Summer Wedding Style

Ahh, summer. A time for late nights, early mornings, parks, beaches, patios, anything and everything al fresco…oh, and weddings. I know I'm not alone in the sheer number of them that take place once you hit your mid-twenties (let's not even get started on the babies that follow). This year, I kicked off the unofficial start to summer with a wedding back in Iowa and will be wrapping up the unofficial end (Labor Day) with my younger sister's wedding back home. Scattered through the middle are more ceremonies, showers and celebrations—pass the bubbly, please!

I love a good any reason to shop for something new, but my bank account can't seem to get behind me during wedding season. To compromise, I look for a few new pieces each season that are versatile enough to be worn at least twice. Usually, maxi dresses feel more formal to me and I'm really all about comfort, but this one has a few extra things going for it. The fun, tribal-inspired print leans toward casual and minimizes the need for too many accessories. There's also a slit on one side—perfect for when I'm dancing and don't want to be tripping on extra fabric (I just loosely tie a knot in the side!). And, spoiler alert, I was drawn to the various shades of blue.

My favorite detail, though, has to be the fabric...it's wrinkle-proof! Which is amazing for me since I'm prone to ditching whatever I was wearing on whatever's most convenient when I get home at night (this dress passed the test when I got it in the mail, tried it on, and promptly dropped it in a pile on the bench in my room for three days). Already planning to toss it in my suitcase when I head back for my sister's wedding this August!

Donna Morgan Dress via Zappos || Gap Clutch || Sole Society Heels || Essie Polish in I'm Addicted

Photos by Ashley

High(lighter) Color

Oy, vey! I don't know about you, but the last week or so has been a bit of a doozy—and not in a good way. I kicked off last Monday by slipping on 7th Avenue, banging up my knee (& flashing everyone a peek under my dress in the process). On Friday morning I woke up with laryngitis, foolishly thinking things couldn't get much worse. Three hours of my Friday night were spent in heavy rain, waiting for a bus to D.C. to see friends. 

Never again, Megabus. While the weekend was nice, my voice hasn't really come back, which resulted in me taking a sick day yesterday & spending most my day re-watching episodes of True Blood #guiltypleasure. 

Here's hoping this next week, with plane travel Friday and my birthday on Monday, is better!

 New York City (and pure laziness) have certainly influenced my style over the last few years to become more neutral. It's a lot easier to get dressed in the morning when I know I'm throwing on a white tee, jeans, sneakers or ankle boots, and maybe a cardigan. Every now & again though I just need to wake everything back up with some color. This was one of those days where I started with the neon pants—a favorite—and kept piling on from there.

The funny thing is, I'm actually more comfortable in an abundance of color than I am in anything low-cut, short or revealing, so I didn't realize I was dressed like a highlighter until I got to Brooklyn (where the uniform is black leggings, neutral sneakers, oversize white tees and black leather jackets) and caught all the stares and side-eye coming my way. I'll never understand why people are so suspicious of wearing color!

Zara Jacket (similar in blue) || Gap Tee || Gap Jeans || Supra Sneakers || Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Baby Blues

Saying goodbye to the last of my swingy skirts-sans-tights with this post! The mix of pastels, fluorescents and neutrals in this look is one of my all-time favorites (Jessica's, too, judging by the number of pics we snapped). The trees are still slowly turning colors here, though I feel like NYC often skips from green to bare back to green where trees and seasons are involved. Upstate New York is an entirely different story, though!

Zara Jacket (similar) || Gap Striped Tee || Zara Skirt || Anthropologie Scarf

OPI Polish in Every Month is Oktoberfest || Clutch (borrowed from Jessica)

NARS Lipstick in Carthage

Photos: Jessica Sturdy

Hothouse Florals

After the long four-day weekend, it really feels like my trip to Mexico was forever ago! It's only been about two weeks, but I'd trade a lot to be back on those gorgeous, cerulean beaches right now (especially after swimming in the cool, salty, dark green waters lining the coast of NYC over the fourth). I picked up this tropical print Zara dress one of my very first times in the store after I moved here, but had yet to find a good reason to wear it. As much as I love a good reason like a wedding to shop for something new, I knew I already had the perfect dress in my wardrobe. It was way too hot, windy and sticky to wear my hair down, so I did my best impersonation of Blake Lively hair.

Dress, Zara (similar, similar) || Clutch, Gap || Shoes, Rachel Zoe || Earrings, Bracelet, Sequin

...and, because my cousin made such a beautiful bride (& said I could share with you all!), a few photos of the wedding. I was particularly joyed to be there since I met her groom a few weeks into their relationship over four years ago. He is a wonderful, honest guy and I'm glad he's officially part of our family. 

Colorful in the Hamptons

 I'm going to apologize right now for all the photos in today's post, but I'm pretty sure Hallie & Jessica have futures as photographers & set stylists-I couldn't make up my mind what to share with you!

My everyday uniform is pretty much always a mishmash of color (evidenced here, here and here), especially cool tones and brights. I picked up these jeans last year in bright yellow (duh), and when I spotted this lime color I knew I had to get this year's version, too. What better place to bring together some of my favorite hues of late spring-especially this pretty seafoam blue-than the Hamptons? Unfortunately, it's back to the city and work for me today, but this unexpectedly long weekend has been more than fabulous. Bucket list: renting a house out here some summer, soon!

T-shirt, Victoria's Secret | Jeans, Gap (on sale!) | Belt, Gap

Sunglasses, Ray-Ban | Necklace and Bracelets (big & small), Sequin

Nails, OPI Ogre the Top Blue (one of my all-time favorites)

Sandals, Jack Rogers/borrowed from Hallie

Stripes & Coins

The trees in these photos are probably a giveaway that they were taken before the holiday break (thanks Jessica!) when I spent a day with my blogging besties enjoying the gorgeous early December weather.

What can I say, I'm slow-but better late than never!

There's nothing more comfy & simple to me than a T-shirt, no matter the cut. A good T is like a blank canvas that I can cover with huge, sparkly accessories & accentuate with bright, candy colored lipstick. As I frequently do. I love Gap's long sleeve T's and always stock up on new ones every fall, usually because I've done something to ruin the ones I bought the year before (typical). 

I sent one of these photos to Gap on Twitter for their #GAPLove campaign in December & ended up on their billboard in Times Square! Incredibly cool & officially checking that off the bucket list.

Striped Long Sleeve T, Gap | Jeans, 7 For All Mankind | Studded Shoes, Jeffrey Campbell

Necklace, Sequin

 And...me on a billboard! Pretty neat, isn't it?

xx