This week for Mom Style, I am doing another “What I Wore This Week” post instead of highlighting one, single outfit. I really love the everyday style inspiration I see shared on blogs that do the What I Wore This Week (WIWTW) posting formats. When I decided I wanted to do a Style Blogging segment, I thought I should probably stick to highlighting just one outfit each week because I worried that my wardrobe wasn’t large enough to do different outfits each day. You would see the same things over and over and that could get really boring! But the point of these style posts is to show how to shop your closet and wear everyday fashion on a budget, which means you really DO wear your favorite pieces over and over!
Another inspiration for posting WIWTW is that I am having way too much fun on Instagram with daily Style Challenges and want to share a few of my outfit creations! The way Style Challenges work, is someone posts a calendar of style prompts for each day and those participating in the challenge create an outfit inspired by the prompt. There are several different challenges all going on at the same time so it becomes another challenge within itself to combine multiple challenges into one outfit. This is REALLY making me dig deep into my closet and style outfits outside my usual style box. Often I am sure I have NOTHING for these challenges only to uncover something pretty perfect hidden away. SO MUCH FUN!!!
Now, for a couple disclaimers: Unlike the usual fashion blog pictures, these pics are selfies taken specifically for Instagram, thus the odd angles and cut off heads. And, due to my mom-centeric schedule, I don’t have to “Get Dressed” every day. If I’m having a Home Day, I’m likely going to stay in my workout clothes or “house clothes” all day, and that isn’t post worthy. So while most of these are outfits I’ve worn in the past week, the first one is from about 3 weeks ago ;o).
This first outfit is an easy to wear fave that is very versatile by using different accessories. It’s a denim shirt dress from Macy’s bought on sale this past October, layered over a pair of Levi’s Super Skinny Jeans (my usual go-to jeans). The scarf was a Target find from a few years ago. The Boots are Jessica Simpson, from Macy’s a few years ago. The Style Challenge prompts for this outfit were The Blues and Animal Print.
This next outfit is actually way outside my usual style! I was trying to fulfill several challenges: Olive Green, Green with Silver, baby blue with grey, houndstooth, sweater, fringe, and belted! I rarely ever belt things and if I do, it’s a low hanging belt around my hips. Belting a sweater high on my waist in this way was new for me. Brown leather woven belt was from Target, several years ago. This Olive green, fringed cardi is super soft and was another of my Fall, Macy’s sale finds. The Houndstooth satchel is a purse I bought from Avon back in 2000. The multi stone necklace was handed down from my Mom a few years ago. It isn’t my usual style and while I really like it, I haven’t figured out what to wear it with before. Worked perfectly with this outfit! The black long-sleeved shirt is a cotton style basic that I picked up a few years ago from Target. It’s really strange to say, but belting the sweater at the waist and wearing that necklace really made me feel as though I was wearing somebody else’s clothes all day! It kind of drove me nuts, and yet overall I liked the look.
Here is another example of wearing something that felt way outside my usual style and it all came down to one element! The style prompts I was going for were Sweater Weather, Grey with Yellow, and Powder Blue with Sand. I don’t wear yellow and had trouble finding it in my wardrobe so it took a lot of digging! The grey sweater dress is a winter staple that I picked up about 3 years ago from Ross. It’s a great base piece that is easy to wear and can be dressed up or down. The scarf is the element outside of my usual style and was another hand me down from my mom that I found beautiful but haven’t worn before. Just like the day before, I felt like I was wearing somebody else’s clothes all day, even though I often wear this dress with a gray leopard print scarf, styled in this exact way. I liked it though, and sitting here as I type, I see my scarf matches my bracelets! I NEVER remove those bracelets! How funny, I should probably wear this scarf more often! 
Neutrals, Graphics, Leopard, Blue with Neutral, Country and Fringe… These style challenges were easy for me to hit wearing my usual pieces =o). The fringed cardigan was from Macy’s, 6 years ago and is a plus size that I have continued to wear now 5 years post weightloss! The Leopard blanket scarf was a gift from Hubs found in an airport gift shop. Graphic Tee was from Fuego, a few years ago and a personal fave, as I shoot archery! If you buy a tee from Fuego, be warned, they run VERY small as they are usually Jr. sizes. Jeans are Silver Suki Bootcut from Macy’s bought on sale about 3 yrs ago. Cowboy boots were Target from a few years ago, no longer available. 
This super casual outfit was styled around the prompts of Portland Green with Portland Fog Grey, Leopard Print, Statement Scarves and Sporty Chic. I threw some accessories over my workout clothes and ran errands that day =o). The green magnet is a Portland Oregon thing, styled after our world famous PDX Airport carpet and is in the exact green I needed to use for this challenge. Scarf was yet another hand-me-down from my mom… Every so often my mom will send us a box of stuff as she is downsizing her home. My daughters and I go through and divide the accessories between us. The puffy, black leopard vest was an x-mas gift from Hubs a couple years ago (Old Navy, similar but in this year’s trendy plaid). Leggings are C9 Champion from Target, bought on sale last winter (similar). Pink Leopard print tank was a Ross find, a few years ago. Black long sleeved top is the most comfy, warm, cozy, thermal top EVER, found a few weeks ago at Target (I bought the top and matching Leggings (not the ones I’m wearing) for lounging at home and it is like wearing a warm hug all day!). I have sizing notes for you, if you are interested in purchasing… I am a size 6, I ordered the top in a Med because I wanted to wear it as a top piece, fits perfectly. The Small would be too tight to wear this top alone or layered over anything, but if I wanted to wear it as a base piece and layer things over it, the small would be good. The Medium bottoms are comfy for lounging but if I want to wear them as a thermal layer, I wear the small (I bought both sizes of bottoms for this exact reason). 
This one’s my fave from the week! Style prompts were: Capes or Ponchos, Statement scarf, Plaid, Pumpernickel with Paisley. My mom handed down this stunning, Pendleton Wool cape to me a few years ago and I get excited every time I have a chance to wear it! I absolutely love the way it drapes and the way the lining flips over at the wrist! This paisley scarf, tied around my neck, was another of her hand-me-downs that I remember her wearing it all the time when I was a kid. I’ve used it as a belt many times but this was the first time I’ve worn it on my neck. I styled these pieces over my Levi’s skinnies and a beautiful ruffle front, cream colored blouse that doesn’t show up in this picture at all =o).
I think I need to rename this post “Mom Style: Things MY Mom Wore…”.
Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are enjoying the start of this Holiday Season! I can’t wait to share with you next week’s outfits as I try to wear all Holiday Themed outfits from now till New Year!
Happy Styling!
