Firework Dress

 

Summer is really flying by, as it always does! I can't believe the Fourth of July is right around the corner but I'm gearing up by getting out my patriotic red, white and blue! I also love this fireworks dress as another, less traditional option for something to wear for the holiday. The print depicts fireworks but in a colorful and abstract way that makes the dress perfect to wear all summer long, not just on the Fourth. The print also comes in a red and white version that I think is even more fitting for the Fourth. I purchased a pair of shorts in that particular print and I'll be featuring them this weekend on the blog for a special Independence Day post!

 

Speaking of fireworks, the (illegal) fireworks festivities have already started here in Los Angeles and can be seen and heard in some neighborhoods already. (I guess some people really are excited about celebrating!) Luckily our dog William doesn't seem to mind the fireworks too much so we don't have to deal with him hiding, shaking or barking. I am looking forward to seeing the legal fireworks that they have in our city and surrounding cities from our backyard this Fourth of July, as it's one of my favorite traditions associated with the holiday!

 

Dress: LOFT here

Bag: Mansur Gavriel similar round pink bag here

Sandals: Brooks Brothers similar gold sandals here

 

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Rainbow Flapper Dress

 

Sometimes you find an article of clothing and think that it must have been made just for you! Well, that was exactly how I felt when I was looking through the new arrival section of Anthropologie's website and came across this stunning rainbow tiered tulle dress! It was definitely love at first sight. One thing that I have learned from my many, many years of shopping at Anthropologie is that if you see an item you love, you need to pounce on it quickly because there is a good chance that it will not be available in your size if and/or when it gets marked down! So, I followed my own advice and immediately purchased this lovely rainbow dress because, while I felt like the dress was made especially for me, it also seemed like something that other color lovers would be eager to purchase as well!

 

I have a big birthday coming up this summer and I thought this might be a fantastic dress for the occasion. Understandably, I couldn't wait a couple months to wear it and I wanted to feature it on my blog, so I took some photos of the dress last week at one of my favorite murals. This rainbow mural is located at the Southern California Children's Museum in Pasadena and is, obviously, the perfect match for this dress! (Maybe it was made especially for the wall?) In addition to the rainbow theme of the dress, I also love the fact that the design of the dress is a nod to the flapper dresses of the 1920s. I've always loved that decade and its fashion but my one complaint is that the colors are a little subdued for my taste. I guess you could say this dress combines my love of color and my love of the 1920s!

 

Dress: Anthropologie here

Shoes: Christian Louboutin similar purple sandals here

Bag: Chanel similar quilted mint bag here

Headband: J. Crew similar gold knotted headband here

 

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National Pink Day

It seems like there's a day for everything lately. I'm not sure if it's always been that way or if it's a new phenomenon that is associated with the popularity of social media (I think it's probably the latter) but whatever it is, a day exists for every food, color, activity, animal etc. that you can think of. Well, Wednesday, June 23rd is National Pink Day and because pink is a color that I wear quite frequently, I thought it would be fun to celebrate by wearing something with pink in it for the occasion! While this look featuring a pink gingham short sleeve sweater and floral pencil skirt isn't entirely pink, I think it's the perfect way to honor this "holiday" and to show off some of my favorite purchases from the J. Crew Factory clearance sale that's going on right now.

 

As you can see, in addition to playing up the pink in this outfit, I'm also doing a lot with a classic gingham print. To match the gingham print of my sweater, I decided to go for these navy blue gingham espadrille sandals to play up the theme. I guess you can never have too much when it comes to both pink and gingham! Now that I think about it, when is National Gingham Day? If it doesn't exist, perhaps I could just pick a random day and be the founder of the "holiday"!

 

Skirt: J. Crew Factory here

Sweater: J. Crew Factory here

Shoes: Old Navy similar navy gingham sandals here

Bag: Chanel similar pink quilted bag here

Earrings: J Crew similar pink earrings here

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Pink Baby Doll Dress and Dolly Parton

 

Dolly Parton seems to have achieved renewed popularity as of late and probably with good reason for both her musical talents and philanthropic contributions. Most notably, last year she donated $1 million dollars to help fund the research for a vaccine for COVID-19. To pay tribute to this musical legend and humanitarian, the owner of the Strut Night Club in Orange County had this mural created to honor Dolly Parton as a beacon of "love and light." Well, I just had to check it out (my husband always asks me, "How do you find this stuff?") and I thought that a pink baby doll dress, such as this pink frock from Target, would be Dolly Parton approved! Below, you will find some other bright pink dresses that I just love! 

 

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Like I said, my husband always seems to be amazed that I am able to find these seemingly obscure murals and sights in Los Angeles but I guess I just have a way of sniffing them out! (Okay, it sometimes involves a lot of detective work using Instagram and Google Maps!) While Dolly Parton is known for being a musician and a humanitarian, she's also known for her ample "girls" to put it delicately. My husband had a few quips about this as I was posing for these photos, which made me laugh, so my smile might appear to be extra big in these photos... just like that particular part of Dolly's anatomy!

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Dress: Target here

Shoes: J. Crew similar bow sandals here

Bag: Chanel similar purple quilted bag here

Sunglasses: Celine

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In the Groove

 

I've been on summer break now for about two weeks and it always amazes me how easily I can settle into the groove of being off from work! For example, it only took me a couple days to completely forget what day of the week it was! I've also settled into a much better pattern of sleep that has me feeling more well-rested and healthy again! Speaking of being "in the groove", today I'm featuring these groovy pants from J. Crew! What immediately caught my eye about these pants was, obviously, the fun print, which is one of J. Crew's signature "Ratti" prints that I adore. My husband said they looked very 70s inspired and that I should have worn the pants with Go Go boots! Well, I didn't go overboard with the retro vibe but I do like that the print and the bold colors are a nod to the 70s, which was a pretty groovy decade when it came to fashion!

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One of the other nice things about being off on summer vacation is that is frees up a lot more time for blogging and visiting fun locations in the Los Angeles area. Unfortunately, we are in the midst of a heatwave here in Southern California, so I am not as motivated as I usually would be to go out and explore but I hope to do more of that in the upcoming weeks...weather permitting!

 

Pants: J. Crew here and blouse version of this print here

Top: J. Crew similar ruffle top here

Shoes: Target similar purple sandals here

Bag: Gucci

Headband: J. Crew here

 

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Marimekko Floral Dress

 

I've loved Marimekko's designs since I was in college but their clothing can be a bit pricey. Luckily, Marimekko has done affordable collaborations with designers like Target and Uniqlo. A few years ago, Marimekko and Uniqlo did their first collaboration and I have been hooked ever since! I usually buy at least a couple of pieces from the collection that I always treasure because of the unique and innovative prints paired with comfy, easy to wear styles. As you can imagine, I was psyched when the email from Uniqlo popped up announcing that the latest Marimekko collaboration was now available in stores and online. I ended up getting two dresses, this floral print dress featured here and a polka dot dress that I will be featuring at a later date here on my blog.

 

As I previously mentioned, I love Marimekko because the prints are always unique and usually very colorful! Marimekko is a Finish design and textile house that made a name for itself in the 1960s because of its unique prints. I love that the dresses, such as this one, usually have a little bit of a groovy 60s feel! I also like that their clothing is always cut in such a practical and easy to wear way. I am not always very practical when it comes to my clothing choices, so it's nice to find a brand that can successfully combine style and comfort at an affordable price point!

 

Dress: Uniqlo x Marimekko here

Shoes: J. Crew similar gold sandals here and here

Bag: Chanel similar pink bag here

Headband: J. Crew here

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Garden Party!

 

This outfit represents something old, something new, something pink, but nothing borrowed! I'll start with the something old, which is this Kate Spade skirt from what seems like many, many years ago. (I think it's actually a little under 10 years old.) While I still love Kate Spade and while I occasionally buy some of her clothing and accessories, I feel like the "golden age" of Kate Spade is, sadly, over. Well, at least I have this skirt and some other pieces as a memory of Kate at her peak! The something new is this green and white gingham top, which I actually purchased with the intent of pairing with this Kate Spade skirt. I wasn't sure if the pattern mixing would be too much but I found that with the addition of the white/cream colored belt, it was just the right amount of pattern mixing to add some visual interest to this outfit.  Obviously, the something pink is my pink bag, because I think pink and green work so well together and make for an amazing color combo! I'm always a fan of adding a pop of color to liven up any ensemble!

 

This outfit makes me feel like I should be going to a summer garden party, or maybe high tea, which is actually what is going on in the background, as this little alley with the wrought iron doors actually houses a tea house. I didn't actually know this was a tea house until recently, even though I have used this location several time for blog photos, but I think I'll have to try it so that I can enjoy some dainty tea sandwiches and scones with this outfit!

 

Top: Ann Taylor here

Skirt: Kate Spade similar here

Shoes: J. Crew similar gold sandals here

Bag: Chanel similar pink quilted bag here

 

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