Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge: Mad for Plaid #FashionFriday

Today I'm linking up with Fashion Friday. Check out all the posts for more fashion inspiration!

I've never hidden the fact that I am a huge fan of the 90's: 90's TV, 90's movies, 90's music and, yes, even 90's fashion. Sure, there are some things that were a really bad idea (one strap overalls and scrunchies, I'm looking at you here). But some of the trends from the 90's have made their way back to mainstream fashion again and they are doing pretty well. Leggings and billowy/long shirts are current fashion staples, amiright?

But let's talk about plaid.

Plaid (particularly plaid flannel shirts) was, like, essential for 90's grunge.

Angela, we know your angst.

Do you think these flannels smell like Teen Spirit?

Ensembly Challenged? AS IF!

Luckily, today's plaid comeback version is less grungy and a little more chic. While a casual way to enjoy plaid is in the classic flannel, it's more a more fitted cut .  I've enjoyed seeing the various patterns of plaid in blouses, often paired with cardigans, cropped jackets or under sweaters. The pop of pattern is eye-catching and fun.

So when I saw this pin:






I knew I needed to make it my next Pinterest Picture Perfect recreation!

I love how the plaid is paired with the contemporary skinny jeans (as opposed to the baggy jeans of the 90's), with a belt and layered with a cardigan. And ::squeeeee:: for more of my current statement color YELLOW. I found the shirt during the same shopping trip where I got my polka dot blouse at the insane J. Crew sale. I saw it and it identically matched several pins I had saved on my My Style Pinterest board. And at almost 70% off, what's a girl to do?

(Since the sale is over, you can find a similar plaid blouse here)

Here's my pinspiration recreation:

How'd I do?

Now it's your turn:

How are you making fashion INSPIRATIONS into REALITIES?

Do you have a Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge that you've completed? Send it to me, so I can showcase it!  

moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com

Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge: Polka Dots + Blazers #FashionFriday

Today I'm linking up with Fashion Friday. Check out all the posts for more fashion inspiration!

Thanks to the chaos of holidays and getting obsessed with Sherlock  (HELLO? Benedict + Martin? LOVE!) and my laptop keyboard dying and generally having a lack of inspiring things in my closet, I took a short hiatus from my Fashion Friday posts in the month of December. 

BUT.

I am all caught up on Sherlock, the chaos of the holidays is behind me, and thanks to some gift cards/exchanges/holiday money, I was able to remedy the lack of inspiring things in my closet with some post-holiday shopping trips!

HUZZAH!

I've been loving my Pinterest App for shopping. As I shared in my past Picture Perfect posts, I am not naturally creative in the fashion department. I do best when I can look at a picture of something that I like and recreating it for myself. 

Thus, the Picture Perfect Challenge was born. 

So, I have spent time meandering around Pinterest and pinning outfits that strike me onto my My Style board. It actually makes shopping EASIER. No more struggling over what I want, what I need, what I like. I can open up my Pinterest app and scroll through the pictures, reminding myself of what items I want to add to my closet over time. Then, when I come upon them in a store (and BONUS if they are on sale ::bestillmyheart::), there is no more doubt as to whether or not it's a bad purchase.

SCORE!

First, the pinspiration:






Hello?

POLKA DOTS.

(And this picture also makes me kind of want to get bangs again).

Thanks to an overwhelming sale at J. Crew, I found the polka dot blouse on super duper sale (since that sale is over, this polka dot blouse would also work). THEN, on a chance evening at my local outlet mall, I found the piece de resistance: a blue blazer .

And now I'm set!

Here is my recreation:

Why so serious?

You know I can't resist a bit of flare.
#PutAScarfOnIt

I love that this outfit is chill and casual yet professional and chic at the same time. That allows me to wear it to a work event or just to preschool pick up. And when at all there is ever an opportunity, #PutAScarfOnIt, amiright?


How'd I do?

Now it's your turn:

How are you making fashion INSPIRATIONS into REALITIES?

Do you have a Picture Perfect Challenge that you've completed? Send it to me, so I can showcase it!  

moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com

Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge: Open Front Button Neck Sweater + Trouser Jeans #FashionFriday

Today I'm linking up with Fashion Friday. Check out all the posts for more Fall Fashion inspiration!

Last week's 7 Ways to Wear A SBD (Simple Black Dress) post was surprisingly a big hit! Did any of you get inspired enough to go out and find yourself a simple cotton jersey dress?  How have you worn it?

I'm back on the Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge. Let me show you the pin first before I get into why I dig the outfit:





I've had this pinned for a while. What struck me is that I already had the perfect sweater for the post. 

This happens, like, never. 

What caught my eye, though, were the jeans.  We are living in the Age Of Skinny. And while it took me a while to get into this trend, I do enjoy the Skinny Jean (and her sister, the Straight Leg Jean). 

But sometimes?

Sometimes I need a little flare.

I'm a 90's girl. Well, I was born in the 80's. But I spent my middle and high school years in the 90's, which means a lot of who I am was shaped during this time. And, yes, much of 90's fashion has gone to the wayside. Some trends, though, I'll always hold near and dear to my heart. And in that I include bootleg or wide leg jeans. 

Weren't they just so much more comfortable?

Back in the day, Flare jeans (Boot Leg and Wide Leg) were loose in all the right places. They weren't like a second skin that showed far too much (sorry, Skinnies). Something about them screams comfortable. In jeans that have some flare I just feel completely me. 

Throw in a vintage fitted t-shirt and a pair of Birkenstocks, and I'm set.

(Don't hate me).

Anyway, I like that some trends today really work well with the looser-fitting jeans.  When I was doing my shopping at Clothes Mentor, I found a pair of trouser jeans (which I believe fall into the "flare" category since they are looser fitting) from Ann Taylor. 

They FIT LIKE A GLOVE. 

This happens, like, never.

I thought they would be the perfect final piece to complete this week's Picture Perfect Challenge. Reference the pin above, and see how I recreated it below:

The sweater is super cozy (I also have one in brown), and it was easy to pair it with a simple black long sleeved crew neck (I like the ones from Gap because they are long in the torso). If you don't have an open front sweater or cardigan, a short-sleeved knit sweater would look great too. I completed the outfit with simple flats. This is a great casual look for a night out or even work (if you pair it with non-jean trousers).

How did I do?

Now it's your turn:

How are you making fashion (P)INSPIRATIONS into REALITIES?

Do you have a Picture Perfect Challenge that you've completed? Send it to me, so I can showcase it!  

moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com

Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge: Short Sleeve Jersey Dress REMIX #FashionFriday

Today I'm linking up with Fashion Friday. Check out all the posts for more Fall Fashion inspiration!

Last week's Fashion Friday post was about adding layers to a dress to make an outfit "Fall Ready." Throwing a pair of leggings and cardigan with a sleeveless dress extends the life of dress, allowing it to be worn for more than one or two seasons.

I love extending the life of my clothes.

In the same fashion (pun intended), this week's Picture Perfect recreation will involved "Autumizing" an otherwise warm weather dress. A while back, I found a pin that I was determined to recreate, even before I stared my challenge. It took a simple black short-sleeved cotton dress, added some layers, and VOILA: a look that is seamlessly swept from Summer to Fall.

Here is the inspiration Pin:





I was most inspired after a trip to H&M where I found THE PERFECT DRESS for this challenge:

Short Jersey Dress 
(in black)

The best part?

It was only $12.95.

WHAT?


Since I already had a grey crewneck t-shirt, black leggings, my boot and various scarves, this was not only fashionable but frugal.


Here's the recreation:

How'd I do? 

(Try not to mind the gigantic wrinkle the under shirt formed under the dress unbeknownst to my knowledge while my fabulous photographer [ahem, HUBBY] was snapping pictures)

Overall, I dig the dress. It's more form-fitting than I'd like, but it's comfortable and a great base for other outfits. For under $13, this dress needs to be customizable! When I checked in my closet, I saw lots of potential customs for this dress. 

Check back next week, because I'll be showing you 5 ways to wear the simple short-sleeved jersey dress!

Now it's your turn:

How are you making fashion INSPIRATIONS into REALITIES?

Do you have a Picture Perfect Challenge that you've completed? Send it to me, so I can showcase it!  

moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com

Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge: Dresses + Layers #FashionFriday

Today I'm linking up with Fashion Friday. Check out all the posts for more Fall Fashion inspiration!

In my Fashion Friday post from last week, I shared my new challenge to take pictures of outfits I find on Pinterest and recreating them in my own closet. I am affectionately dubbing this the "Picture Perfect Challenge." Last week I recreated a denim and leggings pin.  

This week, I found my inspiration in this fun layered look:





I love that it's a way of taking a dress and making it not only casual and laid back, but a great transitional outfit for Autumn. The layered look is actually quite resourceful. If it's too hot, ditch the cardigan, or switch out the boots for flats. If it's too cold, add a funky scarf or cute boot socks to the look.

This week I challenged myself to shop my closet for this look. And thanks to my sister, Jess, who handed off the dress to me last year, I was able to pull the outfit off without buying one new thing!  

Here's the recreation:

How'd I do?

I ended up wearing this outfit to a fun blogger event at QVC, where I got to be apart of a taping of In the Kitchen With David. IT WAS SO FUN.  I grew up literally a mile away from the QVC studios, and both my dad and my mother-in-law worked there at various times.  Yet, I'd never actually visited!  We were taken on a studio tour, and it was awesomesauce!   On our tour, we were able to see Emeril taping a show with David Venable as well as Sunny Anderson, Star Jones and Jill Martin.  It was so neat seeing all that happens behind-the-scenes of the network.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Arriving at the QVC Studios

We went home with David Venable's newest cookbook.
It's all comfort foods. Color me HUNGRY.

We sampled Bacon Jam Bruschetta and Bacon Mac N Cheese.
I'm not even kidding.

Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes and Banana's Foster Bread Pudding.
Hold me.

I tried without success to grab a legit picture with Star.
My creeper pic has to suffice.

In case you can't tell, that's the top of Emeril Lagasse's head
while he tapes a show with David.
Obvs.

I was not successful getting my picture with any of the Big Stars.
So this pic with David's life-size cutout was the next best thing.
He's literally that tall.

I'm a model, you know what I mean,
when I do my little turn on the catwalk...

The frenzy prior to taping David's Food Court

Mid-taping. Here is the map of the stars.

We ended with a quick visit with David and Mary from QVC.
Mary is my new BFF, she just doesn't know it yet.

If you visit the area, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the studio tour - you never know who you'll see!

Now it's your turn:

How are you making fashion INSPIRATIONS into REALITIES?

Do you have a Picture Perfect Challenge that you've completed? Send it to me, so I can showcase it!  

moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com

Pinterest Picture Perfect Challenge: Denim + Leggings #FashionFriday

Today I'm linking up with Fashion Friday. Check out all the posts for more Fall Fashion inspiration!

While I've learned a lot about fashion over the past few years, I'm still educating myself on how to piece together outfits. I'm not always adept at heading to a clothing store, pulling a few pieces off the racks and it all coming together. Often, I walk the store aimlessly, not sure where to begin.  All those clothes can be overwhelming!

I'm a visual learner. For me, it helps to see inspiration (in a magazine, online, on an actual live stylish human being), and I think, "Wow. That looks cool. I'd love to rock something like that." Having an image gives me something to work off of.

It's not cheating, friends. It's a base to start from!

So I've spent time perusing the internet, and finding images of outfits I like. I pin them on my My Style board on Pinterest. I try to keep in mind what works for me and my body (and what doesn't). I also pin outfits that I can work into my existing wardrobe, working off of pieces I already own.  Now, when I go shopping, I pull the My Style board up on my phone. This way I have my inspiration literally right in front of me. I have focus and direction on what I am looking for.

This, friends, leads to successful shopping trips.

It leads to Fashion Wins.

I'll be chronicling my journey to imitate the outfits I have pinned on Pinterest (a journey I am affectionately dubbing "Picture Perfect").  Today I'm sharing my first Picture Perfect Win:

Denim + Leggings

Here is the pin:

So chill and cute, right?

I was at Target yesterday and this denim button-down tunic caught my eye. 

target.com

First, I liked the stitching detail. The thread was a mustard-gold, which looked nice against the denim blue. Also? It was long, which I was looking for. Most of the denim or chambray shirts I had previously come across were on the shorter side. 

And friends, let's be honest:

I'm not about to wear a shirt 

with leggings that won't cover my butt 

(Neither should you, friends. Neither should you). 


So I paired the shirt with the leggings and boots already residing in my wardrobe and VOILA! Fashion inspiration turned reality.

A Picture Perfect Win! 

Not bad, right? ;)

Stay tuned for more Picture Perfect wins. Until then, I'd like to hear from YOU:

How are you making fashion INSPIRATIONS into REALITIES?

Do you have a Picture Perfect Win? Send it to me, so I can showcase it!  moderndaydonnareed@gmail.com