Fashion and Beauty Finds: March 2012

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Pretty in Pastels - Part 2

Part two of this series is devoted to pastel dresses. There were so many fabulous choices but I had to limit my selection to just a few.

I love how the pastel trend embraces many different silhouettes, therefore suiting just about every body type that there is. My favorite is the Asos Bell Skirt Dress. Not only is the color perfect but I think it would be a great dress for women with short torsos. The dropped waist line gives the appearance of a longer waist line and therefore balances the proportions of the body. The last dress (the peplum) would look great on girls with boyish frames. The little peplum ruffle will add a visual curve to the hips, giving a straight body some dimension. I also love the Soda Fountain dress. No matter your shape or size, you have a figure and a waist line. The tie at the waist shows your shape (you have one and it is beautiful so flaunt it).

I am headed to Vegas today. I know most people would be thrilled at the idea of seeing the fabulous sights and the shows, dining, etc. My husband and I are looking forward to a full night's sleep for the first time in 6 months. Sin City (Sleep City) here we come!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Pretty in Pastels - Part 1

With Easter just around the corner, it seems only appropriate to do a post devoted to pastels. The sweet, soft colors remind me of my childhood. (Except these pieces exude a little more maturity than the pieces I wore as a child.)

I like the idea of mixing two pastel shades together. Maybe a pair of light blue skinny jeans with a soft yellow tank. You can always wear a neutral color (ivory) with a pastel color if mixing colors isn't quite your thing.

Pastels are a great way to get in on the color trend without worrying about the pieces you purchase going out of style. A simple pastel blouse is sure to be in style much longer than a neon pair of jeans. (Neon is coming back, believe it or not!)

I am definitely loving the very first blouse. The color and lace fabric combined make this a very sweet piece. While this may be my favorite, I wouldn't say no to the skinny jeans!

I hope y'all have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Repurpose

Yesterday afternoon I decided to clean out my jewelry drawer. (Okay, that's a lie. I was actually getting ready to go shopping so I quickly opened my drawer for a necklace when I got distracted by the jumbled mess that is my jewelry.) Seeing the mess, I then decided to clear out the broken and unused stuff. The above picture is a necklace that has sat broken and forgotten at the bottom of the drawer. It could have been easily fixed but I decided that since I have two small children, wearing a long necklace is no longer in my best interest these days.

With a bowl of ice cream as my companion, I decided to get crafty. All I used was a pair of needle-nose pliers and two earring hooks to create new pieces from this single strand.

Used the lobster clasp from the necklace to fasten the bracelet.

Several of the rings just happened to fit my ring finger.

My favorite piece!

It was so much fun taking something unused and turning it into three new pieces that will be worn frequently. I made a pile of other unused jewelry that I can't wait to remake. I will be sure to post pictures when I do!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Something Old

Dress - Francesca's
Shoes - Tinley Road
Bracelet/Earrings - Charming Charlie

With the floral trend in full force this spring, I thought I would pull this dress out that I got a few years ago from Francesca's. This dress is definitely one of those pieces that I quickly pull out of the closet when I don't know what to wear.

Sometimes it's nice to have something you can just quickly grab when you are feeling rushed. What is your quick go-to outfit?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Fashion Inspiration

Like her or not, Alexa Chung is part of the fashion world in a big way. The former model (now adding design to her resume for her recent collaboration with Madewell) is known for her iconic, stylish ensembles. The big names in fashion may have clever little ways to describe Alexa, but I like to think of her as queen of the peter pan collar. I feel that her regular use of it is what has helped escalate the trend in its popularity. She has taken something (in my opinion) that is associated with nerdy school-girl uniforms and has transformed it into something stylish.

I picked two dresses (see above) that I can see the style icon in. They probably won't fit everyone's taste so if you are turning your nose up, then check out this post I did on peter pan collars a few weeks ago before you give up completely on the trend.

If you like the outfit that she is wearing in the picture above, then I found a few sources here, here, and here to help get her look. Amazon.com is also a great source for inexpensive peter pan collar shirts if you just want something to go under a sweater.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Genie in a Bottle

Shirt - unknown
Pants - United Colors of Benetton
Shoes - Guess
Necklace/Hat - Francesca's
Bracelet/Ring - Charming Charlie

I got these white pants a few years ago when I went to Charleston, South Carolina on a summer vacation. I call them my 'genie' pants because of the billowy leg and how it narrows at the ankle with elastic.They are the perfect pant for spring/summer and can be worn so many ways. (I was even able to wear them in the early stages of my 2nd pregnancy.)

I just took a basic black t-shirt and knotted it at the back to get a 'cropped' shirt look.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Weekend Getaway - Part 3

For my final part in this series, I decided to do a casual dinner look that would be appropriate for outdoor dining. It seems obvious that while visiting a seafaring town, at some point you would have dinner outside near the water.

When deciding what dress I would use, a maxi dress seemed like the obvious choice. The length is perfect for evening and the fact that it is a maxi dress alone makes it appropriate for dinner outside.

As with any vacation, come Monday, it's back to reality. I hope y'all enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great upcoming week!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Weekend Getaway - Part 2

When visiting a small coastal town, I think that sailing should be at the top of one's list. Sailing is a great way to spend a relaxing day (unless you are the one doing all of the work). You can pack a lunch, relax on the boat and just enjoy being on the water. My husband and I went sailing on our honeymoon. It was so much fun and I was finally able to kick back and relax. (That is until the wind caught one of the ropes and sent it flying into the back of my head. That woke me up.)

I loved this one-piece floral swimsuit as soon as I saw it. I am really starting to like one-piece swimsuits more and more lately. The floral print keeps this suit right on trend and the cover-up is equally as cute! I kept the jewelry simple. A pair of earrings is all you really need. I feel like bracelets and rings can just get in the way. (Especially if you are wanting a little sun. You don't want a cocktail ring or bangle tan line.)

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Weekend Getaway - Part 1

Weekend Getaway by amyshaughnessy

The beautiful spring weather (and my desperate desire to take a mini vacation) had me thinking about a trip I took to Maine one summer. I visited a small coastal town and fell in love with it. I remember strolling down the quaint downtown streets and taking in the sights and smells of a seafaring village. I don't live near water (unless you count the alligator-infested lakes) so seeing the sailboats sprinkled out in the water was a new but welcome sight to me.

I put together this look because I think it would be appropriate for a day of shopping and sightseeing (hence the title). Maybe the navy and white striped dress is too cliche (nautical-themed wardrobe for a nautical town) but I still love it. Keeping the jewelry and shoes simple are perfect for a day of walking around. The large tote bag will be perfect for storing all of the treasures you pick up along the way. Adding a bright yellow sweater will keep your look cheerful should the weather decide to turn chilly.

After the first segment of this series, I am ready to take a vacation!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Casual Shorts

Casual Shorts by amyshaughnessy

I don't know about you, but for me, the weekend usually means dressing comfortably. Now just because you want to be comfortable doesn't mean that you can't look put-together and cute at the same time. These two looks have a 't-shirt and shorts' kind of feel but slightly elevated. Taking a basic striped shirt and pairing it with a scalloped-edge short keeps the first outfit feminine. Adding a bright pop of color with the earring is acknowledging the color trend without going overboard.

I love the second look (as much as I love the first). The pleated blouse can definitely be dressed up or down. Pairing it with a pair of floral shorts keeps the look casual. Of course, wearing flat shoes (with both looks) seems somewhat necessary for a busy girl on the go.

If I am going to be running errands, I usually do so on the weekends when I can go by myself. That means I am usually hitting up several places at once. I can definitely see myself wearing both of these looks. For once I cannot decide which look I like best!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Denim on Denim

Last weekend, my husband and I took the boys (well the 3 year old really) to get a cheeseburger and milkshake. We stopped later at my husband's school and I decided to take some pictures. The grass was already so lush and green and made a great back-drop for pictures. My toddler didn't mind running his energy off either.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Shorts 3 Ways

I don't know about you, but when I buy an article of clothing, I like options. Now, I don't always know right away what those different options will be, but that is part of the fun of shopping. You purchase a great piece and then bring it home to see how it will work in your closet.

I really liked these shorts and thought they would be fun to build a few outfits around. A pair of shorts has endless possibilities. The three looks I put together are definitely great for spring before the super hot weather sets in. For the two blazer options, just pair a basic t-shirt under them. Adding a blazer will break up the casual look and leave you looking crisp and polished. And in the summer? Ditch the blazers and throw on some statement jewelry (or a scarf if you don't live in Louisiana like I do) to dress the t-shirt up. As I said, the possibilities are endless.