Color Bomb

sunnies: Free People| dress: c/o HERE + check out this one HERE| booties: ZARA

Photography by A. Robinson

Now that warmer temperatures have finally arrived, I am happily bringing out alllllll of the COLOR 😍
Take for instance this dress. It combines two of my loves... STRIPES + COLOR= WINNING 
It makes for an excellent transitional piece, its style and functionality is simply effortless.
Until next time,
Xx

Summer Office Days

Sunnies: Similar HERE| Dress: c/o HERE (sign up for free trial membership) --> another option HERE

Clutch: ZARA| Shoes: Nordstrom, similar HERE & HERE

Speaking of summer, because today is officially the first day of SUMMER here in the States - what are a few of your favorite things to wear to the office? Summer is my favorite season! For office gear, I opt for lightweight dresses, fun bright colored jumpsuits, shorts (office appropriate of course), and flowing pants. I prefer pieces made of cotton, linen, and high quality fine rayon. Although I love the look of silk, it can be quite hot when temperatures are soaring.

The dress in today's post is ideal for a typical summer day at the office. It is made of cotton, lightly lined, heavily saturated with color, and boasts fully functional pockets - L💛VE! I snagged it via my Gwynnie Bee membership. I am loving the colorful pieces they have released thus far this year! 
If you are not familiar with GB, catch up on the buzz HERE + learn how you can snag a free trial membership. 
I usually like to style yellow items with other bold colors. For this look, I went with orange, pulling it in throughout the look with ombre earrings, a bold lip, a statement clutch, and slingback heels. 

Until next time,

Xx

When Life Gives You Lemons

When life gives you lemons, make fruit salad!

Sunnies: c/o HERE| Strawberry earrings: J. Crew, sold out| Dress: Snag a FREE membership HERE

Purse: Vintage, thrifted| Suede sandals: Via Spiga, sold out

Remember Gwynnie Bee, THEE ultimate source for a stylish, never ending Babe Boss closet?! 
Learn more + score 💥 FOUR WEEKS FREE HERE 💥 
I scored this fab frock from them, fittingly it is called 'Fruit Salad'.  I am so excited to be one of their Influencer Partners- I can wholeheartedly advocate their Borrow N Buy service because I use and benefit from it personally! 
Moving on: The brand that designed this fruity number is called City Chic, I am a serious fan! From my experience (see previous posts HERE & HERE) their dresses are always well made, fit wonderfully, come with pockets, and often feature adjustable straps!!!! YES!!! Adjustable straps are a woman's best friend IMO, they help to eliminate side boobage (I'm not a fan) and those pesky bra gaps!
Another great thing about Gwynnie Bee, you can try out their fabulous service for completely FREE for 4 weeks. If you don't like it, simple cancel your membership and return whatever items you have 😉
__________________

Can I tell you about something that has been on my mind this week? It’s kinda petty, but I know I can be completely honest with you and you’ll love me anyway 👀

Soo…I am quite particular about how my nails are done ☝ Like seriously. Actually, I am quite particular about how everything is done…but that is a topic for another day… 
I got my nails done last weekend (a standard fill-in). My regular nail tech wasn’t in, so I ended up going to someone new. BIG MISTAKE! Why didn’t I follow my gut instinct to say “No”?! Welp, herein another lesson learned... The tech who did my nails was very nice - but seemed to be quite inexperienced. I had to keep interjecting, explaining how something or another should be done…and yet we still couldn’t make progress to get on the right track. At the end of the ordeal, after she polished my nails, I noticed that there was a large lump on my left thumb nail. It was a result of improper filing/buffing and an excess of acrylic. My passive irritation came to a head, and full on frustration was evident. She nervously redid that nail, but let’s face it- the entire experience was ruined at this point. 

Even now, every time I look at my hands (I have to let them grow out a bit before I can go back to have them done properly) I shake my head and repeat to myself ‘Never again’. Not only are my nails super thick (in a bad way), the shape is way off and inconsistent from finger to finger, my cuticles are uneven, and there is a gap in between where the acrylic starts and my cuticle ends… This is a problem whenever I touch my hair. Hairs get caught in the gap, snag, and tear. I won’t bore you with the details of what happened when I washed my hair…. 

What was interesting about this experience is that the tech shared with me that she had been doing nails for TEN YEARS!!!  That got me to thinking....I’ve observed that in life there are things that a person may be naturally good at, and then there are other things that one may not be good at - at all. At times no amount of schooling, training, and or coaching can help- because it just isn’t for you. There are some professions IMO, particularly ones involving some form of artistry that require a natural talent to be successful. If you don’t have a natural knack for it, let just say it is evident - to everyone. I thought about the nail tech and I begin to feel sad. What is it like to work long hours at a job that you’re not good at, and one probably that you don’t even like? This thought process led me to feelings of empathy. To be honest, I will never allow her to do my nails again. However: I respect her. I empathize with her. She is working to provide for a family. She may not be in the position to change professions. I will be sure to smile and be friendly to her whenever I see her. 

This experience was a reminder to myself to empathize with others MORE 💕 
One of my favorite quotes states: “Be kind, everyone is fighting a battle that you know nothing about”.

Until next time Babes,

XO

All Things Printed

Dress:c/o HERE (Get 1 month for FREE)| Baubles: Betsey Johnson, TJMAXX| Bow mules: HERE

When it comes to summer attire floral prints feel like a no-brainer, but what about other prints? Take for instance, abstract prints. Are you a fan? Although I personally admire a number of prints from afar (I love to mix prints😊), I notice that only certain prints consistently find a home in my wardrobe. They are florals, stripes, and dots. Why is that?  
Actually, I have no idea! LOL! I've mused over this again and again but I can't make heads or tails of it. 
Herein lies another reason why I really appreciate the services that Gwynnie Bee offers: I CAN TRY ANYTHING- ANY STYLE, BRAND, CUT, SIZE, AND PRINT - WITHOUT COMMITMENT! 
It's like a personal dressing room- with perks!
Take for instance the dress in today's post. I really like the color palette (pastels are all the rage), the print is cute, and the cut is one that I normally go for.
However, after spending a few days with it (I wore it twice), I realized that it isn't a item that I would like to purchase. Yes, I've enjoyed  our time together, but now it's time to say 'Farewell'. I'm sending it back in my next shipment and gearing up for something that I will like even better!
I mentioned previously that I am working with Gwynnie Bee this month to showcase a few stellar summer style options. I'm also sharing tidbits on how I decide which items to keep/purchase versus what I send back:

• Today's dress is going back because something about it doesn't feel like "me"
• Although it fits to a tee, I am not impressed with it, especially in comparison to my previous dress HERE

Have you tried Gwynnie Bee yet? Don't forget, you can try it out for FREE HERE!!!
As a recap: Gwynnie Bee is an online women’s clothing subscription service for sizes 10-32. You can rent a new wardrobe today with free shipping and + unlimited exchanges.
-Try
Explore top brands and curated collections then add styles to your online closet.
-Wear
Get the latest trends delivered to your door and rock them as many times as you like.
-Love
Fall in love with new styles launched weekly and embrace your fashion personality.
-Repeat
Wear & return — shipping is always free.
-Keep
Wear and or buy it for less than retail price.

That's it for now Dolls, until next time!
XO

Blackballed

Polka dots were my very first patterned love, long before I discovered the enchanting appeal from my forever love, STRIPES. I can remember crushing on the dotted pattern as far back as junior high school. Today’s look features a classic a-line LBD with a dotted bodice and sheer polka dot sleeves.

This connect the dots dream is versatile, I’ve worn it mega dressy as well as entirely casual. Actually it’s taken me way too long to blog it…as I purchased it last Summer during my “Dresses Are a “Necessity” multi-state buyout, LOL!  This dress made the cut as it is easily layered and accessorized. Sometimes I add a statement piece to it, but on this particular day applying the ‘more is more’ philosophy wasn’t cohesive with my mood, so I took a minimal approach.

Oftentimes choosing to take a different approach than what is expected triggers a form of backlash, i.e. the urban American term blackballed. Have you ever made a decision to go a different route from what your peers anticipated? What type of reaction did you receive? Positive or negative?

True to my personality type, I often decide to travel routes that others least expect.  For instance, there appears to be particular choices that individuals take when it comes to style blogging, especially to obtain the ever present goal of S U C C E S S.  When I first started blogging my style, naturally I followed the pattern laid by some of the veterans in the industry. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that going the 'normal' route just wasn’t going to work for me as an individual. Too many things to enumerate conflicted with my personality and status as an introvert. As I’ve mentioned before (see here) competition in the blogsphere can be fierce and cutthroat. I had to make a choice, to either continue on blogging the way I was- although miserably, or- to do it MY WAY. MY WAY won, as it often does! I refuse to betray my authentic self. I spoke with a friend who blogs in a different arena, and she expressed some of the same sentiments that I had felt several times over. 

 

The bottom line? There are consequences for every choice that you make, and some can be noticeably negative; Especially if the path you choose leads to more resistance than usual. However, being blackballed really does have its advantages, namely- FREEDOM. Freedom to dance to your own beat, to create your own path as you go, and to focus on expressing your authentic creativity = which equals winning in my book ;)

Until next time Style Lovers,
XO

Hat: Husband’s wardrobe| Sunnies: LA Fashion District| Dress: Eliza J.| Sandals: Sam Edelman| Bag: Vintage

Sweater Weather

Around this time of year in the States, we are greeted by brisk morning temperatures, considerably less hours of daylight, and in some parts- practically no sunshine at all. Leaves fall off of the trees, flowers slowly wither, and expectations of rain and or snow are in the forecast.

For style lovers however, only one thing is crystal clear: It’s officially Sweater Weather!!!
{Insert happy dance emoticon}

I live in a part of the country that is generally mild year round, so Sweater Weather season is even more celebratory than normal. Warm weather 90% of the year can actually become tiring (I wouldn’t believe that if I hadn’t experienced it), the excitement of a genuine cool down is undeniable.

Since I am gal that practically lives in dresses, sweater dresses are my preferred ammunition. I’ve been showcasing how one of my go-to brands, Eliza J. can meet all of your style needs  (see here) and Sweater Weather is no exception!

This beaut of a blue is cable knit, ribbed, and a-line= A winning formula in my book. Comfortably worn to the office, out to dinner with friends, and even jazzy enough for a dressier event- total versatility. I simply love the cut and the drape of the knit. Ok, let’s face it: The color alone is tantalizing!

Blue is MY FAVORITE COLOR see a few examples here, here, and here.

Sweater dresses can be worn practically anywhere, dressed up or dressed down, layered or not- either way you’ve made the style mark! I decided to go monochrome with this look, only deviating slightly with a splash of citron (Check out my friend JewelryFetishGirl).

Now it's your turn Loves, do share your favorite thing about Sweater Weather!

Sunnies: Tod’s| Necklace: @JewelryFetishGirl (IG)| Dress: Eliza J. (gifted)|Socks: Nordstrom| Pumps: Vince Camuto (also worn here)| Handbag: En Cuir

Coral Hued

Can you believe that the month of June is here?! I am in disbelief!! 2014 is halfway over! Time is flying by so fast, that honestly I can barely keep up. Nonetheless, as the saying goes: 'The show must go on.'

Today's post features a vintage number that I altered myself. Sometimes I spot vintage pieces that I like, yet they have a "but" factor. What do I mean? Well, it's when you see a dress or skirt, etc.,. while shopping and you say/think: "I like that, but...". For this dress I thought: "I like it, but I'm not feeling the sleeves." Nonetheless I purchased it, and eventually cut off the sheer sleeves. TIP: When vintage shopping, I find it best to think outside the box as much as possible.

This dress is a classic a-line silhouette, and drapes effortlessly.

I decided to wear this handmade vintage clutch with it, because let's face it- it was the right thing to do! LOL! Seriously, the embroidery is meticulously done, and the color of the flower is almost an exact match.

Now these shoes were actually on their way to my donate pile, when I realized that they were an exact match to the color of this dress. I'm not that crazy about wedge style shoes anymore, and I've noticed that I've been slowly removing them from my wardrobe.

All in all, I was pleased with the completed look, and I decided that I'll hang on to this pair of wedges for a little bit longer ;)

Sunnies: Vintage
Earrings: H&M

Dress: Vintage

Clutch: Vintage

Wedge Sandals: Seychelles

Thanks for stopping by!
Xx