Tag Archives: Old Navy

Stripes and gingham and layers, oh my!

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When?  June 28, 2012

What for?  Back to work! And summer term is going to be busy. This outfit was inspired by this one on the In Honor of Design blog. Gingham and stripes? Oh, yes. (And instead of bright yellow, I went with green on my nails and feet.)

And I love that with the red tote bag, it’s a nod to red-white-and-blue patriotism without being over-the-top about it. For me, this is a perfect summer casual look for work. The silhouette, trousers, and button-down shirt all say professional, while the cotton top, mix of patterns, and striped espadrilles provide a fun, casual edge. Win-win! :)

Oh, and blogger poses? I got you covered. Pulling out the The Best Foot Forward, The Laugh, The Flamingo, and the Cross your legs and contemplate your shoes poses today.

And a bonus shot of my new wedges. Because they’re pretty.

Details?

  • Trousers:  The Limited (fall 2011)
  • Gingham shirt:  Old Navy (gift card)
  • Striped top:  H&M (winter 2012)
  • Wedges:  Old Navy (new! gift card)
  • Tote bag:  Target? Kmart? (2008)
  • White shell earrings:  Beaded by my paternal grandma
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FrillsforThrills CopyCatspleated poppy

Summer staples: Mix-and-match swimwear

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It’s almost June — how did that happen?! As summer gets closer (for some of you, like my friend Laura in Georgia, it’s already been here for quite some time!), a major staple is swimwear.

My favorites are mix-and-match options, so you can choose the most flattering shapes (and sizes) for your body type. Lands’ End, Victoria’s Secret, Target, Kohl’s, and Old Navy all have extensive swimwear collections that you can mix-and-match for different styles and patterns. Lands’ End, in particular, has lots of options for curvier physiques. Halter bikini tops are flattering for both small or large busts; for those with larger chests, look for thicker straps. I also like to cover up my bottom half with a cute swim skirt that skims my curves. Retro swimdresses, classic swim shorts, and sarongs are flattering options, too.

Here is my Polyvore inspiration board for 2-piece swimsuit and cover-up ideas.

Two-Piece Swimwear Options

Some of these cover-up options are already in your closet, so you don’t necessarily have to buy a lot of new stuff each summer. Think about how to repurpose what you’ve got. For example, tunics are fantastic for a relaxed vibe — a simple way to add a lot of color and texture in one piece. Or try an oversize button-up shirt. Don’t know what else to do with that fold-over or drawstring skirt (or cotton dress) in your closet? Add it to your beach bag for a quick-and-easy cover-up option. And don’t forget a floppy hat and fun, printed flip-flops! I always bring along my sunglasses and sunscreen, too. :)

Here are some real-life pics, taken from a 2010 trip to Thailand.

On the hotel bus back from the beach, I added a colorful cotton tunic as a cover-up, plus my floppy straw hat, sunglasses, and water bottle.

Colorful toes are a must in the summer!

The Kata Noi beach in Phuket, Thailand. In the bottom right, you can spy my floppy straw hat, sarong, and a sand broom we bought on the beach.

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Grey and green

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 When?  May 16, 2012

What for?  Grocery shopping and errand running. Grey is such a great neutral, and I picked up this summer staple dress from the Gap a few years ago. This is a really easy outfit — just a knit dress with a camp shirt on top — but punched up with color (in the shirt) and texture (with the hat, wicker purse, and cork wedges).

Details?

  • Grey dress:  Gap, bought on a trip to Chicago (2007)
  • Green camp shirt:  Old Navy (new, gift card, see shopping trip details here)
  • Vintage bakelite-and-wicker purse:  Art fair in Chicago (2007)
  • Straw fedora:  Stetson, bought at a hat shop in Amsterdam (2010)
  • Hoop earrings:  Kohl’s
  • Wedges:  Payless (see paired with tights here)
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Dogs and gingham

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When?  May 13, 2012

What for?  For a dog’s quinceañera party at a friend’s house. Sam’s reaction?  ”I love Portland.” :) Casual was definitely the right call, and I wanted to wear orange as a call-out to my mom and her ’70s-tastic outfit that I featured earlier today. I also wore my new Jane Austen pendant necklace that I picked up yesterday at a regional JASNA luncheon. It’s my own WWJD (What Would Jane Do?) accessory.

And for a little shout-out for my chica Amy, I went a little adventurous with my hair and did pigtails. And, of course, I had to add a scarf to jazz it up a bit, a scarf that also just happens to match pretty closely with the orange in my shirt. Hi, my name is Jennifer, and I like scarves; also, color-matching is in my DNA. And those brown sandals have an orange lining. Mom, I know you’re feeling so proud right now. Happy Mother’s Day! :)

Details?

  • Long shorts:  ?? Kohl’s?, years ago
  • Tank top:  Target, years ago
  • Orange gingham camp shirt:  Old Navy (new, gift card)
  • Orange scarf:  Came with H&M polka-dot dress (see details here, 2011)
  • Sandals:  Payless, years ago
  • Jane Austen pendant necklace:  Tag sale at JASNA luncheon (new yesterday!)
  • Buddhist charm protection necklace:  Dharma Crafts, gift from Sam (2008)
  • Vintage bakelite-and-wicker purse:  Art fair in Chicago (2007)
  • Blue-and-brown drop earrings:  Lia Sophia, gift from friend (2008)
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Let’s hear it for the gingham!

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 When?  May 3, 2012

What for?  A major prep day at work, more behind-the-scenes stuff. And what a day! But I just rolled up my sleeves (literally) and got to work, feeling a little bit Newsies in my gingham shirt and waistcoat. And hey, let’s go 3-for-3 with my new camp shirts from Old Navy (see details here). It’s been quite rainy and chilly this week, so I erred on the side of caution (and comfort) and went with some sneakers with my grey trousers. The British coin necklace is my mom’s bought on a trip to London — before I was even born! — and yep, that’s a shot of my wedding ring. It’s white gold, and the inset diamond comes from my mom’s engagement ring. :)

Details?

  • Gingham shirt:  Old Navy (new, gift card)
  • Grey trousers:  Banana Republic, years ago (on sale, gift card) LOFT
  • Sneakers:  ??? don’t remember
  • Waistcoat:  Maurices?
  • British coin necklace:  My mom’s
  • Earrings (one of my faves):  Lia Sophia, gift from friend
  • Wedding ring:  My own! Sam and I designed our own wedding rings.
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