Restyle: The Jilly Dress

I am happy to announce this very special part of the blog. I am big on collecting key pieces and learning how I can restyle them into a whole new look. Elementary Style started with a post about this grey sweatshirt dress that was see on and inspired by Jillian Harris (love her). By adding a leopard print infinity scarf and switching up the boots, I easily created a new outfit. I call this "restyling" and I will be featuring many posts on the blog that do this. With pieces like this dress, who doesn't want to learn how they can wear it multiple ways?

Another thing I am loving these days is combat boots. You can wear them during the summer with a pair of cut-off jean shorts, then transition them to fall with a warmer dress, jeans, or leggings. I promise you will be seeing more of these guys soon! 

DRESS: as seen in Inspired by Jilly post , SCARF: exact gift / similar Forever 21 and Nordstrom , BOOTS: Target 

Working Girl

As some of you know, I started a new job this fall. Luckily for me slouchy pants are one of the top trends this season. You can find these pajama-like pants in almost any color and print, but you definitely can't ever go wrong with black. Even better? This pair was under $20! What I love so much about these pants is how they can be worn dressed down with a tee for weekend errands or dressed up with heels for work. There is certainly nothing I love more than an extremely versatile piece! Check out some of my favorite slouchy pant finds below.

TOP: HM in white , PANTS: exact T.J. Maxx/ similar Vince Camuto and Hive & Honey , SHOES: Sole Society , BAG: exact Kate Spade (old) / similar ASOS and Zara , BRACELET: ILY 

Hive & Honey olive green pants
piperlime.gap.com

Kenneth Cole elastic pants
kennethcole.com

H&M stretch waist pants
$24 - hm.com

H&M stretch waist pants
$24 - hm.com

The Girl in the Elephant Dress

I love being able to transition pieces between seasons, and that's what I did with this ASOS dress. When I purchased this dress this past summer, I had actually been looking for a white dress to wear to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary. Instead, I saw this and fell in love with the print and decided to go another route for our anniversary. We were planning an upcoming trip to Charleston (which I could do an entire post on itself) and thought it'd be a perfect piece for walking around the city during the day and dressing up for dinner out at night. From then to now, every time I wear this dress I get comments on it. Only makes sense to do a post about it then, right? Animal prints and motifs are huge right now and that trend does not seem to be going away anytime soon. By simply adding a blazer and a pair of cognac booties, I was able to transition one of my favorite summer pieces for fall!

DRESS: exact ASOS (unavailable), similar ASOS and New Look , BLAZER: exact Express (old), similar ASOS and Nordstrom , BOOTIES: exact Nine West (old), similar Steve Madden and Sole Society . 

Inspired by Jilly

Fall is in full swing and there is nothing I love more than a cozy knit to keep me warm. This sweatshirt dress has been a go-to item for me this fall. I love dressing up cozier items by pairing them with heels or boots, statement jewelry pieces and bold prints. The possibilities with this dress are endless! I first found this dress when Jillian Harris posted it on her blog here. I saw it and immediately knew I loved it. I splurged a little on the dress itself, but paired it with pieces I already had and therefore spent significantly less on the look. So, I would like to officially send a huge "thank you" to Jilly for introducing me to this fall favorite.

DRESS: exact Urban Outfitters unavailable, similar Piperlime & ASOS , BOOTS: exact Forever 21 unavailable, similar Steve Madden & Charlotte Russe , BAG: Phillip Lim for Target , BRACELET: ILY Couture , WATCH: ICE

Blogger Official

I sit here with excitement and nerves as I write my first post. I have wanted to start a blog for awhile now, and can't believe it's actually happening. Finally, after over a year of "research" and planning, here it is! I am happy to enter the world of blogging and I can't wait to share some of the things closest to my heart. By day I go by Mrs. Brown, but I am so very excited to have this space to talk about lifestyle, fashion, and design and give advice to those who ask for it. I will share some of my personal style and try to re-create some of my favorite looks as a true "Girl on a Budget" who loves mixing quality items with style "steals". I have been inspired by so many other bloggers and Pinterest posts that I hope I can do some of the same through Elementary Style.