Ocean Tulle

| Sweater, Necklace & Booties - Target | Similar Sweater | Similar Necklace | Similar Booties | Skirt - Lauren Conrad for Kohl's | Similar | Earrings - Charlotte Russe | Similar | Bracelet - J.Crew Factory | Similar |

I hit the beach when I got to Delaware - ta da!  Very cold, very pretty!  There's something about the beach that is just so calming and comforting to me, no matter what time of year.  There were surprisingly a lot of people on the beach, too, so I guess I'm not alone.

When I saw Lauren Conrad post this skirt, I knew I must have it!  I have been dying for a tulle skirt, preferably a midi one, but I've also had a shorter one on my list and I knew this was the one - especially for the price!  I felt like a ballerina all day, and enjoyed twirling and swaying to and fro all day long.

Did you all have nice holidays?  What did you wear?

Lacey Business

| Blazer - Kohl's | Similar | T-Shirt - Target | Similar | Shorts & Shoes - H&M | Similar Shorts | Similar Shoes | Bracelet - J.Crew Factory | Similar | 

Lace shorts were on my list of must-haves this summer and I was no disappointed.  This was the comfiest party outfit I've had for years.  The shorts and shirt were like PJs!  Definitely chic.  Super cute.  Happiest girl in town.  They look great with a chambray shirt and booties too.  The possibilities were endless.  

Not sure if they will be so cute in winter with tights, but it's worth a go.  Especially since I feel like 2+ months just wasn't enough time with them!

Uni Style

[Booties, Tights, Shorts - Target; Top - Banana Republic; Blazer & Black Enamel Bracelet - Kohl's; Pashmina - Gift; Pave Chain Link Bracelet - J.Crew Factory; Elephant Bracelet - Forever 21; Ring - 3 10 Rosemont]

When I lived in England, so many girls wore tights with shorts there.  Some wore Keds/Conversey, some wore flats, some wore booties.  I quickly adopted the look since I had to live out of 2 suitcases for 5 months and loved having multiple options.  I also started my blazer obsession over there, and scarves were a must.  What do you think about the "uni" look?

    

[Photos c/o Ca Plane pour Moi, Lulu's, & Stylelist]

The Lady is a Vamp

[Tank Top - Kohl's; Sweater - Target; Leather Leggings - Forever 21; Heels - Ross]

I broke my rule: I wore leggings with a shirt that didn't cover my whole butt.  But I just love this sweater and it only looks good with the super tight pants.  I never thought I would buy a pair of leather leggings in my life, but there I was standing in Forever 21 and I saw this $13 pair and thought, "when will you have this urge to buy leather leggings again?!  And if it does happen again, they will definitely be more expensive".  So I tried them on, was not repulsed by my image, and swiped the plastic and left the mall.  Approximately 30 minutes later, I'm thinking to myself WHAT HAVE I DONE?  But here are some things I've learned with my leather leggings:

1. It was very good I bought them a size larger than I normally would.  Leather leggings are going to make me feel self-conscious.  Fact.  Last thing I need is to feel like I look fat on top of feeling weird because I'm being trendy.

2. They're the most comfy leggings I own.  Seriously.  They're so soft.  I could sleep in them.  Not a lie.

3. Because they're comfy, and warmer than a skirt, and are black and sleek, they will be my winter go-to going out staple.  I will look chic.  I will look fancy.  I will be able to fall asleep at the bar.

4. I look much more edgy than I really am.  I love bows.  I look like I'm 12.  I will take anything to make me look over 21. [Note: I am past 21... as in my baby brother will be 21 in a month]

5. I feel very in.  While some think I may be on the "cutting edge of fashion", I feel like I hit the tail end since I look at the next big thing for months until it hits my budget range.  Now, ta da!

Moral of the story: Buy leather leggings and don't turn back.  You'll be happy you did :)

Butterfly Boucher - 1 Dress 3 Ways

[First Outfit: Dress & Necklace - LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's; Ribbon Belt - Own; Shoes - J.Crew ; Hat - TJMaxx]
[Second Outfit: Dress as Shirt - LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's; Skirt - J.Crew; Shoes - Steve Madden; Necklace - Target]
[Third Outfit: Dress as Shirt - LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's; Cami & Shoes - Target; Blazer - Express; Jeans - Levi's at TJMaxx; Necklace - The Loft]

I purchased this dress with the sole purpose to wear it to work.  Pretty & flirty, it was conservative enough to wear and I was looking for dresses I could wear without blazers or cardigans.  But after lots of wear and washing, regardless of the water temperature and air drying, it just seemed to get shorter and shorter.  I have long legs and dresses tend to ride up easily so there I was at work realizing that if I wore this dress another time, I'd be on the blacklist.  But my heart loves this dress & I refuse to give up so easily.  While I still wear the dress to church and brunches, I continue to wear it as a shirt to work.  It looks great with many different kinds of skirts - this one I had worn to work (hence the nice creasing in the skirt... I'm working on fixing that).  I can also wear it out for a dinner date with jeans when I tie it up in the back and hide it behind a blazer.  Even the under slip I wear as a nightgown.  Mission Accepted & Complete.

Uniform

 

[Shirt, Skirt, & Shoes - Target; Sunnies - TJMaxx; Purse - Payless; Bracelet - Kohl's; Necklace - Simply Charming Boutique; Ring - 3 10 Rosemont]

If I had a uniform in the time between Spring & Summer/Summer & Fall, it would be chambray, bows, lace, booties, aviators, and mint.  See - this outfit.  If there was a place I would get this uniform it would definitely be Target.  But we already know this, right?  

And to go along with my uniform... I had to do a jumping picture.  I just really like it.  That and ice cream.  Clearly.  Boyfriend liked the car and thought it was picture worthy.  So this is for the one male who frequents this blog (himself).

Honeymoon Blue

(Picture of Kate, Courtesy of people.com)

[Cardigan, Belt & Shoes (all old) - Target; Dress (old) - Zara (found at consignment shop); Ring - Kohl's; Bracelets - Gifts]

This is the outfit that started it all.  Up until Kate wore this outfit and I saw this picture, I had vowed to never own wedges.  A couple of weeks later, I found these black & cork wedges on sale for $10 at Target and I've been obsessed with them ever since.  I had been wearing a dress I found at The Loft for almost a year before one fateful day, when I found this exact Zara dress at my local high-end consignment store... for $36!  This whole outfit cost $71 - a perfect example of looking royal (even in the exact digs) for under $100.