J.Crew Style – A Dash of Solt

STYLE: CREWNECK SWEATER, 3 WAYS

Published on January 22, 2021January 22, 2021 by ShannonLeave a comment

STYLE: CREWNECK SWEATER, 3 WAYS

It’s getting to be that time of year where I think we all start to get tired of our winter clothes and we are itching to bring out our spring wardrobe. But alas, living in Ohio means we have at least two or three more months of winter weather (I really need to move south!). It’s usually around this time of year that I start to think of creative ways to mix up my winter staples.

Today I’m teaming up with my good friend Stephanie from Linen and Littles to share three fresh ways to style a staple crewneck sweater. Stephanie and I share a love for classic and timeless fashion and we both own many of the same pieces (especially from J.Crew Factory!). We both just recently purchased this beautiful, crewneck sweater in extra soft yarn in the J.Crew Factory After Christmas Sale. It’s seriously one of the softest and comfiest sweaters I own so I’m excited to be styling it three different ways for you guys!

SIMPLE WITH JEANS

The easiest and most comfortable way to style this sweater is with your favorite pair of denim jeans. I paired this easy combination with a gingham headband (adding a hint of spring!) and some white canvas sneakers. You can easily swap out the headband for a baseball hat and throw on a puffer vest for an incredibly classic and chic look that is perfect for mom’s on the go.

WINTER WHITES WITH A BRIGHT BUTTON DOWN

The second way I styled this sweater is with my white denim jeans (yes you can wear white denim in the winter!!) and my favorite blue gingham button down. I love the monochromatic look with a pop of color. The light blue and the gingham print also give this look a hint of spring (something I’m desperately pining for!). Throw on a pair of leopard or nude flats, some bracelets, and statement earrings and you have a fresh new look that works for just about occasion.

OVER A HOUSE DRESS

The house dress has made a comeback this past year and is growing in popularity. I have always loved dresses so I’m more than happy to see it’s stylish to wear a beautiful dress around the house. I picked up this midi classic striped dress from the J.Crew Factory sale and I’ve been trying to find a way to wear it in the middle of winter! Throwing the crewneck sweater over the dress and adding tights or leggings instantly makes this an easy, put together, and cozy look for working from home. Add some fun bracelets and a skinny leopard print headband and you are ready for a day of Zoom calls.

Hopefully you found some extra inspiration for styling a basic crewneck sweater with these ideas! And if you need more ideas, don’t forget to check out Stephanie’s blog to see the three ways she styled this sweater!

Slainte,

Shannon

STYLE: THE 9-5 EDIT, NAVY BLAZER

Published on October 19, 2020October 18, 2020 by ShannonLeave a comment

This past weekend we watched On the Basis of Sex and not only was the story brilliant and inspirational, but the fashion was fantastic. The outfits that Felicity Jones wears while playing the character of notorious Ruth Bader Ginsburg are outstanding. One outfit in particular is the inspiration behind this month’s 9-5 Style Edit. In the very last scene of the movie, Felicity Jones is wearing a navy blue blazer with white trim and a white tee underneath (click here to see the outfit!). It’s pure perfection. I loved her look so much, I had to recreate it, changing it slightly to match the casual dress code of my job.

It’s always a good idea to invest in a blazer or two if you work in a professional or semi-professional field. Working in the PR world, I always have to look presentable, as I never know when I’ll be called upon by the media.

This navy blazer in particular is eight years old!! I bought it back in my retail working days at The Limited. It truly has stood the test of time and I think it will continue to do so. A classic navy blazer will literally never go out of style. And this one with the white trim detail adds just enough to make this classic blazer one notch preppier.

I love the look of a classic blazer over a casual tee. A white boyfriend tee with a front tuck makes this the perfect professional, yet casual look for the office. Polish it off with a belt (love the anchor detail), ballet flats, and skinny jeans (no holes please!) and you are office ready. I tend to grab my pink Longchamp or blue Kate Spade totes for a professional, put together look.

I’ve rounded up some navy blazer options below. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on a quality navy blazer! J.Crew and Banana Republic have some great options, but you can also find a classic option at Old Navy too!

Navy Blazer Option 1

Navy Blazer Option 2

Navy Blazer Option 3 (great value!)

Navy Blazer Option 4 (amazing price!)

Navy Blazer Option 5 (found a Ralph Lauren on Poshmark with the white trim!)

Slainte,

Shannon

STYLE: BEACH SWEATER

Published on September 8, 2020September 7, 2020 by ShannonLeave a comment

Last week on Instagram Stories I did a poll asking if you guys would rather see me style a beach sweater or striped terry top sweater. It was incredibly close, 55% to 45% in favor of the beach sweater. I personally was feeling the striped sweater this past weekend, so I decided to style both. Full disclosure: there is little to no difference between how I styled these because I realized once we arrived at the beach it would be very hard for me to change! Nonetheless, I think the subtle differences create two different enough looks; and besides, “Simplicity is the key to perfection” (read that in a book and very much liked it!).

Beach Sweater

Every classic lady needs at least one beach sweater. I enjoy this grayish-blueish sweater from Old Navy, but I also just bought this pretty sky blue one from J.Crew. I’ve actually been pairing this beach sweater over my t-shirt dresses lately, but for our beach day, I chose white cutoff denim shorts with a basic white tee underneath. This time of year the mornings are chilly so you definitely need a sweater, but I also suggest dressing in layers, hence the white tee underneath.

To finish this look, I grabbed my favorite sunhat, my classic Rayban’s, and my favorite slide sandals. Simple, classic, and timeless!

This sweater would also be cute paired with white denim jeans and a baseball cap as the days continue to get cooler.

Striped French Terry Top Sweater

A striped sweater and white denim shorts are always a perfect pairing for the beach. To switch this look up slightly, I swapped my Rayban’s for my oversized Tortoise shell sunglasses, and removed the white tee and sunhat. I also did a front tuck, which I almost always do because I think it makes wearing a sweater with shorts look less frumpy. Again, easy, simple, and classic.

I know these outfits were very similar, but hopefully one or both will provide you with some inspiration. And if ever in doubt, simplicity is the key to perfection.

Slainte,

Shannon

SHOP THIS LOOK:

STYLE: SUMMER BLUES

Published on August 31, 2020August 30, 2020 by ShannonLeave a comment

I must preface this blog post with a recap of this photoshoot and a little behind the scenes. Taking photos with a toddler in tow is always exciting and unpredictable, but this photoshoot in particular was exceptionally challenging. When we arrived down by The Docks, Rob and I both realized we forgot our wallets at home (for those not local, The Docks are a row of high end restaurants situated snugly along the Maumee River with gorgeous views of the Toledo skyline across the way). Eeeek. Not a huge deal as we were not planning to eat or shop, but a big deal if we happened to get pulled over!

Fast forward a bit and as I gave Rob the go ahead to start snapping away, three geese came out of nowhere, charging towards me! While I had geese chasing me for food, Rob realized that our camera battery was dead. Clearly we were not off to the best start! To add to the frustration, L fell and skinned her knee and we realized after 30 minutes of being out in the sun, we forgot to put sunscreen on L. Oy! Nonetheless, we continued on with the photo shoot and L had a great time running along the boardwalk. And looking back we can have a good chuckle about how imperfect this blogging world truly is.

Now onto the fun stuff! It’s that time of year where some people hold on to summer, some rush towards fall, and some try and blend the two seasons as best they can. I’m definitely feeling those summer blues and I’m more apt to hold on to summer as long as possible, but the cooler mornings and evenings means that fall is inevitably on its way. I’m finding myself reaching for my beach sweaters and button ups as an extra layer in the morning and then going back to full on summer come the afternoon. Sometimes the transition in between seasons is the most challenging to dress for, so below I’m sharing some ways that you can keep blend two seasons together.

For this outfit, I styled a three quarter length button up tunic in summer stripes (fall style with a summer print), navy chino shorts in navy (summer shorts in a fall-ish color), swapped out my sandals for tassel loafers, and kept my summer straw tote and rattan headband – it is summer after all.

For Those Team Summer

> Do keep styling your straw tote and tortoise shell sunglasses.

> Add a rattan headband or straw hat – rattan and straw are both must have styles of summer and are perfectly acceptable to style through Labor Day.

> Keep wearing stripes! Stripes, especially blue and white ones, are the epitome of summer style. Never stop wearing blue and white stripes.

> As long as it’s warm out, keep styling those shorts. I love to wear my shorts with a tee and layer with a beach sweater or cardigan.

For Those Team Fall

> Swap out sleeveless shirts for button up shirts. You can roll the sleeves as the day continues to warm up.

> My summer style is very casual and mom chic (I have to chase a toddler after all!). To transition it slightly, I swap out my denim jean shorts for my chinos in dark navy.

> Pair ballet flats or loafers with shorts and a three quarter length shirt.

> Vice versa, you can style denim pants with sleeveless tops.

You can choose your color palette and accessories depending on your preference for summer or fall. Really though, the most important style tip to remember when you have two seasons colliding is to dress in layers.

Happy End of Summer and Happy Almost Fall!

Slainte,

Shannon

SHOP THE LOOK: