leopar-flage?

halfway to friday and i'm celebrating with a little LOT of leopard!!  well, you know me, I don't really need to be given a reason to incorporate leopard into my outfit, but usually its a bit more subtle.  this dress, however, is anything but.  i know you guys have seen these pikos everywhere, and I do love the tee version (pregnant or not) but I think the dress style may just be the best/most comfortable item in my closet!!  and seeing as it comes in my favorite print, you know this girl had to have it!!  thanks to the wonderful world of instagram, I was able to snag this goodie the second it hit one of my fave local boutiques House of Sage.  are you guys into insta-tiquing yet??  i have almost totally replaced online shopping thanks to all the great items I find on instagram.  between the abundance of fashion bloggers and boutiques that i follow and the oh so easy hashtag search, tomorrow's hottest styles are right under your thumbs (literally).  im probably on the verge of needing an insta-vention.  seriously though, if you haven't tried it, as soon as that first package at your doorstep, you'll be hooked!

ok. so even though my son calls leopard camouflage, this dress is doing anything but, so in an attempt to minimize the tent effect, I slung my maroon moto leather over my shoulders.  tights because, these legs haven't seen the light of day in months and before you ask, yes, I cut off the toes.  I had mixed emotions when I first received these peek-a-booties, but the chunky style has really grown on me and I love the way they look with a mini.  it's hard to really say I have a favorite aspect of outfit styling, I really do love every ingredient, but jewelry is perhaps the salt and pepper.  without it, everything just tastes bland.  so much like my insta-addiction, I have also grown an addiction to subscriptions.  food, makeup, kids toys, you name it, I've probably tried it.  so currently, i'm totally crushing on Rocksbox.  I know we've discussed this before, but if you need a refresher, 3 sparkly baubles, arrive in the mail for you to wear until you're ready to send them back for a fresh set.  these ridiculously gorgeous Loren Hope earrings came in my first box, and I will be sad to see them go.  I love the mix of colors and gems and they definitely seasoned this look just perfectly!

thanks to rocksbox, all of you pretties can get your first month free by using the code: taraxoxo2 so login in and add some sparkle to your style!!

 "be happy, it drives people crazy"

 

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

 

dress House of Sage // moto leather Forever21 // booties ShoeMint // bag StyleMint // sunnies Kameleonz // necklace BaubleBar // earrings Loren Hope via Rocksbox

sporty sparkle

Hello Friday!!!

its still winter, its still cold, but its officially the weekend!!  so im still bundled and bumpin, but i brought out a little color to liven my mood.  i have been living in black and white and all shades in between so what better way to break up the monotony that a bright pop of hot pink!  i love a chunky knit on a cold day (even if its not exactly slimming).  with pink being so girly, i went with a sporty vibe for the rest of my outfit with color-blocked accessories and added some shine with my accessories.  like Monday's post, most of these items have been in my closet for quite some time, so i've linked some great alternatives below.  have a great weekend you guys, and stay warm!!!

 "don't define your world in black and white, because there's so much hiding amongst the greys"

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

 

sweater Forever 21 // skinnies Chip & Pepper via Belk // hat Target // sunnies Forever 21 // booties ShoeMint // bag StyleMint // "shine" necklace RocksBox // earrings Moon & Lola

 

 

luck of the irish

top o' the morning to ya!!

happy st. patrick's day ya'll!!

seeing as i'm only the tiniest of tiny smidgens irish, i'm only giving you a smidgen of green.

partly because i don't own anything kelly green and mostly because this day snuck upon me and i was not fully prepared with a head to toe leprechaun look.

i DO own a pile of army/olive green and while it's not a shade designated for st patty's only, it's serving its purpose for today.

 i love love love these shorts!!

they are my new favorite "dolphin" fit, which is basically like a dressed up track short.

the faux leather waistband and pocket trim give a little touch of luxe and add the "expensive" factor to an otherwise cheap pair of shorts (im talkin 17 bucks from F21!)

i paired it with this leopard print blouse to dress it up an extra notch and slung on my favorite ivory blazer (also from Forever 21) to lighten the look.

when putting together outfits, i don't really believe in matching, i like to coordinate, so for me, its all about the details.  

the waist on the shorts, the zippers on the blazer, the sparkle in my heal; they are the touches that matter in pulling together a polished look.

what's your process in dressing??  do you start with 1 feature piece and work from there??

"luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" 

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

armstrong blouse StyleMint // ivory blazer Forever 21 similar here and here // olive shorts Forever 21 similar here and here // eileen heels ShoeMint also love Bovary and Giselle // cross-body bag Rachel Rachel Roy // sunnies Forever 21 love these // leather wrap Stella & Dot // watch Michael Kors // bangles Alex and Ani // midi rings BaubleBar

Sporty Neon Moto

I love a good trend, especially one that comes back around that I was smart enough to hold on to!

Remember when moto jeans were a must have??

every who's who in the world of celebrity owned a pair, so of course I had to get me some!

flash forward 4 years and they're makin a comeback!!

its not quite the necessity it was when I originally purchased them, but they are definitely making their presence known (mostly in leather) and I have always had a soft spot for these babies!

throw in a pop of neon and wedge sneakers and were officially trendy!

i was feelin' a bit sporty (insert british accent here) in my get-up so i thought i'd try some new styling with my hair to pull the look together.

mi madre was convinced a straight blowout with full bangs would look chic, so here's to you ma . . .

i finally gave in and i must say, im diggin' it!

probably not for my day to day (i am a bed head kinda girl, afterall,

but i do like a sleek look every now and then)

have a happy healthy new year!!

xoxo,

Tara Belle

sweater H&M available in store or similar here, tee Forever21, moto jeans J Brand similar here and here, sneakers Target, bag StyleMint

Goin to the Chapel and we're . . . .

gonna wear leopard and oxblood of course!!

I (like most girls) LIVE for a good reason to dress up!  (or any reason for that matter)

sunday falls under my most favorite day of the week for many reasons

it's usually a pretty lazy morning with lattes in bed (to refuel my energy), followed by Church! (to replenish my soul), then lunch (to fill my tummy), and an unplanned afternoon of family fun!!

(to bask in the glowing love of my boys) 

 

so unlike most sundays,

we took our well dressed butts to the pews

and got ourselves some good ole southern Baptist preachin'

followed by some delicious country home cookin'
 it was the perfect ending to our Christmas week!



 conservative is key when dressing for church

i'm forever a separates girl,

and I tend to have a hard time finding dresses long/appropriate enough for church

so I usually opt for a skirt and blouse

I literally buy every midi/bodycon skirt I find they're classic, sexy, easy to pair and thanks to the current trends, super easy to find!

dress it down with a rocker tee and booties or a crop top for a night out!

have a blessed and fashionable day!

xoxo,

Tara Belle

leopard blouse StyleMint, midi skirt Forever21, heels Boutique 9, clutch Vintage similar here, necklace Bella Mia