outfits

Boho-chic will release your inner hippie

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged chloe / free people / H & M / outfits / summer 2016 by

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Pictured: Earrings: Ippolita / Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Necklace: sold out, also love SAVE or SPLURGE  / Vest: Free People (on major sale!) / Tee: H & M / Ring: Kendra Scott / Nail Polish: Chanel Cavaliere / Handbag: Chloe / Pants: H & M / Shoes: TopShop

Have you ever wondered how to release your inner hippie? I’m not sure how to do it in a theoretical sense, but I know how to release my inner hippie from a fashion standpoint! Peace 😉

As the 1970s trend matures, the hippie look, or boho-chic look, is maturing with it. Designers have shown boho-chic looks on the runways, adorned their designs with fringe, and have offered an anti-establishment vibe in their collections for the past several seasons. Since this trend is showing no sign of slowing down as we head into fall, it is perfect to wear now.

Lately, I have felt the urge to really push my own style envelope. I grew up in Marin County, which is arguably the most liberal pocket of the country. As a child, I was surrounded by aging hippies. I saw hippie vans, men with long hair, protesters, and the 1960s refusing to die despite it being the 1980s. Due to this environment, I find something nostalgic, and calming, about the boho-chic look.

Although I am far from being a hippie, I absolutely love the boho-chic look! I love fringe, loose clothing, long silhouettes, and natural hair. Perhaps inside my conservative persona, there is an inner hippie trying to break out!

This outfit feels good, and it makes me feel tall. I love feeling tall! Especially since I am short. Ha! I love the weight of this vest, it feels cool; and I love how it moves. I cannot wait to pair it with jeans, cut-offs, and long skirts this summer season. It will also flow well into the fall season.

If you want to release your inner hippie through the boho-chic look, why not try this vest as your summer go-to topper? It definitely adds a little bit of hippie to any ensemble. You can find this vest (on major sale!) online here.

I also need to give a shout-out to these pants. They are super comfortable! Plus, they were under $10. How fabulous is that!? I love the print; it is very boho, which is the perfect look when you are trying to bring out your inner hippie. They are also perfect to wear as a swimsuit cover-up at the beach, or with a tank top on a hot summer day. They will transition easily into fall when paired with a long sleeve tee, or lightweight sweater. Love!

Are you still feeling the 1970s trend? Do you find yourself drawn to the boho-chic part of this trend? Weight in with a comment below!

Mysterious navy dress

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged hm / outfits / summer 2016 / tory burch / valentino by

H & M nursing dress
flowing navy dress for summertory burch degrade shoulder bagnavy summer dresssummer wedding guest dress

Pictured: Earrings: Kendra Scott / Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Dress: H & M / Cuff: Kendra Scott / Nail Polish: Dolce & Gabbana Turquoise (sold out in USA, similar here) / Handbag: Tory Burch / Shoes: Valentino (old, current season here)

Have you ever spotted the perfect article of clothing, outfit, or dress at a store, only to discover it was maternity; and you weren’t pregnant at the time? Ha! Apparently I just did that!

I spotted the perfect navy dress for the summer at H & M. This dress has a midi length, flowing silhouette, tie belt, and puff top which offered a beautiful drape; all for under $50! I knew right away this navy dress would be perfect during the summer season for church, a wedding, a shower, a fundraising lunch, the theater, or any summer event which calls for a dressy dress! I fell in love, and snapped it up!

Since I often share my church outfit on my Instagram account, I decided to grab the link to the dress to share with my Instagram friends. You can only image my shock when I found the dress on H & M’s website, only to learn it was a nursing dress! Really?? So, I looked down the top, and lo and behold, there was the hole! Yikes! Of course the minute I mentioned it, my husband decided it was some sort of sign that we should go for baby number four. Um no, we are good with three!

I bent into several different positions, having my kids and husband check to make sure the hole was not visible. Everything that needed to be covered, was covered! The dress was safe to wear.

Now that I am over the initial shock of buying a nursing dress without knowing, I have found that I love this dress, and will definitely wear it often this season.

If you are looking for a nursing dress, or just a really versatile dressy dress for the summer, then this is perfect! Especially with a price tag of under $50, how can you go wrong?

Nursing dress and outfit details:

Weathering the heat

 in Bay Area Fashion / General Fashion  tagged bcbg / fendi / outfits / summer 2016 by

casual chic outfit idea for hot weather how to style a fendi dotcom hot weather event outfit idea party outfit for a hot day

Pictured: Earrings: Kendra Scott / Sunglasses: Chanel / Lipstick: c/o Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa / Necklace: Jennifer Zeuner (adjustable length! Love!) / Top: Gibson (on major sale!) / Skirt: BCBG / Handbag: Fendi (color sold out, similar shade here, and here) / Bracelets: Kendra Scott Color Bar (ready-made here) / Ring: 2Bandits / Nail Polish: Dolce & Gabbana Turquoise (similar under $10 here) / Shoes: Christian Louboutin (old, similar here under $100)

It has been over ninety degrees the past week here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Words cannot even describe how hot it has been ! Normally when the temperature rises over eighty degrees, the heat wave only lasts for three days tops, then the fog comes in and turns things back to normal. This time, the fog took seven days to come in, and then the temperatures quickly rose again. Ahhhh!

I wore this outfit to Hotel Valencia’s Summer Kickoff Poptail party last week at Santana Row. I chose to wear this skirt since it is a wrap skirt. Wrap maxi skirts are much cooler than traditional maxi skirts; and I love the warm weather, summer vibe which maxi skirts evoke.

The most comfortable shoes to wear in the heat are espadrilles; at least in my humble opinion. The rope soles are soft to stand and walk in, plus they are made from natural fibers which breath easily, and keep feet from sweating. Love that! So, I paired this maxi skirt with my go-to espadrille wedges. They must be ten years old now. It feels like I have owned them forever. I found a pair made exactly like them, for under $100. They come in several colors and can be found online here. They are must-have in the summer months.

This outfit was perfect for a summer chic soiree held outside, in the heat. I am definitely looking forward to wearing it again to other parties this summer when a summer chic look is in order. When I don’t need my camera, I would pair it with a small fringe handbag such as this one. Or a 1970s inspired saddle bag.

Stay tuned for my recap of Hotel Valencia’s Summer Kick of party at Santana Row posting tomorrow!

Thank you for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy

Photo credit: Laura Adney/Have Need Want

Summer chic soiree outfit details: