Today's Everyday Fashion: Boots with Skirts

You may recall that I first styled this dress for summer with white and orange (see here)! The cold-weather version in today's post was my dinner reception outfit in North Dakota this weekend. I tend to feel awkward in boots and a skirt, but this outfit felt pretty good. I've had several people ask about wearing boots and skirt for work, so I took a look back at some old posts for inspiration, below. Several of the skirts are far too short for work, but the general gist of these colors and shapes are what I would recommend. Do you wear boots and skirts together? How do you style them?

Jacket: LOFT, $50 (identical in black, navy double breasted)

Dress: c/o Francesca's Collections, $44

Belt: H&M, $18

Tights: Marshall's

Boots: c/o Chinese Laundry, $150

Purse: Karen Millen, $235 (similar, vegan)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website charm $17 and c/o Jenny Present (not pictured)
Rings: My Stella & Dot website $39 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59

Today's Everyday Fashion: Pumpkin Spice

Work version

This inspiration photo totally caught my eye (minus the socks and sandals...), and it inspired me to put together a similar look with a chambray shirt and jeans, and a work version with a navy pencil skirt. I wore the casual version with brown suede booties in North Dakota this weekend, while shopping with the $500 gift card winner (below). Which version works better for your lifestyle?

Inspiration photo: Club Monaco
Blazer: Forever 21, $25 (similar, similar, rust)
Chambray shirt: Mudd c/o Kohl's, $20 (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Jeans: American Eagle, $25
Navy skirt: Limited, $25 (similar)
Belt: Gap, $40
Shoes: c/o Nine West, $62
Purse: Karen Millen, $235 (similar, vegan)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website charm $17 and c/o Jenny Present
Rings: My Stella & Dot website $39 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59

Helping the winner shop was so much fun! Via Instagram.

Also, I'm dying over these amazing jackets Banana Republic has on their website right now! Start stalking for sales, immediately. (Or use code BRSHOP25 to get 25% off, today only.)

1. Banana 2. Banana 3. Banana 4. Banana 5. Banana 6. Banana

Win a Fossil Vintage Revival Handbag! [now closed]

This post brought to you by Fossil. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm so excited to share two ways to wear a Fossil Vintage Revival Handbag with you today! I paired this bag with a casual boho look above, perfect for weekend errands or a cozy movie night. Below, I paired the bag with a suit skirt and snakeskin pieces for a trendy yet sophisticated work look. I love how easily it works for both day and night.

Fossil Vintage Revival Handbags are gorgeous in person and come in five colors - butterscotch, rust, pecan, spruce green and giraffe hair calf. They are stitched and finished by hand using Heirloom Leather, Fossil's richest, most coveted leather to date. The shape reminds me of a cool vintage briefcase, and the collection draws inspiration from the iconic vintage silhouettes and styling details of the past.

Even more exciting is that one lucky reader will win a Fossil Vintage Revival Handbag of their own! The winner will receive either the Vintage Revival Satchel or the Vintage Revival Flap handbag (selection is random). Winner will be selected by IZEA, official rules here.

*** How To Enter:
Create a pin board on Pinterest of an outfit you'd pair with your Vintage Revival handbag. Include #FossilVintageRevival in your Pinterest pin. Leave a message in the comments below sharing your Pin. You must share your Pin below in the comments to be eligible. (Also be sure to fill out the email address line when you comment so we can contact you!)

Good luck and thanks for entering!

Today's Everyday Fashion: Yummy Fall

Plaid + army jacket = the perfect fall pairing! I love this look for running errands on the weekend, or a yummy fall activity like a pumpkin patch or corn maze. What's your favorite fall ensemble?

Inspiration photo: Chicisimo email

Jacket: c/o Conversation Pieces, $45 (similar, similar, similar, similar)

Shirt: American Eagle, $24 

Jeans: American Eagle, $33 (similar, similar, similar)

Belt: H&M, $20

Boots: Steve Madden/Endless, $47

Purse: Karen Millen, $235 (similar, vegan)
Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Rings: My Stella & Dot website $49 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59 and $32 and $39

1. American Eagle  2. Madewell  3. Old Navy  4. Urban Outfitters  5. ModCloth  6. Old Navy

Today's Everyday Fashion: Green Python

Unique items are my absolute favorite, but I wondered at first if this green python shirt was too whacky, even for me. I got it over the summer, and am surprised at how much I like it with all-black for a Saturday night ensemble. It's looking rock-n-roll in today's post, and I'm curious to see what other items wind up working with this trendy print. Would you ever rock green snake print? 

Inspiration photo: FabSugar

Shirt: c/o MJR Sales, $20 (their new website should be up soon!)

Black jeans: Gap, $35 (similar)

Shoes: Carlos Santana/DSW, $33 (similar)

Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $138

Clutch: Urban Outfitters, $30 (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors, family gift

Ring: My Stella & Dot website $39 and $69 and $39
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $32 and $39 and $79 and $59 and $59

1. Alloy  2. Lord & Taylor  3. Bloomingdale's  4. JcPenney  5. Victoria's Secret

Today's Everyday Fashion: Daniel Wellington

This outfit contains a whole bunch of my favorite things: mixing black and brown, tweed jackets, and chambray shirts. Add to that my new favorite watch and you have a deal. I've been wearing my current watch daily for just under two years. When Daniel Wellington offered to let me try a watch of my choice, I was excited to switch up my routine, but I was also blown away at how much I loved their designs! The face on this one has a large circumference very close in size to my old watch, but it's thin and the cognac strap gives it an uber-preppy look that I'm swooning over. I'm not throwing out my old watch just yet, but I'm excited to have a new option for outfits like today's. What is your watch style?

Inspiration: Pinterest

Blazer: H&M, $60 similar below

Chambray shirt: Mudd c/o Kohl's, $20 (similar, similar, similar, similar)

Black jeans: Gap, $35 (similar)

Belt: H&M, $20

Boots: c/o Chinese Laundry, $150

Purse: Karen Millen, $235 (similar, vegan)

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington, $199 - use code "Everyday" for 15% off until 11/4

Ring: My Stella & Dot website $39 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59 and $59

Close-up via Instagram

1. ASOS  2. ModCloth  3. Max Studio  4. Urban Outfitters

Today's Everyday Fashion: Tuxedo Blazer

I saved this photo because of her shoes! I love them, and I'm on the look out for unique ways to style my off-white python t-straps. Turns out that those shoes were not so hot with this outfit, so I wound up with this Nicholas Kirkwood inspired pair instead. I have a thing for tuxedo blazers (see how else I wore mine here and here) and I like the idea of wearing it with red corduroys for a bit of a early-holiday feel. Would you wear a tuxedo blazer?

Inspiration photo: FabSugar (Twitter pic)

Blazer: c/o Express, $55 (old)

Pants: Gap, $20 (similar, similar, similar)

Shirt: Banana Republic, $35

Shoes: Colin Stuart c/o MJR Sales, $25

Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $198

Ring: My Stella & Dot website $39 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $32 and $39 and $79

1. Bloomingdale's  2. Macy's  3. Alloy  4. Kohl's

Today's Everyday Fashion: Leather at Work

I've had this inspiration photo saved for ages, and when I realized my latest Stella & Dot necklace was a good match, I knew I had to re-create. It took me a couple tries to get the tones right - a gray skirt I was planning to use had too much brown in it and not enough blue, so I went with this seafoam skirt instead. I'm happy with the result and I love the idea of wearing a leather jacket over a conservative work outfit. Not sure if a leather jacket would fly in most offices (if I've learned anything from talking to women about style, it's that company dress codes could not be more different!), but I at least like the jacket on the way to work, and you could remove it, revealing a cardigan in a similar black, navy or monochromatic gray color to wear around the office. Would you wear leather at work? If so, how?

Inspiration photo: InStyle

Leather jacket: Victoria's Secret, $257

Shirt: Banana Republic, $35 (similar)

Skirt: LOFT, $55 (similar, similar) (similar pants)

Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $79

Shoes: Banana Republic, $50 (similar, similar)
Ring: My Stella & Dot website $39 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $32 and $39 and $79

1. Express  2. ModCloth  3. Urban Outfitters  4. New York & Co  5. Lord & Taylor  6. Bluefly  7. Arden B  8. Mango
Top two rows are vegan; bottom row is genuine leather.

Today's Everyday Fashion: North Dakota

I'm headed to North Dakota this weekend and could not be more excited for chilly weather and an excuse to bundle up! I started brainstorming some ideas for packing, and the outfit above is a contender for a travel day. When I bought the shirt a couple months ago, I put together the outfit below but never wound up posting it. I'm loving the winter version with mustard jeans and a thick, wool navy coat above (I'm also adding a navy cardigan and cognac gloves for warmth). Which version do you prefer?

Also, if you live in North Dakota be sure to check out the Grand Forks Women's Show. I'll be giving a style seminar on Saturday afternoon, which is chock-full of tips for organizing your closet, budgeting, and shopping smart, and I'll be staying after to answer one-on-one questions. My dream as a kid was to be an author and a traveling motivational speaker (that's why I majored in journalism), so in some ways this trip is that dream coming true. I always imagined it would be a second career later in life, so getting to do my dream job now? Somebody pinch me. :-) What is your ultimate dream job?

Shirt: Gap, $7

Navy wool coat: LOFT, $50 - see below

Jeans: Unionbay c/o Kohl's, $23

Boots: c/o Chinese Laundry, $150

Necklace: c/o Red Dress Boutique, $30

Purse: Karen Millen, $235 (similar, vegan)

Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Ring: My Stella & Dot website $49 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59 and $32 and $39

Inspiration photo: People

Shirt: Gap, $7

Skirt: c/o LOFT, $30 (similar, similar)

Necklace: local boutique (similar)

Shoes: Nine West/DSW, $60

Purse: Karen Millen, $235 (similar, vegan)

Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Ring: My Stella & Dot website $49 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59 and $32 and $39

1. Delia's 2. LOFT 3. ASOS 4. Delia's 5. Delia's

Today's Everyday Fashion: Cobalt Blue

Today I'm sharing two work looks with my cobalt blue pencil skirt. In the first look, I was inspired to pair my skirt with a mirror print top from this summer, and then added cognac brown blazer and shoes. Below was a similar evolution - the photo inspired me to pair my skirt with a black and white striped shirt, and from there I added a black blazer and shoes. For those of you in a colder climate, you could easily sub in pants for either of these looks, see my shopping picks below! Which way would you wear it?

Inspiration photo: Neiman Marcus

Blazer: Forever 21, $25 (similar, similar, similar)

Shirt: H&M, $25 (similar, similar)

Skirt: Limited, $25

Shoes: Restricted/Endless, $40 (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Ring: My Stella & Dot website $49

Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59 

Inspiration: Harper's Bazaar

Blazer: Express, old (similar)

Striped shirt: Limited, $31 (similar, similar)

Skirt: Limited, $25

Shoes: Colin Stuart c/o MJR Sales, $24 (similar)

Earrings: local boutique
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website charm $17 and c/o Jenny Present

Watch: Michael Kors, family gift
Ring: My Stella & Dot website $49 and $69
Bracelets: My Stella & Dot website $59 and $59

1. Macy's  2. Banana Republic  3. ModCloth  4. Amanda Uprichard  5. Charlotte Russe

1. Delia's  2. Arden B  3. Piperlime

Today's Everyday Fashion: Kauai Travel Tips

Here are a few more pictures and outfits from my trip to Kauai! And here are some quick travel tips for anyone wanting to visit:

- Kauai is by far the prettiest place I've ever been. An amazing mix of lush, green mountains and white sand beaches (there are 69 beaches on the island!). 

- Kauai is small, only about 500 square miles and a population of 65,000, and the one main road takes only 2-3 hours to drive from end to end. Most of the time we were the only people on the beach! 

- A huge portion of the island is only accessible by air or boat, including the famous Na Pali Coast and "Jurassic Falls" (waterfall from the movie). We did an air tour and a catamaran tour and that was plenty, everything else was easy to do by car.

- I highly recommend renting a car. There are so many beaches and look out points along the highway, you can easily entertain yourself that way for days on end. I had the most fun finding off-the-beaten path adventures like yesterday's Wailua Falls story, and well-hidden Larsen's Beach.

- Prices are very high. Gas is almost $5 a gallon and milk is $9 a gallon. Some groceries were normal prices - salmon was cheaper than it is in Orlando, and avocados were the same price, so if you make good choices and prepare your own meals you can actually live fairly thrifty!

- I was hesitant about spending so much money on a luau, but it was my favorite experience of the week and totally worth it. Definitely do a luau if you go!

I can't recommend Kauai enough. If you have more travel tips for Kauai or Hawaii, please share them below!

Waimea Canyon (right after snorkeling so please excuse my hair)

Waimea Canyon

Hanalei Bay

Catamaran tour of Na Pali Coast

My favorite spot on the North Coast

The North Coast; being goofy on the Gilligan's Island beach

Layover at the Phoenix airport; I was exhausted after sleeping on a plane the night before!

Today's Everyday Fashion: Hawaii

Aloha! If you follow on Instagram then you may know that I just returned from the island of Kauai in Hawaii. This was a very spontaneous trip - I had a free place to stay and randomly found inexpensive flights only two weeks ago! I spent most of the week in swim suits and cover ups (and I also didn't take a break from work), but these pictures are from my favorite day, and also my favorite outfits.

The first half was spent at Wailua Falls (picture below). You can drive to the falls and observe them from up high, but we heard a rumor that you could also hike down, despite the hazard/warning signs. It turned out to be a 173 foot nearly vertical hike down and I was covered in mud, but it was totally worth it. I would've worn more serious gear if I had known how rough the terrain is, but my boat shoes held up surprisingly well. After a day at the falls I cleaned up in a public bathroom and headed to the luau. This lavender tunic and white coral necklace were great for the occasion, which consisted of a walk in the botanical gardens, huge buffet dinner and a theater show which detailed the history of Hawaii through hula and other forms of dance. It was fascinating to learn about and take part in the Hawaiian culture.

This trip got me thinking about the fun places I've been in the last couple years and how my first time on an airplane was my senior year of high school. My love for travel has certainly grown with time and I cant wait to cross off more places on my bucket list. What's your favorite place you've been? If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

Lavender tunic: c/o Red Dress Boutique, $39 sold out (similar, similar, similar, similar)
White shorts: Gap, $24 (similar)
Gold shoes: Rampage/Endless, $20 (similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot website, $79
Turquoise clutch: c/o KC Malhan

Fedora: Banana Republic, $20 (similar)
Striped shirt: Limited, $31 (similar, similar)
Olive linen shorts: Forever 21, old (similar)
Boat shoes: White Mountain c/o Ross, $25 (similar, similar)

Earlier that day at Wailua Falls

Luau ensemble

Trying to pet the peacock!

Erika Barker Photography

I'm so excited to share the amazing, talented Erika Barker Photography with you today! I asked Erika to snap some head shots for branding my new website and Facebook page, and this was the result. Our session was fast, and my favorite part - she sat me down and immediately showed me all the pictures. I was beyond happy. She has a graphic design background and is a photo editing whizz, but the pictures already looked awesome without it! (I asked her to please keep them as real/natural as possible.) She is a genius and her rates are incredibly reasonable (book now before she becomes famous!), so visit the Erika Barker Photography website and Facebook page the next time you or anyone in Orlando needs portrait or fashion photography. Now comes the hard part - deciding which pictures to use for branding! Which one(s) do you like?

Dress Calvin Klein/TJ Maxx, $50 (similar), watch Michael Kors, earrings local boutique, rings my Stella & Dot website $49 and $69 and bracelets $79 and $32 and $59 and $59.