Daily Buzz Style 9x9: Holiday Mini Makeover

Everybody knows the Holidays are the one time a year it is appropriate to wear your glitter, sequins, and velvet all in one place! I often find myself looking to add a little something extra to an otherwise ordinary outfit, or finding easy and quick ways of transitioning a daytime outfit into a nighttime look worthy of eggnog and fruitcakes. 

The original look was perfectly suited for a weekend or casual event, all outfitted around a new favorite plaid button up. I knew I wanted that to be the anchoring piece, and that I had a few little tricks up my sleeve to turn it into the perfect holiday mini makeover.

THE LOOK: I kept the shirt casual with the sleeves rolled up but ditched the jeans and added a fun tulle skirt! This black skirt is the perfect addition to add instant dressy-ness to any shirt or sweater! I am a big fan of the bootie this year, so black booties finished off the look and kept that effortless, more casual-glam look. I also love to add some unexpected details, so I added a big, glittery statement necklace that played off the colors in the top and a small, complimentary clutch. Had I worn a small necklace or carried an oversized bag, I don't think the look would have been as festive! The little details can make all the difference!

THE HAIR: I think the holidays are the time to pull off more dressed up or classic styles then you can wear during the year. To achieve this look, I took my hair and curled the ends away from my face around my entire head. Next I just ran my fingers through to break up the curl, then just twisted a low bun away from my face and held it in place with about 8-10 bobby pins. Then I took a small comb and combed over the hair on the crown and hair sprayed, and pulled out some pieces in front. I like that it looks a bit messy and undone, but still more fancy then my usual hair down!

THE EXTRAS: I normally have a daily makeup routine that I don't stray from so adding an unexpected piece to my makeup made the look feel more special. In this case I added a sheer red lip and used a liquid liner to make those special details pop a bit more.

Outfit Details: Button Up- Old Navy, Necklace- Anthropologie, Denim- Old Navy, Skirt- Anthropologie, Scarf- Forever 21, Flats- Anthropologie, Boots- Target, Clutch- Nordstrom, Sunglasses- Anthropologie

Win a $50 Simon Malls Gift Card!

As you saw earlier in the week, I headed over to the Shops at Mission Viejo to pick out some of my favorite fall finds thanks to Simon Mall Group! I loved my trip over to the mall to check out some of their great stores (Gap, J Crew, Zara!) and found some great picks for under $50 that I would love to add to my fall wardrobe. 

Today one of you has the chance to win your OWN $50 gift card to spend at any store, on whatever your little heart desires! 

We would LOVE for one of you to be able to spend this gift card over at the Shops at Mission Viejo, but I understand some of you don't live close so don't worry. Just check out the Simon Mall Directory and see if there is a mall close to you that you can redeem your gift card at before entering! 

Enter below and Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Fashion Finds

There is nothing like searching for your favorite fall pieces when it is the hottest day of the summer! But that is just what I did last week, on assignment for the Simon Mall Group to find a great fall piece for $50. I headed over to The Shops at Mission Viejo to see what was on offer. I was pleasantly surprised to find all of my favorite shops under one roof, and some other new to me shops that were equally as cute. 

When dressing for fall, I always add pieces in that can help take some of my favorite summer pieces into the cooler months. Accessories for me play a big part in dressing for fall. Your favorite summer dress can be quickly transformed by swapping sandals for boots and adding a great outer layer and a scarf. Fall is by far my favorite season to dress for. 

I first stopped by H&M because I was lured in by all of their great and affordable gold baubles. I think gold jewelry is so rich, and looks so amazing with all of my favorite fall colors such as olive green, maroon and burnt oranges. They had everything on offer starting as low as $3.95. Their jewelry included some amazing statement necklaces, which I just cant get enough of right now. 

I also fell in love with a soft caramel colored clutch with a little pop of pink. For $17.95 this would be the perfect going out clutch for fall, pair with skinny jeans, a crisp white button up and a complimentary pair of boots.

I stopped by the Fossil store which surprises me each and every time. My favorite was all of their fall inspired leather goods. They had all sizes, shapes, and patterns in so many different colors and prices! I love keeping my everyday pieces like a wallet or a bag very classic and timeless and I find all of these to be perfect examples! 

Zara was my next stop where I was absolutely giddy with their new Fall collection. Everything I imagine fall to be this year was here. I am loving layers of chambray, soft white sweaters, deep greens and military inspired pieces. I also am still loving (and might always)  the tribal, ikat, and western prints that have been so popular lately. This jacket caught my eye at $60 and fit the bill for a great outer layer.

They also carried a huge assortment of muted scarves that are perfect to take into the cooler days. I might love a scarf a little too much, but it is so versatile and something I always keep in the bottom of my handbag. Prices range from $10-$50 depending on the material and thickness of the scarf. Really, anything goes! Its just your preference!

I am also really loving the bohemian, hippy inspired summer vibes and I am hoping to carry those further into the cool months. I loved this light weight sweater with little lace details which came in at $30, and am smitten with little white crochet dresses. This one was over the $50 budget, but I think it would look perfect with leggings and menswear inspired boots. I also love the play on details that are a little sweet and a little tough. Like mixing lace with studs or floral and camo. It ends up blending together perfectly and making a strong statement.

Above were a few of my picks that I headed off to try on! Which piece do you think I got? 

A big thanks to the Simon Mall Group and The Shops at Mission Viejo for this opportunity. Check back in later next week to see what I picked and how I styled it! There might even be a little surprise for one of you as well!!!

Though I was given a $50 gift card to do this assignment, the thoughts and choices I made are my own!  These posts do not necessarily represent Simon Property Group's positions, strategies or opinions. 

My Third Stitchfix

     If you haven't heard about Stitchfix yet, let me tell you a little bit about it. You fill out an online survey, all about your favorite styles, sizes and favorite brands and from there someone personal shops for you. They hand pick 5 items and send them over to you. You then get to try them on and style them in the comfort of your own home and decide what you want to keep. You pay an initial $20 fee, but that fee is applied to an item that you choose! And even better, if you keep all 5 items, then entire box is discounted 25%! I mean, who doesn't want to find a box full of pretty clothes sitting on your doorstep!?

A quick shot of what was in my box! Full of pretty summery colors and prints! If you see anything here you like, you can always specifically request it in your fix!

Mystree Gilmore Ruched Linen Tank-

I am a big fan of stripes, so I was excited to see this piece. I am not the biggest fan of linen so for me, that texture on the top wasn't my favorite. The other things that didnt work was the extreme rushing where my chest was. On my frame, it made everything appear super large, but if you were more lacking in that area, this top could really give you a boost! So not for me, but cute for someone else!

Aryn K Mallory Knee Length Silk Dress-

I really liked the print on this dress and the very womanly silhouette it created on my body. The one thing I didnt like was that it had shoulder pads! I don't know about you, but I am just not into that. Also for me, it was this dress that made me decide that this brand doesn't fit my body quite right because from the waist to the shoulder the top was way too long for my body. For the price, I didnt want to invest more into the dress so back it went.

Costa Blanca Shay Waist Tie Open Jacket-

I really liked this piece tied and over a dress, but it didnt really work for me with jeans, or untied. I wasn't really a fan of the color or texture so this was a quick decision for me! 

Jaloux Helene Embellished V-Neck Dress-

I LOVED this dress!!!!! Like honestly, it was navy, and had this crazy print going on on top that made me me want to tie up my hair, take my jewelry off and let the dress shine! I just really loved it. In full disclosure, I sent it back because some of the beading on the neck was really loose and it would be extremely obvious if they fell off. But I really didnt want it to go. If anyone gets a perfect one in their box... keep it! Its so pretty!

Echo Multi Print Pears Scarf-

I am familiar with this brand because we sell it at Anthropologie and I was thrilled to find this scarf in my box. This happened to be the only thing I kept, but on a whole I really did love the whole box. The fabric for one thing, is so extremely soft, and the colors are so vivid! I love the print open, and I love the  way everything drapes when it hangs! I have worn this multiple times already and I am so happy I kept it! 

     So if you are interested in signing up for a fix of your own, head over to Stitchfix and get yourself put on the wait list because it is so popular and everyday they are getting better and better brands (They just got Everly, which is like my favoooorite!) and I just really love the whole system! 

Ruby Girl Swap!

     Happy Monday friends! Today I did a little blog swap with Ruby Girl to share our favorite styled posts with each others readers! Head over to her blog to see my post for today and check out Lindsey's post below! Hope you enjoy her great style!

Hey, hey! I'm Lindsey and I blog over at Ruby Girl. Hayley and I are trading spaces today... Trading Spaces, anybody remember that show from TLC? Definitely saw every episode when I was in high school. You guys, I am delighted to have the chance to be with you here at The Weekend File today. I think Hayley has absolutely adorable style, she's just got that girl-next-door vibe goin on. So great!
On Ruby Girl blog, I'm all about creating fresh, feminine looks with an urban flare. Bargain hunter and cheapskate at heart, I work with wardrobe pieces that are accessible to all, pretty darn affordable and definitely focus on bringing high fashion to the every day. 
Here's a little flavor of Ruby Girl blog, three of my favorite recent looks, for three different summer activities:

Downtown Window Shopping

You can never go wrong with oversized chiffon blouses and skinny jeans. They like PB&J, for reals. This time I dressed things up with heels, but you can always go a bit more casual with a pair of gladiators. This ensemble combines an unexpected pair, muted tones and neon. Acid yellow is showing up everywhere these days! Always fun to pop in a bit here and there.

Brunch with the Ladies

This look features two of my absolute favorite trends right now, bold geometric prints and color blocking. This print had me at hello. It allured me over from where it hung on the rack and with its navy and white nauticalness connived me into purchasing. I had no choice. But for $25, there was no buyer's remorse, despite the dress's shrewd manipulation. Being a color-lover I popped in some orange here and there and a little sass with the cat eye sunglasses.

Date Night

This is one of those preppy little resort style looks. White pants make everything look clean and classy. Seriously. With white pants, we could wear rainbow tie-dye soccer t-shirts from 8th grade and look like a million bucks. Opted out of the tie-dye route this time, however, and kept things all sorbet-inspired up in here with the mango necklace and lime top. You hungry right now? Yea me too.

Thanks for reading, I'd love to get to know you more!

Here's a few ways to connect:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram (rubygirl1)

Stitchfix Fun

Last week I came home and my first Stitchfix was waiting for me on the doorstep! Basically, for a $20 fee you sign up on their website to have 5 items chosen specifically for you and sent over to try. You fill out a pretty complete profile about your body type, size, styles you like and dislike and what you are interested in trying. It is pretty much a virtual personal stylist showing up right at your door!

I was very impressed with the quality and thought put into the package. There was a personalized note from my personal stylist (Brittany B!) and a great big return envelope prepaid, to send anything back that I didn't want. They cool thing about this? The $20 fee gets applied to an item if you choose to buy something, and you can get $25 off everything if you keep the whole box! Which to me means, if you pick one thing to keep, the Stitchfix service is technically free! 

I also love that they take the time to attach these cards to each piece showing you different ways to style the piece. The cool thing is you can say in your survey which styles you normally wear, but which styles you would maybe like to try out. Since you are comfortable in your own home, why not try something a little out of your comfort zone?

Below is what was in my Fix! Boyfriend wasn't home so I had to get creative with my iPhone and styling!

Aryn K- Colorblock Crinkle Dress

I liked this dress. It fit well and was different in color and shape from anything I would ever buy! What I didnt like was the back, it was racerback on the top and then backless towards my lower back. I might be a slight bit modest when it comes to that, and I didnt want to buy a dress I could only ever wear with a jacket. But I loved the dress! I considered keeping this one for a long time!

MM Couture- Ester Pleated Skirt

At first I was bummed that my box had no print or pattern and this was just a basic black skirt. But once I put it on I started thinking of all the ways I could style this skirt. I am not the skinniest, and pleats like that usually make my bottom half look large, but I liked how it fell very slimly along my body. I liked how  I just had a basic grey tee and denim jack and it feels dressed up! I ended up keeping this skirt, but I think I need to get it lined since it is very, very see through!

Gold-Hearted- Rope Statement Chain Necklace

I saw this in the box and hated it. I didnt even want to try it on but I had the box already at my house, it would be a shame not to try it. Once I put it on I really liked it! It was delicate and really simple, but still really, really made an impression. I wanted to keep this, but the only reason I didnt was the price. I thought for over $30 I could better invest in a piece to wear, rather then add another necklace to my collection.

THML- June Long Sleeve Cardigan

This sweater had an interesting color palette of blacks, browns and oranges. Colors I normally wouldn't put together but I liked it. It was just a basic cardigan but very well made, and had cute buttons on it. I just wasn't sold on it, and the sleeves of the sweater were way too long for my arms! 

THML- Wilhemina Pleather Moto Jacket

I was really excited when I read there was a moto jacket in my box. One of the things I have always wanted was a tough leather jacket to throw on with everything in my closet. When I put this on, it wasn't quite what I wanted. Puffy sleeves, a little too cropped, and too boxy. This was my least favorite of everything I got to try on, but I am glad I did because now I know what more too look for when I look for a moto jacket!

All in all I kept 1 of my 5 items, and already signed up to have my second box delivered! I love the element of surprise and the fact that you never know what you are going to find in the box! I also told them to keep the items affordable, so I wont fall in love with a $200 blouse!

Stitchfix is in beta now and they have a bit of a wait list because it is so popular, but if you want to try it out I have a referral code you can use! Just click here to be sent to their site to sign up. You can also check out their blog, and if you see items you love, you can specifically request for those to be in your box! Pretty cool if you ask me, I loved it and I already cant wait for my next fix to arrive! 

Weekend Wedding

ModCloth 'Shine and Dandy' Dress

Forever 21 Rhinestone Snake Chain Necklace

Seychelles 'Hey There' Heel

Topshop Zig Zag Clutch

Topshop Studded Wrist Wear

Topshop Seamfront Waterfall Jacket

This weekend I am headed up the central coast for a wedding. Since I spotted this gorgeous minty green dress on Modcloth I have been dreaming about how I would style it. I am smitten with the little subtle glam ensemble I created here. Too bad I don't own all these pieces so I could really wear this look!

Ill be back Monday with Life Lately, so get your posts ready!

Spring in Bloom

1. Floral Chiffon Blouse- From Old Navy, would look great with yellow skinny jeans.

2. Chelsea Crew Boliva Suede Bootie- Loving this LuLu's bootie to wear with nearly every skirt and pair of shorts in the spring! 

3. Spotted Floral Bracelet- Adds a little color to your arm party!

4. Floral High-Low Sheer Skirt- My obsession with the high-low continues in a sweet floral fabric.

5. Avonlea Floral Dress- A favorite from Shop Sosie with sweet pleats on the bottom.

6. Polly Top by Goldie- Add some color and glamour for the night out! Pair this Topshop blouse with skinny dark jeans and a high, neutral colored heel.

7. A Night to Remember Heel- Add a ton of floral to a look in a small package with these Modcloth heels!

8. MOTO Floral Highwaist Hotpants- Turn your denim up a notch with a subtle print from Topshop.

9. Vibrant Floral Print Top- Put on with a blazer and some chunky necklaces for a night out.

10. Structured Stem Sparrow Bag- Orla Kiely can do no wrong when it comes to floral and leaf prints. A go to bag for the spring!

11. Blouse Party Top in Spring Floral- Love this structured Modcloth blouse. Would pair it with high waisted skirts or a wide leg jean for two completely different looks.

12. Smith's Rosebud Salve- Adds a little rose flavor to your day as well!

13. Cream Floral Fabric Flat- Springy flats would look so cute with a light colored dress and a vibrant cardigan.

Adding Sparkle

     Having this blog has definitely helped me think outside the box when it comes to my personal style. I love the sequin and sparkle trend that is all over right now, but I can't help but think that if I wore a bright glittery dress, I would look like a gigantic disco ball! Instead, I want to share some of my favorite sparkly items from my closet that I wear to feel a little more dressed up around the holidays!

These multicolored sequin flats have got to be at least 5 years old, but they ad the best pop of color to an otherwise drab tee and jeans or all black outfit. Think of it as a statement shoe, instead of a statement necklace! 

A gorgeous necklace that belonged to my Grandma, that I really never appreciated it until recently. I love that it has a bit of sparkle, and a bit of vintage charm.

This shift dress ads sparkle without being too over the top. It has a very 1940's quality and is perfect with black tights and heels. Maybe my New Years outfit for this year?

A dainty gold scarf looks surprisingly polished and put together when paired with a black blazer. This is an older piece from the Gap, but still manages to be current and trendy today. 

This little cocktail ring is incredibly affordable and the prettiest shade of blue. It is perfect for winter because it kinda resembles a snowflake! 

Don't forget! 

Today is the LAST DAY to enter the Karen Kane Giveaway! 

Win either a $100 or $50 gift card! 

Fall Favorites

     While we are experiencing an Indian Summer here in Southern California, I know that Fall is right around the corner and I can't wait. Fall has got to be my favorite of seasons. Deep colors, tall boots, chunky knits and cool nights. Here is my collection of things I would love to have in my Fall wardrobe. Which of these items would you wear?

1. A mustard colored maxi dress in a soft chiffon print is perfect for dressing up in heels or down with boots and a sweater. 

2. I love layering textured, heavy knit shorts over leggings for a schoolgirl-ish vibe. 

3. I am loving animal print in a more subdued, dressed up way. This grey leopoard print blazer looks polished and put together. 

4. Hunter wellies but covered in gold sparkle. I have always said, wellies are going on these lists until I commit and buy a pair!

5. I am loving feminine gold chains with deep jewel toned stones. This oversized hunter green necklace does the trick.

6. A tough, structured leather clutch with metal accents can be paired with jeans and a tee or a even a sweet floral dress. 

7. A large neck scarf with a festive wild horse print will add a touch of whimsy to any outfit. 

8. Nothing says fall date night quite like a white lace dress, thick colored tights and black heels.

9. A colorful, long-sleeved zig-zag print dress is perfect for the office or the weekend. 

10. A fair isle print made more serious in a cotton blend blazer. I would make this my go to sweater all season long!

11. Mixed metal bangles in an oversized style will go great with any outfit. 

12. A feminine twist on a classic mens brown suede construction boot.