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.

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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Seeing Double

Tank dresses never go out of style. One reason: They're so basic. And depending on the color, you can wear them again and again. The best part about them? They're so much fun to accessorize. 

I love these particular Zara tank dresses because of their length. Often times it's hard to find midi dresses that reach your knees, or somewhere close to it. The length adds sophistication and elegance to the look.

Below I've styled the same dress in two different colors by just switching up the shoes and accessories. With the black dress, I paired it with stark white lace-up flats for a dramatic contrast, perfect for a night out and dressier occasions. For the army green dress, I toned down the contrast and paired it with a soft beige Marc Jacobs hobo and Tory Burch sandals, resulting in a more casual, day look.

Which look do you like better? Tell me on Twitter.

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

Fashion Fetish Friday: Gigi Pump

New season, new shoes?

When looking for quality, style and timelessness, I turn to Tory Burch. Though pricey, Tory’s items have proved to be worth it.

One of her latest shoes released this fall is the Gigi Pump, a sleek, feminine and classy patent leather shoe that can add a pop of flare to any outfit. The sixties-inspired pump comes in five shades, ranging from this deep ocean blue to fiery red. With Tory Burch graphic detail and a flared block heel, they can easily be taken from day to night. 

Photos: Tory Burch

These shoes lend themselves well to the urban working girl. With a small heel and shiny gold hardware, they can be paired with pencil skirts, slim pants and button downs. I’m hoping to snag these shoes before snow falls so that I can have some of the best Autumn outfits ever.

After all, Autumn is the best time to reinvent your style. With the beginning of a new season and so much creativity to take away from September magazine issues and fall fashion week in New York, it's an ideal time to get out of the rut you’ve been stuck in for the last year. These shoes are how I plan to get out of mine.

How do you plan to get out of your fashion rut? Tell me on Twitter.

Just Another Blog Post

This necklace was one of the newest additions to my jewelry collection, but it's life was short-lived. H&M, the retailer this particular piece is from, is great in making trendy, inexpensive jewelry, but usually sacrifices quality in doing so. This necklace broke after just three weeks. 

For anyone who wants another gadget to track your every move, get a Fitbit. I recently got mine in June and have been stepping all over the place. The traditional Fitbit is encased in a rubber, sport band, but this Tory Burch bracelet case gives me the freedom to dress up outfits and still get my steps in.

Cropped Tank: Forever 21 | Maxi Skirt: Forever 21 | Sandals: Tory Burch | Fitbit: Tory Burch | Watch: Montblanc

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

A Lucky Find—Literally

Summer essential: A pair of light-wash jeans. Casual and effortlessly refined, this pair of Lucky Brand jeans make a great staple when planning summer outfits. While the fit is great—low-rise and skinny—the ankle zippers add an extra accent that sets them apart from others.

Shirt: Zara | Jeans: Lucky Brand | Sandals: Tory Burch | Watch: Montblanc

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }

Reva

After years of carrying cross-body handbags, I decided it was time to switch it up with this Tory Burch Reva clutch. Sleek, black and lightweight, this handbag makes even the simplest outfit pop. 

No longer do I suffer with the burden of a long strap weighing me down on a night out. Carrying cross-body handbags can be so annoying when trying to dance or move around a tight crowd. 

And these Zara jeans give outfits a more sophisticated edge, making them casual yet refined. They hug my hips perfectly and make my butt look good—an added bonus.

| Shirt: Forever 21 | Pants: Zara | Heels: Steve Madden | Handbag: Tory Burch |

{ Photography: Natalie Craig }