Casual Mod Dots and Stripes Dapper Outfit

     Today I am wearing my Madden Girl sneakers from 6PM, Forever 21 polka dot jeans, a black and white striped shirt from Steinmart, and a vintage purple blazer given to me from the boyfriend's Grammie. 

     Enjoy!

Friday's Winter Outfit Idea

     Today I wore olive pants and knee high boots from Forever 21. My green 3/4 sleeve sweater was a gift from my mother several Christmas's ago. I believe my chartreuse top is from Forever 21, as well. The necklaces were also a gift from my mother. It's hard to tell, but the one in the image has brass leaves all around it.      

Pink & Oxblood Dot Mani Tutorial

     Start this mani by applying a clear top coat. Then use a light pink nail polish and apply two coats. I used Julep nail polish. You can use a dotter or a toothpick to make the oxblood dots. I used a dotter. Just put a few drops of nail polish onto a piece of paper or something you will throw away, and then use your dotting tool to create a dot near the tip and in the center of each nail. Finish with a clear, fast dry, top coat. 

Thursday's Winter Outfit Idea

     I wore my Tommy Hilfiger ankle zip pants today with a Polo by Ralph Lauren sweater my boyfriend found thrifting. My boots are Steve Madden from Marshall's. I am also wearing a purple long sleeve shirt underneath my sweater, which is sticking out. 

     I am currently in the process of looking for a new place to live. Our lease is almost over, and I think it would be best if we looked for a new place to live, as our building is rather old, and it goes through a large amount of electricity compared to most places. I am excited for the new, but this might also influence my decision to finish school this semester. There are limitations on the classes I can take as an online student, and so far I was unable to find all online classes. If things don't change in the next week, I will be taking the spring semester off to focus on work and my fashion blog. 

     -xoxo-
    
         Stephanie

Fall 2014 Outfit Idea

     In 2014, I wore this as a fall outfit, but you could easily wear it in the spring, or with different scarves for the season. 

     I am wearing here a black longsleeve shirt from Forever 21, and blue pinstripe skinny pants from Steinmart. My scarf is from Love Culture, and my booties are from H&M. You can find a nail tutorial for this look a few articles back. It's the silver and navy blue French manicure. 

     I hope you were inspired by this outfit post. Share your outfit inspirations with me on Instagram @dressdynamicdallas. Have fun!

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

Lace Detail Side Zip Moto Jacket Outfit

     Happy Saturday!

     I'm wearing a lace detail side zip moto jacket from Body Central. My top is from Forever 21. The pants are from Nordstrom's. My knee high boots are also from Forever 21. 

     This was such an effortless and affordable outfit. It is comfortable and warm for this chilly weather in Dallas. I hope y'all enjoyed it. 

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie 

Layered Necklaces Look

     I was really excited the day I wore this outfit because a woman in my office building said my outfit was Pinterest-worthy. It was a very nice compliment and exactly what I needed to hear. I watch a lot of Gossip Girl, and I did get inspired by it for this look. I am wearing a long strand of faux pearls with a faux rhinestone necklace from Body Central, and my key necklace from the Open Heart collection at Kay Jewelers. My rings are also from Body Central. I did not get a picture of the whole outfit, but I wore a blue skater skirt from F.I.G. with black tights and top from Forever 21.

     I hope you enjoyed this outfit post. Share yours with me on Instagram @dressdynamicdallas. Also, #dressdynamicdallas.

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Polaroid Spirit Inspired Nail Tutorial

       I bought this Polaroid camera on Etsy a few years ago as a prop, and today I finally used it. One day I might use this camera to take pictures, but the film is fairly expensive. In the meantime, I painted these pretty rainbow nails similar to the colors on the Polaroid Spirit camera, and created this fun image. 

     I used a hot pink color from Forever 21 on my pinky nail. The following fingers were painted orange, yellow, sparkly lime green, and sparkly dark blue from Julep. Make sure to start with a clear base coat, and apply two coats of each color. Finish with a fast dry clear top coat.

     I hope you had a bright and cheerful day!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Errands Outfit and NYE

     Hey y'all! Happy New Year's Eve! 

     In the outfit above I am wearing the tall, camel colored Ugg boots with black leggings from Victoria's Secret. I am wearing a gray T-shirt and jean jacket from Forever 21. My leopard scarf is from Francesca's. Overall, this outfit is fairly inexpensive and super comfy.

     I am still feeling a bit under the weather, so I will likely take it easy all day today. I enjoy a mellow NYE to bring in the new year, anyway. So many wonderful things to plan and look forward to. I hope your futures are all pleasant and prosperous.

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

How to Patriotic Nails

     
     Last night I was watching Team America when I happened to create this design. I was trying to come up with a New Year's Eve nail design, but it came out more patriotic than anything. Then when I woke up this morning, I realized I was wearing these leggings from Victoria's Secret. So I guess there were subliminal messages or something. Lol! 

     I started this nail design with a coat of clear polish. Then I applied two coats of sparkly burgundy. The next coat is silver, and I made a shape similar to my nail only smaller. I did the same with the next coat, which is a navy blue. Finally, apply a quick dry top coat. All polishes are from Julep's monthly maven subscription boxes. 

     You can do this design with any combination. If you have any designs you would like to see, please let me know. Also, show me your NYE nail designs on Instagram to @dressdynamicdallas. 

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

Making My Own White Christmas

     I was randomly inspired yesterday to decorate my house with paper snowflakes, since we don't have any snow yet in Dallas. I'm not exactly complaining, but I like the clean, whiteness of snow. Last year I didn't do as much festive decorating, so this year I'm stepping it up. 

     My first inspiration was to make these 3-D paper snowflakes in the photo above. When I searched for a tutorial in Google, I wasn't very impressed with the first few tutorials, and really struggled with my first few attempts to make a snowflake. I finally found a tutorial on Youtube taught by these two cute little girls who made the craft as simple as I could ask for. I ended up being so pleased with the final result that I made three total snowflakes, and I added two more today. They take a little time, but I think they look so gorgeous. 

     When I made these snowflakes, I had to make a perfect square out of our white printer paper here at home. With the leftover pieces of paper, I created garland snowflakes. You can also make garland gingerbread men, girls, bears, or whatever your heart desires. I'm thinking of making icicles, also. I also made snowflakes the old-fashioned way, where you fold up a square of paper, and then cut little designs, so that when it unfolds, it reveals a magical snowflake. It's looking very festive around here. I hope everyone else is feeling the holiday cheer. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Dot-Themed Christmas Tree Nails

     I finally tried my own manicure art again. It's been about two weeks, but that seems far too long, because I love trying new things. This design was inspired by some one of the dot-themed Christmas tree nails I saw on Instagram. I wish I could remember the person so I could credit them.

     The first thing I did was apply two coats of white satin finish nail polish from Julep. I applied a coat of fast dry, but it didn't dry as quickly as I hoped. Then I made little lime green dots of Julep nail polish with my dotter I purchased at Urban Outfitters online last Christmas. I then made dark green dots from another Julep nail polish. The red dots were last, and you might want to wait for the greens to dry for a few minutes, or else your red will smear with the green. The star is made with a gold color I used from a Forever 21 polish I bought earlier this year. The base of the tree is a dark brown or black color from Julep. It's hard to tell which color it is. Lastly, apply a coat of fast dry.

     These nails were so fun and easy to do. Making little dots is so easy, and if you make a mistake, it's hard to tell. Let me know what you think about this manicure, and if you have any manicure design suggestions for the future.

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Monday Outfit & New Phone

     Happy Monday before Christmas! Dallas is crazy today, and I spent a majority of it at the vet because my sweet Border Collie, Odessa, decided to chew apart a battery while I was in the shower. She's alright, but we had X-rays done on her, and they found a teensy piece of metal in her stomach. We are just supposed to bulk her up with some pumpkin and move it out. Everything else looked fine, and she seems more than pleased with the extra yummy in her dog bowl.

     Today I am wearing a burgundy/wine, pencil skirt from Nordstrom's. It's super comfy because it's a sweater type material, and it just slips right on and off. I love how classy it looks. My tights are from Forever 21. The booties are from Marshall's. I found them for $15. My blazer is also from Nordstrom's. I bought the blazer and the skirt together. It's very appropriate for the office. I'm also wearing a detailed black crop tank my boyfriend's Grammie gave me. It's so perfect with the skirt, I cannot wait to wear it this summer.

     My Christmas present came early this year. I really wanted a new phone, and since iPhones are so pricy, and I don't use a contract plan, I asked for something just as nice. So my boyfriend found a phone called the ZTE ZMAX. I have never heard of it, but apparently it is very popular this year. He reserved one online the other day, and they sold out before they called him to get it. He ran to five different Wal-Marts, and researched where else it might be, but ended up ordering it. We're setting it up now, and I'm excited to make my first phone call. Let's just say I won't be getting much sleep tonight. 

     I hope y'all had a splendid Monday, and you get just what you asked for this Christmas. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Leopard Skirt & Last Minute Xmas

     Just a few more days until Christmas. Do you have all of your shopping done yet? I don't. Amazon Prime has saved me this year because I have been able to purchase many things last minute without needing to go into any crowded stores. My Prime membership has more than paid off.

     My leopard-print skirt is from Body Central. The belt came with the skirt. My sister introduced me to the store, and I instantly fell in love with it. The black tights are from Forever 21. They have the best prices for stockings. My shoes are from H&M. I'm about to let them go because they are getting beat up. Boo! My top is also from Forever 21. It's a black, scoop-neck, long-sleeve top. My boyfriend's Grammie gave me the vest. It's a crocheted, flowy vest, and I do not know where she purchased it. 

     I have a few more gifts to buy, but I know exactly what I am getting. If you're struggling with last minute gift ideas, I recommend a cute monogram mug from Anthropologie; flash tattoos for the golden girl; dip clips for the foodie; a cool pillow for the sleepless; key and wallet finder; a breakfast tray; simple earphones; incense, and yummy, classic bubble bath. Of course, I could list ideas all day, but these are some of the things I am gifting this year. Feel free to share some of the items you are giving away this year. God bless!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

      

Thursday Outfit & Xmas Shopping

     This morning I had an appointment at the orthodontist, and I found out I will get my braces off in four weeks. Thanksgiving was my two years mark, and the orthodontist had it right when he said it would be a late Christmas present, because that is how it feels. I'm so relieved it is almost over. I am going to miss talking to the assistants about my Jo Malone perfume. 

     It was another morning of rushing out the door, and I chose a brown/green pair of skinny pants from Forever 21. I love how unique the color is in different lighting. You can find these pants for around $13 at different times of the year. 

     I'm wearing Uggs with this outfit. I asked for these last Christmas, so they are pretty new. These are the tall boots, and I love rolling them up and down so the fur shows in different bits. I'm crossing my fingers for a pair of slippers in the future. 

     My top is a Woolrich men's, button-up flannel my boyfriend found while thrifting. I love how warm it is, and who doesn't love an over-sized, boyfriend shirt? This was a very slouchy outfit, and looked cute peeking out from under my light pink, double-breasted coat. 

     I worked on Christmas cards and shopping today. I have almost all of my shopping done. This is the last weekend before Christmas, so everyone hurry up! I was going to get my Christmas present early today, but the stores sold out at all five Wal-Marts. My boyfriend tried hard to get the present, but it worked out better because now it will be here on Christmas instead of early. I can't wait to share what I gave away and what I got for Christmas. Until tomorrow...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Tuesday's Outfit & Xmas Shopping

     Happy Tuesday y'all! 

     I chose another outfit I couldn't capture every detail of in one picture, so I added a few to this post today. My shoes are the center of attention, again, today. I bought these from Ruche, and wore them last week to the Christmas party. I haven't worn these shoes many times, but the first time I did, I was traveling on a flight from Gunnison, Colorado to Dallas, Texas on Christmas, and they had a beating. Now I try to think of them in outfits like this.

     My pants are gray, pleated, slouchy pants from Forever 21. I bought them online, and they are a bit long (I'm petite), but fit perfectly everywhere else. They have enough room that when it gets cold enough, I can wear another layer underneath.

     My cardigan is from a small retailer online. I cannot remember the name of the company, but my top was about $15. I love it because of the lace detail, and you can easily pair it with a skirt or shorts. I'm also a huge fan of mint, so I had to have this cardigan.

      I'm still working on my Christmas shopping. I would like to plan ahead better next year, and get more shopping done earlier, but sometimes I just love waiting for the sales around Christmas. I don't always have the extra money, but this year I did start a gift box where I gathered little presents throughout the year to hand out at birthdays or Christmas. A few gifts came in yesterday and today from Amazon, which amazed me with their super quick Prime shipping. I love it! It was so hard not giving my boyfriend his presents, but they are now wrapped and sitting under the tree where I will do my best not to think of them for the next week. In the meantime, I'm still looking for the best practical gifts I can. Until tomorrow...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Monday's Outfit & Update

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday. I'm officially finished with school! It is such a relief to spend a Monday worrying about cleaning up after my house full of creatures, and focusing on my fashion. 

     I slept in a little later than I meant to this morning, so I threw on something quickly before heading into work. Today I went for comfort. My sweater was passed down from my mother. I'm not sure on the exact age of this sweater, but I know it is fairly old. It shouldn't be too difficult finding a chunky, cable-knit, turtleneck sweater in stores. It is so comfy, and worth the buy. Similar and slouchier here.

     I wore my Ruche oxford heels with this outfit. I also wore Forever 21 wide legs jeans. The whole outfit was a bit slouchy today, but I thought the oxfords and jewels added an elegant touch. I was warm and comfortable all day.

     This weekend I was busy with a critter problem, so I never made it in for my manicure. I plan on fixing my nails tonight or tomorrow, and then soon enough heading over to Pampered Soles for my manicure. Sometimes I have to make sacrifices for these animals, but I love them nonetheless. Until tomorrow...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

     

Friday's Outfit

     I had a pretty hectic Friday, cleaning up a little mess my prissy cats created, and a bit of a pest problem with my dogs. Needless to say, TGIF! I threw together a little something for y'all on this festive second to last Friday before Christmas. 

     I was inspired by a candy-cane striped, button-up blouse my boyfriend gave me. The top is from Ann Taylor Loft, but my boyfriend found it while thrifting. I think it makes a great holiday shirt. On top of that, I wore a red, button-up, double-pocket cardigan from Forever 21. For the final touch, I wore a silver statement necklace because I am really into the metallics this winter.

     At first I was going to wear a skirt or pants with this outfit, but in the end I decided I liked the black tights and shorts best. My tights are from Forever 21, and my shorts are Express Stretch. Similar here. I also wore my black H&M pointed stiletto booties. The weather was mild, so I could get away with an outfit like this in Dallas.

     I finished my third final exam today. My last one is due on Sunday. My doggies get groomed in the morning, and I'm heading to Pampered Soles to get some of my own pampering, then lunch. Photos to follow. Be sure to check my Instagram account @dressdynamicdallas. Have a great weekend!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Frozen Inspired Manicure Tutorial

     Last night before I rushed out the door to the Christmas party, I quickly gave myself the manicure above. I saw another manicure with a similar concept, only my blue is a little darker than the one I saw. These are inspired by the movie Frozen. I've had the glitter for about two years now, and this was the first time I actually felt inspired to use it. I literally did this manicure in about 15 minutes.

     The first thing I did was choose a blue nail polish with a metallic tint. I like how it goes well with the silver glitter. In this manicure I only put on one coat of polish. The blue is so vivid, you really only need one coat.

     After allowing the blue polish to dry, I then applied clear top coat polish. Right after applying the polish, I dipped my middle finger into the silver glitter and dabbed it onto my finger. I then dabbed my finger nail at the tips and then slightly spread it half way on my nails. It takes a few dabs of glitter sometimes, but it turns out wonderfully. You only want to tap the nails with the glitter and not so much smear it. The glitter is from Julep, and the nail polish was a gift. 

     Once the glitter is set for a few minutes, I then applied another coat of the clear polish to quickly dry the manicure. The nice thing about this manicure is that the glitter is so distracting, it is difficult to notice any errors in the manicure. I actually managed to keep from smudging the whole night. 

     I hope you enjoyed this Frozen inspired manicure tutorial. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Thursday's Outfit

     I hope everyone is having a lovely week. I'm so excited this is OFFICIALLY the last week of school. One more semester, and this girl will finally be finished with her first bachelor degree. Go me!

     Today's outfit was so much fun. I don't wear these shoes very often because they make such a statement, I like to chose the right moments. I didn't wear them to the Christmas Party like I originally planned, but they were great to wear to work for some festive fun. I bought these shoes last year from H&M. They were on sale, so they were a steal. I saw them in one of the ladies fashion magazines, and I was so happy to score them. 

     I bought my leggings at Marshall's a few months ago. I bought them specifically for Christmas time, so I have been waiting to wear them. I love how warm they are, and they have an adorable print, if you can't really make it out in the photo. And to be honest, I think they were like $10 or $15, so it was meant to be.

     I was also wearing a long sleeve, white, slightly sheer, button-up blouse. I was having a hard time deciding whether to wear it partially tucked in or not. I bought the top from Forever 21. 

     In my next post I will describe the outfit I wore to the Christmas Party. It was so fun! I wish I had a full image of what I wore, but there were so many details. It kept morphing before I walked out the door, so I would have probably needed a photographer following me around. Until then...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie