Hello Summer!

Nothing says summer quite like a cotton striped dress, a white pair of sneakers and a straw bag! I particularly love this yellow striped dress from H&M because it's light weight, which makes it cool and comfy to wear all summer long. I would also imagine that it could double as a cover-up over a swimsuit, so it's very versatile! Also, did I mention that it's under $20? It's definitely a win win for summer!

Speaking of going swimming, this straw tote, which I found at Marshalls, would also be great for a day spent at the pool or beach. I actually don't go swimming be it in the ocean or in a pool that often, if at all. (I know, I totally get the irony being that I live in Los Angeles!) If I did, this would probably be the type of outfit that I might wear. Since my wardrobe is summer and beach ready, maybe this will be the impetus to get me out for either a dip in the pool or a walk along a sandy beach sometime soon!

Dress: H&M here
Tote: Cynthia Rowley similar straw pom pom bag here
Jacket: Target similar denim jacket here
Shoes: Target
Sunglasses: Celine

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Going Bananas

Last week felt a little "bananas" because it was my final week of school before the commencement of summer vacation.  For anyone who is a teacher you can understand that it's a very hectic time! Now I can take a deep breath and be thankful that the year is behind me and I have a couple of months to do a little traveling, explore my own backyard of Los Angeles, and maybe just kick my feet up and relax!

This banana skirt from Anthropologie is something that I purchased last month on clearance at Anthropologie. Although it is mostly sold out at this point, there are plenty of other cute banana skirt options and dresses to choose from. I'm actually not a big fan of eating bananas, but I'll occasionally have one for a little boost of energy in the morning. While eating bananas might not be my preferred breakfast of choice, I'll take them any day as a print on my skirt! Here are some other adorable banana options to choose from if you feel the same way!

Skirt: Anthropologie
Tee: J. Crew
Shoes: J. Crew
Bag: Clare V.
Sunglasses: Prada

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Dressed to Match

As you know, I'm all about trying to match the background with my outfit, if possible! Thus, this pastel brick wall was the perfect backdrop for my new pink and white ruffle top and this floral skinny scarf from Daisy Faye Designs! Because the outfit I'm wearing is relatively simple with no loud prints or patterns, the skinny scarf is the perfect finishing touch! I also love the fact that the fabric for the skinny scarf is from Rifle Paper and Co. because their floral prints are to die for! Wearing this scarf tied around my neck definitely made me feel a little extra chic for the day!

In case you are not familiar with Daisy Faye Designs, the owner, Kim, makes wonderful, whimsical scarves, clutches and accessories that are sure to brighten up anyone's wardrobe! I was so excited to be able to collaborate with her as a stylist for her brand, as her designs perfectly match my aesthetic! Plus, she is offering my readers an extra 15% off sitewide on anything in her store if you use the code KATIE15 at checkout! Because she rarely offers discounts, it's the perfect time to pick up something for yourself or as a gift for someone else. This offer is only good until June 15th so run, don't walk over to Daisy Faye Designs!

Shirt: J. Crew Factory here
Jeans: J. Crew here
Shoes: J. Crew Stella Bow heels here
Bag: Zara similar here
Scarf: c/o Daisy Faye Designs, here (Use code KATIE15 to save 15% until June 15th!)
Sunglasses: Celine

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Drinks on Me

Today, the drinks are on me because it's the beginning of my summer vacation! If you've been following my blog over the last few weeks you'll know that I've been anticipating this day for quite some time. The drinks are also on me, literally, because this pink top from Target has little tiny tropical drinks all over it! While I love cocktails, I'm not huge fan of fruity, tropical drinks, but they are pretty to look at and even prettier on this top! Plus, who am I kidding, I'll drink just about anything, especially now that I can kick up my feet and relax for a while!

I ordered this top online, as it wasn't available at my local Target. When the top arrived, it was already tied in a cute little bow so I decided to keep that look for this outfit. I also paired the top with these incredibly comfortable linen-blend pants. Be forewarned, however, as these pants are quite deceptive; they look like they have a zipper and a fly but they are really just pull-on pants with elastic in the back of the waistband. It's actually a very pleasant surprise, as I think they just might be my favorite pants that I've purchased in quite a long time. They would definitely work for sipping tropical drinks poolside and I suppose I just might have to try that this summer!

Shirt: Target here
Pants: Old Navy here
Shoes: J. Crew "Stella" bow heels here
Bag: Mansur Gavriel here
Sunglasses: Celine

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An Abundance of Floral

I'm on a floral streak right now! A couple days ago I did a post on a new 70s style floral dress from H&M and now I am featuring this vibrant floral top with flounced sleeves, also from H&M! I guess I'm not just obsessed with floral but also with H&M! Let it be known, though, that I don't necessarily love floral prints as a rule. Due to the vivid colors of this particular floral top, however, I fell head over heels in love with this particular print! Plus, if you look very closely, there is also a tiny frog on the print!

I wore this top on a weekend lunch date with my husband to the Mission Inn, which is located in Riverside, California. In addition to the gorgeous Spanish-style architecture of the Inn, there's a wealth of other lovely, historic buildings in the area. Here, I'm standing in front of an old church that just happened to have a thriving bed of roses out front. I figured the floral on floral would be just perfect for these photos! I guess that just goes to prove that you can never have too much floral!

Top: H&M here
Pants: Banana Republic similar green pants
Bag: Louis Vuitton here
Shoes: Christian Louboutin simple pumps here
Sunglasses: Prada here

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That 70s Dress

When I was a teenager, I was enamored with clothing from the 60s and 70s. My mom, having lived through that era, would look at those styles with disgust, in great contrast to the reverence I had for those styles. Now I am seeing teenagers covet clothing from the 90s and I can totally understand my mom's reaction! Regardless, I think there are always things from every decade that can remain aesthetically pleasing. Take, for example, this far-out or even groovy floral dress from H&M. It's definitely retro but to me it still seems fresh! Perhaps that's because of all of the vibrant colors found in the floral print?

H&M actually carries other items in this print, so if you like the floral print but don't want to channel the 1970s with the bell sleeves, you can also get the print in a pair of shorts or in a midi-length skirt. (I actually own the shorts too!) On my most recent trip to H&M, I also picked up these scalloped sandals. I wasn't going to get them but I was only $10 away from being able to use an extra 15% off coupon if spending $75 or more, so I added them at the register so that I would qualify for the coupon! I didn't realize it at the time but these sandals just happened to be the perfect accessory to complete my dress! It was definitely a far out deal!

Dress: H&M here
Shoes: H&M here
Bag: J. Crew similar lavender satchel
Necklace: J. Crew Factory similar here
Sunglasses: Prada here

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