Mar 7, 2014
This is hands-down one of my favorite weeks so far in this series. I’ve had a long standing love affair with trench coats dating back to the first one I owned in college. And I’ve fallen even more in love with them every year, so much so that I just added three more to my collection for spring.
You might recall that last week, I narrowed down my three favorites and then asked all of you to help me pick one on Facebook. Even though there was a clear winner (which I will reveal later), somehow I ended up buying all of them and haven’t regretted it for a second.
If you don’t yet share my affinity for trench coats, maybe this will change your mind.
Three Reasons Why You NEED a Trench Coat
- They will never, ever go out of style. A good trench coat lasts forever.
- They’re incredibly versatile and can be worn with skinny jeans and flats, dresses and heels or anything in between.
- They pull together any look and add a touch of chic like nothing else can.
Convinced? Good, because I have a lot of shopping options and inspiration for you today. Even though trench coats are absolutely worth the splurge, this is a budget friendly blog so I tried to keep all of them under $150. Fortunately, there are some great sales going on right now and bargains to be had!
Classic Khaki Trench Coats
[1/2/3]
The quintessential favorite – khaki trench coats are the gold standard. This is the place to start if you’re a trench coat virgin. A classic khaki trench goes with everything in your closet and works for most seasons.
This one wins my all around favorite in this category. The length, style and color are timeless and the details are beautiful (click on the image to see them). The best part? It’s on sale for 33% off which makes it a great deal for this quality!
[Ralph Lauren Double Breasted Trench Coat]
Here are some other great options in the classic khaki category.
[Calvin Klein Double Breasted Trench Coat]
[Gap Classic Trench]
Colorblock
I’m sort of loving this trend, it combines the best of both trench coat worlds – khaki and black. Here’s the first of the three new trench coats I bought for spring.
Of the three coats I picked, this is the one I thought I would be sending back. Instead I was BLOWN AWAY by the quality. The first day I wore it, I got three compliments from total strangers. It’s lined in light fleece so it’s the perfect trench for cooler days and will be great for fall as well as spring. The bad news? It’s out of stock as of yesterday, but I’m hoping it comes back!
[‘Dorian’ Colorblock Trench Coat]
Here are some other options that are in stock.
[Vince Camuto Colorblock Belted Trench]
[Guess Double Breasted Color Block Trench Coat]
[Loft Colorblock Trench Coat]
[Sam Edelman ‘Gigi II’ Zip Back Trench]
Bright and Patterned Trench Coats
[1/2/3]
The Brights
Brights and patterns have been all the rage in trench coat trends for the past few years. I bought my coral trench coat five years ago and it’s been one of my favorites ever since. It is definitely a staple of my spring style year after year. You’d be amazed at how versatile this color is, it goes with practically anything!
My coat is no longer available but here are some similar options.
This one is a great deal at 40% off!
[Michael Kors Asymmetric Trench]
Another great deal! I love the contrasting trim and relaxed look of this coat.
[Sam Edelman ‘Lydia’ Contrast Trim Trench]
This utility trench combines the best of two trends – it’s 40% off too.
[Ellen Tracy Utility Trench]
Here are some other fun brights for spring.
[Metropolitan Miss Trench in Cobalt]
This sunny yellow trench is 40% off.
[DKNY ‘Abby’ Hooded Trench]
Try out the color of the year with this radiant orchid trench with a detachable liner. It also comes in petite sizes and is a steal at 40% off.
[London Fog Heritage Trench]
The Patterns
The second new trench coat I added to my spring collection is this fun yellow and white printed topper from Target. I threw it on over my gray, yellow and black outfit yesterday and it was just perfect!
[Merona Printed Yellow Trench]
In my Facebook poll, this striped coat came out on top. You loved the stripes (and price) and so do I!
[Merona Navy Striped Trench]
Here are some other cute patterned trench coats.
[Loft Candy Dot Trench]
[Gap Blue Striped Trench]
[Dot Print Asymmetric Trench]
So, what do you think? Will you be adding a new trench coat to your spring wardrobe? Tell me in the comments!
If you’ve missed out on any part of the Casual Chic Outfit Basics series, you can see all of the pieces featured so far HERE.
Getting my pretty on with Fashion Friday.
Mar 5, 2014
Aubrey and I are back with the Mother + Daughter Style Series for March. This month we’re thinking spring (even if it doesn’t feel like it) and styling a transitional piece that will carry us between the two seasons. Pieces like this are a necessity when you’ve had temperature fluctuations like we’ve had lately. The temperature dropped more than 70 degrees in a four day time span last weekend – from 84 to 12! Crazy Texas weather…
For this month’s style challenge, we styled the Maddie top in orange from Kiki La’Rue. This is THE perfect transitional wardrobe item. It’s a super soft, drapey top that’s flattering for every figure and comes in a variety of colors. It also elegantly spans the generation gap between mother and daughter.
On Friday, be sure to check out Susan’s post at Charming Lucy to see how she and her daughter styled this same great top in the stone color.
SPRING TRANSITIONAL STYLE | MADDIE TOP TWO WAYS
I chose the spring styling of the top by pairing it up with boyfriend jeans, The Conversation Piece necklace from Kiki La’Rue and nude patent cork wedges. This is an actual outfit that I wore to church when the weather was spring-like last weekend.
[Top: c/o Kiki LaRue/Necklace: c/o Kiki LaRue/Jeans: Gap/Shoes: Tahari (Similar)]
[The Conversation Piece Necklace]
[Watch: Michael Kors/Bracelets: c/o Alex and Ani]
[Shoes: Tahari (Similar/Similar)]
Aubrey went with more of a winter look by pairing it up with dark wash skinny jeans, a floral scarf and her combat boots.
[Top: c/o Kiki La’Rue/Jeans: Hollister/Scarf: Similar/Boots: Steve Madden]
I FEEL PRETTY
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell us what made you feel pretty this week in the comments!
There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (Bloglovin‘, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest)
2. Link up your pretty post.
3. Link back to my blog (using the button above or your own link).
4. Visit other pretty peeps.
Getting my pretty on with Fashion Friday, The Pleated Poppy and Style Files.
Mar 3, 2014
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. It was warm here up until yesterday, now it’s freezing cold again. I’m so ready for spring to come and STAY!
If you missed it last Friday, you must must must check out my Ultimate White Jeans Guide. I put a lot of sweat and tears into it – it’s not easy cramming this booty into that many pairs of jeans! Stop by and check it out HERE.
Here are last week’s Daily Style Diary outfits that were posted on Instagram.
Monday
I got ready for my (canceled) doctor appointment in this easy outfit.
[Tunic: Merona/Scarf: c/o Bindya/Jeans: Paige/Boots: Frye/Watch: Michael Kors]
A lot of you asked about the scarf I’m wearing. It’s beautiful but really pricey. Here’s a cute chevron mix scarf that would look great with the green tunic at a much better price.
[Chevron Mix Scarf]
Tuesday
After a nice warm weekend, it got cold again. Glad I didn’t pack away my sweaters yet!
[Sweater: Mossimo/Jeans: Wit & Wisdom/Boots: Franco Sarto/Scarf: Banana Republic]
This cobalt blue sweater was one of my favorites from Target this winter. They no longer have it in cobalt but do have it in three neutral colors perfect for spring. It’s lightweight enough to wear for awhile.
[Mossimo Lightweight Sweater]
Wednesday
Stripes and leopard, one of my favorite combos.
[Cardigan: Mossimo/Jeans: J Brand/Boots: Similar/Striped Tee: Old/Scarf: Similar]
Thursday
I got my floral scarves from Nordstrom this day and couldn’t wait to wear one to my rescheduled dr. appointment.
[Cardigan: Mossimo/Jeans: Wit & Wisdom/Scarf: Lulu/T-shirt: Forever 21]
The green cardigan is back in stock at Target! It’s the perfect companion for the floral scarf.
[Mossimo Striped Cardigan]
Friday
Craig finally came home on Friday. Yay! It felt like spring so I dressed accordingly.
[Sweater: Mossimo/Scarf: BP by Nordstrom/T-shirt: BP/Jeans: Similar]
I got my peach colored jeans at Target last spring. They don’t have them this year but Gap has a similar pair in this pretty apricot.
[1969 Legging Jeans]
You NEED these scarves for spring! I couldn’t be happier with them, they’re so much prettier in person than the pictures online. The size is perfect and the colors are vibrant. You can be sure I’ll be wearing them over and over this spring.
[Black Floral Scarf]
[Green Floral Scarf]
LIFE LATELY
Snippets from our day to day.
- To be honest, I’d love to own a small farm and raise golden retrievers. Problem is I would keep all of the puppies! I’m kind of obsessed with them. Until then, I’ll just have to play with the puppies at the pet store.
- Sometimes it’s ok to eat dessert first. The girls and I went to dinner Thursday night at Central Market and did just that with this yummy turtle cheesecake.
- Craig finally came home on Friday! He surprised the girls and me by taking us for mani/pedi’s. We were SO happy to see him!
- Saturday was preview day at one of colleges Devon is considering. Two visits down. Hopefully he’ll be making his decision soon. Fingers crossed!
Last week, a few of you asked about the book that I was reading, Dr. Ned Hallowell’s “Crazy Busy – Overstretched, Overbooked and About to Snap!” I decided to pick it up after seeing him talk about it in this interview. While it was a bit of a slow read, I did get some really good info from it, especially in Chapter 28 – Ten Key Principles to Managing Modern Life. This chapter and chapter 32 made the whole book worthwhile.
My biggest takeaways were:
- Figure out what matters most to you, then do what matters most to you. Don’t get sidetracked.
- Cultivate your lilies (projects, people and activities that make you feel fulfilled ) and get rid of your leeches (projects, people and activities that deplete you).
- Don’t live a life of trying to please everyone else first and you last.
- Don’t allow yourself to take on more projects than you can handle, learn to say “no, not now”.
- Don’t waste time “screen sucking” (wasting time engaging with any screen – iPhone, laptop, TV, etc.)
I’m working to structure my time and my days to focus on what matters most, spending less time “screen sucking” and more time being present for my family. I’m cutting out some stuff that’s not my key focus in blogging too. One of those changes is I’ve decided to step down as a co-host of the Beauty Buzz link up. Don’t worry, I’ll still be doing beauty posts from time to time, they just won’t be a regular Tuesday feature.
Overall, I’d recommend this book, even if it is a slow read. Part of me thinks the author purposely makes the reader slow down to address and highlight the problem of our fast-paced lives. There are some gems in there, if you have the patience to find them. 🙂
I was not compensated in any way for this book review. I bought the book myself and all opinions are my own.
It’s Your Turn: Do you have any tips or strategies that work well for being more intentional with your time? If so, share them in the comments!
Getting my pretty on with Fashion Friday.
Feb 28, 2014
Without a doubt, the best ideas always come from readers. I mean, you guys are brilliant! When I get several requests for the same post idea, I know it’s going to be a winner.
A few weeks ago, that happened. In the same day, I got a lot of requests for a post dedicated to white jeans. You asked me to find the best brands and how to pair them up – and you want a pair with good “coverage” on your derriere without any show-through. Yes! That’s very important to me too. 🙂
Let’s kick things off with this great question from a sweet reader, Ashley:
I’m wondering when is the appropriate time to start wearing white jeans. Maybe you could weigh in on that in your white jeans post?
Well my answer might surprise you – and I’m sure to get a little flack and push back on this – but the right time for white jeans is ALL the time. The old style rules no longer apply, white jeans look fresh any time of the year. But if you don’t believe me, then check out this case I’ve built for wearing white jeans year-round.
White Jeans for All Seasons
Winter
[1/2/3]
Spring
[1/2/3]
Summer
[1/2]
Fall
[1/2]
Here are some ways I’ve paired mine up throughout the past year.
OK, so now that you’re (hopefully) convinced that there’s not a wrong time to wear them, let’s get to some shopping options. I spent two days this past week trying on every pair of white jeans I could find in Dallas to find the perfect pair and I’m pretty sure I succeeded. Most of my reviews are for skinny jeans because that’s all I could find in white. The stores didn’t seem to be fully stocked up for spring and summer yet. But I did get a pretty good sampling to share with all of you, so let’s get down to business.
The White Jeans Face Off
Each pair of jeans I tried on was evaluated on three criteria Fit, Coverage and Price.
Fit – True to size or not. I wear a 27 in almost every brand of jeans and expect to be able to walk into a store or order them online and have my regular size fit. In some brands though, I had to go up or down a size for a good fit.
Coverage – a.k.a Thickness of the denim. Many of you expressed frustration over white jeans not providing enough coverage, especially on the backside.
Price – Low End are up to $50, Mid-Range are $50-$100 and High End are $100+
Overall Score – On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, this is my overall rating for each pair.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that these are only my opinions. What works for me (or doesn’t) may be totally different for you. Every woman has a different body and we all have our own criteria for what makes a great pair of jeans.
Banana Republic
[Banana Republic: White Skinny Jean]
This pair of jeans didn’t start the day off very well. The fit could only be described as weird. They were too tight through the hips but too big at the waist. The material was very thin (lots of pocket show through in the front) and they were WAY overpriced for the quality. Apparently I’m not the only one who doesn’t dig them – the ratings weren’t that great online either.
Fit: Too small in the hips, too large in the waist.
Coverage: Too Thin
Price: Mid-Range
Overall Score: 5
They left me feeling like this.
And singing this. 🙂
I’ll bet you’ll have that song in your head the rest of the day.
Old Navy
[Old Navy: The Diva]
Store two, strike two. Again, way too thin (check out those pockets in the front). I know that Banana Republic and Old Navy are owned by the same company so maybe they use the same denim. I’m not a fan of distressing either and all of their white jeans in store were distressed. Also, I’ve never been able to find the right fit in Old Navy’s jeans. If I buy my regular size, they are too tight but if I go up a size they are too big. I should’ve tried some of their other fits like the Sweetheart or the Flirt but they were all made of the same denim which was already a deal breaker.
Fit: Too small, sizing up didn’t help. Next size up was too large.
Coverage: Too Thin
Price: Low End
Overall Score: 3
Target
[Mossimo: High Waist Skinny Jeans]
These jeans got nicknamed the “Moon Jeans” because of their lack of coverage and subsequent display of every “crater” on my backside! Needless to say, this was the worst of the bunch which was really disappointing. My favorite pair of white ankle jeans are from Target. I bought them last year, unfortunately they changed them up.
Fit: True to size.
Coverage: Worst of the worst.
Price: Low End
Overall Score: 1
Loft
[Loft: Curvy Skinny]
[Loft: Ankle Skinny]
[Loft: Modern Skinny]
[Loft: Modern Straight]
Loft turned the day around for me. Hallelujah! I tried on several pairs and loved them all, including my favorite above – the Modern Straight. I wasn’t even going to try the straight on but the associate insisted. I’m so glad she did!
Fit: Runs large, I went down a size in all of them. They fit perfectly in the next size down.
Coverage: Great, good thickness.
Price: Mid-Range
Overall Score: 8
Nordstrom
It’s true…you get what you pay for and with white jeans this was definitely the case. Every single pair of jeans at Nordstrom had incredible coverage and the fit was almost spot on every time.
J. Brand
[J. Brand ‘Rail’ Skinny Jeans]
I liked that these have a higher waist. It’s nice to bend down in a pair of jeans and not worry about exposure on the backside. The denim had great coverage but it was nice and soft too.
Fit: True to size.
Coverage: Perfect thickness.
Price: High End
Overall Score: 8
Paige Denim
[Paige ‘Skyline’ Skinny Jeans]
I’m a huge fan of Paige jeans. They just fit me so well, so I knew I would love these. My only disappointment is that they seem to run a little smaller in white than they do in my regular dark wash Skyline skinny jeans.
Fit: A little on the small side, I should’ve gone up a size.
Coverage: Perfect thickness. Good quality denim.
Price: High End
Overall Score: 9
Hudson
[Hudson Jeans ‘Collette’ Skinny Jeans]
These jeans fit more like a jegging. They were super soft and comfortable and the coverage was great, especially for a jegging, but I wanted something that felt more like denim.
Fit: True to Size.
Coverage: Good, especially for a jegging.
Price: High End
Overall Score: 7
Kut from the Kloth
[Kut from the Kloth ‘Mia’]
Kut from the Kloth got two entries in the white jeans face off. Their jeans just fit my body type really well. I have a pair of the Mia jeans in mint and love them but the white seemed to run a little tighter.
Fit: A little small. I went up a size but they were still really tight on my calves. My sisters and I joke that we don’t have calves, we have cows!
Coverage: Great! One of the thickest brands I tried.
Price: Mid-Range
Overall Score: 8
[Kut from the Kloth ‘Brigitte’]
I liked the Brigitte better than the Mia. The fit was a little nicer, they didn’t squeeze my calves to death. Although I’m not a fan of the distressing. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not my thing.
Fit: A little small. I went up a size.
Coverage: Great! One of the thickest brands I tried.
Price: Mid-Range
Overall Score: 8
Citizens of Humanity
[Citizens of Humanity Skinny Ankle Jeans]
Have you ever slipped on a pair of jeans and just knew they were “The One”? I fell hard in love. Darn me and my expensive tastes! This picture does NOT do them justice but this pair of jeans surpassed my expectations in every possible way. They sit just right on my hips and the ankle length is perfect for flip flops, sandals and wedges. They held me in in all the right places too, especially on the backside. 🙂
Fit: True to size.
Coverage: Perfect thickness.
Price: High End
Overall Score: 10
The Winners:
Low End (Under $50) – None
The biggest disappointment was not being able to find a decent quality pair at the low end. Last year I had luck at Target but no dice this time around. There should be more options as we get closer to warmer weather. If any of you have found a great pair in this category, please tell us about them in the comments! The good thing is, even if you do have to spend a little more, once you have a perfect pair of white jeans, you won’t need another pair for awhile. They are worth it on a cost per wear basis.
Mid-Range ($50-$100)
Loft – The Modern Straight
[Loft: Modern Straight]
This was a total surprise. I normally wear only skinny jeans or boyfriend jeans and haven’t owned a pair of straight jeans in years. These straight jeans combined the best of both worlds. They are ever so slightly slouchy, yet tapered enough. They are super cute cuffed with flats or wedges or uncuffed with heels. I will be adding these to my collection.
Kut from the Kloth ‘Brigitte’
[Kut from the Kloth ‘Brigitte’]
Surprised myself here too, I’m not a big fan of the distressing but otherwise these are just a really great pair of white jeans. They had some of the thickest denim of any that I tried.
High End ($100+)
Paige ‘Skyline’ Skinny Jeans
[Paige ‘Skyline’ Skinny Jeans]
No surprises here, I’ve always been a fan of Paige denim. This is just an all-around great pair of jeans although I would want to get them altered, they’re a little on the long side (I’m 5’5″ for reference). At least Nordstrom does free alterations!
And the Perfect White Jeans goes to…
Citizens of Humanity Skinny Ankle Jeans
[Citizens of Humanity Skinny Ankle Jeans]
This was the all-around winner and the only pair that earned a perfect 10. Yes, the price is high but I’m going to suck it up and get them because I’ll wear them year-round for a long time. I love the length too. Totally worth the splurge!
The Perfect Spring Scarf
I also brought these two pretties home from my trip to Nordstrom. They will be perfect with white jeans for spring.
[Black Floral Scarf/Green Floral Scarf]
Now that we have the perfect jeans, let’s talk about what we need to go with them.
Neutral Wedges
I have a feeling this is going to be my official wedge of spring/summer. These A2 by Aerosoles espadrilles are new at Target! They loo so comfy and come in four different colors.
[A2 by Aerosoles Espadrille]
Colorful Cardigan
[Mossimo Boyfriend Cardigan]
Striped Tee
[Drapey Scoop Neck Tee]
Floral Scarf
[Floral Scarf]
Bright Tunic
[Merona Popover Tunic]
Leopard Sandals
[Sam Edelman Leopard Sandals]
Whew! Well, I hope that gives all of you a better idea of what’s out there and gives you some guidance for your own white jeans purchase. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday for another Daily Style Diary recap!
Getting pin-spired today with Sheaffer, Shay and Mel and getting my pretty on with What I Wore to Work, What I’m Loving Friday and Fashion Friday.
