Fashion Friday: Queen of hearts

Beanie: DownEast Basics | Top: Heritage (Costco) | Cardigan: Forever 21 (old) | Jeans: Paper Denim & Cloth (old) | Boots: Jellypop (on sale!) | Necklace: Tom Design

Whew! It's been a while since I've written a Fashion Friday post. Andrew took these pictures a month ago, back when the weather was still beautiful here and not icy and frigid.

We were driving around in Sugar House, this area about 10 minutes away from our home, and happened to see the cutest little yellow cafe — so we stopped to take some pictures.

I know I say this about every pair of boots I buy, but these new boots are seriously my favorite. They have buckles, they're a fabulous greyish-brown color and they were on sale! You can't beat that. Plus, 6PM offers free shipping, and these babies got here FAST. If you don't have a pair of ankle boots, jump on the bandwagon. I'm planning to wear these with a dress and tights soon.

Also, I've sung Tom Design's praises before, but I have to do it again. I bought this adorable initial necklace with a single A (for Andrew) a few weeks ago, and it's become one of my go-to pieces. It's simple, but it's classic. If you're afraid of gold, don't worry. Debbie offers it in silver, too. 

I've bought several necklaces from her, and each one has been fabulous. I have really sensitive skin around my neck and collarbone from my cancer surgery and have to be careful about the necklaces I buy. Fortunately, Debbie shortens the chains for me so that they don't irritate my skin. Oh, and did I mention that she's an Idaho girl, too? Gem state power!

Anyway, enough said. I seriously love her stuff, and I just wanted to share her shop again.

I hope you are having a wonderful December. What cool finds have you bought lately?

Fashion Friday: How to style a vintage dress

Dress: Vintage | Cardigan: Costco | Boots: Bouquets (old)

I bought this vintage 1970s dress on Etsy about four years ago, but I've only worn it a handful of times since the color is most appropriate for fall. I love the pockets and the brass buttons, but it makes me look busty when I wear it alone.

Enter the black cardigan. I threw this on partly because I was freezing, but I think it and the black boots tie the look together and make it more modern.

If you're trying to style a vintage dress (or even one that you've had in your closet for years), try adding a cardigan or even a belt to add interest. It can change your entire outfit! I have a feeling this dress will get more wear now that I have a better way to style it.

Do you have any vintage dresses? How do you bring them into the 21st century?

Fashion Friday: Bejeweled

Keeping things short and sweet today. If you have a pair of pastel pants that you want to make more appropriate for fall, simply pair them with a jewel-toned T-shirt or sweater (mine is from Costco) and boots! It's an easy way to make something old look fresh.

I'm hoping to go to Lagoon, a local theme park, with my husband this weekend, so stay tuned for pictures from that trip! Lagoon is one of my favorite places in the world. :)

Fashion Friday: Pearl power

Button-up: Charlotte Russe (thrifted) | Top: Heritage (Costco) | Jeans: Paper Denim & Cloth (old) | Shoes: ShoeMint

I recently discovered the joy of trading in my old clothes. A new store just opened up in our neighborhood that accepts gently used clothing, shoes and accessories and pays you in cash or store credit.

Of course, I thought this was fantastic and weeded out a bunch of clothes that I never wear anymore — and Andrew went through his closet, too. Then we browsed the store for gems. So far, I've scored this great pearl-collar shirt and a beautiful wool peacoat (that you'll be seeing on this blog soon). It makes me happy to know that I'm not spending any more money but still getting new clothes that I love.

And this button-up is already a favorite. I think it's cute layered, but it would also look great on its own with a full skirt.

Have you ever traded clothes in? Did you have a good experience?

Fashion Friday: Blazin' trails

Blazer: Jane | Top: DownEast Basics | Jeans: H&M | Boots: ShoeMint

When I put this outfit on, Andrew told me I looked rich. HAHAHAHA! I guess I did look fancier than I normally do by wearing a blazer with boots and wide-leg jeans. It just seemed like the perfect outfit to usher in fall, since it's been rainy and chilly here all week.

By the way, I am in LOVE with my new boots! As you can see, I've already scuffed the bottoms up a bit from wearing them so much. They let me channel my inner cowgirl (I was raised in Idaho after all), but they're not as heavy and clunky as other cowboy boots. And they were on sale and are made of real leather. ShoeMint is the best.

I'm finally feeling a bit better and looking forward to a relaxing weekend! What are your plans?

Fashion Friday: Orange dream

Dress: The Chic Orchid | Top: DownEast Basics

So this is what happens when you don't have time to take pictures and you take one at 8 p.m. I kind of like the blurred effect on the skirt (as Andrew left the aperture open for about 10 seconds to let more light in).

As you've probably gathered from this blog, I really like bright colors — and when this dress went on sale for $20 during Labor Day weekend, I knew I would love it. It is ridiculously soft and comfortable, it's flattering on a lot of different figures, and it's long enough that I would actually call it a maxi dress (most of my other dresses and skirts hit around my ankles). I have gotten so many compliments on it, and many people have told me that it makes me look tall. Twenty bucks well spent, I'd say. :)

P.S. Thank you for your kind comments on Wednesday's post. I was intentionally vague about why I was feeling so blessed, because I can finally announce that I got promoted this week at work! I'll be taking a new role as a PR specialist, and I am thrilled. 

After our tumultuous summer with major car repairs and an additional car loan, this new opportunity is an answer to prayers. I am so grateful that God is watching out for us and has blessed me with help again. It's an amazing feeling.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fashion Friday: Back in black

Top: DownEast Basics | Jeans: Old Navy | Necklace: GroopDealz | Shoes: ShoeMint

Sometimes the simplest pairings — black and white — look the best. I am loving my new flats from ShoeMint (on sale right now!) and wanted something simple that would show them off.

Also, yes I am aware that I'm wearing white after Labor Day. But I've never really liked that rule. As long as you pair your pants with darker colors, they work perfectly well for autumn.

What do you think? Is the "no white after Labor Day" an outdated rule, or do you follow it?

Fashion Friday: Mint julep

Shades: Maui Jim | Earrings: GroopDealz | Top: Local boutique | Shorts: Utah state fair (old) | Flats: Shoe Carnival

And this, my friends, is why you don't wear your hair in a high ponytail and have your husband take pictures of you. I look like a baby with one clump of curls clustered on the top. Nice. I promise I had visible hair (in my defense, dark hair blends in a lot more than light hair does, and curly hair is always a big dark mass in pictures).

I'm not sure why I never thought of this combination before, but mint and aqua look really good together. The colors are complementary on the color wheel, but the light shade contrasts nicely with the red — and you don't look like a Christmas tree.

Also, Andrew saw these flats on clearance when we were at Shoe Carnival about a month ago and knew I would like them. Ladies, find a man who pays attention to the things you like! I am lucky to have a husband who understands my love affair with red. :)

Oh, and I have these anchor earrings in navy blue as well, and I LOVE THEM. They were super cheap, too. GroopDealz for the win!

How do you feel about red and mint combo? What do you pair red with to tone it down?

Fashion Friday: To cap it off

Top: DownEast Basics | Necklace: GroopDealz | Pants: Celebrity Pink | Shoes: ShoeMint

If you follow me on Instagram (@lovelindsaywilcox), you already know that I was giddy when these shoes arrived in the mail.

I had been eying them for about six months now and checking the site every month or so to see if they'd gone on sale, since $80 was way more than I could afford. Then suddenly, they were $50 — and then they dropped to $25 in this killer Independence Day sale. So I snatched them up and patiently waited for them to be delivered.

I am nostalgic and drawn to classic fashions that remind me of my favorite movies, and these shoes made me feel like I stepped off the set of Annie or The Artist. They make me ridiculously happy every time I see them in my closet, and I can tell we're going to have a happy life together. I can't wait to pair them with tights in the fall!

Since I wanted the shoes to stand out, I kept the rest of the outfit pretty simple with peach pants and a black top — but I think these would also be cute with a patterned dress or even a full skirt.

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes? Are you drawn to shoes from a certain era?

Fashion Friday: Mellow yellow

Top: The Chic Orchid | Jeans: Old Navy | Sandals: Shoe Carnival

I don't wear a lot of yellow (as you've probably noticed), but when I saw this shirt on sale for $11, I decided to give it a try. I really like it! It kind of reminds me of Charlie Brown.

If you wear a busy top, you want to keep things simple on the bottom, so white skinny jeans are a great complement for the shirt. I was very proud of myself: For the first time, I didn't spill anything on my white pants — and we even went to Costa Vida for dinner!

Do you wear a lot of yellow? This shirt is helping me step out of my rut and give sunny shades another try.

Fashion Friday: Coming up roses

Top: Pick Your Plum | Tank and jeans: Wisteria Boutique | Sandals: Shoe Carnival

Thought you might be tired of my red, white and blue-heavy Fashion Friday posts, so I decided it was time to lighten things up with pink. I've shared pictures of my birthday pants here before, but I just have to say that I absolutely love them and I'm SO glad I didn't shy away from the floral pants trend. I wear these about once a week and always get compliments.

While I kept things pretty basic with a solid top, I think these pants would also look cute with a pink striped or polka dot shirt. I'm on the lookout for a cheap one, so please send one my way if you've seen one!

Do you have a pair of pants you love? How would you style floral pants?

Fashion Friday: Anchors Aweigh

Earrings: Very Jane | Necklace: Pick Your Plum | Shirt: DownEast Basics | Skirt: Sugar Pop (in local mall) | Sandals: Shoe Carnival

Are you sensing a pattern here? Red has always been my favorite color, but I have been wearing a lot of it lately. I think it's the fact that July 4 is rapidly approaching and I'm feeling particularly patriotic — and I always jump at the chance to buy nautical jewelry when I see it.

These earrings are pretty much perfect. They're red (of course), lightweight and feature anchors, which I'm totally obsessed with. Oh, and at about $6, they didn't break the bank. And they matched my new skirt, so that's a win.

While it's hard to tell in these pictures (because who wants to see a close-up of feet?), I also got a new pair of sandals a couple weeks ago that I love.

Can I just sing Shoe Carnival's praises for a minute? I bought some white sandals there almost three years ago and have worn them practically every day during the summer ever since. And while I still love them, they are starting to discolor and fall apart — which is expected after three years of heavy use.

So I went back to Shoe Carnival this month and not only came out with the perfect white sandals but some red and white striped flats that were on clearance. I know that they have a long life ahead of them, since everything I've bought at Shoe Carnival has been absolutely fantastic and durable. Side note: Andrew really needed some new dress shoes and found some Rockports at Shoe Carnival for $50 less than Amazon, which is amazing. I love this store!

Do you have a favorite store that always wows you? And are you as obsessed with red as I am?

Fashion Friday: Stars and stripes forever

Scarf: Etsy (also available on VeryJane) | Top: Ross | Shorts: Utah State Fair | Sandals: Forever 21

I know I'm a month early to be wearing Independence Day stuff, but when I saw this scarf, I knew I had to have it — and I've worn it twice since I got it even though it's been 90 degrees here. I'm willing to sweat a little to sport a patriotic scarf! It makes me feel so proud of our country.

Do you have a favorite festive item you pull out only a few times a year? I'm hoping to wear this scarf throughout the summer and get plenty of wear out of it. It's perfect when the sun goes down.

Fashion Friday: Cutting edge

This is not really a post about fashion, since you obviously can't see my outfit, but I thought I'd talk briefly about hair today.

As is probably apparent from my pictures, I have unruly hair that I style basically the same way every day. Even after years of trying to figure it out, I still have days when I'm absolutely frustrated and just want to cut it off. In fact, ever since we were rear-ended I've been struggling to get my hair looking good.

So today, I bit the bullet and had my hair cut at Paul Mitchell, which is five minutes away from my house — and I'm feeling so much better! It's amazing what a new haircut can do for your self-esteem. Since I'm cheap and was spoiled to have my aunt cut my hair until I was 22 and moved to Utah, I have a hard time paying $40 for a haircut at a salon, especially when my hair doesn't look any different afterward because it's curly.

I like Paul Mitchell because they have high standards for cutting hair, so you can't get a disastrous cut there unless the teacher is totally asleep on the job. I also really love their products. Everything I've bought from Paul Mitchell has worked really well, smelled amazing and been affordable.

Anyway, no one paid me to say this (although that would be nice!), but I just wanted to share this if you're like me and don't want to spend a lot on your hair. I highly recommend Paul Mitchell and always feel great when I walk out. I am feeling so happy with my freshly trimmed, straightened (for now) hair!

Fashion Friday: Tickled pink

Top: Wisteria Boutique | Necklace: GroopDealz | Skirt: DownEast Basics | Shoes: old

I walked into the mall on Memorial Day intending to just buy an air freshener for our new car and walked out with this cute new skirt (which was on sale AND on even further clearance), too. While I don't usually wear dresses to work, I wore this all day and was impressed with how comfortable it was. It's lightweight, soft and the perfect length.

If you're wearing a white skirt, even one that's colorblocked like this one, make sure to add a bit of color on top so you don't look washed out. This mint top is fast becoming one of my favorite pieces as well, and it matched the mint of the skirt perfectly.

Do you like the colorblock trend? How do you style white skirts?

Fashion Friday: Feeling blue

Top: Connexion 21 (old) | Belt: Wisteria Boutique | Skirt: DownEast Outfitters (old) | Sandals: Shoe Carnival (old)

We've been interviewing a bunch of candidates at work for an open position on my team, so I decided to step up my normal work outfit of jeans and a T-shirt and wear a blouse and skirt this week. I've had this skirt for several years now, but I absolutely love it — and adding the mint belt gives it a fresher look.

What's your go-to outfit when you want to look more professional at work while still saying cool? Temperatures here have suddenly shot into the high 80s, so I'm trying to stay away from my wool dress pants right now.

Fashion Friday: Chain, chain, chain

Lace shirt: Mall boutique | Necklace: GroopDealz (similar here)

Andrew and I just celebrated my friend Mackenzie's birthday at a Thai restaurant, so I thought I'd share this quick picture of us. I am absolutely in LOVE with chain-link necklaces and have both black and white ones. While you can get metal, mine are made of plastic — which makes them lightweight and affordable. I paid $3 each for them, and now I wish I had more colors!

Are you loving any necklaces lately? Have you been rocking the chain-link trend?

Fashion Friday: Flora and fauna

Shirt: Old | Pants: Wisteria Boutique in Idaho | Flats: Charlotte Russe (old)

Is this a great picture of me? No. Let me just say that it is definitely not warm enough here yet to go without a jacket when the sun is going down. I was shivering when Andrew took this picture.

However, I just had to have a picture of my birthday pants! I actually picked them out with my mom when I was in Idaho a few weeks ago, and I love them.

Are you a fan of the floral pants trend? I have to admit that I thought they looked like wallpaper on legs until I saw this pair and tried them on. If you're hesitant about trying this look, here are a few tips:

• Stick to a simple pattern. These pants work because the design is spare and subtle. While bold patterns can be fun, they're hard to pull off in florals — and your pants will be much more versatile if you keep them simple.
• Look for pastel colors. Easter egg shades are perfect for spring, and they're also subdued enough that you don't look too crazy. I even wore my pants to work (though I do work at a pretty casual office).
• Keep the rest of the outfit minimal. Unless you're one of those cool people who can pull off pattern mixing and would look great in a checked or polka-dotted blouse with these pants (which I would love to try), stick to a plain tee and accessories. It will make your awesome jeans stand out even more.

What do you think: Would you buy a pair of floral pants? I have a feeling these are going to make a few more appearances on the blog.

Fashion Friday: You're never fully dressed without a smile

After 18 months of looking like a 12-year-old, enduring jaw and tooth pain, feeling self-conscious, rubbing my tongue raw against the brackets and avoiding apples and corn on the cob, my braces came off without fanfare on Wednesday — and I can't tell you how happy I feel.

Of course, it's also coupled with exhaustion: We installed a new heater and air conditioner this week, I took on a part-time job (why I'm not sure), we started packing for an upcoming vacation and I've been feeling sick and got about four hours of sleep last night on the couch huddled by the space heater while Andrew froze in the bed alone — since the heat was turned off while the HVAC guy installed the new appliances.

So this post is short and sweet so I can sleep (in my bed tonight, hopefully). More on the braces — and some fun pictures from our trip — will come soon! And then I'll finally get the chance to read your blogs again. I've missed keeping up with you. :)

Fashion Friday: Chill in the air

Chambray: Charlotte Russe | Tee: DownEast Basics | Jeans: Romeo & Juliet Couture via HauteLook | Boots: Soda | Necklace: GroopDealz

Awkward pose? Check. Scraggly lawn in the background? Check.

It's been chilly here since we got back into town Monday evening, so I pulled the boots and wool socks out again to stay warm. But I added a little color to the outfit with the mustard jeans and bright yellow necklace. 

Thin layers are the easiest way to stay warm without adding bulk — especially when it's April and spring should be poking its pretty little head out of the ground.

Is it cold in your neck of the woods? How do you style boots so that they're appropriate for springtime?