Showing posts with label animal-print dress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal-print dress. Show all posts

May 15, 2014

Summer Style


Earlier this week the D.C. temperatures soared into the 90s for the first time this year.  I feel like summer has arrived and it's not even June yet!  I'm not quite ready for the heat, but the weather does make for good timing of Bri's latest Third Thursday Threads theme: sandals!


I purchased these sandals a few years ago during a trip to France!  I'm glad that they've held-up well because they are some of my favorite summer shoes.  I love that they are simple and classic but with a bit of pretty, feminine detail.

I've worn this dress on the blog before but underneath a cardigan and a denim jacket.  While I've loved layering the dress, I knew it would be great for warmer weather, too!  The dress has enough detail that it can stand on it's own...especially when I add a statement necklace.



I do have to say, though, that I don't get as excited about summer style as I do about dressing during the cooler seasons.  I love the creativity in adding blazers, cardigans, tights and scarves.  There is only so much you can wear when it's swelteringly hot outside.  Although, this will be my first full summer with a style blog so I'm hoping that I can be inspired and creative as the temperatures soar!

What I'm Wearing:
Dress: LOFT (similar, similar)
Necklace: Etsy (exact)
Sandals: France (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:
Penniless Socialite- Favorite Fashion Friday
Perfectly Coutured- Three-fer Thursday
Rachel the Hat and Lena B, Actually- Passion for Fashion
Simple Sequins- Fashion Item Friday
Style Elixir- Friday's Fab Faves
Vodka Infused Lemonade- Très Chic Fashion Thursday
Work Clothes I Suppose- Third Thursday Threads
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Apr 22, 2014

Flowers

One of the highlights of living in Washington D.C. during the springtime is a visit to the Tidal Basin to see the beautiful Cherry Blossoms!  I have to admit that I was skeptical at first.  True, pink flowers are beautiful, but can a few blossoming trees be worth the hype.  The answer is YES!  The spray of light pink blooms is absolutely breathtaking!

I feel so lucky to experience this beautiful act of springtime so close to home and I thought that the blossoms would be a fun backdrop for a few outfit photos!


These have been a few of my favorite pieces lately!  The dress is so comfortable and so versatile.  I love that it has an interesting print but in all neutral colors...that way I can throw on a denim jacket or a cardigan in any color of the rainbow!



I want to take a moment to talk about a serious incident that happened this weekend because of something as seemingly innocent as a flower.  On Saturday morning, I had to rush my beloved cat, Izzo, to the emergency veterinary clinic because he chewed on an Easter Lily.  Easter Lilies are poisonous to cats.  As a cat lover who has grown-up with cats, I didn't learn this important information until Saturday morning when it was too late.

Immediately upon arrival at the clinic, Izzo was hooked-up to an IV in an attempt to flush the toxins from his system.  They kept him at the clinic for almost 60 hours while they continued to hydrate him and to test his blood to make sure that his kidneys weren't failing.  Thankfully, Izzo is now resting comfortably at home and I'm so relieved to have him back in my arms!

During Izzo's time at the clinic, I cried approximately every five minutes and continuously wanted to kick myself for not knowing about the toxicity of lilies.  So here I am, spreading the word!  This is a list of plants that are poisonous to cats.  If you have a cat or are planning to bring a plant as a gift to a cat owner, please take a look!  (And for good measure, here is a list of plants that are toxic to dogs).


If you are the praying kind, or if you aren't, all prayers and positive thoughts for Izzo's complete recovery would be very much appreciated.

What I'm Wearing:
Dress: LOFT (similar, similar)
Necklace: LOFT (similar, similar)
Denim Jacket: Hand-me-down (similar, similar)
Flats: Hand-me-down (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:
Because Shanna Said So- Random Wednesday
Basic Training Corporate Style- Fashionably Employed
DC In Style- Monday Bloom
Fizz and Frosting- Mix It Monday
Style Elixir- Style Sessions
The Style Record- Monday Must Haves
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Mar 10, 2014

Less is Truly More


Last weekend I did something that I thought would be really difficult but in the end feels oh so good...I cleaned-out my closet!  Over the course of the school year, I've been weeding-out pieces a little at a time...but one look at my closet would have told you that I had way too many clothes.  When you have way too many clothes, you sometimes run out of hangers and the clothing piles start to grow.  Basically, I just could not keep things organized.  And you know that I wasn't even wearing the majority of what I owned!

The time had come for a clothing purge!  I am so fortunate that my best friend from Michigan came to visit me and was willing to help with the endeavor.  I think that I was so fed-up with my closet situation that I had an easier time than usual parting with my clothes.  I said "au revoir" to approximately half of my wardrobe!  Here are some tips that I have for a successful closet clean-out:

1.  Enlist a friend to help!  Sometimes we have a special place in our hearts for a piece of clothing and are therefore blind to the fact that this particular skirt is no longer stylish (and hasn't been for some time).  You need a friend to set you straight!
2.  If you are feeling unsure, get rid of it!  There were several pieces that I debated back and forth about.  Ultimately I decided that if the decision is that hard, then I obviously don't love it and I don't need it!
3.  Look for duplicates.  So my dear friend pointed-out to me that I probably don't need two Lakeshore High School Cheerleading sweatshirts from the early 2000s for nostalgia purposes.  One would really do the trick.  And that goes for anything!  Do you need two chambray shirts?  Probably not.  Clear-out some space for new and unique pieces by getting rid of duplicates.
4.  Out of sight, out of mind.  If you are really struggling to part with your things, stick them in a bag or box and then hide them in the basement or in a coat closet (someplace where you won't be constantly reminded of them).  Wait a few months, if you haven't gone to dig-out that sequined mini-skirt from college, then it's time to say goodbye.  And my guess is that you will forget that mini-skirt even exists!
5.  Reorganize.  While your wardrobe is splayed across your bedroom, take the time to reorganize what you do decide to keep.  You will feel like you are looking at a brand new closet!  In my efforts to reorganize, I purchased some Huggable Hangers (I've heard good things about these babies).  I'm looking forward to having a more uniform look in my closet and to the space that these hangers will save.

I really encourage you to follow these tips and to clean-out your closet.  I cannot tell you how much better I feel about my wardrobe now!  I believe that I now wear 100% of what I own.  I can actually see all of my clothes in my closet.  And oddly, with less clothing, I feel less inclined to go shopping because I better understand what I have and how it works.

When I have completely converted to Huggable Hangers, I will post some pictures of my newly organized closet!

Also, I'm planning to sell much of what I decided to get rid of but I'm a newbie to the world of consignment clothing.  Do any of you have any tips, tricks or advice about getting the most for your clothes?


This outfit features a colored cardigan that I love that had been lost in the abyss of my crowded closet.  I'm so excited to wear it more frequently now!  The color and the length of the sleeves are perfect for the approaching spring weather.

This animal-print dress is a fun, neutrally-colored piece that I can pair with a multitude of colored cardigans and blazers.  Plus, it will look cute on it's own this summer with a pair of colorful flats.



What I'm Wearing:
Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet (similarsimilar)
Dress: Loft (similarsimilar)
Necklace: Simply Charming Boutique (similarsimilar)
Tights: Target (similar)
Boots: Piperlime (similarsimilar)

Linking-Up With:
Because Shanna Said So- Random Wednesday
BonBon Rose Girls- Monday Mingle
The Brandied Pair- Sit-Down Style Sessions Link-Up
DC in Style- Monday Bloom
Fizz and Frosting- Mix It Monday
Greater Than Rubies- Remix, Rewear, Restyle Theme: Colored Cardigans
Style Elixir- Style Sessions
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