We got this email from one of our readers:

Ok, so I used to be a cool LA girl who bought far too expensive clothing and worked out.  Flash forward 4 years, a temple wedding, 2 kids (and the weight that comes with them) annnnd an invite to my coolest LA girlfriends Beverly hills wedding in October.  Black tie optional AND 3 months postpartum?  I could just die! Rule out anything empire waist.  I have been subscribing to your blog for several months now and really enjoy it.  If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Thank you,

Katy
is fashionably frustrated.

Well Katy, I don’t know your exact size but I found a few ideas for you!   My suggestion for you is wearing a solid color and play heavily (and strategically) on the accessories!   They can glam up an outfit and make you look more present and put together in an instant!

Dress Ideas:

From Left to Right:

Asymmetrical Dress, Gray Shabby Apple, Gray Jen Clothing, Daydreamer Wrap Dress

From Left to Right:

Necklace, Bracelet, Hair Piece, Ring, Stud Earrings

Yay for awesome husbands who know how to fix websites! Since I am going to Hawaii in two weeks, I thought it was only appropriate for me to post accordingly.

I think if we go to a luau, I will definitely have to wear a summer dress, paired with some stellar sandals, and of course, a lei!

I agree, that the shoes are the wrong color. Okay?  Today I was at the Library with Jane and this lady who was probably about 65 or 70 walks in with so much style! I wish I had my camera. She even had the cutest haircut I’ve ever seen on a lady her age. (no offense) So, this is me trying to re create the look of the super stylish lady. (And yes, she was wearing over sized sunglasses. I want to be her when I’m older…)

Cropped Pants, Top, Sunglasses, Belt, Shoes.

I’m kinda digging this bohemian look. And I think it would be perfect to wear out to lunch with your girlfriends! Thanks Ashlin for sending me the link to the top!

Top, Trouser jeans, Sandals

Okay, so I know this is more of a fall look than a summer look… but I’m just so excited about Forever 21’s maternity line that I wanted to put together a look. However, I must say that the girl pictured in the skinny jeans must not be pregnant! She is too skinny! (maybe I’m just being jealous)

Top, Pants, Sandals

So, ALL of these clothes are from Old Navy. I was pretty impressed with their new arrivals.

Okay, so when it is SO hot that you don’t want to go outside… but at the same time need to get outside or you’ll go crazy, I like to wear skirts. A lot of the summer you will see me in a skirt, basic tee, and flats/sandals. This summer would be perfect for me to add a cute hat to my routine. I just feel like skirts are so much breezier and don’t stick to my body like jean shorts. So… walking around the zoo… this is what I would wear. (with the tee tucked into the skirt)

Top, Skirt, Sandals, Hat

ALSO: Today we have a guest post by Lisa Byrd Thomas who is a fashion stylist based out of Memphis, TN. Take a look at the outfit that she thinks would be perfect to wear to the zoo.

Depending on where you live, a trip to the zoo this time of year can be VERY hot!  So, you need to dress appropriately.  A single layer of loose fitting, cotton clothes in a light color is a perfect choice.  But that doesn’t have to mean sloppy, as you can see here.  I’ve paired these khaki, oversized cargo shorts with a loose, ¾ length sleeve tee in lime sherbet, a white, skinny leather belt, and comfortable, woven leather sandals.  I’ve kept accessories to a minimum.  A long, natural stone necklace adds a shot of color.  Check the boys/men’s department for cargo shorts that are looser and longer than those usually found in the juniors/women’s department.  But make sure they fit well in the rear.  For us girls with fuller hips and thighs, avoid shorts with big pockets that fall at your widest point.  And try zippered pockets instead.  The longer sleeve, loose tee is a must to balance out the fullness of the shorts.

Throw on a cute bucket hat for protection from the sun, a small messenger bag for your necessities, and you are good to go!  (Don’t forget the sunscreen!!!!)

So… for our 3 year anniversary we just went out to eat at a place downtown called Root Down. And let me tell you… it was delicious! Then when we got home I made Zach watch Dear John with me and there were two rules: no complaining, and act like you like it! And surprisingly he followed them! ahha I of course forgot my camera so this is a picture we took after dinner. Like Zach’s outfit? Maybe I can get him to put a post up about where to find his clothes… oh wait. I know, it would go like this: Goodwill, Crocs. That’s what my husband wears, and I love it. Anyways, if you care, here are the links to my outfit.

Top, Pants, Headband, Shoes.

p.s. this is the haircut I gave myself. And after I cut my hair, Zach decided to shave his own head (first buzz cut of our marriage). We are cool like that.

Alright ladies! Today we had Livi guest post what she thought would be a great outfit to wear to a picnic! Check out Livi’s blog for some more awesomeness!

Top (Plus size), Pants (Plus size), Vest (Plus size), Shoes, Necklace, Headband, Scarf, Ring, Earrings, Bracelet, Nail Polish, Lipstick, Sunscreen!

This outfit would be perfect for a picnic in a city park or a country meadow.  I prefer jeans to skirts and thats easier to picnic in anyway!
The vest is perfect to cover up and slim.  I’m all about the layering, its so convenient to pull something out of your purse when it gets cold or put something back in.
The key to this outfit is the accessories: they can be a symphony of organization if done right.  Go Big or Go Home I say. If its a little much for you, pick and choose.
Don’t be scared by the two finger ring either, they’re all the rage right now.  My good friend just sent me this ring and I keep it on a chain.  It can be worn either way.
My friends will all be surprised that I chose such small earrings but with so much going on, they would be the perfect thing.  And of course, above all, a scarf.
If I had to pick one accessory to take with me for the rest of my life it would be a scarf.  Its possibilities are endless and it can be removed if needed.  The model on target.com is totally wearing it wrong, (I would wrap it in a v shape bandanna style around my neck.)  The red of this scarf would look perfect against the dark denim and stripes.
Don’t forget your lipstick:   Sephora Brand Lip Attitude.  I live by it.
And since you’re not wearing a hat, don’t forget the sunscreen!!!  I like Bare Escentuals sun screen powder that can go right over face makeup.

Have fun! -Livi

Top, Jeans, Bracelet, Headband, Shoes.

Hey ladies! I don’t know about you, but I am super excited to have some fun picnics this summer! I am a plain jane when it comes to clothes, I’ve decided. But here’s my outfit! Enjoy! -Natalie

I love picnics, and my little ones are getting to the perfect age for picnics. One of the reasons why I love picnics is that I love picnic quilts! I love quilts of all types and although I don’t think I’m super-skilled enough or prolific enough to call myself a “quilter”, I’m someone who quilts and marvels at handmade treasures. Did you know that on ebay there are hundreds of finished quilt tops just waiting to be purchased and made into a perfect summer picnic quilt? I’m talking handsewn here people! Check it out, search any combination of the words: quilt top, vintage, antique, handsewn, etc. and find yourself a treasure.
-Emily
top, pants, sandals, necklace (I love this etsy shop!)
quilts (top, middle, bottom)

I realized that lately I have been posting a lot of ridiculously expensive items in my Tuesday posts. So, today is different. There isn’t one item in this outfit that is more than $44! Yay for affordable clothing. I really wanted a scarf with this outfit, however this one looks a little off. Maybe a different shade of purple would do it? I also think Yellow would be cute. Anyways, enjoy!

-Natalie

Purple Scarf, Striped t-shirt, Toms Shoes, Denim Leggings, White Bag.

I wanted to pick an outfit that would be comfortable and easy to take on and off while you’re trying things on. I also wanted something cute so that you could feel put together enough to stop by the Cheesecake Factory or something for dinner. I recently had the Santa Fe salad and the Key Lime cheesecake and I wholeheartedly recommend both. Hope you have a girls’ shopping day in your near future!

-Emily

top, wide-leg pants, mary-jane flats, bracelet

Okay, so here’s the deal. Sometimes I put together outfits and look at them and know that they are cute. While other times I put together an outfit and am a little frightened as to what people might think. So… what do you think of this outfit? Is it too busy? Anyways, I think it can be fun to go a little color crazy. And that’s what I’ve done here. Whether it’s too much for a wedding or not, I’ll leave that up to you to decide. I found this cute Etsy shop for plus size women and wanted to use one of their dresses… I think they have a great selection. I also love blue paired with yellow, which is why I chose some yellow pumps. It makes me happy. And then for some added color I chose a purple belt, and a colorful floral necklace. Enjoy!

-Natalie

Hi everyone!  I chose a cute yellow dress for a spring wedding.  Yellow is fun, and this dress seems cheerful and playful enough for a wedding, but still conservative and respectful for such an important event.  Since these style boards are always like my dream outfit wishlists, I put on her a watch that I’ve had my eye on for a long time (in black and gold, although my favorite is the tortoise shell one).  Add a simple (and cheap) necklace and some super fun shoes and you’re all set.

-Emily

p.s. I found this dress in Nordstrom’s Dress Shop.  Seriously, if you have an event coming up that you need a dress for specifically, don’t waste your time looking in other places.  Look here first.  There are so many cute options, and you can find a lot of sale items, too.

Alright, so this outfit is actually REALLY expensive, but after browsing the web for over an hour looking for something not too expensive, I just gave up. When I have my mind on a certain look, it makes it really hard to find stuff! Anyways, as much as I’d like to claim being brilliant and picking all this out, I’d have to say that I’m pretty sure (after putting this together) that my inspiration came from Naomi of Rockstar Diaries. She is always dressed to the nines and I just love her style. So… really, if you want advice on how to dress while going out to dinner in the city, her blog is full of her cuteness and I’m sure will inspire some great outfits for you! Speaking of Date Night, Dinner In The City… have you seen Date Night (the movie)? OMG (yes, I just said OMG) It is HILARIOUS!!! You should definitely check it out!
-Natalie
Sweater, Skirt, Tank, Shoes

I saw this dress and thought it was cute. Not usually what I go for, a little more Urban Outfitters-ish than I usually dress, but it was fun would make a fun date night dress. The background color is navy, so I put it with brown and gold accessories (I’d also wear a slim tee underneath, for armpit coverage). I know, the shoes are ridiculous, but for some strange reason, I love them. I would always enjoy a date night of dinner in the city, so I’m going to put the date and the outfit on my wishlist.
-Emily
dress, belt, shoes, gold cuff bracelet

Well ladies, this is what I have for you… a hiking outfit! Some great pants that are lightweight and can be tied shorter if needed, a lightweight top, a jacket in case it gets windy, a hat to keep your scalp from being sunburned and to help keep the sun out of your eyes, and some super comfy chacos! (Your feet will be dirty afterward, but they are cute and the sole is great for rocks… there aren’t many sandals that can be worn hiking.)
-Natalie

I know this is crazy, but I made an outfit with the exact same Chaco sandals without even knowing that Natalie put them on her style board!

My family went on a fun little hike the other day, and so when I was thinking about a hike, I thought about one that was fun and simple.  After the hike we went to a nearby town for dinner, so I put some shoe options in here to show how a casual dress could be dressed up a bit.  Athleta has, every season, a few really great dresses that are casual and really easy to wear.  You may think, a dress, on a hike?  But, on a hot day, a breezy dress sounds just perfect to me.  These dresses are machine washable, most of them are knits (you know I love knits) so you can throw them in your suitcase when traveling, AND many of them have a TALL option for those that are, well… tall.  Or, for those like me that want just a little more length in my dress, even though I am certainly not tall. (Flirtatious dress, available in tons of colors as well as plus sizes, and Kimono Dress)
-Emily

There is a good chance that if you see me at a BBQ this summer that I will be wearing something similar! I’m all about simplicity, especially in the heat!
-Natalie

Top at American Apparel for $18.00
Shorts at Charlotte Russe for $27.00
Shoes at Nordstrom for $49.95
Sunglasses at Ray-Ban for $119.00

To me, summer clothes means lots of easy cotton and linen. I’m not so much a shorts kind of girl, so I love wide leg, breezy trousers. And I love wearing white.
Here’s my BBQ outfit, but just be careful with the BBQ sauce on those white pants!
-Emily

Shirt at Old Navy for $22.99
Pants at Old Navy for $25.00
Belt at Gap for $34.50
Shoes at Endless for $79.95
Necklace at Macy’s for $85.00

This would be a great outfit to wear to a spring wedding! Thanks Jess! Total cost: $89.48

Sweater, Dress, Shoes

Another great outfit from Jessica!!! Total cost: $101.99

Top, Sweater, Shorts, Sandals

Jessica emailed me a couple more outfits. Outfits that are more likely to fit your budget… thanks Jess! Total cost for this outfit: $74.48

Top, Capris, Sandals

This is the last of the outfits that Jessica has sent in so if any of you out there want to email me outfits, I would love to post them! Also, there have been a lot of comments asking where all the outfits are from. All the links are posted at the bottom of each post! Happy Shopping!

Top, Jacket, Shorts, Shoes

This dress has spring written all over it. I LOVE it!!

Dress, Cardigan, Shoes, Hair Clips

Another great outfit from Jessica! Thanks Jess!

Top, Shorts , necklace, shoes

Thanks Jessica for all these awesome outfits!

Top, Sweater, Denim, Wedges

Another great outfit from Jessica! I will post links tomorrow. (Considering how late I’m posting this, I’m sure you can tell my day has been a little hectic!)

Top, Skirt, Belt, Wedges

My friend Jessica just sent me the links to the clothes in this outfit! And I LOVE them! Jessica should really be the one running this blog because she seriously dresses super cute all the time. Me on the other hand… I’m all talk Thanks for the outfit Jess! (She sent me more outfits that you will be seeing throughout this week and next)

Gathered Cowl Dress at Banana Republic for $98.00 (coupon code to get 25% off BRSAVE25  – ends today!)

Cropped Cardigan at Old Navy for $19.50

Rumer peep-toe high heel huarache at Banana Republic for $120.00

This morning, while reading one of my favorite blogs, Stephmodo, I saw a link to a new collection by Narciso Rodriguez.  I’m not a designer clothes-wearing kind of girl, but I have always liked Rodriguez’s clothes.  (First Lady Michelle Obama wears Narciso Rodriguez all the time, and looks fantastic.)  Of course, a cute and simple knit black dress caught my attention, and then I realized, I pretty much already have this dress.  Check out the comparison:

Cute dress and cute shoes, but this look will set you back $720.00. Yes, that’s right, seven hundred twenty DOLLARS. Crazy.

For that kind of money, you could buy:
an almost identical dress (from Shade Clothing, one of my all-time favorites), cute shoes and accessories for three separate looks, and still have $300 left over.  I have this dress and believe it to be the perfect casual-on-the-verge-of-nice (business casual?) little black dress.  The scoopneck is just the right amount of scoop, flattering without giving away the farm.  It looks more sleek than it feels…it feels like you’re wearing a dress made out of your favorite sweatshirt.  I seriously love this dress, and wore an outfit similar to outfit #1 just the other day.

Trust me on this one, you’ll love this dress.  And it’s on sale.  What more could you want?

1. necklace, tights, shoes

2. necklace, bangles, shoes

3. necklace, ring, shoes

Perfect V-Neck Cardigan $29.50

Pleated-Front Tank $17.50

Pleated Scoop-Neck Top $24.50

Cuffed Ruffle-Trim Tee $15.00

Double-Weave Trousers $29.50

Low-Rise Perfect Khaki Capris $29.50

Low-Rise Perfect Khaki Skirt $24.50

All of these were found at Old Navy on their Plus Size Wear to Work page! All of their stuff is perfect for mixing and matching!

Hey! So here are all the outfits! Please vote for your favorite! And yes, rally all your friends to vote for your favorite outfit as well! (via facebook, twitter, blogs etc) Be careful that you are voting for the right outfit! The outfit number is labeled BELOW the outfit!

Outfit number ONE by Ema G.

Outfit TWO by Mandee G.

Outfit THREE by Katie G.

Outfit FOUR by Jes C.

Outfit FIVE by Emily H.

Outfit SIX by Genivieve C.

Outfit SEVEN by Jessica M.

Outfit EIGHT by Ashlin W.

Outfit NINE by Evelyn J.

Outfit TEN by Julie S.

Outfit ELEVEN by Jessica O.

Outfit TWELVE by Stacy A.

Outfit THIRTEEN by Gena P.

Outfit FOURTEEN by Summer C.

Outfit FIFTEEN by Leilani V.

Outfit SIXTEEN by Alissa H.

Outfit SEVENTEEN by Jenny

Outfit EIGHTEEN by Carrie G.

Outfit NINETEEN by Marylin C.

Outfit TWENTY by Bonnie D.

Outfit TWENTY ONE by Tina C.

Outfit TWENTY TWO by Mary P.

Outfit TWENTY THREE by Christa B.

Outfit TWENTY FOUR by Nic R.

Outfit TWENTY FIVE by Jenny G.

Outfit TWENTY SIX by Chelsea F.

Catherine of Everyday inspirations sent in this style board. To find links to these items, go here. Thanks Catherine!

Ok, I’ve always respected you gals and your opinions in fashion emergencies, so I thought I’d drop you a line. I have fair skin and I’ve been a blonde ever since high school, so my fallback valentine’s day outfit has always been bombshell-red. This year, however, I’ve started dying my hair red (strawberry blonde) and I’m still figuring out what colors I can and can’t wear. What on earth can I wear for my valentine’s day date that will still knock my hubby’s socks off, without making me look like Belle Watling from Gone With the Wind??

Any other general redhead advice will be much appreciated as well

Thanks for your awesome blog, and your commitment to modesty!

Allisan

Hi Allisan!

I think you are asking a great question. Although I don’t have all the answers… I did a little hollywood look up. Here are a few of the beautiful redheads in Hollywood, and look at all these pretty colors they are wearing! Red. Purple, Blue, Pink. And they all look amazing! I think the main trick, is just to pick something out and wear it with confidence. But I will say, I think purple would be my top pick! (Yes, I do realize that the blue dress isn’t modest, however I wanted to show you that color with her hair, I also tried finding pictures of Julianne Moore, because we all know she is a very beautiful redhead, but I found that she wears a lot of neutrals… )

Readers, do you have any redhead advice? Please share!!!

Peace. Natalie

Okay, so this outfit is SO cute! I was in WA last week and Ashley and I went to a wedding and this is what she wore! I was about to die because of how cute it was. Her outfit was with a dress just like this one, but with a denim colored skirt to it, and white button up underneath and a green cardigan, cowboy boots, and a headband in her hair. It was adorable. Anyways, the link to this dress was sent to me by Jessica, and I thought that I should show you how cute it could be! (oh yeah and it was even cuter on Ashley because she is 6 months pregnant… oh man that girl knows how to dress!)

Regina Chambray Dress at Delias for $39.50, 36 inches long.

Pintucked Flannel Shirt at Forever 21 for $17.80

Cropped Cardigan at Charlotte Russe for $18.99

With these boots.

So, if you’re like me, what you need for the holidays is the perfect piece to add to your wardrobe. Something that works with what you already have. Something that is easy to wear, but looks festive and put together.
Seriously, DownEast Basics’ Reunited Top is the answer to all of our prayers. I have had my eye on this top for a while, and am so glad that I have it.  I have the top in black, and all of these outfit ideas are built around the black top.

I think you need one.
Need proof? You need this top if you fit into any of these categories:
clockwise starting at the top left
1. you have a satiny or sparkly number that would be perfect for a Holiday party, if only you had the right top to make it more modest/winter appropriate/formal/etc. (wear the sparkly top underneath the Reunited Top with some skinny jeans or black cigarette pants and bright heels)
2. you’ve been working up the guts to try a fun headpiece and want to keep the rest of the outfit on the simple side. (I love this cute headband, and with the Reunited Top, your favorite patterned skirt, cute black heels, and some red lipstick…you’ll have the headpiece trend mastered)
3. you have a fun dress that you want to give new life to. (Look in your closet, say you have something that you used to just LOVE, but you’ve worn it to a bunch of events and it’s feeling a little overdone.  Wear it underneath the Reunited Top and you’ve got yourself an entirely different look.)
4. you have a statement necklace that you adore, but struggle with how to make it look statement-ish without being ostentatious. (I struggle with this all the time.  I’m not an everyday jewelry wearer, so when I wear something, I want to make a statement.  A bold statement, but not a LOUD statement.  Here’s my solution: pair your favorite necklace with the Reunited Top, a pencil skirt, and some heels.  The top is fancy enough to hold it’s own against the necklace, and it has the perfect neckline to put your favorite necklace on display)
5. you have a dang cute pair of heels that you want to build an outfit around, but keep the heels as the star of the show. (go in your closet and find your favorite black skirt, a camisole to layer underneath the Reunited Top, put on some bright colored tights, and kick up those heels!)

And for me… (Natalie) this sweater is just beautiful and perfect for any holiday occasion, or any occasion for that matter. I am so happy with it. The only thing that I wish was a little different… on the DownEast site it says this is 3/4 sleeves, on me… it’s more like 7/8 sleeves, so I would order a size smaller than normal if you want the sleeves to be fitted. But seriously, I think this cardigan is perfect (even if the sleeves are long on me). I wore it to my husbands work party last night, and was glad I did!

But enough about us… what do you want from DownEast for Christmas?!!?! Go on over to their site and pick out one item that is on your wishlist… leave a comment telling us what it is and we will announce the winner on Tuesday morning! Merry Christmas!

Brittany from Tangled and True put together her ideal Thanksgiving outfit for us! I love the turquoise and mustard colors that she used! Thanks Brittany!

tanktop
jeans
purse
shoes
belt
earrings
cardigan

Reachel from Cardigan Empire put together this lovely outfit! I’m pretty sure I will die without at least half of these items! Thanks Reachel!

Summer from Eliza Magazine’s Thanksgiving outfit! (Isn’t it SO cute!) Thanks Summer!

I never pass up an excuse to wear a dress. For Thanksgiving I want something that looks festive, but also a fabric that is comfortable and giving (I love those mashed potatoes). This Spiced Cider Dress (modcloth) is the perfect combo. I would pair this golden hued dress with a complimentary jewel toned tight in blueberry, chocolate or purple. Running around in the kitchen, flats are the only choice, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be dazzling. Check out Banana Republic’s Nora bejeweled flat (bananarepublic). To top off the outfit I would accessories with gold’s, like these stunning Guilt earrings (twisted-silver). Here are a few more things to be thankful for.

If Elaine from Clothed Much could choose anything to wear on Thanksgiving… this is what it would be! Thanks Elaine for putting this outfit together!

Old Navy Trench
Old Navy dress in blue
Forever 21 cardigan
Forever 21 belt
Forever 21 tights
Charlotte Russe knee-high socks
Forever 21 knit hat
Kohl’s leather gloves
Old Navy bag
Brown boots

Naomi of Rockstar Diaries put together her top 2 ideal Thanksgiving outfits! Naomi said “I just love mixing patterns and textures and colors together. It was fun playing off the “holiday theme” (by including things like the darling pilgrim blouse in outfit 1) and mixing in a few bright festive colors and patterns!”

Man, if only I could put together as cute of an outfit! Thanks so much Naomi! (p.s. stay tuned for some awesome outfits from some of our favorite bloggers this week!)

Outfit #1

Top: La Casita De Wendy Shop

Skirt, Headband, Heels: Anthropologie

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Outfit #2

Top: Ramblin Vintage

Skirt: Anthropologie

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Heels: Top Shop