ootdwatch – Budget & Brunch

4 Ways to Style a Leopard Midi Skirt

November 7, 2019November 7, 2019by Budget&Brunch

Ok, so if you have followed along with me for a while, you know that I am a shortie and I often look for clothes that help elongate my legs. Needless to say, midi skirts that don’t “shrink” me even farther are hard to find; so when I found this Leopard Midi Skirt for $15 (score)–I had to try it!

So I decided to style this midi skirt with 4 different “looks” in mind!

FYI: All items featured fit TTS and although this s=midi is no longer available I have linked similar ones at the bottom of the page!

Look 1: The Relaxed Look

*(FYI: My top is from Target but it isn’t available online so I found one on Amazon to link)

If there is one thing I love it’s comfort mixed with fashion! Pairing a graphic tee with a leopard skirt may seem like a bold move, but it can truly elevate a graphic tee so much. I decided to pair my “girls” graphic tee from Target with my Midi and I truly couldn’t love this tee shirt any more. Could it BE more perfect 😏?

I completed the look with some white sneakers and felt like I was ready to take on the world. I think this is my favorite look! You could also elevate the look with some minimalistic jewelry and a denim jacket for cooler days!

Look 2: The Sweater Weather Look

I couldn’t not incorporate a chunky sweater! With the temperatures chaining-at least here in NC-I wanted to show a warmer option. I don’t know about you, but I tend to get hot very easily; so although it may be 45 degrees outside, I need to wear something breathable. Pairing a cozy chunky sweater with a breathable midi is perfect for those of us that tend to get a little warmer during the fall/winter days! I paired a cream sweater to create a monochromatic look, because I am SO in to monochromatic lately and it can be so easily done.

Side note, iff you don’t get hot easily, you could always wear tights!

I decided to pair this outfit with The Kat Chelsea Boot for a styling cozy vibe. I absolutely love these boots and I am so glad I purchased them! They have quite a high heel but because it is a chunky heel and the inside is padded they feel great!

Look 3: The Holiday Inspired Look

Is there anything more classic than leopard paired with red? Wether is a bold red lip or a bold red turtle neck, it creates a timeless look! I wanted to show a holiday inspired look sense several Holidays are right around the corner (eek)!

The turtle neck helps create a cozy feeling and warm up the outfit while the midi skirt allows for movement and a little wiggle room just in time for the eating season 😉. I decided to go with my gold glitter mules from Madewell, because I mean what else would I pair with this haha. Although these exact mules aren’t available anymore, I have linked similar pairs!

To dress this look up even more you could throw on some tights and heels!

Look 4: The Versatile Look

Let me start by saying I love this Shrunken Ex-Boyfriend Shirt from Madewell! It was the perfect addition to my closet. I think having a dressy-ish button down in your closet is important because it is such a versatile piece. You can literally pair it with anything! This one in particular is a little shorter so it fits my torso great.

When putting these two looks together I wanted to show how versatile this outfit could be! You can go from business casual to business chic by simply swapping out the shoes! Of course, you can always elevate the look by accessorizing with jewelry or tights. I also decided to tie a front knot with this shirt to create a visual was it line and somewhere for the eye to fall. It also helps create a chic look with minimal effort!

There you have it folks, 4 different ways to wear a leopard print midi. I love how each of these looks creates a different vibe and you can wear it however you’d like depending on your mood!

Here are some more similar skirts in case the one linked isn’t your style! Hope you enjoyed the read, be sure to subscribe and let me know what you’d like to see next!

Similar leopard midi

Madewell Denim vs Everlane Denim

July 18, 2019December 10, 2019by Budget&Brunch

If you know me, even slightly, you know that I love Madewell; especially their denim. I am truly Madewell obsessed 😳. Not only do I love their fit, but I love that they have fair trade denim. I first saw Everlane popping up on some larger blogger accounts that I follow and was intrigued by their ethically made clothing.

When I looked in to Everlane clothing, I couldn’t help but notice that they had some cheaper options for denim. When they had their “Choose What You Pay” sale, I knew I had to try some of their denim. Once I ordered a pair, for only $48, I noticed some similarities in my Madewell jeans and thus decided to compare them for you all!

Let me preface by saying that anytime I purchase online, I research. Meaning, I read reviews and make sure I am getting the “right” size for me–I think is so important to keep in mind that sizing is different in every store.

Just because you have to go up or down sizes, doesn’t mean you should punish yourself or your body.

With that being said, the Madewell denim that I am referencing here was trial and error to find my size. I got The Curvy Perfect Vintage Jean in Fitzgerald Wash from Madewell for $98, that’s right I said the curvy fit and I am not ashamed. The Perfect Vintage Jean in Fitzgerald Wash fit me in the waist and the sales lady told me they looked awesome, from the outside looking in, they probably did. You couldn’t tell that they literally made my butt feel (and in my opinion look) like a pancake, I could barely move in them, and I was very uncomfortable. I definitely could’ve bought them if I gave a shit about size and the “regular fit” versus the “curvy fit”…but I don’t. I ended up with the petite size 27, also keep in mind that in the regular fit of these jeans I had to go up a size.

When it came to the Everlane jeans, I got The High-Rise Skinny Jean and wasn’t expecting to see any similarities in them versus my curvy fitted Madewell jeans. For reference, I got the ankle size 29 in these. Below is a side by side photo of the jeans.

Left: Madewell Right: Everlane

You can see that they are cut differently in the hip/thigh area and the ankles seem to be more fitted on the Everlane jeans. But when I put them both on, they fit so similarly. The wash is also very similar! With the Madewell jeans being 100% cotton and the Everlane jeans being 98% cotton, I feel that I get more stretch out of the Everlanes and slightly more gapping in the waist.

The Madewell jeans fit a little looser in the hips and ankles while the Everlane jeans are more fitted. However, both give the elusion of a loose fit toward the bottom. They both hug my hips and butt very well. I will say, it’s easier to sit in the Everlane jeans, but somehow I find the Madewell jeans more comfortable. Here are three comparison photos to see how each pair fit me:

Left: Madewell Right: Everlane

Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Everlane Jeans | Shoes

Left: Madewell Right: Everlane

Hat | Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Everlane Jeans | Shoes

Left: Madewell Right: Everlane

Shirt | Madewell Jeans | Everlane Jeans| Bag | Shoes

I like the look of both and I feel like both can be dressed up or down. The price comparison is $98 for the Madewell pair and $48 for the Everlane pair. So if you want to go the cheaper route, then you may want to try the Everlane pair. However, keep in mind that everyBODY is different and how these both look and feel on me may be completely different for you! Great news is, if you decide to purchase online, you can always exchange or return!

How to Style a Belt Bag

May 30, 2019May 30, 2019by Budget&Brunch

Belt Bags (or fanny packs as we used to call them) are slowly making a come back in to the fashion world…I mean did they ever truly leave? I have loved this trend from the beginning, probs because I am a 90’s child and there is a sense of nostalgia that comes with wearing one!

I realize this is an either love it or hate it kind of trend; however, I love not only the versatility, but the convenience of having your hands/shoulders free at all times! Whether you do love it or hate it, I wanted to show you 6 ways you can style a belt bag without looking like you stepped out of the 90’s. So here are some tips and tricks for you to keep in mind when styling a Belt Bag…

Tip #1:

Don’t use every loop.

Ok, if you didn’t catch my IGTV Post “How to Style a Belt Bag”, you should definitely go check it out, but if you did you may have noticed that I pointed to the last loop and didn’t put my belt bag through.

This makes it easier to move the bag on your waist. You can choose the side you want it on and style it comfortably. Putting the belt through all of the loops limits the mobility of the bag and causes the bag to be in the middle of you stomach.

Tip #2:

Tuck your shirt.

You can front tuck it or tuck it all the way around, but tucking your shirt helps to make the belt bag a focal point. Trust me, you want to make this cutie bag the focal point! If you decide to front tuck it, you can simply leave the extra strap slack showing underneath.

If you decide to tuck it all the way around you can either leave the belt showing as an accessory or you can do a cute knot in the front (pictured below).

Tip #3:

Don’t limit yourself.

Belt bags are extremely versatile. These can be worn with whatever you damn well please. Do NOT limit yourself to thinking that you can only wear it with skinny jeans. I styled it several different : with wide-leg jeans, skinny jeans, a skirt, athletic wear, and a dress!

Tip #4:

Own it.

Wear all things with confidence; including belt bags! Too often, we, as people worry entirely too much about what other people think. I am here to tell you that what other people think about you doesn’t matter. That’s right…it doesn’t matter. You have to realize that if you want to wear something, you should.

Don’t get me wrong, belt bags aren’t for everyone and I’m not insinuating that if you don’t wear one, you aren’t confident. I am simply saying that it is your choice and you shouldn’t let the opinions of others steer you in one direction or the other!

With all of that being said, I hope this helped you feel like you can absolutely “pull off” a belt bag and wear it with anything you’d like!

Some of my favorite belt bags:

Madewell

Target

Anthropologie