January 2018 / Organized Mess

Velvet for Valentine's Day

1.31.2018

*This post was sponsored by Tobi but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What makes a perfect Valentine's Day outfit for a night at home or for an evening out? Velvet and a lace bralette! This dress from Tobi is fun and flirty with the wrap skirt and the open front. I love the way it looks with a lace bandeau or bra but if you wanted to go a more conservative route you could easily add a cami or another layer. The wrap skirt adds an additional fun element to this dress and not only is it cute for Valentine's Day date but it could also be worn for a night out with the girls. With all of these details in the velvet dress I kept the accessories minimal with black tights and a pair of statement tassel earrings. And don't forget a pop of pink - just for Valentine's Day! How would you style this dress?

TOBI DRESS | FREE PEOPLE BRALETTE (SIMILAR) | OLD NAVY BOOTIES | KATE SPADE PURSE | SMAK PARLOUR EARRINGS

1.30.2018

I am so picky about jewelry and I always have been. I love statement earrings but the rest I prefer to keep minimalistic. And if I do decide to go with a statement necklace instead, I'll go with a simple (but chic) pair of earrings instead of my usual tassels. One site where I've been adding nearly everything to my jewelry wishlist is AUrate. I love their sleek designs and the pieces are so beautiful! Each piece is so versatile and can be worn anywhere, whether it's at work or happy hour. The best part? Everything is ethically sourced and the pieces are made right in New York City. Plus, they donate a book to an underprivileged child with every piece sold. Shop the newest collection HERE.

PS: Valentine's Day is coming up. And what could be better than a beautiful piece of jewelry that also gives back?

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1.29.2018

What is your Valentine's Day looking like? Our tradition is to hang out at home, make breakfast for dinner and to watch a movie. Nothing super special but it's a nice excuse to set some time aside to spend together without our computers! Typically, we will head to NYC the weekend afterwards and go to a nice brunch and spend an afternoon in a museum or walking around if the weather is nice enough. But when it comes to Valentine's Day itself we like to hide away from everybody else and avoid busy restaurants. So, whether you will be spending Valentine's Day on the couch, with your girlfriends for a Galantine's Day celebration or out for a fancy dinner, I've rounded up 6 dresses under $100 - hopefully at least one of them works for you!

Pink and Red Midi Dress | This is probably my favorite pick. Half pink, half red - this midi dress would be so fun for a day date or for an evening. The ruffles on the side add a feminine touch but the high slit on the dress makes it a little bit of a sexier choice.

Star-Printed Dress | Star-printed pieces are a current trend that's so much fun! This trend calls for minimal accessories. This mesh star-printed dress would be cute with over the knee boots or a pair of ankle boots. Plus. the combo of the black and silver is so chic.

Off the Shoulder Dress | The off the shoulder trend is still going strong! I'm obsessed this smocked gingham off the shoulder dress. Not only would it be cute for Valentine's Day with a pair of tights and red heels but it would be such a fun spring dress as well! (Anybody else already thinking about spring?)

Little Black Dress | Most of us have this staple in our closets already. A little black dress is an easy and chic go-to. The best part? It's fun and easy to accessorize! I love this twist on the little black dress with a front-tie. It's the perfect in-between trendy and classic.

Sweatshirt Dress | Looking for the perfect dress to wear for a low key V-Day? I love this cozy Tier-Sleeved sweatshirt dress. You could dress it up with a pair of heeled ankle booties or just wear it with a pair of cozy socks inside, while watching a movie on the couch - of course!

Red Lace Dress | This is SO stereotypical Valentine's Day but I love it! A lace dress like this one from Nordstrom could be used for multiple occasions, this would also work as a great holiday dress as well! I would wear this with a pair of heels and sheer black tights for an evening dinner.

Top Photo by Pete Bellis on Unsplash

1.25.2018

I live in cozy sweaters all winter long. I hate being cold more than anything so I have a tendency to pile on chunky knits throughout the months of November through March. My sweater collection has gotten a bit out of control. I have an entire wardrobe that is filled with 8 shelves of sweaters (oops!). My go-to place for the perfect winter sweater? Madewell! I love their clothing all year long, but I'm particularly obsessed during the cooler months because I love all of the collared tops for layering and their sweaters. This tinsel sweater was one of my favorite purchases this season (alongside this sweater as well) and it's been on constant repeat! I ended up wearing this for Christmas as well because I loved how festive the tinsel made it. What's your go-to place for sweaters during the cooler months?

More Cozy Knits

1.24.2018

Ever book a spontaneous trip without really thinking about it? That's exactly what my friends and I did. I headed to West Palm Beach, Florida last weekend for about 36 hours with two of my best friends. Despite it being a whirlwind of a trip it was exactly what we needed. We literally managed to only sleep for about two hours between Friday and Saturday night and went out all night, forgetting about our responsibilities. I'm the type of person who always has to be organized and so on top of E V E R Y T H I N G that sometimes it's nice to go out and just have fun. Florida was the perfect weekend escape for forgetting about reality - just for two days! One of the best parts? It was 75 and sunny! What could be better? Also, Miami is only an hour and a half drive from West Palm so we spent our Saturday in the Wynwood District and checked out the infamous Wynwood Walls. Where would you go for a weekend getaway with your BFFs?

1.23.2018

Happy National Pie Day! What could be more important than this precious holiday on a wintery Tuesday? I might not have made any pie myself this evening but I did stop by Reading Terminal and got a slice of pecan pie - yum! Here are a few pie recipes that would be fun to try if you're the one to bake. I might even take a stab at one of these sometime!

Cranberry Apple Pie from A Cozy Kitchen

Creamy Lemon Pie from Sally's Baking Addiction

Brownie Pie from Joy the Baker

Blueberry Bourbon Pie from HonestlyYum

Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie from Sally's Baking Addiction

Peach Crumb Pie from Neighborhood Food

1.18.2018

Hair ribbons tied as bows, even on adults. This winter trend is here and here to stay for the season. What are your thoughts on it? Personally, I wouldn't mind tying a thin velvet ribbon into my hair if it was just a little longer. It's a fun option for wearing your hair up. Plus, I think it would be fun to wear with an outfit featuring more "masculine" pieces such as a blazer, trousers or oxfords. Would you wear this feminine trend? Admire it from afar? Or see it as childish?

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1.17.2018

This winter I've been trying to mix in a few of my favorite summer pieces into my winter wardrobe. With temps that have been unbearable it seems more important than ever to mix in a few fun things into my usual winter neutrals. You all know I can't get enough of off-the-shoulder tops and velvet so I've mixed both of those pieces with my favorite denim overalls.