lack of color

blazer: J.Crew camel blazer (now on sale!)

dress: J.Crew Factory crepe work dress (currently sold out, but I also love this dress with scalloped details & this dress is very similar + has pockets!)

necklace: Kendra Scott "Rayne" necklace

purse: Angled bowler bag ℅ Vera Bradley

See more of my teacher style outfits here.

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

I spoke last week to my teacher style rut & goal to find some FREAKING work pants... still working on the whole pants situation, but I am allowing myself to bust out some of my Spring clothes in order to break the monotony of my weekly wardrobe.

This transitional time of year - not quite warm, but not absolutely deathly cold either - can be a fun time to experiment with your clothes. This dress (previously worn on the blog here) was always in the Summer section, while this blazer (see all the ways I've styled it before here) solidly lived in the Winter area of my closet, so they never had a chance to meet before. Luckily I really wanted to wear this dress, but it was too cold to sport on its own, so I started seeking out appropriate outerwear & the blazer just stood out to me! A new combo was born!

So now that you have some insight into how my style choices get made before I've had an adequate amount of coffee... what recent mixes have you been surprised by?

This purse is a recent addition to my closet & I was shocked that I didn't own any white purses!

I then immediately remembered the time that I wore my brand new white purse with my brand new pair of jeans, causing my pretty Spring bag to have a giant indigo striped down the side... resulting in me dousing this baby in Scotch Guard & vowing to treat it better than bags that have come before it.

Vera Bradley is continuing to wow me - first with their release of amazing leather bags, & now for Spring, some super fun shapes! This is their "angled bowler" bag & I am equally in love with this sporty belt bag too!

Did you see Monday's post revealing my home office makeover?

Don't forget to enter to win the $1,000 shopping spree from Fab.com! Enter to win here. 

Shop these exact pieces:

Fab-u-lous!

I am excited to share my home office with you today! I worked with Fab.com to upgrade my office, making it a place that I love working everyday!

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

This is the spot in our apartment that my husband calls my command center - aka, where the behind the scenes of this blog happens! I love the farm table that I inherited from my parents, but the whole area was looking a little bland.

I have window shopped on Fab.com before & their curated selection of unique pieces is great inspiration for your home or personal style.

As you might have seen on Snapchat, I am obsessed with my new cactus vase & pineapple tumbler that I found on Fab.com. Both of these pieces are so unexpected yet fun, & drinking iced coffee out of a pineapple while staring at my favorite flowers chilling in a cactus definitely ups my overall productivity!

Check out the rest of my office make-over & be sure to scroll all the way down for a $1,000 Fab.com giveaway!

Looking to upgrade your every day? Fab.com is giving you a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree! To qualify for entry, fill out the entry form over on Fab.com. You can qualify for extra entries by following/liking Fab.com on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest. The contest has now been extended to March 15th, 2016. Winners will be chosen at random and announced on March 16, 2016. Fab will reach out directly to the winner via email to send $1,000 site credit.

mix, match, repeat

sweater: J.Crew Factory university sweater (now on super sale)

tank: J.Crew Factory tank (one of my favorite layering pieces)

skirt: J.Crew Factory pencil skirt

shoes: ShoeMint blue suede pumps (also found similar blue heels at Sole Society: 1 // 2 // 3)

purse: Michael Kors crossbody purse

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

It's been a month since I posted my last #teacherstyle post & I didn't want you to think that I haven't been wearing anything to work, more like I have been wearing the exact same thing to work every. single. day.

These are the dark days of teaching - like literally it is dark when I wake up & dark when I get off - & my motivation to look cute at 5:30 am has really been lacking!

I got both this skirt & sweater from my parents for Christmas (thanks guys!) & it is a cuter version of my recent uniform rut. Most days I pull a sweater, skirt, black tights & my Dansko clogs out from the closet (in the dark, while my husband & pups slumber... no bitterness... okay maybe a little bitterness for my little sleeping beauties!), hope that they mix & repeat the same process 5 times a week.

My thoughts on the recent work style rut:

1. I could never live in a place that has longer Winters because I don't know how anyone wears tights for more than 60 days straight!

2. I really need to figure out my whole work pants situation - I have been saying that for YEARS, & every couple of months, I order a pair, but none have ever worked out. I really just need to dedicate myself to the task & figure. it. out! I was recently looking for Spring pants & ordered this pair of denim trousers from J.Crew Factory - they were ca-razy long & weird in the crotch on me. This pair of linen trousers look so cute on the model but were a wrinkled disaster the moment I moved in them. Le sad.

3. I don't care what anyone says, some days my Dansko clogs are the only thing on the planet that understand me. Pretty? Eh, not so much, but I don't think the 12 year olds notice! (Disclaimer: these heels were worn only for photogenic reasons, there were too cute with the rest of the outfit & I couldn't help myself! Thank you for allowing my indulgence.)

 

Anyone else in a work style rut?

Any answers to the age old question - why do work pants have to be the most unforgiving article of clothing EVER?!?!?

Shop my favorite sweater + pencil skirt combos below:

pep

shirt: Nordstrom striped peplum top (currently sold out, similar styles below). Additionally, this top is from the brand Chaser & I am super impressed with the quality of their items & how soft each tee is. How cute is this lip print tank!?

jeans: Citizens of Humanity flare leg jeans

shoes: Sole Society leopard pumps (one of the best leopard prints I have seen on a shoe yet!)

necklace: LOVE necklace c/o Sheer Addiction Jewelry

purse: "Carly" convertible purse c/o Gigi New York (told you I would be wearing this purse a ton! See how I wore it as a clutch in Monday's post)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography 

Here is the problem with my budget shopping ways: I usually purchase things when they go on super sale, & then by the time I receive the item, photograph it, & write up a post for this here blog, the specific items are typically gone! Which is sadly the case for this adorable striped peplum tee (original link here in case they restock it - fingers crossed!).

But what I love about this top is the shape, so I have found several similar tops with peplum details for you. The peplum style this year is slightly less structured than the manifestations we have seen in previous years (some brands are even calling it a "flounce" instead of a true peplum), so pair it with more fitted bottoms or skirts for a super polished look!

Ladies - don't throw out your skinny jeans, but jean styles for Spring/Summer are popping up with more and more bootcut/flare leg options! I have had this pair of flare jeans since college (see all the ways I've worn them on the blog here) & I love how they look with a pointy heel!

If you have abandoned your wider leg options since their last round of popularity, I am linking my favorite premium styles below. These are all from denim brands I have worn & loved like Hart Denim & BLANK - with a couple of them under $100! And this style I found at Old Navy looks extremely similar to the style I am wearing today & they are only $30 (with most sizes in stock).

So what goes around really does come back around - if the resurgence of the 90s clothing I wore as a kid weren't enough of a reminder - it now time to embrace the peplum & flare leg styles once again!

What old-is-new again trends are you planning to rock for Spring?

Bloggers Who Budget: Neutrals for Less

Sharing My Sole | Lou What Wear | Let It Be Beautiful | Here&Now | Pearls & Twirls | Stylin in St. Louis

sweater: Nordstrom long open cardigan

jeans: ASOS Ridley jeans (I have the petite version)

tank: leather tank via Nordstrom Rack

scarf: J.Crew (solid version)

heels: Steve Madden "Stecy" heels

purse: "Carly" convertible purse c/o Gigi New York

hat: J.Crew Factory felt hat (also loving this similar style at Nordstrom)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend! Tyler & I tried out a new Nashville brewery - Smith & Lentz - on Saturday, & then continued our V-day dive bar tradition with burgers & pool at Gold Rush (super smoky, but with cheap beer + $1 pool games, we were willing to give it a try!)

Today the Bloggers Who Budget are back showing off our neutrals for less. I have been living in these ripped black jeans ever since I brought them home at the end of the Summer. In fact, they have already appeared on the blog 7 times (8 now with this post!), which is wild because if I photographed my outfits every single day, I'm sure the number would be closer to 70! The base of this outfit (black jeans + black top + black shoes) is also what I refer to as my "cat suit" because I can add accessories to it a million different ways, making a new outfit each time.

This leopard scarf was one of those J.Crew purchases that I paid way too freaking much for at the time, but now it's cost per wear is down to pennies & I wish they still sold this exact piece! I think it's best feature is that it is oversized & looks great worn looped around or just hanging straight. Plus it will always be my airplane wrap because it is the perfect size + weight for wrapping around my self during an on board nap (one of my super human skills is being able to settle in for a nap even before the plane takes off!). This print is currently sold out, but this is the exact J.Crew scarf (only available in solid colors) & I am loving the print on this scarf for Spring. 

I am also super excited that I tried out this long sweater look & it actually worked. As someone who technically qualifies for petite status (5'3" over here), I was worried that the longer length cardi would overwhelm my frame, but I am quite happy with the end result.  Unfortunately it looks like this exact sweater is now in limited sizes, but I've rounded up similar styles below: 

What have you tried out lately? Anyone else living in neutrals lately? 

Although, everything I've purchased in the past month is either baby blue or blush pink - I blame Pantone!

Shop these exact pieces: