Spring is in the air!

"She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
'Winter is Dead.'"
-A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

No outfit post is complete without a selfie :)

This shirt/sweater duo is gearing up to be one of my favorite outfits for Spring. The floral print paired with the bright cardi is as easy-breezy as it gets. Colorful, feminine, and effortless.

Want to Get Jessed Up? 

Floating-Floral Cotton Shirt c/o Talbots, $69.50

V-Neck Cardigan c/o Talbots, $79.50

Wedges, Franco Sarto, $59.95

A Week from the Mirror's Perspective

Ok, so one major downfall of not having roommates is that outfit photos all have to be selfies. With a fashion blog, outfit photos are kind of important. I do realize the selfie method is a little trite at this point, but I've got no one here to take the pics for me. Bruiser isn't quite that skilled yet ;)

On that same note, when I'm at work, it's a little awkward to have someone take a pic of me posing in the middle of the store... so the selfies take place in the fitting rooms.

Bottom line: I am trying to continue to show outfit photos as requested, but please understand and excuse the fact that most of them I've taken myself.

That said... moving right along!

This past week was a casual one for me. It's still so freakin' cold, but I am tired of winter. A couple days this week, I brought sandals to change into once inside. Pretending it's summer put a smile on my face! Here's what I wore this week:

Flannel: J.Crew, Leggings: Francesca's, Boots: Hunter, Shirt: Nordstrom
Scarf: Handmade, Headband: LOFT

Sweater, Jeans: LOFT, Sandals: Nine West, Jewel Bracelet: J.Crew

Sweater: Gap, Jeans: LOFT

Dress: South Moon Under, Scarf: Francesca's, Flats: Tory Burch,
Bag: LOFT, Jacket (old)

What did you wear this week? Would love to see some looks and get fresh ideas from you guys!

Decision made!

To those who voted on the two dresses, thanks for your input! 

If you saw any of the photos posted last night to my Facebook, you would have noticed that I went with Dress B! Ultimately, I fell in love the lace-covered bodice on the front, the deep V in the back, and sweet bow around the waist. 

Thanks again for weighing in!

The wedding I attended was beautiful! I was honored to be part of Dani and Amanda's special day. Here are some more photos from the ceremony and reception:

Every wedding should start with a selfie. Here's one of me and my mom!

Family photo before the ceremony

Two beautiful brides. What a lovely ceremony!

Mother/daughter photo, with an adorable flower girl photo bomb

With my friend Tiffany, my date for the evening :)

Mom and Dad

The cutest little flower girl I ever did see!

They're married! 

Their first dance as newlyweds. So sweet!

Make it your own:

Dress: Cache, $198

Heels: Jessica Simpson, $99

Earrings: Cache (Similar, $48)

Bracelet: Coldwater Creek (Similar $49.95)

Which LBD for the Wedding?

Hey guys.

I'm going to a wedding this Saturday, and I'm torn between two little black dresses! I posted the pics to my Instagram for some feedback, but figured I'd share the two options on GJU and get your thoughts.

Dress A:

Black Lace Back Dress, Cache $188

Dress B:

Black Lace Bow-Tied Dress, Cache $198

Which do you prefer? I love the cut out on the first dress, but I equally love the lace-covered sweetheart bodice on the second dress. Let me know what you think!

LBB: Little Black Blazer

Whether you prefer a more tailored fit or relaxed, boyfriend fit, a little black blazer is this fall's must-have piece.

The best thing about a good black blazer: it will work with almost everything. Paired with jeans and pumps, a blazer elevates an outfit and carries it seamlessly from day to evening. A boyfriend blazer over leggings with boots is a fun, effortless, daytime look. Swap out the leggings for skinny jeans, and replace the boots with sky-high pumps, and BOOM: you're ready for happy hour!

Here are some of my favorite LBB's:

J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer, $198

Gap Classic Two-Button Blazer, $98

Banana Republic Heritage Tipped Black Blazer, $130

Michael Kors Ruched Pocket Boyfriend Blazer, $110

Vince Camuto Faux Leather Trim Boyfriend Blazer, $179

The other day, I wore my LBB from Banana Republic to work over jeans, a flowy black blouse, and a statement necklace. Photo is a little blurry but you get the idea.

Do you have a favorite LBB? Where did you get it? I'm always on the lookout for another one to add to my wardrobe :)

Playful in Polka Dots

I love a bright print in summertime. I also love sundresses. Therefore, a sundress with a bright print is the ultimate WIN for me!

In my opinion, dresses are the most flattering clothing choice for my figure. I'm "hippy" and hold most of my weight in my midsection, so a fit-and-flare style such as this dress helps hide the unwanted curvature :)

This yellow polka dot print is not only adorable, but paired with the dress' high neck and low back, the outfit has a 50's feel. I added on some wedges for height, and a statement necklace in emerald green for a pop of contrast and color.

Not a wedge or heel gal? Dress it down by swapping in sandals, and layering on a denim jacket.

Make it your own:

Dress: LOFT, $89.50

Denim Jacket: Old Navy (Similar, $29)

Necklace: J. Crew (Similar, $165)

Wedges: Nordstrom, Franco Sarto, $109.90 (on sale now for $69.90)

Sandals: LOFT, $29.50

Brand New Baubles

When it comes to necklaces, I've got a serious weakness.

At stores, at the mall, wherever I am.. when I see one that catches my eye, I have to try it on. Inevitably, I like it, so I justify why I need it and what I'd wear it with.

I've recently added a couple new baubles to my collection:

Here's where I got them:

Photo 1: Mineral Red Seed Bead Necklace, LOFT, $39.50; Long Bauble and Fireball Wooden Necklace, LOFT, $39.50 (Primrose Yellow)

Photo 2: Custom Monogram Necklace, South Moon Under, $220 (Takes 8 weeks!)

Photo 3: Long Bauble and Fireball Wooden Necklace, LOFT, $39.50 (Bliss Blue)

Photo 4: Pearls of Love Necklace, Dogeared, $44

How about you... any new necklaces you recently picked up?! Do tell!

Safari Chic

I think there's something inherently sexy about a woman in safari gear-- neutral tones, camouflage, the bare essentials. To me, it evokes a sense of exploration and adventure.

Here's what I'm talking about...

J. Crew

Michael Kors

If I could walk around in the hat from the first photo all day/everyday, or even the Michael Kors bathing suit & belt combo, I sure as hell would! (Not sure that would fly at work, though!)

Have you rocked the safari chic look yet this summer season? I'd love to see how you styled yourself!

What I Wore (and felt) This Weekend

This weekend was an emotional roller-coaster.

Happy: It was gorgeous weather. I was so excited to finally be able to enjoy the day sitting outside with a cold beer and good friends, listening to music and soaking up the sun. It doesn't get much better than that!

Self-Conscious: As you know, due to a comment made to me last week, I'm now more aware of the changes my body has gone through. This weekend, the warmer weather called for shorts and dresses, and I had a difficult time choosing things to wear. As I start to eat healthier and see positive changes, hopefully this will dissolve.

Reflective: My ex-fiance proposed to his current girlfriend this weekend. We broke up about 3 years ago, and he started dating his now fiance shortly after. I knew she was a much better fit for him than I was. I am happy for them and wish them the best, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling a little bruised by the whole thing. It may be selfish to feel that way, but it's how I feel. I followed my heart, and made a decision to do what was best for me. I am glad, almost relieved, it turned out to be the best for him as well.

Blessed: When I need it most, my friends and family are always there. Sometimes, I need a little mood uplift, and my circle never disappoints. You know when I need you, and you know when to leave it alone. You know how I feel without me having to tell you, and you know that my feelings are complex and often ungrounded. You let me vent, and that's all I need. Thank you.

On that note, here's what I wore this weekend:

I'm obsessed with tribal prints this summer. This maxi dress is about to become a weekend staple in my wardrobe! 

Remember that Anthropologie shirt I recently purchased? Found an excuse to wear it! 

Friday Fashion Inspiration

I know it's been a tense week with everything that's happening in Boston related to the marathon bombers. I just wanted to say my thoughts and prayers are still with the people of Boston. I know you will be resilient, and come out an even stronger community after this tragedy.

That said, I did put together a post for today...

It's a fashion inspiration post today on GJU. I follow several fashion bloggers, and always love the outfit ideas they come up with, and how they pair different pieces together in fresh, new ways.

One of the bloggers I like is Lauren from The Pear Shape: Fashion for the Hip-Endowed. I'm on the same page as Lauren... my hips don't lie.

One of Lauren's posts from last summer really caught my eye. I liked how she paired a casual chambray top, knotted at the bottom, with a more streamlined pencil skirt. To add some color, she layered on a statement necklace in a bright coral hue. 

[GJU Sidenote: Pairing blousy/voluminous tops with slimmer bottoms (such as pencil skirts or skinny jeans) is a really flattering silhouette on curvier women. It created a cinched waist, drawing the eye down and elongating the body.]

Photo from Lauren's post, Purple Haze

Imitation is the ultimate form of flattery, so I decided to recreate this outfit. I changed it up a little, adding some of my own personal touches, and tweaking it to be more weather appropriate for Baltimore. I wore this outfit a couple weeks ago when it was still pretty chilly in Baltimore, so instead of metallic flats, I wore tights and boots. Additionally, I kept it casual by wearing my chambray shirt open with a polka dot shell underneath, instead of knotting it at the bottom.

Is this something you would wear? How would you style it? Would love to hear your thoughts and comments :)

Make it your own:

Chambray top: J. Crew, $78

Polka dot shell: J. Crew, $110

Pencil Skirt: J. Crew, $98

Necklace: LOFT, $44.99

Earrings: The Limited, $19.90

Boots: Madden Girl (Similar style, $42.94)

J. Crew Spring 2013 Look Book

You all know my obsession with J. Crew runs deep through my veins. As expected, their Spring 2013 collection is incredible.

Lots of bold prints and mixed patterns. Lots of mixing casual pieces with more formal work attire. Colorful pumps and clutches finish each look, and as always in J. Crew fashion, a simple coral lip.

I pulled a couple samples from the look book to share with you for today's post.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

*images from J. Crew Spring 2013 Collection Look Book