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5 Holiday Wishes for Any Fashionista

~ Lauren ~ 2 Comments

Christmas will be here soon, a gathering time for family and friends to celebrate your blessings and all the love in your life.

However, there is no shame in making a holiday wish list, especially if it is to just treat yourself. Let’s be totally honest, a little extra sparkle and shine in your wardrobe makes for a great new year.

Here are 5 of my Christmas wishes…

 

1) Sparkly clutch

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Kate Spade Dress the Part Glitter Mask Clutch

2) Sky-high statement heelScreen Shot 2016-12-12 at 4.58.00 PM.png

 

Fabuloso Rose Gold Pointed Pumps

3) Studs for the second (and third) ear piercings

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Swarovski Harley Pierced Earrings Set 

 

4) Bling for the fur babies

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Betsey Johnson xox Trolls Glitter Dog Collar

5) Something pretty to celebrate the “Best Day Ever”

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Kate Spade New York Mrs-Embroidered Charmeuse Bridal Robe and Contrast-Trimmed Chemise Sleep Separates

Merry Christmas and may all your holiday wishes come true!

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren

Treat Yourself- Winter Shopping Giveaway

~ Lauren ~ Leave a comment

giveaway

‘Tis the season to shop for everyone… Everyone, but yourself. Toys for the kiddos, goodies for your friends, and lots of food for those holiday parties. But, how are you treating yourself?

Who would have thought the next time you were shopping at Hy-Vee for all the holiday treats you could also pick up something special for yourself? If you haven’t heard of F&F {a British-inspired fashion label} by now, then you are truly missing out. The international company carries fabulous finds for great prices, and all within select Hy-Vee locations.

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I was able to snag a few of pieces from the newest F&F collection. The clothing is versatile and comfy, while being completely on trend. It goes to show that keeping warm doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style- the fur trim and turtleneck are a perfect example.
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And to balance the cozy tops, a pair of skinny jeans with gold zipper accents. It offers a glitzy surprise for a pair of denim jeans. Besides, finding a great pair of skinny jeans that fit can be extra difficult. The perks of these are the “4 Way Stretch with LYCRA Beauty” to help smooth and shape comfortably- a true winner in my book.

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So, next time the aisles of crackers, canned goods, and juices start to blur, drop everything and head to F&F. A little retail therapy is exactly what you need to survive the holiday craziness.

Are you ready for the best part? I get to host a $100 giveaway to help celebrate the opening of the Rochester location. Visit my Instagram account (@outfitaday365) to be entered to win- look for the post with the first outfit photo found above.

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren

 

Learn more about Hy-Vee:

You might be wondering…

~ Lauren ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a year. An entire year. My life had many highs and quite a few lows, but overall 2016 was great to me. If you have been following my Instagram account (@outfitaday365) you’ve seen some of my awesome outfits throughout the year.

So, to quickly fill everyone in on all amazing things that have been happening {and causing my extended absence from blogging}, I have compiled a list of outfits. Below are my “Top 15” favorites from 2016.

Top 15 2016 Outfits

15) No make-up. The outfit was comfortable and relaxed, perfect for a Sunday of errand running. However, it wasn’t the outfit that stole the show- it was the fact that I didn’t wear any make-up and embraced a fresh face. It feels great to just be “me” for a day.

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14) Pop of color. Accessories can certainly steal the show, and this outfit proves to be true. A vibrant coral clutch brings turns a dreary day into a bright one!

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13) Stay warm with layers. Bundling up without looking bulky can be a hassle in Minnesota. This outfit was the perfect balance of cozy and {many, many} layers.

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12) Denim on denim in the best way possible. Black denim jeans and a jean jacket mix so wonderfully together without having the “Canadian suit” vibe. Throw on some booties and a layered necklace to spice it up.

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11) Everyone needs an oversized turtleneck. The Minnesota winters can be brutal, but there are still ways to look cute. A knit turtleneck can be sleek and versatile, especially with a pair of patterned pumps.

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10) Move over LBD and make room for the LWD. Attending Diner en Blanc means an all white outfit is a must, and this dress was too perfect for the event.

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9) Transition with the seasons using delicate layers and booties. A great way to incorporate a summer dress into an autumn outfit- add booties and a long cardigan. Voila!

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8) Hottest trend of 2016- off-the-shoulder tunics. If you haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon for off-the-shoulder tops, you still have time. This trend is not dying anytime soon and will travel well into 2017.

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7) Lady-like in florals and pearls. Everything just paired so perfectly together, making for a beautiful summer outfit.

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6) Bubblegum pink midi skirt. One of my FAVORITE pieces of clothing in my closet, this skirt is as whimsical as a unicorn.

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5) Dressing up just because. Sometimes a tulle dress is just what is needed for Saturday. Add gold heels and gemstone earrings for that extra “oomph”.

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4) NYE celebration gown. A glam updo and sparkly gown help bring in the new year with a BANG!

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3) Refreshed and natural in Hawaii. A freshly-picked plumeria and beach waved hair is the recommended attire on a tropical island. A jersey dress, bathing suit, and sandals are optional.

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2) Matching designer knit sweater and pencil skirt. Breathable, stretchy, and fashionable- all requirements for my outfit as Fashion Show Director on the evening of Style on the Plaza. After four months of planning and preparing, I needed something to match the show’s theme- Bigger, Brighter, Bolder- and this certainly did. screen-shot-2016-11-29-at-10-53-08-am

1) And my most amazing outfit of 2016 is…

My wedding gown! A stunning layered mermaid gown by Blush by Hayley Paige, and jewelry by Kate Spade. It was the day of my dreams, and this was truly the outfit of my dreams- everything was magical.

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And 2016 isn’t over quite yet…

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren

Three things to NEVER wear to Thanksgiving

~ Lauren ~ 2 Comments

Holiday gatherings are filled with family, love, and food- lots and LOTS of food! Here’s the dilemma: you want to look cute AND comfortable when feasting on Grandma’s turkey. And you not have to sacrifice one for the other. What you wear can be just as important as what you are piling upon your plate.

Here are a three things to NEVER wear on Thanksgiving (or any other family gathering) so you won’t regret your outfit three slices into apple pie or miss out on an impromptu game of flag football.

  1. Fringe, feather, or anything that can find its way into the food. It may sound and look glamorous, but, there is nothing glamorous when reaching for the gravy and your outfit finds its way into the mashed potatoes.
  2. Body-con or bandage dresses. You should be enjoying the massive amounts of food and laughter happening around the table, not worrying if you food baby will be peaking through. Plus, you can end up torturing your gut and restricting it from properly digesting.
  3. Strappy, 6-inch heels. Wobbling around the dinner table, whether from painful blisters or too many glasses of wine, can lead to no good. You’ll be too worried about your feet to enjoy the day. Not to mention, there is definitely no joining in a friendly game of football.

So, you’ve avoided these three pieces of clothing, what’s left to wear? Here are couple outfits from my Instagram to give you holiday inspiration…

 

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren

Show some holiday love this “Small Business Saturday”

~ Lauren ~ Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is only 15 days away- the official beginning of Christmas shopping madness. I am happy to say that I began hunting for gifts in March- no last minute craziness for me, although I do enjoy it.

However, this season I vowed to shop a little differently. I want to purchase the majority of my Christmas gifts from local businesses.

Small Business Saturday, the Saturday following Thanksgiving, was created as a counterpart to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is a day created to support local businesses that create jobs and boost the economy. “For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 returns to the community,” states Civic Economics.

I understand there is a chance this venture can more costly than purchasing at large corporations and chain retailers, but I also know the positive impact it will have. When I buy from the local boutiques, toy stores, and coffee shops I am helping to embrace what makes my community unique. You can do the same, wherever in the world you live!

The most beautiful, eclectic, unique items can be found when shopping local or small businesses. I recently purchased a woolen snood and knit hat from Posh– a chic boutique in town. I highly recommend visiting if you are in the Rochester area.

posh boutique small business saturday

And hopefully I can continue this shopping habit throughout the year. There are 364 more days in the year filled with other holidays and birthdays that I intend to shop local as well.

shop small business saturday

Will you be showing small businesses some extra love this year?

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren

Embrace the cape!

~ Lauren ~ Leave a comment

With the winter chill arriving in Minnesota quicker than I hoped, I needed a new way to stay warm and fashionable. I love my down feather Calvin Klein coat, however, it becomes quite monotonous when worn every single day. I wanted to switch it up occasionally- try a new trend other than a long black coat.

I have already seen several women on the street flaunting their flowing capes (or as some might call a poncho). Could this new fad be the piece of clothing to break up my chilly day boredom?

So, it brings us to today- I bought a cape.

cape and hat

This particular one I found while browsing SheIn, a website that offers fashionable clothes at steep discounts. I figured I would purchase one cape and see if the trend was for me.

fashionable and fun cap and hat

spinning, cape and hat

All I have to say is the cape is everything I had hoped it to be and more. The cape is warm and stylish, not to mention comfortable and versatile- exactly what I was hoping to achieve. I am a true cape lover now- it also helps to receive several compliments while wearing it.

Why stop at buying just one cape? I found other options to potentially add to my closet:

Western influence and some fringe from Forever 21- http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=sweater&productid=2000142655

A sophisticated plaid look from Forever 21- http://www.forever21.com/product/product_oos.aspx?br=f21&category=outerwear_coats-and-jackets&productid=2000099685

Faux fur for the perfect night look from Michael Kors- http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/michael-michael-kors-faux-fur-cape?ID=2252555&CategoryID=269&LinkType=#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D406%26slotId%3D23%26kws%3Dcape

Don’t fear the cape, embrace it!

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren

Pleather leggings- yes, you can wear them!

~ Lauren ~ 3 Comments

Typically I choose my outfit the night before, a routine I fell into during my first years of college to save a couple extra minutes of sleep the next morning. However, after an exciting, late night the last thing I wanted to do was search through my clothes while dreaming of my pillow.

Riffling through my closet early the next morning, I wasn’t clicking with any of my clothes. I felt extra edgy, what could I wear to represent that?

Motorcycle jacket? Too cold outside at 44 degrees, and that would have made for a chilly walk to work. Studded heels? Nah, I didn’t feel like hobbling into work with blisters. Pleather leggings? YES! That is exactly the piece of clothing I was looking for.

Pleather, also called vegan leather, is the affordable, more comfortable version of leather. It’s definitely having a moment in fashion. The fabric is fun and versatile, especially in the form of leggings. Plus, anyone can wear it! It’s stretchy and breathable, unlike its leather counterpart.

To keep your outfit office appropriate, rather than date night out, pair with more casual pieces- oversized sweaters, subtle sparkle, flats, etc.

I paired a geometric fringed sweater from Forever 21, black pointed flats from DSW, and subtle gold accents with my pleather leggings. The casual pieces toned down the fabric edginess.

fringe sweater, pleather leggings

pleather leggings, flats

Another option is an oversized turtleneck sweater. Why wear typical jeggings or plain leggings? So expected and typical. Instead I spiced up the outfit with sneak peek of pleather- mixing conservative and classic with a little excitement.

turtle neck sweater, pleather leggings

My Bar III pleather leggings were a recent purchase from Macy’s on clearance, and have become a staple in my closet.

So, don’t be scared of pleather leggings. Yes, you can wear them!

Peace, love, and fashion happiness,

Lauren