Aloha!

I'm baaaaaack!

Yes, I have returned from Hawaii with a belly full of good food, a camera full of great pictures, a tan that has made me about eight shades darker than my normal coloring, and a heart full of awesome memories. I can't wait to share with you over the next week all the fun I had on my trip, but I have to confess that I was a terrible fashion blogger while I was away. We always seemed to be a) running on the go b) in bathing suits and c) surrounded by people, so outfit photos were a bit challenging. I was unable to really get true outfit photos in most of the time, but I want to share my trip with you, so I hope you'll enjoy my posts anyway!

One of my favorite places in Oahu is the North Shore, and in particular, Shark's Cove (pictured above). It has some of the best snorkeling in its shallowe tidepools, and we must have seen about 500 fish during our swim. I chose this cute little Forever 21 tube dress to wear over my bathing suit. I couldn't resist buying it for my trip, since the name of the dress was the "Oahu Sundress."  The weather teetered between rainy and sunny all day, but this dress was a perfect choice because it was easy to take on off between our swimming/snorkeling stops, and it didn't give me any weird tan lines because of its tube shape.

Our other favorite North Shore haunts all involve food (naturally).  Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku is absolutely to die for, I crave its succulent garlic shrimp for months after I've returned to the Mainland. And Matsumoto's Shave Ice is the best on the whole island. I indulged by having them pour condensed milk over the top of my Electric Lemonade, Cherry, Pineapple shave ice, and I was in HEAVEN. The shave ice was as big as my head, but I will admit that I ate the entire thing. There are no calories in food you consume on vacation, right? Did I mention that this tube dress was also a perfect choice because it was stretchy? Definitely necessary for a trip to the North Shore!

Can't wait to share with you more Hawaii posts with you this week...Aloha, loves!

Being Catty

Top - F21, Skirt - ModCloth, Shoes - Steve Madden

As much as I love animal prints, I do think that they can be tricky to pull off. So many of the animal print pieces out there can look a bit tawdry if worn the wrong way. I'm always wary of wearing it if it's too tight or too bright or furry. Animal print that is any of those things can look terrible on a curvy girl, so I'm pretty selective about the pieces I look for. That's why I LOVE this printed ModCloth skirt. It's so rare that I find an animal print skirt that is cute and girly, rather than tough and edgy, and I just love the bow belt.

I have been dying to wear this skirt with a bright magenta top for months now, ever since I saw Jessica over on What I Wore wear one last year. I love how the colors play off each other, and make the outfit appropriate for day or for night. I'm excited to pair this skirt with some other unexpected colors as well, like teal or royal blue in the future.

How do you wear your animal prints? Do you usually wear them during the day, or reserve them for nighttime? Do you think there's a wrong way to wear animal print?

True Blue

Dress - Vintage, Jewelry - Vintage, Shoes, Lucky c/o ModCloth, Belt - F21

I picked up this vintage dress recently, and one of my favorite things about it is that it didn't need to be altered! So many of the vintage dresses I pick up need to be shortened because I am extremely vertically challenged (and apparently people were giants 40 years ago). I swear I spend more money on alterations then I can stand sometimes, so finding a piece that doesn't need to be fixed is a major coup for me. But in addition to the lack of alterations that were needed, I love the deep blue color and the luxurious texture of this dress, not to mention the Mandarin collar and drapey sleeves. I know I've said this before, but there is just something so magical about wearing vintage. It's like you're wearing history, and you just feel like you need to go do something glamorous and special while you're wearing it. I didn't, of course. Unless you count grabbing sandwiches and running errands glamorous. Well, we did get dijon mustard on the sandwiches instead of regular mustard. Yep, my life is just that exciting sometimes.

I have several more vintage pieces that I can't wait to style but they're...you guessed it...being altered. I swear I should invest in some sewing lessons and a sewing machine and call it a day. I'd probably save millions. Or tens. But I have to confess, I'm just slightly afraid of the sewing machine. My mother was a fashion designer, so she bought me one of those toy sewing machines when I was a kid. It scared me to death, especially when I nearly sewed my finger into a scrap of fabric once (maybe three times). I'd like to tell you that I became more graceful and less accident-prone with age, but that would be a huge lie. Sigh. Short and clumsy. I am an alterations shop's dream come true.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Top - Target, Shorts - Banana Republic

Today is the day! The day that I finally jet off to Hawaii for a much needed eight day vacation. The boyfriend will be playing in a golf tournament, so I am envisioning plenty of time for me to lie on the beach, read books, and get some serious R&R. I'm looking forward to eight days of good food, snorkeling, catching sunsets, and, of course, shopping.

I am one of those people that likes to be extremely comfortable on the plane, so I wanted to wear something simple and uncomplicated. But since I am also in the habit of hitting the beach almost as SOON as the plane lands, I needed an outfit that would be easily beach-ready.  I love this tube top because it's pretty and girly and yet, perfect as a bathing suit cover up.  Sorry for the lack of photos, but we were rushing to the airport, and it was the best I could do! 

Here's a sneak peek at my packing skills, not to mention some of the great and colorful clothes I packed for my vacay. I can't wait to show you my photos and outfits when I get back!

I feel terrible that I will be leaving this blog (for the most part) during my vacation...but don't fret! I couldn't leave you high and dry, so I put together some posts of outfits that I haven't had a chance to post recently and have scheduled them to post in my absence. I hope you enjoy them...and I can't wait to check back in with you all in eight days. Aloooooha!

Ice Cream, You Scream

Skirt - c/o Chantel on Melrose, Jacket, Shoes - F21

There is something about this skirt that just makes me feel like going to an old fashioned soda shop for a root beer float and two straws. I'm not sure if it's the skirt's cream color or satiny texture or tiny retro polka dot pattern, but something about it made me want to complete my 1950s ice cream shop look with my trusty mary jane platforms. Even though I don't normally need an excuse to head to the local ice cream parlor (yes, we have a REAL honest-to-goodness old fashioned ice cream parlor here!), I love this skirt all the more because it takes the blame for my insatiable cravings for sweets. Way to take one for the team, skirt.  

 =

I have spent the last few days making lists and more lists of things to do and things to pack for my Hawaiian vacation. T-minus two days!  Even though I consider myself a fairly skilled packer, I can't deny that I absolutely HATE doing it. I hate being forced to decide days in advance exactly what I'm going to wear and how. I like to dress according to my mood, and as you've probably guessed, I like having a lot of options. Luckily, many of the pieces I'm bringing can be mixed and matched depending on my whimsy, so I'll still get to have a little freedom with my outfits. I can't wait to show you what I come up with!

Blazer of Glory

Jacket - Ann Taylor, Dress - F21, Shoes - Lucky c/o ModCloth

 So this post is dedicated to Kristen Wiig and Kendi of Kendi Everyday, two other girls who are fans of the blazer-dress combo. Kendi mentioned in this post last week that she loved how Kristen was constantly sporting a blazer with a dress in the movie "Bridesmaids" (a look I also loved!) but that some girl in the movie theater complained that she didn't like that style. Como say what? What's not to like? I'm a huge fan of the look. I like how a little blazer can tone down the femininity of a girly dress but still make the outfit look polished and structured. I guess this is just further proof that fashion is subjective and individualized. Or that that girl in the movie theater with Kendi was dumb. Just kidding.

 

Am I wearing these shoes too much? I just can't seem to get my feet out of them. I cook in them, I sleep in them. OK, not really. But I would if I could. Honestly, I adore them, and I can't stop wearing them because they really seem to go with everything. They're cute and comfortable, which is perfect for a girl like me who wears heels incessantly. Let me know if you're getting sick of seeing them, but hopefully you like them as much as I do!

The weather has turned odd and scary in my neck of the woods recently. It's suddenly chilly with thunderstorms, rain and tornado warnings (What?!). So I'm planning on spending the weekend cuddled up at home, watching movies, eating takeout, and planning out my outfits for a trip to Hawaii next week! I LOVE Hawaii, so I can not wait to leave behind this dreary weather for the sunny skies and beaches of Oahu. It will be so nice to actually NOT have to pack a jacket. Yes, it's the little things that please me. Have a great weekend!

A Whole New Skirt

Top - Ann Taylor, Skirt - frenchi c/o Nordstrom, Necklace - c/o Chantel on Melrose

 With all of the love that I have been giving floral prints out there, I have been forgetting to spread some love to my other great printed wear these days. Shame on me. I like to make sure and love my clothes equally and not play favorites. They fight, you know. Anyway, I've had this skirt for a while now but forgot about it, namely because I always felt like I had to wear it with black or white, which got boring. But with all my desire to wear color these days, I tried pairing it with a bright colored top instead, and I loved the result! All of a sudden the skirt feels fresh and springy, and I can't wait to try pairing it with other bright colors. I realize that any color will really work with this skirt. I was so smart to buy it, even if I didn't realize how smart I was until now.

This outfit made me really feel as if I just bought a brand new skirt....but for free! Don't you love it when you can go shopping in your closet and find a new favorite in an old piece of clothing you may have forgotten about or cast aside after a couple of wears? This week I challenge you to go to your closets and try to find one item of clothing that you might be neglecting. Try styling it with something completely different than what you're used to and see if you can freshen up that piece! Shopping in your closet is smart and free and FUN...let me know what you come up with!

Coasting Through

Jacket - Gap, Dress - Banana Republic, Shoes - Lucky c/o ModCloth

 Over the holiday weekend, the boyfriend and I decided at the last minute to take a trip up to the coast for a little mini vacation. There's just something about taking a drive up the coast that makes me want to throw on a jean jacket, big sunglasses, and a glamorous head scarf like an old Hollywood movie star. But road trips are always a bit tricky because you want to be comfortable, yet chic. This nautical looking striped jersey dress with a cute little tie belt from Banana Republic turned out to be the perfect choice. It made me feel ready for the sand and waves, but it was as comfortable as pajamas. So I just added the big sunglasses and jean jacket and then opted for a bright orange scarf to give the outfit a pop of color.

We spent the day walking around town, eating a steaming bowl of delicious clam chowder at the wharf, doing a little sightseeing and shopping, grabbing homemade warm chocolate chip cookies at a sweets shop, and of course stopping for pictures in the gorgeous weather. It made me remember my trips to the coast when I was a kid and how much I loved them. I also spent some time playing around with the different film filters on my Iphone camera apps.

One last thing I wanted to share with you is a little tip I have for quick overnight trips. I hate packing too much on short vacations, so I like to come up with ways to transition my daytime pieces to nighttime without a lot of extra luggage. This jersey dress was perfect because it already came with a belt (but you can always add a belt of your own if you want to do this trick with a dress of your own), so I just liberally untucked the dress under the belt to make it a shorter, tunic length, added skinny jeans and some funky platforms and I was ready for dinner date-night! Who says all girls overpack? Besides, packing less clothes left me with room enough in my bag for some SHOPPING and that is something I always have to be prepared for. Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!