"I love your shirt!"

An actual conversation I had last week:

“I love your shirt!”

“Thanks, I got it in the boys’ department!”

“Ummm…”

 I was rocking my bright green and blue, double pocket flannel shirt (that I’m obsessed with). You’d be surprised the fun things you can find in the boys’ section in department stores. Don’t get me wrong, you definitely shouldn’t be buying your jeans there, but it’s a wonderful place to get flannel shirts for this fall and those blazers that are so in right now! It can also be a lot cheaper than the women’s department. You have to be careful on the sizing, but once you find something that works, it feels like you got let in on an exclusive secret. I have the below flannel shirt in a slightly different color, and I tried that blazer on in the store, but they didn’t have my size. It turns out I’m a size 14 in boys’ blazers.  –Michele

Oh the weather outside is frightful!

Let us begin this blog by apologizing for not posting anything for nearly two weeks! Unfortunately, blogging doesn’t pay the bills and our jobs are currently obnoxiously busy. We apologize. Don’t leave us!

Winter is quickly approaching, and since the weather man has informed us that snow might be coming this weekend, we thought it would be appropriate to talk about winter wear! Below is a mixture of coats we thing every girl should own in her closet

oldnavy.com: On sale for $65.00

Let’s start with the fun one, winter is so dreary, and being able to add a splash of color to any outfit can not only lift your cold hibernating mood, but you will definitely stand out! I (Lauren) have a deep purple colored pea coat, and LOVE it because it brings a completely different look to an outfit. Don’t want to purchase another coat? Scarves and hats in bright colors can have the same brightening effect on any winter outfit.

Columbia Bugaboo Tech Parka $300.00

The outdoor winter jacket is a must. Between running errands and extreme sports ( I don’t snowboard, no one needs to see that), staying warm is a must. Columbia always has great quality coats. I love this one because it’s a 3-in-1. You can wear the inner lining on warmer days, wear them together when it’s really cold and just the outer layer when you want a hood. If you don’t want to make such a huge investment in a coat, department stores like JCPenney have Columbia brand products that go on sale right after Christmas, and you can get a great bargain!

loft.com: Faille Bubble Hem Anorak,  40% off $75

This jacket is on the lighter side, but it’s something every girl should have, whether in khaki, green, black, or navy, having a light jacket for those in-between days is great. This style can easily be dressed up (see picture) or worn with jeans or yoga pants on days you’re running errands or watching a sporting event.

gap.com: Perfect Tailored Pea Coat $168.00

This style coat is a must have. Not only is a black coat timeless, but it can be worn with virtually anything. The military inspired looks are really in right now (just look at Kate Middleton!), and you can invest in a good black pea coat, and it can easily last you a decade.

gap.com: Moto Puffer Jacket $98.00

Move over puffer vest! We're on to puffer  jackets! We love this Puffer Jacket from Gap. It's a fashion upgrade from the vest, but still super comfy and casual. It comes in black and pink, so you can mix it up with some color or stay conservative with the black.

Office Confidential

You always see the “10 must haves” for your wardrobe in every fashion magazine, and honestly, I probably don’t have half of them. I have to say, every woman DOES need at least one great pair of black pants, a black blazer and a great pair of black boots or heels. These are the essentials because they can be worn with everything. Black pants are the essential piece of clothing that are great for work, church, and can even be used as causal wear when mixed with an appropriate t-shirt. A blazer can be added to work apparel, but can also be worn with jeans, and a good pair of black shoes can make any outfit just a little funkier.

Combining these three items for a great work or church ensemble is easy because they are so versatile. I chose three different colored ruffle tops and belts to show some versatility. Excessive accessorizing isn’t necessary because the ruffled shirt and belt add plenty of color.

 What’s your go to office piece?

-Lauren

One Word...Obsessed



http://www.loft.com/
Modern Slim Leg Corduroy Pants
$59.50
Pink Rouge



Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer sucks. There’s really no other way around it. But we can all do our part to find a cure! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there are so many ways to help spread awareness. Most magazines’ October issues have spreads of what you can buy to help donate to this important cause. I did my own research and here’s “Not Fashion Expert’s” own BCA spread!

1. I love how the NFL represents BCA during the month of October. From pink gloves to mouth pieces, the field is covered in PINK. They have some awesome BCA gear on www.nfl.com . Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver for the Cardinals, has promised to commit $1,000.00 for every catch he makes and $10,000.00 for every touch down to BCA! Amazing!

2. I ordered this fabulous fleece in gray! I am super excited for it to arrive! Depending on the price of the item, a certain percentage goes to help fund mammograms for women who cannot afford them. They run various promos all the time, so mine will come with a free REALLY cute bracelet.

www.thebreastcancersite.com   $16.00 Pink Ribbon Quarter Zip Fleece Jacket

3. I love these rain boots! With the way it has been raining around here, I could use some of these suckers!

www.thebreastcancersite.com $36.00 Pink Ribbons and Hearts Rain Boots

4. Pretty nails and BCA!? It's a no brainer. 

www.amazon.com    $6.15 OPI Limited Edition Pink of Hearts

5. Giant has these adorable reusable bags for BCA! Doesn't hurt to carry your groceries home in style!

www.giantfood.com 

6. Save your tatas while working out!! Keep those suckers in place.
www.thebreastcancersite.com $16.00 Breast Cancer Site Sports Bra

-Michele 

Lauren Conrad

Lately, it seems like every celebrity has become a designer or has lent their name to a fashion line. While in most cases it’s pretty obvious the celebrity only slapped their name on a label, every once in a while, a celebrity clothing line will come along that is not only fashionable, affordable, and reflects the celebrity's creativity.  One of my favorite celebrity lines is the LC Collection by Lauren Conrad available at Kohls.  When I think of her line, the words soft and light always come to mind. Her line is mostly made up of light colors, gentle fabrics, soft tees and frilly summer dresses. Her line truly looks like something she would wear and own in her closet, and she models a lot of the pieces too.

Here are some of my favorite pieces from her fall line…

1. This dress is currently on sale for $51.00! It is a great fall piece because its work appropriate, great for after-work drinks, or attend a wedding.

2. I love long cardigan sweaters. They are great to have in your wardrobe because they’re so versatile and forgiving. They cover up problem areas and can be worn with almost anything. This sweater is on sale for $45.00

3. This tank top is supposed to be a pajama top, but I think the floral detailing is too cute to be kept inside! Worn under a cardigan like the one above, its detailing can easily replace a necklace. On sale for $20.40

4. This, by far is my favorite piece of the entire collection. I think the butterflies are so cute, and even if it gives it a more fun and flirty feel, but I would still definitely wear it to work. It’s also on sale for $36.00!

5.  The best, and most affordable way to dress up an outfit is with accessories, and the LC collection has plenty to go around! These pieces range from $8.40-$16.80

6. These pencil jeans are a great fall staple because colored denim is really in right now and they’re a versatile color that can go with almost anything. They’re on sale for $42.00

7. This sweater is why the term soft comes to mind when I think of this collection. It’s a great layering piece. 0n sale for $35.00

8. I think I like these shoes so much because I can’t wear platforms, but I love the idea of rocking skinny jeans with these great platforms. For those of you that can rock a platform (Michele), these would go great with the colored denim. On sale for $42.00.

            

-Lauren

We're excited about...

I started this ridiculous diet called Ideal Protein two weeks ago. While I was never considered “overweight,” I felt like I needed to do something to give my metabolism a jump start. Like a lot of women do, I gained 20lbs since my wedding a little over two years ago and saw my health and eating habits spiraling downwards. So, my awesome sister (who lost 24 lbs and looks ridiculously fabulous!!!) encouraged me to check it out.

The concept behind the diet is that we are constantly putting sugar into our bodies, and our pancreas simply cannot keep up. Ideally, it should be turning that sugar into energy, but because there is an overabundance of sugar it cannot. Therefore, the sugar is stored as fat (hence muffin tops and belly rolls).  Stick with me here. J

So, the diet essentially drains your body of sugar and fortifies your muscles so that the body can access the fat “tank” of the pancreas. With access to the fat “tank,” our body can burn off that fat a whole lot easier. Pretty cool huh?

You might be thinking, “What can I eat on this diet?” Well, in the first phase of the diet, Ideal Protein provides you with breakfast, lunch, and snack. It is your responsibility to eat 4 cups vegetables a day and provide the protein for you dinner. Is it fun? No. But it is totally worth it. In two weeks, I have lost 9 lbs!! WooHOO! My body is adjusting to the change slowly, and I’m starting to feel better each day. Who knew your body doesn’t need those sugars to run?

Ideal Protein must be run out of a certified clinic with Registered Nurses. Each person has a nurse assigned to him/her. My nurse calls me to check up on me periodically, and I am free to call her at anytime with questions.

The reason I’m including this on our fashion blog, is that I feel like in order to feel beautiful in the fabulous clothes we put ourselves in, we need to treat our body’s right!  I’m super excited as I begin to fit more comfortably into my clothes and feel more confident in them.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress! - Michele