Tag: polka dots

Style: A Polka Dot Blouse & Denim Trousers
I’m still wearing cropped skinny pants a whole lot, but I’ve been mixing in wider silhouettes lately and these denim trousers are my new favorites. Casual but tailored, and so soft. I’ve been pairing them with tucked in blousy tops and I feel put together and cute, but not too dressed up to chase after the kids or run errands. And the shoes: both of these have proven to be versatile and comfortable enough to wear all day! Low heels for the win.
1. Polka Dot Blouse, Zara
2. Scosha Ruby and Diamond Gold Studs, Gem
3. Burberry Frames, Glasses.com
4. Marcie Small Leather Satchel, Chloé, Nordstrom
  This bag has been at the top of my wish list forever. I spot it being carried occasionally, and it always elevates whatever outfit it’s paired with.
5. Refined Denim Trousers, LOFT
  Just bought these! Super flattering, and comfortable too.
6. Plain Weave Ring by Michal Taharlev, Adorn Milk
7. DV Nya Booties, Target
  I bought these a couple years ago when they were under the Dolce Vita label and cost $200. They go with everything, and now that there’s an almost identical $35 version? Go get ’em.
8. The Warren Sandal, Madewell
  I have these too, from last year. They’re my go-to sandal.
March 7, 2016
The Design Blogger Look

I’m in Seattle right now on a quick business trip, so I’m popping in with a short post today.

I taught a class online for Alt Summit last night from my hotel room, all about what to wear to the event. I’m predicting that animal sweaters, like my foxy find, will be big.

I’m sure we’ll also see a lot of what I affectionately referred to as “the design blogger look.” Stripes, polka dots, and chambray, plus top knots and braids. (Glasses too, with bonus points if they actually have a prescription!)

I’d be a total cliché if only I owned a chambray button-down and knew how to do my hair! Sources for everything are on my “What to Wear to Alt Summit” Pinterest board.

* The photo of me in my fox sweater is by Helen, of Handmaidtales. She was at AB Chao’s Chicago design camp, where I stopped in for lunch and answered questions as a special guest. It was fun!

December 11, 2012
Style: Stripes and Florals
I’ve been getting a lot of wear out of an old floral skirt I’ve had for years. I would have told you it was about five years old, but a woman spotted me wearing it and exclaimed “I have the same skirt! Ann Taylor, 2004!” So there you go. She said it with conviction, and I’m inclined to believe her.

I pair it with stripes a lot lately — a look that I’ll admit I shamelessly based on a J.Crew window display. That’s probably a lame thing to admit (aren’t bloggers supposed to perpetuate the idea that we pluck our ideas out of the ether?), but a good idea is a good idea no matter the origin. Plus I crazy it up a little by adding polka dots. Or big flowery poof things. And plastic-framed glasses, because I am a typical blogger after all.

Below is a pretty fantastic substitute for my floral skirt. I even picked one up for myself because it’s on sale, and I figured I could use another flowery option to get me through the next eight years.

* photo of me and Jordan by Maia McDonald; all others from my Instagram feed
July 3, 2012
How To Make A Polka Dot Tray

I’ve yet to meet a serving tray I didn’t like. From small to big, simple and understated to bright and fun, I love the diverse functionality of trays with their ability to be used in a wide range of tasks. They can be used to serve snacks to the ones you love, or just sit on a table holding treasured possessions — their possibilities are quite endless. In today’s tutorial, a basic white melamine tray (you can find one at Target for $12.99) is given a fun face lift with office supply stickers in bright neon polka dots and a quick coat of Mod Podge.

(more…)

June 27, 2012
Planning a Mini-Makeover for Eleanor’s Room
I’m never really one to finish a room and call it done. It’s more fun to tweak and look at my home as an ever-changing, evolving project. So I have a mini-makeover planned for Eleanor’s room, all because I was in the market for a new duvet cover for her. Her polka dot cover is cute, but we needed a backup for when it was in the wash. Details below:
1. Painted Ponies Bedding
  
  This set is the one I ordered, but I’ve put together a post with a whole bunch of options for horse obsessed kiddos.
2. Wall Dot Vases*
  I ordered mine yesterday at half off from Fab (I found them on the last day, and the sale is now over), but they can be purchased directly from Chive.
3. Polka Dot Curtains
  We already had these on hand, from Eleanor’s nursery. Similar curtains can be found here.
*Those wall vases will take a long time to arrive (several weeks, probably — the downfall of shopping flash sale sites).
April 26, 2012
Style: With a Polka Dot Top
Style: With a Polka Dot Top

My outfit was a last minute switcheroo, but I like it even more than the original one I was going to share.

The sheer pink polka dot tights I had based my whole other look around ripped. And not just a little rip that I could have fixed in Photoshop, I’m talking about the kind of rip that essentially turned my tights into cutoffs. So I grabbed a polka dot shirt instead. I just wish I had realized that I also grabbed the same skirt I showed last month. Oh well. I suppose the lesson here is that a white pencil skirt is more of a wardrobe staple than you might at first think.

Here’s how to get the look:
A note on some of the items I’m wearing that are no longer available: As I mentioned last time, my skirt is seven or eight years old. I’ve had the shoes for just as long, and I bought the bag in 2008. Actually, I featured it in my first ever style post, and suddenly it’s on trend! My sister keeps begging for it when I “get sick of it” and I keep telling her it’s not gonna happen. And I’ve featured the necklace before as well. I scooped it up at 75% off when it went on clearance.
April 24, 2012