It's Friday, I'm in Love

T.G.I.F. people!  Today is the day I look forward to all week long- jeans day!  As an adult working in corporate America, it's such a relief to be able to wear something comfortable one workday per week.  However, as our employee handbook points out, it is not "Casual Friday," so it also brings the challenge of wearing something that is comfy, yet still office-appropriate.  This is particularly hard in the summer, when it is 90 degrees outside but 30 degrees in the office.  The key to dressing during this season is layering, and today I turned to my favorite blazer to help me pull off this look. 

Kourtney Kardashian, Jessica Alba, me



me in an Under Skies top (Bluetique), Limited jeans & Coach sandals

Short sleeve and sleeveless tops are perfect for this time of year, and can be dressed up a little with statement jewelry.  Then just add a blazer or cardigan in the office.


TL: Tory Burch 'Theresa top' (Tory Burch)
BL: J.Crew Factory 'Printed Teagan Ruffle Popover' (J.Crew Factory)
TR: Zara 'Pleated Top' (Zara)
BR: Kenneth Cole New York 'Vikkie Ann Sleeveless Top' (Nordstrom)

I love flats, but sometimes heels can really polish off a look.  Adding a pair of pumps or strappy sandals can take an outfit from just casual to chic.

Olivia Palermo, Nikki Reed

  Have a beautiful, stylish weekend! xo

Stars and Stripes Forever

I am so looking forward to a long weekend (next weekend), but I can't believe it is already almost the Fourth of July!  I don't like that summer is going by so fast, but I've been trying to enjoy every moment.  Any celebration prompts the question, "What am I going to wear?"  For the Fourth, there are so many other options than an American flag string bikini.  My rules are, if you are going to the lake or a neighborhood party, keep it casual-cool, but if you are going to the Hamptons, take me with you and dress it up a bit.   

L: Angie Harmon
C: Kate Bosworth
R: Busy Philipps

Here are a few ways to wear American flag without looking too 'little kid-ish.'  Pairing any of these tanks with cutoff shorts would work.

TL: Carrie Underwood
TR: 'Heart Flag Tank' (Clothes Envy)
BL: 'American Flag Tank' (picsity.com)
BR: Forever21 'Edgy American Flag Crop Top' (Forever21)



TL: Alessandra Ambrosio in a Wildfox Couture sweater
BL: Free People 'Moonlight Mile Top' (Nordstrom)
TR: 'Santana Tank' (shopsosie.com)
CR: 'Lady Liberty American Flag Scarf' (lulus.com)
BR: 'American Flag Cutoff Shorts' (shopsosie.com)

Here's a couple of looks I pulled from my closet.  The shorts and shirt are great for a backyard barbecue, while the dress would work better for a party.  

L: pink rose top, Banana Republic shorts, Coach shoes
R: Double Zero dress (modcloth), BCBGeneration shoes

Here are three easy dresses that could be worn with sandals or espadrilles for a chic, but not so literal, American look.

L: Frenchi 'Chambray Bustier Dress' (Nordstrom
C: Lulu's 'Smiles per Hour White Dress' (lulus.com)
R: Kate Spade 'Laureen Dress' (Nordstrom)

And finally, some definite Don'ts- nobody is more patriotic in her attire than Katy Perry, but you don't have to actually wear an American flag as your outfit.  Wearing it as pants or a corset it also unnecessary.  

TL: Britney Spears
BL: Katy Perry
R: Destiny's Child



Just Can't Get Enough

There are lots of things I wish would just go away (i.e. bubble necklaces, Miss Me jeans, Crocs), but one thing I am happy to see have staying power is the chambray shirt.  Have you seen the Fashion Police segment 'Gotta Have It, Make It Stop,' where they talk about different trends and decide if they want to see more of them, or never want to see them again?  Even though this shirt has been around forever, it's seeing a spike in popularity and I say "gotta have it."  It's one of the most versatile pieces in my closet and can easily be styled a countless number of ways.

I've paired mine with red jeans, paisley printed shorts, and here with floral printed jeans.  Mine is a basic button-down, but I also like the collarless and pullover options. 

L: me in an Old Navy shirt, Gap jeans
TR: Rubbish 'Chambray Boyfriend Shirt' (Nordstrom)
CR: Banana Republic 'Heritage Chambray Shirt' (Banana Republic)
BR: Trina Turk 'Jemison Chambray Shirt' (Bloomingdales)

These sleeveless versions are perfect for summer.  I would wear these to the office with pencil skirts or cropped (not capri- another 'make it stop!') pants, or on the weekend with shorts.   

L: Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Dotty Chambray Shirt' (Bloomingdales)
TR: Rubbish 'Sleeveless Work Wear Shirt' (Nordstrom)
BR: Caslon 'Sleeveless Chambray Shirt' (Nordstrom)

Celebs also love the chambray shirt.  Jordana's is knotted and casually worn with a skirt and flip flops, Alessandra pairs hers with (really short) shorts, and Jayma dresses hers up on the red carpet with a sequin skirt.

Jordana Brewster, Alessandra Ambrosio, Jayma Mays

Skirt the Issue

I have maybe 3 skirts in my closet now that fit me and are still 'in style,' so I'm on the hunt for some new ones.  Skirts are tricky- they have to be the right length, not too tight, but also not too loose.  I need to try them on before I buy and I really hate doing that, so I just don't buy very many.  Every length is in right now (mini, midi, and maxi) so it's a great time to make some purchases.

TL: Nicholas 'Bonded Zip Skirt' (shopbop)
BL: 'Euclid Skirt' (shopsosie.com)
C: me in J.Crew skirt, Zara top, and MICHAEL Michael Kors shoes
TR: Limited 'Hi-Low Wrap Skirt' (Limited)
BR: DKNY 'Pencil Skirt with Contrast Seaming' (shopbop)

 I love a fun, patterned skirt that you can dress up with a blouse and heels or down with a tee shirt and sandals.

L: Mango 'Printed Sheer Skirt' (Mango)
TR: Club Monaco 'Marie Skirt' (Club Monaco)
CR: 'Miami Gardens Printed Skirt' (Francesca's)
BR: 'Sahara Printed Skirt' (Francesca's)



TL: Milly for Banana Republic 'Green Printed Skirt' (Banana Republic)
BL: BCBG Max Azria 'Michaela Pleated Wrap Skirt' (Bloomingdales)
TR: Zara 'Printed Pencil Skirt' (Zara)
BR: Club Monaco 'Cady Skirt' (Club Monaco)

The fit and flare style is so cute and flattering.  I like these in solid colors.  They can be worn now with sandals and later with tights and pumps.

TL: Banana Republic 'White Fit and Flare Skirt' (Banana Republic)
BL: Vince 'Leather Skirt' (Nordstrom)
TR: Collective Concepts 'Texture Pleated Skirt' (piperlime)
BR: Zara 'Printed Skirt' (Zara)

 Of course, black and white is right on trend, and these can also be worn from season to season. 


L: Jordana Brewster in a Rachel Zoe skirt
TR: Mango 'Ethnic Fabric Skirt' (Mango)
CR: Mango 'Combi Lace Skirt' (Mango)
BR: Limited 'Polka Dot Pencil Skirt' (Limited)

 

Emma Roberts, Alessandra Ambrosio, Selena Gomez



Wedding Belles

In honor of my sister's upcoming nuptials (this weekend!), I'm sharing some of my favorite and most memorable celeb wedding dresses.  Choosing the perfect gown can be tricky.  I know from searching for my own dress and from helping my sister look for her's that there are lots of bad ones out there!  But, when you are a celeb and have every resource at hand (and designers willing to custom make something), there's no excuse for not getting it right.  

Let's start with some of the most iconic wedding dresses.  The first one that comes to mind is Grace Kelly's dress that she wore to wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956.  Nicole Richie's dress was undoubtedly inspired by that one, as the top is almost identical, but the bottom is a different material.

L: Grace Kelly in Helen Rose
R: Nicole Richie in Marchesa

Kate Middleton's dress was also a nod to Grace Kelly's, with long lace sleeves and a full skirt.  I don't know that I would have picked this dress if I could have worn anything in the world, but she did look timeless, elegant and royal.  In America, the Kennedy's are royalty, and Jacqueline also wore an exquisite, unforgettable gown to her 1953 wedding to JFK. 

L: Kate Middleton in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
R: Jacqueline Bouvier in Anne Lowe

Sometimes the simplest silhouettes can make the biggest statements.  The gowns below are some of my favorite sheath dresses.

L: Jennifer Aniston in Lawrence Steele
C: Carolyn Bessette in Narciso Rodriquez
R: Kate Moss in John Galliano

The most universally flattering silhouettes are the mermaid and fit-and-flare, as Hilary Duff and Khloe Kardashian wore.  I think Khloe started the whole trend with the embellished, colored sashes.   Even though those are my favorite silhouettes, I'm obsessed with Ivanka Trump's A-line dress with those incredible lace sleeves. 

Hilary Duff, Khloe Kardashian, Ivanka Trump all in Vera Wang

Apparently one of the perks of being the daughter of a former US President is getting to buy a fabulous wedding gown.  Chelsea's was very extravagant for her formal wedding, while Jenna's was simple, yet detailed, for her farm wedding.

L: Chelsea Clinton in Vera Wang
R: Jenna Bush in Oscar de la Renta

Even if your dress is amazing, it doesn't always mean the marriage will work out, as these two couples sadly found out.  Katie Holmes' off the shoulder gown was gorg and Jessica Simpson looked like the quintessential beautiful Southern bride.  

L: Katie Holmes in Armani Prive
R: Jessica Simpson in Vera Wang

Cindy Crawford is always a bombshell and chose to wear a baby-doll dress to her beach wedding to Rande Gerber.  I mean, she's just hot, so she can wear whatever she wants to wear.  Megan Fox also had a beach wedding, but chose to wear a traditional strapless dress and long veil to her wedding to David Silver Brian Austin Green.

Cindy Crawford  in John Galliano
Megan Fox in Armani Prive

Some celebs like to go the non-traditional route and add a little (or a lot) of color to their dresses.  Anne Hathaway's and Gwen Stefani's looks were more ombre, while Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Biel went full-on pink with their dresses.  While I could never have pulled it off (or wanted to), Gwen is a rock star and I thought this dress was so perfect for her.  I also thought Reese got it right, as even though her dress was different,  it was still pretty and sweet.

TL: Anne Hathaway in Valentino Couture
TR: Reese Witherspoon in Monique Lhuillier
BL: Gwen Stefani in Christian Dior
BR: Jessica Biel in Giambattista Valli

These stars chose to take it to the extreme, especially Sarah Jessica Parker and Shenae Grimes, who wore black dresses.  Julianne Moore wore lavender and Blair Waldorf (ok not a real person, I know) wore baby blue to marry Chuck Bass.

L to R: Sarah Jessica Parker in an off-the-rack dress , Shenae Grimes in Vera Wang, Julianne Moore in Prada, Leighton Meester in Elie Saab.

I'm not really a fan of her dress as a whole (way too ruffle-y), but I still think Katherine Heigl was one of the most stunning brides ever.  I loved her hair and makeup, and cute birdcage veil.

Josh Kelley and Katherine Heigl

Now all of this wedding dress talk is making me want to have another wedding.  Well, not really, but can I just get another dress?!