Wardrobe Love: Clothes that Work Out

I don't spend much time talking on this blog about working out or the amazing clothes that can come with it, but being a gal who spends quite a bit of time training (for half and full marathons), I was excited to answer this week's Wardrobe Love question:

DnC, I just bought this workout skirt and I'm not sure what to wear with it.
--Dawna

Hey Dawna, when I took a look at this fabulous skirt, I immediately thought of HKNB Heidi Klum for New Balance, which recently released its spring lookbook. After perusing the site for a few minutes, I came up with a look for you, at half the price of Heidi's!

[Photo source: amazon.com]

One aspect of HKNB that I really like is that a lot of the styles can take a gal from the gym to a coffee shop, yoga to the grocery store, tennis lessons to running errands around town.

After exercising -- which I totally recommend doing in the skirt (as long as you have some bloomers underneath) -- switch out your sweaty tee with a simple Hanes tank for men and throw a dolman tee in a fun spring shade, such as this one from Express, on top of that. Now, you're all set to run around town before you hit the showers!

[photo source: express.com] 

Where to Buy
Hanes Tanks, Pack of Six (Target)
Price: $19.99

Dolman Tee (Express)
Price: $29.90

Gals, send some more Wardrobe Love questions my way!

Wardrobe Love: The Skinny on Jeans

OK, Blogger, that was weird, but let's move on. I feel like at some point along the way, I may fail you, too, so we'll just call it even.


Today's -- or rather, yesterday's -- Wardrobe Love question comes from one of my favorite (and super stylish!) gals at the office, Lacy, who also writes Hybrid Cars & Cottages.


Q: DnC, what's the deal with skinny jeans? Are they for everybody?
-- Lacy

A: Skinny jeans are tricky, and I certainly haven't mastered them. Some pairs are like the Bermuda Triangle of pants, where you don't know how or why your legs could appear that strange when they looked totally normal a minute ago (before you put the jeans on). Le sigh.
 
The short answer to your question, Lacy, is that I do think there is a pair out there for every gal who wants to give skinny jeans a try. However, finding that pair can be tricky, because there are a lot of factors to weigh and even more time to spend in the fitting room. 

[Where did my knees go?]

The way I see it, there are two camps on skinny jeans: the Girl Scouts, and the Boy Scouts.

I kid, I kid.

Camp #1: Skinny Jeans Are Awesome
From my experience, even if you are a huge fan of the skinny jeans concept, you have to try on every single pair. First of all, I promise they will fit totally different on you than they look on the rack. Secondly, you need to figure out how tight you want them, how long you want them, and how roomy you want them to feel around your ankles. In my experience, getting into some pairs is like pulling on pantyhose that have been coated in cement.

And once you have finally found the blessed pair, I think it's OK to spend some money on them. There are certain items that I deem too trendy for me to spend more than $20, but I don't think skinny jeans are going to fade away anytime soon.

Camp #2: Skinny Jeans? Not So Much

There are other options, such denim leggings, wide-leg jeans, and denim trousers that are just as in style (and just as likely to remain in style for quite some time). So, don't despair if it takes you several months (or maybe a year or two) to find that great pair of skinny jeans. If you find the right one, you'll know they were worth the wait. And if you don't, you have a ton of stand-by options. 

What I'm Wearing
Striped Boatneck Shirt (J.Crew)
Gray Slub Cardigan (J.Crew Outlet)

Skinny Jeans (Express)

Blue Velveteen Platform Heels (Forever XXI, Plato’s Closet)
Gold Chains Necklace (J.Crew)
Black and Gold Bracelet (Collected at a clothes swap)

Keep the Wardrobe Love questions coming, ladies! Post a comment or write me at daisiesnchains@gmail.com.

Wardrobe Love: The Transitional Piece

It's already been A WHOLE WEEK since the last time I posted, so it's already time for the next installment of Wardrobe Love. Here's the question this week:

Q: DnC, what's the one item from my fall wardrobe that I should continue to include in my spring outfits?
-- Anonymous

[I deliberately bought this shirt a size larger so it would look more like menswear.]

A: As a girl on a budget, I live for transitional pieces to maximize my wardrobe. One item I bought during the cold Austin winter (an oxymoron at its finest) was a chambray shirt.

Confession: I actually already owned a chambray shirt. However, the material was quite stiff, and the shirt itself was very tailored, which didn't leave a lot of options when it came to pairing it with certain pants and skirts. It looked awkward tucked into some bottoms, but seemed too long when I left it out. In short, it was a fashion conundrum. (We don't say "conundrum" enough, so I'm bringing this word back to life.)

So, I actually had no buyer's remorse whatsoever when I bought my second chambray shirt. This time, I knew what to avoid, and I chose a roomier option that was made from a softer cotton. It's this looser fit and lighter material that makes the shirt perfect to continue wearing through May and June. Now, I'm pairing this shirt with linen pants for days in the office and above-the-knee, A-line skirts during the weekend.

What I'm Wearing
Chambray Oxford Shirt (J.Crew)
Yellow Sateen Skirt (Forever XXI)
Black Belt (Forever XXI, taken from a dress-and-belt combo)
LC Lauren Conrad Black Platform Pumps (Kohl's)
Turquoise Paige Enamel Bangle (Stella and Dot)
Sunnies (Forever XXI)

Where to Buy
J.Crew
Price: $78.00

Next week, I'll address the mystery of skinny jeans, a question posed by one of my favorite bloggers (and coworkers!), Lacy, of Hybrid Cars & Cottages. But, I'll be posting more between now and then, so come back soon!

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!

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!