Seattle, Seafood, and Crop Tops

 

 

After returning from the East Coast, I waited exactly one week before heading to the west coast: Seattle, Washington.  Seattle is a city that has been at the top of my bucket list for years now.  Everything from the space needle to Pike Place and the gum wall to whale watching and hiking at Discovery Park.  All of these activities sounded great to me!

It was quite the impromptu trip, but I’m not one to pass up on an opportunity to travel!  I originally wasn’t even staying for 48 hours, but I got my flight changed and took a red eye back to Columbus giving me 12 extra hours to enjoy the city!

It sure was hard getting used to the time change.  My friend and I landed at 5pm Pacific Time and  I made it until 11pm – in my defense, it was 2am Eastern time and a Monday.

I packed 4 outfits total: A nice dress for nice dinner, an outfit to wear during my only full day, an outfit to wear out my 2^nd night, and a travel outfit.  On my first full day in Seattle, we knocked out all tourist activities: Pike Place, Post Alley, coffee from the first Starbucks (had to shove some bows, but let's face it,  the coffee just tastes better at the original starbucks!), drinks at Pike Brewing Company, dinner at the Crab Pot restaurant (check out their seafests), and Pier 57.

With this outfit, I experimented with a crop top and high waisted shorts!  I have always thought, as long as your belly button is covered, you're wearing a crop top properly. If you're belly button is peeking out, it then becomes a belly shirt.  I didn't exactly follow my own rules because my belly button showed more than I wanted.  But these shorts have the cutest print and an elastic waistband which meant I could eat as much fresh salmon, kale, and beer as I wanted from Place Pigalle. Trust me, it is a good combo!  I left it plain on top because I wanted the focus to be on my shorts (and not my midriff).  I've been on a fedora kick ever since my beach vaca - hats keep the sun out of my face without giving me sunglass tan lines.  The weather was perfect - nothing but blue skies and I felt comfortable exploring Pike Place all day!

Shorts - Shop Hope's
Shirt - Forever 21
Fedora - DSW
Purse Francesca's
Sandals - Target
Nail polish - OPI; Cajun Shrimp

Island Girl - Martha's Vineyard

 

 

It's been almost a month since Martha's Vineyard.  Can I please go back to being this tan again?  The weather in Ohio is not reliable.  However, at the Vineyard, we had sunshine each day!  Relaxing on the beach was on the agenda every day so, another top priority was making sure I had enough swimsuits and a cover-ups.  If I’m going to be an island girl for a whole week (no make-up and beach hair), then accessorizing my swimsuit was the least that I could do to still feel like myself.

We went to the beach straight from the Chillmark Flee Market this day so these cut-off shorts, off-the-shoulder lace top, fedora, sunnies, and straw beach bag made it an easy transition from bargain shoppers to beach bums
 

I can proudly say that, at the end of our trip, I wore each item of clothing I packed in my suitcase..... exactly once.

 

Colored Pumps

June 27, 2014

 

 

So, who’s ready to ROCK their wardrobe this summer? Wearing colorful pumps can give an instant boost of confidence and add flair to any outfit. But with SO many colors to choose from, a little outfit guidance is key. Lucky for us, our Style Expert Abby has some great advice!

Be honest. How many pairs of colored pumps are in your closet?
A lot…a LOT! I’m actually a huge fan of colored pumps because they make any outfit pop. I think I’ve got at least one in every shade.

Any favorite colors?
A bright coral goes with everything, especially in the summer. And it makes my skin look tan! I’m always a fan of blue, too. Depending on your skin tone, anything from a teal to a royal blue can work wonders. But turquoise might be my personal favorite right now!

So blue shades are a must-have for summer. Any other summer colors we need to have?
I love tangerine and apricot shades. Fuchsia is fun, too. Which reminds me: it’s also a great idea to bring some bright color into your tote bags or clutches. The brighter, the better—why not? 

What about as we transition into fall?
Jewel tones make for great transition colors, like a nice emerald green. Aubergine is also perfect for summer-to-fall.

I’m going to throw some colors out there and you tell me what you would wear with it. Ready?
Go for it!

Red?
Oooh, red. A little lacy black dress! Or for a more casual look, some boyfriend jeans and a white tee.

Navy?
I’m really into the navy/orange combination. Oh, and navy pumps with white jeans—so cute!

Yellow?
I’d probably pair heels with a floral midi dress. Summer to the max.        

Thanks for the awesome color inspiration, Abby! Any final advice?
Actually, yes! Don’t forget about your toenail color. Sometimes, especially in an office setting, you might want to play it safe with your fingernails—but with your toes, anything goes!

 

Photos by Courtney Mason, DSW

 

 Photos by Courtney Mason, DSW

Photos by Courtney Mason, DSW 

 

 

Look 1:

Shirt - Francesca's

Skirt - Love Culture

Fuscia heels - Jessica Simpson, DSW

Watch - Michael Kors

Look 2:

Dress - Peter Pilotto, Target

Heels - Steve Madden, DSW

 

Look 3:

Top - NY&Co

Skirt - NY&Co

Watch - Michael Kors
Necklace/Bracelet - One Wink Jewelry, DSW

DSW. Style Experts Speak: Colored Pumps. Do You Speak Shoe Lover, June 27, 2014. http://blog.dsw.com/fashion-style/style-experts-speak-colored-pumps

 

 

 

 

Nautcal Stripes and catamaran Tours

I just took a week vacation with my boyfriend’s family.  We vacationed in Martha’s Vineyard, an island of Massachusetts. I couldn’t wait to dunk myself in the salt water and taste fresh lobster! 

I tend to be ambitious when it comes to packing my suitcase.  We’re talking excel spreadsheets – months in advance!  My boyfriend attempted to burst my bubble, requesting that I consciously pack my outfits, because we were driving a full car to the vineyard.  Mr. V. actually challenged me to one outfit per day (Challenge not accepted, by the way)! I had been busy, planning outfits and scouting Pinterest for outfit inspiration ever since I was invited.  Nautical stripes, beach hats, and maxi’s were on the top of my list!  I picked out 3 fedoras and one floppy hat to wear, then I forgot them entirely on the floor of my apartment.  Operation Find A Fedora was in full effect once on the road – scouring gas stations and gift shops for the first and cheapest fedora I could find.

I had a great time on the family vacation and am extremely thankful for the invitation.  Exploring Martha’s Vineyard was beautiful, and relaxing on the beach was so peaceful.  Speaking of exploring, my boyfriend and I scheduled activities for the two of us – planning shopping outings, ice cream trips, and a catamaran tour – sailing on the Mad Max!

The Mad Max is where all three of my top items came into play!  Sailing from 6:15-8:15pm was going to be chilly and windy. The easiest way to stay warm on a cool summer’s night is to throw on a maxi dress.  I paired it with a distressed denim jacket, a red bauble necklace, and my new fedora

 

 

 
We made friends with the couple next to us – who also happen to be from Ohio and have a few friends in common with us.  It’s small world, after all.

Dress - Marshall's
Jacket - American Eagle (old)
Fedora - Martha's Vineyard gift shop in Vineyard Haven
Necklace - P.S. Wight's (closed)
Sandals - Target
Nail Color - Essie, Mine Candy Apple