basics – Budget & Brunch

Comfy Working from Home Outfits

March 29, 2020March 29, 2020by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment

Ok so…wow. This is just…wow. Very surreal what is going on in the world. For those of you that are new here, I teach Interior Design and now I am officially out of school until May. Of course, things are changing daily, so we will see how that goes.

With that being said, I am thankful that I am still being paid and am working from home. Let’s face it though, I am dressing super comfy on the daily now. By comfy I mean sweats and leggings most days 😉!

I don’t know about you, but actually getting dressed and even (sometimes) doing my hair and make-up just makes me feel more productive. So, I decided to put together 5 outfit ideas to get you through the week.

Side note: I used leggings with every look, but you could swap them out for jeans (or sweats) depending on your mood!

I hope you enjoyed this little read. Stay safe out there and continue to practice that #socialdistancing folks! Click here if you’re interested in my work from home schedule!

Mini Packing Capsule

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment

Ok, so I have mentioned maximizing your suitcase for the summer in an older blog post, see here. But when you’re going out of town for a shorter time, sometimes packing (at least for me) is harder, because I only need 3 and it’s hard to decide!

So, I thought I would share what I do when packing for a mini trip. For reference, we are heading to Charleston for a long weekend. This is a joint bachelorette/bachelor party that my husband and I are attending. We will be spending some time jointly and other times seperate so I’ll be with the girls.

Consider the Activities

When packing, I try and consider what I will be doing. For example when going to the beach, I know I will mostly be in a bathing suit and I will need more “cover up” type clothes that are easy to throw on over a bathing suit. For this trip, our itinerary is flexible and I know some key activities we will be doing.

We are going to a concert one night and I don’t know about you, but concerts tend to be a little gross and I want to make sure I pack clothes/shoes that don’t easily show dirt and aren’t fragile.

Us girls are going to be doing a lot of Charleston exploring (eeek)! So I know I want to pack comfortable shoes as well. I also know we will be attending some semi-dressy restaurants.

Consider the Weather

I mentioned this in my How to Maximize Your Suitcase this Summer post last summer. Considering the weather is one of the most important things when packing. I’m sure you already knew that! So I know that in Charleston, it will be in the 50s/60s and mostly sunny on the days we will be there! Therefore I want to pack layers, we will be walking quite a bit and while it may start out chilly it can quickly get warmer with all that movement (at least for me haha).

Consider how You’re Styling Your Hair

What? Haha, yeah I say this, because a straightener or curler will take up room in your bag and if you aren’t planning on styling your hair much, it will probably be an unnecessary space taker.

Consider Your Accessories

I tend to not wear a ton of accessories anyway, but when I travel I especially don’t. This is in part due to the fact that I don’t like the carry the extra things and also in part due to the fact that I don’t want to lose things that I care about! So I may pack a cheap necklace or pair of earrings, but not much.

I also consider my purses. Am I going to need a huge purse or would a belt bag be better? Or maybe I need both? These are questions I ask myself.

All things Considered…

Now it’s time to plan out your wardrobe for your trip! I sometimes jot down a few notes about what I need or want. This is just an organizational tool I use, but it isn’t for everyone!

So, here are the key things I wrote down for this trip:

I need shoes of some sort that won’t get ruined at an outdoor concert.
I need comfortable shoes
I may need semi-dressy clothes for dinner one night.
I will be styling my hair so I will need my styling tools
I need to pack layers for the weather.

And with that here is my Mini Packing Capsule:

Outfit 1 (travel day)

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Outfit 2

Day Time Outfit

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Night Time Outfit

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Outfit 3

Day Time Outfit

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Night Time Outfit

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Outfit 4 (travel day): Outfit Repeat!

Screen Shot 2020-03-05 at 12.10.00 PM.png

Links:

Day 1 Outfit (travel day)

Day 2 Outfit Day

Yellow & White Striped Tee

Day 2 Outfit Night

Day 3 Outfit Day

Layer 1 Top

Layer 2 Top (similar)

Jeans

Shoes

Bag

Day 3 Outfit Night

Day 4 Outfit (travel day)

Hope this helps!

Why I tuck…

February 23, 2020February 23, 2020by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment

Let me preface by saying that I am aware that not everyone likes the look of a tucked in shirt and that is totally fine. However, if you’re on the fence about it or just simply wondering why some people tuck their shirts I am here to tell you!

I have thick thighs, it’s something I used to struggle with when shopping for jeans, because they would fit my legs and not my waist or vice versa. Now that I have found a store that carries jeans that fit my body type (thanks Madewell) I have found some style hacks to help make me feel like my best fashionista self. Hence the tucking.

So, let’s cover the different types of tucks and why they do for your outfit…

The Front Tuck

Turtle Neck | Similar Sweater | Jeans | Shoes

The front tuck is probably my favorite tuck. This tuck looks particularly good when you are layering shirts as I did in the picture above. If you try and tuck layers all the way around it can sometimes add bulk to your jeans.

Since I have thick thighs, as I mentioned earlier, when I wear shirts that aren’t tucked in, they tend to hit me at the widest part of my body. This gives me no shape whatsoever. Tucking the shirt not only creates a shape, but it leads the eye to the smallest part of my body. Not to mention, the slouchy look gives off a very effortless, but put together vibe and I am here for it.

*Interested in layers? Check out my layering for winter post here.

The Side Tuck

Similar Shirt | Similar Jeans | Shoes

The side tuck is similar to the front tuck in the way it creates a shape for your body. I like to side tuck with shorts and lighter jeans. To be honest, this is just a personal preference, because it gives me summer vibesI think it’s because I wear a lot of tees in the summer!

Side tucks look best with tees (i.e. not button down shirts) and regular button jeans (i.e. not button front jeans). Otherwise, the eye would be carried in different directions and this would appear odd visually.

The Complete Tuck

Turtle Neck | Cardigan | Jeans | Similar Shoes

I don’t rock the complete tuck as much as I would like to, I tend to just front tuck and walk out of the door, but I love to tuck all the way around when I am feeling a little bleh with my outfits. A complete tuck just gives a whole different vibe to an outfit.

This tuck is nice when you layer a cardigan over a shirt and you wear the cardigan open (as pictured), because it creates less bulk under the cardigan. A complete tuck also looks good when you are going for a casual look with a tee shirt and jeans!

*Keep in mind that for each tuck, I wear high waisted jeans. This is because they hit my waist at its smallest point. Every body is different, so of course you should do what works for you and makes you feel the most comfortable.

Hope this helps! Also, keep in mind that tying your shirts in knots can also create a shape, not just tucking! Play around and find what works best for you! I love to see you guys recreate looks, so tag me on insta if you try any of these out (@budgetandbrunch)!

4 Easy Valentine’s Day Looks

February 11, 2020February 11, 2020by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I’m not one to “dress up” on Valentine’s Day. I don’t typically celebrate it per say, we may go to dinner, but we don’t buy things it’s all part of our new year’s resolution to stop buying so much STUFF!

However, I do like to dress in reds and pinks. So I raided my closet, because I typically wear very dark or neutral colors. I put together a few outfits to give some ideas of how to dress in the spirit of Valentine’s day without having to go buy a special outfit (unless you’re going somewhere super chic and cool for v-day!). Below are four “outfit formulas” that anybody can put together for Valentine’s day!

Outfit Formula Number 1:

Sweater + Jeans + Sneakers = Dressed Down for Valentine’s Day

Similar Top | Jeans | Shoes

Outfit Formula Number 2:

Blazer + Cardigan Sweater + Jeans + Loafers = Slightly Elevated for Valentine’s Day

Outfit Formula Number 3:

Cardigan + Sweater + Jeans + Loafers = Dressed Cozy, but Elevated for Valentine’s Day

Outfit Formula Number 4:

Hair Clips + Button down + Bandana Scarf + Jeans + Loafers = Stylish for Valentine’s Day

Hair Clips | Bandana Scarf | Top | Jeans | Shoes

*Petite Jeans

20 x 20 Challenge–What does it even mean?

January 13, 2020January 15, 2020by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment

Ok, so I have done a lot of research on this. I first saw it when I was in the Instagram rabbit hole. Intrigued, I clicked on the # and began scanning. Essentially, the idea is to select 20 pieces from your closet and make 20 days worth of outfits.

I decided to do this, because I have entirely too many clothing items and I really want to hone in and figure out what pieces I need. This sounds simple, but in reality I had a hard time deciding what I did and didn’t want in my wardrobe for this challenge.

I decided to use Conni Jespersen’s (from @artinthefind) advice and ask myself some essential questions:

*FYI She is an amazing person to follow along with especially if you want style/organization tips!

Look at the piece in question: how does it make you feel?
Do you love the the cut, color, and style?
Is it a piece you are “iffy” about?
How much wear do you get out of the piece? (versatile pieces are key)
How often do you wear it?

For me, I try to select neutral pieces that can be worn repeatedly.

I consider the pieces I typically buy as investment pieces.

What I mean by this, is that I wear them for years–if you didn’t know, I am a recovering fast fashion addict and I have tried hard to get back to repeating outfits/pieces. The cool thing about the 20×20 challenge is that the goal is to create 20 different outfits with 20 pieces!

So, I decided to hone in on a color scheme for this challenge which wasn’t hard, because I typically buy neutral clothes.

Below are the pieces I selected. I have linked each piece based on the number listed beside it (or similar options).

Brown Sweater
Chunky Sweater (size down)
Striped Turte Neck
Black Turtle Neck
Blazer (size down)
Cardigan (size down)
Stripe Sweater
Graphic Tee | Similar Graphic Tee
Vintage Jeans | Petite Option
Cali Demi Boot Jeans (size down)
Skinny Button Fly Jeans | Petite Option
Black Skinny Button Fly Jeans | Petite Option
Everlane Loafers | Madewell Loafers
Mules
Similar Boots
Sneakers
Bag
Bar Necklace
Horn Necklace
Bandana Scarf

Below are the 20 outfits I put together.

Keep in mind these are outfit combinations that you can probably go in your closet and create. The pieces do not have to be exactly like mine, but rather use the formula. For example:

Cadigan + Graphic Tee + Straight Jeans + Sneakers = My outfit number 13

Hope this helps! Be sure to leave a comment for any questions and catch me on the gram trying to sport these outfits!

Click below to see how I maximized my suitcase this past summer!

How to Maximize Your Suitcase this Summer

Dressing for the Holidays

November 19, 2019November 20, 2019by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment

The holidays can be stressful, from spending money to dealing with the absence of loved ones…it’s hard. I try not to worry to much about my outfits and whether or not they “look” holiday enough. Sometimes I think we get too caught up on this type of thing and forget to just be! That’s not to say I don’t buy anything or put effort in to my looks, but I don’t buy specifically “holiday” looks.

So, I teamed up with Lindsae Metz and Adriana Kincaid to bring you some Holiday inspired looks without the hassel!

P.S. Both of these ladies are amazing! I strongly suggest following them on the ‘gram and their beautiful blogs!

*Everything mentioned is TTS unless otherwise noted!

I try to shop my closet!

Monochromatic with a Dash of Holiday Cheer

If you’ve followed along with me for a while, you know I LOVE a monochromatic look, especially a white on white/cream on white situation. I feel like white on white/cream on white can certainly pass for a holiday look (think winter wonderland). Thus, I paired my cream mock neck with white denim, a brown bag, and leopard shoes (because lets face it, leopard is a neutral too).

To pull the look together I added a simple “holiday” scarf! This scarf is so soft and cozy. Not only is it super stylish, but it keeps me nice and warm in the cool temps and is easy to take off when you get into a warm place!

Just add Plaid

Another similar pair of shoes*

Plaid always reminds me of winter/holiday cheer! I am so happy I purchased this Loft top years ago! The neutral colors in it always remind me of Thanksgiving for some reason! I also adore the ruffled shoulders!

I paired this top with white denim to, again, go for that winter wonderland vibe! The sparkly mules remind me of New Year’s so I always try to wear them around the Holiday season! The great thing about this outfit is that most people own some sort of plaid in their wardrobe, so it’s super easy to duplicate!

For the Warmer Holidays

Top | Similar Jeans | Boots | Bag

I decided to throw in an outfit that could be warn in your warmer geographical areas! An easy “go -to” option for Holiday looks are jeans and a green or red top. I went with an olive green, because I don’t own a lot of “Holiday green” and since this is all about using what you have instead of breaking the bank, I went with it. I paired this top with slim-wide leg cropped pants to keep it cooler.

I added my booties since it is November/December! This is a simple outfit and can easily transition to a warmer outfit with long sleeves, a coat, and/or a scarf!

Jeans + a Scarf

Nothing screams fall/winter quite like a turtle neck! That’s why I decided to pair this black turtle neck with a plaid scarf and jeans to create a simple, no fuss outfit. Just add booties and you have a chic holiday inspired look!

Subtle Holiday Colors

Another similar pair of shoes*

If you celebrate Christmas, you know that red and green are “Christmas” colors and I don’t know about you, but anytime I pair those two colors together I always think of Christmas even if it’s July!

So, for this outfit I decided to take my green paper bag pants, black turtle neck, and red bandana scarf to create subtle Christmas colors! Just add sparkly mules and you have a true holiday look!

Slightly Dressy Vibes

Top | Bottoms | Similar Mules | Bag

Another similar pair of shoes*

I bought this dark green mock neck as part of my birthday present to myself from Madewell. I LOVE it, it fits just like my red and navy ones from last year! The color is a beautiful deep green and I decided to pair it with some black pin checkered pants and sparkly shoes to go for a slightly elevated look.

This would be perfect for a holiday office party! Not to mention these pants feel like PJs!

I hope this helps. I tried to use staple pieces that a lot of people have in their closets! Let me know if you replicate any of these looks by tagging me or using the hashtag #budgetandbrunch

Monday: Layers

Tuesday: Black on Black & Denim

Wednesday: Hump Day Cas Graphic Tee

Thursday: Button Back Collard for Sophisticated Vibes

Friday: TGIF Cas Graphic Tee

Consider the Activities

Consider the Weather

Consider how You’re Styling Your Hair

Consider Your Accessories

All things Considered…

Outfit 1 (travel day)

Outfit 2

Day Time Outfit

Night Time Outfit

Outfit 3

Day Time Outfit

Night Time Outfit

Outfit 4 (travel day): Outfit Repeat!

Day 1 Outfit (travel day)

Day 2 Outfit Day

Day 2 Outfit Night

Day 3 Outfit Day

Day 3 Outfit Night

Day 4 Outfit (travel day)

The Front Tuck

The Side Tuck

The Complete Tuck

Sweater + Jeans + Sneakers = Dressed Down for Valentine’s Day

Blazer + Cardigan Sweater + Jeans + Loafers = Slightly Elevated for Valentine’s Day

Cardigan + Sweater + Jeans + Loafers = Dressed Cozy, but Elevated for Valentine’s Day

Hair Clips + Button down + Bandana Scarf + Jeans + Loafers = Stylish for Valentine’s Day

Monochromatic with a Dash of Holiday Cheer

Just add Plaid

For the Warmer Holidays

Jeans + a Scarf

Subtle Holiday Colors

Slightly Dressy Vibes