The Stylish Five: Top Off Your Look With A Cardigan ($25 & Under)!

During the transition from winter to spring, I’ve been relying on mixing up my looks with layers, & topping them off with a cardigan. However, now that spring is in full effect, I’ve been taking another look at my cardigans, thinking about patterns & prints that’ll work for me, especially when I’m out & about from day-to-night… which brings me to my latest post for The Stylish Five.

From stripes to polka dots, animal prints, watercolors, & florals… the cardigan possibilities are endless. To start, I’ve selected the linear print crew-neck cardigan ($14.99) in red from New York & Company, which is perfect for wearing over an LBD with ballet flats or with a lace cami & walking shorts. Keeping with the idea of stripes, I love the cotton linen blend stripe cardigan ($15.00) in purple stripe from JC Penney to match with colored jeans & wedges or with a belted cotton dress & pointy toe pumps.

I love the idea of hardware on a cardigan, which instantly adds some extra edge to your look, like with Charlotte Russe‘s studded shoulder striped cover-up ($18.99). This can dress down a leather mini skirt & pullover or toughen up some skinny jeans & a blouse with peep toe pumps. I’m a big fan of hearts, which is why I chose the hearts cardigan ($24.80) in navy & pink from Forever 21. Of course this is a more youthful piece, but I think unexpected prints like hearts, or even the bicycle pattern in the blouse for my previous post in The $100 Challenge, are a lot of fun & instantly put a smile on your face. Lastly, the Mossimo Supply Co. ombre boyfriend cardigan ($24.99) in blue from Target is a bright way to keep comfy when it gets cooler at night, especially with a wrap dress or shorts romper.

For more posts on affordable fashion, check out Katy Perry’s white & silver Aldo sandals, must-have polka dot pieces for spring, peplum tops inspired by Amy Adams & Zoe Saldana, & silver pumps like Kim Kardashian’s Jimmy Choo shoes. Happy Styling!

The Stylish Five: Spring-Ready Shirt Dresses ($50 & Under)!

I’ve been focusing a lot lately on dresses b/c I think that spring is the best time of year to invest in new dresses. I’ve definitely already started my 2013 collection, which I will definitely wear well into the summer, however, one style of dress that I always turn to is the shirt dress. There are so many shirt dresses out there in stores & online right now, which are perfect for wearing to a brunch with girl friends, a family party on the weekend, or to the office for a feminine change of pace.

The first I found is the Merona sateen belted shirt dress ($22.00) in purple from Target, which is also available in five other bright & neutral hues, & in sizes XS – XXL. This is the perfect dress for matching with a pair of espadrilles, ballet flats, or gladiator flats. Next is the chambray belted shirt dress ($24.50) from Old Navy, which can be made rugged with suede ankle boots or dressed up with cork patent heels, for a Style Darling of any size (XS – XXL).  Forever 21‘s belted high-low shirtdress ($27.80) in turquoise is a soft & lightweight way to add layers to your look, or even mix things up with leggings & knee boots, or a matching suede hat & belt.

To stay on trend with bold neons for spring, I picked the roll-sleeve pocket shirtdress ($34.99) in active yellow from Gap, which is also sold in blue, orange, & pink, in sizes XS-XXL. I recommend pairing it with pointy toe pumps & a printed blazer when headed to a meeting, or with floral flats & a basketweave clutch for a sunny picnic. Lastly, the belted denim shirtdress ($46.00) in orange from Dress Barn is also sold in plus sizes ($50.00) to wear with peep toe wedges & a chainlink bag.

What dresses are you shopping for this spring? What stores do you like to hit up when searching for that perfect dress? Do you like to wear shirt dresses? For more affordable fashion posts, check out nautical inspiration for under $100, Derek Lam’s DesigNation collection for Kohl’s, spring-friendly polka-dotted pieces, peplum tanks inspired by Olivia Palermo & Zoe Saldana, & floral must-have pieces like Selena Gomez & Jessica Chastain! Happy Styling!

The Stylish Five: Spring-Ready Striped Dresses ($35 & Under)!

It’s Easter Sunday & I wanted to share with readers some affordable spring-ready dresses that are perfect for more than just today’s holiday & any body type! I’m recently starting a new position at my job, as well as an entering into an exciting opportunity for a second job this week, so of course I’m thinking about what I’ll be wearing. Fortunately both environments require a blend of professionalism & creativity, so I’m gearing up to dust off favorites from last spring & invest in some show-stopping looks to last me through the spring & summer.

All of these looks are under $35 & I’m really drawn to stripes since there’s so much opportunity to mix with accessories like floral tights on a chillier day, textured pumps, or an embellished cardigan. First, I wanted to share the boat-neck 3/4 sleeve shift dress ($22.97) in black stripe from Old Navy, which will pair well with bold pieces like red heels, a yellow lacquered belt, turquoise tights, or a green leather jacket. Also, I’ve been keeping an eye on the latest styles @JCP, including the a.n.a. short-sleeved cowlneck dress ($22.00), which can be dressed up with a boyfriend blazer & pointy toe pumps, or worn casually with a denim jacket & ballet flats.

For a thicker stripe, I love the rich tones in the striped chiffon sleeveless dress ($32.47) in summer berry punch from New York & Company, which is also available in a blue / green combination. This is an office-friendly dress that can translate well to happy hour, especially when mixing up the look with stacked bangles, a cropped jacket, or knee boots. Also, as a big fan of Target, I knew I had to feature the Mossimo half back zipper fit & flare dress ($27.99) in teal stripe. This youthful dress is perfect for accentuating any figure & is available in sizes XS – XXL. Lastly, another look for my curvy Style Darlings is the colorblocked chiffon dress ($27.80) from Forever 21, which gives off a vintage feel with the playful collar & delicate bow.

Do you like to wear stripes? What kinds of dresses are you looking at for spring? What’s your spring shopping budget? For more spring fashion posts, check out blue moto jackets at every price point, Kim Kardashian’s silver Jimmy Choo pumps, the best mint shoes for the season, & the hottest floral looks as seen on Elizabeth Olsen & Selena Gomez! Happy Styling!

The Stylish Five: Don’t Sweat The Cold Weather With These Cardigan Sweaters ($20 & Under)!

With all the budget shopping I’ve been doing lately, I am continually drawn to cardigans (although I am in search of the perfect motorcycle jacket), especially since I’m getting ready to head back to work this spring semester. For under $20, you can add these stylish toppers to you look, if you’re headed out on a date, to brunch with the girls, or trying to spruce up your work wardrobe.

@Forever 21, my plus size Style Darlings can add some fierce style to their look with the leopard print cardigan ($19.50) in cream/black, available in sizes XL – 3X & sold in purple/magenta. Next, for a more sophisticated & feminine ensemble the Worthington open front cardigan sweater ($20.00) in gray/yellow from JCP is the perfect addition to a spring wardrobe.

Instead of wearing the same old boring black sweater, I recommend LOFT‘s tie neck 3/4-sleeve cardigan ($19.88) to wear over a blouse, camisole, or pullover top. One sweater that made it into my closet was the Merona 3/4 sleeve sweater cardigan ($14.98) from Target, which I purchased in stores for under $9.00. Lastly, for a classic cardigan to wear with pearls, over an LBD, or with your favorite pencil skirt, H&M‘s cardigan sweater ($14.95) in yellow, which is also sold in eight other hues to coordinate with printed basics.

What pieces are you unable to resist when bargain shopping? Which stores are you hitting up for great end-of-the-season buys? For more on affordable fashion featured in The Stylish Five, check out posts including scarves from Forever 21, flats for any occasion, statement cocktail rings, & skirts perfect for parties & work! Happy Styling!

The Stylish Five: Work A Holiday Skirt Into Your Wardrobe ($30 & Under)!

I’ve been turning to heavier textures for my work & can’t wait to start putting looks together for upcoming holiday gatherings too! For me, if I’m not wearing a dress, then you can be sure that I’ve got a holiday-friendly skirt in mind. I love all different fabrics & accents, which is why I wanted to share my five picks to wear without breaking the bank. 

I love a good tweed & houndstooth is one of my favorite patterns & @Dress Barn the houndstooth ponte skirt ($29.50) is a great buy for that transition from day to night by changing up suede ballet flats to studded ankle booties. For an edgier look, you can find the faux leather skirt ($24.95) @H&M, which will coordinate well with lush silk blouses, embellished tanks, & preppy knits for some contrast.

For a more feminine look, break out a softer hue with the solid trimmed jacquard skirt ($22.80) from Forever 21 & try it with this season’s top color, oxblood, with a leather jacket & some textured tights.  For the real party girl, though this isn’t an office appropriate skirt, I love the i jeans by Buffalo feather skirt ($25.00), which JC Penney has just marked down from its original $100.00 price tag.  With such a statement skirt like this, keep your other pieces a little more basic, but work a collar necklace or some stacked bangles in for extra sparkle.  Lastly, Target is one of my favorite stores to shop & the Merona sweater skirt ($26.99) adds a splash of animal print to any lace peplum or sequin top.  The cozy material is sure to be comfortable, while still showing off your flair for fashion. 

 What’s your holiday style? Do you have a go-to look for that upcoming office party? Do you prefer skirts over dress pants? Check out more affordable style tips including the best vests of the season, a great date look for under $100, & the prettiest ways to dress up your nails! Happy Styling!