Trendy Tuesday: Blazers and Button Ups

My name twin, Danielle, over at Goodwillista picked out my outfit for me today. We decided that we would look through each other's closets (a.k.a blog stalk) and give the other an outfit to wear with items from her closet. Danielle suggested my black and white striped blouse, flare jeans, skinny belt, and one of my many colored blazers. Her suggestion just so happened to coincide with this week's Trendy Tuesday, blazers and button ups, at my work. (Yes, we teachers pick a theme for getting dressed every Tuesday and grab a group shot at the end of the day.) 

When I informed my fourth period about today's theme, a five-minute debate ensued. Is it a button-up or a button-down shirt? I argued that the words were interchangeable because some people button from the bottom up and others bottom from the top down. I guess you could settle for the word oxford, yes? I don't know. Does it matter which name you give to it? 

Also, I plan to link up with Ginny and Jenn for Style Swap on Friday. (Click the link to learn more about it and join in on the fun!) After all, Danielle and I were pretty much swapping styles, right? Plus, I realized this outfit must have been channeling its inner Kendi. 

The Look:

Jeans: J Brand via TJ Maxx (similar from Gap)

Blouse: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's (similar from Gap)

Tank (under blouse): White House Black Market (exact--so worth every penny...it's the best tank I have EVER bought. It's comfortable, the right amount of spandex, and the perfect length)

Boots: b.o.c. via DSW 

Blazer: LOFT via thredUP (similar from Target) 

Necklace: Cannot remember...at all...

Linking up with

Style Sessions

The Pleated Poppy

Shanna

and 

Style Swap (on Friday)

Previously, I wore the pink blazer this way:

Far Out Friday

After I finished getting ready this morning, I walked into the living room and asked my husband, "Do I look like I belong in the 70s? Should we call it Disco Friday?" A few moments later he responded with, "Far Out Friday." He had me at alliteration. One of the many reasons I married that guy.

Also, I would like to rename this hairstyle, "So Easy a Danielle Could Do It." The sock bun? Horrible mess that ended in the sacrifice of far too many socks. The modified sock bun that involves a pre made mesh thing, which does not include the maiming of innocent socks? Better...as long as my hair is wet. Otherwise, with dry hair, I end up with uncovered sections of the pseudo sock thing. And alfalfa sprouts. So uncomely. FINALLY, I found a bun that I can do when I wake up late with curly hair frizzing out farther than I can extend my arms. It's perfect for women without really thick hair.

Yesterday, while perusing our good friend, Bloglovin', I saw a post by  Kate (who's going to be a mommy soon!), and I just love Kate. I have never met her in real life, but she seems sincerely sweet, and girlfriend knows how to do hair. The specific hairstyle I chose (of the three she demonstrates) is The Fancy Bun. I didn't pull out the two pieces of hair because, well, I felt that part made it fancy, and I didn't feel fancy this morning. I did, however, feel "far out." (My hair also felt far out. Thankfully, Kate's little tutorial fixed me right up.)

Pardon the awful quality. It's raining cats and dogs out there.

The Outfit:

Shirt: Old Navy

Sleeveless Cardigan: Gap Outlet

Necklace: The Limited

Bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction via Boscov's

Pants: J Brand via Marshall's

P.S. The hairstyle involves only a hair elastic and bobby pins. No need for socks or mesh or other complicated things. 

Emerald and Floral

After I buy new clothes, I make it a point to try on each item as a part of three, as-different-as-possible outfits. I thought I'd share two of today's shirts. (I also picked up two others, but my bedroom was wayyyy too hot to continue taking off and putting on clothes. I'll try again tomorrow. Maybe.)

I used gift cards for these two shirts.

The floral one is Lauren Conrad's via Kohl's and the emerald green one is Apt.9 also from Kohl's.

Floral Top

Outfit 1

This skirt has pockets, so I love it. I have yet to wear it (stupid!). Now that I have the perfect shirt for it, I think I'll wear it for Back to School Night on Tuesday. Genius.

This outfit might seem too "spring," but I think some brown boots and a solid color scarf will take it right into cooler weather. It's still in the 80s and 90s, so it's fine or now. 

 Outfit 2

Good grief, this outfit is warm. It's perfect for cooler weather. The blazer dresses it up for work. A pair of olive dress pants (in place of these pants) would make it even more work appropriate. However, skinny pants are acceptable at my school. I need a longer, gold pendant necklace to complete the ensemble.

Outfit 3

Perfect for a casual Friday at work. 

I think this top would work well with white jeans, maybe with an olive green button up thrown over it. 

Any other suggestions?

Emerald Blouse

Outfit 1

Probably my favorite of the three outfits. I just love emerald, black, and white together. Almost as much as I love cobalt, black, and white together. Almost. I'm so wearing this outfit to work when it's not a billion degrees in my classroom.

(I also wore these pants this way.)

 Outfit 2

I've worn this paisley skirt before (here), and I like it with emerald. I could've tucked the shirt, but I decided to create tucked and tied looks with this shirt. 

I like this necklace that a friend bought for me, so I decided to wear it a bit like a "bow" tie with this top. Look at me being all clever. Yeah, I went with emerald, black, and white/silver again. What of it?

Feel free to throw some more ideas my way! 

Go on and make these shirts worthy of staying in my closet. 

Oh, and is anyone else as obsessed with Lauren Conrad's clothing line as I am?

Orange Blazer & Navy Stripes

FYI: This post was inspired by Marionberry Style's stripes challenge, but I had to wear this outfit on Monday, not Wednesday, because I just couldn't control myself!

Allow me to show you my weekend (after I recovered from a wicked sinus infection) in pictures.

My parents, Jeff, and I went to see the lights since it was the last weekend.

You drive around, listen to a specific radio station, and watch the lights dance to the tunes.

Is it normal to feel motion sickness because the lights are flashing too quickly for your brain to process them? Yeah, I didn't think it was normal either.

At the same place, there's an arcade when you park at the end of the light show.

Mom and Jeff battled in Dance Dance Revolution. I have no pictures of that wondrous sight. Only videos. However, Dad and Jeff faced off in Nascar. It went something like this:

Jeff earned first place. 

Dad earned 24th/25th.

He then proclaimed, "I am going to throw up. This stuff messes with your head. Jeff, how do you do this stuff?" Jeff probably said something about Dad being a pansy. I probably laughed.

Yes, that blur is Dad's middle finger. Yes, it's on purpose.

We then went to this delicious Italian restaurant that even served gluten-free pizza for me!

My pretty Momma.

She made my WARM gray scarf :)

I keep telling her that she needs an Etsy shop.

Apparently, he's pretending to shoot something. 

This is Dad's smile. 

Now that you've enjoyed my weekend, too, I'll introduce you to today's outfit. 

One student told me that I looked like a hippy.

To that, my husband said, "A very dressy hippy. A 'dippy'."

Here's why today was awesome:

1. I had enough time to blow dry my hair this morning. 

2. I watched three people get popped by radar. I was not one of them. 

3. I switched it up and wore jeans on a Monday. I was sick on Friday, so I couldn't wear my jeans to work. I wanted a do over, so I let myself have one. 

4. I wore stripes.

5. I wore a blazer.

6. I wore a bright color (my favorite kind of color).

7. My legs were excited for extra space in pants that weren't "skinny."

8. Some long awaited packages finally arrived on my porch today :)

For the record, my blazer is a deep orange, NOT red.

When my husband makes me laugh, I lose my eyes.

Outfit Deets:

Blazer: J.Lo via Kohl's (exact for $24--use that Kohl's cash!)

Top: Express (here's one for $29.99)

Pants: J Brand via TJ Maxx (This pair from Uniqlo is $19.90)

Shoes (brown wedges): Aerosole's via Marshall's (these are kind of cute)

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Watch: Timex via Kohl's 

I do hope your weekend was enjoyable :) 

Linking up with Mode Monday and YOLO Mondays.