Box? What Box?

I've been working on moving farther and farther out of the box, sartorially speaking. Ever since I left my 9-5 to work at Nordstrom earlier this year, I've enjoyed playing around with my style and image (much to the chagrin of some on-lookers, haha).

I have been blessed with a style confidant, my husband Lon. He's usually there for my most fashion forward looks and is always ready to offer a "yes", "no", or "add a belt". How lucky am I!?!

Now that I'm on my own as a wardrobe stylist,  I've found even more freedom to express my inner-mismatchedness.

Recently, this has been expressed through a favorite mismatched print outfit. A blue and yellow floral blouse tucked into a black and off-white printed midi-skirt, accented with a gold belt. Yes, it does work.

Pardon the low-res. photo. Here's the outfit after a day's worth of wearing (brunch, drinks, shopping, more drinks):

My obsession with Anthropologie adds to this freedom. As I buy most of my clothes and LOVE bringing clients there, finding prints is pretty easy. The sales girls are now friends and are normally my first judges of a new look. They encourage me to mix and match pieces and voila - a fun new outfit.

This, combined with my "why not" attitude, has created some ingenious looks.

Please do this, next time you are putting together an outfit or shopping, employ the "why not" tactic. If some pieces seem to match in the slightest, try them together. Take a picture on your phone to test it.  Then, add some accessories and go for it. Testing on a friend or loved one helps, but honestly, a bit of confidence goes a long way!

An example - I just got this dress from Anthro for my 30th b-day dinner.

I'm dying to try it with this jacket for dinner:

And this for drinks downtown after!

Honestly, that dress can be paired with anything. Now I just need the budget....

How fun styling can be - even when it's just dressing yourself!

Co*Star on SoCo

Yesterday, I visited Co-Star on South Congress. I'm always on the look out for well-curated boutiques in Austin, especially ones with a great men's selection. Thankfully, the selection in Austin is growing quickly.

After seeing Co-Star's lunch party invite with brands rarely seen in Austin, like House of Harlow and Genetic, I knew a visit was necessary.

The store did not disappoint. Conveniently divided in two; men's on the left, women's on the right, Co-Star has a lovely, airy and welcoming feel. The sales staff was friendly, but not aggressive, and offered my friend Jessica and I a Topo Chico right away.

I was immediately drawn to their vast selection of jeans for both men and women. After searching all around town for fall's must have laminated jeans, I finally found them!

Not only does Co-Star offer laminated skinny's by Rich and Skinny- they come in four color combinations and additional textures - the wine colored pair are amazing! They are the perfect jean for fall. I'd pair them with a great chunky sweater and oxfords for day and slinky top and heals for night.

I also loved their unique jewelry offering. House of Harlow was featured, and as expected was totally covetable. I fell hard for Jene Despain's vintage inspired pieces (see their facebook for pics).

The bag selection was a bit limited, featuring mainly Rebecca Minkoff pieces. Lovely as they are, I've seen too many around town to get excited anymore (bring in exclusive brands Co-Star!).

Their men's offerings are right on point for Austin. I found some great AG tan cords and instantly pulled a pair of Wesc skinny khakis for a friend. Their light weight fabric is perfect for Texas weather and slim cut will look amazing on toned legs!

Co-Star also offers a good selection of tops and outerwear for men. I ended up picking up a printed T-shirt for Lon and had my eye on a few great jackets.

Overall, it seems they they have something for everyone. I'm looking forward to bringing clients here soon!