December 23, 2010

Messy Chic


12-22-10 4
{Top: J Crew, Sweater: Martin & Osa, Skirt & Tights: Express, Belt: Limited, Boots: Target}


12-22-10 5


When this shirt arrived in the mail {hello jcrew additional 30% of sale, love you}, I knew I wanted to wear it right away. But truth be told I was a little hesitant. Button up shirts and I, well let's just say, we have a tumultuous past. One day it's all "I love you", "no I love you". And the next it's game playing and saying mean things behind each other's back. Oh wait, that's the wrong tumultuous relationship. Let's try that again.


I love button ups, I really do. But they don't quite love me back. It's a bit of a one sided relationship. In fact, I think it's fair to say I repel button ups. You see the buttons on these shirts love to magically come undone. It's like the shirt is literally trying to force itself off my body. It's not good. Suffices to say, I was a little worried about this darling. We would we have the same history? Was our fate sealed? Luckily, there was no such problem with this shirt. Perhaps I've met my soul mate button up.


The shirt is a little casual for the office so I knew I wanted to dress it up a bit. I'm not sure why, but I've been heavily avoiding pants. Maybe it's a winter thing. Or a love of tights thing. Or I don't want my pants to get wet and dirty from the snow thing. Tangent aside, I knew I wanted to wear a skirt. This skirt is currently resides in the "needs to be altered" section of my closet. It's a bit big so going with the old tuck and go {that's Liz speak for tucking in my shirt} wasn't an option. But, hey I kinda it like it. It's a little messy, but kinda chic at the same time. That might be an oxymoron, just go with it.

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33 comments:

  1. I don't think this outfit looks messy at all, very business casual chic! I have a love/hate relationship with button up shirts too. (I think it's the boobs)

    http://www.afashionfixation.blogspot.com

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  2. that is a great button-down from j crew! it looks great with the long brown cardi! :)

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  3. You look amazing! I think you look wonderfully chic! It's not an oxymoron at all :-) I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

    rochelleapproved.tumblr.com

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  4. love this look! (i'm hopefully getting this shirt for Christmas and I can't wait to mix it in!). love how you styled it here! i have the button-up problem as well... glad you found your soul mate!

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  5. You are so adorable!! Love that shirt. I love all of J.Crew's gingham shirts - they are so great for layering!


    Kristine. Or Polly.

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  6. I feel you when it comes to button ups. I always feel like it make smy head look small... weird, right?

    Anyway - your head looks perfectly in proportion and this is THE perfect outfit to say "It's almost time for xmas vacay!"

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  7. I don't think it looks the slightest bit messy!! In fact I think each piece is incredibly well put-together. Adorable!

    And I have the opposite problem with button-ups. I kind of need clothes to NOT emphasize the fact that I have the world's tiniest bra size and button-ups just make me look flat as a pancake. But I still like them, too!!

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  8. Love that you found a way to dress up the gingham shirt for the office! So cute and it looks great on you.

    http://honestlykristen.blogspot.com

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  9. Liz, I love this outfit on you! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas :)

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  10. I think that button up looks perfect on you!! You are so dang cute!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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  11. Glad to know I'm wasn't the only one! I swear most button ups hate me!

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  12. Thanks Rochelle! Merry Christmas!

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  13. I hope you get it! I would love to see how you style it.

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  14. Andrea, I totally get what your saying! Sometimes I think they make me look like I don't have a neck. That's kinda like a smaller head, right?

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  15. Have a merry, MERRY, Christmas Ana!

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  16. Very cute outfit. I was thinking about getting that button-up as well and I usually don't like button-ups. So it is nice to know that this shirt worked for another non button-up lover. I really like the green and blue together.

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  17. very cute! i love that top and have been wanting it ever since i saw it on kendi and jenloveskev.

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  18. The color pairing is so unique but it works. Love this outfit!

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  19. Thanks Jessica! And I definitely recommend this shirt. It's worked well on both me and my sister.

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  20. I do the same thing in yucky weather to avoid wet pant legs (and we don't even get snow :P). I also really love j crew button ups--they just seem to fit so well! I love this one on you!

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  21. Ok, so that's pretty brilliant. I always go for "warmth" in snow and wear pants and then have a wet hem! Why not wear a skirt? DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

    Love the shirt, I hope your love affair continues indefinitely.
    Leaving the House in THIS?!?!

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  22. Oh, Liz! I AM INSPIRED~! I've been wondering how/what to pair my checkered/plaid-ish type shirt with...AND NOW I KNOW!

    Chandra

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  23. I seriously wish my hair looked like that when straight. Me and straightener are like peanut butter and hot sauce. We don't go well together...well ever since those bad few months when I fried the poop out of my hair...now it's just long and I look like a hippie...not that thats bad, just not for me. And where do these glorious checkered buttonups keep coming from??? I must investigate. They are an oasis of spring picnik in the middle of winter. Loving the look...and the pants aversion thing has bitten me too. Except jeggings. Those babies are my best friend.

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  24. I would die without my straightener! My hair is naturally a frizz ball so unfortunately straightening is a way of life for me.

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  25. Thanks Chandra! So glad I could help.

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  26. Thanks Molly! Yes, I highly suggest skirts! I'm a skirt convert. Be gone pants! {well not all the time, just some of the time}

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  27. Thanks Angeline. I'm so happy with the fit of this shirt. Kudos to J Crew.

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