Perfect black spring dress

spring dressesstaud alice bagaffordable spring dress

wearing: large white and pink hoop earrings / spring lipstick / black spring dress (tank top underneath) / spring nail polish / blue handbag (see review here) / espadrilles /

There is nothing like a casual yet cute, everyday dress for the summer season. I love finding a dress I can wear casually with espadrilles on a daily basis, as well as dress up with wedges or block heels for a dressier look. This dress fits the bill!

This comfy dress was available in three colors, but the city-girl within me decided to buy it in black. I love it so much, I might break down and pick it up in another color!

I wore this dress the other day when I attended the open house for the new 9Round in Santa Clara; which just opened this week! It was so much fun touring the new space, and seeing how the 9 circuits in 30 minutes are set up. I’m going in this Saturday for my first workout! If you follow along on Insta-Stories, you can see me in action this Saturday! If you are local, be sure to check it out. It’s a great workout!

Since spring is more about colors, prints, stripes, and florals, rather than basic black, I decided to try and make my black dress a little bit springy with my little blue bag and these floral print espadrilles. That’s the fun thing about black, you can pair it with anything!

Normally I gravitate towards colors in the spring and summer season, but this year I have been in a dark hue mood. I’m not sure why. Maybe I just need a color break? My current mood is using color as an accent, thus, we have this outfit! haha

Shop my black spring dress outfit:

What is your current color mood? Do you gravitate towards black, or do you stay away from it?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

staud alice bag spring 2019spring dress ideas

Casual spring stripes

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wearing: clear plastic hoops / spring lipstick / red/navy stripe boxy tee / jeans / train case / black jade bracelet (bought in Chinatown) / spring nail polish / western style boots /

This has been an interesting spring season so far! We will enjoy high 70’s one day, and then the next day, we have a grey sky with temps down in the 60’s and 50’s. It’s a bit cooler than usual! April usually bring us a steady stream of high 60’s and 70’s!

My go-to, casual look in the spring season is typically jeans, tee, boots or espadrilles, and a cute bag. I thought this go-to look would work perfectly the other day, but alas, I was freezing in my tee! It’s April, and I need a jacket? Whaaaaat?

Despite the chill, I gutted it out and enjoyed a fun little morning stroll with my girl Dawn from FashionShouldBeFun.com. We walked in downtown Los Gatos and then grabbed some brunch at Southern Kitchen on Main St. in Los Gatos. It was really yummy, and so much fun to catch up! I enjoyed the churros waffles with fresh strawberries, and Dawn had a delicious make-your-own omelette. If you’re local, give it a try!

Although I was a bit chilly, I know the weather has to warm up very soon. It’s just plain science! So, I am thrilled to be prepared with this comfy tee, and my favorite pair of jeans. If you’re looking for a classic meets edgy tee, this striped boxy tee is perfect! Plus, it’s at a great price!

Shop my spring go-to look:

How is the spring weather shaping up in your next of the woods? Are you having cooler temps this year too?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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Staud Alice Bag review

staud alice bag

pictured: Staud Alice Bag in blue with stamped croc / black dress / espadrilles /

One of my favorite bag styles for the spring 2019 season is the unique shaped tote. They comes in all forms, including train cases, circles, squares, flower pots, and more. While the Staud Alice is not specific to the spring 2019 season, it is part of their ongoing collection, this is the season when it caught my eye.

The Staud Alice bag is an unique shaped, mini tote bag which features a medium length strap, and large interior mirror. This cute little bag is perfect for pairing with spring and summer dresses, feminine ensembles, and this season’s influx of ruffles. It has an edgy yet feminine vibe; which is a vibe I love.

staud alice bag review

Blue is my favorite color, so while I spotted this bag in ivory, black, brown, green, and red on store shelves of several retailers, the one that stole my heart was this blue version; which I could only find online online here.

My apologies for my blue-tone photos taken on top of a white tablecloth. I think my DSLR might be near the end of it’s life, and not even photoshop could save the blue-tone of these pictures. If you look at the top and bottom photos taken with a a black dress, you will see the true blue color of this bag. Those photos were taken with my point-and-shoot, which is a a Canon GX7. Love it by the way. . .but I digress. . .

My Staud Alice Bag is petite, and does not offer a lot of wiggle room inside. That being said, it has just enough room to carry daily purse essentials such as a small wallet, keys, iPhone, lipstick, and sunglasses.

What fits inside the Staud Alice Bag

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pictured: Staud Alice Bag in blue stamped croc /  lipstick /

The interior of the Staud Alice Bag has a triangular type shape. The bottom is narrow, and it widens as you get to the opening at the top of the bag. In order to fit my daily purse essentials, I stacked my my lipstick and keys at the bottom, followed by my mini wallet, phone, and sunglasses. I always put the sunglasses on top so they don’t get squished. This stacking method allows the bag to close and secure.

The closure of the Staud Alice Bag is a magnetic snap which is easy to open and close. It is fastened on a tab which is easy to grab and open. As long as what you are reaching for is on top of your stack, this is an easy bag to wear daily since it offers a simple way to get in and out of the bag.

You can wear the the Staud Alice Bag on the crook of your arm, or you can wear it hand-held. If you need to put it over your shoulder for a moment while running for a Taxi or chasing your toddler, it can be done. It is not comfortable to wear on the shoulder, that is only a temporary way of carrying it. I recommend wearing it hand-held, or on the crook of your arm.

The best thing about the Staud Alice Bag is that it is priced under $400, and has a IT factor to it. Love that! There are very few IT bags on the market with an affordable price tag. If you are looking for a seasonless color, snap up the black, brown or ivory. If you want to have a little fun, this bag currently comes in blue, green, and red.

Shop Staud Alice Bag online:

Which color is your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

staud alice bag spring 2019