Win It Wednesday! And the winner is...

Hey guys!

First-- I just want to send out a big thank you to all of you who participated in my first ever blog contest! I had a great time working with the jewelry designer at EveryOccasionDesigns- she's super excited to gift her hand-crafted designs to our lucky winner!

--Also, I had a blast reading all of your comments, tweets, and Facebook posts. I hope in the future, you continue to participate in my contests and giveaways. Maybe next time you'll be the winner!--

I counted each individual comment that followed all rules of the contest (after following my blog, left a comment with with pair of earrings you like). And now for the announcement!

The winner is: Jackie I!

CONGRATS! You've won "It's A Wrap" earrings from EveryOccasionDesign's Etsy Boutique! Please do me a favor and email me with your full name and address so I can send the earrings your way! Send the email to jcplatt19[at]gmail[dot]com

I hope once you get them, you take a quick pic for us to show off your new jewels. I'll upload the pic to the blog in a contest winner update post!  :)

Stay fashionable,
Jess

Kim K. goes Casual

Hope everyone had a great weekend, despite some awful weather from Hurricane Irene!

I didn't get out of the house much this weekend, but when I did, I was inspired by a photo of Kim Kardashian taken as she was walking along the street in LA. She's super casual in fitted white denim, and a loose blue top. Paired with her nude flat sandals and a black boho bag, this look is perfect for a Saturday afternoon.

I'm slightly irritated by the text in the middle of the photo... 

For my outfit, I wore my straight leg white jeans from Gap, and a blue & white loose top from Converse for Target. After adding my sandals and purse, I think I modified this look pretty well with what I owned!

Just noticed that my cat is trying to creep into this pic! 

Make it your own:
Jeans: Gap (I actually picked these up for $7 dollars at a Gap Outlet last year!)
Top: Converse for Target (Similar) $29.99
Sandals: Kelly & Katie $39.95
Bag: Longchamp $98- $145

What to Wear: Hurricanes, Earthquakes, & other Unpleasant Weather

In light of the recent earthquake centered in Virginia, and with Hurricane Irene about to roll through Maryland/wreak havoc on the east coast, I just want to share a friendly reminder:

Even during tumultuous weather, you can still remain stylish. And I'll show you how!

Outerwear
It's important to always have effective (sturdy) outerwear to keep you cool and dry from the rain. Here are some of my favorite jackets:

Matinee Trench, J.Crew, $168

I'm loving the chic navy hue of this trench. So perfect for the transition into the fall season!

70's Belted Trench, Asos, $69.52 

On Tuesday, my post was all about this royal blue color for fall. Why not incorporate it into your disaster-proof outerwear? This jacket is to die for! And a fabulous price (originally around $150)!

Barbour Antique Coastal Durham Jacket, Barbour for J.Crew, $399

There's no doubt this will keep you dry in a hurricane. Totally prepared for disgusting weather, while remaining tres chic= win/win situation!

Footwear

When there's a hurricane happening... It's important to also keep your perfectly polished toes dry! These galoshes make me smile big:

Sperry Top-Sider Pelican Rainboot, DSW, $39.94

This purple is such a sweet color! I love how Sperry kept the sole and foot portion of the boot black to hide dirt/mud marks-- smart thinking!

You can never go wrong with Hunter. The designs are simple and straight-forward-- and super cute.

Hunter Boot Original Tall Metallic Rainboots, Bloomingdales, $145

I love a little sparkle, especially in my step!

Hunter Tall Glossy Rubber Rainboot, Lord & Taylor, $125

Pink rainboots are the perfect combination of style and sass. Have a little fun in the rain with these :)

Nomad Puddles Indo Floral Rainboot, DSW, $39.95

If you prefer patterns, I love the idea of a floral paisley. This pattern reminds me of fall with the greens and darker red/orange tones. 

Just for Fun: For Your Furry Friends

Your pets should always be prepared for crazy weather as well, and it's only fair that they're as chic as you are. Two ways to make that happen:

Yellow Raincoat, The Sassy Pup, $40.99

The quintessential yellow poncho. Every sassy pup needs this for rainy days!

Orange Rain Jacket with Reflective Strip, Dog Supplies, $7.69

For the more active & adventurous pup-- the reflective strip raincoat is a must!  Plus, I'm loving the bright orange (GO CUSE!).

I hope this blogpost helps put some excitement back into the impending crappy weather/hurricane doom! Even when it's gross outside, you can always be fabulous!

Stay dry this weekend, and more importantly, stay safe. According to the news, miss Irene is no joke!

<3

Jess

Win It Wednesday! Earrings from EveryOccasionDesigns!

I'm so excited to announce my first blog contest! For real... SO EXCITED!

You guys have seen me wear some beautiful pieces from EveryOccasionDesigns, one of my favorite Etsy jewelry boutiques. The online shop has partnered with me to host a blog contest!

It gets better! Since everyone has a unique style, the jewelry designer has agreed to let the contest winner pick ANY one pair of earrings off the site that he/she likes! This is FABULOUS!

Winning is easy. Just follow these steps:

1) Follow my blog (On the right hand side, you can press "Follow")
2) Leave a comment on this post of which pair of earrings is your favorite!
3) Extra Credit: Tweet this blog post, or post it to your Facebook Wall!

The winner will be chosen at random and announced on the blog next Wednesday, August 31, at 12pm EST.

Some of my personal favorites from EveryDayOccasions:

"Angular in Teal"

"It's a Wrap"

"Jane of the Jungle"

"Charming"

Good Luck, everyone!

<3 Jess

~~Blue Me Away~~

There's no question that royal blue is the "it" color transitioning from this summer to this upcoming Fall season. It's been spotted on runways of the likes of Gucci, BCBG, Lela Rose, Issa, DKNY and Michael Kors (just to name a few!).

I like when fashion takes it one step further. Mixing blue with black, and adding in asymmetrical details makes this a look I couldn't resist recreating for my blog!

Aquascutum

Lela Rosa

(Inspiration photos from Mode Devoted)

Here's what I wore to modify this runway look:

I got my blue dress at Lord & Taylor four years ago, but I wear it every summer! It's a soft, tee-shirt material which makes it super comfortable to wear all day. I love the braided strap on the left shoulder that gives the dress a chic, asymmetrical feel. I also really love the layered fabrics on the bodice of the dress. I think it has the same effect as the Lela Rose dress in the runway inspiration photo.

I added on the black cardigan, and wore gorgeous blue earrings from EveryOccasionDesigns to complete the look. (Not sure if you can tell in the photo, but my sweater has sequin pockets!) Love me some sparkles!

Thoughts... Would you wear this look??

Make it our own:

Dress: Lord & Taylor

Sweater: J.Crew 

Sandals: Steve Madden (Similar) $69.95

Earrings: c/o EveryOccasionDesigns

***Contest Announcement Tomorrow!***

What I wore this weekend! 8/21/11

Hey everyone!

Here's what I wore this weekend!

On Friday night, I was lucky enough to score last minute tickets to the Baltimore Raven's game. So awesome! I wore a loose, deep purple tank over a tighter white tank, paired with my dark straight-leg denims.

--Obviously the second photo has been "enhanced" a bit. I downloaded the Instagram last week on my new phone, and I may (or may not) be a little obsessed with it....--

Make it your own:

Jeans: Kensie Orig. $78, now on sale for $29.99 (um... amazing!)

White Tank: Sugarlips $14

Purple Tank: Target (Similar) $17.99

On Saturday, I went out with my friends, and it was gorgeous weather! I wanted to take advantage of this summer warmth while it lasts, so I opted for a dress instead of jeans. I wore a blue dress with black lace overlay on the bottom, which I absolutely love! The length of the dress goes a few inches above my knee. (I had taken a full length picture to put on the blog, but it came out too blurry.) 

The dress is from Target - Xhilaration brand (similar) $24.99.

Hope you all had a *fabulously stylish* weekend!

<3
Jess

Double Post: Stripes and Sweater Savvy

I've been a fan of the show Project Runway since it started. I love watching everyday, average people make above-average garments! (Side Note: Kinda bummed that the show moved from Bravo to Lifetime... because once that happened, I pretty much stopped watching. Anyway.. not important..)

One of my favorite designers from the series is Jeffrey Sebelia. He actually won season 3 with his rock & roll final collection. I was really inspired by some of the garments he sent down the runway throughout his season on the show, particularly his final collection which was out-of-control amazing. The outfit I am modifying today is one the dresses from his final runway show. The green stripes and yellow zipper details make for a girly, yet edgy look!

For my outfit, I wore a green and white striped pencil skirt from Talbots. It's a really soft linen material. Such a great find! (I actually picked up this skirt at a ridiculous discount - the store was having an additional 50% off sale, so I got it for under $30!) To pull in the yellow detail, I added my skinny yellow belt. My skirt doesn't have belt loops, so I just laid the belt at the top of my skirt and fastened it accordingly so it would stay put. (If you click on the pics, they'll expand. You can see a bit closer how I tied the belt to create a delicate loop detail.)

The model on the runway is wearing metallic sandals, so I opted for my favorite go-to Jack Rogers. Even though the model's dress is suited for a night out, I hope I demonstrated that any runway outfit can be modified and made appropriate for any occasion (in this instance, work!).

 

BONUS! Sweater Savvy
Below, I added a sweater into the mix, and wore it several different ways. In some cases, when I'm sitting down and don't necessarily want my sweater on, I hang it over my shoulders. If I'm out walking around and get warm, I'll tie it around my shoulder in a light knot.  Sometimes it takes a little bit of adjusting-- I usually do this in front of a mirror.

 

I think this particular style looks best when the sleeves sit just at the tip of your shoulders, making an open "V" shape that comes together and is tied in the middle. This look gives off a preppy-casual vibe. Don't be afraid to play around with it until it's sitting comfortably on your shoulders, because if it's not right-- you'll be messing with it all day!




Make it your own:
Skirt: Talbots $48.99
Tank: Target $8
Sweater: J.Crew Factory $19.99
Belt: Target about $10
Sandals: Jack Rogers $98

Thursday Trend: Patterned Pants!

In man of my posts, I've encouraged you to mix and match different patterns, colors, and fabrics in your outfits. If you've not yet tried it out, hopefully today's trend will give you some great ideas to start having fun with your clothing!

Here are some runway examples of patterned pants that I love for summer. (Tip: This trend can definitely be carried over into fall. Swap out cropped bottoms for a full length pant!)

Photo from My Look Book

I'm mildly obsessed with the Lilya and This is Genevieve ensembles above. Those pants are to die for, and I'm loving the platform heeled sandals!

The whole point of this trend is to stretch the limits of your wardrobe and dress outside of the box. Try something new. Pair a bright top with a patterned pant. There's no better time than now while the weather is still warm to experiment with fashion! And.. this trend is fool-proof! You can't mess this up. It's all about personal style and your own unique sense of fashion!

Here's my interpretation of the trend: My patterned pants have a white rope-like knot pattern on them. I paired the bottoms with a bright purple top, and added the turquoise necklace as a pop of color. (I love accenting with bright jewelry!) My Steve Madden sandals are in a similar color family so I thought they worked well with this outfit.

What do you think??

Make it your own:

Pants: Talbots (from last summer)

Tank: American Eagle $10

Sweater: J.Crew Factory $19/9

Sandals: Steve Madden $39.99

Necklace: H&M on sale for under $10 (great deal!)

Yellow, Blue, & Turquoise

I really like this outfit, so when I stumbled across this photo on Chictopia, I immediately wanted to recreate it. These colors together remind me so much of the beach... and I really love the touch of yellow in the belt to bright up the blue and teal!

For my interpretation of the outfit, I substituted the blue pants for a silk full skirt.

Trend Alert: Full skirts have been gracing the runways in many of the upcoming Fall designer collections. Fashionologie, one of my top fashion reads, noted that "Designers like Vena Cava, Marc b Marc Jacobs, and Proenza Schouler" sent this silhouette skirts down their runways.

I wore a white tank to pull in the white detail from her sandals, and added the turquoise necklace to match that color in the inspiration photo. To tie in the yellow, I wore this this great belt I snagged from Target!

[[Style Tip:  Here's a great way to avoid having to buy two separate belts: If you want to be able to wear a belt both on your hips, as well as on your upper natural waist, buy it to fit your hips (or where your pants sit comfortably). Then, wrap it around your upper waist and measure where it fits. Drill a tiny hole, and wah-lah! You can wear it both ways!]]

I just discovered instagram. My apologies in advance :)

Make it your own:
Skirt: Talbots $29.49 (on sale now!)
Top: Target $8
Belt: Target $12
Shoes: Nine West (Similar)
Necklace: H&M about $12

Shoes on Tues!

Happy Tuesday!

For today's post, I thought I'd share some of my recent shoe cravings. Yes, I crave shoes. Some of you may or may not understand. They're an indulgence for me.. something sweet to add to my outfits to make them perfect, and unique to my style.

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes I experience what I've coined as "shoe moments." I see a pair of decadent heels or dramatic flats that inspire me in that very moment, and take me to another place. (Perhaps I sound crazy.. so be it!)

Check these out and let me know what you think. (Clearly, I cannot afford these.. but a girl can dream!)

Steve Madden "Madee" $119.95

I love this loafer-style slip on. Great with denim (particularly cuffed bottoms)!

B Brian Atwood "Bambola" Pump $300

This royal blue suede is to die for. Please somehow magically appear in my closet tomorrow. K, thanks!

Tory Burch "Mandy" T-Strap Heel $425

This platform pump is ideal from the transition from summer to fall. The chocolate
and black color combo is classic & rich.

Christian Louboutin "Glittered Keyhole" Mary Jane $945
I don't even have words for this Louboutin masterpiece. I just can't. I need.

SJP - Seeing Red

I've been seeing a lot of photos of celebrities wearing red pants, skirts and shorts this summer. Most often, the red is paired with a white or black top to keep it simple. But since it's summer... I wanted to recreate a more colorful version of this trend.

Who better to look to than SJP herself!

It's a known fact in the fashion world that Sarah Jessica Parker has a FABULOUS sense of style. The woman can wear anything, and ROCK it!

For my outfit, I was most inspired by miss Sarah Jessica Parker's take on the red denim trend. She chose the color-blocking route, and paired her pants with a bright purple top. Adding the bright boho bag completed her look in an easy way, and made the entire outfit look casual-chic!

Courtesy of The Chic Factory

You guys know how I read/ stalk J's Everyday Fashion blog. Turns out, J recreated this look as well.. so my goal was to modify J's look with what I owned. Here's how J wore this outfit:

And now... here's my take on the outfit. I got these pants from Urban Outfitters-- they're not denim, but more of a cotton/spandex blend. This purple shirt from American Apparel is one of my all-time favorite tops! It's loose, comfortable, ad super soft (and I love the color!). To get the effect of the multi-color bag, I wore my colorful belt from Target, and added on my brown boho bag to complete the look.

Make it your own:
Shirt: American Apparel $32
Pants: Urban Outfitters $49
Belt: Target, $12.99
Bag: Target (similar) $26.99

What I wore this weekend! 8/14/11

This weekend, I wanted to keep it casual and colorful! I found this outfit from the Eniko Mihalik for Mango Spring/Summer 2011 look book. I absolutely love the colors paired together in this look!

Here's a close up of the colors!

Since it's summer, I've not gotten much use out of my scarves. It was fun to break them out, and incorporate a floral scarf into my outfit today!

Make it your own:

Shorts: J.Crew $42.50

Shirt: American Eagle $15.50

Scarf: Target (Similar) $12.99

Sweater: J.Crew Factory $19.99

Sandals: Yellow and Gold Jack Rogers $98

Happy Friday! Today's outfit: Mixing it Up!

When I put together the outfit modeled off of a J.Crew look, I really liked it. Something was a little adventurous about it! The two pieces didn't match, but together, they worked. Maybe that's just me... but I liked it! So today, I did it again :)

I found this photo on one of my favorite fashion blogs whippedSTYLE. I really love the striped top mixed with the busy pattern of the skirt. It's eye-catching and visually interesting!

I wanted to show a close up of the back of the skirt, because I love the visible zipper detail! Also, it's a nice way to see the pattern of the skirt a little clearer : )

Even though my skirt isn't exactly the same, I thought it was pretty close! It's actually more of a winter skirt (it's a thicker material) that I usually pair with black tights and  boots. It's one of my FAVORITE purchases from Anthropologie. I paired it with a 3/4 length-sleeve top to match the inspiration photo. Also, although you can't really tell, my sandals are leopard print! Why not add in a little sass!?!

For my jewelry, I wanted to create the same effect as the model picture above. I stacked several different bracelets, including one from an Etsy store I love -  EveryOccasionDesigns. It's the one with the yellow beads! (Contest Alert!- You should really check out the Etsy boutique EverydayOccasionDesigns. In the next couple of weeks, I'll be hosting a contest to WIN a pair of earrings of your choice!)

Here's the bracelet, called "Sunny Day", up close:

Make it your own:

Top: Talbots (similar) $19.49

Skirt: Anthropologie (several seasons old) $70

Sandals: Steve Madden (Similar) $69.95

Jewelry: c/o EveryOccasionDesigns