Cut It Out

 Dress: thrifted Striped top: thrifted Shoes: madewell (similar here)

Inspiration:

Sunshine and good books to read. I want to take this dress on a picnic and stuff the pockets with peaches.

Here comes the sun

Dress: inherited (similar here) Button-down: thrifted Belt: thrifted Shoes: inherited (similar here)

Back Story:

It usually starts with a phone call or email. "I need to rotate some clothes out," someone will say, "do you want them?" they'll casually ask. Um yes. It's not a clothing swap per say because the understanding is that the items can always be requested. It's a chance to let those pieces that languish in the corners of closets to run free on someone else's body. Sometimes reinspiration occurs when a fresh face styles it. You should wait until they've taken it off to ask for it back. 

This dress is on loan from my friend Sara. She's a leggy beauty, and in a fit of polyester madness she chopped it at the knee. I feel the need to belt it since I don't have her impressive inseam. I stuck a chambray button up underneath to lighten things up and paired it with my librarian shoes. Hopefully she doesn't ask for it back.

On This Earth Where We Live

Inspiration:

One of my favorite things to do is be outside somewhere awesome. The beach and the forest are always in my top places in the world. I love this earth on which we live. Variety and inspiration are boundless. Go outside and enjoy your world. You'll often see clothing of mine that can be worn everywhere and colors that are of the earth because they are natural and wonderful. 

DIY Tapered Leg

top: Forever XXI, pants: thrifted and altered, shoes: Office (similar), belt: came with a dress, cardigan: Zara

 Backstory:

These pants are made of such a soft, comfortable fabric, that I bought them even though they were baggy and ill-fitting at the time. I tried to pull them off a few times as they were, but felt I looked to sloppy. Then, after trying on some very pricey silk harem pants, I realized how I could easily make these more stylish.

I turned them inside out and marked off a portion along the insides that I would like to take in: I used a white pastel to drop a rough line from the crotch of each side down to a few inches in on each ankle. And then I hand sewed (with big sloppy stitches) along the lines. Only problem? I had made the ankles too narrow to get my foot through! Ooops. I undid the bottom few inches, added in a little more room and VOILA!

Weekend Warrior

top: thrifted (similar), shorts: H&M, shoes: Jeffrey Campbell, bag: Cole Haan, nails: Sally Hansen Commander in Chic with Revlon Top Speed Peachy

Inspiration:

I spend much of my weekend days digging in the dirt and serenading my growing tomatoes. Here I am on my way out to a ladies brunch, stopping to prop a soon-to-be heavy tomato to a supportive frame. When my manicure started to chip at the ends, I added a bit of coral to the tips. Fancy nails are perfect for gardening, right?

The Business of Being Casual

 top: Forever XXI (similar here), pants: Urban Outfitters, shoes: flea market, earrings: shop in Stockholm, sunnies: flea market, lipstick: Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Lilac Champagne (available here)

Inspiration:

I love the simplicity of this (uber soft) striped T with my black skinnies. But I felt the outfit could use a pop of color. As I rushed out the door I grabbed a new favorite hot pink lipstick. With this particular line of Revlon lipsticks, I love how they look an hour or so after applied--the matte finish wears off leaving a kissable stain.

Bike to Work

Inspiration:

It's Bike to Work Week; my favorite time of year. The fresh smell of chain lube and sweat mingles with the chimes of bike bells. If you don't already bike to work, you should! At the very least get two of your closest gal pals together and dress yourselves in matching outfits to make the neighbors swoon. Now I'm off to change out of my padded shorts and polyester jersey.