Likers Gonna Like: The Casual Street Outfit

Sometimes, a girl just wants to be casual for a change. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore dressing up, but when given the opportunity to dress down I take it! I was just away on vacation with my family and I lived in these black lacy shorts from Pink Slate Boutique. I wore them for a relaxed dinner on the bay (accompanied by live music and fruity cocktails), and to the beach the next day with a large chevron wrap. They really are so versatile and the subtle tribal print details adds a lot to the look. 

 My inspiration for this outfit comes from Blake Lively. She's been rocking the laid back bohemian style lately and I admire her passion for style. She always manages to look ultra chic, even when she's dressed down. For this look, I decided to pair a fun tank tee with simple layered necklaces. Statement necklaces are of course a go-to of mine, but sometimes all you need is a dainty necklace to add personality and drama to an outfit. This gold double chevron necklace by Accessories IN Style is simple, yet fashion forward.  A lot of my favorite looks are derived from layered necklaces and this one does the trick because there are two pendants connected to one chain!

More casual styles that I adore:

• Plaid smock dress. Yes, a smock dress. I have two of them that help me embrace my inner boho girl.
• Chambray shirt dress. Chambray tops will make you feel polished, but convert the style into a shirt dress and you will feel effortlessly chic.
• Tunic dress. I love light and billowy dresses in the summertime. They add that perfect earthy feel when paired with chunky shoes and handmade jewelry. 
• The maxi skirt. Maxi skirts are a wardrobe staple piece. They are drapey and casual, but yet they still add some structure in a relaxed way.

Shop the look:

Tank: Zara
Shoes: Vince Camuto 

Ooh La Lacy Shorts : Pink Slate Boutique (use code DRESSEDBYJESS for 20% off expires 8/5)

Wrap Button Down: Zara (similar here)

Clutch: gift from Italy (similar style here)

Double Chevron Necklace & Earrings: Accessories IN Style (use code JESS15 to receive 15% expires 8/5)

As a side note, after I was done shooting some pics I had to throw my hair into a side braid. The wind was unreal and no bottle of hairspray could tame this mane! There was a storm passing through so the air was also super sticky and muggy. I can't complain about the weather though, we had a great time regardless of the four hours of rain. Besides, look at this beautiful sunset it brought to us!

XO,

Triangl Swimwear: Ace The Sporty Look

Tired of the same old lacy and cut-out bikini look? Me too. When it comes to bronzing and tan lines, I like finding suits that are unique and a bit unusual. Instead of falling into the cookie cutter, step up your bikini game with a sporty suit. It's a bold and memorable style that made it's way across the runway for this summer, and the sporty details will be a winning look for next summer as well. Not sure where to turn to for the look? Triangl swimwear, an Australian swimwear brand, specializes in neoprene suits (same material that wet suits are composed of) and sporty detailing. When I was asked to review their collection I was so excited to finally find stylish bikinis with fun vibrant designs. Their suits feature bold colors, mesh overlays, zippers, and funky prints. The Winnie Holli Hyde is a personal favorite.

What makes Triangl swimwear so unique? The material is stretchy, shapely, firm, and the colors are vibrant and one-of-a-kind. I also love their 24/7 customer service. When I was ordering my bikini I was really unsure of what size top and bottom to get. The sizing guide was helpful, but I wanted to speak with someone who could answer body-specific questions. After reading online reviews, I thought I would have to order a size up, but the online stylist told me to stick to a small top and medium bottom. I'm so happy I ordered these sizes because they fit perfectly! 

Featured style: The Winnie Arizona Sunset strapless top and bottom. Their bikinis are paired together and you are free to choose different sizes for your top and bottom. This complete look is only $89! I typically spend around $100-$120 on other bikini brands because I like to mix and match which sometimes gets expensive. I really enjoyed the fact that you could order a complete set for one price. When I received the package, I was delighted to find that each suit comes with a matching bag. It's big enough to fit a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, hair brush, detangler, and a bottle of water (all of my beach bag essentials). Side note, this color looks extra nice with a mid-summer tan.

Throw on a summery kaftan or maxi dress and you have a complete beach-ready look. Which Triangl style is your favorite? Will you embrace the sporty look this summer?

XO,

This post contains a product that was gifted for review

Tropical Wrap Dress With Lulus.com

Okay, so I might not actually be in a tropical location, but this dress sure makes me feel like it! This week, the Coast to Coast Style Series features lightweight fabrics and tropical vibes from Lulus.com that will help take you from day to night. 

Lately, I have been reaching for dresses with long sleeves to keep comfortable in the frigid AC when traveling to meetings. When I saw this exclusive "falling for hue" ivory wrap dress from Lulus.com, I knew it would be a summer staple piece in my wardrobe. And I was right, because I can't stop wearing it! This dress is unfortunately sold out because it was so popular, but the good news is you can shop similar styles by clicking here and here. 

All the reasons to <3 wrap dresses:

1. They are super versatile. Printed wrap dresses can be worn from 9 to 5, to happy hour with friends, or even to a cocktail event. 

2. Easy to pack, easy to wear. I live out of a suitcase in the summer so it's important for me to have clothes that can fold up and be pulled out and styled later without wrinkles or the need for steaming. This particular dress from Lulus.com is so soft and light. It's flexible enough to roll up into a small handbag or clutch.

3. It's the ultimate wardrobe concealer. The wrap dress will fit and flatter any body shape. It will hide imperfections while at the same time highlight your waistline.  

4. Accessorizing the wrap dress is easy. Add a belt to accentuate your waistline, or keep it simple with stud earrings and delicate layered necklaces. 

5. It's appropriate for all girls at any age!

Keep the look young, bold and fresh by adding a pop of electric colors. Since the rest of my outfit is conservative, I decided to show off my legs with these Lemon Yellow High Heel Sandals from LuLu*s. Shop the look here. 

So what do you think of the wrap dress? Will you be mixing it into your summer wardrobe? Don't forget to stop by StushiGal Style and Style By Alina to see how they rocked their looks from LuLu*s. 

XO,
Photography by Alexandra Rodrigues This post contains items that were gifted for review. All opinions are my own.

First Date Essentials

You only have one chance to make that first impression, so make sure it's a good one!  I'll never forget my first date with my boyfriend, Rob. I was so nervous to meet him because I heard so much about him through friends. He was essentially a Greek God. He took his fraternity life serious (in a competitive way) and everyone around campus knew him. His fraternity brothers even had a t-shirt with his face on the back of it that they would wear...I couldn't decide at the time if that was super cheesy or super cool, but I was into it. I went shopping the day before and spent hours trying to find the perfect dress. This was 5 years ago, there was no such thing as social sharing fashion apps. I had to do it the old fashion way, buy 5 dresses and hope one of them was approved by the fashion committee, aka my roommates and best friends. I finally decided to wear a little black dress with ruffle details down the sides. It was so comfortable and so, me.

The countless hours spent at the mall paid off, but looking back I still remember how frantic I was shopping for the perfect dress. I wished there was a way to bring all my friends along, but not everyone has time to schlep over to the mall. Thankfully, now there is a fun way to share outfit choices with friends online. To help you get glam for your first date in the most speedy way possible, I put together a collection on Mavatar featuring my must-have beauty and style essentials. 

First date check list:

1. Dress to impress. Make sure you are physically and emotionally comfortable with your outfit. Sky high heels might seem like a cute idea, but if you decide to go for a walk after your meal you'll be fidgeting the whole time.

2. Don't over accessorize or overdo your makeup. 

3. Emphasize your features. Do you have nice shoulders, long legs, or a killer waistline? Now is your time to highlight them! The key is to conceal your chest and show off another part of your body that you feel confident about. Your outfit should be sophisticated and fun like this adorable strappy heart cut-out peplum dress from Charlotte Russe. The peplum details at the center are super flirty and the open back is so unusual. It's perfect for a romantic date night. 

4. Don't wear something with a plunging neckline. Give him something to wander about. Plus, you can always save the sultry dresses for the third date ;). 

5. Add a hint of self tanner if you are in need of a glow. It will help brighten up your look. 

Must-have first date essentials:

-Travel brush. I always say this, don't be caught in a frizz!

-Roll on perfume. It's especially important to pack a mini perfume bottle in the summer time. You need to keep it fresh and fierce in front of your new man or girl friend!

-Gum or mints. Enough said.

-Lip gloss, not lipstick. When eating is involved, you run the risk of smudges and getting it on your teeth. Not a cute look. Reach for a light lipgloss instead. It will help keep your lips smooth and the tint will fade before you begin to eat.

To view all of my first date essentials and to shop the look, click on any of the products in the below product map or hit the Mavatar button.

What I'm Wearing: Strappy Heart Cut-Out Peplum Dress- Charlotte Russe ℅, Shoes- Aldo (similar look here), Necklace- Lough Jewelry (similar look here), Handbag- Zara

What He's Wearing: Express Top, Kenneth Cole Jeans, Burberry Watch, Nike Stefan Janoski Shoes, Firenze Tie

You can view more first date inspiration by heading over to Mavatar and typing "first date" in the search bar. There are tons of cute collections curated by other featured editors! 

XO,

Mastering The Color Mix

In the summer I always get the urge to pile on as many bright colors as I own. The idea always seems much greater in my head. The mirror tells a different story...Mixing colors is about creating an eye-pleasing look. It is not a talent, it's a skill that takes practice. Which is why I want to share some of my master mixing skills with you to make the process fun!

Step #1: Find a print you love.

For me, I like using whites, splashy blues, and pinks. I found this adorable off the shoulder crop tee from Zara this past weekend and I fell in love. I actually waited in line for an hour and a half to get this shirt. It was on sale for $9! Such a steal. That's dedication.

Step #2: Consult the color wheel.
Start by mixing in colors that are complementary. These colors are typically directly across from each other on the color wheel. Let's take my outfit for example. As you can see, the base of this outfit stems from this adorable minty blue pencil skirt from Charlotte Russe. If you look directly across from the blue hues in the below diagram, you can find the complementary colors. In this case, it's pops of yellow and orange. I decided to add a touch of orange with this convertible shoulder bag from Aaraa Boutique.  It's important to note that when you are creating this look you must keep the colors within the same family. Which brings me to my next point...

Step #3: Don't disobey the color family.
Have you ever seen a mix-matched outfit gone wrong? Well, I have and it's my worst nightmare. When you are building an outfit make sure to keep the colors in the same family. Cool tones (shades of blue, light pink, purples, greens..etc) do not mix well with warm tones (deeper colors such as red and brown).

Step #4: Intensify your outfit with saturation.

This is the last part of building a mix-matched colored outfit. Once you have the base of your look you can start playing with the hues. Think of your outfit as a photo you have just taken with your phone. What filter would you like to put on it? Do you want to increase the saturation and make your outfit bold and rich? Or do you want to desaturate it by toning down the color and creating an ombre effect? For example, if you look at the shade of my skirt and heels you will  notice they are actually a very similar color, their levels of saturation are just slightly different. When these two elements are combined it adds a little extra oomph.

Step #5: Have fun, be playful.
Don't forget the basics. It's ok to mix bright colors with...more bright colors! There really are no rules (except for the ones I've outlined above). Have fun with it and when in doubt, send me pics of your color combos. A little honest love always goes a long way ;).

What I'm Wearing: Charlotte Russe Skirt (more adorable looks here)℅, Zara Top and Shoes (on sale for under $25!!, click here), Aaraa of Hoboken Clutch, Necklace, Bracelet and Ring.


XO,