Celebrating the Season with my Sister and Banana Republic

Celebrating the Season with my Sister and Banana Republic

Banana Republic recently reached out to me to do something really fun – plan a celebration with someone who embodies the spirit of the holidays year round. The first person I thought of is my sister Heather. She’s always ready to host a family gathering or get together at the drop of a hat. No matter how busy life gets, she makes it a priority to call, get together and stay connected (which is great because I’m kind of bad about that!)

Heather recently moved into a new house and asked for my help with choosing some new Christmas decorations for her home. Everyone in my family knows how crazy I am for Christmas so I’m the designated go-to when it comes to advice on all things decorating. We both styled our outfits from Banana Republic and met up at the shopping center near her home to browse decorations and get inspiration.

I wore this gorgeous Italian melton military coat with metallic pinstriped pants and silver patent brogue oxfords.

These shoes are definitely the star of the outfit. I get compliments on them every time I wear them! They add a little bit of shine to holiday outfits but are equally as great paired up casually with cuffed skinny jeans and a slouchy sweater.

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Even though it was just shopping and dinner we both took advantage of the opportunity to get gussied up. Heather wore this pleated metallic faux wrap dress from Banana Republic with these gorgeous sparkly heels that are perfectly party ready.

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No holiday gathering is complete without the perfect tablescape! We got plenty of inspiration for creating hers.

Our shopping trip was capped off with drinks and some tapas at Heather’s favorite Spanish restaurant. Cheers to the holiday season!

Big thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post and our day of shopping and togetherness!

The Perfect “Cold Weather” Outfit for Southerners

The Perfect “Cold Weather” Outfit for Southerners

Since moving to Texas from Pennsylvania several years ago, my wardrobe has done a complete flip from heavy knits and bulky coats to flip flops and tank tops. My frame of reference for “cold weather”  has also changed quite a bit. I used to handle cold temperatures pretty well but now anything below 50 degrees feels like winter. Ok, let’s be honest, more like anything below 60. We rarely get days here below freezing but even a day in the 40’s feels really, really cold. It’s amazing how quickly your body adjusts to a new climate.

Today’s outfit is for my southern sisters who struggle with how to bundle up on those rare occasions when our temps dip. It’s all about light layers that are still warm enough for chillier days.

The past few months I’ve been hearing from many GYPO readers that I need to check out Walmart’s clothing. Honestly I’ve been blown away by the cute pieces you all have been finding so I figured it was my turn to try it out. My entire head to toe look in today’s post was purchased at Walmart.com. Walmart offers free shipping for any order over $35 – no membership required. Almost all of my shopping lately has been online so free shipping is a must have.

I’ve only had this soft shell parka for a few weeks and have already worn it several times. It’s lightweight enough to layer over just about anything, yet it’s warm enough for our chillier days without having to resort to my heavy coat.

This reversible tote is SO pretty in person. It comes in five different colors and each one switches between a faux suede and faux leather look. It also comes with a handy coordinating zipper pouch. I love stashing my phone in a pouch so I can find it easily!

This parka gets extra style points for being a bit longer in the back and having a cute snap detail and fur trimmed hood! It also comes in burgundy and light gray. For sizing reference, I sized up to a medium to give me extra room for layering. It’s nice to have the option of wearing a heavier sweater with a lighter coat.

These Muk Luk boots are so comfy and WARM. They’re a super lightweight boot that packs a lot of warmth thanks to the fleece lining.

You’ve heard it before but I’m completely obsessed with all things fair isle! This sweater is a thinner knit and has a cute hood. It’s perfect for pairing with these soft jeggings.


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Big thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this post and making it easy to stay warm in style!

Cozy Christmas Pajamas + A New Favorite Bra

Cozy Christmas Pajamas + A New Favorite Bra

We have a tradition in our house that every member of the family gets a new pair of PJ’s to wear on Christmas morning. Sometimes we wait until Christmas Eve to open them but more often than not, we just can’t wait! I mean who doesn’t want cute things to lounge around in while watching Hallmark movies?

When it came time to pick out my set of PJ’s this year, I teamed up with Soma to find the perfect pair. You already know that I swear by Soma bras but their sleepwear is equally as impressive. They have a few different lines depending on your climate including their top selling sleepwear collection, Cool Nights, which keeps you cool while sleeping. They also have their Embraceable sleepwear collection that features a slightly heavier, medium weight knit fabric to keep you warm and feels oh-so-soft against your skin.

Bonus: They come in FUN holiday prints! If you have a woman on your Christmas list, I promise you can’t go wrong with a set of these pajamas.

The pair I picked from Soma’s Cool Nights collection is incredibly soft and lightweight. I also love that you can choose different sizes for your tops and bottoms. I wear a size larger in bottoms so pajama sets don’t usually work well for me. For my top, I picked this ‘Tis the Season to Sparkle sharkbite hem long sleeved tee.

The top would mix and match with several styles, colors and patterns of pajama pants but ultimately I picked these super soft banded pajama pants in a gray and ivory seasonal pattern.

No shopping trip to Soma is complete without picking up one of my favorite comfy bras! I added this Embraceable wireless bra in adobe rose to my collection. If you’re looking for the comfiest bra ever made, then look no further! It pairs beautifully with any of their multiple styles of adobe rose panties.

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Big thanks to Soma for sponsoring this post and making the holidays a little brighter and comfier!

Style Your Size: How to Wear a Cardigan with a Dress

Style Your Size: How to Wear a Cardigan with a Dress

By Jill Riley

Knowing what to wear under a long cardigan can be tricky. This Style Your Size post focuses on how to wear a cardigan with a dress, something we learned through the GYPO Fall 2018 Capsule Wardrobe.

Get Your Pretty On Style Challenges have many wonderful benefits. Shopping lists make shopping quick and easy. Daily Outfit Formulas take decision making out of an already busy morning routine and the occasional use of trendy pieces helps create a safe way to stretch your comfort zone just as far as you are willing to go.

All of those are incredible reasons to join, but I think my favorite thing about these Style Challenges is that I am learning. Learning about style, learning how to wear each piece and learning how to pair items together.

Beth, a GYPO Pretty, says it best, “I am definitely finding my own sense of style through these style challenges!”

We’ve invited Style Challenge Members to share their spin on the Day Seven Outfit. As usual, the results were awesome. Each woman has put her own spin on collecting the items that work best for her. You’ll notice that learning is a common theme.

Looking for ideas on how to wear a cardigan with a dress? This post shows how 11 real women put their own spin on one cardigan + dress outfit.

Printed DressNeutral CardiganRiding BootsGold Hoop EarringsPendant Necklace + Burgundy Purse

How to Wear a Cardigan with a Dress

Gabi wears a size 2. Gabi says, “Since I own two plaid dresses, I decided to forgo buying a floral print and used what I already had in my closet! When the formula calls for a patterned dress, don’t feel you have to shop for a new piece, Alison encourages shopping your closet!”

Ruth wears a size 2. She says, “I’m a little short for the midi style but loved the floral combination with boots! It’s been so fun to connect and get style ideas from such a great group of women!”

Ruth is referring to the Private Facebook Group that comes with all the GYPO Seasonal Style Challenges

Terri wears a size 8. Terri shares, “I’ve learned to love dresses as they can be worn year round. I have now worn this dress through 3 seasons by changing out shoes and adding or removing layers. Since this dress is a trendier piece, I didn’t spend a lot of money on it. Thanks to GYPO, I know I should splurge on more classic pieces and save on the trendier ones.”

Melissa wears a size 24.

Looking for ideas on how to wear a cardigan with a dress? This post shows how 11 real women put their own spin on one cardigan + dress outfit.

Gabriella / Ruth / Terri / Melissa

Heather wears a size 18. She says, “I loved that this allowed me to extend dresses into fall & winter while staying warm! I like how it (GYPO Style Challenge) shows me how to pair items I normally wouldn’t put together, makes me feel like I have a much larger wardrobe.”

Christina wears a size 12. Christina tells us how she made this dress with a cardigan work for her, “I shopped my closet and wore a dress I already had, instead of buying a new one. I also added tights because it was chilly that day.”

Mary Beth wears a size 14.

Looking for ideas on how to wear a cardigan with a dress? This post shows how 11 real women put their own spin on one cardigan + dress outfit.

Heather / Christina / Mary Beth

Danielle wears a size 2. She says, “I loved learning how to wear my riding boots with a printed dress rather then just wearing them with jeans.”

Beth wears a size 16. Beth says, “I often take a pass on dresses. For this challenge, I’m glad I was pushed out of my comfort zone and found a dress I love!”

Tiffany wears a size 18. Tiffany shares her experience finding that perfect dress, “I have difficulty finding dresses that flatter my shape…clingy doesn’t work, but loose and billowy also isn’t the best look for me. So I was very excited to find this dress that was the perfect balance of fitted enough to not add volume but loose enough to not cling in the wrong places!”

Nora wears a size 0. Nora shares, “I would never have thought to wear a cardigan and boots with this dress to make it work for fall. So glad for the inspiration!”

Looking for ideas on how to wear a cardigan with a dress? This post shows how 11 real women put their own spin on one cardigan + dress outfit.

Danielle / Beth / Tiffany / Nora

Have you tried a GYPO Style Challenge yet? Nora shares why she loves being a part of the Seasonal Challenges. “I am so appreciative of the ideas to rework my wardrobe. I usually don’t like repeating outfits, so challenges give me more options to use my pieces. I love the formulas so I can easily replace pieces for a whole new look.”

Looking for ideas on how to wear a cardigan with a dress? This post shows how 11 real women put their own spin on one cardigan + dress outfit.

Can you put together this outfit from what you have in your closet? We’d love to see how YOU style it… in your size! Tag us on Instagram @_getyourprettyon!

Author Bio: Jill Riley is in charge of sending big hugs through customer service emails. She spends most of her time with her husband, son, daughter, and pup. When her nose isn’t buried in a personal development book, you can find her playing games with her kids. Discovering audiobooks and true crime podcasts has helped make sure her pup gets plenty of walks. 

Bootcut Jeans That’ll Make You Want to Run Out and Buy Them

Bootcut Jeans That’ll Make You Want to Run Out and Buy Them

Most of the time I’m dragging you all kicking and screaming into trying a trend. This time it’s me that needs shoved out of the comfort zone.

Lately many of you have been extolling the virtues of boot cut jeans on me. To which I’ve responded, “been there, done that, got the t-shirt to pair with them back in the 90’s!”

Nope, not doing it. No way. Skinny jeans FOR LIFE!

But you’re persistent little buggers and kept telling me that I just need to try THIS pair of bootcut jeans. That they are the best thing since sliced bread, that they flatter all body types, that they’re soft as butter (yes, you told me all of those things). Bread and butter, yum, how could I resist?

So I did it. I ordered them and tried them and oh my gosh, you were right! Warm sliced bread with melted butter.

Let’s talk about this sweater for just a second. When I saw it online I wasn’t impressed but I tried it on in store and fell in love. It’s one of those pieces that’s so much prettier in person. It has just the right amount of slouchiness and the sleeves are perfection.

What good are bootcut jeans without the boots, right? This almond toed pair of ankle boots couldn’t possibly be more perfect for pairing with them. Nordstrom has been my go-to for cute ankle boots for fall and winter. They have many pairs under $100, you can check them out here.

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Big thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post and making it possible for me to love bootcut jeans again!