At The Lake...

Nothing feels more like summer to me than being surrounded by lush green foliage and spending sunny days outdoors in the yard or by the lake. I spent time last week doing just that, on a little escape from the concrete city. 

A cute sundress is a no-fuss way to approach days at the lake. This feather-print piece is unusual with the angular pockets creating dimension, and the zipper detail on the front. The bright multi colors are perfect for evoking a summery vibe while I enjoy some of my favorite activities: lounging in the sun and playing with my dogs. While this one piece outfit is easy and comfortable (just the adjectives I want when I'm on vacation), the mod drapey pockets and statement print don't sacrifice style. Now doesn't that sound good? 

Bold prints are great pieces to pack while traveling, or just when you want to be comfy because of how easily they make an outfit seem complete. See what I packed last time I headed up to the lake for a mini vacation!

Dress: old (similar 1/2/3). Sandals: Sam Edelman. Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters. Necklace: Kate Spade. Earrings: Gorjana.

xoxo, CC

All Black … Almost

As a resident of NYC I feel like I am beginning to embrace the infamous all-black look… but with my own little twist of course: I always add a little pop of color. Here, it's the red sleeves on this charcoal-black cashmere sweater. (I posted a pic on my instagram recently of another all black look adorned with a bright scarf). I can't seem to stay away from color! Baby steps, people, baby steps. I also bundled up in my oversized evergreen scarf in an attempt not to freeze to death while taking photos! 

I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair of OTK boots for a while now, and I finally found exactly what I was looking for: these boots are a matte black (not shiny!) and have a practical silhouette with a slight heel. They actually come above my knee (barely! tall girl probz…) and the heel is nice and thick for comfortable walking all day. And with a little saving up they were within my price range! We all know I'd love a pair of Stuart Weitzman's, but a girl can dream, right?

Sweater: Garnet Hill (similar). Jeans: JBrand. Boots: Sam Edelman (shiny here). Scarf: Pimkie (1/2). Clutch: Ruche (similar). Sunglasses: Ruche. Necklace: Kate Spade. 

xoxo, CC

Little Black Bows

I wore this outfit a few weeks ago in early September, on a sweltering hot day shopping downtown. I was helping a friend to find a bridesmaid dress in some of the department stores on the East Side and I wanted to wear something that was both comfortable, breathable, and fashionable. This full skirt makes a sweet statement, especially when paired with bow accessories, like the belt and Kate Spade bag. I chose a basic black tank to let the pink really pop, and it also gave the look a bit of a ballerina twist. Animal print sandals with a touch of pink, plus some gold and pink bracelets balanced all the black and added some fun detail.

Skirt: Club Monaco (similar, also cute). Top: Target. Belt: B-Low the Belt (similar, similar). Bag: Kate Spade. Sandals: Sam Edelman.

xoxo, CC

Summer Orange Dress

This week marks 6 months since I started this blog! I've been enjoying this venture thoroughly, and have learned a lot already--thank you to all who've been reading along! To commemorate this first milestone, a post featuring my namesake dress seemed fitting.

This dress is actually the one that started my obsession with orange dresses. I've had this dress forever it seems (I bought it back in high school on a trip to Montreal with my mom), and I never get tired of it. It is really one of the very few items in my closet that have stayed that beloved for that long, through many changes of style and many closet-purges. The bubble hem is what originally sold me on the dress (back when those were first popular), as well as the unexpected realization that orange was a beautiful color on me. And then the silhouette, spaghetti straps, and tie back have kept its summertime favorite status. 

After a long hot day today I walked down to the lake to cool off by wading in the water, only to get sprinkled on by a little rain. But, I can't complain because it felt nice and cooling. It felt good to take off my shoes and unwind a little bit by the water. Since this dress is bold all on its own I added minimal yet still dramatic jewelry to compliment its vibe. Instead of trying to contrast or match with the statement necklace I again tried following the advice that orange and pink look nice together, and I'd agree, they sure do!

Dress: Bedo (love this and this!). Sandals: Sam Edelman. Earrings Kate Spade. Necklace: similar, similar. 

xoxo, CC

Summer Solstice

I have been spending as much time at the lake as possible on these warm days. I love taking a book to the lake and sitting in the sun or wading in the water, although the water is still far too cold to swim in (at least in my opinion).This peach top is so sweet with the lace inset sides and the crisscross back. I love loose light tops when the weather is hot and sticky, so it was perfect for a stroll to the lake after work to put my toes in the water.

As I mentioned last week, I love white jeans and white shorts in the summer. I have historically been pretty good at keeping them clean, but for some reason this summer I have not been having a very good track record! The very first time I wore these cuffed white shorts I managed to get black smudges on the front AND sit in chocolate at the ice cream shop, all in one day. Sigh. Better luck next time?

Happy summer solstice weekend everyone! Let's celebrate this glorious time of year!

Top: Miss Daisy, similar, similar, similar. Shorts: J. Crew. Sandals: Sam Edelman. Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff via TJ Maxx, similar. Sunglasses: Ruche. Necklace: available here. Bracelets: Urban Peach, Kate Spade. Nails: Butter London "Jasper."

xoxo, CC

Pink + Orange

Wise words this month from my planner inspired today's outfit: "Orange Looks Chic With Pink." This combo is such a bright summery color scheme and although it is an often unexpected combination it certainly can be quite chic!

I paired this orange tee, which already has light pink lace accents of its own, with some bold pink polk-dotted shorts and bright coral earrings for an effortless hot-June-weather look. Putting together this outfit pushed me outside of my norm a bit, but I love the results! Sometimes trying something new can remind us of how much fun getting dressed can be, and I hope to continue exploring this orange + pink palette through the summer, and maybe try other bold combinations too!

I bought these pink polka-dotted shorts on sale over Memorial Day Weekend, and I was a little afraid they were too bold, with the dramatic scalloped pockets, but I've been loving them. The color and the polka dots are so "me" and they even look cute matched with more bright saturated colors, don't they?

Planner: Jonathan Adler. Top: Guess (old). Shorts: J. Crew. Earrings: Kate Spade. Clutch: Spool No.72. Sandals: Sam Edelman. Bracelet: Kate Spade, similar.

-CC