Monday brights

Unbeknownst to me in the wee hours of the morning, this brightly colored dress is the perfect solution to the Monday-don't-know-what-to-wear conundrum. It's a bright jolt to wake you right up, but, it's a soft cotton knit that is also comfortable / hides your weekend overindulgences / hides those Monday morning donuts you might happen to bring to the office.

And, a dress is a complete outfit - no need to find a top to match your pants or skirt, or finding that clean pair of pants to wear with the shirt you've had your eye on. A dress is a one-piece that covers your body in one shot. But, of course, if you feel the need to accessorize with a belt, or scarf, or layer on top, you always have that option.

Obviously, I did not add much to this dress - a necklace and some bangles, and I kept the shoes neutral. The dress is so bright that to add a lot more to it feels like I'm screaming.

And, on a Monday, that's definitely not appreciated, even if it comes with donuts.

Hope you had a great weekend, and hope your week is off to decent start...you know, for a Monday ;)

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

nude flats: Old Navy

necklace: consignment

bracelets: gift + BaubleBar

linking up:

Fizz & Frosting and The Color Palette

Fashionably Employed // Cha Cha the Fashion Genius

 Whitney a la Mode, A Little Bit of Cheer, and A Lovely Little Wardrobe

Garay Treasures // Mama and More // Elegantly Dressed & Stylish

undone favorites

Mint. Navy. Floral. Skinnies. Sandals.

These are a few of my favorite things. (bonus points if you know the musical I'm referencing. 20 more bonus points if you have the soundtrack on your iPod...no? just me?)

These pictures look grainy on my teeny laptop screen, but you'll have to believe me that the execution of this look was pretty great. I've found that  when in doubt, pair some of your favorite things together and watch as magic unfolds.

A mint v-neck tee, favorite lightweight scarf, skinnies + sandals. Messy hair helps, too (isn't that the key to every look great? something slightly undone/messy), as does a fancy belt and a half-tuck (that says "I'm fancy, but I'm casual and only tuck in my shirt halfway, some of the time").

mint v-neck: Old Navy

scarf: Target

skinnies: Aéropostale

sandals: Target

it rocks

You guys. This vest-y thing - want to wear it ALL THE TIME. And it's so unlike me (the vest, not the wanting-to-wear-something-all-the-time). I never gravitate towards these types of things (fringe. longer than my shorts. not very structured or tailored.), but, the love is real.

And it was perfect for traipsing around a rock quarry-turned site-to-see rock garden just before the heavens opened up and covered everything in some nice (COLD) summer rain.

Truly, though, this look is nothing fancy - ribbed tank top, denim shorts, sandals. But, add a nice completer piece (like this vest - ta da!) and BAM. You have a fun summer outfit, quintessential for brunching with good friends and rock-gardening.

tank: WalMart

shorts: Plato's Closet via Maurice's

sandals: Kohl's

vest: c/o Aéropostale

linking up:

Posh Classy Mom

just one more fold and tuck

I have had this white button-up shirt for ages (we're talking high school). When it comes to closet clean-outs, it almost always makes its way to the "get rid of" pile - visions of choir and band concerts, and DECA presentations invade my memories...

But, before I officially bid the pile "adieu," I snatch the shirt back, sigh, and hang it back up in my closet. This shirt gets saved because of necessity. A white button-up shirt is essential, no matter what your dress code, style, or thoughts on uniforms. Really. It's a classic. And it's an easy default for a cleaned up look.

So, why does it teeter on the brink of existence in my closet and the donation pile? The fit. I've had it since my youth (so long, youth), and the sleeves are a tricky 3/4 sleeve length. The hemline is tricky - longer in the back, shorter in the front, is it even the right length?

HOWEVER...

DID YOU KNOW??

That rolling your sleeves just one more time than normal can give an old classic a new look?

A more refined, grown up, professional, "I know what I'm doing" look?

And that tucking your shirt in (or at least a half tuck), says

"I know how to wear my clothes? Looky here, I'm even wearing a belt, check out my waist."?

Because, those two small tricks have the power to transform an old classic into a new and refreshed basic. Trust - I'm so excited to wear this shirt after discovering those two tiny improvements, that it's already been washed, ironed, and paired with another outfit for this coming week.

All after this shirt has seen little-to-no wear in the past several years.

How's that for starting the week off with a bang?

white button-up shirt: GAP

green pants: from a friend via Urban Outfitters

brown wedges: Rocketdog via DSW

brown belt: American Eagle

brown necklace: Target

linking up:

Sequins & Strawberries and Garay Treasures // DC in Style

Style Elixir // Elegantly Dressed & Stylish // Sydney Fashion Blogger

Shopping My Closet // Curly Crafty Mom // The Closet by Christie

Forage Fashion // Mix and Match Fashion // Living in Color Style

Happiness at Mid Life // The Red Closet Diary // High Latitude Style

A Pocketful of Polka Dots

lace on white

I won't say "Something about all white screams summer to me," because, obviously, it does.

I WILL, however, say, "Pairing white with cream with tan + different size beads + some texture really makes for a sweet outfit" instead.

It's white-on-white, with a wee twist - cream on tan on lace on white on beads. This gives this look an "Oh, I just threw these things together and they look great" vibe, which is my favorite. Outfits that look great, but take minimal effort (really! the hardest part was not spilling red wine on my pants...) are the best.

For reals.

shirt: gift

pants: Old Navy

necklace: WalMart

sandals: Kohl;s

tricky technique

Oh oh, I just love how this outfit turned out. I'd been playing with the idea of trying to wear more of my dresses in a more casual way, and happened upon a chambray knotted over a dress somewhere on the internets. I've since worn several fancier dresses this way and am loving the result (the Mr. is not a fan, but he also doesn't like skinny jeans AND ankle booties. so, please discuss fashion and style with myself).

The only thing I don't love about this layering technique is that tying up my chambray causes it to sit just above my natural waist, and sometimes a dress can be a little shapeless right at that point (not always); and instead of looking like a skirt, it looks like I wore a chambray over a dress. Which is a truth fact, BUT the idea is to make something I already own look like something else. That's called "mileage," or decreasing your "cost per wear," or something.

But, in conclusion (so that you may go about continuing to enjoy your weekend), I like this little trick. And I intend to keep repeating it. And I hope you like seeing it on my blog.

And isn't my Olaf handsome?

dress (er, I mean skirt): Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

chambray: thrifted

metallic wedges: thrifted

linking up:

Garay Treasures // High Altitude Style // Claire Justine

The Red Closet Diary // Charming Lucy // A Pocketful of Polka Dots

...what you repeatedly wear

The best way to continue to wear a dress that you've already worn (several several times - like this navy blue dress above) is to change how you style it.

First, change up your jewelry - try a different metal, try a different length & style of necklace, or perhaps add a watch. Or a ring. Several rings?

Next, change up the accessories. Try a belt, or a scarf around your neck. Or a scarf AS a belt. Or, go without a belt, if you always wear a belt with said dress. Maybe you've got a hat that would look great with this dress. See how many different options you've got?

As for your shoes,  I'm more of a flats/flat sandals girl myself, but I have been trying to throw in some heels and wedges. You know, to "up my style game." whatever that means... So, if you always default to the same pair, dust off the neglected ones that could really make your look stand out. Or the ones that perhaps you're too afraid to wear (a la "In Her Shoes"?).

While you're at it, try something different with your hair. Maybe with your makeup. I tend to repeat the same hairstyles over and over (and over. and over.), but I have been trying to break up the monotony that is my hairstyling skillzzzz with some braids and different parts. However, that's tough to do when I repetedly hit the snooze button and am rushing out the door to work...*cough*

See? If I was good at math I could tell you how many outfit options we've created, just with the few above additions and swaps. Alas, I am not very good at math, but it would be something to the something-th power, and that would be a lot of options to change up a dress you repeatedly wear.

So, go forth, and have yourself a stylish weekend, my friends!

dress: thrifted

belt: Target

shoes: Rocketdog via DSW

necklace: Target

watch: Kohl's