Rebel Belle-Inspired Look

Yesterday I reviewed Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins, a funny yet exciting fantasy book about pretty girl Harper Price getting unexpected (and unwanted) supernatural powers.  The book opens on Homecoming night, when Harper is 99% sure she is going to be crowned queen.  Before all hell breaks loose, of course.

So today's outfit inspiration comes from that Homecoming night.  Harper says she is wearing a pink dress and pearls, so that is where I started with the look.

It's a lovely outfit, and those heels could definitely do some damage (and boy do they!).

• The light pink dress is lovely.  Feminine, elegant--just like Harper.
• Harper's bare neckline is dressed up by this chunky pearl necklace.  A trendy style for a classic jewelry piece.  The earrings are small and therefore don't take away from the jewelry.
• The silver shoes are SO beautiful!  The heels are high but not overwhelming and the color is a lovely correlation to the pink dress.
• The silver clutch is dainty and sweet.  Just like a southern woman would be, right?

I think this outfit is so sweet--do you think Harper would wear it to Homecoming?

Want to see each piece of the outfit?  See all the details here.

Shadow and Bone-Inspired Look

Last week I reviewed Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and gave it 5 stars--I loved it that much!  I loved the characters--Mal and Alina, the Grisha, the Darkling.  They were all fantastic!

One unique feature about the Grisha in the series (other than their special powers) is that they wear special jackets to distinguish them from normal people.  So I wanted to design an outfit that featured an awesome blazer.  Blazers are a great wardrobe staple because they can dress up an outfit, even if that outfit is pretty casual. 

Here's the outfit I designed:

Don't you love the green with the black and white?  Here's the rundown of the look:

• The rich green blazer is gorgeous!  It's slim-fitting, too, which takes away the bulkiness of some blazers.  This blazer definitely takes the outfit up a notch.
• I didn't want any colors to compete with the deep green, so I kept the rest of the outfit on a black/white/gold scheme.  The striped sweater and shorts are classy but casual.
• The accessories are chic but don't take away from the blazer.  And even though the necklace is large, it just keeps the outfit at a dressier level.  And I think the Grisha would like to look dressy.

So what do you think?  Would you wear this outfit?

To find the actual pieces of the outfit, click here.

Inhuman-Inspired Outfit

If you read my review of Inhuman by Kat Falls, you know I loved it.  Straight up loved it.  I'm making my Library Media students read it this semester because I want someone with me about it! 

Today's outfit is obviously inspired by that book and focuses on the animal that eventually takes over a person.  So it's an outfit with a hint of animal.  *And let's just pause for a second--how scary would it be to have a virus/animal slowly take over your body?!

I chose a tiger because I loved the Tiger-Man in the book...unpredictable, vicious, yet well-spoken.  I wanted to design something that represented the danger yet fascination of a tiger.  And here's what I designed:

Chic, right?

• I think rompers are pretty eye-catching because not everyone can pull them off.  Black rompers are elegant and sophisticated, yet casual at the same time.  You could wear them to a dinner party or a movie night.
• The black sandals remind me of being outside (again, that animal trait).  There's enough detail on the sandal to keep the outfit from being too casual.
• The gold necklace and gold spike earrings are so beautiful!  Draw your eye to them for sure.  A little edgy and elegant.
• I couldn't resist the tiger bracelet.  It's not overwhelming "tiger" while still giving a punch of pattern.

What do you think?  I would totally wear this outfit!  How about you?

To see the outfit details, click here.

I Was Here-Inspired Outfit

What. a. week.  Friends, remember when I told you that I had gotten some poison ivy all over my face?  Well, I'm still not sure if it was poison ivy or something else, but that crazy inspection spread EVERYWHERE on my body.  It's 1 1/2 weeks later and I'm STILL on high dosage medicine and STILL trying to recover.  Yikes!  I think I'm reaching a turning point (thank goodness!)--just in time for school to start!

I want to share the outfit that I designed for Cody in Gayle Forman's I Was Here.  Man, what a powerful novel from Forman about depression, friendship, and recovery.  See my full review here.

Cody is a multi-dimensional character in this book; she's searching for answers of her friend Meg's death while also trying to understand who she is herself.  This becomes a literal journey as she travels to Meg's college town to piece together the puzzle of her death.  This outfit took on those deep layers and even gives off a feeling of searching.  Here's what it looks like:

Let's break it down:

• Cody grew up a bit beneath Meg's family's socioeconomic status, so this outfit needed to be a bit muted in color (especially since it also represents Cody's grieving).  I thought the distressed jeans (which I'm super obsessed with!) represented Cody's status well.
• The "Single with Cats" tank toys with the character cats that Meg surprisingly left behind.  This would've been Cody's subtle way of handling the secrets she's discovering.
• The comfy cardigan sweater is soft in color and comfortable for travel.
• The gray boots keep the outfit from being too soft and sweet.  Cody has her guard up as she travels and these boots give off that no-nonsense attitude.
• I think Cody would've noticed "M" monogram pieces now that she is without Meg.  A necklace like the one above is a way to remember Meg without going over-the-top.

What do you think?  Do you see Cody wearing something like this?  

Check out all the details of the outfit here.

Tomorrow I'm bringing you my July favorites!  Some FUN things that I've been loving this month!

Going to the Symphony--An Outfit of the Day

A few weeks ago, one of my husband's work contacts offered us free tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony.  We had never been to the symphony before, so we jumped at this chance.  And we were pleasantly surprised to hear that Kenny G would be performing with them.  Yes, that ages us about 40 years, but Kenny G!  And I can say--he was spec-tacular.  Amazing in person.

I wanted something nice to wear that was modest and classy, and maybe a bit of a throwback to the time when classical music was common with young adults (was that ever a time?).

I put together this look which I absolutely loved!  I can't wait to wear this to our upcoming graduation ceremony.

Here it is:

I love how the dress cinches at the waist but has mid-length sleeves.  Modest yet young!

And it has pockets!  Dresses with pockets are the best.

Hot pink nails complemented the black in the tights, shoes, and clutch.

The gold necklace pops against the green.  I got this necklace on clearance at Target because a few of the gold strands are permanently tangled (but my hair covers that up!).

A lovely dress for a lovely date.  And seriously, friends--give Kenny G a try.

Dress--H&M (similar here)

Tights--Target 

Booties--Rack Room

Necklace--Target similar here)

Handbag--Jessica Simpson (a yard sale find!)

Nail Polish--Butter London

No Drama Llama--A Playing Hooky Outfit

Happy Friday, ya'll!  Ready for the weekend?  We have a PACKED weekend with some fun dates ahead of us (we're going to the Symphony and chaperoning Prom!), so I thought I'd share an Outfit post from a date we took earlier this week.

Tuesday was Luke's birthday (he's now a handsome 34-year-old!) and we both took a vacation/personal day to celebrate with a day out on our own.  Let me tell you, with two little ones, having a meal together without having to remove all bottles/sharp objects is quite the luxury!

We spent the day in Indianapolis drinking coffee, having lunch at a (new to us) burger spot, and seeing a movie.  It was relaxing and just pure fun.

So since we had a date, I wanted to wear something fun, too.  And what is more fun than a llama?!

Look!  It's a llama sweater!

This sweater is actually called the "No Drama Llama" sweater from Brooklyn Industries.  And that's the kind of llama I need in my life--no drama!

I'm absolutely obsessed with chambray shirts, and this sweater fit over one so nicely.  I'm wearing a size Medium, which was probably a little shorter than I would have liked--order up on this one!

I paired the casual necklace with a glam necklace--I love the opposites of this look.

I paired the outfit with brown oxford-like shoes.  Kind of a vintage look that I love.

A pop of orange nails with gold sparkles.  The llama is orange, which was a total coincidence.  I never purposefully match my nails to my outfit.

 

Don't you love the teal stripes on the top of the sweater?!

A fun outfit for a fun day on the town!

Sweater--Brooklyn Industries

Jeans--Ralph Lauren

Shoes--X Appeal

Chambray Shirt--J Crew Outlet

Necklace--J Crew Outlet

*I'm not associated with the products/companies mentioned.  All opinions are my own.

Happy birthday, Luke!  Let's make your 34th year the BEST EVER!

Atlantia-Inspired Outfit

Ahhh, I am so excited about today's outfit!  After reading Atlantia by Ally Condie, I couldn't wait to design something fit for a siren!  Atlantia is all about the setting and characters, so your senses are in total overload as you read.  I could hear the water outside Atlantia, hear Rio's Siren voice trying to break through, see the beauty of an underwater city--there was beauty just in the setup of the story!

Today's outfit is completely inspired by Rio.  She's a Siren (but trying to hide it), and with Sirens comes this insane beauty and hint of danger.  So let me show you what I designed:

Umm, I need a place to wear this dress.  Someone throw a really fancy party and invite me--fast!

Gosh, can't you just see a beautiful, dangerous Siren wearing this to a party?  Now Rio herself doesn't want to flaunt her Siren status, so I can't say she would wear this...it's just an inspiration.

• The dress--which is GORGEOUS--is completely inspired by the water, the scales of fish, and the sexiness of a Siren.  It completely draws the eye and takes all the attention--just like a Siren.
• The black tights and black heels give a sense of power, control, and danger.  Again, all Siren qualities.
• The silver clutch keeps the feminine side of the look.
• A little cheesy, but I couldn't resist throwing in this necklace.  I wanted a silver dainty necklace, and a music note was too good to pass up.  What would be a Siren without her voice?  A Siren like Rio trying to hide her voice!

So what do you think?  Do you think I got a Siren spot on?
Want to know the details of the outfit?  Find them all here!

I can't wait to show you the outfit I wore yesterday while the hubby and I played hooky!  Well, not really--we took vacation/personal time like a good adult should.  But not being at work on a Tuesday felt like playing hooky!  That will go up tomorrow!

Belzhar-Inspired Look

Happy Friday!  Can I get three cheers on that one?!

Today I'm bringing you a look inspired by the book Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer.  I absolutely loved this book (especially the twist at the end!) and am excited to create a look for it today.

Since the book is set at a camp-like boarding school, I designed an outfit that I could see campers wearing when they want to look nice.  Because of the "magic" of Jam's English journal, she is able to see her deceased boyfriend in dream-like states.  So she's definitely going to want to look her best for him. 

Here's what I designed:

So cute!

• I think high-waisted shorts are so cute for camp settings.  They just have that vintage, "let's go drive around the country in our camper" vibe.  
• I paired the shorts with a floral tank top and cardigan.  Camps usually mean you'll be hot or cold (or both) so that's all covered here.  Again, I picked something that Jam would feel pretty in for her boyfriend.
• Keds are the perfect shoe to go with high-waisted shorts.  And who wouldn't want mint green Keds?!
• A gold monogram necklace (I used "R" here for Jam's deceased boyfriend, Reeve) adds a final feminine touch.

What do you think?  Would you wear this if you were at a camp/school?
 For the details of each piece, click here.

Two more reviews/outfits next week!  See you then!

Esther Earl-Inspired Outfit

Happy Friday, everyone!

This week I reviewed This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl (and her family), a memoir of Esther's life before she died from cancer in 2010.  Inspiring and emotional, this story makes you think about the legacy you may leave.

I wanted to design an outfit for Esther because I loved her quirky, zany personality that I so often saw on her YouTube videos; and yet she was mature, intelligent, and well-spoken.  So in other words, a fun but nerdy outfit.  And here's what I designed:

I would love to wear this outfit myself!

• Esther seemed casual and fun in her outfits, and so I knew I wanted her to wear jeans with a few holes/scuffs in them.  She didn't feel the need to be fancy in front of a camera.
• Esther loved books and Harry Potter, so this "Leviosa" sweatshirt from Hermione's dialogue was a great choice.  I think Esther probably loved Hermione's intelligent attitude.
• Converse shoes--casual as you can get with a little edge
• I love these bracelets that say "Weird." I think these fit Esther's personality because she would totally flaunt any weirdness about herself.
• A monogram "E" necklace; since her name is so important to the book, I wanted her to feature it in her clothes, too.

So what do you think?  Is this outfit worthy of Esther and her legacy?  I sure hope so.  Rest in awesome, Esther.

Check out all the details of the outfit here.

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!

How NOT to Look Like a Librarian: Party on the Runway!

Hey, readers and fashionistas!  So I love posting Outfit of the Day (OOTD) posts and I've had a lot of people tell me how much they enjoy reading them.  And I've realized that these are all outfits that hopefully don't make me look like a stereotypical librarian.  Hence they will now be called How NOT to Look like a Librarian posts!

We recently had family photos taken by my friend Ariel (for those of you in the Indy area, go check her out at Ariel Eldridge Photography!) and we had so much fun!  Our boys really cheesed it up for her in our old downtown area, but my favorites were actually the couple shots she took of me and the hubby at our local airport.  Luke is a part-time pilot, so anything pilot-related is sentimental and even a little romantic for us.

So what do you wear on an airport runway?  And how could I dress to NOT look like a librarian?  Why a big gray tutu, of course!

When I saw this tutu at the store Windsor, my mom said "Julia, you CAN NOT wear that to school."  And I thought "Why not?!  This is so fun!"  So I snuck back later by myself and bought it (surprise, Mom!).  Here's what my outfit looked like:

 

I paired the tutu with a simple black T-shirt from Old Navy that says "Forever After" on it.  I thought that was a nice romantic touch.  Then I added a bright pink necklace I bought on vacation, black Steve Madden heels, and a gifted black bangle bracelet.

 

 Oh you know, just sitting on a runway.

 I love this shot, but don't let me fool you--Ariel and I were giggling between shots.

So what do you think?  Would YOU wear this outfit on a runway?

I think this would be a fun outfit to wear to a party or out on a date...it's fun and light-hearted with some soft touches.

I am not associated with any of the clothing companies mentioned (although Ariel Eldridge Photography is one of my bestest of friends!).

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!

A little strong or a little sweet...Pretty Girl-13-Inspired Outfit

Well, I made it through the first week of school!  And it was probably my BEST start to a school year that I've ever had (score!).  I'm loving my students and the direction that our semester is taking.  Just feels good to be back in the swing of things!

Last week I reviewed Pretty Girl-13...not my favorite book for sure, but I knew it gave me some great outfit inspiration.  In the book, Angie has several personalities that often take over.  So I thought I'd take an article of clothing and show how to style it for two very different personalities.  The article?  A long-sleeved flannel shirt.  Fall is coming up--the perfect time for flannel.

So here's what I designed:

Isn't that flannel shirt so cute?!

So what kinds of personalities are you seeing?  Angie had one personality that was like her protector, her "strong" side, so that's the outfit on the left.  And then Angie sometimes communicated with a child-like personality, hence the soft and sweet look on the right.  Let's break them down.

To toughen up a look, add skinny jeans and a leather jacket.  The flannel softens the jacket but the whole outfit still has a stronger appeal.

To soften it, add a flare skirt with a glittery belt and pearls (fake will do!).  This really "girls" up the outfit and keeps it looking sweet and innocent.

Which one do you like better?  I could see myself wearing the outfit on the left to a hayride and the one on the right to a dinner out.

Tomorrow I'll have a new book review on a book that I just COULDN'T put down!

Flannel shirt--GAP

Jacket--Nelly.com

Jeans--House of Fraser

Skirt--NewLook

Pearls--Blue Nile

Belt--Old Navy

*I am not associated with any companies/clothing items mentioned.

The One-Inspired Outfit

Hey, fashionistas who like to read!  I recently reviewed The One by Kiera Cass, a fun and satisfying conclusion to The Selection trilogy.  The covers of these books are ah-mazingly beautiful, so it was fun to create an outfit for each one.  The cover of The One was a GORGEOUS white ruffly dress, so I decided to create a classy white ruffle look.

So a reminder of the book cover:

And here's my design:

Let's break it down:

Obviously I wanted a white outfit with tasteful ruffles, but I added in the pop of blue to match the stunning background on the book cover.  Plus it just adds some fun to an otherwise all-white outfit.

• The peplum top and ruffle skirt pair well together, because they create a double ruffle layer look.  A tasteful, clean way of adding ruffles without getting too over-the-top.
• I love this chunk blue gem necklace.  It adds so many shades of blue (like a skyline) and gives a contemporary edge to the look.
• The blue pumps bring the whole look together, and I love pairing a short skirt with pumps rather than flats.

So what do you think?  Could you see yourself pairing white and bright blue?

I've got more reviews coming your way so check back soon!

Peplum top--Tibi Chelsea Racerback
Skirt--Victoria Beckham
Necklace--Sissy Yates
Pumps--Gianvito Rossi leather shoes

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

Takedown-Inspired Outfit

I recently reviewed Takedown by Allison van Diepen--a book that I was so excited to see published since my students (and I) love van Diepen's urban-themed books.  Takedown was excellent, and I have to admit that the brass knuckles on the cover had me feeling pretty tough!  I was excited to design an outfit based off the characters in this book, because I am definitely the OPPOSITE of gangster and this gave me a chance to play around!

So here it is:

Don't mess with me, yo.

So here's the breakdown of the look:

• I knew I wanted a quote t-shirt, and this one had the perfect amount of "urban" without being too much.  It's a little tough, right?
• You gotta have high tops if you're going for a gangster look.  The book mentions shiny shoes, and I thought these added a nice feminine touch with the aqua stripes.
• I paired the high tops with skinny cuffed jeans.  I know, I probably should've added saggy jeans, but this is a girl's look, after all.
• A leather jacket to accent the shoes and add a touch of "tough girl."
• I didn't want to over-accessorize with a giant $ necklace (although the book mentions them!), but I thought a star was something a girl would wear.  A bright spot of bling.

So what do you think?  Does it pull off a "gangster" look?  Would YOU be bold enough to try it?

I can't wait to show you how I've been styling my bedroom--we have the coolest accent wall above our master bedroom.  That post will come this week and then I'll share about some fun posts coming up!  See you back here soon!

Shirt--Monki Katy

Jeans--Frame Denim

Jacket--Diana New

Shoes--Adidas

Necklace--Isabella via Overstock

*I am not associated with any of the companies/products mentioned.  All opinions are my own.

Into the Still Blue-Inspired Outfit

Wow did I love Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi--my favorite book in the trilogy, mostly because I couldn't get enough of the characters.  And as I mentioned in my review, in this book Aria and Perry's "tribes" have come together in a desperate search for survival.  So I thought today's outfit would represent a mix of their two cultures.  
Aria's group of Dwellers--futuristic, clean lines, and sharp
Perry's tribe of Tides--animalistic, natural, and comfortable

And here's what I came up with:

Neutral yet fun, right?  Here's what I chose:

• I wanted a leather jacket because the Dwellers were totally into that kind of wardrobe.  But I chose tan for the Tides--a warmer, more natural color.  I paired this with a blank tank to keep it all neutral.
• Roughed up skinny jeans--rough for the Tides, skinny for the Dwellers.
• The leopard print shoes are totally Tide-related.  Plus they give the outfit a more comfortable look.
• Black accessories--stud earrings and a necklace--tie the color palette all together.  I like the chain-wrapped-around-the-stone as a symbol of Aria and Perry's worlds colliding together.

So what do you think?  Could you see yourself wearing this?

Jacket and Tank--John Lewis
Jeans--True Religion
Shoes--Avenue 32
Earrings--JC Penney
Necklace--David Yurman

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

That's it for this week's posts!  Few but fun...I will be back next week with more books and fashion!  See you then!

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!