summer – tide & bloom

pj party

Silly title, but I feel like I’m wearing men’s PJs. And I don’t hate it.

I gotta say this is probably my favorite kind of outfit. The silhouettes are figure flattering while the fabrics are breathable and elegant. If I had a whole closet full of these pieces in a variety of colors, I probably wouldn’t need much else!

If you think you’re too short to wear pants like this, let me remind you that I’m just about 5’4″ and wearing heels in these photos. I typically wear a size 4 or an XS in Anthro clothes (and often in petite sizes), but I got these pants in a standard small. It’s loose but seriously comfortable and gives me just enough fabric for the slit to only reveal itself when I’m walking or sitting.

And I mean, this top? Come on. I can wear it with white pants, I can wear it with joggers, jeans, skirts… so much!

apron dress

Okay so by now, I can own up to it – I have a shopping addiction that is completely facilitated by the fact that I need to look good and fresh at work. While in my heart of hearts I know that new clothes are completely unnecessary and it contributes to the overall waste of the world, I also know that new clothes make me feel new inside too. Like when I feel stale and weird, a new piece can really pick my mood up. Superficial, maybe. But it’s just honestly what happens. Do you feel the same way?

headband, apron dress, seychelles mules / anthropologie

sweater in summer

ladycrush: elizabeth

I’ve known Elizabeth for less than a year, but she and I clicked pretty immediately. We both love a good cup of joe, shopping in vintage boutiques, and festival dallying. But more than common interests, she’s got a seriously kind heart and has been one of my biggest supporters this year. She’s definitely a keeper. <3

Name: Elizabeth T.
Neighborhood: Old Fourth Ward
Day Job: E-Commerce Merchandiser

What motivates you as a creative professional?

The beauty and my love for the final product. Having experienced many aspects of the fashion industry, I know the amount of work it takes to both create new products and also have it be successful. From the stages of consumer demands influencing the product development, to buying into the samples displayed at market, and finally seeing the full-formed assortment come into completion at the retail stores – each piece of merchandise has had so much thought and energy poured into it. It’s exciting to see the final masterpieces, work them into displays, try them on, and share my giddiness with others that love it too!

kimono cover-ups

Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I don’t feel comfortable with a lot of the terms used in the fashion world to describe ethnic-inspired clothing – kimonos, aztec, tribal, et cetera. It’s typically not accurate and while imitation can be a form of flattery, it can also really minimize cultural and ceremonial significance. That being said, I also know it’s damn near impossible to avoid such vocabulary when it’s so pervasive in clothing descriptions, media, and the like. So unfortunately here I am, reduced to using “kimono cover-ups” for convenience instead of easy-breezy-lightweight-open-robes. Please forgive me the terminology and focus on how awesome it is that these are back in style!

shop these kimonos below!

DIY: color block patio table

In my quest for patio glory, I picked up a ton of random pieces from a recent neighborhood yard sale event. Though I saved a lot of dough, I’ve been left with the task of transforming them into an eclectic-but-cohesive set, which is no easy feat. First up, I tackle perhaps the most important piece of all: the patio table.

Being so central to both the aesthetic and functionality of our outdoor space, it was important that I plan before I dove in. With some preliminary sketches in hand (with a certain amount of color flexibility), I ran off to Home Depot to purchase some off-tint reduced price paints in addition to some other goodies… (DIY instructions)

bright like sunshine

You know how there are just some trends that you think will never work for you? For me, that’s always been brightly colored pants. Regardless of how many I’ve tried on in the past, none of them ever seemed to do it for me. I love them on other people, but I felt like they always emphasized the width of my legs… and I was NOT all about that. Well a few weeks ago, for the first time ever in my life, I finally broke my colored-pants curse.

we move just like the birds

pjs in public

Wearing this comfy set feels like cheating! I’m pretty much wearing pajamas in public with only my swagger and a necklace to prove that it’s appropriate to wear this outside my house. Can you blame me? When you’ve got stuff this soft, you never want to take it off!

i heart austin: style

My girls make me so proud! Not even out of high school and already so chic and stylish, even on a casual road trip. What are these kids drinkin’ nowadays?! I have no idea where they got any parts of these outfits from, but I just wanted to share how beautiful these girls are. I wish I could be around them more often! Maybe then I’d have more style posts.