Rocked it & Swapped it

This swap post is one of my favorites because it's a two item Rocked it & Swapped it. By now you all know of our love for cabi Clothing, but this bow neck blouse and plaid coat are next level. If you love either of these items as much as we do, contact a cabi Clothing stylist stat! They will be your all time favorites for years to come, the quality of both are amazing, and the print and color on the jacket is absolutely stunning. You will not be disappointed, I promise!

OK, now onto our styling. When I wore my blouse and jacket back in August, I paired it with a super chic faux leather trimmed skirt and two-tone boots. I finished my look off with gold jewelry and a bold lip color. When Kaitlyn styled her blouse and jacket in November, she went a more casual pairing. By adding color denim and floral print flats her top and jacket took on a new look. I love just how versatile these pieces are! This would also be a great example of how to style these items from day to night, don't you think?

What do you think of our pairings? Are you a fan of the blouse and jacket? Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today, I hope you make it a great day! xo

Rocked it & Swapped it

Happy Thursday friends! Today's swap is centered around a classic wardrobe staple, this gorgeous white blouse from ASOS. Everyone needs a white blouse in their closet. They are super versatile, can be styled year round, and can be dressed up or dressed down. This one is extra pretty with it's lace and button details, which honestly drew us both to it. Plus it's only $45, so we say stock up on this one while you can! 

When Kaitlyn styled her top, she wore it as a classic combo. Nothing is more easy to pair, while looking very put together, then jeans and a blouse. By adding great jewelry, adorable flats, and a statement bag, her classic look really stood out. When I got my hands on it, I wanted to pair it a bit more unexpected. I paired it with a button-up skirt, faux fur vest, and navy boot. In the end this is a great example of a day to night styling for this blouse, no? 

How many blouses do you have in your closet? What do you think of our pairings? Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today. We truly appreciate it! xo 

Rocked it & Swapped it: Chambray Trim Hat

There is nothing more versatile and perfect for summer then a great sun hat. Over the years I have accumulated quite the hat collection, and that's for a number of reasons actually. First and foremost, I wear hats for sun protection. I have fair skin, scars from a dog bite back in sixth grade, and have been protecting my face from the sun for as long as I can remember. I am just glad there are so many beautiful options nowadays! 

Secondly, they are a great way to hide a bad hair day or even just making your hair style easier for that day. I mean, there is nothing easier for a summer festival then adding a great sun hat.  Lastly, hats are a fun way to change the look of any outfit. I'm not even just talking summer either, I love me a great wool hat during the winter months as well! 

SHOP CHAMBRAY TRIM HATS:

This chambray trim hat that Kaitlyn was gifted by J.Jill a few months ago is such a fast favorite. The style is classic and the blue pop really elevates each outfit that much more. When Kaitlyn styled her hat, she wore it with a beautiful navy top, stripe linen pants, and a great coral bag. When I got my hands on it over the 4th of July weekend, I wore it with a stripe top, white linen pants, and all white chucks. In the end I love both looks and it just makes me want to add a chambray trim hat to my collection. Good thing I added some great ones to shop above at really low price points!

Are you a fan of wearing hats? How many do you own?
 Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today, we truly appreciate it! xo

Rocked it & Swapped it: Red Strappy Flats

There is no such thing as too much of a good thing. OK, maybe there is, but when it comes to wearing these beautiful red flats over and over, we just can't get enough! They are perfect for year-round wear and super comfortable to boot. No matter how you style them, they always steal the show because even if you were wearing all muted colors or a monochrome look, they serve as your pop of color. We constantly get compliments about them on Instagram and when worn out and about. Do they remind anyone else of Dorothy's shoes? There's just something so playful about a red shoe!

When Kaitlyn first wore her red flats from J.Jill, she paired them with a timeless and classic outfit. Ladies, you can literally never go wrong when pairing a white collar shirt with jeans! When I wore my pair last week, I styled them with a denim skirt and lots of stripes. See a few other ways we have styled them here:

With Stripes //  Overalls // Distressed Denim

A great pair of red shoes really are the focal point of any look!

Do you own a pair of red flats? Shop some of of our favorites below! 

SHOP THE LOOK:

Rocked it & Swapped it

It was love at first sight for both of us with this gorgeous embroidered jacket from Style & Co. Embroidery is something that has been around a very long time. In fact, it can be traced all the way back to the Iron Age of human civilization. It is believed that it was the Chinese during the Zhou Dynasty (around 1045 BC) that are credited for the more modern embroidery techniques that we see today. To the Chinese, embroidery was considered a sign of power, wealth, and rank. They would use the embroidered designs on clothing in a way that each symbol had a different meaning. In today's fashion, I think embroidery is more about being playful and fun with your style. Plus, this season it's a whole lot of red embroidered flowers....which I love and think is quite beautiful. 

When Kaitlyn styled her jacket, she paired it with a striped dress, floral flats, and a red lip. She finished her look off with a brown cross body bag and black sunglasses. I love a great neutral mixing outfit with pops of red! When I wore the jacket, I too opted to add another piece of floral to my look. The strap on my bag is also embroidered, so it just made sense to me to mix these two items in one outfit. Add to that the red of my shoes and lips, some flare overalls, and a black sweater, and I was good to go. Dressed up or dressed down, this jacket has the perfect amount of extra detail to give your look something special. 

What do you think of the embroidered trend that is back again this year? Are you loving this jacket as much as we do? It is on super sale right now, so get yours before they sell out! 

Rocked it & Swapped it: The Long Cardigan

I love the the reinvention of the classic cardigan. Not too long ago, cardigans were still waist length, fitted, Grandma-esque sweaters. But by adding a little length and some different ideas about styling them, they have become much more current and versatile. Long cardigans from knee-lengths to floor-lengths are a year round staple...whether you layer it over an all black, dressed up ensemble or add over a striped turtleneck and jeans to keep things casual, it makes either look final. We both love the nude color because it literally goes with everything...we both happened to stick with a neutral palette but there's no color you could pair it with that would be a bad choice. Style it with sneakers and beanie for a "model off duty" look or stilettos and a loose, white T for an effortless, chic combination. The best thing is, there's no wrong answer! 

ADD A LONG CARDIGAN TO YOUR CLOSET:

How do you feel about the modern cardigan?
Favorite way to style it?

Rocked it & Swapped it

I am in love with Kaitlyn's faux leather midi skirt from Forever 21. It can be dressed up or down and styled for so many occasions. It really is a staple piece I never knew I always needed! I truly followed suit when I styled it mirroring the idea of pairing this skirt over a dress (worn as a top). I loved how Kaitlyn's polkadot and leopard print popped when she wore it. When I got my hands on it, navy stripes seemed like the way to go and neither look would be complete without a great denim jacket! 

Do you love this look? Shop your own faux leather midi skirt below! (Most under $45!)

Rocked it & Swapped it

A graphic sweatshirt is a wardrobe trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon. Year in and year out, we style them up & down while still keeping cozy like any great sweatshirt would. This "Believe in Love" beauty from Old Navy has been around for two years now and is still going strong. When I styled it back in 2014, I wore it with jeans, a neutral heel & bag, and some statement jewelry. It was perfect for everyday wear, but dressed up enough to hit the town. 
When Kaitlyn wore it two years later (let's be honest, she's worn it tons of times between then and now), she took it to new fashion heights. I would have never thought to pair this top with a polka dot skirt, OTK boots, knit beanie, and bucket bag. I am all sorts of inspired! 
Here is how we both styled the sweatshirt: 

What do you think of our pairings? Do you have a favorite graphic sweatshirt?

If you are in the market for a new one, we have added a few below that we love...Happy shopping! ;)

Rocked it & Swapped it

We both chose to style this "classic" sweatshirt in a classic way... (see what I did there?) What is more perfect then gray, black, and denim paired together? These colors just simply work however you choose to style them. I promise you should try it if it is not already in heavy rotation. OK, back to this swap now...

When I wore my sweatshirt from The Rage toward the end of summer last year, I paired it with a denim skirt, black fringe bag, and black cut-out flats. Kaitlyn kept the colors classically paired with skinny jeans, cut-out black boots, a faux leather jacket, and a gray beanie. Kaitlyn, I'm totally wearing this outfit next week. No, seriously you guys, that's my hat, sweatshirt, and coat and I have NEVER paired them together. I mean...I have to. I love it so!

Here is how we both styled the top: 

What do you think of these outfits?
How would you style this classic sweatshirt?

Rocked it & Swapped it

A mustard bucket bag complete with studs and tassels might not be considered versatile at first glance, but we can't stop wearing this one from Nordstrom so hear us out. Pair it with satin summer dress and lace up heels for an effortlessly chic look or a patterned skirt and beanie for a playful pop of color in the dead of Winter. The gold chain strap is just right for dressing things up or down and the size is perfect for a few credit cards, lipstick & phone (aka the essentials). 

What do you think? Does it work well with both looks?
Shop our favorite bucket bags currently selling under $100:

Rocked it & Swapped it

This is the story of an olive colored fringe skirt. Prior to coveting this beautiful bottom, Johanna (of 101 Things I Love) owned it. Years ago, we made a permanent swap and I hoarded it ever since. ;) I love an item of clothing that has a story behind it. Makes the day you choose to wear it that much more special don't you think? 
I paired my skirt with a chambray top, nude heels, and a statement necklace. By adding the emerald sunglasses and saddle bag, my look was perfect for an afternoon out with the family in Wisconsin. When Kaitlyn styled this beauty, a new color crush of mine was born. Olive and burgundy are truly meant to be! I love how the shoes pop and what a fun idea to add two other neutrals in the hat and bag. Well played Kaitlyn, well played. 

Here is how we both styled the skirt:

Shop my favorite fringe skirts currently selling:

Have you tried a fringe skirt yet? I dare you to get through the night without twirling or twisting at least once! 

Rocked it & Swapped it

To say we are both vest obsessed would be an understatement. Kaitlyn and myself can not stop styling vests over everything form our everyday wear to our night-out styles. 
When Kaitlyn wore it for a night in the city, she paired it perfectly over a white button up shirt and skinny distressed denim. The bag and heels really take this look up a notch to "night-out chic". I later styled the vest for a normal mommy day of errands and school meetings. By adding it over a short sleeved turtleneck with jean leggings it really took a basic look to a fashion forward one. It's crazy how one clothing item can truly change-up a look so much! 
Here is how were both styled the vest: 

Love vests as much as we do? Shop our favorites here: 

Rocked it & Swapped it

Another swap and a another styling idea that I never would have thought of...I saw this sheer floral top as simple boho chic and by pairing it with distressed denim and neutral accessories, it seemed American classic. Lisa put a new spin on things by adding a leather moto jacket, turquoise jewelry, fringe and black riding boots which gave it a rough edge, great for transitioning to evening. Because both of these styles are so different, you can easily wear this shirt multiple times within a few weeks and nobody would ever know ;) 

Stock up on some lace & style however you like:

Rocked it & Swapped it

A great blouse is just that, a great blouse. I love Free People clothing so when I saw this beauty super discounted I knew it had to be mine. Who knew a sheer & lace blouse I found on Hautelook back in 2012 would get so much wear over the years?

It really is a casual blouse, but when styled differently it takes on an entire new look. Below is a great example of just that! One of the first times I wore it, I kept the look super easy by adding denim and chambray to it. Then by adding a fringe bag, long moon necklace, and a crop boot, this look was a bit boho and a whole lot cozy. 

When Kaitlyn wore the blouse a few years later, she dressed it up and like the chameleon it is, it instantly became the perfect GNO top. How stunning does is pair with a faux leather midi skirt and killer heels? I'm a such a fan of this outfit! 

Here is how we both styled the blouse: 

Do you have a great tee-shirt blouse that can be dressed up or down year in and year out? 

What do you think of our styling choices? 

Rocked it & Swapped it

From simple to simply bad ass...that's a pretty accurate description of this swap exchange...

I wore this maxi for our adventure shoot and kept things pretty basic because the focus was meant to be on the wine, not our outfits...When Lisa wore this Target dress, she made it a little edgier by throwing an arm party with some gold accessories and taking my half-up braids up a notch with a faux-hawk braid (our favorite!) I like how my bright lip color stands out because it's not competing with accessories and I also love how Lisa kept her makeup very minimal because there was already so much going on...this is a great example of how a few simple things can change an entire look ;)

Kaitlyn outfit: Dress: Target // Sunnies: Old Navy // Lip color: Glo Minerals 

Lisa outfit: Bag // Necklace // Arm Chain: Zara (similar) // Watch // Hair: Tutorial here

We also love this similar long-sleeved style...great for fall!

Rocked it & Swapped it

If you read our blog regularly, then you know we are both jumpsuit obsessed. I'm talking a year round love affair people and we are quite OK with it ;)

I found this gorgeous black and floral jumpsuit online at Piperlime last summer. The first time I styled it was for a photo shoot for Lake and Country Magazine (a publication out of Lake Geneva, WI). I decided to pull colors from it when accessorizing. I added blue in with my navy hat, black in the necklace and heels, and then tons of gold jewelry. Sometimes more is more! 

When Kaitlyn styled it, she too pulled in colors from the jumpsuit with the blue in the bag & earrings, but she also added new colors. I love how the mint & tan wedges (and the braids) made the outfit seem more playful and daytime chic. 

Here is how we both style this floral number:

Are you as jumpsuit obsessed as we are? What do you think of how we styled this one?

On a side note, can we talk about how I have been missing my longer hair lately. I think I may need to get my Hair by Suzie extensions back in soon...seriously! 

Rocked it & Swapped it

A jersey midi skirt is one of those items that you can pair with almost anything in a matter of seconds to make a cute outfit. I found this one from Lisa in my most recent swap bag and have worn it at least four times in a span of a few weeks...

I really like how Lisa paired it with booties in the Spring, very seasonally appropriate. My styling of the piece is a little unique...not only am I wearing a dress under the skirt (which is a first for me) but this dress has special meaning, as it was sent to Lisa and I from one of our favorite bloggers, Megan. Sadly, the dress is too short on me to wear as is but works perfectly as a top...I love the gold buttons and corset style.

Unfortunately, we don't live in the same state as Megan so we haven't had the chance to meet in person (yet!) but our mutual style crushes have been developing for a few years now (seriously, her fashion sense is adorable!) She recently let us know she cleaned out her closet and would love to send us a few of her items that she thought we would enjoy...this was such a sweet gesture and we were delighted to find some true gems. 

This was our favorite part about BISTM...someone else's "trash" is truly someone else's treasure and swapping clothes with your sister 20 minutes away or a friend thousands of miles away always makes you feel like you have something new in your closet :)

Search #RockandSwap on IG to see more posts like this!