If I had to pick one outfit to live in, it would be this.
Forget the LBD, I’m all about the dark jeans, blazer and red heels. Don’t forget the headband! People ask all the time what the “staples” are in my closet and, friends, this is it! You can make a ton of different looks with these key pieces and they last pretty much forever. I scored this blazer on an online JCrew sale awhile back for 75% off (it’s sorta itchy but super cute so I grin and bear it) and the rest is from Banana Republic…one of my very favorite stores. Everything there just fits so well and I could live in their jeans.
Have you seen their new Mad Men collection? Um yeah, pretty much obsessed.
Like I said, I grin and bear it! Hopefully my itchy blazer isn’t confused for me having fleas.
I don’t have fleas!
(scratch scratch)
Top: Banana Republic (Mad Men collection)
Blazer: JCrew
Belt: Forever 21
Watch: Brighton
Bracelet: Banana Republic Outlet
Heels: Banana Republic (Mad Men collection)
Bag: Consignment (Michael Kors)
Margo @ peanut butter trees
August 13, 2011 at 5:34 amI love this look! I like that the blazer makes it a bit more sophisticated, but casual enough too!
diana@mymarblerye
August 13, 2011 at 5:41 ami know you mix cheap and expensive clothing musts but as a blogger how do you afford the newest collections? The mad men line at banana republic just came out! Okay that was a rude question.
Jenn
August 13, 2011 at 5:42 amI love the red shoes! I think every woman should have at least one pair of red shoes in their collection!
andrea
August 13, 2011 at 8:31 pmadorable!!! i need those shoes!!!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance
August 13, 2011 at 5:43 amGah, LOVE those pants with those shoes!
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama}
August 13, 2011 at 5:44 amI love this look. The red pops of color are perfect.
Ashley @ This Is The Place
August 13, 2011 at 5:47 amI adore that outfit. Jeans, heels, blazer/cardigan is the perfect fall uniform.
+1000 to red high heels. I have a pair that have a black buckle on the side. LOVE them.
Gina @ running to the kitchen
August 13, 2011 at 5:48 amI have the same belt from forever 21 that is way to long. Now I know how to make it look cute! Love this outfit.
Laura
August 13, 2011 at 5:50 amThat looks sooooooo nice! I think I may have to head to Banana today 🙂
Anna
August 13, 2011 at 5:55 amJust wanted to let you know I’ve been loving the fashion posts lately! You’ve given me some great inspiration 🙂 Keep em coming!
Khushboo
August 13, 2011 at 6:10 amSuper hawt outfit- I love the touches of red! The pics/expressions made me smile!
Brittnie
August 13, 2011 at 6:17 amI am totally loving your fashion posts. For a fashion challenged girl like myself I am feeling inspired. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Aileen
August 13, 2011 at 6:21 amSuper cute outfit! I’ll definitely be checking out the Mad Men line. Your fashion posts are great!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
August 13, 2011 at 6:23 amSO cute! I am loving the red belt 🙂
Karlee
August 13, 2011 at 6:24 ammad men collection?!!? love it!
Baking N Books
August 13, 2011 at 6:35 amI love the head-band look.
I can now see how people get addicted to shopping and fashion…and credit card debt! 😉
Baking N Books
August 13, 2011 at 1:54 pmOh – and I vote for your Yoga look one time maybe?
Bev Weidner
August 13, 2011 at 6:43 amYESSSS AND YES. You’re speaking straight my soul, sista. Everything about that outfit is p.e.r.f.e.c.t. I love it!
Hayley @ Hayley Daily
August 13, 2011 at 6:50 amCute — I LOVE this! And you wear everything so well. I especially love the fit of the jeans.
Krystina (Organically Me)
August 13, 2011 at 6:50 amUm. You are beautiful. You dress beautifully. I need to go shopping STAT.
katie @KatieDid
August 13, 2011 at 6:51 amum adorable! Haha I can tell by looking at the blazer what that material is… no wonder it was 75% off but pain is beauty right! I have a request for your fashion posts…. I’m stuck in a skinny jeans phase because they are easy to wear shoes with. When I try to buy nice flare jeans (like yours above) I have no clue what shoes would look good with them (other than heels, because I’m walking to class mostly). Any ideas for that? I feel like flats, flip flops, sneakers, and my other little flat ankle boots I wear in the fall get completely lost.
jenna
August 13, 2011 at 8:16 amyeah…unfortunately, unless you want to get your flares hemmed, you are stuck in shoes that give you some height. What about those clogs that I posted about last week from Target? They have 4-inch heels on them but are SO COMFORTABLE (!!) that you could totally wear them walking around campus with flare jeans. And they were only $10!
Cait's Plate
August 13, 2011 at 6:58 amUgh – I’m SO obsessed with the Mad Men collection as well. It’s currently being advertised on our site and I keep getting glimpses of it and lusting over all the items I want!
kirsten
August 13, 2011 at 7:06 amI love these fashion posts! You have great style! 🙂
Notyet100
August 13, 2011 at 7:36 amJeans is too cool
Suzanne
August 13, 2011 at 7:38 amI love the last picture. 😀
Those shoes are awesome. I’ve never bought anything from Banana Republic. Are the shoes good quality?
jenna
August 13, 2011 at 8:14 amthey are…and actually very comfortable as well! I have two pairs of shoes from there and they were both very good decisions. For shoes, I’d rather spend MORE and have comfort than get a cheap pair and be in pain all night. Plus, great shoes last a very long time so you really get your $$’s worth!
Suzanne
August 13, 2011 at 9:22 amThanks for your input. I might have to pick up a pair while they’re having the 25% off sale. They’re really cute.
Suzanne
August 13, 2011 at 10:54 amBy the way, I think you’d love Shabby Apple, they have gorgeous retro dresses.
Debbie
August 13, 2011 at 7:45 amYou look fabulous in our new Mad Men collection. I’m obsessed with those heels!! 🙂
Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats
August 13, 2011 at 7:52 amLove this outfit!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
August 13, 2011 at 7:55 amAdorable!! I love JCrew’s blazers. You can find some pretty good ones in their sale section.
Sherri
August 13, 2011 at 8:16 am1) You’re flawless
2) I love what you did with the belt – I always wonder what to do with them when they don’t have a loop to stick the excess in. Very creative!
3) Keep these posts coming! Lovin em. As someone who lives in workout clothes and comfy sundresses, you’re inspiring me to step it up!
jenna
August 13, 2011 at 8:19 amthank you but in no way am I flawless! I’m not saying that to just sound like I’m beating myself up or anything, but no one is flawless!
Ashley
August 13, 2011 at 8:18 amI love this look! I like everything from the headband, to the red belt and the way you looped it to the matching red pumps! I really need to go buy myself a blazer! Can you tell me where you bought the headband? I love it!
jenna
August 13, 2011 at 8:18 amBanana Republic outlet 🙂
kaila @ healthy helper!
August 13, 2011 at 8:43 amLOVE THOSE HEELS!
Molly @ RDexposed
August 13, 2011 at 8:56 amDo you even let that purse out of your sight? haha
Andrea @ Imwaytoobusy
August 13, 2011 at 8:56 amThis is an outfit after my own heart. Seriously, I am loving your blog more than ever!
Allie
August 13, 2011 at 8:58 amLove your outfit! I completely agree blazers + dark jeans make for a perfect go-to outfit!
Sharon
August 13, 2011 at 8:59 amIt’s been a while since I’ve checked out BR, I’ve been too obsessed with Anthropologie…but there are some very nice items in the Mad Men collection. I do have one pair of Banana Republic heels and they are very well made and comfortable. The lace shell is very cute and versatile but OMG the lace dress? must have!
Baking Serendipity
August 13, 2011 at 9:13 amAdorable 🙂 I love Banana Republic jeans…and red shoes!
French Heart
August 13, 2011 at 9:32 amLOVE Mad Men Collection! I still can see my beautiful, blonde, chic mother in those fab clothes. LOVE the black hair band. Have a thing for hairbands–wish they looked good on me. Very Sloan Ranger/BCBG (and not the American BCBG the French, pronounced Bay-Say-Bay-Jay). Cute.
Jackie @ That Deep Breath
August 13, 2011 at 9:35 amadorable outfit! i’m never able to wear headbands because they make my head feel constricted (im weird). those shoes are super cute!
Kiah
August 13, 2011 at 11:47 amLove it! I just bought an adorable wool sweater, and plan to scratch and bear it all winter long! Oh wait, I plan to GRIN and bear it (-:
Stephanie Murphy
August 13, 2011 at 12:11 pmI love the new mad men collection as well! And this is a great outfit for sure. Cute photos!
Corey @ Learning Patience
August 13, 2011 at 12:38 pmWow – I’m loving the red heels… I’m a big fan of heels in bright colors…green, purple, red, etc.. The skinny belt is also a great addition… 🙂 xoxo from Trinidad
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
August 13, 2011 at 12:45 pmYou look awesome! Love the red heels. You are such a class act, Jenna! Seriously you just look so good in your outtift!
Banana Rep jeans…havent worn them in years. Thanks for the tip that you love them. I should give them a whirl again.
Nicole @ Giraffelegs
August 13, 2011 at 1:33 pmbeyond cute! love the touch of red!!
anddd about that mad men collection, just shoot me. That is how good it is.
obsessed
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
August 13, 2011 at 4:20 pmI just wanted to say that I’m not a recipe girl, so I haven’t been checking in to ELR as much as I once did. But, these fashion posts totally have me coming back. I love them! And, I hope you take that as a compliment, because I totally TOTALLY mean it that way. <3
Sarah@The Flying ONION
August 13, 2011 at 4:47 pmAdore the outfit!
Adore Banana Republic!
Adore your new fashion posts! Keep it up! 😀
Katie @ www.princessofpavement.com
August 13, 2011 at 6:07 pmI love wearing headbands too, except the ones I have almost always give me a headache … any suggestions on where to purchase headache-free headbands 😀
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
August 13, 2011 at 8:01 pmYou look so fabulous!!! Love this look – so classy and cool as a cucumber 😉
Natalie S.
August 13, 2011 at 8:10 pmOh my god. In a non-creepy way, I want to live in this outfit. GORGEOUS.
Penny
August 13, 2011 at 9:57 pmThat is definitely my favorite outfit so far. Very cute, and you look great in it.
Katrina
August 14, 2011 at 12:05 amNice. Love the belt.
Amy
August 14, 2011 at 2:49 amLove that outfit! Smart casual at its best.
Also I fell in love with the new Mad Men collection – can’t wait to get to LA in a few weeks and spend some hard earned money 🙂
Pearl
August 14, 2011 at 6:49 amHi Jenna, I’ve been reading your blog for many years, and have really enjoyed it. I confess to being a little bit uneasy about the direction ELR has taken recently. It’s been feeling quite commercialistic to me- lots of focus on image, brands, expensive lifestyles, etc. I do understand that the style of the blog has always been fluid, reflecting the person that you are. Just wanted to mention my thoughts on the changes over the past year or so. Thanks!
Erin
August 14, 2011 at 12:46 pmAgreed. The Banana Republic plastering and sudden fashion advice is more than a little off-putting to me. I did love the recipes that were being posted months ago, but I don’t think this new direction is for me.
marie
August 14, 2011 at 3:13 pmThe impression I get from most fashion blogs (not just this one) is “look at how cute I am in my outfits!” I think it takes a lot of tact to pull it off without appearing conceited. My 2 cents.
Erin
August 14, 2011 at 4:15 pmThat’s a really good point. I suppose that is just going to be the general nature of fashion posts.
Anne
August 14, 2011 at 5:26 pmI have to admit, fashion post are not what I prefer… you’re a very goodlooking girl thought. But it’s right that the direction of your blog is not progressive direction, you seem to be searching for something, maybe the good balance between healthy/pleasure food, sport, books etc. But keep going !
Jaime
August 14, 2011 at 8:43 pmCall me crazy, but the title of this blog is “EAT, LIVE, RUN”, not “All recipes, all the time”. Sometimes it focuses more on the “EAT” aspect, others (as in lately) it has been on the “LIVE”. And maybe you havent been paying attention but many of her items have been thrifted, costing under $20!! How is that promoting brands and expensive lifestyles? If she doesnt list where she got the item in the blog she is goign to be asked 3473948 times in the comments section anyway so she is just cutting to the chase! Ha!
Keep up the great work, Jenna. You cant make everyone happy all the time, but I bet as an experienced blogger you already knew that! 🙂
Sara
August 14, 2011 at 8:01 amLove it! You are so beautiful! The first picture looks like you should be in a magazine!
Thanks for the tips! I really really like this look and the red is perfect!
Christine (The Raw Project)
August 14, 2011 at 8:44 amLove the look, great heels! I need to check out the collection!
CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com/
August 14, 2011 at 8:56 amYou look beautiful! I love your fashion posts 🙂
Shayla @ The Good Life
August 14, 2011 at 8:56 amLove love this look! I agree that a good pair of jeans and a blazer are my key essentials too…now I just need a pair of red heels so I can score a hot look like yours! 🙂
Kristen @ notsodomesticated
August 14, 2011 at 9:35 amSuper cute … especially the red shoes. I have a pair of green shoes that I LOVE to wear, especially with a simple black dress. 🙂
Celia
August 14, 2011 at 12:05 pmSuper cute outfit! Love!
Kelly
August 14, 2011 at 1:05 pmThis is one of my favorites!! Love those jeans!!
Gabby
August 14, 2011 at 5:35 pmHey Jenna! Love your blog and outfit–how could anyone not look good in clothes insprired by Don Draper’s women? Although I do think it would look even better with skinny jeans for a more polished, chic look…I feel like the wide bottoms don’t really go with the structured close fit of the blazer. Just a thought though!
Laura
August 14, 2011 at 5:58 pmSuper cute outfit! The jeans fit you like a dream! I wish I could pull off jeans like that, but sadly I have not yet quite figured out how to style non-skinny/straight-leg jeans with my wardrobe! (Seeing how I don’t wear heels and am on the shorter side, it can be tricky)
But keep up the wonderful styling posts, and please check out my blog also if you’d like to!
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
August 15, 2011 at 11:22 amLove this look! The pops of red are perfect for the Fall!
Caitlyn
August 15, 2011 at 1:11 pmI adore a dark jeans & blazer combo. In the fall my blazer is my go-to jacket. I like to wear mine with super dark jeggins, white t-shirts and black or metallic flats or heels. I bring color in with lots of bracelets (sadly I can’t wear headbands- there isn’t enough room for them behind my ears with my glasses there too!).
Laura @ Backstage Balance
August 15, 2011 at 2:53 pmCUTE outfit!
Haha – I’m sure you don’t have fleas! I know what you mean with the blazer feeling slightly itchy, I have one like that and it drives me bonkers sometimes.
Pam
August 15, 2011 at 6:33 pmJenna, You are too cute!! I love Banana Republic too! Sometimes I walk in and find a ton of stuff that looks great and is on sale, score 🙂
Pam
August 15, 2011 at 6:34 pmI love your, “I don’t have fleas” face, very convincing 🙂
Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
August 16, 2011 at 11:36 amI have been obsessed with the Mad Men look long before Banana came out with they’re new collection. I love the tailor and polished look and screaming femininity!
Sarah
August 16, 2011 at 3:39 pmDitto what everyone said… cute!!! i love blazers and red shoes too!
Stephanie
August 16, 2011 at 6:19 pmlove love LOVE BR’s mad men collection. I want all the dresses. they just need to be a wee bit cheaper…. 🙂
Nicole
August 17, 2011 at 10:05 amOkay, the shoes are amazing! Despite the fact that I live in tennis shoes about 80% of the time, I want those!!
Friday Link Love & a few of my favorite things. || Imwaytoobusy.com
May 11, 2013 at 11:39 am[…] Thanks to Jenna, I am now on a mission to find the perfect pair of red heels. […]