Saturday, November 29, 2014

Gift Guide Part 2: Under $50


Gift Guide Part 2: Under $50


I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends! Mine was spent with my family in Des Moines. On Tuesday night I surprised my mom by driving down a night early... she hosts a chili supper for the Glaser side of the family every Wednesday before Thanksgiving and she believed I wouldn't be able to make it because of work and an impending snow storm. Little did she know I had already planned to be out of the office on Wednesday and my dad and I were in cahoots to surprise her ;) I had one happy and surprised mom this Thanksgiving! 

Enjoy Part 2 of my Christmas Gift Guide! Buying gifts for friends and loved ones can be a little tricky, but I've always found that some of my favorite retailers (Nordstrom, J.Crew Factory, Baublebar, etc.) all have great options at affordable price points. This year I'm loving all of the customizable options, like initial necklaces and monogramed earrings. Those personal touches will add some depth to your gift giving. What are you gravitating towards this gift-giving season? Look out for Part 3 next week (all under $25! perfect for stocking stuffers and secret santa's!). 

CYBER MONDAY
ALSO - check out the blog on Monday! I'll be giving you a one-stop-shop for all Cyber Monday sales and deals. Cyber Monday is my favorite shopping day of the year - so much better than waiting in cold lines outside on Black Friday! 

Chloe + Isabel Winner

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Chloe + Isabel Giveaway! The winner of this giveaway is Abigail Olson! Congratulations!! Please email me at styliniowan@gmail.com to give me your address!

Check back later today to see Part 2 of my Christmas Gift Guide (everything under $50!). 



Monday, November 24, 2014

Winter White + A Chloe + Isabel Giveaway!






Sweater: H&M | Jeans: old, similar here | Pumps: J.Crew Factory | Clutch: old, similar here | Earrings: Chloe + Isabel c/o | Bracelet: Mindy May's Market | Watch: Michael Kors | Lipstick: YSL Rouge Couture - Lingerie Pink 

photos c/o f8 creative

I love wearing white in colder months! There are just so many cute sweaters, skirts, coats, etc. in creamy white shades that I can't resist. When wearing white in the winter, consider looking for heavy, cozy fabrics instead of lighter chiffons (unless you live in the South... then by all means do what you need to stay cool!). The only thing I would avoid is white denim... I've seen a few Pinterest photos of winter outfits in white denim, but it seems odd to pair with winter boots in my humble opinion. 
Now, on to the fun part of today's post! If you follow me on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, you might've seen me post about a surprise for today! Well as you can tell, I'm obsessed with these beautiful Celestial Frost Post Drop Earrings from Chloe + Isabel. They are the most perfect holiday jewels that can be easily dressed up or down, and I've already worn these beauties more than a few times to work/out/everywhere! Want to get your hands on a pair?? WELL THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY because my C+I consultants Kaytee and Bri have generously offered to give away a pair of these earrings to one lucky Stylin' Iowan reader! Here's how to enter: use the Rafflecopter below and choose any of the entry options below. The more entry options you do, the better your chances are of winning! The giveaway will be open until Friday, November 28th! I'll announce the winner on SI Saturday morning. Good luck! 



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Bare...






Sweater: J.Crew, similar here and love this chunky knit | Skirt: Francesca's (old), similar here ($13!!!!) and here | Pumps: C.Wonder (sold out), similar here and here | Belt: J.Crew Factory | Bag: BCBG | Earrings: Vince Camuto (similar), loving these for winter | Bracelet: Mindy Mae's Market | Sunnies: House of Harlow 

photos c/0 f8 Creative

Windy weather and our first snow fall mean this is probably the last time you'll see me donning bare legs for quite awhile... let these pastel hues be your subtle muse until the spring season :) 

Monday, November 17, 2014

Holiday Shopping Gift Guide Part 1: Under $100


A dumping of 6 inches of snow over the weekend has me dreaming of Christmas with my family and friends! The holiday season is just around the corner, so I thought I would make your holiday shopping easier by doing a three-part series of gift ideas! I'm splitting the posts up into three different price ranges: today's gifts are all under $100, part two will be gift ideas under $50, and part three will all be under $25.

Today's guide is definitely inspired by the friends and family in my life. Home decor options can be great for family and friends who are just getting started decorating an apartment! Now that I'm out of college, decor items seem to be on my mind lately, and my friends and I are having fun transitioning out of college apartments and into adult spaces. Many of my friends are avid runners or stay active in other ways, so "activewear" is also my go-to this season. And for my sister, I love finding feminine accessories that complement her wardrobe, and that billowy hat from Topshop is screaming her name. 

 Follow me on Instagram as I discover other great holiday gift ideas this season! 
Thanks for reading. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Texture...








Coat: H&M, similar here and love this longer version | Sweater: old, similar here and here | Leggings: Nordstrom, loving these | Pumps: BCBG (sold out), similar here and here | Bag: BCBG | Sunnies: Ray-Ban, loving these and more affordable option here | Necklace: J.Crew Factory (similar), similar here, here and here | Bracelet: Mindy May's Market (on sale!) | Earrings: Nadri | Lipstick: Estee Lauder - Beige  

photography c/o f8 creative 

Helloooooo cold weather! Monday night and Tuesday we got our first snowfall of the season and freezing cold temps :( I've officially pulled out my puffy coats and beanies from the back of my closet. I'm already dreaming of summer, but my new furry coat from H&M is actually quite warm! One thing I love about the winter months is having the opportunity to layer. When layering, I try to bring two contrasting textures together. I love the look of sleek faux leather leggings with a furry vest or coat. Plus my coat and leggings can be transitioned into more formal looks during the holidays. 

Have a great day! Thank you so much for reading. 



Monday, November 10, 2014

Recycled Favorites...











Chambray: H&M (so comfy!!), similar here | Cardigan: Calvin Klein (old), similar here and here | Pants: Calvin Klein, similar here | Pumps: BCBG (sold out), similar here and here | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelets: kate spade, Mindy Mae's Market | Earrings: Nadri | Lips: Estee Lauder - Beige 

photos c/o f8 Creative 

So I'm going to be honest with all of you about how often I shop for new clothes...First off, I travel quite a bit to see family and friends, and on top of that I drive 50 miles a day to get to and from work. Saving up for gas money is crucial for me! If I don't spend wisely, I don't get to work, and that's a serious problem!!! For me, shopping for new clothes is a luxury, and it only happens maybe 1x/month hopefully when I'm shopping at a mall and not online (so dangerous!). Although I like new things from time to time, it's really important for me to invest in high quality but affordable pieces that I know can be recycled with a multitude of items in my closet, and I feel like all of the pieces in today's outfit are great examples of that! 

A good chambray should be lightweight and preferably in a lighter wash; you'll be able to reuse and style it for a broad range of occasions (I'm excited to wear mine with a new midi skirt for the holidays!). Black ponte pants are another staple for me; I wear them to work/church/running errands/you name it! And they're soooo comfy. An open cardigan in any neutral color or print is also a staple that you'll wear with anything and probably everything if you're like me! I like mine to be long-sleeved and long in length. My pumps from BCBG are definitely a little more trendy, however they're in neutral colors making them super versatile to style. Lastly, my jewelry - you'll notice I hardly ever change up my bracelets and watch, but when the arm party is good, why switch it up, right? 

I'm interested to hear about all of your staples! Thanks for reading! 

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Patriotic...







Vest: Forever 21, similar here and love this | Tunic: Eileen Fisher, similar here and here | Leggings: J.Crew Factory, lusting for these | Boots: Ecco, similar here (great price!) and here | Boot Socks: Spotlight Boutique (call to order) | Bag: Ivanka Trump, lusting for this (Santa baby?) | Sunnies: Amazon, Prada version here | Bracelets: kate spade, Mindy Mae's Market | Watch: Michael Kors | Earrings: Nadri | Lips: Estee Lauder - Beige  

So I've been a little MIA on the blog lately... between work, traveling to Iowa City this past weekend and getting pictures taken for SI, I've had a hard time getting around to writing my posts! Yesterday my photographer Chris and I took some pictures during one of the most gorgeous sunsets! I wanted to dress up for election day without seeming too "fourth of July", and my red faux fur vest paired with a crepe silk tunic helped achieve a winter look. Yes I said winter... no I'm not ready for it either! I can wait a few more months for snow! 

Did any of you dress up for election day? Thanks for reading!

photos c/o f8 creative