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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

summer style

Summer in Blue

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We had a brutal heat wave the last few weeks, and on both coasts that heat has unfortunately continued. Now that it’s returned back to more milder temperatures, I feel like I can finally enjoy Summer again! Recently I stumbled across this 100% cotton midi dress from H&M (on Poshmark) during my pursuit for perfect Summer dresses. Cotton is definitely my jam in the Summer, just because it’s lightweight and breathable. Midi dresses are also great because you don’t have to wear any tights or leggings underneath to cover up. Speaking of which, does anyone else get annoyed by dresses that are so mini they might as well be long shirts? How am I supposed to wear those in the Summer without leggings? The last thing I want to wear on a hot day is leggings, so mini dresses are pretty much out for me in the Summer (kind of ironic, no?) I digress. This dress reminds me a bit of the #cottagecore vibe which may or may not be passe by now. Not really sure what the status is, but I don’t mind keeping a few pieces of that trend around in the future since florals and shirt dresses are pretty much a closet staple of mine. Just out of morbid curiosity, I recently read one of those “what’s OUT of style and will date you in 2021” pieces, and can I just say that the very topic of “what’s in” and “what’s out” feels really….dated to me? Expecting people to throw out perfectly good clothes for the sake of the latest trends is 1. horrible for the environment and 2. an exercise in futility as those trends will just circle back around in a couple years. It would be great if the internet just gave it up already, and let people wear and enjoy whatever they want without being slaves to the latest trends. Sigh, maybe one day.

On a totally separate note, the garden has really taken off this year (pics below). Gotta say I am pretty proud of the rose bushes, they are producing like crazy!

Outfit Details: Dress: H&M (Thrifted from Poshmark); Bag: Etsy; Hat: eBay (Unbranded); Shoes: Free People

Tropical Dreams and Last of Summer

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It’s warmed back up into the 80’s this week and both myself and the garden are loving it! Fall is still in the air though as the nights get cooler and the leaves are starting to change. For now, the warm temps are inspiring me to post a few more Summer pieces, like this tropical print top from American Eagle. Gotta love those end of Summer sales. I have been in a small love affair with kitsch tropical prints since at least 2015 and I’m afraid 2020 isn’t any different. This top is very light and breezy, with a bit of elastic at the hem on the back and sides. The front was made to be tied at the front, like so many tops these days. The elastic is a neat feature since it makes it easy to tuck in and wear in a more cropped fashion, like with skirts or very high-waisted jeans. It also gives the impression of the shirt being “tucked in” without it having to be tucked in. Kind of a minor feature, but also cool!

Speaking of jeans, I recently picked up these high-waisted distressed jeans from Abercrombie and they are fab! It’s been a while since I’ve worn anything other than Levi’s, but I’m a big fan of these as well. The high waist is flattering with shorter tops and the distressed areas are nicely done, especially with the small details at the end of the leg. The sandals are also from Abercrombie, which seems to be creeping more into my wardrobe, but I can’t help it. They are offering some really nice items at affordable prices, so how can a girl say no!

Top: American Eagle; Jeans: Abercrombie; Sandals: Abercrombie; sunglasses: Ray Ban

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

Denim & Stripes

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My mind is thinking Fall outfit ideas but the weather is thinking 92 degrees. We are clearly not in sync right now. August is one of those months that you kind of just want to skip and fast-forward into September am I right? This outfit is all about classic Summer style, heavy on the minimal vibes. To deal with this weird month, I have whipped out this super lightweight button-down blouse from Abercrombie — perfect for this second round of hot-ass weather. I love tie front tops because they look great with both skirts and jeans. I am a big fan of the classic mom jean style and these cut-offs are actually quite comfortable!

Worn in this look are these Moroccan Babouches with a flip-up heel from Etsy seller FezSouk. I like the flexibility of being able to wear these like a slip-on mule or as a ballet flat. It’s really cool that this shoe can provide both styles! This little cross-body bag is also from Etsy at AFONiEStyle. Such a cute leather bag for a very affordable price. While I still have a couple more Summer looks up my sleeve (no pun intended), I am definitely excited to move on to Fall style inspiration!

Outfit Details: Top: Abercrombie & Fitch; Jeans: Levi’s; Bag; Etsy; Shoes: Etsy; Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Review: the Best Bralette for Summer

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I don’t often do reviews, much less a bra review, but I had to write a whole post about this! This Summer I have been on the hunt for a lightweight lace bralette that’s affordable and fits great. American Eagle’s brand Aerie recently started offering a wider range of sizing, including bralettes in defined cup sizes instead of the usual S M L XL. If you are someone that needs a larger cup and smaller band, try out their S DD/32DD. After educating myself on Reddit’s AbraThatFits several years ago, I am unfortunately just outside the usual size matrix for most US brands so I was super excited to see this available! I highly recommend getting sized using ABTF’s sizing calculator. Side note: I don’t know why the US is still so far behind the UK in offering decent size ranges (looking at you Victoria’s Secret) — I pretty much exclusively shop UK brands now and will never buy another VS bra again. It does seem like the tide is turning and US brands are starting to offer large cup/small band size ranges, praise the lawd!

I was still a bit skeptical if this would work out but I have to say this is literally the only bralette that has ever fit well for me, though I would probably have preferred a 30 band rather than a 32 — but I’ll take it. This one has definitely come the closest to a good fit since I’ve never been able to find a bralette that had a band size that was tight enough. This style comes with three hook closures which really helps it out. I’ve also been looking for a bralette that can stand out under clothes. The lacey style looks great when paired with tank tops meant to “show” from underneath. It also has removable padding with straps that can convert into a racer back which is amazing. It’s like having two bralettes in one and they often sell for under $30 when on sale. I liked these so much that I had to buy more colors. If you are sweating at this very moment and thinking about how much you hate your underwire bra, try this one out!

Outfit Details: Top: Urban Outfitters; Hat: Brixton; Shoes: Joie; Bralette: Aerie; Jeans: Levi’s

Green Gingham

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It has been an abnormally hot Summer in Northern Colorado thanks to a “Heat Dome” (thanks 2020!) so this post and probably all the ones in the near future will be featuring the most Summeriest of Summer outfits. Give me all the lightweight dresses, tank tops and skirts please — like this gingham patterned dress from Abercrombie & Fitch. Like usual, the quality is up to their standard: it’s made from double-lined 100% cotton and comes with pockets! I am pretty much a loyal Abercrombie customer after they revamped their whole image and brand a few years ago. They have sales so frequently that you can get their items for a very reasonable price. The quality being much better than your average fast-fashion retailer gives you the most bang for your buck. It’s not as cheap as say H&M or Forever21 (this dress was on sale for $39.99), but I’m all about spending a couple bucks extra for better quality. Oh and this genuine leather shoulder bag was also from there and was on sale for like 15 bucks! It’s hard to find faux leather bags for that price, much less real leather.

Sandals and flats are also a must for this freaking hot Summer (I think we have had mid-to upper 90s for a solid week and a half now ughh). These woven flats from LaMar Lifestyle are a perfect lightweight and breathable shoe for your hot feets. Add a sunhat and you’re good to go for the weather, just don’t forget the SPF!

Outfit Details: Dress: Abercrombie; Shoes: LaMar Lifestyle; Bag: Abercrombie; hat: unbranded; necklace: Forever21

Babydoll Swing Dress

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I’ve never been a huge fan of babydoll dresses or tank tops as they tend to be a bit unflattering for me personally. I see them on other people and they look great so I think it’s just me! I think I am more of a ‘fit and flare’ gal. This babydoll dress from American Eagle is the exception and I love how it fits. It’s somehow very flattering even though its loose and flowy — not boxy or tented out like I would expect. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised by a great fit.

Since it’s been warming up here, I have been wearing this non-stop! It’s so light that it is perfect for hotter days. Seriously, I wore this when it was 89 degrees and it was a life saver. It looks great dressed up or down, as a casual look with sneakers or with heels or sandals. I’m partial to the Converse All-Stars myself. Spring days tend to have colder nights so I paired this with a cozy pullover sweater…perfect for late night bonfires during this gorgeous time of year. Today is Memorial Day and it’s great for a cookout or picnic. Make sure to wear it with a wide brimmed sunhat to protect yourself from those rays!

Outfit Details: Sweater: American Eagle; Dress: American Eagle; Shoes: Converse; Bag: Leather Strata; Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Last of Summer

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What do you think of when you think Summer style? I personally think of cut-off jeans, a comfy striped tee, a woven bag and strappy sandals. You can’t get much more Summery than that. This is (I swear) going to by my last Summer post but I had to get one more in. As September goes on, I’m less able to justify open-toed sandals and cut-off jeans. Luckily the days are still warm and sunny so I can still get away with it. This top from American Eagle (a store that I have been absolutely loving recently) has been one of my go-to Summery tees. It’s soft and flowy and looks great with high-rise denim (like these Levi’s cropped jeans).

Next are a couple recent hair and makeup finds that I wanted to highlight. Since I sometimes curl my hair, I wanted to find a loose and flexible hairspray for those occasions. This hairspray from Tresemme is awesome and not your mom’s hairspray from the 80’s. It’s works great for keeping loose curls in place but doesn’t give you that crunchy hairspray feel. It’s super natural and soft which is exactly what I was looking for. Next up is this excellent neutral lip by NYX, an incredibly affordable brand. I love their “Lingerie” line, which offers a soft matte lip in lots of different shades. My favorite so far has been this dusty mauve called “Lace Detail” and it’s great for every day wear and the price point can’t be beat.

Outfit Details: Top: American Eagle; Jeans: Levi’s; Bag: unbranded; sandals: Lucky

Desert Vibes

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Sooo Fall snuck up on me pretty fast and I still have a few more Summer ideas to go through–dang it! Is it just me or has this season gone by way too fast? That’s coming from someone who absolutely loves Fall, but I’m not quite ready for Summer to end just yet. Luckily it’s still been quite warm the last few weeks so it’s still jeans and t-shirt weather during the day. This latest look features one of my favorite desert themed graphic tees from Etsy and these acid wash jeans from Levi’s. Yuuup, they are acid wash. Thought I would never say those words ever but here we are. Gotta say I’m a big fan of this updated offering from Levi’s. It’s like a more mellowed out version of the ugly classic 80’s acid wash. They are also super soft and feel more like leggings than jeans. I don’t like super stiff jeans and these have the perfect amount of stretch. They go great with my favorite pair of Vans sneakers. Now that the nights are getting cold, throw on a pullover and you will be good to go for Fall!

Outfit Details: Jeans: Levi’s 720s; Tee: Etsy – StarkAmbition; Shoes: Vans

Labor Day Whites

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It seems like the old rule for not wearing whites past Labor Day is pretty much dead, isn’t it? So in honor of that old, dumb rule here’s nearly an all white dress right before Labor Day! I guess technically it is more of a beige but oh well. I have had a bit of a love affair with anything linen this year and this dress from Urban Outfitters is perfect for late Summer days. Summer seems to have gotten a late start this year and has been especially hot and dry the last few weeks of August. I think it’s reached the 90s almost every day this month, ack! This dress is made from such a nice breathable material for hot Summer days and it has helped keep me cool for sure. I paired this dress with a few leather details–including these Royale Flats from Free People and this great saddle bag from Etsy. It has been my go to bag this Summer and holds all my favorite stuff!

Dress: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Free People; Bag: LeatherStrata Etsy Shop