the IT list... February 22, 2013!

• Laura Wears is rocking shades of yellow and blue for a super stylish work day! Pop over to check out her fabulous pants! (find Laura Wears on Twitter!)
• Seersucker + Saddles is using her go-to spring staple to dress down a pretty frock! Head over to find out what versatile piece every closet needs for the warming weather! (find Seersucker + Saddles on Twitter!)
• Undeniable Style mixes stripes and plaid for cozy, yet polished, look complete with tons of layering! So Cute!! (find Undeniable Style on Twitter!)
• Miss Top Ten Image elevates her look with one colorful accessory that pops off of her neutral outfit! It's all in the details! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
• My Thrifty Chic looks gorgeous in pink and red and does it for a steal! Her entire looks rings in under $40 - definitely a must see! (find My Thrifty Chic on Twitter!)
• The Second Best mixes camo and leather for a killer combination! Perfect for date night with a little edge! (find Second Best on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation trades in her little black dress for a little blue dress! An amazing change of scenery from a favorite closet staple! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Little Bit of Wo.We shows us seven ways to style a gorgeous sequin skirt! Everything from date night to errand running - tons of ideas here! (find Little Bit of Wo.We on Twitter!)
• Rose a la Mode is rocking denim on denim with a few extra layers to stay warm! Add in a great pair of boots and a beautiful bag and this is on cute look! (find Rose a la Mode on Twitter!)
• Pretty Preened is brighting up the winter mood in pretty shades of pink! The best part... this look is pocket-book friendly! (find Pretty Preened on Twitter!)
• A Fine Line rounds up her favorite coffee and tea accessories for all of you caffeine lovers! This one will definitely have you reaching for a mug! (find A Fine Line on Twitter!)
• It's a Darling Ensemble is doubling up on her favorite pattern - polka dots! Pop over to see how she pulls it off!
• Sweetie Pie Style goes for a classic look in denim and white and adds in a bit of fun with a hint of neon! Love this budget-friendly look - definitely one to recreate! (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• Second Street East is dreaming of spring and taking inspiration from a pretty pastel room! Pop over to check out the outfit and room looks that this living room inspired! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second Street East.

For more information on how you can be involved - click here

strawberry blush

outfit details:

bcbg pumps <<clearance $15, tjmaxx>>

vintage clutch <<gift from husband>>

togua nut ring <<similar>>

charlotte russe necklace 

forever21 peplum top

forever21 striped tee

thrifted it jeans

wisconsin appears to be getting another dose of winter. lame. spring can't come soon enough. i am so over the cold, snow, and snotty-nosed students. on a brighter note (literally), this outfit appears to be cheering things up a bit. thank goodness for fashion. it fixes everything. well, most things. you just can't be in a sour mood when decked out in pink.

the best part of this outfit...the price. we here at pretty preened really do try to be conscious of our budget (husband sometimes needs reminding). husband and i really do what we can to live for experiences and not really for "things." the things we do procure tend to be pretty, yet pocket-book friendly. this outfit is no exception. the whole thing...yes everything, cost under sixty bucks. 

wedding wednesday: restyle the dress

i have been dying for an opportunity to rewear my reception dress. when we got married, husband and i agreed that every year on our anniversary (that is every year we remain the same weight...not sure how long that will last) we will get all fancy in our wedding garb and hit the town. during our one year wedding anniversary coming up in june, husband (and hopefully yours truly as well) will be in spain on a trip with students. there is no way i am lugging the dress overseas...though that would be romantic.

instead, i opted for a little restyle challenge for our annual valentine's day tradition. since we have been together, husband and i have celebrated the holiday of love by filling our bellies with a three-course brunch of french delicacies. no better venue for a little feather action. my dress worked its sartorial magic as it breathed new life as a skirt under my winter layers. i did some major shopping in my own closet to come up with this lovely combo. my only wish would have been for the weather to cooperate...it was pouring rain and dreary. i am talking buckets, people. white backdrop for an ivory skirt wouldn't be my first choice...but, we work with what we got.

outfit details:

wedding dress worn as skirt

forever 21 polka dot blouse

j.crew kimono jacket

thrifted stole

vintage clutch

franco sarto heels

some more feather fun.

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the IT list...February 8, 2013!

• Laura Wears is playing with winter patterns and serving up a little plaid on plaid! Such a lovely menswear inspired look with all of the right feminine touches! (find Laurea Wears on Twitter!)
• Good Life brightens up a winter day with her new go-to colorful neutral that works in every season! Pop over to see how this classic color is the perfect backdrop for any look! (find Good Life on Twitter!)
• Seersucker + Saddles looks so chic in tennies and jewels for a cold, snowy day! A must see for styling those running shoes!(find Seersucker + Saddles on Twitter!)
• Undeniable Style is bringing the 90s back with a little grunge but of course glams it up with a little leather! This is the ultimate in causal chic! (find Undeniable Style on Twitter!)
• One Hundred Inspirations recreates a simple and classic Reese Witherspoon look for under $110! Head over to check out where the pieces are from!
• Miss Top Ten is making some BIG changes in her life and saying stylish through them all of course! You must see her fabulous blue accessories! So cute! (find Miss Top Ten on Twitter!)
• My Thrifty Chic is channeling Princess Kate and put on her most ladylike frock that is perfect for tea with the Queen... or a day in the park! The best part? She rented the dress!! (find My Thrifty Chic on Twitter!)
• The Second Best is keeping it simple and letting her (amazing!) accessory take the spotlight! Pop over to check out her cute and colorful bauble! (find Second Best on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation lets it flow in one of the season's hottest trends! Paired with jeans and flats, this look is comfortable and cute! Love! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Little Bit of Wo.We shows us three ways to wear a two-toned blazer - work, date night and weekend! Pop over to pick out your favorite look and grab a few tips! (find Little Bit of Wo.We on Twitter!)
• Rose a la Mode is out to dinner with the family in an outfit that the girls AND guys approve of! That's a win-win if you ask me! (find Rose a la Mode on Twitter!)
• Pretty Preened tried out a new mix of patterns and knocked it out of the park! Plaid and leopard must be a match made in heaven! (find Pretty Preened on Twitter!)
• Sweetie Pie Style rounds up 7 sweet treats to add a quick and easy spring fix to your wardrobe! The best news? They are all under $25!! (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• Second Street East is taking a cue from the warming weather and recreating a room and outfit with bright blues and pinks! Tons of great finds! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second Street East.

For more information on how you can be involved - click here

plaid + leopard: you betcha

image sources 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 

this week i took to the fashion blogging scene to give myself a little sartorial jumpstart. time to liven it up for the work week, folks. in my book, fashion is all about mixin it up and taking risks. the beauties you see above do both with class and ease. i can't help but fall for the plaid leopard combo. check out my workwear take on the trend below. husband calls these my pajama pants. i call them cute, but that's just me.

 merona ankle pants <<target in-store clearance... 8 bucks!>>, jessica simpson leopard wedges <<similar>>, 
target chambray shirt <<old>>, thrifted banana republic boat neck sweater,
thrifted bomber, forever21 triangle necklace <<similar>>, bauble necklace- can't remember

following pretty preened on twitter yet? get at that.

the big chill and a pop of yellow

hat- no idea, american eagle jeans, homemade thrifted sweater (2 bucks!!), old target button up <<similar>>, target belt <<on sale in the store>>, modcloth wedge booties <<similar>>

my face below says it all. it is beginning to feel a lot like winter here in the midwest. the week started out as a frosty mess and now our yard is finally blanketed with a wee bit of snow. oh, how i love thee wisconsin. hard to say that with a straight face during this time of year. this outfit is a typical casual winter weekend look for me. a big 'ol sweater is a must paired with a trusty belt to tie it all together (...in hopes of making the look more flattering, of course). we do what we can with the weather we have, right? this belt is on clearance at target..go round it up.

husband and i are off on a mini road trip (for a spanish conference of sorts) to a land even chillier than here...minneapolis. i am pumped to return to my old stompin grounds (lived there for five years during the first go at college), yet wish the weather wasn't so ho humm. good thing i have my winter wear all packed. 

have a warm and wonderful weekend.

pantone color of the year: emerald

 forever 21 sweater, vintage karl lagerfeld paris skirt<< similar >>,  vintage broach, coastal glasses 

urban outfitters bird tights << similar 1, 2 >>, bow belt old <<similar>> refresh julia flats 

this outfit is pretty standard teacher work wear for me. a pencil skirt and a sweet little sweater or cardigan usually does the trick. throw on a cute pair of shoes and i am all set. usually a smile comes standard too...not sure what really happened up there. maybe it's this evil cold that won't quit. pencil skirts are  favorites of mine for a couple good reasons...they are flattering for those of us blessed with some meat on our thighs and they are quite easy to come by.

this is where one of my thrifting go-tos comes in. not only is that vintage karl lagerfeld emerald beauty of a skirt on the fashion radar due to pantone's color picking (which you can see more about from At Home in Love), it cost me two dollars and twenty cents. every time i go into a thrift store, i mean every time, i take a trip down the skirt aisle. skirts are one of the three items i always look for. more on the other two at another time. i can generally find numerous pencil skirts waiting to be candidates to join their thrifty friends in my closet. 

typically i stay out of the dressing rooms at thrift stores and i use one trick to determine if the skirt has potential to fit me in the waist. i take the skirt off of the hanger and wrap the waistband of the skirt around my neck. yes, you read that right. if waistband come together and you have a wee bit of breathing room around your neck (maybe an inch overlap or so), the waist will fit.  if the waistband is snug around the neck and you find that you are cutting off your breathing, the skirt just won't do.

this trick works with pants too. congratulations, you've just reached thrifting level...super stealth.

tribal inspired

tobi sweater << similar 1, 2, 3 >>, thrifted fur stole << similar >>, thrifted ringer tee,
thrifted jeans, steve madden boots << similar 1, 2 >>

every time i wear this sweater, people stop me to inquire about it. because of this, i knew i would want to showcase this comfy, tribal inspired beauty in my first outfit post. it really is a dream. now that i have things all set up and the pictures taken, i can't find the sweater anywhere on the interwebs. big. time. bummer. i originally purchased the sweater here, but alas they no longer have it. i scoured the web with no luck, but have included some pieces that may be somewhat of a long lost cousin.

comment below and let me know if you happen upon it.