Dotted

[Pants: Forever 21; Top: Forever 21; Cardigan: J.Crew via Buffalo Excahnge; Shoes: Dolce Vita (similar); Nails: Essie 'Sew Psyched']

Not much to say here. Just really, really, really sick of snow. 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Closet Remix: Layers on Layers

[Blazer: Forever 21 (this Theory one would be a good investment); Blouse: J.Crew factory; Sweater: Banana Republic outlet (similar); Jeans: Seven for All Mankind (similar); Boots; Salvatore Ferragamo (vintage & thrifted, a similar super dreamy modern version is here); Ring: Forever 21; Beanie: ??? (similar)]

I've said before that one of the best things about reading style blogs is getting inspired to look at your closet in a whole new way. In this case, My Style Pill's mix of blazer/sweater/blouse here and here pushed me to recreate my own version. This blazer has been a great staple, and the blouse and sweater are oldies. Throw it all together and it felt brand new without having to spend a single dime! Talk about wallet friendly.

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

Polo & Polka Dot

[Polo: Le Tigre (I think?) handmedown from hubby; Jeans: Gap; Scarf: H&M (earlier this season); Flats: Old Navy; Earrings: Gifted; Ring: Old Navy; Nails: Essie Lilacism Sass: Me]

A busy day and rain showers pushed this shoot inside. So here's your dose of primary colors, menswear, and my funny faces. Oh, and I just read this cool story on the history of the polo shirt (actually called the tennis shirt). Happy Thursday.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Polka Dots & Swing

[Dress: J.Crew factory (old, last seen as a skirt here); Blouse: J.Crew factory (old, last seen here); Necklace: J.Crew factory (old); Rings: Old Navy & Forever21; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban Boyfriend] 

Another day, another outfit inspired by the lovely Atlantic-Pacific. I loved the 1940's feel of this look when I first saw it on Blair, and immediately turned to my own closet to recreate it. I'm happy to say everything except the rings and flats is a few years old! I've actually had it planned out for a few months now, thanks to the outfit spreadsheet (don't judge me). The comfy but ladylike feel definitely brightened up a drab Monday morning last week! (Oh, and excuse the bare ears. A back to the pair I was wearing fell out during work, but luckily I recovered the stud.)

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Closet Remix: Collar & Bows

[Dress: Filene's Basement (old); Coral Blouse: Forever 21(sold out); Sandals: Target (old); Earrings: H&M (recent)]

A sheer, bright coral blouse added some spunk to this polka dress that just wasn't feeling so fresh anymore. I've been seeing lots of floating collars this year, so I wanted to recreate the look by layering this girlish, bowed top over it. The Target sandals are years old, but I'm also loving the classic summer design and the fact that they have held up so well.

Wishing it was warm enough to wear an outfit like that now! But it's jeans and jackets this week. 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Coral, Neutrals, & Night

[Coral Blazer: Forever 21 (appears to be sold out now but similar shades are here and here); Ruffled Top: J.Crew factory (old); Pants: Gap (old); Earrings: Old Navy; Ring: Old Navy; Bracelet: Flea Market; Shoes: Goodwill]

Where's the daylight, you say? We ran out of it before managing to take some good outfit photos on Saturday, so Mikhail got playful with his flash. That's why you see the fun hazy effects swirling around my face.

This blazer is a bright orangey coral, so I paired it with neutrals and some blue accessory pops. I bought the pants a couple years ago on sale at Gap during my senior week at college, and they have served me well. They can be dressed up, down, with color or with neutrals (and sometimes both in the same outfit). My favorite thing about the look, though, is the subtle print mixing, with the striped brown pants and the polka dot lining of the blazer, which flashes when the wind picks up! Otherwise it feels like my little fun secret.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets 

Purple Dot

[Polka Dot Blouse: J.Crew factory (old); Cardigan: Banana Republic; Pants: Theory via Crossroads Trading Co.; Shoes: Bandolino via T.J.Maxx, Necklaces: J.Crew factory (old); Earrings: BaubleBar]

I love when Boston decides to be sunny and warm. It makes waking up in the morning and snapping some outfit pictures before work much more pleasant. 

J.Crew factory pieces definitely dominate this look, with the purple polka dot blouse, two necklaces and "bracelet" (another necklace actually). I come from a place with two J.Crew outlets within five miles, so the store can definitely be seen a lot in my wardrobe. This whole outfit feels like one shopping deals win. There's the Banana Republic cardigan, which I picked up in December when they decided to discount the entire store by 40 percent one weekend. My black pants are Theory and were thrifted at this fabulous store on my San Francisco trip. And the shoes are the T.J.Maxx ones I've gushed over before. 

I'm starting to realize finding deals on clothes runs in my blood. Every time I compliment my beautiful stylish Nana on what she's wearing, she says something like. "Oh I got this at Macy's, on their clearance rack, which had another 30 percent off. AND I had a coupon. So it cost me $7." I also inherited my nocturnal and anti-morning tendencies from her. 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Wine & Mint

[Sweater: Forever21, available now in coral; Necklace: H&M; Scarf:H&M; Pants: Forever21, similar here; Shoes: Aerosoles via Marshalls, available here; Sunglasses: Ray-Ban]

I must have been feeling the minty love last week. I wore this Forever 21 sweater Friday on my fun trip to wine country when I was out west, and have been noticing all sorts of awesome mint outfits posted by other bloggers this week---like The Wonder Girl, Gal Meets Glam, Atlantic-Pacific, and Kendi Everyday. Now that I look at it, those are four of my absolute favorite gals for style inspiration, so I feel like I'm in pretty good company.

What do you think of the scarf? I came across it at H&M when I was doing some last minute vacation shopping and couldn't pass it up (for $6? DUH!). I finished the outfit off with some nautical striped flats I picked up at Marshalls. Gotta represent my New England prep.

As you can see here, wine country was pretty gorgeous (these photos were taken in Sonoma). I'm already dreaming about a return trip.