Vibrant Light Layers & IA Fashion Week?

Oh man - it's Monday, and I need some inspiration for the week ahead. This cheery wall is sort of helping... Or even better -- start your Monday out with a laugh. Check out a hilarious article from The Onion on a story about Iowa Fashion Week.

With a long awaited start to Spring, I'm quick to bust out the lighter layers, and bright colors. One of my favorite pairings is stripes with a vibrant solid. This look is always classy and fun.

Have a great week!

Shirt:  Old Navy | similar
Necklace: Etsy | shop
Pants:  Toothpick, JCrew | shop
Flats:  Sidewalk skimmer - slate, Madewell | shop
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | shop

City Tourist: Millennium Park

Have you seen the bean?! Yea, yea.. it's a touristy spot, but I'll admit that I love it! This Chicago art piece is fun and a great place to visit. Honestly, I  don't think it ever really gets old. G & I spent some time visiting the hot spots like the Hancock Building. I highly recommend getting drinks at the top for a spectacular view.

There's nothing better than being a tourist in your own backyard. What are your favorite tourist sites?

*Tomorrow is the birthday of the most fabulous, fashion saavy, smartie pant, kindest sister in the world. Happy Birthday to my favorite Jane! <3

Shirt: Lace top, H&M | similar

Cardigan:  Red sweater, Ralph Lauren | similar

Belt:  Loft | similar

Jeans:  Rock Star, Old Navy | shop

Shoes: BP Runway, Nordstrom | shop

Coat:  Colletta Coat, JCrew | similar 

Scarf: Nordstrom | similar

Necklace:  Magnify, Cali boutique | shop

Purse:  thrifted

Linked up to the Pleated Poppy and Two Thirty-Five Designs.

United Way Jeans Day + Uniqlo Oxford Shirt

My company donates to the United Way and encourages us to participate and show our pride with jeans days! The United Way is a fantastic organization and to show my pride, I'm pairing a relaxed pair of jeans with my new favorite oxford.

I'll admit I'm becoming obsessed with Uniqlo the more I wear their clothes. I find myself reaching for them over and over for a simple, preppy look. I'm very sad there isn't a store in the midwest. This probably means I need to head to NYC or San Fran. fairly soon.... :D

Sunnies: 01OS, Prada | shop
Top: Women's Oxford Long Sleeve Shirt, Uniqlo $29.90 | shop in stores or at Lands' End Canvas
Jeans:  Old Navy Sweetheart | shop
Shoes:  Flax in White Kid, Nine West | shop
Bag: Classic Q Hillier in Faded Aluminum, Marc by Marc Jacobs | shop
Bracelets:  Express

Linked up with Real Girl Real Glam.

Old Navy - Blue Rockstar pants

Orange and blue are always a lovely combination. I'm into the colored jean look; it looks preppy and chic paired with this gingam and orange combo. I think we can safely say it's SPRING! I'm incredibly pumped since we had such a mild winter. 

To long days, and sassy styles!

Pants:  The Rock Star in Blue Moon, Old Navy | shop

Shirt:  Old Navy

Sweater:  Banana Republic

Shoes:  Target versie pump | shop

Necklace:  Banana Republic

Earrings:  Very Audrey JewelMint | shop

Glasses:  Loft | shop

Nail Polish:  Frankly I Don't Give A-Dam by OPI | shop

Presidential Style: D.C. & the Obamas

Capitol, Pennsylvania Avenue

White House

Washington Monument, Supreme Court, Lincoln Memorial, Treasury Building

Mr. & Mrs. Obama
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture 

A few weeks ago I traveled to beautiful Washington, D.C. for a work trip. I was in town for the groundbreaking of the Smithsonian's 19th museum -- the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I had the chance to see some of the sights, ate oysters at the historic Old Ebbet's Grill and saw the President & First Lady.

No big deal, right?

PSSHHH.... more like I was totally geekin' out that I got to see both of them!

President Obama spoke at the event and said the museum, “Should stand as proof that the most important things in life rarely come quickly or easily; it should remind us that although we have yet to reach the mountaintop, we cannot stop climbing.” Inspiring.

The event was surreal. Mrs. O, our FLOTUS, was even more stunning in person. She looked beautiful in her green Peter Som dress coat. You can follow all of her great looks on one of our favorite blogs -Mrs.O.com. 

It was an awesome trip & D.C. is definitely my kind of town!

Presidential Style

Shirt:  J. Crew

Vest:  The Limited

Jacket:  Banana Republic

Pants:  Drew Bootcut Pant, The Limited | shop

Purse:  Kate Spade

Earrings:  Very Audrey JewelMint | shop

Necklaces:  Thrifted

Shoes:  Orra, Nine West | shop

D.C. Sightseeing Look

Coat:  H&M

Top:  Striped Crew-neck, Old Navy | shop

Pants:  Gap 1969 Ponte 5 pocket | shop

Shoes:  Cece Suede Ballet Flats, JCrew | shop

Earrings:  Very Audrey JewelMint | shop

Boardwalk Empire: Loft Mod Shift Dress

Clearly, I love the Loft Mod Shift Dress as I have purchased it in black & red!  It's simple, chic, and lends itself to any and all types of styling.  I'm going for a fancy night out on the town, so I'm channeling my inner flapper a la Boardwalk Empire.

Happy February!

Linked up with the Pleated Poppy & the Transatlantic Blonde.

Dress: Mod Shift Dress, Loft | shop -- See the orange version here 

Necklaces: Old Navy & Big Love 21

Ring:  H&M

Headband: Modcloth

Tights: Reversible Tights, SPANX | shop

Hair Inspiration: Karmin (not entirely successful - lol)

Shoes: Perfect Patent Pump, Ann Taylor | shop

May Flowers

I recently unearthed this post that was buried deep in our Blogger's archives; it definitely made me miss all of that long hair & warm weather (no tights required).

I bought this J.Crew skirt & cardigan on final sale without trying either of them on. There's not a J.Crew near me, otherwise I'd be in there trying things on and stalking the sale racks all of the time. Ordering final sale online is always a gamble, but I've only lost once or twice. :) I've become pretty familiar with how J.Crew clothing fits me, so sometimes, I just go for it.

Thanks to Kate for the lovely photos!

Cardigan: J.Crew

Top: Calvin Klein

Skirt: J.Crew

Necklace: ShiDa Night Market (little stand near YOFROYO), Taipei
Shoes: Old Navy, Fall 2010

Halloween: Jane the Riveter

Halloween is just around the corner and this year here's my ode to Rosie the Riveter. 

I visited my 12- year old cousin in Australia a few years ago and I distinctly remember her asking me, "Is Halloween real?" She had seen a magical world of free candy, masks and ghouls on television. I told her, "Yes, it's real! Come visit us in October because it is wonderful and fun." 

Truly, this is one of the best American holidays. You get to dress up and get free candy. I'm not sure that it gets better than that. Happy Halloween and good luck finding the houses that give full size candy bars!

Shirt:  Gap, 1969

T-shirt:  American Apparel | shop

Jeans:  Bullhead Black The 55 Denim Legging in Rinsed Indigo, PacSun | shop

Shoes:  Nine West

Necklace:  Old Navy

Bandana:  Walmart, $1

Lipstick:  Color Sensationals Lipstick in Red Revolution 630 | shop

Farm Girl

I put my Midwestern roots to good use when I visited Carly's farmhouse; Carly's one of my best friends and old college roomie, and today was my first time out at her farmhouse. :)

Her family has a ton of animals: this baby duck was one of my favorites.

Meet Stormy & Chocolate, two of Carly's prize-winning cows. Fun fact that's worthy of appearing under your Snapple cap: cows don't have upper front teeth. Apparently, the lack of front teeth create a gap in a cow's mouth that helps her eat more easily.

She also took me to one of the only covered bridges near my college town, and it is extremely cool looking. This particular covered bridge is also home to some silly stenciled graffiti.

Big ups (& thanks) to my always stylish photographer, Carly! :D

Dress: Oyster Bay dress in white by Gilly Hicks (originally $39.50, sale price $29.90)
Top: Jackie cardigan by J.Crew
Shoes: Chocolate peep toe flats by Old Navy (Fall 2010, $15)
Coat: Classic trench in khaki by Banana Republic (originally $198, purchased with 40% promotion)
Earrings: Night market in Bangkok

The Knotted Shirt

I'm trying out the knotted shirt look again... This is my second attempt, and I think it's pretty cute in my opinion, my first attempt wasn't so successful.  Something just looked a little off about it, but that's okay, I like this look better.

Looking through my last few posts, I've realized that I seem to be really into headbands.  I've got to try a new hairstyle!  In my defense, I firmly believe that the headband is highly underrated.

Dress: Target (Summer 2010)

Shirt: Gap Kids (this season's version); last seen at your local post office.

Shoes: Old Navy (Fall 2010)

Headband: Borrowed from my sister-in-law 

BOOM BOOM - Happy Fourth of July!

Happy 4th of July, friends! It is a hot day in the midwest and we are geared up for few backyard BBQs with some good people. I'm totally bringing this red ball to the parties...and some freeze pops.

Dress:  Urban Outfitters

Hairbow: Walmart, $1

Bracelets:  Gordman's

Clutch: Thrifted

Shoes:  Thrifted

WILL

Meet Will - my roommate and today's photographer. He has been one of my best friends for a number of years and is in college for bilingual education. He, too, loves fashion, fireworks and zebra prints. 

Shirt: Macy's

T-shirt:  Old Navy 

Pants:  Old Navy

Shoes:  Old Nacy

Necklace:  Rue 21

Bracelets:  Charming Charlie (Diva)

Watch - Citizen, Everything Engravable 

Sunglasses:  Gift from Aili (Mongolian street side stand)

Highlighter Yellow

Purple and gold were my old high school colors.. props to the Jane circa 2000 in braces. She was and still is a nerd. I will probably break out into a high school chant at any moment in the day. 

This cardigan is a bit extreme with its highlighter yellow color, but I'm a fan.  

Cardigan:  Old Navy
Tank Top:  Target
Skirt:  Express
Shoes:  Guess
Necklace:  Thrifted
Earrings:  Target

Something Borrowed

The hot pink dress is the only component of this ensemble that I actually own; the rest of the look was put together with pieces from Aili's closet.

Dress: Gap, Summer 2009

Shirt: Old Navy

Necklace: Borrowed

Pin: Forever 21 Earring

Shoes: Guess