Tassel Shorts from Take 5 Boutique

I’m excited to share the first (of many) outfits from my latest trip to New York!

It all started with a cupcake date on the Georgetown canal with one of my best friends, Erin. We talked about where we drew our inspiration and we both waxed poetic about recent trips to New York - the streets, the lights, the FOOD, the coffee…inspiration on every corner. Literally. “We should totally go together sometime” one of us said. And instead of my usual, ‘will get back with you when I check my calendar,’ we immediately found a day that worked for both of us and started planning. And it quickly became clear that we’re traveling soul-mates.

We spent the next few weeks texting each other Airbnb listings, cute coffee shops and stores we wanted to visit. And of course, outfit options. ;) When the day came, we hopped onto the bus and were off for our (very) quick trip to New York.

I’ll be covering more on how we jam-packed ALL THE THINGS into a quick 24-hours soon, but before I do, let’s talk about what I wore for wandering around Soho.

When choosing which outfit to wear for an afternoon of shopping, it was clear these shorts had to be in the mix. I got these at Take 5 Boutique (they have stores in Mosaic and Tysons) and have been my most complimented item of the summer. It’s funny - anytime I buy something at Take 5, it always seems to become my most popular piece. Think about it - this sweater, these shoes, and these shorts!

Maybe it’s their uniqueness or how luxe they look, but I also think a big part is the versatility. I’ve dressed these up with heels on many occasions, but are just as darling dressed down with a pair of patent leather flats.

I chose this adorable pair from Ukies because I wanted something chic (because NEW YORK) but also comfortable. You guys know me - if it’s not comfortable, I’m not wearing it. 

I bought this black silk tank from Anthropolgie years ago and it still remains a staple in my closet. It’s super lightweight and is oh-so flattering. And for good measure, I added my newest Banana Republic find, this longline vest. It’s funny - as soon as I saw it in-store, I knew it’d become a staple in my closet. And as a testament - I’ve worn it twice a week since I bought it last month. It’s THAT good.

This necklace from Sophie Blake is part of her latest collection, which launches next Saturday at her Mosaic District location! You KNOW I’ll be there to snag a few pieces before they sell out. I learned the hard way years ago when I fell in love with my first Sophie Blake piece. One day, it was there. The next when I decided I HAD TO HAVE IT - GONE. I’ll never let that happen again. ;)

Wearing Take 5 Boutique tassel shorts, silk tank (similar), Banana Republic vest (on sale!), Ukies flats c/o, Sophie Blake necklace (from her latest collection!), Cuyana saddle bag c/o. 

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Red, White and Denim

In high school, we had to wear uniforms. Not the cute, Catholic-school kind, mind you. Skirts were below the knees, khakis had to be purchased from Dockers, and  the polo shirts only unbuttoned around the neck area. Struggle City was my style. 

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to like uniforms. Not the kind from boarding school…but the kind that makes getting dressed easier in the mornings. The kind that starts to define you as a blogger. 

I’m not wearing one here - but I’ve learned that scarves are one of mine. I wear them with just about everything (more on how I saved a life with my scarf next week) I didn’t realize they were such a big part of my wardrobe until people started telling me they’d bought a scarf and wanted tips on how to style it. Apparently, Julien loves scarves. (Yes, yes I do.)

This summer, I’ve gravitated towards a simple, yet classic uniform. Jeans and a tee. I’m not saying this is some big revelation - it’s a timeless look that’s been around since, well, forever it seems. Bit nevertheless, it’s become my summer go-to.

Today, I styled my favorite pair of Paige frayed-hem denim with a plain white tank…but instead of my usual sneakers and half bun, I threw on a pair of edgy heels and a red bag. And I don’t usually gravitate towards a lot of color, I like to bend my own rules every now and then. ;)

Also how fun are these photos? They were taken by two of my good friends, Erin and Luke! Erin will actually be photographing Blogger Scene tonight, so if you haven’t bought your ticket, there’s still time! Tickets are $15, but to be honest, if there was an event that cost a million dollars that Erin would be at, I’d totally go. Like, if I had that kind of money. Because she’s worth it. 

Oh, and I’m helping host it with two of my best blogging babes Alicia and Natalie. 

Get your tickets here, friends.

Wearing Paige denim via Fitcode c/o, JOA tank (sold out, more JOA here!), Schutz sandals (similar on sale), Angela Roi handbag, Kenneth Cole Reaction leather jacket (similar), Sophie Blake bracelet

Ganni Lace Dress

As the wedding invitations and Save the Dates for 2017 celebrations have come flooding through my mailbox, one thing is very apparent - it’s time to get creative. 

Because when it comes to wedding guest dressing (touched a bit on that here), a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t going to work. There are beach weddings, picnic weddings, church weddings, semi-formal, black-tie…the list goes on. 

So when I received an invitation for a semi-formal wedding, I immediately scanned my closet. Quickly, I realized how little ‘fancier dresses’ I actually had. Between my semi-dramatic style evolution (haha kills me to say that BUT HAVE YOU SEEN MY OLD STYLE POSTS? NO? GOOD. PLEASE DON’T), loosing a bit of weight last year, and the shift into buying fewer, better things, it was clear that this gaping hole for wedding dressing had to be filled.

But instead of popping over to the mall (my former go-to strategy that always seemed to leave me empty-handed and overwhelmed), I found myself at one of my favorite boutiques in Georgetown, Lynn Louisa. While I typically find the best casual pieces there, I knew she’d have something just right for one of my upcoming weddings. And she did.

When I saw this Ganni dress, it was love at first sight. The lace is the softest I’ve ever felt, and the length is just right for a number of dressy occasions. My friend Natalie always says, “If you can immediately think of three different ways to wear something, get it” so this was an easy choice for me. While I’ve dressed it up here with a slip dress underneath, it would be adorable paired over high-waisted, wide-leg jeans and also with a cozy sweater come fall and winter. 

And better yet - this dress is currently on sale now at Lynn Louisa so if you love it as much as I do, be sure to check out Washington's best new boutique, as voted by Washingtonian Magazine!

Wearing Ganni lace dress via Lynn Louisa (this is next on my list!), H&M slip dress (under $25!), Banana Republic sandals, Jeffrey Levinson clutch c/o, Sophie Blake bracelet. 

When Fewer Really Is Better

As I sit here burning the midnight oil, I'm still on a major high from a weekend away with one of my best friends and insanely talented photographer, Erin. We spent a mere 24 hours in NYC, eating and shopping our way through Soho. It was epic to say the least.

I don't know about you, but when I'm shopping in the DC area, I can get easily overwhelmed. Well, it's not often like that in New York. I tend to steer myself towards the smaller, highly-curated stores. The more I shop at places like these, the less tolerant I am for the oversized stores with the items jam-packed into every nook and cranny of the store. Just. No.

That's why I love the Cuyana Georgetown store. Everything is laid out so beautifully and I always find something I love when I visit. This shoot was done before one of their summer parties by my good friend, Luke! I wore my white Cuyana silk tank (a staple in my closet!) and Cuyana saddle bag and paired them with an Erika Schrieber skirt and Banana Republic sandals.

Have you stopped into the Cuyana Georgetown pop-up yet? They'll only be here until JULY 31, so be sure to get there while you can! They're located near the Apple Store at 1249 Wisconsin Avenue in Washington D.C.

Wearing: Cuyana silk tank and saddle bag c/o, Erika Schrieber skirt, Banana Republic sandals, The Scarf Shop scarf, Polette sunnies, Sophie Blake bracelet.

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Jet Lag

Happy Wednesday, friends! 

And by happy Wednesday, what I really mean to say is, HOW IS IT NOT FRIDAY YET-day. While I’m ever grateful for the shorter week, let’s be real - we all need a vacation after a long weekend.

Something that makes the workweek even more unbearable? JET LAG. 

Somehow I forget how awful it is every time I go on a trip across the coast. I learned after a trip to California a few years ago that the red eye is never, ever going to work for me. I always assume I’ll get tons of sleep on the plane, but I never do. I remember calling my boss after getting in at 6 AM that I was going to sleep for ‘just a few hours’ then come in. Ya - that didn’t happen. I slept until about 3 PM and had to use an extra vacation day. Major womps.

This time, we booked a mid-day flight out of San Francisco (a day early too!) so we could ease back into East Coast time. 

And yet, somehow it still feels like I’m dragging myself out of the dark unknown every time my alarm goes off at 6 AM. Why do my eyes hurt so badly? Why is it so hard to keep my eyes open? Why can’t I muster up the energy to do my hair? Thoughts of drifting to sleep consume me. HOW ON EARTH DO YOU DO IT, SARA?

But as I learn to accept the things I can not change, I’ve learned to just go with it. Because really, this won’t last forever. It’s only temporary - until next time.

Wearing Just Female skirt via Lynn Louisa, Halogen top (old), Veja sneakers via Anthom, Clare V clutch, vintage scarf, Oakley sunnies via Ditto (use ITSJULIEN for a free month!), MAC lipstick in Velvet Teddy.