Still Wanting: Wedge Booties

Hello!  Sorry for the silence, but there's still no baby to write about and I am officially on maternity leave and nesting like crazy.  I hope Baby Cardigan makes his appearance soon, but I'd be lying if I said a couple of days to myself without anywhere to be doesn't sound great.  Today I got a pedicure and ran a couple of errands, and am about to spend an evening on the couch with N.  Poor me  :)

Another thing I've been doing lately is keeping tabs on a few things I have been wanting to buy, but only for a great price.  One of those items is a pair of wedge booties that are not too high, and of better quality than the ones I test drove from Target (they went back after an evening around the house).  I love the laid back look, and I think they're a perfect shoe to wear when it's still a bit too chilly for sandals, and you don't want to wear sneakers or ballet flats.

The weather in Dallas has been nuts lately, and we go from 40 to 80 degrees in a day.  Here's what I wish I were wearing instead of a crappy Liz Lange maternity tee (that has not held up well at all - no stars!) and leggings.

american eagle tank / michael kors watch / j.crew factory cardigan / juicy couture jeans

I am currently waiting on these Dr. Scholl's Bethany wedges to come down in price, at which point I will order them and be a cool mom on the go (as Stacey and Clinton would say).  They're cheaper on Amazon, but not available in as many sizes.

 

Does anyone else have recommendations for a similar shoe under $100?  I'm curious to try the TOMS Desert Bootie - especially with 785 good reviews on Nordstrom.com - but I think I want a little less suede.

 Ok, enough shopping... back to important housework like re-centering the photos in my guest room art wall.  #nesting

Just for Fun: Modern Day Downton

As ridiculous as it can be sometimes, I love Downton Abbey.  This season isn't shaping up to be my most favorite, but I will keep watching, especially since Edith quite being such a loser.

And since I love picking out clothes for fictional characters, here's my take on what Mary, Edith, and Rose would be wearing if they were getting dressed in 2014:

I picture Mary as a posh single mum rocking her Louboutins at play group, while Edith is a successful writer for the New Yorker and Cousin Rose posts selfies to Instagram while partying with Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry.

Ok, who else is a Downton addict?  What do you think of season four??

P.S. I'm not responsible for any spoilers in the comments, so don't read if you're not up to date!

It's Easy Wearing Green... Purses

It's only January 6th, and I already miss Christmas.  I feel like it flew by, and I hardly got to enjoy it, but one of the benefits is that I finally get to enjoy my new favorite accessory that has been in a closet since it arrived in October.

This year, my most exciting gift was the Kate Spade bag that my husband got me (that I instructed him to purchase during the last 75% off surprise sale).  All of my other bags are neutrals, and I've wanted something bright for a long time.  Look how versatile they are!

Are you convinced yet?  If so, here are some of my favorites available now:

green handbags by cardiganjunkie featuring a leather purse

Mad for Plaid, Not Lumberjacks

There's something about crisp fall air that makes everyone want to bust out the plaid flannel.  It's a look I personally love, but not when it involves visible legging-clad crotches and outfit combinations that evoke the bounty paper towel man. 

Here's how I avoid both of those situations:

fall flannel done right by cardiganjunkie featuring slim jeans

First, I cannot say enough good things about Liz Lange maternity tank tops from Target.  They're basically a long, butt-covering version of the great $12 cotton tanks that you usually get.  There is no ruching on the sides and the cut hasn't been changed otherwise, which makes them perfect for pulling off the leggings and boots look when you shirt or sweater isn't quite long enough to cover everything it should (because leggings are not pants!!)

Second, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that regular jeans don't go with flannel.  I wear it too, but the lighter the jean and the more casual the shoe makes the outfit start to feel rustic.  However, swapping your normal jeans for black denim and a ballet flat with some edge (or not) and a cute clutch makes the flannel feel more chic and on-trend.

Still need a flannel shirt?  Here are some affordable options:

What's your favorite way to wear flannel?

Dressing for Fall... when it's still 90 degrees! (With Erin from Fleur de Lis and Football)

Hey y'all! I'm Erin from Fleur de lis and Football and I'm so happy to fill in for Haley while she's off in Europe. {By happy, what I really mean is that I'm ridiculously jealous that she's galavanting around some of my favorite places and I'm grading papers...} 

Fall is hands down, my absolute favorite season. What's not to love about crisp leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, cool mornings, and absolutely perfect weather? The only drawback to my love of fall is my location. I love living in Alabama, but sweating it out with 85 degree temps while stores are stocking scarves tends to get a girl down sometimes. 

Over a lifetime of whining about the temperature in flip flops when everyone else is skipping in their riding boots, I've found a few tricks for 'faking fall' while not melting when you walk outside.

Here's how I do it:

1. Add a (lightweight) cardigan
I'm a big fan of dresses and skirts, and by adding a lightweight cardigan in a pretty fall color, I can double my closet without sweating. 

Fall cardigans by eeb314 featuring loft tops

2. Substitute tees or blouses for sweaters
I want to wear a super warm sweater as much as the next girl, but I would die of heatstroke. These long-sleeve fitted tshirts fit the bill nicely, while still looking seasonally-appropriate. They'd be cute with jeggings or skirts, too.

Fall blouses by eeb314 featuring Kate Spade

tshirts by eeb314 featuring a boat neck striped tee

3. Change your color palette.
Sometimes you can still wear short sleeved items, just in a more 'fall' color scheme. See? Totally works.

Fall dresses by eeb314 featuring a short sleeve cocktail dress

4. Two words: shirt dresses.
Looks like fall, feels like summer. Done and done.

Shirt dresses by eeb314 featuring long dresses

Lastly, I'm a huge fan of wearing my riding boots sans tights and (very sheer) scarves when I'm craving a little more fall in my life.

Alright Southern girls, how do you inject a little fall into the sweltering temperatures where you live?

Reader Request: Mama About Town

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Mine was good, and I'm already ready for another one.  However, today I'm excited to be here and help Jessica.  She's a new mom, and not very happy with the state of her wardrobe.  She wants to have some options for going out with her husband, friends and family that she can feel confident about, without showing lots of skin or abandoning her ladylike style.

Although this looks like a lot to take in, I put together the outfits below to show that you can transition the same pieces from season to season, and adjust the fanciness with jewelry and shoes:

Mama About Town by cardiganjunkie featuring a petite trousers

First of all, an LBD (little blue dress, or black dress) will take Jesslica to nice restaurants, weddings, and shows.  Don't worry about wearing it too often - a classic dress that fits is always a good choice.

A great pair of slim (not tight) cropped black pants is another staple piece, and if Jessica invests in a sleeveless beaded tank and a great flowy blouse she'll have two perfect outfits for visiting bars and wineries with her girlfriends.

After looking at her Pinterest board, it's evident that Jessica is drawn to ladylike silhouettes and that means a great full skirt will get a lot of wear.  She can pair it with a short or long sleeved blouse, or even a fitted sweater later in the year.  Add a skinny belt and she'll be good to go!

Finally, I wanted to show how a great black blazer will take her usual jeans (mid-rise, dark denim is best) and tee up to another level.  She can also go without the blazer and add fun sandals and a great necklace.  And obviously, a pair of leopard pumps goes with almost everything!

Hopefully this was helpful!  What's your favorite evening outfit?

Bra-Friendly Dresses: Summer 2013 Edition

Believe it or not, having a large bust can be kind of a drag.  Yes, it makes your waist look smaller, but you pay for it all summer long when everyone else prances around in teeny bikini tops and little strappy tops or dresses.  Although I do have a great longline strapless bra (believe it or not, you can get the best deal at bridal stores), I'm most comfortable in the normal kind and it's always tough to find summery dresses that don't show straps.

Luckily, the rest of y'all have me to do some of the hunting for you and I've found a lot of options at common stores with prices ranging from under $20 to just over $100.

I've ordered a couple of the Old Navy ones and will be making my way to JCPenney to try a few of the Joe Fresh styles.  If you've found any great options lately, let me know!

How Not to Look Fat in Loose Clothing

Happy Monday, internet!  I had a busy weekend full of housework, which was oddly satisfying, and am now ready for another busy week and N's 31st birthday on Thursday.  I also loved seeing all the comments on my old lady rant about trends and grammar - I"m glad it's not just me feeling that way!

Before that post, I'd shared some hot weather style tips and got a few questions about how to wear loose fitting clothing without looking as though they don't fit or that you're larger than you really are.  I put together a few examples of how to do this because it can be tricky, but such a lifesaver if you want to avoid body conscious pieces and be comfortable.

My rule of thumb when going loose is to always showcase one part of your body at actual size to send a visual cue that even though the clothes may be flowy, you're not shaped like a giant rectangle.  This works for petite and plus sized women alike!

Here are a few examples:

how not to look fat in loose clothing 1 by cardiganjunkie featuring a leather handbag

how not to look fat in loose clothing 2 by cardiganjunkie featuring kendra scott

how not to look fat in loose clothing 3 by cardiganjunkie featuring a long racerback dress

What's your favorite way to let loose?  Seen any great pieces in store lately?  Let us know in the comments!

P.S. I'm seriously loving the blue floral maxi, and just found a code online (WAL10) to get $10 off plus free shipping, for a grand total of $51. So tempting!

Chic Sunglasses for Ladies Who Lose Them

Happy Monday, internet!  I hope your weekend was lovely - mine was pretty busy, and I'm not dreading the work week, so I'll call that successful!

On Sunday afternoon, I spent some time poolside with my friend Leah, and got to thinking about how glad I am that my sunglasses aren't expensive.  Strange, I know.  But, you see, I worked at Sunglass Hut during college and even though I sold pricey glasses all day, I can't be trusted to own them.  I'm very hard on them and stretch them out by wearing them on my head, and get spray on sunscreen all over them.  This would be tragic if they were expensive.

Luckily for those of us who can't drop $95 like it's nothing, there are TONS of great options under $30.  And if you know a bit about picking the right pair, you'll always look great.  Here's what I learned in my time at the store:

• Scale is more important than shape.  The width of the temples of the glasses shouldn't extend much further then yours, and the bottom of the frame shouldn't go further than the top of your cheek.
• Round frames are hard to wear and don't look best on most people.  Stay away unless you're really certain!
• No matter what, make sure the lenses block 100% of UV rays.  Polarized is, of course, preferable, but not essential.
• If you have a round or heart shaped face, you can rock oversized frames all day.  Anything too small will make you look larger.
• If you're petite, look for sunglasses at stores that sell clothes your size, and you'll often find smaller scale frames.  If you're buying online, make sure you've measured the width of your face so you'll know if they're narrow enough.
• Aviators look good on everyone if they're the right size.  Most every woman can wear retro styles, as well, if you're brave enough!

And, of course, I wouldn't be a very good blogger if I didn't share lots of affordable options:

Who wears short shorts? Not me!

If you can believe it, I did not wear shorts in public from about 2008-2011.  I don't have inner thigh clearance (at all) and I didn't like how normal 3" inseams looked on my legs.  So, rather than try different styles, I just wore jeans and skirts.  Genius, right? 

Luckily, I soon discovered that all I needed was a couple more inches of inseam, and to be ok with sizing up (because tight shorts look good on almost nobody, and going up 1-2 sizes is totally normal) and I was in business!  I also am well aware that I should not be trying to dress like I'm 23 again, so mid-length shorts feel a bit more classy on my shape.

Here's how I wear mine:

stylish shorts by cardiganjunkie featuring a leather shoulder bag

In the event that you are in the market for 4-5" inseam shorts, I did a lot of shopping and found some options ranging from $15 on up to $60 - sure to suit every body and budget:

Slouchy Chic (It's possible, I think!)

I love getting dressed about 80% of the time.  I'm lucky to have more clothes than I need, and plenty of inspiration when it comes to mixing them up.  However, some days I just don't care to put forth any effort and want to be comfortable.  These days include: airport days, road trip days, PMS days, days when I overslept, Sundays... it happens often.

However, my secret to not looking like a total bum is this uniform of sorts:

lazy day dressing by cardiganjunkie featuring tall jeans

my favorite new top (I bought five for $7.50 each in store!) // my favorite skinny jeans  // black curvy skinny jeans // leopard flats (still in store)

Yeah... I may or may not have worn some form of this outfit three times in five days.  Thank goodness for casual offices!

What's your casual uniform like?

P.S. Enter to win the LOFT flower necklace and tote by leaving a comment on the giveaway post by 3/17!  You can potentially get 9 entries (crazy)!

The One That Got Away: Black Flared Dresses

It's not often that I pass up a great, wear-it-forever item when I see it.  However, I often declare that I can probably find a great deal on something similar or that I'll pick it up when it goes on sale.  Usually, I can (eventually), but this winter I decided not to buy this perfect flared dress from J.Crew and have regretted it ever since.

Look at how pretty:

Source: jcrew.com via Haley on Pinterest

There are few cuts more flattering than a fitted waist and full skirt, regardless of your shape.  Victoria Beckham and Adele couldn't be more different, figure-wise, but the same type of dress looks amazing on them both:

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: instyle.com via Maria on Pinterest

And since I keep seeing the dress and styling it in my mind, I'm taking it as a sign that I should keep looking for my own.  Here are some of the best affordable options I've found: