April 9, 2012

Today's Everyday Fashion: Last Puzzle Piece














































Sometimes adding one new item to your closet is like finding a missing key, or the last puzzle piece. Suddenly, you've got 20 new outfits to wear, just because you added one new thing to your closet! That often happens to me when I buy new shoes, and that was also the case with this striped shirt. I searched for one exactly like it for over a year, bought it a few weeks ago, and this is already my third outfit (see the other two here and here). It's that missing "piece" that makes everything work! What items have you added to your closet that made a huge difference?

Inspiration photo: Shopbop
Leather jacket: Banana Republic, $150
Shirt: H&M, $18 (similar)
Skirt: Express, $18
Belt: H&M, $5 (similar)
Shoes: c/o Lauren Conrad for Kohl's
Purse: Calvin Klein from TJ Maxx, $120 (similar)
Earrings: Banana Republic, $10


1. Forever 21 pleated skirt, $15.80
2. Nordstrom pleated skirt, $49.90
3. Limited pleated skirt, $79.90 (40% off with code APRIL40)

33 comments:

  1. Love this look, J!  That striped shirt is so perfect.  I am still on the hunt!

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  2. great job!!
    those pleated skirts look really fun too!

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  3. Love it!  You make everything look so chic and effortless!  Jealous---

    http://ataleoffashion.blogspot.com/ 

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  4. Love that pleated skirt!  The polka dots and the color make it so feminine!  

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  5. I love this! Great mix with the navy stripes and camel colors! Such a chic color combination!

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  6. It happened to me when I added just a few striped tees to my closet!
    Niki
    www.fashionatforty.blogspot.com

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  7. Nice outfit J! Love the pleated skirt and jacket combo. For me, I'm always searching for perfect layering pieces. I live in ohio and the weather literally changes by the hour so layering is essential!

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  8. J, I like this outfit because you look so much thinner than the model. I always smirk when I see designers trying to get us to wear proportions that don't flatter our figures.
    As for the 'master' pairing piece in my closet, it has to be my red shoes, red statement necklace combo. They really give an added 'pop' of color to my neutral color dresses.

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  9. I love the pleats this spring. You're blog is the best!

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  10. I love that pleated skirt and pairing it with the stripes was genius!  I agree with you that a striped top is a closet essential - I wear mine ALL the time!! :)

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  11. You really pull off the pleated skirt look well!  I keep trying them on and not loving them.  But on you?  They look fab!

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  12. I love everything about this look!  That skirt is so pretty and feminine. My striped shirt has gotten a lot of miles on it this spring, too. :)  

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  13. Oh man... you are gorgeousd

    http://goo.gl/N3GLo

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  14. Love this outfit! It has so many textures. I have the same striped shirt (but navy with white stripes) and have been wearing it lots too!

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  15. I love that skirt! I've been looking for a pleated skirt, I kind of feel like that's my puzzle piece!

    http://fiveminutefashions.blogspot.com

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  16. I know exactly what you mean about one piece having the power to bring a wardrobe back from the brink!
    work-it-blog.blogspot.com

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  17. Yes!  I love pieces like that!  Since I've been making over my closet this year, I can't even identify which pieces have done that because I'm trying to get all of them to do that.  I love all the pieces of your outfit!  

    Audrey
    www.puttingmetogether.com

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  18. I know you usually go for color, but I absolutely love you in this outfit!  Items that refreshed my wardrobe recently:  flat biker-style boots in a distressed brown, a grey and black striped t-shirt, and a camel color pencil skirt.  

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  19. I love these skirts. I plan on loading my closet with them.

    Tiffany
    http://shoeschampagne.blogspot.com

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  20. I love your outfit and the inspiration outfit too!  It's awesome that the striped shirt has become such a workhorse in your closet.  I hope I can find a striped shirt at some point that works just as hard!

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  21. I love the look of the leather jacket with the skirt! Its becoming one of my fav looks, but I have yet to put it together myself! I have a dark pair of jeans I just bought and they really make some of my light colored shirts pop more!

    PS Congrats on being in the final two of the Lauren Conrad contest! xoxo

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  22. Thank you Diana!

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  23. Thank you! Sometimes I really like a neutral outfit. It's a like a palette cleanser in between really colorful outfits. :-)

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  24.  Oh that sounds really cute! Love it!

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  25. This is a fun outfit, but I wonder where you would wear it to? Or on what occasion? 


    I recently purchased an emerald top after I had been searching for one for ages. The only problem is that I can't figure out what colors to wear with it (other than navy and black!). Any suggestions? It's a darker shade, like seen here: 
    http://www.thelimited.com/items/ltd/images/large/5051359_815.jpg
    Thanks!

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  26. Looks very "Club Monaco" which I love! <3

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  27. My 2 were J-inspired. I bought a leopard print cardigan (same one you have) and finally found the perfect yellow/butterscotch cardigan and both just opened up so many outfits they last few months.

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  28. Love it haha! I agree though - my mustard cardi is another piece that works with so many things!

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  29. Me too, I have a bunch of their photos saved for inspiration!

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  30. Kate, the skirt is too short for work, so I would say lunch with my friends, a casual meeting, or even to run a couple quick errands. :-)

    Love that emerald shirt, it looks really similar to a LOFT sweater I just bought, and I think you can use it to do some fun color-blocking this spring! I paired it with electric blue and mustard for a work look so far, and also want to pair it with yellow and another shade of green, and either purple or pink at some point. You could also go for white jeans and brown shoes/accessories. Hope this helps!

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  31. I know exactly what you mean! I love stripes because they are so versatile- easy to dress up with a skirt (like you did) and just as easy to wear with jeans... love this outfit! xo
    Violet Tinder

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  32. Oh my gosh. I adore this look.

    I really love this blog. I've read for quite a while, and just started my own - largely because of you. You really make fashion accessible, not only financially, but for people who want to take their basics to the next level.

    This is such a gorgeous look, and something than can totally be recreated with fairly rudimentary pieces.

    Thank you for all of the work you put into this! I voted for you in the LC contest.

    Best,

    -Gabrielle

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  33. Gabrielle, thank you for the sweet note! I appreciate it so much, and thank you for reading all this time, and for voting! :-) 

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