'Tis the Season to SPARKLE

The holidays are a great time to mix sparkle! 

Outfit details: Chambray blouse-American Eagle (now for $20!) // Sequin sweatshirt-Loft (Similar here on clearance!) // Red jean- H&M (Similar here on sale!) // Necklace-Target // Watch-Michael Kors // Bracelet-TJ-Maxx (Similar here) // Sunglasses-Ray Ban // Lipstick -Rimmel Bordeaux // Boots-Coach // Earrings-Forever 21 (I bought these years ago but I LOVE these from Bauble Bar!) 

Flashback to Courtney, age 3, stepping foot into my first dance class.  In the middle of learning the truly complicated moves to my "Spunky the Monkey" dance, I caught a glimpse of my red and gold sequin costume (not to mention the feather tail, but that's another post). This is the moment that I fell in eternal love with SEQUINS. Imagine my joy to see sequins all over everything this year! 

I have dove head first into this sequin trend and I am not ashamed that many most of my items of clothing have at least a sequin or two. For me, this is a really great trend because if worn correctly, it looks oh, so Polished! 

A sweatshirt is a really hard piece of clothing to Polish (because really, a sweatshirt has it's place and it is a really specific one, aka, the gym or bed). I don't know about you, but there are days that I feel like spending my entire day in a sweatshirt. But, in true Polished style, I am not one to follow through with this feeling. Until one magical day, I found this sweatshirt at the Loft (on clearance of course, I always make a beeline straight to this section). Not only is it a great color, but hello, it is FULL OF SEQUINS (3 year old Courtney is dancing inside).  What I really love is that a touch of sequins can make a regular outfit a special outfit. I always feel a little more spunky with some sequins on. Must be my roots as a sequin, tu-tu wearing "Spunky the Monkey" dancer...

Sparkle away!

--Courtney

P.S. Dont forget to check out our Instagrams for more Polished looks! Courtney_m_b & Kelseymkipp

Are We There Yet?

Outfit Details: Flannel shirt-Express (Similar here) // Gray v-neck sweater-J Crew Factory 50% off // Jeans-American Eagle (Similar here) // Riding boots-Coach (Similar here) // Bracelet- J Crew Factory 50% off // Necklace- J Crew Factory (Similar here) // Watch-The Limited (similar here) // Earrings-NY&Co (similar here for 50% off!) // Sunglasses-RayBan // Lip color-Rimmel 

'Tis the season for...TRAVEL. 

If you're anything like me, then you despise traveling. Of course, you love the destination, but getting there is a WHOLE different story.  I recently (as in yesterday) made the 5 hour 7 hour (DC traffic is AMAZING) trip back to Upstate New York to visit my family for the holidays. I don’t know about you, but what I travel in AND how I look when I arrive are both equally important. So, I thought I would share a few of my essentials for piecing together a travel ensemble.

LAYERS

No matter your mode of transportation-airplane, bus, car, etc. there is a 100% chance that you will need to add or take a layer off. I mean, we all know that for some reason when you take off you swore it was Summer, but mid-air, you are certain that it is now Winter.  So I say, why not use the ever-so-trendy layering pieces that are all over right now? In this case, a chambray or flannel shirt, sweater, riding boots, and a great statement necklace to Polish it all off!

SPARKLE

I’m sorry, but traveling does not make wearing PJ’s to the airport okay. However, I do understand how tempting this really is! Traveling can really get my spirits down (cue visual of me screaming during rush hour traffic, glamorous, I know). So, in true Polished fashion, why not use style and sparkle to lighten the mood? If you’re not into a large statement necklace, add an extra bracelet or a drop earring to your usual travel look! Trust me, you will feel so much better!

COMFORT

Okay, okay, I know people say that style is not about comfort (which is 75% true, in my opinion). But, hello people, if I am about to be sitting for more than 5 hours in a small, shared space, with God knows who sitting next to me, guess what…I am not doing it in a pencil skirt. So, I usually gravitate toward a jean with some stretch. The stretch is not only comfortable, but will still look great when you arrive to your destination. A jean with no stretch is more prone to get baggy or wrinkle from sitting for so long.

Kelsey and I have said this before and I will say it again, Style Is In The Details. Ladies, why NOT add some Polish to your travel look? What’s so wrong with showing up looking fabulous? I say, nothing!

Enjoy!

--Courtney