Today's Everyday Fashion: Brights & Prints



#1 favorite thing - wearing bright colors. I was playing around in my closet to find a new way to wear this neon orange skirt. Blue/yellow/orange is such a fun color combo and I added the fringe necklaces and friendship bracelets to make it less dressy and more boho.

Shirt: LOFT, $25 (similar, similar, similar) 
Skirt: J.Crew Factory, $39
Shoes: Nine West c/o Macy's (similar, similar, similar)
Clutch: Ann Taylor, $30 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: Francesca's c/o, $25 (similar, similar)
Approx. dates: Top and purse are 3 years ago. Shoes are 2 years ago. Necklaces are recent.

Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress

#2 favorite thing - pretty prints. I was walking through Saks Off Fifth yesterday and these prints caught my eye. The sign said Amanda Uprichard - a brand I've drooled over recently, but is usually way out of my budget. I was so excited to find that these dresses were under $50! (#1-3 above) I didn't buy one yet, but I'm keeping a close eye on my new place for finding this brand for less!

(My sandals are Dolce Vita from 2 summers ago. This DV pair is similar! Earrings are Stella & Dot.)

Today's Everyday Fashion: New Basics

Inspiration: The Limited



This catalog photo arrived in my email inbox, and I had to have it! I saved the photo and a couple weeks later I drove to the mall and bought the entire thing (top, belt and shorts - I already had a similar jacket). I love olive/cognac/ivory for basics, and the little details like pockets on the shorts and a silky inset on the top sold me. These are also my favorite shoes. If I could only take one pair with me from my closet, these would be it, because sandals with a little wedge are so perfectly ambiguous. The dressy material on the heel (versus a cork or raffia) dress up the shoe and make them work with even the most fancy dress (like the silver ones below), but the wedge is so comfortable to walk in, you don't have to wobble on a stiletto just for the sake of looking dressed up. They are perfect for occasions where you have no idea what the dress code is. If everyone is in heels, or if everyone is in flip flops - you're good either way! The ambiguous shoe + khaki neutrals = I'm loving this outfit.

Jacket: Conversation Pieces c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Tee: Limited, $23
Shorts: Limited, $19
Belt: Limited, $15 (similar, similar)
Shoes: Nine West/DSW, $17 (similar, similar)
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar, similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot 1, 2
Approx. dates: Jacket, shoes and purse are 3 years ago. Shorts, tee and belt are new.

Steve Madden  /  Talbots  /  Nine West
Nine West  /  Sole Society  /  Enzo Angiolini
Nine West  /  Saks Off Fifth  /  Sole Society
Nordstrom  /  Talbots  /  Nine West

Father's Day with Nordstrom

Click each item to shop.
 

Gifts have never been huge in my family, but as an adult I have developed a strong propensity for giving them. I especially love putting together little gift baskets or boxes, so that's exactly what I did this Father's Day. Armed with a gift card to Nordstrom, and after surveying my dad with a few questions, I picked out a classic flannel shirt, travel case, chapped hands remedy and multi-tool gift box to ship to him. I hope he loves it. 

This Father's Day I also decided to get my husband JJ a little something: the two shirts, pictured below. He lost his father to cancer when he was a teenager and I know this is usually a sad holiday for him. Plus he's an excellent dog dad to my baby for now, Bella. (Ultimately I will find any excuse to give a gift though, especially one that looks this good on him!)

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 21st! Shop all Nordstrom has to offer for Father's Day here, and check out more of my top gift picks below. 

Left: Plaid Sport Shirt, $35    |    Right: Baseball T-shirt, $21

Under $100
Duffle Bag  /  Hat  /  Belt  /  Watch
Headphones  /  Shave Kit  /  Hat  /  Travel Kit
Watch  /  Shorts  /  Camcorder  /  Sunglasses

Today's post is brought to you by Nordstrom and Shopstyle. All opinions, purchase and editorial decisions are my own.

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Shift Dress

Left: Original Post



I'm a sucker for a shift dress. Especially ones with a thicker fabric and bright colors. I love my hot pink dress so much from last summer that I wanted a similar dress in another color, and electric blue sealed the deal. I paired it with the same shoes and necklaces as last year, but I'd love to get some bright yellow or turquoise sandals (on my wish list), and I think those colors would look great as well. Check out more shift dresses below - is this a dress shape you like?

Dress: Marshall's, $20
Shoes: Missguided c/o, $40 (similar)
Purse: Francesca's c/o, $44
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot 
Approx. dates: Shoes and necklaces are last year. Purse is new, via gift card from 2 years ago. Dress is new.

Missguided  /  Urban Outfitters  /  JCPenney  /  Zappos
Shoptiques  /  Rent the Runway  /  Lulu's  /  Dorothy Perkins
BB Dakota  /  Lulu's  /  Dillard's  /  Urban Outfitters

J's Everyday Fashion: The Bardot Top

Inspiration: Pinterest



I flirted with the idea of buying this top for weeks and weeks. I couldn't get it out of my head, so armed with a 10% off coupon and free shipping both directions, I made the plunge. The off-shoulder shape with a sweetheart dip in front made me think of 50's-style dresses like this illustration I found on Pinterest. I imagined pairing it with a pale pink midi skirt but I'm still searching for one, so I went with distressed skinny jeans and simple pumps instead, and wore it as pictured for a night out this weekend. As I was leaving the house I realized this top reminds me of another era - it feels a bit 80's prom dress. Not the era I was going for, but I think the shape is beautiful and I love that it's something I've never tried before. Would you wear a Bardot-style top or dress?

Fit notes: I'm wearing size US 4 top with this strapless bra underneath.

Top: ASOS, $57
Jeans: A&F c/o (similar, similar)
Shoes: Enzo Angiolini/Piperlime, $32 (similar, similar, similar)
Purse: Sole Society, $30 (similar)
Approx. dates: Shoes, clutch and jeans are 2 years ago. Top is new.

BooHoo  /  ASOS  /  Free People  /  ASOS
ASOS  /  ASOS  /  ASOS  /  ASOS
ASOS  /  ASOS  /  ASOS  /  ASOS

Today's Everyday Fashion: The Fun Skirt

Inspiration: steve granitz/wireimage via WhoWhatWear



Thank you January Jones for a. reminding me I have this skirt, and b. giving me the idea to pair it with a white motorcycle jacket and two-toned shoes! I love this outfit idea for a chilly night out, and virtually any skirt with a fun print or texture could work. Would you wear her look?

Jacket: HSN c/o (similar, similar, similar)
Tank: Forever 21, $8 (similar, similar, similar)
Skirt: LOFT, $35
Shoes: MJR Sales c/o, $30 (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Purse: Urban Outfitters, $30 (similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Purse and tank are 5 years ago. Shoes are 4 years ago. Skirt is 1 year ago. Jacket is this year.

JCPenney  /  Mara Hoffman  /  Nordstrom  /  Rachel Roy
Macy's  /  NM Last Call  /  Limited  /  BCBG
Dillard's  /  XOXO  /  Eloquii  /  Macy's

Alaska Cruise Diary: Skagway & Ketchikan

The bustling metropolis of Skagway, Alaska:

It’s an adorable, little town (population 800) that looks like a movie set. In the winter it completely closes down and even during the summer it’s very tranquil. We chose to spend our day in Skagway hiking the trails right outside town. The sights were beautiful.

This is Icy Lake:

The water is really, really blue (no photo editing):

On the sandy beach of Icy Lake we spotted this:

Two people told me “there are no bears” before we left on our hike: the park ranger at the office where we picked up the trail map, and the guy at the sporting goods store where we picked up the bear spray. Right… no bears, I wasn’t buying it. I was, however, feeling a lot more confident with bear spray in our possession, and we made lots of noise as we hiked (please read these tips for what to do if you encounter a bear). Also, the terrain was open and allowed for a better line of sight than the thick brush where we saw the bear in Juneau. The trails looked like this:

This is Lower Dewey Lake:

And this was our big reward, Upper Reid Falls, the end of the trail. By the time we got there, we were so exhausted and sore. Hiking for approximately 5 miles is no joke, especially up to 850 feet elevation.

We rested a bit and took a moment to celebrate.

More proof that Skagway looks like a movie set:

The evening of our hike, we enjoyed a special treat onboard the Carnival Legend called The Chef’s Table. The first part of the experience was in the main kitchen. We sampled 4-5 “appetizers” that were like works of art, and I volunteered to help the Head Chef make their famous chocolate melting cake. (He’s either laughing at my cooking skills or I have mad jokes. I’ll let you guys decide.)

The second part of the evening involved a 7-course, sit-down dinner with lots of wine. The experience is an additional cost, but they spoil you beyond belief and it was well worth it, even for a self-described not-really-a-foodie like myself. The food tasted as good as it looked:

Our last port was Ketchikan. Another adorable town with a slightly bigger population (approx. 8,000):

Our first stop was the “Canopy Adventure & Wildlife Expedition.” It boasts 7 zip lines and more than 4,500 feet of cables. The bears don’t come out until salmon season, so there wasn’t much wildlife. It was still a fun experience though!

After the zip lining we headed to their gift shop area, where we found these winged beauties. All of them are unable to live in the wild due to their various injuries and are cared for by a local nonprofit. The glory of a bald eagle that close up is hard to describe. They are giant, majestic creatures.

We spent the rest of the day shopping and hanging out in downtown Ketchikan:

I couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon. Alaska was cool and all, but my favorite part of this trip was this guy right here. 

This is the end of our cruise diary but I’ll be sharing a “What to Pack for Alaska” post in a couple weeks with details on outfits and packing recommendations!

This post was created for Away We Go with Carnival, the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind. Head on over.

Alaska Cruise Diary: Juneau

Our first steps onto Alaskan soil!

On day 3 of our Carnival Alaska cruise we stopped at the first port, Juneau. Here are 5 things we experienced in Alaska’s capital.

1. Holy smokes, there are bald eagles everywhere.

2. There are beautiful hiking trails within walking distance of the port.

Follow the signs throughout downtown to find the trails. Mt. Roberts is the more difficult trail, and the entrance is closer so we headed there first. As we approached the entrance to Mt. Roberts, we spotted some beautiful rushing water beside an unmarked but well-worn trail, heading in the opposite direction. We decided to go that way instead. These photos are from that trail.

The water was so blue!!

3. Be mindful of bears.

Not even one hour on Alaskan soil and less than a mile outside Juneau… and the unimaginable happened.

Right after this photo was taken, JJ was ahead of me kneeling down, taking a photo of a bridge. As I waited, I glanced over my right shoulder and a black bear the size of a small vehicle was 20 feet away and coming towards me on the trail. It had its head down, looking for something. With the loud, rushing water I don’t think he saw or heard us. It was so surreal, my body flooded with adrenaline and I did exactly what I’ve always heard you’re not supposed to do. I turned around and got away as quickly as I could. I got so dizzy from the fear that I almost passed out. But as I collected myself, I watched the bear peacefully make its merry way, across the mountain, totally oblivious…

SERIOUSLY!! A bear?! Everyone made fun of me the night before when I mentioned bringing bear spray. The only way I want to see a bear is through binoculars, or inside a vehicle. I am NOT a fan. Bears generally want nothing to do with people, but surprising one within striking distance is not a good idea. If you do go hiking in Alaska, please read some tips like these for the proper responses on what to do if you see a bear. It gives tips specific to types of bears and what the situation entails. (Hint: running is pretty much never the right call!) I felt terrible that I potentially put us in danger. Note to self: J is not good with bears. 

4. Mendenhall Glacier, be sure to visit:

After our hike, we boarded a bus for Carnival’s “Best of Juneau” excursion. Our first stop was Mendenhall Glacier at Tongass National Forest. There are signs all over downtown Juneau advertising tours and transportation to the park (about a 20 minute drive), so you have no excuse not to go. There’s an easy, flat trail that takes you right up close to both the Glacier and Nugget Falls. You can’t go to Juneau and not see it – it’s breathtaking!

5. Whale watching is another must in Juneau:

Part of our “Best of Juneau” excursion included several hours of whale watching in Auke Bay Harbor. They offer a $100 cash refund if you don’t see whales, but don’t count on it – they have yet to give a refund in 9 years. It was easy to see why – there were humpback whales, sea lions and harbor seals everywhere! Too many to count, it was amazing!

Overall, Juneau was amazing. Tomorrow’s post is the final installment of our Alaska cruise diary – I’ll be sharing what happened in Skagway (another bear encounter, of sorts) and Ketchikan! 

This post was created for Away We Go with Carnival, the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind. Head on over.

Alaska Cruise Diary: Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Bay

When I’m on a cruise, I’m generally most excited about our destination – the various ports of call, islands, or cities that we’re visiting. On our honeymoon cruise to Alaska, I experienced the opposite. The days at sea contained some of the most exciting moments of our trip (like the glacier pictured above, taken from the balcony in our room!). I wanted to dedicate this entire first post to sharing some of those moments. Here are 5 reasons I loved being on a Carnival ship in Alaska: 

1. The Sunsets

The sun goes down between 9-11pm and comes up again at 4am. I’m not sure if that’s why the sky turns the most brilliant shades of pink, red, blue and purple but it’s spectacular. These are just 4 examples of the hundreds of photos we took of sunsets from the ship. (Note: these photos were not edited, the sky is really that amazing.) We loved braving the cold to watch the sun set!

2. Glaciers and Icebergs

There were two days on our cruise itinerary that puzzled me. They said:

Cruising Tracy Arm Fjord
Cruising Glacier Bay

I didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded fun and I’m game for anything. On those two days the ship turns into a guided tour. It squeezes down narrow passageways (named Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Bay, respectively) so that you can get a close look at the glaciers and icebergs. During both “cruising” days, a naturalist or Park Ranger narrated our trip, pointing out wildlife, telling the history of the glaciers and the area we were visiting. Once we arrived at a glacier we would do a slow 360 degree turn so the entire ship could take in the view, and then make our way back out to sea. This process lasted 4-5 hours and immediately before and after are the best times to spot wildlife, so the entire day was spent outside. Having a balcony room proved to be quite wonderful–we spent all day on our balcony, even ordering room service (it’s free), so that we didn’t miss anything! Here are some glacier and iceberg photos we took from the ship:

3. Wildlife

During our 8-day cruise, we regularly spotted humpback whales, sea otters, bald eagles, harbor seals and sea lions. Some days the animal sightings were more frequent, but we spotted something almost every day. On our last night of the cruise we had dinner at Steakhouse Nouveau (third picture below). We spotted a pod of Orca whales right outside the window as we dined! It was both of our first times seeing Orcas in the wild and it was a great way to end the cruise.

I was also slightly obsessed with spotting mountain goats. I was glued to my binoculars looking for them - JJ caught me in action, above. In the entry of Glacier Bay my dreams were finally realized. See if you can spot all 5 goats in the photo below. 

4. Mountains and snow

On an Alaska cruise you are surrounded by unspeakable beauty at every turn. That’s thanks in part to the route they take, with land and small islands on both sides of the ship almost the entire journey. This was our view for eight days. It was incredible.

5. The weather

We live in Florida so we loved the weather. We experienced a bit of both extremes. Very warm, pleasant days like when the ship stopped moving and the sun was out (that’s the port in Vancouver, above). But step into the shade, approach the cold water of a glacier or waterfall, or catch the wind from the ship moving and it was fun (and necessary) to put on our fuzzy hats and gloves. It’s not everyday you get to take a cruise picture bundled up like this:

Come back tomorrow to hear my bear encounter story (!), and see the whale photos we took in Juneau!

This post was created for Away We Go with Carnival, the destination for getting in the getaway state of mind. Head on over.

Today's Everyday Fashion: Shorts Shopping



In college my friends used to sing "who wears short shorts?" to poke fun at the itty bitty shorts I wore. My shorts today are much longer than they used to be, even these two pairs from 3 years ago that are among the shortest pairs I own. When I'm shopping for shorts now, my preferred inseam length is between 4-5 inches (2-3 inches longer than the shorts pictured) although I would go shorter or longer, depending on the fit. Some shorts can appear longer due to a high-waisted fit and having more material, or because of looseness around the leg opening (like a boyfriend fit). Inseams and knowing your preferred length can be a great starting point when shopping though, especially at stores and websites that group their shorts together by inseam length. What are your favorite stores for shorts and inseam lengths?

Tee: Milly for Kohl's c/o $20
Blue shorts: Ross c/o, $10 (similar)
Purse: Marc Jacobs/Saks Off Fifth, $51 (similar)
Sandals: Franco Sarto c/o DSW, $49
Approx. dates: Shorts are 3 years ago. Purse is recent. Sandals and tee are new.

Top: old boutique c/o (similar, similar)
Red shorts: Kohl's c/o, $10 (similar, similar)
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar, similar)
Sandals: Franco Sarto c/o DSW, $49
Approx. dates: Shorts, purse and top are 3 years ago. Sandals are new.

Michael Kors  /  Forever 21  /  Old Navy
LOFT  /  LOFT  /  American Eagle
J.Crew Factory  /  LOFT  /  LOFT
J.Crew Factory  /  American Eagle  /  Old Navy

Today's Everyday Fashion: On Camera



Today I'm sharing an outfit I wore on Daytime a couple months ago! I've been working with the syndicated morning show as a fashion host for just under three years and during the spring and summer months my favorite thing to wear on camera is head-to-toe bright colors. Bright colors are generally recommended for both video and photos (for example, if you are taking head shots) which is great because I love wearing them! I also pay close to attention to jewelry since the camera often focuses on head and shoulders only. I'll wear fun earrings or a bold necklace that ties together the colors in my outfit. I also loved the show host and fashion co-host's (accidentally similar) classic, nautical outfits! They look great!

Top: Tahari c/o Nordstrom (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Skirt: J.Crew Factory, $39
Shoes: Limited, $25 (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Purse: Calvin Klein/Macy's, $130 (similar, similar)
Necklace: INPINK c/o, $22
Approx. dates: Shoes and purse are 2 years ago. Top and necklace are 1 year ago. Skirt is recent.

Via Instagram

H&M  /  Rent the Runway  /  Shoptiques  /  Kh Studio
Lee Angel  /  David Aubrey  /  Aqua  /  Shoptiques
Shoptiques  /  World Market  /  ABS Allen Schwartz  /  JCPenney
 

Today's Everyday Fashion: Dress for Less



Brand-name dress c/o Ross, $49.99
Brand-name purse (from previous post) c/o Ross, $25

I saw this dress at a department store a couple months ago and loved it. I hesitated to spend well over a hundred bucks on it, but at $50 I couldn't take it to the register fast enough. Unlike my last Ross post where I tried on a small army of dresses, I wasn't even shopping for clothes when I found this dress. I discovered that my suitcase was broken right before our honeymoon, so I was at Ross to buy a new one and some other items for our trip. I recognized the print on this dress as I was walking by the rack and stopped in my tracks. I couldn't believe it was in my size and that it fit so well off the rack - it's probably my all-time favorite Ross find!

Kimono cardigan c/o Ross, $13.99

During the same shopping trip I picked up this kimono cardigan. Ross is great for finding the "dress for less" you saw at a department store, but it's also a great place to try out new trends at a low price!

Be sure to tune into the Ross Facebook page throughout the month of June for the “Ross Summer Adventure” promotion. They will be giving fans the opportunity to win a $200 gift card, as well as announcing a number of new stores opening July 18!

Which Ross outfit is your favorite so far?

More recent finds from Ross. Original Posts One, Two, Three

Today's post is brought to you by Ross. All opinions and editorial decisions are my own and presented without prejudice.

Today's Everyday Fashion: Winning Summer



I do believe these shorts are winning summer. The small-scale geometric shapes feel fresh and I'm always a sucker for various shades of blue and green. It was a tough call between the pencil skirt version (pictured below) and the shorts, but ultimately I knew I'd wear the shorts more. They work with lots of colors  - yellow, lime, electric blue, cobalt, and today's emerald green to name a few. I plan on giving them all a try! 

Top: Banana Republic outlet, $36 (similar, similar)
Shorts: J. Crew Factory, $30
Shoes: Jessica Simpson c/o, $59 (same)
Purse: Marc Jacobs/Saks Off Fifth, $51 (similar)
Yellow necklace: Stella & Dot, old (similar, similar)
Green necklace: Stella & Dot, old (similar, similar)
Approx. dates: Top is 2 years ago. Shoes are 1 year ago. Purse is recent. Shorts are new.

Top  /  Top  /  Top  /  Sweatshirt
Belt  /  Skort  /  Skirt  /  Skirt  /  Skirt
Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress

Today's Everyday Fashion: Girl Crush

Inspiration: AKM-GSI via people stylewatch



Jessica Alba sure knows how to rock a blazer. Other than admiring (and copying!) her style sense over the years, I didn't know much about her until recently. According to this Forbes article the company she founded in 2011, The Honest Company, is worth $1 billion dollars. Yes, that's billion with a "b." That means she's worth $200 million, and on Forbes list of richest self-made women. The only other celebs on the list are Beyonce, Madonna and Judge Judy. "The difference is that foursome made their money in their core field, media and music. Alba, at a young age, has done it in a completely unrelated industry." Not just a pretty face? Hard working and passionate about making the world a better place? Consider me fully girl crushed.

Blazer: Express, old (similar, similar)
Tee: H&M, $12 (similar, similar)
Jeans: Express, $30
Shoes: Chinese Laundry c/o (similar, similar)
Purse: Karen Millen, gift (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot 1, 2, 3
Approx. dates: Blazer is 10 years ago. Shoes and purse are 3 years ago. Tee is 2 years ago. Jeans are recent.

NM Last Call  /  Madewell  /  ASOS
Nasty Gal  /  Frye  /  ASOS
London Fog  /  Rebecca Minkoff  /  ASOS
Lands' End  /  Rebecca Minkoff  /  Sole Society

On a less serious style note... I'm loving this handbag trend, the saddle bag! It's a little bit boho and can be worn crossbody (my favorite because it's comfortable). Do you like this trend?

Today's Everyday Fashion: Buying Multiples

Left: Original Post



Dress: Milly c/o Kohl's (using an old gift card)
Shoes: Enzo Angiolini/Piperlime, $32 (similar, similar, similar)
Purse: Gap, $16 (similar, similar, similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Purse, shoes are 3 years ago. Dress is new (returning).

When you love something so much you buy it twice, aka multiples. Whether it's the same item in different colors, or a print or shape that's similar, when is it wise to invest... again? I fell in love with the dress on the right via this review, but once it landed in my closet I noticed the print is really similar to my dress from a couple years ago (left). Should I keep it? Here are the pros and cons of buying multiples:

PROS
1. The original item has withstood the test of time, so you already know you love it.
2. Sometimes one item is appropriate for one occasion that the other won't work for. 
3. A true multiple - the exact item - can be a replacement when one wears out.
4. Adopting a "uniform" and wearing similar styles can make getting dressed even faster/easier.

CONS
1. It's almost impossible not to favor one multiple over the other. Is it the new item or the old item you will like more though?
2. Instead of buying more of the same, you can diversify and buy a new shape or print you've never worn - and may wind up liking that new item even better. 
3. Your item may be so similar that you're the only one that realizes you're not repeating outfits.

Ultimately, as much as I love this Milly dress, the two dresses would be appropriate for the same types of occasions, and I will always favor the original more. What's your policy on buying multiples?

Adrianna Papell  /  Betsey Johnson  /  Romwe  /  Betsey Johnson
Lucca Couture  /  Betsey Johnson  /  Superdry  /  Forever 21
Rent the Runway  /  Maggy London  /  Julian Taylor  /  Betsey Johnson

Today's Everyday Fashion: Off The Shoulder



I am so excited for off-shoulder styles right now! The love started when I spotted this tie dye number, but I've been seeing them everywhere lately. The voluminous shape lends itself to wear with flare jeans (also a big trend right now - or the most classic jeans out there, depending on how you look at it), or with shorts (they balance out the volume on top). Would you wear an off shoulder top?

Top: Sugar Love Boutique c/o
Jeans: Express, $30
Shorts: American Eagle, old (similar)
Shoes: Jessica Simpson c/o, $59 (same)
Hat: Varga c/o (similar, similar)
Clutch: Sole Society, $30 (similar, similar)
Approx. dates: Shorts are 8 years ago. Purse is 3 years ago. Shoes are last year. Hat, jeans are last season. Top is new.

Shoptiques  /  Shopbop  /  American Eagle
Lulu's  /  Lulu's  /  Shoptiques
ASOS  /  Forever 21  /  Forever 21

Today's Everyday Fashion: Retro

Inspiration: Bloomingdale's (Dress, Purse)



Every time I go to my closet I'm convinced there are no new outfits in there. I've been feeling that way for years, and yet I always manage to find something new out of old items! I owe today's idea to the inspiration photo (plus where I believe ideas come from). I just couldn't shake the adorable but pricey Kate Spade combo of polka dots and turquoise and wanted to make a copycat outfit from my closet. I have a similar mint purse from F21, but it wasn't the right shade of turquoise, so I went with this blazer instead. To complete the look, I added a yellow necklace and shoes, resulting in a totally fun yet classic, retro look! 

Blazer: Banana Republic, $35 (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Dress: Express, $60 (similar, similar, similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Bandolino/TJ Maxx, $20 (similar, similar, similar)
Purse: c/o old boutique (similar, similar)
Necklace: Banana Republic, $12 (similar, similar, similar, similar)
Approx. dates: Shoes are 5 years ago. Purse, necklace are 3 years ago. Blazer, dress are 2 years ago.

ps. Huge giveaway alert!! White Plum is gifting one lucky person with an entire summer wardrobe worth $1,200 for free! The giveaway runs until June 8th at 5pm PST. GO HERE to enter.

Today's Everyday Fashion: Embroidered Chambray

Inspiration: J.Crew

Original post (left)



This is one of my absolute favorite tops. It's from last summer and I throw it on with jeans or shorts whenever I'm in a rush. I was inspired by the catalog photo to pair it with olive linen shorts, and the result reminded me of an outfit from last year so I posted a side-by-side comparison. Woven belt or woven clutch / pants or shorts: which version do you like more?

Top: J.Crew Factory, $37
Shorts: Forever 21, old (similar, similar)
Shoes: MJR Sales c/o (similar)
Purse: LOFT, $18 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot 1, 2, 3
Bracelets: INPINK c/o, $30 and My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Shorts are 8 years ago. Shoes and clutch are 3 years ago. Top last year.

J.Crew Factory  /  Dillard's  /  J.Crew Factory
Amazon  /  Charlotte Russe  /  Revolve  /  Cynthia Steffe $
Tory Burch $  /  Joie  /  Ralph Lauren
$ = over $100

Today's Everyday Fashion: White Pumps

Inspiration: Banana Republic Jacket, Shirt, Jeans, Shoes



We've officially crossed into safe-to-wear-white-jeans territory, so why not throw some white shoes into the mix, too! White pumps have been really trendy the last couple years but I was hesitant to jump on the trend. What sold me on this pair is that they aren't a bright glowing white (almost an ivory undertone), and the python toe breaks up the white even more. I founds some similar shoe options, below. Would you ever wear white pumps? Before/after Labor Day? 

Jacket: LOFT, $43 (similar, similar)
Top: Forever 21, $20 (similar, similar)
Jeans: Gap, $30 (similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Nine West c/o Ross, $23
Purse: Calvin Klein/Macy's, $130 (similar, similar)
Necklace: My Stella & Dot
Approx. dates: Jeans are 5 years ago. Jacket, top and purse are 2 years ago. Shoes are recent.

Ivanka Trump  /  Nine West  /  Nine West  /  Nine West
Dolce Vita  /  Steve Madden  /  Charlotte Russe  /  Nine West
Steve Madden  /  Seychelles  /  Michael Kors
Topshop  /   Vince Camuto  /  Isaac Mizrahi

Today's Everyday Fashion: Look for Less

Inspiration: Who What Wear



We had a blast in Alaska but it's great to be back! The cruise giveaway ended yesterday and I'll be notifying the winner in the next few days, plus sharing pics from our trip soon. In the meantime, I'm kicking things off with a look for less inspired by the always-adorable Reese. I've had this top for several years so I appreciated a new idea for wearing it again this summer!

Cardigan: H&M, $18 (similar, similar)
Top: Old Navy, $14 (similar, similar, similar)
Shorts: J.Crew, $30 (similar, skirt)
Shoes: Jessica Simpson c/o, $59 (same)
Purse: Calvin Klein/Macy's, $130 (similar, similar)
Necklaces: My Stella & Dot 1, 2
Approx. dates: Cardigan is 4 years ago. Top is 3 years ago. Purse and shorts are 2 years ago. Shoes are 1 year ago.

Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Coat
Dress  /  Dress  /  Dress  /  Necklace  /  Necklace  /  Watch
Top  /  Skirt  /  Skirt  /  Top  /  Shoes
Shoes  /  Shorts  /  Purse  /  Purse

Also, bargain alert: it's Nordstrom's semi-annual sale! I love Nordstrom but I also love getting a great deal, so this sale is perfect. More than 11,000 items are marked down 40% off or more. Some of these items are under $25 and everything pictured is under $175!

I was asked by ShopStyle to share the Nordstrom sale with you (super easy since I would tell you anyway!). All other opinions, shopping choices and editorial decisions are solely my own.