{Summer} Lovin' Lately

Hipanema Bracelets are one of my favorite summertime finds. They have a fun and colorful bohemian feel that is perfect for adding a pop of wow to summery outfits. I get so many compliments on mine and have had people stop me on the street to ask where I got it! I also just discovered they have a create-your-own option too so you can get the perfect combination of colors and beads to fit your style! I tried it out and created a blue, white, and gold combo just for the fun of it! What do you think?

Cuckoo. If you enjoy a quirky British sitcom, then you'll love this show. Season one stars Andy Samberg as Cuckoo, a crazy hippie American who marries the daughter of a suburban British family (surprise!) and comes to live with them, disrupting the family dynamic. Unfortunately Samberg does not return for season 2, but they effectively write his character out and introduce the perfect replacement played by Taylor Lautner. The characters get themselves into so many shenanigans and everything is funnier with a British accent! My only complaint about the show is that the actress playing Rachel (the family's daughter and Cuckoo's wife) switches from season 1 to season 2 and her character is played differently which is kind of annoying. But other than that the show is great with tons of laugh out loud moments and a hilarious cast of characters. I flew through all three seasons so fast, and now I am impatiently waiting on the announcement of a fourth season! It's available on Netflix!

Tanning Lotion. It sucks being a grown up who has to work all summer long (RIP to the all the summers I used to spend lying by the lake), it leaves so little time to actually get outside and enjoy the sunshine! While nothing will ever replace the wonderful feeling of warm sun on my skin I've started using faux tanners to help me look a little more bronzed! I wrote about my experience trying Tanwise Bronzing Mousse recently, but since it is a time consuming process I've started supplementing it with an everyday tanning lotion. I got Jergens Natural Glow which I've been using on my arms and legs daily to keep up the glow. It definitely makes a subtle difference and helps prolong the tanned look, and is a great way to start out trying faux tanners.

I have been using Poshmark for a while as a way to sell old clothing and accessories to earn a little cash, and I've finally gotten some traction with selling recently. The trick it seems, is to follow lots of people, share both your own items and others' items, and share to Posh "parties" whenever possible. It doesn't even have to take up a lot of time-- I usually check my app once a day and share a few items from my closet each time, and then maybe once a week I'll follow some new users and share a few things from other closets. I also made my first Poshmark purchase just the other day, and I love how you can find specific styles that you're looking for especially if it's from a past season and hard to find online. And since everything is re-sale the prices are usually great and often negotiable. Its a great way to make a little spending money off old clothes that you no longer wear especially nicer/pricier pieces you don't want to just give away. Follow my closet, username ccnoordsy!

I'm so obsessed with my new kate spade iPhone case! I've had my eye on this one since it came out in the spring, and I finally purchased it for myself to update my phone to a more summery look! I love the bright yellow color, and the daisy and bee motif is so 'me'! I always love their adorable and fun phone cases which just fit my style so well, I seem to buy my phone cases exclusively from kate spade! I also love their summer collection of cases too of course!

(Lemonade // Best 4th)

Strapless is one of my favorite styles for summer. Now than strapless season is in full swing I've been wearing a lot of the style recently. I love that it's a great way to stay cool and get a little sun on your shoulders, plus it's a trend that never seems to go out of style. I've always been a fan of strapless dresses and more recently have build up a collection of tops too. Just this summer I invested in my first strapless jumpsuit too! I'm excited to feature it on the blog soon, so look out for that. It is such a girly and summery look that I find it irresistible and look forward to every summer! What's your favorite summer style trend?

See some of my past Loving round ups from this winter and last summer!

xoxo, CC

Weekend Casual

Just a quick post with an outfit I wore this weekend to the movies and brunch for my friend Jennesis Of Chic's birthday. We went to see Me Before You, which I though was pretty good, but a total tear jerker! I loved the way they used fashion as a defining characteristic for Louise, and that my all-time favorite Irregular Choice shoes were her signature look! I read somewhere that once they decided on Irregular Choice shoes that the rest of her quirky style just came together around that. I've been a fan of the brand since I was in high school and I own one pair of fun gingham wedges with a metallic snakeskin wedge (that somehow still haven't made an appearance on the blog! Need to change that!) so it was exciting to see them featured in a main-stream movie like that. They even had some cool shots of her shoes throughout the movie which I loved!  

This time though, I kept my own outfit pretty simple, re-wearing this pale chambray dress last seen here with lace up shoes and pink accessories. I added a few details like a gold choker necklace and vintage leaf earrings to complete an easy and modern feel. It was an absolutely beautiful day out so I walked up the East Side on my way home to catch a little sun. These shoes are pretty comfy I have to say, but I was dying by the time I'd walked about 30 blocks up the park! 

Dress: Gap (similar 1/2). Bag: French Connection. Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW. Sunglasses: AJ Morgan. Bracelets: J Crew and H&M. Bar necklace: similar. Choker necklace: similar.

xoxo, CC

Halter & Lace Ups

Photos by @tmarkova_ 

Is this halter top not the perfect boho-chic piece for summer?! I am seriously loving the print with the dynamic mix of blues and brick hues, which looks perfect with jeans or cutoffs. I love pieces that can easily go from casual to dressy with just a few accessories. I've been wearing this one as a casual top so far, but it would totally work for a night out as well. I haven't worn a halter top since I was a teenager, but the v neckline and scooped back on this one make the style a little more mature and are ideal for hot summer days. I also found the perfect necklace combo for this neckline by layering a choker and a drop charm necklace. The choker alone brought too much focus to the neck, and when I tried a long necklace it made the top seem droopy, so this mid-length combo is the perfect balance. Triangle shapes on the jewelry are repeated in the lines of the top for an intentionally coordinated look. 

These lace up sandals  (last seen here) have proven to be a good investment since I have been wearing them a ton with outfits like this one and they give me just a touch of height without being uncomfortable. They go well with bohemian looks or complete vintage inspired outfits with just a dash of a feminine feel. Plus I've been getting so many compliments on them! 

Top: VeronicaM. Jeans: Citizens. Shoes: Steve Madden. Earrings: Gorjana. Choker necklace option.

xoxo, CC

Skull Life

How cute are these tiny skull earrings?! I first got into skulls because they are one the symbols of my sorority, but I've become even more obsessed with them recently since I found these perfectly delicate little pieces of jewelry. I've had the bracelet (below) for a while now, but I just added these darling tiny skull earrings to my collection. I like when skulls are incorporated into a more delicate or feminine style so that they are not too intense. Lately my style has been all about the balance between sweet & girly, fierce & urban, so these fit perfectly into that dichotomy. 

While skulls can be seen as a symbol of death, I like to think of it as a symbol of humanity and human intellect (and therefore life). While the skull is not exposed until after death, it's main purpose is to ensure life. In that sense I like to take something often seen as dark and mysterious and rework it into a context of thriving, effervescent life. Take that skull and stick a pink bow in it's non-existent hair! (in spirit--I actually find that motif kind of tacky).

I mostly wear gold these days, so I realized that I don't have many necklaces that go with these silver earrings. While I often mix silver and gold on my hands and wrists (I usually wear silver on my left and gold on my right), I prefer to have my earrings and necklace coordinated since they sit so close together on the body. Part of the beauty of these tiny skulls is their simplicity, so perhaps I will just wear them sans necklaces at all!

 

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

Shopping Guide: Club Monaco

Cold Shoulder Top, Skirt, Romper, Dress, Sandals, Bracelet, Ring, Shorts Set, Tank.

Every time I go into Club Monaco I instantly see at least five items that I want.... until I look at the price tag that is, and have to drag myself away before my credit card spontaneously combusts or something. Well, today I thought I would tempt myself again by looking through their new arrivals, and as usual there are a ton of cute styles that I would love to add to my wardrobe! I'm sharing a few of my favorites here.

Off the shoulder tops are so trendy right now, they are everywhere you look. I like this fun checkered one in a pretty sherbert orange shade, and I like that it has a little strap to break up the width of my shoulders (seriously necessary if I want to pull off an off the shoulder piece). I'm also really loving the print on this cute little romper, which is a prominent print in their recent collection. It is summery and sophisticated with just a hint of color, and it's simply adorable on the tie-neck romper.

I've also been drawn to embroidered skirts lately, like the scalloped-hem one above. It reminds me a lot of this one I picked up a few months ago for a much lower price. What do you think, it's a pretty good dupe, right?
If you're looking for a deal, I did find something awesome: have you ever wanted a Chan Luu bracelet? Well, Club Monaco has this knockoff bracelet in several colors for only $35.50. I love the simplicity of a beaded wrap bracelet for summer, it completes any casual outfit with just a touch of sparkle without looking dressed up. I've wanted to attempt making my own one of these days, I just have to buy all the supplies and I think it would actually be pretty easy to make. In the meantime though, I'll settle for this one!

Where have you been shopping for summer? Would any of these styles make your wishlist?

xoxo, CC

Sugar Pink

Happy June! Even though the official start of summer isn't until halfway through the month, I always think of June as summertime, and it certainly feels like it here in New York!

This sugary sweet all-pink look is balanced out by a simple black crop tee. I love the combo of an a-line skirt and crop top this time of year. I've recently gotten really into a-line skirts because I find them super flattering and more comfortable than tight fitting skirts. And this tee has been perfect for pairing with them!! Adding summery accessories like a pink cross-body and wedge espadrilles in matching pink bring this faux leather one from early spring into full-blown summer without pause. 

Espadrille wedges have been on my want list for a very long time. I've always admired the ones the J. Crew, but they are a little pricier than I would like. I found this cute faux suede pair somewhere I was not expecting: H&M. I was shocked at how comfortable they are, they really didn't need any breaking-in time, and they are only $34.99. Plus the heel hight on these is perfect for me (not too high!) and they are a darling blush pink. What's not to love!!

Top: Michael Stars. Skirt: Zara. Bag: French Connection via Marshall's. Shoes: H&M (I found these to run big. I am normally a 9 and I got an 8.5). Sunglasses: AJ Morgan.

xoxo, CC