Warm Red Autumn

There's something so transformative about loving what you're wearing. You leave the house more ready to face the day, and take on anything that comes your way.

That's how I felt in this outfit. I loved how all the pieces came together into one cohesive look. I loved the different patterns playing against each other-- the plaid scarf, the duck lining on the inside of the blazer, the texture on the bag.

I felt confident, and I think it shows.

Marilyn Monroe once said: "Designers want me to dress like Spring, in billowing things, I don't feel like Spring. I feel like warm red Autumn."

She was onto something.

Photo Credit: Zach Egolf Photography

Want to Get Jessed Up?

Blazer: c/o Talbots

Bag: c/o Talbots

Heels: Talbots (Similar)

Scarf: Target (Only $16.99!)

Denim: LOFT 

Cami: LOFT (Similar)

Ring: David Yurman

Watch: Michael Kors (Similar)

PS. Whenever I wear this lip color, I get lots of questions about it.. It's called Red Haute (color 2012). Got it at ULTA!

Loves Me Knot

Some days, I like to go casual. Believe it or not, I am a huge fan of bummin' it. Sweats, shorts, loose tops, and messy hair are all in my comfort zone.

When I'm home on the weekends and need to run some errands, I often don't want (am too lazy) to change out of my comfy clothes.

Alas, I am problem solver. Adding a statement accessory effortlessly elevates the look.

Last Sunday, I found myself in this situation. I had on a cozy J. Crew sweatshirt and gym shorts. It was little too suspect/the morning after/SWF for running errands. To make it more appropriate, I swapped the gym shorts for white shorts, and added a statement knot necklace.

Allow me to clarify.. it's totally fine to bum it, and run errands in gym clothes. I do it often. But on those days when I feel like making a shlumpy outfit look a little less shlumpy, this is how I do it.

Make it your own:
Sweatshirt: J. Crew, $39.99
Shorts: J. Crew, $45
Necklace: Target
Sandals: Rainbow (in Espresso), $48.95
Bracelet: Gift (hand made beading from Africa!)

Happy Tuesday, peeps.

Double Take

Wellllll hello. Hope you all had a great weekend! It was perfect weather in Baltimore over the weekend, so I was able to catch up on some much needed time outside.

Beautiful weather calls for effortless sundresses. Here are the two dresses I wore on Friday and Saturday:

Notice anything about them? They're actually the same Target sundress, just in different colors! The dress came in 5 or 6 different patterns/color choices. When I tried it on, I loved the fit (and was in my price range) so I ended up grabbing two. (I tend to do that often, actually. If something fits well, I jump on it.)

There's multiple reasons why I love this dress. The vibrant colors. The sweetheart corset top. The exposed zipper back. The double pockets. The soft cotton/linen blend fabric. The length (it goes right to the knee, so it's a flattering cut/fit on most body types).

So--- If you're in the market for a new sundress to add to your collection, I highly recommend picking up one of these from Target. 

Make it your own:

Dress 1, $24.99

Dress 2, $24.99

So tell me, what did you wear to your weekend BBQs?

Polka Dots & Ponies: Preakness

A few weeks ago I shared some photos with you all that were taken at Hunt Cup, a steeplechase (i.e. horse race) here in Baltimore. This past weekend, I went to another horse race - Preakness! (For those of you unfamiliar with horse races, think of Preakness like the Kentucky Derby, but much less -- um -- southern?)

Personally, I like to think of these kinds of events as classy tailgating get-togethers. People wear preppy attire, munch on fun snacks, and sit around in circles gossiping. This year's Preakness was no different.

Typically I don something pastel for Preakness because a) it fits the theme and b) it's usually hot out so lighter colors deflect the sun/heat. Last year I wore this Lilly Pulitzer dress. It has alligators and lily pads on it.. so it's perfect, of course.

Preakness 2011 with my friends Katy and Emma.

This year, I wanted to go more Julia Roberts a la Pretty Woman, minus the street-walker detail. If you recall, one scene in the movie depicts her and my future husband, Richard Gere, at the races. She's wearing this:

I found this great navy and white polka-dot dress at Target and ran with it. I really liked it's high-low seam! I also liked that the dress was cinched in the waist, reminiscent of Julia Roberts' belted look.

As for the hat, I didn't have time to find a ribbon that matched my dress, so I wore the same one as last year. (I actually hot glued that pink ribbon on the hat myself. Watch out, Martha Stewart!)

It appears I'm missing a vital accessory-- Richard Gere wasn't available to be my date.

Halfway through the afternoon I tucked the straps into the top of the dress to avoid
tan lines. This dress is now strapless-- so versatile!

The group of ladies at Preakness!

Make it your own:

(Just realized that this outfit is completely from Target!)

Dress: Target $24.99

Sandals: Target (Similar) $15

Hat: Target $14.99 (I removed the straw ribbon, and glued the pink one in its place!)

Hope you were able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather this past weekend. Have a fabulous week.

<3 

GJU

Saturday Scarves

Happy weekend!

Today's post is short and sweet: it's about a fun way to work scarves into your wardrobe. You've probably seen belted scarves on the runway or on your favorite celebrities/bloggers. Some examples....

Have you tried it out on your own?

I actually had a lot of fun with this look. My version is slightly less glamorous than the runway examples above. It's more closely aligned to the fashion blogger's pic second down from the top.

I wore straight leg navy corduroys from Madewell, and then a couple layers on top. I started off with a grey cross-back tank, followed by one of my favorite cashmere cardigans. I love it for its bright hue, but more importantly because it's the softest thing I own! I added on a multi-colored striped scarf and chose a yellow belt for a pop of color & to add some spunk :)

What do you think? Like? Dislike?

Without all the layering pieces on top 

Slightly blurry back of the shirt

Tip: Even though it's the winter, you can always utilize your summer tops! There's no reason for them to sit in our closet and collect dust for half the year. Layer a cardigan, heavier top, scarf, or something else over a summer tank to make it seasonally appropriate. Today's outfit is a good example.

So tell me: would you try the belted scarf? 

-GJU

Make it your own:
Cardigan: Talbots
Scarf: Gift
Belt: Target
Shirt: J.Crew Factory (Several years old)
Pants: Madewell
Flats: J.Crew Factory Store
Watch: NY&Co.

Purple Friday! Errrrr... Wednesday!

Usually on Fridays I rock black and purple in support of my home team, the Baltimore Ravens! Woot!

However, since I'm off work the rest of the week for Thanksgiving, I decided it was absolutely necessary to bring black and purple to life on the blog today in spirit & support of the Ravens game tomorrow!

Because I'm doing Purple Friday on a Wednesday, I needed a more mid-week work-appropriate ensemble. Here's what I found-- the one and only Geri Halliwell. Don't judge me. Spice Girls live on.

And, in usual GJU style, I added in a few other colors/accessories to spice it up. 

Let me first just say that my Missoni for Target bag is major. You've got my favorite color combo representing big time (purple and green), and you've got some black, white, and a splash of pink to girl-it-up. I'm excited to work this bag into more outfits. 

Secondly.. although I'm not averse to taking fashion risks, I was still a little nervous to leave the house (not on a legit Purple Friday) in purple tights. Between the bright scarf and tights, and the busy patterned bag, I felt I looked a little like this. However, after seeing the outfit come together, I was pleased with the result.

What do you think-- would you wear colored tights? 

Make it your own:

Dress: J. Crew Factory

Tights: Target

Heels: Madden Girl, Loehmanns, about $28

Bag: Missoni for Target (got on clearance for under $30!)

Feature Friday: Work-Appropriate Wild Side

Happy Friday, GJU readers!

I'm so excited for today's featured fashionista: Christa M. She has an incredible sense of style and knowledge of fashion that she shares on her own fashion blog, Fresh Squeezed!

Today, Christa shows off her work-appropriate wild side by rocking the animal print trend. Check her out!

Full length shot-- I love her tights tucked into boots! 

The brown trim on her v-neck collar ties perfectly into the colors of the
animal print skirt. 

Close up of the colors. Such a great blend of earth tones and animal prints! Perfect for Fall :) 

Here's how Christa describes her outfit:

I was inspired by the animal print trend, which is one of the biggest ones this fall. While I can't rock the head-to-toe animal print, I think one piece per outfit is good! This skirt called out to me because it the print, its shape, and the material used. Paired with boots, it's perfect for work (where I wore this outfit) or running errands on the weekend. It's also easy to dress up with a pretty blouse and wedge booties!

Make it your own:

Sunglasses: Michael Kors (similar style here)

Necklace: Eat Pray Love by Dogeared (gift)

Tank: Splendid, Nordstrom Rack, $3

Shirt: J. Crew Factory Outlet, $21

Skirt: T. Tahari, Lord & Taylor, $20

Belt: Kenneth Cole

Tights: Mossimo for Target, Target

Boots: Matisse, Lord & Taylor

Watch: Michael Kors (gift)

Seriously.. she looks fierce! I think her point about wearing one statement animal print piece, versus a head-to-toe leopard/zebra/cow print suit, is more tasteful. 

I know some of you are intimated by such bold prints, but I hope this inspires you to try out animal prints this weekend!

Happy Halloween!

<3 Jess

D&G Watercolor - Summer to Fall

I love clothing inspired by watercolor palettes. I think they're soft and feminine, and great for everyday work wear. One of my favorite watercolor pieces is this beautiful Dolce & Gabbana skirt. I really love how it was styled with the egg-white long sleeve button down blouse.

I wanted to include this outfit on GJU, but since it's cooler out, I had to modify it so it was temperature appropriate. I wore a BB Dakota watercolor skirt I picked up at a sample sale in college (great find!), and paired it with a green blouse from Target. In a warmer month, I'd leave it at that to match the D&G look perfectly.

However, I also added a pair of opaque black tights, and a black vest from New York & Company for added warmth.

(P.S. I almost wore my gold, sparkly Toms to match the D&G model's gold flats.. but they looked a little weird over the dark tights. I'll work them into an outfit soon though, for sure.)

Think I got a little too into the "leaning" pose this time..
but my hair looked good so I went with it <3

Make it your own:

Shirt: Target $21.99 (I found it on the clearance rack for $10 or so)

Vest: New York & Company

Skirt: BB Dakota, about $46

Flats: Steve Madden $46.99

Tights: Target (Similar) $12

Pink Cocktail Ring: Family Heirloom

Silver Ring: David Yurman, Citrine

Megan Fox: Toned Down for the Office

There's no doubt that Miss Fox looks stunning everywhere she goes, and in everything she wears. This look was a bit more on the sexy side for the red carpet, but I really loved the color combo she chose with the dress and the necklace. I decided to modify this look into a more work appropriate ensemble.

For my outfit, a wore a moderately form fitting, knee-length black shift dress with a bright turquoise necklace to match Megan Fox's frock and jewelry. Her dress has a center banded detail around the waist, so I chose a dress that had the same feature in the middle. This is a great style for all women, because it cinches the waist giving the illusion that it's smaller. I'm all for that! To finish the look, I wore my Missoni for Target pumps. ((Just got these a week or two ago and have worn them almost every day to work. Mildly obsessed. Sorry I'm not sorry.))

One last thing-- I have red polish on my nails to match her red toe polish. It's the small details that really tie the look together!

So.. check out the original and the modification. Hit or miss?

And from the side. Please note the awesome-ness of these pumps! Loving the thick heel detail!

Make it your own:

Dress: H&M

Necklace: H&M

Shoes: Missoni for Target

Rachel Bilson Goes Red

The gorgeous Rachel Bilson donned bright red crops at an event in Beverly Hills this past August. I really love this outfit! The floral shirt and wavy hair give off a flirty, girly vibe, fiercely contrasted by the bright bottoms and leopard print heels. Definitely a risky ensemble, but RB pulls it off beautifully.

Me-- not so much. Here's my stab at this outfit. The crops I wore were slightly lighter in tone (and apparently don't look so great in photos), so I picked a lighter floral top to match that color story. I don't own leopard pumps, but these Missoni for Target heels have the same black & beige effect as the animal print. I also held a black clutch to match Rachel's finished look.

Tried to match the way RB was standing.. hand in pocket, etc. Dorky, I know. 

Thoughts on this? I was kind of disappointed in how the outfit looked in the photos. I thought in real life, the colors worked better and made more sense.

Make it your own:

Pants: J. Crew

Top: Nordstrom

Shoes: Missoni for Target

Belt: J. Crew Factory

Thursday Trend: Mad for Missoni

I'm sure you all know that Missoni for Target launched a few weeks ago, and there was a mad rush to every Target across the United States. Except for me.. because I was at work. Missoni is amazing... and at low Target prices, it's even better.

Even though I didn't make it to a Target first thing in the morning the day of the launch, I still somehow managed to pick up several great pieces! I got a pair of rain boots, a pair of heels, a bra, a corduroy jacket, and two different comforters/bedsets. Eeek! So exciting!

For today's outfit, I paired two of my Missoni items together for a simple, everyday work wearable look. I wore my beautiful new wine color corduroy jacket along with these adorable black pumps.

Were you able to score any Missoni for Target pieces? I'd love to know what you got!

Make it your own:

Shirt: Gap $39.99 (I got it when Gap was having a sale for about $20!)

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Belt: J. Crew $34.50

Necklace: J. Crew (Similar)

Pumps: Missoni for Target $39.99 (couldn't even find these on the Target website anymore!)

Jacket: Missoni for Target (in Rose Wine) $69.99 

Tuesday in the Trenches

This post comes just in time for the gloomy, rainy weather in Baltimore this morning!

Fall is the perfect season to break out the trench coats. It's not too cold that you would need a parka, but it's often windy/rainy (ahem.. today)-- perfect for a light cover up. You can often find trenches in darker colors such as black, brown and navy. However, this Fall, the trend is to go lighter in color with beige/natural tone jackets. Here are some great ways to rock the look:

Top left: Liv Tyler

Top right: Victoria Beckham

Bottom Left: Kim Kardashian

Bottom Right: Claudia Schiffer





For my outfit, I wore my light trench from Gap, over a textured black pencil skirt and purple top. I love the collar on this shirt! I also put on some fun purple earrings that are actually made from paint chips :)

Make it your own:

Trench: Gap (last year, Gap outlet, around $20)

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Top: Target (Clearance rack, around $4)

Flats: Steve Madden

Earrings: Hand-made gift from a craft fair

My New Skirt!

I browse Chictopia on a daily basis for outfit ideas, design inspiration, and beauty tips. A lot of my outfit inspiration photos are from that site, including today's! When I stumbled across this picture, I was so excited. I just got a green skirt I've been dying to wear, and it would be the perfect piece to use for this outfit!

For my outfit, my skirt is actually green... but in this photo it looks more blue-ish. I added the pink belt to draw in the colors from the model's necklace, and a bold watch. The black top and black pumps complete the look! What do you think? Would you wear a green (or a different bright color) pencil skirt to work?

Make it your own:

Skirt: J.Crew (in Viridian Green) $120

Top: Gap $24.99

Belt: J.Crew (in Dahlia) $34.50

Shoes: DSW $44.95

Today's Style: Mash it Up

Today's outfit doesn't have one particular inspiration photo. It's a compilation of many of my favorite style elements- Color blocking, patterned pants, ruffles, the colorful skinny belt, & the nude flat. I like to call this: Mash it Up!

This type of look can be modified to fit anyone's personal style and aesthetic. Pants can be mixed and matched with skirts, tanks can be swapped with tee's, and the flats can be dropped for heels. This sort of outfit presents an opportunity to take risks with your everyday style and try something new-- something I'm always encouraging!

Make it your own:
Pants: Talbot's Outlet (Similar) $38.99
Top: J.Crew (Similar) $88
Belt: Target, about $12
Flats: Urban Outfitters

Friday is here!!

I came across this photo and immediately knew this outfit would be great for an office environment. I really like the solid bright top paired with the patterned skirt! Women are often afraid to wear patterns on the lower half because they think it will make them look bigger, and draw attention to their problem areas. However, if worn correctly, a fun, patterned skirt or pair of pants can take an outfit from ordinary to fabulous!

[[NOTE: I took that top right picture in my hotel room (I was at a work conference!) so please excuse the poor lighting!]]

While I was at the conference, I was able to get a slightly better photo taken, this time wearing the black sweater I brought to pair with the outfit. (I'm also sporting my handy name tag/badge. Super stylin'!)

Make it your own:
Top: Target (On the clearance rack for $4!)
Skirt: Ann Taylor (picked this up about 5 years ago)
Sweater: J.Crew
Shoes: Tahari (Marshalls find!)