Let the Sunshine In...

Top:  Warehouse via ASOS (similar here), Pants:  Zara (similar here), Shoes:  Zara (diggin this pair, and these too!), Earrings:  Anthropologie (old, loving these)

The weather has been really crummy and unpredictable lately.  It has been very cloudy with frequent showers and very few patches of sun.  I saw a break in the rain the other today and jumped at the opportunity to get a sunny picture in.

Hemming and Hawing

Top:  Zara (similar here), Shorts:  Old Navy, Shoes:  Zara (LOVE this lower version), Bag:  Anthropologie (similar here, and here for under $5), Necklace:  H&M (similar here), Nails:  Essie "It's in the Bag" {on my fingers}, OPI "Seriously Purple" {on my toes}

I have been hemming and hawing over buying a pair of polka-dotted pants all season. I over-think all of my purchases and didn't know if the polka-dot skinnies would have a long shelf-life.

When I saw these shorts ON SALE for under $20 I had to buy them! They were cheap enough that I will not be crushed if they are out of style come next summer.

Fifty Shades...

Grey tank:  Zara (similar here), Black tank (under):  Aritzia (similar here), Pants:  AG, Shoes:  H&M (liking this strappy pair), Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff, Necklace:  H&M (LOVE this one), Sunnies:  Ray-Ban, Wrap bracelet:  Unknown (great Gorjana version here), Watch:  DKNY (similar MK one here)

Today started out as a fairly grey day, so I threw on some gloomy weather clothes to go to brunch.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

"I am 16 Going on 17...."

Top:  J.Crew (similar here), Shorts:  Anthropologie (similar here), Shoes:  Tory Burch, Bag:  Louis Vuitton, Necklace:  J.Crew (LOVING this one that can be worn as a bracelet too!), Bracelet:  Unknown (similar here), Sunnies:  Tom Ford

Since I was young I have always had a strange obsession with gazebos {maybe because I also had an obsession with The Sound of Music}.  I thought they were the most intriguing structures and wanted one in my back yard in lieu of a tree-house. 

As a child, my grandmother would take me to this gazebo on the bay where they would often hold concerts and have fireworks.  When it was empty I would dance around in it.

It is still a beautiful place and holds such great memories. 

Down the Shore

 

Dress:  Amanda Uprichard, Shoes:  Bebe (old, similar here), Earrings:  Kendra Scott, Bracelet:  similar here

Another weekend at the beach and despite some rough waters, the weather has just been GLORIOUS the past 2 days.

I wore this bright mini-dress to dinner at our new favorite shore restaurant, Aqua Blu, and it was the perfect compliment to the tan I have been cultivating.

As you can probably tell by now, my beach wardrobe is very different than my classroom wardrobe.  Many of my colleagues complain that they have trouble not looking like a teacher outside of the classroom.  I tell them to begin with pieces that can transition day to night, and go from there.  

Words like strapless, mini, flowy, sky-high, strappy, and flirty are perfect for vacation but are not in my classroom-wear vocabulary.

Lazy Days of Summer

Top:  Madewell (similar for $6!!), Shorts:  Zara (similar here), Shoes:  Zara (similar, loving this low-wedge option), Bag:  Louis Vuitton, Necklace:  Madewell (similar here, here), Watch:  DKNY, Earrings:  gift (similar here), Nails:  Essie 'Borrowed and Blue'

I've been doing a lot of sale shopping lately.  I'm always amazed at how early {usually right around July 4th} stores start to discount their summer stock and actually begin to display their fall lines ~  a bit depressing being reminded that the new school year is right around the corner ~ ahhh! 

I picked up these wedges on sale for under $50 at Zara, and this tank for $10 at Madewell.  I think I can speak for everyone when I say LOVE a good bargain.

So bring on the sales and the new fall stock, but I'm still going to enjoy every minute of my summer vacation!!  

Customized

Dress:  c/o eShakti, Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff, Shoes:  Zara (loving these, and these), Belt:  Anthropologie (old, similar here ~ I turned the flower to back of dress), Earrings:  Anthropologie (similar here), Nails:  Essie 'Borrowed and Blue'

  I was recently introduced to an online boutique called eShakti.  Their concept is different from many online retailers in that they do ready-to-wear and custom orders. I purchase a good amount of my clothes online and end up sending back/exchanging a lot of them because they don't fit.   It's very hard to gauge whether or not something will fit even with a size chart.

I was really pleased with this dress when it came because it was tight through the bodice and still left enough room in the chest area.  It was lightweight and comfortable and was perfect for a shower I attended recently.

This dress is so fun and flirty, I was compelled to twirl around in it!

Use code MA20RGX from now until July 31 on the eShakti website to receive 10% off your entire order {including SALE}!!!

Cobalt

Dress:  Anthropologie, Shoes:  Bebe (old, LOVING this pair), Necklce:  J.Crew (similar here), Watch:  DKNY (similar here)

 

I was drawn to this dress instantly upon spotting it on a mannequin at my local Anthropologie store.  There is something about this amazing cobalt blue color that gets me every time.  If I had to pick one color that works best with my skin-tone/hair color, this would be it.  

When I tried it on, the dress was so light and flowy and has a beautiful attached slip that protects you from having a wind-blown Marilyn moment.  I knew it would be the perfect dress to accompany me to the beach this weekend.

What are your favorite colors to wear?

Paint the Town

Dress:  J.Crew (similar here for $44!), Shoes:  Zara (similar), Bag:  Marc by Marc Jacobs, Belt:  Anthropologie (similar), Necklace:  Anthropologie

I know, I know, I've posted pictures of this dress before, but I wear it so frequently that I thought it deserved another post.  Just this week alone I wore the dress twice.  First, I wore it to a luncheon and then switched up my accessories and wore it out for drinks the next evening.  

The Anthropologie bib necklace in the pictures below went so well with the dress that I was asked several times if it were a part of the dress.  Throw in some old gold pumps, a gold clutch, and turn the belt backwards and ~ voila ~ ready to paint the town red {or yellow}!

Necklace:  Anthropologie, Shoes:  BCBGirls (very old, similar here,  here), Clutch:  Unknown (similar here)

On the Go

Top:  Anthropologie  (old, similar here, here), Pants:  J.Crew (similar), Shoes:  Zara (love these), Bag:  Rebecca Minkoff, Belt: Forever 21, Bracelet:  Anthropologie

I have a LOT to get done today before I leave ~ once again ~ for the shore this weekend, but I wanted to get in a quick mid-week mid-day post.

Happy Hump Day!

Secret Garden

Top:  Zara (similar, love this eyelet one), Pants:  Anthropologie (similar, diggin this pair too), Clutch:  Anthropoligie, Shoes:  Zara (similar), Belt:  J.Crew (similar), Earrings:  Anthropolige (similar, these are cute too)

Peplum top + rose gold + floral pants + flowy waves + garden setting ~ does it get any more feminine than this?

Sailor Chic

Top:  Anthropologie, Shorts:  Zara (similar here, LOVE this pair), Shoes:  Bebe (similar here, here, here) Bag:  Louis Vuitton, Necklace:  Unknown (similar here), Bracelet:  Tory Burch, Ring:  David Yurman, Nails:  Essie 'Borrowed & Blue'

Our three-day Jersey Shore getaway was sadly cut short yesterday when my husband got called home for an emergency construction situation.  I've learned that builders are similar to doctors -- always on call.  But when you live on a lake, being called home is not so bad!

Hope you all enjoyed the mid-week break!

Red, White & Blue

 

Jacket:  Zara (similar here, here), Top:  J.Crew (similar here), Jeans:  AG Adriano Goldschmied, Bag:  Louis Vuitton, Shoes:  Bebe (very old, similar here), Necklace:  Madewell (similar here, love this nautical one), Bracelet:  similar, Nails:  Essie 'Borrowed & Blue'

 

 

Greetings, and happy 4th from the Jersey shore!  What is more American than red, white and blue?  

...except for Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam at the beach?!?

 

Hope everyone had a wonderful day off!

Maxxinista

Blouse:  Equipment via TJ Maxx (similar on sale here), Jeans:  7FAM, Bag:  Louis Vuitton, Shoes:  J.Crew (very old, similar here with feathers! LOVE these), Watch:  DKNY (similar here), Nails:  Essie 'Borrowed & Blue'

It's very hard for me to take pictures early in the morning because I find the light is not very agreeable (and I'm still half asleep).  I had to snap these quickly this morning before leaving the house for a meeting.

I decided that this week ~ in honor of Independence Day ~ I would wear only outfits featuring variations or red, white and blue.  I realized quickly that my wardrobe lacks red but I have an abundance of white and blue.

I picked up this Equipment blouse about 6 months ago at my local TJ Maxx store.  I sometimes find it difficult to shop there because you literally have to weed through TONS of clothes to find the 'hidden gems', as I like to call them.  This top was just that ~ it was labeled 'clearance' and marked down to just $25!!!!!  Now that's a steal! I was instantly transformed into a Maxxinista!

Love these classic J.Crew D'Orsay seersucker pumps with grosgrain bow ~ I picked them up more than 5 years ago via Ebay!

Have a great week everyone!!