A Hop, Skip and Jump

 

Hello loves! I am so happy to be back to blogging! I've missed writing, blogging, interacting with you and creating new outfits for House Of Jeffers. Don't get me wrong - my life is still crazy and hectic, but I'm hoping to be back into blogging and post at least once a week!

So let's jump right into it. (Get it... Um, okay).

Never one to shy away from plaid, I own way too many button up shirts. No, seriously. Every other day I wear them to work, and of course, they are probably plaid. Instead of just putting together a plaid shirt and pants combo, I like to layer since a). I'm constantly cold b.) It gives me an excuse to wear a skirt and c.) I get more use of out the clothes I can't always wear by opting to layer up.

 

This outfit is especially cozy since the tights are fleece, I'm able to wear a plaid shirt and leather jacket with knit details to keep warm, and the oxfords are my solution to not wearing heels, but still feeling dressed up. This was an outfit I wore to brunch with my husband and sons. While there's a lot of black in this look (Gee, me, wear a lot of black?), I love the pops of gold from my shoes, the hardware on my Kate Spade Bag and the sick Olivia Palermo x Bauble Bar Crystal Quartz Necklace. 

Take a moment to drool over the necklace... I'll wait.

When you those days when the weather is crappy, and you have no clue what to wear, I say go for plaid. Its bright, the pattern offers enough variation to bring contrast to your look... and it is quintessentially winter-esque!

 

Outfit:

Blank NYC Leather and Knit Panel Jacket - South Moon Under / Plaid Shirt - Francesca's / Black Lace Skirt - Forever 21 / Black Fleece Leggings - Francesca's / Gold Toe Oxfords - ASOS / Kate Spade New York Jenny Bag / Olivia Palermo X Bauble Bar Crystal Quartz Necklace

Plaid: The Unapologetic Fall Uniform

I've pretty much been wearing plaid every day. And I should probably find something other than plaid to wear since it's not like I don't have other clothes in my closet to wear.

Never been one to fully master layering, I figured if was going to put on another button-up shirt, maybe I should break it up somehow. Instead of a chunky knit sweater, I tried out this sleeveless peplum shirt from H&M, and there you have it - the outfit I wore to take Nathan and Landon to visit Santa! Yes, I already took the boys for their first Christmas photo with Santa about a week ago. And yes, I am that mom. No way was I going to brave doing this on Black Friday, or really, any weekend after that considering the mob scene the mall turns into. Moms out there know what I'm talking about - I've got potential diaper changes in the mall and a feeding schedule to contend with. Early it is.

And since we're getting all festive, I'll be rocking this perfect Kate Spade New York Southport Avenue Handbag that I got for my birthday! It's actually called the Jenny (not the reason I wanted it), and if I do say so myself - it fits my style personality. It's bold, and different, yet can become a classic wardrobe piece with extreme versatility. Since I opt for darker colors to incorporate into my wardrobe, I've found having a red handbag to be extremely inspiring in terms of finding new things to pair it with.

Hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving, and better yet, took advantage of those killer Black Friday sales! Onto Cyber Monday! If you need me, I'll be stalking Instagram and cleaning out my email from the 200 emails an hour I'm getting because of it.

Details:

Tommy Hilfiger Plaid Shirt - c/o / Peplum Sleeveless Top - H&M / Jenny Bag - Kate Spade New York / Jeans - Urban Outfitters / Patent Leather Boots - Modcloth

Statements That Shine

The easiest way for me to up the ante with any outfit that I put together is with a statement necklace. And I must admit - lately, my necklace game has been on point! Stocking up on sparkling stunners in both gold and silver, I love having different styles of jewelry so I can play up outfits or push them over the edge with a simple statement piece. And since I'm on the budget side of things, that always helps.

Investing in jewelry is something that you won't regret as you'll have the piece for years to come, and when just when you're feeling like your outfit is kind of "blah", wearing jewelry changes the look instantly. One of my favorite places to hunt down jewels is Shiny Mix. I was fortunate enough to meet gorgeous founder Kathy at the Lovely Happenings event, and I pretty much acted like a giddy child over our encounter since I obsess over her stunning assortment of jewelry! Case in point, you might have spied the Shiny Mix's Dynasty Bib - a mixture of uber sparkle in edgy shapes - on my Instagram. I paired it with a collared plaid shirt to give my two-tone top some sparkling contrast. It's gorgeous. It's serious. And it's completely swoonworthy!

Absolutely check out her site as you would be crazy not to find something that fits into your style aesthetic... and within your budget. She's on Instagram, too, so you can envy all the shiny things she's up to!

 

Outfit:

Plaid Crop Top - Forever 21 / Faux Leather Pants - Zara / Fringe Bag - Steve Madden / Suede Ankle Booties - Target /  Dynasty Bib Necklace - c/o Shiny Mix

Fall Uniform: Plaid

I'm officially declaring that my fall uniform will be plaid. Afterall, there really is no better time to wear lumberjack prints and cozy button ups than now. Plus, it sorta of reminds me of my teens - growing up in the 90s when Nirvana pretty much made plaid the official uniform of grunge Seattle kids. 

My plaid shirt collection definitely spans the color wheel. Of course, red is in there, but I like to find plaid prints that let me girly them up with accessories. I've had this green shirt which I purchased from American Eagle last year, but then, I figured why not throw on a statement necklace? I pulled from the pink in the necklace to pair it against the green. 

Finally, no grunge-inspired outfit would be complete without a pair of patent leather boots. These Steve Madden stems are not only comfortable, but the chunky square heel is just too cool. 

Get used to it - I will be living in plaid well until next year. #sorrynotsorry

Outfit details:

Plaid Shirt - American Eagle / Black Pants - H&M / Patent Leather Chunky Heel Boots - Steve Madden (purchased at DSW) / Studded Crossbody - Forever 21 / Statement Necklace - BTB Jewelry

Moody Blues

Faux fur vests can be very hit or miss. It's all in the material. Too fuzzy and it looks like you're smuggling teddy bear. While I was looking for a black vest, I stumbled upon this purple one from Express last year. It was heavily marked down, so for the price, I went for it. 

Since there's now 6 inches of snow on the ground, I'll probably be wearing pants a lot more. I myself get bored with wearing pants, but with statement pieces like this faux fur vest, I can inflect a bit of eye-catching interest into my ensembles. 

Plaid Button Front Shirt - Gap / Faux Fur Vest - Express / Blue Skinny Jeans - Marshalls /
Tortoise Shell Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters / Studded Leather Crossbody - Forever 21 /
Maroon Bangle - Gap / Silver Ring - Forever 21

Lately, I've been struggling with my style. I have a complex about sometimes feeling as though an outfit is to... boyish. Admittedly, I love a lot of menswear turned womenswear pieces, but I'm starting to wonder if I have too much of the same thing in my closet. Sure, the only men that would probably wear a fur vest like this are pimps... I'm blaming the weather for the questioning of my aesthetic. I truly miss wearing skirts and feeling uber girly. 

I'll take cold weather without the snow part... so I can free my legs from pants and slap on a pair of tights. Or, I can stop being a baby and put on a dress. 

Don't forget: The Scarves.net $50 gift card giveaway ends Tuesday! You still have time to enter!

Plaid Pairings

 I still remember the first plaid shirt I had. It was 1992, I was in the 7th grade, and grunge was THE look. I was still a bit of a tomboy back then, but I had a perm (my god). 

Not a traditional button-up, the shirt was a pullover and had a drawstring waist. A mixture of dark colors, royal blue and a plum purple were flanked by standard red plaid lines. I loved it. I wore it till the wash eventually had its way with the colors. 

I still adore plaid today since it's probably one of the most diverse wovens. From traditional tartan to hypnotic combinations of woven wool, I own a lot of plaid because you really can wear it with anything. Jeans, leather leggings, other plaids. And it reminds me of British royalty (one can dream).

Recently, Tommy Hilfiger, one of the most iconic brands in my book, opened a brand new store at my local Garden State Plaza Mall, and I was invited to check it out. The first thing that came to mind about the brand: magazine ads from the 90s, which often included classic plaids, refined knitwear and nostalgic-inspired style staples with modern appeal. By all accounts, I'd say that fits the House Of Jeffers style equation.

Besides for the store being so inviting, I loved how vibrant the clothes are. I choose these two plaids because they're enhanced by neons (the skirt) and stripes (the button-up blouse). While I didn't plan on wearing them together, when I put the outfit on, I immediately loved the juxtaposition of color. 

I was never a catholic schoolgirl, but if I was, I'd wear this. Every day.

 Plaid Button-Up Blouse - c/o Tommy Hilfiger USA / Oversized Plaid Pleated Skirt - c/o Tommy Hilfiger USA / Retro Satchel - Primark UK / Black Tights - Target / Black Suede Booties - Target / Pearl & Rhinestone Necklace - Forever 21 / Dazzling Dotted Line Bracelet - c/o Sorrelli / Extreme Cat Eye Sunglasses - c/o SunglassesWarehouse.com

Tartan Plaid Trend

Plaid has always been a pattern that reminds me of the 90s...  I distinctly remember living in plaid button-up shirts in the 8th grade during my skater phase... before I had a clue what fashion really was.

Today, I still love plaid as it's starting to get a more feminine feel to it. Like this dress! The tartan plaid trend is one I'm all about - it's a little edgy, but can also be uber girly with the right accessories and of course, a little bit of leather. 

Ever since the Met Gala celebrated punk, plaid is finally getting it's day. Oi!

Tartan Plaid Dress - Forever 21 / Black Cork Wedges - Bongo Jeans (really, really, old) / Cross Ring - Forever 21 / Jen Nameplate Ring - Etsy.com /  Spiked Midi ring - Forever 21 / Floral Ring - Urban Outfitters / Leather Cuff - craft fair