Summer is almost here which means cute warm-weather clothes! I was lucky enough to have an amazing getaway for spring break with my soon to be sister-in-law for her bachelorette party to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico so I picked out some of the cutest pieces from Red Dress, and wanted to show you how I styled them to get you inspired for looks to rock this Summer!
Wow in a Watercolor Kimono
This maxi length semi-sheer kimono is absolutely gorg! There is a tie so you can wear it closed as a swimmie cover-up or open with an outfit as I have done here. The colors are neutral so you can wear it with pretty much any solid color. Here I have paired it with a white crop top and my favorite $15 shorts from Target.
What’s the weather like? Will you be walking? Transition from day to night looks? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered for all things Malaga!
Continuing with my carry-on only packing, Jhonathan and I traveled to Malaga, Spain this past December and each only brought a carry-on. For the weather in December, we were looking at 40-60 degree weather with possibility of rain, clouds and temps fluctuating to the 70’s. This might sound odd but when you are from Houston, you are used to sporadic weather changes so I know how to pack for pretty much any weather and make it work!
So Here’s What I Brought
I needed to pack clothing that was comfortable, but also wearable no matter where we went dresscode wise. This can be tricky, but I have learned it’s all about the color palette and materials.
Packing dark wash denim is always a must. You can dress them up or down and as long as they are comfortable, can be worn all day! I paired mine with a chunky knit chevron sweater in blush and maroon. The over the knee boots completes this all day appropriate look for shopping in the city and hitting local restaurants and museums. Below I have added a few pairs of my favorite denim. They are a bit of a splurge but the quality totally makes them worth it! You will have them forever!
A Fun Print Workout Look & Something For Layering
So if you are going to Malaga, you must visit El Caminito Del Rey. And for this hike I highly recommend a comfortable activewear set and with the temps fluctuating; layer! We bought a jacket, and a backpack so that once the temps raised we were able to place our jackets in our backpacks and feel much more comfortable. I am wearing a printed set with a lightweight cotton zip up cardigan. This was perfect for the hike, accompanied by my running shoes.
A Dark Colored Sweater Dress
This was a must for any trip! A sweater dress was actually ideal for the Malaga December weather. This one from Lulus was perfect with a belt bag and my over the knee boots. The reason I recommend a dark color is because they give off a more dressier vibe and can be worn from morning brunch to a show in the evening.
And lastly, you will want to have a transitional coat with you…preferably with a hood! I actually had to purchase this one while in Malaga because the temps dropped on us the first day and started raining! This coat not only kept me warm, but also ended up being my most favorite purchase which I wear all of the time now! I purchased it in a color that went with the palette I packed so that everything could seamlessly be paired together and looked complete. That is really the key to packing light. Make sure everything compliments each other so that you can mix and match pieces and above all look great while being comfortable! – Because the last thing you should be doing is worrying about your uncomfortable outfit! Vacationing is all about enjoying the sights and culture around you!
I am a huge fan of extended weekend trips. Jhonathan and I take them pretty often and love to fit as much as we can into the short time we are in the city. So for me, and extended weekend would consist of Friday (or late Thursday night) to Sunday or Saturday to Monday. And I’d like to add, these trips are always within the U.S. and consist of flights under 4 hours. I find it such a fun challenge to see just how much we can take in from a city in just a few days!
So our most recent trip was to Chicago. This was not my first time visiting the city so we did not hit the most popular tourist attractions as we have already done that. If you haven’t been before you MUST visit the Bean along with these awesome stops I will be sharing with you.
Accommodations
So on this trip I did something a little different and booked our rooms through Hotwire. This ended up being an amazing deal with us spending under $350 for all 3 nights! We stayed at Sofitel and the Freehand. Both hotels are located in great locations, but for me the Freehand was in the better location wise as it was close to everything we had on our list. We had some rain during our trip but so much was close by so it wasn’t an issue.
Shopping
While in Chicago we shopped at Topshop, Louis Vuitton, and Bloomingdale’s. If you are looking for some epic shopping on your trip then all you have to do is head for the Magnificent Mile, it’s Chicago’s version of New York’s 5th Avenue!
Bloomingdale’s was actually right across the street from our hotel and was a huge lifesaver once the rain began. They sell the most perfect travel bag! It is a tote constructed of plastic with a zip top. I was able to safely store my camera, crossbody and around town essentials easily so they could stay totally dry!
When we travel to new cities, Jhonathan and I started to tradition of purchasing a Louis Vuitton travel guide for that particular city. This tradition started after our first time here so we decided to pick the guide up on this trip.
And of course, if you haven’t visited a Top Shop it’s the perfect stop for some sunnies and to get a glimpse at the latest fashion trends. I love the Chicago Mag Mile location!
Entertainment
We decided to head south to check out a White Socks game! The stadium is really beautiful and has such a fun feel to it! One of the coolest touches I noticed was that the vendors carried the snacks and drinks in old wooden soda crates! So cool! We purchased tickets of the club level which is honestly the very best deal! There was even an opportunity for us to visit a suite to play video games and watch the game from a closed in air conditioned space! – Yes, this is not like the stadiums here in Houston that feature retractable roofs, this space is always open rain or shine.
Jhonathan and I both watch Shameless which is set on the southside of Chicago, so while visiting the southside we had to try Frank’s fav beer, Old Style and ride the L.
Eats
Pizza, cheese curds, and Hotdogs all the way! Oh, and I ate a salad once.
Portillo’s – All I can say is yum, and it’s open late! Jhonathan got a Chicago dog here while I opted for a heaping plate of fettuccine Alfrado with garlic bread. We also both ordered sundaes to enjoy on our walk back to the hotel.
Sugar Factory – I would like to point out, we didn’t actually eat here. The wait for a table was 2+ hours but the bar was open seating, and since we were just getting a drink that was perfect! So note that if you are going just to get one of their amazing candy filled drinks you don’t have to wait, just head to the bar! We tried a mango themed drink with little penguin gummies and sugar coated orange slices. SO much fun to watch them make the drink and so much fun to enjoy! Also I’d like to mention the interior of this place is beautiful! It have an elegant feel to it, mixed with fun candy and alcohol!
Sights
So on this trip we kept the sights pretty minimal with just a trip to the top 360Chicago. This is a skyscraper that takes you up over 90 stories to panoramic views of the city. There is even a bar atop so you can have a nice drink, or even an ice cream while you take in the breathtaking views of Chicago. I highly recommend this stop as there was virtually no line! I feel like not as many people know of this in comparison to the Willis Tower Skyview so if you are short on time, stop here instead!
Chicago is such a great city, with so much to do and so much to see! I’m sure I will be adding many more travel guides for the city as we will definitely be back!
So I noticed a trend in the majority of my ensembles this past month and that was – I have been wearing a lot of black and white! Not just to work, but also my casual ensembles have been black and white as well! Since I noticed this trend, I wanted to round up a few of my favorite looks and share the details with you, so if you are in the mood to sport some chic black and white looks you can get inspired here!
Work Chic
This is my favorite work look right now! This lightweight sleeveless sweater from Uniqlo, is the perfect staple piece for fall because it is layerable! I am wearing it with these elastic waist paper bag pants. These pants were actually an Amazon find, and I have linked similar here. I finished the look with oversized sunnies, this gorgeous Elaine Turner Ally bag, Stella & Dot feather earrings and black patent heels. This ensemble is both dressy and comfortable! Since the pants are high waisted, they give off the illusion of slimmer, longer legs which is ultra flattering.
Dinner, Date Night Chic
So I wore this dress for my first evening at NYFW and loved how beautiful and comfortable it was! Seriously, you can wear this dress all day and not want to change! I love the pockets, mock neckline, and back cut-out accent along with the tonal plaid print. I have paired it with my favorite fall OTK boots and oversized sunnies for the perfect finishing touch.
Second under this category, I’d like to feature this couture look I wore during NYFW! This black and white look is my ultimate favorite!! The white lace top contrasting against the crystal embellished mesh skirt from Danny Nguyen Couture creates such an amazing combination!
Weekend Casual Chic
I have been living in these ripped black jeans! Seriously, wearing on repeat! The rips are in just the right places and the construction of the denim is lightweight and stretchy. I love a comfortable pair of jeans and Dear John offers just that! I am wearing them here with an oversized white tie-sleeve top which looks cute slightly tucked in. This look is perfect for sneakers to pair with sneakers or even dress it up a bit with heels! Here, I have paired the ensemble with metallic silver sneakers I picked up at Target. This look is perfect for any and all weekend errands or traveling!
My second weekend look is all black with shades of grey! This beautiful color palette is perfect for when the weather gets a little cooler! I love how the light shade of grey pairs with black. I am again in my favorite Dear John jeans, and have styled them with a fleece oversized tie-front sweater top (similar). To dress up the look I’ve added matte grey stilettos and steel earrings from Berry & Leather to complete the look.
And lastly, a cute sweater look! Nothing beats a chunky knit sweater when the temps start to drop, and that is this great piece from Romeo+Juliet Couture (similar)! This sweater is such an eye catching piece with its bold angle stripe design. I paired it with black denim, a black and white structured tote and black loafer slides! This look is fun for casual Fridays of weekend outings!
I hope this lookbook of black in white ensembles has inspired you to create one of your own! No matter the occasion, or trend black and white transcends all!
Hi Lovelies!
So I am currently embarking on my first New York Fashion Week, and wanted to go ahead and share with you what I am taking with me to look fabulous over the next 4 days! I have packed all of these pieces and more in my Merona Weekender for Target so yes, packing skills required! 😉
I will of course be creating stylized posts and will share all of my exciting NYC adventures with you when I get back, but wanted to give you a sneak peek of all of my looks ahead of time so you can shop them!
Enjoy!
Click on the photo or (here) to shop!
As for the outfit I am wearing for travel (featured image) you can purchase those pieces from Posh Tulsa! They are a boutique that offers a variety of beautiful clothing items as well as shoes and accessories! I’ll give a full write up on my experience with them and their products when I get back. 🙂
You may have also noticed the couture items in my instastories, those are from Danny Nguyen Couture! I am super excited to wear his designs, and look forward to sharing pics and a blog post with you all in regards to his label!
Stay tuned for posts of my NYFW experience, and follow me along of instagram to see what I’m up to in real time!
Okay guys, I’ve got to be honest here, I have never been a fan of wearing the color yellow. It just isn’t something that jumps out at me. Don’t get me wrong, as a color it is great! So sunny and cheery. But when it comes to apparel I am just not attracted to it… that is, until now!
Something has changed for me when it comes to yellow. I am really liking the shades of that have been popping up this season and how flattering they are with even the palest of skin tones!
A perfect example, is this dress is from The White Wolf Boutique. The yellow is perfect and sleeve detail is so delicate and gorgeous! I selected this dress in a size medium and was very pleased with the fit. The small would have also fit me, but in this particular style, I was looking for a more relaxed fit. The White Wolf Boutique offers beautiful casual appeal of great quality and price! Check them out for great all weekend tops and accessories.
To style this look I decided to pair it with wedges from Target, delicate layering necklaces from Elaine Turner, and Kendra Scott, and a fun cheetah print wallet for Juicy Couture.
Yellow is really great for pairing with gold tone accessories, cheetah print or even turquoise!
So cheers to yellow, and trying new color palettes this season!
When I think of plaid, usually fall and winter come to mind, but I recently received this dress from Shein, and have changed my perception! This white plaid t-shirt dress is lightweight and short sleeved, making it the perfect choice for the summer months. I also think it is a perfect back to school piece!
I have paired this lightweight dress with ankle booties and a fun navy hat. With the Houston heat at its peak, I find myself reaching for hats pretty frequently to protect my face and hair from the harsh sun rays. Not to mention, hats totally add a special finishing touch to any look!
This dress is unlined so I recommend wearing a slip with it, or shapewear for a smooth finish. The length is perfect for a more conservative look and the silhouette screams fun! The best part of all is this dress is only $14.00! At that price I think it is a must for summer and early fall!
Have you ever been shopping and spotted an item hanging that immediately grabbed your attention? Well that was me with this dress. My eyes first caught a glimpse of the beautiful pale pink and sketched floral print which drew me in. From there it was the beautiful pleating, lightweight chiffon fabric and dainty metallic belt. And the next thing I knew; it was in my hands and I was headed for the fitting room!
I absolutely love everything about this beautiful dress. The length is perfect if you are on the taller size, which I am. It is double lined and has a self tying back accent. I really enjoy wearing dresses like this outdoors, I know that may sound out of place, but beautiful dresses and natural landscapes just go hand in hand. Especially with this amazing floral print!
I decided to style this dress on a more casual side with sandals and no accessories. This dress really doesn’t need anything extra! I think this would make an excellent addition to any spring wardrobe, as it is perfect for attending spring and summer weddings, garden parties, or any social gathering you feel like looking extra spectacular for. So the next time you are shopping and something catches your eye, give it a chance and try it on!
Living in Houston all of my life means that the Rodeo is a yearly go-to event for me. With over 20 live entertainers, massive carnival, and a rodeo performance every night, there is a show for everyone. This year I attended two nights seeing Fifth Harmony, and Chris Young. I will tell you, although the rodeo is the same time of year, every year, the weather sure is not! Some years it is blazing hot, others it has been windy and cold, so planning ahead on your rodeo attire isn’t always optimal. But the one thing I will say you can prepare for yearly is a lot of walking, so comfort is key when it comes to your footwear! This year I decided on dresses and flat boots for both shows, and was comfortable as well as temperature appropriate both nights.
For Fifth Harmony, I decided on a long-sleeve dress from Armoire.Amore. It was very windy that day, and was going to get cooler by nightfall, so I chose my faux suede fringe boots to complete the look. Also I would like to add that if you are attending the rodeo, that means you are going to be eating some amazingly good–bad for you food! I chose the bbq route this year, but there is always the chance that I might sample a deep fried oreo, twinkie, or some other form of sugary goodness! Because of this, I like to wear looser fitting clothing to the rodeo- haha! I’ve got to stay comfortable no matter how much I decide to eat.
For Chris Young it was a much warmer day so I chose a patchwork print chiffon dress and cowboy boots. This also was my first time rocking the top knot, which was a lot of fun! I decided on this ensemble to keep cool, while still fitting the rodeo spirit. Everyone loves to dress up at the rodeo, I have just learned over the years to find a happy medium between rodeo fashion and wearability. Heels and jeans will have you miserable before the night is over, and with it being rodeo season, I want to enjoy every minute of it- not waste it whining!
I hope my styling tips inspire you to think outside of the box in creating your western wear ensembles. There is a look for you, no matter how country or country at heart you are!
Jhonathan and I recently took an impromptu road trip to central Texas to check out the bluebonnets and on the way, get some delicious Blue Bell icecream at the creamery in Branham. I put together some fun looks, appropriate for the outdoors, and photos with the gorgeous seasonal florals.
White jeans
So I love the look of a crisp pair of white denim, but they seem to always be a dirt magnet for me! But when I tried on these Jessica Simpson skinnies, I knew I had to get them! These are by far the favorite pair I have ever purchased, and think I will be sporting them a lot this season. (If I can manage to keep them clean!) For this look I have paired them with a navy cold-shoulder top by Democracy and cognac sandals by Olivia Miller. This look is perfect for the spring, and will transition effortlessly into summer. Navy and white are one of my favorite color combinations, as I am partial to the marine/nautical inspired wardrobe. So if you are like me this is an excellent option!
Striped Dresses
Stripes are a beautiful contrast to florals, are have always been one of my favorite prints. This lightweight chambray dress is the perfect addition to add to your spring wardrobe, and is ideal for photo ops! It is fully lined and has a tie back detailing that really takes this dress to the next level. I paired it with braided white Olivia Miller sandals, which perfectly complement the dress without taking away from it. I envision this look at brunch, the beach, or even here in the fields.
Denim on Denim
This is currently a look I am really enjoying on casual days. Blue is such a calming shade, and when paired with nature, highlights your surroundings superbly. Here I chose a lightweight chambray button down, with dark wash skinny jeans and mint monochromatic lace up Vans.
And last, but not least, accessories! I selected a single stack of bracelets to pair with these looks. All of which are from Luca Love bracelets. These tie in nature, as well as, the beautiful blues and reds. Luca Love bracelets are lightweight, adjustable, and most of all give back! Check their site out here, to learn more!
No matter your style, there is a central Texas photo op ensemble for you! Whether its jeans, dresses, or even shorts, you can easily create an ensemble to shine in, as well as the great outdoors.