Summer Trends: Roundup

Thanks to Megan Mae and Keely for organizing the Summer Trends challenge!

Will you help me pick a favorite outfit to submit to the round-up?

My favorite look from the Summer Trends challenge was
	Stripe and Floral Mix
	Military paired with Feminine
	Sparkles for Day
	Eclectic Prints
	Go Neutral
	Bright Bottoms
pollcode.com free polls

Super Striped

I so enjoyed last week’s stripe-a-palooza. I wore everything from mime stripes to animal stripes to gangster stripes. Which striped outfit was your favorite?

My favorite stripes were...
	Low Contrast
	Zoo
	Triple Stripes
	Lucky Stripes
	Glacier Girl
	City Stripes
pollcode.com free polls

I can't wait to see your Super Stripes.

Skirt Issue

Dear Readers – I need your advice! Is this skirt a keeper?


Cardigan, Moda International. Shirt, New York and Company. Skirt, Harve Benard (thrifted). Tights, Target. Shoes, Wild Diva. Bag, Nicole Lee. Hat, Epcot Germany. Necklace, Serket Jewelry. Cuff, Urban Outfitters.


Skirt pros: pocket on the right side, (functional!) buttons down the left, black and white print, lined.

Skirt cons: a little long, straight cut, a bit big.

Is it flattering?

pollcode.com free polls

I recommend you...

keep the skirt get rid of it

Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Any Better?

Last time I paired this leopard skirt with a patterned, purple dress, it didn’t get rave reviews. I’m wondering if this version is a bit more palatable.


Sweater, INC. Dress, I Heart Ronson. Belt, thrifted. Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Rampage.


Leopard and printed purple in January and February:

Which outfit do you like better?
	Arabian Nights (left)
	Any Better? (right)
	Neither - I'm not a fan of pattern mixing!
pollcode.com free polls

Crowd Pleaser

How do you like your Tomato and Olive?


I’m predicting Short Winter Shorts (a last minute entrant) will be the popular choice.

My favorite tomato and olive combo is...
	Secret Trekkie
	Hoo Hoo Clock
	Code Red
	Service Dog
	Flapinfront
	A Moveable Beast
	Short Winter Shorts
pollcode.com free polls

Thanks for playing!

Choose the Limited Winner

You have the power to decide which of these ladies will win a wardrobe consultation with Jodi Arnold and a $50 gift certificate to The Limited. Read their stories and vote for your favorite!

Liz
The Limited is one of my go to stores and has been a staple of my shopping routine since high school! From high school, to college, and now to the working world The Limited keeps me coming back as a shopper with its affordable and classic pieces. But what I love most of all about the clothes from The Limited is that in one stop I can find pieces that are work ready but also chic enough for cocktails with my girlfriends.

Erica
When I first graduated, I purchased my first black blazer at the Limited. I was able to find something professional that fit well and didn't feel too stuffy. As a recent grad, I wanted to be taken seriously in my new job, but I had major problems finding clothing that had personality and didn't feel "too old" for me. I still love the Limited today for this very reason!

Eric and Jill
When I was in gradeschool, Limited Too opened at the mall, and it was so uber cool because the store was modeled after the original (not the pukey bright colors of today), and seemed so sleek and grownup. I loooooved shopping there. Then my love continued throughout high school. I'll never forget the bright yellow short sleeved sweater I wore to my first day of high school, nor the sporty but sleek white jacket I wore over EVERYTHING! Nowadays my favorite Limited pieces are my boatneck black sweater and brown and orange tweed jacket (a la Jackie O). Ah, the Limited, always there for us women. You hit the nail on the head, Kasmira, The Limited does it right with the little twists of the classics.

midwest
When I got my first "real" job while living in DC, the limited was the first place I stopped to "class up" my wardrobe that had managed to get me through waistressing and starbucks, but would totally be awful in an office. I remember that I told myself I was buying investment peices (Now they seem more than affordable.) I ended up getting a brightly colored cardigan, and black a line dress, and a pair of grey amazing slacks. Everything has lasted me these four years, and are going to be classic pieces forever. I think buying clothing at the limited was one of the first things that actually made me feel like the adult I was becoming, and that it was a good thing.

Jaclyn
What an exciting contest! I need a consultation with a Jodi Arnold. I'm that girl that looks like she has it together, has some sort of fashion but I don't! I'm the worst. I go into stores and try to find the most stylish new outfit but am terrible of picking it out. I always look at young professional women and think - if only I could get an outfit like that! That's why I love the Limited, their sales consultants are always so helpful and the selection is great! They do a nice job putting the outfits together on the model, which is so helpful for people like me! The Limited look has great pants, pants that really fit. All of their designs are professional chic, love it!

My favorite Limited story comes from...
	Liz
	Erica
	Eric and Jill
	midwest
	Jaclyn
pollcode.com free polls

Fighting with Myself

I reached for a safe blouse and skirt combination this morning. It bored me to tears, so I added a denim vest and, later, a hat.


Hat, Charlotte Russe. Vest, Urban Vibe. Blouse, Mossimo. Skirt, Worthington (thrifted). Shoes, Linea Paolo. Cuff, Pangaea. Bag, Franco Sarto.

Sometimes I think I’m trying too hard to be interesting. Should I have left the outfit alone* or was the vest a good addition?


*I certainly would have won a camisole underneath if I hadn’t had the vest over the blouse.

pollcode.com free polls

I like this outfit better...

without the vest with the vest

Dirty Navy Wek

Dirty Navy Week is over, but, unfortunately, our nasty weather isn’t. What was your favorite Dirty Navy outfit?

My favorite Dirty Navy outfit was...
	Muddy Buddy
	Steal My Sunshine
	WAC
	Riverside
	Savings Summit
pollcode.com free polls

Yeller Skirt

Last fall, after seeing Andrea’s yellow skirt, I began the hunt for one of my own. I found nothing in regular retail, so searched the thrift stores next. Finally, I bought a white cotton skirt, dyed it yellow, and hemmed it up. I'm ready for the warm weather!

Vest, McGregor (thrifted). Tee, Steve and Barry’s. Skirt, thrifted, dyed, and shortened. Boots, Dan Post. Necklace, Buffalo Exchange. Hat, Betmar.

This skirt is VERY full. I could probably smuggle a few turkeys under here. Not that I steal meat.


You can see the “before” and “after” pictures here:


I’m wondering if I hemmed the skirt quite enough, though. It is so full that it could be shorter without becoming immodest. All that yellow fabric seems a bit overwhelming. What do you think?

I suggest you...
	Shorten it some more
	Wear it a few more times before you decide
	Leave it be
	Other - I'll tell you in the comments
pollcode.com free polls

Bad Colors

I never kept a consistent diary as a girl. I’d write in it a few times and then abandon the journal. Later, I’d take it up again, read the old entries, and rip out the pages, embarrassed at the ramblings of my younger self.

This outfit diary is the most regular record I’ve ever kept. Amazingly, I’m not too terribly ashamed of the early posts. In fact, I find my self of a few years ago amusing. For instance, in August of 2007, I said that I look awful in purple and gray. In October, I continued to dismiss the colors. And, yet, here I am a few years later, wearing purple and gray, head to toe.

Dress, I Heart Ronson. Turtleneck, Mossimo or Merona or some Target “M” brand. Vest, Urban Vibe. Boots, White Mountain. Belt, thrifted. Headband, Forever 21.


I very nearly wore even more gray. I initially planned to wear my wispy To the Max cardigan over the dress. My stylist suggested the denim biker vest instead.

Which do you prefer? Bad girl or good girl?

I like it...
	rough (moto vest)
	sweet (wispy cardigan)
pollcode.com free polls