Fall Prep

[Top: Old Navy; Cardigan: Old Navy; Jeans: Joe's (similar); Shoes: Sperry; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Necklace: Forever 21 (old); Ring: Forever 21 (similar)]

I intend on making this sweater work for every season (so far I've done spring, summer, and the tail end of winter). I loved how the white looked against the kelly green, and of course was psyched to give my Sperrys some more wear before winter hits. Slightly ripped jeans and some glitzier jewelry took the completely preppy vibe down a notch.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Menswear Moment

[Blouse: J.Crew factory; Pants: Gap (old); Necklace: J.Crew factory; Shoes: Sperry; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban; Earrings: BaubleBar; Nails: Essie Lilacism; Ring: Old Navy]

I wouldn't say my style is man-repelling, but more man-admiring. Meaning, I love taking a menswear approach to how I dress. Flat shoes? Yes please. Button downs? Yup. Straight, tailored pants? Uh-huh. Before you call me crazy, taket at look at this, this, or this and tell me how chic it looks.  So, you can imagine how happy I was when the #StyleMeAugust prompt a couple weeks ago was Menswear Moment. 

I'm also trying to get some serious wear out of my Sperrys before Labor Day hits. Boat shoes don't exactly scream fall and winter, do they? Unless they're made of fur or flannel, which I haven't seen yet. Sperry, are you listening? Get on that. 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Day Off Adventure

[Striped Tank: Forever 21 (last year, similar shape here); Blazer: Forever 21 (last seen here, similar shade here); Shorts: Forever 21 (similar); Earrings: BaubleBar; Shoes: Sperry; Necklace: H&M (old); Bracelet: J.Crew]

The return of Morning Erin.  (Cue grumpy demeanor, tired face) She quickly cheered up, though, given she had the day off and spent it on the beach. OK, enough with the third person. Mikhail and I stayed in the Cape the rest of that weekend with some wonderfully generous friends, eating awesome food and sunning ourselves. This stripes/shorts/blazer combo might have just been on repeat. (Makes for light packing.)

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Snapshot of #StyleMeJuly

Hellooooo. I thought I'd give you a quick preview of what I've been up to with #StyleMeJuly (this month's rendition of the awesome style photo prompts put on by Hilary Rushford; more info here). Some of these outfits make it over to the blog, but others live inside Instagram. Here are some of the ones I had the most fun with this month.

Day 6 "Channeling Audrey"

[Top: Crossroads Trading Co. (last seen here)]

Oh how I would love to wear Audrey's signature black Givenchy dress, or the more casual pearls-polo-scarf-skirt seen here. I had to make do with what was in my closet, so I pulled out a 60's-era vintage blouse with the neck scarf already built in (talk about efficiency!).

Day 10 "Retro Moment"

[Shorts: Banana Republic outlet (last seen here); Pink Oxford: Gap, swapped; Sweater: Forever 21; Shoes: Sperry]

Retro might call to mind bell bottoms and a giant afro, or a super short, geometric print mod dress, but I went a different route with this one. I had recently seen pictures of Jackie O on a boat looking oh so preppy, and I wanted to channel that. The loose seersucker Bermuda shorts, striped sweater layered over Oxford shirt, and boat shoes did the trick for me.

Day 11 "Dots and Circles"

[Scarf: H&M; Shirt: Old Navy]

Why stop at one polka dot pattern? I know I just confessed being fed up with crazy pattern and color mixing, but dots get a special dispensation. I love the vibrant blue of the scarf, and the fact that the shirt is so comfortable and soft it feels like I'm wearing pajamas.

Hope you join in on the fun for the rest of this month! Spamming your friends' Instagram feeds with wardrobe pictures feels less and less awkward over time, I swear.

Dots & Stripes

[Shirt: Forever 21; Polka dot dress worn as skirt: J.Crew factory (old); Shoes: Sperry from Journey's (last seen here); Snood: Asos; Ring: Old Navy; Earrings: Buffalo Exchange; Bracelets: SoWa Vintage market (go check it out on a Sunday)]

I threw a t-shirt over a favorite halter, 50's-esque dress from J.Crew that's just a bit too revealing for Sundays. In the last photo you can see my favorite find from the day: a set of bangles from the SoWa Vintage market that cost a grand total of $7 (I got many more than what's on my arm). I love the leopard one; just a perfect touch of the pattern, if you ask me. Hope everyone had a great 4th!

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Ivory & White

[White blouse: Forever 21 (old); Cardigan: Old Navy (earlier this year); Shorts: Forever 21; Shoes: Sperry Topsider in Ice; Earrings: Old Navy; Necklace: J.Crew factory (old) ; Rings: Old Navy & Forever 21]

Morning Erin returns. This outfit made it all the way from the backyard to Martha's Vineyard, but the camera didn't. We took the (early morning!) ferry in with my best friend and her boy, and spent the day riding mopeds, swimming, soaking up the sun, and eating seafood. Our moped broke down about 20 miles from where the boat left and two hours before the last one back to mainland, but after several pleading phone calls, the rental place sent a pickup truck to rescue us. We ran to the boat as it was almost pulling away, boarding on the bottom deck where they transport cars.  Drama and adventure. The best way to end any day away, if you ask me.

About the outfit: I hate wearing anything tucked in our high-waisted because of my short torso, but shorts seem to be an exception because the legs balance out the proportions. What do you think? Oh, and it was 90 degrees that day so the cardigan never even made it out of the car. I was regretting that move when it got chilly at night, though.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Girly Stripes

[Dress: Forever 21 (old but similar); Jacket: Banana Republic outlet (old); Shoes: Sperry (bought on sale at Journey's); Necklace: J.Crew factory (old); Ring: Old Navy] 

A random stop into Journey's at the mall produced these cute Sperry's on sale. As if the stripes and navy blazer weren't nautical enough, these shoes give the outfit that extra punch.  The messy side braid is brought to you by day 24 of #StyleMeMay: a new hairstyle. Happy start of Memorial Day Weekend (consider the navy stripes in the dress your welcome into the holiday). 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Swapped Red Maxi

[Red Maxi Dress (worn as a skirt): DKNY via a Swapaholics party; Cream Sheer Shirt: Forever 21 (old); Scarf: H&M (old); Shoes: Sperry Topsider in Ice; Earrings: BaubleBar; Bracelets: Flea Market]

A long red maxi dress seams like an impractical purchase unless you're Vanna White (but then it would have to be sparkly). BUT a long red maxi dress hanging on the racks at a Swapaholics party, waiting to be switched out with some garment you've tired of, well that's a different story. It's even better when you discover said long red maxi dress is DKNY. And when you realize that it can be worn under shirts, with heels, or flats.

Mikhail said this was my hippy outfit when he first saw me in it. I think he was confused. Hello, hippies don't wear Sperry Topsiders. But me, I love Topsiders. They can be completely prepped out with bright colors and cardigans, or prevent a boho ensemble from going too Woodstock. I've worn my navy pair to death, and was excited to see this awesome color via Kate of O My Heart! She's got some great style.  Oh, and this outfit fell on Day 5 of #StyleMeMay: put a scarf on it.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets