I am a fan of high style that’s easy. And by that I don’t always mean casual or simple– but easy. High reward for low effort in other words. For example- this denim set.
(Reminder- I am a FAN of denim, of sets, of fun details, and of a summer uniform. Somehow this set is all three while being a bit elevated)
This set is a bit oversized- off played by slits, an off the shoulder neckline, and with styling an oversized belt. Easy in that you just throw it on, even with styling (and we all know that the great thing about sets is that you can mix and match them as needed!) Denim is thought of as a casual fabric, but I would argue this set, and those like it, are high style. The matching, darker washes. The details from slits to pockets to necklines. Yes, you can wear it in your day to day from errands to lunches. But being a bit “more”, this set could also be perfect for dinners and some parties.
Yet- it stays easy. Even with more styling, making it a bit fancier. The ease of pulling on and going– and looking great- how can you beat that? Especially in the summer heat!
What are you wearing in these high summer days? What’s easy for you? And how are you styling it?
I am in love with this denim set- but it sold out! So I am linking similar sets and dresses — that I think would be so chic and easy!
XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
Strawberries? Have never been able to resist them. In fact, one of my very first words was “fresas” (strawberries in Spanish- another fun fact we lived in Spain from when I was 1mth-18mth and not only did I say strawberries in Spanish, I would steal them off my parent’s plates). My favorite desert? Strawberry shortcake or berries with whipped cream. It’s always and forever the berries for me.
So. Wearing berries on my outfit? Also can’t resist. This strawberry set is so so me, and so summer. It’s sweet and chic– but lends itself to so many combos. I have already paired the skirt with a sweater vest and a tee. The top? White pants, white skirt, jean shorts. (My mantra is that sets are the best as you can wear them together and oh-so-many-ways separately!) These berries are also so on trend (besides being up my alley) -aka grocery store core-aka wearing food on your clothes. Of course for me- if it’s food- it’s berries for me…
The thing about loving something deeply and then wearing that something? It makes the entire outfit a bit more fun! No matter how I style this set- alone or together- wearing it is a symbol of what I love. And fun. Perhaps sometimes we (me!) can overthink the stories we are telling with our fashions (and as we know I am big believer that our fashion tells our stories) – but what if the prints we chose were a bit of whimsy? A bit of the season (or when I style these pieces for cooler temps the season we wish it were!)? What about dressing for fun? And berries?
It’s high summer- heat and malaise and amazing food. I hope you’re wearing things that bring you joy. That make you smile and hopefully make others smile too. I also hope that you’re eating all the bounty of summer that makes you smile. For me? It’s the berries…
What foods are bringing you joy? And what foods are you loving to wear?
I believe this set from JCrew is sold out- but there are other options (and I am linking it JIC!)
Hope the berries you have are incredibly ripe and juicy this week! XO RA
Note: this post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
Every season there is a “sheer trend”. We chat about how to wear sheer, how to make sheer work appropriate, how to layer sheer tops and dresses and more. I am a big fan of sheer, see: here, here, here, here, here and so on, trust me: search “sheer” in our search tab!). There are so many ways to make sheer work appropriate (slips, tanks, etc) and I’ve tried them all. This past week I went back through some of my favorite outfits (some sheer) in a way to look for inspiration and also clean out some of my closet. Sheer can be so versatile, so many things.
But loves, what if we let sheer clothing be sheer?
I give you: Fashion in the Wild! It’s me- in all my fashion out and about, no planned shoots, no controlling it. Of all things sheer can be, it’s also fun!
What do you think? Any trend you’d like to see in the wild?
Shop my current sheer picks below and keep it wild out there!
XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
You can also search Revolve here as they currently have the most on trend sheer dresses and more!
Beloveds, I know I have been both honest (and perhaps a bit vague as this is a fashion blog) that I have been going through things recently. And all of a sudden it hit me- what helps me is fashion. Getting dressed. Yes, there is implementing change and getting a routine of healthy habits. But, for me, part of that is getting dressed. For some, I know that means just putting on clothes- and I know there are days that I will do that- but for me that means coming up with and wearing clothes and outfits that excite me and are perhaps a bit editorial.
I am aware that my schedule is a bit all over (something I am dealing with) and sometimes my outfits may come later in the day. Or days when getting dressed may be fun earrings and a fantastic red lip. But my goal this week (and the coming weeks) is to brighten my days with fashion.
If that fashion that brightens my day happens to be bright? Even more fun. Yellow, especially the neon kind, isn’t usually my go-to. However, this yellow and grey bring me joy (and it’s not the first time see here). So maybe it’s this combo of yellow and grey (though to be honest grey is one of my favorite colors) is my go -to. And on a dreary day (or in a dreary time?)? This combo does brighten my day .
What do you do when you try to brighten your day? What do you wear?
This dress is Loewe that I bought resale and I found a lucky someone the exact same dress. I also found very similar pieces! I hope that your Monday is bright and you’re wearing something that brings you joy!
XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
There was an interview I read an interview with Nigella Lawson where in she mentions that she LOVES a great suit– but never wears one. And. Same. Just same. I love suits. I love dressing up. Yet. I realize that my life could be lived in lounge. I could work in bed-for the most part, other than my pics! And let’s be honest- this is reducing my life to pics and writing (and my day job which could absolutely be done in pjs and in bed!).
However. I do have a thing for suits. Not only do I think that they are sexy on a woman, I just love wearing them. Again, in my life, I have never HAD to wear them (yet I recognize that what we wear day to day from lounge to work is our suits and that is a completely different suit). SO. As someone who LOVES a great suit (even if it’s just a pinstripe pant) LOVES this mix of denim and suit.
Could it work if you needed a suit pant in the summer? Yep
For casual Friday? yep
For those of us who love a suit but also live a non suit lifestyle? yep!
And there are so many ways to style these perfect combo business casual pants? This tank(a cheap one!) A button down ( a go to!) A sweater. Or sweatshirt. A vest. Or Blazer. Heels. And more.
So-
When you love one style that doesn’t fit your day to day how do you incorporate it into your life?
My answer? You do. Like this combo. Perhaps it’s a blazer and shorts or a button down with everything. Pinstripes or suite pants.Denim with the pinstripes (how is up to you!) Or perhaps it’s just A balance of it all. I would love to see and read (leave me not only a comment but email me if needed!)
Linked are are these exact part denim part suit (and pinstripes) pants! How would you balance this perfect blend of suit and casual?!? RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
On trend? So chic? Bubble hems. Not at all new. There’s a saying that you should always have bubbles in the fridge- just in case. While I am a believer in this for bubbles (the kind you drink), I also think that bubbles on hand in your closet might be a great plan!! I will be honest- the bubble hem originally sounded to me like a trend, something to enjoy like a treat and then forget. Then. I fell in love with this dress. Part tee. Part Tank. All bubbles.
Wears easy. Looks chic. Keeps me cool. Reminds me of both ballerinas and the silhouettes from the 1950s. All in all? A great piece that I know I will wear for years to come. And like bubbles in the fridge? It’s comforting knowing that I have a great and easy dress to pull out!
This bag? Actually a jewelry box!! This is where I tell you that I long to be cool and mysterious but …..I LOVE Dinos. And red. And things that shine. And yes- this was meant to be a dresser item, I have found that it holds a few cards, keys and one lipstick perfectly. Your phone is attached to your hand (right, it’s not just me?!?!?); so while this Coach jewelry box was not meant for it- it makes the perfect clutch. And I love to think that sharing our quirks and loves and interests makes us more chic. Nothing we can say will sway me from that.
Together. A Bubble hem. Lace up sandals (yes, a must in your closet), and a pop of color-whether or not it’s a nbag that wasn’t meant to be or else- it’s a perfect summer outfit. I have found that bubbles–in drink or fashion forms- are classics. In a neutral? Even better. And a bit of showing you? Your quirk, your love, your pop? That my loves is a pop or a more indeed. How is that not the combo to a perfect outfit?
I have linked these exact pieces below. However, if you play with this formula or let this formula or advice lead you to pieces in your closet you love I would love to hear about it! Also-what is your fave bubbles? (JIC we need some!)
XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!!
If you find yourself in need of a TRex jewelry case/ clutch it’s on sale and can be found : here
Do you ever have those stories that you can’t wait to tell your people– and while it seems that the story should be short, you keep going and going and so the story gets long? Or you add too many details? Or perhaps it’s a long story and you don’t add enough context so it ends up being too short?
Sometimes outfits are like that. I hate being that person to tell you something is too –something. anything. — but often what we need is balance. In our outfits and our story telling.
And yes. Outfits and story telling are both arts. So. How do we balance the short and the long of it? Details.
A Mini? A Maxi? While I love both of these- a mini checked skirt and a shirt dress with all the ways to wear it- I love that combined that these 2 pieces that may be on the extremes are not only balanced. but the perfect mix. I don’t know that I will ever tell you or believe that any piece is too old or young– it’s just how you style it! However, I do know that there are stylings that make us the most comfortable –some of us love long stories and some love short. The Best? Perhaps a combination.
In other words, if you are a bit nervous about a mini skirt the best way to style is to balance it out. Long sleeves. Tights. Or a maxi shirt dress over it, and how you button it is up to you!
This is where we can all be honest and mention that there are looks and pieces, and angles that make us all a bit uncomfortable. (Insecure is such a hard word). Like. Even if you know that everyone has skin it still can kill me that occasionally mine doesn’t lay super flat all the time. Or that in angles I look worse or better. So. I get that a mini skirt may be out of the comfort zone. I won’t talk you into anything you hate.
Though. Sometimes playing with our comfort zones and shorts and longs can be fun– and we can find outfits that check all the boxes and look fantastic.
Perhaps that’s all a short and long way to say that lately I have loved playing with mini- skirts. Shorts. Etc. It’s so hot and they are so chic. And yet. I do get feeling that there are –insecurities or hesitations or all and any- with minis. But there are times that you don’t want a maxi. So. what if you had both? That’s what I keep coming back to. In general, I love a balance. A mini with long sleeves, a maxi with strapless, etc, etc. Yet. What if there were other ways?
A maxi shirt dress that floats and partially covers and yet reveals the mini skirt? A short and a long story at the same time. Perhaps that’s the best balance of all.
I highly recommend this combo- and this skirt. (It’s Versace found resale on Dora Maar but I have found you one and similar!). This shirt dress with buttons every which way is from seasons ago, but I (again) found you similar! How are you comfortable telling your short (aka mini skirt) stories??
XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
Summer is full of distractions. From the weather being so beautiful you want to be outside. To it being so hot you want to be in the water. Looking forward to vacation. Recovering from vacation. New clothes. Getting rid of old clothes.
Even outfits. For example : I have found that amazing shoes and red lips can distract from a lot. Like wet hair. That white jeans can distract from the rest of your outfit (not that a great summer knit needs a lot of distractions from it!) But a great summer outfit can distract you from all the things you’re not doing , or wish you were doing, or the heat.
In this case, it’s a bit of all of the above. It’s so unbelievably hot that white and light seems to be the only thing that’s appropriate. But you need to distraction from the sweat that happens the minute you step outside. And my hair? Here it is wet. Styling and overdoing seems way too much. BUT. Amazing shoes (take a look at these details!) and a red lip? Who notices?
Perhaps we are all distracting ourselves or others form something. From perceived flaws to the things were wish we were or aren’t. Summer is the season when all of that seems more prominent, and yet it’s the season to be a bit more creative with our distractions.
So. What are you using to distract yourself with? From wishing you were on vacation to a different outfit, what are you wearing to distract yourself? What are you wearing to distract us from all that you don’t want us to see?
Distraction is such an interesting topic. And way of dressing. I will be over here distracting myself from the fact I am not at the ocean and distracting you from my lack of hair styling and overdone makeup. How are we doing so far??
These exact jeans (I sized down, I think it truly depends on how loose you want a trouser jean. I also may have should have opted for a tall size- these hit a bit shorter than I LOVE but with sandals they are aok), and exact shoes (truly. The details! Bees. Fruit! Raffia!) and options for a sweater vest (honestly my faves always come from his closet– or his section of the store!) but distractions are linked for you below!
XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
Other people? When they can’t sleep they count sheep (which are so cute!) Me? When I can’t sleep I outfit plan (and perhaps worry about way too much!)
But! This is about the outfit planning! As it does happen. When I can’t sleep I mentally go through my closet (and stress when in my head I don’t know exactly where things are) and outfit plan. It’s how I unwind. And often leads to at least the most interesting combos!
For example? I was recently given this embroidered vintage skirt. It was a gift from my tailor (seamstress? friend?) who got it from a friend h grandma was cleaning out. And we know I love a vintage and a story- and this skirt has multitudes! (that slit! The pattern! and even though at first glance its’s not my color- this color! I LOVE all of it !) And so one night I couldn’t sleep (side note- there is more than one night I can’t sleep and yes, I am working on it!) and all I could think about was what to pair this skit with. What I couldn’t stop thinking about? This polka dot (one of my go to patterns that I consider a neutral) bathing suit (again, a great one piece as a bodysuit) with this skirt. I worried that it was too much. That it wouldn’t “go”. And yet
I love the play on the patterns. Yes this is a dot but not so over powering (and again. Polka dots- like leopard- are one of those that I consider a neutral. And when you begin to play with them I promise you will find that that they are!) and while I hesitate to call this balance -I love it with a vintage skirt that is HEAVY on the color and pattern. I truly don’t know that there are hard and fast rules to pattern mixing. I have played with it here, here, here, and more. No rules. But I do think of so many patterns – leopard, dots, strips, florals- as neutrals and if we think of them that way it absolutely opens up way to play, right?
And yes. I put this together whilst tossing and turning at night when I couldn’t sleep. The best things come when you can’t sleep?? Or in a fever dream? Here’s hoping.
Because that’s what an outfit, fashion, and it all is, right? Play and our outfits- even our vintage ones — should be fun. And playful.And perhaps have a bit of dots. Again. This is what I do. And plan out and style whenI can’t sleep. What do you do when you can’t sleep? What are your neutrals? I want to hear about them all!
Also. I know if you have been here a minute you got that last week was all reposts. I a going to be blunt- my day job (as Gucci doesn’t buy itself) has me burnt out. And I am working through that. And working on getting into all my fever dream outfits. Thank you for your patience!
While this skirt is vintage and this “bodysuit” is old, I have linked options for you below!
XO RA
Note: this post does have affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission form them. Thank you for your support!
In all the chaos that has been my life lately I have felt as if all these outfits I have planned and things I want to wear for the summer have fallen to the wayside. As I write this I am in bike shorts and an oversized shirt. I thought about throwing on a simple silk dress today, or a button down with cut offs, but getting dressed was too much. And when I don’t get dressed I kinda feel bad- so I went through my phone and as it turns out lately has been ALOT. But I have worn clothes- and learned a bit about dressing for chaos!
I bought this jumpsuit to travel in– I had this idea that it was perfect for a plane (ok maybe not perfect for the bathroom!) but as you could layer and pair with sneakers and then do a quick refresh, pair with heels and be ready to go? I loved! It didn’t come in time for my trip but I have worn it more than once to run errands and under a jacket for hospital visits. Moral? One and done leaves you so much room to play!
We will chat about linen. And belt bags. BUT, I can’t tell you how a fantastic white button down is becoming a go to. They. Go. With. Everything. Over a skirt? With pants? Jeans. Shorts. Over bike shorts even! Maybe button downs are the things we should be investing in more often! To be honest, I have a collection of button downs, but have never thought of them as THE piece. Yet, I can’t tell you how often I am reaching for one recently. Perhaps a deep dive into button downs is in our future?
Linen. It’s linen season. In this little round up 3/4 ths of the outfits are linen. And just perhaps- that’s a great thing! Linen is easy and chic- and lends itself to anything from an easy airport outfit to a classic that you can dress up any which way!
It calmed me a little bit to remind myself that lately I have been getting dressed- in things I love. My goal for the new week? To get dressed a bit more. Yet, there will probably be more linen and button downs and belt bags (this one that you see all the time is a vintage Gucci. I wanted one for forever and finally having one has been amazing. I am linking some for you but I found this one on eBay!).
What have you been wearing lately? And what do you want to wear in the weeks to come? I am linking a couple of these options below and I would love to hear about your choices! XO RA
Note: This post does contain affiliate links. While that does not affect the price for you, I may earn commission from them. Thank you for your support!
Each look listed:
Shop pink linen pants look: here
Shop the exact jumpsuit: here
Shop linen skirt look: “a href=”https://liketk.it/4Hecn”target=”_Blank”>here
Shop linen shirt dress look: “here
here’s to a new week of lately and fantastic outfits!
