Outfit of the Day 2/18/16

I had a lot of fun with my Stitch Fix post from yesterday, so I thought I'd share my outfit from today too. And honestly, I hope that the more of these I do, the better I'll get at taking these photos. :)
 

I mentioned yesterday how much I love kimonos. They're so comfortable and you can throw them on over just about anything for a little more coverage.

I got this colorful version at Unlisted, during one of their fun Ladies Nights. It was on sale and only cost me $30. I've worn it so much and I always get compliments on it. Well worth the investment.

The simple black dress came from the consignment store called Bump and Co. I also found a pair of jeans there. I love thrifting!

The earrings are Stella & Dot and the turquoise jewelry is from my collection, purchased over several years from small vendors.

I had a really nice day today. I stopped by the store and took some photos of furniture pieces that might work for a friend as she relocates to a new apartment. Then I met my friend Erin for a long lunch. We caught up on life and enjoyed salad and pizza from Racca's Pizzeria (used to be Marco's Coal Fired Pizza). Afterwards I ran some errands to get more of my favorite new hair cream. Love the texture it provides for my fine hair.

I hope you had a great day!
Karli

Maternity Stitch Fix #1

If you follow me on social media, you may have seen that I ordered another Stitch Fix. (If you don't know what Stitch Fix is, then check out this post.)

I was happy hear a while back that they would be offering maternity sizes now. Perfect timing for me! So I revised my style profile (since I no longer need so much business casual) and placed my order.

Today my fix came and it may have been one of the best yet! My stylist, Kate, wrote me a sweet note about the pregnancy and picked some wonderful items. And this time, I actually tried everything on so you can see how it looks on me versus the hanger.

I asked for pieces that could grow with me as I go through this pregnancy. I also wanted everything to be transitional since we'll soon be out of winter and into the heat.

Liverpool Collen Maternity Straight Leg Jean

Tops from TJ Maxx, Shoes from Nordstrom Rack, Jewelry from Stella & Dot

Leave it to my stylist at Stitch Fix to FINALLY find me a pair of maternity jeans that I feel like myself in. These are stretchy and a nice dark color, so they are slimming. (You can see the almost-five-month baby bump here). I also really appreciate that the back pockets are in a flattering position. Most maternity jeans are just so frumpy! They are a touch long so I've cuffed them here, but I'm not worried about that at all. I'm keeping these!


Madigan Ailene Lace Sleeve Maternity Top

Shoes TJ Maxx, Jewelry Stella & Dot, Purse 1154 Lill Studios

When I took this top out of the box I was worried it might be too small, but it is stretchy and oh-so-comfortable. I think it can easily be dressed up for date night, like I showed here (with the jeans above), or worn a bit more casual. The high crew neck isn't the most flattering neckline on me, but as long as I add a long necklace, I should be fine. I'm keeping this top.


Daniel Rainn Narline Button Down Maternity Blouse (made especially for Stitch Fix)

Jewelry Target, Shoes TJ Maxx

I knew that I loved the colors and the fun print of this blouse, but I could immediately tell it was huge! As you can see in the pic above, everything was just too blousy on me. Not flattering.

I pulled the back tighter just to prove to myself that it was an ok shirt, it was just the wrong size. I also think the stripes at my hips were in the wrong place on my body. This one is going back.


Market & Spruce Sollas Maternity Knit Top 

Jacket very old K-Mart, Shoes DSW, Pants Motherhood Maternity, Jewelry Stella & Dot and RocksBox

I was so happy when I saw the color of this top. I had something similar in my pre-maternity clothes, but I could no longer wear it. This top is short-sleeved, so it will be great to layer up, like I show here, or to wear as-is once summer hits. It is very soft and comfortable. Keeping this one!


Paradigm Gwenifer Kimono 

Jewelry my own found turquoise pieces

Oh how I love kimonos! I can wear them now and again when I'm not pregnant. I have a few in my closet and I enjoy wearing them. When I saw this, I was just sure it would be a no-brainer. My stylist even coordinated the top above to wear underneath. BUT, the front hit me in just the wrong spot. It made me look very boxy, so I, with a very sad face, had to send this back too.



All in all, this was a hugely successful box. The stylist nailed my style!

If you're interested in getting your own Stitch Fix box, the sign up process is fun and simple. Just click on any of the links in this post! Sharing is caring!

Best,
Karli

*This post contains affiliate links. While I was not compensated to write this post, I may receive credit for sign ups. All opinions are my own and I only share what I love!

Stitch Fix #9

I signed up for another Stitch Fix for February. My last box was great, but I didn't get to keep as many of the items as I wanted. So I thought I'd give it another whirl right away.

This was my best box yet! My stylist, Kia, called it "gold" because she said she had fun putting it together for me.

One of the best tips I have for you if you're thinking about getting a box, make sure to pin items you really want on Pinterest and change the caption to explain what you love about the item you're pinning. Then don't forget to leave a note in your request about your Pinterest board. Kia picked so much of what I'd pinned.

So let's take a look at what I got this month! The theme for this box is...Don't Knock It Til You Try It.

 

My first item is this color block hoodie. When I pulled it out of the box I was underwhelmed to say the least. But like most Stitch Fix items, once I tried it on, I was really happy with the fit and the way it looks on me. I like that its a "dressier" version of a lazy-day sweatshirt. Keeping this!

 
The next item was this cool cargo vest. It is really hard to tell if this is navy or black. They call it navy, but sometimes it reads black. I knew I'd love this before I tried it on. What can I say, I have the thing for vests right now. I got my mom a really cool vest for Christmas and I've been kicking myself for not getting myself one too. Now I have my own. Keeping this!

 
Oh, no they didn't. They sent me jeans. There is no way that they could possibly pick a jean that will fit. I have enough trouble finding the right size and style on my own. I was just sure that I would be disappointed when I tried to put these on. But...they fit like a glove. Plus, I love that they are slightly distressed boyfriend jeans. I don't have any distressed jeans, so I'm keeping these. So happy!

 

 
The fourth item is this cute striped tank. I was also worried that this wouldn't be flattering on or that it wouldn't fit across the bust area (my last box was wrought with that issue). But lucky me, it fits great and is really flattering. Plus I love the detailing with the yellow stitching. Keeping this!

 

 
Ahh, item number five. This was the one thing that I didn't have to try on to know it wasn't going to work. I look terrible in colors like this. I know blush is one of the hottest colors of the season, but it's just not for me. Plus the cut on the bottom of this wasn't flattering with my hips. This one is going back for sure.

So at the end of the day I am keeping four of the five items. So happy with my new pieces...especially thinking about how I'll style them with all my Stella & Dot bling. :)

If you'd like to sign up for a Stitch Fix box, just click on any of the links within.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. I'll be wearing something from my box out to dinner tonight.

Best,
Karli

*This post contains affiliate links. While I was not compensated to write this post, I may receive credit for sign ups. All opinions are my own and I only share what I love!

Stitch Fix #8

I received my most recent Stitch Fix package yesterday. I asked for business attire that I could easily wear to work, but I also wanted items that could be worn with jeans for a semi-casual look too. My stylist delivered!

If you follow me on Instagram you saw a sneak peek in my box...

Here's a recap of the items in my box and what I ended up keeping.

This top was the first thing I saw and I thought "Oh I love the color and the pattern." It fit well, but the high round neck is one that doesn't look good on me. The material the front of the top was made of was also sort of odd. It reminded me of something my step-grandmother used to wear. I sent this back.

 

This was the second top in the box. The color was gorgeous...a rich teal that wasn't too turquoise or blue or green. I also loved the cut and style of this. Sadly it was too tight across my chest. I just couldn't keep it.

I loved this blazer the moment I touched it. The material is a lovely weave that's stretchy but not as flimsy as jersey. It fits perfectly and can easily be dressed up or down. It was the most expensive item in my box, but I can imagine getting a ton of use out of this, so I kept it.

 

This was the item I was the most excited about!! I LOVE the ruffles in the back. Sadly, it was really small. It didn't come close to meeting over my chest. I loved this so much that I tried to get one of my co-workers to take it. In the end, I had to send this back. I thought I would find it online and buy the size larger. Turns out this is a StitchFix owned brand, so you can't buy it elsewhere. (sad face)

(Sorry for the terrible picture of these black slacks.)

I knew when I pulled these out of the box that they were entirely too small. Granted, the material was a bit stretchy, but there was no zipper or elastic to put these on. I tried just to humor myself, but they weren't going on. They went back.

Everything I got was a size large and each item ranged greatly in actual fit. Crazy how that happens.

So all in all, I only kept one item, but I LOVE it and it made the whole process very worthwhile.

If you want to know more about StitchFix, check out my previous post here. And if you decide you want to try it out, I'd love it if you use my referral code. Sharing is caring.

Have a great weekend ahead!
Karli

Stitch Fix #7

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Colorado. The snow flakes are just starting to fly, the Broncos are on the TV and I've got my Christmas decorations 90% up.

Earlier this week I got a Stitch Fix box. I hadn't ordered one for almost a year! I love getting these fun boxes of clothes and accessories. If you want to know more about what I'm talking about check out my introduction post.

I requested a few versatile tops that could be dressed or down and a vest. Like usual, the folks at Stitch Fix did a great job and even threw in a surprise for me :)

The first thing I saw was this black and white striped dress. I could tell just by holding it up that it ran small. When I tried it on, it was too tight on my bust and it was too short. I obviously sent this one back.

 

The next thing I tried on was this cute vest. The material is like a jersey stretch but it almost looks like denim. The interior is lined with a furry gray material. I love all the zippers and the fact that its asymmetrical. I kept this piece!

 

When I pulled this next top out of the box I immediately knew I'd love it. It was soft and cozy. The back is cut longer than the front, which I love. I kept this top and I've already worn it twice. What a great find!

 

When I saw this pop of bright blue in the box, I was thrilled. I love tops like this! Unfortunately, this top was also too tight across my bust and the buttons where gaping. I had to send this back.

 

The final item, I dreaded trying on. They'd never sent me bottoms and I just knew it would be a wasted effort. These skinny ankle jeans are a very dark navy, almost black. To my absolute delight and surprise, these fit like a glove and I LOVE them. I'm keeping these babies! Way to go Stitch Fix!

 
So I kept three of the five items this time. I consider that a win!! I also had a friend try Stitch Fix for the first time and she loved two of the items in her first box. What fun!

I also wanted to show you the style card they send with each box. They give you two examples of how to wear each item. Just in case you need a little inspiration when you pull the pieces out of the box.

If you have any questions about how Stitch Fix works, let me know. And if you decide to give it a try, feel free to use my referral link. I love hearing other people's experience.

Best,
Karli

My Heirloom Wedding Bouquet

I had this post planned from the moment we started this blog but finally got around to finishing it this week. When I got married I didn't consider wearing my mom's dress...I just tore it apart. With her permission of course!

My grandmother made my mom's wedding dress. And there's a rumor that some of the buttons were "stolen" from my aunt's dress, which my grandmother had also made. 

In an effort to include heirloom items in my wedding, my mom decided to let me use a sleeve/cuff from her dress to make the decorative holder for my bridal bouquet.

Here's the finished, beautiful product! It made my bouquet just that much more special.

(PS we purchased all the flowers for the wedding from Costco for a steal!)

 

 

Our wedding was photographed by A and A Photography. LOVE them!

Thanks Mom, for letting me "borrow" part of your dress for my special day.

~Karli

Packing for Vacation

Brent and I are going on a vacation! We haven't been on a "touristy" vacation since our honeymoon. We're so excited. We got a GREAT deal through TravelZoo for two nights in Sonoma and I booked another two nights through Expedia for San Francisco.
 
So here comes the challenge. The weather in Sonoma is warm/hot like it is in Colorado right now. Meanwhile, San Fran is cool with highs in the mid-60's. AND we'll be doing a mix of walking, sightseeing, hiking, wine tasting (duh!) and eating nice dinners. In my mind that equals a lot of clothes! But I was determined to streamline so we could pack both our clothes in one checked bag...I'm cheap like that.
 
Here's a look at what I ended up packing:
 

Day One: Travel. Once we arrive in San Fran, we'll get our rental car and drive north to Sonoma. I'm wearing my bulkiest item (jeans), comfy gray and white tanks, a black jersey cardigan, my new favorite flats, silver jewelry and my over-the-shoulder bag.

 

Day One: Afternoon Wineries and Evening Concert. Once we arrive and check in, we'll change and head to Healdsburg for a concert in the plaza. Such a fun night planned with food vendors, wine and live music. Same jeans, a lightweight tank, statement necklace and my go-to red flats.

 

Day Two: Wineries! We'll spend the morning/early afternoon visiting wineries and probably eating lunch at The Girl & The Fig. I'm planning to wear a black maxi dress, lace crochet vest, turquoise sandals and silver jewelry again.

 

Day Two: Dinner. This evening we have reservations at the Michelin-rated restaurant at our hotel. The dress code is business casual (no jeans) so I've planned to wear this new stretchy seersucker dress with orange belt and jewelry. I'll tie in my purple flats with a purple wrap.

 

Day Three: Hike. This morning we'll hike in the Armstrong Redwoods. I'm thinking layers may be necessary. Black tank and black workout pants topped with a half-zip pullover. I got those new Clarks Privo shoes and they are so comfortable! I think they'll be great for lots of walking.

 

Day Three: Mid Day Drive. We'll head back to San Fran this day. We're planning to drive alone the Coastal Highway and we'll stop along the way to eat at a seafood shack--fresh oysters!! When we arrive in San Fran we'll probably walk around Nob Hill near our hotel. Black skinnies, a striped tank and orange cardigan with silver necklace and new flats.

Day Three: Dinner. We'll walk down to Scoma's (my favorite Italian seafood location) for dinner. I'm going to wear my latest StitchFix top with jeans and my purple flats. I got this new clutch for LillStudios.It has purple piping!

 

Day Four: Sightseeing. This will be our busiest day. We have time in the morning to walk around/ride the trolley. At lunch time, we are taking a boat out to Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. Later we have a North Beach Food Tour. So lots of walking requires my favorite new shoes along with jeans, a striped tank and a cardigan. I might also pack my purple scarf in case it's chilly on the boat.

 

Day Five: Sightseeing and Travel Home. I wanted something comfortable for walking around and flying. Khaki linen pants, white t-shirt with statement turquoise necklace and turquoise sandals.

  

Practicing rolling my clothes like my Grandma taught me! Such a space/wrinkle saving idea!

I'll drink some wine for you! Happy end of summer!
Karli

One Shirt, Five Ways: My Favorite StitchFix Top

In a previous post I mentioned how much I love StitchFix--an online retailer who assigns me a stylist to shop for fun a unique clothing. In my very first "fix" I received a shirt I never would have thought would look good on me. They proved me wrong.

It is a slightly sheer fabric, so I have to wear a cami underneath. And you're not seeing things, it is cut shorter in the front and longer in the back.

 
Not only did they prove me wrong, but this shirt has become one of my very favorite pieces of clothing. It's full of colors that are easy to mix with, it's comfy, it has great details and the cut is so versatile!


 Up-close so you can see the colors, light material and detail at the neckline.


I decided it would be fun to do a few posts about how I change up the items in my closet and get lots of good out of them--especially with something as trendy as this top. If you're going to buy something that's "hot" one season, you'll want to make sure you get your money's worth. (It may be "not" next season!) 


Style #1: Business Casual Office Wear
I've actually worn this outfit to the office a few times and to a meeting. It's comfortable, yet stylish while looking professional. I simply throw on my black leggings, a black cami, then the top, a bright orange cardigan and my go-to reddish orange ballet flats. I kept the jewelry simple, so just some woven black earrings.

Daytime office wear

Style #2: Casual Friday
I also like to wear the shirt on the outside of skinny jeans. Since the top is long and loose, I feel like I need to keep the bottoms rather slender. I paired this with my "I can't believe I just found this on sale" leather jacket, brown riding boots, a tomato red textured scarf and some large silver earrings.

I like that this could transition to a Friday casual date night too

Style #3: Saturday in the Park (I think it was the 4th of July)--sorry couldn't resist finishing the lyric
In this case, I tucked the shirt in and bloused it out a bit with my black Bermuda shorts. I added some sandals and lots of silver jewelry.


A skinny colorful belt might be nice here too, but since I bloused the shirt, I didn't feel like it needed one.


Style #4: Dressy Date Night
I feel really put together when I wear something like this. Since we aren't really "dressy" people I think I've only worn this once. But it's still a good look! I tucked the shirt in smooth--not a lot of blousing this time--with a slim fit black skirt. I added a tan belt and tan wedge sandals. Since I wore a blue cami underneath, I punched up the color with bright blue woven earrings and an orange bangle.

My "I've got it all together" look

Style #5: Sunday Brunch
While we're being colorful, we may as well embrace it. In this case, I paired the shirt with my tomato red denim skinny cropped pants and kept the shirt on the outside since they're skinnies. To add another color to the mix, I wore my turquoise ballet flats and lots of turquoise jewelry.

Embrace the colors!

You might not have even noticed, but I didn't do any necklaces with this shirt. I'm sure you could, but I wanted to let the fun neckline speak for itself, so I just stuck with larger, statement earrings instead. With my short hair, I also think the earrings keep it looking feminine.

I hope you enjoyed this post. It was really fun to put together. I'm already scheming a few more soon (maybe my mustard yellow cropped pants--who knew those could be so versatile?)!

Karli