you can't go wrong with black

Black on black is so chic- you really can't go wrong with it. When I was in high school I equated all black with a gothic look, so it was something I avoided, but as I got older I realized that that's not necessarily the case at all. I think the key is to keep it streamlined, like I did here with this outfit with a fitted top and skinny pants. This look is also mixing textures with the black to keep it interesting. If you can see the details in the top, it has a burnout lace type of effect. And the pants are corduroy with a subtle tribal print. With this infinity scarf and the nude ballet flats, it was perfect to wear to observe in my first grade classroom, but also to transition into grad school class at night.

Top: H&M (exact below)

Pants: Loft (exact below)

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Scarf: Charlotte Russe (exact below)

Bracelet: Charlotte Russe

Ring: Charlotte Russe

ha, I didn't even notice this theme when I was wearing the outfit!

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black on black by greathappiness featuring a lightweight infinity scarf

nautical

I featured this top awhile back in my 1 shirt 5 ways post with 5 looks for summer. Well, here is another one! This top is super lightweight and breezy. I love it with a black cami under it, though, and it looks great because the top is a high-low one, although you can't really tell in the pictures. I paired it with these medium wash wide leg jeans for something different, and a black and silver chain necklace.

Top: RueLaLa (exact below)
Jeans: old
Necklace: gift

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nautical and jeans by greathappiness featuring a layered chain necklace

Colorblocked

I like this top from StyleMint, because I don't have anything else like it. It's a bold look, plus it also contains my high school colors, which makes me a little nostalgic. Normally I would wear this top with some black or denim skinny pants, but it was so hot this day, that I had to go with capris. I went with my brown capris, which still work with this top, even though there's no brown with the top. I used to be scared to play around with neutrals, because even though Stacy and Clinton have told us numerous times that they go together, it just didn't seem right. But I see, of course, that they were correct. I went with a simple and architectural ring and necklace to kind of keep with the feel of the top.

Top: StyleMint (exact below)

Pants: old

Necklace: Forever 21 (exact below)

Bracelet: Apple of My Eye jewelry (exact below)

Ring: Sneakpeeq

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colorblocked by greathappiness featuring brown capri pants

This post is linked up to Style Sessions

Chambray and shorts

I love this outfit! It's one of those outfits that just came together perfectly. As every woman should know, you can't go wrong with a chambray top. They are comfy, super versatile, and always look great. Here, I tied the bottom because if I had just let it hang, it would have looked frumpy with the shorts. By tying it, it still allowed it to have a loose fit while still bringing definition so that it's flattering.  As a general rule, I'd say if you are wearing skinny jeans or other tight fitting pants or a pencil skirt, go on and let it hang and it will look great, as I did here. But if the pants are looser in the legs, as these shorts are, or if you're wearing an a-line skirt, for example, go ahead and tie or tuck it. 

Black shorts are perfectly chic while still staying cool for summer, and paired with a chambray top, they look great. I added a simple ring and a peach beaded necklace, and I finished the look off with a pop of bright color through my red wedge sandals. It worked perfectly on a day where I went out to breakfast and dinner, and I didn't have to change!

Top: DKNY

Shorts: Loft

Neclace: Charlotte Russe

Ring: Charming Charlie

Shoes: Crocs

Outfits I Love

I know there's been a lack of posts here lately, sorry about that. I first was too busy with my summer grad school classes ending to blog (I finished on Wednesday- hooray!) and then this past week I've been volunteering at Vacation Bible School at my church all week, where I had to wear the same blue t-shirt every day. Not exactly worth blogging about... you know? Anyway, things should be back on track now. I am on a break from grad school classes until the end of August, which means you'll see a lot more casual outfits from me. But hey, it's summer! I'll still be doing my internship with the little ones two days a week, though, so I'll at least be dressing nicer for that.

Since I don't have any outfit posts to share this week, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite outfits I've created on polyvore lately. As I've mentioned before, all of these are made up from the exact or similar to pieces that I own, so I plan to wear them all eventually. Feel free to pin if you feel so inspired!

lace dress and denim jacket by greathappiness featuring tribal pattern shoes

cozy little black dress by greathappiness featuring capri pants

black maxi and denim jacket by greathappiness featuring forever 21 rings

mustard and stripes by greathappiness featuring forever 21 necklaces

mint and polka dots by greathappiness featuring lacy tops

summer black and purple by greathappiness featuring coin jewelry

orange and blue by greathappiness featuring a yellow gold bracelet

This post is linked up to Friday's Fab Favorites at Style Elixir and the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop.

Black and Mustard

You may recognize this as Outfit 2 in my 7X7 REMIX. I love this combination with the black on top and mustard on the bottom, because I think it just looks nice and pulled together, without actually having to try hard at all. All I did was throw on a gold necklace and a gold ring to pull it all together in a simple way. I'm not wearing my shoes in these pictures unfortunately, since I took these during a brief visit home in the middle of the day and my shoes usually come off when I walk in the door. But just try to picture it with my brown TOMS.

Top: H&M

Pants: Carson's

Necklace: Old

Ring: Forever 21

This post is linked up for What I Wore to Work and Three-fer Thursday.

Black Button Down Casual

I'm trying a new format for the pictures. Oh hi, my face! We'll work on getting them better quality next time... I've been looking for a black button down like this for awhile, and when I saw this one on Forever 21's website, I knew I had to have it. It's everything I wanted and more. I wanted to dress it down, so I paired it with these jeans. I thought this multicolor chain necklace would be fun to bring in a little color, along with the shoes.

Top: Forever 21 (exact- $12)
Jeans: Levi's
Shoes: Crocs
Ring: Forever 21
Necklace: Aeropostale

Black & Pink- May 21st Outfit

Black and pink is a color combination I haven't worn in awhile but one that I like. It makes a statement. And I used to avoid black on black for a long time, until I realized how chic it can look. I think the key to making black on black work is to first wear skinny pants second, have some kind of statement accessory that pops. I found this scarf on Kohl's website for only $2, and the proceeds went to breast cancer research. Win-win! Sadly, it's not available anymore. I snatched up this adorable peacock ring at Kohl's in person last week for only $4.80. I think it's so cute and colorful! And I've worn these black tribal herringbone print pants from Loft before, but this time I took a picture so you can see up close how they look. I love them, because they make the pants interesting, but in a more subtle way so that you can still wear them a lot. Plus they are a thin and soft type of corduroy, making them extremely comfortable- always a plus!

This post is linked up to Style Sessions.

Black and Lace: May 10th Outfit

I had gotten this very lightweight and see-through lace pullover awhile ago when I fell in love with it, but still had never worn it yet. I don't know why I never thought until now to put a black camisole underneath instead of just a white one. Duh! I instantly became obsessed with this outfit. I wore a light jacket outside since it was kind of cool out, so I took a picture with the jacket too. The top is very loose and drapey and just gorgeous. I didn't even wear any jewelry with this outfit, which you know is very rare if you've looked through my other posts, but I just felt that the outfit spoke for itself.

Top: Forever 21 (similar-$17)
Pants: Pajama Jeans (exact- $20)
Jacket: Sears (similar- $20)

Disneybound Day 29/April 29th Outfit

I am loving the sunshine and warm weather today! I sat outside with my laptop to get some work done, and I actually have a tan line where my shorts were. Hooray for some color! I've been looking forward to this outfit today

Pongo

The name of this blog is Lace, Stripes, and Polka Dots after my three biggest loves in clothing. So you can guess easily that this one is a favorite. I love this top, and the whole outfit feels so effortless and comfortable. I wore a black camisole underneath, which gives the illusion of high waisted pants or a jumpsuit, even though I don't have either on. And black and white is so fun with a pop of red, representing, of course, Pongo's collar. 

Top: Forever 21 (similar- $8.80, similar- $38)

Pants: (similar- $28)

Necklace: The Hunger Site (similar- $12.80)

Ring: No More Rack (similar- $5.80, similar- $24)