Outfit of the Day: Blue Maxi Dress

 

Maxi dresses are great. They can be casual or dressy. They are easy to just throw on and look fabulous. I am probably an average height for a girl, however I have shorter legs. If you are like me, don't be afraid to shop the petite section for long skirts or dresses. They fit the same but you won't be dragging or tripping over your hemline.

 

Pair them with a few accessories and you automatically have a complete outfit.

Inspiration to Recreation: Summer Floral Nails

There are two things I wish I were better at when it comes to beauty: braiding my hair and painting my nails. I usually only paint my toes because it is easier. I have been so inspired by all the creative ways to paint nails lately. I found this nail art by Bubz and decided to give it a try.

 

I used a couple different colors than she did.
This is how my nails turned out:

 

 

 

 

 

If you try this style, comment below and let me know how you did. Don't forget to subscribe!



Smart Shopping

Shopping is something I love to do. It almost doesn't matter what I'm shopping for. Getting an amazing deal is such a rush for me too. My grandma was a great shopper. She could score a deal like no body's business. I learned a lot shopping with her (which was a frequent activity of ours).

Summer is almost over and soon school will be back in. Back to school shopping is a great time to find some good deals. Shopping during tax free week will get you started on savings right away. One of the best ways to find the amazing deals is shopping in off seasons. So as the stores start to bring in all their jeans, long sleeves and jackets for Fall, this is the best time to start browsing the clearance racks for shorts, swim wear and sundresses. If you are patient, you can find those coveted items and wait until they get marked down to their lowest price (usually the second or third mark down). However if you often have trouble finding your size in the clearance section, it's a good idea to grab those items as soon as you see them go on sale.

Signing up for email or text message coupons is also another great way to save money while shopping. Some companies still have coupon mailers. If you have a store credit card, you usually will receive additional promotions as well.

When browsing through your favorite store's clearance section, there are a couple things to keep in mind. If you tend not to keep up with the trends, and you feel comfortable rocking last years hot items, then go for it. If however you are more current in your fashion, then I would recommend keeping to the classic and basic items. So for intense when Spring rolls around and you know you will need a new pair of jeans, or black slacks, or maybe a crisp white button up, then buy those items at that point and wait until the new line of the current season comes out to choose your more trending items.

Lastly, be wise about your shopping. If you find a cute top on sale for $5 but you don't absolutely love it, or it doesn't fit quite right but you are sure you could "make it work"...put it back. It may seem like a steal, but that is $5 that you might wear once or twice but otherwise will end up taking up space in your closet. If you don't absolutely love an item in the dressing room, then don't buy. That brings me to another point. Try things on. Everyone's body is different. Just because it looks good in the advertisement, or on the mannequin doesn't mean it will compliment your figure or that you will be comfortable in it. If you are not comfortable in your clothes, you won't wear them, or if you do wear them you won't feel confident in them and that shows. So those extra five or ten minutes in the dressing room will save you money and time in the long run.

I hope these tips are helpful and that they enable you to to really rock that deal.
Happy shopping!

Black & White

Black and white is trending this summer. I haven't jump aboard with the two-tone pants, however I think mixing black and white pieces together can be very clean and classic.

 

I love choosing pieces with detail, like this solid black top. It has a pretty floral lace pattern to give it interest. Accessorizing with a tri-tone chunky necklace and some black jeweled sandals makes this outfit casual and perfect for an outing with friends or a trip to get some frozen yogurt with the husband (my new simple pleasure).

Adding some heels and even a blazer instantly dresses this outfit up and now you are ready for a date or a special event.

Summer White

Summer is here. I'm not a huge fan of summer. I don't get summer breaks, plus it is crazy hot in the summer and I don't enjoy sweating while walking the short distance from my house door to the car! Nevertheless, there is one thing I like about summer and that is the lighter and sometimes brighter colors. Today I wanted to share a fun weekend pairing using white shorts.

 



I have here a pair of white denim shorts with some cut-off fringe. These are great for weekend outings, getting together with friends, or running errands. I paired it with a pink solid/stripe t-shirt that has an angled side cut which adds an element of interest.

 

 

Bringing in a contrasting color with this navy blue lace tank adds some elegance and charm to an otherwise casual outfit. Accessorizing with a goldchain white beaded necklace and a pair of gold jeweled sandals pulls the outfit all together.

 

 

I nice way to dress up a casual item is to pair it with a sheer flowing top like this peachy-pink floral print. Keeping the accessories simple and pairing it with comfortable matching shoes is great for summer nights out to dinner or a movie.

 

I hope these pairings inspire you to stay cool this summer while showing off your fashion flare.

A Dress For Summer

The temperatures have been warming up quite a bit in the Sunshine State. We have hit a few days where the heat index has put us over 102 degrees. Which brings me to my great love for summer dresses. They are easy to just throw on, work appropriate and lightweight. I like to look for fun patterns or prints, of course something with color, but also I like to look for something interesting or different about the item.

I love the purple and blue mixed with white and gray. The uneven stripes give it a more natural feel (makes me think of the different stone layers at the Grand Canyon). The front tie is also a nice little detail. Adding complimentary accessories makes this outfit perfect for going out on any hot summer day!

Half-up Romantic Hairstyle

I like to wear my hair half-up, so I'm always looking for creative ways to style it. This hairstyle is easy to do and can be done on curled or straight hair. Simply tease the crown, then gathering the middle section of the crown, while leaving the sides down, pin it to the back, creating a slight poof. Taking one side first, smooth it across the bobby pins in the back and pin in place, tucking the bobby pin under your poof. Repeat with the other side. Smooth out any sections that may have bumps or teasing and set with hair spray. Another option would be to twist or braid the side sections back before pinning them into place.

My Coral Delight

Color pants are in, but sometimes we can be afraid to wear color as a bottom piece. I wanted to show you a pairing today with some fun coral pants.

One way to style your color pants is to find a print top with the same or similar color.

Adding a black and white pallet to your pop of color can be a simple but classic way to style your pants. Adding pattern on pattern can add interest and a light weight scarf is an excellent way to accessorize during the summer. I also like to wear a necklace underneath my summer scarves in case it becomes too warm I can remove that layer and still have some accessories to compliment my outfit.

 

 



Bringing in a contrasting color is another great way to style your color pants. Coral and navy blue are not only complimentary contrasting colors, but mixing patterns again with the floral print and adding a pin-stripe blazer is another fun way to add interest to your outfit. Complimenting the outfit with matching accessories pulls it all together.

I hope you enjoyed this pairing and found the tips helpful and inspirational. Have fun with color, make it an expression of who you are: bright and bold, subtle but chic, or classic with a pop of surprise!

Day One: Getting Started

I wanted to start this blog as a way to share my love for fashion, interior design and bits of my life along the way. I went to school for interior design and love everything about color, pattern and textures. That passion also translates into my personal style as I explore different ways to create outfits and hair styles. I frequently get comments and asked about my style and fashion advice. I never went to fashion school and have no formal training for either fashion nor hair, so I am by no means an authority on the topic; however I take great joy in helping others to find that one top to compliment that favorite skirt, or those accessories that really make that outfit pop and stand out. So you can expect some Outfit-of-the-day photos, as well as the occasional hairstyle and maybe even beauty tip!
I don't have any current interior decorating projects I'm working on, but I plan to share with you some fun Do-It-Yourself projects for the home, as well as some past projects I've had the pleasure of working on.