Style Notes: J.Crew Factory Factory Printed Pleated Shift Dress $79.50 (currently 30% off) / Modcloth A Class Act Flat $29.99 / Gap Striped chambray mini $54.95 (30% of until 4/7) / Stripe by N Bonjour Tully Pullover $89 / Anthropologie Piped Peplum Blouse $88

This week’s finds offer Easter style suggestions whether Sunday finds you heading to church, dining on brunch at a favorite eatery, or lounging about the yard while the kids hunt eggs.  We hope your day is spent amongst loved ones and full of relaxation!

Style Notes: Old Navy Striped Fit and Flare Dress $25 (currently 30% off online) / Kate Spade Goreski Glasses Bangle $78 / Modcloth My Favorite Macaron Dress $62.99 / Anthropologie Korin d’Orsays $148 / Old Navy Eyelet Tube Dress $25 (currently 30% off online) / Anthropologie Pivoted Points Necklace $48

In other news: Please vote for us in Arizona Foothills Battle of the Blogs.  Voting is UNLIMITED and ends on April 15th.  You can vote for us here!

I’ve been on the hunt for a white tuxedo pant for spring, but I haven’t had much luck finding a pair that had the right combination of a dressy look with a comfortable fit (I want to be able to wear them to work and to play), or, more importantly, felt very wallet friendly!  Enter one of my favorite local bargain shopping locales, Last Chance, where I picked up these Trina Turk gems for $10!  They are playfully sophisticated, which is exactly what I was looking for.

Because of the dressy nature of the pants, I decided to pair them with a black peplum top that helps add more glamor, and fun, to the overall look.

Have you tried a peplum yet? I know a peplum can seem a bit intimidating and are not always flattering.  If the peplum doesn’t hit at just the right place or isn’t just the right length the only thing it does for one’s figure is add weight at the waistline and shorten one’s height, every woman’s nightmare, right?  I don’t own very many peplum tops for those very reasons, which is why when I tried this Target version on I was immediately smitten and purchased both the black and striped!  If you’ve been wanting to give a peplum a shot you can’t go wrong trying this one as it is extremely flattering and is at a great price point!  If you are still feeling a bit unsure of what to pair the top with, try pairing the black with a skinny black pant, a pencil skirt, or dark denim for a great look that works for both day and night.

The peplum top and the tuxedo stripe pants already elevate the style of the overall look, so piling on a ton of accessories would only be distracting.   I opted for a small pop of color at the neck and decided to play off the black and yellow combo with my beloved Kate Spade bangles.  A simple, low heeled shoe is all that is needed to complete a polished look!

Style Notes: Target shirt (winter 2013) / Trina Turk pants via Last Chance (winter 2013; similar style) / BC shoes via Last Chance (winter 2013; love these) / Modcloth necklace (fall 2012; similar style) / Kate Spade bracelets (spring 2011; winter 2012; fall 2012) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; love this) / Kate Spade bag via Last Chance (summer 2012)

In other news: Please vote for us in Arizona Foothills’ Battle of the Blogs.  Voting is UNLIMITED and ends on April 15th.  You can vote for us here!

With Valentine’s Day around the corner I thought it appropriate to do a quick round up of all the  things I am currently loving.

See that crossword box in the top right corner? It’s a crossword scarf.  So cool!  The literary nerd/wordsmith side of me could definitely rock that scarf!  Or how about that glasses bangle?  My love for Kate Spade bangles is well documented on this blog and that quirky bangle needs to be part of my collection ASAP!  Those sequined sleeves add just the right amount of girly glam to a masculine blazer; it would be a great piece for date night or girl’s night out.  Every girl needs something a little extra special hanging in her closet, right?

My personal favorite, though, is that mod inspired Marc by Marc Jacobs dress.  At $300 (on sale too) it is way out of this high school teacher’s budget but that won’t stop the irrational love I have for this dress.  I seriously check on it every few days in hopes it becomes a lot more budget friendly and yes, I’ve scoured the internet looking for a similar dress at a more affordable price to no avail.  Trust me, though, if I find one that can hold a candle (even if dimly) to this dress you will be the first to know!  Until then, I am going to continue to do my online stalking and dreaming about taking this dress out for dinner and a movie!

Style Notes: J.Crew Liberty-Collar Merino Sweater in Stripe $125 / Anthropologie Glitzen Frame Blazer $79.95 / Kate Spade Goreski Glasses Bangle $78 / Madewell Mini-Bow Ring $15 / Modcloth Chance Greeting Flat $39.99/ Marc by Marc Jacobs Scooter Stripe Dress $298.99 / Gap Perforated Oxfords $69.95 / Kate Spade The Glass Is Half Full Idiom Bangle $40 / J.Crew Factory Pleated Skirt $74.50 / Madewell Crossword Scarf $45

I have very strict rules about wearing cords.  I am of the opinion they should not be worn before Thanksgiving and should be neatly packed away come mid February, no matter in which winter to spring climate you reside.  Corduroy is a winter fabric, so it feels so silly to wear it before the holiday season.  As you can imagine, living in a state where the thermometer is still reading 80 further puts restrictions on my cord wearing window of opportunity, so when I stumbled upon these lightweight thin corduroy pants last year I knew they were the perfect fall compromise for a desert climate.

Corduroy pants are a great way to skirt a no denim policy at work.  Technically speaking, they are not jeans, but they certainly are just as comfortable as a well loved pair of jeans and in the right cut they are ever bit as flattering.  If your work environment is a tad more casual, or has casual days built into the work week, corduroys would be a great pant choice to help you look a little more put together than the run-of-the mill jean choice that people turn to for casual dress days.  Furthermore, they would easily make the transition from work to heading out for drinks after work without having to remember to bring along a change of clothes.  (Note: When purchasing corduroy remember the wales (the vertical ribs) are going to add weight to the wearer, so stick to a straight or skinny cut leg and choose a corduroy wale that is narrow for a more slimming silhouette.)

This time around I paired the cords with a fun elephant print blouse my mom sent me earlier this fall.  This, too, has proven to be the perfect piece for AZ’s warm fall weather. It’s lightweight enough that I wore it even when we were still in the low 100′s, but the colors make it appropriate for fall by itself, paired with a cozy grandpa cardigan, or under a blazer.  Plus, a great animal print is an easy way to add a little quirk to your midweek look.

Because the print is the main focus of the outfit, I kept the accessories low key (a necklace and a bracelet) and used the shoes and belt to bring in one other pattern.  Things don’t get too crazy, though, as the leopard print belt and shoe play well with the rust colored pant and neutral elephant’s in the shirt.

Style Notes: Gap shirt (fall 2012; gift from my lovely mom; similar style) / Gap cords (fall 2011; purchased at 30% off; similar style)/ Loft belt (fall 2012; purchased at 50% off; similar style) / Halogen shoes via Last Chance (spring 2012; similar style) / Marc by Marc Jacobs crossbody bag via Last Chance (fall 2012) / Modcloth necklace (fall 2012; purchased at 30% off) / Kate Spade bracelet (spring 2011; love this one!) / Michael Kors watch via Last Chance (spring 2012; similar style) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; similar style)

Burgundy, oxblood, maroon, ruby red…whatever name the fashion industry chooses to call deep red colored garments and accessories we are absolutely crazy for the hue!  It’s the perfect blend of moody and sophisticated to usher in fall and when paired with the right garments or accessories it can carry you through a multitude of holiday soirees!

Style Notes: Baublebar Red Gem Bloom Bib $34 / Madewell Counting Sheep Sweater $108 / Topshop Toplock Bowling Bag $76/ Arturo Chiang Avia Pump via Piperlime $59.99 / JCrew Pleated Sweater Skirt $79.99 (currently an extra 30% off!) / Anthropologie Sequined Jacquard Dress $228 / Essie Leading Lady $8  / Modcloth Collar Me Maybe Flats $29.99 / Topshop Clean Felt Hat $50 / Kate Spade Small Square Studs $38 / Loft Marisa Straight Leg Corduroys $59 (currently 40% off!) / Pim + Larkin Polka Dot Crew Cardigan via Piperlime $47.99