My Favorite Parrot Dress

 

Amelia Island

 

If you are anything like me, you hate the frigid weather that the Midwest (Chicago, I’m looking at you) brings in the Winter months. With DJ getting his MBA at Booth and working full time + me getting my Masters and working part-time, we decided that a mini-vacation to a warm place was much needed. We wanted to try a place neither of us had ever been before so we settled on Amelia Island, more specifically the gorgeous Ritz Carlton.

I posted this same photo above on my Instagram a few days ago and got some questions on my dress so I thought I would share it here! While this dress isn’t current season, it will always be one of my favorites. We weren’t expecting to take any (professional) photos on our trip, but spontaneously decided to last minute and this playful parrot print dress worked perfectly! I don’t often wear tight pieces, but I love how Milly makes dresses for women with curves.

 

Amelia Island

 

me

 

 

edited1

On DJ: Lacoste for JCrew White Polo | JCrew  404 Stretch Jeans | Sperry Boat Shoe

 

edited2

Dress: Milly (Similar: here, here!) | Wedges: Tory Burch (Similar: here, here!) | Bangle: Hermes | Watch: Rolex |

 

If you have any suggestions on some fun, form fitting Summer dresses- I would love to hear them!

<3 Al

Style Guide: Lollapalooza

 

lolla

 

1. Black and White Matching Set, Necessary Clothing. 2. Floral Romper, Necessary Clothing. 3. Seashell Clutch, Akira. 4. Leather Baseball hat, Necessary Clothing. 5. Nude Zip Wedges, TopShop. 6. Crocheted Open Back Dress, Akira. 7. Evil Eye Tank Dress, Necessary Clothing. 8. Mophie Charging IPhone Case, Mophie. 9. Turquoise Earrings, TopShop. 10. Blue Crochet Bra, Free People. 11. White Tank Dress, Free People. 12. White Off The Shoulder Crochet Dress, Free People. 13. Black Birkenstocks. 14. Beaded Cross-Body Phone Case, ASOS. 15. Black Cross-Back Bra, Free People. Silver Rain Jacket, ASOS. 16. Gold Head Chain, Free People. 17. Floppy Hat, Free People.

 

The Perfect Day To Night Dress

 

There really aren’t a lot of things better than a piece of clothing that makes you look and feel your best. With a change of clothes, my day can take a turn for the better. During the summer, that means rotating my favorite sun dresses day to day for a polished but easy look. Luckily, there is never a shortage of updated styles for a fresh new look.

I am not a fan of changing outfits multiple times in one day, so if I can get away with wearing the same thing to go meet friends for dinner or grab drinks with my boyfriend, I will. The key to taking a dress from day to night, are your accessories. Pair a dress during the day with white Birkenstocks, and switch it up at night with a pair of nude wedges.

I found the perfect day to night dress while in Georgia, at Lily Pulitzer. I opted for the dark blue version to stay simple, but it also comes in hot pink. The fabric is very light and won’t feel heavy in the heat. The slip is a little bit shorter than the lace material on the outside, showing a little bit of leg at the end.

 

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 4.21.06 PM

Beach Cover-Ups That Won’t Make You Look Like A Grandma

 

With the lakefront right at our front door in Chicago, I have a feeling leisurely Saturdays and Sundays will be spent in the sand playing paddle ball and reading magazines with our toes in the water. When you need to cover up a little more, ditch the over sized t-shirt you’ve had since 6th grade and go for something a little bit more grown up.

Cover-ups can be fun and fashionable at any price. I found five that I am currently lusting over and transition well from a day at the beach to a late afternoon beer at the bar. Accessorize with a bright plastic neon chain(like these I found on Etsy), or small gold hoops. Slick your hair back to keep a polished look, and you are good to go!

1. Clover Canyon. 2. Topshop. 3. Vix Swimwear. 4. Echo. 5. Rhode Resort.

beach cover ups

Sorry For Partying

When I think of a graphic t-shirt, the uncomfortable, ill fitting, free shirts I got as a college freshman immediately enter my mind. I never thought I would be caught happily wearing a graphic T in public.

Graphic t-shirts are having a major moment right now. Easy to throw on and comfortable, they are the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. Witty sayings, city skylines, and artistic designs help give the shirt an editors stamp of approval.Souvenir shirts bought in the airport on your college spring break do not count. InStyle recommends finding a looser shirt that fits squarely on the shoulders.

You can give yourself an instant slim down by utilizing something called “the editors tuck.” If you spend any time on street style blogs that camp outside at every fashion week, you will notice that the women only tuck the front of their shirt in. This draws the eye to the part of the shirt that is tucked in, creating a slimmer waist. Screen Shot 2014-06-18 at 10.04.30 AM

My personal favorite graphic T? The Sorry For Partying concoction that Milly cooked up for summer. Durable viscose makes up the shirt so it won’t fall apart after one wash. Dress it up or down all summer and, well, keep the party going.

Screen Shot 2014-06-18 at 10.07.36 AM

Get The Look: Burberry Lace Skirt

 

 

burberry lace skirts

1. Lime Green Zara Lace Skirt. 2. Purple Lace Halogen Skirt. 3. Deep Purple Zara Skirt. 4. White Crochet Necessary Clothing Skirt.

Spring Wishlist: J.Crew

According to me, spring and summer are all about bright colors, flowing sun dresses, and over sized oxfords thrown on with shorts and leather sandals. J.Crew seems to be on the same brain wave as I am, because I could live in their whole collection once the warm weather rolls around and be completely happy. One thing that I love about J.Crew, is the quality. While it might be pricey at times, I still wear the pieces that I have from them three years ago, and mix and match them with my recent purchases. These are the pieces that I’ll be working into my spring and summer wardrobe as soon as it hits 60 degrees:

J Crew spring wishlist

JCREW ODDS AND ENDS

Seeing Palm Trees

palm at topshop

All pieces, Topshop.com