Thursday, January 29, 2015

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace.

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace.

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace

PMT Style Challenge: Copy an Outfit You Pinned. Plaid button down, lace sweater, jeans, riding boots, boot socks, statement necklace.
Sweater: Kohl's (similar, similar)
Button down: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jeans: Old Navy (exact, similar
Boots: (similar, similar)
Boot cuffs: made by my aunt (similar, similar)
Necklace:  Forever 21 (similar, similar)

Happy Thursday! Hope your week has been great and hope your weekend will be greater!

I have been following Audrey at Putting Me Together for a good while now and love her blog! When I saw that she was doing weekly style challenges, I jumped at the opportunity. I love challenges and have really been enjoying these.

This weeks style challenge was to copy an outfit that you have pinned. I usually only pin outfits that have a piece similar to the one that I own, so this challenge was not very hard. I copied this pin.

I love this outfit because it keeps me very warm. It has been so cold lately, so these layers keep me nice and toasty. I also really like these colors! It's monochromatic and complementary colors! :)

What is your favorite thing about this outfit?

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || Summation

Today is the last installment of the How to Wear a Dress in Winter series. I have decided to do a sort of summation post to end it with a bang. All of the ways to wear your dresses in winter are broken down and numbered below.
How to Wear a Dress in Winter || Summation. Ways to wear your summer dresses in winter...


1. Add a Warm Completer Piece 
The first way that you can winterize your summer dresses is to add a warm completer piece. Completer piece meaning cardigans, jackets, etc. I LOVE my jean jacket to death, so it would definitely be my favorite completer piece.

 2. Throw on a Scarf 
Another way, which is my favorite, is to add a scarf to keep your neck warm. I love scarves because they add more character and style to the outfit. Plus, they keep you extra nice and toasty. :)

 3. Wear Leggings Underneath
The third way to make your summer dresses wearable for winter is to wear leggings underneath them. As you can tell by the photos, I almost always wear leggings with my dresses. I wear them all the time because, a) they keep you warm, b) if your dress is to short then you can wear it as a tunic, and c) because you don't have to worry about your dress coming up and someone accidentally seeing a little too much. :)

4. Add Winter Pieces
In addition to all of these, I like to wear fall and winter pieces like boots, ankle boots, sweaters, winter colors, etc. I love wearing my ankle boots with my dresses! They add an instant winter look to all of your dresses.

I hope that you enjoyed this series. I know that I did! It was so much fun showing you guys different ways to wear your dresses in winter, and show you some inspiration.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05


How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace


How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 05. Grey sweater dress, black leggings, black ankle boots, statement necklace.
Dress: (similar, similar)
Leggings: Target (similar, similar)
Ankle boots: Target (similar, similar)
Necklace: Old Navy (similar)

Even though this dress isn't technically a summer dress, it is still a dress that is short-sleeved and is slightly to short in length. I decided to use it in this series because I still have to give it some pizzazz and make it wearable for winter without freezing to death.

To be able to wear this dress in winter, I had to add some leggings. I stay relatively cold, so I almost always have to add leggings to my dresses. Plus, it is almost too short.

I added ankle boots to make it look winter-y and to keep my feet nice and toasty. Notice how long and non-stumpy my legs look. If you don't wear ankle boots the right way, then your legs may look a bit stumpy. I could have worn a pair of leggings in a different color, but I chose the black to keep it looking fluid. If you wear very similar colored leggings to your ankle boots, then it helps the eye flow all the way down your legs without the a weird looking mis-match of different colors. Of course if you aren't wearing leggings you can cuff your pants to create a break that makes you legs look longer, but that is difficult to do with leggings and a dress.

I also added a statement necklace to add color and a little bit of fun. :). Don't you just love the grey with the light pink?

What is your favorite thing about this outfit? What do you want to see for Valentine's Week? More on Valentine's Week here.

Monday, January 26, 2015

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 04. Teal tunic dress, grey leggings, pink cardigan, black ankle boots, black and white monogrammed scarf, black belt
Tunic dress: Ross (similar, similar)
Leggings: Wal-Mart (similar)
Cardigan: Target (very similar)
Scarf: Dazzle Up (similar, similar, similar)
Ankle Boots: Target (similar, similar)
Belt: (similar)

Oh, and sorry about the wrinkled dress. I am way to lazy to iron!

Happy Monday! I hope that you had a great weekend. I know I did! I went on a two-day church trip. It was so fun and like a little mini vacation. It was a good deviation from the norm.

And to the outfit...

This outfit is full of my favorite colors. I love teal, pink, and grey, and then when you combine them, it is like perfection. And you can definitely tell that I am not lying because my blog colors match this outfit. I posted it and then realized how well that they match. I love it!

Again like the other installments, to wear this summer tunic dress for winter, I paired it with leggings and a cardigan for warmth (but, cuteness too, cause everything is done with cuteness in mind), and a scarf and ankle boots for a winter-y feel. Plus, the scarf and ankle boots keep me a little bit warmer, too.

On another note, this week ends the How to Wear a Dress in Winter series, and next week starts Valentine's Week. I will post outfits, decoration tips, and anything related to Valentine's Day.

What is your favorite thing about this outfit? Which How to Wear a Dress in Winter installment is your favorite? What do you want to see for Valentine's Week?

Thursday, January 22, 2015

The Next Big Thing That I Want to Accomplish

Hello! I was inspired to right this post because I want to encourage you to keep working on your New Year's resolutions, and because I am interested in what some (or all!) of your New Years resolutions are. Like I said in this post, I don't really make resolutions but more like goals. 

The next big thing- or goal -that I want to accomplish would be to run a 5k race. This running journey has been very long. It has taken me around 2 years! 

When I first started getting interested in running, I didn't research anything at all. I did not know how to breathe right, I ran in my backyard because I did not have anyone to run on the street with. and my backyard has a hill and has lots of dirt and weeds. There were many things that I did very wrong, and I had no idea what I was doing.

Probably the only thing that I did right was that I used the Couch 2 5k app. It is an eight week training plan. At first I only got to about week four or five. Because I was bored of my backyard, I didn't know how to breathe or run right, my shins started to get strained as a result of my faulty running, and it started to get colder, I quit. Which is probably the worst thing to do, but I did. 

That was about October of 2013 (approximately, I can't really keep track). I think it was about spring of 2014 that I started the app all over again. I got some people to run/walk with me in my neighborhood instead of trying my backyard again. I finally finished the app and ran a 5k (not an actual race, I just ran it in my neighborhood) around September or October of 2014.

Then, I stopped for just a little bit because it was cold (I really need to suck it up and start running in winter). Now, I am finally on week six again, and am training for my first 5k race! I will run it in May. 

I feel like it has taken me forever, but I am excited that this season is about to change! I have been researching a LOT and have been thinking about what it is going to be like on race day.

I want to encourage you that even though something is taking forever, maybe it's a trial, something that you want to accomplish, or whatever, if you keep on keeping on you will see results. Even though I was awful at persevering I still saw results, and I have made progress.

Do you have any tips or ideas for me as I embark on this new thing? I would love your feedback! What is the next big thing or goal/resolution that you want to accomplish?

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03


How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03. black maxi dress, dog sweater, black flats, simple necklace. http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/. #simplejewelry #maxidress #dressinwinter

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03. black maxi dress, dog sweater, black flats, simple necklace. http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/. #simplejewelry #maxidress #dressinwinter

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03. black maxi dress, dog sweater, black flats, simple necklace. http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/. #simplejewelry #maxidress #dressinwinter

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03. black maxi dress, dog sweater, black flats, simple necklace. http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/. #simplejewelry #maxidress #dressinwinter

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03. black maxi dress, dog sweater, black flats, simple necklace. http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/. #simplejewelry #maxidress #dressinwinter

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 03. black maxi dress, dog sweater, black flats, simple necklace. http://mybowsandclothes.blogspot.com/. #simplejewelry #maxidress #dressinwinter
Dress: Kohl's (similar, similar)
Sweater: (similar, similar)
Flats: Target (similar, similar)
Necklace: Claire's (lots of simple jewelry here)
You can find the first installment here and the second here.

Happy Hump Day! I hope that you have had a good day and a good week so far. I have had s great day.

Anyway, today's installment in the How to Wear a Dress in Winter series is probably one of my favorites. It is one of my favorites because it is so darn comfy! Maxi dresses already feel like you are wearing pajamas, and then you add a comfy pullover. Ahhhhh! I kind of want to change into this instead of my current outfit, now! 

I love this sweater because it is so cute and it goes well with lots of pieces. Since this sweater is slightly bold- it has a few different colors, it is graphic, and it is slightly oversized- I decided to pair it with pieces that are simpler. I also paired it with all black because, as I said earlier, it is slightly oversized. The all black makes my bottom half look a little bit smaller, so the juxtaposition of the big sweater and the all black balances out the outfit.

How do you style your dresses for winter? What are you interested in seeing on this blog?

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02

 By the way, the sun was extremely bright, so the pictures may look a bit weird.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket.


How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket
 
How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 02. Hi low dress, grey leggings, black ankle boots, jean jacket
Dress: Charlotte Russe (similar, similar, similar)
Leggings: Wal-Mart (similar)
Jacket: Old Navy (exact)
Ankle Boots: Target (similar, similar)

You can find the first installment to this series here.

Hello, happy Tuesday! I hope that you have survived so far. :)

Today's How to Wear a Dress in Winter is an outfit that I have had planned in my head for a long time. For some reason I have never worn it. I don't know why because I really like it and can't see a reason why not to wear it.

Anyway, this otherwise too short on me, and summer-y dress has been styled (by me, of course) very well for winter. I can say this because, obviously, if you wear this outfit you will not be too cold. It is paired with leggings and a jacket. (Even though this doesn't have much to do with this, all but one of my dresses are paired with leggings). 

Another way, besides wearing warm clothes like sweaters, jackets, etc. with summer-y dresses, is to wear winter-y pieces. For instance, my ankle boots scream winter, this jacket I wear only during the colder months, leggings are mostly for winter, etc. You can also wear things like an oversized cardigan, fleece-lined tights, winter/subdued colors, or whatever winters up your summer-y dresses.

I also love these colors. For some reason (maybe spring fever) I can't get enough of pastels, lately.

What is your favorite thing about this outfit? What do you use to "winter up" your dresses? Comment your answers, please.

Monday, January 19, 2015

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01. green dress, purple infinity scarf, leopard belt, black leggings, brown boots, black cardigan.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01. green dress, purple infinity scarf, leopard belt, black leggings, brown boots, black cardigan.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01. green dress, purple infinity scarf, leopard belt, black leggings, brown boots, black cardigan.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01. green dress, purple infinity scarf, leopard belt, black leggings, brown boots, black cardigan.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01. green dress, purple infinity scarf, leopard belt, black leggings, brown boots, black cardigan.

How to Wear a Dress in Winter || 01. green dress, purple infinity scarf, leopard belt, black leggings, brown boots, black cardigan
Dress: Ross (similar, similar)
Leggings:  Target (similar, similar)
Cardigan: (similar, similar)
Scarf: Target (similar, similar)
Belt: Kohl's (exact)
Boots: (similar, similar)

I am so excited! Today starts my two week series How to Wear a Dress in Winter. I will post one about two or three times a week for two weeks. I will show you many outfit inspirations and give you some tips on how to wear your summer dresses in winter. 

I decided to do this series because I don't have many winter dresses at all, and I was having to wear pants to church, and I ran out of ideas. I want to help you to be able to re-wear your dresses, and I want to give you some inspiration on how to wear yours.

Today I chose this emerald green summer dress. This dress is actually too short, so it kind of works out that I wear leggings with it. 

For winter I styled this dress with a pair of leggings, and a cardigan to keep warm. I am also wearing a scarf to add a pop of color and some interest. I added a belt that defined my waist and adds even more interest.

I could have just worn this dress with the leggings and the cardigan, and I would have been warm enough. But, this outfit needs something to make it look put-together and like you actually put thought into your outfit. That's why I added the belt and scarf. 

Don't forget to come back for the next installments!

What is your favorite thing about this outfit? What will you use from this outfit to wear your dresses for winter?


Friday, January 16, 2015

High Five For Friday

Happy Friday, people! Today has been so long in coming (I say this as I am thinking about how fast the week has gone and how the weekend is going to go by even faster. I guess I just really love the weekend!). Here are the top five things that happened this week:

1. First off, I am dying for what little spring we have here in South Carolina. If you live here or near here, you know what I am talking about. :) Like I said in this post the other day, we were supposed to have warmer temps, but unfortunately those went bye-bye. Hello more freezing winter days!

2. Also, I am really looking forward to spring clothes. I cannot wait for the light layers, and soft hues! I am dying to wear some sandals, light layers/my kimono, and dresses without leggings!

3. We were gonna be crazy busy this week, but some things got cancelled and moved around, so now I have a less stressful weekend. Yay for manicures and pedicures! Oh and taking more outfit photos for you guys!

4. I have recently been wanting a quilted or herringbone vest, but I guess I talked myself out of it because I don't find myself wanting one anymore. It might be because I am ready for this frigid weather to leave, so all I have been thinking about is spring clothes, if you can't tell. I am so looking forward to shopping for new spring clothes!

5. I got a necklace for Christmas and haven't been able to style it yet. Partly because it has been so cold and partly because I'm not exactly sure how to style it. It looks sort of like this, but that's not the same necklace just very similar colors. It is multi-stranded and on the shorter side like that one, too. Does any body have any ideas on how to style it? I was thinking with something navy or grey, but I am not sure.

What is one good thing that has happened to you this week?

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Chambray, Pink, and Leopard

Chambray and Pink. chambray shirt, pink cardigan, black skinnies, leopard flats, butterfly necklace

Chambray and Pink. chambray shirt, pink cardigan, black skinnies, leopard flats, butterfly necklace

Chambray and Pink. chambray shirt, pink cardigan, black skinnies, leopard flats, butterfly necklace


Chambray and Pink. chambray shirt, pink cardigan, black skinnies, leopard flats, butterfly necklace.

Chambray and Pink. chambray shirt, pink cardigan, black skinnies, leopard flats, butterfly necklace.
Top: Old Navy (exact)
Black Skinnies: Old Navy (exact, very similar)
Cardigan: Target (very similar)
Flats: Target (exact)
Necklace: Forever 21 (very similar)

Happy Hump Day!! Hope you've had a good day so far. 

I love this outfit because it utilizes my favorite article of clothing: my chambray shirt. Yesterday I wrote about my basic must-haves and, of course, my chambray shirt was the first one on the list. I love chambray because it is so versatile. I wear it all. of. the. time.

On another note, it has been FRIGID lately. Like lows of 15 and highs only in the 40's. I know all of you people in the north think that that's not really that cold, but for me it is! I like my weather to be from around 40's to about 80's. That's all. I never even liked winter anyway. There is a light at the end of this tunnel though because it is supposed to get into the 60's over the weekend. Hello sunshine and not shivering at every waking moment!

Hope you have a good rest of the week! 

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Fashion Must-Haves

I am pretty frugal, so I like to try to remix my clothes and wear each piece many ways, instead of having a really giant closet and only wearing one piece one way. Since I like to remix, I have lots of basics. Some of these are winter pieces, but some of them are not.

Here is a list of my basic must-haves:

Fashion Must-Haves. Chambray, simple jewelry,blazer, ballet flats, scarf, statement necklace, basic tee, jean jacket, black jeans, white jeans, ankle boots, riding boots.



1. Chambray button down.
If you haven't already noticed, I really love my chambray shirt! It is so functional, and there are about a gazillion ways to wear them. I got mine from Old Navy. I think that my favorite thing about chambray shirts is that they are great for layering, which is probably my favorite thing to do! :) You can wear them so many different ways. I also love how you can get them in different washes. They are so classy, too! You can buy some here and here


2. White jeans or black jeans

In my opinion, you have to have a good pair of jeans that aren't your typical blue jeans. For instance: black jeans or white jeans. I believe that you have to have some variety when it comes to pants. I actually own a pair of boyfriend style white jeans and black skinny jeans. [ I would say that you definitely need a good pair of skinny jeans, but I'm pretty sure that that's common sense. :) ]. At first I though that I would never be able to wear white jeans becasue here in South Carolina in spring and summer we wear shorts. But, I learned that the rule about not wearing white after Labor Day is a rule to be broken, and now I love wearing white jeans in the Fall and Winter. You can buy a white pair here and a black pair here.


3. White tee

You can never go wrong with a good white tee shirt. They are very versatile and they look good on anybody. I like a nice scoop neck, but some people prefer v-neck. I would also sat that a few different colors of solid tees would be great, too. You can get one here.


4. Blazer

I would say that you absolutely have to have a black blazer, but I don't even have one. So, I would say that you just need a blazer. Whether it's patterned, navy, white, black, coral even. Just something that is functional and that fits your style. I would give you places to buy one, but I don't know what kind of blazer that you would buy because that is totally up to you. I have a navy and white polka dot one, but some people would never imagine wearing a patterned blazer. Some might want a colorful one. It's all up to you. :)


5. Ballet flats

Ahhh, the ballet flat how I love thee. They are so functional, comfy, cute, and they come in so many different styles, colors, and patterns. Just like the blazers, I won't put places to buy ballet flats because what kind you get is totally up to your taste. Also, almost every store in the world sells them, so they will not be hard to find.


6. Riding boots/Ankle boots

Riding boots are mandatory. They are functional and go with literally EVERY outfit. I love, love, love ankle boots, too, but they are a little bit trickier to style. I would pick brown or cognac for the riding boots because I think that brown goes with more. Again, though, it is totally up to your closet and preferences.

Ankle boots are just as functional as riding boots, but like I said above, they are a little harder to style. As for ankle boots, I would buy whatever fit my wardrobe because there are so many colors, styles, shapes, and sizes. And because there is a big variety of riding boots and ankle boots, I will let you shop around. 


7. SCARVES

I love scarves! They are definitely a staple! You can get so many different patterns, colors, fabrics, and styles. There are thousands of different kinds to choose from. Infinity scarves are probably my favorite, but I like all of them. I'll let you do the shopping again (and it's not just because I might be a little lazy)  :). 


8. Simple jewelry

Simple jewelry is beyond any doubt essential. It's pretty, delicate, and can totally find something to match your style preferences. I'll leave the shopping up to you again.


9. Statement necklaces

You've probably realized how much I love statement necklaces. They are the perfect addition to any and every outfit. I love them because there is such a wide variety of them. They dress outfits/pieces up, they add flair, color, and instant sophistication. They are all so different, so I will leave the shopping up to you again. I do find a lot of mine at Forever 21 and Charming Charlie.

10. Jean jacket

Jean jackets are the best completer piece that you can own. They are great for layering, adding interest to your outfit, or keeping warm. I love them because they can be paired with so many different things. I said jean jackets because they are the most common and probably cheapest jacket out there. Leather jackets and military-style jackets are great, too. I am always wearing mine! I got mine at Old Navy and you can find it here.


Well, that is all! Hope this helps! Thanks for stopping by! What is one of your must-haves?