Create28: Carrie's Recap

Drum roll....The winner of the giveaway is Cherie O'Brien. Congratulations, Cherie! We hope you enjoy it and find something to purchase that you love. A big shout out thank you for all that entered the giveaway! We appreciate your support and participation in the giveaway!

And now, the final recap of Create28 Summer Looks.

Wow! It's the end of our Create28 Summer Looks! I hope y'all have had fun following along with Whitney, Casey and me. We have enjoyed putting these looks together. It has been fun to co-host with Whitney and Casey too. We have all had a blast seeing your looks on Instagram and linking up with us. We will be hosting another one in October to feature looks for fall {Create28 Fall Looks #Create28FallLooks}. But before the book is closed on this Create28 Summer Looks, I want to share the looks I came up this month. Here's my twelve looks.

Row 1 Favorite Go-To Look ~ shorts/? {similar} top/the limited {similar} sandals/target {exact} Denim Look ~ shorts/ON {exact} cami/ON {similar} boots/? {similar} Statement Necklace Look ~ skirt/west-n-lou {similar} top/showinbuy {similar} shoes/famous footwear {exact} necklace/walmart {similar} earrings/walmart {similar} Row 2 All-American Patriotic Look ~ shorts/ON {exact} top/the limited {similar} belt/amazon {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} All White Look ~ shorts/the limited {similar} top/target {similar} tank/target {exact} sandals/dsw {similar}

Mixing Patterns Look ~ pants/ON {similar, similar}tank/target {exact} kimon/image {similar} shoes/dsw {similar}

Row 3 Summer Blues Look ~shorts/ON {similar, similar} tank/ON {similar, similar} scarf/gift {similar} wedges/dsw {similar} Summer Layering Look ~ shorts/ON {exact} tee/ON {similar} sweater/target {similar} sneakers/payless {similar} Pin-It & Did-It Look ~ shorts/ON {similar} top/ON {similar} sweater/ON {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} necklace/walmart {similar} Row 4 Remixing a Piece Look ~ dress/ON {similar, similar} blouse/the limited {similar, similar} shoes/dsw {similar, similar} Summer Tanks Look ~ shorts/aeropostale {similar} top/showinbuy {exact} belt/amazon {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} Summer Trend Look ~ shorts/ON {similar} top/stitch fix {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} necklace/jane {similar} earring/walmart {similar}

Do you have a favorite {or two}? Here's my favorites from the challenge. I think it's quite fun to create new looks from pieces in my closet. I'm always encouraged to find so many new looks right under my nose among my own pieces.

I also want to share my favorite looks that Whitney put together during the challenge. She completely nailed the baseball look and that orange background made it a complete home run!

 She looked absolutely stunning in her Date Night Look too. I just couldn't pick one favorite!

  Casey hit a home run too with her Sporty Look which got quite a few raving comments.

Her patterned shorts were perfect with a striped top. Such a winning combo and I am totally loving it.

We will back on Monday for the start of A Lovely Little à La Mode Link-Up! We will be hosting it on our blogs each week and hope you'll link up your looks.

  Here's our button! We are so excited to have a button and hope you'll add to your blog.

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Create28: Casey's Recap

Well, my beautiful friends, July has just flown by and Create28 ~ Lovely Summer Looks is coming to a close. I have to tell you all that I had SUCH a blast teaming up with Carrie and Whitney for this little challenge! We had such a great time and we were so inspired by all of your looks on your blogs and #Create28SummerLooks!

Here are the looks I created during the month of July ~

I also did a feature on Styling Summer Scarves and Summer Shoes ~

Here are my three favorite looks ~

Day 4: A Patriotic Look ~ This is the outfit the actually wore for the 4th of July, hanging out at the lake. You know I love my Barcelona camis and I liked how this red, white and blue top was festive, but subtle enough so I didn't look like a firecracker :) Read the original post HERE.

Denim Shorts: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Barcelona Cami: Express (striped one sold out, other options HERE)
Sandals: Target (exact)

Day 27: Pinned It! Did It! ~ For this look, I went back though my Spring/Summer Pinterest board and recreated a look I have had pinned for awhile, but never tried. I think I'll make this a monthly habit of going back through all of my pins and "finding" new outfits!! Read the original post HERE.

Denim Vest: DIY'ed (similar, similar)
White Shorts: J. Crew Factory (similar)
Sandals: Similar

Day 28: A Summer Trend ~ I might not be the best at trying new things and being super trendy, but I do love when I branch out and try things once in a while...and end up loving them! I found so many fun ways to wear this kimono and I can't wait to transition it into fall! Read original post HERE.

See kimono options in THIS post.

Here are my faves from Carrie and Whitney ~

I love this blue layered look!

Whitney can rock the romper, let me tell you!

I have enjoyed working with these girls SO MUCH!!! In fact, we will be collaborating even more in the future!!! Here's the exciting news ~

1 ~ Carrie, Whitney and I will be teaming up again in October for #Create28FallLooks!! We hope you join us!! Stay tuned for the details and prompts. We are so excited for Fall (already!).

2 ~ As you know, we have been hosting a link up on Mondays for Create28 Summer. Well, we decided to keep it going and make it official! From now on, each Monday we will be hosting a regular link up for all of you bloggers! We had so much fun seeing your looks and meeting new blogger friends, we decided to keep it going!

We hope you join us every Monday for A Lovely Little à La Mode Link Up.

Feel free to grab our button and display it on your sidebar and spread the word, girls!!

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3 ~ LAST - If you haven't entered to win the $75 gift card, enter RIGHT NOW. It closes at 5pm CST TODAY! We will announce the winner TOMORROW!

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Create28: Whitney's Recap

Well ladies, we have made it to the end of Create28: Lovely Summer Looks!  Create28 is the brainchild of Carrie who started this series back in February when I only played along on Instagram.  I love this challenge more than others because you can jump in and out whenever you like...it doesn't require as much forward thinking and planning as a capsule wardrobe.  I also think that it provides genuine, easy inspiration when you are standing in front of your closet each morning (and who doesn't need some creative wardrobe vibes every once in awhile ?).  For this reason, I'm excited and proud that Carrie has let me join in on this Create28 journey.  Adding Casey to the mix has made this experience even more fun!  I know that you have been following along with our outfits all month, but let me tell you, working with these ladies behind the scenes has been an absolute blast.  Carrie and Casey are so genuine, sweet and creative.  If you don't follow them already, please do!  They are the real deal!

Without further ado, here are the twelve brand new looks I created for the Create28: Lovely Summer Looks prompts:

I really am proud of each of the ensembles that I created because I feel that they really represent my style and personality.  As I look through these pictures, I see lots of feminine skirts and dresses, fun patterns and pretty colors.  If I had to choose a my top three looks, they would be the following:

I'm super curious!  Which of my looks did you like the best and why?  Which of your looks did you like the best and why?  And while we we're at it, here are my favorite looks from Carrie and Casey's Create28 outfits:

We really hope that you've enjoyed spending time with us this summer...so much so that we've decided to continue our Monday link-ups!  This coming Monday we want to see the rest of your Create28 looks.  After that, we just want to see whatever your favorite post of late may be!  So please join us for our Lovely Little à La Mode Link-Up!

Also, a few last minute reminders for today:

-Show us your Create28 Recap and favorites on Instagram (#create28summerlooks)

-Enter our giveaway below for a $75 gift card to your choice of Gap Brands, LOFT, Nordstrom or Target (you don't have much time left to enter)!

-Come back tomorrow to see Casey's Recap

So finally, thank you so much for hanging-out with me this summer!  If you've had as much fun as I have, please follow me on Bloglovin', Instagram or Pinterest!

Au Revoir!

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Create28: A New Summer Trend

What style trends have you noticed this summer?  A few that I have picked-up on have been lots of white-- whether it be dresses or denim,-- Birkenstocks, kimonos and swing dresses.  While I'm loving all of these looks, the trend that I am most excited about this summer is the romper!  Now, I know that the romper isn't exactly a new trend.  It's popped-up for a couple of summers now.  But I feel like this look really exploded this season with cuter-than-ever styles available.  I hesitantly dipped my toe into the pool of rompers with a simple black number.  As soon as a realized how comfy and easy it was to wear, I knew that I had to find another romper in a cute print for summer!

And then I found this beauty!  I adore every single thing about it: the print, the fit, the colors!

One thing to think about when purchasing a unique romper is it's remixability.  Unlike shorts that you can pair with different tops, a romper can only be remixed with various completer pieces, shoes and accessories, so make sure it works with what you have in your closet.  Pink and navy are colors that I wear frequently so I knew this one would work well in my wardrobe.

For this romper's first run around town, I wore it with a pink cardigan and my new favorite espadrille wedges.  Next time I might pair it with a denim jacket and a pair of cognac sandals.  I'm also thinking some navy tights and a pair of riding boots will make the romper work into the fall!

Today Carrie, Casey and I are all posting our own favorite summer trends so please pop-over to A Lovely Little Wardrobe and A Little Bit of Cheer to see what they are wearing!

Need a little extra inspiration?  Check-out our Pinterest board for favorite summer trends:

Follow A Little Bit of Cheer's board Favorite Summer Trends on Pinterest.

And as usual, we want to see what you've got!  Show us your favorite trend on Instagram today (#create28summerlooks) and link-up with us on Monday!  And ladies, this concludes our Create28: Lovely Summer Looks Challenge!  Thank you so much for playing with and following along.  Come back tomorrow to see my recap of the challenge.

And don't forget!  You only have a few more days to enter the giveaway for a $75 gift card.  Enter below!

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What I'm Wearing:
Romper: LOFT (exact)
Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet (similar, similar)
Wedges: DSW (exact)

Create28: Pinned It & Did It

Carrie, Casey and I have something fun in store for you today for Create28: Summer Looks!  Each one of us has put together a "Pinned It & Did It" look from Pinterest.  When you're finished here, head over to A Lovely Little Wardrobe and A Little Bit of Cheer to see how my beautiful friends interpreted their pinned inspiration!

I use Pinterest for style inspiration in a couple of different ways.  First of all, I have a "Style Inspiration" board for any look that I find that I love.  I glance through this board when I'm in a rut, when thinking about what holes I have to fill in my closet and when trying to define my personal style.

I also have boards for "Cool Weather Clothes" and "What to Wear when it's Warm."  In order for a pin to make the cut for these boards, the look has to feature items that are similar to what I have in my closet.  In other words, I can already recreate these looks with what I have.

I often add to the latter two boards when I purchase a new item of clothing.  For example, I recently added this J.Crew Factory olive skirt to my closet.  I had been searching for olive jeans without much luck when I happened upon the skirt instead.  Olive makes for a great neutral so I turned to Pinterest for some outfit inspiration!

Pin #1 Source / Pin #2 Source

I incorporated elements from both of these pinned looks into my final creation.  The first pin showed me that black and white stripes pair beautifully with olive and the second pin convinced me to throw-in some leopard print!

Pardon the wrinkles, I took these photos at the end of the day!

Don't forget to visit Carrie and Casey today to see their "Pinned It and Did It" looks!  And we want to see yours, too.  Show us on Insta (#create28summer looks) and in the link-up below!  Please link-up all of your Create28 looks from the past week!

Here are our favorite looks from last week: My Closet Catalogue and Style Attitude.

And our most clicked links from Charming Lucy and Marty's Musings!

Finally, you only have a couple more days left to snab that $75 gift card to your choice of Gap Brand Stores, LOFT, Nordstrom or Target!  Enter below!

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Banana Republic (similar, similar)

Skirt: J.Crew Factory (exact)

Belt: Charming Charlie (similar, similar)

Flats: DSW (exact)

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An InLinkz Link-up

Create28: Styling Summer Tanks

If you have been following along with Create28, you probably know by now that I am totally smitten with tanks in the summer. This year, I've completely fallen for light and flowing tanks. If they are racer-back, then even better. So when I was contacted by Showinbuy to feature an item from their website, I first looked through they summer tops. I was looking for sleeveless and something a little feminine. I really wanted something that encompassed that light and airy look. Well, guess what? I found it!
 

This top came in a few other colors but I really thought white would be a great piece to add to my wardrobe. I know it can be difficult when it comes to photography but I hope you can see the layers.

shorts/aeropostale {similar} top/showinbuy {one} belt/amazon {similar} shoes/dsw {similar}

I featured this top earlier in Create28 with a more dressier look. {Here} It seemed appropriate to feature a look with shorts that is casual yet chic. Casual, put-together and chic is what I try to accomplish for my everyday looks. Showinbuy.com is online site for women's clothing. They offer a variety of items from special occasion dresses to everyday pieces. This is a website where you can pick up a few of those trendy pieces at little cost. But at the same time, you can find a great little item like this one. A piece like this that has versatility within the summer months but has the potential to cross a season or two if remixed correctly. The question remains - Would I purchase from Showinbuy? I would certainly peruse their website for specific pieces to add throughout the seasons. Most likely it is a place I would shop for trendier pieces. I did think the quality of this top was very nice. I was really happy with it although I did not expect it to be as nice as it is. This item was definitely a win! Now the bad news. I received this top a few weeks ago and had planned to feature it in this post. Evidently, it is sold out because I would not find it on their site. This one is very similar though.

Since this type of tank isn't everyone's favorite, my Pinterest board might be a great place to get a little more inspiration.

Follow Carrie Carson's board Summer Tanks on Pinterest.

Don't forget to add your look on Instagram #Create28SummerLooks. We are loving what you have been posting this month! Keep it up, ladies!

Be sure to enter our giveaway too, which ends in a few day!

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    Where I'm linking up.