My Style Lately

Style Lately graphic hoodie c/o | similar leather jacket ; another; another | denim | watch | tote

wedge sneakers ; another option ; in gold | Towne and Reese hoops c/o The Jeweler's Wife ; also here

Style Lately nail bangle c/o

TGIF on the real!

This graphic hoodie from my friends at Style Lately expresses my only plans for this weekend.  Have you subscribed to Style Lately yet?  They feature some pretty necessary trends at some pretty incredible prices.  I also have this leather pencil skirt and a practical #selfie tee on my wishlist.  

And while we are on the subject, let's talk about my style lately.  Random as ever, I know.  In the past two weeks I have been dishing out complete prep, winter boho, corporate wear and a little street style.  But I am ok with it...and I hope you are too.  Who wants to dress like a bohemian goddess when you feel like a complete bada** some days.  Different attitudes call for different fashion.  And I finally broke down and bought wedge sneakers.  They were on major clearance and I was tired of having an internal battle over them for the past year.  I wore them to dinner last Friday, and I slightly regretted my decision when the 17 year old in attendance asked for the deets...  But I decided that I am going to wear wedge sneakers in the back-half of my twenties and I am going to love them.  

There will be a rare Saturday post on Moda & the Mar tomorrow, so make sure to come back!

Thanks for reading!  I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Linkups below.

Linking Up With: Lauren // LuLu // Allison // Kristen

Distressed Denim & Faux Fur

faux fur vest | denim | gingham | J.Crew loafers | tote | watch | similar sunnies | bracelet

Happy Thursday, lovers!

distressed denim + faux fur = BFF 4ever.

The combo of this faux-front vest and the skinny-boyfriend denim looks so effortlessly casual and chic.  Add your favorite pair of loafers and you are styled perfectly for a day of shopping, errands or brunch.  Shamefully, I forgot about this pair of jeans for a few months.  I was thrilled to rediscover them in the depths of my closet and take a break from the skinnies.  We ALL need a break from skinny jeans once in a while.  And while I may be a bargain hunter on the regular, I always recommend investing in quality denim.  You simply cannot cheat the fit and sustainability of a good pair of jeans. What's even better about this look??  I added this fluffy, animal-friendly vest to my wardrobe for only $2.56.  And it was brand new.  

I suppose you want me to dig the receipt out of the garbage to prove it.  True Life:  my husband asked me to do just that.  But, I can't blame him.  I went to my local department store "just to return a few things" and came home with this baby sporting a $50 price tag.  Our interaction ensued as usual:  

he raised his eyebrow

I whined "but it was on saaaaale"

he rolled his eyes

"but it was only $3 - how could I not buy it"

Then I had to prove it.  Moral of the story:  don't pre-judge the clearance rack of your department stores.  While I agree it is mostly picked-through, leftover items need to go somewhere far away to die, there is always a hidden gem or two waiting for a friendly fashionista with a good imagination.  {the vest is linked above - it's only clearance for $12.99 and was an extra 10% when I bought it.  I also had $10 Belk Dollars to bring my out-of-pocket to $2.56}

Thanks for reading!  Make sure to stop by tomorrow for one more look-for-less post!  Linkups Below!

Linking Up With:  Bethany // Meghan // Agi // Jacqueline // Tara // Erin

A Plaid Collab

Happy Monday, friends!

Today I am teaming up with the gorgeous Nicole of Keeping You Stylish to show you how we are wearing plaid this winter!  If you don't know this chick yet, you are definitely missing out on some fabulous style inspiration!  I love the way Nicole can make new trends and silhouettes seem so classic.  And I mean, does she not look like a living Barbie doll?!?  Go spend some time on her blog and see more pictures of her plaid look! 

jacket option splurge option  | similar plaid | black denim | tote | pumps | midi rings | watch | Gigglosophy heart ring c/o 

I chose to print-mix my plaid by adding this tweed and faux leather moto jacket.  I love the edgy moto paired with the manly plaid print.  And if you are following me on Instagram , you already know how obsessed I am with my new baby - the Michael Kors North/South Hamilton tote.  I apologize in advance for how much I am going to carry it. 

This week I wanted to focus on dressing with a budget.  After the Holidays, I am pinching pennies and wanted to help you find some low-budget inspiration as well.  Every day this week I am styling a piece that was under $20.  Yes, $20.  While we all need quality items and investment pieces in our wardrobe, you can supplement with lower priced items and not have to clean out your checking account every month. 

Today's item is this plaid shirt, which I scored at T.J. Maxx for $12.99.  When shopping for plaids, I focus more on the colors and print-size than the quality.  The majority of my button-downs have either come from T.J. Maxx or the boys section of a local department store.  Most of the time I end up layering them under sweaters or coats, so I don't want to blow my budget on a piece that you don't even really see.  T.J. Maxx is a great resource for lower-priced basic items.  Their merchandise is added and updated weekly, so you really have to check back often to find the best pieces.  

Thanks for reading!  Go crush your Monday!  Linkups below

Linking Up With: Molly // Elena // Lauren // Leeann