Fashion Archives - Lace & Pearls

The Best Places to Shop For a Day Dress

September 19, 2017

I feel most comfortable when I wear jeans and a frilly blouse. Every so often I will rock a dress but that’s mostly during summer or when I’m going to an event. My favorite dress style is the day dress; it’s versatile and can be worn to the office, out to dinner, and sometimes even a wedding. For some reason, it can be really hard to find the perfect dress for the right occasion though. That’s where today’s post comes in! I thought it would be helpful if I shared the best places that I’ve found to shop for a day dress.

The Best Places to Shop For a Day Dress

My two favorite places to buy dresses are J.Crew and Madewell. I can always count on both stores to have just what I need. Keep in mind that J.Crew’s price point is somewhat high but totally worth it. Madewell also is on the higher side but both retailers make quality pieces that last.

What’s nice about J.Crew is that a lot their dresses can be worn to the office and/or a wedding (I’ve done both). If you’re in the market for a special occasion dress and can’t find one at the J.Crew store, check out their online inventory. I tend to find their specialty items and larger selection online. If you can’t find what you need there, I recommend checking Nordstrom.com since they have a large assortment of dresses. If you’re looking for something less stuffy, you can also visit Asos or Zara for on-trend, affordable dresses.

Another great place to shop for dresses is Anthropologie. They have some of the most unique and beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen! They can be expensive depending on how fancy they are but again, you will be able to wear that dress year after year.

If you’re looking to up your work wardrobe, definitely check out BananaRepublic.com. They have so many cute dresses and always have a sale. If you’re lucky, you might also find a great pair of shoes and jewelry to go with it!

What I’m Wearing

The dress featured in today’s post is from J.Crew. It’s a little different from their normal selection. I love the abstract black & white print and the flowy silk material. Surprisingly the length is great and I love that it also has pockets.

So there you have it! Those are my top picks for a day dress. Since a good dress is hard to find, I would love if you share where you shop for dresses! Leave a comment below so I can check it out.

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

Style a Bomber Jacket in 4 Easy Steps

September 12, 2017

Styling a bomber jacket is hard y’all! It took my mom and I an entire shop day to find something somewhat workable to realize it didn’t. Maybe it’s just me, but I really wanted to wear something other than a plain white tee.

Bomber jackets are somewhat sporty for my personal style taste. But I fell in love with this one because of the floral print. It also doesn’t hurt that my good friend Crystal designed it. She’s amazingly talented and you should check out her site and Instagram if you haven’t already. If you find something you can’t live without, use code LACEANDPEARLS to receive 15% off your order, discount is valid until 12/31/17.

If you also struggle to style the ever popular bomber jacket follow these steps.

Style a Bomber Jacket in 4 Easy Steps

Get the jacket in a fabric you love! There are so many bomber options. You can most likely find one that suits your style preference. Get creative, go for one with a great texture or print and of course a solid will work with most of the stuff you already own.
Find a shirt. The key to nailing this trend is finding the perfect neckline. Go for something that shows a little skin. Avoid tops that come all the way up to the neck; it will look all kinds of wrong! I did try a v-neck and didn’t like it so I would recommend a scope neck or something similar to the blouse I’m wearing.
Choose your bottom. Take a tip from Crystal and pair your bomber with your favorite skirt. She is always rocking this combo and looks oh so cute! Or go the traditional route and wear your most loved jean. I decided that an added pop of color would look best and went with this pink pair similar here and here.
Accessorize! Pull it together with your favorite accessories and a bright lip! A great shoe is also important.

Now rock that bomber with your bad self! 😉

Shop the post:

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

From Business Casual to Date Night with J.Jill

September 5, 2017

I work in a business casual environment. The only rule is that you can’t wear blue jeans, but colored denim is allowed. Thank goodness! I am such a denim wearer. When I’m not wearing denim, my other go-to is printed pants or a dress. A good brand that easily goes from business casual to date night is J.Jill.

J.Jill recently gifted me my choice of items from their latest collection. I ended up choosing two pairs of printed pants, a necklace, and a simple shift dress. All of the items are great for the office and after work, just change out the shoes and your handbag if you need to!

I thought it would be fun to style and feature all of the pieces in head-to-toe looks to help you with your own office wardrobe. Let’s get started!

From Business Casual to Date Night with J.Jill

First up is the premium bi-stretch pant in Black Aviero Border print. I seriously love this pant! It’s also my favorite item that I received and similar to the J.Crew Factory Winnie pant (my go-to work pant). What makes this one unique is the cute all-over print and thick-banded print at the hem. This pant is slim through the hips and thigh and has a nice cropped leg.

Next is the Wearever Pleated Cropped pant in Black Indonesian Woodcut print. This pant literally feels like I’m wearing yoga or lounge pants. As much as I love these pants, I had the hardest time finding a top to go with. My advice is to stick with a slim-fitted top since the pants are billowy. The second time I wore these pants, I opted for a shorter, more fitted blouse and it worked much better. Also note, these pants don’t really photograph well and give a larger appearance. For size reference, I am wearing a small.

I also wanted to highlight the Compassion Fund Reversible pendant (one side is etched with “love” and the other side has “hope”. For every piece that is purchased, 100% of the net proceeds will provide support to organizations that help disadvantaged and homeless women become more self-sufficient. What a great cause!

Last was the Easy A-Line Dress. This was my least favorite piece. This shift dress is shapeless and needs a belt to cinch in the waist. Due to my broad shoulders and large chest, I would not recommend this item. I feel like the top would better suit someone who is smaller on top and would recommend sizing down as much as you possible. For size reference, I’m wearing a size 12P.

I hope these looks inspire you to get creative with your work wear and try something new! Be sure to check out J. Jill for more stylish options.

Thanks J.Jill for gifting me these items, all opinions are my own.

Photos by Ana Luzia of Northwest Blonde

5 Reasons to Love the J.Crew Toothpick Jean

August 29, 2017

I have been a fan of the Toothpick jean by J.Crew for as long as I can remember. It’s one of those classic skinny jean styles that never gets old: fitted through the hips and thigh, with a super skinny, ankle-length leg. Plus, every season there is some type of new offering, whether it be a fun new color or print.

This season J.Crew expanded their color offerings: neon petal, fiery sunset, and cobalt blue just to name a few. Their standards are blue denim, white, ecru and black. I have them in denim and black. I wear the black pair once or twice a week and have yet to replace them. They’re definitely some of the best quality denim out there. This is saying a lot too because I usually wear denim out pretty quick.

5 Reason Why You Should Love J.Crew’s Toothpick Jean

These jeans seriously don’t fade. I have washed my black pair so many times and I’m surprised by how much the color has stayed. When I buy black denim, the color usually fades over time, but not this pair.

Play hard. Not only does the color note fade but they also have some serious staying power. I tend to wear my denim out in the thigh, but the Toothpick I own are still in tip top shape. I’ve had my black pair for several years and they are just now starting to wear out.

Won’t stretch out. One of my biggest pet peeves is when denim stretches out. The Toothpick have very little stretch. On the flip side the leg opening is pretty slim so they are a bit tight in the calve.

So many colors and washes. One of my earlier purchases of the toothpick jean was this green cord with black bows on them! Oh yeah, did I mention that the fall version of the toothpick comes in a cord version, heck yes!

The best length. The 28″ inseam is great for short girls and for women who like to wear a heel. This length also works well with a bootie or riding boot. They fall just above the ankle so you can literally wear them year round!

How I wear the Toothpick Jean

Aren’t these cobalt jeans cute! I chose to keep it simple with the flutter sleeve blouse and metallic Nicole Shoes. I don’t usually like to be too matchy but couldn’t resist pairing this blue cross body bag with the pants.

What is your favorite denim brand? Share in the comments.

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

My Girl on the Go Shoe – Famous Footwear

August 22, 2017

This has been an incredible summer full of rest and relaxation. From camping trips with the hubs, brunch dates with friends, and time spent on the patio, this is what summers are made of. There has been lots of food and lots of outdoor activities, but it’s time to start winding down and plan for my favorite season…fall! (aka BTS or back to school)

Now, my days of school are long gone, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t get excited about the seasonal trends and cold weather necessities coming my way! When gearing up for fall I am all about finding the perfect boot. I commute to work via bus and live in Seattle (#rain) so I must have a stylish yet warm shoe to get me from A to B. Plus, I need to be confident that my feet can get me through various meetings, coffee breaks, and discussions without sacrificing my style.

My Girl on the Go Shoe from Famous Footwear

The Drew ankle boot from Famous Footwear is stylish and meets all of my needs! Plus, the neutral color pretty much goes with everything. I like the fact that these booties will look good with jeans, but also goes with dresses and skirts. The suede material makes it a seamless transition from summer to fall too.

My girl on the go shoe keeps me on-trend while I wait for the bus, catch up on Instagram, read a good book, apply my lipstick, and of course get my daily dose of caffeine.

Famous Footwear is empowering women everywhere to #stepforward confidently. Be sure to visit them this season for all your fall favorites!

Thank you Famous Footwear for sponsoring this post and gifting me these shoes. All opinions are my own.

📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

The Best Places to Shop For a Day Dress

The Best Places to Shop For a Day Dress

What I’m Wearing

Style a Bomber Jacket in 4 Easy Steps

Style a Bomber Jacket in 4 Easy Steps

From Business Casual to Date Night with J.Jill

From Business Casual to Date Night with J.Jill

5 Reasons to Love the J.Crew Toothpick Jean

5 Reason Why You Should Love J.Crew’s Toothpick Jean

How I wear the Toothpick Jean

My Girl on the Go Shoe – Famous Footwear

My Girl on the Go Shoe from Famous Footwear

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