summer 2016

Boho-chic will release your inner hippie

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

summer pants under $10 silver circle chokerhm summer pantshow to channel your inner hippiesmall chloe faye in blacksuede fringe vest for summer

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!

Summer totes for summer 2016

 in Handbags / Trends  tagged summer 2016 / totes by

best totes for summer 2016

Summer totes from top left: black tote (designer classic) / straw tote (under $70) / classic red tote (under $300) / straw tote (under $500 and packable) / red tote (timeless designer bag under $1000) / black tote (hot designer on major sale!) / tan tote (under $175) / navy straw tote (on trend & under $150)

Summer is here! This means we all need the perfect tote for the pool, the beach, and traveling to fabulous summer destinations! Since I am in the market for a cute summer tote, I decided to compile the most fabulous on trend, and timeless summer totes, in various price ranges, into this post.

Straw, shades of tan and brown, pom poms, embellishments, and shades of red, are all hot trends in handbags for summer 2016. I love having a classic summer tote on hand which can be worn with a casual outfit, or a dressier ensemble when a roomy tote is needed. (let’s face it, when you have kids sometimes the cute shoulder bag gets left behind and your tote is paired with a dressy outfit despite the unfashionable nature of the look)

I love the idea of an on trend, hot off the runway, embellished tote! The pom pom tote pictured above embodies all the hot handbag trends of the season, and it is super cute to boot! It will also be perfect for beach, and pool days. I am definitely leaning towards the navy straw tote as my summer 2016 tote.

The red totes are also calling my name. I would love a classic, red tote which can easily be worn during the summer months, as well as into the fall, and winter seasons. Red is an important color for the upcoming fall season; and it plays well with the 1970s inspired color palette for both summer, and fall. A red tote definitely has longevity with the current trends; plus it is a timeless bag that can be worn for years!

Which totes are your favorite for the summer 2016 season?

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: