I got an e-mail from Jes last week {sorry, Jes, it's taken me too long to get to your request; just know that I'm super-excited about it, because you're the first person to send me a request that I don't know in real life, and that's awesome for me}:

hi, mary
i'm just a random person in the midwest who wandered onto your blog one day. you have wonderful style and such a fresh and pleasing sense of blog. and i'm wondering if you can use your fashion brain to help me. i bought the textured gauze sundress from tulle and i adore it. link here.  my problem is, however, that i bought it in carrot. and, wow, the dress is carrot. i've worn it a couple times, but i just don't think i'm getting it right. can you think of any suggestions for styling this little carrot? i need it to be modest, so i've paired it with a few different cardigans and shrugs, but... everything i've tried just looks like i'm trying to camouflage the color instead of enjoy it. i would really appreciate any sort of help.  thanks!
jes

Wow.  I've never had the courage to purchase anything so bright, so kudos for breaking out of your comfort zone!  My suggestion would be to pair your dress with soft neutrals like khaki, white, and warm browns.  I think gray and navy could also work in small doses, like as a shoe or accessory.  {Just please, to avoid Halloween associations, never wear your dress with black!}  Definitely let the dress take center stage, and choose pieces that compliment it.

I created two outfits that I think would work great with your dress {the first is inspired by this outfit featured on What I Wore; Jessica is rocking her neon yellow dress}:

Outfit A:
1.  Textured Gauze Sun Dress, on sale $26, Tulle {link}
2.  Totes Stick Umbrella, $12.99, Target {link}
3.  Twill Trench Coat, $39.80, Forever 21 {link}
4.  Solid opaque tights, on sale $9.99, J. Crew {link}
5.  Lily Suedette Shoetie, $24.80, Forever 21 {link}
total: $113.58

Outfit B:
1.  Textured Gauze Sun Dress, on sale $26, Tulle {link}
6.  Short Ruched Sleeve Cardigan, $18, Charlotte Russe {link}
7.  Orange U Glad it's Summer Nail Laquer, $7.50, Ulta {link}
8.  Zebra Skinny Belt, $24.50, The Limited {link}
9.  Mossimo Valonia Pump, $29.99, Target {link}
total: $105.99


Jes, I hope this helps!  What does everyone think?  Would you wear the outfits I put together?  Do you have any more suggestions for how Jes should style her dress?  I appreciate your comments!

I noticed a wonderful sale going on at The Limited and thought I should share.  {Mostly I only noticed because Chloe pointed it out to me, so I feel it's only fair that I pass the tip along.}  Currently, all trench coats are 30% off, all skirts are $39.50, and you can get 20% off your entire purchase, including sale items, by entering coupon code 774 at checkout.  {Definitely check out the sale section, even if you pass up the regular-priced items; discounts upon discounts add up to some very low prices!}  Additionally, you'll receive a free umbrella with any trench coat purchase.  Zing!  Here are a few items I would love to own:


1.  Belted Trench, $71.68 {link}
2.  Folded Flowers Coat, $94.08 {link}
3.  Red Trench Coat, $82.88 {link}
4.  Elastic Sleeve Trench, $71.68 {link}


1.  Petal Pencil Skirt, $31.60 {link}
2.  Black Reign Skirt, $31.60 {link}
3.  High Waist Straight Skirt, $31.60 {link}
4.  Wide Pocket Pencil Skirt, $31.60 {link}


1.  Pleat Turtleneck, $7.99 {link}
2.  Embellished Flower Top, $23.99 {link}
3.  Grosgrain Flower Cardigan, $31.99 {link}
4.  Ruched Squareneck Sweater, $23.99 {link}

That red trench is really amazing -- I love the gathers at the shoulder seam.  On the other hand, the yellow trench is also drool-worthy; I love that color!  It's a good thing I don't need to decide between them {my budget and self-restraint currently won't allow me to purchase either}, because I think I would give myself a headache.  What about you?  Do you have a favorite item?  Do you think you'll buy anything?  Thanks for reading!

DownEast Basics is currently offering 30% off all items in their clearance section; just enter coupon code THIRTYB1 at checkout!  DownEast has come out with some very cute items recently, so I'm excited to see them at such low prices.

Here are a few of my favorites, all under $30*:


1.  Festive & Fancy Top, on sale $13.99 {link}
2.  Perfect Portrait Top, on sale $10.49 {link}
3.  Eye Candy Cardigan, on sale $24.49 {link}
4.  Gallery Coat, on sale $24.49 {link}
5.  Classic Cord Coat, on sale $27.99 {link}
6.  Over the Top Dress, on sale $14.50 {link}
7.  Jetset Skirt, on sale $17.49 {link}
8.  Alpine Skirt, on sale $17.49 {link}
9.  Matchstick Cords, on sale $18.89 {link}

I especially love #3 and #5.  Which ones do you like best?  Are you going to take advantage of this sale?  Let me know what you think!

*The prices I post reflect a 30% discount -- they're the prices you would receive after using the coupon code, not the prices posted on the product pages.

Urban Outfitters sent me an e-mail yesterday, letting me know that the strong shoulder is coming back into style.Not that UO is the only proponent of the returning trend -- fashionistas everywhere have been noticing its comeback since early 2009. Strong shoulders were popular in the 1940s and 1980s as well; the idea is to emphasize a wide line at the shoulder, making the waist seem smaller.

UO has one of the largest {and most inexpensive} collections of clothing featuring strong shoulders that I could find.  View all of their strong-shouldered items here.  Here are a few items that I like:


Pins and Needles Rouched Sleeve Top, $28 {link}
Urban Renewal Strong Shoulder Satin Surplice Dress, $58 {link}
Silence & Noise Strong Shoulder Blazer, $78 {link}
Silence & Noise Strong Shoulder Blouse, $58 {link}

Personally, I tend to be thin and straight, so done right, a strong shoulder could give my body some shape.  Done wrong, I could end up looking like I'm lost in my daddy's jacket.  Find some great tips on wearing a strong shoulder here.

What do you think?  Are you into the strong shoulder trend, or are you still too nauseated by the idea that 1980s fashion is making a comeback?

For a limited time, Martin + Osa is offering 30% off all Winter Sale items.  No coupon code is necessary; the discount is automatically applied at checkout.  M+O is a store that generally hovers above my price range, so getting a discount on items already on sale would definitely be the way to go.  Here are three things I would be glad to own:


1. Open Weave Print Silk Pocket Tee, $31.46 {link}
2. Peacoat, $90.96 {link}
3. Embroidered Shawl, $27.96 {link}

I think the tee is my favorite.  The subtle print is rad.

A quick note about things being rad:  When I was at BYU-I for one semester, first of all I was completely miserable and cold all the time.  But I had a roommate named Randi, and she was awesome.  We had so much fun together, making late-night runs at the laundromat, going to Horkley's, playing Phase 10 and watching Whose Line Is It Anyway.  When it was time for me to pack up and leave, I got the crazy idea for her to sign my navy comforter with a bleach pen so I could always remember her.  {Ummm.... It was late?  I was eighteen?}  But when she went to sign, she misspelled her name, and ended up writing "Rad Randi Blake," which I have called her forever after.  {Before then we always called each other Stu, short for Stu Pididiot}.  So when I call something rad, just know that I am honoring the best non-husband roommate I ever had, and that I really really mean that it's rad.

Back to normal stuff...  What do you think?  Are you up for a M+O sale?  See anything that you like?  {Do you have any awesome roommate stories you'd like to tell?}

There's a great sale going on at American Eagle:


You can save up to 60% off original prices by shopping their clearance section, and take another 15% off your entire order by using coupon code 56079843 at checkout!  {You can also get free shipping on orders of $100 or more.}  Here are a few things I adore {15% discount already applied}:

1.AE Peacoat, $42.45 {link}
2.AE Sweater Jacket, $33.95 {link}
3.AE Striped T-Neck Sweater, $12.70 {link}
4.AE Ruffle T, $10.15 {link}
5.AE Skinny Cord, $16.95 {link}
6.AE Favorite Pant, $16.95 {link}
7.AE Polka Dot Warm Scarf, $12.70 {link}
8.AE Circular Scarf, $10.15 {link}
9.AE Leather Graduate Boot, $25.45 {link}

What do you like the best? Are you going to take advantage of this great sale opportunity, or have you already spent all of your Christmas money {like I have...}? Are you an American Eagle fan?  Let me know -- leave a comment!

As stated in this post, I'm going back through some of my recent posts and putting outfits together around certain items. {And as stated in this post, I have nothing better to do right now than post on my blog and wait until my husband comes home.} This outfit was created around the skirt from this post, in which I drooled over the new arrivals at Anthropologie.

Here's what I came up with:


1. Lacemaker Skirt, $148, Anthropologie (link)
2. Boat Neck Top with Charmeuse Bow, $21.90*, Loft (link)
3. Herringbone Tweed Jacket, $38.99, Charlotte Russe (link)
4. Lacquered Flower Jewelry Set, $4.80, Forever 21 (link)
5. MIA Michelle T-Strap Mary Jane, $32.97 (link)
6. Yellow Heart Wallet, $25, Harmony Lane (link)

total: $271.66
{Or $123.66 without the skirt, which is gorgeous, but way too pricey for my budget.}

The Charlotte Russe website describes the jacket as being a black and gray tweed, but it looks navy to me, which is why I put it in an outfit with a navy shoe. I love navy and yellow together -- the combination is so crisp, so clean, so refreshingly sunny and nautical. And don't you just love the bright egg-yolk color of that clutch?? Let me know what you think!


*Today {Saturday, December 19} only, Loft is offering 40% off all regularly priced styles with coupon code PRESENTS.

Did I say that the previous post was my last of the week? Yes. But am I awake in the wee hours of the morning, waiting for my husband to come home from midnight bowling? Oh, yes. {Because I just can't go to sleep without my husband. We've only been married for 20 months, and so far, we've never spent a night apart. Love him...} Is the upside to my sleep deprivation the fact that I discovered a wonderful sale going on at Loft? Most definitely. And could I stand knowing about this sale, without sharing it with all of my wonderful readers? Not a chance.


Saturday only, online and in stores, take 40% off {yes, that's forty percent off} all regularly priced items. {!!} Just enter coupon code PRESENTS at checkout to receive the discount.

Here are the items I'm in love with*:


1. Beaded Hibiscus Graphic Tee, $20.70 (link)
2. Lei Trim Tee, $21.90 (link)
3. Drapey Flutter Sleeve Top, $26.70 (link)
4. Rosette Smocked Cotton/Silk Blouse, $32.70 (link)
5. Relaxed Turtleneck with Linking Details, $29.70 (link)
6. Anorak with Waist Tie, $47.70 (link)
7. Sweater Dress with Petal Trim, $47.70 (link)
8. Stretch Canvas Pants with Belt, $35.70 (link)
9. Silver Chain Ribbon Necklace, $23.70 (link)

I am totally adoring #7. I want that dress right now. I think it's awesome how they paired such a feminine sweater dress {with such a pretty petal detail!} with an edgy black ankle boot. And they're styling navy with black? I am all over that. I am all over the whole outfit. Basically, I want to take everything that model has on, and put it on myself. {Maybe we could trade? She could borrow the BYU-I hoodie and argyle socks I'm currently wearing?}

What do you guys think? Which items are your favorite? Are you going to take advantage of this wonderful sale {perhaps to give someone on your list the perfect Christmas present}? Leave a comment!


*But not literally. I'm not literally in love with any of these items. Literally, I'm only in love with my husband. And as with all of my sale posts, the prices I post reflect the price you would receive after applying the promotional code. They are not the prices currently posted on the Loft website.

1. Wool bomber jacket, on sale $89, Victoria's Secret (link)
2. A-Line Box Pleat Skirt, on sale $49.95, Martin + Osa (link)
3. Pleated Flutter-Sleeve Top, $24.50, Old Navy (link)
4. Coloured Over The Knee Socks, $6.80, Asos (link)
5. Merona Solid Wrap, $12.99, Target (link)
6. Basic Flat Boot, $29.50, Wet Seal (link)

total: $212.74
{Or $123.74 without the jacket, which would be a major investment piece.}

What do you think? Do you like the outfit? Would you ever wear knee socks with knee-high boots? And will you forgive me for my blog-wrongdoings? {I hope so.}


Your internet friend,
Mary

I found this lovely in my inbox this morning:


Victoria's Secret is offering 25% off certain items, termed "Winter Favorites" {which you can view here} with coupon code 25VS. Since many of the items are already on sale, with prices reduced up to 25%, you can get up to 50% off the original price! The promotion is good through Sunday, so you have a little time to look around and decide what you can't live without the most. Additionally, you can receive free shipping on orders of $50 or more with coupon code VS50.

Here are my favorite things*:

Sweaters:


1. Silk & cashmere turtleneck sweater, $29.25 (link)
2. Cowlneck sweater, $29.25 (link)
3. Silk & cashmere ruffle-front mockneck sweater, $29.25 (link)

{Please excuse the young lady whose stylist neglected to provide her with pants for her photo shoot... she seems quite upset about it, so perhaps it's best if we don't mention it to her...}

Dresses:


4. Cotton & cashmere sweaterdress, $22.49 (link)
5. Ruffled v-neck sweaterdress, $14.99 (link)
6. Tie-neck dress, $29.99 (link)

Outerwear:


7. Double-breasted ruffle coat, $74.25 (link)
8. Wool bomber jacket, $66.75 (link)
9. Classic wool coat, $66.75 (link)

I have to say a few things about the gorgeous outerwear: I absolutely adore the ruffle coat {it reminds me of this one, now sold out, from Tulle}, almost enough to justify purchasing it... if only I hadn't banned myself from shopping until the end of the year. The bomber jacket also has me drooling -- I want to copy the model and wear it with a gathered skirt {and knee-high boots, with some knee socks peeking out the top, perhaps?}.

Which item is your favorite?



*As with all of my sale posts, the prices I post reflect the price you would receive after applying the promotional code. They are not the prices currently posted on the Victoria's Secret website.

I know I've been posting about a lot of sales lately -- it's hard for me not to share a good deal when I find one. And speaking of good deals...
Check out the Holiday Deals Event at Gap.com, going on now until Sunday! Fifty percent off all regularly priced Women's and Men's Sweaters, 30% off all regularly priced Women's Outerwear, and 30% off select Men's items. Additionally, shipping is free with purchases of $50 or more.

Here's what I would love to buy for myself:


1. Luxe crewneck sweater, now $19.75 (link)
2. Ruffle-front henley sweater, now $22.25 (link)
3. Navajo turtleneck sweater, now $29.75 (link)
4. Cozy turtleneck sweater, now $19.75 (link)
5. Ruffle-trimmed military jacket, now $68.60 (link)

Here's what I would love to buy for Christian:


6. Marled zip-up cardigan, now $34 (link)
7. Merino v-neck sweater, now $24.75 (link)
8. Wool CPO jacket, now $54.60 (link)
9. Leather gloves, now $20.65 (link)
10. Multi-color knit scarf, now $17.15 (link)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! If you plan to go shopping on Black Friday, have fun (and be safe)!