Shirt Dress for Days

There are two lessons (among many) I've learned as a parent: 1. Shopping needs to be quick and easy. 2. Clothing needs to be quick and easy. First, as a mom I don't want to be running around a mall all day long. I like stores that are a one-stop shop. H&M, like I mentioned in my last post, is a perfect example. They even carry children's clothing! Second, some days it's really tough to leave the house looking put together. It's already hard enough just getting out the door with two kids, but not looking like a crazy person is a whole nother story. What's a good way to be that mom that always looks cute at drop-off? Purchase a great shirt dress. They are easy, comfortable and extremely versatile. You can dress them up or down. Throw on a baseball hat and chucks, or add a belt and some heels/wedges. In my photos below, my shirt dress is sheer but it really takes an ordinary outfit to the next level.

 



Shirt dress: here | Top: old | Shorts: similar here | Shoes: here | Belt: similar here

Photography: Hello Sweetheart Photography

A Few of My Favorite Things

Years ago, our local mall didn't have many stores to its name. It has come a long way since then, but I can still remember when Park City Mall gained a wonderful store called H&M. It was a big deal! H&M is still one of my favorites today and it's the perfect place to get affordable staples for your closet. I just picked up two great pieces that I can't wait to share below and they are perfectly on trend right now: an off-the-shoulder top and patterned neck scarf. I paired both of these with my favorite panama hat and slip-on sandals, both summer must-haves from J. Crew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top: here | Neck Scarf: here | Skirt: old | Shoes: here | Hat: here

Photography by: Hello Sweetheart Photography

Nautical Vibes

One thing I have always been obsessed with over the years is everything nautical. It's one thing that never goes out of style in my opinion. It goes beyond wearing clothes, from my son's first birthday party, to decorating a room, to my favorite vacation spot, I just can't get enough! I love blues and stripes and anchors and being near the ocean, it's just so calming for me. For a huge part of my life, my parents have brought us on vacation to Nantucket every summer. It's one of my happy places. Most times when I go on vacation, I usually pack my suitcase based on where I'm going. I wouldn't say I typically dress in a preppy New England style, but when I go to Nantucket, it definitely has that influence on what I buy for the trip.

In recent seasons, we have been seeing lots of stripes. Stripes have become like a neutral so you can wear them with almost anything and I've paired it with some white on white to make a really fresh, clean look. Hope you enjoy!

 

 

Every one of these pieces should be a staple in your closet, they are so important for mixing and matching looks. My favorites are the classic white button down and denim jacket :) so versatile and wearable year-round!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Button down: similar here | Striped shirt: similar here | Denim jacket: here | Jeans: here | Shoes: similar here |
Sunglasses: here

 





Crop Top Crazy

Like I mentioned in my last post, I want to talk crop tops and two-pieces. I have a love/hate relationship with them. About a year ago when they started becoming popular again, I thought about purchasing a matching set, but they truly intimidated me. I looked at them longingly on others, but the thought of actually wearing one on my own body made me very hesitant. I was just getting back to my pre-baby weight and, let's be honest, unless you spend some time at the gym, a post-baby belly isn't the most attractive. However, after having two kids, I was pretty proud of how I looked and figured I was ready to take the plunge and purchase my first crop top and matching skirt.

But then I learned a valuable lesson with my first purchase, you can feel totally awesome in your two piece when it's just you and your husband, but when you're in a crowd, you can have this instant reaction to cover your belly. I'm sure it doesn't happen to everyone, but I bet I'm not alone. In the moment I figured out a way to make me feel more comfortable and then when I went to buy my second two-piece set, I learned what worked best for me. So here are 3 easy ways to increase your comfort level when buying a crop top and hopefully you can love them as much as I do now! 

 

 1. Wear something over top like a blazer or denim jacket. The above picture was my first crack at a two-piece. Now while I think it's gorgeous, I was heading to my sister's rehearsal dinner and just felt like it was too sexy or something. After this picture, I threw on a white blazer and felt instantly better. Having that extra amount of coverage will help you forget how much stomach you have showing.

2. Try wearing a fitted top with a flared bottom, or vice versa. After the rehearsal dinner, I decided I probably wouldn't wear both together again, but they would make amazing pieces when separated. I could wear a flowy crop top with the skirt or an A-line midi skirt with the top. If both the top and bottom are fitted, you might feel too self-conscious if you are already hesitant to try them.



3. Find the right amount of stomach to show. Buying a two-piece can be tough, everyone has different body types. I have a short torso, so most crop tops aren't very cropped, which works for me. The above picture is my second attempt and I am so happy with this combo. Having a tiny bit of my belly peeking through along with following rule number 2, I didn't even realize I was wearing a two-piece!

Whatever is in style this season and in seasons to come, the moral of the story is to not give up. If you love it, keep searching till you find the right piece that works for you and rock it ;)

Wedding Season!

Wedding season is in full swing and I love everything about weddings! Unfortunately, this is not a big year for weddings on my end, I only have one wedding to share coming up in July. However, there is so much involved in a wedding, from the shower to the rehearsal to the actual wedding day, so I have lots to talk about and will be splitting it all up in separate posts.

First, let's talk about wedding showers. I think a shower is a great place to wear fun and colorful patterns, from florals to chevron to digital prints. I will provide links for my favorite options below. Depending on the event, some showers tend to be more formal than others, or themed, so keep this in mind when shopping for a new dress. Please feel free to contact me for any suggestions on your upcoming function!

  

I just love this two-piece with its summery chevron pattern and how it's cut to show just the right amount of skin. Crop tops can be a little intimidating, but there are ways to increase their comfort level and I'll discuss more on that in my next post!

 

 

 

 

Crop top and skirt: here and here | Shoes: Zara (old) | Sunglasses: here | Clutch: YSL

More dress options: here, here and here

 

Please feel free to contact me for any suggestions on your upcoming function!