Category: Personal Style
A Formal Spring Look
How many weddings do you have this summer? Its fun to have an excuse to dress up. I’m excited for my sorority Little’s wedding, my cousin’s wedding, and my college BFF/roomie’s wedding all coming up in the next few months. Today I’m showing off a modest spring formal look to give you some inspiration for any dressy events you might have on the horizon.
Long dresses are a good choice for formal events. I’m a fan for several reasons. For petite frames, it makes you appear taller! Yaaaasss. They’re fun to dance in, and they give instant elegance to your look.
Don’t be afraid to put together a few different colors in one outfit! Two very different blues (plus the navy clutch) make each other even more vibrant by contrast. A very basic, solid-color dress like this one provides a fun palette for bright and sparkly accessories.
Long dresses make it harder to show off your killer shoes, but you can get creative with it!
Spring Formal Look Outfit Details
Dress: GCGme
Shoes: Mojo Moxie, from a previous season. The update version is majorly discounted on 6 pm. Chelsea Clark also has a cut-out detail, tie-closure, peep toe that is just as cute but features a more comfortable heel height.
Necklace: Target
Clutch: Tory Burch, available in orange here. The updated style for this season is here.
Photographs by Miles Norwood.
Do you have any formal events coming up this summer? What are you thinking of wearing?
What Minneapolis Wore for Prince
I was in Minneapolis last night for Gamut Gallery’s art lab, where for $5 you can join in a collaborative art night-painting on canvas, painting on other peoples’ canvas, or doing your own project such as knitting. The night was overshadowed by the passing of Minnesota’s own Prince. To celebrate his life, Minnesotans flocked downtown for an all-night dance party. Such an event requires dressing in your Purple Rain outfit finest, I learned from the artists at Gamut.
Purple Rain Outfit Street Style
Here are what the artsy people of Minneapolis wore to honor Prince.
Cassie Garner, co-owner of Gamut Gallery, dashed home to put together an outfit of sequined 80s finery. Is that a side-slung fanny pack? Extra points, Cassie. Follow her on Instagram @mplsartbabe.
Jade Patrick, gallery owner, rocked a pink-purple combo for her purple rain outfit.
Mark Dean’s purple rain outfit had a more casual vibe, showing us how well teal and purple can pair.
Going to celebrate Prince’s life this weekend? Follow these Minnesotans’ example. Take a peek in your closet and throw together your purplest, most 80s ensemble for your own purple rain outfit to honor the prince. Oh, and here’s the collaborative art piece I co-made last night at Gamut.
A Hint of Spring
April here has been a bit overcast, brown, and so un-springlike. But as anyone from the north knows, spring can be faked with some strategically placed pastels. So here’s the first pop of color I’ll bring out in my wardrobe for seasonal transition style.
All the photos in this post are by Mo Ashley (see more from this shoot). We shot on location at the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden, which is a beautiful venue any time of year but you can see from the photos that it’s looking a little brown and not yet covered in flowers! The conservatory (seen in the background) is closed until 2017 as the park undergoes renovation.
This weekend I was finally able to move my own plants into their own outdoor greenhouse after the winter, so the seasons are definitely changing.
Seasonal Transition Style
Seasonal Transition StyleFor spring, I’m loving this look:
- Tall wedge sandals
- Cropped leggings or ponte pants
- Long, loose tops
- Fun scarf
It has everything you could ask for in this transition season – a little bit dressy but still comfy casual, a hint of summery skin but enough coverage for still-cool temps.
Outfit Details
Shoes – I got these BOCs on clearance at DSW and these are the closest I could find!
Top – I got mine from a local popup boutique, but it’s also available with shorter sleeves from Shoptiques.
Pants – Lysse, exact style not available, but I’m also loving the side zips on these from Shabby Apple.
Scarf – Lilly Pulitzer (Similar)
Wallet – Target (in four different colors) or get one on clearance.
Subtle Spring Colors
Subtle spring colors
The great thing about spring is that it’s time to emerge from the gray and black that keeps us northerners warm in the bleak winter and start remembering what colors are. If you’ve read this blog even once before, you know it’s no stranger to pastel. Luckily for me, this season is all about pastels. Pantone’s colors of the year, Rose Quartz and Serenity, are beautiful light hues.
Using elements of rust, tan, beige, dusty blue and lavender I combined neutrals with dusty pastels to create subtle spring colors. In this outfit I used almost entirely thrifted things and old items in my closet. My aunt bought me these boots for Christmas probably three years ago and the necklace is a vintage heirloom, but I was surprised to find an identical one for sale at One King’s Lane Vintage! The suede skirt is one I bought at an outlet store and raw-cut the hem. The only new purchase is my lavender Baggu clutch from Parc Boutique. I bought it to be a cosmetic case, but I actually love the quality leather and slouchy silhouette, so I sometimes cart it around as my purse even though it doesn’t have handles. This style has sold out, but now they have other pastel leather bags, including some with straps! It’s also available in pink.
Outfit Details
Outfit DetailsJacket – Secondhand Banana Republic – similar // Boots – similar // Tights – Target // Neckace – One King’s Lane Vintage // Skirt – outlet purchase similar // Bag – Parc Boutique (available here in pink)
Photos by Mo Ashley
Enliven Your Winter Wardrobe
Winter explorations in nature leave no question: winter has its own beauty. That’s easy to forget when 99% of the time I’m in my knee-length down jacket and beat-up gray winter boots, begging the forecast to peak above 20.
While utility trumps all in unforgiving climates, there are some easy ways to enliven your winter wear. Read on to find out.
Item 1: A bonus coat for cute winter style
A fun coat isn’t a replacement for a really warm parka, but no one said you can’t have a bonus coat (or several). Whether it’s a pastel color like this one of mine, or a pretty pattern, an out-of-the-ordinary coat for special occasions, it can make your forget how undressy winter is. Boom, on your way to cute winter style.
Item 2: Accessories
Hats and scarves need not be neutral. Add consistency with matching accessories, or mix and match for pops of different colors.
Item 3: A Weatherproof Bag
A purse that can handle sleet and snow. I don’t feel like I need to shield this faux leather bag from the elements when I’m waiting for public transportation or walking in the city.
Outfit Details
Purse – Target, may still be available in select stores.
Hat – Similar I love how this one is accented with a brooch.
Coat – I bought this one many seasons ago. I recommend this one from Express.
Scarf – Thrifted. Similar from Burberry (splurge) and J. Crew (save! on sale too)
