Dress or Pants? Um…BOTH!

I know that dresses over pants are kind of a thing but I can’t get 100% behind it just yet (maybe because I get flashbacks of hippies I went to art school with who took this look to a whole other level). I modified the look here by layering my dress over leggings, and tying everything together with my favorite striped cardi.

Cardi: J. Crew; Dress: Cynthia Rowley; Loafers: Rampage; Bracelet: Bauble Bar; Ring: H&M; Necklace: Grandma’s.

I feel like this didn’t photograph very well. The skirt looks stiffer than it actually was and the the stripes aren’t quite lining up right in the photo. But trust me, it was super cute. Silver loafers provided a pop of bright metallic, so I kept the rest of my jewelry very simple and gold.

Are you guys into the dresses over pants trend?

xo,
Elle

Magenta and Turquoise

I apologize for the poor quality photo. I don’t even know what happened there.

I am LOVING this color combo. And since it is too warm to layer clothing, I decided to do some extreme necklace layering. Thoughts?

xo,
Elle

Blue and White, Plus…

I go on color combo kicks from time to time. Lately, I’ve really been loving blue and white with a pop of yellow. I wore both of these outfits last week and may have even picked up a few more blue and white items today. Which I’ll probably wear with that same yellow necklace. It may be time for a color intervention.

By the by, I wore the same accessories (neon arm party, yellow J Crew like necklace, brown sandals, and newly purchased Prada sunglasses) with both outfits.

Do you guys consider wearing a similar color pallet several times in a row a rut? Or just a good run for those shades (like I do)?

xo,
Elle

Summer Peacock (and How I Stage My Outfits)

A few notes about this outfit:

1. I LOVE this AA dress, but it is so short that it is downright indecent, hence the leggings.

2. I’ve decided to overdo the topknot this summer since it’s a cute look and so cool and comfy. Expect to see it a lot.

3. I’m not what you would call cheap (in fact, some may say I have a spending problem), but $150 for this necklace is RIDONK. I do not feel bad about picking up cheap copies from eBay.

Now, let’s chat about outfit prep for a mo, shall we? Before bedtime, I lay out an outfit like you see above. It makes mornings INFINITELY easier. I get to sleep for an extra 15 minutes, and don’t rip my closet apart frenetically trying to piece an outfit together before my coffee has had a chance to kick in. Everyone wins!

Do you guys prep the night before? Or do you fly by the seat of your outfit pants each morning?

xo,
Elle

Holy Heatwave, Batman…

If you’re in the Northeast like me, you know how ungodly ridiculously hot and humid it has been lately. I’m talking 100F and 137% humidity disgustingness. So it is a struggle to figure out what to wear, especially on a day off when you plan on schlepping all over NJ and Manhattan to spend your whole paycheck at various sales (*read more about said sales at the end if you’re in or around NYC).

Basically, I had to figure out how to turn short yoga pants and a cotton tank into an outfit. The solution? Open toed flats instead of flip flops, bold jewelry, red lips, and messy hair piled on top of my head. I have a feeling that if the weather stays like this, I’m going to be wearing a sock bun from now until mid September.

How are you girls dealing with the heat?

xo,
Elle

*NYC fashionistas– unfortunately, J. Crew sample sale ends today, so try to get there if you can! It’s from 12pm-5pm at 260 Fifth Avenue between 28th and 29th Sts. Be prepared to wait on line to get in, check your bags, and squeeze your way around. If you’re there walk a few blocks over to the American Apparel Warehouse Sale too (open until the end of July, details here on their FB event page). Seriously good discounts over at AA. I’m talking super cheap. Stock up. Their basics literally last forever.

Trickle Down Inspiration: Peach and Red

This look was inspired by my friend Catalina (check out her blog City and Burbs, it is fabulous) who was inspired by Cece on The New Girl. I’m always looking at what my friends (as well as random girls on the street) are wearing as inspiration for new looks for myself. I wore this peach and red ensem for casual day at work and then to a family party after.

Are you guys loving all the unusual color combos that are popping up everywhere? I am.

xo,
Elle

Cobalt + Green = Happiness

I am obsessed with color blocking. Green plus any color always works in my mind, so here is bright green, cobalt, and salmon (by way of a bag I ordered from ShoeDazzle, which has the most awesome leopard lining. I’m such a sucker for a great lining.)

I’m so glad that colored denim and color blocking are both so in right now, because I’m having so much fun playing with both trends.

xo,
Elle

PS, I don’t know if you noticed but I’m really counting on red lipstick and eyeglasses to distract from the fact that my right eye is swollen and red. Major contact lens related inflammation happening there. You don’t know how upset I am to not be able to wear mascara right now. I don’t even feel like myself.

Lace and Studs

I’m so obsessed with this lace blazer that I am legitimately angry with myself for not also purchasing it in black. You know what they say about hindsight. I chose to pair it here with jeans and some tougher feeling accessories, in order to make the lace a little less prissy and girly. I think it worked out well.

White Lace Blazer: Forever 21, Jeans: The Avenue, Tee: American Apparel, Studded Flats: Enzo Angiolini (better seen here).

Handbag and Necklace: MEXX, Earrings: NikiStar Accessories, Sunglasses: Burberry, Black Flower Ring: Aldo Accessories, Evil Eye Bracelet: random street vendor, Macramé Bracelet: gift, Butterfly Ring: my own fine jewelry.

When I wore this, I decided that the brown sunglasses didn’t match at all. So I went out and bought these gorgeous little Burberries that matched so much better!

Do you guys like mixing hard and soft trends as much as I do?

xo,
Elle

Outfit: Brights and Neutral Patterns

I love bright colors with neutral patterns. I especially love kelly green. If I could get away with wearing it every day, I would.

Blazer: Ambition, Leggings: Target, Leopard Top: Forever 21, Flats: H&M, Eyeglasses: Chanel

I just happened to have this necklace, which was a perfect match for the outfit!

Necklace: Amrita Singh

The chunky gold bracelets are actually a necklace I wrapped around my wrist a million times. The rest is my own fine jewelry and a street vendor find which you’ve seen my wear pretty much daily.

Necklace: JBK Jewelry Collection

What have you guys been wearing this week?

xo,
Elle

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring…

Had you asked me a year ago if I ever saw myself wearing Sperry Top Siders, I would’ve responded with an emphatic “no.” The birth of Sperry rainshoes has completely changed my tune. They’re totally cute and (unlike full on rain boots) unobtrusive. I like to wear mine with super bright colors. If the weatherman won’t provide me with sunshine, I’ll bring my own.

Skinny Jeans (they have to be skinny in the rain so the bottoms don’t get wet: The Avenue, Sweater: The Gap, Rainshoes: Sperry, Tote: Hervé Chapelier, Scarf: Francesca’s Collections.

This necklace is from NikiStar Accessories. It is made using real leaves, all of which have a different meaning. I obvi forgot what mine mean. Creativity and generosity, maybe? Eh, I have no clue.

Also, I hate umbrellas. Maybe because I’m short so I just wind up pissing people off when I knock them in the head with my umbrella. So whenever it rains, I wear a scarf that I can wrap around my head to protect me from the droplets. Form meets function.

What’s your bad weather uniform like?

xo,
Elle