So Much Love

I. Love. This. Vest. I have been lusting after military vests for some time now, and when I was home I snatched this one up for a fantastic price at Marshall's. Have I ever told y'all that I. Love. Marshall's? Because I do, a lot. 

As if that wasn't enough love for one blog post, I'm also totally obsessed with the On Pointe necklace I'm featuring here from the new Premier Designs fall line! The pointy strand is removable, giving you the option of several different looks all in one. I can guarantee you that this outfit combo (or some variation) will become a staple this fall, because I love the combo of the marled knit sweater with the edgy necklace and on-trend-vest. Here I've paired them with shorts for a great transitional outfit as the weather starts to change here in Florida.

Outfit Details

Chaps Sweater (similar) / Kenar Vest (similar) / J. Crew Factory Shorts / Audrey Brooke Flats

Premier Designs Jewelry: On Pointe necklace; bracelet

--Caroline

Full Spectrum

Blouse from a boutique in Italy / J Crew Factory Shorts (different colors here)

Gabor Sandals / Premier Designs Jewelry

This necklace, Spectrum, has been in the Premier collection for awhile now, almost as long as I've been a jeweler. I don't own it myself, so this is my mom's (I love raiding her jewelry box when I'm home!) and normally I'm not drawn to wear it. But the other day, it seemed like this was the perfect necklace for my neutral outfit. The bright colors added just the right touch of color I needed to take this outfit from blah to glam!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

--Caroline

Sweet Peach & Navy

Bob Timberlake Blouse / Wrap Skirt (similar) 

Wedges from a Boutique in Italy (similar) / Premier Designs Jewelry

This peachy-coral top was an impromptu find from Bass Pro Shop, of all places. I wore it a ton in Italy because of it's loose, flowy nature on hot days, but here I've dressed it up for a date night, girls night out, or even a creative office look! Navy is such a classic color, and a nice wrap skirt like this one can work for nearly every season or event. It is made summery with the bright color of the blouse. The brown and white of the wedges are picked back up in the necklace, creating a cohesive look. 

Where would you wear an outfit like this one?

Happy Monday!

--Caroline

Summer Safari

I'm definitely having a moment with olive green tones these days, as well as neutrals. I purchased these shorts from Zara while I was in Florence, and they are quickly becoming a summer staple in my closet. Their beautiful coloring pops against a neutral sweater, creating an outfit perfect for a chilly summer night outside in Colorado. Leopard print ballet flats and a coordinating necklace tie the look together, adding interest to the solids. 

Outfit Details

J Crew Sweater / Zara Shorts (similar, similar) / Audrey Brooke Flats / Premier Designs Jewelry

How would you style these olive shorts? Looking for suggestions so I don't run out of ideas before the summer ends!

--Caroline

A Sandal Story

Today I'm skipping over spring and dreaming of summer sandals! I love all shoes, but I especially love a good sandal, for two reasons:

1) It usually signifies warm weather, which I adore. (Except we did have a Senior Superlative at my high school in Colorado that was "Most Likely To Wear Flip Flops In A Blizzard"... It happened more than you'd think!)

2) Being small footed (5/5.5 on a good day) the shoe types that I have more wiggle room with (and can usually wear a 6) are tennis shoes, boots, and sandals. So many more options in that size!!!

Shortly after I moved to Florida back in 2012, I was at Dillard's in the fall and they were having a fantastic shoe clearance, and I picked up several pairs. My favorite pick from this trip was a pair of silver Nurture brand sandals. To this day, they are my favorite sandal, and on my "essential shoes" part of my personal shoe collection. They are so cushy and comfortable, and go with literally everything! As you can image, they have definitely seen a lot. While there are a couple tears in the footbed now, I am not ready to give them up! At least not until I find a worthy replacement. 

The most recent times you've seen me wear them on This Styled Life. Seeing these pictures make me yearn for summer now!

But there is another sandal I love that came into my life last summer, on my trip to Europe with my family. After walking around Prague & a couple cities in Germany for the first part of our trip, I developed a pain in my heel that I believe was Achilles Tendonitis, and I'm certain the culprit was my sandals that had a back heel strap. We still had the bulk of our trip to go, and all the shoes I brought had backs. So what's a girl to do? Go shoe shopping in Wurzburg, Germany of course! Thankfully, I found an awesome shoe store and purchased a pair of Gabor sandals that lasted me through the rest of the trip. I grew to love them so much that, anticipating a similar problem might develop next summer on my study abroad, I asked for another pair for Christmas.

Rocking my first Gabor sandals in Miltenberg, Germany. (original post)

Wearing my new pewter pair on the blog a week or so ago. (original post)

We will see what happens with my beloved silver sandals... I'm eyeing this Born option and this Isotoner option right now, but I really think I'm going to wear mine until the day they give out! As far as the Gabor sandals go, I love them, and I can't wait to bring both pairs to Europe next summer. You can shop the style I have internationally here (shipping will be a lot more) or you can shop through a US retailer here or here. 

Do you have a style, brand, or favorite shoe you are obsessed with? What story do your shoes tell?

--Caroline

Linking Up With: The Fashion Canvas and Walking In Memphis In High Heels for the Trend Spin Linkup.

Jump Into Fall

Jumpsuit / Earrings / Necklace / Watch / Bag / Sandals

Y'all already know that I love rompers, and with that love comes one of jumpsuits. I'm still looking for the perfect one to add to my closet, but I was perusing Nordstrom Rack online the other day and came across this great little number by Tart. The pattern is fun and geometric, which is a great way to transition from summer into fall. Complete the look with some gunmetal accessories, a fun deep turquoise bag, and your favorite sandals from summer. As it starts to get cooler, throw on a jean jacket and you are good to go!

I have a huge love for Nordstrom Rack... I've collected some great jewelry pieces from there, as well as some of my favorite dresses. And shoes! Oh they have so many tiny-footed options! That alone is amazing to me, being a 5/5.5! Tallahassee just got an H&M, which everyone is obsessing over, but the day we get a NR... I just might die!

Where do you LOVE to shop?

--Caroline

*Please note that this is not a sponsored post. I have no connection to Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack, and the thoughts expressed here are merely my personal opinions.*

Inspired Style: Summer Casual

Inspiration: BuzzFeed

Inspired Style: This series focuses on outfits inspired by the designed world. Whether it's an interior, an exterior, art, or a color scheme, I am easily inspired to turn beautiful things or ideas into beautiful outfits. 

As summer reaches it's hottest points, all I can usually think about is comfy clothes, and staying in the AC as much as possible. Along those notes, I can picture myself curling up in this reading nook with a good book and some lemonade, not moving for hours as I discover a new world in a book. This was exactly how I spent many summer days as a kid, and still sometimes now. 

The soft blues of the pillows led me to this relaxed color scheme of blue, green, and tan. The soft baseball tee (Gap) exudes comfort, much like the blanket & pillows in this space. Playful seahorse shorts (J. Crew Factory) add a playful touch, as does a fun patterned tote (Gap) for all your beach day essentials. Silver earrings and a watch (both Premier Designs) are all the accessories you need on a hot day. Finally, a nautical belt (Gap) and tan sandals (Payless) finish off the casual summery look. 

--Caroline

Seagrass

Growing up, every July we would make our way from Colorado to South Carolina for a family reunion with my mom's family. We'd rent a huge beach house in Garden City, South Carolina, right on the beach, and we'd stay for a week playing and catching up. I have so many fun memories being there as a kid. Whether we were building sand castles, racing back to the house from down the beach during a sudden wind & hail storm, or hanging out at Broadway at the Beach, it was always a fun vacation.

Slowly the tradition started to fade; people got married, children were born, my Nana passed away. But every July I am reminded of those fun times, running through the seagrass and looking for shells, making memories like there was no tomorrow. As an ode to my reminiscence, today's post is on decorating your home with seagrass!

I'd like to debunk some previous thoughts you might have about seagrass in the home...

You don't have to be near the water in order to enjoy the aesthetics of seagrass! 

Yes it might be somewhat beachy in nature, but it can give a very natural look to any space. From the coastline, to the lake, to the desert, and to the mountains, seagrass is a great choice for bringing the feel of the outdoors in.

Seagrass decor does not equal beach-themed. 

If you stay away from seagrass because you think it's too "theme-y" then shame on you! It can be very elegant and classic. It's only "theme-y" when you pair it with an overdose of shells, sand, beach prints, surfboards, and beachy fabric. (Trust me on this one. Growing up my room was beach-themed, and I spared no expense on making sure that it wasn't 110% obvious!)

Seagrass is not just something to pull out in the warmer months.

Enjoy your seagrass accessories year round to bring the outside in & warm your heart in the cold of winter. 

Some of my favorite seagrass home accents...

Headboard / Vases / Rug / Barstool / Pendent Light / Ottoman

--Caroline

Five Friday Favorites

This week has flown by! I'm in Daytona now with Kyle and our kitty boys, so I'm pretty happy to finally be able to relax. Here's what happened this week...

1. On Sunday, I started a DIY project, which you'll get to hear more about next week!

2. Packing. Lots of packing. While packing isn't fun, it means my marathon vacation of Daytona-Colorado-Europe is about to start! I'm so excited!

3. For Premier, I took part in a Trunk Show at the fitness studio I attend in Tallahassee (The Refinery), which was a blast! 

4. I did a good deed by cleaning out my kitchen and donating a lot of non-perishable items to a local food bank. I love being able to give back to my community, even if it's not as often as I have time to. It's the simple things in life. :)

5. I'm in Daytona and my month-long vacation has started! It's as simple as that! 

Hope y'all have a great weekend! 

--Caroline

Color Crush: Coral, Mint, & Navy

The combination of coral, mint, and navy is fun & on-trend, yet remarkably classic. Together or separate, these colors are sure to show up in your closet this spring and summer. Below are some picks that I am keeping in mind to add to my closet.

A little story behind some of these items: 

--I recently bought a pair of linen pants, and I have been wanting to wear them daily! They are so comfortable for the summer, especially for me as my classroom is cold but by the time class is over it's hot in Tally. So another pair is on my wish list.

--While shopping at the mall in Daytona while on vacation, I found myself in Sears, trying on the drapey tee you see here. I bought it in black, and the fit is amazing! Boxy or drapey tops don't always flatter me, but this one does, and the price can't be beat... $9!

--The striped moto jacket you see here was also a random dressing room try-on in Daytona, at Dillard's. There, they had it on clearance for just under $50. I loved it, didn't need it, and didn't love the price so I put it aside. After checking online through several different stores to see if I could find one for cheaper, I only found them for more expensive! Now I'm wishing I had scooped it up! 

Linen Pants / Basic Drapey Tee / Colorblock Tunic

Woven Belt / Crossbody Purse / Striped Jacket

Strappy Wedges / Striped Wedges

--Caroline

Not Your Everyday Chambray

(J. Crew Factory)

The chambray button down is a classic staple in closets across America, mine included. I have two chambray shirts, one from J. Crew Factory almost identical to the one above, and another from LOFT Outlet that has more of a blousey look. Currently, the JCF one is in purgatory (see this post if you have no idea what I'm talking about!) because I simply don't wear at as often. What I love about my LOFT shirt is that it's original, it's not your everyday chambray button down. Yet it still has a classic look to it. 

Why settle for the everyday, seen-everywhere style? Chambray is a huge trend right now, and there are a plethora of other options for incorporating it into your wardrobe, like the ones below. I challenge y'all to think outside the box. Be original, be yourself. Don't be a fool for fashion... 

Dress / Wedges / Shorts / Watch / Tank / Blazer

Happy Chambray, Happy April Fools, and Happy Day my beautiful readers!

--Caroline

Dresses For Europe & Sales

Just before spring break, I was taking a little mosey around the mall and wandered into GAP. I got a couple tops at great prices (their clearance rack was awesome!) and tried on two dresses that would be great for my travels to Europe this summer. I tried on the Hi-Lo Dress (shop here) and the Striped Cami Maxi (shop here).

Both are actually on sale right now! GAP is having a Spring Break Sale, with many items up to 50% off! You can shop the women's sale here, but they have tons of picks for the whole family as well. The sale goes through 3-21, so hop online or in stores and check out their latest collection. I'm personally loving the pieces below, some of which I either brought home with me or tried on in store.

Shop #1 (tried on and loved but set aside for a later purchase) / Shop #2 

Shop #3 (love this pattern, they have it on a dress too) / Shop #4 

Shop #5 (took home in taupe!) / Shop #6 (would be a great pop of color on basic jeans) 

Shop #7 (the hi-low dress I mentioned above)

What are you seeing in stores right now that you are loving? What is your favorite dress of the two I tried on?

--Caroline

Linking Up With... Three-Fer Thursday Linkup, Lovely Thursdays

*Please note that this is not a sponsored post. I have no connection to Gap, and the thoughts expressed here are merely my personal opinions.*

Global Style Inspirations

Anthropologie is the greatest thing. Not only are their clothes super cute, their home stuff is adorable, and their store displays are so inspiring. Yes, their regular priced merchandise is a little out of my price range, but their sales are sometimes great! I love dreaming and looking through their inspirational outfit ideas. Now that spring break is over, I am already looking ahead to my trip this summer with my family--a cruise on the Rhine River in Europe! I'm so looking forward to it, and these cute global-inspired looks from Anthropologie's latest look book are leaving me wanting to travel! 

Aren't you inspired to just take off on the first flight out of town, out of the country? 

--Caroline

Straw Fedoras & My History With Hats

I've always thought I'm not one of those people that can wear hats. They just seem to look "off" on me. Perhaps that's just my acute attention to detail kicking in, or maybe I really can't pull them off. Regardless, I think they can be styled really well, and give an outfit a little extra je ne sais quoi. 

When I studied at SCAD in Savannah, I actually owned a hat and wore it a couple times (that is a big deal for me!). Lucky for you, I dug up picture evidence.

Looking back I actually like the overall look I was going for with this outfit. Maybe not that skirt, but in general I love the flowy, spring & summer casual vibe you get from this outfit. It inspires me to revisit the classic warm-weather staple, the straw fedora. 

Top / Bottom Left / Bottom Right

For inspiration on how to style these easy-going hats, I turn to my fellow bloggers.

I love how Emily from Bows and Depos styled her fedora here and here.

Jade from A Spoonful of Style rocks her fedora two ways here and here. 

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to put on a straw fedora and sit by the beach! I'm still in Tallahassee for another day or so before I head to the beach to see Kyle. 

Have a great day, my stylish readers!

--Caroline

Tahitian Dreams

Nautical is trending right now in fashion, but in my opinion it's always in style. The classic patterns, the look of crisp white against navy, blue, and reds... always a good go-to look!

I have this dream of one day being a "rich and shameless designer" and being able to splurge on my mom and I to go on a spa weekend to Tahiti. Or Fiji. Heck, why not both! So when I was thinking about the nautical trend the other day, I started thinking about spring break, and about my eventual trip to Tahiti. If I could get on a plane right now to go there, I would, and this is what I would pack...

Bikini Top / Bikini Bottom / Scarf / Dress / Pants / Wedges / Bag / Blouse

But alas, not today. Instead I'm just stuck in Tallahassee cramming for midterms and trying to finish the endless projects due before Spring Break. Boo!

Have a great Wednesday!

--Caroline

Linking Up With: Three For Thursday Linkup

Just For Kicks

I was taking a break from homework over the weekend, and while perusing Pinterest I came across these awesome gold polka dot sneakers from Kate Spade for Keds. Super cute! I'm not really a sneakers girl, but after looking at some more cute options from Keds... I might have to become one! These are my favorite ones, each with a subtle pattern to add just enough interest. 

Tan Polka Dot / Chambray Stripes / Gold Polka Dot

Which is your favorite? Are you a sneakers wearer? How do you style them?

--Caroline

Designer Look For Less

So I was bad.

Remember that "No Shopping in February Challenge" I posted about earlier this month? Well you see I was in Walmart to get a box cutter and a couple other basic things, when I walked by the clothing section and this cute maxi dress caught my eye. It was bright and colorful and looked a lot like a Judith March maxi I had been lusting after last summer and into the fall. So I cut myself a break, tried it and an equally colorful sibling on and fell in love! It was super inexpensive, and will be a great addition to my spring and summer wardrobes! 

I really did not want to break my challenge, but I had to jump on it while they still had them available. And it's not online, so I'm really glad I just bit the bullet! This was the other version I tried on, which I didn't like as much. The fit was a bit off, and I wasn't crazy about the pattern.

Kudos to Walmart for having super cute maxi dresses that won't break your bank!

--Caroline

Swimsuit Dreams & VS Sale Picks

Confession: I already have my mind on Spring Break/swimsuit season. I was taking a study break over the weekend, and started shopping the Victoria's Secret website... HOLY CUTE SWIMSUITS! I fell in love with these four babies, and I wish I had the $$ for all of them! (I do live in Florida now...)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

VS also has some great clothing items on clearance! (My personal fav is that flowy skirt! Read why here!)

Corduroy Pants / Sweater / Dress / Pleated Skirt

Anyone else excited for spring?!

--Caroline