in the bag

{ What I Wore: Gap denim jacket // scarf ℅ Boden (same print in a gorgeous beach wrap) // Ann Taylor skirt* // Coach purse ℅ Dillard's // Target wedges (similar) // J.Crew silk tank }
Psst… Get 40% off your Ann Taylor purchase now!

all photos | Zipporah Photography

I have found the Spring bag of my dreams - soft leather, my favorite neutral (warm gray), slouchy shape, & all the pockets I need + more.

If you are looking for your Spring bag, be sure to come visit me this Thursday at the Green Hills Mall Dillard's! From 5 - 9 pm I will be hanging out in the handbag department, talking about Spring trends, & helping you pick out your next dream bag.

Even better, it's time for Dillard's Handbag Trade-In Event. Bring a bag to donate & get up to $50 off your next purchase (which I will help you find!!). All donated bags will be given to Operation Stand Down, a local military charity. This organization centers their mission around assisting former vets & their families. The donated bags will go to female vets who have been given housing in the Nashville area, & need the adequate interview + lifestyle materials. 

just like old times

{ What I Wore: sunglasses c/o Silvano Apparel // J.Crew button down // Forever21 shorts // Target wedges // Philip Lim for Target satchel }

Holy cow, it's Fall! Time to pull out the layers, put on the boots, wrap yourself in scarves & sip on some PSLs. Or not, in case you are somewhere like Nashville & the weather literally hasn't changed. Maybe by the time Thanksgiving rolls around there will be some of that much awaited chill!

So here's to dressing like the weather it is, instead of the weather I wish it was... because nobody wants to see me sweating in leather & wool just yet!

P.S. Thank you to my friend Natalie for taking these photos for me! Sure beats that silly tripod ;)

P.P.S. If you are looking for some unique & flattering sunglasses, might I recommend these wooden ones... the side arms are made of seriously stunning wood with exposed grain!

P.P.P.S. Enter to win my J.Crew giftcard giveaway {here}

Floor Outfits

{ What I Wore: Urban Outfitters blazer // J.Crew Factory tank // Citizens of Humanity jeans // bag c/o Yes Walker // Nine West Pumps }

{Get the Look}

blazer {$59} + tank {$49.50} + flare jeans {$27.99} + bag {$28} + pumps {$29.99}

Sometimes the outfits that I get so much credit for here on the internets, are totally stolen... from the floor

When I get home from work I take the time to place my clothes neatly in the closet in a wad on the floor.

So when I am running low on inspiration/time, I let the floor piles speak to me. 

Sometimes Monday's shirt is crinkled up next to Wednesday's skirt & that becomes Saturday's outfit... really the best method.

In this case, Friday's science conference ensemble got deconstructed into Sunday's errand running look... 

When you've got good wardrobe bones in your closet (& wads on your floor) getting dressed & remixing can be a breeze!

{ What I Wore: Target hat + wedges // necklace c/o Hello Fab // crossbody bag c/o Yes Walker }

{Get the Look}

hat {$14.99} + racerback tank {$49.50} + trouser jeans {$74.99} + bag {$28} + wedges {$24.99} + necklace {$23.99}

This hat covered my hair from the rain that is ruining my life, while the purse made it look like I had it all together!

Have you ever gotten dressed off the floor?

What has been your latest floor inspiration?

CMYK

{ What I Wore: necklace c/o Hello Fab // J.Crew sweater // Old Navy dress // Target wedges }

{ Get the Look }

necklace {$23.99} + sweater {$24.99} + dress {$34.94} + wedges {$24.99}

I do not have any official background in art or design, but there are certain colors that just speak to me & look appealing to my eye.

In college my Freshman year dorm room was expertly curated in hot pink & neon green.

There are still many left-over things in my apartment in this color scheme & it takes me straight back to 2005.

When I get dressed, I pick out a base color & then mix & match colors until it feels right.

This dress is in heavy rotation in my Spring wardrobe (previously worn here) & to visit wedding venues with Ty this past weekend I wanted something bright & cheerful.

(psst... we found a venue!!)

The pink dress + yellow sweater alone was just not doing it for me, so I searched for another color to throw into the mix. This teal necklace spoke to me from my necklace stand & when I put it on, my "color eye" was happy!

The end result? A CMYK dream.

How do you pick out which colors to pair in your outfits?

What is you go-to color combo currently?

P.S. Don't forget to enter to win a J.Crew Gift Card here

that girl

{ What I Wore: Old Navy dress // Gap jacket (psst... I found mine on eBay) // Target wedges // Golden Ponies leopard clutch }

I talked about my love for bold black & white stripes yesterday & here is the proof!

I actually saw the inspiration for this outfit on Instagram & knew that this dress needed to be in my closet ASAP! (looks like this dress is currently sold out in b&w, but totally worth stalking for a re-stock)

I am so happy that I jumped on this graphic dress & scored it for a song on one of those perpetual Old Navy sales. But I have a little secret for making Old Navy dresses look more luxe than they actually are - a slip.

Yup, that old fashioned thing that your granny wears.

A slip makes your dress un-see-through, prevents VPL (visible pantie lines), & gives you peace of mind that your dress will not stick to your legs after sitting down during a hot Southern summer.

I'm that girl that my friends make fun of for pulling out her slip to get ready to go out to the clubs, but I won't leave town with out it!

Are you a slip believer?

Doesn't seem like many stores still sell this undervalued undergarment, any tips for places for ladies look for a slip?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a fabulous Posh'mina hybrid scarf here!

you know you're a redneck if...

{What I Wore: Thrifted Camo jacket {similar} // Everlane Tank // Lucky Denim shorts {similar $22} // Target wedges {these are so cute $32} }

if you love camo... and you're proud that you only paid $5 for a new camo work shirt/jacket

making a statement

{ What I Wore: Everlane tank // BaubleBar necklace // H&M leopard skirt // Target wedges }

I don't always make a statement... but when I do, I do it with red lips and a mega necklace

sundaes on sunday

{ What I Wore: ModCloth peplum top // Blank Denim via ModCloth mint jeans // Target wedges (now on sale!) // ModCloth necklace }

{Get the look}

peplum top {$39.99} + mint jeans {$46.40} + black wedges (with studs!) {$47.99} + statement necklace {$8.99}

stars & stripes forever

The fact that July 4th falls on a Wednesday this year has left me feeling a little swindled... a day off in the middle of the week (that I will end up working on anyways)!? no long weekend!? Sadness!

So instead, I am just going to be celebrating all week long... red clothes, come party with my blue clothes!

Since the days when I stood up at my local amusement park singing belting "You're a Grand Old Flag" (no those pictures are NOT coming out of the vault), I have been a fan of thematic dressing (those raging theme parties during college didn't hurt either)

mellow yellow

I know it is so lame to talk about the weather all the time... but it is H-O-T here, and this fact directly affects my fashion choices... so now that I have justified my right to talk about the weather... I am going to!

 The time of year is upon Nashville where I regularly try to test the bounds of wearing a bikini as a public-appropriate outfit... when it is 98 ˚F and feels more like 106 ˚F you would too... and we haven't even started talking about the humidity yet! (Chances are, if you run into my boyfriend between May - August, he is talking about humidity! Love you babe... but your Oregonian temperament just can't hang in the durrty South!)

So how do I stay cool, save attempting indecent exposure?

Hats, breezy skirts, and loose, but body flattering silhouettes ... oh and sweet tea!

Case in point... this black maxi dress is a LOT of fabric, but the fact that it is loose and light, actually helps keep me cooler than I would be if all my haven't-seen-the-sun-in-months-skin was out and exposed!

{ What I Wore : Old Navy maxi dress (love this one & this one, also from Old Navy) // Target neon belt (love it in orange!) and woven wedges // J.Crew bubble necklace }

 

finally found a replacement for my ratty black woven wedges! yay for Target

So expect to see this and other maxi dresses in HEAVY rotation in the coming months!
How do you keep cool?

Oh, and you can call me mellow yellow

xx

Jessica
P.S. I am liking up to Marionberry Style's Trend of the Month Challenge - it is "Yellow", and I can't wait to check out everyone's sunshiny looks!