The Lightest Shirt

This blue shirt from Gap is so lightweight, it's about the only thing I could think to wear when I saw today's weather forecast. I know everyone hates when people talk about fall too early, but I'm craving days in the 70's. Dear sun, please calm it down.

Unfortunately, this blouse is no longer available. It's kind of perfect because it has a little bit of a chambray look, but it's a super thin/soft fabric that looks more like a normal button up blouse. They had it a few weeks ago online, so it might still be in stores (and probably on sale!)

top-  gap , sold out (similar)  |  skirt-  j.crew  |  shoes- nordstrom  |  necklace- ? dolce ave  |  bag- louis vuitton neverfull GM

 Have a wonderful day!

Another White Dress

This white dress from Gap is another one I recently had altered to make the hem a little longer. The thing I love most about this dress is its textured stripe pattern. The fabric feels substantial/high quality.

I did order this one in a tall size, but it still needed an extra inch or so of length. I've noticed this with a lot of Gap's tall sizes---some of them still aren't long enough, which is a little frustrating. But, when you buy at 40% off, it's still cheaper than the full price of the dress, even with alteration fees, so for me, it's worth it.

If you order this, size way down. It fits very large in the waist. I may have that taken in too, but for now, it's fine the way it is just with the extra length.

dress- gap  |  shoes- nordstrom  |  sweater- j.crew  |  necklace- F21(similar)

Have a great night!

An Extended Hem

Finding dresses that are an ideal length for the office can be difficult if you are 5'8 or taller. Most retailers are now offering tall sizes online, which is a huge improvement from a few years ago, but it can still be tough to find a dress you love only to realize it hits you mid-thigh.

Sometimes when a dress isn't available in a tall version, I'll check the hem and see how much fabric is left to assess whether or not the hem can be taken out to make the dress longer.

I recently sent six dresses to the seamstress to be lengthened. Prior to this, I was wearing these dresses with flats, but now I can comfortably wear them with heels.

One of the dresses I had altered is the one I wore today, from Gap:

dress- gap- sold out, but I love these styles:  1//2//3//4//5  |  shoes- nine west  |  

necklace- groopdealz ? 

(Above is the before shot- I think the difference is more evident in person but there's a good 1.5-2 inches of length added now).

Some of the dresses I had lengthened didn't have enough material in the hem, so the seamstress added lace to extend the hem. It was so worth it to feel more comfortable in my dresses.

 Do you have your clothes altered or do you skip buying items that are too long or too short?

Lace + Chambray

I'm having a lot of my favorite work dresses altered at the tailor this week so sign me up for a week full of skirts!

This navy blue lace skirt from Zara has been one of my most favorite pieces for a few years now. It's so feminine and easy to wear. 

I've also been wearing my Vince Camuto Effel sandals like crazy. They're SO comfortable. Thanks to Luba for recommending them!

skirt- zara (old) similar, similar, gorgeous DVF version on sale!  |  top- gap  |  

shoes- nordstrom  |  necklace- gifted from groopdealz

Wishing you a great week!

A Coral Dress

Coral is a color I don't own a ton of�in fact, I think I have one J.Crew pencil skirt in that color. So when I saw this dress at Gap and tried it on, I knew I had to have it (it's also on sale for less than $40 right now!)

Not only does it have a beautiful full skirt, which I've been loving lately, it is so airy and comfortable. I'm planning to add about 2 inches of length to the hem but other than that it's perfect. The dress is actually a tall, but you would never know it since it's not as long as a tall typically is.

For work, I paired it with my navy blue blazer from Artizia, but I didn't show that in these photos since it's blazing hot out and I didnt wear the blazer until I was in the office.

 dress-  gap (on sale for $34.99 and also in white!)  |  shoes- j.crew factory (on sale for $68)  |  necklace- ? tiny tags

Have a great week!

A Full White Dress

I love a white dress. Over a month ago I tried this one at at Gap. I loved it, but wanted to order the tall version since I needed the extra length. It looks like a lot of other people loved this dress too because it was on backorder. 

It finally arrived last week and I love it just as much as when I first tried it on! The full skirt is so fun and I love that the sleeves are longer--- it's a nice change from my sleeveless and cap-sleeved dresses.

Also, it's super comfortable. The one downside on this is that it wrinkles like crazy, but you'll find that with most cotton fabrics if you're sitting at your desk. It doesn't bother me enough not to purchase it. 

dress- gap (sold out- similar, similar, similar... other white dresses I love- 1 |  2  |  3)  |  shoes-  nordstrom  |  necklace- tiny tags, ?  | watch- michael kors

As you can see, their is a verry subtle stripe to the fabric. It's well-lined (I also wore a nude skirt slip because it was windy). I plan to pair this with a different belt soon.

Have a great week!

The Perfect [Navy] Dress

I've worn this pleated flare dress from J.Crew so many times since I purchased it about a month ago--- which tells me right off the bat that it's a great buy. You really can't go wrong with a simple, classic-shaped navy blue dress.

I wore it for the first time at Harper's birthday party and many times since then, including to my friend's rehearsal dinner, a night out with friends, to work, etc.

Today I wore it paired with a navy blazer (not shown). I think I need more dresses with this bell-shaped skirt!

dress-  j.crew (on sale + get an extra 40% off using code "SHOPMORE")  |  shoes- gap (almost identical for $34, also like these Steve Maddens and these on sale at ASOS)  |  necklace- stella & dot, ? (this one is GORGEOUS! and I also love this BR one)

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th!

Gap Picks & Fitting Room Photos

Today I got off of work early so before heading home I stopped in at Gap and Banana Republic to exchange some items I purchased online that didn't fit.

In this post I'm going to share some purchases and passes---and right now you can get 40% off of your entire purchase (in store + online) using the code "EVENT" at checkout.

I was IN LOVE with this blue dress. It is perfection---only the size 8, on the left was too big on me (I am cinching the waist form behind to show how I'd want it to look) and though the picture doesn't show it well, it was shorter than I wanted it to be. The size 2, on the right, fit nicely in the bodice, but was way way way too short. Sadly it doesn't come in tall---but you can scoop it up here as it would work for most ladies under 5'9 or so!

raw hem fit & flare dress 

(sold out in blue, of course, but it's also available in white!)

I knew this sleeveless, lightweight chambray shirt would be a keeper as soon as I saw it! It's a little longer in the back than the front and it's versatile beyond belief- you can pair it with shorts or pants or tuck it into a pencil skirt to dress it up for work. This is a must-have! Mine is a size small.

sleeveless chambray tunic

This dress was a favorite! It's long for a regular length dress and it's a nice looser fit for those hot summer days. The fabric is great too. I got this one in a size 6. 

colorblock shift dress

I ended up ordering this online in a 4 tall when I got home. The one I'm wearing in this photo is a 6 regular which is all they had left. I love white dresses for summer and like that this can be dressed up or down. I need the extra length so the tall will be arriving when it's off of backorder.

flared shirtdress

This dress must have been a store return because it's a medium tall. I liked the color and neckline but didn't love the fit at the bottom. I think a small or xs tall would have fit more nicely---but without the sash it was quite baggy. Either way, I think I would have purchased if the size had been right.

sleeveless shirtdress

(this color is no longer available in regular and tall, but is in petites if you need M or L)

I think we can all see just from these pictures that this dress was a total fail�it was like a sack�no shape and I was swimming in the medium. I don't even think an xs would fit to be honest. I do love the general idea of this dress though, just wish it was shaped differently. 

(on sale in stores)

Lastly, I picked up this sweet baby pink dress for Harper---the color is actually a true light sweet pink, a little more bright than this photo shows. 

eyelet dress

I hope you enjoyed my picks and passes! Did you score anything during this sale?! Let me know :)

PS---here's what I picked up for Kevin at Banana Republic---also having a 40% off sale on full-priced purchases:

vintage crew in purple

vintage colorblock polo

Baby Gap New Arrivals!

Just thought I'd do a quick post to share the Baby Gap items I purchased for Harper during their last 40% off promo! (they're currently running one for 30% off if you didn't get a chance to order last week) The items just arrived in the mail today. All items I purchased are 18-24 months (except for the shoes), so many are from the toddler section (tear!)

starry tie romper

eyelet flutter body double

strawberry boxy tank

dot racerback dress

texture stripe tie tank

mixed media tie dress

shirred cardigan

marled sweatshirt dress

striped tights  (radiant blue)  |  chambray espadrilles

I also got these sweet strawberry bubble shorts for Harper. Too cute! Her bow is by PrettyLittleElm.

Have a great week!

Skirts with Bows

The lovely weather continues in Houston and that means I've been motivated to rediscover some pieces I haven't worn in quite some time. 

This Banana Republic bow skirt is one of them. I just love the bow and slit detail and the length is perfect for the office. I used to hate wearing flats with dresses and skirts but I've been digging the look lately. Definitely one of my favorite buys this year!

skirt- banana republic (this is a beautiful option, and this one, love this cobalt floral print and this DVF) |  shirt- j.crew  | necklace- stella & dot, ?  | blazer- artizia  | shoes- gap (love these steve madden ones)

Happy Thursday!

Pink + Stripes

I was delighted to learn that it would consistently be in the 80's this week so that means bare legs! I was so excited to slip into one of my beloved J.Crew No. 2 Pencil skirts, which I pretty much used to wear daily before I was pregnant. They're just so comfortable and easy to wear. Plus, they go with everything from dress shirts, to blouses, to sleeveless tops, etc. You can't go wrong!

One of my favorites is this navy and white striped style:

 shirt- gap (similar, similar)  |  skirt- j.crew (LOVE this one, would it be wrong to get it?)  | shoes- nine west  |  necklaces ? The Modern Siren and Tiny Tags

What are you looking forward to wearing as the weather improves?

I also want to mention how much I enjoy Jergen's Natural Glow Firming self tanner (the new formulation in the medium/tan shade). It really gives color and made my normally pasty legs look great. My legs were blindingly white before I used it. This was after one application, left on overnight.  I highly recommend this self tanner if you're craving a little color but don't want to stain your sheets.

Skirting It

It's getting to that temperature in Houston where when you get into your car after work, you have to blast the AC at maximum levels because your car has been baking in the sun all day. But I said I was looking forward to warmer weather, so no complaints here!

Today I wore this beautiful full skirt from Madewell. It's comfortable and simple, yet has a semi-bold pattern to keep things interesting (though it would be beautiful in a solid color as well).  Madewell doesn't sell this skirt anymore, but here's a similar one and this one is beautiful as well.

tee- SixTwenty ?  | skirt- madewell  | shoes- gap (similar, similar)  | necklace- ? Stella & Dot (similar for less than $20 and also love this one) 

If you've never heard of Six Twenty, check them out. They make beautiful basics with incredibly soft and high-quality materials that wash well---and it's all made in the USA (in sunny California). I've had this v-neck tee since last summer and wear it all the time. It's fitted (but not too tight) and the material is a quality opaque one. Absolutely love it!

Recent Purchases...

I hope everyone had a great Saturday!  We started our morning with Starbucks lattes and breakfast (yum!) and then I headed to swim class with Harper. She did awesome today and didn't cry once (she is having some stranger danger issues and cried a few times during her last two lessons). Harper always takes an amazing nap right after class so I took that time to relax a bit before we set off to return some Christmas gifts that didn't fit (we were a little, uh, late on that, ha) and check out some convertible car seats (because we will eventually switch out the infant seat in my car).

I got an email reminder that I had GAP Cash to use (it's a promo where when you shopped about a month ago you got $25 back for every $50 you spent to use towards a future purchase).  Wanting to take advantage of getting clothes for 50% off, I picked up a few items for Harper and for me. I'm buying all 12-18 month clothing now. The tank top is actually a size 3T because the 12-18 one was teeny tiny. It looked like a 0-3 month size.

wide stripe leggings (navy)  | eyelet flutter sleeve top  |  heart print ribbed tank (navy)  |  dot leggings (baby pink)

custom name puzzle  |  stripe poplin shorts |  chaturanga crops |  

I also wanted to mention a lovely custom name puzzle I got for Harper from Fat Brain Toys. I heard about it on Megan's blog Willow Way- she has one for her daughter Olivia! It's such a pretty puzzle and it arrived just a few days after ordering- I was super impressed!

Okay- back to GAP--- I picked up a pair of sleep shorts with a pretty mint green trim on them. I like these because they are a little longer (i.e. my butt doesn't hang out of them like most sleep shorts) and the lace detail is pretty. 

Lastly, I made my first ever purchase from Athleta, a sports/workout apparel store owned by Banana Republic (who also owns Gap and Old Navy). I was immediately drawn to the bright spearmint color of these crops. A few seasons ago my beloved Lululemon had wunder under crops in a color similar to this one and they sold out before I could grab a pair. I had always hoped they would bring the color back, but I haven't seen it re-released.  So, when I saw these Chaturanga crops, I just had to try them on. I have to say, they are very flattering and fit/look just like my wunder under crops from Lululemon. The fabric appears to be high quality, feels nice on and they have a lifetime warranty on their products! They cost $54, less than Lululemon but still pricey for workout apparel. But, you know how I feel about that--- I prefer to invest in pieces that will last a very long time---and I have Lulu pieces that are damn near 8 years old that still look great. I will update once I've worn them to let you know how I like them. 

Athleta does their sizing on the S, M, L, XL, etc scale so I wasn't sure about fit. I took a S and M into the fitting room and the small fit perfect. The sales associate told me their sizes run larger, so I'm going to say that their size small fits like a size 6 wunder under from Lululemon since that's the size I take there and they fit the exact same.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your weekend!  By the way, we are researching "baby cages" (haha, baby gates/playyards) to keep Harper contained now that she is crawling and pulling up on all of the things. Let me know if you have any you love�time to baby proof this house!

*this is not a sponsored post, all products purchased with my own funds.

Baby Gap Picks- Paddington Bear Collection

Baby Gap recently launched an adorable limited edition Paddington Bear Collection and I'm smitten!  Below are the items I ordered for Harper. 

I always like to order online and then return whatever doesn't fit or that I don't end up liking in person.  Use the code "MORE" at checkout for 40% off of regularly priced styles and 50% off of sale styles.

quilted jacket  |  polka dot tulip top  |  eyelet trim bodysuit  |  rainboot flutter top  |  marled pants  |  embroidered flutter dress  |  graphic duo fold jacket  |  striped leggings

Happy Tuesday!

Bows

Today I wore my favorite skirt and a navy blue blouse with anchors that I scored at Marshalls while I was on maternity leave. The tights look light in the bottom right photo, but in person they are actually a nice deep navy with black polka dots and don't read as blue as they do in the photo. I got a lot of compliments on them today...note to self...more printed tights!  They just add an element of fun to a basic work outfit.

skirt- banana republic (on sale + 40% off using code BRSHOP) | shoes- nordstrom | top- marshalls (similar at BR) | tights- j.crew factory (in chalkboard + on sale) | "H" initial necklace- jane.com

chambray top (no longer online), hat (sold out online but LOVE this one) and leggings- baby gap

I have been slacking a lot on dressing up lately so it was refreshing to put on a skirt and some heels. I just have to be in the right mood for it these days!

Tartan for the Holidays

A quick outfit post--- we were running errands all day in Houston's cold cold weather (well, for us cold) so I finally got to wear some boots and my new flanel shirt!  Sadly, this J.Crew Rock Salt Plaid boyshirt is sold out (I knew it would sell out and snagged one online) but there are plenty of great tartan and plaid shirts avaialble in stores right now. They're very holiday-esque and I love pairing them with other prints and patterns, like I did today.

These were taken with my husband's iPhone and I think they turned out okay. Better than mirror photos, that's for sure.

shirt- j.crew (sold out, love this one too)| vest- j.crew (on sale!) | legging cords- GAP (must-have!) | boots- Hunter | necklace- T+J Designs, c/o | "H" initial necklace- jane.com

On Harper- hat, onesie (nla, but love this one), leggings, sweater- Baby Gap | Moccs- Freshly Picked

I hope y'all are having a great weekend!