Avant Garb: Beat-The-Heat Chic
Recently, I attended Old Line Society’s “High Tide on the Water” (check it out in our “Parties” section). The fête featured several great causes and it was so nice to meet some fellow fashionistas partying by the pool.
At the event I ran into Meghan and had to find out where she got her adorable two-piece crop top and midi skirt. I love this outfit! It’s perfect for summer. The vibrant colors grab your attention, and the cut feels young and fresh. Meghan said she snagged this amazing June & Hudson set from Nordstrom. Her brown heeled Sam Edelman sandals go great with this look and are perfect for the pool side setting.
Meghan described her style as “casual chic.”
“I prefer items that are comfortable and easy to wear. I love summer because it requires minimal effort to put together an outfit – a top, bottoms, sandals, and a bag and I’m set! I try not to purchase new items unless they are on sale. In fact, everything I am wearing was purchased on sale! Most stores have promotional events several times a month, and really, eventually everything goes on sale. If an item sells out before it goes on sale, then it wasn’t meant to be,” she told me.
I love this bargain-hunter mentality! We could all take a page from her book. This is a great way to make sure you’re always getting a good deal and not over paying on nice pieces.
Her J Crew earrings feel modern and do a great job of adding an extra bit of polish to her look, without overpowering it. They’re subtle and totally on trend.
The bright blue color of her Rebecca Minkoff bag sets off the rest of her look in keeping with the vibrant color scheme. It’s also fun, young, and keeps with the summery vibe of her outfit.
Overall, Meghan’s look is fantastic for this event, and because it’s so fun and unique, she totally stood out from the crowd.
Later in the week I ran into Lauren. I though her dress was so cute that I just had to capture it to share with you all.
In fact, that’s how Lauren herself described her style – “whatever is cute, but also easy.”
“Most of the time when I’m getting ready for work, I’m in a rush because I work out in the mornings and have to get my daughter all set for her day too. I’ve always sort of gravitated toward hippie/flowy/relaxed clothes even when I’m getting dressed up to go somewhere.”
Lauren looks fabulous in this dress. I love how flirtatious the cut-out shoulders are, and the flowing neckline feels very romantic and summery. To my surprise, this dress is actually from Target! Lauren said she was in a hurry and needed a last-minute dress for a friend’s party.
Great – and affordable – find! Lauren said it’s one of her favorites because it can be worn a bunch of different ways. She said, “Usually I have a belt of some kind with it. Today is more flowy because it’s about 1000 degrees outside.” It looks like the perfect dress for a nice summer day and could easily transition from day to night if you added a nice pair of heels.
Her sandals are Yoga Sling shoes by Sanuk. Lauren said she was actually the victim of an Instagram ad when she decided to order these. She said she couldn’t resist, “They are made out of yoga mats and I love yoga, so I was sold. They are literally the most comfortable shoes ever and now I need 10 more pairs in multiple colors.”
Personally, I love how colorful these shoes are! And to find out that they are also super comfy makes me want a pair for myself.
FOUND – Yet again, I made a stop into one of my favorite local vintage shops in Baltimore, Bottle of Bread. This place is where I find some of my best vintage finds, and it’s usually for a great price. This time I fell in love with this white cotton embroidered dress.
Bohemian rhapsody or sunshine daydreams, whatever you want to coin this 60’s dress… its feelin’ groovy for me! Unfortunately, if you go to the store, you won’t find the dress because I bought it on the spot! But trust me, you’ll definitely find something! They get new items in each week. The dress is very comfortable and I bought it to wear to work, a music festival, or even to go out shopping at the local farmer’s market. It looks cute and fresh, and it’s perfect for a nice summer day.
The bright orange aviator sun glasses are new and were around $10. I thought they were fun, and I’ve been wearing them with jean shorts and tanks. They also gave my swimwear look at the pool a swanky flare. For this outfit in particular, I chose to pair them with the dress because I felt they gave the dress an edgier feel. They’re unique and would pair great with heavy/chunky jewelry accessories. Put on these bad boys and take off to a music festival like PEX or Burning Man.
