3/100: a classic outfit idea with a twist.

This photo was really pretty, but really tough to translate. The vibrant colors of the flowers are what catches my attention at first glance and, the primary reason I snapped the shot. Then, after cruising Topshop for reasons other than this blog post (!!), I found the perfect orange midi skirt to design an outfit around.

I loved the texture and bright color, wanting to keep as the focal point of the look. Adding pastels helped accomplish that, opting for a crop top to modernize the silhouette. The deep purple sandals rounded out the outfit - making it perfect summer outfit that can go from day to night with a smoky eye.

necklace / crop top / sandal / midi skirt / clutch

tip: Pair a bright, warm color with a paler, cool one to keep the look from being too much. Balance the outfit with accessories that mix vibrant and subdued hues. And finally, head to the opposite side of the color wheel to make sure the look has enough contrast.

trend alert: icy pastel clothing.

The best accessory for this trend is a tan. Icy pastels have had some serious exposure on the runways and I can't wait to give them a try. Pair with more saturated hues like coral, teal or cobalt to add boldness to an outfit. Try neutrals for a more crisp look or patterns for something more graphic. 

tip: When choosing patterns, opt for ones that include only a small amount of the solid piece you're pairing it with. It will be more visually interesting and keep the look modern. 

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three ways: how to wear floral shorts.

It can be tough to come up with various outfits for one pair of flashy shorts. Especially when you buy them with one single event and one single outfit in mind. To let the piece out of your closet without people experiencing deja vu, try thinking of three different occasions and style around their needs. In this case, I picked wine tasting, a day party and girls night out. 

tip: Mix up activity types (i.e. lots of walking, casual mingling, dancing) to enhance creativity.

FLORAL SHORTS at topshop

look 1: top / purse / sandals look 2: blouse / sandals / bracelet look 3: blouse / earrings / pumps

trend alert: crop tops and skirts five ways.

I've been in love with the crop top trend for a while now and am so glad it's here to stay this year. Asos has by far the best selection - so much so I couldn't choose just one look. 

The key to pulling them off is remembering to stay a bit modest, especially for women 30 years and older. This means no belly button ladies - I mean it. 

tip: Use a crop top to sex up the hard-to-make-work midi skirt.

look 1: top / skirt / shoes look 2: top / skirt / shoes look 3: top / skirt / shoes

look 4: top / skirt / shoes look 5: top / skirt / shoes

Cozy cardigan goodness.

I love fashion almost as much as interior design. No, I'm lying. The love distribution is probably more 50/50. So to give a little shout out to my other styling crush, I'm kicking off each weekend with a little bit of wardrobe talk.


This week: the cardigan. LOVE me a good cardigan.


First off, let's all take a minute to reflect on the evolution of the cardigan. The way it separated itself away from the sweater set was huge. And the expanding past cable knit and varsity letters has improved this staple by leaps and bounds.


That said, one of the greatest things about a cardi is it's flexibility. It has the ability to add a layer of texture, color or pattern to any outfit while creating depth and dimension. It also can either dress up or dress down an outfit depending on your goal. Wool, cotton, cashmere or jersey, here are some great ideas for incorporating more of this little gem into your wardrobe lineup.

Madewell Daybreak Cardigan

J.Crew Microstripe Cardigan

Topshop Tall Tipped Stitch Cardigan

[try pairing with a floral dress or bright red or blue cropped jeans]

Mod Cloth Go Cat Go Cardigan

[tuck into a pencil skirt or pair with a colored calf-grazing pleated skirt]

via pinterest

Ruche Honey Oatmeal Striped Cardigan

[pair with boyfriend jeans and some mustard flats]

via freshly picked

Crazy for pleats.

It seems as though every single piece that catches my eye has some sort of pleating to it. To me, pleats are the more casual, versatile version of lace that I apparently cannot get enough of (says my last 3 purchases). This classy detail can either add a touch of whimsy or structure depending on the fabric type. Lighter, more gauzy fabrics help create flowing lines and girlish silhouettes while thicker fabrics with a tighter weave offer a more polished, tailored effect.

Personally, my eyes head straight for tiny, cute, little gauzy pleats that fill the garment from head to toe and end up looking like a pattern with tons of texture. Like this Halston dress that I have been drooling over for what seems like forever now (the dress, not the shoes).

Saks Fifth Avenue

New to pleats? Stick with silhouettes you know flatter your figure (i.e. halter top with a-line skirt) and instead expirement with various sizes and shapes of the uniform folds. This way you can focus on the actual pleating instead of trying to figure out shape and detailing.

Not sure how to wear? To avoid looking too prim, proper and preppy, try balancing the ensemble with something that has more of an edge. For example, pair with black (or gold) lacquer leggings, a nubby vest, a beat-up leather jacket (try camel or cream!) or even a sweatshirt (as seen below). Similar to a home, mixing and matching different styles is a must to get that eclectic, effortless look that becomes simply your own.

Here are some of my (more affordable) faves.

modcloth (with gold leggings and heels)

anthropologie (sub the sash with a thick, woven belt)

gap (add a large, shiny ornate brooch)

lulu's (notice the belt and add a blazer)

zara's (sub the leather belt for a tassle belt)

urban outfitters (tuck into a tweed pencil skirt)

topshop (wear with that nubby vest!)

free people (maybe lace up boots?)

Get your feathers ruffled.

On the hunt for some new spring pieces to incorporate into my wardrobe, I noticed the larger presence of ruffles this year. Ruffled tops, ruffled shorts, ruffled dresses. They're everywhere. I love them because, depending on how adorned, they can add a touch of girly flair or layer of romance to any outfit (or room) without too much effort.

While I happen to be a big fan of ruffles, I have to be cautious of how I wear them. For example, having broad shoulders already, I have to avoid most tops with ruffled cap sleeves because I can't afford adding any additional bulk in that area for fear of looking like a linebacker. Instead, I opt for ruffles across the chest and hips to give the illusion of more curves. Here's are some of the pieces at the top of my list:

  

top to bottom: topshop, banana republic, j.crew, 80s purple, bluefly

Similar to clothing, you need to be cautious of how to incorporate ruffles into your space. When done right, they can added texture, depth, detailing and subtle drama to a room. When done wrong, it can look too feminine or like you possess the styling sense of a 6 year old girl. So if you're interested in adding some ruffled accessories to your space, use the same rules as you would when choosing an outfit:

1. Balance is crucial. Like an ensemble, too much of something in one concentrated area could make the look seem disjointed. So, if you're adding a bit of ruffle in one area of the room, make sure to incorporate ruffles or at least similar lines (i.e. piece of artwork, table legs) to the other areas as well.

2. Don't overdo it. Too much of a good thing always ends up going bad. Instead of making your space a ruffled paradise, opt for a few pieces or one large one to carry the weight of the trend. Mix with other objects and accessories that complement your overall style (i.e. traditional, contemporary) to round out the look. If you choose a larger piece like the ruffled bedspread below, pair with more simple and streamlined decor to maintain a balance.

Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate a little ruffly goodness:

top to bottom: crooked house, home workshop, julia's apartment, design heaven, melissa esplin

Shiver my timbers no more.

Instead of continuing to complain about the weather, write about snow-inspired design themes or offer tips for staying warm, I am going to revert back to what I typically do in uncomforatble situations and just avoid it all together. That said, I had a very fun gchat conversation with one of my besties, Corrin, about how living in Florida might not be that bad (aside from the obvious pro of being closer to my brother).

I mentioned that if I were to every move to Florida, I would have to live on a boat with my wardrobe consisting of nothing but nautical-inspired clothing, khakis and boat shoes. Guests would be required to wear gauzy neck scarves, floppy straw hats and red lipstick (I'm not backing down on that, Corrin). I'd incorporate things like "ahoy", "mate" and "let's hoist some sails" into my vocabulary in hopes to grow into your everyday sailorette that hasn't a clue what she's doing. In my mind, if you're going to daydream you might as well go all out, right?

top left to bottom right: modcloth, topshop, amazon, forever21, anthropologie, true religion

Anyway, if the little scenario described above doesn't sound half bad, here are some sea worthy treasures you can start adding into your space to see if a nautical life was meant to be. Focus on a white, beige and navy blue color scheme with accents of bright red. Add accessories that have horizontal stripes, gold buttons or rope-like detailing. Frame a nautical map, a picture of a boat or some sailing instructions.

NOTE: Be cautious of becoming to thematic. As mentioned in a previous post, it's best to steer clear of overall themes and instead add small accents that suggest the idea (stripes and white-washing) rather than displaying the obvious (giant crabs and fish net overhead). Not sure if you've overdone it? Stop what you're doing and leave the room immediately. Don't go back into it for at least 30 minutes and if you want to start whistling the theme song to "Gilligan's Island", you've taken your decorating too far.

top to bottom: willow decor, apartment therapy, coastal style living, gifts for boaters, interiorly, apartment therapy (and also how I plan to treat my barrel!)