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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

skirt

High-Low Summer // Demeter Fragrance Review

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It’s almost September and I’m feeling a bit ambivalent since I still have a bunch of Summer looks in the pipeline that I haven’t posted yet, waah. It seems to be always the way where Fall kind of catches up with me. That said, I am so excited to get going on all the Fall things which are just around the corner! It has thankfully cooled down a bit lately but the days still reach well into the mid-upper 80’s. For now, I’m still all about the Summer vibes with this vintage high-low asymmetrical midi dress. Also love the classic t-shirt and skirt combo — there’s just something timeless about it and will always look fresh. This combo is a must have for the toasty weather we’ve had all Summer, especially when you add a pair of comfy sandals to the mix, like these flats from Abercrombie. I also like to add a small belt with skirts to tie everything together. While I am looking forward to Fall looks, I want to try to make Summer last as long as possible!

In other news, I recently tried out a bunch of different Demeter Fragrances. I have to hand it to Demeter, they do a great job at recreating some of the more unique scents in life. They have a dizzying amount of varieties but I selected a few of the ones that I was most curious about. Another cool thing about Demeter are all the formats you can choose from. You can buy each fragrance in a variety of sizes, or as a body wash, diffuser oil, roll-on or even lotion! That’s pretty cool. An overall impression of these fragrances are that they simply don’t linger very long on the skin, but they will stay longer on fabrics. A quick rundown of the ones I tried, from left to right:

Laundromat: This one is spooky accurate. If you’ve ever been inside a commercial laundromat, there’s a heady, humid feeling of wet clothes, detergent and dryer smells that fill the air. I would say this scent captures the atmosphere of the laundromat, rather than fresh laundry if that makes sense. It has quickly turned into one of my favorites and I often use this one to freshen up clothing and bedding. 5/5

Tomato: I grew tomatoes in the garden this year and I love their unique, almost spicy smell. This perfume comes really, really close to mimicking that scent but I wish there was just a little bit more green and peppery vibes. I feel like this perfume evokes the leaves of the plant, rather than the fruit itself which is what I had hoped for. Unfortunately this one has the worst staying power out of the five which is a bummer. Overall, this perfume does convey that essential tomatoey-ness so I definitely recommend if you are also a Tomato fan. 4/5

Fuzzy Navel: This fragrance is one of their more popular scents and they threw this into my order for free which was thoughtful! It’s pretty hard to rate this one since I’m not really into gourmand or fruity fragrances, but it has a very fresh, watery peachy orange scent. I guess this one is meant to capture the alcoholic drink, but I don’t get much of the vodka thing from it. Leaving this unrated since fruity fragrances just aren’t my thing but I wouldn’t knock it either.

Linden: This one is also one of their more popular varieties and there’s good reason for it. Boy, do I love this one. I spray it on my pillow/PJs like every night so yep definitely a fanboy. This fragrance is hard to describe but it’s a little bit greenery, a little bit Summer sunshine with hints of Lily of the Valley. I honestly have no idea what actual Linden blossoms smell like, but this fragrance is absolutely gorgeous. I feel like this one sums up the height of Summer, and I bet I will love this one even more in January to remind myself of warmer and greener times. 5/5

Paperback: I had high hopes for this one and really wondered if they could nail the smell of a fresh paperback book. I pictured this to smell like dust and aged paper (think old book shop) but unfortunately all I got from this was ‘vanilla candle.’ Such a bummer! Maybe I’m missing something, but this fragrance bears no resemblance to a paperback for me. Argh, I am so bummed out by this. I don’t mind the vanilla scent per se, it was just not what I was expecting at all. 2/5

Outfit Details: Shirt: American Eagle; Skirt: Vintage Blue Brand/Thrifted; Shoes: Abercrombie; Bag: LeatherStrata

In Undertow

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I still love festival fashion, even though all festivals are probably canceled for the foreseeable future. For me, festival looks aren’t about showing a ton of skin or getting flashy. I’m all about loose, breezy items that are comfortable to wear on hot days. Of course that means cotton tops, skirts and flats!

This top from Everlane is such a perfect tee for Summer. So lightweight! And I love the fact that it’s sleeveless. It’s been so hot lately (it set a record in Denver last week) that the least amount of fabric as possible is a must. Next up is this fab vintage 80’s skirt found on Etsy. I love Etsy for those vintage finds when you can’t venture into your local thrift store because a certain (ahem) virus has ruined pretty much everything, sigh. One thing great about fashion is that everything worth revisiting usually comes back around again (not you shoulder pads, you’re not allowed). While this pleated floral design is straight out of the 80’s, it seems so new right now!

Destino Flats from Free People
Upslope’s Spiked Seltzer has been a must have drink for Summer!
Outfit Details: Top: Everlane; Skirt: Vintage (Etsy); Shoes: Free People; sunglasses: Ray Ban; hat: unbranded

Linen & Silk

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All dressed up and nowhere to go = the current theme of the month(s) due to COVID-19. But that’s alright, sometimes when you’re #socialdistancing it’s important to put on something nice to feel normal again. The latest Spring look features a few of the best quality materials to go for — linen and silk! Don’t buy full price though since these can get pricey! You can find great deals online for well made clothing, like this top from Everlane which was on clearance for a big discount. Gotta love when clearance items are still available in your size! This top is light and breezy and so perfect for Summer that I’m almost looking forward to hotter weather to try it out. I sized down on this top and I’m glad I did since it’s meant to fit fairly loose.

The skirt and shoes were found at Roolee, a boutique online store, which has tons of great items for reasonable prices. I was overall happy with the quality of the skirt and shoes — especially the skirt which is made from a linen blend and comes with pockets. I am aaalways a fan of skirts/dresses that have decent pockets. The material is super breathable and perfect for Summertime, the beach…picnics–you name it!

Outfit Details: Top: Everlane; Skirt: Roolee; Shoes; Roolee; Watch: Stock Watches

Inside Life

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After moving to a new place, decor and furniture are still works in progress–hence this outfit shoot was all about the minimalism! Plus, when January hits I’m pretty much over Winter stuff and just want Spring already! This midi skirt from Adored Vintage is one of my favorite every day skirts that lends itself well to more minimalist looks. I also love the pattern! I have this weird thing about polka dots where in order for me to be on board, the dots needs to be small and unevenly spaced. Is that super weird/OCD? Probably, oh well.

Anywaaays, to complete this look I threw on a basic ribbed pullover top from Forever 21. The ribs/stripes are a nice way to add in some subtle pattern mixing/texture while not actually doing full on pattern mixing (but I am a fan of that too!). Forever 21 is so great with these staple items for your closet–especially semi-cropped tops like these. I like to wear shorter tops with skirts (especially the high-waisted kind) so there isn’t a whole lot of fabric to tuck in and make it messy. This look was meant to be worn while out on a warm, Spring day — now all I need is for it to be April to make it work!

Outfit Details: Top: Forever21; Skirt: Adored Vintage; Bag: Live Fashionable Mamuye Tote; Shoes: Matisse

Heart of Glass – Blondie Halloween Costume

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This Halloween I decided to go full glam and do a Blondie/Debbie Harry costume! I absolutely love Halloween and everything Fall so I wanted to make it a fun costume this year. I’ve always been a big fan of her music and fashion too so it made a lot of sense to give it a go. She is such a great performer and I gotta admit I am a total fan girl!

One goal I had this year–I wanted this year’s costume to be super cheap so this costume wound up being less than $30 bucks all in. I did already have the leather jacket, skirt and shoes so that helped a lot! One thing I lacked was the signature “Camp Funtime” T-shirt that Blondie wore in 1977 so I paid about 20 bucks for that. I also kind of just like the T-shirt and plan on wearing it out anyways so that was a bit of a win. Then of course this $10 wig I found at a costume store had to bring the whole thing together. I know, I know–only the best wigs will do for me. I wanted to go for the 70’s-era Blondie more than the 80’s; think more CBGB punk style than 80’s glam was kind of the goal. This costume was comprised of a lot of classic basics: the leather jacket was originally from Zara and is just a great staple piece to have around. Another was this A-line black skirt from Forever 21, plus bonus pockets in the front. I gotta say I am excited for Halloween this season–as long as it doesn’t get too cold!

Debbie Harry wearing the Camp Funtime T-Shirt on stage in the 1970s.
Costume Details: Leather Jacket: Zara; T-Shirt: TeePublic; Tights: Forever 21; Skirt: Forever 21; Ankle boots: Lucky Brand

Summer Whites & Linen

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The Colorado sun is burning hot this time of year and that calls for lightweight skirts, cold drinks and shady porches. This flowing midi skirt from Adored Vintage is a perfect option for hot Summer days. It’s a bit longer than the typical midi skirt and fits more like a 3/4 maxi. It’s lightweight and flowy–the perfect Summer option! Why wear light colored clothing in the Summer? From what I’ve read, they doesn’t absorb the sun’s rays like black or dark colored clothes. Another Summery material I’ve been a big fan of lately has been linen. Linen is a breathable fabric and great for hotter days. This shirt was a lucky find from Etsy and looks great tied in the front.

Speaking of Etsy, this post is going to be pretty much all about the latest Etsy finds (stores linked at the end of this post). Another recent score was this leather cross-body bag. I’ve been on the hunt for a medium size cross-body/saddle bag and this one has everything I was looking for. It’s also affordable and goes with just about everything, so big win there! I recently upgraded my sun hat from the Etsy shop, LaMar Lifestyle, and it’s a great wide brimmed hat that offers a good amount of sun protection. It’s a must have for pale folks when sun screen just won’t cut it alone. This shop also has the best accessories for your day at the beach, including handwoven mules and beach blankets. It’s worth checking out!

The best affordable peachy rose Summer blush from ELF for the chronically pale. Don’t forget the SPF underneath! Purchase here.
La Mar Lifestyle Etsy shop for beach and sun lovers!
Outfit Details: Top: Vintage, Etsy – PerennialVintage; Skirt: Adored Vintage; Shoes: Lucky Brand; Bag: Etsy – Leather Strata; Hat: Etsy – LaMar Lifestyle

For Warmer Fall Days: Floral Midi Skirt & Layers

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Last weekend was incredibly nice: the leaves on the aspens were transitioning from yellow to brown, it was in the upper 60’s, with a mild breeze–you couldn’t ask for a better Fall day!  That said, I wanted to show what you can do on days like these in terms of what you can get away with wearing.  You never know with Colorado where the weather changes at the drop of a hat, but some days are just consistently perfect!

This skirt from Zara is great for this kind of weather since it’s a little bit heavier and longer than a typical midi skirt.  Plus it has some great Fall vibes.  I love this vintage floral pattern and the color!  The pattern really pops against neutral tones, so I chose a cozy, dark (taupe-ish?) Cardigan from American Eagle to complete this look.  This cardigan is super comfy, and goes great with skirts.  Whenever shirts or cardigans err on the longer and bulkier side (like this one), I like to just front tie to make them less bulky and more versatile.  For added layers, I like to throw on a loop scarf like this comfy olive toned one as well.


Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Cardigan: American Eagle, Skirt: Zara, Shoes: Free People, Scarf: Amazon

Green Wrap Skirt & Summer to Fall Transition Pieces

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It’s unfortunate being so busy that I haven’t been able to post as quickly as I’d like.  I feel a bit of a time crunch since August has sped by and Fall is quickly approaching.  It’s not a good feeling when you feel like you’re running out of time.  It would be nice for everything to slow down so I have more time to post more Summer ideas!  In California, this wasn’t really an issue since the temperature swings were so mild in comparison.  I could post about Summer stuff all year long, but alas, Colorado has other ideas.  At the same time, I’m very excited for Fall to get in full swing so I’m feeling a bit ambivalent!

Here’s one of my late Summer looks featuring this lovely wrap skirt from Zaful.  I have been having a love affair with wrap skirts and dresses all Summer it seems like!  I am a huge fan of this color and floral pattern.  It’s a bit like a modern Ditsy pattern, and there’s so many different outfits you could wear with this one.  Since this skirt has a longer length, it could easily be worn as a Summer/Fall transition piece.  It would look fab with a suede or denim jacket, or even a chunky knit pullover!  Since it’s still in the 80s here, I went with a summery plain white tee and sandals, but as an affordable transition piece it is worth checking out.  This boyfriend style tee from Urban Outfitters is such a comfy and soft option for a white t-shirt.  I personally am super picky about t-shirts and this one has a nice loose cut and the fabric is very soft. Since the boyfriend style runs looser, I ordered a size smaller and the fit is perfect!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Top: Urban Outfitters, Skirt: Zaful, Shoes: Nature Breeze, Bag: eBay

Ditsy Skirt

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Lately I’ve been loving 90’s inspired dresses and skirts, especially ones in ditsy patterns. I wasn’t even aware that these patterns were actually called “ditsy” but apparently they are! So, if you are feeling it like I am, you can use that term for your searches to find exactly what you’re looking for and it sure makes things a lot easier. The length of this skirt is pretty much perfect–it’s just slightly longer than a typical knee length midi but isn’t long enough to call it a maxi. I tend to feel bogged down with maxis so this length works great for me–obviously my opinion could change on maxis in the future, you never know!

My next favorite summer item has been these super affordable slides sold on Amazon. They are made from vegan suede and feel soo soft! Required no breaking in and they felt like I had been wearing them for years. They have just a hint of a block heel but nothing that would cause issues for folks who are not a fan of heels. I can walk around in these easily and I am not a heel kind of girl by any stretch! Another summer accessory I’ve been loving is this cute little antler ring–those little details for me just add something extra to any outfit without looking too dressy. This outfit would be perfect for a hot day by the beach or even out at a festival–and don’t forget your sun hat!

Outfit Set: 

Outfit Details: Skirt: Louche, Shirt: Levi’s, Ring: Etsy, Bag: Gap (old), Hat: eBay, Shoes: Nature Breeze

Chiffon & Smoking Slippers

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It’s late February and I’m starting to feel the itch for Spring! I’ve also been anticipating more Spring outfits and brainstorming Winter to Spring transition looks. It can be kind of a wacky time in terms of how to dress. Early Spring can still be pretty cold so sweaters and knits are definitely still a thing. However, as the days slowly get warmer and longer the anticipation to wear flowy skirts and lighter layers grows! I paired this Springy midi skirt with a cozy, cable knit sweater–the perfect closet addition for cooler days. I never got super into crop tops but cropped sweaters do look nice when paired with a natural waisted skirt. The shorter length prevents the look from getting too bulky and oversized.

I was recently gifted this gorgeous perfume from Sonoma Scent Studio called “Forest Walk.” It’s quickly become one of my favorite Winter to Spring fragrances. The scent has strong cedar and sandalwood notes paired with lighter, powdery floral notes. I sometimes find flowery scents in perfume to be a bit overpowering but I loved it in this one. It is perfectly balanced with the deeper notes from the Cedarwood. I am absolutely obsessed with this fragrance and have taken to spraying it on my pillow at night as well as using it as an everyday fragrance. The best part is that it is very long lasting so a little goes a long way!

Outfit Details: Sweater: Forever 21, Skirt/belt: eBay, Shoes: Joie and Bag: etsy

Outfit Set: