WIW: B&W

Black and white, the most common color combination, but definitely the hardest one for me to get into. I know, weird right!?! I've never been drawn to black clothing as far as I can remember. Maybe it's the Abercrombie brain, you know the weird thing A&F has against wearing black. Ha! I don't know, I mean I did work there for several years while I was in college. No but really, I guess black has always seemed a bit harsh to me so I've always gravitated to brights. However, every now and then I give it a try with the addition of at least one bright accessory or shoes. 

And did I mention in my previous post, here, that I snagged these Zara inspired culottes in every color!? Whoops! They were calling out to me. 

Outfit Details:

Top: Nordstrom Rack [similar here and here] | Bottoms: eBay | Shoes: Simply Vera Wang | Bag: c/o Aeropostale | Necklace: Forever 21 | Bracelets: Lotus Blossom Design, Forever 21, Groopdealz | Sunnies: Dolce & Gabbana [old]

And just for fun, I wanted to share a few Big Sis' 3 year pictures. 

In case you're wondering here's the details on Big Sis' outfit,

Top: Target [new, but selling out quickly] | Skirt: Target [on sale in stores] | Shoes: H&M 

WIW: Summer Stripes

I'm assuming that by now, you all may have noticed my love of prints, all prints from florals to seahorses. I've rocked them all this Summer, but I feel like there is one print that stands the test of time. Stripes. They're just classic. And all Summer long when I don't know what to wear I just go right to my striped tee and find some inspiration. Pair it with shorts, jeans, skirt, or layered with a dress, it all works. You really can't go wrong with a striped tee, I guess that's probably why I own just about every kind of striped top, long sleeve, short sleeve, tank, peplum, the list goes on.

Today's outfit stemmed from the fact that I literally had no idea what I wanted to wear, and so I went straight for the stripes and kept the look simple. But even simple can be fun. I decided to change it up a bit glam up my typical casual Summer look by adding some fabulous metallic platforms. 

Now, when I ordered these shoes I wasn't quite sure if I could rock them because they were a little naughty to me. But I've become obsessed with them. Worn casually they're not as naughty as I thought. 

Outfit Details: Top: J. Crew Factory [similar here] | Shorts: Forever 21 [similar here] | Shoes: Shoedazzle [sold out, cute platforms to try here and here] | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Hat: H&M [similar here] | Necklace: J. Crew Factory | Bracelets: Groopdealz | Sunnies: Ray-Ban

What I Wore: Denim + Pink

I overheard some ladies today while out shopping, discussing [loudly] how dresses and skirts are "too" short nowadays. That most women don't have the legs to pull them off. Mind you they were pointing at an A-line dress that hit at just above the knee on a Kohls mannequin. In my head, I just giggled. Obviously they've been hiding in a cave or something because I'm positive the dresses at the mall in say an H&M or Forever 21 are at least 5 inches shorter then what they were looking at. And even more, they've never heard of the maxi.

In these early months of Spring, maxi skirts and dresses are the perfect transition piece. They keep your legs covered if it's still a bit cool out but are still light for those warmer days. They're great for covering up if you're still working on getting back into bikini form. And let's be honest ladies, for those days when you just are too lazy or don't have time to shave your legs the maxi length is like a savior.

Outfit Details:

Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch [last worn here, similar here] | Top: Marshalls find [similar here] | Skirt: Forever 21 [similar here] | Necklace: Luxe Craving [last worn here] | Belt: Gap [similar here] | Sunnies: Vince Camuto [same here] | Nails: Essie, Bikini So Teeny

What I Wore: A Little Leopard and Army Green

This week has been crazy! We've had playdate after playdate, trying to squeeze in as much play time with LBD's Ms. Socal and her beautiful kiddies before they move across the country. And for weeks like this, there's nothing better than easy layers and a comfy pair of jeans. Anything that is easy to wash and can handle the rough and tumble play with these crazy kiddos is a necessity. 

I feel like this is when many mom's give into the typical "momiform," the sweats and yoga pants look. While I too am guilty of running out in the momiform, I try my hardest to take a few minutes and look presentable. I think that as a mom, we sometimes forget to take a few minutes to look at ourselves in the mirror because there just really isn't much time for that. However, I do feel that it is important that we take just a few minutes to dress ourselves and stop and primp, even if it's just for a dab of powder and some gloss. I know when I feel I look good, I walk with a little more pep in my step. And don't we all want to feel that way? 

One of my go-to pieces to create an easy, yet chic look, is my military inspired vest. It's such a versatile piece that's neutral enough to go with just about everything, from stripes to leopard print. I've found that throwing this vest over a simple top always seems to take an outfit that's just "eh" and make it a little more cool. I'm also quite found of mixing feminine and masculine. So pairing this vest with a dress is also a fun option. 

As a mom trying hard to squeeze 5 minutes of me time amid all the madness in my house is sometimes almost impossible, so easy layering pieces are the key to achieving an effortless and chic style. But you definitely don't have to break the bank doing so because places like H&M and Forever 21 offer some really great options.

The Details:

Vest: Forever 21 [same here] | Top: H&M [similar here] | Jeans: American Eagle [same here] | Shoes: Steve Madden [similar here] | Belt: Gap [similar here] | Necklace: J. Crew Factory [same here] | Bracelets: A Lotus Blossom Design [shop here] and Stella & Dot | Watch: Target [same here] | Sunnies: Vince Camuto [same here]

What are some of your favorite go-to pieces?