Back to School in Black and White

Dolce Vita top // JCrew pants // Akira necklace // Ebay earrings // 

Kenneth Cole sneakers // Forever 21 sunglasses

Travel Under $25

After strategically putting everything for our wedding on our Southwest credit card (and then immediately running home and paying it off!), the hubs earned enough points for a Companion Pass. This means that, for all of 2014, anytime he buys a flight he gets an extra seat for me for free! Between flying to the East Coast to see my niece/nephews, weddings, and our jaunt to Puerto Rico, I have become quite the expert in in-flight comfort and style.

I always like to layer because you never know if your flight will be freezing or not. Thin cotton layers are great because they fold up into nothing. Cardigans are easy to take on/off, and a hood always makes a nap feel cozier. I always bring a scarf to use as another layer, a blanket, or even as something to sit on if the seat skeeves me out!

Black "Magic Pants" (aka 5-pocket ponte skinnies) are as comfortable as leggings, but still give you pockets to stick stuff in. Please do not wear pajamas in public: I promise Magic Pants and a drapey cardigan are equally as comfortable and infinitely more attractive.

I like to wear shoes I can wear with socks, so I don't have to do the gross (and ineffective) tip-toe through security. Slip on sneakers are easy to take off/on, and if they have decent arch support, they are also useful for the rest of the trip.

A good tote makes for an efficient flight experience. I like outside pockets to put my ticket, ID, and phone in a convenient place. Inside pockets and/or small zipper bags help separate my everyday things from the stuff I'll need in-flight. I have a large zippered clutch that I put my tablet, headphones, and charger in (which also doubles as a purse once we get somewhere). I also have a smaller pouch for things like medicine, lip balm, etc.

One last item which is clearly over $25 is the carry-on. I highly recommend a DVF piece. I've had mine for almost 10 years and it's still in beautiful shape. You can usually find them at stores like TJ Maxx for about $70.

Yellow Blazer and Strawberry Sneakers

I love the idea of the Boyfriend Jean, but every time I try one on I feel they look ridiculous on me! My top secret solution is to simply buy regular skinny jeans (like these Lauren Conrad's) two sizes too big. (P.S. how adorable are these special edition Marimekko Jack Purcell's I scored at Nordstrom Rack!?)

blazer: Gap // tee: (bought in Harajuku 6 years ago) // jeans: LC Lauren Conrad // sneakers: Converse

Cute Sneakers!

I've been on a cute sneaker quest for as long as I can remember, and THANKFULLY cute sneakers are finally on trend! Stay tuned for lots of outfits styling similar comfy shoes.

On My Radar

This is what's on my radar this week: high rise jeans (like, right below the belly button, not up to the bra!), super comfortable summer shoes, and a sophisticated, flattering bathing suit option for those days when a bikini is just not happening.

Buffalo Check and Wedge Sneakers

It was only warm enough to wear this jacket for a short while, but MAN was is a great buy! I feel like it makes every outfit that much cooler.

These sneakers were deemed "ugly" even by the H&M shopgirl who held them for me in the dressing room, but I love them. I had been searching for a wedge sneaker that didn't make me feel like an old lady poser, and I think these are minimalist enough to work.

We Go Together

I found these herringbone sneakers on mega clearance at Target, and thought I could fudge them into work shoes.  They came with white laces, but I thought the black laces would dress them up a little. With an added arch support insert, these shoes were the MOST COMFORTABLE teacher shoes ever.  Even my students (7th graders) loved them; I got a million compliments.

I knew I wanted to wear ankle pants with these, but the rest of the outfit was all last minute. I reach for that Snow Cat shirt constantly, and I rediscovered the pink sweater in my closet. That was an H&M 2 for 1 buy: I wanted this pink one, and kind of just grabbed a chunky grey sweater for lack of a better option. However, I ended up wearing the grey one a zillion times, and this pink one rarely.






The charm necklaces kind of poke fun at the Pink Lady vibe (like a twist on the charm bracelet), but the big plastic ring helps keep it from looking too much like a straight up costume.

The leather T-Bird nod was a last second grab, just for fun :)

• Blouse: J. Crew Boy Shirt in Snow Cat (buy it here on sale) (similar here) (similar here for $15!)


• Pink sweater: old H&M(similar here) (pullover option here) (navy option here)


• Pants: GAP Slim Cropped (buy them here) (similar here) (similar here)


• Sneakers: Mossimo Olga Casual Flat in Silver Cloud (buy here) (similar here) (similar here)


• Necklaces: old Tiffany triple Open Heart (Open Hearts here) (similar here, here, here, and here), old Claire's horseshoe (similar here, here, and here) and old Forever 21 pink crystal bow (similar here, here, and here)


• Ring: old Forever 21 (similar here and here) (option here)


• Jacket: old Forever 21 (similar here, here, here, and here)


• Sunglasses: from some cheapy store on Hollywood Blvd (similar here, here, and here)


• Lipstick: Covergirl in Spellbound (buy in drugstores or here)