Peplum work casual

Hi y’all! I’m back home and back to blogging. And while I was gone, I apparently forgot how to pose for daily outfit photos! Here’s the best of the bunch:

Details:  Peplum top:  JCPenney, gift-carded this spring  /  Black skinny jeans:  Target, last winter  /  Flats:  Payless, last spring  /  Grey cardigan:  August Silk via Nordstrom Rack, last winter  /  Skinny belt:  Fall fashion swap  /  Circle drop earrings:  Lia Sophia, gift from husband, old

And here’s a close-up of my hair. I made a side ponytail, but didn’t pull the hair all the way through at the end, and just wrapped the ends around and pinned them to the base of the ponytail. It made for a pretty, no-fuss side-do (vs. updo), a style I have gone to the well for many times before (see here).

Link ups:   Sunday Style  /  YOLO Mondays  /  Monday Mingle  /  Style Sessions  /  Real Girl Style  /  Anything + Everything Blog Hop  /  Wardrobe Wednesday  /  What I Wore Wednesdays  /  Whatever Works Wednesday  /  Dress for the Day

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• Pops of yellow (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
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Style challenges: Doubling the score

I’m doubling up again today, with two style challenges!

First up is the final theme for this week’s “We ♥ Target” style challenge, hosted by Whitney @ Along the Lines of Style and Heidi @ Literate and Stylish, which is favorite score. It’s funny how one of my favorite Target purchases ever wasn’t even on my radar at first. This navy trench coat from the Jason Wu for Target collection was one of the few things I was able to grab during the mad shopping dash at the opening day of that boutique collection. But over the past year, I have come to rely on the instant chic factor this classic trench coat brings to any ensemble I wear, on the weekend or for work.

And the other style challenge today is from this week’s beautiful SIA inspiration painting.

Inspiration:

Colette Calascione, Illumination, 2004, oil on panel

Interpretation:

I had a lot of fun with this one, including a real-life tableau:

I focused on combining textures and patterns, like in the inspiration painting. And I got quite a few compliments from co-workers today on my pattern-mixing, but I would have never thought of pairing my graphic-print teal ankle pants with this tunic if it weren’t for this SIA challenge.

Details:  Floral tunic:  Woolworth’s, Abu Dhabi, 2008  /  Graphic print ankle pants:  Ann Taylor, winter  /  Teal tank top:  Old Navy, gift-carded this month  /  Grey flats:  DKNY via Macy’s, Fall 2011  /  Gold hoop earrings:  Birthday gift last year  /  Gold-and-coral ring:  My paternal grandmother’s

The oh-so-innocent expression on my face in the photo above seems to be saying, “What me, pattern-mixing again?”

And the (slightly impish) response below?  ”Of course.”

And the hair was also inspired by the SIA painting, as I echoed the center part and made three braided pinwheels to represent the flower shapes in the painted lady’s hair.

Below are a few more highlights of my navy trench coat to round out today’s double mix of style challenges.

Look 1  |  Look 2  |  Look 3  |  Look 4  | Look 5

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Link ups:  We Love Target Style Challenge  /  Friday’s Five  /  Casual Fridays  /  Fashion Informant Linkup  /  Friday Favorites Remix

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• Classic Trench (thethreadengine.wordpress.com)
• Burberry Long Oversize Resinated Cotton Trench Coat (recoram.wordpress.com)
• How to wear a trench (75only75.wordpress.com)
• Timeless Fashion: TRENCH COAT DRESS (louloustarfashions.com)
• Trend Alert: Spring Trenches (thefashionfoot.com)
• Eddie Bauer Christine Trench Coat (recoram.com)
• Women Wardrobe: Trench Coat (chictip.com)
• Updating a Classic: The Trench Coat (forbes.com)
• Grey + teal pattern-mixing (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)

Two takes with one striped tank

Today’s post incorporates two different looks with the same striped tank (alert — lots of pics ahead!). Instead of a day-to-night, it’s a weekend-to-work kind of post.

And if you’re asking yourself, “Wait, hasn’t Jennifer worn this top once this week already?” The answer would be yes AND no. I  wore this new striped tank for the first time last week, but the post didn’t get published until Monday of this week.

Casual weekend wear (Look 1):

I wore this outfit this past weekend while running errands. The top’s untucked, so you get to see the dark navy stripes at the bottom. The denim jacket and cropped khaki ankle pants  add to the “casual” vibe, and switching out the flats for sandals during the summer would definitely amp that up. It’s still a bit chilly up here for spring, hence the flats.

Details:  Striped top:  Old Navy (on clearance and gift-carded two weeks ago)  /  Denim jacket:  Kohl’s, old  /  Khaki ankle pants:  Macy’s, gift-carded this winter  /  Flats:  DKNY via Macy’s, Fall 2011  /   Pearl drop earrings:  Bridesmaid’s gift, old

Work wear (Look 2):

For work on Wednesday, it was our day to wear the color blue to support our faculty union, so I turned again to this striped top for its many different shades of blue. What made this combo more work-appropriate was the swapping out the khaki ankle pants for wide-leg trousers, and the denim jacket for a cardigan.

And pattern-mixing stripes!!! I think it works here because the navy background of the cropped cardigan echoes the dark stripes on the bottom of the tank. It looks more proportional and purposeful in a surprising way. Or at least, it surprised me how well it all went together.

Details:  Grey trousers:  Gap, old  /  Striped cardigan:  Old Navy, gift-carded this winter  /  Bar drop earrings:  Kohl’s, old

And there’s no need to scroll up again, as I’ve put together a side-by-side comparison from weekend-to-work:

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Happy Friday!

Link ups:  Friday’s Five  /  Casual Fridays  /  Fashion Informant Linkup  /  Friday Favorites Remix  /  Sunday Style

Related articles:

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• Blue stripes + florals (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
• #OOTD: Sunshine On A Cloudy Day (thefancypantsreport.com)
• How to Wear a Breton Stripe (styleunearthed.wordpress.com)
• United in stripes (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)

Grey + teal pattern-mixing

It is Tuesday, which means thank goodness it’s not Monday. ‘Cause I had a “case of the Mondays” if ever there was one. BUT! At least I felt comfy and cute yesterday, all things considering. Silver linings, right?

Pattern-mixing for the win! No weird looks for the pattern-mixing today — I must be wearing people down! I think it helps that the pattern on these ankle pants is so subtle that it just reads as teal from far away.

Details:  Floral top:  LOFT, Chicago trip, old  /  Ankle pants:  Ann Taylor, winter  /  Cardigan:  August Silk via Nordstrom Rack, last winter  /  Flats:  DKNY via Macy’s, fall 2011  /  Silver hoop earrings & circle necklace:  Kohl’s, old  /  Sunglasses:  Vintage, my mom’s

Link ups:  Style Sessions  /  Real Girl Style  /  Anything + Everything Blog Hop

Related articles

• Mutual Inspiration: Grey + teal (librarianforlifestyle.wordpress.com)
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Of classics and comfort

I wore this casual combo last weekend. I’ve been wearing these graphic ankle pants with black tops (see here and here), and I wanted to break out of that style rut a little… with a grey sweatshirt. Doesn’t sound exciting, I know, but what a sweatshirt!

I picked up this sweatshirt at my college bookstore during National Library Week — combining school and library spirit! — and used my faculty discount (so it still kinda counts for my shopping limitations, right?). You can also pick up this adorable design through ModCloth.

I’m a huge Jane Austen fan, and how adorable is this Pride & Prejudice-themed design?!

Details:  Sweatshirt:  Out of Order, new  /  Ankle pants:  Ann Taylor, on sale this winter  /  Flats:  DKNY via Macy’s, Fall 2011

And… sometimes this happens. Obviously, scoring this Austen-themed sweatshirt (it’s soooooo comfortable!) left me jumping for joy!

Happy weekending!

Link ups:  Friday’s Five  /  Casual Fridays  /  Fashion Informant Fridays  /  Sunday Style  /  Watch What I’m Wearing