Spring Outfit Essentials

Spring means a chance to step up your color game and show off fun styles and silhouettes. That's just what I plan to do with this fun outfit ensemble. I wanted to highlight this outfit since it touches on all of my favorite spring essentials: flirty styles, blush pink, denim, and cute flats.

Classic nautical stripes are a great transitional print and a fun ruffle sleeve on this top I bought last year adds a flirty spring vibe. A pop of pastel pink is my go to for spring outfits, and this blush colored satchel is the perfect piece to add to a casual outfit. I tend to add touches of pink into any spring outfit when I can, it's just the perfect time of year to go overboard with pastels. I am also all about denim, no matter the season, but this time of year it starts to creep into our outfits in more unexpected ways, like these denim flats (which I am obsessed with currently!). Flats come back into play once the snow is gone for good but it might be too soon for sandals, so a pair like these is invaluable! They are super comfy and I just know I'll be pairing them with my everyday outfits all summer long for a classy touch.

Throw a few classic yet trendy pieces like these together with fun accessories like round shades and a soft pink lip and your outfit is made! I love that a look like this can be transformed by pairing it with jeans or a skirt, or even denim shorts! This look makes a statement yet remains classy and chic with a pairing of my favorite color combo: pink and blue. Seriously, how many of my outfits have incorporated this color dynamic? Quite a lot I might say!

 What are your springtime outfit favorites?

Top: J. Crew (also cute/and ruffled). Bag: French Connection (love this or this). Shoes: Aldo. Sunglasses: Anthropologie.

xoxo, CC

Three Years

Happy Monday!

I started this little blog three years ago this week. 

In celebration I threw on a orangy-red sweater dress and matching statement earrings. Pairing it with OTK boots and a faux fur wrap makes the outfit perfectly wintery for a 40º February afternoon. 

After three years you sometimes have to revisit your motivations and evaluate what's important to put time and effort into. On a milestone like this I like to remind myself why this is important for me to keep up with. Why do I blog? Because I love clothes and I love finding different ways to style things, and I want to share that passion with others who enjoy fashion and styling. Clothing is such a fun way to express yourself, and I choose my outfit each morning based on how I feel that day and what look feels right to reflect that. I always like to pair things in new ways so my outfit is always fresh and current to my mood and not stale or repetitive. While it's always fun to have something new and exciting, lately I've been challenging myself to wear old favorites in new ways or to style unique pieces into wearable work outfits. I like being able to share my fashion adventures in this way and connect with other people who share the passion for getting dressed each day.

I haven't been posting as much the past few months as I would like to... it can be awfully hard to find time to shoot photos during the daylight, and then have time to edit them and write as well. As we are getting into the spring I will have more daylight hours to work with (yay!) and hopefully will get settled into a good work routine that will allow for me to allocate more time to a blogging schedule. I've had lots of ideas lately for posts involving other aspects of life as well, such as restaurant spotlights, "book club" posts, and home decor that I'm considering working into the rotation as well. Let's see what this next year brings!

Dress: J.Crew (similar 1/2). Boots: Sam Edelman. Faux Fur: Urban Outfitters (1/2). Earrings: J. Crew (1/2). Lip: MAC 'flamingo.' 

xoxo, CC

Floral and Fur

Happy Friday!

I styled this skirt before, for early fall, but since it incorporates so well with darker colors and thicker textures, I wanted to show off how well it works in winter despite the pinks and florals. 

The colorful floral skirt brings a touch of brightness into these winter days, but it is grounded by the balance of a thick faux fur vest reminding us all what season it is. The chambray top draws out the shades of blue in the floral print maintaining a cool tone throughout the outfit. Of course an extra pop of pink with my favorite blush bag was necessary just to defy the winter cold a little bit more. Balancing winter staples with more colorful prints makes for a fun combination to help ward off the winter blues -- while still giving a nod to the season's best staples. 

Also, wouldn't this be a cute look for a casual valentine's day? All that pink would be perfectly appropriate for a day celebrating love--and it's only two weeks away believe it or not! What are you planning to wear? 

Skirt: H&M (get the look 1/2/3). Chambray top: JCrew. Vest: Chicwish. Bag: French Connection via Marshalls. Boots: Sam Edelman.  Sunglasses: anthropologie. Earrings: anthropologie. Wrap bracelet: similar. Choker necklace: similar. Hair clip: similar.

xoxo, CC

Shorts and Sweater Weather

One of my favorite looks is pairing cozy sweaters with casual shorts or girly skirts. Unfortunately the weather only allows for this a few times a year; late spring and early fall. We've had a slight chill in the air a few days in NYC that makes this short sleeved sweater a perfect option. I love this shade of periwinkle for all times of year, and it definitely will add a nice touch of pastel color to my winter wardrobe. It looks especially pretty paired with crisp whites, like these shorts and my new sunglasses.

I love that the sweater and shorts combo is casual but also very chic. I added some touches of leopard and shiny gold jewelry to add variation and keep the look elegant. I got so many compliments on this sweater, and I love that the short sleeve length makes it wearable in so many seasons! I am definitely packing this one along for my upcoming trip to Milan next month! But for now I will be pairing it with crisp whites and girly details as I ease into cooler weather here in NY.

Sweater: ASOS. Shorts: J. Crew. Belt: J. Crew. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Shoes: Sam Edelman. Earrings: Gorjana. Bracelets: kate spade. Necklace: kate spade. Lipstick: MAC 'Flamingo.'

xoxo, CC

Rompin' Around

I think I've found the perfect romper for every occasion.....  how awesome is this navy and white printed piece? I first shared this find a few months back when I first discovered and ordered it and let me tell you, after struggling with the sizing and fit for a while, in the end I love it just as much as I anticipated! The shorts are the perfect length, not too short, and the style and print make it super easy to dress up or dress down. I've already worn this one a few times, to work with sandals and minimal jewelry, and out for celebratory drinks paired with cute wedges and a mini crossbody. 

This time I am accessorizing with a shiny gold belt to define the waist, lace up sandals and pretty pink accents. I love the way the navy is offset by a pop of blush pink. The overall look is somewhere between girly and laid back, and it's simply perfect for summer. I like how a romper is such a no-fuss and versatile outfit that requires little matching and styling, only a few easy accessories to switch up the look for any occasion. 

While I really love this romper and have gotten so many compliments on it, it was a struggle to get the right size and fit since it runs really big in the top. The top section is meant to blouse over the waistband but I found that it was just too baggy and unflattering on me to achieve the desired look. Since I am tall and have a long torso I usually go up a size in rompers, so originally I ordered a size 8 (when I normally wear a 6 at J. Crew). Well, it was enormous, so I exchanged it for a 6.... which was still way too much fabric in the upper section. The shorts on the 6 fit me perfectly (they were a little longer than on the 4) but I had to go down another size because of the baggy top. So, long story short, I ended up with a size 4 and even still the top is really baggy. I love the romper so much I decided to make it work, so I stitched it down a bit on the inside to get the look I wanted. I also found that wearing a belt with it helps it look more proportional. Anyway, all that to say that it runs big and is a lot of fabric in the top, but I just love the print and the style so much that I made it work anyway. What do you think?

Romper: J. Crew Factory (similar 1/2). Bag: French Connection. Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW. Sunnglasses: Funoc. Belt: Target. Bracelet: similar here. Rings: H&M.

xoxo, CC

Ruffle Sleeve & Stripes

How adorable is this ruffle sleeve tee?! 

I love a little extra flounce to spice up a simple striped top. It really makes this piece so much more versatile since it can transition from a casual weekend outing to workwear or a classy dinner with just a few accessories. With a statement necklace and trousers it is definitely dressy, but pairing it with ripped jeans and bright sunglasses takes it down a notch to a cute but casual everyday look. 

If you follow me on snapchat you may have seen my encounters with a local Central Park raccoon while I was out taking photos last week. Not only did I see him in the woods as I was packing up my camera, but I first saw the little guy earlier in the day perched in a tree above me as I was catching some sun in the grass by the north pond (apparently called Harlem Meer). He was attracting all kinds of attention from up in the tree and people kept stopping to watch and take pictures as he hung out in that high perch. He had the cutest little ears and eye-mask, but don't worry, I kept my distance, don't need to risk getting rabies!

Top: J. Crew (30% off currently with code TIMETOSHOP). Jeans: Sneak Peek. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Shoes: J. Crew. Sunglasses: amazon. 

xoxo, CC

Casual, Flirty, Everyday (& A Giveaway!)

This outfit is the perfect everyday look with a combination of casual pieces that create a cool and flirty vibe. The ruffle sleeves are flirty and fun while a statement necklace and pink frames add a feminine touch. My favorite mesh bralette is the perfect piece to wear underneath it all, while ripped jeans and stripes keep the whole look cool and casual.

Adore Me is giving away two sets of lingerie, and I wanted to share this giveaway opportunity with you! All you have to do to enter is put together a flat lay outfit featuring your favorite piece of lingerie and post it to your blog with a link to @adoreme on Instagram, and to your Instagram tagging @adoreme with the hashtag #everydaylingerie. Check out their Instagram page for inspiration! 

*Giveaway closed!*

xoxo CC

The Perfect White Jacket

Ok, this is embarrassing--I look almost as pale white as my jacket! The indoor lighting certainly doesn't help, but I know I am looking a little ghostly after this winter. But while my skin will have to wait a little longer for warm sunny summer days, it is time now to start updating my spring wardrobe. I just added these distressed grey jeans to my arsenal, and I love the way they pair with lighter spring tones like this teal tee. One of my favorite spring pieces though, is this white jacket. The contrast of the faux leather front and chiffon back and sleeves blend into a sweet-meets-edgy feel that I have been loving lately. This jacket looks great worn with jeans as a light layer, and it will also be a cute piece to throw over sundresses later on. Here's to keeping it clean until sundress weather! (lol--anyone else struggle to keep their whites stain-free?)

Jeans: H&M (similar/read about the pair I'm wearing here). Tee: J. Crew. Jacket: Fate. Bag: Deux Lux via DSW (1/2). Shoes: J. Crew (on sale here). Necklace: J. Crew. Bracelet: J. Crew.

xoxo CC