Gingham and Roses – A Mixing of Patterns

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Today’s post features one of my favorite skirts.  I happened upon this beautiful print at a JCREW outlet and thought it was so unique.  The skirt is saturated with a beautiful collage of pinks, browns, and yellows.  I’ve been wearing the skirt with a brown shirt – similar to the cardigan I have on today – but I decided to think out of the box and find something more exciting.

As the “pattern-on-pattern” trend is so hot right now, I thought I’d give it a try and wear a pink and white striped gingham button up shirt.  I’ve gotten several compliments and “I’d never think to pair that with that” comments which are a sign of true success!    Xoxo…Cortneybre…

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Peppy in Peplum! {A Friday Favorite!}

I just love peplum tops and dresses!  They are instantly slimming and refined.  Today I have on double trouble peplum!  I have a peplum jacket paired with a striped peplum top underneath.  You would think this would be peppy overkill but it really just gave me a little more flounce, which is just fine.

Did you know that the term peplum is derived from the Greek word peplos meaning tunic or shawl?  It is described as a short overskirt that is usually attached to a fitted jacket, blouse or dress.  Essentially this makes your waist appear smaller and your hips fuller.

The peplum look was popular in the 1940’s and again in the 1980’s.  It is now considered a vintage look although I feel it can look quite modern depending on the fabric and the cut of the skirt.

I find that peplum tops are very versatile.  I can wear them with pencil skirts or full skirts as well as slacks or jeans.  Adding a belt to a peplum top can change the entire look of the outfit!  Also, as I’ve done today, don’t be afraid to layer your peplum top or dress with a peplum jacket!

As a tip, should you find yourself overeating at lunch or dinner during this bountiful Holiday season, the extra ruffle of the peplum skirt can hide a multitude of indiscretions – both past and present!

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Into the Wild…

I’m wearing one of my favorite looks in today’s post – Animal Prints. These types of prints can be tricky as they really make a statement and will typically need to be paired with more simple items.

I found these particular pants at Target and was amazed at how versatile they were! They are actually capri pants and I usually wear them with cute wedge heels but I realized I can also wear them with boots as more of a riding pant.

To keep this look “work friendly”, I wore a simple black blouse and black, velveteen jacket. This shifted the focus to the pants without bringing too much attention to the more exotic print. Animal prints – sophisticated, chic, cool and memorable!

Cortneybre….

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