Red, White, & Layers

[Dress: Forever 21; Sweater (old) and Tights: J.Crew Factory; Boots: J.Crew (old and hand me downs; similar); Snood: Asos; Bracelet: SoWa Vintage; Earrings: Old Navy; Nails: OPI 'Dating a Royal']

I've developed a recipe for creating summer in winter.  Take summer dress, put it over tights and boots, top it off with a thick sweater and scarf, and boom! Winterized.

And I'm prepared to repeat it.

Happy Friday all!

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Plummy

[Jeans: Forever 21 (sold out now, similar color here); Sweater: J.Crew thrifted from Salvation Army; Shoes; Restricted via DSW; Scarf: H&M men's section; Ring: Forever 21 (similar); Cuff: Joyo; Leopard Bangle: SoWa Vintage]

So glad I ended my colored jeans protest. And discovered my obsession with thrifting oversized sweaters.In this outfit, I'm also introducing you to some of the colors I used in my wedding. Because—drumroll, please—I'm nearing my one-year anniversary, and am on celebratory trip currently and plan to entertain you with a few wedding style posts toward the end of this week. Yes, entertain. It will be fun. Promise.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

Like A Boy

[Striped top: Forever 21 (similar); Denim shirt: Mikhail's Closet; Jeans: Old Navy; Trench: Forever 21 (similar); Scarf: Forever 21 (old); Cuff: Joyo]

I usually protest when my husband tells me I've dressed like a boy (that happens about three times a week). Oxford shirts and baggy sweaters, are chic, not manly Mikhail. DUH.

Welp, this time I had nothing to stand on. The denim shirt actually came from his closet. I have a reason for that, though. Blair wowed me with this look on the left (shocker, right? I've never said I like her style before or anything. Ever.) and I was determined to recreate it. I had a red trench, plenty of stripes, new Old Navy black skinny jeans, but no denim shirt/jacket. But I knew Mikhail did... Stolen!

And even though he questions my man-emulating fashion sense, I sure do love him. Yep.

All photos by Mikhail Glabets

A Floral Touch

[Dress: Forever 21 (earlier this year); Scarf: Forever 21 (old but cool options here); Rings: Forever 21 (different color left); Earrings: Forever 21; Sandals: Madewell]

This scarf has been my favorite last-minute chic accessory for the last four years. It transforms a basic white t-shirt and jeans, and spices up an already bold, bright dress.

[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.

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

Cobalt & Coral

[Dress: Forever 21: Scarf: Target; Earrings: BaubleBar; Sandals: DSW] 

Ten dollars, eighty cents. That's how much this dress cost. It's a cool midi length (or maxi, for the petite crowd), actually stays up on top, and comes in one of my current favorite colors. It's a bit on the thinner side, but all things considered, you really can't go wrong. I'm looking forward to wearing with boots and a chunky sweater come fall.

I styled with some favorite statement chandelier earrings from BaubleBar in a similar shade, and a contrasting coral scarf. Colorful but casual enough for the BBQ I attended later that night. 

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 

Closet Remix: Colorful

[Cardigan: H&M (old), similar colors here and here; White Button-Down Shirt and Brown Belt: Forever 21 (old) a sheer but really cute similar one here; Blue Scarf: Target; Jeans: 7 for All Mankind via REVOLVE; Boots: Salvatore Ferragamo, thrifted; Earrings: BaubleBar]

People say style bloggers make you want to shop more. I agree. But for me, a lot of the time that means shopping in my own closet. I think that's the most budget-friendly shopping there is, no? 

Seeing the way these ladies combine and layer different tops, dresses, accessories and scarfs inspires me to see a whole new side of pieces I already have in my wardrobe. Each time I come across a look that reminds me of something I already have,  I jot down my ideas in a notebook or Google document so I don't forget them (nerdy, right? does anyone else out there do this?). 

Like this pink sweater, bought at H&M a few years ago. I wore it to death at first, then grew tired of it and have barely pulled it out this year. Until, I saw this outfit and awesome color combination in my favorite blog Atlantic-Pacific.  My cardigan isn't quite the saturate fuschia that Blair's sweater is, but her look inspired me to pair mine with my bright blue Target scarf, a white button down underneath (not as tailored as the original look, but it has that fun high-low thing going on that seems to be popular this year). I'd love to be wearing the pink springy flats, but for now I have to brave the 45-degree weather with my boots (vintage Salvatore Ferragamo, thrifted, and repaired twice!). 

I'm keen on big bold earrings, so I'm wearing those fun BaubleBar chandeliers I've posted before here. The result is a different, looser twist on the original polished, tailored look. But I achieved the similar fun color scheme without having to buy anything new! 

All photos by Mikhail Glabets 

Prepping for Spring

[Cardigan: Old Navy; Dress: Cynthia Rowley via T.J.Maxx (similar shape here in purple); Shoes: Old Navy; Scarf: Target; Ring: Forever 21; Bracelet: J.Crew factory, old; Earrings: Buffalo Exchange]

 

I saw this sweater on Old Navy's website and knew it needed to be in my closet. And it looks and feels better in person than it does in pictures, with its Chanel-esque boxy shape and detailed trim. The dress, that's a Cynthia Rowley piece I bought at T.J.Maxx last summer for a cool $30. I went into the store to buy socks or measuring cups or something equally utilitarian and the versatile navy form called out my name from the rack.

When combined, the two pieces evoke a sort country club feel. My boss at work said she felt like she should be giving me campaign donations. To keep myself looking too prim and proper, I made the look current by adding the beautiful brights popping up everywhere this season. Scarf from Target, and Old Navy shoes, which I first learned about from this local blogger. (They also come with a bright blue toe.) One more secret: that "bracelet" is actually a necklace I looped around several times. Most actual bracelets look goofy big on my small wrists, so this was a great alternative.

Oh, and as if my husband doesn't do enough (shoot and process every photo on here), he came up with the idea for today's post title. It almost doesn't even feel like spring in Boston, but summer,  at 83 degrees. Yes, 83 beautiful degrees. I was still slipping and sliding on ice this time last year.

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.