Fashion - Pocketful of Joules

My Style: February Favorite Outfits

Oh look how fancy we are with an extra day in February! Of course even with the extra 24 hours, this month flew by so quickly and I’m already counting down the moments until spring.

Winter tends to get a little boring, especially when it’s cold and snowy. Or rainy. So I decided to mix it up a little this month and participate in one of those Instagram style challenges. I did the #wearwhatwherefebruary Style Challenge and I LOVED it. By having a style goal for each day it really got me out of my rut and helped me look at my closet in a whole new way.

I really feel like I rocked a few of the challenges, like the Band of Rose Gold, Candy Heart Hues, and Pink Passion Fashion.

I went through my February pictures and picked three of my favorite outfits to share with you. If you see something you like, I’ve made it easy for you to steal my style with links for each item, as well as some similar styles at different price points. If you want to check out previous My Style posts, you can find them here.

Oh and I did a little video with ALL my looks here:
{warning, there is music if you’re trying to pretend you’re working…}

A video posted by pocketfulofjoules (@pocketfulofjoules) on Feb 29, 2016 at 6:05am PST

Look #1: Animal Print for the Office

The Blouse
I seem to have a ton of printed blouses in my closet, but hardly any solids… especially solids that aren’t black! I bought this navy blouse from Loft last year and it is exactly what I hoped it would be – it fits my bust, doesn’t get all wrinkly by the end of the day and looks professional with a pencil skirt. What’s not to love?! This year Loft has it in black, teal cloud and fireball red. It’s currently $49.50 but I feel like they always have sales. I do suggest you try it on in a store (or order two sizes) because while I’m usually a large in tops, the medium fit me perfectly.

The Skirt
When I saw this skirt in the store I thought that it was so ‘not me’ but decided to try it on anyways because it is stretchy and it was on super sale. What can I say, I’m a bargain hunter through and through. I was surprised that I actually like this more neutral version of animal print! This skirt is long gone, but I found a couple similar ones – this one is on super clearance at Lord & Taylor but in very limited sizes and this one is in a stretchy ‘scuba’ fabric for $40!

The Boots
These knee-high boots from Naturalizer are worn to death from November to March each year and next Fall I’m certainly going to have to replace them (after a few years they are starting to show their age). If I were styling this outfit today, I’d switch them out for a pair of booties like these from Franco Sarto or this similar pair from Rocket Dog for less than $30.

Look #2: Pink & Stripy

The Dress
I normally don’t wear this dress in the winter, but it seemed appropriate for the day’s ‘Pink Passion Fashion’ prompt so I grabbed it from my other closet and winterized it. Winterizing a summer dress is a great trick to get more wear out of your clothes, so I found some spring dresses that you can start wearing now with tights, or pair with strappy sandals in a few months. This adorable Ottoman Flare dress in sangria has the same kind of ‘feel’ as the one I’m wearing, but I also really like this jersey fit-and-flare dress from Old Navy.

The Sweater
I love a good striped cardigan and it’s a super easy way to add interested to an otherwise boring outfit. Plain tee and jeans… add a striped cardigan. Solid colored dress… boom, striped cardigan! I bought this one from Banana Republic around the time that Jack was born and it’s still in great shape. I did a little search and found a couple similar sweaters to try – this one from Lands End would look great with pretty much everything but I also really like this slouchy version from ASOS.

The Booties
AHH, my booties. I’m so in love with these booties and shared the story behind them on my Instagram page a couple weeks ago. It doesn’t look like they have the black version online, but if you live near a Nordstrom Rack I’d highly suggest stopping by to try and find them. They are the perfect height and I’ve worn them for a 12 hour day without my feet hurting. You can find the brown version, which is also super cute, here.

Look #3: A Spin on the Classic Black Suit

The Blouse
Did I really need another black blouse? Um, probably not. But when I saw this one with ¾ tab sleeves and a lacy top for just $25 I couldn’t resist. It’s sold out online in black, but you can still find the light blue and white versions of my exact top here. There is also an identical tank top version that does still have sizes available in black. Either one is super cute and would mix with a ton of outfits now and all year long.

The Blazer
Sometimes life calls for a suit, but I’m not really a classic suit kinda girl. If you keep to an all-black look you can usually mix in some less traditional pieces and still make it look like a suit. I ended up finding this moto jacket/blazer at Ann Taylor after the holidays when I went in to do a gift exchange. I was super surprised to find such an edgy look at Ann Taylor! I found a couple similar options for you, including this boucle moto blazer from Banana Republic and this version for just $40 (very limited sizes). I’m also loving this brown version to go over some flowy spring dresses.

Bonus Top that I’m Obsessed With Right Now

I love this top. I mean LOVE it so much. I ordered it when Anthropologie did one of their ‘everything on sale is an extra 40% off’ sales, figuring that I could return it if it was terrible in person. It is everything I love in a top… sassy and special lace detailing, a super soft and flowy body and a pattern that makes it look one of a kind. Right now there are a few sizes still available if you love it too.

Which look is your favorite? Do you have “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” stuck in your head now?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission. Thank you to anyone who chooses to click through and support my blogging addiction.

Reviewing Birchbox: January & February Reveals

Well, my reentry into Birchbox world went so well in November and December (you can check the post out here) that I decided to stick with it. It can get a bit boring to review them every month though, so I’m thinking I’ll double-up and write about them every other month.

Here’s what I received in my January Birchbox:

R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo, full-size $29
amika Bombshell Blowout Spray, full-size $24
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre, full-size $28
Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner, full-size $16
Tonymoly Delight Tony Tint in Red, full-size $6

Initially the product I was most excited to try was the dry shampoo. I recently tried dry shampoo for the first time a few months ago (I bought this one and highly recommend it for anyone wanting to dip their toe into the world of dry shampoo), but was super confused on all the options out there. I was curious if the fancy version was any different than the cheapo version I use. Verdict: They perform about the same but the R+Co version scent sticks with you for much longer.

I have the amika spray from a previous Birchbox and like it for when I want my bangs to keep a slight curl all day long. I tried the Embroyolisse cream and it goes on really light but moisturizes all day, so that’s a win. I experimented with the liquid liner for my ‘trying a cat eye’ post and while it was fun to try, it didn’t end up being a very good match for me. As for the red lip tint, it was just kind of weird.

Now, let’s check out my February Birchbox:

Color Club mini polish in That’s my Jam, full-size $8.50
Corioliss Argan Conditioning Mask, full-size $40
Naobay HydraPlus Cream, full-size $29.60
Hey Honey Take it Off! Exfoliating Honey Peel Off Mask, full-size $29
POP Beauty Matte Velvet Lipstix in Coxy Crimson, Full-size Trio $24

I was actually excited about every single item in this month’s box and it all seemed like a great fit for me. The nail polish is a really pretty shade of red, which I will certainly get plenty of wear out of (my toenails are pretty year-round). A conditioning hair mask is a great fit, especially with all the dry heat pumping out of my heat pump this time of year. I ended up taking it with us to Great Wolf Lodge and slathering my poor chlorine soaked hair with the mask two days in a row. The mask worked great and the smell was amazing!

I was pleasantly surprised at the large sample size for the Naobay cream and will definitely be spreading this face lotion on after any night-time showers, since it doesn’t have an SPF. As for the peel off mask, I can’t wait to try it! The POP lipstick is a really pretty shade of red, but I didn’t find it very moisturizing at all. I think I will save this one for special occasions or quick photo shoots for the blog.

I’m still really happy that I decided to give Birchbox another try and really feel like I’ve gotten a good value for my money over the past few months. I really loved the last couple boxes and can’t wait to see what they send me next!

Have you broken up with a subscription box only to return a few months later and love it?

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Birchbox, I paid for the $10 fee with my own hard-earned money. If you enjoyed my review and decide to try Birchbox for yourself, the biggest compliment you can give me is by using my referral link. Thank you to anyone who chooses to click through and support my shopping addiction! Pocketful of Joules is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

My February Stitch Fix: Was “Surprise Me” the Best Choice?

I’m super excited that it’s Stitch Fix Day up here in the Joules house!

Even though my stylist has been doing quite well on sending things that fit in with my style and my life, my last ‘buy it all’ Fix was way back in September (and I ended up selling a couple items online afterwards). Since then, I pretty much only find one item in each Fix that I love enough to buy.

Some of you may consider this a failure, but I’d much rather have one item a month that I’m ecstatic about rather than a closet full of stuff I only kind of like. It’s also better for my budget that I don’t break the bank every single month!

{If you are interested in checking out all of my Fix reviews, you can click here. This Fix is #29… so I’m kind of a fan!}

I’m planning on asking for a ‘vacation Fix’ next month, but for February I decided to mix it up a little. Here’s what I told my stylist:

I’m dying to try the Brixon Ivy Jarred Lace Detail Cap-Sleeve Blouse in black! I just pinned a ton of new stuff, so look around and send me a fun surprise Fix!

Did she deliver? Let’s check it out:

Item #1: Skies are Blue Myriam Lace Knit Dress, $58
Okay, so the navy and white stripes + lace are totally my jam. In fact, I just recently bought a top that could be a sister to this dress (check it out here).

Sources: Similar cardigan and similar sandals.

We will be going on vacation in a few weeks, so I styled this with a pair of black sandals for a cute vacation look. For the second outfit, I added a bright floral belt and green cardigan.

Keep or Return? While I do like the stripes and lace combo, I just don’t really think that this dress is very flattering on my shape. Looks like a return.

Item #2 Market & Spruce Corianna Striped Dolman Top, $48 and
#3 Skies are Blue Kembla Raglan Sleeve Jacket, $68
First off, let’s talk about the dolman-sleeved top. I know that a lot of people really like them, but I really dislike the bat-like sleeves. I tried one a couple years ago (purchased from a Fix) but ended up giving it to a friend because I just kept avoiding it in my closet. I even have a note in my account for NO DOLMAN tops, so I’m not sure why she sent me this one. With all that being said, this one doesn’t actually look like a dolman top and the sleeves aren’t that weird.

As for the jacket, Stitch Fix recently pinned this jacket and I loved the whole outfit (you can see the pin here) so I pinned it on my own ‘Fix Inspiration’ page. Although it’s called a jacket, it’s actually a sweater/cardigan. My stylist suggested trying the two items together, so I did:

Sources: Exact jeans, similar red Tom’s, exact black flats.

For the first look, I just paired the dolman sleeve top with jeans and comfy shoes. For the second outfit, I switched out the shoes for flats and added on the jacket.

Keep or Return: I’m completely surprised to say that I don’t hate the dolman top. It’s a really nice knit fabric and drapes really well. The cardigan is also nice, but a little too preppy for me. I’m leaning towards sending both of these back. What do you think?

Item #4: Brixon Ivy Jarred Lace Detail Cap-Sleeve Blouse, $68
YES! I’ve had this blouse pinned for months and months! I’ve been obsessing over the pretty lace details and can see myself mixing this in with a ton of different outfits. Here is a close up of the gorgeous detailing on the back… and a sneak peek of my unfinished tattoo:

And here are two different ways I tried styling it:

Sources: Skirt is long sold out (Anthropologie), exact jeans, exact booties in a different color.

For the first look, I tucked it in to a high-waisted swing skirt and LOVE this look so much that I kind of want to just wear it around the house right now. For the second outfit I paired it with skinny jeans and cute booties.

Keep or Return? I love it so much and I’m definitely going to buy it!

Item #5: Staccato Dolan Open Cardigan, $64
This fun sweater is another one I recently pinned. I really liked the navy and white pattern and could imagine wearing it for a more casual workday or just on the weekend over a t-shirt and jeans.

Sources: Similar tee, exact jeans.

I styled it with a comfy tee and knee boots for my typical leaving-the-house-on-a-weekend look.

Keep or Return? I really like this sweater because it has an interesting pattern and it’s super comfortable. My only concern is that it’s kind of warm. Which is great in the dead of winter if I’m spending a lot of time outside… but most of the time I run kind of hot and don’t need this much warmth. Another factor to consider, my husband hates it. So, there’s that.

Help Me!
So now it’s time for the fun part… what do you think should I buy? I’m leaning towards just buying the Brixton Ivy blouse, but I’d love to know your thoughts! Oh, and what do you think of my new red lipstick (it’s this one in “Red Door Red”) — is it a keeper?

On a related note, if you like to see how I style my various Stitch Fix purchases, you can follow me on Instagram here: Pocketful of Joules.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the review I just did of Trunk Club (find it here), as well as my monthly My Style posts (find them here). Thank you for stopping by!

2/25/16 Update: it was a super easy decision and I ended up keeping the Brixton Ivy blouse and can’t wait to wear it!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Stitch Fix, I pay for the $20 styling fee and any clothing I purchase with my own hard-earned money. If you enjoyed my review and decide to try Stitch Fix for yourself, the biggest compliment you can give me is by using my referral link. Thank you to anyone who chooses to click through and support my shopping addiction! This post contains ShopStyle affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Psssst…Do you love checking out what other people received in their Fixes? I added quick links to every single one of my reviews on my Stitch Fix Reviews page!