Menswear for Work on a Hot Day

earrings: Akira // shirt: via TJ Maxx // shorts: Billy Blues // 

shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction // bracelets: Forever 21, thrifted

Sequin Lip Sweatshirt

I was absolutely obsessed with the Markus Lupfer Polka Lips Sweatshirt shown in Nordstrom's Fall Trend Show. But, alas, the $600 price tag meant it was never going to happen... UNTIL the talented and amazing Jill spotted this Forever 21 total rip off and snagged it for me (it's called the Dazzling Sequined Lips Sweatshirt and isn't available online right now, but F21 stuff comes and goes all the time)! It helps to have a personal shopper as a bestie (you can hire her here- she works long distance, too).

Buffalo Check and Wedge Sneakers

It was only warm enough to wear this jacket for a short while, but MAN was is a great buy! I feel like it makes every outfit that much cooler.

These sneakers were deemed "ugly" even by the H&M shopgirl who held them for me in the dressing room, but I love them. I had been searching for a wedge sneaker that didn't make me feel like an old lady poser, and I think these are minimalist enough to work.

Black Surplice Dress with Bright Plastic Necklace

This free dress has turned out to be quite useful! As has this crazy necklace that I almost didn't buy. These colors could have easily looked very summery, but the suede shoes and long sleeves place it firmly into the fall.

Gray Surplice Cotton Dress with Teal Wedges

Although I've been super psyched to wear m new fall clothes, the weather has been unseasonably warm. I declared it my mission to go through my closet and wear all of my dresses/skirts that don't work with tights, while bare legs were still an option.

This old, super comfortable Velvet dress finally bit the dust when I washed it after this wear. It was so thread bare that this last wash/dry tore a significant hole in the fabric.  But i think it went out in a blaze of glory, getting a last burst of life with this cool Akira necklace and matching Target wedges.

similar Dress // similar Shoes // identical Necklace

BaubleBar Necklaces · Call it SPRING Wedges · Kuhl Dresses

Guest Model: Party Dress for Mom-to-Be

This is my gorgeous sister Liz who, as you can see, is HELLA PREGNANT. But that didn't stop her one bit from parting all night with us like a champ (okay, well except for the alcohol bit...). I thought this dress was so clever and she looked so beautiful, she needed to be featured as a guest model.

The genius of the print on this (comfy cotton!) dress is that it totally fools the eye. Scroll back up to the first picture of her from straight on. Because the print is so graphic and asymmetrical, it's hard to tell if she's even pregnant, until she turns to the side and reveals the magic she's baking there! Pair that with high, but comfortable wedges and a sparkly clutch, and she's good to go.

Here are some other party-worthy maternity dresses with illusion prints. Click the smaller pictures below for more info.