Spots and Dots

Top: Anthropologie; Jeans: LOFT; Sandals: Seychelles; Sunnies: Ann Taylor;

Bracelets: Fossil; Target; JewelMint

 

This week has been rough when it comes to capturing daily photos. However, it just means I can wear those looks again soon as you haven't seen them! I love that! Yesterday, I was feeling a little low key in the office attire, so I went for my leopard jeans and a top I haven't worn in awhile. I really liked the way the leopard print and the dots in the top played off one another. And, I love how the tones were so neutral.

 

 

As I mentioned earlier in the week, my son and I have swimming lessons for the next week and a half. With that said, you may see me wearing my hair up a lot! I really try, especially in the summer, to not rely heavily on a ponytail. Sometimes it's just so easy but it can ruin a look. I've been playing around with different "up-dos" and I love the small twist and loose, messy bun!

 

  



 

Hope you're having a terrific Thursday!!

Bathing Suit Season - What I'm Loving

As everyone is aware, we are in the dog days of summer. And here in the Midwest, it is HOT! I used to have a ton of swimsuits lined up for summer, but since having a baby, I have a few on hand for swimming lessons and the periodic trip to the public pool on the weekends. I just don't feel comfortable in a bathing suit anymore.

 

McKinley and I are started swimming lessons this week, a parent/tot class, so on Monday I loaded up my cherry red tankini and headed to the pool over my lunch hour. It's a cute suit I got from Target last season. A solid bottom with a red and white striped top. What I found, after about 15 minutes of playing around, the top was entirely too big. It fit dry, but once wet, it just sagged and weighed me down. I'm thinking it's time to invest in a smaller top if I'm going to continue swimming this summer.

 

I've been shopping online this morning and I've found a few I really like. I'm a one piece/tankini kind of girl now. See what I'm loving right now!

 

 

 

 

I ordered this one today! LOFT is having a 50% of swimwear sale going on! Check it out here!

 

I absolutely love this one but it's completely sold out. Total bummer!

 

 

Swimsuits from Target, J.Crew, LOFT, Ann Taylor and Forever21.





The Blouse Man

Top: LOFT; Jeans: LOFT; Shoes: Seychelles; Earrings: Gift

 

For me, there is something about a loud, floral print that screams summer! And, it reminds me of the fashion during the late 1960s. Peace, love and music. Why, isn't that the theme for Woodstock? It was actually Three Days of Peace and Music, which sound harmonious to me!

 

 

The late 1960s and early 1970s happen to be one of my all time favorite eras of fashion. The bold use of color and print, the ease in which everyone dressed, the incredible bell bottoms, platform shoes and the simplicity of styling that went along with it. It is honestly a time in fashion, and coulture, that I truly feel I missed!

 

This particular top reminds me of the movie A Walk on the Moon. As soon as I put it on, I immediately thought of the character Pearl, played by Diane Lane, and was pretty sure that this was something she would have worn in the movie. Especially if she had purchased it from the "Blouse Man". The "Blouse Man", played by Viggo Mortenson, traveled the country in his van full of blouses and stopped at vacation spots, like the one that Pearl and her family were staying at for the summer, and sold blouses. (A must see movie!)

 

Do you see the similarity and my inspiration?

 

 

 

 

Paired with my new favorite boyfriend jeans, a top knot and neutral sandals makes this a really relaxed look. It was perfect for our low key Sunday of breakfast out and grocery shopping.  

 

 

What inspires your shopping purchases? Do you fall in love with the design, the fabric or fit? Do you look to periods in fashion history? Or can a movie trigger a look? Let's discuss!

 

Happy Monday!

 

 



Image number one courtesy of  Wikipedia.

Image number two courtesy of  The Fan Carpet.

Image number three courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Real Me

Top: Bitten by SJP; Jeans: Banana Republic; Flip Flops: Banana Republic; Sunnies: Prada

 

I have been home sick for the past couple of days, but even though I'm home, I'm still working. And, even though I haven't felt like doing anything but laying around in my pajamas, I still have to get up, get dressed and face the day. I've been very relaxed this week, living in boyfriend jeans and comfy tops. Yesterday, however was the turning point. I took a shower and tried to put together a look that was comfy but a little bit more pulled together.

 

This is the real me. Air dried hair (absolutely zero product applied), zero makeup with just a hint of gloss for photos, and an outfit that I truly wear all weekend long but never gets photographed.

 

 

Speaking of hair, I read an article the other about summer hair and apparently, the braid is back. So I gave it a whirl. I like it! 

 

 

Happy Friday Everyone! I hope the weekend brings you peace and the ability to be the real you!

 

XOXO





Things I'm Loving Right Now

I love summer! The heat, the outdoor activities, the BBQs and the vacations lend themselves to a fulfilling three or four months. And with summer comes fun, bold colors and designs in fashion! Don't get me wrong, I love fall fashion. It's actually my favorite time of year. But there's just something about summer. Here's what I'm loving right now.

 

I adore this maxi dress from Ann Taylor! The lemony yellow color and print remind of something straight out of the 70s, an era I adore!

 

 

The minute I saw this wallet from the Kate Spade Saturday line, I immediately thought of my Spirograph set from childhood. Then I saw that the name of the wallet is Spirograph! Did you have one these? I actually still have mine.

 

 

I have been looking for a neon yellow pump for about a month now and these from Kate Spade are on sale. I'm pretty sure they will find themselves in my shopping cart soon!

 

 

I saw this dress in Target the other day but they didn't have my size. I went online to find it, and it's sold out there too. It says they have some at various locations around the metro. Who's up for a scavanger hunt?

 

I got an email from LOFT a couple of weeks ago featuring new arrivals and this scarf was one of them. You know me and birds. These are parrots, to be exact, and who isn't a Parrot Head at heart? "Livin' on sponge cake. Watchin' the sun bake..."

 

 

Yet another maxi from Ann Taylor and they are killing it in the 70s print department. Mosiac or Psychodelic? I go with the latter!

 

 

There you have it! Those are the things I'm loving right now. Can you tell I'm having a love affair with bright yellow? No? Well, I am!



A Challenge, The Styling and You

Denim Shirt: Ralph Lauren; Skirt: LOFT; Shoes: Anthropologie; Handbag: Kate Spade;

My Mom's (vintage); Bangles: Ralph Lauren/Fossil/Target;

Necklace: Tori Spelling via HSN Belt; Sunnies: Prada

 

Sometimes it can be a challenge to re-work your wardrobe. But that's what I love about styling my closet! You need to think about your pieces and try to mix and match them in your head. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't. But that's the whole part of the creative process of styling!

 

 I knew I wanted to re-work this pencil skirt but couldn't get away from styling it with a denim jacket, see below. Then I remembered my sleeveless denim shirt. Then came the shoes. I didn't want a pump but honestly couldn't think of anything better. Then I remembered these! From there it all just came together. The belt, the jewels, the red lip....

 

That is what keeps me coming back to my blog! Sometimes I think I'm going to just give it all up. But I simply love the challenge of styling, and re-working my wardrobe, and I want to share all of these things with you!

 

The Skirt: Before and After

 

  

Mad for Mod - Part II

Dress: Banana Republic; Shoes: Nicole Miller; Necklace/Bracelet: Silpada; Sunnies: Prada

Back in March I blogged about one of my Mad Men for Banana Republic dresses. Here is the other one! I've been waiting for summer to finally hit the Midwest as I've could been dying to wear it! As soon as the temps hit the high 80s, this dress was off the hanger and we were hitting the town. Okay, I only wore it to work, but I could wear it for a night out on the town!

 

What I love about the dress is how easy it is. You just simply put it on and add accessories! That's my kind of piece! No fuss! Just simple clean lines. And, I've said it before, you can't go wrong by adding a shift dress to your closet! A timeless, classic dress that will take you from day to night and from casual to dressy!