Casual

RUBY RED

SIMILAR CHUNKY SWEATER | WHITE BUTTON-UP | SIMILAR LEATHER LEGGINGS | RED HEELS (BUDGET FRIENDLY VERSION HERE) | BLACK LEATHER BAG | BAG POUF (ON SALE FOR $10!) | SUNGLASSES

*photography by Kendra Maarse Photography

Sometimes a little pop of red is all you need to elevate a look. I’ve been loving my leather leggings recently. They are so fun to dress up or down. And they would for sure work for a Valentine’s date night!

Dressy

THINK PINK

I cannot tell you hot much I love this skirt. I gasped when I pulled it out of the box. It’s made out of scuba material, which is a thicker fabric that holds it shape, so this skirt is full and beautiful. I love the laser cut detailing, and the fit is spot on! (I ordered a UK size 4, and it fits like a 0). 
I let the skirt do the talking and went with a simple black top and strappy heels. I’m also loving the look of high ponytails. A simple ribbon ties into a bow around it is an easy feminine touch. This would be a perfect Valentines Day look if you didn’t want to wear pink or red. 

Casual

WEEKEND WEAR

JEAN JACKET (THIS ONE IS SOLD OUT, BUT I LINKED TO AN IDENTICAL ONE) | NEW BALANCE SHOES | DISTRESSED BLACK PANTS | MY FAVORITE WHITE TOP ($12!) | STRIPED TOP (JUST RESTOCKED AND ON SALE FOR $10!)| BASEBALL HAT | WATCH | SUNGLASSES | GOLD INITIAL NECKLACE

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the weekend! I’ve had such a fun busy week (did you see where I went on a girls night out? Amazing!) I love casual outfits like this one, especially on Saturdays. I love styling these black and white New Balances. They are clean and simple, and work well with so many different outfits. And tying a long sleeved striped top (this one is on sale for $10) is an easy way to add a classic pop of stripes without it being a bulky jacket tied around your wait.

We are celebrating Cash’s 4th birthday this weekend. In a way it feels like he has been 4 forever, but at the same time 4 seems so big to me. As of now he wants a jet pack, snake bag, and a laser for his birthday. I have no idea where any of those things came from….here’s hoping Target just got a bunch of jet packs in stock. (…?)

Casual

COZY UP

CHUNKY GREEN SWEATER | BLACK PANTS | BLACK RIDING BOOTS | LEATHER BAG | SUNGLASSES | WATCH | CUFF

I love how crisp and cool Southern California has been these past few weeks. Call me crazy- but sometimes I miss getting to layer up during Utah winters. Granted..I don’t miss the snow. Not one single bit! I guess I’ll always be a California wuss, and I’m just fine with that. 😉
I found this cozy sweater a few weeks ago and have worn it a ton. It’s oversized and soft, and easy to layer. They only have a few colors left, but I also wore this cowl sweater in this post and I love it as well. Cowl necklines are are always so cozy to me. I also just got this bag and it’s even more gorgeous in person! It’s the same shape as a Celine bag, but 1/4th the cost. It comes in 5 colors, and it was a close call between the black and this almond color

Casual

TWO CLOSET STAPLES WORTH THE SPLURGE

Over the years, I’ve learned a few closet tricks that can really help you amp up your wardrobe. When I was in high school I would buy as many items as I could with the money I saved to spend on clothes. As time went on however, the cheaply made shoes broke or were uncomfortable, and the purses wore down quickly. When it comes to shoes and bags, quality over quantity is the key to a successful wardrobe. I loved shopping through carefully curated Style Room on Zappos.com. They have so many beautiful designer purses and shoes. 
Black is such a classic color, so I opted to splurge on this black leather bag from Zappos. It’s not near the splurge of a Celine bag, but it has the similar shape that I love for a fraction of the price. Its minimalist and is fantastic quality. I have a hard time splurgin on a smaller clutch, since I only use those on rare occasions. This bag is a great size that I can actually fit stuff in! With Zappos’s free 2-day shipping I didnt’t have to wait long to see it in person. If it had ended up being to small, a free return or exchange would be quick and painless.
These black pumps are just dreamy. Again, I opted for classic black. The gold accent along the bottom of the toe and on the sole of the shoe are my favorite details. Its the perfect height (around 4″, so elongating on the leg but not too tall to walk in, and they are comfortable!
These two closet staples will last me years and will get so much wear out of them! With a nice bag and a quality pair of shoes, you can afford to throw on an inexpensive top and still have a killer look!
*Photography by Kendra Maarse Photography. In collaboration with Zappos.
Dressy

2 HOLIDAY LOOKS, 1 COLOR PALETTE

One of my favorite things about the holidays are the parties! I love getting dressed up. The fancier the better! Black, white, and red is such a classic color palette and works so perfectly for holiday parties. I picked out two different looks from Nordstrom that would be perfect to wear to a party.
I love the girly silhouette of this fit and flare dress, but it was the black and white classic stripe of the dress that had me instantly hooked. A peacoat works well with the dress because it buttons up high and opens up at the bottom as the dress flares out. Adding a red pop in the shoe completes the look and adds to the holiday feel.

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LOOK 2: PLAID TOP | FULL SKIRT (COMES IN 2 COLORS!) | BLACK HEELS 

This skirt is made out of one of my favorite materials- scuba knit. Have you ever felt this stuff? Its super soft and flattering, and holds it shape so well. Perfect for the center pleats and flair of this skirt. It is so versatile too. I can think of so many looks that would work well with this skirt. I originally ordered it in a 2, but it runs a bit big, so I made a quick easy (and free!) exchange with Nordstrom. The top is a thick luxurious fabric, which dresses up the red plaid print nicely. Plaid is a bit unexpected for a formal look, which is why I love it so much!

Photos by Kendra Maarse Photography. In collaboration with Nordstrom.
Casual

A CLASSIC SHADE

I’m a sucker for a good pair of sunglasses. In the past I’ve bought various styles, some cheap and some pricey. If there is one classic style of sunglasses I can count on to go with just about any look, its Ray Ban Aviators. I bought a few imitation pairs a few years back, but none of them ever fit just right. Finally I invested in a classic pair from Nordstrom and I have gotten so much wear out of them! This all black pair is one of my favorites. Want to know a little secret? They are actually my husband’s! I got them for him for his birthday last month…and I have been known to borrow them whenever he leaves them in my car. That’s another great thing about Ray Bans. They are unisex, so it adds even more to their list of versatility.
It can be a little confusing trying to decide which size aviator works best for your face. The 58mm size is the one that I recommend. It fits my face and my husbands (without being too wide for me or too narrow for him). The 52mm are a bit small on my face, and the 62mm work ok for Garrett, but are too big for me. It took a few sizing orders and returns to find the size that I liked best, so I made sure I ordered them from Nordstrom, so the shipping and exchanging was free and painless.
Here are a few other aviator styles that I am loving right now:
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Shop my look below…





in collaboration with Nordstrom

Casual

INVESTED

SIMILAR STRIPED TOP | DENIM VEST | DISTRESSED BLACK JEANS | OPEN TOE BOOTIES | CLAUDINE & ASH BAG | NECKLACE | WATCH | RING | KAREN WALKER SUNGLASSES VIA DITTO

all photography by Kendra Maarse 

Denim vests are a fall trend that are great for this not-so-chilly California fall. They let you layer without being bulky or too hot if it isn’t super cold out. I love them with black jeans, but you can still wear them with your regular jeans- just make sure the denim is a lot darker than your vest. I’m partial to a lighter washed vest like this one.

Shop my full look here…

Dressy

A DRESS FOR EVERY SEASON

BLACK LACE DRESS (ALMOST SOLD OUT, SIMILAR HERE AND HERE) | BLACK HEELS | BOW BRACELET | LIPGLOSS IN ‘MOODY BERRY’ |CLUTCH | KAREN WALKER SUNGLASSES VIA DITTO (WHERE I RENT ALL MY DESIGNER SUNGLASSES- ONLY $20 A MONTH AND UNLIMITED OPTIONS! GET YOUR FIRST MONTH FREE WITH CODE: ELLEAPPAREL)
photography by Kendra Maarse

You can never go wrong with a Little Black Dress. With the Holidays coming up there will be fun parties and events to go to, and a beautiful black dress that fits you well can last you through the whole season. I’ve rounded up all of my favorite black dresses this season below..

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Shop my full look..

Casual

CLASSIC BLACK

I’ve been a sucker for all black outfits lately.  I’m usually much more of a color girl, but a simple black jersey dress has been my go to these past few weeks (I wore this one three days in one week…don’t tell anyone). But I can’t wear much more than a short lightweight dress these days. This crazy heat wave is about ready to do me in. And it’s supposed to be even hotter next week!
Have a great weekend!

Casual

SPOTTED | MY FAVORITE HAIR EXTENSIONS

TOP: NORSDTROM (ON SALE) | PANTS: A PEA IN THE POD (NON MATERNITY STYLE HERE) | SHOES: NORDSTROM | BAG: NORDSTROM | NECKLACE HERE AND HERE, BRACELET, WATCH, RING | LUXY HAIR IN ‘BEACH BLONDE’ ($5 OFF WITH CODE: LUXYLEANNE)

photography by Kendra Maarse

I purchased this top on sale at Nordstrom a few weeks ago. There are only a few kinds of non-fitted tops that work with where I am at in my pregnancy right now, because so many of them can make me look crazy big. This top is larger, but not so loose on the bottom, so it doesn’t give the effect of looking twice as big. And it’s non maternity, so it will work for after the baby! They do run really large, the one I’m wearing is an XS! And I’ve posted these cute flats on sale too on my instagram. They are easy and great for summer and will transition well into Fall (and still available in every size!).
I have been loving my Luxy Hair extensions lately. The idea of wearing extension might sound like its something that is high maintenance and time consuming. And before I got mine, I thought they would be! But these extension clip in easily and I just curl then right along with my normal hair. They are also so great to add before braiding my hair because they blend in nicely and make my braid so much thicker and longer. It really doesn’t add any extra time to getting ready, and I love how much fuller my hair looks. I will make a disclaimer though- I usually wear them on Sundays to church, on dates with Garrett, or for photoshoots. So not everyday, but I definitely get my moneys worth out of them!  
I wear the 160 gram set in beach blonde and they are a really great match for my hair. They come in a box with multiple sizes of clip ins, so if I just need a little more fullness on the sides of my hair, I clip in the thinner extensions on either side of my head. They are also some of the best priced extensions I have seen for real human hair. You can also get an additional $5 off if you use code LUXYLEANNE at checkout! Let me know if you have any questions on these in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them! 
Happy Friday everyone!

Casual

CASUAL FRIDAY

BUTTON UP: NORDSTROM | TOP: SIMILAR | PANTS: ASOS | BOOTIES: SOLE SOCIETY | BAG: LILY JADE (SIMILAR) | NECKLACE: SIMILAR | SUNGLASSES: KAREN WALKER VIA DITTO (get access to designer sunglasses for $19 a month + first month free here!)