frayed shorts in summer

lilly pulitzer pool partypink nails in summerbai energy drinksdallas pool partydallas earring designersummer floppy hat

Hey everyone! Happy hump day! I wanted to share with you guys a few fun photos from a pool party I went to last weekend! I think summers should be about making memories, getting some sun, and splashing around on a pool floatie. Luckily, that’s what this event was all about!

Dallasites 101 hosted a summer pool party at Le Meridien in Uptown, Dallas and it was a blast! A great pool party has awesome music, pool floaties, and frozen rosé- all of which were in attendance last weekend! The DJ was playing a bit of reggae and some summer hits while everyone climbed onto the giant pool floaties and sipped margaritas and frosé! I wish every day could be like that.

Since David was still in Las Vegas, I went to the pool party alone but I still had a great time. They had complimentary manicures from a local nail salon, flower crown station, complimentary hair braiding, and mini Blush-Ups from Blushington! I pampered myself a little and got my nails done then went for a Blush-Up before getting my hair braided. Is there anything better than feeling like a celebrity even though you’re totally not one?!

They also had some fun vendors there like Bai (they were giving away free drinks!) and McCauley + Luck, which by the way have the cutest earrings ever! I bought a pair and can’t wait to style them in an upcoming photo shoot!

Now that I’ve gone to a fun Dallas pool party this summer, I feel like I can say good bye to summer and hello to fall! I’m already making lists of fall style must-haves to share with you all. You’re going to love it! Have a lovely week!

dallas fashion blogger

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classic button up dallas arts district

It’s Monday-funday! Said no one ever. I’m trying to give myself some energy every Monday by indulging in a good latte or posting a blog post full of pretty pictures, which I’m doing today! My wonderful photographer and I got these photos done a few weeks ago and I’m just now sharing them with you!

It’s one thing, however, to take great photos and another to actually do something with them. So today I wanted to chat about one of my favorite wardrobe classics- the button up- and how to style them when they won’t stay buttoned!

Keep it Together- Button Ups That Won’t Button

If you were “blessed” with a larger chest, then you know how difficult it can be to find and wear a button up shirt without the annoying fabric gaps or buttons that fly off. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen in love with a cute button up and tried it on only to realize that it won’t button without a gap somewhere. So annoying! I love classic Ralph Lauren buttons ups but I can’t wear them!

Instead of avoiding these tops altogether, I’ve learned to style them in different ways so I can still wear them! One of my favorite ways to wear this chambray shirt is just open with a white tank underneath! The key to wearing a button up open is making sure that you can easily tuck in a tank to your shorts or jeans. Since an unbuttoned button up is a loose fit, you need to balance it with something tighter underneath to keep it flattering.

I also took a tip I learned from a J. Crew stylist and applied it to this look- roll your sleeves up and leave the cuff exposed for a chic look. Isn’t it cute? 

Another great way to wear button ups is by buttoning the bottom buttons and doing a big statement necklace on top to really pull the look together. The necklace will draw the eye up from the unbuttoned buttons and put the focus closer to your face.

Probably my all-time favorite way to wear a button up though is wearing it underneath a sweater. It’s so classic preppy and the best part is, you can leave the top buttons unbuttoned because the sweater covers it up! Winning!

Outfit Details

Don’t ever feel like having a bigger chest should keep you from wearing the things you love. Sometimes you just have to figure out how to modify the style so it works for your body type. Nothing looks good on everyone! That’s why styling options are so important.

Ok, so outfit details! My chambray shirt is old but I’d recommend investing in this shirt! My shorts are on sale for… wait for it… $6.99!! Here’s the link! They have multiple colors and patterns so check them out! My sandals are Jack Rogers (link). Finally, the monogrammed clutch I get asked about so often is from Marley Lilly, however they don’t make it anymore! But here’s a cute alternative you’ll love (link)!

dallas fashion blogger

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Hey lovelies! I hope you’re having a nice week! I’m sitting in bed writing this waiting for the weekend to come. I’m having brunch this Saturday with a bunch of bloggers from Dallas and really looking forward to it! I love getting together with other creatives to chat and share ideas. It keeps me inspired to continue blogging. Not gonna lie, there have been quite a few times I’ve felt like quitting. 

One thing that keeps me motivated is having a community of bloggers and Instagrammers to feel inspired by. Since moving to Dallas a year ago, I’ve had a hard time making friends. Around this time however I joined Style Collective and immediately had a support system all over the place! If you’re going to invest in anything for your blog, I highly recommend joining Style Collective! Here’s why.

Benefits of Style Collective

Style Collective was started by Annie Spano when she saw a need for blogger babes to have a space just for them where they could talk and collaborate. A few leaps and bounds later, she started Style Collective. I joined last year and love it! The benefits are endless but my favorite parts of this group include:

  • Community forums where we can seek advice or share opportunities
  • Space to share blog posts and get engagement on them
  • Regional meetups with your Style Collective sisters
  • Brand opportunities
  • Brand directory where you can find contact info for your fave brands
  • Worksheets and e-courses to help you grow
  • Weekly tips and blog posts that answer all your questions

There’s so much more to this group than I can share here but these are just a few things I benefit from the most!

girl boss hashtag

The above photo is from one of our first meetups here in Dallas! You can read the original blog post here. Since I had just moved to Dallas and literally knew no one it was so great to meetup with these girls and build a connection with my new city!

The Details

For a monthly membership to Style Collective it’s basically the cost of two lattes at Starbucks ($10!) and you can sign up here through my affiliate link! I really love this group of girls and I’ve been connected with some of the nicest ladies! Annie is also such a sweet, genuine person that she’s easy to talk to and often times personally messages you back if you have a question. If you’re looking to learn and grow in your blog, then definitely join us at Style Collective!

dallas fashion blogger

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dallas arts district photos

red tropical print dress

summer style ideas from dallas blogger

dallas style blogger

Happy Monday loves! Another weekend come and gone. They just go by so quickly, actually the whole summer has gone by quickly! This week David is going to be out of town at a bachelor party for one of his besties in Las Vegas. So it’s going to be me, the cat, the dog, and Netflix for a few days. I’m perfectly fine with that.

I get bored easily though so I’m doing a fun girl’s night out with one of my friends here in Dallas! No GNO is complete without a great outfit though. I picked up this pretty dress last weekend and I seriously love it, plus it’s on sale (here!) I have tons of little black dresses and great date night dresses but this tropical print just tops them all! I’m linking the rest of my outfit details below!

Monogram Clutch: (old) similar here | Wedges: here | Tassel Earrings: (old) similar here

Dallas Girl’s Night Out Spots

I think GNO spots are way different than where you’d go on a date or with a mixed group of friends. I prioritize pretty drinks, Instagrammable aesthetic, and good music when I’m choosing a location. A few of my favorite Dallas spots are:

  • Happiest Hour
  • The Rustic
  • Nickel & Rye
  • Pie Tap Pizza Workshop
  • HG Supply Co.
  • SODA Bar
  • Stirr

I’m always looking for a new place to try out so if you have suggestions, let me know! Bonus points if your selection has a killer cheese plate! I could seriously make every meal I eat a cheese plate. And I’d never get tired of it. They’re just so good! Also, my dress comes in black as well so be sure to check it out! Have a lovely week guys!

Photo creds: Luisa’s Secret Photography

dallas fashion blogger

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preppy clothing for fall

You guys… fall is almost here!! Ok so it’s still about a month away but I seriously can’t wait! I live for September through December! Seriously, those 4 months are the absolute best! Dallas doesn’t really get “chilly” until late October and by chilly I mean consistently under 75 degrees. However, I live vicariously through the northeastern preps that break out their Bean Boots way before I can.

Since I brought up preppy fall clothes, I may as well get to the point of this post: fall preppy essentials. I live by the Karl Lagerfeld quote “Trendy is the last stage before tacky.” I invest only in classic pieces that can be worn for years to come. Trendy items are fun but they’ll also show your age 20 years from now.

Invest In L.L. Bean

One of the very first things I think of when I hear the word “classic” is L.L. Bean. The brand has stood the test of time and continues to produce quality clothing after 100 years. I chose a few of my favorite fall Bean items to share with you because I know they’re worth the money! My mom had a pair of Bean Boots that lasted for 20 years!

L.L. Bean Tote (Here) | Bean Boots (Here) | Cable Knit Fisherman’s Sweater (Here) | Flannel Shirt (Here)

Fall in Love with Tweed Skirts

Ever since I saw Sarah Vickers of Preppy Girls Wear Pearls blog wearing a tweed skirt in a gorgeous New England setting, I knew I had to have one. While I still haven’t purchase one, I found this skirt (here) and thought it was perfect! I love that a tweed skirt embodies  the rich, cultural heritage of a Scottish kilt while also embracing the prep school vibes we all know and love from Gossip Girl.

Buy the Right Denim

Denim is as American as it gets. And over the years, this classic staple has been redesigned time and again. The trendy way to wear denim right now is with rips up and down the pant legs and fringe at the cuff. My style advice is to stick with a classic dark wash denim skinny  (here) that can be worn to work as well as happy hour. Denim is one thing I’ll pay a pretty penny for because the perfect pair of worn in jeans can’t be loved enough.

Classic Knit Cap

Beanies, bogans, toboggans- whatever you want to call this classic knit cap, should definitely be on your list of fall preppy staples. The origins of this delightful hat with the pom pom on top are unknown but everyone loves them. If you’re an outdoorsy person, this North Face toboggan (here) is really cute!

Monogrammed Quilted Vest

J. Crew’s herringbone vest is a tough fall classic to beat. However, these adorable quilted vest come pretty close! Every year I try to buy a new vest because they’ve been popular for ages and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Link here!

Monogrammed Fall Tee

Drumroll please! My absolute must-have, favorite thing on this list is this adorable monogram fall tee! Marley Lilly has outdone themselves with this seasonal item. I can literally picture myself curled up with my kitty, drinking a pumpkin spice latte in this tee! Get one before they sell out, link here!

dallas fashion blogger

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stock photosHey guys! Happy Monday! I feel like the summer just flew by and I barely had a chance to use my pineapple pool float. Or go to overpriced brunches every Sunday. First world problems, right? Summers in Texas are so different from summer back in Maryland. The heat here just blows me away! I’ve lived in Dallas for just over a year now and I wanted to share a bit about my time here and the struggle to make friends in a new city!

Loneliness of Not Knowing Anyone

I moved with my boyfriend to Dallas in search of better paying jobs and cheaper cost of living. Also, David’s from Texas so that kinda drew us here anyway. My first 6 months here were nothing short of lonely. Sure, I had David but that’s pretty much it. I didn’t know a soul here and it sucked. I’ve spent my entire life on the East Coast and all of my friends are there. It was a big deal to pack up my stuff and leave all that I ever knew. Plus, it’s hard to make friends as an adult. It just is.

Difficulty in Finding Friends

My first job here in Dallas gave me the security of having great coworkers who became friends. They were really open and invited me into their work group. That part made my days easier, but finding friends outside of work proved a bit more challenging. I thought blogging would open up opportunities to get to know other Dallas bloggers and it did to a degree. However,  I noticed pretty quickly that these girls already had their groups of friends and weren’t particularly open to outsiders.

Don’t get me wrong, bloggers I met up with at events or knew through Instagram were kind and polite, but that’s different from being friendly and inviting. I was reminded by another blogger that finding friendships within the blogging community is difficult because it’s constant competition between bloggers. And I can definitely see that.

Learning to Find Friends

Eventually, I found a few blogger gal pals that I could get coffee with and bounce ideas off of. A lot of them I found through Style Collective! One of the smartest things I ever did was try out an app called Shapr. Shapr is an app that connects you to other professionals in your city looking for similar opportunities. In my profile, I said I was looking for freelance work and new friends in town. That’s how I met Laila, my fabulous fashion PR friend who puts up with my tiring shopping trips!

I also found that getting out and doing things within the community opens up a whole world of opportunity. The difficult part is just getting out of the house to go do something. Dallas is a fairly transient place and there’s a lot of new people here. The challenge is finding them and getting outside of your comfort zone. Nothing is ever easy though, right?

dallas fashion blogger

 

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