Investment Piece

Ever since DVF made the wrap dress a closet staple, it’s been a seasonless way to experiment with color and patterns, all within a figure friendly fashion statement. Wrap dresses come in all shapes, sizes, colors, patterns; and if you don’t have a go-to wrap dress in your closet we should address that issue! They are the ultimate solution to “what to wear today”, make any body type look amazing, and due to the adjustable nature of the style can be made as revealing or conservative as you feel comfortable with!

My new favorite wrap dress? This number from Anthropologie (side note, I must give a shout out to the staff at the Anthropologie at the Grove in LA, who made sure I got what I wanted, even when it required searching the stock room 3 times). I love that this is the perfect transition piece: the maxi length, the fall-like colors, the sleeves. I love the pattern mixing: florals and a black and white, and there’s a little lace detail. I love that this wrap dress can be a little low cut, or comes with a snap to make it more conservative. Like all wrap dresses, I love that this dress accentuates the waist, while being adjustatable, and flows like a dream. This wrap dress is perfect for summer (the beach!) but will also be great for the fall–I love the idea of wearing it over jeans as it gets colder.

I choose to wear this wrap dress with heels to make more of a statement (yes, heels at the beach are amazing), but it would look equally as great with sandals, boots, and all kinds of heels. I truly believe that wrap dresses are a worth while investment. They’re able to be both a classic and a statement piece at the same time, and with all the colors and patterns available there’s one for every style.

I’d love to know: how do you Rock a maxi dress?

XO RA

Shop my maxi dress picks below:

Loves, I have to admit that Harvey and its impact on my family (everyone is aok, just damage) has taken its toll. I’m slowly getting back on my game, and so excited about the things to come. In the meantime? I’m catching up!

We had a deal about an eye cream giveaway (and let’s be honest, I’ve needed this lately). I’m extending the deadline to win your very own! Go to the original post (here, it’s also up for sale over on the Skin Print tab if you’d rather just get your own!) Next go to my Instagram, link the post (it is a bit back). Lastly, make sure that you’re signed up for my newsletter! The winner will be picked next Wednesday! Good Luck!

How to Blow Out Summer: You could go the typical way to blow out summer (not talking explosives). You could start with a pool, or the ocean, add your friends, some great food and drinks. That’s a typical way to blow out summer. We aren’t typical. To blow out summer we start with white, all white (because some of us still believe we only have till Labor Day to do so). You can do sweet white, but as we’re blowing out summer, let’s try some edge, yes? Like this necklace from Sydney Curtis (she’s @aireheartbysydney on Instagram and you can find these amazing pieces at Elaine Kim in LA). I love that it’s so long that it’s a choker and a long necklace in one. And that over the shoulder? Let’s blow out summer!

How to Blow Out Summer: I can’t get enough of these white pants with slits up the legs. (You’ve seen them here). It’s classic, but with an edge. You can wear them to any formal gathering, your legs stay cool, and you’re able to easily let people know that you came to blow out summer. I recommend white heels (though I love the grey on these) with white pants, it enlongaates the leg. And is something to flaunt. Let’s blow out summer.

How to blow out summer: Make it Dramatic. I love the monochrome white for this, though you’re tempting red wine and food stains at your own risk. Let’s balance that leg slit with a tad bit more coverage on top. I love the long sleeves, a slight nod to what’s to come, but the white celebrates where we are. And a tunic top can hide some destruction (food stain or not). Let’s blow out summer.

How to Blow Out Summer: Have some fun with it. You’re wearing white, you can do anything-pool party, concert, dinner, drinks, bbq, New England lobster bake, whatever trouble you can find! Have a great time: go crazy, enjoy the heat, Rock your white. Let’s Blow Out Summer!

You can shop my picks below! I hope that you have a safe and fun Labor Day! While we’re off Monday (check my stories and Instagram for how I blow out Summer), we will have all the best sales for you! Be careful, have fun, and wear white!
XO RA

Caftans are the quintessntail summer chic. They’re elegant and yet they hide everything. (I’ve always had a thing for caftans including this one from my love AAVintedge). Caftans can be worn dressed up or down, at the pool or on a casual day, there’s no right or wrong way to Rock a Caftan (part of their appeal).

My fave way to Rock a Caftan? Find one you love that makes you feel special. This one from NewCropShop is simply to die for! Those sleeves! That embroidery (all done by hand!) It’s perfect for an event (even a wedding) or just a day that needs a pop.

You can order one at New Crop Shop, shop my picks below, and let me know all the ways you Rock a Caftan!

XO RA

All above pics taken by Kyn Photography

Loves, I have to admit this post was hard to write! Not because I don’t love this caftan, or love to Rock a Caftan, but because my heart is in TX. At times like these it can feel so overwhelming and we can feel so helpless that we do nothing. I understand that. I think the solution, and how we combat that is to do a little. As one of my fave people says “Do a little with great love”. There are so many organizations that you can choose to give to, I won’t tell you which is best. I’m linking Red Cross and this article from Texas Monthly that outlines where you can give. I know various stores are giving part of their proceeds this week to relief efforts, and I will link them as I get details. Let’s go out there, Rock our Caftans, love each other, and do some good.

And loves! Remember our great Skin Print EyeDeal giveaway? Due to the craziness of this week I’m extending the deadline! Go get you some amazing eye cream!

How to Beat the Heat. Step one: Get a pool. Get an ocean. Get some water. Water helps cool you down in heat.

How to Beat the Heat. Step two: shorts. Jeans, and pants, and even some dresses will leave you burning up. Shorts are tricky–finding the right coverage, the right length, the right material. But, as tricky as shorts can be, they are one of the best ways to keep your legs cool and beat the heat.

How to Beat the Heat. Step Three: the right shoes. At this point, you may be thinking that these shoes aren’t the best for beating the heat, but loves, hear me out. In the summer, it’s so tempting to throw on your flip flops. And I get it. And flip flops have their place. But when it’s one million degrees outside (not an exaggeration), the sun bakes the concrete. Flip flops, for all the good they do, are on top of the hot concrete. The result? Your feet bake. They swell. They get too hot. Maybe heels aren’t for you, but they do put a layer between you and hot concrete.

How to Beat the Heat. Step Four. Cotton, breathable, and open. What I love about this specific cotton shirt dress is that it buttons every which way-up the front, down the back, up each side; making it wearable as almost anything-from a dress to a top. The venting also makes it cool even when the heat is unbearable. In this instance, worn as a shirt over shorts was the best option to make it through summer heat!

How to Beat the Heat. Step Five. Fans, cool drinks, and when you can’t take it anymore, I suggest finding the nearest place with AC where your makeup, hair, clothes, etc won’t melt!

I hope that the last week of “summer” is amazing for you and I hope that whatever you’re up to, you’re beathing the heat and staying cool!

Check out my shopping picks below!

XO RA

As many of you know, I’m from Texas have families in the areas affected by Harvey. This has been one of those times when fashion and all things fun seem to take a back seat. Our thoughts and prayers are with Texas, but they need our action too. IF you can Red Cross could use your donations!

Part Flash Back Friday, part end what you started with, I couldn’t resist this repost of gold from years ago! (Remember loves, we started the week Eclipsed by Gold”). I still love (and wear) this gold dress- it’s the perfect combination of easy and fancy! These shoes are my go to’s (especially when I need to feel a bit strong), and I will take a trip to Paris any day! I’ve updated your shopping options, and am still in love with Megan Weaver (and excited to shoot with her again!)!

Loves, we know that I love ballet and all things ballerina. However, I don’t always love looking so sweet–there has to be balance. So I love the look of a ballet inspired dress with some tougher shoes (even addias or converse would work) and an attitude of a bag! It’s soft and yet not so soft! The perfect combination. I’m really a big fan of balance-tough and sweet, sexy and modest, and I love that these elements combine so seamlessly here!

I also have to give a shout out to my photographer, Megan Weaver for amazing photos! You can follow her on Instagram @meganmweaver and online at Megan Weaver

Happy Friday!
Xo RA

Details:
Dress: Zara
Shoes:Louboutin, similar here
Bag: Kate Spade, old

Updated shopping:

I hope your punk and ballerina sides play nice this weekend!
XO RA