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Fashion

Guest Post: Building a Professional Wardrobe in College

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Hi lovely readers! So as you may know, this week is my finals week and also the week I am moving from California back to Washington. Needless to say, I will be VERY busy.

 

Unfortunately, I will not be able to be creating my own content this week, so I have a fantastic lineup of guest posts for you! I hope you check in everyday to read their posts and learn more about some other incredible bloggers that have been so generous in helping me out.

 

The following post is by Samantha of the blog Samantha Reads. I hope you love her post as much as I do!

 

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Hi wonderful readers of Small Town Roots & Cowboy Boots!

 

I’m Samantha, and I run the blog Samantha Reads. First off, I’d like to thank Madeleine for having me guest post today.

 

As we all probably know, college is a time of transition. You’re out of your safe hometown bubble, but you’re not quite in the “real world” yet. This is probably one of the last times in your life it will be acceptable to wear yoga pants on a week day, so take advantage of that! But we should also be using our collegiate years to build a professional wardrobe so we’re not stuck spending all the money we don’t have come graduation on blazers and pencil skirts.

 

That’s why I’ve taken some time to pick out versatile campus to office pieces that are casual enough to wear in college, but professional enough that they’ll also work when you graduate.
Midi Pencil Skirt, Zara, $59.90
A pencil skirt is key for the professional set, but basic black can be a little boring for a college campus. This bright blue adds some excitement to the work day uniform, and could easily be worn for a night out at school paired with a crop top.
Lace Jacket, H&M, $24.95
Even if you’re still in college, every girl needs a good blazer, but there’s no rule it needs to be plain. This one’s still in a neutral hue, making it office-friendly, but the lace will make you stand out in the crowd.
Pleated woven pants, Forever 21, $22.80
Say goodbye to the ill-fitting dress pants of offices past. These cropped, pleated trousers emphasize your shape in a way that’s still perfectly work appropriate, but could also be paired with a printed tank for class or hanging out with friends.
Harper Geometric Textured Dress, Francesca’s, $68
Dresses are a great choice for building a professional wardrobe. Worn with a blazer, this shift is perfect for the workplace. Worn without, it’s perfect for a school event or just brunch with friends.
If you like what you see, feel free to follow me on my own blog or on Twitter for more tips!
Xoxo, Samantha
Fashion

Outfit of the Day: Yesterday, April 23rd

Outfit of the Day April 23

Outfit of the Day April 23
Yesterday I had the incredible privilege of managing Chapman University’s Twitter and Instagram during the annual “Spring Sizzle.” It was a blast – I felt so energized after. Opportunities like this remind me of how much I love social media especially for live events. I just really enjoy myself and feel very confident when I do it.

The one thing I did not feel confident about was my body. I really do not know what triggered this inside of me as I am usually very content with my body, but I guess I just had an off day. As I was settling in for the night to write this post and head to bed, a woman in my sorority shared this video on Facebook. I watched in awe as I was incredibly uplifted and inspired. I have included it at the bottom of this post for you to watch – I really hope you do! It is only about eight minutes long and will seriously make you feel beautiful and valued.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your day!

Shoes: Kohl’s | Jeans: Kut from the Kloth by Nordstrom | Tank: Frenchi by Nordstrom | Scarf: Nordstrom | Watch: Kate Spade

Outfit of the Day April 23Outfit of the Day April 23

Fashion

Romping in Hot Pink

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte RusseCharlotte Russe has some incredible new spring arrivals and this romper is no exception. I’m completely in love with everything about it from the hot pink color to the flattering shape to the lace accents. This is the first romper I’ve ever owned because I was convinced they were the least flattering thing for any woman with hips or thighs. However, I was pleasantly surprised when this fit me like  a glove and accentuated my small waist. It highlights my curves in all the right ways! The chunky chain bracelet I’m wearing is too cute and guess what? It is also from Charlotte Russe!

Romper: Charlotte Russe | Chain Bracelet: Charlotte Russe | Shoes: G by Guess | Blazer: Forever 21 | Watch: Kate Spade | Rings: Vintage Stamp Jewels and vintage

 

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe

 

Charlotte Russe sent me this romper and bracelet free of charge. They did not ask me to write a review. All opinions and images are my own.

 

 

 

 

Fashion

Shop My Closet

$24.99 Charlotte Russe High-Low Dress ONLY WORN ONCE!

It’s time for spring cleaning! I’m finally getting rid of some of my clothes that I’ve hung onto forever but never wear. Most of these items have been worn once or twice and are in really good condition. Please email me at smalltownrootsandcowboyboots@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing one of them. There will be a flat rate shipping cost of $5.80.

$24.99 Charlotte Russe High-Low Dress ONLY WORN ONCE!

Size small. High-low dress from Charlotte Russe. Worn once.
Was: $25
Asking: $15

TAGS STILL ON! Never worn. Forever 21 dress. $19.99

TAGS STILL ON! Forever 21 size small bodycon dress. NEVER WORN!

$9.99 mint tank from Forever 21 Tank. Worn twice.

Size small. Tank from Forever 21. Worn twice.
Was: $20
Asking: $10

$34.99 vintage swing dress - size small. Never worn.

AMAZING vintage dress. Never worn. Size small.
Was: $85
Asking: $35

$9.99 Nordstrom Tank Top

Size small. Tank from B.P. Nordstrom
Was: $32
Asking: $15

$5.99 Forever 21 Tank

Size small. Tank from Forever 21.
Was: $15
Asking: $5

Boxy blazer from Forever 21. Hardly worn. $19.99

Size small. Boxy blazer from Forever 21.
Was: $20
Ask: $15

$12.99 Forever 21 dress - size small. Hardly worn.

Size small. Forever 21 dress.
Was: $15
Asking: $8

Sizes mall black maxi skirt form target. $9.99

Size small. Black maxi skirt. From Target.
Was: $20
Asking: $10

B.P. Nordstrom bandage skirt. $7.99

Size small. Bandage skirt from B.P. Nordstrom.
Was: $25
Asking: $10

 

Size small. High-low skirt from Target. Never worn. Was: $28 Ask: $15

Size small. High-low skirt from Target. Never worn.
Was: $28
Ask: $15

Fashion

Outfit of the Day: April 3rd (part two)

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So I completely forgot to include the pictures of my bag in today’s outfit of the day post! I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.

Anyways, I received this GORGEOUS bag from I Flew The Next – a monogram Etsy shop. It’s an incredibly high-quality bag and the color is just divine. I carried my laptop, planner, lunch, and a water bottle in it all day and it held up. It never hurt my shoulder or anything. Definitely check out this shop!

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I was provided this bag from I Flew the Nest free of charge. All opinions are my own.

Fashion

Outfit of the Day: April 3rd

Outfit of the Day April 3rd

Outfit of the Day April 3rdThis incredible kimono from Jane is the perfect spring addition to my wardrobe. The bright colors and floral print brighten up any outfit. The beautiful chiffon fabric feels light and fun. I also adore this Kappa Alpha Theta necklace from Tomi’s Treasures – an Etsy shop that I found. It’s so dainty and stunning – I love it!

Necklace: Tomi’s Treasures | Kimono: Jane | Ring: Texas Roots | Purse: I Flew the Nest | Jeans: Vigoss | Bracelet: Alex and Ani | Booties: Sofft | Hair: Bellami Extensions | Tank: Mossimo Supply

Outfit of the Day April 3rd9

Outfit of the Day April 3rd

Outfit of the Day April 3rdI want to talk briefly about Tomi’s Treasures. Tomi was incredible to work with. She was so interested in hearing about my life as a college woman. She worked so hard to provide me with jewelry that I wanted. I will post later about another amazing necklace she sent me (it’s in the shape of Washington state!). She went above and beyond to make it for me. I would highly recommend checking out her Etsy shop full of beautiful Greek jewelry. She even has hand-stamped bottle openers with fraternity letters on them! Anyways, I would just recommend you check her shop out for big/little gifts or a something special for a friend.

Outfit of the Day April 3rd

Outfit of the Day April 3rd7

I was provided with the kimono by Jane, ring by Texas Roots, and necklace by Tomi’s Treasures free of charge. All opinions are my own.

 

Fashion

Spring Fashion Haul

Spring Haul

Spring Haul

FASHION HAUL TIME!

I finally had the opportunity to go spring wardrobe shopping. My friends all make fun of me for this, but I’m addicted to business casual. There’s no harm in that, right?

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” – Oscar Wilde

Everything you see in these pictures is from Forever 21 except the sunglasses, which are from Nordstrom.

How I plan on styling these items:
  • The black crop sweater looks amazing with button-down collared shirts. It will be great for those cooler Seattle mornings, especially when I’m running around downtown for my internship this summer.
  • The navy striped crop top looks divine with the peach asymmetrical skirt. I love navy and peach together! The stripes combined with the floral fabric pattern of the skirt are a fun way to mix patterns without clashing.
  • I also love the asymmetrical skirt because I can see it being paired with a basic white tank and nude blazer. Polished off with some basic nude pumps, it will be the perfect business-casual outfit.
  • I died when I saw this black floppy hat! If you read my outfit of the day post from March 26th, you can see me wearing it already. I was so eager to wear it that I put it on as soon as I walked out of the store. It’s such a simple way to add a touch of mystery and high-fashion to any outfit. Oh, and it can cover up a bad hair day like nothing else! (but pshhhh, I never have those…)
  • I usually hate paisley, but this black and white skort makes it look so elegant. Yes, you heard right – it’s a skort. We all wore them when we were little so when we were playing outside and our skirts flew up, nobody would see our panties. Children-at-heart adults rejoice: they’re making a steady comeback in a more classy fashion. I’m so excited to wear this with a black blazer for my internship. It’s stylish, but not too distracting or informal.
  • The blue crop top is such a lovely color, it’s hard to resist. It also is made out of chiffon, so you can easily dress it up. Since high-waist pants and skirts (and skorts!) are really in style right now, it’s important to have some dressier crop tops that don’t show your belly.
  • Finally, I had been wanting a pair of black, wayfarer-style sunglasses for a while now. I found these at Nordstrom and was shocked to see they were a steal at only $12! They go with everything and will be the perfect accessory as the sun starts to come out more.

Whew! Overall, I spent $112. Now that may seem like a lot, but for two really nice skirts, two crop tops, a sweater, a hat, and sunglasses, I’d say that’s a steal. For reviving my wardrobe for the spring and summer, I’d say I did a pretty fantastic job bargain hunting. These pieces are all very versatile and I can’t wait to start wearing them!

Spring Haul

 

 

Fashion

Outfit of the Day: March 26th

Outfit of the Day March 26

Outfit of the Day March 26

I went to the mall today to get all of my spring shopping done. It’s “warm” today – about 50 degrees – so I didn’t need a huge jacket or anything. This outfit is easy to throw together but it looks really polished. I just love it! I actually bought the hat today and threw it on as soon as I left the store. It complements my outfit nicely!

Cardigan: Forever 21 | Hat: Forever 21 | Tank: Target | Jeans: Hudson Jeans | Watch: Kate Spade | Shoes: Sofft | Bracelet: Alex and Ani | Rings: Colby June, Pure Impressions, Vintage Stamp Jewels

Outfit of the Day March 26

Outfit of the Day March 26 Outfit of the Day March 26

Fashion

Outfit of the Day: March 20th

Outfit of the Day: March 20th

Happy first day of spring!

In honor of the “holiday,” I decided to break out my favorite sundress, cowboy boots, and Lilly Pulitzer bow from Bows and Kites. Also, check out my gorgeous Kappa Alpha Theta pendant created by one of my favorite people in the world, Donna. Check out my other post all about her jewelry and buy beautiful handmade sorority pendants like this one here.

This is one of my favorite outfits of all time. Comfy, cute, and playful!

Dress: Nordstrom | Bow: Bows and Kites | Necklace: Greek Jewelry | Boots: Vintage | Extensions: Bellami

Southern Belle outfit

Cowboy boots and sundresses are the perfect pair