Shein Try-On: September

Use my discount code for 15% off your order at Shein: juliannerobinsonQ3

This month’s Shein haul is a GOOD one. All the fall vibes in this haul and I’m so excited to share with you all! If you want to check out lat month’s haul, click HERE. Otherwise stay tuned for this month’s pieces!

Tips and Tricks for Shopping at Shein!

Fall is in full swing here so I definitely went all out sweaters and cozy vibes for this order. I know not all of you live in climates that allow you to wear sweaters yet, but take advantage of my discount code while it lasts to get this sweaters ahead of time for when the weather allows for you to wear them! They’re good which means there’s no guarantee how long they’ll stay in stock!

Striped Oversized Sweater

$28 Size L

OKAY. This sweater is the one item you need from this try-on… if you don’t buy anything else, BUY THIS! I love the look of this sweater, plus it is incredible quality! I should have gotten my regular size, but as you know I always size up with Shein so I am wearing a Large here and it is really big. Comes in a tan stripe option too which is just as cute! Odds are I’ll order that one too for how much I love this sweater!

Tie Front Thermal Top

$18 Size L

This top is so fun with the color blocking. It’s not something I would normally reach for but I thought it was a fun change to what I usually reach for! It also comes in a black, white, and grey combo too, if you’re more into neutrals. This top totally reminds me of my favorite Urban Outfitters button down thermals that I have in a bunch of colors. Runs pretty true to size and feels super soft and cozy!

Leopard Print Denim Skirt

Size L $14

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed my favorite fall outfit. Sweaters and skirts are such a fun way to transition into the cooler months while it’s not too cold to have bare legs! I love a good denim skirt and although the denim doesn’t feel of the utmost quality, I can see myself wearing this all season long with a cozy sweater front tucked in like in the photo above! My sweater is also from Shein last year, and is still available. I’ll link it below!

Striped Sweater & Babydoll Dress

$18 Size L // $8 Size L

I thought these last two pieces looked cute together, this dress is only $8 (shook) and comes in a handful of colors. It is slightly sheer so I’ll wear a slip with it when I wear it out of the house. It is such a flattering silhouette with the shape of the seam, it’s dramatically curved which gives a slimming effect, love it!

This sweater is under $20 and super versatile! I know I’ll get a ton of wear out of it for fall. I love it paired with my favorite OTK boots (currently on sale too)!

Thanks for checking out this month’s Shein finds! I really love sharing these try-ons with you all so I’m happy to see that they’ve been such popular posts on SbJ! Let me know what piece was your favorite in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

xo

My Week in Outfits - August 12th

I really felt a burst of motivation this week and I am going to work really hard at picking up posting more regularly on my blog! That being said, I’m holding myself to a daunting goal of posting my real-life, mom friendly, yet still stylish outfits on here EVERY. DAY. If you know me, you are well aware that I don’t have people around me on the regular at my beck and call to take my outfit photos so I will be lugging my tripod out with me every day to get some quality shots of what I’m wearing coffee/toddler stains and all!

Come back to this post every day to help hold me accountable… let’s see how many weeks I can keep this up!

(We’re already starting on a Tuesday, did I fail before I even started?! Haha)

Tuesday 8/13

Lace Cami and Denim Shorts

(comment below if you see the coffee stain LOL)

Lace Cami // Shorts // Shoes // Hat // Necklace

ABOVE OUFIT DETAILS:

Lace Cami // Shorts // Shoes // Hat // Necklace

Wednesday 8/14

T-Shirt Dress and Chambray Top

I struggled with lighting today when taking these photos so apologies for the weird coloring! I’ll do better tomorrow, promise!

OUTFIT ABOVE DETAILS:

Dress // Chambray Button Down // Shoes // Necklace // Hair Clip //

Thursday 8/15

Leopard Top and Button Fly Jeans

Dropped the ball today and forgot to take an actual outfit photo but everything I wore is linked below this random shot I took when I was testing lighting haha!

OUTFIT ABOVE DETAILS:

Leopard Top // Denim // Shoes //

Friday 8/16

Dressed up Basics

OUTFIT ABOVE DETAILS:

Top // Jeans // Sweater (old, sorry) // Necklace // Custom Name Ring

Well, that was actually much harder than I thought it would be. I think I figured out the sweet spot/time for lighting in the area I’ve been taking my photos, so next week should be much more consistent!

Hope you enjoyed this first week in outfits!

xo

Summer Whites With Loft!

DRESS // JACKET // BRACELET // SHOES || GIA’S DRESS // BAG //

Something about wearing white in the summer just feels right. It’s fresh, cool and always looks good. When you’re looking for the best pieces to match together for the perfect summer white look, think about layering textures and prints. I love the print of this shift dress with the weight of this solid white denim jacket, it really makes the jacket stand out, in turn giving the dress it’s own space to shine! Can we talk about how pretty this bracelet is too?!

These photos are all shot by the amazing and talented Beatriz! Here is her Instagram and website.

Spring Athleisure Try-On With 32 Degrees!

One of my favorite affordable athletic wear and casual clothing brands, 32 Degrees generously gifted me some items to share with you all in this post. I hand selected each piece and all opinions are my own, this blog post is not sponsored! I’ve worn them for a few years and I remember being super skeptical because the prices are seriously SO GOOD, I figured the quality couldn’t be great, but I was seriously mistaken and the brand has since then taken a first place spot as my go-to destination for athleisure and fitness clothing! Their T-shirts are seriously the best fit and feel, not to mention price, that I’ve ever found! If you missed my Instagram try-on session, it’s saved in the highlight “32 Degrees” on my home page here!

OUTFIT DETAILS: // BRALETTE // JACKET // LEGGINGS //

OUTFIT DETAILS: // T-SHIRT (comes in other colors too) // JACKET // JOGGERS // SHOES //

OUTFIT DETAILS: // DRESS // BOMBER // SHOES //

OUTFIT DETAILS: // TOP (comes in other colors too) // JOGGERS //

Thank you all for reading!

xo

The Perfect Lace Kimono Outfit

Today Dustin and I got to enjoy a few blissful kid-free hours to run all over town doing boring grown-up stuff like going to the post office, picking up toilet paper from Costco and finally getting some returns done that had been sitting in the car for a week. It felt nice to be able to speed through our errands, but I sure missed my little Stella bean! It’s funny how even a few hours apart can be so hard, but when you spend 24/7 with your little munchkin it’s hard to be away even for a little while!

Check out my post on Mom Guilt

I wore this SUPER cute lace kimono c/o Chic Wish, it is such a versatile piece and I can’t wait for it to warm up so I can use it as a swim cover-up or paired with some denim shorts! Chic Wish just got in a ton of super cute summer items like this dress you saw me wear on our Salishan trip on the coast, and this flowy tunic that is everyone’s favorite top! I’ll link some more of my personal favorite Chic Wish pieces at the end of this post!

Salishan Resort and Spa - Photo Diary

Outfit Details

// KIMONO // TOP // JEANS // SHOES // BAG // HAT //

More Chic Wish Items I Love:

Hope you all are having an amazing weekend!

xo

Four Casual Outfits + My Target Fashion Favorites!

Your girl is a fan of affordable fashion, I’m sure you know this by now. Target has been a go-to of mine lately and I decided it would be convenient to round up some of my favorite Target pieces from outfits I’ve work lately so you can see them and shop them all in one post! Target is KILLING it in the fashion department lately and I am HERE. FOR. IT.

Make sure to stay to the end of the post to see a huge round-up of all of my favorite Target finds, including shoes and loungewear.

// Top // Shorts // Hat // Crescent Necklace // Bar Necklace //

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// Dress // Hat // Shoes // Bag // Necklace //

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// Top // Jeans // Booties // Bag // Necklace //

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// Top // Jeans (Color: “Make or Break”) // Hat // Shoes //

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A Spring Haul and Try-On With Nordstrom!

I went to Nordstrom recently and stocked up on some cute goodies for Spring the other day, I was in desperate need of tops and I also was looking to add some color and variety into my very neutral, very basics-heavy wardrobe. There were so many fun pieces to choose from in their trend shop and I’m so excited to share how they look, fit, and their prices with you! Can you tell I’m loving a good wrap blouse these days? I can’t resist, they’re just so comfortable and flattering!

Bag $42

This bag was the first item I picked up. If you know me well, you know I love a fun statement piece and what better way to make a statement than with your handbag? This one is vegan leather, under $50 and has a cross-body strap so you can wear it hands free! The canvas insert is removable if you want to change up the look of the bag (might lose a lipgloss or two through those holes though lol).

Top $49

Every time I see a good leopard print piece I have to give it a chance! This top has so many elements that I LOVE. It has a draped or wrap-front, with a collar and buttons. Yes to ALL OF THIS! Plus the print is good, sometimes leopard print can look tacky or overdone and I could totally see this worn in an office setting with trousers like these or even a pencil skirt. so cute! I normally would have gotten a large in a top like this but medium was all that was available in my store, although the sleeves are a touch short on me it still fits well everywhere else, so if you aren’t super broad shouldered (like I am), I’d stick with your regular size. The material is polyester and a tiny bit of spandex but it really doesn’t have much stretch at all.

Top $29

This top was tricky to photograph but it is my favorite piece that I picked up! It comes in four colors and is affordable, comfortable, versatile and best of all, cute! It is longer in the back than most other tops of it’s style so you can feel secure wearing it with leggings. I tied mine tighter than they had it in the store, but you can loosen up the knot for a more slouchy feel. If you’re between sizes definitely size down, I got a medium which is my true size and it fits well when I tighten the knot, but I could have gotten away with a small if necessary. It is the softest material too… it is part polyester but the magic ingredient is the viscose that gives the fabric a soft and stretchy feel!

Top $49

Another wrap top! This one is so different to me, but I was drawn to the color and although I don’t have a ton of polka dot pieces I’m obsessed with them! This top is SO flattering with the tie being right at the small part of your waist. It is cropped so unless you like to show some skin, high waisted jeans like these pictured are necessary. You can see that the sleeves are a tiny bit short on me, and I’m sure it’s because I am so broad shouldered and long-armed. I sized up to a large for arm length and torso length but it is a tiny bit baggy through the middle (I just tied it tighter, and it looks just fine). I’d say shoot for your true size unless you are super long like I am! The fabric is rayon and has zero stretch, but it is flowy enough that there is plenty room to move!

I am still waiting on my red tank top and my tan sandals to arrive in the mail but I will certainly update this post when they come in!

Thanks for reading!

xo

Casual Brunch Outfit + Meet My Blogger Besties!

The weekend routine lately has included coffee or brunch with my friends and this weekend was no exception! I wanted to be comfortable since I knew we’d be walking a round a lot so I opted for these super stretchy and soft ripped jeans I just got in from Pink Lily (my favorite online boutique)! I actually ordered them for a trip we have planned for the second weekend in March, you’ll have to wait to see where we’re headed but it’s going to be so much fun! This sweater I’ve had since fall and it’s perfect for transitioning into the warmer months, I’ll probably pair it with shorts as soon as it’s warm enough outside, so cute! Read more about how this sweater and how to shop at Shein here. Obv. I finished it off with my standard crescent necklace that I wear every day and some chucks. Full outfit details are below!

You might also be interested in: How To Confidently Shop at Shein

Sweater // Jeans // Necklace // Shoes // Bag //

I love spending time with these lovely ladies! Check out Gia’s Instagram here and Linnea’s Instagram here and blog here! I know you’ll love them as much as I do.

Sweater // Jeans // Necklace // Shoes // Bag //

Sweater // Jeans // Necklace // Shoes // Bag //

I’m excited to be back on a regular blogging schedule again, it feels so good to be getting fresh content out three times a week and I love sharing things with you all that you’ve requested or had questions about, so keep the feedback coming! Hope you all have an amazing week.

xo

My Favorite Ripped Jeans - Affordable Spring Essentials!

Although our weather has been completely wacko in Portland with alternating snow days mixed with days of sun and blue skies, I’ve decided to style more Spring looks for you all since I am impatient and ready for the season to change over already! This look in particular is versatile because it can be layered with a light jacket for chillier days like I did here. These shoes are also pretty covering and not completely full out warm weather footwear. Speaking of these shoes, I’ve had them for going on three years now and each year they sell out at the start of the year so if you’ve had your eye on them I wouldn’t wait! I also ordered these more affordable shoes this year that are very similar and just as comfortable, for those of you that aren’t ready to splurge.

Click here to see my friend Jenna’s try on haul of cute, affordable denim!

This top is under $20 and the softest button up I own! I am always a sucker for stripes and for the price I couldn’t pass this one up. Also you’ve heard me rave about these jeans so much, a lot of you have picked them up for yourself as well! They are super affordable, perfectly high waisted and super stretchy. The color/style I’m wearing is called “Make it or Break it” I want them in every wash!

Stella’s outfit details:

Hair Bow // Jeans // Shoes // Similar Jacket // Stroller

That little donut thief! She ate one whole glazed donut and two donut holes while we were at this cafe, can you guess if she napped this day?!

Hope you all have an amazing weekend ahead!

xo

4 Easy, Casual Outfits!

As we’ve been busy house hunting over the past month, I’ve found myself gravitating toward easy, “throw on and go” styles where I don’t have to do much and will be comfortable as we run around looking at houses. Let me tell ya, we’ve looked at A LOT of houses. I don’t want to sit in the car in jeans all day long! I also decided to feature my two most worn, favorite casual shoes! If you follow me on Instagram you’ve seen these leopard shoes a ton already!

If you’re looking for some cute, easy outfits to recreate, this post is for you! Comment below and tell me which outfit is your favorite!

Click here for some cute trench coat suggestions from my friend Amanda! So perfect to throw over any casual outfit!

Outfit #1

When In Doubt Add Leopard!

A couple things about this outfit. Throw on a “third piece” (coat, vest, scarf) and it instantly elevates a look and adds something extra! Same goes for accessories so if you don’t want to wear a hat, a cute bag will have the same affect. These leggings are the famous Zella leggings but are their MUCH more affordable twin sister, same brand and everything, just cheaper!

// HAT // T-SHIRT // LEGGINGS // SHOES // LEOPARD COAT //

Outfit #2

Just Put a Coat On It

I basically wore my pajamas out of the house this day. No joke though, this coat makes it okay! I even ran to Nordstrom wearing this and it was a-ok! This coat has been a wardrobe staple for me each winter for a few years now. It always comes back in stock and has an affordable little sister by the same brand that I tagged if you don’t feel like splurging quite yet!

// TOP // BOTTOMS // SHOES // COAT // MORE AFFORDABLE COAT //

Outfit #3

Leather Moto Jacket, Need I Say More?

This is a look that I wore at least three times a week when I worked at Nordstrom. I definitely wore skinny jeans or black pants though as per dress code requirements but my co-workers knew me to wear a leather moto jacket whenever I was feeling uninspired! It truly changes the feel of an outfit and can be dressed up or down effortlessly. I love this one because it is faux leather, the hardware is a brassy/gold color and it has a detachable hood. Plus it’s under $100!

// T-SHIRT // LEGGINGS // JACKET // SHOES //

Outfit #4

The Only Leggings You’ll Ever Need

I’ve talked about these leggings a ton on Instagram, I have a few pairs including this moto style which is so fun! I love a little added detail to an otherwise boring piece of clothing such as leggings. Not only are they cute, these babies will SUCK. YOU. IN. I lose 10 lbs just by putting them on. 100% worth the splurge, and sorry I haven’t found anything affordable that even comes close so save up that extra change for a few months and add these to your cart. You won’t regret it!

Did I even talk about the outfit? NOPE. Not much to say besides, add a denim jacket to your tee and leggings look and you have my fourth super simple, comfy option!

// SHIRT // JACKET // LEGGINGS // SHOES //

I hope you all enjoyed this super casual, mirror-pic, outfit post! It’s certainly been a while since I’ve done one of these and it was a lot of fun. If you want to see me do an outfit try-on sesh featuring any other kinds of outfits I already own, let me know! Also don’t forget to pin the images below to your Pinterests, and give me a follow while you’re at it. Thanks for reading!

xo

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Transitioning Your Style From Summer to Fall

SWEATER | JEANS | BOOTIES [run true to size] | NECKLACE | HAT

The weather is changing and it’s time to pull out the sweaters and booties! I wanted to share this cute summer to fall transitional outfit with you all from American Eagle, I’ve found myself shopping at AE a lot this season since their prices are so affordable and I never realized how much cute stuff I was missing out on! I Saw this sweater and knew it was perfect for me since it’s a little cropped but I love wearing high waisted denim so it is perfect front tucked into these distressed skinny jeans. Both run true to size, the jeans are SUPER stretchy and very forgiving. I paired the look with these under $100 booties that I’ve been wearing for FOREVER and I have in multiple colors. They are so so SO comfy and versatile, everyone needs them!

Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying these last couple weeks of summer! This is one of my favorite times of the year because I can still wear shorts but pair them with my chunky knits and it’s totally appropriate and comfortable! That being said, I am so excited for cooler temps because fall fashion is my FAVORITE fashion and I can’t wait to share a ton of cute fall looks with you all!

Check out some more summer to fall transitional jackets here!

xo

Wishing I was holding a PSL here, obviously.

A Smocked Jumpsuit for Memorial Weekend!

Happy long weekend, friends! Despite all of the sales going on right now, I ended up finding a lot of new goodies when I was out shopping the other day that were not part of the sale, but are SO worth mentioning.

This post will be featuring the most comfortable piece that I found which is this cute smocked top jumpsuit. I normally don't find pieces like this to be flattering on me but lately I've been loving anything that has smocking on it so I gravitated toward this piece and was pleasantly surprised when I tried it on. Not only is it super flattering on, but it feels like actual PAJAMAS. It fits true to size, I got a medium and it is perfect. I plan to wear this beauty with some fun platform sandals or even dress it up with heels and blazer! I think it could be a fun alternative to a dress for summer occasions like weddings, wine tasting, parties, brunch, etc! I have a good gauge (from working at Nordstrom for forever) at how quickly things will see out, and I can tell this piece will be one that flies off the rack.

Make sure to also pick up this cute, super soft and stretchy denim jacket while you're at it! I told myself no more denim jackets this summer, but this one was soooooo comfy I could not say no. Plus it is the updated version of their classic denim jacket and it's even better than before! Definitely a great addition to your summer wardrobe. 

Another item you need is this designer inspired belt for under $20. I plan on ordering it in brown too. I've been wearing it a ton this Spring! 

// Jumpsuit // Jacket  // Shoes // Necklace //

^ How beautiful is my parent's backyard?! ^

I hope you all have an amazing, long holiday weekend! We'll be enjoying the farmers market tomorrow and then enjoying the company of family and laying low for the rest of the weekend! 

Thanks for reading!

xo

Gingham in The Tulip Field

I dragged my poor family out in the rain again for another floral photoshoot! This one has also been on my bucket list for a couple years, and this Spring I've finally gotten multiple opportunities to shoot with different photographers at this beautiful location! Located about 30 minutes away from us, these beautiful floral fields take up 40 acres of land in the middle of the nowhere in Woodburn, Oregon. It's amazing being able to live in a metropolitan city and be able to take a quick drive to these magical places. One of the many reasons I love living where I do! I shot with the amazing, talented Portland area photographer Brianna Swan who I've gotten to shoot with a few times now (if you're in the area check her out for family shoots, she is SO amazing) and I love how the shots turn out each time! Ok, ok. On to the pictures because I know that's the main reason you clicked over to this post. I'll start with the outfit details. Do you all like when I put them higher up in the post, or at the bottom? Let me know in the comments! 

Thanks for reading as always! Happy weekend.

xo

A Spring Outfit and Cotton Candy Trees

I was so desperate to get cherry blossom pictures this year.

Last year I was very pregnant and hoped to snag some maternity shots with the amazing blooming trees, but I never got the opportunity. There is a very small window of time, I'm talking 7ish days that these trees bloom before the petals fall off, and with all of the rain this month I knew it would be an even smaller window. Of course there wasn't one nice day in the forecast in the foreseeable future, but the trees were already blooming to their full potential and even dropping petals already so I knew I had to trek out into the cold and rain to get my pictures if I wanted them at all, and hope for a break in the rain (spoiler: it only rained harder).

Although it was cold and wet, Stella and I had an amazing time with our good friend (and volunteer photographer) Krysta. We drove all the way down to the State Capitol building, almost an hour away from Portland! We even got to stop by and visit the Salem, Oregon Nordstrom store to say goodbye, one day before they shuttered it's doors for good! Here are some of the shots we got. You can tell by my soggy hair that the rain was relentless... I really had to brighten up the exposure to make these pictures look like Spring and not mid-Winter. All of my outfit details are linked below! Enjoy! 

Necklace: Gorjana, Top: J Crew, Blazer: H&M, Denim: Universal Thread, Shoes: A New Day 

2017 Portland Style And Fashion Awards

A NIGHT OF FASHION, FRIENDS, AND FUN

I have a great friend and mentor who has always talked to me about the importance of networking and how shaking hands with the right people and growing your network can help your business invaluably. Thanks to her originally pushing me to start a blog, paired with this nugget of networking knowledge has helped me grow quickly in the short time that I've been blogging, and from what I've observed it can be as easy as just saying yes to an invitation to a local event, even if it is short notice and you have nothing to wear (haha!). As you may have read in my last post, this week has been full of full fashion related events and opportunities to network and hand out some business cards. I've been reaching out to more and more local bloggers and people working in the industry locally here in Portland, who have turned me on to some great opportunities, one of which I was lucky enough to attend last night! 

Earlier this week I ran into my friend Kristina at a different event, she creates for the blog Visual Treasure Hunt, amongst a myriad of other things she does (girl is the ultimate boss babe!). Kristina told me about the Portland Fashion and Style Awards that were only a few short days away, and urged me to go with her and a few other bloggers. Of course the first thing that went through my mind was, would I have enough time to find an amazing outfit?! But of course I was like DUH, I NEED TO BE AT THIS EVENT. 

Cut to last night, of course everyone was dressed up in their Portland best, which may be a little different (or a lot different) from many other larger city's award shows, but Portland for sure has one of the most interesting and creative fashion scenes in the country (aside from NY, in my opinion of course). Luckily I found this cute velvet dress the previous day, I envisioned it with a white bootie and that was as far as I had gotten but as I was getting ready I threw on my signature, leather moto jacket (who else has a lucky item of clothing?!)  and a metallic statement clutch and just went with it. 

There was a red carpet with a step and repeat

so lots of photo ops of which you'll see on my Instagram (obviously we shot the look seperately for this post) we also were interviewed for a magazine which I can't remember the name of now but I will post the interview when I find it! Kristina knew more people that I did so she introduced me to some really cool and interesting designers and creators who I hope to see more of at future events! 

The show was so fun! Hosted by local drag queen, and nonprofit volunteer, Poison Waters, who made an otherwise long and boring awards show hilarious and entertaining to watch. A few of the categories that were recognized included: best fashion publication, best fashion wardrobe stylist, best female and male model, there were awards for salons, local boutiques, photographers, fashion designers, amongst many others. You can imagine the length of the show. 

Overall I had an amazing time, and my outfit turned out better than I could have planned even if I had more that 3 days to do it! I can't wait to go back next year! 

As always, thanks for reading! 

xo

Summer Whites

My belly button is starting to show haha and yes, I made the rookie mistake of hairband on the wrist. Oops!

I'm totally obsessed with this cute white dress! I'm all about wearing crisp whites in the summer, and this year I'm loving white paired with denim. I ordered this Pink Blush dress in hopes to get it in time to wear to my baby shower, sadly it arrived two days after. That's okay, I still have plenty of time to wear it this summer! The great thing about the maternity dresses from Pink Blush is that they can also be worn after pregnancy and not look like a maternity piece! I know I already talked about this in my last post with this brand, but it excites me that I won't have to store away any of these beautiful dresses that I've gotten from their boutique when the baby is born. I'm totally going to continue wearing them all for as long as I can get away with! All of you non-pregnant babes can get away with wearing these Pink Blush pieces, but I also made sure to link this dress down below, it's one of my favorite white dresses that I own that I wore all the time pre-pregnancy. It's currently on sale for under $50 too!. I've featured this denim jacket before, it's my favorite denim jacket that I've had for going on four years now, and I still pull it out at least once a week. I'm also repeating these espadrilles (ultimate shoes of spring/summer 2017), can't get enough of these babies! Price per wear, totally worth it. Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! It finally stopped raining here in Portland, and I'm excited to finally be able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine! 

xo

How to be Stylish on a Budget

I am by no means an expert at saving money, I am a self-proclaimed shopaholic. As I've been planning for this baby that is coming in just a mere four months, I've realized that I may need to start budgeting myself a little bit better when it comes to buying things for myself, but since I work in fashion I still need to remain somewhat on top of the trends and keep my look as fresh as possible. How does one achieve this, you ask? Well, that's where this list of tips comes in! I spent some time going through my closet today and asking myself about each item. I realized I had a lot in there that I didn't love or hadn't worn in a long time, and then I noticed the pieces that I gravitate towards on a weekly basis... and I noticed a trend. Keep reading through these tips that I put together to create a functional wardrobe, to stay stylish and put together, without breaking the bank!

1. SHOP YOUR CLOSET

Before you go shopping, go through your closet and see what you're missing. I like to make mental notes (and even notes on my phone) when I'm getting ready in the morning. If I'm putting together an outfit and multiple times I'm without a key piece, this may be something that I need to buy. This mentality allows you to be intentional when you go to the mall or open up an online shopping site. Always go with a goal in mind of a piece that you know you are missing from your collection and that you NEED, stick to the list, don't stray! 

2. NEUTRALS ARE KEY

Neutrals are so important! It is so easy to be drawn to that beautiful floral dress, or that pink sweater, but when you're getting dressed, there is nothing easier than an all black ensemble! Think about it, this is my go-to look: black skinnies, white t-shirt, leather jacket, and black booties or nikes, so effortless and so chic! Also, all neutrals go together, believe me, any combo of grey, black, white, cream, tan, or brown can be mixed and matched endlessly. Some trendy colors that can be used similarly to neutrals include: olive, blush, and of course navy. 

3. STICK TO A THEME

This could mean anything really, it's all about how you interpret style. If you have all neutrals like me, that could be your theme. If you can't get on with the neutrals and you feel great wearing a particular color, stick with that color palette when you shop and it will be just as easy for you to mix and match and create looks within your theme. A theme could also mean any genre of style, you could buy classic tailored pieces, or more girly pieces, grungy, etc. 

4. THREE OUTFITS RULE

Every once and a while there will be a piece that you fall in love with and can't imagine life without. This happens to me basically on a daily basis (like I said, shopaholic). What I like to do when this happens to me, is think about three different ways that I can wear the piece. How many different items do I already own that I can create different looks with this piece? If I can only think of one outfit, I won't buy it.

5. SAVE ON CLOSET BASICS

This is a big one for me, I went through a phase where I thought it was so important to trade out all my Target tees for Alexander Wang tees. I really thought it would elevate my t-shirt collection and something magical would happen, when in fact, I still ended up wearing my trusty Target tees because the fit was better and they were more comfortable. Moral of the story: when it comes to basics, stick with the inexpensive brands, you'll be wearing them a ton and as long as you take care of them, the label at the top of the collar means nothing. From brand to brand they're often the same materials anyway, you're not even paying for superior quality, you're paying for a label.

PS. no one will know or care if your basic white tee is from Forever 21 or Rag and Bone. 

6. SPLURGE ON CLOSET STAPLES

Where you'll want to save money on your basics, on the other hand, you'll want to invest in some quality closet staples. I love wearing denim and leather jackets so the two items I invest in are premium denim and third pieces (jackets, vests, etc). When you spend a little bit more on quality pieces that you wear a lot, you'll be able to tell the difference in how they feel on your body, and how you look wearing them. Splurge on these items because you'll have them for a long time. Make sure you're paying for the quality and not just the label, look at the care instructions and the materials that the item is made out of, but most importantly make sure you feel amazing in it! Splurge on timeless accessories as well. If you want THAT particular designer bag, save up for it instead of settling for the knock-off or for one you aren't as stoked about. You'll be happier with the item, you'll feel so accomplished for saving up your own money for it, and it will be much higher quality than any other knock-off! Price per wear it will pay off in the long run! 

7. DON'T SPEND ON TREND

Trends are tricky. You'll see bloggers all over Instagram wearing the newest, trendiest pieces, and it's hard not to want them when you're bombarded with a million girls wearing the same new trend. My tip does not include avoid trends all together, just make sure that you are shopping at the right places for these trendy pieces. You won't be happy about dropping $200 on the new fad for it to suddenly go out of style next season (trust me, I've made this mistake before). Shop at discount stores/off price retailers such as Nordstrom Rack, or Saks off Fifth, Forever 21 and H&M are both great for affordable trendy pieces, Zara is also a personal favorite of mine. 

8. WHEN IN DOUBT, DONATE

Clean out your closet as often as you can! I usually go through my closet once a month and get rid of things that I'm unsure about. If it has been 6 months since I've worn an item, bye bye! If the piece is ripped, stained, or damaged beyond repair, toss it. If you don't reach for something because you don't feel confident in it, or don't like how it looks on you, sayonara! Only keep items in your wardrobe that make you excited to get dressed, everything should fit well and make you feel great, no exceptions! Once you start to regularly clean out your closet, you will notice yourself feeling less overwhelmed when getting dressed and more excited about the process. It will also take much less time when you love every piece that you own! You can even make money on items you don't want that are only gently worn. I use Poshmark to sell things that I don't wear anymore, and then I can use that money to budget into buying new pieces that I need!

9. TAKE CARE OF YOUR CLOTHES

Final and most important tip! Take care of your clothes! Lint roll when necessary, iron or steam out the wrinkles every time! Wash and hang dry to extend the life of your clothes (I hang dry everything). Store your clothes correctly, hang them when you can, and stuff your bags with paper to maintain shape. Expensive items can easily look cheap and bad when they aren't cared for correctly. Your Forever 21 top can look just as amazing as your top from Nordstrom as long as you make sure it is clean, and wrinkle free! 

Overall, just be super conscious of what you own, what you love, and what makes you feel amazing! None of these tips are set in stone, they are just what I like to follow as a general guideline, and have worked for me as I curate the perfect wardrobe for my lifestyle and budget!

Happy Thursday! 

xo

Here are a few of my favorite basics and current wardrobe staples:

Fall vibes

I fell in love with these pants the second I saw them. They are the perfect shade of green, I'm obsessed with them! They could almost pass as black, and of course since it is close to a neutral it works with every other piece of clothing I own #blackandwhiteforlife 

...also, chokers.

...Another trend I'm late to the game on, but this week I've already accumulated quite the collection. Our relationship moved fast and I'm sure it will end fast, but I'm enjoying it for the time being. I layered this f21 choker with a Topshop necklace from last year and it's just all sorts of good. 

As usual, I've linked everything at the bottom of the post for everything I'm wearing!

Hope everyone is having an amazing week!

Thanks for stopping by

xo

Pants here (size down one), scarf here, shirt similar here, my favorite booties here (size up 1/2 size), bomber jacket similar here, choker necklace here

Casual stripes + denim dinner date

I've been doing some major deal hunting lately and I found this metallic bag for just under 15 bucks a couple days ago. It's real leather and is a perfect sized tote for everything that I take to work with me on a daily basis. Plus it's unique and one can wear it as a neutral which is a definite asset in my book! 

I paired the look with gold jewelry since I'm still very much enjoying the mixed metals trend!

Tonight I wore this look to tapas with my boyfriend, we sat outside on the waterfront and listened to live music and it was an amazing end to my mid-week "weekend." 

Hope you all have had an amazing week

Thanks for reading!

xo

Dress similar here, and similar on sale here, shoes here, chambray top similar on sale here, and here, watch here (on sale!), silver bag similar here

Black, white, and Alexander Wang

This has been the longest week, EVER. Whew! In the small amount of time that I've had off from work, I've been putting outfits together with great pieces that are classic to my personal style and are permanent staples in my wardrobe. This is one of these outfits: long sleeveless jacket, mini-bag, nike's, everything neutral. I just feel better when I wear black and white, and since I've been working a lot lately I'm feeling most comfortable in outfits that are the truest to my personal style as well as easy to put together.

I automatically gravitate toward black, (so much actually, that I have to make sure I'm not wearing head to toe black on a daily basis) and it's super easy to grab a couple staples in shades of grey and white and they automatically go together, effortless! 

...I know it's been around for a while now, but I'm also still really loving the "athleisure" vibe, and wearing my Nike Juvenates with everything. Literally. I went a little crazy recently and bought a handful (yes I have a shopping problem) of athletic shoes in a range of styles/colors and my feet have never felt better!

PS. how cute is this bag?! Not only is the color on POINT, it is so edgy and cool (much like all of Alexander Wang's creations) It has matte black hardware including studs all over the bottom which makes it so different! It is the perfect size, because it looks like a mini-bag but it fits more than you'd expect. I've never had an issue fitting everything I need into this little guy, and as far as designer bags go, this one is on the affordable end of the spectrum! This particular color combination is exclusive to Nordstrom, they also have other color combinations to choose from, I'll leave it linked with the other outfit details below! 

Thanks for reading! xo

Alexander Wang bag here, Topshop vest similar here, Cupcakes and Cashmere top similar here, Topshop jeans here, and similar on sale here, Nike Juvenate sneakers here