Tag: ootd watch

20 x 20 Challenge–What does it even mean?

by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment on 20 x 20 Challenge–What does it even mean?
20 x 20 Challenge–What does it even mean?

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!

  1. Look at the piece in question: how does it make you feel?
  2. Do you love the the cut, color, and style?
  3. Is it a piece you are “iffy” about?
  4. How much wear do you get out of the piece? (versatile pieces are key)
  5. 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).

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.35.31 PM

  1. Brown Sweater
  2. Chunky Sweater (size down)
  3. Striped Turte Neck
  4. Black Turtle Neck
  5. Blazer (size down)
  6. Cardigan (size down)
  7. Stripe Sweater
  8. Graphic Tee | Similar Graphic Tee
  9.  Vintage Jeans | Petite Option
  10. Cali Demi Boot Jeans (size down)
  11. Skinny Button Fly Jeans | Petite Option
  12. Black Skinny Button Fly Jeans | Petite Option
  13. Everlane Loafers | Madewell Loafers
  14. Mules
  15. Similar Boots
  16. Sneakers
  17. Bag
  18. Bar Necklace
  19. Horn Necklace
  20. Bandana Scarf

Below are the 20 outfits I put together.

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.03 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.10 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.21 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.28 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.36 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.48 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.41.55 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.42.04 PM.png

 

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.42.46 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.42.57 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.43.26 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.43.35 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.44.33 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.44.41 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.45.08 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.48.51 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.45.30 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.45.37 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.45.49 PM.png

Screen Shot 2020-01-10 at 1.45.56 PM.png

 

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

Madewell VS Old Navy: The Sherpa Coat

by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment on Madewell VS Old Navy: The Sherpa Coat
Madewell VS Old Navy: The Sherpa Coat

Ok, by now we all know the deep love I have for Madewell! It is a land full of magical clothes that I cannot resist…however, when I saw an $84.99 Old Navy  Sherpa Coat for Women dupe for the $258 Sherpa Estate Coat I knew I had to order it and give it a shot!

Lets compare shall we?

Screen Shot 2019-12-10 at 11.33.05 AM

Color

The color is actually very similar in person versus how it may look in the photos. The Madewell Sherpa Estate Coat has more of an off white/yellow tint to it than the Old Navy  Sherpa Coat for Women in some of the online images, but it is hard to see in person. If you like the color of one, you should like the color of both.

Pockets

The pockets are placed in the same spot on both coats and have the same lined look. Both pockets are deep and lined with sherpa!

Buttons

Both coats have a zipper and snaps. However, the Madewell version doesn’t show the snaps when it is closer whereas the Old Navy version does. You may notice it in the photos I have, but just an FYI if not. The Old Navy one seems to be sturdy. I have had it for a few weeks and wear it daily. So far, it has lived up to my expectations.

Length

Left: Old Navy  Sherpa Coat for Women   Right: Madewell Sherpa Estate Coat

The length looks extremely different, as you can see in the photos from above, but this in part due to the fact that Old Navy has a petite option in this coat. Other than the price, this was another reason I went with the Old Navy one, I didn’t want a coat that was quite so long and Madewell doesn’t have a petite option (yet) in this coat!

Lining

The lining of the coats are different. The Madewell Sherpa Estate Coat has italinan sherpa on the inside while the Old Navy  Sherpa Coat for Women has more of a faux-suede lining on the inside. I have to say that the Madewell one seemed like it was warmer and slightly thicker because of the lining. However, as warm as I tend to get in all of the seasons, I am ok with it!

Texture

Both pictures: Old Navy  Sherpa Coat for Women

The texture of these coats is pretty similar. I do think that the Madewell one is softer that the Old Navy one, however the Old Navy one is still pretty soft. The faux-suede lining inside of the Old Navy coat is also very soft and I love the way it feels!

Long story short…

…if you are on the market for an investment coat that will be sure to last throughout those harsh cold winters, the Madewell Sherpa Estate Coat may be the coat for you, but if you are looking for a warm enough coat to get you through the winter, the Old Navy  Sherpa Coat for Women may be the one for you!

Side note (as of 12/10/19): Both coats are currently on sale! The Old Navy Sherpa Coat for Women is 20% off with the code: SWEET making it $67.99 and the Madewell Sherpa Estate Coat is 25% off with the code: GOODCHEER making it $193.50!

 

Other outfit details:

Staged photos 😏:

Similar Top | Vest | Similar Jeans | Boots

Fitting room photo:

Top | Similar Jeans | Mules

 

 

Dressing for the Holidays

by Budget&BrunchLeave a Comment on Dressing for the Holidays
Dressing for the Holidays

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

35991894-f346-4ef6-b644-8c8ff416fbca.jpg

Similar Top | Jeans | Boots | Scarf | Similar Bag

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

DDA917A9-8875-4DB5-94F1-C7E7DAE0A330

Similar Top | Jeans | Similar Mules | Similar Bag

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

6ca93fa5-d454-42e2-aa84-5eea880e9bd4.jpg

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

7f7ecb5e-8481-46a4-ac3e-a4382fa1db9d.jpg

Top | Similar Jeans | Boots | Scarf | Bag

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

89cbaed3-f00d-42ba-bfef-d0763933c1e1.jpg

Top | Similar Bottoms | Similar Mules | Bandana Scarf

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

41faebcd-79a3-4308-a7a8-04676fd72b63.jpg

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

 

 

 

 

How to Style Denim Shorts

by Budget&Brunch
How to Style Denim Shorts

I think we’ve all been there, simply not wanting to wear shorts…at least, I have. I used to hate the thought of wearing shorts and showing my legs. Things I used to tell myself:

“I’m too pale”

“My calves are too thick”

“My thighs are too thick”

“My thighs make my shorts ride up”

“I’ll look inappropriate”

Lets break down why this is completely wrong to do. First of all, none of the above are validation for not wearing shorts. All of the above are society based thoughts that have been cultivated after years of being told “what beauty is”.

Be like Daenerys and break those chains! Start telling yourself why you should wear shorts…

“It’s hot outside”
“I want to wear shorts today”
“I don’t need a reason”

Now that we’ve got that covered…shorts are actually super versatile and easy to style. Over on my IGTV channel I styled the High-Rise Denim Shorts in Erwin Wash: Cutoff Edition from Madewell three different ways! For size reference, I am 5′ tall and usually wear a 27 or 28 at Madewell. These shorts are pretty stretchy so I went with my most common size there, a 27.

The fit of these shorts is to die for! They come up to my belly button and hug my curves, yet they flare out just a smidge on my thigh which creates an a-line affect and flatters my figure.

Since these are high waist shorts, they look best with a crop top, tucked shirt, or tied shirt. I chose to either front tuck and front tie  for all three of my looks.

Look Number 1:

The Weekend Look

Headband | Sweatshirt | Shorts | Belt Bag | Shoes

I decided to pair a graphic sweatshirt, which is currently on sale, with these shorts for the ultimate weekend look. The sweatshirt helps to dress down the shorts and add a comfy casual vibe. I front tucked the sweatshirt to create a waistline and make way for my belt bag (hehe). The belt bag allows you to be hands free and compliments the weekend vibes!

I added the headband to pull from the colors in the sweatshirt. This creates contrast and allows the faint colors in the sweatshirt to pop and draw the eye to the message “the modern woman”!

Throw on any old sneakers and it will look good, but I decided to pair this outfit with my converse , because they simply slide on and I can go!

 

Look Number 2:

The Brunch Date Look

To me, this look screams brunch date/farmer’s market/plant lady. I’m not sure if it’s the hat, the graphic tee, or the look as a whole, but I do so love it!

I decided to front knot my graphic tee to, again, create that waistline. This also makes me look taller, because it elongates my legs and torso. The graphic tee says, “Here’s to Strong Women” and has a cute graphic of different types of women. I love the message and I love that it supports a small business owner. Her name is Emily and she has a shop called A Little Papery, click here to visit her Etsy shop! She has the cutest graphic tees and more! I am wearing a size M and if gives me enough length to front knot tie it.
The hat is quickly becoming one of my favorite accessories! It is a dupe for the Madewell one and it looks identical. To me, it adds some flare that says, “I tried to get dressed today”, but also hides that day 4 hair…ya get me?
Add some sneakers and you’re ready to walk out of the door!

Look Number 3:

The Dressy Casual Look

Hat| Shirt | Blazer | Shorts | Shoes

You don’t often see a blazer paired with denim shorts, which is exactly why I decided to pair this blazer with these denim shorts! When it comes to fashion, I feel like you have to step outside your comfort zone and try different things.

To dress up these shorts a bit, I added an oversized blazer over a front tucked blousey top. This combination creates a super dressy feel. The blazer is longer and almost meets the end of the shorts, so tucking the shirt creates a nice break up and, yeat again, gives that waistline!

I paired this with the hat to make the outfit a little more fun and the loafer mules to keep it dressy.

Moral of the blog: wear what you want!