Investing In & Styling Quality Denim: Miss Me Jeans

While at Lucky FABB West (Lucky Magazine's Fashion & Beauty Blogger Conference), I was introduced to Miss Me jeans. Of course, I've heard of the brand but had never invested in a pair. They're a little bit expensive, but it's a really nice quality denim and comes in so many different styles to accomodate many sizes and shapes. Miss Me jeans are known for their unique embellishments that are designed in both western and rock styles. Who doesn't love a little glitz?

Investing in a few nice pairs of jeans will help you save in the end! After a few washes, the $20 pair of jeans begins to lose its shape and is no longer the flattering pair you tried on in the store. A more expensive pair is typically made with finer quality, so it will look good for much longer. The less expensive jeans may last a few months, whereas the investment pair can last for years!

I got a simple pair of dark wash skinny jeans for the utmost versatility. To get the most out of your favorite jeans, try cuffing the bottoms to wear them as capris on a warm day. For an evening look, simply uncuff them!

Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans c/o Miss Me  // Neon Pink V-Neck Tee // Chaps Striped Cardigan 

Jennifer Lopez tassel necklace (similar) //  ESQ One Watch c/o Movado 

Gold Layering Necklace c/o Charming Charlie (similar)

Styling Printed Pencil Skirts As A Work Wear Staple

Work Wear Staples: Patterned Pencil Skirts by theclosetbychristie

What once was a trend, printed pencil skirts, is now considered a work wear staple! You can find these snazzy gems in a wide range of patterns and prints from bold stripes to pretty florals and even funky abstracts. My favorite is a floral pencil skirt because let's face it- florals are always in for the spring and summer seasons. If you want to get a lot of wear out of it, this is definitely the way to go!

I styled the above look featuring pretty pastels and a floral pencil skirt from Newlook, an affordable UK retailer. It's only $30! Styling a printed pencil skirt is much easier than it looks. You can pair it with a basic tee or choose one or two colors from the skirt to match a pretty blouse and accessories with, like I did!

5 Essential Tips For Wearing Stripes On Stripes

This Memorial Day weekend, I did what most American's do- attended a barbecue! This year I went to a pig roast for the first time and aside from the pesky rain, I had a great time. For my fashion, I wanted to be patriotic in a subtle way. I didn't want to wear the flag, but it was a holiday and I wanted my style to reflect that! So... shades of blue and stripes on stripes it was! 

Wearing patterns can be pretty bold, but double stripes is twice as fierce. Here's 5 Essential Tips for Wearing Stripes on Stripes-

1- Neutral Colors

Any time you take a bold fashion risk, keeping it neutral helps to maintain a balance. This is no different for wearing patterns! Try using black, white, navy, or shades of brown. If you're feeling playful, add a neon or bright pop to an otherwise neutral palette!

2- One Direction

That says it all- keep your stripes heading in one direction. Whether it's horizontal, vertical, or diagonal stripes you're digging- maintain some sort of consistency. 

3- Same or Opposite Size

Size is important when it comes to pairing stripes with stripes. I recommend styling either same sized or complete opposite sized stripes. For styling same sized stripes, you have a little more room to play with color. For styling opposite sized stripes, I recommend keeping the color palette simple and choosing stripes that are very different in size- thick with very thin stripes, for instance.

4- Belt It

I'm a huge fan of adding a belt to emphasize the waist for an always flattering look! A common myth is that horizontal stripes are unflattering. I don't consider this to be true, but adding a belt may make you feel more comfortable if you're a believer of that.

5- Simplify Accessories

When taking fashion risks, always keep your accessories simple. Choose neutral colors and classic silhouettes for a chic end result!

Chaps Striped Cardigan // Elle Striped Blouse // LC Lauren Conrad Jeggings // 

White House Black Market Cobalt Flip Flops (similar) // Merona Textured Envelope Clutch (similar)

Friday Favorites Link-Up

Another Friday, Another Friday Favorites Link-Up! My favorite look from last week's link-up belongs to... I Would So Rock This! Last week, Shea shared this amazing summer look featuring a really awesome color combination- mint, orange, and turquoise. I love this look because it's so bright and fun! It's perfect for the summer!

And of course... my favorite part is the back. Ruffles!

Now it's your turn! Enter this week's link-up and your look might be my favorite next week!

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1. Follow Me, Your Host!

Bloglovin'  *required

Instagram

Twitter

2. Grab a Button- 
or link back to The Closet by Christie to help promote this fabulous link-up

3. Link-Up!

Friday Favorites is all about sharing and promoting your favorite outfit post from your blog this week. Didn't post an outfit look this week? That's ok! In that case, post something from the previous week.

Then, be sure to check back next Friday. I'll post my favorite look of the previous link-up (it could be yours!) and you'll have the chance to post another look to our link-up.

4. Socialize!

Check out some of the other fabulous bloggers linking-up with us and let them know you found them here!

An InLinkz Link-up

How-To Style Guide: Coral For The Office

Color palette can be the difference between a good and extraordinary look! It's true- color means everything in our world. The right color can brighten your mood, put your anxieties to ease, or even make you more attractive in someone's eyes. Sound like magic? Well, it's a little more about science and psychology- but I won't get into that! The truth is if you want to transform an ordinary look into an amazing one, start imagining colors in pairs. 

My favorite pair of colors right now is coral and tan. I can't tell you why- when I see it, I just think 'wow!' Coral is such a bright, fun color for the summer. But depending on how conservative your office is, you may be pushing the envelope a bit. I toned down the vibrance of the dress by pairing it with pretty neutrals- light gray, tan, and gold accents. This makes it more office friendly and you don't have to worry about being too bold. 

The coral dress is a LC Lauren Conrad textured cut-out fit and flare dress from Kohl's. I absolutely love it! It has a nice, flattering fit as most fit and flare style dresses do. It's definitely a silhouette that flatters many different body types! It's made of a light, cotton fabric that is comfortable and perfect for the warmer weather. You can throw a blazer or leather jacket over it in the spring, and rock bare arms during the hot summer. I loved it so much I bought it in blue, too!

I paired it with my light grey LC Lauren Conrad blazer. For jewelry, I chose my gold rose pendant White House Black Market necklace and tan La Mer Collections wrap watch.

This is my favorite new bag! It's Dana Buchman's Hillary Satchel from Kohl's. It's a classic silhouette and it's really spacious. The top is pretty open, so I can easily access the contents of the bag without fumbling. The tan peep-toe flats are probably my favorite spring shoes. The knot design is so cute and I can show off my pedicure. I've had these shoes for 5+ years and they're still in great shape! 

... And Something Blue! Wedding Style

It's wedding season! Over the weekend, one of my best friends from high school got married to her high school sweetheart... and I was in the bridal party! It was such a nice, momentous occasion that brought all of us high school friends together to celebrate something really special. It was my first experience as a bridesmaid and it was so exciting! 

First was the rehearsal dinner and as a fashion blogger, I'm more than obligated to share my look! I pulled together a look featuring clothes I already have in my closet. I wore a mint one-shoulder dress from Express and borrowed my sister's nude Apt 9 pointed toe heels from Kohl's.

For jewelry, I wore a gold ombre White House Black Market beaded bracelet, a gold Jennifer Lopez tassel necklace from Kohl's, and crystal drop Julie Vos earrings.

Congratulations Kim and Chris! 

Best wishes in your long, happy future together!

Craving Lately: Arrow Jewelry

1  //  2  //  3  //  4  //  5  //  6

Happy Monday, everyone! This is my guest post of the Craving Lately column for Adri Lately, a fabulous blog written by an amazing blogger I met at Lucky FABB West!

I've been lusting over arrow jewelry, lately! I'm not sure if it's my love for The Hunger Games or the bohemian style of it, but I'm just obsessing over this trend. It's cute, fun, and the items I pictured above are mostly affordable (I put a few splurges in there, too). The rings pictured in box 3 are only $3 each from Forever 21! 

Don't forget to check out my blog post featuring Adri! -- Blogger Spotlight: Adri Lately. It's an exclusive interview where Adri answers a bunch of fun questions on her blog, the story behind it, and even a few things about herself.

Friday Favorites Link-Up

Welcome to the Friday Favorites Link-Up! I hope everyone had a fabulous week! 

My favorite post of yours from last week's link-up belongs to... Sincerely Sara! Last week, Sara shared this amazing outfit post taken after she found out she got a job she interviewed for! Congrats, Sara!

In Sara's 'I Got the Job' post, she featured this adorable spring look. I love the neutral color palette with a pop of coral. I especially love the feminine flare skirt and bow flats! 

Read more outfit details in Sara's post: I Got the Job!

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1. Follow Me, Your Host!

Bloglovin'  *required

Instagram

Twitter

2. Grab a Button- 
or link back to The Closet by Christie to help promote this fabulous link-up

3. Link-Up!

Friday Favorites is all about sharing and promoting your favorite outfit post from your blog this week. Didn't post an outfit look this week? That's ok! In that case, post something from the previous week.

Then, be sure to check back next Friday. I'll post my favorite look of the previous link-up (it could be yours!) and you'll have the chance to post another look to our link-up.

4. Socialize!

Check out some of the other fabulous bloggers linking-up with us and let them know you found them here!

An InLinkz Link-up

Blogger Spotlight: Adri Lately

For this month's Blogger Spotlight, I'm featuring Adri of Adri Lately! I ended up sitting next to her during one of the breakout sessions at LuckyFABB West without realizing she was a blogger that I follow. We started chatting and I just had to share her with you! 

Adri Lately, her blog, is very well put together and her images are perfection! But she doesn't just dress well, she has the knowledge to back it up! Her posts are filled with style tips, unique ways to style trends, and great topics.

Learn more about Adri here and then show her some love by following her on Bloglovin'.

Christie: Where are you from and how has that affected your style?

Adri: I'm born and raised in sunny California, which is really rare. It definitely has affected my style. LA has a very laid back vibe and I would say my style is casual with a little glam, a little boho.

Christie: Tell me about your blog.

Adri: My blog is a reflection of my take on fashion. I genuinely love it! But my idea is creating looks that every woman can take something from. So you'll find practical tips that I share, tid bits of my life, and some inside looks of my work as a personal stylist.

Christie: What’s the story behind your blog?

Adri: It definitely was one of those ideas that I knew made sense, but took a while to figure out exactly if blogging was for me. But putting outfits together in new and exciting ways is something I wanted to share. So far it's been fun!

Christie: Blogging is huge right now! What about you and your blog is unique compared to other bloggers?

Adri: It definitely is a big community, but I try to give outfit ideas that are relate-able and some might be a little out of your comfort zone. Overall, I try to use my knowledge as a personal stylist to inspire and give some confidence in seeing a trend or style in a new way. 

Christie: Are you working on any exciting projects that we can expect to see up on the blog soon?

Adri: Yes! I just started a collaborative project over the weekend and I'm so excited to share the results. Hopefully, I'll get a few more behind the scenes working with clients soon too. Not everyone is excited to have their picture on the internet.

Christie: What Pinterest board do you pin to the most?
Adri: I have a board called 'Get In My Closet' and let's just say it gets a lot of love from me.

This or That:
Instagram or Twitter? Insta-lover! Find me at @adrilately
Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla, I know boring.
Sweet or Salty? I'll take both and together!
Sun or Snow? Sun, sun, sun! I don't think I could survive the snow.

Adri Lately  // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest

Don't forget to check out my guest post on Adri Lately tomorrow!

Paisley's Pick: Pink Flower Dress

Paisley is so excited that the weather is continuing to warm up! Now she can ditch those sweaters and take out all of her pretty spring dresses! So today for Paisley's Pick, we're featuring the latest addition to her closet; a beautiful Top Paw hot pink flower dress from Petsmart.

This dress looks so adorable on Paisley! The colors are bright and the fabric is light; perfect for the summer! Paisley accessorized with her hot pink flower clips. Believe it or not, these cute clips didn't come with the dress but it's a perfect pairing.

I love the color palette of hot pink, bright red, light grey, and white. It's a unique combination and looks great with her coloring. 

Trend Watch: Midi Rings

Midi rings are the big trend in jewelry this spring season! I've been particularly interested in embracing this trend lately. I have been seeing all of my stylish friends on Instagram wearing these and I was jealous! Let's rewind for a second, what is a midi ring? Well similar to midi skirts and dresses, it's a ring that fits at the middle of your finger.

I was concerned before buying these that it may feel uncomfortable or could slip off. Since it's such a delicate ring, it's actually pretty comfortable. If you get one that's a good fit, it won't even budge!

LC Lauren Conrad silver teardrop midi ring // LC Lauren Conrad bow midi ring (no longer available, link to similar style) // LC Lauren Conrad arrow midi ring set (no longer available, link to similar style)

I got all three of these rings at Kohl's from the LC Lauren Conrad line. Her jewelry is so pretty and delicate looking. It adds just a touch of sparkle to any look! The two gold rings shown in my photo are no longer available on the website. I just bought these over the weekend so if you hurry to your local Kohl's, they might still have them in store!

Launching Friday Favorites Link-Up

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm so excited to announce the launch of my first link-up today; Friday Favorites! Every week, you'll get the opportunity to share your favorite look of the week by linking-up with us here. THEN- and this is the best part- each week, I'll start the post with my favorite look from the previous link-up! It could be your look that gets featured!

Since this is the first week, I decided to start us off with a few of my recent favorite looks from my blog. The first two looks are from my Peter Pilotto for Target photo shoot (see previous posts: Peter Pilotto for Target Look One and Peter Pilotto for Target Look Three). I was so excited for this bold collaboration to come out! I got up bright and early, shopped til I nearly dropped, and then got straight to work on styling these looks. I had so much fun on this photo shoot!

The third look was from my recent trip to Los Angeles for Lucky FABB, the Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference hosted by Lucky Magazine. I traveled with a few blogger friends and had an amazing time! This turquoise high-low dress look was photographed on Santa Monica Pier (see previous post: LA Loving: Santa Monica Pier and The Last Bookstore).

Now, onto your favorite look! I can't wait to see!

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<a href="http://www.theclosetbychristie.com/" title="The Closet by Christie"><img src="http://i1316.photobucket.com/albums/t618/teeny288/fridayfavoritesbutton_zpsd4cf2ece.jpg" alt="The Closet by Christie" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

1. Follow Me, Your Host!

Bloglovin'  *required

Instagram

Twitter

2. Grab a Button- 
or link back to The Closet by Christie to help promote this fabulous link-up

3. Link-Up!

Friday Favorites is all about sharing and promoting your favorite outfit post from your blog this week. Didn't post an outfit look this week? That's ok! In that case, post something from the previous week.

Then, be sure to check back next Friday. I'll post my favorite look of the previous link-up (it could be yours!) and you'll have the chance to post another look to our link-up.

4. Socialize!

Check out some of the other fabulous bloggers linking-up with us and let them know you found them here!

An InLinkz Link-up