Style a Friend | Meet Ali-Shaun!

Again, I have to open this blog post with a heartfelt THANK YOU for the birthday wishes!  It never ceases to amaze me how thoughtful you are to take time out of your day to send me a sweet message, so I want to let you know that I genuinely appreciate it!

My friends took me out for a patio birthday dinner (with drinks!) and that girl time is so crucial for our well being!  I’m truly blessed to have such a great group of friends to enjoy, encourage, and laugh ’til it hurts with!

And Ali-Shaun brought mini cupcakes!

Peplum Top

For as long as I can remember, Ali-Shaun has been saying, “Megan, you should do a Style A Friend series on your blog!” So I finally made her put her money where her mouth is and said, “How about I style YOU?!”  She’s such a good sport and was all for it, so we packed up and went to Nordstrom on a Sunday afternoon!  If you follow my Instagram Stories, I’m sure you saw our adventure unfold. It was so much fun!  I had originally planned to go to more stores, but after a couple hours in, we called it a day and went to lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe! As you know, shopping is hard work!

MEET ALI-SHAUN

By way of background, Ali-Shaun and I have been friends since our boys started Pre-K3 together and we were both room moms for their class.  I liked her immediately, and over the years, she has become one of my most favorite people!  If you’ve been around here for any amount of time, you’ve heard of Ali-Shaun.  She’s the one who introduced me to the Vietnamese Iced Coffee I talk about ALL.THE.TIME. #dangher!!!  #addicted Ali-Shaun also has a younger daughter and is a passionate baseball mom – always at a ball field for school and neighborhood leagues.

Favorite Things Party Tree

Favorite Things Party 2017

Ali-Shaun Style Wishes

She works full-time for a law firm and her office requires mostly professional-ish attire.  She often has meetings after work so day-to-night outfits are important. As for style, Ali-Shaun describes herself as classic. She’s been looking for something cute to wear that she won’t want to rip off as soon as she gets home. When she walks into a room, she wants people to think, “oh, she looks put together and cute.”

Before this trip, Ali-Shaun wore only white, blue and grey and, aside from her heart pajamas, not a lot of patterns.

girls tub

Here we are with our friend Angela in New Orleans on a couples trip this past summer… in a bath tub of course. 😉

Bye Bye Spanx & White Tank

It was exciting to get Ali-Shaun out of her comfort zone – and I mean this very literally. She’s known for wearing Spanx with EVERYTHING. This isn’t a bad thing and the first thing about style is you have to feel confident, so if Spanx help you do that- go for it!  But, I wanted to nudge her a bit since I swear she doesn’t need that extra layer.  I asked Ali-Shaun to go “sans Spanx” and she did it and SHE SAID it was life changing!  She looked amazing and felt comfortable in her skin!

Another major player in Ali-Shaun’s comfort zone is her white tank. We all have them – but she likes to wear it under everything. No white tank was allowed when trying everything on!!

NOLA floral wrap dress romper

Similar Romper ⋅ Floral Romper Dress ⋅ Necklace ⋅ Nude Heels ⋅ Similar Ruffle Dress ⋅ Similar Necklace

IN THE DRESSING ROOM

We started by looking for new pair of jeans that she could wear comfortably on the weekends and also dress up for a date night with her sweetheart of a husband.

Madewell striped shirt and good American jeans

Jeans • V-Neck

Good American Jeans  were the first pair we tried on. Good American are the Khloe Kardashian jeans and we all agreed she is our favorite Kardashian, so it was no surprise that she really loved these jeans that fit her figure!  They’re made for girls with a smaller waist and fuller hips. They’re very comfortable and the high waist didn’t feel TOO high, just right. They’re more of a leggings base, just a little stretchy without any gaping in the waist.  And the wash was awesome! They fit TTS and needed to be hemmed on her.

I’ve recently added this shirt as one of my must haves and I had to get it on Ali-Shaun!! She said she can’t remember ever wearing a v-neck without a cami underneath and she’s totally digging it! It was very comfortable. WINNER!!!

Striped tee and AG jeans

Jeans • V-Neck

These jeans you may recognize as my favorite AG Jeans. These are Ali-Shaun approved as she likes the feel of the REAL jeans. They’re TTS and the length doesn’t need any help. Ali-Shaun doesn’t have a need for the distressing on this pair (which are currently 20% off), but you can find them online without the rips

Grey twist front top and frame denim

Top • Black Jeans

The Black Frame Jeans gave her legs for days, especially when she added a heel.  They fit more like a legging with some stretch, but are very slimming.

The grey twist-front top was so soft she said it felt like a blanket!  It was perhaps a little long in the back, but that’s being picky. We’re going skiing together for Spring Break – this would be a great shirt to bring for traveling to and from since it will probably be 70 when we leave town and 30 at our destination!! I might wear mine too… perhaps we’ll be #twinning!!

Lush tunic

Must Have Tunic • Black Jeans

Like anyone who has tried this tunic, Ali-Shaun loved it!! It’s soft and it hides the tummy – which makes it a big win.  She commented that it’s smart and dressy like a button-down but way more comfortable. This color is also really pretty and something she said she wouldn’t have picked out for herself!!

Blue top and black slacks

Top • Black Straight Leg Pants • Shoe

These pants are a bit long and needed alterations, but the overall fit is awesome (TTS)! They’re also comfortable and bonus – they don’t have to be dry cleaned!! They’re fitted through the waist and hip and flare out to create a long leg look.  These were just so very flattering on her and she knew she’d get so much wear out of them year round.

We tried this asymmetrical peplum top (size down) in a solid blue and a printed floral. It would look good with a jacket or cardigan for work or white or black jeans for the weekend.

Print top and black slacks

Top • Black Straight Leg Pants • Shoe

Ultimately, the blue shirt won. But how cute is this print?! It was a hard decision.

Stripe card and black slacks

Long Stripe Cardigan • V-Neck TopBlack Straight Leg Pants • Shoe

OMG this long cardi for the win! Ali-Shaun said she felt very sophisticated and comfortable – to be more specific, this is the kind of item she felt like she could walk into anywhere and say “What up?!” This falls under the  “Would Not Have Picked This Out On My Own” category because of how long it is, but she felt longer and leaner in this cardigan.

Black top and black slacks

Top • Pants • Shoe

We added shoes! These classic style pumps are a must have in both black and nude. Ali-Shaun said she’s been looking for shoes that are comfortable and nice but can be worn for all occasions. These are great shoes – you can feel the padding in the soles. They fit TTS and come in a variety of colors!!

Next in the “Would never pick this out on my own” category is these black pants WITH a heel. Ali-Shaun typically wears flats with a pant like this and that’s fine, but look how cute this is with the heel!  And they are a reasonable price!

Black top and black slacks w striped cardi

Here’s that Cardigan  again!! I love it with the skinny crop pants and heels. It’s professional but cozy all at the same time. This cardi comes in a lot of colors too – so if stripes aren’t your thing there are options!!

Bright pink dress

Dress • Shoe

This is a great, fun work dress! Easy to just pop on and head to the office! The tie sleeves are hard to see in the picture, but add a nice touch!! It fits loose and comfortable and it’s a good length!  She said she could definitely wear this color and feel great in it!

Black shift dress with white bows

Dress • Shoe

This dress is the same fit as the pink one, with a shorter sleeve and a more dramatic bow/tie situation. If your workplace is a little more muted, this black dress is a great option. These mules are a comfortable, stylish alternative to a pump. The suede may throw you off at first, but we learned that suede is becoming something we’ll be seeing year-round. Which is good news for these pointy suede mules!!

Wrap Dress 

After seeing Ali-Shaun in a wrap dress, I told her she needs to wear them more often to compliment her hourglass shape! They accentuate the smallest part of her-that tiny waist!  She almost got this dress, but felt it was a little short. Otherwise, it fit TTS.

Teal dress

Dress • Shoe

I loved this dress so much on her! This color is so beautiful in person and the cut was polished and professional, without being stuffy. It would also be great with a tailored blazer.

Wine t-shirt dress

Dress This color is 40% off! • Shoe

And now for the dress that looks great on everyone!  She said she loves that this dress was so easy to put on and go!

In Real Life

I ran into Ali-Shaun at school drop off on Tuesday, and look what she was wearing?!  Doesn’t she look great!

Lush T-Shirt Dress

That night, she took me out for my birthday dinner and dressed up the outfit with different earrings and a long necklace!

And here are the black pants with a grey sweater she had from JCrew.

I absolutely LOVED getting to put Ali-Shaun in clothes that she not only looked great in, but felt great wearing!  She said that since we went shopping her confidence has soared! Isn’t it amazing how what you wear can affect your attitude?!

So tell me, did you like this Style-A-Friend? Would you want to see more?

Let me know in the comments! 

P.S. . . . from the Nordstrom GIVEAWAY,  the winner is Julie Bachkora!  Congratulations! Check your email for a message from me!

Thank you ALL for entering and leaving me your feedback!  It’s invaluable and made me feel really good hearing that you enjoy the content I share here!

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

75 Comments

  1. I LOVE this idea. I really enjoy seeing you model clothing but your body shape and size is so different from mine so clothing looks completely different on. It was great to see how different pieces look on another body type. It would even be interesting to see both of you in the same outfit at the same time just to prove this point! I am 5’ 10” and 178lbs. Thanks for all you do to help us be more stylish and confident.

  2. OH my gosh, I loved this post so much! Everything looked great on her. I live in Houston, maybe I could be next?! 😉

  3. Love this! She looks stunning. I appreciate the background you gave too. Would LOVE to see some more styled friends. Perhaps different backgrounds/occupations/preferences. Well done!

  4. Please tell Ali-Shaun she is beautiful! She looks great in so many of these outfits! I love the slimmer black pants on her and the tunic is fabulous. That wrap dress is just hot, hot, hot! Her hourglass figure looks amazing in a v-neck!

  5. A lovely way to spend the afternoon with a friend! It’s always good to try things that one wouldn’t have picked up oneself – even if it only reiterates previous choices, new things may well be an eye-opener. I think that we’d all benefit from this, and whilst stores offer personal shoppers there is always the slight pressure to purchase with this option.

    These photographs of Ali-Shaun also show both how preferences vary – I definitely prefer her in the print ruffle top rather than the blue one – and how styling things differently makes such a difference – I really didn’t like the burgundy dress shown in the final dressing room shot, but then thought that she looked fabulous in it in the one where she is wearing it with opaques and boots.

  6. This was a fun post! I think it would be even more fun if showed the dressing room AND then final, styled shots (outside, in flattering light, with finishing accessories, etc).

  7. A fun post. We all get in a clothes rut and it’s good to have a friend to help guide us/inspire us to try new styles.

  8. Yes, I would love to see more of this type of post. As much as I love everything you do, I appreciate showing someone wearing clothes that is a different height and body type (as it is difficult to picture many of the things you wear on myself, as you are so much shorter and petite than I am).

  9. She looks fantastic in the burgandy dress with the black tights and I’m ordering that black and white cardigan now! Your friendship is special, thanks for sharing 🙂

  10. Love ‘Style A Friend!’ Ali-Shaun looks beautiful. If you ever want to do a ‘Style A Blog Fan;’ I live in Katy and would gladly volunteer. Thank you for a fun post!!

  11. Love this and would like to see more posts like this! Very helpful to see some of the clothes you like to wear on another person. Looks like you guys had such a good time too! Ali-Shaun looks so fabulous in these clothes!!

  12. Yes to more of these posts! It’s a fun way to consider different possibilities that reflect varying body types and style preferences. Ali-Shaun is beautiful and I have major leg envy! Happy belated b-day to her wonderful friend.

  13. I love this post and hope that you do more of them! Ali-Shaun looks great and girlfriend needs to wear more V-necks….they look amazing on her!! I love the cropped black pant on her also….so pretty!

  14. Such a fun post! Your friend is so cute- I loved the black dress with the white ties are on her! Happy Belated Birthday! (I’ve got one coming up this Sunday :))

  15. This was so interesting and fun….fun to see a different body type. Although you are adorable Megan, sometimes its fun to see how you would dress a different body type. Do again!! Please!!

  16. This was fun! Keep them coming. We are all different sizes and have varying tastes.
    Is that a black tank I see peeking out from her dress? ?

  17. Ali-Shaun has set the bar high for future style a friend posts. She looks wonderful and I think she is a bit of a minx. (Am I right?) love these type of posts. Tell Ali-Shaun she needs to ditch the Spanx. The wrap dress looked soooo good.

  18. What a fun idea/afternoon with a friend. I really hope Ali-Shaun bought that pink dress! Stunning on her and the colour is great on her. A nice wardrobe add for the spring/summer. Adding the heels and slimmer pant leg makes such a huge difference in a more polished and feminine look on Ali-Shaun…… I’m going to try and do this a little more often. Great job girls!

  19. Loved this post and would truly enjoy seeing more posts like this! Also, as a mixed-size person (16-18 on top, 12 on bottom), and heavier than most of the fashion bloggers, I’d really enjoy seeing options presented for those of us who are no longer the size 6 we were when we were (much) younger. Thank you!

  20. Love your blog, rarely comment, but had to today. You are so great to give the gift of your time and expertise to your dear friend. Best post ever. Getting rid of spanx and tank tops (I’ve known that habit!), and letting her gorgeousness show through was so inspirational. We all come in different sizes, but all of us can feel fabulous with the right choices. BRAVO!

  21. I hope you continue with the style a friend posts! I have such a hard time shopping for myself but this post makes me want to do some major shopping with a friend!

  22. I’ve been thinking for a while how fun this would be. I live in Houston – where do I sign up to be next?!?! Also fun would be showing an organizing/styling/decorating project at someone’s home. I’d sign up for that too!

  23. Loved this post (and the story). Ali-Shaun looked great and I agree that she needs to buy that wrap dress ! It was fun to meet your friend, Megan, and have you do your magic on someone else, too.

  24. I love this post and seeing your sweet friend! She looks amazing! It was also nice seeing the way clothes fit on other body types and different ways to style various pieces. I hope you continue to do these posts with a variety of friends/shapes/sizes and styles!?

  25. This was such a great post! Ali-Shaun seems like such a sweet girl and totally fun! I think she looked great in every outfit but I loved that all black on her and then her again with her grey sweater. Please do this again! Or bring back Ali-Shaun for her summer wardrobe 🙂

  26. Ali-Shaun is adorable! I love saying her name! She looks amazing in the burgundy dress and the outfit with the long cardigan was my fave! This series is off to a great start!

  27. I loved your style a friend session. I especially like the work style clothes. I am always looking for new fun ideas to wear to work. I love to be able to dress items up for work or down for casual instead of having to have 2 wardrobes. I really enjoy following you! Thanks for being an inspiration!

    One more request would be more affordable hair and skincare options. The Colleen brand of skincare looks amazing but a little rich for my blood. I’d also love to see more hair product suggestions. I bought the hair powder spray you used in your hair tutorial. Love it, game changer for me!!

    Thank you, thank you!!!!

  28. I LOVE this post!!!! I love how easily I can take the suggestions you have made for Ali-Shaun and make them for an everyday of my wardrobe. Please do more Style a Friend!!! In one of the pics, you can see you in the mirror wearing a grey top, black pants and leopard/ cheetah flats. Can you please link them?

  29. Oooh, I just thought how fun it would be to go in a friend’s closet and style outfits for them based on what they already have. I feel like we all tend to wear the same things in the same way, and it would be so helpful for someone with fresh eyes to mix things up in ways I hadn’t thought of.

  30. I love this post and hope you do more post with her! It was so nice to see how clothes fit on other body types! I loved all of the outfits you picked for her! Thank you!

  31. Loved this idea so much-your friend is absolutely beautiful! I have to admit, although I love seeing clothes on you, it definitely helps to see different body types from time to time 🙂

    xoxo, SS

    Southern and Style

  32. What a great post! I love seeing clothes on REAL people!
    I went to Nordstrom last week and picked up that crepe dress and the one with the ruching (sleeveless, looks good on “everyone”) based on your recommendations.
    Thanks – for keeping it real!!!
    Have a great weekend!
    Jane

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