happy weekend.

     monday marks the anniversary of jeb and my first date. we are spending the weekend in new hampshire to celebrate.  (thanks john and ginnie!)  i'm looking forward to walks on the beach, dinner in portsmouth and quiet afternoons reading, doing puzzles and drinking wine.
     this is a photo lin took of jeb and i at the end of last year.  i am smitten.  ernst is such a ragdoll.  i am the luckiest girl in the world.  okay, so maybe kate is the luckiest girl in the world.  i'll take second place in this round.

my problem with stripes.

wiley wears:

top: target
pants: limited
necklace: on loan from caroline
belt: h&m
shoes: vintage dexters
     today's combination of comfort and loose fitting pieces proved perfect for the dreary humid weather.  once the humidity reaches a certain point in boston, i'm always drawn to flowy items that don't cling.  this top is the perfect for the upcoming summer humidity.  i cannot seem to stop with my stripe obsession.  this week i think i've worn a striped item at least four times and i have plans to take a few other striped pieces on a weekend trip.  my love of all things nautical may be getting a bit out of control, but who can keep a girl from her navy blue and white?

style spotlight: keds.

i think keds might be the best spring basic out there.  i've been wearing these babies since i was a little girl and i find myself drawn to their new styles and patterns every year when it starts to get warmer.  the perfect shoe for picnics, road trips and walks on the boardwalk.
have you seen their super cute styles?

*also, who can forget what shoes baby was wearing in this epic dirty dancing scene?!

A neutral dress and Christian Siriano

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I wore this to work on Tuesday and since it was such a neutral, simple outfit, I added some fun accessories to spice it up! 
That night, I attended Conversations in the Arts, hosted by Columbia College Chicago where Christian Siriano, was speaking. He was the season four winner of Project Runway and has been my favorite designer to emerge from the show because of his talent, design aesthetic and larger than life personality. As cheesy as it sounds, it's inspirational to see someone so young succeed early on in a career, no matter what industry, but especially the fashion industry. He was a hoot to listen to and I wanted to steal his cute outfit and wear it myself. 
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[dress by h&m, wedges by aldo, clutch borrowed from kie&kate, accessories from kie&kate]
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Christian Siriano!


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the crop top

wiley wears:

dress: f21
top: uo
wedges: uo
     with crop tops coming back into style, i've been having fun trying out new ways to wear them.  i'm not one to bare my stomach, so they usually call for high-waisted pants or skirts, but i thought a maxi dress would make for a perfect layering piece this time.  i love the combination of crop tops and maxi skirts so it only makes sense to try it with a dress.  the loose fit of crop tops make them perfect layering pieces since there are the static that comes with other layered pieces.

seventies child.

wiley wears:

top: gap
skirt: ben sherman
necklace: from beach shop
flats: gap
     another bright and springy outfit, or more a springy top.  this shirt is from almost a decade ago, but i love the pattern too much to let it go.   the 70s pattern and fit goes perfectly with the trends in the fashion world right now.  isn't it always nice when something you love and hoarded for so long comes back in style?   i find it easiest to wear with earthy colors, since the mixture of neon green, magenta and a floral pattern is pretty in your face.  today i decided to add a bit more flare with a bright pink beaded necklace.  a simple ponytale, tiered skirt and flats finished off the outfit for a simple, yet put together look.

Wanted Shoes Giveaway!

Wanted Shoes is allowing one of my readers the opportunity to win a free pair of shoes, your choice! To enter, visit Wanted Shoes, pick your favorite shoe and leave a comment letting me know which is your fave! For additional entries, like Wanted Shoes on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. Up to three entries can be submitted. The giveaway ends Thursday, May 5 at 10 p.m. CST.
wantedshoes

blending in.

wiley wears:

cardigan: j.crew
dress: vintage
belt: uo
wedges: uo
     i think it may be impossible to not find yourself inspired by the bright colors of spring.  i find myself drawn to the bright colors in my closet at this time of year.  in april, the rainy days make colorful outfits an even better idea.  waking up to a dreary monday morning and having to say goodbye to my mom for a couple of months called for an outfit to get me out of my intense miserable mood.   i thought topping one vibrant piece on another would be the perfect excuse.  this vintage pleated dress might be the best vintage deal i've ever found and it fit me perfectly without needing to be tailored.  because of how bright the dress and cardigan combination are, i wanted to pick accessories in neutral shades.  i hope that everyone is enjoying their spring.  days like sunday will soon become the norm!

I Bring the Spring

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Since Spring is slow on its arrival, I put together a bright, colorful ensemble last week. Instead of continuing to harbor these violent thoughts against mother nature, I chose a more positive approach: dress in happy colors. We also shot most of this outfit using a wide angle lens. Typically, I prefer to share flattering photos of myself with readers, but considering I was already donned in horizontal stripes, I thought it couldn't do much damage.
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[dress by h&m, sash by american apparel, heels by kelsi dagger, bag and necklace from kie&kate]
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Photos by my favorite betch, Becky Johns.

happy easter.

wiley wears:

dress: uo
cardigan: gap
belt: f21
wedges: uo
     this easter weekend was one for the books.  my mom and i had such a great time doing lots of girly activities and eating tons of delicious food.  last night we went to see water for elephants which we thought was incredible.  this morning we got dressed up for easter brunch and headed to towne on boylston street.  our brunch was beyond delicious and i'm excited to make it a point to head to towne more often.
    i think a new easter dress is a great tradition.  we found this beauty at urban outfitters last week and i fell in love with the color, pattern and shape.  i look forward to wearing this a lot in the coming months and think it will be perfect for balmy summer days in the office.  while it was quite warm this afternoon, i wasn't quite ready to bare my arms and head out in a tank top, so i chose this loose boyfriend cardigan to top off the dress.
     i hope everyone had a lovely weekend filled with family and food!  and thanks, mom, for making this weekend such a wonderful one.  love you!
happy easter!

Amy

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Hey everyone, meet Amy of Chicago Streetstyle! I met her on Sunday and we had a lot in common as we both went to Michigan State University, graduated the same year, have a handful of friends in common and of course, both have fashion/personal style related blogs and enjoy photography. Hers is focused on streetstyle and I coaxed her into hopping on the other side of the lens. I just loved her style and I wanted to steal this whole outfit. It's nice to meet people and make friends so soon after moving here!
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[sweater by surface to air, jeans by proenza schouler x jbrand, sunglasses by alexander wang, faux fur jacket by lanvin for h&m]
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happy easter weekend.

i'm taking a few days off from blogging to spend time with my mom and celebrate easter weekend.  here's to a lovely weekend filled with peanut butter eggs, mimosas and easter baskets.

{image via pinterest.  no original source.}

retro.

wiley wears:

top: thrifted
trousers: madewell
necklace: anthropologie
flats: target
     another perfect outfit for the office.  and another silk top.  these babies were made for the work week.  red top, black trousers, leopard flats and bright red lips.  a classic combination that always has a bit of a retro edge.  the look felt so crisp and clean...mostly with a slick tight bun.  just goes to show that it doesn't take much to create an ensemble that can be repeated over and over again.