dressember style

Whew!  31 days of dresses and selfies is complete!  It was not easy, but I’m proud of myself and all the other “dressemberists” for completing our goal.  The days isn’t quite over, but so far we’ve raised $404,000 for the International Justice Mission to use to rescue girls from sex trafficking and to prosecute brothels and pimps.  It’s an amazing cause and I love that so many women have come together to simply wear a dress and share photos to raise awareness for the campaign.  We are powerful, beautiful, stylish and effective.  We are world-changers!  Participating in Dressember is always a great way to end the year focused on global issues and social justice.  In case you catch this in time to participate, the website to donate is http://www.dressemberfoundation.org/toocoolforschool 

Dressember is also a fun fashion challenge, so here are all of the dresses I wore this month.  I wore about 20 different dresses, but you could definitely re-wear the same dresses more often than I did.  After participating last year I made a conscious effort to stock up on a few affordable dresses throughout the year because December is a terrible time to buy dresses for some reason.  They are all sparkly and New Year’s Eve-y and nothing that I would wear on a regular basis.  I buy almost all my clothes from Target, Forever 21, Old Navy and Marshalls (I should really branch out), so every outfit in this post is affordable if not downright cheap.  Scarves, boots, sweaters and tights really complete the looks and make them more interesting.  Scroll through and hopefully you will be inspired to join me in Dressember next year!

day1dress: target

jean jacket: forever 21

scarf: charlotte russe

boots: ross

day2

dress: target

boots: ross

jacket: urban outfitters

day3

dress: forever 21

cardigan: target

tights; target

boots: ross

necklace: wantable

day4

dress: target

cardigan: jcrew

necklace: forever 21

pumps: marshalls

day5

dress: ross

cardigan: marshalls

necklace: target

leggings: target

day6

dress: sport chalet

jean jacket: forever 21

booties: toms

day7

dress: target

sweater: windsor

boots: ross

purse: forever 21

day8

dress: marshalls

jacket: boutique in long beach

scarf: charlotte russe

day9

dress: h & m

cardigan: jcrew

belt: target

booties: toms

necklace: cost plus world market

day10

dress: marshalls

cardigan: target

flats: jcrew

necklace: forever 21

day11

dress: urban outfitters

skirt: loft

booties: sole society

day12

dress: old navy

tights: target

boots: ross

necklace: kohl’s

day13

dress: target

converse: target

scarf: wantable

day14

dress: target

cardigan: forever 21

leggings: forever 21

earrings: wantable

day15

dress: old navy

sweater: boutique in san luis obispo

boots: styles 4 less

day16

dress: boutique in fullerton

cardigan: target

tights: target

boots: ross

day17

dress: target

hoodie: target

jean jacket: forever 21

day18

dress: target

cardigan: marshalls

tights: target

booties: sole society

necklace: target

day19

dress: target

ugly sweater: wal-mart

booties: sole society

day20

dress: forever 21

cardigan: forever 21

boots: styles 4 less

day21

dress: target

boots: ross

necklace: target

day22

dress: target

cardigan: target

tights: target

booties: toms

day23

dress: tj maxx

cardigan: target

necklace: wantable

booties: sole society

day24

dress: target

sweater: tj maxx

boots: styles 4 less

day25

dress: target

shirt: target

boots: ross

day26

dress: target

scarf: wantable

jacket: urban outfitters

leggings: target

boots: ross

day27

dress: old navy

cardigan: jcrew

scarf: target

day28

dress: target

cardigan: forever 21

leggings: forever 21

day29

dress: old navy

jean jacket: forever 21

t-shirt: sweet nobody

booties: sole society

day30

dress: target

sweater: target

booties: sole society

day31

dress: target

sweater: charlotte russe

booties: sole society

january target dress haul

cover

We live in a very dangerous area–and by that I mean that there is a Target right across the street. The other night I headed over to pick up some soup for my sick hubby…and walked out with 3 dresses. (Has this ever happened to you?). Usually with Target I will either hate everything they have or love everything they have. Obviously this time I was pretty smitten with their dress selection, so here is a little summary of what got:

cream xhilaration lace dress
white
This one is my favorite of the three. It’s just very sweet and has a vintage feel. I wore it to a baby shower yesterday and a group of adorable ladies in their sixties were fawning over it. (So, ya know, that’s the demographic I fit in best with). There are no zippers or buttons or anything; you can literally just throw it on and go.

white jacket
I love the dress even more with my favorite jean jacket (this one is from Forever 21). I kept my jewelry simple (the studs are from Kohl’s and the long gold necklace is also from Target), and after starting with my Tom’s wedges, I ended up going with flat sandals (I think they were like $8 from Styles for Less). I was comfortable all day and I could focus on what really mattered–being there for the mommy-to-be!
($27.99, size medium)

Oh yeah! You probably can’t see my toe nail polish very well, but it’s Ruby Wing color-changing polish in “Ride ‘Em Cowgirl” from my January Birchbox. I love it! It really does change color in the sun!

merona chambray dress
blue hot
I absolutely love the look of chambray shirts, but they never really look great on me. I gave this tunic/dress a shot though, and I actually really like it. The skinny belt gives it a little more shape, and you could switch out the belt with any other slim one to change the look. I like it for a weekend look, and if it were very warm outside I would wear it with wedges like these (from Kohl’s) or sandals.

boots
Today I am wearing it with leggings and my favorite Cathy Jean boots while I sit around and blog/ avoid doing my homework. I’ll probably throw a scarf on tonight when I meet up with my husband for dinner. It’s not fancy, but I think I’ll find myself wearing this a lot, switching up the belt, adding a cami underneath, or pairing it with patterned leggings. It’s super comfy too!
($27.99, size small)

striped merona flared dress
black
I’m a sucker for the Mad Men ’50’s/’60’s style dresses, and I couldn’t resist this one. It’s polyester and rayon, and the quality is amazing for the price. The fabric is fairly thick and sturdy, the construction is fantastic.

belt
One of my favorite features is the tiny loop of thread that keeps the belt buckle at the center of your waist. I have never seen this on a dress before, but it’s genius! It can be so annoying when you have to keep twisting your belt around to the front after it sneaks over to your side again and again.

neckline
The neckline is very flattering and I like the pleated detail. It’s sleeveless, but the straps are wide enough that your bra straps wouldn’t show. I think I am going to wear this dress to an upcoming wedding, and it will be nice to have a drama-free undergarment option.

black side
You could probably wear almost any color shoe, but I paired this dress with my Calvin Klein pumps from Marshalls.

red
I love any excuse to wear my signature red J. Crew Jackie cardigan! The cut of a fitted cardigan compliments this dress really well.
($27.99, size small)

So if you’re in my neighborhood, I’ll meet you at Target and we can do some serious dress shopping while the cute styles last!