Orange you glad?

If you read my last post, then you'll know I discussed how Orange is the new Black. The color is just so vibrant and to me, it's the mascot color for Spring and Summer. At first the color might seem a little intimidating but once you find an Orange shade that matches your skin tone, you'll be amazed. And when in doubt, always check blogs for more advice! Without further ado...

For starters, I've had this Kimono-esk blazer for a few years now and it still is one of my best clearance finds. On line it was listed as a Kimono but it always felt like a lightweight blazer to me. I found this at Urban Outfitters when they were having their always amazing extra 50% off sale and it was a steal! If I'm not mistaken, the Kimono was originally $48, on sale for $20 and extra 50% off, $10! I always seemed to strike gold when they had those sales, not much now because they hardly have them. The brand is called Kimchi Blue for those interested.

As I mentioned earlier, the Kimono is very lightweight which is good for the warm weather. At first the color made me think twice but I knew I could match it with something. The trim is made of Rayon and the rest is Polyester. In the past I've paired this with a flirty gold lace tank-top, a regular white tank&jeans and on occasion with a dress. It's just one of those pieces that is perfect for any type of occasion. Years later and I'm still getting compliments!

My top is from Love Culture, which I purchased about a year ago when I used to work there. It has such cute details and it is very subtle. There's a white lining underneath with a crochet overlay on top and chiffon at the bottom. I didn't photograph the back but it zips up to the middle of my back and there's no crochet overlay, just the white lining. The sizing is a little strange...I had to buy a large and even then it's still tight around the bust with a bra, therefore I go bra-less but you can't tell. For being a large, it still looks pretty small. I thought a bright white would compliment the orange and cream.

These pants have already been mentioned in my previous post and I wore an orange top too! Just goes to show how well they go with that color. To recap, they're from H&M, very stretchy&comfortable and reasonably priced. I purchased mine in the cream color, but there are also different colors and patterns.

For accessories I went with just a simple gold necklace I recently purchased from Old Navy. I've been wanting a plain gold necklace with a little charm, just for those days when I don't feel like being over the top. I paired my feet with a pair of nude colored flats from Target. Very comfortable and perfect for any occasion!

And here's the final product! I hope this helps again for those looking to follow the Orange fad for the Spring and Summer. As always, the products/similar products will be listed at the bottom.

Thanks for reading! :)

Orange Kimono (Urban Outfitters), similar product: http://us.asos.com/ASOS-Tailored-Blazer

Crochet Top (Love Culture), similar product: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=f21&Category=whatsnew_all&ProductID=2000061381&VariantID=022

Pants (H&M): http://www.hm.com/us/product/14020?article=14020-U

Flats (Target): http://www.target.com/p/women-s-mossimo-supply-co-ona-scrunch-ballet-flat/-/A-14305021#prodSlot=medium_1_22

Necklace (Old Navy), similar product: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_jewelry-necklace-charms-pendants&ProductID=1000062315&VariantID=

Kimono Kraze!

 As you know, there has been a huge craze over Kimonos lately and they are just to die for! I bought mine about 3 or 4 years ago and have got my use out of it. Brandy Melville, Forever 21 and H&M are the stores that I have seen a lot of Kimonos in lately. They have patterns that range from solid colors, to tribal prints and florals. What I love most about them is their versatility, you can wear them casual or dress them up. If you can pair it properly, it can also be worn to work and still look professional. Here's how I did that today:

The Kimono I have is dark blue with floral print in pastel like colors. The material is sheer and very lightweight, it's honestly lighter than paper! I bought this from Forever 21 a couple years ago, but I'm sure you can still find a similar one. This little thing came in handy all Spring and Summer long! Because it's lightweight, it didn't feel heavy and generate heat which is perfect when the weather heats up. The colors are very soft and neutral, so they can match up with just about anything. I've worn this with jeans, skirts, shorts and dresses. Today I paired it with a really pale pink pencil skirt from H&M and a basic light pink tank-top from Target. I wanted to keep the base of the outfit light and plain that way the Kimono makes it pop. 

I have a new obsession with pencil skirts. They're just form fitting and bring out the classiness in a woman. I've purchased most of mine from H&M, including this little number and they're all amazing! Their prices are always affordable and the quality for the price will have you amazed. I bought this skirt for $24.95 and it's still holding strong. They have other colors, but I went with the pale pink because Spring time is approaching and I was wanting something light colored. As for the tank-top, I'll never stop buying them. Target always seems to be my go-to place when it comes to basic camis and tanks. They have different price ranges but when they're on sale, they range about $5-$7 or 3 for $10 sort of deal. I can't complain about the quality because I've had some for a while and they haven't torn or faded. Normally I buy Mossimo but the one here is by Merona. Their brand is more for women than it is juniors, but tank-tops are tank-tops. The one shown is a light pink almost nude color and the material is very soft and thin which is perfect for tucking in. 

 Last but certainly not least, my accessories. Some women prefer to pile it on, but I like to keep it simple...I'm a one necklace, one arm bracelet and one ring kind of gal. It would be hard for me to work with 10 rings on my fingers and bracelets jingling. Keeping with a cool toned palette, I paired my outfit with gold accessories (as usual)...I went with a gold chain with a giant leaf pendant that has 2 rhinestones, my gold Fossil watch and a white-gold ring with a dark Sapphire. For shoes, I went with my pair of nude ankle strap pumps from Love Culture. They were a steal! I bought them for $20 and man are they comfortable! High-heels were my enemy but now I wear them all the time. 

 Hope this helps inspire some Spring time outfits for work and play time! As always, the products/similar products will be listed below. :)

Kimono (Forever 21) Similar: http://www.hm.com/us/product/28194?article=28194-A

Basic Tank (Target): http://www.target.com/p/women-s-favorite-cami/-/A-15060539#prodSlot=large_2_3

Pencil Skirt (H&M): http://www.hm.com/us/product/19184?article=19184-B

Ankle-Strap Pumps (Love Culture) Similar: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=shoes_high-heels&ProductID=2000071958&VariantID=

Chain necklace (Forever 21) Similar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/151265702687?lpid=82

Orange is the new Black

 In case you haven't heard, Orange is the new Black! I'm a sucker for dark outfits and as the weather gets warmer, so does my color palettes. Orange to me is a pretty vibrant color depending on the shade but with proper matching it's not that hard to pull off. If you're like me with a medium skin tone, then this kind of Orange is meant for you! I got tons of compliments not just on the blouse, but how the color pops and isn't so loud. Overall I am very happy with this blouse and won't regret purchasing it!

I bought this blouse a while back in I think late January early February from Target. My wardrobe was in need of a little color so when I saw this in the clearance rack, you know I had to have it! There was a little hesitation at first because the same blouse but in a dark blue which made me want to play it safe. Obviously the orange color was a winner. The material is very lightweight and silky which is perfect for the upcoming warm weather. The blouse is a little baggy, but in a good way; It takes shape to your body as you walk around. It's length is perfect to wear with pants and to tuck in to a pencil skirt. I'm normally a size S or M but for some reason I'm always an XS at Target and even then some of their stuff fits a little too loose. Since I purchased it a while ago I doubt that they still have it. The brand is Merona in case you were wondering. 

The pants I'm wearing are from H&M and are sooo comfortable! H&M is my go to place for cheap pants that do honestly last. The color is like a creamy white but not so much like a beige. What I love most is the material, it's so soft and stretchy which is always a plus for me! My only complaint is that the length at the ankles does shrink up a little bit after the first wash. Nonetheless I would recommend these babies, especially because of the price! Most of their pants range from $9.95-$34 depending...but I got these for $12.95, STEAL! 

I'm always using this little necklace but what can I say, it goes with everything! I bought this from Forever 21 late last year and honestly did not expect to get so much use out of it. It's small but is very fierce with the black spikes. My feet were accessorized with a pair of Leopard flats purchased from H&M and man are they comfortable too! I'm telling you, H&M is the place to go for bargain deals! I bought these for I think $9.95 about a year ago and they're still in good condition. I chose to go with these flats because the neutral colors compliments the vibrant orange blouse. Regular black flats would just look odd and resemble Halloween, at least to me! With this outfit I feel very prepared for the Spring time, hope this helps inspire some of you! 

*As always, all products mentioned will be listed below and similar items :)

Blouse from Target (Similar, VERY SIMILAR!): http://www.target.com/p/merona-women-s-woven-3-4-sleeve-blouse/-/A-15080513#prodSlot=large_1_3

Pants from H&M (Similar): http://www.hm.com/us/product/14020?article=14020-U

Flats from H&M (Similar): http://www.target.com/p/womens-mossimo-supply-co-odell-ballet-flats-cheetah/-/A-11210713#?lnk=sc_qi_detaillink

Necklace from Forever 21 (Similar): http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=f21&category=acc_jewelry-necklace&productid=1036237742&SizeChart=