Halloween Costume Inspiration: Clarissa Explains It All

I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, no one seemed cooler than Melissa Joan Hart's character on Clarissa Explains It All. She had a lizard named Elvis, a friend who entered her room by way of a ladder, and by far the coolest clothes of anyone I had ever seen. Her style is, for me, the be all end all of 90s fashion. She had it all--oversized t-shirts, neon socks, and side ponytails. She even brought the grunge with her motorcycle jackets and men's boots.

Perfection.

So the child of the 90s in me couldn't resist putting together a Halloween costume capturing that Clarissa cool. Goodwill would definitely be your friend if you decided to put a Clarissa look together. A trip to Forever 21, and maybe the back of your own closet might work as well. All you really need are some outrageous leggings, edgy jewelry, and chunky boots. It's a little bit Nirvana meets Care Bears...in a good way.

Would you dress up as Clarissa? I am thinking I may just have to; I guess I never completely stopped wanting to be her!

Daily Look: Marooned

Shirt, Shoes: J. Crew // Jeans: Forever 21 // Earrings: Loft // Necklace: Urban Outfitters // Nails: Revlon Carbonite // Lips: Mary Kay Firecracker

I've mentioned many times that I think it's great that fashion no longer requires strict matchy-matchiness, but that doesn't mean I don't love a good match. I bought this shirt and these jeans at two different stores on two different days, but they look like such a set that nearly every time I wear this shirt I feel compelled to pair it with these jeans. Who am I to get in the way of fate?

PS--While much of the rest of the country is gearing up for boots, sweaters, and coats weather, we're barely dipping our sandal-clad toes into jeans weather. In fact, Saturday was most definitely too-hot-for-anything-but-shorts weather.

Halloween Costume Inspiration: Madeline

This week for my Halloween costume idea, I decided to depart from the fashion icon inspirations of the past few weeks, and create a look for a literary icon--Madeline! The smallest and the bravest of all the girls, Madeline was one of my favorite story book characters growing up. And her iconic red hair and bright blue coat (sometimes yellow) make dressing up as her not only nostalgic, but also pretty darn cute!

To re-create her outfit, you really just need a blue or yellow coat, a white shirt with a peter pan collar, and a wide brimmed hat that you can tie a black ribbon around. If you have a red bob, you're practically there already. I think it would be fun to also draw on an appendix scar, although hopefully not too many people would get to see that part of the costume!

Would you consider polishing up your French accent, and dressing up as Madeline? Or (as she says to the lion) would you just say pooh pooh?

Daily Look: Cranberry Tweed

Shirt, Skirt, Bracelet: Ann Taylor // Earrings: The Limited // Shoes: Nine West // Lips: MAC Girl About Town

The colder temperatures are all but gone, but I can't help wanting to wear autumnal colors and fabrics. A tweed skirt is kind of perfect for a Texan pining for cold-weather clothes because it feels like fall without making me hot. I may not want the weather of a cold climate, but the clothes sure are cute.

Do you prefer dressing for summer or for fall?

Daily Look: Spring Fling

Shirt: J. Crew // Skirt: Ann Taylor // Shoes: Bandolino via Endless // Earrings: Loft // Ring: Vintage // Bracelet: H&M

The calendar may say fall, but it's been feeling like spring to me. Cool mornings, hot afternoons, and plenty of sunshine have been in the forecast all week, so I didn't think it would be too weird to bust out some spring colors. My hatred of the iron has kept me from wearing this shirt that I bought during the summer, but tucking it in solved that little problem. One day I will tackle my ironing, but today is not that day.

Daily Look: All in the Details

Shirt, Pants: Ann Taylor // Shoes: Zara // Earrings: Loft // Bracelet: J. Crew // Lips: MAC Rebel // Sunglasses: Cole Haan via Marshall's

I went with head-to-toe blue on Monday, but tried to keep things interesting with the details on my top and pattern on my pants. I found this blouse a couple of weeks ago, and immediately fell in love with it because of all its lace neckline, keyhole, and flutter sleeves. I'm definitely a sucker for added details--they just make clothes more fun.

What are your favorite details on clothes? Do you like to wear a single color top-to-toe?