Wish List: Patriotic

For the Fourth of July this coming weekend, I'm traveling to visit a friend in Boston. I love dressing up for holidays, but try to stop short of overtly themed outfits. I'm also attempting to avoid checking a bag, so I'll need to economize clothing and space. For me, this basically means a carry-on full of sundresses and cardigans. It's supposed to be in the eighties, but cooler at night, so I need pieces that can layer but still be festive and fun for our cookout and fireworks. Here are my picks for red, white, and blue (packable!) pieces:

Bella Tu's Sleeveless Aztec Dress, available at Tuckernuck. Red, white, and blue with hand embroidery. 

Annie Griffin Collection's Hilary Maxi Dress. For your dressier holiday plans, this floral print maxi is a far cry from denim cutoffs and American flag tees.

Ann Taylor Geo Print Halter Top. Red, white, and blue print. The spaghetti straps are perfect for the hot afternoon, but easily pair with a cardigan for cooler evenings.

Love, Lilly's Nautical Ropes Meredith Top. An adorable, easy-to-wear tank with an on-point nautical theme.

BucketFeet's Nautical Sneaker at NeimanMarcus.  For bonfires and cookouts when you want your toes protected, but still want to look cute.

Ann Taylor Loft's Cotton Eyelet Pocket Dress. Fun, flirty and bright red. With pockets. What else could you need for the Fourth?

Tory Burch's Calita Dress. Easy breezy chambray. It's no secret that I love chambray dresses and I particularly love the pretty embroidery on this shift. I'd pair it with a red cardigan to top off my weekend look.

What patriotic ensemble are you planning on wearing this holiday weekend?

Go For It!

One of the things that I've been trying to work on lately is taking advantage of every opportunity that comes my way. I often find myself being too analytic and putting too much stock in weighing out every minute pro and con of a situation. Life isn't always easy, it's not always fun, and it's often very stressful. Some things in my life recently have reminded me that it's important not to impose too many restraints on yourself, especially artificial ones like being too scared to take a risk or make a choice. So for the rest of the summer, my mantra is going to be to just go for it.

I've been promising to visit a friend of mine for five years. She moved to Boston for college, and because she always came home in the summers, I never traveled up there. Now she's got a good job and an apartment and doesn't get to come home like she used to. I miss seeing her so much, but there's always been something in the way. Whether it was school, family, money, stress, whatever I never got it together to go visit. Those were all completely valid reasons at the time, but I let five years go past.

I've had a rough few weeks and she called to suggest I take a long weekend to come visit her and just get out of town. At first, I was hesitant. It was a spur of the moment decision (the trip is just over a week away!), but I suddenly realized that it was something I needed to do. I'm not in school right now, the flight times don't overlap with my work schedule, she has a free ticket voucher from frequent flier miles. Everything fell into place. Even with all those factors, I was still ready to say I couldn't go. But with her not-so-subtle suggestion, I realized that I was the one holding myself back. With all those factors coming together, I really had no excuse; at twenty-two there is absolutely no reason for me not to go. My own super-analytical tendencies were holding me back from having a great weekend with my friend. So I said yes. Let's go for it. It's a weird, new feeling for me-- but I think I like it.

There will always be a reason 'why not,' but things on paper don't always take into account how things make you feel or what you need in your life. My decision to go to Boston wasn't one that I would have made on paper. There's always been a reason to keep me from going in the past. But it's one that I am so glad I made and something that I need in my life right now. I can't wait to get off the plane and see her, to spend the weekend eating cookies while we marathon Gilmore Girls and recite every line, and to get to see her city and embrace new places, restaurants and experiences.  I'm so grateful to have a friend that reminds me to take time for myself, to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves (like airline vouchers!) and to recognize that life is about saying YES, let's go for it.

Wish List Wednesday: LWD

As essential as an LBD is to your closet, warmer weather necessitates another wardrobe staple: the LWD. One of my favorite parts of warm weather is the anticipation of being able to break out all my little white sundresses that I keep at the back of my closet the remainder of the year. There are only a few months of the year that the LWD is appropriate and I plan on taking full advantage of all of them!

Lilly Pulitzer Delia Scalloped Hem Shift Dress. Lilly has made it easy to shop for the perfect LWD with their white dress shop. Choose from cute classic shifts like this one or go long in a beautiful maxi dress!

ZigZag Jacquard Bubble Dress from Karen Miller. This classic fit-and-flare silhouette is kept modern by the cutout at the neckline and the subtle jacquard tone-on-tone pattern.

Tory Burch's Margaux Dress. Classic shift shape with straps wide enough to hide bra straps! The circle flower lace adds a pretty surprise when you get close enough.

J.Crew's Pintuck sundress would be perfect for those times when I want something easy and breezy to throw on but still look nice. I'd wear it with my Jack Rogers and a cardigan for picnicking or a casual dinner out.

I love this gorgeous lace Rose Dress from Shoshanna. I have a weakness for lace dresses and white dresses just feel like summer.

Any of these gorgeous white dresses going to be a part of your summer plans?

Don't Let Anyone Ever Dull Your Sparkle

            A problem I’ve been struggling with recently is negativity and negative people. I had a few tough days before running across this quote. I realized that I was internalizing negative thoughts and comments -- and it had started to impact my overall happiness. From disappointment over a lower than expected grade, a job rejection, and relationship drama, it seems like things go badly all at once and the little things really start to add up. The reminder from this quote helped me recognize that I have the power to refuse to let things bother me; In not standing up for myself and not actively working to stay positive, I had let other people dull my sparkle. 

     As important as it is in friendships and relationships to get along with others and understand that so many things are not worth fighting or fussing over, it’s also important to know where your limits are. Don’t settle for anything less that what you deserve. Whether it’s self-imposed bad feelings over school and work, or a negative conversation with a friend or significant other, know where you draw the line. It’s so easy to have negative thoughts about yourself and let little setbacks weight on you, there is absolutely no reason to let other people be negative towards you. Life isn’t always perfect and there are undoubtedly things that you can’t control. That just makes it so much more important to take care of the things you can control. Assess your relationships, really think about the way others talk to you, and consider how it makes you feel. And don't ever let anyone dull your sparkle.

Wish List Wednesday: Maxi Dresses

From the beach to weddings, maxi dresses are a summer wardrobe's one-piece wonder. I'm a huge fan of being able to just pull on a dress, a pair of strappy sandals, jewelry and go. While most of the time that means an easy shirtdress or knit tee-shirt dress, some occasions call for a little more. Maxi dresses offer a dressier, glam option for those times when you want something a little more special. If you're short like I am, pay attention to the length of the dress (generally listed in the 'product details' section) and make sure that it is either short enough or has an alterable hemline (high-low dresses are more difficult to hem). Apart from that, there are a ton of styles available- sleeveless, wrap, tee-shirt types and  glammed up lace for extra special occasions. Here's a variety of my favorites out this summer:

Badgley Mischka Belle sleeveless cross-back maxi dress, available at Dillards.  I love the emerald green color and the criss-cross straps on the back.

T Bags Cutout Medallion Print Maxi dress boasts a summery fun pattern and playful cutouts on each side.

Rhode Resort's Lenny wrap dress, available at Tuckernuck. This one comes in two gorgeously rich colors and the wrap makes it easy to adjust to fit perfectly.

Gap's stripe cami maxi dress- The perfect casual maxi dress to throw on with sandals and a denim jacket.

Ann Taylor's polka dot maxi dress (online exclusive). Polka dots are a classic pattern that will never go out of style. Wear this black and white dress with bright colored jewelry.

Annie Griffin Collection's Natalie Sea Breeze Lace Dress. This beautiful lace dress would be my pick for a classmate's wedding I'm attending in August. The Tiffany blue is my absolute favorite color- and so summery!

Sail to Sable's The Rope Eyelet Sleeveless Maxi. Because how can you go wrong with a navy, eyelet maxi?

Lilly Pulitzer's Gloria Empire Waist Maxi Dress. Lilly has always made great knit dresses. I love that this maxi has a figure-flattering empire waist.

Any of these gorgeous dresses headed to your closet? I think I need them all!

Looking Professional on a Budget

 My sister came to me earlier today asking for advice on what to wear to a job interview this afternoon. She's still in college, so she hasn't spent a lot of money on workwear in the past. On the occasions she's had to dress up, she's often raided my closet and shoe collection. However, she's graduating in December and will soon need a professional wardrobe of her own. 

     Because she'll be working in media and I'm in law school, our concepts of 'professional' attire are a bit different. My school's career services department has advised us not to wear pant suits to interviews and to never (ever!) wear open toed shoes; her summer job allows a wide range of 'business casual.' When she came by today, she had on silver strappy flat sandals, a J.Crew floral skirt (seen here on me for work), and a sleeveless white blouse. 

     By the time she left, we'd met in the middle on her outfit - she added a navy knit blazer to cover her shoulders and look more professional and borrowed a pair of closed toed Tory Burch flats from me. It's an easy enough switch when you have a sister's closet to raid, but it got me thinking about the difficulties of shopping for professional clothes on a budget. Below I've tried to compile some websites and stores that I think will be helpful!

First off, a blog that I sometimes find helpful: The Classy Cubicle. Mary's theory is that "You don't have to dress like a man or your Aunt Ethel to get ahead," which I think is an awesome way to sum up the difficulties of dressing professionally as a woman. She posts a variety of outfits that range from casual to creative to conservative offices (easily sorted by tab). Even the conservative don't always quite hit the law school mark, but I often find a dress or a blazer that I can incorporate into my own professional wardrobe. For my sister, the more casual tab will better suit her field. There's something for everyone, and always something to emulate.

I frequent Ann Taylor, particularly their sale section for budget friendly work items like blazers, pencil skirts, and silk blouses. They offer a student discount on full-priced items (even online, unlike many retailers!) and always have a great sale going. I often head straight to the sale rack when I shop there. Right now, they're offering 40% off their sale items, bringing many of their blazers down to around $60. I've heard a lot of people my age say that they wouldn't shop there because their mom does. I figure when it comes to a great fitting blazer, age doesn't matter.

Another budget-friendly way to pick up professional pieces is to shop at outlets. While most can only be shopped at brick and mortar stores, some stores like J.Crew Factory have expanded to online sales. One of my favorite suits is from the Banana Republic outlet, which frequently runs a 'buy one suit piece, get another for free' deal, making it easy and affordable to purchase a skirt and matching blazer. It's so hard to buy one piece somewhere and try to find another piece to match at a different store, it's great deals like this make it so easy to just buy the whole suit.

Consignment: Consignment stores are an often overlooked resource for office wear. Look for blazers or pencil skirts that fit well and are in good condition. A lot of places even end up with items that still have the tags on them, which is a serious bonus- you can find items that would cost a lot more at the mall and often look just the same.

Flash sale sites: Online flash sale retailers like RueLaLa or Gilt often feature professional wardrobe boutiques. With huge markdowns off retail prices, sites like these make it much more feasible to buy well-made classic pieces that will last you throughout your professional life, while spending far less than you would buying them through the retailer itself. Plus, having boutiques labeled as 'workday wear' or 'professional' takes the guesswork (with few exceptions) out of whether something is office appropriate.

Discount retailers: Places like T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, and Stein Mart are also good places to look. I love the shoe section at T.J.Maxx (who recently opened online shopping)- they often have Coach and Ralph Lauren heels, but at a fraction of the retail price. All of the stores frequently offer professional dresses, blazers, and suit separates. It often takes more time to look through their racks than it would to go to the mall and pick something out, but I think it's well worth it to buy a Ralph Lauren suit dress for $39 and be able to afford to buy the shoes to go with it, rather than blowing your budget on one piece.

Have you ever had trouble putting together professional clothing on a budget for an interview or work? Where do you look for work-appropriate pieces that don't empty your wallet? Please share!

Wish List Wednesday: Beach Bags

If there's one summer item I love buying more than sandals, it's beach bags. I carry so much to the beach and pool - I just can't be one of those girls who simply throws a towel over her shoulder and sets off. I need books, magazines, sunnies, sunscreen, snacks, drinks, etc. When I go to the beach, I go to settle in for the long haul and that requires a bag that can hold all of my supplies. Here are some bags I've got on my radar for my beach trips later this summer (and pool trips until then!)

Fossil Keyper Beach Tote: I love stripes for summer, and this bag is neutral enough that I won't have to buy a new one to match each of my bathing suits.

Bamboula Ltd for J.Crew beach bag: More stripes, of course, but fun straw and fun colors! I've been looking for either a kelly green or navy bikini, and this tote would look cute with both.

Madewell m. carter wave tote: Love, love, love the wave print on this cute bag from Madewell.  Beachy without being overkill.

Joie Louis tote: This tote has a little more structure than the slouchy straw bags, which would probably help me corral all of my magazines and books. I also love the zigzag pattern as an fun alternative to stripes.

Wildfox Copa Club for Asos Reversible Canvas Beach Bag: The writing on this bag says it all.

Tory Burch Ella cork tote: For a tote that can go from the beach to dinner, I love this cork tote from Tory Burch. It's got structure to it, the cork is a fun summery material, and it's such a classy bag I think I'd end up carrying it everywhere.

L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Bag: The classic carry-all. The L.L. Bean canvas tote comes with handle length, size, color, and monogram options. My mom has been carrying one around since the 80s and it's still the perfect bag to carry absolutely everything in.

Any of these bags headed to the beach or pool with you this summer? I think I'm going to have a difficult time choosing!

What I Wore: J.Crew Floral Skirt

Today was my first unofficial day at my summer job! I had been told that the office is fairly casual in the summer, but I still wanted to look professional to go in and meet everyone. I bought this J.Crew skirt over the weekend (on sale!) and love how easy it is to wear while still looking nice. I tucked a simple white tank into it so I would have a light layer on with my blazer off (it's 85 degrees!) The blazer is an oldie but a goodie that I throw on with everything. It's Talbots and no longer available, but there are plenty of similar styles available at a variety of price points. I also attempted a bit of print mixing with my shoes - J.Crew's printed Viv flats (sold out, different colors now offered) since the navy went with the navy blooms on my skirt. I felt like it was an appropriate mix of young fun colors, but still covered up and professional enough for an office setting.

J.Crew patio skirt in photo floral, available here
White tank, similar available here
Navy ponte knit blazer, similar available here, here, and here (only $40!)
J.Crew printed Viv flats, more colors here and here
Also: sorry for the terrible photos; I don't function well before coffee!

Love love love these flats. As much as I love compensating for my shortness with heels, they're not practical if I'm going to be running around a hospital this summer. I think these will be an equally stylish, but much more practical alternative.

How do you deal with staying professional while still looking young and staying cool during the summer months?