The Importance of a Blouse

/ Madewell blouse / Zara shorts, purse, and heels / J.Crew headband (Crewcuts) / Brandy Melville ring / Michael Kors watch / Street Vendor from Austin, TX necklace /

Having a few great blouses is a necessity in any wardrobe, especially one of a working gal. There are infinite possibilities to pair them with, are almost always office appropriate, and easy to switch up for after work, as well. One of my first blouses in my wardrobe was this abstract floral one from Madewell around four years ago. This was a piece that made me feel instantly sophisticated and polished, and it still manages to do so today. For work yesterday I pulled out this old favorite to pair with my latest favorite Zara shorts and to add a bit of brightness to the darker colors, metallic heels provided the perfect balance. 

Have you filled in the blouse section of your wardrobe? Which are your favorites?

Tuesday Shoesday

You know how some people lean towards a certain color when it comes to accessories? For me, I have a real obsession with blue shoes. There is something about the color that always feels unique and special to me when I wear them, and are fun to try and work into my outfit as if they were a neutral. When it comes to blue shoes, however, blue suede ones are my favorites. I used to have a pair of blue suede ankle boots that had little bows up the front. They were one of my first pair of 'adult' shoes, and they were the piece that always tied my outfit together. Since I have long outgrown those special shoes, this pair from Madewell comes pretty close. With their similar navy suede coloring, classic shape, and easy-to-wear heel, this is a shoe that not only has memories attached to it, but my eyes glued to them, as well. 

Tuesday Shoesday

Though my love for loafers has since taken over, for a while I was oxford obsessed. I paired the Madewell ones that my sister passed down to me with everything from casual shorts to more formal dresses and always felt that they provided the perfect dose of menswear quality to balance off my typically feminine outfits. Until this pair by Deena & Ozzy, I thought that I was surely done with oxfords. They sort of remind me of glass slippers in the sense that they are iridescent, which I clearly have been drawn to lately. Completely opposite of my Madewell pair, instead of providing a menswear addition to a feminine outfit, this pair appears feminine due to their less clunky shape and size and their shiny exterior.

Do you prefer more feminine or traditional style oxfords?

A to Z: Menswear Inspired

As much as I have a soft spot for extremely feminine and delicate designs, menswear inspired pieces, or incorporating components of menswear into otherwise lady-like looks, is a style that I have been gaining interest in over time. Starting with my love of a pair of Madewell oxfords, menswear inspired pieces focus mostly around fit and quality. Currently, I am really loving a more modern take on menswear with a well tailored short suit that is both polished and whimsical at the same time. 

Below are some of my favorite menswear-inspired pieces. 

Have you ever styled your outfit around menswear? What's your favorite part of it?

1 2 3 4 

Dress Up

While many people save their sparkles and sequins for the holiday seasons, I for one, am a fan of them all year round. A little sparkle is a great way to add a little bit of glitz and glamour into your life, and quite frankly, they're just fun to wear. This week's dress is full of sparkles, but is in a length and shape that can easily be able to be worn for either day or night. For a more day-time appropriate look, this dress would provide just the right amount of sparkle when paired down with a chambray button down and a utility coat, or dressed up with a tuxedo blazer and some simple jewelry to balance the shine. Either way, this dress is one that while easy to wear, can also easily make your outfit feel special, as well.

Would you rock sequins throughout the year?

Scalloped with an Edge

{Madewell dress, Topshop vest, Forever 21 purse, Target boots, Michael Kors watch, Unknown necklace, and Essie's "Mojito Maddness" polish}

As much as I love scalloped edges for their delicate and feminine quality, sometimes they can be the perfect girlier aspect of an outfit to juxtapose with more typically edgy pieces like leopard and (faux) leather. I love this dress for it's amazing ability to take layers well. In starting with the dress and then adding from there, a simple and pretty dress turns into a stylish look that appears quite put-together, but is easy to wear, as well. 

Dress Up

Being so pale, I used to shy away from garments in white or black, and would gravitate towards brighter colors. Recently, though, I have enjoyed wearing solid black or white pieces, and have found ways through accessories and makeup (lipstick, anyone?) that will no longer cause me to blend into my clothes. While white is typically not a shade for the cooler seasons, this Madewell dress is hard to resist (even seen by the fact that it is currently sold out). With it's sweetheart neckline, sheer panel and long sleeves, it is the perfect combination of sweet and simple, but with the cut and the feel, make it one of those dresses that I would pull out to wear again and again. 

Basics

{Madewell blouse, Topshop vest, Zara skirt, Steve Madden shoes, Michael Kors watch}

While I usually wear this blouse with a more casual pairing, there is no denying that it is a perfect top to pair with nearly anything--dressed up or down. I love the way that it looks with inky colors to mimic the purples, blacks, and blues that are hidden in the print. And, by adding a (faux) leather vest and my favorite chunky shoes, there is just the right mix of femininity with some amped up pieces, as well and are easily great basics to separate and make new outfits.

Knot What They Seem

{Banana Republic jacket, Top from Anthropologie, Madewell shorts, Steve Madden shoes, Michael Kors watch, and Bracelet purchased from a SoHo vender}

Don't get me wrong, I love skirts just as much as the next girl. However, there are some days that you want to run around without worrying about having a Marilyn moment in the street. That's where these shorts come in handy. Yep, you read that right. Shorts. They look just as dainty and feminine as your favorite skirt, but have that added "I'm actually a pair of shorts" factor, as well. And, in this great "electric citron" color, as Madewell calls it, are perfect for summer when toned down with a great grey knotted tank.

{You can even do high kicks in New York City streets if you want. Which obviously, you do.}

Dress Up

{Madewell's Silk Brushflower Shirtdress}

While anyone can claim that a certain color can be easily worn as a neutral, browns are one that I feel are often overlooked by the black, whites, grays, and ivories of the palette. With their perfect blending of not milky like a cream and not harsh like a black, browns seem to have that effortless natural look to them that always looks great. A perfect dress for a brunch meet up with friends or casual work outfit, here are reasons why this Madewell frock made this week's pick.

1. Their website claims it to be "A fresh spin on utilitarian chic," and I couldn't agree more. With an army jacket, tights, and some heeled ankle boots, this will be a great go-to look when the temperatures dip down a little.

2. As a shirtdress, it is easy to wear by nature. Differently, though, there appears to be a slightly more structured straight stkirt than the typical cinched waist and A-line style, which makes it all the more interesting.

3. The floral print is amazing and by being placed on a brown and black dress, it doesn't automatically scream floral as it would had it been in a different color, and showing floral's less frillier side.

Have a great weekend!

Summer Styles

I have been thinking a lot about what I think can really go into creating a fun summer look. When it comes to creating multiple outfits from certain individual items, these are some of the components that I feel make great summer staple starters. How's that for alliteration?

Denim Button Down: If you haven't seen them around enough lately, they really seem as if they are the new classic white oxford. With their neutral-like denim and easy to wear vibe, they work with anything from a floral skirt to a pair of silky trousers.

Sequin Tap Shorts: While I haven't managed to actually take a pair of these out for a test run, I have been eyeing them for quite some time, now. They are great to match with everything from a plain white T-shirt and colorful flats to a lightweight blouse and heels for a night out. Even if you wear minimal jewelry, or none at all, they manage to make a statement all their own.

Neutral Wedges: These should be in every girls' closet. A great shoe to wear almost all year round, they are that perfect shoe to wear when you want to wear heels without looking like you are trying too hard. For summer, by finding a pair in a shade that is similar to your skin tone, it can create an illusion of an extended leg. Who doesn't want to look just a little taller? Am I right?

Fun Jewelry: Finally, an abundance of different styles of jewelry is essential to creating that finishing touch to any outfit. Whether it be a small ring, crazy stack of bangles, or a combination of various layered necklaces, jewelry is a way to easily have the ability to change how an outfit looks and feels.

What are some of your current favorite summer styles? I'd love to hear.

Cutouts + Cream

{Madewell top, Forever 21 leotard, Necessary Clothing belt, Zara skirt, Michael Kors watch, and Steve Madden shoes}

Though I am dress person by nature, I have really been into separate pieces lately. I love the way that there are so many options to pair different skirts and tops (like here) and the opportunity to play with textures, various patterns, and shapes. With this cut-out lace top, it is easy to alter it slightly by pairing with a colored tank top or simple blank bandeau for the braver type. The flowy miniskirt keeps this look summery and is finished off with a neon belt for a bit of interest to an otherwise neutral composition. 

Dress Up

{Madewell's Stucco Stripe Dress}

Sorry for the lack of a "Dress Up" post last Friday. My dad was in town for Father's Day and we spent the evening at MoMA and drinking way too much coffee. For this week, I chose a dress based on what I saw today while running errands. A woman I passed was wearing this dress and though it is a seemingly simple silhouette and pattern (hers was in blue) there was something about those reasons that also made it seem perfect. She paired hers with kelly green flats, a classic leather bag, tortoise shell sunnies, and gold accessories. I love how the photo above from Madewell mixes patterns (with a leopard belt) and adds a bright pop of color with the seemingly color of the summer--coral. I'm definitely going to try and find this dress this weekend and see how I can add a fun twist to it, as well.

Have a great weekend everyone!