Burnt and still fabulous

Summer is the time to flaunt your best assets—the ones you’ve been hiding all winter under layers of clothes. Besides hot weather driving me to wear more revealing clothing, I also love showing off my legs, especially when they’re tan! (My shins are burned in this shoot because I overdid it on the beach in Miami last month.) But these Forever 21 shorts have remained a staple in my summer wardrobe for almost two years! They’re hip huggers with an elastic waist band and draw strings, making them comfy for more casual summer days.

Free People has always been one of my favorite brands, but I especially like this semi-sheer, long-sleeve top. Free People calls it the Bae Bae Layering Top; you can find it on sale here. The neutral and feminine color combined with the plunging neckline has made it one of my favorite shirts to wear lately.

The Glow Up

I came out of my Chicoma and got a deep tan while visiting Miami last week with my good friend Natalie in the City. We both needed a break from RL and decided to escape to a place where we could find inspiration for some summer fashion.

Miami is such an eclectic place. You see just about everything there, especially when it comes to fashion. (Sometimes you see too much.) But I was so excited to finally be somewhere warm that my main mission was to show as much skin as possible. This meant lots of outfits composed of tanks, mini skirts and shorts.

B&W

A black and white ensemble is so classically stylish. For some people it can seem a little boring, but for me, it's a go-to outfit that never disappoints. But to avoid looking like I'm wearing a uniform, I pick pieces like what I'm wearing below—garments with small embellishments that help them stand out.

I don't usually like bell sleeves, but I wanted to try something different. I got this piece at Zara a couple months ago and have been wearing it everywhere since! It's perfect for several occasions, like work or a networking event, and I can pair it with some casual pants and rock it on my off-duty days.

These Express leggings are also such a good option for work, especially because not all leggings are. Lululemon in the office? I don't think so. But a dressier legging that looks more like a tight dress pant than something you'd go for a jog in is fair game in my opinion! The leather details and waist zippers on these leggings help enhance what would normally be an everyday black legging.

Do you love wearing black and white? Show me your favorite B&W ensemble on Twitter!

Athleisure is here to stay

What's your favorite athleisure brand? You might have more than one considering the market is filled with options. Whether you like fitness staples like Nike and Lululemon, or prefer to shop for workout clothing in stores that offer other goodies, like Victoria's Secret and Forever 21, it seems like every brand offers an athleisure line. So it can be hard to choose!

My personal favorites are Nike, Lululemon and Victoria's Secret (VS), all for different reasons. I love Nike for shoes, Lululemon for leggings and VS for sports bras. To help break down what different brands specialize in, here's a list of some that offer stylish and some-what budget friendly options. 

Low budget:

Forever 21—A great option if you're looking for inexpensive, on-trend workout clothing. A pair of leggings from here may not last for years, but what does that matter if you're able to buy 10 pairs?

H&M—The fast-fashion retailer has good basic pieces, like leggings, sports bras and tanks, which lets you mix and match as you need. They're absorbent and never feel heavy after a sweaty workout.

Medium budget:

Victoria's Secret—VS specializes in bras so it's no surprise that their sports bras are some of the best on the market. They offer a variety of styles that cater to women with all bust sizes. Some styles have no padding at all, while others have that extra boost that keeps you feeling confident in a tight tank.

Nike—Shoes! Obviously. My favorite pair of running shoes are made by Nike. With styles that look good in and out of the gym, you can't go wrong with a buying a pair from here. They offer support in all the right places to make sure your feet don't wear out during the most intense workouts.

Splurging:

Lululemon—The Canada-based chain that largely helped popularize the term "athleisure" is my only destination for leggings. They last forever (seriously, I still wear a pair that I bought in 2011) and they give me full coverage where I need it so I can bend and twist as I need to. They're pricey, but always worth it.

Athleta—They can sometimes get lost in Lulu's shadow because the styles and price point are similar, but it's still a great option when looking for quality gear that will last. And like Lulu, their styles are always changing, which keeps it interesting as you build up your athleisure wardrobe.

Below is a taste of what I wear during a normal workout. I'm rocking my favorite Lululemon leggings, this open-back tee from Forever 21 and these monochromatic Nikes. What do you wear when you're working out? Show me on Twitter.

Outfit Destinations:

Going for a run

Yoga class

Barre class

Tee: Forever 21 | Sports bra: Victoria's Secret | Leggings: Lululemon | Shoes: Nike

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

More Velvet

Velvet has been everywhere lately—on clothing, accessories and even furniture. But I've been slow to warm up to the trend. I think it can sometimes look tacky and outdated. But when I found this tank dress at Zara, I had to have it. 

First off, I love tank dresses. But you already knew that if you saw this post. I love the way they hug my body and accentuate the little curves I do have. I also gravitate to any midi dress because they're sexy while still maintaining some sophistication. Additionally, the deep, metallic purple is one of my favorite colors to wear because it adds a subtle pop of color in evening attire.

And since the dress is fabulous all on its own, I decided just to pair it with this black leather jacket and these Steve Madden heels. This is one time that keeping it simple paid off.

Outfit Destinations:

Cocktail party

Fashion show

New Year's Eve party

Dress & Jacket: Zara | Heels: Madden Girl | Bangle: Henri Bendel

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

                            

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Life as a Runway

One of my main goals with my blog is to give women ideas on how to embrace style in their everyday lives. That's why I give outfit destination suggestions with every post and do my best to showcase clothing that you'd actually want to wear in real life. Occasionally I blog about a revealing cocktail dress or a pair of heels that begin hurting your feet after 20 minutes, but for the most part, I want my fashion advice to be accessible.

This outfit below is one of them, I hope. With a plain black shirt paired with faux suede pants, this is an ensemble I frequently wear to work. Both pieces are from my favorite brand, Zara, and remain staples in my wardrobe. The pants are more comfortable than a traditional work pant and their high-waisted cut helps accentuate the hips.

But the garment that ties it all together and elevates the outfit from standard to stellar is the shawl. I usually wear this piece as a scarf, but decided to style it differently and give my outfit a more feminine edge. And though the shawl is a bit chaotic, it includes all the colors in my outfit and seamlessly blends in.

Lastly, I added these Tory Burch pumps, which were a Fashion Fetish of mine last fall. I had to break them in, like I have with many other Tory shoes, but now that I have, they feel great on my feet. The mini heel makes them ideal for city living when I'm walking blocks at a time or hopping on and off public transportation.

So is this outfit realistic for everyday fashion goals? I think so.

Outfit Destinations:

Office

Networking event

Fashion show

Shirt, pants & shawl: Zara | Shoes: Tory Burch | Watch: Montblanc

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

Tacos can't trump this blazer

Picture this: It’s the beginning of September and I’m looking for a camel blazer. For a working girl in a city where fall and spring happen, having the blazer seemed necessary. Camel blazers and coats have been trending for a while now, mainly because they're neutral and sophisticated pieces that can instantly help step up someone's style game.

I got this particular blazer at J. Crew, and though it was love at first sight, I didn’t buy it right away. It wasn’t worth the $218 the preppy clothing brand was asking for.

But a few weeks later, I’m at Taco Fest in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, and I wander into a J. Crew just to see if my blazer was in there (even though I’m supposed to be eating tacos). And to my surprise, they had it, and it was on sale! So I bought it—obvi.

     

It looks great with denim and earth tones, and gives me the ability to instantly dress up casual outfits. Without the blazer, this outfit it pretty basic. It's just a black shirt and jeans, and I look like I'm running errands. But adding the blazer gives the outfit a business casual element. I love wearing this outfit and others like it to work and networking events—places where I want to look sophisticated and refined, but not overdo it with formal wear.

Fast forward to November and I'm looking for a new pair of black leather boots. Last year I wore out my Marc Fisher boots, and the year before that I was wearing a pair of black leather riding boots from Michael Kors. So since I obviously have a thing for black leather boots, I figured I'd stick with the trend.

That's when I found the Tory Burch Chelsea boots below. They got me through fall and now they're getting me through winter. Though I have to be careful about wearing them when there's snow and salt on the streets, they have remained a staple in my wardrobe. They seemingly go with everything because they aren't overdone with a ton of hardware and other distracting embellishments. With a simple Tory Burch logo on the heel, these boots' simplicity is what makes them so versatile.

Now let's rewind back to June. I'm in Nordstrom looking for a new pair of sunnies when I see these square-frame Celine glasses. I pondered long and hard over them, but figured I could justify treating myself since I had just graduated from college and was offered a new grown-woman job. They cost me, but it was worth it.

Takeaways: 

Wait for items to go on sale

Stay true to what you like

Treat yoself

Outfit Destinations:

Office

Networking event

Mixer

Shirt: Zara | Blazer: J. Crew | Jeans: Lucky Brand | Booties: Tory Burch

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

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An LBD for the office

The nice thing about a little black dress is that you only need one. That’s the whole point. You’ve got one simple dress and by pairing it with different shoes and accessories, you’re able to create an entirely new look.

This LBD is a great option for the office since most of us go to work every day of the week. But be weary, knowing how to change it up every time you wear it is the difference between being a savvy fashionista and an outfit repeater.

This dress, made by Zara, is tailored perfectly for the office. Resting above the knees, it’s conservative enough while still letting you show off those legs you’ve been working so hard on. And the bust tailoring gives it a formal edge that we often look for in work attire.

It’s much more appropriate for the office than this LBD, so be careful when choosing an office dress and make sure it’s right for the occasion.

But enough about the dress. The real heroes in this outfit are the shoes. Block heels made a comeback last fall and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon. I like the retro style because they’re mod, different and easy to walk in. I’ve worn these shoes on a night out and was able to dance with my friends, run from the creeps and not have to sit down every five minutes. These are shoes worth buying.

Outfit Destinations:

Office

Gala

Networking event

Dress: Zara | Heels: Chie Mahara | 

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

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