Green Dress > Chambray Shirt > What I Wore

One of my favorite ways to wear certain dresses is layered over other garments. A simple dress can easily be thrown on over a pair of leggings, a tank top, a turtleneck, or even a button down, as shown here. This is especially important to remember as the weather continues to cool down. Don't stop rockin' your favorite sun dress just because the season has changed! This green cotton tank dress almost begs to be partnered with colorful leg wear, tees, blouses, and sweaters, so much so that I actually hardly ever wear it on it's own. It actually reminds me of wearing jumper dresses when I was a little girl. Remember those? 

Well, knowing how to layer a dress won't just spark nostalgia, keep you warm, and prevent you from dying of boredom, but it will save space in your suitcase when you're traveling. I once packed this same dress for a week long trip to New York in the dead of winter and probably wore it about 4 different times, with no two outfits looking alike.

Green Dress x Forever 21 (a different green here, a longer one here) > Chambray Shirt x H&M (here's a nice option, and another here) > Leather Belt x Urban Outfitters > Denim Heels x Alloy (a VERY different version, but very bad ass) > Feather Ear Cuff x BohoFunk

Mixed Black and White Prints

Mixed prints were all over the runways this fall and I'm sure you've noticed them featured in many a store window display, magazine ad, and fashion blog street style snap. Mixing prints can add whimsy and a unique edge to an otherwise everyday outfit. However, it can be difficult to pull off, and despite it's sometimes seemingly haphazard, accidentally awesome look, actually requires a bit of skill (and a little imagination) to orchestrate. The key is to find prints that share some DNA, and by that I mean, have some similarities. For everyone new to this fashion trick, the mixed black and white print is the perfect trend to practice on. You already have the commonality right there. Boom. 

Now, I recommend, for starters, you pick a theme. Mine was "tribal" or "ethnic". You know how I love a tribal print! I paired an off white and black tee with an over sized, very graphic tribal print with an off white and black skirt featuring a smaller, sort of abstract print and a border of elephants around the bottom. I actually created two looks with these pieces. The first is a casual, sort of edgy look that might be appropriate for a fun night out and the second is work appropriate. To create the more conservative look, I simply added a blazer and pumps. The addition of the top layer toned down the bold print of the tee and tied the two prints together.

Quick Tips for Mixing Prints

Create a theme, character or story for your outfit

Pick prints that share DNA

Tie prints together with the addition of a layer or accessory that features a color prominent in your prints

Have fun with it

Tee Shirt x Forever 21 > Elephant Print Skirt x Charlotte Russe > 3/4 Sleeve Blazer x Olsenboye (here's a VERY cute one) > Obi Belt x Asos (still available here) > Necklace x H&M > Kente Cloth Bracelet x Aqueene from Nines Queens Crew > Sandals x Jessica Simpson

Neon V Neck Tee > Tribal Print Black and White Pants > What I Wore

As the season becomes noticeably more autumnal, I'm trying to enjoy my serious summer pieces one last time. I'm sure there will be plenty of random warm days between now and spring that will require neon colors and easy breezy pieces. But in the mean time, I'm resigning myself to a few months of sweater-ville.

Neon V Neck Tee x The GAP (Cute ones here) > Tribal Print Black and White Pants x Forever21 (A non-tribal but very cute option here) > Sandals x 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent > Feather Earring x Boho Funk > Gold Necklaces x Brookadelphia and Gorjana > Friendship Bracelets x Urban Outfitters and Target

White Tee > High Waist Jeans > Yellow Blazer > What I Wore

It was a lovely day in southern Cali, so my fiance and I took advantage of the sunshine and a few moments of free time to go have breakfast. We followed that up with an afternoon of shopping downtown. I made sure to wear the most comfortable pair of sandals that I own, and by the end of the day, I was glad I'd thought a little more about function than fashion, though I do think this pair is pretty cute.

V Neck Tee x Forever 21 > Yellow 3/4 Sleeve Blazer x Cotton On (super cute option here) > High Waist Jeans x Urban Outfitters (good alternatives here and here) > Beaded Necklace x H&M > Leopard Print Skinny Belt x Asos (surprisingly, still available here) > Sandals x 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent

Tribal Print Tee > Pastel Pink Cropped Pants > What I Wore

My fiance and I had an impromptu beach day, which was nice, since we don't get over to the ocean much nowadays. Every so often, you have to go check on it and make sure it's still there where you left it. 

The chalcedony ring is a piece that I bought probably 7 or more years ago, forgot that I had, until I was getting dressed that morning, and I honestly don't even know where I got it from. The "bracelet" that I'm wearing is actually a necklace that I simply wrapped around my wrist a few times. It was purchased in India and I rarely wear it (or any necklace, for that matter), so the wrist wrap was a good way to utilize it. Try it out with some of the longer necklaces that you may not be getting much use out of!

 Tribal Print T Shirt x Urban Outfitters > Pastel Pink Cropped Slacks x Forever 21 > Suede Sandals x Urban Outfitters > Earrings x Shopbop  

Asymmetrical Cobalt Skirt > Striped Tee > What I Wore

I've been enjoying these last few days of summer... But NOT the heat. However, I have absolutely been enjoying my skirts, which I tend not to wear so much in the cooler months. Though I actually really like bearing my legs, I love that maxi skirts have been having a moment because, of course, they're so comfortable. For me, the asymmetrical skirt is the best of both worlds, since I get to flash a little knee cap and ankle and still have the flowing length I love. And I can't get enough of the dramatic way that the hi-low hemline catches the breeze and billows in the wind. DRAMA, honey!

Striped Tee x The GAP  > Asymmetrical Skirt x Some Random Downtown LA Store (here's a different option in a lighter shade of blue and here's another pretty one) > Sandals x Steve Madden (on sale here!) > Beaded Tribal Belt x Urban Outfitters > Brass Earrings x Peace Images (get them here!) > Tribal Beaded Bracelet x Forever 21