*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*
Congrats to Mandi who is loving a hand-me-down purple coat!
I’m getting more and more requests for fashion posts. {Um, apparently, you guys haven’t seen me out in my yoga pants smelling like baby spit-up.} So when a girlfriend from my old college days contacted me about hosting a giveaway featuring the well known accessories business, Stella & Dot, I figured it’d be a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. You get a fashion post and a giveaway in one!
Okay, so fashion. Let me start off by saying that I think moms are allowed to be fashionable without feeling guilty. I also think we are allowed to have pajama/sweat pants/yoga pants days every once in a while. You know, for good measure. Personally, I find it easiest to get dressed first thing in the morning. Otherwise, it’s noon and I’m still in my pajamas and I don’t see the point of dirtying more clothes. Call it irrational rationalization. If I set aside just five minutes in the morning to get dressed, I feel more prepared – if only physically – for my day.
My days usually consist of getting the boys off to school {Layne rides the bus or I walk him to school & Everett has to be driven to/picked up from morning preK}, running errands, breastfeeding, cooking and taking the kids to gymnastics…with maybe some cleaning, DIYing and blogging thrown into the mix when I have the time. There’s nothing glamorous about my day. It’s probably very similar to what a lot of you have going on.
My style tends to go along with my non-glamorous lifestyle. I’m all about comfort: jeans, leggings, flats, boots, cotton shirts, loose blouses. I rarely wear dresses or skirts. I think the last time I wore heels was to a wedding last summer. As in summer 2011. I don’t follow trends. I’m more apt to invest in one high quality classic piece that will be in my closet for years instead of only a few months. My fashion style and interior design style are similar. In general, I like mostly neutral staple pieces with pops of color in my accessories and some subtle feminine bling. It makes for easy mixing and matching so I’m not wearing the same exact outfit day in and day out. Sure, I’ll wear the same pair of jeans several times in one week but I’ll wear them with different tops, jewelry and shoes to get multiple looks.
Here’s an example of something I would wear on a regular ol’ day:
1 – I wear earrings nearly every single day. I think they make my face look less tired and instantly dress up whatever I’m wearing. I like shiny studs, feminine danglies and classic hoops. Nowadays, I’m usually sporting simple studs because a certain little lady has taken to pulling my dangly earrings.
2 – I’m a brunette {with a few grays popping up!} and like the way a light colored shirt looks on me contrasting with my hair. White, ivory, champagne or even a light heather gray are my top go-to top colors. ‘Top go-to top colors’ – did you get that? Those basic colors go with just about anything. If my bottoms are form-fitting {think skinny jeans or leggings} I’ll wear a loose, flowing blouse for contrast. If my bottoms are classic in shape {think bootleg} I’ll wear a fitted top or a sleeveless shirt that shows off my arms.
3 – Like earrings, necklaces have a way of bringing some life to my face. I need life in my face. I love any and all necklaces but I’ve found that daintier ones fit my petite build better than bib-like ones.
4 – Jeans. My number one fashion staple. The better the fit, the more I like them. I’m not a spontaneous clothing shopper but I’ve been known to snag a pair of jeans on a whim when the fit is just right. Which doesn’t happen often. I’ve learned to look for jeans with some stretch to them.
5 – I use my shoes to express my mood. If I’m feeling especially happy or energetic, I’ll bust out some girly flats. If I’m tired or having an ‘off’ day, I’ll resort to casual tennies. Most days, I prefer my leather boots. Thank goodness it’s fall!
6 – I always try to include one pop of color. It can be a bag, earrings, a necklace or bracelet. Sometimes it’s my top. I’ve been told I look good in yellow, coral and red-orange so I mostly use those colors to shake things up. I would love to upgrade my five-year-old blah brown wallet to a fun and poppy wristlet! A bright color would be easy to find in the diaper bag when I’m quickly running inside somewhere for just a few minutes and don’t need to bring all the baby paraphernalia.
Enough talk about me. Let’s talk about YOU. Specifically, free stuff YOU could win! See giveaway details below.
PRIZE: $50 credit to Stella & Dot PLUS a foundation bracelet of your choice
RULES: You must be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. shipping address {no P.O. boxes please} to enter. FYI – Those are the terms of the giveaway but Stella & Dot is available in Canada, the U.K. and Germany. One entry per email address.
TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post proclaiming “FASHION FOR ME!”
DEADLINE: Enter before Thursday, October 11th at 9:00 p.m. EST. One random winner will be announced Friday, October 12th.
WHILE YOU’RE AT IT: Since we’re talking fashion… what’s your favorite item to wear right now? Is it a newly acquired engagement ring or wedding band? A warm scarf? A happy smile? I already alluded to mine – my leather boots. I love them with leggings or skinny jeans.
BUT, WAIT!, THERE’S MORE: Shop House*Tweaking’s trunk show online this week for a chance to win the hostess rewards! That’s right, as an extra ‘thank you’ I’m handing over the hostess rewards to one lucky shopper.
For styling advice, check out Marianne’s facebook page.
*To show you guys how much I appreciate your support over on Apartment Therapy’s Room for Color contest, I’ll be back later today with another unique giveaway! THANK YOU and stay tuned.*
images: polyvore collage by Dana Miller, linked within
fashion, giveaway, inspiration, mood board