How to Make Your Outfits Work Year Round

One thing I'm always on the hunt for are pieces that can be utilized year round. I hate when I only get a few months of wear out of an item and I'm always trying to find ways to make them work from one season to the next. Who isn't on a budget these days?! We need to make our wardrobes stretch and here are a few looks that are very transitional, but can also be utilized when it's very cold and very hot out! And I'll tell you how!

This first outfit is a good one because it can be used year round very easily. As is, it's great for late Spring or early Fall. 

Top: Kohls, Scarf: Nordstrom Rack, Boots: Kohls (Gift from Hubby); Skirt: SexyModest Boutique for $19.99

How To Style For Winter: Throw on a leather jacket and tights (in any color! That's the beauty of this tan/taupe skirt) and you're golden. If it's especially cold or snowy, you could even replace the short boots for taller ones.

How to style for Summer: Replace the scarf with a statement necklace or bracelet and replace the boots with either flats or pumps and you're set for the blistering June/July/August time frame. 

This skirt is from SexyModest Boutique and is one that I realize I reach for time and time again! It's stretchy and comfortable while still coming across in a very put together/dressy way that only comes from a pencil skirt. I even wore this skirt throughout my pregnancy and because it is so stretchy it worked with my growing belly, and it also worked post pregnancy thanks to all those ruffles and ruching. I love it to this day, too and I'm 2.5 years post pregnancy! This is just a great skirt and it comes in more colors than you can imagine! It is a one size skirt and fits my size 7 frame just fine, and I have put clients in it up to a size 14. And like I said...my.whole.pregnancy. Don't know how I lived without the sweat pants of pencil skirts! No really, it's that comfortable. (My advice is to wash this in a garment bag so that the stretchy material doesn't snag on anything else you may be washing with it, and lay flat to dry.)

Here is a look at the different colors available in this skirt and another way to style the same one I wear! 

Again, this skirt is only $19.99 and if you use the discount code "alyssahall10" you can get 10% off (OF ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING ON THE SITE!). As always, free shipping!

This next outfit is one I just love. I actually wear it all the time and just swap out my accessories for variety. 

Leggings: Agnes and Dora; Jewelry: My Sister's Closet; Pumps: Justfab; Tunic: SexyModest Boutique  

These leggings are by Agnes and Dora and I would highly recommend them!! THEY ARE SO SOFT. The tunic is by SexyModest Boutique  and is one that I reach for all.the.time. The length is perfect for leggings, but not so long that it looks like it could potentially be a dress. I can pair it with skinny jeans, too. I probably wear this top once a week, no lie. I also love that I don't have to wear a camisole or anything like that under it. It's thinner/breathable for the summer months, but I never have to worry about it being too see-through. 

How to Style for Summer: Swap out the pumps for sparkly sandals or flats. You can even add a peachier lip color for the warmer weather! 

How to Style for Winter: Put a denim jacket over the top and trade the pumps for black moto boots. Put a big, wool scarf on for those especially frigid days!

Lastly, this is my favorite outfit of that photoshoot. I was comfortable, I was edgy...I could wear this to dinner with pumps or keep it as is for errands during the day. 

Lace Top and Denim Floral Stud Vest:SexyModest Boutique  

How to Style for Summer: Ditch the jeans for a pair of colored denim shorts (I would go with white or light pink). Wear sandals or keep the converse-up to you! The long sleeves make a summer look interesting but the lace keeps it from making you too hot. However, on one of those especially hot days, trade the lace top for a thick strap or racer back tank or basic tee!

How to Style for Winter: You can always make a look winter-worthy by adding boots, but be unexpected and put a fitted sweatshirt or sweater under the vest! You can also keep the look completely as is, and just add a scarf. The different layers and textures are great, and make the laid back look of the converse and cuffed skinnies an awesome contrast.

Jeans: Old Navy; Shoes: Converse; Lace Shirt and Vest:SexyModest Boutique  

The top and vest are from SexyModest Boutique and may be two of my favorite pieces from their boutique. As is, this is a great spring look. Here's what I'd do to keep it utilized all year.

Here are a few other ways to style the vest and lace top separately:

A big shout out to Malae Talley for her photography work, and to SexyModest Boutique for sponsoring this post! What do you guys think?! Head on over to the website using the link in this post and use the code "alyssahall10" for your 10% discount on ANYTHING on the site. (That includes the $5 jewelry section--check out that post here.)

Have fun shopping!

Though this post is sponsored by SexyModest Boutique, as usual all opinions are my own and nothing has been falsified for compensation or any other purposes. 

The Perfect Dress

Let me just start off by telling you about this quest I've been on. So, I've been trying to find me a dress. One that is long enough for my 5'9" self, one that hugs the right places but forgives all the other places, and one that still has some edge.

I love fashion (um, duh) and though I might be considered a risky dresser in terms of style and risks I'll take with patterns, I'm also a very conservative dresser by most standards. I'm a mom of two and I'm constantly chasing someone around, bending down or bending over to pick things up or pick a child up, and running here or there to run errands. I also work in an office where I need to be professional and make sure not to show too much skin. Thus, I need sleeves, length and coverage but I absolutely refuse to be frumpy or out of date.

I have been struggling to find some dresses to work with this dilemma for quite a while. I just wanted a piece that I didn't have to add a cardigan or blazer to, that I could wear as is, or dress up with layers if I chose, but not by necessity! This is not an easy task. Not easy at all. But I was up for the challenge and determined, so I kept going. Carry on, soldier.

{{Enter beams of light and angels singing.}}

And then, I found it.

I had been to SexyModest Boutique several times and purchased a few pieces from time to time over the years, but this was the first time that I had ever visited their online selections. They have a website and while perusing their adorable pieces, I found this dress. Not just a dress but the dress. It came in two colors, and I chose the taupe and black striped one. It seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, and due to the affordable price tag I felt like it was worth the risk of purchasing it and running that chance we always run that it'll show up on our porch looking nothing like it does online. So!! I ordered it.

I was actually quite surprised at how quickly it arrived in the mail. The next day (after placing my order) I was notified of my shipment being sent out and within just a few days it was on my doorstep! I eagerly opened the package and held up the dress. Admittedly, the fabric seemed thin and I was concerned about undergarments showing through. So I tried it on and was so blown away by it. My only regret is that I don't own this dress in more patterns and colors. Let me break it down for you.

First of all, the light weight of the fabric was no problem at all! In fact, I felt that it gave me more versatile options, as I know I'll be able to get away with wearing it this summer with just wedges or flat sandals, but I can also throw a cardigan or jacket over it and add thick tights if it's especially cold out. I wore black tights and didn't even need a slip, causing me to laugh at my own concern over the weight of the fabric. The ruching of the sides of the dress were a perfect camouflage for any lumps and bumps so I felt like I was able to pull off the sculpted dress without showing every little imperfection. Even my midline where my tights normally cut me off to create that ever so unflattering bulge (that all of us get no matter how many hours of yoga and downward dog we accomplish, because tights just DO that), was completely camouflaged by the combination of the stripes, the material and the ruching on the sides. I honesty feel like this dress would flatter so many shapes and sizes due to the way it's made. I would and will be recommending this dress to my clients in the future, of that I am certain!

Another thing I loved about this dress was the zipper details. I feel like that gave me just enough edge that I could wear it out on the town, or to church on Sunday and not feel out of place in either setting. That's the thing about pieces like this. To be able to have versatility and options is priceless, in my opinion.

That being said, this dress STILL doesn't cost an arm and a leg. SexyModest Boutique is selling this dress for $34.99. As if that isn't great enough they have been gracious enough to offer 10% off to my readers by going to their site using this link:

SexyModest Boutique

and using the code "alyssahall10" at checkout!

And the discount for you, my fine readers, is not just for this dress, though I highly recommend it. That is 10% off your entire order. That means my readers from out of town or out of state don't miss out as this offer is for online purchases. Like I said, you'll be so impressed with the shipping time.

Now, onto styling. I was so impressed with the silhouette and details in the zipper on this dress that I didn't want to overstyle it. Coming from a girl who wasn't blessed with many curves, I was happy to be able to pull this dress off, and like I said, I think it would look great on someone with more curves than me because of the genius ruching on the sides. I decided to wear it with black tights and pointed toe stilettos and very simple jewelry. I added a pop of orchid purple to the lip. Otherwise I felt that this dress really styled itself.

It's the perfect dress and my new go-to.

Dress: C/O SexyModest Boutique; Lace Tights: Target; Pointed Toe Pumps: Charlotte Russe; Bracelet: Old Navy;
Spike Earrings: Express

This dress isn't SexyModest Boutique's only flattering dress in this style or similar styles. Remember you get 10% off your entire order with the link provided, so use that discount to justify your new look, or to justify adding another to your shopping cart. I can tell you, this dress will make you feel like a million bucks, and I can't wait to try more of their dresses to be able to tell you the same thing about other styles! 

Share your purchases with me by tagging me on Instagram so that I can see how beautiful you look! You can follow me on Instagram @alyssalynnhall5. I can't wait to see your choices!

#thesearchingproject

This post is sponsored by SexyModest. As always, all opinions are my own. No opinions have been falsified for purposes of compensation in any way.