Maternity Friendly: How to Style Leggings

Maternity Friendly: How to Style Leggings

So, the secret is out! I am pregnant…wow! I am about 5 months pregnant and I cannot stand maternity jeans…they SUCK. If you know a good pair, please drop a comment below, because I have yet to find any.

With that being said, all I have worn are leggings. Since I wear them pretty much daily, I think it is important to invest in a quality pair. I have some from ASOS, Lulu Lemon, and Athletea, I would say the Lulu Lemon ones are my favorite (of course right?). So to help all you mamas to be or all that are constantly searching for comfort, I have put together 4 outfit formulas that have saved me!

Tee Shirt + Leggings + Sneakers

For the first “formula” it’s pretty simple, pair a tee shirt with your leggings. This can be a plain white tee, a graphic tee, or a vibrant color-the possibilities are endless. Not to mention, changing up your tee can totally change the vibe of an outfit. I like to either front tuck it (even with my bump) or tie a knot to help break up my shape a bit!

Jean Jacket + Tee Shirt + Leggings + Sneakers

Simply add an oversized jean jacket and viola! You have a casual chic look that is soooo comfy especially when you feel like you’re about to fall asleep at any moment from exhaustion. Adding some layered necklaces dress it up a bit too to make it even more chic and adds a bit of femininity.

Hoodie + Leggings + Sneakers

This is one of my favorite looks, because it is SO COMFORTABLE! I bought this hoodie a size up so that it could accompany my bump as I grow. The material is super soft and one of my absolute favorites.

Washing tip: don’t put your super soft material in the dryer, it wears them out faster and takes away from the softness. Simply air dry them and it helps make them last!

Blazer + Tee + Leggings + Sneakers

I think this look pretty much speaks for itself, you simply throw on a blazer and jewelry and suddenly you look put together and as if you don’t want to eat everything in sight (šŸ˜‰ ).

Vest + Sweater + Leggings + Sneakers

This one is another favorite of mine and it’s probably because of this super soft sweater from J Crew! It’s one of those “never wanna take it off” sweaters, because it’s so cozy. I don’t recommend this if you get super hot super easily, but if you’re going to be in the cold, it’s a keeper! I love how the vest adds just a little bit of shape to any outfit.

I hope you find these outfit formulas helpful and comfortable through whatever season your life is in! Be sure to follow me on instagram @budgetandbrunch

4 Easy Valentine’s Day Looks

4 Easy Valentine’s Day Looks

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 buyĀ 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

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Similar Top | Jeans | Shoes

Outfit Formula Number 2:

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

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Similar Blazer | Similar Top | Jeans | Shoes

Outfit Formula Number 3:

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

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Similar Cardigan | Similar TopĀ | Jeans | Shoes

Outfit Formula Number 4:

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

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Hair Clips | Bandana Scarf | Top | Jeans | Shoes

*Petite Jeans

How to Style: Wide Leg Pants

How to Style: Wide Leg Pants

I have done several style sessions with wide-leg pants. There are a lot of different retailers now that offer, the “Slim Wide-Leg Cropped Pants” and the “Wide-Leg Cropped Pants”. I love them bothĀ ā¤ļø!

What’s the difference?

The Wide-Leg Cropped Pants

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Outfit 1: Headband | Earrings | Necklace | TopĀ (similar) | Pants | Bag | ShoesĀ (similar)

Outfit 2: Hat | Earrings | Necklaces | Top | Pants | Shoes

These pants have a very “wide-leg” that hugs (me) at the hips and thighs and flares out just above the ankles. The great thing about these is that they flatter your figure. By being much wider than your actual leg, they make your legs/ankles appear smaller. Bonus, they’re really comfortable.

Outfit 1 are the wide-leg cropped pants from J. Crew–these are very light weight and have a cute pocket detail in the front. I love to pair them with a white/cream top to create a fun monochromatic look. As pictured, I tied a white tee at the waist. When styling wide-leg pants, it’s important to create a waist line so that you don’t look shapeless.

Outfit 2 are the wide-leg pants from Madewell and are my fav! They are a thicker material than the ones from J. Crew and they tend to hold their shape better and get less wrinkly. The blush color is perfect for Summer and can easily transition to Fall. Again, I created a waistline by tucking in my shirt, paired with heeled mules and a hat to instantly dress up the look!

The Slim Wide-leg Cropped Pants

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Outfit 1: Hat | TopĀ (similar)| Pants | Shoes

Outfit 2: Earrings | Necklace | Top | Pants | Shoes

The slim wide-leg cropped pants essentially have the same concept, they compliment your figure. I would suggest these if you just can’t quite get on the wide-leg pant trend. They are slightly smaller. These would look particularly good on people whom have a very petite frame–that was the pants don’t swallow you whole! Pairing these with a front tucked shirt or even a body suit look good and, again, creates that waistline!

Both pants pictured above are from Madewell. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, Madewell has myĀ ā¤ļø! I adore the fit and quality of the Madewell brand. The burnt orange colored pant has become one of my wardrobe staples and can be dressed up or down!

Overall, finding pants that makeĀ youĀ feel good is what is important. I know that we sometimes get swayed by popular opinions on whether or not weĀ shouldĀ orĀ shouldn’tĀ wear a particular pant, but I AM HERE FOR THIS TREND! I adore the way I feel in both the wide-leg and slim wide-leg pants and I won’t apologize for itĀ šŸ˜‰!

How to Maximize Your Suitcase this Summer

How to Maximize Your Suitcase this Summer

Ok, raise your hand if you’re an over-packer šŸ™‹šŸ». I mean yeah…I tend to over pack ok? It’s something I am actively working on. With that being said, I have tried a few different tips and tricks that I have found to be very helpful.Ā I decided to condense these for you into one post!

Number 1:

Research the climate. This is probably something you already do, but when you’re packing for vacation, you should definitely research what the weather will be like, temperature, humidity, that sort of thing.

I am going Holden Beach soon and it looks like the weather is going to be in the 80s with humidity at about 45%. Now, this is in NC and it is HOT. In my suitcase, I have packed three pair of pants. This is because I typically find myself getting chilly when going out to eat or going in to stores. If you do not get chilly easily, your suitcase may look a little different. Also, if I am on the beach, I won’t be wearing anything but a bathing suit and sunscreen šŸ˜Ž.

Number 2:

Make a list. What? Make a list? Are you kidding? Nope, it actually REALLY helps me to make a list. Now, you may be thinking what a time consuming thing to do when packing for vacation. But I decided that if I made a realistic list of items I wanted to pack, it would save me time in the long run.

I literally used to just grab stuff off of hangers and throw it in my suitcase…big mistake. I rarely wore ANY of it and ended up washing it all when I got home and taking up too much time to unpack.

Ok, with that being said here was my list:

  1. Basic tops (tee shirt, button downs, tanks)
  2. Shorts
  3. Pants
  4. Bathing suits
  5. Shoes (limit 5 pair-this was a personal preference, you can limit this even more if you want)
  6. Accessories (a good rule to follow with accessories is to pick some that will go with MULTIPLE outfits. I also limit myself to two purse options)

I am a visual person so I layed out all the pieces I wanted to bring:

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P.S. I packed two other swim suits, but wasn’t able to find a picture of them! The leopard swim suit can be found here. My other swimsuit is by Kortni Jeane!

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The pink and green earrings are by Jules Co.

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(FYI, you can find the linkable itemsĀ here)

 

Number 3:

Make sure you select items that can be mixed and matched. I treated this like a capsule. Making sure my pants worked with multiple tops and vice versa. With that being said I came up with, drumroll please,

44 outfit options!

I know…probably overkill, but hey, I told you this gal likes options! See below all the outfits I put together!

Everlane Jeans styled 8 ways!

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Madewell Overalls styled 6 ways!

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Madewell Shorts styled 8 ways!

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Abercrombie Pants styled 8 ways!

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Madewell Slim Wide Leg Jeans styled 8 ways!

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Madewell Midi Dress styled 6 ways (this exact dress is sold out, but here are some similar options: Cami Tier Midi Dress, Silk Cross-Back Midi Dress, Lanhtropy Linen Cactus Button-Front Dress)!

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Number 4:

Have “fold awareness” (I just made that up). Be sure that you are folding your clothes in the most efficient way. For example, Marie Kondo folds like a champ. Now, her whole angle is to love your clothes and it isn’t about making your clothing more compact, but for me it is šŸ˜‚. I want to fit AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE in my suitcase that I share with my husband 😳.

Bonus tip: Make sure your cover the bottoms of your shoes as well, a good trick is to use shower caps or plastic bags. Shoes are germ-y (haha). You could pack your shoes in a completely different bag as well, which I have done before, but I try to limit packing to three bags.

  1. Clothes
  2. Toiletries (including makeup)
  3. Towels (for the beach and bathing)

I hope this somewhat helped you! If you want to see the final product of my suitcase, let me know and I will post some photos!Ā Be sure and share any tips and tricks you have with me, I would love to hear them!

Same jeans, four ways

Same jeans, four ways

Let’s talk about jeans for a second; if you follow my Instagram or you read “A Short Girl’s Guide to Madewell Jeans” you know that IĀ love Madwell! I truly believe in their brand and their jeans fit my body so well.

With that being said, I often end up with jeans that are similar in style and vary in color. Don’t get me wrong, that’s cool and all, but I have challenged myself to go for jeans that are different!

I love a good pair of skinny jeans, I think they are so versatile and can be worn in so many different ways. However, I ave a closet full and I really wanted to venture out, so when Madewell came out with the new Cali Demi-Boot JeansĀ Ā I knew I had to try them on for size!

When I purchased them, even the woman that worked at Madewell said that people were afraid of them. I thought, you know what…I am gonna buy these and wear them with confidence, becauseĀ IĀ want to! Below I have styled these cuties 4 ways. if you caught my Instagram stories I did a little style session, but for those who didn’t, I wrote this blog post!

These jeans fit tight through the hips and have a super stretch through the legs with a slight flare. As I’ve mentioned before, I am 5 feet tall so I tend to purchase petite or short clothing items. I got the petite size in these and they hit above the ankle to create a really fresh spring look!

 

The French Gal

Is it just me or is this “French girl style” the epitome of a fashionista? I am in loveĀ with the tied scarf around the neck look!Ā For your inner french girl, I decided to pair these beauties with a simple, classic white shirt. The Courier Button-Back ShirtĀ by Madewell Ā goes great with just about anything. My theme is versatile styleĀ so I try to only get pieces that I can style over and over and it not be obvious šŸ˜‰. I gave it a front tuck to enhance my waist line and paired the Tropical Coral bandana (or scarf) with this simple outfit to add a pop of color and add a stylish little detail. I,Ā of course, wore mules with this outfit. I mean I cannot get over mules and howĀ perfect they go with jeans, dress pants, and even some dresses! These are the Willa Loafer Mules in Brown (not sure that these are still available at Madewell, but they might be at Nordstrom)!

*If you haven’t quite channeled your inner french girl or you simply don’t care for the bandana around the neck, you can always utilize yours differently (see above how I styled it as a headband).

 

The Valentine Gal ā¤ļø

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To keep it true to Valentine’s Day this week, I decided to add in a cutesy valentine’s day inspired look that can totally be worn any other day of the year! I decided to pair a mock-neck black and white stripe shirt with the Cali Demi-Boot JeansĀ Ā and an oversized cardigan. I decided to tuck the mock-neck, because anytime I wear a longer layered piece, the tuck helps create a waistline and make you look taller!

The mock-neck is from Target’s Universal Thread line and I purchased it last year. I am not sure if they have it anymore in that color, but here is a link to a different colored one. You might also like this one from Anthropologie, but it is on the pricey end. They shouldn’t be too hard to find, since stripes are in style always ā¤ļø! The cardigan is also from Target’s Universal Thread line and is no longer found in stores, however, they have some similar options here and here! Note that it is a little longer on me because of my height and I bout it in an XL even though I wear a M, because I wanted the baggy look.

I paired my Willa Loafer Mules in Glitter, because they instantly make me feel fancy, but keep the comfort levels high šŸ‘šŸ». I also used the Tropical Coral bandanaĀ again as a hairband to add some visual interest! I also thought the red and pink combo made for an extra Valentine’s Day appearance.

 

The Casual Gal

casual gal

For this look, I went for a more casual denim on denim approach. I, again, paired my Cali Demi-Boot JeansĀ Ā with the same top from my Valentine Gal look, because as I have mentioned, I am in to versatile style and pieces that I can wear over and over. The denim jacket is a little darker than the jeans so it adds some contrast and I decided to leave my shirt untucked, which is a rarity for me, to add some length since my jean jacket is shorter. The jean jacket pictured is very old (by about 2 or 3 years), so I know J. Crew doesn’t still carry it; however jean jackets are EVERYWHERE. You can find some that are oversized or fitted depending on your style and comfort level!

I, again, paired my Willa Loafer MulesĀ and Tropical Coral bandanaĀ to keep this look fun and “put together”. You could also pair some cute white tennis shoes with this look if you are going out for a day of walking and want something more supportive, but I will say that these mules don’t hurt my feet in the slightest bit once I broke them in. Switching them out for tennis shoes would completely change this look which is another amazing thing about versatile style! The bandana adds a nice pop of color and helps hide that day 3 hair am-I-right šŸ¤—?

The Working Gal

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This look gives me serious #boss vibes. I mean fist of all, the bright pink blazer is an eye catcher and I think it gives these jeans such a sophisticated look. I am wearing The Courier Button-Back ShirtĀ again and tucked it in all the way around. I popped the collar too, because “ever since I can remember I been popping’ my collar” šŸ˜‚Ā (anybody else remember that song?). The blazer is Halogen and I got it from my TrunkClub box! It is such an amazing piece and I couldn’t be happier with it. I got it in a MPetite and the length is perfect. It covers my butt just a bit and I roll the sleeves to create a more casual look. You can button the button if you want to look even more professional! You can find the blazer here, but it looks like there are limited sizes. Click here and here for similar options.

I paired The Frances Loafer MuleĀ in the color Vintage White with this outfit. These are also from Madewell and are a great shoe, especially if you want to add some sophistication to your wardrobe! I have a wide foot and these feel great! Ā I skipped out on the bandana for this look, but you could definitely incorporate it if you wanted to!

 

There you have it, same jeans, four ways! I hope this inspires you to go out of your comfort zone and try some new pieces. I also hope this helps you shop your closet! Re-using pieces to create different looks is so fun and nice for the wallet šŸ˜‰! If you decide to try and recreate any of these tag me on Instagram @budgetandbrunch and use the #budgetandbrunch hashtag!