Guest Posting: Party Looks

Here's a snippet from a guest post I did last week for Kimberlee over at I Have A Degree In This

...Summer equals cute dress season in my mind. Boston's weather really limits me to jeans, boots, sweaters, and scarves for most of the year, so I take every chance I get during these warm months to sport a short, swingy, patterned, or just plain fun dress.

Because it's been so hot and humid lately, I like to make a statement with the dress as much as I possibly can, and leave the accessorizing and layering to a minimum. This dress is one of my favorite examples. The bright color and detailed neckline don't need much accessorizing at all. I actually wore this to the office one day, but I've also taken it for a spin for social events like a friend's bridal shower two summers ago (yes, this baby is old).

I rounded up some of my favorite types of simple-but-statement-making dresses, mostly drawn from my favorite cheap chic stores (Forever21, Asos, and Dorothy Perkins, which I have yet to buy from but absolutely love to browse).

Clockwise from the top left: One/ Two/ Three/ Four/ Five/ Six

Why six dresses you ask? Well because birthdays should be-week long affairs, and I'm leaving the seventh day up to you to figure out.  (Plus six looked best laid out like this :).) As you can see, I love the shift dress shape! It's simple and sexy and can handle a bold color, pattern, texture, or embellishment. Dresses 2 and 3 have really fabulous low backs and cutouts—a detail that's too risky for the office, but perfect for a celebratory look. I'm also big fan of swingy skirts and fun stripes. I actually have Dress #6 in my closet and am planning on taking it for a birthday spin. I wasn't too sure about the high-low shape that's been big this season, but the stripes come in my favorite colors and the rest of the dress is so cute and classic, I couldn't resist.  

Finish these off with some bright studs or chandeliers (BaubleBar is my favorite source for those), classic espadrilles or peep toe heels, and fun nails (I've been rotating Essie's Turquoise & Caicos, Tart Deco, and Lilacism all summer long). 

Slouchy Blue & Breezy Skirt

[Top: Barney's New York Outlet; Skirt: J.Crew factory (solids here) ; Shoes: Old Navy; Earrings: BaubleBar]

I'm craving all things slouchy, flowy, and patterned lately. This dress is the third of the J.Crew convertible-strapless-dress-I-can-do-anything wonder. In this case, worn as a skirt. That hits me at the midi length. A length I told you yesterday I had been afraid of. Oh, the strides I'm making.

Everyone goes nuts over dressy dresses with pockets, but this shirt has a pocket, so that's almost as cool. Yeah, so it adds extra material around my middle, but hey, that will be perfect for hiding a pregnancy once I get around to having kids.

One last thing, Mikhail kicked a soccer ball directly at my thighs 15 seconds before he started snapping away. So I was recovering for the first part of this shoot.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Ladylike Print Mixing

[Striped Shirt: Forever 21; Cardigan: J.Crew Factory (old); Jacket: Forever 21 (old) ; Jeans: James Jeans via Gilt; Necklace: J.Crew; Earrings: BaubleBar; Shoes: Cole Haan (old)]

I've loved seeing all the fun print mixing this season and wanted to try it out with a few pieces I had. I bought the striped shirt earlier this spring from Forever 21 to have as a good staple, and realized it was the same color tone as a leopard-esque cardigan I got from the J.Crew outlet a few years ago. I also remembered this fun houndstooth cape-like jacket I bought at Forever going into my junior year of college. I think it gives the look a Mad Men feel. Who says bargain purchases have to be thrown away after a season?

All photos by Mikhail Glabets