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

watercolor

Yesterday was our 2nd wedding anniversary, & my husband was actually in Denver interviewing for jobs, which perfectly sums up this chapter of our lives - moving & shaking!

These past 2 years of marriage (& 7 years total together!), have been so incredible. It is wild to think of the person that I was when I met Tyler at age 22 & the people that we have grown up into in the intervening years. I can honestly say that we are better together. 

I LOVE love & wedding season is such a fun celebration of the very thing I've signed up for, for the rest of my life #tilldeathdouspart (just realized #TillDeathDoUsParty would be a killer wedding hashtag!). Weddings are all my favorite things - getting to see all of your friends, travel to new cities, & dance the night away (now if only plane tickets and hotel rooms grew on trees!). This outfit below is my Nashville wedding guest look - most of the weddings I've attended here have been dressy, but as Nashville is a slightly more casual city, this is the perfect look for a day time wedding in our part of the world. The best part is that all of the individual pieces can all be worn other ways - both dressed up & down!

skirt: floral maxi skirt c/o Chicwish

top: Ann Taylor ruffle neck shell (the neck has a clasp that can be work open or closed - check out the stock photos to see how it looks open)

shoes: Nisolo "Serena" sandals

purse: convertible clutch c/o Gigi New York

earrings: Bauble Bar ear jackets

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

What are you wearing for wedding season? 

Any fun destination weddings on your planner for the coming months?

begonia

Pieces in my closet only get to stay if they are team players that can work with many other pieces, for many different occasions. I wore this Ann Taylor dress with a leather jacket and heels for a recent blogger brunch, but it works equally well with flats and cognac accessories for warm weather explorations. Pretty blush pink dress - you're a keeper!

dress: Ann Taylor lace "begonia" dress

shoes: Nisolo "Serena" sandals (the most versatile pair of Summer shoes in my closet)

purse: pebbled leather crossbody (with monogram!) c/o Gigi New York

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photo

basics

Ok, let's see how many of my usual buzz words I can fit into my post today.

We are moving (I know, I said I was going to try to not mention it for a while... whoops), & I'm clearing out my closet (find some of the pieces on Poshmark!) - not surprisingly the pieces that made it easily through the first round of cuts were the basic pieces - my black wrap dress, solid Summer dresses, neutral shoes that go with everything... you catch my drift.

The thing is, I really can't remember a time that I've regretting purchasing a foundational wardrobe item. And you'll never hear me say, "This straightforward black dress doesn't go with anything!". Sure, the basics are not going to necessarily wow on their own, but they provide the backdrop for everything else! The more I focus on starting outfits with my favorite basic pieces, the less I find myself standing in front of my jam-packed closet with the "I have nothing to wear" complaint.

When I saw this black swing dress I loved that it was one of my favorite cuts (see how I styled a similar swing dress 3 ways last Summer), but it has a fun back detail to give it an extra something something.

I had already worn this hat + sandals combo with another dress recently, so they were the first accessories to pop into my head, but this dress can literally be styled so many different ways for this Summer & I can't wait to get it next to some color!

dress: cross back shift dress  (also available in stripes)

Fit tip: I got the size small, & almost wish that I had gotten a size medium for an extra swingy loose fit.

hat: boater hat c/o Sole Society

shoes: lace up sandals c/o Sole Society

purse: Coach wristlet

sunglasses: similar from Warby Parker

necklace: tassel necklace c/o francesca's (also loving this one with semi-precious stones)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

nerdy by nature

This is an outfit made of "most-perfects". The most perfect chamber blazer. With the most perfect graphic tee. The most perfect shape of a handbag. And the most perfect thick, distressed in all the right places, ripped denim. What? I couldn't help myself!

shirt: Suburban Riot graphic tee

jeans: BLANK NYC distressed denim 
Fit tip: I'm wearing a size 26 & they fit a little tight. If you are looking for more of a boyfriend fit, order 1 size up

blazer: Banana Republic double breasted chambray blazer

purse: c/o Cuore & Pelle

necklace: Showgirl fringe necklace c/o Bauble Bar

shoes: Steve Madden heels

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

It is most appropriate that this is the "showgirl fringe" necklace from BaubleBar & I am inappropriately obsessed with it!

Shop these exact pieces:

boaters

Last Summer it was all about the Panama Hat (I wore mine to death - see the outfits here), but 2016 is the year of the boater hat! I just picked up this one from Sole Society & I'm confident you will be seeing it on the blog many times in the coming months. I like how it adds a touch of French gamine to my favorite warm weather dresses!

One feature I didn't expect about this hat - it has a hidden adjustable drawstring that allows it to be perfectly fitted to most any head size… my weirdly sized head much appreciates it!

dress: Wayf floral midi dress

hat: boater hat c/o Sole Society

shoes: lace up sandals c/o Sole Society

You know those ridiculous "stranded on a deserted island" questions? Well, if I was stranded on a deserted island, and could only purchase 1 brand of shoes, I would easily pick Sole Society! Also loving these platform espadrilles from Sole Society (like an unreasonable amount of love for these shoes!)

purse: Rebecca Minkoff 5 zip crossbody

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

black velvet

This past Fall Nashville officially stepped into the future when we got our own Sprinkles cupcake ATM - I completely approve of this advance in technology. To be honest, I never really got into the whole cupcake frenzy, but this cupcake ATM introduced the perfect combination of single served cupcakes & on demand delivery in a way that completely blew my mind.

Just as I was getting used to the unlimited access of red velvet cupcakes in my life, Sprinkles had to go & up the ante - rolling out a Black Velvet cupcake to celebrate their 11th anniversary! I stopped by the Nashville shop this past weekend to test it out (hey, blogging is a tough gig!) & dressed up in my best black duds to ring in the occasion. I managed to hold off devouring the cupcakes until I got home & then my husband I devoured them, barely holding ourselves from straight up licking the plates! Never in my life have I experienced whipped chocolate ganache, but I am a changed woman!

If you have a Sprinkles in your area, I highly recommend this experience, but don't wait #BlackVelvet is only around through the end of April!

Peep my Black Velvet inspired outfit below :)

top: LUSH long tunic tank (only $34 & comes in 7 gorgeous colors! I ordered the XS & it fits perfectly!)

necklace: "queen bee" necklace c/o Bauble Bar

jeans: BLANK NYC distressed denim (love the raw edges & the denim is so thick and dreamy!)

shoes: Steve Madden heels

cupcakes: Sprinkles Cupcakes (the cupcake ATM in 12th South is so cute!)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Shop these exact pieces:

Bloggers Who Budget: Blush for Less

I purchased this J.Crew Factory skirt a few months ago & really liked how I styled it for the blog back in February (post here), but then I saw a Kate Spade shop girl wearing a similar pleated skirt with flat motorcycle boots & she just looked so gosh darn COOL that I knew I had to recreate what she had going on! This is my best attempt - while I usually trend more preppy in my style, I like this extra bit of edge added to the sweet pink skirt!

Looking for an extra does of blush in your life (one half of the dynamic duo that Pantone named as the colors of the year), be sure to check out my fellow Bloggers Who Budget to see how they are styling their budget friendly blush pieces this month!

Pearls & Twirls | Let It Be Beautiful | Here&Now | Living in Color Style | Stylin in St. Louis

skirt: J.Crew Factory pleated blush skirt (no longer available in the blush color, but I found this near identical style for only $49 & linked several similar skirts below)

tank: J.Crew Factory layering tank

jacket: H&M faux leather jacket (several years old, but they have a similar style available now)

shoes: Rockport Chelsea boots {now under $100} (similar + budget friendly options here & here)

necklace: Sheer Addiction jewelry 

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

I have a yellow pleated midi skirt that is similar to this skirt, & I have found myself re-creating some of the outfits I originally styled with the yellow skirt including this look & these outfits too! When you find what works… buy it in every color…? That is a saying, right?!

What pieces have you been wearing & re-wearing already this Spring?

Get the look - shop blush midi skirts:

out all day

My favorite warm weather pieces? Those that seamlessly transition from day to night, because sometimes you are just having too much fun to go home for a change!

This striped romper from Soca Nashville looks great with flats & a beach bag to cover up at the pool & equally fab with heels + a cute cross body for dancing nights!

Which way is your favorite?

Be sure to check out my 90s inspired outfit featuring a dress from Soca Nashville here. And if you are a Nashvillian, visit Soca Boutique at their adorable Green Hills store!

romper: borrowed from Soca Nashville - to purchase call 615-732-0990

DAY:

flats: X-strap sandals purchased via a gift card from Kohl's

tote: super old from Sam Moon (we grew up going on back-to-school shopping trips in Dallas & this was a favorite spot!)

sunglasses: Krewe du Optic lucite sunglasses (more affordable option from Warby Parker)

NIGHT:

shoes: Steve Madden

purse: Tiny Tote c/o Dagne Dover

necklace: Gorjana gold bar necklace

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography