Outfit of the Day: Preppy Profesh: Metallics and Neutrals

I wouldn't normally post OOTD's this fast, but everyone was wondering where this outfit was from! I have good and bad news--good news: it's all VERY affordable, bad news: it's all a little bit old...

Sweater: H&M (similar here)

Skirt: Target Merona (similar)

Flats: Target (similar)

Multi-Strand Pearl Necklace: J. Crew (similar)

One of the great things about an internship is practicing for a real job. Not only practicing work skills like computer programs or networking, but practicing what to wear. Some days are a hit, some days are a miss. Today was both. My boss told me that I looked great--total plus! I didn't realize though, however, when I was getting dressed that it was chilly outside! I had bare legs when covered legs may have been more suitable.

I also work for a relatively conservative non-profit, so I tend to always dress conservatively. I also almost always have a cardigan because where I work is ALWAYS cold. Our office building is huge and they keep it cold ALL the time. On the days I forget I'm always telling myself, "DON'T FORGET NEXT TIME!!!!" because it's so chilly! I sit and work at a computer for the majority of the time that I'm there so a cardigan is a great addition to have!

This outfit was definitely good practice for dressing for an office. While it's not "business professional" (to me that's a hard and fast SUIT rule), it's definitely more "business casual" or my new name for it "preppy profesh"!!

What do you usually wear to your work or internship?

xxKatie

Princesse

I made my first Bauble Bar purchase! I am SO excited!!

This bubble necklace seems to be EVERYWHERE. It all started with J. Crew and knockoffs are appearing everywhere for a lot less! Since it is such a trendy piece, I didn't want to spend a lot and knew I could find it locally or online for a little less than J. Crew.

New to Bauble Bar in general, I put my trendspotting glasses on and saw this fun piece a few weeks ago. Much to my dismay it was sold out so I added myself to the wishlist and kept my fingers crossed. I figured that this piece would go with a TON as well as be an awesome Gameday necklace too!

Luckily about a week ago, it was back in stock and ready for me to add to my statement necklace wardrobe! I was SO pumped and immediately added it to my cart so I could snag it before anyone else!

It also comes in this fun purple color! I can't believe I'm even going to utter the name, BUT this would make an AWESOME Gameday necklace for any Clemson fan.

Another great perk about Bauble Bar is that there's FREE SHIPPING! I always love a good deal as part of my shopping and figured that was a great addition to a deal in the first place!

If you don't have a Bauble Bar username, signup here!

xxKatie

Favorite Summer Earbobs

I've really gotten into fun earrings this summer! Here are a few of my FAVORITES:

I recently got these Gorjana earrings on Gilt and have barely taken them off! They're teeny-tiny and no bigger than than my pinky diameter!

I totally totally totally copied my sister with these earrings. She was wearing them and I was absolutely coveting them, so I went out and bought them. I have SUCH an affinity for Fornash designs I couldnt' help myself!

I also love these Fornash elephants! I got these last summer and wore them recently when I had a white tank and plain green khaki shorts and they were perfect! I'd say they might have stolen the show!

These J. Crew earrings I've had for awhile and unfortunately lost one of the backs but I love wearing them! I always get compliments on them and they're a great size for earrings--not too big. They do hurt my ears a little though if I forget to take them off before I go to bed!

My sister got me these Kate Spade bow earrings for Christmas awhile ago but I wear them as often as I can. They are SO me and an awesome match for so many outfits I have! 

Do you have a few favorite go-to pairs? 

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Paisley

April 17 by letsbepreppy featuring Jack Rogers shoes

My mom picked up these shorts for me at the J. Crew outlet not too long ago! I wore them for the first time and got so many compliments on them! The colors are a lot of orange, pink, gray and even some dark green in there too! I wasn't exactly sure what top to wear, but I ended up picking a gray silk blouse from J. Crew too that I love! I think it looked pretty good together!

Other than Lilly Callahan shorts, I pretty much live in J. Crew chino shorts! Whether they're printed chinos like these, critter shorts like my anchor ones, or even the solid colors, I'm a big J. Crew shorts fan!

What about you? Do you wear J. Crew shorts? What inseam works best for your summer or shape?

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Double Duty

August 24 by letsbepreppy featuring j crew shorts

I wore this outfit yesterday! I was at work for a little to fill out some new-hire paperwork, had class, and had an Ambassador function last night! We're starting our Recruitment process for our new cohort of Ambassadors and we couldn't be more excited! Last night got us SO excited (complete with a group version of Rock, Paper, Scissors that I'm so game for playing again) to bring in the new crop and start giving tours again!

I had two days worth of outfits squished into one! I had my class/work/run errands outfit that I was in until about 6 and then my visitor center/University Ambassadors/tour guide outfit that I wear (a different version of) once a week, for football recruitment, and special events that the University hold that require the aid of student volunteers!

I get a lot of questions about what I typically wear to give tours in so the second outfit is common. We have pretty easy rules to follow: it has to be garnet and black, have Carolina on it somewhere and bottoms must be fingertip length or longer. You also have to wear shoes that you're comfortable giving tours in! This is a pretty common outfit for me to wear until it starts to get colder out here!

Be sure to enter Tuesday's Sassy Palmetto GIVEAWAY too!!

Is it still hot as heck by y'all? I can be in tops like these for the next few months!!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Pink & Black

Typically whenever I think of pink and black together, visions of teenage girls in punk rock outfits comes right to mind. Claire's baubles, shiny plastic and ripped jeans--all of which should be left in the stores--flood my outfit making mind, anyone else?

I rarely pair pink and black together in the summer. Heck, I rarely wear black in the summer (minus swimwear) because it gets so hot! A few days ago though, I wore a new J. Crew outlet skirt that I got awhile back (see here) with my Lilly Wynne top! I typically will wear my Wynne the one-shoulder way (Tip: in your Wynne, slip your arm through the smaller side, the ruffles fall just so as to "shut" over the arm hole!! Voila, a new one-shoulder top!!).

July 24 by letsbepreppy featuring a folding tote bag

I toned down the pink and black with fun pink McKims and my white top!

I would totally wear this skirt in the fall and winter with tights and a different warmer top! I really like it and when I initially bought it I wasn't positive how to wear it! I'm glad I've found at least one alternative way to tone down the colors!

Do you ever get confused with some of your purchases? Do you ever find them downright hard to match things with?

I sure hope I'm not alone!!!

xxKatie

Shop It To Me: Round 2

Just yesterday I updated all my Shop It To Me settings and it showed me so GREAT new stuff:

Kate Spade--I am ABSOLUTELY in LOVE with this dress! Ohmygoodness...(remember a few days ago how I said I had a problem with shopping for fancy dresses I don't need...yeah, about that)

Trina Turk

J. Crew

Shoshanna

Trina Turk

Trina Turk

J. Crew

Trina Turk

Want to get in on the sales? CLICK HERE to start seeing your own, personalized list of FABulous sales! You get to customize ALL the settings! Be sure to snag an invite if you missed the boat last time I wrote about my picks!! I love shopping...it to me :) (I think that made sense...?) Start shopping...it to you!

xxKatie

Summer Purchses

My summer purchase list is quickly being filled out! I haven't done much shopping between school and work, but a girl can online browse right? I got about an hours worth of shopping in while I was at the beach, and snagged a new dress from the store but here are a few of my summer snags:

Lilly Pulitzer Ramona Dress

J. Crew Printed Mini (I got another one of these but I can't seem to find the print anywhere!)

J. Crew Carson Short Printed

Lifeguard Press Croakies in "Floaters"

Nike Tempo Running Shorts--ON SALE! I also got another pink/black pair that are very different but equally as fun! Find other colors of this polka dot pattern on sale here too!

I got a lot of summer staples and I have a few extra items on my summer wishlist! I also have a few absolute LUST items on my mental list...those are the real "wishes" that I want! Some also happen to be awfully impractical, but that makes them all the more fun right...? 

What's on your summer purchase list? Any big wishlist items? Let me know!

xxKatie

Summer Essentials

Summer is good for warm weather, hanging out with friends, rockin' playlists and tanning. Here are some of my top choices for summer must-haves! They apply to girls and guys so keep that in mind!

1. White shorts: not only are white shorts flattering on nearly everyone, they make you look very tan. Find a good length that you like and voila you're set! I stick with the classic 5'' Chino shorts from J. Crew. Good length for me, crisp white color and durable! For guys, this can be adapted to khaki, just as versatile for summer days!

2. Koozies: you can't go through summer with a sweaty beverage. Koozie's keep your drinks cold and your attitude chill. Keep one (or 3) in your purse before you go out. I often coordinate mine with my outfit. Yep, happens.

3. Boat shoes: Since it's summer you need a pair of shoes you can throw on at a moment's notice and not have to worry about how they look or where you're going. Boat shoes can get wet, dirty, and keep you dry. They look cute with shorts, skirts and  capris. You basically can't go wrong tossing on a pair of Sperry's even if you don't know what the rest of the day my hold!

4. Sunglasses: Running around, day to day, sporting and sunning from the early morning hours into the night, sunglasses are a must. And there for so are croakies. Since I've gotten my Chums (different than your typical croakies but still "sunglass retainers"...) they haven't left my sunglasses! My favorite brands are Costa del Mar and Ray Ban for everyone.

5. Swimwear: Ladies and gents, swimsuit season is upon us! Embrace it with wild patterns, the brighter the better! Animal prints, floral prints, plaid, and polka dot--rock them all! I find swimsuits all over the place from Target to Victoria's Secret to Belk. They sometimes take a little more trying on than other swmsuits, but it'll be worth it once you find a brand you can stick to! Maybe you'll even be able to find your own teeny tiny yellow polka dot bikini!

What are your summer essentials? Something you can't go without??

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Shorts Shorts Shorts Shorts Shorts Shorts Shorts Shorts Shorts

In the words of "Shots" by LMFAO, I decided to adapt it to my own OOTD. It is currently the PERFECT climate here in SC. You can wear shorts and at night all you need is a sweatshirt. Simply phenom. I wore this last week:

March 15 by letsbepreppy featuring a sterling silver monogram pendant

It was so comfy and relaxed. I'm LOVING this presummer condition before it really starts to heat up. We're very lucky right now other than the allergies that I'm currently suffering from, but still pretty lucky compared to the North where it's only beginning to warm up!! What are the temps like by you??

xxKatie

Top 10 in My Closet

I've been trying to write this post for awhile. I've been trying to narrow down the top 10 "things" (i.e. anything) in my closet. This includes but is not limited to clothes, shoes, accessories, bathing suits, and other miscellaneous items that are part of my wardrobe. My list isn't in any particular order, more about what I decide makes the list! Here we go:

1.  Lilly Pulitzer Worth Shift in the Not So Crabby print:

This is easily my favorite Lilly dress in my closet. I know that's a tough choice, but the print is SO me and I love a good shift. There's no doubt that this is my favorite choice for a summer dress!

2. Jack Rogers Navajo Sandals in Platinum:

The Platinum Jacks are by far the most worn, most popular, go-to shoe in my closet. I absolutely adore these shoes and they were the first pair of Jacks I ever got (and they show it...). They match EVERYTHING you can think of and you can dress them up or down. I have the best selling spiel when people are trying to decide what color JR's to get.

3. Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Oxford in White:

A white Ralph Lauren button-down is a must have in anyone's closet. There isn't a season you can't wear this in and it matches colored shorts, jeans, khakis, skirts, everything. It's about as versatile as a white T-Shirt.

4. J. Crew Jaquard Dress in Pink Dazzling Dots:

I had to sorta make up the name for this one, but this dress is my favorite J. Crew purchase of all time. I've worn it for a few very special events and it's a dress I really try to take care of. It looks great with silver accessories and was tailored to fit me!

5. CWD Kids Mommy and Me Madras Dress

I've had this dress for years and I love it! My mom got it for me from CWD and we had it tailored to fit me perfectly. I love wearing this during the summer because the madras material is so light and airy!

6. Bandolino Castalina Riding Boots in Cognac Leather

I get more compliments on this pair of shoes than any other pair that I own. They are a great winter color and the riding boot style is classic. The gold buckle is just enough to look nice. The heel is extremely functional and there's a little bit of elastic if you want to put them over jeans. I LOVE this pair of boots!

7. Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T Pull on Fleece

This fleece is the ideal weight and can be layered or worn on top. I like they grey color because it matches a lot too!

8. Lilly Pulitzer Florida Shift in Classic White Beach Buns

I love this shift from Lilly! It was a teeny bit damaged at the dry cleaners, but the bows and pink and green combo is SO ME!

9. Gilligan and O'Malley (a la Target) Strapless Pluge Bra

Hands down, this strapless bra is BY FAR the best bra/undergarment that I own. It is less than $15 and easily better than any Victoria's Secret or more expensive bra that I've bought. It is the PERFECT fit for me and has a great rubber lining on all of the back straps so that the back and clasp doesn't slid down. I trust this strapless bra for all my important strapless dress occasions!

10. Lilly Pulitzer Jacqueline Ponte Knit Dress

I stole this off the Re-Lilly facebook group because I can't find it online anywhere! I have worn this dress many many times and it shows no wear. It seriously looks like the day I bought it. I even wore this to an interview last spring for my current position at the Visitor Center!

This post has taken me so long to write and decide upon. I really do LOVE all 10 of these items, but it was very tough to figure out my top 10! What are yours? Anything you couldn't live without??

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Shagging Class Choices

January 24 by letsbepreppy featuring handcrafted jewelry

This was the outfit I wore to shagging! My shirt was a little different, but the color and sleeveless style from J. Crew was spot on! My shirt had a big rosette instead of the ruffles, but you get the idea. Our room was so warm that I can't imagine ever wearing anything besides sleeveless or MAYBE a cardigan. Anyway, it was super functional and the dress "code" was a pretty big range. A few of the sorority girls came in like 80's workout gear which looked a little out of place, but their leggings and t-shirts were comfortable for our "workout" type parts of class. Boys had all kinds of clothes on, but the most popular outfit of choice was a t-shirt and khakis with legal shoes (which ended up being, for most of us, socks). I had SO much fun and I can't wait to go back! I'm really looking forward to starting some of the harder moves and one of my close friends is pretty much a shag expert who even teaches at a local Jillian's! Depending on the weather and other variables Monday, I'll probably end up in a similar outfit!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Chunky Glitter Flats

So the adjective "chunky" doesn't ever really end well, but this time I promise it does!! Anyone remember the Kate Spade flats I posed about awhile ago that I fell in love with:

Nell by Kate Spade

Well, I found a pretty good alternative to them! They were on sale at Charlotte Russe for $10! They had my size and I couldn't NOT buy them!

They have a rubber bottom and I like them a lot! They show a little bit of toe cleavage (not a huge fan of that) but like I said, I couldn't pass them up! I wore them for the first time (beyond just wearing them around my room) last Friday:

January 7 by letsbepreppy featuring gold jewelries

My sister gave me the gold Kate Spade bow earrings for Christmas and it was also the first time I wore them! Since the shoes were outlined with gold, I figured gold jewelry was the best to pair it with so I put on a fun J. Crew necklace and paired it with my fabulous earrings!!

xxKatie

Severn Skirt: Reverse Buyer's Remorse

For anyone who knows me personally, I'm not talking about THIS Severn skirt:

We had really ugly uniform skirts at my high school. I tried getting a photo of the navy blue, gold, maroon assembly dress combo that we had to wear, but no such luck. Apparently even the internet didn't want to see it, either!

This J. Crew Severn skirt seems to be sold out everywhere and I TOTALLY missed the boat! A skirt (maybe) named for my high school/they have the same name, and I totally missed it! I'm going to the outlets while we're at the beach and I'm crossing my fingers that I might be able to snag one while we're there!! Much to my dismay I got this note on the J. Crew website: We're sorry. This item has been so popular, it has sold out. We've got other great ideas--just call us 800 562 0258, we're here to help. As good as your "other great ideas" may be, I wish I could grab a Severn skirt! How fun are they:

Although an interesting look, I'd probably style my outfit a little differently!

I'm sure I could pretty easily find something sooner, but it's cool that this skirt has such a GREAT name! I'm calling it "Reverse Buyer's Remorse" (RBR for short haha!)  because I'm oh-so-disappointed that I didn't get it!! Did anyone out there grab this skirt for herself?? Anyone ever catch a bad case of RBR? 

xxKatie

NYE Statement Picks

New Year's Eve says one thing to me: go big or go home. Events are big, lights are sparkly, everyone's a little bit more bubbly from the bubbly. I think that if you're attending a NYE party or event, your outfit should speak all about it. Here are my choices for NYE dresses:

Lulu's

ModCloth

J. Crew

Adrianna Papell

ModCloth

Aidan Mattox 

J. Crew

ModCloth

Lulu's

Victoria's Secret

J. Crew

Numph

Eliza J

Lulu's

Victoria's Secret

J. Crew

If you hadn't already guessed, I'm a big fan of sparkles for the holidays! I would love to wear some of these dresses, but I rarely get dressed up for NYE! It's always chilly whenever my friends and I decide what we want to do!! 

What will you be wearing? Anyone have any fabulous plans to share?

xxKatie