cohesive

It's almost the weekend. It's almost the weekend. And with that comes friends, good food, and some fun summer outfits. Enter all black, a hat, and some wedges.

Not my usual MO, but I'm really loving it (if you can't tell, I'm into monochromatic looks this year). The easiest way to fake cohesiveness + having it all together is to wear all black. At least, that's what I'm telling myself when I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. At least my outfits matches, right?

shirt: Target

shorts: GG Boutique

wedges: Target

hat: KMart

switching it up

This chambray dress is such a wardrobe staple that it gets worn pretty often. And I keep trying to think up different ways to style it. The latest I've come up with: this tan and brown belt with brown wedges. I added a headband and some jewelry to add a little more dimension.

When you wear the same pieces over and over, do you wear them the exact same every time, or try and switch it up?

chambray dress: Kohl's

belt: Target

brown wedges: DSW

linking up:

The Red Closet Diary

hello, again

I'm trying to squeeze this post in without anyone noticing that it's been at least 10 days since my last post...but I just pointed it out to you, and drew attention to that little face...

*le sigh*

This dress my husband picked out for me before our wedding for a birthday - I wore it to our wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at my in-laws'.

And for this outing, I wore it to see "Singin' in the Rain" at our local dinner theater, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. I can't recommend this place enough - the show was great, the drinks were great, I can't vouch for the food since we just saw the show, but it smelled delicious and the menu looked like dishes I'd be interesting in trying.

So, let's summarize this post, shall we?

1. hello

2. Lilly Pulitzer dress

3. dinner theater - go check out your local one

4. I love musicals

Happy Saturday!

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

shoes: thrifted

clutch: gift

teal teal teal

This bodycon-ish, midi length dress is a new thing for me. I tend to lean more towards A-line or shift dresses (my wedding dress was four feet wide. true story), so this curve-hugging style is…new

However, I think it packs a lot of punch. So, when wanting to stand out and make an impression, wear a bodycon(ish) dress.

As for the length, I tend to shy away from this length, as it usually makes me and my legs look much shorter and thicker than we (collectively) really are. However, I think it works with this dress – perhaps because the snugness of the dress is a bit lengthening? And nude wedges are always a win.

dress: WalMart

nude wedges: DSW

statement necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

(use the code: sweetbananiexoxo for a free month of jewelry rental)

linking up:

A Touch of Tartan // I Do deClaire

Style Sprinter // DC in Style

fun, not stuffy

my friend, Cat, in her new Lilly Pulitzer for Target dress from our shopping expedition

Chelsea, our distinguished alumni scholarship recipient (she's working on her Master's - woot woot)

with her scholarship award
not pictured: me standing up to cheer and make her smile for a picture as she received her award.
she called me her Stage Mom...#stagemom #stagemomforeva





Remember a minute ago when I mentioned styling a fun, young professional outfit?

Here it is. A classy dress, classic jacket, and solid pumps – yet together, they create something a little offbeat and unexpected. 

This is what I wore for a scholarship brunch (my friend was the alumni recipient!! #stagemom #smilesweetie). I wanted to be classy, age appropriate, scholarly (even though I, myself, was not a scholarship candidate), yet stay far away from stuffy.

So I decided on lace, suede, and tweed. All of those elements by themselves are classic, and even paired together they would create a very timeless look. What makes this look hit all the points I wanted to cover is the color pairings (navv blue with varying shades of pink), and the different textures (plus the fun printed clutch). Regarding color, these shoes go with everything, turns out. And you know I luuurvvvvve navy blue. This jacket was just begging to be worn after a long hiatus of sitting in a box in a spare bedroom.

And then the textures – lace, tweed, and suede. By now I’m sure you know I’m a huge fan of different textures – whether it’s actual texture, or the appearance of different textures by using different prints. I think I really hit the nail on the head with this look – it was perfect for a Saturday morning brunch at a country club to celebrate Panhellenic scholarships, and, the icing on the cake - it was pretty comfortable, too. No pulling at Spanx, or complaining when I overate, which of course, I did…I mean, we were served breakfast burritos, and those are my love language.

dress: GG Boutique

wedges: ALDO

jacket: consignment (Express)

clutch: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

Sadly, this is the last picture you’ll see of both dogs – our handsome Turbo passed away a few days after these were taken. He went very peacefully, in his sleep, but completely unexpected. We are missing his sweet & grumpy old self quite a bit. However, Olaf is reveling in the attention of being an only dog.

linking up with:

The Closet by Christie // I do deClaire

Sydney Fashion Hunter // For the Love of Leopard

Cassidy Lou // Dressing Dallas // Cappuccino and Fashion

fancy pants

These shorts are pretty fancy. And let me tell you why.

They're a nice, light chambray material, and they happen to straddle that delicate line between dark-dark blue and black. Midnight, if you will.

They're a nice length - not Daisy Dukes, but not flashback-to-the-90s-long. Incredibly appropriate for Mother's Day Brunch (not for me though - it's supposed to snow on Sunday. gross.), but cool enough you could wear them out with friends and not get made fun of.

The cut and fit of them is similar to dress pants, but without the length (oooobviously). So what I've just described is essentially the perfect pair of shorts. Unless, of course, you're going for a Daisy Duke look, or want to wear hot pink shorts, or shorts with anchors...and then, by all means, these are not the perfect pair of shorts for that occasion.

Oh oh - and another reason why these shorts are great: I got them on super sale at an Ann Taylor outlet with a funny cousin of mine last fall. I've been saving them for this spring, and I''m so glad I snatched them up for $5 when I saw them on a brisk October day in Minnesota.

teal tunic: Target

shorts: Ann Taylor Outlet

scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

metallic wedges: thrifted (ELLE)

headband: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

linking up with:

I do DeClaire // Classy Yet Trendy

Shopping My Closet // The Farmer's Wife

olive & magenta

This is one of those outfits that came together in the early morning haze that exists before the sun is up, before the coffee has been drunk, and before I'm ready to make coherent sentences. Somehow it came together, and I simply love LOVE LOVE how the olive looks with the purple and magenta, and how the stripes look with the fair-isle print of my scarf. I think this is one of my best looks yet.

On another note, I'm on the lookout for another pair of olive green skinnies - these have been great, but after just a few minutes of wear, they become stretched out and saggy in the most unflattering of places. Any recommendations on where I should look?

purple striped shirt: Kohl's

olive skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

fair-isle scarf: WalMart

gray blazer: c/o Aéropostale

magenta wedges: ALDO

fancy

When your best friend has a birthday, and invites you out for margaritas at your favorite margarita place, you might wear something like this. Or you might wear something like this for a fun party, or a nice date. Or your own birthday celebration at above-mentioned margarita place.

You might especially wear something like this if you hadn't taken your new skirt out for a test drive yet, and/or your new polka dot tights were burning a hole in your dresser drawer.

I kept it simple up top with a white v-neck tee, and fancy on the bottom, with a bow skirt, polka dot tights, and suede magenta wedges.

And we had a splendid time celebrating my friend.

So much fun, we didn't even get a picture of the two of us :/

shirt: WalMart

skirt: c/o Aéropostale

similar: Solid Pucker Skirt / Chevron Jacquard Pleated Skirt

tights: Target

wedges: ALDO

fun

I like to think these wedges scream

“I’M A FUN PERSON!

BE MY FRIEND!

LET’S EAT BREAKFAST BURRITOS AND BOND!”

Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen…

However, since they’re so bright, I like to wear them something a bit more simple:

Exhibit A (above): black & white polka dots and skinnies.

Or the last time I wore them – Exhibit B: with a black & white dress.

These were also my wedding shoes, and either I have gotten worse at walking in heels (which is entirely possible. and these are wedges, no less) or these shoes got stretched out during that day, or my feet are shrinking, because I just can’t. quite. walk. like a normal person in these magenta suede wedges.

Rats.

button up shirt: Old Navy

skinnies: local consignment shop

wedges: ALDO

clutch: thrifted