Keeping Warm

sweater: BB Dakota, jeans: A&F, boots: Unisa, necklace: Stella and Dot

Bundled up in sweaters and boots is not the way I imagined my end of March outfits to look. Sigh. I mean don't I technically live in the South?! There's snow on the ground for goodness sake. Nevertheless, my Southwesterly print is keeping my spirits up while making me feel cozy. One day this skin will know warmth!

Guest Post on Effortless Anthropologie

Hey apples, check out the guest post I wrote for Effortless Anthropologie while Roxy is on vacation. If you're a lover of Anthropologie clothing, but not the price tags, you will love the awesome look-alike steals I found.

bar III

Shopping in department stores isn't usually my thing. There's too many racks, too many options, too many 'percentage off' signs that I don't understand. But during the holidays sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty and just go for it. Yesterday I was in Macy's and discovered a great in house brand of theirs: bar III. Very contemporary with a mix of retro. You can get something trendy like a peplum top or peter pan collared dress at an excellent price point and quality. These are just some of my favorite pieces I spied on the racks as I walked through their section. Perhaps after the holidays I'll get up the nerve to find some deals to try on (baby steps people!).

Shop the whole brand yourself here!

Fall Lust

boots, blazer, shorts

So I've come into a Visa gift card and it is burning a hole in my pocket. I am being tempted by the following items and I can't decide what's more practical for fall. Do I go with the suede wedge boots that would go with everything? Or the, on sale, polka dot blazer that would spice up all the solids in my wardrobe and give me that ultra prep look I love? Or finally buy myself some heavy weight shorts and pair it with all my tights and boots?! I mean can't we live in a world where I can have all three and I don't have to make such decisions? Only time will tell which one becomes the one I can't live without. Don't worry I'll let you guys know how it all turns out.

Hunting Style

Totally loving everything about Tommy Hilfiger's Fall 2012 look: The Hunt, right now. Cable knits, plaid, velvet, and quilted textures. Camel, maroon, mustard, and rust colors. Totally digging the shooting style sweater the model, direct center, has on especially. Hand me my most fabulous pair of riding boots and a saddle and I will be set for Fall! 

Layers for Summer

I realize with temperatures around 90 degrees everyday wearing a sweater or layers seems crazy. I'm kinda sweating just thinking about it, but I love everything about this look from JCrew right now. An easy button up, quirky sweater and a fun color pair of pants scream Sarah.

A Dress of Jonquils

dress and belt: Anthropologie, shoes: Steve Madden, bracelet: Stella and Dot

Just because I haven't been documenting my outfits lately doesn't mean I've been running around town sans-cute outfits! Taking pictures by yourself gets a little frustrating at times, so I'm glad my iphone and instagram make it a little easier to share. I love this dress by the way, the perfect mix of color and pattern mixing all in one easy piece.

Start of Summer

clockwise: bag, spray, romper, shorts, sunglasses, pitcher, outfit

While at the lake this weekend, enjoying the warm nights and crackle of a campfire, I saw the first signs of summer: fireflies. I think every kid has that memory of catching them in jars or your hands, fascinated by their glowing magic. For me now, they symbolize the magic of summer. When the nights are long and hot and you feel like anything could happen. It makes me smile just writing about it.

So the fireflies helped kick my summer off and above are a few physical items that will make me ready for it too. Effortless outfits, a bag for weekend getaways and trips to the pool, beach waves, fun sunglasses, and the perfect pitcher for gallons of sweet tea (my fuel between the months of May-August).

Floral Denim

clockwise: 7 For All Mankind, Delias, Anthropologie, Madewell

Floral denim is springing up everywhere right now and I can't decide how I feel about them. I just got comfortable with the neon and bright colored hues in pants and denim trend, and now we're throwing prints into the mix? I have to say I'm gravitating more towards the brighter colored versions like Anthro's and the 7's. The less white they look the better I think they read. It gives the floral pattern a chance to stand out where I'm not really sure if I'm looking at flowers or blobs of pastel colors on the white versions. I'm not sure if a pair will make it into my closet for spring but I could be tempted if the right pair crossed my path. How do you guys feel about floral jeans?

Setting Sun

top: Urban Outfitters, skirt: Anthropologie, shoes: Seychelles

With the first day of Spring just around the corner and "springing" our clocks forward on Sunday means only one thing: longer hours of daylight. Things like getting off work at 6pm and it's still light outside make me extremely happy. Friday was seriously our last day of cold weather and packing my tights away for another 6 months makes me very happy too! Texture is the name of the game in this outfit: chambray, wool, and suede all come together in their blue/grey undertones to pull it all together. Here's to playing in the sunshine everyone!

Always a kid at heart

Not only do I find myself being attracted to the same things as little kids, e.g. Hello Kitty, Disney Princesses, and pink glitter. I also find myself loving their clothes from time to time too. Up until now I've been able to keep it contained to the girls Crew Cut line for JCrew, but it has now spilled into the Brooks Brothers kids line too. JCrew appeals to my quirky, frilly, girlie side, whereas Brooks Brothers speaks to the preppy, tennis playing, madras side of my personality. I either need to find a way to start shrinking or find a child I can kidnap for the afternoon to dress up with. The cuteness is maddening! 

Spring Time Blues

top: Old Navy, pants: Express, shoes: Miz Mooz

Don't worry guys, nothing is giving me the blues; except these pants! I am so on board with all the bright colors and neon colors of clothing I'm seeing everywhere. So I had to find a way to incorporate them into my wardrobe for spring. Straight, cuffed, and cropped, Express created the perfect style of pants for me.  The royal blue pants I purchased reminded me of blue jeans, so I could feel like I was easing myself into the trend. Perhaps by April or May I'll be ready for hot pink and banana yellow.

Television Fashion

I am a bit of a TV fanatic. Series, sitcoms, reality TV; I've been known to watch them all. The only thing that gets me excited about summer coming to an end is knowing new Fall shows will be starting. So it's no surprise that I take some of my fashion cues from my favorite television characters. Here's whose closets I'd like to be raiding.

Blair Waldorf-Gossip Girl. Blair is girlie, preppy, and her flair for the theatrics lead her outfits a little costumey at times too (which I love). Blair drips Upper East Side chicness in every outfit she wears. Pattern mixing, fun tights, she never met a winter coat she didn't like, and I am green with envy that she can pull off so many hats. She inspires me to get out of my jeans routine and embrace my girlie side with skirts and dresses, no matter what the temperature. Blair, take me under you wing as a minion in training and let me raid your closet!

Jess-New Girl. The bangs, the eyelashes, the voice...I have a total girl crush on Zooey Deschanel. I love Jess' sense of style on this show. Her clothes really speak to her personality: she's not afraid to be exactly who she is and to have fun with life, and her clothes. Bright pops of color, a shoe collection full of flats, fun pattern mixing, and Jess can never wear too many polka dots! Jess and I could totally be roomies, just as long as I can borrow her clothes.

Emma Pillsbury-Glee. "A brooch for every outfit, a chain for every cardigan," is the motto I'd like to think Emma follows when she dresses herself every morning. Longer hem lines and higher collars keep Emma's girly looks more conservative than Blair or Jess, but no less coveted. Even though the she typically keeps to the same shape and silhouette of her outfits she's not afraid to color block or go head to toe monochromatic. I love everything about her Kate Spade-Anthropologie mix of bright colors, vintage prints, florals, and fun shoes. If I were a student of McKinley High School I would totally be looking towards Ms. Pillsbury as my fashion mentor.

Whose closet would you raid?

Four Eyes Better Than Two

blouse and skirt: Forever 21, shoes: Payless Shoes, glasses: Spec Club

Call me a little bit nerdy...a little bit hipster...but I love my new glasses. The one gift I was desperately asking Santa for at Christmas was a new pair of glasses and the big man came through! Normally I'd choose my contacts over glasses any day of the week but I find myself turning to my specs as my new favorite accessory. Really anything can put a spring in my step due to 60 degree days in January. Notice how I'm going sans tights and coats? This time last year I was digging my car out of a couple feet of snow and ice. How I love the South!

Loving me some...

Here's another example of an unexpected store that has several pieces jumping onto my wish list: Express! They've just rolled out their spring collection and I was surrounded by bright colors the moment I walked through their doors. Not only am I tempted by these green pants, raspberry pencil skirt, and purple and teal wedges, but each of these pieces comes in a variety of colors too. How's a girl to choose?

If you were like me and wrote Express off as a shopping destination of your past, give them a second chance this season and we'll shake these winter blues yet!

(ps make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif)

Love for Old Navy

I am seriously in love with Old Navy's newest arrivals in their store right now. I am definitely an equal opportunist when it comes to the labels inside my clothes. If I like something I don't care what store it came from. So it comes as no surprise to me that I can constantly find good classic staples or the occasional inexpensive trendy items at Old Navy. Like that chambray shirt dress (only $19!) that would look amazing with a chunky cardigan, fun colored tights and wedge boots. Or the must have striped boat neck tee paired with navy trousers with the fun white piping. I would be excited to have all of those pieces in my closet right now. You may have written this big chain retailer off as a place to find fashionable pieces, just look past their wacky mannequins, but give it a second look and you might be pleasantly surprised!

Knee Sock Love







shirt: Urban Outfitter, scarf: American Eagle, belt: Lacoste, skirt H&M, socks: Payless, boots: Old Navy


If I had to pick a trend that I loved the most right now, I would have to say knee socks. I realize for the past two or three seasons girls have been rocking the socks peaking out of boots and over the knees. I can't get enough of them! Ever since I was a little girl and my mother would put me in those thick white wool ones for church (that always found their way bunched up around my ankles) I have been dying for them to come back in style. And wouldn't you know the first pair I bought were a pair of cream cable ones! I guess some things never change. For this weekend our weather was mildly warm and sunny so I could get away with just my knee socks to help keep me warm. That's the thing about Kentucky weather one minute sunny and warm the next rain and cold.

Bright and Windy

top:Anthropologie, belt and skirt:Forever21, boots:Urban Outfitters

So it's Monday, and I'm dragging just a little... but a large cup of coffee, and knowing How I Met Your Mother will be on at 8 tonight are the biggest things helping me through this day right now. I hope everyone had an good weekend. I had the best Saturday afternoon with one of my besties. We drove up to Cincinnati in the morning and spent the whole day shopping in their Kenwood area. Their mall has an Anthropologie and it made me a little sad not be caught up in the holiday hoopla happening in their stores this time of year. But lots of shopping, eating, giggling, and drinking sparkling apple cider right from the bottle on our car ride home really made my weekend.

This particular outfit was from Friday though. Despite the strong winds it was particularly sunny and warm that day and it called for this flowy bright skirt. And I forget how comfy these boots so I'm trying to find a way to wear them more. They seem a little too "tough" for work. But I think with a more feminine outfit it seems to work.

So sip slowly on that hot beverage and we'll make it through the day my lovelies!

Borrowing some Buffalo

shirt: JCrew, borrowed from bf, pants: A&F, boots: Urban Outfitters, belt: Forever21, necklace and clutch: vintage

 Sometimes the man in your life has the perfect item in their closet. In a moment of "nothing I own is speaking to me today" my eyes started wondering over to Aaron's selection of clothing. His black and gray buffalo check shirt had the exact amount of easiness I was going for. Of course I had to girl it up with a mustard belt and some killer lace up boots. It was the perfect outfit for a day out at the movies, and dinner with my family.

At the Post

(top and skirt:anthropologie, cardigan:forever21, tights:urban outfitters, shoes:aldo)

Not only do the changing leaves, crisp weather, and pumpkins have me in love with the fall, here in my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, it also means horse racing season! Every October marks the 4 week period when some of the most beautiful, and fast, horses graze the farm land around Keeneland's race track. This Saturday I found myself decked out in my most fashionable fall color palete to bet on the ponies and take in the beauty of Lexington. This 70s inspired a-line skirt is the perfect piece for a fall outing. It really was the perfect day at the track because not only was I in great company for the day and the weather was absolutely gorgeous, but I also had an amazing winning ticket on one of the races!