Wardrobe Love: It's in the Bag

Welcome to the first of many Wardrobe Love challenges! Let's dive right in!

Q: DnC, I am looking for a purse that is both versatile and in style. Help!
--DL

A: DL, my girl, you have come to the right place. As someone who has been using the same purse for 365 of the last 365 days, I think I can help. The biggest piece of advice I can give anyone who wants to purchase something long-lasting is to be honest with themselves.

With that in mind, I would make sure you can answer three simple questions about the beautiful bag you will ultimately buy:

What colors do you wear the most?
You might be expecting me to say that if you wear black, you should buy a black bag. And while you certainly can do that, the only point I want to make is that you avoid colors that are in that close-but-not-close-enough family. For example, if you often wear black, I urge you to avoid a dark brown purse. If you often wear patterned clothing, I would stay away from a heavily patterned purse, and so on. 

[Photo source: nordstrom.com]

How much do you typically carry in your purse?
If you're anything like me, you have made a new year's resolution every year for the last decade about minimizing the amount of silliness in your purse. And while there are days when there are no gum wrappers, no stray bobby pins, and only one stick of deodorant (with the cap on) inside my purse, I will probably still want to use a large bag -- no what what. I like to carry a planner (do you remember using those things before you got your iPhone?), a notebook for random thoughts, and my big wallet. (Believe me, it's not a wad of $100 bills that's making it heavy. I like to itemize my receipts.) So, be realistic about how much you like to tote around on a daily basis, and keep that in mind during the selection process.

[Photo source: jcrew.com]

How much am I willing to pay for something I want to wear often? 
Just like the other questions here, the answer to this one is going to vary for everyone. No matter if your limit is $20 or $200, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to make sure you know how to clean your purse. If you end up with a leather bag, it's a good idea to invest in leather cleaner. If your bag is machine-washable, make sure you set the water at the right temperature. (Some purses can even be taken to the cleaners.)

[Photo source: michaelkors.com]

The "100-50-25" Where to Buy
Nine West
Price: Less than $100


Gap
Price: Less than $50


Forever 21
Price: Less than $25

That's all for now, gals. Keep your Wardrobe Love questions coming!

Wish List: Peaches 'n' Cream Pieces

I must have fruit on the brain, because no more than a day after my citrus-themed post, I am already coveting a ton of stuff in the peaches-'n'-cream-hued family. For me, these colors are best paired with a black accent, but that's because I already have fair skin. I would throw on the cream top from Strut with a black pleated skirt in a heartbeat. And that's also why I really like the LuLu*s dress I included below -- the black collar would offset my pale face against the dress. I added a couple more items to my Wish List, so check them out! All items featured here are $60 or less.

The Grace of Lace Pocket Shirt

[Photo source: shopstrut.com]

Tenderhearted Peach Dress

[Photo source: lulus.com]

Nine West Saffia Wedge Sandals

[Photo source: dsw.com]

Essie Nail Polish in Tart Deco

[Photo source: essie.com]



Do you find yourself drawn to a particular shade this season? Post a comment!

Citrus for the Springtime

Thanks to all the gals who commented, e-mailed, and posted via Facebook for the upcoming "Wardrobe Love" series, which will take place right here every Thursday! Why Thursday, you ask? Because it's my favorite day, that's why. Really -- that's the only reason.

Lemons, Limes, and Oranges, Oh My!
Also as promised, I'm here with some springtime sunshine via a citrus-filled palette. As I have said before, you can embrace new colors without wearing them from head-to-toe. I am a big fan of this strategy, because I think it helps maximize your wardrobe basics while you transition into new seasons.

To further illustrate this point, I took a very season-less outfit -- a white blouse under a black dress -- and made three springtime-appropriate ensembles using a few different accessories.

Enjoy, ladies!

Lemons

[These shoes are actually rubber, which means they are the best footwear choice

for the "April showers" days.]

[I love the huge bows.]

Limes

[This dress has an empire waist, but that doesn't stop me from adding a belt.]

[It's difficult to see in the first photo, but the belt is a perfect lime green color.]

Oranges

[It was done purely by accident, but this cropped cardigan looks great with the empire-waist dress.]

What I'm Wearing
White Silk Blouse (DKNY, collected at a clothes swap)
Black Sleeveless Empire-Waist Dress (Express, circa 1998)
Cropped Cardigan (Old Navy)
Gold Chains Necklace (J.Crew)
Black and Gold Bracelet (Unknown brand, collected at a clothes swap)
Green Leather Belt (J.Crew)
Yellow Rainy Day Flats (J.Crew)
Nude Heels (Unknown brand, Plato's Closet)

Where to Buy*
Yellow Flats (Target)
Price: $17.99

Lime Green Belt (ASOS)
Price: $14.34

Orange Cropped Cardigan (Old Navy)
Sale Price: $7.99

*My goal is to direct you to exactly what I'm wearing in the photos, but sometimes items are already out of stock or not available online. In those cases, I try to direct you to a similar, low-priced item that is available online.

Days 31 and 32: The Extras

I'm D-O-N-E with the challenge, gals! Truth be told, I was done more than a month ago. But, posting about my progress proved to be nearly as challenging. Whoops!

I decided to take one of my favorite pieces -- my purple/white plaid oxford shirt (also seen on Day 5, Day 6, and Day 10) -- of the challenge and build some additional outfits to make up for the two days where I totally broke the rules. Both were pretty simple but definitely styles that I would wear (and did!) outside the challenge.

[The best thing about this skirt? ... Built-in belt, my friends.]

[Cooper wanted to celebrate the end of the challenge by "posing" for the last photo.

This is the pose Cooper uses most often around the apartment.]

What I'm Wearing

Day 31
Purple/White Plaid Oxford Shirt (J.Crew)
Nico Blossom Skirt (J.Crew)
Black and Gold Bracelet (Collected at a clothes swap)
Tan Saddle Shoes (Steve Madden)

Day 32
Purple/White Plaid Oxford Shirt (J.Crew)
LC Lauren Conrad Boyfriend Blazer (Kohl's)
White Lace Dobby Skirt (J.Crew)
Black Xhiliration Flats (Target)
Black and Gold Owl Ring (Forever XXI)

Send Me Your Challenges
As many hiccups as I had with the challenge -- dry cleaners trips, wacky weather, and more -- what I took away from the whole experience is that fashion challenges feel totally rewarding when you do step out of your comfort zone.

With that said, send me your fashion challenges, ladies! Whether you need ideas for dressing for a special occasion or want to incorporate more accessories into your everyday look, I want to help! Your queries will be part of a new weekly segment for Daisies and Chains called "Wardrobe Love." Shoot me a comment or e-mail me at daisiesnchains@gmail.com with your challenge(s). I can't wait!

In the meantime, stay tuned later this week for my spring time picks and other sunny-weather-style posts!

Days 29 and 30: Phoning It In

Ladies, I am going to be honest. By the last week of my challenge, I was basically just going through the motions. Sure, I still liked my clothes, and I was still coming up with new ideas on how to wear them. But, the best ideas I came up with were more conducive to colder weather. And, by the end of February, most days were already pretty warm. In fact, it had been more than a week since I had worn my Steve Madden suede slouchy boots.

[Wearing a sweatshirt at the end of February was a bit of a stretch.]

[If this ensemble doesn't scream "Laundry Day," I don't know what does.]

What I'm Wearing

Day 29
Navy/White Plaid Oxford Shirt (J.Crew)
Sequined Sweatshirt (J.Crew)
Black Minnie Pants (J.Crew)
Grey Ballet Flats (J.Crew)
Black and Silver Knot Wide Headband (J.Crew)

Day 30
Green Plaid Oxford Shirt (J.Crew)
Xhiliration Tan Cardigan (Target)
Green City Fit Roll-Up Pants (J. Crew)
Tan Saddle Shoes (Steve Madden)

Stay tuned for the two extra outfits I put together for having missed Day 20 and Day 26. I promised 30 outfits, and my goodness, I am going to deliver.