Outfit of the Day: Over the Top

Over the top is the name of the game in this OOTD!

I ordered the Lilly Pulitzer Malibu Blazer and Juliana Dress for when the corporate team came into Pink Sorbet for a big meet and greet! No one had really thought about adding the striped blazer over the striped dress, but we all agreed that it really worked!

I'm excited to add the blazer over navy shorts and pair it with wedges once the weather gets hot. I think that would be a super fun outfit once it gets nice out again!

Do you remember "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"? This dress could be a substitute for those pants. It works on gals of every size. I have it, and I've seen shorter girls look KNOCKOUT in it as well as girls of different sizes! What the best part really is, is that the fluorescent part isn't really close to your face. The stripes set them apart, and the neon doesn't wash you out like it can sometimes.

I've also been in search of a good professional bag. I have a black one, but often times, black doesn't always match my professional outfit. I found a great tote from Target:

This Merona Tote was a great score and it fits everything I need it to! I was in a time crunch to find something that worked ASAP, and I'm definitely still on the lookout for a more long-term option. I would LOVE any input!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Preppy Profesh Cropped Pants

I've written about my amazing steal of a deal blue blazer before and it's one of the BEST deals I ever got! I love my Ralph Lauren blazer and don't get to wear it as often as I should! While it's not exactly the same thing, there's a close Ralph Lauren knit match here!

I wore LOFT cropped pants for the first time too! My mom and I stocked up on business essentials and these cropped pants were part of the haul. They have the most comfortable wide band around the top with a secure button and hooks. They have a great amount of stretch and I know they'll keep their shape. The cream crepe top is LOFT as well!

For NYE, I snagged this pair of Jessica Simpson heels that I was wearing too! They are seriously the most comfortable nude heels I own and fellow Tweeters agreed. I look for every opportunity to wear these heels that I can! They're ~4 inches but you'd never know when they're on. They also have a great grippy rubber bottom that feels secure. HUGE plus, no toe cleavage. 

Awaiting me when I arrived back in South Carolina was my Bauble Bar necklace that I ordered as a birthday gift to myself. I LOVE the large monogram they offer! It's substantial feeling but they clasp is EXTREMELY difficult to do on your own--attempt at your own risk! I am also admittedly not good at putting necklaces on so I found it tough. The gold is shiny and not a gaudy shade. I've worn it a bunch and I've seen no turning color or showing of the inner material.

I wore this OOTD to a pre-party for TEDxColumbiaSC. Our city was lucky enough to have a group of individuals who were willing to organize a TEDx event for the city and I had the unique opportunity to attend the lecture. The pre-party was held in the lobby of an IT office who so graciously offered up their space and we gladly networked and chatted with the speakers. I'll do a full recap later this week of the big show, but all in all I was SO glad to have attended the lecture!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Preppy Profesh: Pink Blazer

Y'all know how much I love my pink blazer! It's rare when I buy a really TRENDY clothing item, but when I saw this I couldn't pass it up. My mom actually got it for me for Christmas and I LOVE it! I wore it to my first day of school last semester after my birthday and have worn it a few times since then--I don't want to over wear it, but I tried it over a professional dress and it worked great!

I was doing an interview on campus for a position within our Dance Marathon at USC. I think I was probably over-dressed by the time that I got to the interview, but I felt so much confidence in this outfit.

I paired my pink blazer with my Lilly Pulitzer Collins dress that I got at the warehouse sale! The print is among my favorites and the cut is great because it's both conservative for work, but still lovably Lilly!

I paired it with these gold basket weave wedges that are super comfortable and appropriate. The metallic is too fun as well!

Do you usually wear dresses or suits for interviews? Have you interviewed for anything recently?

Outfit of the Day: Dress to Impress Social Media Style

May 24 by letsbepreppy featuring costume jewelry

Yesterday morning I went to my first official business networking event put on by the business school at USC! It was very informative and I learned a ton. I was invited by a former professor from the spring semester to attend a breakfast presentation about social media! I connected with my professor on LinkedIn after our class ended and he found me through there to invite me. I was extremely excited when he first mentioned it and looked forward to it!

I was TOTALLY nervous before I went, so I checked and re-checked, then scrapped, and checked and re-checked my outfit. Multiply that about five times, add in my roommate and her help and finally I decided on what to wear. Business dress is officially the hardest thing to dress appropriately for. Not prom, not the first day of school. But "business". Like really, what does that even mean? I figured my suit would be too stiff and dressy, but I didn't want to look like an amateur when I showed up.

Anyway, I finally decided on my navy blazer (remember that REALLY good deal I got awhile back? Yep, THAT blazer) and a new skirt I got at H&M. It must have been a good look because one of the ladies sitting at my table asked me if I taught at the University! Ha! I took it as a major compliment though, and an implied acceptance for my outfit. Clearly I was stressing about it!

When I checked in I must have looked a bit forlorn because the woman at the desk asked if I needed directions somewhere...oh boy! Then she realized I was actually in the right place and handed my official nametag:

Katie Rudder

Let's Be Preppy

Needless to say, I was obviously excited by that! I decided to register under LBP because that's where the majority of my social media skills come from! It seemed to make sense and ended up being a great choice!

What do you wear for these kind of events and presentations? I'm still learning and building my working wardrobe, and I'm totally open for advice and suggestions!

xxKatie

Just Call Me a Maxxinista!

I actually kind of hate those commercials, but I have to have to have to share this steal that I got. It was seriously the steal of the century! I found this Lauren Ralph Lauren Blazer in the Clearance section if you'd ever believe that!

(Sorry about the phone picture!)

First price: $290

Second price: $210 (compare at)

Third price: $99

MY PRICE: $49!

Count 'em people! That's 4 discounts! FOUR DISCOUNTS?!

I was at a local TJMaxx and spotted this RL Blazer! I tried on a Tahari suit that I really liked and was $70 and I was carrying it around for awhile debating on my purchase to build up my professional wardrobe. Then I popped over into the Clearance section of TJMaxx and didn't see too much. Then all of a sudden this navy blue blazer caught my eye! I put everything down and tried it on! It doesn't fit like a glove, BUT nothing a little nipping and tucking that I tailor couldn't do! I figured with the amount I'm saving, a little tailoring is nothing! 

Plus, I don't have a real blue blazer since the one I had in high school has since been donated to my newest high school token-tall-girl-family-friend. Gotta look out for each other!

This is the blazer in full view. It has 3 pockets which isn't exactly traditional, but I thought it was a nice shape and it hit my hip at a good height that I figured I could definitely use it! I like the 3 buttons as well:

They're very traditional, and as a plus, all 3 are still well connected! You always have to check that at all those off-price stores!

All of the sleeve buttons we all there too! 

I am so excited about my new blazer and can't wait to get it in tip-top-shape! 

Are you a TJMaxx, Marshall's, Stein Mart, Off Fifth, etc. shopper? I am very proudly!!

xxKatie 

Outfit of the Day: Pink Blazer

January 10 by letsbepreppy featuring faded jeans

Pink Blazers seem to be the "it" thing--they're all over Pinterest! I saw this blazer while we were shopping before Christmas at H & M. My jaw just about dropped! My mom wasn't as big of a fan as I was, but I knew of a few outfits that it would be PERFECT with! My first inkling was to pair it with a white button-down like this. Then my mind drifted to all the other combinations I could pair it with! One dress came to mind IMMEDIATELY:

Right?! How perfect is that?!

Anyway, I've been dying for nice weather and an event that warrants such a formal, structured dress and a blazer so I can pair them together!!

Do you like the pink blazer trend? Do you have one? If so, what do you wear it with?

xxKatie

This is in My Top 5 Lilly Prints Ever

The Multi Jubliee Patch is quite possibly one of my favorite Lilly prints ever. On the Lilly website it says: This is the largest patch pattern we've ever done. The idea just popped into our heads after, well, after looking at a Lilly wrap skirt in 8" patch from 1968. The washed down fabric with soft, faded colors "sews" the whole Lilly spirit together.

It's actually the cover on my laptop still:

I haven't gotten sick of it at all I think because there are so many colors. I'm seeing more and more of this print pop up different places:

If you're a boy and wear a 36 or 42, or any size between 30-42 I have two places online that these shorts are available! Click the numbers to find them!

Saw these on eBay! I wish I knew someone who'd wear them, they're so much fun for any guy who's a 38R! They're also online here! I have a pair of Lilly pants from many years back (circa 8th grade...) that I still wear. It was the same year as Elefrance because that print's on my pants as well as Bon Bon!

If that doesn't say Carolina Cup, I don't know what does. Now I don't condone wearing the pants and Charles Blazer together, but what a piece this would be to have in your man's closet. 

Don't you just love this print too! I wish I could get my hands on even more of it!!!

xxKatie