work to play all day

I'm still working on my 2nd Teacher Capsule Wardrobe post (see the first round up here) & this Of Mercer dress is definitely a rockstar of my work outfit rotation. But no piece in my closet is allowed to be a one hit wonder, so although love this dress for work (like in this outfit), I also wear it out & adore how flattering the cut is. As my mom always told me, "modest is the hottest", & this dress is super feminine without being revealing or uncomfortable. If you are always looking for high quality & functional work clothes & you haven't checked out Of Mercer yet, do yourself a favor & head there now!

What are you best tricks for making your work clothes do double duty for events outside of your 9-to-5 life?

dress: "Baxter dress" c/o Of Mercer

belt: studded belt (saw Carrie wearing it in the Sex in The City movie & don't regret this purchase for a second!) I remember getting mine for cheap from a fast fashion site years ago (2008?), but found 2 second-hand styles for sale here & here.

shoes: open toe booties (old from DSW) - this style of shoe is a serious staple in my Spring wardrobe, so I've linked many similar styles at all price points below.

purse: Clare V. leopard clutch

watch: Daniel Wellington classic watch

All Photos: Noah Berg Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

what works

For my first outfit post since last September (read this post to learn about where I've been for the past 5 months), I wanted to share an outfit that represents where my style is now in one look, the pieces that I gravitate towards most, the things that I know work, & what I always enjoy putting on.

This sweater is from the Melissa McCarthy Seven 7 collection. Did you know Melissa McCarthy had a clothing line, & it is awesome? I have worn this sweater A TON since receiving it, it is fitted at the waist, has the most beautiful forest green stripes, & the mock neck makes me feel chic! 

I also recently added this suede moto jacket to my closet after seeing it on everyone & drooling enough times that I just HAD to have it! For a real suede leather jacket, the price point is great, & I cannot get over the amazing details! One thing to note, it is a pretty heavy jacket, but I like that it feels so substantial when I wear it.

Paired with my go-to jeans (on sale for $29 now!), favorite necklace, clutch & easy to wear booties - this outfit is a no brainer, but I like it because it makes me feel GOOD!

What do you wear when you want to feel comfortable & confident?

jacket: Nordstrom suede moto jacket - I'm wearing the Small, in "coffee bean"

jeans: Old Navy "Rockstar" skinny jeans (now only $29!)

bag: Clare V leopard clutch

top: Melissa McCarthy Seven7 mock neck turtleneck - I'm wearing the XS (similar style also available at J.Crew - shop it here)

necklace: Kendra Scott (old, but I've linked similar styles at the end of this post)

sunglasses: Ray Ban aviators

shoes: Older style Vince Camuto booties from Nordstrom Rack // this peep-toe style is very similar.

All Photos: Noah Berg Photography

{Shop these exact pieces}

Summer Capsule Wardrobe: the sleeveless button down

For those of you just tuning in (welcome!), I have been trying to shed my overpacking ways & for my Summer travels, I challenged myself to stick to a minimalistic "capsule" wardrobe. See what I packed in my Summer capsule wardrobe (10 foundation pieces that fit in a carry on!) & check out all of the Summer capsule wardrobe outfits here. Today I am focusing on a trendy piece that I wanted to experiment with on vacation: the sleeveless button down. 

{ Summer Capsule Wardrobe foundation pieces: Old Navy sleeveless button down, J.Crew Factory white denim }

Outfit 1: Michael Kors cross body purse (available in lots of pretty colors!) // Converse sneakers // Ray Ban aviators

Outfit 2: Panama hat ℅ Goorin Bros // Clare V leopard clutch // black wedges ℅ Nisolo**

**Get 10% off your next Nisolo order using this unique referral link: http://nisolo.refr.cc/JXVHV36 

(I also get $10 for each person that uses the link)

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography 

I had seen this type of sleeveless button down shirt popping up a lot at super hip places like Madewell (exhibit A), so I was thankful when I spotted this similar style at Old Navy for a price that fit well within my budget (low risk is my motto!).

For a person on the more petite side (5'3" here), I liked it just ok when it was worn long - it kind of become a tunic dress with jeans, which is apparently in style right now, so I went with it. But I really fell in love when I tied the shirt up! The linen cotton fabric & classic stripes made it feel modern, but a retro twist!

Because I was trying to maximize the style bang I packed with minimum pieces, I really appreciated what a chameleon this shirt proved itself to be! Casual & comfy for day, but cute & playful for evening adventures!

Shop similar sleeveless button downs:

Have you tried a sleeveless button down shirt this Summer? How did you find worked best for styling it?

Shop the full Summer Capsule Collection below:

Dinner Lab

I had one very "Nashville" night a couple of weeks ago - arrived at a converted warehouse, enjoyed yummy drinks, tasted amazing food that I had never even thought of before, made friends with strangers, loved every minute of it. I was thrilled to have been invited to try out Dinner Lab & am obsessed with their concept. 

Dinner Lab invites chefs to your town, hosts adventurous dinners in amazing locations, and without any frills or fuss of your traditional stuffy "fine dining".

I loved that the room was filled with interesting locals, most of them around our age, all enjoying such a unique social dining experience.

Looking for something like this? Dinner Lab is now in 30 cities around the US - check out if it is in your town here.

{ What I Wore to Dinner Lab: J.Crew Factory peplum top (shop similar striped styles below) // ASOS pleated maxi skirt (from last year - shop a similar style here) // necklace, earrings, ring ℅ RocksBox* // Clare V. leopard clutch // Old Navy booties }

*I was provided a complimentary subscription to Rocksbox, but am truly hooked! Sign up using my code and get your first month free! "HEREANDNOWXOXO"

(UPDATE: sorry if you tried to use the code & it was incorrect! All fixed now!)

all photos | Kate Davis Photo

Our Nashville Dinner Lab experience featured Chef Brian Jupiter from Frontier Chicago. It was so fun to know that we were trying prototype recipes, giving input to the chef directly.

Follow Dinner Lab online: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook 

at last

{ What I Wore to date night: DvF wrap dress // Clare V leopard clutch // ShoeMint ankle strap heels // Gorjana gold bar necklace // Lip Stick - The Lip Bar, "Crimson Wonderland" ℅ Glossy Box }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

This year for Christmas, I treated myself to two items that had been topping my wish list for YEARS! I have been finding that I don't need to shop as much anymore - a combination of living in less space, & finally learning my style.

After a sparse Fall of spending, I found that my shopping fund was very full & instead of stocking up on lots of lower price items at Old Navy or J.Crew Factory (two of my go to stores, but also a huge area of weakness for me) - I used all of my end of year surplus on this classic Diane von Furstenburg wrap dress & gorgeous Clare V. leopard clutch. I know that both will be go to pieces in my wardrobe for many years, instead of fast fashion that will only last me for a year or two. 

How would you spend $500 on your closet?

I used to post my purchases each month in my budget series, however, my spending lately has been so light that I stopped doing these post. Are you still interested in seeing where my shopping budget goes each month? Let me know in the comments.