

Watch: Citizen same

Heels: Fergalicious super cute option

Tres-Chic, Bows, and Stripes

I'm excited to be co-hosting with Agi for her Tres-Chic link-up! Today, I'm also kind of in love with outfit. This bow sweater is definitely one of my favorite purchases from this winter, so I was excited to get to wear it again.  Originally I was thinking of wearing booties but changed to my boots last minute and I'm so glad I did. It's perfect for the cold temps. we've been having. The mix of sparkle from the bows on the cardigan, lace from the top, and texture of the skirt make this a winning combination for me.

I'd love to have you link-up down below and show off your tres-chic look too!

Have you entered my sponsor's giveaway here yet?

Cardigan: J.Crew Factory (sold out, nothing similar available)

Top: Target similar

Skirt: Loft c/o Chippmunk.com super similar

Leggings: Old Navy

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Renegade, Urbane

Watch: Citizen same

Boots: Born (three years old) similar

It’s that time of the week for my link up. Thank you to all 92 of you fabulous ladies who linked up last week!!!! A great turn out. THANK YOU!!!!!!! Let's try and get 100 this week :) If you are interested in co-hosting I have spots open starting in April. Please email me at vodkainfusedlemonade@gmail.com. If you’ve already co-hosted and would like to again, don’t hesitate to email me.

My fabulous co-host this week is Ginny from My New Favorite Outfit

 

Here are my favorite looks from last week:

Corinne from Skinned Car Tree

 

Claire from I do deClaire

Valerie from The Style Files

Rules

1. Must be a new post, or fairly recent one. Please link the post not the blog.

2. Please follow me via Facebook, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter.

3. Please follow Ginny from My New Favorite Outfit via Bloglovin.

4. Please stop by the other blogs and say hi. The idea is to get to know other bloggers .

5. Please link back to my blog or post this button on your blog.

<a href="http://vodkainfusedlemonade.com" title="Vodka Infused Lemonade"> <img src="http://vodkainfusedlemonade.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/treschic.png" alt="vodkainfusedlemonade.com" width="250" height="100" border="0"></a>

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Black Friday

This week Chelsea and I are taking on Black Friday!  I'm definitely not a "get up at 3:00 and shop all day" kind of girl, but I do like to go out for a couple of hours to try to snag up a few deals.  When it comes to Black Friday I think it's important to think about what you wear.  Here are some of my thoughts:

• To me, there's nothing worse than being too hot inside with a coat, but freezing outside, because you don't have a coat, so wearing a puffer vest is perfect.  
• I also think it's important to consider what you're shopping for. If you're looking for boots, you should  wear skinny jeans so you can make sure they work with the jeans.  Trying to find tall boots while wearing bootleg or flare jeans just doesn't work well. 
• Same thing goes for shirts, if you're on the look out, don't wear multiple layers, it will make changing in the dressing room no fun.  Keep it simple with a sweater and camisole. 
• Comfy shoes are important too, these boots are Borns, so they are super comfy for being on my feet all day. 

I'm super excited about today's outfit.  Recently I made made the (ten minute) trek to our brand new outlet mall, and if you follow me on Instagram you saw the loot I happily found at Gap and J.Crew Factory. I've been working to create some more put together casual looks and pinning quite a few too, so when we went to the outlet I had casual looks on he brain.  I was excited to find this sweater at J.Crew Factory, the back is green and it has ELBOW PATCHES!  I'm only slightly excited about this.....  I also knew I wanted a vest like this.  I wasn't crazy about Target's option when I saw it in person, and and the J.Crew Factory version (not online) was still $108. Luckily, Gap had an option I really liked (sold out online) and it was 50% off due to the grand opening.  

 

Vest: Gap (Christmas gift from Mom) sold out online love this option

Sweater: J.Crew Factory (Christmas gift from Mom) same

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Bracelets:  Chimera, Moxie , Renegade Stella and Dot

Jeans: Old Navy similar

Boots: Born (three years old) similar

To help you get ready for all your shopping Chelsea has created breakfast cookies.  Best. Idea. Ever.  Make sure to stop by Whatcha Makin' Now to get the recipe for this treat!

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving is almost here, Chelsea and I decided to take it on.  You know what that means? No, I'm not talking about Black Friday shopping, though that is fun. I'm talking about Thanksgiving Dinner and the need for comfy clothes. Enter my maxi dress, it feels like pajamas, but looks like actual clothes. Nice! I decided to try it as a skirt and love the result.It was pretty easy to throw a fitted tee over my dress, then I added a denim jacket and fun infinity scarf. I'm now official convinced that maxi skirts aren't only for warm weather, and I'm now on the hunt for one like this. To me, this will be the perfect Thanksgiving look, with plenty of room for turkey and all the other goodness my mom, sister, and husband will bring to the table....I don't so much cook....

Denim Jacket: The Limited (like a decade ago) almost exact

Shirt: NY and Co. $3 (thrifted) similar

Dress:  Loft $30 love this option!

Scarf $1 (Dollar Tree, yep.) similar

Bracelets: Moxie , Renegade Stella and Dot

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

Chelsea has made an amazing Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie for the occasion, make sure to stop by Whatcha Makin' Now to get the details.  You better believe I'm requesting she make it again when Thanksgiving gets here! 

Linking up with:

What I Wore Wednesday

Get Your Pretty On

Building A Wardrobe: Shirts

I'm excited to be continuing my Building A Wardrobe Series again today. One the first day of the series I shared Essential Blazers and Jackets, one day two I shared Essential Cardigans, on day three I shared Essential Skirts, on day four I shared Essential Jeans and Dress Pants, and on day five I shared Essential Shoes and Accessories. Today I'll be continuing my Building A Wardrobe Series by sharing some essential shirts with you.  As important as it can be to have a few basic tops, a great shirt can be the focal point of any outfit or definitely make a good outfit great.  Here are my thoughts on essential shirts:

• I've think there are five shirts that are essential to any mixable wardrobe, and that includes: a stripe shirt, chambray, gingham, a detailed blouse, and a polka dot shirt.  These pieces can go with so many things!
• Like I said above, basics are great, but often the key to a great outfit is a shirt that is a little more special than a plain tee shirt.  Think about color, texture, and print when you buy tops, they are guaranteed to help make your look great!
•  I recommend not just getting a plain white, black, gray, shirt.  I recommend getting one that has extra details, like a puckered neckline, or unique texture or lace.  These details make the shirt more special, but definitely still versatile in your wardrobe.
• Fit is definitely important too.  When buying make sure the buttons lay nicely on any button-down option and check the length too.  Can it be worn both out and tucked in?  This is definitely key in creating both dressy and casual looks with the same shirt.
• I picked some great additional options, I recommend getting a few great prints, like leopard, and I love the jeweled tops that have become popular too.  I definitely think these tops are special and are great additions to your wardrobe, though they are not quite as versatile as the essential shirts I've listed.

Here's a visual of my shirt recommendations:

stripe shirt / chambray /  gingham / detailed blouse / polka dot shirt /  jeweled tee / jeweled sweatshirt / bird print / bright blouse / leopard blouse 

Today I'm wearing a detailed blouse in lace. It's a fun mixable top that makes every outfit better.

Blazer: Kika c/o same

Blouse: Target same

Necklace: Kendra Scott inspired c/o real deal

 Bracelets: chloe + isabel c/o same, same 

Jeans: Joe's Jeans similar

Heels: Feralicious similar