Fall Florals

dress: c/o Sheinside (sold out) | similar, cute option
graphic tee: ON | cute option 1, 2
sandals: f21 (old) | similar
watch: exact
bracelet: exact

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Even though we're pretty much into fall here in NJ, we've been lucky with the weather, and summer doesn't seem to be going without a fight. (The curse of the season-ending vacations has been broken!) These photos were taken before my trip, but since we're getting plenty of warmth and sunshine, (it's supposed to be 80° this weekend!) I'm going to say this outfit is still appropriate.  

And since dark florals are trending for autumn, this dress from Sheinside will be perfect to transition into the cooler weather (perhaps with some black knee-high boots, a faux-leather jacket, and a big, cozy scarf). The passing of summer always makes me a little sad, but knowing I can wear my summer dresses into fall is oddly comforting. It's like keeping a little piece of summer with me while I'm shivering in 40° weather. Plus, you know, getting to wear layers again. That helps, too.



p.s. - linking here today
p.p.s. - stay tuned for vacation photos coming soon!

What a Lovely Winter We're Having This Spring

{outfit 1}
dress | jacket | mirrored sunnies | bracelet 1, 2 | nail stickers

{outfit 2}
sweater | blazer | shorts | floral sunnies | bracelet | bag | nail stickers

Even though it is officially my birthday, and even though it is officially snowing on my birthday - in April - my mind is still lingering on last weekend when we had some seriously warm weather.  (On a side note, I've concluded that April is simply the month to be bipolar.  We've gone from a summery 80° to 34° & snowing in a matter of 3 days.  If I wasn't so bummed, I'd be impressed.).  

Eternal hopeful that I am, I literally believe the sun will come out tomorrow (or at the very least, two or three days after tomorrow), and that it one day will be warm(ish) again. When that day comes, my wish is to be wearing one of these outfits from Sheinside.  A gorgeous maxi and a badass vegan leather jacket, or festival denim shorts with a soft chunky sweater and structured blazer.  I'll happily don either.  I can't wait for the end of the lovely winter we're having this spring.

Come party with me!

{DressVenus}

{Click here to enter the Craftsy giveaway}

Even though it's about 25°F outside, and we haven't had hot water in our apartment since Sunday (seriously.), I'm still in a spring-y kind of mood.  Maybe it's the fact that we had a tiny taste of warmer weather a couple weekends back, or maybe it's because I keep gazing at photos of myself from that weekend wearing fun, bright florals and showing some leg,* but I've been doing a little online window shopping in preparation for the warmer weather.  Winter has to end at some point, right??

When my newest sponsor, DressVenus, asked me to do a feature about maxi dresses, I was all too happy to oblige.  Little did they know I had already scoped out all of the maxis on the site, and had my favorites nestled snugly in my virtual wishlist, just begging to be bought.

(*it's that one.)

Breezy, flowy, prettily printed v-neck maxis are my favorite.  If I could get away with wearing one of these every single day, I would.

There's something bohemian, yet chic going on here, and I want to be a part of it.

Not-so-little black dress or not-so-little white dress.  But oh-so flattering and elegant.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided for this post. Opinions are 100% mine, cos that's how I roll.

So Long, Summer!

{ON dress (similar) & hat (similar) | f21 jacket | qupid sandals | fossil watch | stella & dot bracelet}

Things I will miss about summer as demonstrated by these photos:  Hanging out on our friends' rooftop in NYC without getting cold, having silly photo shoots accompanied by an amazing sunset (without getting cold), and wearing in public what is essentially a glorified nightgown masquerading as a chic and stylish maxi dress (and, yeah, without getting cold).

We're leaving today for a quick little road trip up to Buffalo.  If traditions hold true, then there is a distinct possibility that summer will end while I'm away and it'll be cold by the time I get back.  I promise to take full responsibility for any seasonal transgressions.

See you next week!

p.s. - Linking with these ladies today.
p.p.s. - The Chicwish giveaway ends on Monday.  Don't forget to enter!

Deleted

Yesterday I did what I feared I would someday do.  I accidentally deleted the outfit photos I had taken over the weekend.  Somewhere between transferring them from the camera to the computer they disappeared, and without checking, I deleted them from my camera.  As soon as my boyfriend noticed me staring at my laptop,  uncomprehending and bewildered, he quickly took over to try to retrieve them.  No luck.  They're gone.  As my dad likes to say, I always knew this day would come.  I just didn't think it would be today.  Ha.

Since I deleted all the photos of the outfit I wanted to show you, I thought instead I'd post some outfits that I never planned to show you (and actually should have been deleted).  They didn't make it to the blog for a number of reasons - the outfit didn't look as good as I thought or the photos turned out wonky.  Whatever was the reason, I was content to keep them safely tucked away on my hard drive.  But due to my airhead moment, you now get to take a peek into what you were never supposed to see.  Enjoy!

Joining these link ups today.

One of My Brighter Moments

{sears dress (cute option) | whoop tee shirt | qupid sandals (similar) | gifted necklace (similar) | c/o oasap ring}

These 90 degree days we've been having over the past week are really making it feel like summer.  However, this is precisely what not to wear on those kinds of days.  The dress was way too long, blocking the nonexistent breezes I kept hoping for, and trapping the heat in.  The tee shirt, while wonderful at reflecting light, also had a blanket-like effect and turned my own body against me by preventing its heat from escaping. 

Before you go thinking I'm a complete dummy for wearing this on such a hot day, I had worn this outfit a week ago when it was cooler, and I only put it on again to get some photos.  However, choosing to photograph this outfit on a hot, humid, sunny day, walking in the heat to this location, and standing around sweating in places I didn't even know could sweat for 15 minutes, was apparently totally within my realm of good decisions.  So, scratch that first sentence.  It may not have been my brightest moment.

Linking here.

Shape Shifter

{target dress (similar) | sears top | f21 sandals (similar) & brown bracelet | gifted necklace & bracelets (similar}

I am well aware that this dress has sort of a funny shape, and may not be the most flattering on my body.  In fact, when I first bought it it looked better, but when I washed & dried it, the crocheted band near the knees shrunk and the rest didn't, leaving this kind of reverse tulip shape.  Which sounds pretty, but actually isn't.  But it's all good because I love the way I feel in this outfit, despite its distorted shape.  Sort of boho, sort of hippie, and utterly comfortable.  Plus, one of my very best friends who moved to Switzerland a year and a half ago arrives tomorrow (!!!) to spend the next 3 months working here in NYC.  I'm just way too thrilled to care that my dress is an undercover shape shifter.  My friend is coming back!


Linking here.

Maxi Love

{ON dress, sweater (similar), & boots (similar) | fossil watch | boyfriend's belt | gifted earring | dogeared necklace}

There's not much to say about a maxi dress that hasn't already been said.  Comfy, flattering, lengthening, easy to top with a sweater and fool your friends into thinking it's a skirt...what's not to love?


Linking here today.

I Got it Covered

{chambray: old navy  |  dress: target (similar)  |  boots: steve madden  |  necklace: vintage}

It's around that time of year again when the mosquitoes of Lincoln Park come out in full force and seem particularly hungry for my blood.  (Or maybe everyone's blood equally.  I don't know; the large amounts of deet I've been inadvertently inhaling while arming myself with a protective coating of bug spray could be causing slight paranoia). 

That being said, sometimes the only way to outsmart those suckers is to just cover up.  Luckily it was cool enough yesterday to shield myself with knee high boots, a long dress, and a 3/4 sleeve top.  Oh, and a necklace.  Because if Wu-Tang Clan taught us anything, it's to protect ya neck.

I'm pretty sure this is exactly what Method Man had in mind.

Want to join the party?

Birthday Girl

Stop!  Hammer time.

{dress: target  //  sandals: o'neill, similar  //  necklace: gift  //  bracelets: f21, delias}

 Yesterday was my birthday.
Over the weekend some friends stopped by unexpectedly, so we invited a couple more over and had ourselves a little impromptu birthday party in the backyard.  My talented friend, Fatiha, and I stole away for a few minutes to do a fun photo shoot.  (You can see me jumping for joy up there, and in the process inadvertently sporting some MC Hammer pants.  Can't touch this.)

Then last night I got to celebrate my birthday again, this time enjoying the gorgeous, warm, sunshiney weather (seriously, it was 85 degrees) at an outdoor beer garden with my dad and some other friends.
(This time I left the Hammer pants home.)

Two parties for the price of one birthday - I am one lucky gal.

Come check out where I'm virtually partying today here.

And last night I partied for realsies here.