Yearly Archives: 2020

Petite Style Guide: Cropped Sweaters

petite style guide for cropped sweaters | petite fashion tricks and tips | texas fashion blog lady in violet

Being 5’3, I am always looking for tips and tricks to look a little bit taller.  These tricks usually involve choosing items that create the look of longer legs.  Cropped sweaters popularity grew this year, and I realized these short sweaters help with my long leg illusion.  I started adding all the cropped sweaters to my closet.

While the cropped sweater helps with the illusion, other styling tricks like high waisted jeans and showing a little ankle also help add to the illusion.  Check out the different outfits below to see my petite style guide for cropped sweaters.

winter outfits | yellow fitted cropped sweater | distressed jeans | Petite Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

yellow cropped sweater | distressed jeans | booties

This cropped yellow sweater above was a great find.  It’s fitted with stretch, so it feel super comfy.  The cut of the crop hits perfectly at the top of high waisted denim.  The higher waist of these jeans extends the look of the legs creating a long look, great for us petite gals or anyone wanting to have the legs for days look.

Quick Note on this sweater: The color is a mix between lime green and yellow leaning more towards yellow.

casual outfits | pink short sweater | light tan booties | petite fashion blogger lady in violet

pink sweater | hight waisted jeans | booties | earrings | c/o bead bracelets

If you want a slightly longer crop to go just past a waist band, this pink sweater is good option. It also a little bit more volume and cozy fit. It still a shorter sweater, can be more comfy being a bit longer, and has that same great long leg effect.

Another petite styling trick, show some ankle.  I usually feel a little taller in pics when I’m showing just a hint of ankle. A quick cuff on your jeans will do the trick.

winter outfits | lime yellow sweater | black knee high boots | texas fashion blog lady in violet

yellow sweater | high waisted jeans | black boots

If you love wearing tall boots, a shorter sweater is the perfect pairing!  A long tunic sweater and my boots can sometimes my feel stumpy and my frame overwhelmed depending on the sweater length and volume.  The shorter sweater leaves plenty of jean showing to help with the long leg illusion.

If you do a longer sweater and boot combo, I opt for a boot with a heel to give more overall height or do a front tuck of the sweater to show a bit more leg.   If you are looking for ideas for over the knee boots, check out my post here on styling OTK boots when you are on the shorter side.

fall outfits | pink short sweater | bootcut jeans for petite women | Texas fashion blogger Lady in violet

pink sweater | bootcut jeans | brown heels | earrings | c/o bead bracelets

All three previous looks showcased high waisted jeans which are perfect for the leg illusion that we are trying to achieve.  However, mid-rise jeans can work just as well.  Make sure your sweater will at least graze the top of your jeans so no skin shows in between.

I already have a few more cropped sweater coming in, so I can keep this petite styling trick working in my wardrobe all winter long.  Since most of my jeans are  mid-rise, I’m opting for more sweaters like the pink one that will work with multiple jean rises.

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Six Ways to Wear a Brown Midi Dress

I’m so excited to share this beautiful brown floral midi dress!  It’s a great work dress and can be styled a few different ways.  Some of the outfits involve simple swaps like a shoe color change or adding a layer.

I picked this dress out for our Christmas photos.  We took our photo on the stairs of our new house, and I knew the brown and earthtone shades of the print would compliment the light wood color of our stairs.  This midi dress is a shift dress style.  On my petite frame, I preferred adding a belt so the volume did not overwhelm my short frame.  If you are taller, you may be able to pull of the volume without a belt.  The belt also helps create a defined waist no matter your height.

SIX WAYS TO WEAR A BROWN MIDI DRESS

WITH BLACK BELT & BOOTS

I love love love the contrast of the black boots and belt against the fall colors in this dress.  Since the black is such a strong contrast, it creates the look of slimmer waist better than the other belt colors.  The black contrast also helps add a bit of edge to the look.

fall outfit | brown floral midi dress | black suede tall boots | Petite Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

brown floral midi dress | similar boots | black belt | c/osimilar bead bracelets | earrings

WITH LIGHT TAN BOOTS & BELT

Another color choice is to pair this dress with a color in the dress like the light tan of my boots and belt.  It adds a lightness to the overall look and really highlights the lighter shades in the print.

fall outfits | brown pleated midi dress | light tan suede boots | Texas Fashion Blogger Lady in Violet

brown midi dress | similar boots | similar belt | c/o similar bead bracelets | earrings

WITH BROWN HEELS & BELT

My brown belt and heels are the perfect compliment to the brown shade in this dress.   I wore this outfi for our Christmas photo.  While the light tan pulled out the lighter shades in the dress, the brown really highlights the brown background of the print.

fall work outfits | long brown paisley print dress | brown belt | Petite Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

brown floral midi dress | brown heels | brown belt | c/o similar bracelets | earrings

WITH LONG CARDIGAN & BOOTIES

If you need an outer layer option for this dress, a long cardigan in a complimentary color is a great choice.  Choose a cardigan that is either found in the print or compliments it.  The earthtones in the print worked well with the olive green in my cardigan.  Beige/ivory or rose pink would also work really well with this print.

winter outfit | olive green long cardigan | midi dress | booties | Texas Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

long cardigan | midi dress |booties | similar belt

WITH BLACK LEATHER JACKET & HEELS

To add a little more edge to the dress and really play up the contrast from the first look, a black leather jacket is another outer layer option.  If you want a more monochromatic look, a brown jacket would work too.

fall outfit | midi shift dress | black leather jacket | Houston Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

similar leather jacket | brown floral midi dress | black heelsearrings

WITH BLACK BOOTIES

This final look showcases how this dress look by itself with no belt or jacket.  With all the volume in the dress, my petite frame definitely needs a heeled shoe.  Neutral colored heels would be a great option here.  I loved the edginess my black booties added to the dress.

fall outfit | anthropologie leandra midi dress | black booties | Petite Fashion Blogger Lady in Violet

brown floral midi dress | similar booties | c/o similar bead bracelets | earrings

Which outfit is your favorite?

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fall work outfits | ways to wear a brown midi dress | petite style blogger lady in violet

Nine Ways to Wear a Cow Print Top

Maybe it’s because I’m a Texas girl, but I’m really loving this cow print blouse.  It’s so right up my style alley being black and white. The print is fun and different, but also has a chic and sophisticated vibe. I’ve come up with a good variety of ways to wear a cow print top from casual, going out, western inspired (of course!), and even a little work wear.

This top is completely sheer, so you do need to pair a cami underneath it.  I opted to wear a black one, but you could also wear a white or ivory one which will lighten up the top a little.  It also has a tie neck line which I’ve showcased multiple ways to style as well.  It’s a versatile detail that you can use to change up the look of your top.

NINE WAYS TO WEAR A COW PRINT TOP

ALL BLACK OUTFIT

I’m starting with the always chic all black ensemble.  It really helps the print of the top pop.

For the tie neck portion, I tucked the long strings into my cami to create the look of an open v-neck.  You can also tie them to the cami straps to help them stay hidden.

fall outfit | cow print top | black knee high boots | Petite Fashion Blogger Lady in Violet

cow print blouse | black jeans | belt | leather boots | c/o necklace | earrings

BLACK JEANS & BROWN HEELS

Another option for this top and a black jean combo is to add in some brown.  A brown belt and shoes add the perfect contrasting pop of color.  The brown and cow print also give me a tiny hint of a western feel.

For the tie neck, I opted to tie a bow just at the base of the v-neck.  I love how it creates a fun necklace type detail to the top.

fall outfit | black white print blouse | black skinny jeans | Texas Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

long sleeve blouse | black jeans | brown belt | brown heels | similar bangle | earrings

WITH BLUE JEANS & TALL BROWN BOOTS

This outfit was my most western inspired.  I originally though about showcasing this with cowboy boots, but I wanted to show how the look would work with a more popular style boot.  My tall brown boots have a weathered look for the perfect fall outfit combo with a hint of that western vibe.

western inspired outfit | cow print blouse | brown knee high boots | Casual Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

cow print top | blue jeans | similar boots | brown belt | c/o necklace | earrings

WITH BLUE JEANS & BROWN MULES

Many of the details of this top give it a more dressed up feel, but you can easily make this top more casual with a cuffed pair of blue jeans and brown mules or booties.

casual outfit | black cow print top | brown mules | Houston Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

black and white top | skinny jeans | similar brown mules |similar bangle | earrings

WITH GRAY JEANS & PINK FLATS

If you for an outfit with no western references, opt for gray jeans and pop of color.  When you think that this is really just a black and white top, gray is a great jean choice for a chic casual outfit.  I also love adding in a pop of color with my shoes.

casual outfit | gray skinny jeans | dark pink flats | Petite Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

cow print top | similar gray jeans | similar pink flats | necklace | earrings

WITH BOOTCUT/FLARED JEANS & HEELS

Looking for a casual office look?  Tuck this top into a pair of dark blue flared or bootcut jeans.  In an earlier look, I paired my tan heels and brown belt together.  The brown stops the eye at the waist and can help break up a monochromatic outfit.  For this one, I wanted a smooth look  and didn’t want the eye stopping at the waist.  I chose the black to blend in more, but I still have my pop of color in the shoe.  You could also choose a pair of black heels.

fall outfit | long sleeve cow print top | dark blue flared jeans | Petite Fashion Blogger Lady in Violet

long sleeve blouse | flared jeans | tan heels | black belt | earrings

WITH A LEATHER SKIRT & BOOTIES

This one has a little western inspiration for a date night or girl’s night out.  It’s cow print, it’s brown leather, and it’s my favorite western inspired black booties.  This combo is perfect when you want western inspired not full on cowgirl.

fall date night outfit | tan leather skirt | black booties | Texas Fashion Blogger Lady in Violet

black and white blouse | similar skirt | similar booties | c/o necklace | earrings

WITH A PENCIL SKIRT

I was so torn on which pencil skirt to wear with this top because it look great with all of them!  If you are looking to add some fun to your work look, a pop of color is a great choice.  To keep the more professional look, you could also do a black or gray pencil skirt.  For the chic work to happy hour look, this top with a black leather pencil skirt is a fabulous combo!

For the office, I tied the tie neck closed to create a mock turtleneck look to the top.  This style is fun for work to happy hour. Tie it up for work and untie it to transition to happy hour or an after work event.

workwear | pink pencil skirt | tie neck blouse | American Fashion Blog Lady in Violet

tie neck top | similar pencil skirt | black heels | similar bangle

WITH JEAN SHORTS & BOOTIES

Another western inspired outfit idea! I wore this one a few weeks ago.  I really wanted to wear this top, but it was too warm for jeans during the day.  A pair of cutoff jean shorts was the perfect answer.  I’ve been loving my pair as a warm fall alternative to jeans.

warm fall outfit | cow print top | black cutoff jean shorts | houston fashion blogger lady in violet

cow print top | black shorts | similar booties | belt | earrings | c/o necklace | c/o crossbody purse

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nine ways to wear a cow print top | fall outfit ideas | petite fashion blogger lady in violet

What I Wore in November

fall outfit ideas | casual outfits | petite fashion blogger lady in violet

Only one more month left of 2020!  My November outfits were a mix of sweaters and lightweight fall tops.  We had a few warm days that called for tank tops and shorts.  I continue to add to my comfy loungewear collection too.  We took our Christmas card photo this month, so I’m including the brown midi dress that I wore for the picture.

Since it’s Cyber Monday, many of the items that I wore in November are on sale today!  One sale I must point out is Kendra Scott’s 30% off sale.  My staple earrings and many of my necklaces are from this line.  It’s also a great jewelry line to shop for Christmas gifts.  She has a wide array of jewelry from everyday to statement and a good range of prices.

Also worth noting as you do your sale shopping, Nordstrom does price matching! Sometimes they already mark items down as price-matched on the site.  If you find something that’s not, you can just do a chat session on their website and send them the link and they will match.  I like the perks of shopping with my Nordstrom card, so I like to take advantage of this perk.

If you are doing some gift shopping today, don’t forget to check out my GIFT GUIDES page for lots of ideas including new guides for this year and all of my past gift guides.

Now onto the Outfits!

fall outfit | pink sweater | tan loafers | petite fashion blog lady in violet

pink sweater | skinny jeans | loafers | c/o crossbody bag

warm fall outfit | cow print top | black cutoff jean shorts | houston fashion blogger lady in violet

cow print blouse | jean shorts | brown belt | similar booties | c/o brown purse | c/o necklace | earrings

winter outfit | ivory sweater | distressed jeans | texas fashion blogger lady in violet

c/o ivory sweater | distressed jeans | booties | tote bag  | earrings

work outfit | brown floral midi dress | brown belt | american fashion blog lady in violet

midi dress |tan heels | brown belt | stone bangles | earrings

fall outfit | pink fitted dress with long green cardigan | brown knee high boots | petite fashion blogger lady in violet

tank dress (color sold out) | olive green cardigan | similar boots | similar necklace

casual outfits | black long sleeve blouse | light blue skinny jeans | popular us fashion blog lady in violet

black top | light wash jeans | similar brown mules | silver necklace | cuff bracelet

winter fashion | white fleece pullover | abercrombie women | casual fashion blog lady in violet

fleece pullover | jeans

fall outfit | brown oversized cardigan | spanx faux leather leggings | petite fashion blog lady in violet

c/o cardigan | fitted white tank | faux leather leggings | boots | similar headband | c/o necklace

casual outfit | long sleeve gray tee | ripped blue jeans | houston fashion blogger karen kocich

long sleeve gray tee | distressed jeans | loafers | layered silver necklace

comfy loungewear | gray striped tee | black leggings | Southern style blog lady in violet

c/o striped tee | black leggings
bedroom details: duvet cover | navy sheets | white throw pillows

cozy loungewear | black fitted tank top | purple jogger pants | texas fashion blog lady in violet

black tank top | purple jogger pants | silver necklace
living room details: white/gray rug | white end table | coasters

comfy loungewear clothes | long sleeve black tshirt | black leggings | popular texas fashion blog lady in violet

black long sleeve tee | black leggings | slippers from Fuzzy Baba (old) | coffee mug

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