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Colorful Statement Necklaces

June 20, 2015 by Katie Haller

When it comes to jewelry, some girls like to wear big rings, some like big earrings, others like to accessorize with watches and bracelets…for me, it’s all about colorful necklaces. In case you can’t tell from my recent outfit post and pins on Pinterest, I’m currently obsessed with big, colorful, chunky statement necklaces. I love putting together outfits and accessorizing them with a pop of color. A statement necklace is a perfect way to take a simple outfit and add a little flair to it.

Today I wanted to share 5 of my favorite statement necklaces from my closet. I picked out 5 different types of tops that are perfect for accessorizing with a statement necklace.

My first necklace is this 3 strand beaded green necklace. This one is my favorite necklace right now. I just love the color! I bought this necklace about 2 years ago from Target. I had my eye on it for a while, but I didn’t want to spend the $20 on it. Every time I was at Target, I’d check to see if it was still there. I waited for a few months and one day it was on clearance for 50% off, so I decided to buy it.

I paired this necklace with a solid black shirt. I absolutely love how the green looks against the black. Black is the perfect color to accessorize with a colorful necklace.

(Similar necklace here here here)

I’ve had this red bead necklace in my closet since college. I like to hold on to certain items throughout the years and find new ways to wear them. I have to say that I’ve gotten a lot of use out of this necklace over the years. It’s the perfect accessory whenever I need a touch of red in my outfit. I can’t remember how much I spent on this necklace, but I know it wasn’t much. I bought it at Aldo.

I wore my red necklace with a striped shirt. I love stripes because it’s such a basic pattern. Adding a colorful statement necklace to the outfit really spouses up the top.

(Similar necklace here here here)

This is my bubble necklace. I love this necklace! I had been looking for an inexpensive bubble necklace for the longest time when I found this one. I bought it last year at Charming Charlie. Charming Charlie is a great store to find inexpensive trendy jewelry. Most of their necklaces start around $15 or $20, but the best is that they always have a great clearance section. That’s where I found this necklace for $9.99. (If you look closely, you will see that the bottom circle is missing 2 beads. It was actually missing 1 bead when I bought it, but I thought that it looked silly with 2 beads, so I took the other one-off and left the middle bead. Sometimes when you have to get creative when your discount shopping and make do with a great deal.)

I really love how a bubble necklace looks with polka dots. That’s why I decided to pair my necklace with this polka dot blouse.

(Similar necklace here here here)

This is another necklace that I’ve had since college and I still love it. I found this turquoise bead necklace on clearance at Kohl’s years ago. This necklace is one of my favorites accessories to bring on vacation when I go someplace warm and tropical.

This summer, I’ve been wearing this necklace a lot with other bright colors, like this hot pink shirt. I love how bright and colorful it looks together.

(Similar necklace here here here)

This is my newest statement necklace. I bought this coral necklace in January, right before I moved to Las Vegas. I found it on clearance at Charming Charlie for $7.99. I love the color and the shape of it. It is different than my other necklaces.

I wore it with a black sleeveless button-down blouse. I like to add a cute necklace when I wear a button-down shirt. (Similar necklace here here here)

Those are just a few ways that you can accessorize a simple outfit with a fun colorful necklace. Hopefully, you already have some statement necklaces in your closet, but if you don’t you can find one for a great price if you just keep your eyes open. My favorite stores to shop for statement necklaces are Charming Charlie, Kohls and Target. I suggest looking in the clearance sections for the best deals! Good luck and have fun accessorizing your wardrobe!

Celebrity Looks- Reese Witherspoon

May 18, 2015 by Katie Haller

From her portrayal of a California sorority girl in Legally Blonde to her country singing role as June Carter in Walk the Line, I’ve always been a fan of Reese Witherspoon. But it’s not just her acting that makes me such a fan of hers, it’s her fun, feminine, colorful sense of style that makes her one of my favorite celebrities. I love how she always looks so pretty where ever she is photographed. Whether she’s wearing jeans and a sweater or a red carpet gown, she always looks great.

Here are a few of my favorite Reese Witherspoon inspired looks that I created using my own wardrobe.

I love this look that Reese is wearing here. It’s the perfect summer look! She’s wearing a comfortable lightweight blue print dress with a jean jacket, fun strappy sandals, a brown purse and a fedora in hand. I recreated this look with my new sundress from Old Navy (exact), wedge strappy sandals (similar), jean jacket (similar), brown leather coach purse and my fedora that I found in the dollar section of Target.

When I was researching Reese Witherspoon’s looks, I found tons of pictures of her in this casual summer look. Light khaki shorts with sandals and a button-down shirt is a classic summer ensemble and Reese always looks great in this casual look. I was inspired by this look to put together this outfit with a pink button-down (similar), khaki shorts from Old Navy (similar), and braided white sandals from Target (exact).

This look is similar to the first look, with a casual dress, long boyfriend cardigan, wedge sandals, and another fedora. I recreated the look with a simple black sundress (similar), cream boyfriend cardigan (exact), wedge sandals (similar) and the same fedora from the first look.

For the last Reese Witherspoon look, I recreated this casual jean look. I wore my LC Lauren Conrad jeans (similar), boyfriend cardigan from Target (exact), Steven Madden brown wedge shoes (similar), white t-shirt (exact) with my brown coach purse.

Which one is your favorite Reese Witherspoon look?

Recreating Your Wardrobe

March 22, 2015 by Katie Haller

With it being the beginning of a new season, it’s the perfect time to head out to the stores and stock up on some new spring looks. Well, if you’re trying to save money, you might want to rethink that idea. For me, I’ve definitely been feeling the urge to go shopping lately. I have a new job and the weather keeps getting warmer and warmer. I’d love to go drop a bunch of money on a new wardrobe, but I can’t do that on my budget. One thing that I have always found helpful to keep me out of the stores when I get that itch to go shopping, is to reinventing my wardrobe. It’s time for me to get creative and take a deeper look at my clothes to find new ways to wear them.

One way I’ve been recreating my wardrobe lately is by taking a second look at older pairs of jeans. I have too many pairs of jeans to count, yet I always feel like I need a new pair. This is probably because I don’t wear all of them. I still have jeans that I wore in college sitting in my closet. Instead of buying new jeans, I’ve been trying to wear my old ones, but just style them a little differently by rolling them.

Here are a couple examples.

I’ve had these American Eagle jeans for a while. I bought them at TJ Maxx for a really great price about 6 years ago. They have escaped my clothes donation bag a few times, mostly because they’re my only pair of ripped jeans. I’m not really feeling the flared jean look as much anymore, so instead of getting rid of them and shopping for a new pair of ripped jeans, I decided to style them a little differently by rolling them and making them look more tapered. Now I have a cute casual pair of jeans to wear.

Give your jeans a new look by rolling the bottom

These jeans are from Express. I bought them on clearance a few years ago. I really haven’t gotten a whole lot of use out of them until now. They are cute straight-legged jeans, but they’re a little long on me. So I’ve been just rolling them a bit. They have been a great pair of jeans to wear during the week to work.

Another way that I have been reinventing my wardrobe, is by mixing my winter clothes with my summer clothes. I really like the look of mixing my winter tops with shorts and dresses.

Here are a few examples.

I wore my navy blazer (Target) with a striped navy tank top (Target), light khaki shorts (Old Navy) and white sandals (Target).

Black sundress with red boyfriend cardigan and leopard scarf

For this look, I wore a black sundress (Target) with a red boyfriend cardigan (Target). I accessorized with a lightweight leopard scarf (Charming Charlie) and leopard flip flops (Express).

LC Lauren Conrad black blouse with shorts and wedge sandals

This look is great for a warm summer night. I wore a black LC Lauren Conrad blouse (Kohl’s) with my khaki shorts (Old Navy) and my wedged sandals (Kohl’s)

If you’re bored with your clothes, the best advice I can give to you is to accessorize them up! Accessorizing can take a simple outfit you wear all the time and turn it into something brand new.

Here is a great example of what accessories can do for an outfit. This is one of my favorite black sun dresses. I bought it at Express when I was in college, so it’s been in my closet for awhile. I usually wear it in the summer with a simple necklace and some flip flops. I decided to try it out with my coral necklace and wedged sandals. Now I have a great new look perfect for a summer night or even a tropical vacation.

I bought this dress last spring at Target. It’s super cute on its own, but when I accessorize it with my green bead necklace, silver belt, black cardigan and wedge shoes, I have a new outfit! It’s perfect for work, church or even a shower luncheon.

It really doesn’t take much to make your old clothes feel like new again. You just have to get creative. Before you do your spring shopping this year, look in your closet first and try something new. You never know what you will find!

Celebrity looks~ Lauren Conrad

December 21, 2014 by Katie Haller

*This post contains affiliate links.
Post updated 8/7/2019
During my sophomore year of college, a show came out on MTV about a bunch of drama prone high school students growing up in Laguna Beach, CA. This show was of course called Laguna Beach. Even though I was a college student at the time, I wasn’t far from my high school years. My friends and I could definitely relate to the stories. But it was never the drama on the show that kept me watching. I loved watching the show mostly to see what the girls were wearing. There was one girl, in particular, that was my favorite. Her friends called her LC. I remember being obsessed with her chunky white purse, oversized sunglasses, and layered tank tops. I did my best to recreate her California teenage beach style looks. After Laguna Beach was over, I continued watching LC as she matured, moved to LA and became a fashion intern for Teen Vogue on The Hills.

Lauren Conrad continues to be a fashion inspiration for me as an adult. Her looks are so classic, practical and chic. I have to say, I might have to put her ahead of Kate Middleton on my fashion crush list. I recently read her book Style. After reading this book, and following her lifestyle blog, I’ve learned that there is not much that I disagree with this girl when it comes to fashion. I just love her basic fashion advice!

These are a few classic Lauren Conrad looks

With the LC Lauren Conrad line at Kohls, it makes it easy to recreate Lauren Conrad’s looks at an affordable price. I absolutely love this line! I’ve found some really great deals on blazers, jeans, tops, and even jewelry. Being the bargain shopper that I am, I, of course, look through the clearance racks at Kohl’s to find these clothes at a great price. Her line can be a bit pricy for me at times, so Kohl’s coupons are also another great way to save money on her clothes.

This look is completely from LC Lauren Conrad at Kohls, minus the shoes. The blazer (Exact) I found a year ago. (You can read about this shopping find HERE.) I used coupons, and I ended up spending around $12 for an originally $70 blazer. The jeans (Similar, Similar) were a clearance find for under $10, and the top (Exact) is new. It’s my favorite top right now! I found it online at Kohl’s on Cyber Monday. It was on sale for $19.99, but I used a 20% off coupon and got it for $15.99. I wouldn’t say that it’s one of my best steals, but it was definitely a great deal, especially because I just saw it on sale today for $24.99.

In Lauren Conrad’s book Style, she talks about the importance of the LBD (Little Black Dress). I could not agree more about this. Black is my go-to color. I love it! When it comes time to picking out a dress, I always gravitate towards a black dress. You can’t go wrong with black. You can dress it up or dress it down, add color or sparkle. Having a little black dress is a must-have in your closet, especially if you’re trying to be a thrifty shopper.

A little black dress is perfect for any occation

This is one of my favorite little black dresses (similar). I bought it at T.J. Maxx for my rehearsal dinner almost 4 years ago. I needed a dress, but couldn’t find a typical rehearsal dinner dress, so I went with a dress that I knew best and felt the most comfortable in. Since then I’ve worn this dress to a handful of weddings and other occasions. I just accessorize it differently each time I wear it.

I love Lauren Conrad’s casual looks. She does a great job of looking youthful, but also mature.

Here is my attempt at recreating her casual style. My shirt (Similar) is an LC Lauren Conrad clearance find. I tucked it into a dark pair of Jessica Simpson skinny jeans (Similar). Then I accessorized it with a skinny brown belt, leopard flats, and some fun bracelets.

What’s your favorite Lauren Conrad look?

Dressing for the Holidays on a Budget

December 1, 2014 by Katie Haller

It’s officially December… time to bring on the Holidays! Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner. This time of the year is full of celebrations. It seems like the entire month is booked with parties and get-togethers to celebrate the season. Whether it’s an office party, family gathering or a reunion with old friends, having a cute and festive look is essential. The problem with the month of December is that it can be an expensive month for most people. You’re spending money on gifts, baking, traveling…and anything other expenses that might come your way. It’s not really the time of the year to be spending money on your wardrobe (even though I know we all do). Instead of buying a whole new Christmas outfit every year, I have a few inexpensive favorite items that help me bring some Christmas flair to my everyday looks.

Here are a few ideas of how to add the perfect amount of Christmas style to your wardrobe, without going overboard and blowing your December budget.

With all the lights and tinsel this time of year, I just love anything that sparkles! What better way to sparkle, than adding some sequins and rhinestones to your outfit. I love this look with my sequin top from Charlotte Russe (Similar/ Similar) and my sparkly rhinestone necklace from Target. (Similar) It’s the perfect look for a casual night out with friends.

Add a touch of Christmas to your everyday looks

Adding a pop of green and red can really take a normal outfit and make it festive. My green pants and red bead necklace help make the perfect work outfit around the Holidays. My green pants are from Old Navy (Similar), but I found them at the Salvation Army for $5. I bought my red bead necklace from Aldo (Similar) years ago.

This gold shimmery scarf is the perfect way to add some glitter to your look. I got this one a few years ago as a Christmas gift (Similar/Similar). I always get a lot of use out of it this time of the year.

Red is the perfect color for the Holidays. My red sweater from Target (Exact) and my sequin white tank top from Old Navy (Similar) make for the perfect outfit for a casual family gathering.

To top off all my Holiday looks, I like to have nails to go with the season. I recently picked up this color Sugar Sugar from Sinful Colors at Meijer for $1.99. It has the perfect amount of shimmer in the dark red color, which makes it my favorite Christmas nail polish this year!

I hope you can all add an inexpensive touch of Christmas to your wardrobe this season!
Happy Holidays!

How to Travel in Style

November 9, 2014 by Katie Haller

Back in the “Golden Ages of Flying”, flying was a luxury. People dressed up to fly. Women wore their best dress, heels, and pearls, while men wore suits. People treated flying as a treat and they dressed the part.

A suitcase adds from the 1950s.

Nowadays, with travel websites and low-cost airlines, flying has become more affordable for the average person. People don’t treat flying as a luxury anymore and this is clear in the way they dress.

When I travel, it’s on Kevin’s work benefits, which means there is a dress code to follow. Dress code or no dress code, I still feel that it’s always important to look presentable and put together while traveling. It’s important to be stylish, while at the same time staying comfortable when traveling.

Here are a few clothing items you should consider when traveling…

Dark Skinny Jeans- Jeans can still be considered business casual if you wear them in the right way. I’ve always felt that dark jeans look dressier than light jeans. I always like to wear a pair of jeans with a stretch for them to keep me comfortable on the flight.

Blazer- A blazer is a perfect way to dress up your look when traveling. It’s simple and stylish!

Scarf- I don’t like to wear a lot of jewelry when traveling, so a scarf is a perfect accessory to dress up my travel outfits.

Crossbody Purse- I love a crossbody purse when traveling. It helps keep my hands free and I don’t have to worry about anything slipping off my shoulder.

Boots- Boots are the last thing that you will want to pack in your suitcase, especially if you only have a carry-on size. This is why boots are perfect to wear on your travel days.

Flats- I love my Audrey Brooke flats when traveling. They are super comfortable, easy to take on and off, plus they’re stylish!

Maxi Skirts- Maxi Skirts are perfect when traveling in the summer or to a warm vacation destination.

Here is my NO NO’s for traveling…

Sweat Pants or Yoga Pants- Sorry ladies, I know that they are comfortable, but save them for the comfort of your own home. The flight crew will judge you for wearing these, especially if they have wording on the butt.

Tennis Shoes- Tennis Shoes are made for the gym. Besides that, untying your shoes at security is only going to hold you and other passengers up.

High Heels- Most airports are big and require a lot of walking. You will not be able to make your connection if you have to run across the airport in heals. Pack them in your suitcase instead.

T-Shirts and Sweat Shirts- This goes along with the sweat pants look, save it for the comfort of your own home, not the airport. T-Shirts and sweat shirts are just too casual for traveling.

So with that said, here are some travel looks I’ve put together…

Blazer/Dark Skinny Jeans/Leopard Scarf/Black Tank Top/Crossbody Purse

This look is one of my favorite travel looks. It’s stylish and smart, all while being comfortable.

Grey Blazer/Black Tank Top/Necklace/Dark Skinny Jeans/Flats

This is another great look for traveling. I wore this outfit a few months ago when I went on one of Kevin’s flights. It’s a great spring travel outfit.

Black Leggings/Black Tank Top/Black Long Sweater/Brown Boots/Turquoises Scarf

This look is perfect for a long flight or an early morning flight. I wore this outfit on my way home from visiting my brother in Germany. Sometimes you can get away with wearing leggings, as long as you can dress them up in the right way.