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The other day I was taking my 16-year-old to school (she is grounded from her car, which actually means that I am grounded because I am now responsible for chauffeuring her all over God’s green earth) and we were listening to the 80s on 8. She suddenly proclaimed that the 80s were the greatest era for music and in that moment I knew that I had succeeded as a parent. Forget whatever parental failings caused me to be in the situation with my teenager being grounded from her car indefinitely… I have passed on the understanding of the superior genre of music produced in the 80s, so you are welcome world. Winning.
As such, Paula Abdul’s Straight Up inspired my outfit choices this week, because I spent a lot of time with that track on repeat in the 80s. Just like Paula is looking for her lover to be truthful with her and stop playing games, I am giving you my complete honesty and recommending some of my favorite wardrobe staples for you to add to your closet. I have included a classic trench coat, a high quality black cardigan that will last for years, and a fantastically flattering pair of high waisted skinny jeans. This is me being Straight Up with you! Read on for all of my recommendations.
Monday
Feel Like a Million Bucks:
This outfit is for my fellow moms out there who love their yoga pants but want to look chic and polished while wearing them. It is possible to do both!! These high waisted moto leggings are extremely flattering and they have actually inspired me to try some new leggings outfits lately. The key to making this look work is the long sweater that covers your booty and ensures that your leggings are not being worn as pants. I added a classic trench for a smart, polished look and a pop of red with my shoes and earrings.
Where to Wear:
Running errands, Volunteering at school, Meeting with teacher, Lunch with friends
Make it Unique:
If your look needs to be a bit more dressy than a pair of leggings can offer, try this with a pair of black skinny jeans. You could also trade my red flats for a pair of red heels and be ready for a night out on the town!
Tuesday
Feel Like a Million Bucks:
This is THE MOST versatile dress that I have bought in a long time and you can see how I styled it once before in this outfit. It is so easy to wear and the ruching of the fabric across the middle makes it very flattering. The solid gray color gave me the perfect backdrop for this super fun pom-pom scarf. When I saw this at Anthropologie last year it was a bit more than I wanted to spend on a scarf so I left it behind. But a week later when I still couldn’t stop thinking about how much I loved it, I finally went back and splurged and I haven’t regretted it. I still love how fun and colorful this scarf is and it is all you need to make an outfit! These boots are a new addition to my closet and I absolutely love them. I searched for months for the perfect pair of neutral booties and just couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, but the moment I put these on and saw how they slimmed the leg I was sold!
Where to Wear:
Running errands, Lunch with friends, Shopping, Meeting with teacher, Casual office, Country music concert, Date night, Winter baby shower, Friend’s birthday party, Kid’s birthday party
Make it Unique:
If you aren’t a fan of the body-con dress, this look could easily be switched up with a gray sweater and jeans.
Wednesday
Feel Like a Million Bucks:
I think it has been made abundantly clear in the last few weeks how much I love a good sweater in the winter. When you find the right one, it wraps you in comfy warmth without making you feel like the Michelin man. It was love at first sight when I saw the colors in this sweater. Every night when I drive my son home from wrestling practice I comment on how beautiful the pink and blue sky is at sunset and this sweater wraps those colors up in a perfectly proportioned winter dream! I also love the lace up sleeve detail and the fact that it is not at all itchy. I love it paired with blue denim and pink heels so that I can be reminded of my favorite sunsets from head to toe!
Where to Wear:
Lunch with friends, Friend’s birthday party, Meeting with the teacher, Date night, Casual office
Make it Unique:
Obviously, this outfit can be transitioned to an everyday look by simply swapping out the heels for a pair of flats, which is what I would do for running errands, volunteering at school, etc. You could also switch out my jeans for a pair of white jeans to give this look a beautiful winter white vibe. If you are feeling really daring, try a pair of trendy white boots with your blue jeans!
Thursday
Feel Like a Million Bucks:
I bought this sweater two weeks ago and have found myself reaching for it repeatedly since then. I love the balloon sleeve detail and the fact that the fabric of the sweater is thick and holds it’s shape. Also, if you are a reluctant wearer of high heels, these are the pair for you! They mimic the classic Chanel version (without the Chanel price tag!) and they are so easy to walk in with the low block heel. If you are new to my outfit posts, then you may have missed my professions of love for these skinny jeans, but they are seriously the BEST. The perfect high waist and a nice thick denim that holds in all the extra holiday indulgences! This is a classic look that can be worn by women of all ages and sizes which makes it one of my all time favorites.
Where to Wear:
Running errands, Shopping, Date night, Friend’s birthday party, Kid’s birthday party, Lunch with friends, Casual office
Make it Unique:
You can find these cap toe heels in a ballet flat version and those can be worn for a more everyday look or for days when you will be doing a lot of walking. You could also switch out my jeans for a pair of black jeans or pants for a dressy/office look. For a monochromatic look, switch out my wine colored cami for a black one.
Friday
Feel Like a Million Bucks:
Aren’t moms entitled to have a few days where we dress a little “extra,” as my teenager would say? This look is for days when you want the world to know that you are here (or for days when it is just really cold!) This pink shaggy coat is all kinds of soft and warm and you will not regret having it in your closet when you want an alternative to the basic black coat. The first time I wore these pearl embellished jeans my husband said they were the weirdest thing I had ever worn. It kinda made me love them more, because I knew it meant I was taking new risks with my fashion choices!! I like the juxtaposition of pairing a statement coat like this with a casual pair of sneakers to keep the outfit from looking too over the top!
Where to Wear:
Running errands, Shopping, Lunch with friends
Make it Unique:
If you aren’t sure about the shaggy coat, you can use the same color scheme and invest in a classic trench coat in a pink hue.(Visit my post with a pink trench coat for inspiration!) Of course, the pearls on my jeans are completely optional, so wear any jeans that make you happy! If you are looking to dress this look up a bit, switch out my sneakers for a pair of pink flats or heels.
Need more fashion inspiration to get you through the day? Check out these posts to get your fix!
We Belong Together; Weekly Outfit Inspiration
Rolling in the Deep; Weekly Outfit Inspiration
Wild Child; Weekly Outfit Inspiration
All the ❤︎,
Nicole