May Outfit Inspiration Calendar

Happy 1 year anniversary, Outfit Inspiration Calendar!!

Monday, 5/3 - Color Combo: Magenta, Black & White
Tuesday, 5/4 - Try a Tied Cardi
Wednesday, 5/5 - Preppy With a Twist: Knock 'em Out Neon Color Combo
Thursday, 5/6 - Pair Denim w/ Florals
Friday, 5/7 - Pair a Pretty Cardi & Necklace
Saturday, 5/8 - Pattern: Florals

Monday, 5/10 - Add some Flower Brooches to a Dress
Tuesday, 5/11 - Colors: Earthy Neutrals
Wednesday, 5/12 - Accessories: Scarf & Necklaces
Thursday, 5/13 - Top a Skirt w/ a White Cardi
Friday, 5/14 - White Shirt & Statement Necklace Combo
Saturday, 5/15 - Casual in Denim & Stripes

Monday, 5/17 - Pretty Tee & Skirt Combo
Tuesday, 5/18 - More Stripes!!
Wednesday, 5/19 - Jacket/Maxi Dress Combo
Thursday, 5/20 - Florals, Polka Dots & Denim - Pick at least 2 out of 3!
Friday, 5/21 - Criss-Cross an Oxford (buttons are boring!)
Saturday, 5/22 - Non-Hippie Tie-Dye

Monday, 5/24 - Bow & Cardi Combo
Tuesday, 5/25 - Color Combo: Black, White & Khaki
Wednesday, 5/26 - Summery Skirt
Thursday, 5/27 - Pull a Carrie w/ Purple, Pink & Yellow! (SATC 2 Comes Out Today!!)
Friday, 5/28 - Be a rule breaker - Pull out the White Jeans today!
Saturday, 5/29 - Color Combo: White & Khaki (pair with crop pants)

Sync up with the Outfit Inspiration Calendar for easy access:

This month's looks are from the following:

CAbi Canary Blog, Lands End Canvas, Preppy With a Twist Blog, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Ann Taylor Loft, Chicos, Shock Boutique, Lane Bryant, All You Magazine, Banana Republic, New York Times, Lucky Magazine, Shop Ruche

Daily Outfit - 04/30/10

Yay it's Friday!! That is about all I have to say! An easy dress seemed like the way to go.

Tie-Dye Dress - Burlington Coat Factory, $17 (April 2010)
Purple Cardi - Target, $20 (Fall 2008)
Necklace - Anthropologie, clearance for $30 (Feb. 2010)
Shoes - I think maybe TJ Maxx, ?? (2007?)

I posted some new items on my Fab Finds Shop - scarves, Cole Haan Purses, Brahmin Wallet, Linea Pelle Belt. Check it out!

Best Marshall’s Find & Giveaway

You might have noticed that I have been rockin' some great Marshall's finds lately (like this jacket you all loved, the cardi today, and several more things). As they say, "It pays to be shopportunistic" - their stores are seriously chalked full of fabulous finds (and oh so many under $50).

On a recent visit there I spotted Coach Clogs (hello, one of the hottest shoe trends this season) for $69!! That is way less than 1/2 of the normal retail price. BCBG Tunics for $25 that still had their regular retail price tags on them for $180 (I'll do the math for you - that is 86% off regular retail!) The great thing is they have stuff for the whole family - misses/plus sizes, men, kids, intimates, killer mega shoe section, purses, health & beauty products, home goods and more. I do believe if you Google "Heaven on Earth" you just might find a picture of Marshalls!

Recently, Marshalls invited me to participate in their 10 Best Finds Contest where I had the chance to shop and share my great items along with 9 other bloggers. The slideshow below showcases my items along with the other bloggers.

Now here is where the fun really begins! The blogger voted to have the "Best Finds" wins a $250 Gift Card to Marshall's (vote for me!). To make it even sweeter for all you fabulous readers - with every vote you place for me you will get a chance to win a $50 gift card to Marshall's (and if I win I will be sure to share that too!).

Check out all the great finds below and vote (subliminal message - FAB FINDS UNDER 50)!

How to enter:
1/ Each person can vote for a blogger one time per day now through May 16 - when you vote for me, come back here and leave a comment on this post saying you voted for me (be sure to do it the same day you voted for me). That is 18 chances right there!

2/ Extra chance - follow @marshalls on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you have.

3/ Extra chance - leave a comment sharing your best Marshalls find.

That is 20 chances to win all together!! Thanks in advance, dolls, for giving me a good shot at winning!

I will randomly select a winner from all of the entries on Monday, May 17.

~~*~~*~~*~~

Recap of my Best Finds from Marshalls:

Jeans - paperdenim&cloth jeans
The light wash with white stitching is perfect for spring and summer
Marshall's Price - $19.99
Original Retail Price Tag was still on the jeans for $98 (Hello, 80% savings!)

Ruffle Tank - such a great on-trend item and perfect for spring/summer layering
Marshall's Price - $14.99
Compare at - $25.00

Printed Cardigan (Carol Little) - great mix of spring/summer color, and I can't wait to pair with a striped tee and white jeans
Marshall's Price - $19.99
Compare at - $35.00

Khaki Trench/Anorak Jacket (Kenar) - The perfect jacket to pair with cuffed jeans on a spring day or swap the belt out and wear with a pair of black pants for a great work look.
Marshall's Price - $29.00
Compare at $67.00

Daily Outfit - 04/29/10

The happy hour I attended yesterday after work had "Hump Day Haiku" which inspired me to write a little haiku about my great new cardigan sweater - love the colors and pattern!

Marvelous Cardi
Pulling it All Together
Looking like I thought

Today was one of those mornings that I needed something simple to throw on, but would appear pulled together. Cardigans (especially patterned ones) are a great item for that. They can add color and dimension, define your shape without a belt and more.

Cardigan - compliments of Marshalls ($20, April 2010)
White Tee - compliments of Marshalls ($12, April 2010)
Black Harem Pants - Fashion Bug, clearance for $7.50 (on sale for $12 currently, April 2010)
Black Peep Toe Sling Backs - Unisa/TJ Maxx, $35 (2006) with DIY Shoe Embellishment by me
Necklace - Avon, clearance for $6 (Feb. 2010)

Have a haiku to share about your favorite clothing item? Please do!

Guest Blogger - Workin' the Wedges

I did a guest post for Jen over at Passion for Plus Size Fashion showcasing hot wedge sandals with a variety of looks, including items from her great ebay store.

Click here for the post.

Reader Question - Style This Top!

Hi Kimberly! love you blog!! I am hoping you can help me. Aside from pairing it with gray or khaki pants, I would like your suggestions on any other ways to wear it! I hope you can help. Thank you :)

Natalie

Gorgeous top, Natalie, and with that pretty pink color you can go in a multitude of directions. You can dress it up, dress it down and pair it with a ton of colors - turquoise, yellow, navy, gray, black, olive green, khaki, denim and more. Below are just a few of the combos that come to mind utilizing this top. Have fun with it!

Set includes items from Old Navy, Target, NY & Company, Gap, Kohl's, Inexpensive Watches, and 6pm - for more specifics click here.

Daily Outfit - 04/28/10

I wasn't really feeling it in this outfit this morning, but I have received a lot of compliments already. April has been a tricky month for dressing with the wide variance in temps and not being ready for my true summer stuff yet.

The one thing I do love about the outfit - the shoes!! I ordered these last week from Coach and while they weren't under $50 they were on sale. I know they will be my go-to summer heels (kind of like the Michael Kors ones I wore all the time this past winter)!

Black Maxi Dress - Target, $22 (April 2010) (on sale this week for $18!)
Cardi - TJ Maxx, $20 (April 2009)
Black Belt - mark/Avon, $8 (2007)
Evie Heels - Coach (April 2010)
White Watch -Inexpensive Watches, $23 (March 2010)

Reader Question - Maxi Dresses for Petites

I love how you are able to wear the maxi dresses! I want to know if I can pull it off too. I'm pretty short--about 5'1 and I have curves that goes on for days :). Will I look too stumpy? How can I pull of this look?
-Ann


(Side Note: Who else is super excited for SATC 2? When I saw this question about maxi dresses I immediately had a flash back to this scene from the first SATC movie - love these ladies!)

Ann, I can see why you would proceed with caution with maxi dresses given your height. However, I think you can do it!! I gave it some thought and here are some tips that I think might help.

~* Since maxi dresses have a lot of fabric that can swallow up your petite stature choose a style that is a bit form fitting (not tight, but skims over your body a bit more closely) - wear it too loose and the extra fabric will simply eat you up!

~* Grab one that has some structure with a defined waist (or empire waist) or add a belt at the skinniest part of your torso.

~* Keep the neckline in mind and grab a v-neck one to elongate your figure.

~* Don't forget to grab a pair of wedge sandals to add a little height.

~* Look for maxi dresses in solid colors as a wild pattern can also overwhelm your frame.

~* Check the petites section for maxi dresses or have them hemmed. The quickest way to make yourself look even shorter is have a puddle of fabric on the ground around your feet.

Set includes dressed from Target, Kohl's, Old Navy and NY & Co - for more specifics click here.

I answered a similar reader question last summer for a 5'4" Plus Size Gal. At the time I mentioned "I have avoided maxi dresses so far simply because I don't think they are the "best look" for me." My how things have changed over the past year. I now own 5 and could easily add several more. :-)

Daily Outfit - 04/26/10

Good morning, lovelies! I hope you all had a great weekend. It is a bit chillier again today, plus gray skies so pulling on a pair of tights sounded like a good idea. Also, I looked to the Inspiration Calendar for the outfit idea of "Black Dress with White and Red". I modified it a bit by doing a black and white dress with white and red.

Dress - Thrifted/NWT Style & Co., $9 (Spring 2009)
White Jacket - Kmart, clearance for $15 (July 2009)
Black Patent Belt - Target, $15 (2008)
Heels - Cole Haan/TJ Maxx, $35 (Fall 2009)
Necklace - QVC, 1 of 3 for $20 (Early Spring 2010)

Speaking of the Inspiration Calendar, I will be putting the finishing touches on May's this month. I just need a couple of more looks. Have an idea? Send me a picture and description or leave a comment.

Fab Finds Shop

Over the weekend I decided to clean out a few items and while most of it will be donated to various charities I thought I would post some of the higher end items in the newly created "Fab Finds Shop". Around here we all love good deals, so I thought I would share some with you.

To access my store, click on the upper right hand page titled "Fab Finds Shop" and click on the link from there.

Some of the items currently up for sale are:
BCBG Sweaters
Coach Flats
Coach Wedges
Longchamp Purse
Cole Haan Purse
Tommy Hilfiger Purse
Latico Purse
Coach Purses
Liz Claiborne Laptop/Work Bag
Banana Republic Blazer
Steve Madden Heels
Colin Stuart Studded Heels
I will be adding more and more things over the next couple of weeks so be sure to check back often.


Any questions, let me know!

Perricone Cold Plasma Winner!!

Thanks to everyone that entered the giveaway for the Perricone Cold Plasma. The randomly selected winner is . . . Nicole!!

Nicole, I sent you an email, so be sure to respond by the end of the day on Tuesday with your address.

Forum Question - What to Wear Oxfords With?

This isn't an actual reader question, but I was checking out the new Forums over on The Budget Babe Site and came across this question. I made a couple of quick Polyvore Sets with my outfit ideas and thought I would share them here too (especially since I mentioned oxfords as a good closed toed shoe option for spring/summer).

How should I pair these metallic oxfords? BB had them in a post way back when. I slowly waited for them to go on super clearance. They are shinier in person and more masculine than I thought, especially with the small (flat) heel. How can I still pull them off?! (Click here to see a picture of the exact shoes)

Sets feature items from Old Navy, NY & Company, Forever 21 and Affordable Scarves.
For brand/store specifics click here.

Daily Outfit - 04/23/10 & I Support Curves!

I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of today's outfit (but made a Polyvore set), but it is pretty simple with it really being all about the shoes!! I received my Cynthia Vincent for Target Wedges in the mail yesterday and just had to debut them. Ends up I paired them with a Target maxi dress and cropped cardigan too. I wasn't joking when I said maxi dresses are going to be my summer uniform this year!

Black Maxi - Target, $22 (April 2010)
Black Cropped Cardi - Target, $15 (April 2010)
Yellow Necklace - Vintage/Thrifted, $2 (2008)
Bangles - Burlington Coat Factory, $4 (April 2010)
Wedges - Cynthia Vincent for Target, $30 (April 2010)

Now, I am going to get off my normal track for just a moment. As a supportor of real women and curves and of Lane Bryant, I just have to share this for those of you that may not of heard and/or read about it earlier in the week.

Lane Bryant recently had a commercial for their Cacique Intimates line come under heavy scrutiny by ABC and Fox. From Lane Bryant's "Inside Curve" page, "ABC refused to show the commercial during “Dancing with the Stars” without restricting our airtime to the final moments of the show. Fox demanded excessive re-edits and rebuffed it three times before relenting to air it during the final 10 minutes of “American Idol,” but only after we threatened to pull the ad buy." The reason, "too much cleavage".

The commercial shows the gorgeous Ashley Graham looking fierce with her curves wearing a bra and panties for most of the commercial. Hmm, seems pretty much like Victoria's Secret commercials that seem to be on every channel at every time of day. Is this a major case of double standards going on in the battle of "Skinny" vs. "Plus Size". What do you think?

Watch the commercial below:



Want to show support for curves and Lane Bryant? Tweet them @lanebryant, leave a comment on the YouTube Page or on their Inside Curve page.

Daily Outfit - 04/22/10

I have an "industry function" this evening, so I needed an outfit that would take me from 7 am to probably 9 pm or so. The function isn't anything formal (hello, Casino Night - here is hoping I win something cool!), but I wanted something that was chic yet comfy. Luckily I scored this great jacket at Marshalls and knew creating an outfit with it would give me just what I was looking for.

This jacket fills my quest for a neutral trench/anorak styled jacket rather nicely. On casual days I can use the tie belt that came with it and on others I can swap out the belt like I did today, plus the buttons, ruffle detailing and sleeves are fantastic extra touches. Also, these pants show off my Panther Heels wonderfully! The last (and only) time I wore them they were pretty covered up.

Jacket - courtesy of Marshalls ($29, April 2010)
White Shirt - Dialogue/QVC Brand NWT via Selective Seconds Consignment, $3 (Dec. 2009)
Black "Skinny" Pants - Burlington Coat Factory, $17 (April 2010)
Belt - Target New Stock @ Goodwill, $1 (March 2010)
Panther Heels - White House/Black Market @ TJ Maxx, $35 (March 2010)
Crystal Necklace - I made it back in 2007
Clear Bracelet - Claire's NET via Selection Seconds Consignment, $2 (March 2010)

Thanks for all the comments about Target and their Plus Size section. I sent Target an email inquiring yesterday also out of curiosity. I received a pretty lame response (which I have posted in yesterday's comments), but at least they responded same day!

Beauty Ticket - VIP Pass

Daily Outfit - 04/21/10

I feel like I should be headed to a BBQ instead of work today, but I don't have any external meetings so why not rock the maxi dress. This cardi is the perfect topper too because it is a lightweight tee material so it doesn't add too much warmth to the outfit.

Maxi Dress - Target*, $22 (Summer 2009)
Brown Knit Cardi - Walmart, clearance for $7 (Jan. 2010)
Turquoise Necklace - Avon, clearance for $15 (2007)
Snakeskin Belt - NY & Co, $10? (2008)
Wedge Sandals - Target, $25 (April 2010)

*Speaking of Target, one of my co-workers mentioned that her local Target store did away with Plus Sizes and was told that those sizes weren't Target's "focus". While I seldom buy plus sizes at Target since I can wear items from their Misses Sections I was really surprised to hear this. They just recently introduced the "Pure Energy" line for Plus Sizes. Now I am wondering if it is just at that store or Target on a whole. Has anyone else heard about this?

Three Designing Women Stamper - Winner

A big thanks to everyone that entered to win the Three Designing Women Custom Stamp and to Erin with TDW for offering this great giveaway! The randomly selected winner is . . . Andrea!!

Andrea, I sent you an email, so be sure to respond by the end of the day on Thursday with your address.

Speaking of giveaways, don't forget you can still enter to win the Perricone MD Cold Plasma now through Friday! Click here to enter!

Reader Question - Accessorizing Embellished Tops

While going through my closet this past weekend, I noticed I have a lot of shirt with embroidery or other embellishments around the neckline. I also realized that I hardly ever wear these shirts because I'm not sure how to accessorize them. With such detail at the neckline, a necklace seems like overkill, but without I feel under-dressed or incomplete. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much! I really LOVE you're blog!
~Brooke

Brooke, thanks so much for the question and for providing pictures of tops like the ones you are talking about.

(pictures submitted by reader)

I focus on accessorizing with necklaces a lot of the time too, but when wearing tops like these it is a great time to experiment with other accessories. Since the neckline doesn't need any additional adornment try adding a pair of oversize earrings, a fun ring or a stack of bangles, and don't forget that a pair of brightly colored shoes can add a lot to your outfit also! You can even go all out and add a couple of these items!

Accessories Shopping Guide - click here.

Items featured are from Forever 21, 6pm.com, Kmart and Target.

Reader Question - Tunic Outfits?

Hello! I'm a frequent reader of your blog and I'm writing to request your assistance in a fashion dilemma I'm having. I recently purchased this ruffled chambray tunic from Kohl's. I really like the soft and airy feeling of the chambray and the longer style of the tunic. It hides my mommy rear.

After I got it home, I slipped it on with a pair of skinny jeans and sandals. It just looked so drab! It just hung there. I tried fashioning the included sash type belt in different ways. I tried adding a belt from my own wardrobe. It still looked frumpy.

Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much for your help!!
-Maggie

Maggie, are you sure you weren't just having an off day the first time you tried on this tunic? The outfit you described is exactly one that popped into my mind when I saw the tunic. I even like the idea of swapping out the tie-belt with a "real" belt. I think you should give it a go again. :-)

Shopping Guide for above outfit.

Another option would be to layer a bright cropped cardi over the tunic and pair with some slim fit ankle length pants. The coral cardi below is from Old Navy, but these are great from Target too (they are like a slub knit tee material so they will be still be lightweight enough for summer).

Shopping Guide for above outfit.

Lastly, layer the tunic unbuttoned over a simple knit dress - add a belt and some wedge sandals and you are good to go.

Shopping Guide for above outfit.

I hope you can make this tunic work for you because it is really cute! Good luck, Maggie!

Items showcased from Kohl's, Target, Old Navy, Fashion Bug, and Kmart.

Daily Outfit - 04/19/10

Wow, Monday came way to fast!! It looks like my camera was having a sleepy time too this morning as the couple of snaps I took all turned out blurry. Oh well! As you can see I looked to the Inspiration Calendar today and wore a "Belted Vest" and even took it one step further by wearing the same scarf as the picture showed in the magazine.

Black/White Dress - Avenue, on sale for $20 (2008)
Denim Vest - NY & Co, $25? (Sprin 2009)
Scarf - Old Navy, clearance for $9 (April 2010)
Necklace - Burlington Coat Factory, $8 (Dec. 2009)
Heels - Michael Kors/6pm.com, $55 (Dec. 2009)

Inspiration from Lucky Magazine's 30 Outfit Spread in April's Issue.

~*~Reminder~*~
Today is the last day to enter to win the customized stamp from Three Designing Women. The randomly selected winner will be announced tomorrow! All entries must be made on the original post - click here.