I love this top. 

It's comfortable, yet really unique, with light blue tweed and nautical shoulder buttons. Usually I'm not one for a boxy cut, but the frayed edges on the sleeves and the bottom really sold me. So how do you wear a shirt that has no shape, and how do you make it work for the office?  

That's when a nice pair of capri-length slacks comes in. Find a pair that are high-waisted so that you're not showing any skin, and make sure that they fit really well so that you still have some curves. The capri-length will show off your ankles, giving you a daintier feel. Then you don't look like you're wearing a shapeless bag! 

The finishing touches on this outfit were a pair of turquoise heels to add another pop of color to the outfit, a pair of drop earrings, and a neutral bag big enough to carry your laptop in. 

Now you have your recipe on how to wear a boxy shirt - just wear something fitted on the bottom! 

For actual pieces and dupes, check out the links below! 

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase something. 

I don't know if you were ever told this, but I was when I was growing up: You should never wear navy blue and black together. 

Well, ladies, let me tell you that simply isn't true. 

If you're trying to trick people into thinking that your navy blue skirt matches your black blazer, that might not work. But embracing these two colors to mix and match them makes for a really awesome look. It shows that you have a good eye and can put two neutrals together in an unexpected way. 

In making this outfit this morning, I first grabbed a black sweater dress - one that's comfortable and is a great base for a bunch of different outfits. Then I put on a long blue blazer that I purchased from T.J. Maxx a while back. I love long blazers because you throw one on over just about anything and it looks like you've put in a lot of thought to your outfit, when, in fact, you've just grabbed the nearest thing. They work over jeans and dresses, so you can dress them up or down. 

After choosing the top half of my outfit, I knew I would have to wear tights because it's chilly out, and I thought it would be cool to lean into my navy/black aesthetic by wearing black hose and navy heels. I think the fun thing about this color combination is that it never looks matchy-matchy. If you were to match your bubblegum pink flats to your bubblegum pink sweater, it could lean juvenile. But that's not the case with these neutrals.  

I recently purchased these shoes - yes, the obsession with navy blue shoes continues - and I seriously love them. They're incredibly comfortable, despite the height of the heel, and the mix of suede and leather is modern. 

I finished off the whole look with a watch my husband gave me for my birthday from MVMT. I love this watch because it has the day of the week, the local hour, and the hour in another time zone on three different faces. Plus, you can change out the strap to match different outfits! 

What do you guys think? Would you wear navy and black together? Do you have a long blazer that you love and think I should check out? Let me know in the comments!  

Outfit dupes: 
Dress | Blazer | Blazer | Actual Shoes | Shoes Dupe | Watch 

​*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase something.

It's cold as all get out, but you've got a nice dinner planned. What do you wear? How do you make it through a whole night of looking cute AND being freezing? Here's the secret. 

Layering.
​
​I know, everyone talks about layering in the wintertime, but it seems to me that's usually for a more casual outfit where you can put a sweatshirt over a sweater over a shirt over an undershirt over a...the list goes on. But this is layering when you're trying to look you're best! 

This dress is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons: my husband loves a deep emerald/forest green, and it does the job of showing just the right amount of skin. The hemline is a bit short, but the dress makes up for it with long sleeves and a high collar. I feel like it gives a hint of sexy without going overboard. With tights, this dress is even more conservative, which I'm all for. 

The dress is the first layer. I layered a green shawl over the top of it, which I could also wear as a scarf. Let me tell you something, ladies: SHAWLS ARE THE BEST THING EVER. You throw them on top of any fancy outfit and no one questions it, but it's like you've got your own personal blanket! Are you kidding me? That's the dream! 

Then comes the coat. This coat is mostly wool, but it has zippers and leather accents which make it look really cool. I think it brings just a bit of edge to this outfit. It matches the suede/leather mix of the shoes and ties in the coat to the rest of the outfit even when you take the coat off. I love that! To top off everything, I put on these earrings for a glitzy addition. 

Let me know what you love to wear on winter evenings, and leave a comment down below! 

Check out these links to find the actual pieces or dupes for my outfit: 
Dress (in teal) | Dress Dupe | Scarf Dupe | Shoe Dupe | Earrings Dupe | Coat Dupe

​*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase something.

So here's what happened. My husband told me that he had a formal event coming up...and I thought I would do a little experiment!

I hopped onto Amazon, searched for "formal gowns" and set my filter to under $100. Then I set it for under $50. Would I be able to find an attractive dress that would arrive using Prime 2-day shipping, fit me using only a measurement chart for guidance, and keep my wallet happy? Read below to see how my experiment went. 

Score: 4/10
Get this dress here. 
​
This was my least favorite of all of the dresses I ordered. The fabric was incredibly thin and didn't really flatter my body. The lace which was meant to stand up along the neckline flopped down every time I moved at all. I thought the belt was a thicker fabric based on the picture, but it was actually just a part of the dress in that same flimsy material. Overall, this just felt inexpensive, and given that it was one of the more expensive dresses I ordered, it was disappointing. (Also, it felt slightly matronly? But I have a feeling that on a different body type, that wouldn't be the case.) 

Score: 5/10
Get this dress here.

This dress was the cheapest of all of my choices and looked so promising online! It wasn't terrible, but it definitely felt like it was about $25. Honestly, I would wear this if I had no other options, and I wouldn't be embarrassed to, either. I think it would have made a difference to buy this dress in the silver, because then the fabric wouldn't look so flimsy, at least from afar. For me, though, the slit went way too high and the fabric was cheap. But it did fit me well, and because the material is so stretchy, I think it would probably fit most body types. 

Score: 7/10
​Get this dress here.

​This dress definitely has its pros and cons - it's a bit of a conundrum. It was the most expensive dress I ordered, and you can see why. The fabric is thick, the embellishment is really beautiful, and the sheer top was very well made. I've never worn a dress with a sheer top like this, but I think it's a great way to have the look of a strapless gown without having to adjust your dress all night. But here's the issue: the dress just didn't fit right. It was big in the waist, and small in the hips, and it was weirdly unflattering. I definitely thought it would be perfect on, and that was a letdown. But at least I get to return the dress that was the most expensive! 

Score: 8/10
​Get this dress here.

I. Loved. This. Dress. The back has a corset so you can adjust it, the fabric is beautiful, the dress is well made, and it is so much fun to swoosh around in! Unfortunately, it was a little bit off in the size that I ordered. I think for someone with a smaller chest it would work slightly better because the waist is a bit high, but I seriously enjoyed wearing this. Even if it isn't the most flattering gown, it's one that I didn't want to take off. This is the kind of dress you just have to spin and dance in! 

Score: 10/10
Get this dress here.

The price. The fit. The fabric. The uniqueness. This dress has everything and it blew me away. This was the last one to arrive in the mail, and I didn't have high hopes, but after putting this on, I felt AWESOME. It's classic, modern, and incredibly statuesque. The fabric is thick so it conceals any lumps and bumps you may have. The only thing to warn you about is that the bottom is a bit long, but with the right pair of heels, it will be just fine (at least for me - I'm pretty tall). I can't recommend this dress highly enough, and I can't wait to wear it! 

Which of these dresses was your favorite? Have you ordered and worn any of them yourself? Let me know in the comments! 

​*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on a link and purchase something.