Scarves, Coats...What's a MatchiN'ista Missing?!?...

...BOOTS, of course!

Welcome back for style confession #5: I can't get enough of fancy rain boots! Aka: wellies!

New to my blog? Here's a recap of my style confessions so far.

1. Scarves, scarves and more scarves! I love accessorizing with scarves.
They are the matchiN'spiration piece for many of my outfits. Click here if you want to see the post.

2. My coat closet if full! Outerwear is like the cherry on a sundae...it's the finishing touch to any outfit. Check out the post here .

3. Too matchy matchy...never! I'm obsessed with passionate about making sure the colors in my outfits match perfectly. Curious?!? Check out the post here.

4. Plaid, polka dots, and prints galore! I've always loved polka dots, but I'm mad for plaid and pining for prints, too. Read more here.

Once again, welcome back for style confession #5: I can't get enough of fancy rain boots! Aka: wellies. I'm not particular when it comes to specific brands of wellies, but I can't deny that Hunter seems to take the cake with this trend. If you're a Pinterest fanatic like I am, then you've seen the Hunter boot in just about EVERY pin related to fashion! It seems that RED is the most popular color right now.

 

 

I've more than embraced the Hunter boot trend! I've owned my fair share of Hunter wellies over the past 5 years. My first pair were black and then I got brave with bright green and then went back to traditional with black and navy. My husband always joked that he needed to wear sunglasses when I wore my bright green ones. :-)

My number one reason for loving the Hunter wellie so much is that they have boot socks for extra warmth. Plain, patterned, multi-colored, wool, fleece, cable knit, etc....they are just too stinkin' cute to pass up! Warm, dry feet + cuteness = HAPPY FEET!

Don't you just want to snuggle your feet in these boot socks?!? So cozy!

Check out other color options here, here, and here

Falling in love with this cuteness!?! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Pick a color...Or 2 or 3. AND a shaft height (short or tall)
2. Pick a cozy boot sock...Or 2 or 3.
3. Strut your stuff, while you ooh and aah over these adorable boots!

*Hunter boot socks are made specifically for their boots. I have found that they fit in other brands, too! :-)

I absolutely adore my Hunter boots, but I am crazy in love with any wellie, the brand is of no concern to me. My all time favorite purchase from TJ Max last year were my all weather wellies. One pair in plaid and the other with snowflakes. These just happen to be made by UGG and are fleece lined, so I don't have to worry about adding a boot sock. I do however, love to wear my over the knee boot socks with them for extra coziness. I have gotten so much use out of them!

Plaid wellies

 

Here are the top 5 reasons why I love wellies (any brand):

1. They are durable and comfy. Your feet stay dry and the scuffs come off easily.
2. They come in a variety of colors.
3. They can be worn in the spring, fall, and when you add a boot sock, in the winter, too!
4. They can be worn with a cute, casual dress; leggings and a tunic, or jeans.
5. They're FUN!

I think a gal needs a variety of all weather boots. You know, enough to match every outfit! Check out some of these fancy boot options. I have included everything from rain boots (wellies) to adorable boots just for the winter! Don't forget to add boot socks for an extra layer of cuteness! :-)

I know you want a pair of fancy boots of your own! These are some of my favorites!!

1. Joules 'WellyPrint' Rain Boot here

2. Hunter 'Original Tall' Rain Boot (Military Red) here

3. Hunter 'Original' Contrast Rain Boot (Burgandy) here

4. The North Face 'Nuptse Purna' Boot (Dachshund Brown) here

5. Sorel 'Slimpback' Riding Boot (Shale) here and here

6. Posh Wellies 'Peacon' Quilted Tall Rain Boot (Black) here

7. Sperry Top-Sider for J. Crew Shearwater Buckle Boot (Black) here

8. Sorel 'Winter Fancy II' Lace up Boot (Elk/Grizzly Bear) here and here

9. Sperry Top-Sider 'Saltwater' Duck Boot (Black/Red Plaid) here

 

I hope you find a pair of all weather boots that tickle your fancy. I love all of them and am going to have  a tough time deciding which ones I want to purchase next! Do you have a favorite all weather boot?

 

Happy matching!

 

Marcie

Plaid, Polka Dots, and Prints Galore!

I have to admit, I'm on trend with this style confession (#4 by the way, in case you're counting...I have 11 more to go!)! To catch up any new readers, I've been sharing my style confessions every week as a way for everyone to get to know a little about me and my blog!

 

Here's a quick recap!

 

Here it is, STYLE CONFESSION #4...

 

In my opinion, patterns are fabulous! I've always loved polka dots, but I'm mad for plaid and pining for prints, too! Stripes, gingham, and houndstooth also rank high on my list of favorites!

Of course, I have to post outfit pics that reveal my style confessions. By the way, if anyone knows how to take better selfies, please let me know! My hand always blocks my jewelry! Oh well...so much to learn being a new blogger! :-)

Here you have it...Plaid, Polka Dots, and Prints Galore...

First up, let's talk plaid. Anything in plaid; scarves, jackets, pants, shirts, etc., is such a timeless and classic look. Let's just say I'm truly mad for plaid! Much of my fall and winter scarf collection (remember confession #1?!? If not, check it out here)  and button down shirts are plaid.

This has been one of my go-to vests this fall, in plaid of course. The fancy name for this plaid is 'Buffalo Plaid'. If you look closely you'll see a little plaid peeking out from under my sweater, too! If I knew how to take better selfies, you would see my plaid button down peeking out over the collar of my sweater...work in progress! :-)

 

~Exact vest here 

(only available in medium)

~Similar button-down here

~Exact sweater here

~Exact jeans here

~Similar boots here

More plaid...

  

I'm obsessed with passionate about these plaid pants that I bought from Target! 

 

Aren't they cute!?!  

 I styled these three different ways! I have to confess, I didn't actually leave the house with the matching blazer and pants together. I adored the look, but wasn't sure if others could handle the matchiness! :-) I settled on wearing the blazer with jeans and dark khakis, instead.  

~Similar pants here

In case you're wondering, here's the necklace I wore with all three of the outfits above.

~Fabulous necklace option here 

I'm SO excited to share these pants from J. Crew Factory with you because they are adorable! They are similar to the ones I'm wearing above (hey, if one is good two is better, right?!?), but the colors are slightly different. Actually, I just ordered these pants because they replenished the sizes! I can't wait to try them!

I'm not sure how I'm going to style them yet, but here are two of the options that I'm pondering...

My first option

This is a fun holiday look! The matchiN'ista in me says that it might not be "matchy" enough because of the contrast between the ivory sweater and the dark colors in the pants. On the other hand, the gold writing and the gold toe makes me smile! Oh my gosh, the heels!! Aren't they fabulous?!? I wore them to a wedding a few weekends ago and got so many compliments! They have definitely been a matchiN'spiration piece for a few of my outfits, lately! BTW...they are SUPER comfy and easy to walk in! By "easy to walk in," I mean I only had to practice walking in them a few times to avoid looking completely awkward at the wedding.

 

 My second option...

Totally a matchiN'ista outfit! The sweater has both the navy and green, and the black heels add a little pizazz to the whole outfit!

~Exact pants here

~Exact 'cheers' sweater (option 1) here

~Exact green sweater (option 2) here

~Exact heels here

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how both outfits look and then make my decision. Either way, I think we should all own these pants!

Moving on to my love of Polka dots!!! Polka dots are perfect for any season: fall, winter summer, spring. Big, small, multi-colored...they're so fun! Here's how I wore polka dots to work...

 ~Similar sweater here
~Exact pants here
~Exact button-down here
~Exact flats here
 

...and to stay warm... 

~Exact jeans here

~Exact button-down here

~Similar sweater here, here and here

~Love this necklace option here

~Exact watch here

 

~Similar tunic here

(I own this tunic option, too and it's wonderful! The leather pockets are too cute to handle!)

~Similar scarf here (no grey :-(, but SUPER cute!!!)

~Similar pant option here (in black to match the scarf) 

~Similar boots here, here, and here 

(I LOVE all 3 options! I see a new pair of black boots in my future)

(FYI~ Personally, I like boots WITHOUT a lot of hardware so I don't have to worry about matching my jewelry to the hardware on my boots! Yes I know, a bit obsessed passionate, but it's me! :-)

 

...for spring & summer...

 

...just for fun...

 

Now, are you convinced that Polka dots are fabulous!?!

 

Last, but certainly not least...let's talk other prints. I could NOT resist these pants!  

~Exact pant here

~Exact tank here

~Similar cardigan here

~Exact necklace here

~Similar shoes here

 

That's all for now! I hope you enjoy patterns as much as I do!!! 

 

Happy matching!

 

Marcie

 

P.S. Did you notice my fancy pics?!? I had so much fun using Picmonkey to edit my pictures and create different collages!!!  

 

Too Matchy-Matchy?!?...Never!

It's time for style confession #3!

I know it's already Tuesday, but I'm kind of still in weekend mode...Have I mentioned that I love snow? In case you didn't know, I LOVE SNOW! It snowed here this weekend and it was absolutely delightful. I spent the weekend wishing for more snow, catching up on much needed sleep, organizing my house, and again wishing for more snow. My wish came true, as we are getting lots and lots of snow right now. The most enjoyable part of my weekend was spending time with my sisters, niece, and nephews! I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did! :-)

So, on to my third style confession. I can't believe I'm only on number 3! I need to start cranking these out a little faster...I have so many! Anyway, my third style confession is that I'm obsessed passionate about making sure the colors in my outfit match perfectly. Some describe this as "well-coordinated," while others have said it's "matchy-matchy". When I hear the latter of the two my response goes something like this, "It's because I'm part of the Garanimal generation!"

Garanimals?!? If you've never heard of Garanimals then you probably don't wear matching sweater sets and color coordinated outfits. If you have, then I bet you can relate to this style confession, and you probably know where I'm going with this post. Just so we're all on the same page, let me tell you a little bit about Garanimals. It's a clothing company for kids. Not just any clothing company, but one that offers mix-and-match separates that are color coordinated to the T! Similar to Osh Kosh and Gymboree. You guessed it...I was a Garanimals wearing kid! Not only did my mom dress me in monochromatic outfits (that I loved wearing), but sometimes my outfits coordinated with my sisters' and occasionally with my cousin's. We also did 'themed' pictures as a family. "Matching" in photos was truly a family affair! Now you know that my "matchy-matchy" days started when I was young and have influenced my fashion every since!

Here are some of my latest "well-coordinated" outfits.

 

Yes, I'm wearing a sweater set. And I love it! I searched high and low for the perfect gold color in this sweater so that it would match my scarf. Let's just say that once again, this scarf was my matchiN'spiration piece for this outfit! I just love it! Flats in the same olive color or better yet, in the gold color would be perfect!

~Similar sweater here

~Exact scarf here

~Similar pants here

~Exact flats here

~Exact watch here

 Surprise, surprise I'm wearing another scarf! Which actually kind of looks like a tie in this picture, but it's really a scarf. Once again, this scarf pulls the entire outfit together because it has orange like my sweater and the same navy as my pants. I'm wearing my favorite watch, too. In navy of course. I had to wear a white button-down underneath this sweater for warmth because my classroom is freezing pretty much year round. I have to be honest, an orange tank or a navy button down really appeals to my obsession passion for color coordinating, but the white will do for now.

~Similar pants here
~Similar watch here
(mine is the exact same one as shown in the link, except the blue on the face of mine isn't as bright.)
~Similar flats here
(limited sizes available)

I love this outfit because of my plum colored pants. Such a great color for fall and winter. I questioned myself about the color after buying them because I thought I wasn't going to be able to find anything to "match" them with, but I was too in love with the color to give them back! The matchiN'ista in me is completely satisfied with this outfit because it matches from Head. to. Toe.

~Exact pants here

~Sadly, I couldn't find the exact flats and I don't want to suggest any others without seeing them in person...just in case they aren't the same color as the pants. :-)

 

 

Anyone else part of the Garanimals generation? Maybe you just love color coordinating as much as I do??? Please share!

 

 

Happy matching!

 

Marcie

Fill Your Coat Closets, Ladies!

Hello and happy Saturday! This is a follow-up from Tuesday's post on my love for outerwear. Just to recap ~ a matchiN'ista needs to have a selection of outerwear to choose from; enough to fill a coat closet!

I was browsing online and saw that Old Navy is offering great, I mean GREAT deals on outerwear right now. Keep in mind, these are very budget friendly options, which means they probably aren't meant to be worn in a blizzard, but more for fashion and to and fro. Either way,  I couldn't resist sharing some of the outerwear that caught my eye, paired with my never ending wish list of scarves!

1. Women's Hooded Toggle Coat in Dark Charcoal Gray from Old Navy 

($57.00 ~ A variety of sizes available. Some of the reviews suggest sizing up.)

2. Factory Glen Plaid Scarf in Navy Graphite (top) from J. Crew Factory 

($24.50 ~ Totally worth it!)

3. Barbour Melrose Fair Isle Scarf in Washed Stone (bottom) from J. Crew 

($99.00 ~ A bit pricey, but the quality of J. Crew items justifies the cost. AND they are offering 25% off right now)

 

1. Women's Down-Fill Nylon Coats in Cinder Smoke from Old Navy

($78.00 of pure coziness! This coat has very promising reviews for comfort and warmth!)

2. Begg and Co. (TM) Lambswool Plaid Scarf in White Red Green from J. Crew

($148.00 ~ I know, I know it's a bit much to pay for a scarf, but like I said before, J. Crew items last forever! Don't forget about the 25% discount right now!)  

1. Women's Hooded Down Fill Coat in Bluetiful from Old Navy

($65.00 of bright color! There aren't a lot of reviews on this one, but overall customers adored the color and suggested sizing up.)

2. Factory Checkered Scarf in Bright Cetrise from J. Crew Factory

($24.50 ~ Fabulous price!)

 

1. Women's Long Belted Coat in Llama from Old Navy

(50.00 ~ The reviews on this one are mixed. Some felt the fit was a bit odd in the chest and shoulder areas. Again, the price makes it worth the risk...in my opinion! :-))

2. Factory Checkered Scarf in Flame from J. Crew Factory

($24.50 ~ I own this scarf and absolute adore it! It's a must have in my opinion.)

1. Women's Hooded Toggle Coat in In The Navy from Old Navy 

($57.00 ~ A variety of sizes available.)

2. Factory Checkered Scarf in Navy Multi from J. Crew Factory 

($24.00 ~ How can you resist!?!)

 

Cute options, right?!? I love the variety of colors and styles they offer. I prefer longer coats and they offer a great selection! Be sure to check out their deals in store or online!

 

 

Have a splendid Saturday, everyone!

 

Happy matching!

 

Marcie

 

 

Disclaimer: I am not receiving compensation for content in this post. I provided links to each item so they are easily accessible to my readers.

 

Why Have a Coat Closet if You’re Not Going to Fill It?!?

Welcome back for style confession #2!

I love the change of seasons. Fall just happens to be my favorite! When you live in Western New York, it's necessary to own a selection of vests, coats, jackets, parkas...enough to fill a coat closet (Style confession #2: my coat closet is full!) Each one perfect for matching adorable outfits! Outerwear is after all, like frosting on a cake, or a cherry on a sundae; it’s the finishing touch to any outfit!

I created this list of must have outerwear for any matchiN'ista! When my husband tells me that I don't need another coat, I tell him 'the list' says otherwise! ;-)

1. trench coat in khaki and black
2. trench coat in khaki  and black with a hood
3. trench coat in a fun color, just because
4. lightweight rain coat (in a variety of colors, of course!)
5. fun, patterned, lightweight vest
6. sporty vest for running errands and you just need to throw something on
7. dressy, professional coat in black
8. dressy, professional coat in another color because one in black isn't enough
9. casual, warm parka that hits at the hip or mid thigh
10. casual, warm parka that's long because when
11. ski jacket or sporty parka because hey, you never know when you might decide to hit the slopes or the ice rink!
12. ANY OUTERWEAR THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD! :-)

Did I miss any? Please let me know if I did because I can always make room in my coat closet!

The temps keep dropping in Western New York, so I'm going to highlight the outerwear I've been wearing this fall and what I'm going to wear when the snow flies. When we come out of hibernation, I'll share more pics of my spring/summer outerwear collection.

First up, vests! I love vests because they are perfect to layer under without creating marshmallow arms (you know, when the material is so puffy that you can't bend your arms and your shoulders look as big as Arnold Schwarzenegger's). Don’t forget that under every vest is a perfectly matched outfit that peeks out. Vests are versatile, too! Some are lightweight, providing just a little touch of warmth, while others are goose-down and extra EXTRA warm. If you’re still not convinced vests are wonderful, try one for yourself! I know you won't be disappointed! :=)

Somewhat of a trend this Fall (at least I didn't notice it until now): camouflage. I've seen distressed camouflage pants, camouflage flats, camouflage everything! So, I decided to try it out for myself.
J. Crew Factory had this camouflage vest that served as my matchiN'spiration piece!

Here's how I wore it.

See? You get an extra layer of warmth without marshmallow arms!

I checked the J. Crew Factory website today and they no longer have this vest available. Bummer! It's no longer available at the regular J. Crew store, either. I searched and searched and searched for other camouflage vests, but I found this adorable jacket from Nordstrom, instead!



 Not into the camo look? This same style jacket comes in green and is just as cute!

 

 Another one of my favorites this Fall is this navy (buffalo plaid) plaid one from J. Crew Factory.



This vest goes with so many outfits! Here's a glimpse of how I wore it.  

  If you don't care for patterns, this vest is still worth a look because it comes in solid colors, too! They have red, navy, black, and bisque (almond/cream color) online.

 

I also love my North Face Aconcagua vests, especially when the temps drop below 40. I have one in a green/brown color and a black one. Both are super warm! 

 I couldn't find the exact color I'm wearing, but Zappos offers this same vest in others colors.

 

Athleta also has super cute vests that have more of sportier look. I love this one.

  It comes in other colors, too, but the red (it's actually called fire red) is so pretty! It's called the Downalicious Deluxe Vest.

 

 

Athleta stole my heart last year with this jacket! It's the perfect combination of comfort and warmth, without the bulky look (aka: marshmallow arms).

Words cannot describe how much I love and adore this jacket. I wish I owned it in more colors. Unfortunately, it's no longer available in this exact style, but they have the Downalicious Deluxe Jacket which is similar. They also have the Uptown Down Jacket (I like the foxtail taupe color) which is on my wishlist!

 For a dressier look, I like to wear my ruffle collar coat from J. Crew Factory. When I purchased this coat I was in need of a classic, black dress coat. I'm glad I added this to my closet because it's a great go-to piece. The next coat I'm adding is this same one in bohemian red! 

 

 

 

 I tried on this coat from Ann Taylor recently, and it was the perfect fit and felt so warm. What kept me from purchasing it was the price tag. It would be worth it if I wore a dress coat everyday, but I don't, so I couldn't justify the expense. If it goes on sale, or they offer a coupon it will find it's way in my closet! Speaking of discounts.. if you don't already subscribe to Ann Taylor, sign-up on their website for a 25% off coupon!

Want a closer look at this Ombre Plaid Coat? Click here.

 

I mentioned marshmallow arms earlier in this post, but I thought I should bring it up again in case you missed it. Marshmallow arms happen when the material of a coat/jacket/parka is so puffy that you can't bend your arms and your shoulders look as big as Arnold Schwarzenegger's!

photo source: http://cullercreations.com/2014/09/24/so-what-is-a-snow-skirt-anyway/

See?!? Now you know what I'm talking about!

 

As much as I TRY to avoid parkas that make me look like I have marshmallow arms, it's not always possible. So, I need to be clear: when the temps are in the 20's and the wind chill makes it feel below zero, I could care less about having marshmallow arms! I just want to be WARM!

 

So, here are a few parkas (FYI: when I use the word, 'parka' I'm referring to jackets that are for the dead of winter = when it's freezing cold and snowing outside.) I wear when it gets bitter cold outside. Yes, they create marshmallow arms, but they keep me nice and cozy!

 

 

I'm wearing the North Face Transit parka in black. This parka is fabulous! It has a removable hood, it's warm, and I like that it hits below the tush. North Face has done a great job at reducing the bulkiness of their jackets. Especially with the Transit parka.

The North Face Metropolis parka is pretty bulky, but it's so warm that I don't really care!

Bloomingdales has a great selection of both parkas. Click here for the Metropolis parka and here for the Transit parka. It's their friends and family event so they are offering 20% off your entire purchase! You can also find both parkas on the North Face website (free shipping). Zappos (free shipping and they have a flexible return policy) carries North Face, too. They usually carry styles from previous seasons.

 

 

What's in your coat closet?!?

 

 

Have a fabulous day, everyone! Check back later this week for my third style confession!

 

Happy matching!

 

Marcie

Scarves, Scarves, and More Scarves Part 2

Happy Thursday everyone! I'm back with part 2 of Monday's post.

Just to recap  - I LOVE SCARVES! They are what I like to call matchiN'spiration pieces!

People always ask me about different ways to tie scarves. If you're looking for scarf tying tutorials, check out this blog post from Nordstrom.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to tie scarves.

 

 

The Classic

 

 The Cozy

 

The Loop-d-Loop

 By the way, I have no idea what the real names are for each style of tying, so I came up with my own!

 

 

 As promised, here are a few more scarves from my collection...

It's no secret, I love plaid (stay tuned for another confession about my love of patterns!)! I love the pop of red in this scarf. It's perfect for this time of year.

 

Here's how I wore it.

I chose to pair this scarf with a navy tunic, navy leggings, and brown boots, but it could be worn with so many different outfits! A red sweater, a green long-sleeve t-shirt, the possibilities are endless! This is a staple scarf for me this fall and winter. I'm not sure what company this scarf is from because it came in one of my 'fixes' from Stitchfix (speaking of Stitchfix, have you ever heard of it?!?). You can find a similar scarf here and here.

 

Gap also has a plaid scarf that it is adorable! It comes in three colors: red, black night, and chalk. I highlighted the red and black night below. Both are must have matchiN'spiration pieces! I couldn't resist creating an outfit for each one!  Especially since Gap and J Crew are offering 30% right now!

 

Here's the scarf in black night and how I would wear it.

Want the look? Here are the links for each piece:

1. Scarf  from Gap (black night)

2. Sweater  from Gap (red)

3. Matchstick jeans (pitch black) from J Crew (I have these in just about every wash. They are wonderful!)

3. Leather Slip-ons from Gap

 

 

Here's the scarf in red and how I would wear it.

Ok, so my favorite part about this outfit is the green slip-on sneakers! They bring out the subtle green in the scarf.

Interested in taking a peek at this look?!?

1. Scarf  from Gap (red)

2. Tunic from Gap (black)

3. Matchstick (classic rinse) denim from J Crew (same as above, only in a different wash)

4. Sateen slip-ons from Gap (green)

 

Did I mention that Gap and J Crew are offering 30% off right now?!? If you're a teacher or a student, don't forget to ask for the 15% off discount at J Crew!

 

 

Here's another scarf from my closet.

 

Here's how I wore this one.

There's nothing that makes me smile more than polka dots! Polka dots + scarves = one happy matchiN'ista! This scarf happens to be one of my favorites because it was a birthday gift from my sister, Holly <3. She bought it from J Crew factory last year, so it's no longer available.

 

If you love patterned scarves, check out this one from J Crew factory and this one from Anthropologie. Both are on my matchiN'spiration wishlist!

 

Just one more...

I love how scarves can transform an outfit. I'm wearing a plain black tunic and leggings, but the extra pop from the houndstooth scarf dresses up my plain jane outfit!

 

 

Have a wonderful day! Check back soon for style confession #2!

 

 

Happy matching!

 

Marcie