Dec 17, 2012
I’m sort of wishing I hadn’t Googled this, but I did. Hey, I’m a curious person.
It all started last week when I saw the word “meggings” trending on Yahoo. Hmm, meggings? That sounds interesting. What could that be?
Then the thought crossed my mind that this *could* mean leggings for men. But I pushed that image out of my head as soon as it popped up. I mean, men in leggings, really?
One click later, that thought became a reality as I read the following headline, accompanied by this image:
MEGGINGS, the New Metro-Sexual Must Have
There are SO many more things that I could say right now. But I don’t really need to. I’m just going to let you marinate on that.
Moving on…
My Week in Leggings and Jeggings
So, I successfully spent five whole days in leggings and jeggings last week. It was the perfect week to do it, after all. First off, winter temps FINALLY came to Texas. Yee haw! Time to bust out the big comfy sweaters. Secondly, my hubby was away on a business trip all week. Leggings seemed totally appropriate to wear while donning the super mom cape. Superman does it, right?
Day One
You don’t know how happy I was to wake up to a tiny skift of snow on Monday morning. The temps were in the teens overnight and I didn’t leave the house all day. Pretty much the perfect day for a fur scarf and chunky knit. These leggings are made of cozy fleece and feel incredible.
[Sweater: Target (similar)/Fur Collar: Target/Tank: Forever 21/Fleece Leggings: Ross (similar)/Wool Boot Socks: Marshall’s (similar)/Boots: UGG (similar)]
Day Two
This pic was in Friday’s post too, showing off my new favorite scarf. And anytime I can feature Bailey again, I will! Love her.
[ Sweater: Old Navy (Similar)/Shirt: Target (Similar)/Scarf: Rue 21 (Similar)/Leggings: Marshall’s (Similar)/Boot socks: Target/Boots: Lucky Brand (Similar)]
Day Three
It started to get warmer out so I ditched the heavier sweaters for my chambray shirt and an open cardi. My girls and I did all of our Christmas baking that evening. Fun and yum!
[Chambray Shirt: H&M (similar)/Open Cardi: Forever 21 (similar)/Fleece Leggings: Ross (similar)/Scarf: Old Navy (similar)/Tank: Forever 21 /Boot Socks: Target/Boots: Loft (similar)]
Day Four
Warmer still, ugh. This wrap was the perfect weight for a day in the low 60’s. I wore this to the annual Night of Giving at my daughter’s school.
[Shirt: Forever 21/Tank: Forever 21/Wrap: Gift from Taiwan (similar)/Jeggings: No nonsense/Boot socks: Target/Boots: Lucky Brand (Similar)/Earrings: Target/Bangle: Forever 21]
Day Five
Hubby came home, yeah! Perfect comfy outfit for a day of Christmas shopping and lunch with him.
[Cashmere sweater: Gift (similar)/Plaid Button Down: Forever 21 (similar)/Necklace: Rue 21 (similar)/Jeggings: Forever 21/Boot socks: Target/Boots: Loft (similar)]
Get your winter wardrobe shopping list plust 21 days of outfits including holiday party looks. The Winter Style Me Pretty Challenge will feature lots of ways to wear leggings. Get more info HERE.
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Dec 14, 2012
Hello, pretties and TGIF! Welcome to week three of Build Your Outfit Basics. If you’re new here, let me catch you up. BYOB is a six week series built around my Five Wardrobe Basics for Real Moms. Each week I feature one of these outfit builders along with some affordable options to help you build or add onto your own wardrobe.
In week one, I featured dark wash skinny jeans. Week two was all about fabulous, cute and comfy flats and week three features one of my favorites, scarves.
All week long I racked my brain trying to come up with a clever post title using the word scarf. I tried to make it rhyme but the only word I could think of was barf. Nope that’s not going to work.
Then Scarf Nirvana hit me after an experience I had this week where I literally found just that. It all started a few days back when my 8 year-old daughter begged me to take her to Rue 21 to look for mustache themed items (she’s totally obsessed). I’d never set foot into Rue 21 before but knew it was popular among the whippersnappers (you know, people half my age and younger).
As soon as I walked in the door, I spotted the most incredible selection of scarves I’ve ever laid eyes upon.
SCARF NIRVANA!
There were racks and racks just like this. And the best part? All of them were $8.99 and under!
I started digging through them like a crazy lady. Seriously, the teenagers shopping next to me were frightened. Then I spotted THE ONE that had to come home with me.
I’ve already worn it twice this week.
Styled in Wednesday’s post here:
And again here:
Yep, Bailey photo bombed me again. Couldn’t you just kiss that face?
I don’t need to tell you how incredible scarves are for your wardrobe. They take any outfit and make it better. And they’re a really inexpensive way to add A WHOLE LOTTA style. As my friend Sheaffer says, scarves can “zhuzh” up any outfit. (She claims it’s a word. I believe her).
There are a lot of really great options out there that won’t break the bank. Here are some that I’d love to add to my collection!
[Steve Madden Infinity Ombre Scarf: $28]
[Scarlet Fever Cheetah Scarf: $18]
[The Lovely Heart Scarf: $20]
MORE OF MY FAVES
It’s Your Turn: Which scarf is your favorite? How would you pair it up? Tell me in the comments!
Have you taken the Payday Pretty Challenge yet?
It’s easy! All you have to do is take $20, $50 or $100 out of the weekly budget and do something pretty for yourself. Then show me what you got! Here are the ways you can enter:
1. If you’re a blogger, write about Payday Pretty in a post and link back to me.
2. Post a photo to the GYPO Facebook page showing me what you got.
3. Tweet about the Payday Pretty Challenge Giveaway.
4. Leave me a blog post comment telling me what you got.
Happy shopping and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Week Two’s Payday Pretty Challenge winner is Kristie R.!
Congratulations Kristie! Your $20 Target gift card is on it’s way. I hope you do something pretty for yourself with it!
Have a great weekend.
Stay pretty, my friends!
Alison
Getting my pretty on with Find and Follow Friday and Brassy Apple.
Dec 13, 2012
It’s time for Ask Alison, my feature where I answer reader submitted questions about style challenges. Here’s today’s dilemma:
Hi Alison. I have a Payday Pretty purchase – a pink and beige striped cardigan from H&M. I can’t figure out a good way to pair it up with anything. I’ve tried a white oxford and a chambray shirt, but it just doesn’t look pulled together. Can you help? – Judy
First off, yay for your Payday Pretty! I get super excited every time someone tells me they’re participating. Like, pee my pants excited!
Of course, I’d love to help out. Since I couldn’t find your exact cardigan online, I took the photo you sent me and styled a similar one. These two different looks for work and play both incorporate one of my favorite trends – mixing stripes with polka dots.
Work – Layer the cardigan over a mini polka dot printed sheer blouse. Pair it up with dress pants and suede pumps. Add some layered necklaces, an armful of bangles and a dangly pair of chandelier earrings to complete out this office ready look.
Play – Start with a lightweight long and lean t-shirt for your base. Pair it up with some light pink skinny jeans and tie on a ruffled polka dot scarf. Finish off this look with suede booties and a simple beaded bracelet and earrings.
SHOP SIMILAR LOOKS
It’s Your Turn: Do you have a style challenge you need help with? Submit it HERE and you could see it answered on the blog!
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Dec 12, 2012
When No nonsense contacted me to create some looks using their tights and leggings, you didn’t have to ask me twice! Colored tights are something I was already wanting to add to my fall/winter wardrobe. They are an inexpensive way to bring new life to sweater dresses and add a pop of color to basic black skirts and dresses. I was on the verge of buying a bright yellow pair but held out for my products to arrive…and it paid off.
The first thing out of the box was a bright yellow pair of tights. YES!
In that box was also the comfiest pair of skinny jeans leggings. If you know me, you KNOW how much I love dark wash skinny jeans and you also know how much I love leggings. So imagine how over the moon I was with something that combines BOTH!
Umm, can I live in these things?
When I pulled the No nonsense tights and leggings out of the packaging, the first thing I noticed is how incredibly well made their tights are. They’re a medium weight and offer just the right amount of support. There’s nothing I hate worse than tights that are too loose or don’t make me feel “held in”. These did the job perfectly and felt as high quality as some much more expensive tights I’ve bought from specialty stores.
Here’s how I paired up the yellow tights with my Payday Pretty sweater dress.
[Sweater dress: Ross (Same)/Scarf: Gift (Similar)/Tights: No nonsense/Boots: Loft (Similar)/Necklace/Bangles: Forever 21/Earrings: Rue 21/Watch: New York & Co. (Similar)]
When I slipped into the skinny jeans leggings, I knew I was in trouble. They are so incredibly comfortable and forgiving. So basically, I can eat my way through the holidays wearing these suckers every day and indulging in every sweet I want. Woo hoo!
I paired them up with my other Payday Pretty find – this gray cableknit long cardigan. 
[Sweater: Ross (Similar)/Shirt: Target (Similar)/Scarf: Rue 21 (Similar)/Leggings: No nonsense/Boot socks: Target/Boots: Lucky Brand (Similar)/Earrings: Target]
Thank you, No nonsense for these easy, inexpensive ways to add some new life to my wardrobe!
Check out other ways to style No nonsense tights and leggings here:
It’s Your Turn: How are you incorporating tights and leggings into your winter wardrobe? Tell me in the comments.
Find your pair of affordable No nonsense tights and leggings here. I was sponsored by No nonsense for this opportunity. All opinions are my own.
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Linking up with Marion Berry Style.
Dec 10, 2012
Sometimes my friends give me the BEST blogging inspiration. For instance, last month one of them inspired the first Ask Alison when she asked me to style something in her closet. Well they’ve done it again! Over the weekend, my friend Brandi e-mailed me with a fantastic idea. She asked to see an affordable version of Oprah’s Favorite Things. Well, Brandi, maybe you should start a blog because your idea is pure brilliance. I am all over it!
So I have to confess that I hadn’t actually checked out O’s faves until I started to research this post. Her picks are usually way out of my price range, so it just wasn’t worth the effort. When I saw them my first thought was “if I was Oprah, those might be my favorite things too”. But I’m not. I’m Alison, a normal mom of three, not a media mogul, living on a normal budget and getting ready to send a kid to college in less than two years. My favorite things are generally less than $10 – like hazelnut coffee, good cheese and dark chocolate. Hmm, they’re all edible too.
So here it is, pretties – an affordable version of Oprah’s Favorite Things for the rest of us. The following are selected items from her list of 68. Sorry, I couldn’t do them all. My family actually wanted to see me this weekend.
[Oprah’s Pick – Ralph Lauren Cableknit V-neck: $198/Alison’s Pick – Halogen Cashmere V-neck: $79]
Upgrade to cashmere and save $119 to boot? Well, that’s a no brainer!
These cashmere v-necks from Nordstrom come in a rainbow of colors and at $79 each, you can get two for less than the price of one of Oprah’s Ralph Lauren pick.
[Oprah’s Pick – Coach Puffer Jacket: $458/Alison’s Pick – Victoria’s Secret Color Block Reversible Puffer: $99]
Reversible and a quarter of the cost? I’ll take that!
This color block reversible puffer from Victoria’s Secret has a cinched waist for a more body-concious fit and it reverses to black for a completely different look. Two looks for the price of one!
[Oprah’s Pick – Tory Burch Tote: $395/Alison’s Pick – Jessica Simpson Jet Setter Tote: $98]
Try a trend for $300 less? I’m in!
I don’t know about you but a pink sparkly bag is not something I’d carry long term – even if it is Tory Burch! But I’d definitely try the trend for less with this cute glitter tote from Jessica Simpson.
[Oprah’s Pick – Tom Ford Beauty Lipstick: $192/Alison’s Pick – Burberry Lipstick Set: $72]
Luxe lipstick at half off? I’ll pucker up for that!
I love luxe beauty products as much as the next woman. But at almost $50 a tube this Tom Ford set is out of my comfort zone. Thank you Burberry for allowing me to indulge in luxe lipstick for about half the price.
[Oprah’s Pick – Movado White Watch: $495/Alison’s Pick – La Mer Studded Wrap Watch: $97]
Boring for almost $500 or cool with a $400 savings? Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
This La Mer wrap studded watch is so cool that it just got put on my Christmas list. It puts a lot more interest on your wrist than the basic white version. Why spend almost $500 on boring?
It’s Your Turn: Which one would you pick – Oprah’s Favorite Things or Alison’s Affordable Things? Tell me about your favorites in the comments!
[Oprah’s Favorite Things Photos VIA]
OH, and before I forget…
Remember how I told you that today I’d show you how I styled my $20 LBD for my hubby’s holiday office party?
Yeah, well I’ve got a little story about that.
For the past five years or so, the party’s been at this swank little uptown Dallas eatery. The kind of place where local celebrities and professional athletes hang out. The kind of place where I feel totally out of place in a $20 LBD.
Well this year, that changed. I found out the day of the party that it was being held at the kind of place where this hangs.
Yep, those are antlers.
Now, that’s my kind of place!
BUT I had a wardrobe emergency.
So naturally, I shopped my attic. ATTIC?!? Yep, that’s right.
I found a sweater up there that I love but haven’t worn in years. It went perfectly with my new statement necklace. My 8 year-old helped style the look, she picked out the leopard heels. Then we added skinny jeans and a tank and VOILA!
Instant casual holiday party outfit!
(Excuse the boxes in the background. We are STILL decorating…three weeks later.)
Total outfit cost = $0.
I’ve owned all of these pieces for years. I mean I paid for them at one time, I’m not a thief or anything. Just no new cost incurred!
I kept the $20 LBD. It was only $20 after all and maybe I’ll use it next year.
But I’m sort of hoping they stick with the antler place. It was way more fun!
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Getting my pretty on with Monday Mingle, Visible Monday, YOLO Mondays, Life Lately, Weekend Update, Monday Meetup, The Pleated Poppy, Random Wednesday, What I Wore Wednesday
