fashion. Archives -

Camel & Olive. + How to Spread Love During the Holidays. + GIVEAWAY!

December 13, 2015

So many reasons I love this outfit. The colors and the coziness make for a wonderful pairing. Discovering just how much I love the camel color. It’s a fun way to wear a neutral color.

photography by: Sandra O.

Outfit details:
Sweater: Last Call (similar here, here) | Pants: Uniqlo | Booties: Stuart Weitzman (similar)

During this time of year, I love to reflect. When I take time out to think about the year, I can’t help but be thankful. Yes each year comes with its ups and downs, but even just to see another day is a blessing. During this season especially, I like to give back as a way to say thank you. Instead of just focusing on myself, I try to lift up others in small ways.

Ways to share the holiday love:

Pay for someone’s coffee behind in you in line at Starbucks. (or a meal at a drive-thru)
Invite someone without family in town over for a holiday meal.
Volunteer at your local food bank or homeless shelter.

I encourage everyone to step outside of their bubble and think about how to help spread some holiday cheer this season.

Let me know how you are showing love this holiday season. I’d love some new ideas!

xoxo,
c.

GIVEAWAY!

Christmas is around the corner, and we are acting as Santa’s elves to bring you a little joy this holiday season! Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win either a $500 gift card to Nordstrom, a $500 gift card to Amazon, OR a $500 gift card to Target. There will be THREE winners, so your chances are much higher at winning a prize! Use these gift cards on yourself this season, to help with Christmas gifts, or to help someone in need!

*Giveaway will end at midnight CST on Friday, 12/18, and winners will be announced and sent their gift cards the very next day! Must be 16+ years older to enter. International entrants welcome. All entries will be verified and winners will be subject to disqualification if verification is not met. Enter up to 120 times each. The more entries you have, the higher chance you have at winning! Good Luck*

Three Winners Christmas Giveaway

Rethink The Basics. Grey & Burgundy.

December 3, 2015

Nothing better than a basic dress.
Sometimes you need to invest in good basics to build your closet and maximize your wardrobe to get the most out of it.

I was really hesitant to buy this dress though. My mom and brother had to really persuade me when we were out on a shopping trip. Even I, self-proclaimed shopper extraordinaire, hesitated to grab this dress. I definitely thought it was cute, but couldn’t quite justify the price tag for “just a plain grey dress”. I fell into the trap that so many shoppers fall into. You start buying clothes, but always feel like you never have anything to actually wear. That’s what happens when you lack basic clothing. (Or that’s what happens when EVERYTHING in your closet is a basic; but we’ll leave the other end of the spectrum to another post) Sometimes you just need a few good basic building blocks in your closet. This basic grey dress is a good example.

My approach to basics is a little different. You don’t want to buy a basic black dress just because a blogger says you need one. You should find something with a little twist, a lot of quality, and most importantly, something that makes you feel good. If it’s a white black tee, find one that feel super soft on your skin. If it’s a basic black dress, make sure it hugs your curves. Jeans – it’s a tough task, but find one that makes your booty look the bomb!

Here’s a list of some closet essentials everyone should have:

Plain tees – black, white, grey
Well-fitting jeans (the fit is everything)
Blazer – fitted or boyfriend style
Classic pump – nude and black
Little black dress

Don’t forget, I offer styling services to help with all your closet and shopping needs!

What I’m wearing.
Dress: Susana Monaco (similar here and here) | Heels: Chinese Laundry (also here and similar here, here)

What do you think? Would you like to see a list of closet basics to help you shop?

xo,
c.

Leopard Chic.

November 30, 2015

Happy Monday!
Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving and scooped up some good deals over the weekend.

feeling inspired? click the ‘Pin it’ button to save to Pinterest!

You guys know how I love my leopard print. Meet the newest favorite addition to my closet.

Can I take just a second and be honest with you guys? I was completely unsure about this leopard sweater vest. I got it for a major steal [well, mainly because it was a major steal] but was really so-so about it. I didn’t see the potential in it, which is usually one of my greatest shopping strengths. Seeing the potential of something on the hanger when others can’t, along with the resulting satisfaction of seeing how great it is when you’re wearing it, is one one of my main thrills in life. [sorta like Cher from Clueless]

This is one time where my senses failed. I had no hopes for this sweater. So one morning when I was running late for work, I threw it on with some black pants and a long sleeve black tee and rushed out the door.

I received so many compliments….boy was I surprised.

So now, I have experienced the greatness of this sweater and want to wear it all the time! I do love how easy it is to throw on over a dress or over a long-sleeved shirt. Next, I might wear it with a turtleneck and a skirt. Excited about all the possibilities.

So, moral of the story/lesson learned, give your clothes a chance. Even if you don’t think it’s the cutest outfit, wear it out, see what reaction you get. You may just find the next go-to item in your closet.

What I’m Wearing:
Sweater: Last Call | Dress: H&M (similar here) | Booties: Altuzarra x target (similar here & here) | Backpack: old (cute options here & here) | Belt: old Steve Madden (similar & here)

Let me know if you find some hidden gems in your closet!

xo,
c.

Linking up here: Pink Sole, Elegantly Fashionable, Sincerely Jenna Marie, Confident Twosday, Myriad Musings, The Pleated Poppy

Black & White + GIVEAWAY!! Stuart Weitzman + $600 Nordstrom Giftcard

November 15, 2015

Hello & Happy Sunday!

While I don’t normally post on Sundays, this giveaway opportunity was too good to pass up for you readers. (Sharing the love, yo!) Check out the post and find out more details on the giveaway below!

Fall style is really easy. The formula is really about adding pops of color to a neutral color palette. In this outfit, I accessorize with burgundy or wine colored heels, the perfect accent for fall. For anyone out there who feels like they are color-challenged, this is your season. Pick one fall shade like burgundy/wine, navy, or olive-green and wear it with your greys, black & white.

black and white, printed pants, jogger pants, blogger style, natural hair, natural hair blogger, pop of color, oxblood heels, oxblood, maroon heels, marsala, sweater, fall style, blogger fall style, brown girl blogger, fall heels, lace up heels, eddie borgo bracelet, black & white

photography by An Extraordinary Affaire

Outfit details:
sweater: Mango | pants: Zara, similar here | heels: Chinese Laundry, similar & love these | necklace: boutique find at ShopCuffs Boutique | bracelet: Eddie Borgo

Linking up here: Pink Sole, Elegantly Fashionable, Sincerely Jenna Marie, Style Nudge, Myriad Musings, I do Declaire

GIVEAWAY TIME!

So excited to bring you a wonderful opportunity to win the top item on my Christmas list. Stuart Weitzman Highland boots (check them out here if you haven’t seen these) AND a $600 gift card to Nordstrom. How cool is that? Perfect time to splurge on yourself and a little for others too.

Check out all the ways you can enter below & meet some other great new bloggers along the way!

Stuart Weitzman Highland Boots + $600 Nordstrom Gift Card

Howdy Fringe. + Thursday Fashion Files Link Up

November 12, 2015

Today on the blog I thought I would have some fun with fringe. It’s been everywhere lately!

Check out some tips on wearing high-waist skirts and then join the link up below! I’m co-hosting the Thursday Fashion Files with Jill and Carrie. We’d love to have you join us!

fringe, booties, high waist skirt, chambray shirt, denim shirt, J. Crew shirt, J. Crew, H&M, mustard, fringe clutch, natural hair blogger, natural hair, curly hair blogger, curly hair, brown girl blogger, fall style, yellow clutch, western style

photography by An Extraordinary Affaire

Style tip: Anyone can wear a high waist skirt. Just tailor your skirt shape to your body shape.

If you have great curves, choose a high-waisted skirt that is more form-fitting, like this one.
For those on the shorter or more petite side, make sure the length hits above the knee (similar to mine) so that it keeps your proportions in line to make you look as tall as possible.
Ladies with less curves, choose a high-waist skirt that has an A-line shape that flares out a bit and will highlight your waistline.

Have more style questions? Tweet me @theblockishaute with hashtag #styleschool and I’ll be sure to answer!

Outfit details:
Top: J. Crew Chambray Shirt, Factory version here | T-shirt: J. Crew | Skirt: H&M (old), similar | Boots: Joseph Altuzarra x Target, similar | Clutch: Urban Originals

Welcome to Thursday Fashion Files!

Welcome to Thursday Fashion Files with Jill at Doused in Pink and Carrie at Curly Crafty Mom! We are excited to have you here and would love to have you link up one of your latest outfits with us.

We are always looking for Co-Hosts for Thursday Fashion Files. If you haven’t signed up to Co-Host, but are interested, sign up by clicking HERE. We now have a Thursday Fashion Files Pinterest board (thanks to Jill for setting it up!). We will be pinning our top two picks each week along with our own outfits for that week. Be sure to click HERE to join our new Pinterest board!

Follow Jill:

Bloglovin’, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest

Follow Carrie:

Bloglovin’, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest

Link Up Guidelines:

1. Feel free to grab our button to display on your blog sidebar. Help spread the word and share about our link up community.

2. Follow your hosts. Leave a comment letting us know you are a new follower and we will be sure to follow back.

3. Share the love by visiting and commenting to at least three other blogs in the link up.

Don’t miss out, sign up for an email reminder about our party:
Subscribe to our mailing list

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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27353377@N04/16298011810" title="Thursday-Fashion-Files-Side-Bar-250x250 by Carrie A., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/16298011810_b9f322ab1f_o.jpg" width="250" height="250" alt="Thursday-Fashion-Files-Side-Bar-250x250">
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Guest Co-Host:

Cymone (that’s me!!) from The Block is Haute is our co-host this week. Cymone is a fashion lover, coffee addict and mascara collector who has lived and traveled all over the world. Be sure to stop by and say hello to Cymone!

Now let’s get linking!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fall Style. | Cape Craze.

November 10, 2015

With fall in full effect, it’s time to start thinking about outerwear. This season’s top silhouette is the cape.

Not only for outerwear, now capes have transitioned into all types of clothing. It brings another twist to your fall wardrobe. You can rock it in so many versions that come in all types: blazers, sweater/ponchos (a favorite as of late), coat or even in a dress version. I like how versatile and chic capes can be. It’s an easy way to elevate your style game.

| Cape Craze |

Shop here:
1. || 2. || 3. || 4. || 5. || 6.

My favorite way to wear a cape is with skinny jeans or flares with a killer heel. But I love the styling seen in no. 1 above too. A cute cape with a suede mini & some great boots is a perfect nod to a throwback look. A way to change up the simple sweater look is to throw on a knit cape and belt it at your waist. Add some texture by wearing a printed or studded belt with it!

Capes are a great way for you to make a fashion statement. It’s one of those items that you need in your closet to instantly make an outfit stand out.

Here are some additional great options for you to get in on the cape game. Click on the images to shop your favorites!

Shop more:

So what do you think? Will you be getting in on this trend for the fall and winter season?

xo,
c.

PS. – Are we friends yet? I would love for you to ‘like’ my Facebook page or subscribe to the weekly newsletter for the latest style tips & trends!

Linking up here: Myriad Musings, I do Declaire, Shopping My Closet, The Pleated Poppy, Pumps and Pushups

Autumn Knits. Sequin Fall Sweatshirt. + Link up

November 2, 2015

Happy Monday and happy November! The holidays are around the corner and I’m really getting excited. I feel like time has really flown since summer ended. We’ll blink and it will be 2016!

I decided to put on this outfit for a shoot on a whim. A last-minute addition to what I had picked out for this shoot. Turns out it was my favorite look of the whole 4 outfit shoot. I love to dress up but when you find a super cute casual outfit, that’s the best.

With an outfit like this, I like to keep accessories simple. The top is the focus, so I just added a simple cuff bracelet and ring. I love this top because of the color combinations. It’s a little out there, but it’s great how it works with both gold and silver accessories. Fun items like this help you maximize your wardrobe because you can style it with a wide range of colors.

Feeling inspired? Use the Pinterest button to share with others!

Outfit details:
Top: Sequin Sweatshirt (boutique in NYC, similar option) | Jeans: Mother ‘The Looker’ skinnies | Booties: Steve Madden (similar here and here)

photography by Izehi

Linking up here: Pink Sole, Elegantly Fashionable, Fizz & Frosting, I do DeClaire, Myriad Musings, Style Elixir, Style Me Wednesday, The Pleated Poppy

So exciting to bring you a Fall style link up with these two fabulous fashion bloggers Michelle and Ana Luisa. Our spotlight theme for this week is knits! Join in on the fun and link up with us!

Check out the favorites in the orange/black theme from last week! Rachael T. and Rachel D.

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BIG style & BIG Dreams.

October 27, 2015

One of my favorite things about Dallas is the #DallasBIG campaign. All around the city are giant letters ‘B’ and ‘G’ where you stand in the middle as the ‘I’. It’s a fun promotion for the city that gets people involved. During one of my early morning shoots, I couldn’t resist being a part of the action.

Today’s outfit is inspired by 1960s style. So many great fashion and style inspirations come from the past. The print on this Zara top reminded me of vintage style. I decided to pair the top with this midi skirt with the flounce hem from ASOS. I love a peter pan collar. Something about this style is so chic and something you don’t always see. It’s a unique silhouette perfect for when you are looking to change things up.

For those that know me, know that I don’t have a big personality. I tend to be quiet and hang behind the scenes. But I believe that 2015 has been a year of setting the stage for me. While things haven’t gone quite the way I saw them going at the beginning of the year, I now feel like something big is brewing. This is an encouragement to live life to the fullest, each and everyday. You could be on the cusp of something great. What you are going through is preparing you for the next step. Keep going and always remember to dream BIG.

Photos by the amazing Izehi

Always think outside of the box when it comes to life and style. Dream big, live big, and always have big style. Whether you prefer plain dressing, or lots of colors and accessories, just go for it. Style is often a reflection on the inside. Show the world how wonderful you are on the inside with your fabulous expression of outward style.

Outfit details:
Top: Zara, old (similar here and here) | Skirt: ASOS (similar option here,) | Shoes: Rachel Roy | Sunnies: Dior (similar here, here, cute ones here)

Thanks to Katherine’s Corner for featuring this post!

Dream BIG,
xo, c.

Linking here: Mama and More, Confident Twosday, Myriad Musings, The Pleated Poppy, Pumps & Pushups, Cappucino & Fashion, Classy Yet Trendy, Red Closet Diary, Mix & Match Fashion, Penniless Socialite, Living In Color Style, The Closet by Christie

Game Day Style. Green Plaid.

October 22, 2015

Here in the south and definitely in Texas, we love us some game day style. Nothing quite like putting on your team’s colors and getting out to support with friends and family. Whether it’s tailgating at the game or gathering around the big screen for a watch party, team spirit is important. We wear our colors with pride and always in style.

My alma mater is Baylor University [sic ’em Bears!] and our colors are green and gold. One of my many thrills in life is to find outfits that would be perfect to show my Baylor spirit. BU is celebrating homecoming this weekend (we invented it) so I had to find a style-forward outfit with the right colors. It’s so fun to walk around campus and see everyone in the school colors. I enjoy seeing what other people come up with for creative ways to sport the green and gold.

This plaid top is a great transition piece that works for game days or as a perfect fall staple.

I jazzed up the outfit a little by adding the same snakeskin shoes from this post to add more interest. Nothing wrong with mixing it up!

I just love how easy this style is. A plaid shirt is a fall staple and there are so many ways to make it chic rather than lumberjack. Dark denim and a pair of fun heels are a good place to start. Plaid shirts are also versatile in how you style it. You can roll the sleeves, tie it at your waist, pop the collar for an ultra prep feel. Plaid shirts layer so easily – under a blazer, with overalls, or even under a sweater for a hint of color. Make plaid your friend this fall as the possibilities are endless.

Outfit details:
Top: H&M last season, similar here, here, here | Jeans: Paige Skinnies | Shoes: Dolce Vita

I would love to hear how your support your favorite team with game day style! Who are you rooting for?

Go Bears!
xo, c.

Linking Up Here: #WIWT, Stylin in St. Louis, Mix & Match Fashion, Pink Sole, Style Nudge

Simply Make a Statement.

October 15, 2015

Hey there!

How is it already Thursday and October halfway over? I feel like I haven’t done enough fall-related activities yet. I’ve made chili (this recipe, so good) and my fall wreath is hanging on my door but I still feel behind. I know I haven’t had enough PSL’s (Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte for those who missed the memo) and I have yet to make anything with pumpkin in it. I think I’ll find a good pumpkin bread or muffin recipe to make this weekend. If anyone has a good one, send it over!

So. I love this outfit. I love most of what I put on but this one is a favorite. There is something about classic black and white paired with fun accessories that really makes a girl smile. This bag is a repeat, last seen here, but it’s a great transition bag from summer into the fall season. A statement shift dress like this is great because it is easy to just throw on and go, plus they’re good at covering those areas you like to be covered.

This dress was from a secret shopping destination of mine that is now closed. It was Mikkat Market and I found it randomly through the Man Repeller. They had cute quality clothing and accessories at a good price. I think this dress was around $45, that’s how good. Sadly, they have closed the shop but don’t worry, I’ve linked other great options down below!

Details:
Dress: similar here and here | Necklace: BCBG – similar | Shoes: Dolce Vita – also in black | Bag: Kate Spade – similar here and here

Here’s how to rock a simple outfit, yet make a statement:

Accessories are key! Look for bold, eye-catching accessories whether it be killer shoes, a great handbag, or a bold necklace. (Or all three in this case!)
Your clothing must be simple, yet chic. Plain is not what we are going for. You need a good canvas to layer the accessories on.
Don’t be afraid to mix colors and patterns. Pink croc is a bold combination but it works in this case.
Chose one color to be your highlight. I chose pink as my pop color and everything else is a neutral black and white.

Following these guidelines, it’s easy to make a statement without too much fuss. I can’t live without exciting accessories. It’s how to maximize your wardrobe and stretch your closet. Good, quality accessories will take you far.

Have a good weekend all!
xo,
c.

Linking up with: #WIWT, Living in Color Style, Mix & Match Fashion, Penniless Socialite, Rachel the Hat, The Closet by Christie, XOXO Rebecca, Jeans and a Teacup

Camel & Olive. + How to Spread Love During the Holidays. + GIVEAWAY!

Rethink The Basics. Grey & Burgundy.

Leopard Chic.

Black & White + GIVEAWAY!! Stuart Weitzman + $600 Nordstrom Giftcard

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Howdy Fringe. + Thursday Fashion Files Link Up

Fall Style. | Cape Craze.

| Cape Craze |

Autumn Knits. Sequin Fall Sweatshirt. + Link up

BIG style & BIG Dreams.

Game Day Style. Green Plaid.

Simply Make a Statement.

Search here.

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Update! Join me on a new journey.

Life Lately. + Grit to Great Review.

Rethink The Basics. Grey & Burgundy.

Leopard Chic.

Black & White + GIVEAWAY!! Stuart Weitzman + $600 Nordstrom Giftcard

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