Cool it Y'all

dress: Old Navy swing dress

jacket: Gap denim jacket

shoes: Levi's white sneakers (similar to my beloved white Converse sneakers)

bag: "Cool it Y'all" cooler bag c/o Draper James

sunglasses: Ray Bans (borrowed from my husband!)

watch: leather strap watch c/o Daniel Wellington

Shop my top game day picks now:

I've been counting down for the past month & can't wait for college football to start this week! College football is my favorite sport & I love getting together to watch games with friends (Go Arkansas Razorbacks & Vandy 'Dores!). This week I'm teaming up with Draper James to celebrate our love of tailgating & you can get in on the action too! Head to the Draper James Instagram page to see how you can enter to win a $250 shopping spree! And be sure to follow along with the action by taking your tailgate ready looks with #GoYall!

I love this mid-sized cooler bag - comes in your favorite team colors & is the perfect accessory for bringing beverages + snacks to your next tailgate party! Stay tuned for more game day ready looks on my Instagram page over the next few days!

Shop these exact outfit pieces now:

oh, it's vintage

Sorry for talking about it ALL the time, but my whole life is basically focused on some aspect of our upcoming move this Summer, & let me just say that there is A LOT to focus on - finding jobs, selling furniture, figuring out how to fit all of our belongings into a Pod (any tips on that would be greatly appreciated!), & doing all the Nashville things with our friends before we leave! I've been spending time this past weekend making some serious decisions in my closet - when we are paying so much to move, I want to make sure that everything that comes with us is solidly in the LOVE category, & if it isn't, even just a little bit below complete LOVE, then it has to go (stay tuned for a Postmark sale soon)!

All of the items in this outfit have officially made the cut - especially this polka dot skirt, that is one of my favorite pieces to wear! From time to time I take my clothes to Clothes Mentor (like a Plato's Closet for adults), & while they were inventorying my pieces, I browsed the racks & this skirt called out to me! It is vintage Calvin Klein & fits me perfectly - AKA the fashion equivalent of the the heavens opening up & the angels singing. Nothing like taking in a pile of clothes & walking out with a magical skirt. That is a win in my book!

Don't forget to enter to win the Sea Bags tote! Only a few days left to enter, but you can earn more entries everyday when you share it on social media! Enter now!

skirt: vintage Calvin Klein (found at my local Clothes Mentor) - just spotted this super similar style at J.Crew that is now 30% off, making it under $80!

tank: Old Navy layering tank (I also swear by these tanks from Everlane)

jacket: classic Gap denim jacket

necklaces: vintage bead necklaces - shop similar from Bauble Bar.

earrings: floral earrings purchased last year via Rocksbox - this similar floral earring style is currently available at J.Crew Factory (& only $13!)

purse: crossbody purse c/o Gigi New York

shoes: cognac heels purchased via a gift card from Kohl's

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

so nice, I purchased it twice

Ok I promise I am still working on that Asheville guide, but life has gotten a little crazy this week (job interviews, watching my students dominate at their soccer games & gearing up for end of the year testing) - oh how difficult that little thing called BALANCE can be!

Now on to the outfit - when I saw this top I knew that it was a total ME piece, the only problem was figuring out what color/print to get it in! Ultimately, I couldn't narrow it all the way down, so I got two (whoops!) - this block printed one & the adorable gingham one I linked on Instagram here & here.

top: Old Navy peplum tank in block print & gingham print (The gingham one is only $16 & currently stocked in all sizes!)

Fit tip, the peplum cami does not fit snug at the waist. I got the XS & it is still a little oversized/flowy.

jeans: DL1961 ripped white denim (I love these jeans! Also available in non-ripped style, slightly less skinny version, and boot cut style)

shoes: Nisolo "Serena" sandals (the "caramel" color ages beautifully)

bag: Nisolo leather tote (mine is the "Oak" color)

watch: leather strap watch c/o Le Coeur

sunglasses: Ray Ban aviators (mine are the green & gold option)

jacket: Gap jean jacket

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

I basically wore some version of this outfit for our entire visit to Asheville & it really did work for all occasions - from brewery tours, visiting the Biltmore, & grabbing dinner downtown.

I have also worn this top multiple times over the past two weeks & I definitely recommend it! The adjustable straps make it practice & ruffle bottom is just too FUN! 

What pieces have you been gravitating to this Spring? Any duplicate purchases lately?

Don't forget to enter to win the NYC trip for 2 to visit the Annie Leibovitz portrait exhibit. More details in yesterday's post. 

Shop these exact pieces now:

transitional

dress: Nordstrom shirtdress (now on sale for under $50!)

jacket: Gap jean jacket (get 35% off your Gap purchase with code THANKU)

purse: "Nevin" bucket bag c/o Sole Society

shoes: two-tone mules (super old from Jessica Simpson, but I scouted out this similar pair from Steve Madden)

watch: Michael Kors gold watch (now on sale!)

sunglasses: Ray-Ban aviators (currently marked down 20%)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

We have been in this strange weather pattern where the weeks are super cold, but the weekends bring bright sunny days, with temperatures reaching into the upper 60s.  This pre-Spring time can be tricky to dress for, but I felt like this outfit finally struck the right balance!

I have had this jean jacket since college & it is an all time favorite. I actually have a much more expensive designer denim jacket, but this Gap classic is the one I reach for most of the time! (Get 35% off your Gap purchase with code THANKU)

I recently took a tough look at what I had in my closet - identifying what the areas that I need to stop purchasing, but also pinpointing what pieces I wear most often. During warmer months, I love being able to throw on casual dresses & appreciate how simple it is to look pulled together in a dress + easy accessories. In my effort to add more casual dresses, I found this shirtdress & fell in love with the tied waist detail & long sleeves that look great rolled up! (Sale alert - all sizes are still in stock & it is now on sale for under $50 - shop it here!)

Then it is all about the details. I've had these Jessica Simpson mules for several years & at the time that I purchased them they were a style that I thought was super unique & wasn't seeing around hardly at all. Now, mules are all the rage, and this style will continue to be hot for Spring/Summer. This Steve Madden pair is super similar to the ones I have on, while these Tory Burch babies are topping my lust list, and I just added these Hushpuppies mules to my closet & adore the color blocked details. 

The other piece that I added to my closet for Spring is a neutral bag that can be worn for many occasions - my new bucket bag from Sole Society! The cognac color is so dreamy & the size is spot on. This is my first entry into the bucket bag trend, and now I can see why they are so popular! If you are on the search for a bucket bag of your own, I do highly recommend this style & it comes in other colors & a fringe option too!

Shop these exact pieces:

loafer time

jacket: classic Gap jean jacket

shirt: Pug tee ℅ Fur & Collar (check out all of their available breeds - so cute!)

skirt: Lulu's (only available in solid colors, but I found this almost identical striped skirt from Chicwish!)

shoes: Penny Loafers ℅ Johnston & Murphy

purse: Rebecca Minkoff quilted crossbody (also loving this slightly smaller cross body bag from Michael Kors)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Everyone knows that loafers are perfect work shoes - stylish flats are seriously my answer for every possible work related style issue! But I wanted to show you something a little different. These loafers are from Johnston & Murphy & I think they are the bees knees - the touch of polished patent teacher, & oh so comfy (teacher day tested & approved). And bonus, right now they are on sale for $80 off! 

This outfit makes me happy because I love the mix of masculine loafers with a girlie skirt & I am so proud to finally share my obsessed pug mom status to the world. I mean, I literally wear my pugs around everywhere with the crazy amount of dog hair that I pick off of my clothes on a daily basis, but I feel like this tee is a much better way to advertise that I have 2 adorable pugs living at home. 

My blog friend AJ just launched this line of tees over on Fur & Collar. Check out their line up of breeds - these would totally make a fun Christmas gift for every dog lover on your list!

Summer Capsule Wardrobe: patterned shorts

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 fun piece that I had added to my wardrobe this previous spring: patterned shorts.

{ Summer Capsule Wardrobe foundation pieces: J.Crew Factory patterned shorts (no longer available) }

Outfit 1: Gap jean jacket // J.Crew Factory tank // Michael Kors cross body purse (available in lots of pretty colors!) // black wedges ℅ Nisolo**

Outfit 2: J.Crew Factory chambray shirt // Converse sneakers // Ray Ban aviators

**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 

When I pulled out some of my shorts this past Spring, I was honestly shocked at how microscopic some of their inseams appeared to be! At almost 28, I am not yet ready for full on bermuda shorts all the time, but the teeny-weeny shorts I rocked in college already feel like a life ago!

When I found these polka dot shorts at J.Crew Factory, I'm pretty sure I reacted like someone who has just won the lottery! Pockets!? Polka-dots!? A reasonable length that doesn't make my legs look like their are stuffed into sausage casings appropriate for a 12 year old!? Score! (& being that they are from J.Crew Factory, I'm sure they were on sale too… tip: don't ever fall for buying something full price from them!)

Shop my current patterned shorts favorites:

What I love most about these shorts (besides their reasonable inseam length) is that they are still sassy enough to be fun daytime shorts that transition into nighttime shorts. Again - when trying to use a "capsule" approach to packing: everything must have a dual purpose! No one hit wonders here!

Do you have any patterned shorts that are giving you heart eyes?

Shop my current favorite patterned shorts above & all of the capsule collection pieces below:

weekend transition

{ What I Wore to weekend: J.Crew Factory breton stripe tee (now on sale for under $40!) + wrap skirt // Converse sneakers // Coach bleecker bag ℅ Dillard's Green Hills // Gap jean jacket // Ray Ban aviators // pearl necklace - gift from my sweet Valentine! }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

I loved this skirt so much for work (outfit here), that I couldn't help but wear it for the weekend too!
Officially adding this skirt to my list of FAVORITES - along with this most perfect striped shirt (seriously, this is stripe perfection), lived in denim jacket, & classic chucks.

What have you been transitioning from work wear to weekend wear?

Bloggers Who Budget: Favorite Transitional Piece

It's that weird time of year where it's not yet full blown fall, but we are all ready to start dressing like it. I'm so ready for cooler temps & starting to work Fall pieces in with my end of Summer wardrobe. Check out how the Bloggers Who Budget transition from Summer to Fall, for less!

Sharing My Sole | The Style Letters | Let It Be Beautiful | Here & Now | Pearls & Twirls | Stylin in St. Louis | Living in Color Style | The Pumpkin Spot

{ What I Wore to teach: J.Crew Factory skirt, tank // Gap denim jacket // Kendra Scott necklace // Dansko clogs }

all photos | Kate Davis Photography

I think that the denim jacket is the ultimate transitional piece. I can throw it on over literally anything! Also, don't judge, but I am totally obsessed with these shoes. If you work on your feet all day, they are a MUST! #sorrynotsorry

 

What is your key transitional piece?