Lacy Casual

Now that I can bare to bare some skin my distressed jeans are back in full swing: I've been wearing them practically every day these past two weeks. They are so easy with a casual outfit and somehow add just enough of a style conscious edge to a laid back look. I've been pairing them with my metallic Sperrys or my floral sneakers a lot, and I roll the cuffs up once since the jeans are a bit short on me (as usual--rolling the cuffs makes it look intentional that my jeans are so short. Tall girl problems!). I wore them with those floral sneakers and a polkadotted baseball tee the other day for a feminine sporty/casual look, and here I paired them with some lacy girly pieces. This oversized teeshirt is one of my favorites because it is so sweet and girly with the lace and chiffon panels and the pink ribbon details. I feel like the tee and the lacy bag brought the perfect amount of femininity to the jeans and Sperrys duo. This outfit was so easy to throw together, yet I still looked cute enough for a day running errands around town.

Jeans: H&M, similar. Tee: Jack Wills, similar. Sperry Top Siders. Bag: Ruche, love this one. Necklace: Dogeared. Bangle bracelet: Kate Spade, similar.

xoxo, C.C.

May Flowers, As Promised.

You may remember this dress… I included it in my list of favorite items on ModCloth a few weeks ago. Well, somehow or another it found its way into my closet... Actually, this is how it happened: When I discovered this dress it was nearly out of stock, and was not available in my size, but as luck would have it one became available in my size. Best day ever! My guess is someone returned the dress, but it certainly made my day and I added it to my shopping cart immediately. (Sidenote: they just restocked all of the sizes!) The dress is even more stunning in person than it looked online. I love when that happens. The colors are so vibrant and pretty, and it includes all my favorites; orange, aqua, lavender, and pink. The details are so bohemian chic with the slight hi-lo hem and the cut-out in the back. Best part about it? This dress has pockets. Boom.

Dress: ModCloth. Sandals: Splendid. Belt: Old Navy, similar color. Tassel necklace: Indigo Boutique. Pearl necklace: Dogeared. Earrings: Kate Spade. Nails: Butter London "Kerfuffle." Angel wing bracelet: my own creation. 

xo, C.C.

Black & White & A Balcony

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This sequined owl teeshirt was a score on the sale rack at French Connection in Montreal but I've had trouble finding ways to wear it. I've written about my love for owls before, but they can be really hard to wear without looking too youthful or too gaudy. I chose to pair this tee with white jeans and my new black and white Emma Fox bag, with a blazer to layer. For a dressy finish I donned nude heels, but for a more everyday look I would absolutely wear this outfit with cute sandals too. Black and white is such a classic combination that it tones down the sequins and owl motif and creates a polished look. In my summery white crop jeans I'm ready to spend time outside perched on a balcony with a good book and a mocha iced coffee in hand!

Tee: French Connection, similar, option here. White jeans: J. Crew Factory, also here. Blazer: Urban Outfitters. Bag: Emma Fox via TJ Maxx. Heels: TJ Maxx. Earrings: Isle Of You Boutique. Necklace: Dogeared. Bracelets: Brandy Melville and a craft stand in Senegal.

xo, C.C.

Ditsy Floral

I've always wondered why we call floral prints 'ditsy' since ditsy is a word often used to describe a girl who's got her head in the clouds. Dictionary.com uses the word "flighty" which I think is a great synonym to capture the meaning of the word ditsy--but what does that have to do with floral prints?

When I googled my question I found this definition of a ditsy print: "A ditsy print is quite small in scale, and the design motifs are usually scattered or random rather than being ordered in a definable pattern like rows or stripes."Apparently it doesn't have to be floral, although that seems to be its most frequent form. So maybe the dress I'm wearing here isn't actually a ditsy print (I don't know, is the print small enough or random enough?) but it did get me thinking about what a ditsy floral is and what that description even means.

My floral dress probably makes me look like a ditsy girl too with its short skirt and ruffle at the neckline, but it was one of those 'I can't leave without it' items on a shopping trip a few years ago in college. Adding pale neutrals and a delicate necklace creates a very girly yet thoughtful ensemble. As you may have noticed, this dress is quite short on me, so I only wear it in the spring and fall when the air is cool enough to wear it with tights or leggings. These cute little cut-out booties are just perfect with a casual dress, and I'm so glad its finally dress weather so I can wear this combination. 

Dress: Isle of You Boutique, similar, similar, similar. Cardigan: Eileen Fischer at Garnet Hill. Belt: B-Low The Belt. Booties: Dolce Vita. Tights: Hue via TJ Maxx. Necklace: Dogeared. Bag: Ruche. Nails: Butter London, "Slapper."

Somebody refused to get out of my way…she just really wanted to be in the pictures.

xo, C.C.

What Makes You Happy

Wear What Makes You Happy. 

I recently read this line while I was browsing lots of blogs for inspiration, I can't remember where I saw it, but it is a statement that I truly believe in. Sometimes other people may not like what you wear, or you may not feel comfortable in a certain trend, so what matters most is to wear what makes you happy. For me that can mean a lot of things depending on the day. Sometimes a fun dress or a favorite sweater make me happy, and sometimes its simply wearing bright colors or comfortable clothes that keep me smiling.

At my job I stand on my feet all day, so usually by the end of the day my feet are so tired and sore that I just want to curl up on the couch and not get up again until tomorrow. While my job demands that I dress stylishly and I really like to wear cute shoes like flats, sandals, or booties, those often are not comfortable all day long. Sneakers are a lot more casual, but they really make my feet a lot happier come 6:00, and these bright beauties also make me smile at the cheery yellow print. I love any white shirt, so my favorite white tee and a long necklace are the perfect choice to match with my bright footwear and a great pair of jeans.

So when I want to be comfortable all day at work, I am going to sacrifice dressy outfits and skirts, forget what other people think, and just wear what makes me happy.

What makes you happy?

Sneakers: Gola via ModCloth. Tee: Bobi. Jeans: Hudson. Bag: TJ Maxx. Necklaces: Dogeared and Target (similar). Earrings: Kate Spade. 

xoxo, C.C.