Stripes, Colored Tights, & More Stripes

Happy Monday lovelies! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Today I am sharing a look inspired by my incredibly cute tutu mug from the Alice & Olivia collection at Starbucks. We are very match-y with our striped dresses. I added these green tights (I've also worn it with burgundy tights) to add a punch of color to an otherwise neutral outfit. This draped cardigan is one of my long time favorites (inspired to be worn by the #2014closetremixchallenge), while the tights and booties are more recent pieces. It's crazy how an "old" item can seem new again by pairing it with trendier pieces! I'm also carrying my school bag, making this a very true-to-life outfit I would be seen in everyday. What have you re-discovered in you closet lately?

dress: target | sweater: old navy | tights: target | booties: target | bag: purse | mug: starbucks
necklace: mint sugar boutique | bracelets: jcrew factory, old navy, jcrew factory | sunglasses: forever 21

Shop similar pieces here:

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Love Letters Necklace

Happy Wednesday Lovelies! Can you believe that Valentine's Day is less than 10 days away? I have quite a few ducks to get in a row before celebrating next Friday, but luckily for me, accessorizing my outfit is not one of them! I have found an amazing necklace for V-day and am so excited to share it with all of you today. The Love Letters Necklace is the perfect necklace for Valentine's and is from Mint Sugar Boutique, the boutique where I also got my beloved Iced Tassel Necklace from (seen here, here, here, here). Their Love Letters Necklace is sweet, charming, dainty, delicate, and an absolute must during the season of love. I chose to combine mine and Kevin's initials with an ampersand, but you can also choose an adorable heart to join the initials of you and your loved one. This necklace is perfect for layering, or worn alone. I know that mine will be on serious repeat the next few weeks and well into the spring. Mint Sugar Boutique has been kind enough to offer a discount for Four Season Fabulous readers this week, just use the code: 4seasonfab at check-out to enjoy 15% off your total purchase now through this Sunday (Feb 9th). Be sure to pick up a Love Letters Necklace of your own just in time for Valentine's Day!

vest: old navy | sweater: jcrew factory | skirt: target | booties: target | tights: target | love letters necklace: c/o mint sugar boutique

crystal necklace: mindy mae's market | bracelets: jcrew factory, urban peach boutique, old navy 

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Oh, Deer!

Happy Thursday Lovelies! Sorry for the disappearing act the last week, but school has been insane, I mean, like beyond insane! I hope you can forgive me and can relate to what I'm going through since it's also the beginnings of the bustle of the holiday season and I'm willing to bet you all feel like there is just not enough time ever. My sincerest apologies. So, while the semester is winding down the next month I will try my hardest to find time to post, but bear with me, I am a grad student, and an incredibly foolish one for taking 5 classes this semester; begrudgingly, school comes first. Even though I would rather spend my time talking fashion than wind energy applications for the built environment...weird, right? ;-)

That being said, I have a plan for the next few weeks and I am actually really excited about it! I am hoping to post 3-4 times a week and will be starting a recipe feature weekly, outfit posts as usual, holiday gift giving guides, and of course, ideas of what to wear this holiday season! So, I hope to be able to follow through on my plans and I hope you enjoy this direction for the next few weeks. 

Today, however, I want to share with you my current style crush: everything and anything deer. I can actually pinpoint the thing that pushed me over the edge to adoration of this gorgeous animal: this Old Navy sweater. Prior to seeing this sweater on their website last weekend, I sort of thought the whole deer and reindeer everywhere thing was just eh. I was feeling very ambiguous towards the docile creature gracing the fronts of tee's and sweaters, and popping up as a major theme in holiday decor this year. Give me Thumper over Bambi any day, were my thoughts. Keyword: were. All this has changed, and much to Kevin's chagrin too. I am 100% team Bambi now (don't worry I am still team Thumper too, like I could actually choose just one, psh, child please). So, having fallen for the sweater, I went a little crazy, as is my nature, and started stalking all the deer related things that I now "need" (hence Kevin's chagrin). So, I put together a little sample of all of my latest obsession. 

row one: one / two / three / four

row two: one / two / three / four

row three: one / two / three / four

AND, being the crazy, overly enthusiastic type-A that I am, I even put together some outfits show how I would love to style some of the items featured above, so you all can be obsessed with me. You. Are. Welcome. =D

sweater / boots / leggings / check shirt / purse / earrings / bracelet / beanie

Is there anything better than a slouchy, cozy sweater? One with deer of course! I love this sweater and my favorite way to wear an over-sized sweater is with leggings and boots. I also love unexpected layers, like adding a preppy gingham button-up under a loose, bohemian style sweater, so that is exactly how I would wear this one. To add a pop of color to this outfit, I would toss on some bright orange, simple stud earrings and orange satchel. Beanies are everywhere this season and this outfit is a perfect mix of styles and textures to add a navy beanie over my long, unruly hair. Lastly, these boots - perfect to wear from fall into winter, and oh my gosh, the Sherpa lining peeking over is perfection!  

plaid shirt / necklace / watch & bracelets / jeans / sweater / booties / fur vest / purse

For this deer sweater, which I am currently swooning over the mostest, I would definitely wear it out for lunch with girlfriends on the weekend. Again, layers are my best friend. Here, I would play with bordeaux details, because I am love, loving it this season! Plus it pairs well with gray tones and brown tones. These buckle ankle booties are on my lust list, but as I have gotten a few pairs this season already, a chocolate colored pair such as these, will more than likely have to wait til next fall to enter my closet. However, my future booties would be worn with this sweater, dark wash jeans, a plaid and statement jewelry, as is my weekend uniform as the weather is cold and I need to layer up. As a finishing touch, I would throw a fur vest on, for fun, for warmth, and for my love of fur. I mean, really, do you need a reason to add a faux fur vest over anything? Nope, you don't. 

blazer / belt / cross-body purse / scarf / cords / tee / necklace / watch / shoes

For this outfit, I decided to style this JCrew Factory deer tee for work. I would wear it with a pair of wine colored cords and this fabulous plaid blazer from Target. Yes, I am still obsessed with deep reds, sue me. AND, navy and bordeaux just happens to be one of my favorite color combinations for fall, so rich and classic, complementing the white and gold tee beautifully. Right? I know you love it too! I would play off the deer on the tee and wear this cognac colored quilted cross-body purse, which is also the perfect textural pairing with the knit scarf and corduroy pants. Lastly, for the details of this outfit, I would throw a little pattern mixing in with leopard heels and belt, I just can't help myself! Since the deer on the shirt is sparkly, I would keep my jewelry tastefully minimal, I am at work after all ;-) so I don't want to have too much going on in my business casual environment, a simple pearl statement necklace and this adorable bow watch are the perfect accessories! 

So that is how I would style deer adorned pieces if I had unlimited funds. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? 

What are you obsessing over this week?
What are you thoughts on deer; yay or nay?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Throwin' Elbows + Zara Scarf Winner

Happy Friday lovelies!! TGIF, indeed. This is one week I am glad is over. As the semester begins its rapid descent to completion, my stress levels increase exponentially. It just seems like there are fewer and fewer hours in a day, which is just compacted by daylight savings. Now don't get me wrong, I cherished my extra hour of sleep last weekend, but to be frank, having it be pitch black before 6 o'clock sucks. Having fewer hours of daylight makes my brain go into overdrive freak-out mode as it believes there are in fact less hours to do things too. Weird how much we associate time with light, or maybe its just me... Is anyone else suffering major panic attacks over not having enough time, and thinking its like 10 pm when its 6 pm? Such an anti-fun mind boggle. Crossing my fingers to adjust soon...gah!

Anyways, my time comprehension issues aside, this week has been biting at frosty temperatures which in turn has caused me to basically live in my warmest and coziest sweaters, cardigans, and knits. I have been getting a lot of inquires on my instagram outfit posts about where I have purchased several of the knits I wore this week. Unfortunately, almost everything my incredibly stylish followers inquire about is old news. I hang on to sweaters for ages and many of these are more than a year or two old. So, after I posted one of my favorite pieces this morning and received so much love over the cardigan featured, a piece that again, is several years old, I was inspired. Not wanting you ladies to miss out, I decided to put together a collection of other pieces currently available. Below are some of the outfits I have posted this week featuring my favorite sweaters.

Today: Grey Grandpa-style Knit Cardigan with Brown Corduroy Elbow Patches 

(Target 2-3 years ago)

looking back at the rest of the week...
Saturday: Over-sized Knit Cardigan in Taupe (outfit details here)

Sunday: Cream Cable Knit Open Front Sweater (Old Navy 2-3 years ago)

Monday: Caramel Cowl Necklace Open Front Knit Cardigan (Target this fall)

Tuesday: Leopard Print Cardigan (outfit details here)

Thursday: Yellow Knit Sweater (outfit details here)

One of my favorite details for fall and winter is elbow patches. I am sure you all love them too, how could you not? ;-) It's such a classic detail, whether its mimicking classic tweed blazer patches I think of a professor wearing while smoking a pipe, pursuing his library, or the soft cardigan patches, adorned by the dad as he plays in the fallen autumn leaves with his kids, this trend is full of styling opportunities from generations of its male counterparts. Since elbow patches are a menswear inspired detail, I'm always compelled to reminisce about my grandfathers, and even my father, when I see them. The nostalgic aspect of the patches is just something I cannot escape. There is just something about elbow patches on sweaters and cardigans that make me feel like I am being wrapped up in their love and protective arms when I wear them, especially in this cardigan, with its muted, masculine tones.

All of my imaginative and emotional impositions on this detail aside (and now that you know how tangent driven my brain is), I also just love the unexpected pop of color and the fun new ways elbow patches are being done today to make a masculine detail a tad more feminine, like the sequined patches on the Old Navy cardi, or the heart shaped patches on the ASOS sweater. Another popular update to this classic style for this season includes leather patches (leather is everywhere right now!). There is also a transition to fastening them on pull-over sweaters in addition to the traditional pieces like cardigans and blazers. Any way you slice it, elbow patches are a must this season! Here are some of my favorite pieces available this year:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 

5 / 6 / 7 / 8

9 / 10 / 11 / 12

I must admit that number 8 is by far my favorite. I love the color blocking (the cobalt is fabulous next to the grey) and the chunkiness of the knit, plus is a cardigan! Hello, lover! And, although I am a little cautious about all the leather popping up this season, these leather elbow patches are a phenomenal final touch on it. It's most definitely going on my lust list!

Are you throwin' elbow (patches) this fall?

Will you be adding any of these to your closet?

The last order of business I have before bidding you farewell is to announce the winner of the Zara plaid blanket scarf giveaway! Congrats to Keara L. for winning! I will be emailing you shortly =)

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

It's a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World + Zara Scarf Giveaway

Happy Friday lovelies!! I am so excited to be teaming up with two of my favorite bloggers today to show you how we wear our Zara blanket scarves. I met both of these incredible ladies through instagram and have had so much fun following their blogs and getting style inspiration from them. Whitley writes over at Simply Whit in a Sequined Life and she is my plaid obsessed twinnie who I am positive was separated from me at birth. I love how she styled her scarf with a colored pant, navy gingham, and vest, such a cute preppy look! Ashton is such a sweetie and writes over at Ashton Wears Things, her adorable style blog. I love how polished she always looks, seriously, the girl is pure class, and this gorgeous blazer with jewel tone pant is no exception! Please check out their blogs for more details on their looks.

Scarf - Zara / Sweater - Target (similar) / Jeans - Old Navy / Purse - Target

Booties - Old Navy / Bracelets c/o Hawthorne Collection

Today, I styled my scarf with a cozy, over-sized, knit, cream sweater which is super soft and comfortable. I paired the sweater and scarf with taupe booties and bag, and my go to denim skinnies for a casual look. To me, this is the kind of look that is quintessentially fall. You know, the type of outfits you immediately associate with fall: over-sized sweaters, scarves, cable knits, plaid button-ups, boots, leggings, wool socks, etc., or at least this is what I think of. So, that being said, I really wanted to capture what my fall style really is about in this look; being comfortable and cozy, while being full of texture. When styling this scarf, I also wanted it to be the focus of the outfit, so I kept the outfit fairly simple with minimal jewelry and neutral accessories. I feel like this really helps the colors of the plaid pop too.

A lot of these pieces you have seen before, as I have written about previously, I am definitely about recycling my closet pieces into new looks to make sure I get the most out of my clothes and to keep myself from feeling like I have nothing to wear. I am still loving these booties from Old Navy and my bracelets from Hawthorne Collection, I mean seriously, how perfect is this sapphire tassel bracelet? 

I must admit that I am a little in love with how these photos turned out. They were taken around sunset on a Friday earlier this month, at the park near my apartment. Kevin and I walked down and took photos, kicked a soccer ball around, and just got to spend some time together outside in the warm glow of the setting sun. It was just a really lovely night and because it was a Friday there was no rush which was a nice change of pace than during our "hurry up and go there and do this" lifestyle during the week. So, maybe its the memories that make me love these photos, but I do all the same. 

Okay, can I take a brief moment to celebrate that it's Friday?!? Holy cow, it has been such a long and stressful week. Since midterms were this week, I am feeling a little mentally spent. This weekend will definitely be used to recharge my little brain batteries and do some much needed cleaning around the apartment. I will try to enjoy having some time to relax, and maybe if I am lucky, take a nap or two ;-) Although the semester is flying by, sometimes I feel like I am caught in a tornado, spinning so quickly I have no idea which way is up and which way is down. I will be counting down the days to Thanksgiving for a prolonged break for sure. 

I really can't express how much I love this scarf...it is the perfect combination of colors; is gigantic, which leads to endless styling possibilities; and is probably the softest material I have ever felt. I know that Whit and Ashton feel the same way, which is why we have teamed up to give one of our lucky readers a scarf of their own. Please use the rafflecopter below to enter for your chance to win this amazing scarf. The widget will be open for one week and then a winner will be announced next Friday. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How would you style this Zara blanket scarf?

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!