short shorts

Is it ok that it is only the first week of May & I am already declaring these shorts the piece of clothing I will be living in this Summer? #sorrynotsorry

I lived in this chambray top + Panama hat last year, & I love how fresh these beloved pieces look with my new lace up sandals and tassels-on-fleek shorts! (is sleek still a thing?)

How are you updating your warm weather items for the new year?

shorts: fringe trim shorts c/o francesca's

Other favorites include these ivory drawstring shorts, & these embroidered ruffle trim shorts)

top: J.Crew chambray button down

hat: Panama hat c/o Goorin Bros

shoes: lace up sandals c/o Sole Society

purse: tiny tote c/o Dagne Dover

bracelet: anchor bracelet c/o francesca's

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

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:

Summer Capsule Wardrobe: The Sundress

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 one of my favorite clothing shapes of all time - the fit & flare sundress!

{ Summer Capsule Wardrobe foundation piece: Old Navy fit & flare sundress }

Outfit 1: J.Crew Factory cardigan // Nisolo** tote & sandals // woven brown belt

Outfit 2: J.Crew Factory chambray top // Michael Kors cross body bag (available in lots of pretty colors!) // Converse sneakers

Outfit 3: Panama hat ℅ Goorin bros (budget friendly option) // 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 used to approach dresses as very un-remixable, but somewhere along this style journey I found out that quite the opposite was true for me. Especially when on vacation, the weather can be more unpredictable than what you are used to at home, so I am thankful that this style of dress easily allows for the addition of more layers (cardigan, or button down to give it a skirt look) + looks equally polished with both flats & heels.

Looking to mix up your Summer sundresses even more? Try adding a jean jacket & lightweight patterned scarf for cooler evening temps or if you are into pattern mixing, then a different print button down top would be fun knotted over the dress (I'm imagining gingham with this dress - just ordered this pink gingham check top from J.Crew Factory & will update you with how it works!).

So, moral of the story: put those sundresses at the front of your closet & get creative (let me know how it goes in the comments!)

What is your favorite way to remix dresses? Which look do you like the best from my 3 outfits?

Shop the full capsule now (many pieces still on sale from the 4th of July holiday - click over for updated prices)

Sabine

{ What I Wore to weekend: J.Crew chambray shirt + white denim // "Sabine" tote ℅ Elaine Turner // Jack Rogers sandals // Red Lipstick - The Lip Bar }

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo 

Happy Tuesday! 

3 things I'm loving today:

1. T-minus 2 days until a San Francisco weekend (#weddingseason)

2. It is now light past 6 pm (yay!!)

3. This bag!

I am so excited to introduce you to my newest love - Sabine!

Sabine is the latest & greatest tote from Elaine Turner - perfect for weekend trips (hello San Francisco!), adventures to the beach, & even making your everyday to & fro a little more glam!

See Elaine herself gushing about the lovely Sabine!

AND score this beauty for yourself now with 20% off using code "HEREANDNOW20" (valid 3/10 - 3/16) 

Shop Sabine with 20% off using code "HEREANDNOW20" (valid 3/10 - 3/16) 

Where would you take Sabine this Spring?

Any fun adventures coming up? I'd love to hear!

teacher me

{ What I Wore to teach: chambray button down, tan puffer vest, skinny cropped black pants - all J.Crew Factory // Old Navy ballet flats // scarf ℅ Boden // Anthropologie sunglasses // Michael Kors watch }

all Photos | Kate Davis Photo

I think that sometimes "fashion bloggers" feel the need to throw on that extra necklace, add one more pattern to the mix, switch out flats for sky high heels, all in the name of the blog. Sometimes it is real life with a twist, other times it is far from reality. We do this to dazzle, to inspire, to get our dang outfit images pinned 1,000 times gosh darn it!

However, I have always aligned my blog as a "personal style" blog. I hope you don't come here to learn about the latest trends, see runways looks recreated, or follow along with my trips to Paris Fashion Week. I am just a girl, trying to get dressed everyday. So, in an attempt to get back into my blogger groove, I am kicking off a new series. For the next couple of weeks I will be documenting my teacher style, creating outfits from what I have deemed my "capsule wardrobe".

I jumped straight from "wear whatever you want" grad school, to a "come to school at 5 am looking stylish and fresh" teaching career, & had to quickly identify the pieces in my closet that were go-getters, the heavy hitters that could pull together an outfit in a snap. 

These foundational pieces will be the base of each outfit (here it is the black pants, chambray shirt & puffer vest), but this will not be a strict limited wardrobe series like the 30 for 30 (see my 2 attempts at the challenge here & here). It is my hope that you can see how a closet full of basics is easily spiced up with accessories (this scarf, shoes of your choice), to stylishly clothe you for any occasion.

What is your dress code at work?

Do you have a capsule wardrobe for work? Or is your entire closet mixed use?

long weekend ready

Like any proper Southern Belle, I received a matching set of Vera Bradley luggage & accessories upon High School graduation. The hot pink motif was my signature look & it covered all of my luggage (weekend bag, flat iron cover, make-up box, school books tote, & hang-up bag), & went with me from my dorm room, to class, to holiday trips. I still have every piece, hoping to one day pass it on to my daughter. Even after almost 10 years post High School graduation, I am impressed with the pristine condition in which it has remained.

As I enter this new chapter of my life, I am excited to have a new set of Vera luggage coming with me. I am obsessed with this black & white print (love the pop of neon yellow!), & as always Vera blows me away with her attention to details. I can't be the only one who's love language is pockets! With inside & outside pockets for EVERYTHING, each piece that this brand puts out clearly has had extreme thought & consideration. 

{ What I Wore from work to travel: J.Crew Panama Hat // J.Crew Factory chambray shirt & black pants // Vera Bradley travel bag and make-up case ℅ }

all photos | Kate Davis Photo 

My travel bag is ready to go for a long weekend trip to see my bestie in Texas this weekend, & I might be even more excited about my high level of organization than the outfits I have planned.

I also adore the new makeup case - with special pockets for brushes, make-up & larger skin care products. Check out my 3 must have travel products below:

Travel essentials: Murad spot corrector // Bigelow & Co rose salve // Living Proof "perfect hair day"

While the quilted cotton bags from Vera will always be a classic in my book, I am also enamored with their new line of leather goods. Shop my favorites here: leopard wallet, drawstring backpack, accordion clutch, shoulder satchel.   

What are you long weekend plans? Packing bags for a trip? Or staying close to home?

This post is sponsored by Vera Bradley, through a partnership with Adorn Media Group, but all thoughts & reviews are my own.

sliver

{ What I Wore for weekend errands: J.Crew chambray top // shorts ℅ Levi's (currently running a 30% off sale promo) // Michael Kors "jet set" cross body purse // Birkenstock "Arizona" sandals // sunglasses ℅ Ozeal }

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

What you see here is just a tiny sliver of what I wear… in a good week, I share 3 outfit photos, and I assure you I get dressed everyday. Somedays I go to work in one outfit, then come home and change for the evening activities. On the weekends I sometimes change a lot, depending on my mood, the weather, spilling things on myself (they don't call me Messica Jessica for nothing), etc. That is just to say, what I share here are the outfits that I like the most, the ones that I hope you will like to. I have bad outfit days, and times when I feel downright frumpy/sloppy/uncute.

I think my Birks are the epitome of this whole situation. I have had these shoes since college, the last time they made an appearance on the "cool" radar cycle. And I have never stopped wearing them since. They did however not make it on the blog much in the last 3 years because they were too crunchy, off the beaten path, uncool. And for that I apologize. I want to do a better job about documenting my outfits. The ones I wear just to the grocery store. What I throw on for a last minute get together. Just everyday me!

Are there outfits that you don't share? What are you looking for in a personal style blog?

And where do you stand on the whole Birks situation??

Don't forget to enter to win the GORGEOUS HalfUnited necklace on the blog!