Memorial Day Style

Memorial Weekend is around the corner which means summer is here and it’s time to bring out the grill and have a BBQ.  But more important, it’s a time to honor those who sacrificed their lives while serving in our armed forces.  Since Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday, I love sporting some red, white, and blue around this time! Below are three outfits perfect for your Memorial Weekend festivities.

Outfit #1 – Blue Ty-dye

I picked up this dress last summer on sale at Apricot Lane.  I loved the ty-dye print, it was flowy and it had a trendy cold shoulder detail; plus it wasn’t too short (which I personally have a hard time finding dresses long enough).  I kept the outfit simple and effortless by pairing the dress with camel lace-up block heeled sandals, camel saddle bag and accessorized with an off-white wooden cocktail ring and Stella & Dot’s Vista Wrap Bracelet and Havana Chandelier earrings.

Where to: a BBQ or a date with your significant other

Dress: Apricot Lane// Shoes: Kohl's// Purse: TJMaxx (Nine West)// Ring: Local Vendor - St. Lucia//

Bracelet/Earrings: Stella & Dot//

Outfit #2 – Crop Top + Flares

For this outfit, I of course was inspired by the 70’s.  I paired my high-waisted cropped flare jeans with a red, white, and blue printed flowy crop top.  The crop top is also from Apricot Lane last summer.  I kept the 70’s vibe going by opting for a pair of white wedges, a saddle bag, and I finished the look with Stella & Dot’s Gilded Path Double Wrap Bracelet and Havana Chandelier earrings from the previous outfit.

Where to: An outdoor concert or farmer’s market

Crop Top: Apricot Lane// Jeans: Old Navy// Shoes: Kohl's// Purse: TJMaxx (Nine West)// Ring: Local Vendor - St. Lucia// Bracelet/Earrings: Stella & Dot

Outfit #3 – Tomboy & Sporty

What’s more casual than a tee and shorts combo?  For this outfit, I paired an off-white, red, and blue horizontal stripe tee and dark washed cuffed denim shorts.  I kept the jewelry minimal with only wearing a menswear watch and I continued the sporty vibe by adding a rust faux suede baseball cap, and slipping on a pair of red Ked sneakers. I finished the look with my ever so versatile and saddle cross body bag.

Where to: Sporting event or casual hangout at the park

Shirt: Madewell (this spring)// Shorts: Old Navy// Shoes: Target// Hat: Free People (this spring)// Purse: TJMaxx (Nine West)// Watch: World Market

What are you wearing this Memorial Weekend?

Spring/Summer Trend: Exposed Shoulders

As the temperature starts warming up, it’s time to bare those shoulders.  Exposing the shoulders has become a big trend with off-the shoulder, cutout cold shoulder, or one-shoulder shirts and dresses popping up everywhere.  I remember eyeing an off-the-shoulder shirt last summer at Loft, but I decided to wait because I was sure the exposed shoulder trend was not going to go away after one season. 

When the spring season starting coming around again, I knew I wanted to invest in a comfy shirt that exposed the shoulders in some way.  My personal preference in embracing this trend was a cutout cold shoulder shirt.  With the cold shoulder, I wouldn’t have to be readjusting like I would when wearing an off-the-shoulder shirt.  I thought the cold shoulder would be more comfortable and easier to wear for my body shape.  When I came across this shirt at Target, I knew I had to try it on.  I loved the lightness and crinkled texture of the shirt, it wasn’t too sheer, and it was a little boho-inspired with the wide sleeves.  Since the shirt was off-white, I knew it was versatile and can be worn in a variety of ways.  Below I’ve created three outfits utilizing the same cold shoulder top.

Outfit #1 – Bare Shoulders & Cropped Flares

For this outfit I created a 70’s inspired look by pairing the cold shoulder shirt with a pair of trendy denim high-waisted cropped flares.  I accessorized with a gold and teal tassel necklace, gold intricate earrings, a gold cocktail ring, and the Stella & Dot Gilded Path Double Wrap bracelet.  I opted for a pair of camel lace-up block heeled sandals and a saddle bag to finish the ensemble.

Shirt: Target// Pants: Old Navy (this spring)// Shoes: Kohl's (this spring)// Purse: TJMaxx (Nine West)// Bracelet: Stella & Dot// Necklace: Dry Goods// Earrings: Von Maur//Cocktail Ring: Old Navy

Outfit #2 – Bare Shoulders & Seersucker

For this nautical inspired look, I paired the cold shoulder shirt with a pair of wide-leg seersucker pants.  I accessorized with the Stella & Dot Arc Pendant Necklace and Gilded Path Double Wrap bracelet and simple studs.  I finished the casual look with a Panama hat, straw tote bag, and white slip on sandals.

Pants: Walmart (old)// Shoes: Kohl's (sale - last summer)//Necklace/Bracelet: Stella & Dot// Hat: French Market (New Orleans)// Purse: Target

 

Outfit #3 – Bare Shoulders At Night

For a summer night out look, I paired the shirt with a pair of dressy black shorts.  To transition the outfit from day to night, I opted for a pair of black strappy heels, a neon clutch, and a red-orange lip.  I finished the look with Stella & Dot accessories - Arc Pendant Necklace, Rebel Pendant Necklace, and Gilded Path Double Wrap bracelet.

Shorts: BCBGeneration// Shoes: JCPenney// Purse: Francesca's

Do you like the Exposed Shoulders trend?  How would you wear it?

Pantone 2016 Color of the Year: Rose Quartz & Serenity - Spring Edition

It’s that time of year again to bring out the Rose Quartz and Serenity.  I previously wrote a blog post on how to wear these two colors during the winter.  Now since spring is upon us, I’m going to show how you can wear rose quartz and serenity in spring!

Rose Quartz and Serenity are perfect colors for spring because they exert peace and calmness and usually colors and fabrics in spring are light and airy.  For this post, I’ve displayed work outfits utilizing rose quartz and serenity being paired together and then showing them with other colors, but using the same garment.

Outfit #1 - Rose Quartz & Serenity

For this outfit, I paired a pale pink (rose quartz) button-up silk blouse with a serenity colored ankle length dress pants.  I kept the outfit clean and minimal by accenting the outfit with white pointed heels, a white top handle purse, and silver, white, and translucent bracelets and statement earrings.  I wore a messy top knot to emphasize the statement earrings which added texture to the solid color ensemble. 

Shirt: JCPenney // Pants: Gap (sale - last year)// Shoes: Von Maur (BCBGeneration - sale last year)// Belt:.Mint L.A. (local boutique)// Purse/Jewelry: old

Outfit #2 – Serenity & Orange

Blue and orange are complementary colors so they pair great together! For this outfit, I kept the serenity colored ankle pants and swapped the pale pink blouse for a beige printed blouse that contains orange, blue-violet, and hot pink tiny polka dots.  Since the blouse contained orange, I decided to keep that my accent color and complement the outfit with orange pointed faux suede heels and an orange belt.  I topped this business casual ensemble with a tan blazer and accessorized with a white gold bracelet and statement earrings.  I recently wore this outfit to work and I received compliments on my new shoes!

Shirt: Worn (consignment shop)// Blazer: Express// Heels: Target (this spring)// Belt: Target// Bracelet: BCBG Max Azria// Earrings: JCrew Factory

Outfit #3 – Rose Quartz & Orange

Since serenity was paired with orange, I decided to continue that trend and pair rose quartz with orange.  For this outfit, I paired the pale pink silk button-up blouse from Outfit #1 and swapped the pants with a pair of camel ankle dress pants.  I topped the look with an orange cardigan and a leopard belt.  I opted for a pair of cognac oxford shoes to add a touch of menswear to this geek chic inspired outfit and finished the ensemble with a pair of tortoise framed clubmaster (or browline) sunglasses, vintage cocktail ring, and a messy top knot.

Pants: Old Navy (this past winter/spring)// Cardigan: JCPenney (sale - last year)// Belt: Target// Shoes: Dillards (Steve Madden)// Sunglasses: Wanderlust (local boutique)

Which business casual outfit is your favorite?  How would you wear Rose Quartz & Serenity during spring?

Week of Florals: Thursday - Floral Scarf

For Day 4 of Week of Florals, I decide to showcase another accessory that can be your statement piece in you outfit.  A great way to wear a print or to try a trend you’re not sure you can pull off is by investing in an accessory, such as scarves, shoes, or even jewelry, to start.  A scarf is an ideal accessory because it can be worn multiple ways and it adds color and/or a print to your outfit.

Dress: TJMaxx (Ralph Lauren)

For this outfit, I wanted my vintage floral silk scarf to be the statement piece, but worn differently than the traditional way around your neck. Since this floral scarf has a lot of color already, I wanted to keep my outfit neutral so it can stand out more.  I wore the scarf as a headscarf and paired it with a khaki safari inspired shirtdress.  I loved the mixture of utilitarian elements with florals for a classic look.  I accessorized the outfit with a variety of Stella & Dot jewelry including the Gilded Path Double Wrap Bracelet, Wanderer Cuff in gold, Strength elephant bracelet (safari motif), and Pavé Chevron ring in gold.  I also added a vintage cocktail ring, stud earrings, and slipped on a pair of cognac wedges.  I finished the outfit off with my Stella & Dot Hudson Tote bag.

Where to: Casual Meeting or Brunch

Weekend: Swap the wedges for a pair of white laser cut slip on sandals

Work: To polish the outfit up, opt for a pair of orange pointed-toe heels and place the scarf around your purse in case headscarves are too casual.

Scarf: Vintage (grandma's)// Bracelets: Stella & Dot// Chevron Ring: Stella & Dot// Cocktail Ring: Vintage (Grandma's)// Tote Bag: Stella & Dot// Wedges: Target// Sandals: Kohl's (sale)// Heels: Target

Do you like headscarves?  What would you wear it with?

Week of Floral: Wednesday - Bright Botanicals

For Day 3 of Week of Florals, I decide to experiment with bright botanicals.  Flowers are obviously colorful and what better way to showcase those than with a bright botanical print sleeveless button-up blouse which is perfect for a sunny spring day!

For this outfit, I paired my floral sleeveless button-up blouse with a pair of trendy white sailor inspired culottes.  Culottes are currently having a moment these past years and I just bought these online last week for only $26.  You can find them here. I like these cropped style pants because they can be worn with flat sandals casually or with heels for a dressed-up look.  I accessorized the look with my Stella & Dot Gilded Path Double wrap bracelet, Stella & Dot Arc Pendant necklace, sage stone cocktail ring and bright stud earrings.  I slipped on a pair of taupe caged heels, and finished this business casual look with a green carry-all tote bag and now I’m ready for the workplace. 

To transition this look into the weekend, just switch out the heels for a pair of white laser cut-out slip on sandals, swap the business tote bag for a crossbody saddle bag, and add a light washed denim vest for another casual touch.

Shirt: The Limited// Pants: Loft (sale this spring)// Vest: BCBGeneration// Tote Bag: Ralph Lauren (gift)// Saddle Bag: TJMaxx// Heels: JCPenney// Sandals: Kohl's (sale last year)// Necklace: Stella & Dot// Bracelet: Stella & Dot// Ring: Old Navy// Earrings: Old

Would you wear a bright botanical print?  How would you wear it?

Stay tuned for Thursday’s post of Week of Florals.

Week of Florals: Tuesday - Floral Heels

Over the past couple years, I’ve been scouring for a pair of floral heels.  This past spring, I recently found this pair at JCPenney. You can find them here. When I saw the price and how comfortable they actually were, I had to buy them.  Shoes are a great way to incorporate color or a print into your outfit, especially if you outfit is neutral.

Tuesday - Floral Heels

For this outfit, I wanted the heels to be the main emphasis, so I decided to showcase them with a more conservative look.  I paired these heels with a pale blue vintage dress.  I loved this dress because it was vintage, it fit well, and the bow detail on the back added a feminine touch.  Since this dress had a retro vibe, I was inspired to keep the look vintage by accessorizing the look with a pearl and gold statement necklace, pearl stud earrings, white and gold bracelets, and a neon yellow clutch.  To dress the ensemble down, I topped the outfit with a dark washed denim jacket. In case you are going to a more conservative formal event, you can swap the denim jacket for a simple cardigan. 

Where to wear this outfit: A formal bridal shower or even a spring wedding.

Dress: Atomic Garage// Jacket: Old Navy// Heels: JCPenney// Purse: Francesca's Collections // Necklace: The Limited// Earrings: Old Navy// White Bracelet: Younkers // White/Gold Snap Bracelet: Stella & Dot //

Would you invest in floral heels?  How would you wear them?

Week of Florals: Monday - Romantic Florals

May is here meaning flowers will soon blossom.  The beginning of May is always special to me because it is filled with a variety of celebrations from my dad and sister’s birthdays to Cinco de Mayo to the Kentucky Derby to even Mother’s Day.  Also this upcoming weekend is the Pella Tulip Festival.  I love when flowers bloom because they are very picturesque with their beautiful array of colors and they can brighten up the day if you’re feeling gloomy.  In homage of the tulip festival, I’ve decided to write a blog post each day this week dedicated to florals – called Week of Florals.  These blog posts will display outfits containing florals and I’ll explain how to wear this spring staple in a variety of ways.

Floral prints and fabrics have been around a very long time and nowadays it is a wardrobe staple.  Learn more about the history of floral prints and fabrics here.  Florals are a symbol of femininity and are prevalent in many cultures.  To start off this week of florals let’s dive more into our feminine side with romantic florals.

Monday – Romantic Florals

As I wrote in a previous blog post, neo-Victorian is a trend this spring.  This trend contains high necklines, Old-English billowy sleeves, ruffles, delicate lace, and of course bold vintage-like florals.  For this outfit, I paired a romantic floral cap sleeve blouse with a pair of dark-washed skinny jeans.  I bought this blouse recently at Nordstrom Rack and I wasn’t sure about the cap sleeves since I have broad shoulders and cap sleeves can make shoulders feel broader, but I tried it on anyways.  I loved how it fit, it was loose enough, but not too loose and I like the opening detail in the back.  I realized cap sleeves can work on my frame if the shirt is a loose fit and it has either a v-neck or scoop neckline because the neckline helps to elongate my neck and diminish broad shoulders. This blouse is also a great option for those who like more subdued florals instead of bright colorful florals.

I topped the outfit off with a cognac faux leather jacket and camel faux suede ankle booties.  I finished the look with a rose-gold watch and stud earrings, a vintage cocktail ring, and a heart-shaped floral delicate necklace for an added touch of romance.  I clipped my hair back for another touch of femininity.

This outfit would be great for a casual night out where the weather is still not hot enough to wear shorts and tank tops.  I wore this outfit last month grabbing dinner with some friends.  Once the weather becomes warmer, just swap the darker washed jeans for a white pair and dressy sandals.

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack (this spring) // Jeans: American Eagle // Jacket: TJMaxx //Shoes: Charlotte Russe (last fall)// Watch: Fossil// Ring: Vintage (Grandma's)// Necklace: Gift (old)

Do you like romantic florals?  How would you wear a floral shirt?

Stay tuned for Tuesday’s outfit...HINT - it will be focused on shoes!