Hollow City-Inspired Outfit

And I'm back!  I had a week to enjoy my family and collect my thoughts and now we're back into our normal schedule!

Before Thanksgiving break, I reviewed Ransom Riggs' Hollow City, the second book in the Miss Peregrine series.  I love this series and have already planned to read Library of Souls over Christmas break.

Earlier this year I designed my own outfit to fit the Miss Peregrine series, but today I thought I'd share an outfit geared toward one of the characters--Fiona.  Fiona is a very minor character in this book; in fact, she's not in the book for the second half.  But I'm so intrigued by her.  She loves Hugh but they're very quiet about their admiration for each other.  She doesn't talk because of a previous trauma in life.  She's reserved but steps in when needed and obviously loves the other peculiars.  So I decided to design a contemporary outfit based off her peculiarity with nature. 

Here it is!

So again, this is an outfit I designed based off of her character--not something I think she would wear.  That's what I love about this blog--I get to take characters and represent them through current fashion.

Here are the details:

• Since Fiona is all about nature, I found a leaf print blouse.  I love the variation in greens, and I think the color pairs nicely with the burgundy corduroy skirt.  These have a definite nature feel.
• The shoes and accessories again bring in a feminine yet rustic look.  Tall brown boots give the outfit an outdoor feel, and the brown watch and gold leaf earrings are simply yet sweet.

What do you think?  Would YOU wear an outfit like this?

To find all the individual pieces of the outfit, check out this resources link.

Many more book reviews/outfits coming up in the next few weeks! 

Positive-Inspired Outfit

Wow, what a week in my house!  The stomach bug hit our house like a tornado!  And man have we been wiped out.  My littlest guy had it, then me, and then my husband.  Let's just hope my other son stays away from it all!

So that's why I've been MIA...but I can't wait to share with you today's outfit!  It's inspired by Paige Rawl and her book Positive.  And I think this outfit is a home run--let me explain why.  Here's the outfit:

Ahhh, I would totally wear this outfit to work, on a date--you name it!

• I did a little snooping and discovered that Paige loves animal print.  So I started with this really chic leopard blouse.  This is a great statement piece, because it can be dressed down, made fancy, etc.
• Red is a strong color in Paige's book as it represents AIDS Awareness, so I added a bright red blazer.  This adds a pop of color, and I love me some color.
• Black skinny pants complete the basics of the look and keep the attention on top.
• These heel booties are hot and dress up the outfit.
• A gold cuff bracelet adds a little accessory and brings out the gold tones in the blouse.

Ok, I want this outfit in my closet now...what do you all think?  A trendy outfit that highlights Paige's love of leopard and her passion for HIV and AIDS awareness.

Want more info on the pieces in the outfit?  Click here!

More reviews and outfits coming up--stay tuned!

1930s-Inspired Outfit

Last week I posted a review on Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz, a story of Yanek, a boy who survived TEN concentration camps and TWO death marches during WWII.  So today's outfit is 1930s/1940s-inspired; it's not a straight-up inspiration of the Holocaust, because let's be honest, that would be horrible on many levels.  But it's based off the inspiration of the time period.  After all, Yanek's character was fascinated by movies and society life.

And here it is:

 Ahh, don't you just wish that this was normal attire again?!

• I think a blouse was a staple item in women's closets at the time.  I love the richness in this burgundy one and how it brightens up and balances the black pieces.
• A black pencil skirt--women were always in skirts, and this one has remained a timeless, stylish piece.
• Don't you love that hat?  Women also frequently wore hats outdoors, and this small-brimmed hat adds some "adorable" into the look.
• These strapped sweetheart heels were typical of the time and very lady-like.  A delicate heel for the "delicate" ladies of the time.
• I had to add a cute little necklace, and this gold glasses necklace was perfect!  Dainty jewelry was the style, but this one adds some personality.

So what do you think?  Could you see a woman of the 30s/40s wearing this out on the town?

I'll be back tomorrow with a review on a nonfiction book that will inspire you to live life to the fullest!

Want a closer look at the outfit pieces?  Click here!

The Testing-Inspired Outfit

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  

Last week I reviewed The Testing by Joelle Charboneau, a book that unfortunately I think I read too late in the dystopian fandom.  Meaning I've read so many dystopian books by this point that it just seemed like a combination of other well-known dystopian books.  Even the cover reminds me of a mockingjay/Catching Fire clock, which is just a shame.  

But Cia was an interesting protagonist, and we really get to see what she's made of in the final round of the Testing.  She's trekking across the country, avoiding possible enemies that are posing as alliances and watching out for deadly traps.  So I was definitely inspired by her character for an outfit.  I knew I wanted it to be rugged with a bit of practicality and yet still girly.  And here's what I designed:

Let's break it down:

• Notice that there are no bright colors here.  Cia is not bubbly, super smiley, or just out loud.  So her colors needed to be muted and even a little natural.
• I paired black skinny jeans with a leopard print tank top.  The print isn't too in-your-face and emphasizes Cia's ability to use nature wisely.  An olive cardigan over top is practical and dulls down the brightness in the top.
• Black slouch boots are totally what I picture someone wearing while trying to survive.
• The gold bracelet is just to add in a little femininity.  Keeps the outfit from looking too plain.

So what do you think?  An appropriate outfit for someone who's trying to stay safe in a dangerous situtation?

Skinny Jeans--Michael Kors  
Sleeveless Blouse--Keira Mischeivous
Cardigan--Lookbook
Boots--Diva Lounge 
Bracelets--Wet Seal

Tomorrow I'll be showing off some more library artwork--come back to check it out!

*I am not associated with any companies/products mentioned.

The Loners-Inspired Outfit

Hi, readers and fashionistas!

I recently reviewed the book The Loners from the Quarantine series by Lex Thomas (which is two guys, by the way--Lex and Thomas).  I gave it 5 high heels because I loved every minute of reading it (even when I was horrified and closing my eyes!).  So today's outfit is inspired by that book...let's jump into it!

In the book, the teens stuck inside their high school divide into different groups based on their cliques.  You've got the jocks (called Varsity), the geeks, the sluts, the artsy, etc.  And they wear different colors to identify their specific clique.  Today's outfit focuses on Varsity's girlfriends--the preppy girls.  They still try to look as stylish as possible and they are basically at Varsity's beck and call.  Not the nicest girls on the block (as the stereotype of preppy girls would suggest), and they can turn downright violent when they need to.  Trust me on that--you'll have to read the book to see how violent they get!

The preppy girls wear yellow, so that's obviously the inspiration for the outfit.  How do you focus on a single color in your outfit without it being overbearing?  Here's what I came up with:

I can totally see a preppy girl wearing this in The Loners, so let me explain why:

• Obviously the skinny pants emphasize the main color of the outfit--yellow.  Skinny pants are all the rage right now, so a popular girl would choose those over a boot cut.
• A white lacy blouse gives off a feminine touch.
• The daisy necklace is also a soft touch to the outfit while still adding yellow touches.  And even though these girls are definitely not the sweetest or softest, they often give the illusion of being so.
• Gold gladiator sandals and yellow stacked bracelets accent the outfit well without giving off a yellow explosion.

So what do you think?  Would you wear this?  Think it fits the girls in The Loners? How would you design an outfit around the color yellow?

Pants--House of Fraser
Blouse--Rag and Bone 
Necklace--Boohoo
Sandals--Sam Edelman
Bracelets--Chan Luu 

*I am not associated with any companies/products mentioned. 

Check back tomorrow for another review--on a book that I surprisingly enjoyed!

172 Hours on the Moon-Inspired Outfit

Hey there, readers and fashionistas!

It's been a busy few days around here--I turned 32 yesterday and had a day full of surprises!  I had a surprise lunch with my family at a local restaurant, received sweet gifts, and had a date night with the hubby...a great way to bring in 32!
And today I started potty training our oldest...whew, what a lot of work!  Feeling a bit tired from that, for sure!

Today's post is an outfit inspired by 172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad.  This space thriller had such a creepy concept and even more chilling ending, and I knew it would be fun to design an outfit for it.

The outfit, though, is mostly designed around NASA and its work within the book.  So clean lines, astronaut-like accessories, and spacesuit-like colors.  Here it is:

Here's the breakdown:

• I knew I wanted white and navy as the main colors--white since that's the infamous spacesuit color and navy because it hinted at a nationality (since our history is filled with countries having pride of their space programs).  This blouse reminded me of a flag and had a clean design.  I envision NASA having particular meaning behind all their designs, so a flag-like blouse seemed like the perfect choice.
• The white leather jacket and white boots reminded me of astronaut spacesuit features, but they aren't over the top.
• Skinny jeans sink to the background and make the other pieces the main focus.
• Circular hoops have a planet/rings subtlety and are classic.

So what do you think?  Do you see the space connection?

My friend Emily challenged me to a Book Blogging Test, so I'll be posting that and another review/outfit this week.  See you back here!

Blouse--Modcloth

Jeans--Mango

Jacket--House of Holland

Boots--Rag & Bone

Earrings--Nine West

*I am not associated with any of the companies/products mentioned.

OOTD--A Pop of Lime

Hey, readers and fashionistas!  

Today I'm bringing you my own outfit--I just love Outfit of the Day posts, and it appears that you all do, too!  

With Spring slowly making its way into our lives, I've started adding a lot of color into my wardrobe.  Today's outfit does just that--it adds a burst of lime.  And lime is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors.  I've used it in my living room (lime curtains) and it really brightens up the space!

So here's my look:

Yep, just hanging out on my front porch in my cute wedges...

I am all about skinny jeans...I seriously can't fathom wearing "non-skinnies" on a regular basis.  I paired my dark jeans with a white and black polka-dot top with the cutest tie in the front.  Just darling and 1950s!  I added the lime cardigan to brighten it all up (sorry the color isn't as vibrant in the photo!).

For accessories I chose a white bangle, black dangly earrings, and THE MOST COMFORTABLE wedges I've ever owned.  Seriously--like walking on clouds.

A closer look at the accessories...and I was having a decent hair day!

So how are you embracing Spring in your wardrobe?  Do you have any lime pieces?  Share!

Jeans--American Eagle

Blouse and Cardigan--LOFT

Bracelet and Earrings--unknown (I've had for awhile)

Wedges--DSW

I'll be back tomorrow with a new book review!  See you then!

Rapture Practice-Inspired Outfit

Hey, readers and fashionistas!

Yesterday I reviewed Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler, a book that had me laughing, gasping, and sighing in frustration.  Seriously, friends--such a good book!

So in designing an outfit based off the book, I thought it would be fitting (no pun intended!) to design a conservative outfit that still looked chic.  Aaron's mother dressed very conservatively (and only wore skirts/dresses), so I wanted to design a current, updated look that hopefully even she would approve.

So here it is:

Think it would get Aaron's family's approval?

I'll break it down:

• Maxi skirts are ALL the rage for about the second year in a row.  You're going to especially see them everywhere with the spring and summer seasons approaching.  This skirt has a trendy chevron design, and what could be more classic than black and white?  This skirt could be paired with just about anything.
• Denim shirts are also really big right now (and also go with just about anything), so I paired this with the skirt and tucked it in for a cleaner look.
• I added the necklace to give a POP on the top of the outfit.
• Gladiator sandals are cute but not over-the-top.
• OPI's Bubble Bath nail polish is soft, gentle, and feminine.  I didn't think Aaron's mother would go for a bright teal or yellow polish!  

So what do you think?  Would you wear this outfit?  Do you see someone who is very conservative wearing it?

Tomorrow I'll be back to share another outfit from my own wardrobe.  See you then!

Shirt--Lucky
Skirt--Boohoo Mysha
Necklace--Aldo
Sandals--Nine West
Nail Polish--OPI "Bubble Bath"

OOTD--Getting Ready for Spring!

Hey everyone!

Today I'm showing off an outfit I recently put together to get me in the mood for Spring!  The new season is kind-of upon us and there's nothing that makes me feel better than putting together fun, bright colors in an outfit.

Here's a photo that I took in my library...and now that I look at it, it kind of has a cute-librarian look, too!

 Don't you love the blues and corals mixed together?

Denim shirts are staple pieces right now because they can be dressed up or down in so many ways!  I paired this light denim shirt with dark denim skinny jeans and bright accessories. 

The teal polka dots on the cardigan are so sweet, and I love the complementary corals in the necklace and flats.  I added some teal chevron stacking bracelets for that extra pop of color.

Cardigan--Target (only $15!)

Shirt--Charlotte Russe

Necklace--Charlotte Russe

Bracelets--Christmas gift from my sis, Alison (from an Etsy store)

Jeans--American Eagle

Flats--DSW

*I purchased all items with my own money (other than the Christmas gift); I am not associated with any companies/products mentioned.

So what do you think?

How are you dressing for Spring?

OOTD--Mom's Night Out!

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  This post was supposed to go up on Tuesday, but this has been a very unexpected week.  Some unforeseen issues at work and home have left me emotional and exhausted, so I'm just now getting to posting.  Sorry!

Today's post is a fun one--an outfit of the day!  
Last week I blogged a review of Candace Cameron Bure's new book, Balancing It All.  In it she discusses the value of having "girl time" as a woman.  After that review, I designed a "how to look like you have it together" outfit along with a movie review of Moms' Night Out, coming Mother's Day weekend 2014.  So if it all wasn't flowing together so perfectly already, I then went out for my own Mom's Night Out with some girlfriends so we could talk parenting, marriage, and just life.  So here's the outfit that I wore that night:

I also wore this outfit for a video I'm making for my YouTube channel, hence the library background.

This outfit is feminine yet edgy, pairing soft and hard prints and fabrics.

• The floral blouse is from Von Maur and gives the outfit a soft look.  And I needed a print to remind me that Spring is coming!
• I paired the blouse with a faux leather jacket from JC Penney...this is obviously the "harder" part of the outfit and makes the outfit less predictable.
• Skinny jeans from American Eagle (I can still fit into American Eagle!) are just a staple in my wardrobe.
• Watermelon-colored flats from DSW (the box literally said watermelon) add some of the color from the blouse and were a little more fitting for the slippery parking lots I'd be walking in.
• Delicate jewelry--black jeweled hoop earrings and some monogram necklaces from Linx & More--keep it sweet

So what do you think?

Last week I blogged that blouses, blazers, and heels make a great outfit, and I just tweaked that a little for this outfit.

What are your staple fashion items?

Tomorrow I'll be back with Diamond's outfit from the book Panic.  Hope to see you then!

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned.

Candace Cameron Bure-Inspired Outfit and Review of Moms' Day Out!

Hi, friends!

I think this is one of my favorite posts I've written, because as I think you'll see, the last few days for me have just flowed together so well!  I'm combining a book review with an outfit and a movie premiere--let me explain:

I recently reviewed Candace Cameron Bure's book Balancing It All--an honest and inspiring book of how women can balance our crazy lives as a wives, moms, employees, girlfriends, you name it.  It was a quick and encouraging read for me and I definitely recommend it!

So the book got me thinking--what are some go-to items that we can throw on when we need to feel like we have it together (even when we don't have it together)?  Kind of like some can't-fail-when-you-wear-these items.  Because when we're thrust in the middle of work, family schedules, and all things crazy, we don't often have the energy to pick out a cute outfit.

This exact scenario happened to me last night.  My friend Cherie (who has such an amazing story and you TOTALLY need to check her out!) invited me to a premiere screening of the movie Moms' Night Out (coming out on Mother's Day weekend, but more on that later!).  After working a full day, picking up my boys, feeding both boys, making dinner for my hubby, and curling my hair, I was exhausted.  And I was mentally exhausted--and I just needed to feel cute and put-together and not look like I had just put my two-year-old in time out for disobedience.  So I grabbed three items that I knew would give me that "oh I have it all together" even when I didn't feel it.  And, as cheesy as it sounds since I just reviewed Candace's book, I felt balanced.

So here's what I wore:

And I LOVED it!

I felt bright and "with it."  I had the confidence I needed to put my rushed evening out of my mind and just relax. So what were my three items that I grabbed?

 

• Blouse  A bright and even patterned blouse is the item to wear.  You can dress it up or down and it gives you such a polished look.  Forget T-shirts and find a blouse.
• Blazer  This, like a necklace, is a great way to dress up an outfit.  I purposely chose a blazer that complemented the blouse but wasn't too "matchy."  I love wearing bright blazers rather than simply black or brown--colors give off a sense of confidence.
• Heels  Heels definitely make me feel like I'm put together.  A cute pair of flats can also do this if you'd rather not wear heels, but definitely avoid tennis shoes or worn-down shoes.  Pun not intended, but heels "heighten" the outfit and just take it to a level of being dressed up.  I chose a pair of nude heels because nude makes your legs look longer and I didn't want to overkill the outfit with color.

So those are my 3 recommended items to wear when you need a go-to look.  Don't waste time thinking about what to wear--have these at the ready!

Now, on to the movie.

I am so excited that I got to attend the premiere of Moms' Night Out--because it fit so well with Candace's book and how I was feeling last night!  It focuses on Allyson, a wife and mother of three young children who is trying her best to be a Mommy Blogger.  She is completely overwhelmed and unhappy with her life and feels like she just needs a break--which makes her also feel completely guilty. When her husband encourages her to go out for an evening with some friends, she reluctantly relinquishes her control of the kids and the house...only to find herself in the middle of the craziest night of her life.

I was really surprised at how many times I laughed in the movie--it was a funny yet heartfelt escape and I highly recommend seeing it!  There were some encouraging and genuine moments (my favorite line being "I'm a mess.  But I'm His beautiful mess.") and it was a great way to hang with my friend Cherie (seriously, go check her out!).

It comes out on Mother's Day weekend--go see it!

I'll be back soon with another book review--see you then!

Blouse--Von Maur
Blazer--Francesca's Collections
Heels--Madden Girl

*I am not associated with any of the companies/products mentioned. 

Bomb-Inspired Outfit

Last week I reviewed a nonfiction (gasp!) book by Steve Sheinkin--it's called Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon and is all about the building of the atomic bomb.  So that means it was set during WWII.  So of course I had to design an outfit today for that time period.  And here's what I created:

I like to imagine that my grandmothers wore outfits like these in the 40s!

Here's the breakdown:

• The plaid pencil skirt was a staple in the 1940s.  I kept the pattern simple here--navy with tan and gray lines.  
• To lighten the look, I added a peach ruffled blouse.  Going sleeveless was probably a little risky for the 40s, but this is an interpretation, right?
• Blue pumps.  You always saw ladies in pumps, and this color nicely complements the clothes.
• A pearl bracelet to keep the outfit soft and sweet.
• A boater hat...I love the hats of this time period! A fun way to add some pizzazz to the outfit!

So what do you think?  Does this show off the ladies of the 40s?

I'll be back tomorrow with a new book review!  See you then!

Skirt--House of Fraser
Blouse--Modcloth.com
Shoes--Aldo
Bracelet--Bloomingdales
Hat--6pm.com

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned.

Welcome to Candor!

Hi, friends!  Yesterday I designed an outfit inspired by the Amity faction from the Divergent trilogy.  Today I'm moving on to Candor, the faction known for those who tell the complete, and sometimes blunt, truth.  I have a student who I jokingly tell would DEFINITELY belong in Candor--he's completely honest with me, even when it's something I don't want to hear!

The Candor faction is all about black and white--because the truth should be just that, right?  Their symbol is a weight scale, so I felt that this was pushing my outfit to be more business-like than casual.  And here's what I designed:

Totally Candor, right?!

Here's the breakdown:

• Because I wanted a business look, it seemed only obvious to go with nice black pants (J Jones New York for about $37) and a printed top.  I love this polka dot blouse with the tie in front; it's professional but fun at the same time.  This top is no joke--$435 from Avenue32.com! 
• Aren't these heels awesome?!  Again, very professional, but they add a bit of fun and surprise.  I can just see someone clicking down the Candor halls in these shoes.
• I love the size of this white watch with black lettering.  It's a bold accessory that really completes the look.  And it's only about $40 from The Buckle!
• Black hoop earrings are feminine and sweet, but again--professional.  These particular earrings are Steve Madden and retail for about $22. 

So what do you think?  Would you wear this if you were Candor?

Tomorrow we're moving on to Erudite, the smart and somewhat proud.  See you then!

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned.

Welcome to Amity!

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  Wow is it COLD in Indiana!  We are in blizzard conditions and have a few days off of school--it is FRIGID here!  Luckily we still have electricity and heat in our house, but so many Hoosiers have had to re-locate to emergency centers.  My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected!

This is an exciting week for me here at Stylish in the Stacks...because it's Allegiant week!  At the end of the week, I'll be reviewing this final book in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth...so leading up to this review, I'll be designing outfits for each of the five factions in the book.  Isn't that so fun?!  

So I thought I'd start with the faction that I would probably join--Amity.  The Amity are emotional, sympathetic, sensitive talkers.  They love nature and the camp feel.  This is totally me--I believe God blessed me with the gift of emotions (and tears!) and I love being in cabins.  

The Amity wear red and yellow, so those colors obviously inspired today's look.  Now I'm not taking it too specifically (in other words, I will also incorporate other colors), but red and yellow will be the featured colors.  So here is my Amity look:

Aagh, I think it's perfect!  Here's why:

• The shirt is the obvious focal point in the look.  It is bright yellow and features floral lace details.  Since the Amity are so nature-oriented, I knew the floral pattern was perfect.  This particular shirt is Moschino Cheap & Chic and is a whopping $383!
• The jeans were simply a casual addition to the outfit and gives it that rugged look.  These are the brand Supertrash and retail for about $165.
• Red TOMS--yes!  Very natural and philanthropic-driven.  They add the pop of red that I wanted and keep the outfit down-to-earth.  
• A few subtle additions keep the outfit girly and casual.  The brown wrap bracelet keeps the outdoorsy look (found on Zappos.com for $190) and the red headband add in a little more red (found at Nordstrom.com for $10) for the faction color scheme.

So what do you think?  I LOVE the look and would definitely wear it in the Amity faction.  How about you?  What faction would you choose?

Tomorrow we'll move on to Candor, the honest, truth-telling faction in black and white.  See you then!

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned above.

Through the Ever Night-Inspired Outfit

This week I reviewed Under the Never Sky and Through the Ever Night, two books in the Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi.  Needless to say I can't wait for the third book to come out next year!

So today's outfit is based off Through the Ever Night and focuses on something an Outsider might wear (since I already designed an outfit for a Dweller).  I wanted the outfit to be a little rugged and adventurous but still have some style.  And here it is:

 

(Obviously an outfit designed for Aria or other females)

So let's break it down:

• I wanted cargo pants since they allow for pockets and movement, but I didn't want baggy cargos with no shape.  These are great because they have the look of a skinny jean without being so skinny.  And the color, a navy/gray, is great, too, since it allows for dirt to not be so noticeable (this is an outdoor look, after all!).
• The mint printed blouse adds a rugged look to the outfit without being too bold.  I could definitely see Aria in this--she's feminine and sweet but also constantly running around.  And of course it needs a white cami underneath...I chose one that has a little bling on the front to make it a little more feminine.
• I LOVE these boots!  Totally fun for being outdoors and still looking like a girl!  I love the metallic detailing around the ankle--a perfect choice for this look!

So what do you think?  Could you see Aria wearing this in the Tides' tribe?

I'll be back this weekend to show off a painting project and an outfit of the day!  See you then!

Blouse--Equipment Daddy--$110
Tank top--Witchery Broderie--$75
Cargo pants--J Brand--$285
Boots--BCBGeneration at Macy's--$169

*I am not associated with any brands or companies mentioned.

The Knife and the Butterfly-Inspired Outfit

Hello, readers and fashionistas!  On Monday I reviewed Ashley Hope Perez's latest book, The Knife and the Butterfly.  So today's outfit is inspired by that book, specifically the main character Azael.  Now today's outfit is awfully girly to be inspired by a guy gang member, but it's really the colors I was after.  Here it is:

 

This outfit is all about blue and white!  

I'll admit--today is a foggy, rainy day in Indiana and today I'll be at work, so this outfit combines the rainy atmosphere with a dressy work look.  

Why blue and white?  Because those are Azael's gang's colors...and gangs have to be recognizable by their colors (or so I've been told).

So let's break it down:

• This royal blue jacket is TO DIE FOR!  So chic and perfect for a rainy day.  I love it!  Plus it gives me the pop of blue I wanted for this outfit.
• Crisp white pants and a white button-down blouse.  This keep the outfit sleek while incorporating the white color (and yes, I know white isn't worn this time of year below the waist, but I totally ignore all social fashion "rules" when designing these outfits!).
• I didn't want to add blue shoes, because that would be overdoing it, so I paired the outfit with gray/silver flats.  I love the toe silver detail on these!  Just the sophisticated pop I wanted.
• Ok, these blue butterfly earrings are kind of cheesy, but this book uses a butterfly as a metaphor (and obviously in the title), so I added them.  In a way, though, they actually take a few years off the outfit, so this could definitely be worn by someone in her low 20s.

What do you think?  How would you incorporate blue and white into an outfit?

I'll be back tomorrow with a review that reminds me of a great Halloween costume (which may be foreshadowing my Friday post just a bit!).

 

The Name of the Star-Inspired Look

On Monday I reviewed the book The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, a great October read that combines mystery with the supernatural (i.e., Jack the Ripper has come back from the dead).  So today's look is inspired by the Victorian time period and the dark mystery of this book.  Here it is!

 

A spooky but sophisticated look, right?

Here's the breakdown:

• The shirt...isn't is so Victorian looking?  I love the black color, the high neckline, the lace collar--this shirt is perfect for this look!
• Plum is a great color for this time period, so I added plum pants that aren't too skinny.
• Black heels--these are some awesome shoes that hype up the look.  Kind of gives an "I'm not messing around" feel to the outfit, don't you think?
• The accessories--pearl earrings to keep it time period-appropriate, a large black ring to heighten the mystery, and plum nails to color-coordinate. 

I love this look because it gives a mature yet mysterious interpretation of the days of Jack the Ripper.  What do you think?

Tomorrow I'm reviewing the sequel to The Name of the Star--it's called The Madness Underneath.  See you then!

This Is Not A Drill-Inspired Outfit

On Monday I reviewed the book This Is Not A Drill, a tragic realistic story about an elementary school hostage situation.  Since the topic is pretty serious and could hit home with many people, I decided to pick a more light-hearted side of the book to feature in my fashion re-do.  

In the book, Emery and Jake teach French to the first graders; isn't that adorable?!  I can just see a class of first graders throwing around "Merci!" and "Je voudrais..."
After thinking all about our Americanized interests of French culture--Eiffel tower, baguettes, berets--I decided to create a look based off of the French maid (but a PG-version!).

So here it is:

Are you getting the French maid vibe?  

The outfit breakdown:

• The striped skirt and cream blouse are the basis for the French maid look of black-and-white.  It's a flirty yet appropriate pairing.
• French maids always have lace, so I added a fun, black lace necklace to add just a pop on the shirt.
• Isn't that the most adorable French-inspired watch?!  Ok, a little over-the-top for the outfit but I couldn't resist!
• You have to have good shoes if you're trying to look French.  These heels are GORGEOUS!
• The red nail polish is a no-brainer.  It adds some vibrancy to the look.

So what do you think?

I'll be back tomorrow with a review of a sweet/humorous/realistic love story, Eleanor & Park.  See you then!

OOTD (2)--Stripes

Let's face it--if you work in an office or, in my case, a school, you notice that black pants are a staple in every woman's wardrobe.  But black pants don't have to be boring.  You can jazz them up with various tops and accessories.  

I love the black pants that I purchased for this fall and winter--they're comfortable and form fitting.  But I'm SUPER excited about a blouse I found to go with the pants.  It's professional, sleek, and eye-catching (my friend Blaine told me I looked like a "cute prisoner," which definitely had me humming "Jailhouse Rock" for the rest of the afternoon).  And of course I had to pair it all with heels!  
So here's the look:

Just hanging in the audio section of my library...

The stripes are vertical, which of course means visually slimming.  

I debated on whether to throw in a bright pop of color through the necklace but opted to stick with the classy black (it's a bubble necklace).  I'll probably change up the accessories each time I wear the outfit.

I definitely recommend tucking in the blouse.  It gives a sleeker, fitter look.

Top and pants--Express

Necklace--Von Maur

Heels--Madden Girl (purchased at DSW)

So what are some of your favorite work outfits?  What do you think of the stripes?

**And yes, that is a giant Chinese carton behind me--I love my library artwork!

Tomorrow I'll be back with a review of a book from one of my favorite YA series!