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

Week in Review - Vol. 10

Coming back from vacation is rough. Sorry to be so ‘first world problems’ on ya, but jet lag is no joke, friends. 

A couple weeks ago, we spent 8 days in my favorite state, California. Then the following weekend I skipped down for a mini-vacation with one of my besties, Erin. I’m still on a high from both trips and can’t wait to share more about them on the blog.

Next week is the last week that the Cuyana pop-up will be in town! Be sure to check them out before July 31!

Also happening next week - I’m helping host the annual BloggerScene summer party! There will be AMAZING giveaways (including gift cards to a few of my favorite stores like Lynn Louisa, Sophie Blake and a classic leather tote from Cuyana!), plenty of Instagram’able spots since it’ll be on the Embassy Row Hotel rooftop, and a great panel of bloggers who will be sharing advice on how to grow your audience. Get your tickets here!

A few days ago, I visited the new Joie store in Tysons Galleria (aka Tysons II) and fell in love with EVERY SINGLE THING I tried on. Ended up with this pre-fall bohemian blouse. This is next on my hit list.

I got a little peek into the Banana Republic pre-fall shoe collection and I’m in love. I have these chic suede slingback heels and also these adorable fuchsia ones that I can’t wait to whip out for date night.

I got an email from a new handbag company, Two Charmed, made right here in Virginia! They just opened their online shop and their stuff is super cute. Really want this bag. 

Looking for a great dress to wear to an upcoming summer or fall wedding? I wrote a love story about pretty lace Ganni dress.

I finally made my way over to Vigilante Coffee shop in Hyattesville last weekend and YOU GUYS. The acai bowls are reason enough to visit. Coffee was amaze too, obvi. 

While there was a lot of exciting things going on this past week, I’m so heartbroken for what happened yesterday in Nice, France. If you’re the praying type, I hope you’ll join my in sending up all the prayers to France over the next few days.

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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I stand with you.

My heart is heavy today…so instead of my usual Week in Review, I thought I’d say a few words about the recent events happening…this may be a style blog and while I tend to stay as far away from politics and drama as possible, I can't let another moment go by in silence.

To my African American friends, I stand with you. I hate what has happened to you in the past few months, and it terrifies me that it may have only come to light recently. It is never ok to discriminate. That’s not how Jesus taught us to act. 

It makes me so angry that the men who are supposed to protect us have used their fear as an excuse to carelessly end lives. It kills me that my black friends live in fear. I understand that the men and women who serve this country are put into positions everyday that forces them to make difficult decisions and I can’t comprehend what that feels like. But as I watch the horrifying videos of people being executed, I struggle to understand why someone would think that killing someone was the appropriate response.

And today - with everything that happened last night in Dallas - my heart breaks for the families of those killed. Why do we continue this pattern? How can we make it stop? SOMETHING needs to change. We need to change. To be honest, I think it starts with our hearts.

If we find prejudice in our hearts, or if you feel it might be in yours, please, please, take a moment and examine why. Maybe someone of a particular race did something unkind to you at some point in your life. Release it. It's only holding you captive. Forgive that person. And know that not all people of one race are the same. Not all police officers are corrupt, not all black people are guilty, and NO ONE deserves to be executed in the ways we’ve seen over the past few weeks. 

When we realize our faults, that’s when we can allow God to change us. I’m a very spiritual person, and I’ll be the first to admit I’m not perfect. I’m praying for our country today and everyday. That God changes our hearts and opens our eyes to the atrocities happening in our backyard. I want to pray and ask Him to make it stop - make the madness end. The thing is - at the beginning of time, he gave us the freedom of choice. And unfortunately, people have taken that and ignored His message of love for ALL people. But I will pray for intervention and that He knocks harder on our hearts. And that we let Him in to change us.