office to office party

coat: J.Crew lady day coat (similar from J.Crew Factory)

scarf: Old Navy faux fur snood

heels: leopard wedges ℅ Sole Society

purse: Coach purse ℅ Dillard's Green Hills - 2 similar styles available now: 1 // 2

dress: blue shift ℅ HumbleChic.com

clutch: embossed clutch ℅ Gigi New York 

heels: These are old from Shoe Dazzle, but I found super cute glitter heels now available at Sole Society. Shop these similar styles: glitter d'orsay pumps // glitter pointed toe pumps // glitter almond toe pumps

tights: ℅ Hanes

necklace: I layered 2 old necklaces to get this look. Achieve a similar style by layering this pearl statement necklace + this sparkler!

See makeup details below.

All Photos | Catherine Truman

The most annoying part about holiday work parties (except for those that limit you to 2 free drinks… are you serious!?), is the limited window of time that you have between actually being at work & then being expected to be at the event. 

Today's look in inspired by this gorgeous blue shift dress from HumbleChic.com (love the scalloped details on the sleeves & hem!). It is a perfect frock that looks great at work & transitions seamlessly for after hour celebrations.

For day, a bright coat, cozy faux fur snood, neutral purse (big enough to hold what you will need to change into for the party!) & practical (but chic!) wedges are office appropriate.

To take this look to night, I belted the dress (gives it more shape & takes the hemline up a bit), layered on blingy necklaces (layer this on top of this), threw the essentials into this monogrammed clutch & switched out the practical wedges for party ready pumps!

The final touch is make up updates. This is my day makeup routine (I LOVE all of my It Cosmetics products!), but for night events, add some glam to your face with this bronzer/blush/highlighter palette, red lipstick & glitter on your lids. I like the look of layered black eyeliner + a swipe of this glitter liner (goes on liquid, allow it to dry for 30 seconds before opening your eye) to really up the drama.

My beauty look was done in partnership with Ulta Beauty. For more holiday make-up inspiration, make sure you check out the tags #UltaTrendAlert and #StyleHunters4Ulta on social media, and follow @UltaBeauty for more tips & discounts!

HumbleChic.com has lots of party ready looks - shop my top picks below:

Bloggers Who Budget: Holiday Layers for Less

hat: J.Crew Factory felt fedora

coat: J.Crew lady day coat  (currently 30% off)

sweater: Old Navy cable knit turtleneck (no longer available, but this similar style from J.Crew Factory is under $50)

jeans: Citizens of Humanity flare leg jeans (loving the wash on this pair, and this similar pair is now on sale!)

shoes: Sole Society leopard wedges

purse: Pour La Victoire (several years old, but I found this similar style for $44)

lipstick: Nars "Heatwave" (one of my all time favorites!)

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo 

Sharing My Sole| Lou What Wear | Let It Be Beautiful | Here&Now | Pearls & Twirls | Stylin in St. Louis | Living in Color Style | The Pumpkin Spot | The Style Letters

Coats can be a major investment in your closet & is a difficult piece to find within the budget. My only tip for finding your dream coat, at a price that doesn't crush said dreams, is to buy your jackets in February/March. Many retailers slash prices on coats at the end of the season, and graduate school Jessica managed to snag this J.Crew jacket (usually $300+) for close to $100 by stalking it until it was reduced + additional discounts.

I am going to be doing a round up post of my must have coats in the coming weeks, the ones that are worth the splurge and the ones that probably aren't. If you are in the market for a nice new coat you should totally put your dream coat on your radar now so that you can stalk it for the next couple of months!

Make sure to check out the other Bloggers Who Budget, because this month we are dishing on our must have layers, all at budget friendly prices!

What is the most expensive coat in your closet?

Any tips for score deals on pricey outerwear?

party frocking

coat: J.Crew lady day coat - in 11 stunning colors! (similar now available from J.Crew Factory)

dress: J.Crew Factory

purse: old from J.Crew (love this party ready wristlet from Kate Spade that is currently under $70 & this budget friendly glitter clutch on sale for under $15!)

heels: old from Zara (similar glitter pumps for $70, & these almost identical glittered open toe heels)

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

Polka dots & glitter are my love language!

I am having so much fun getting ready for festive holiday parties ahead. If you are still shopping for holiday frocks, I've rounded up my favorites from $20 - $150, plus some party ready accessories!

Don't forget to enter the $100 shopping gift card giveaway! Ends this weekend!

holiday lights

1 pretty frock, 2 holiday party looks.
Head on over to the Fringe & Lace blog to see today's MidWeek MixUp!

{ What I Wore: borrowed Fringe & Lace "In Bloom" dress // J.Crew coat & clutch (similar) // Kate Spade armadillo belt (similar) // Nine West heels (I die for these) // necklace ℅ Stella & Dot }

Which MidWeek MixUp look do you prefer?

Velvet blazer + OTK boots?

Or polished coat + patent pumps?

Winter Blues: a cobalt love affair

{ What I Wore: J.Crew factory day dress // J.Crew coat & (men's) belt // souviner scarf from Venice // Marc Jacobs x Target pouch (gift from my bestie!) // boutique boots // Spanx tights (reversible & magic, I swear!)

{Get the Look}

day dress {$64.50} + red coat {$19.99, chic cropped option) + silk scarf {$6.80} + gold pouch {$49.99, I die of cute over this one!) + brown belt {$9.99, buy it a size up for knotting} + brown boots {$39.99}

I don't know what has gotten into me, but I am totally cheating on all the other colors in my closet with my cobalt blue pieces. Maybe it is due to my newly red hair that all things blue are yelling, "wear me! wear me!" every morning when I get dressed. 

Whatever it is, I am digging it!

I am not usually a major primary color pair-er upper either, yet red + blue is my jam these past few weeks 

(how fabulous is Blair in her red + navy, I die!)

It works, right!?

What colors have you been crushing on lately?

Any unexpected color-pairings making it into your outfits?

(did you catch my teal + burgundy #ootd-gram over the weekend?)

Happy weekend!!

stumps: awkward or awesome?

Coat - J.Crew {similar, on sale!}
Sweater - Banana Republic {similar}
Jeans - Citizens of Humanity {similar}
Heels - Jessica Simpson {similar}
Snood - Homemade {similar, lots on etsy}

I am so thrilled that jeans can be found in every shape and color these days, and have jumped on board with high-waisted, flare, skinny, red, blue, and green varieties (to name a few). 

When wearing my flare leg/bellbottom denim I am always vigilant to avoid the stump leg look and sport shoes that show from beneath the bottoms. 

But last week I saw Sydney rocking the phantom foot look, and now I don't know what to think!

So, what do you think? In spirit of Awkward&Awesome, which camp does this fall into? Should your shoes show from under your jeans, or do you think the column of jeans is leg-lengthening?

 Personally, I usually just want to show off my cute shoes!

See - told you I'm wearing {cute} shoes!

{Awkward}

- Currently having two pimples on either side of my forehead that resemble Devil horns... just perfect!

- Doug had a stomach issue last weekend... I will spare you the details... but it. was. horrid.

- My lips are shedding their skin... like snakes, but less cool and more ow!
- Eating ramen noodles for the rest of the month so I can afford the new Spring fashions (but seriously)

{Awesome}

- Got my Winter fix, Nashville had snow flurries last weekend... some even stuck around for a few hours!

- Mint jeans... I finally got a pair (two actually, but sending one back), 

I'll fill you in on details and share photos soon

- Having my boyfriend make me my own beer... a Dunkelwizen, that is perfectly banana-y and clove-y! DE-Lish!

What's your awkward and awesome-ness? Spill it!

xx

Jessica

busy body

Coat: J.Crew (old)
Skirt: Splendid
Shirt: Urban Outfitters (super sale last year)
Tights: Spanx (amazing!)
Booties: Charlotte Russe (My Cyber Monday purchase)
Gold chain necklace: J. Crew
Purse: Melie Bianco

I am a busy body... I literally cannot stand still for more than 2 minutes in a day. After work I can usually be found watching TV while blogging while reading a magazine and checking up on Instagram,  in the least.

In fact, my idea of a perfect Saturday morning is getting a cup of coffee, making a to-do list and then getting it all checked off before noon. Done, done, and done!