Life, Outfits, WWW

Girlboss Closet on a Budget

June 15, 2016

Girlboss Closet on a Budget | Girlboss Tips | Budget Tips | It's All Chic To Me

Being a #girlboss can take a lot of work so your outfit shouldn’t have to! If there is one thing that my mama taught me well, it was how to dress for success on a budget. Thanks mama! Dressing for success does not have to be costly and who doesn’t like to save a few dollars where they can? I don’t claim to always get everything for cheap, but I do make a conscious effort to make my dollars go as far as possible. That being said, here are my tips for all of my ladies out there that, like me, have a champagne taste on a beer budget.

Shop the sales

If you aren’t someone who normally gets excited about sales, it’s time to make a change! At some point the gorgeous blouse that you are coveting is going to go on major sale and you will kick yourself for paying full price. Stores are always looking for an excuse to push a sale so look out for the really good ones (40%+ off) and sit back for the duds (10-15%). Sign up for your favorite stores email lists and check them regularly. Sometimes email subscribers get inside information and it pays off to get all of those annoying emails! Outlets can also be your best friend. While they usually are a season behind, they offer greatly discounted clothes and you know they are still the name brand you love. J Crew Factory is my favorite for discounted work clothes- specifically their cropped pants. The majority of my work attire comes from Loft, Banana Republic, and J Crew Factory when they are having their major end of the year sales. I have scored work pants for $8/piece so I am telling you that the wait is worth it people!

Know when to save and when its ok to splurge

Have you ever heard the term, “Fashion comes and goes but style is timeless”? It is ok to splurge on the pieces that you know you will be able to wear for years to come. Think suits, blazers, an age-appropriate LBD, or well-made heels. This unfortunately does not include trendy pieces. So while you might be really tempted to run out and buy the season’s hottest new trend, unless you can find it for a reasonable price, I highly suggest saving your money. I tend to splurge on pieces that I can see myself wearing in 5 years and in order to do that the quality has to be there. Keep in mind that sometimes it is necessary to spend a bit more for quality if it is going to save you money in the long run.

Don’t allow yourself to shop for fun (on a regular basis)

This one gets me the most. Anyone else an emotional shopper? I get it, I have first hand experience that retail therapy can cure just about anything! I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to make myself feel better or simply because I was bored at the time. While this is ok on rare occasions, it can NOT be your norm. If you absolutely must- stick to places like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or Target. I call these my safe zones because at least they are budget friendly. Be careful because these places can also sneak up on you if you go overboard, so my best piece of advice is to only allow yourself to purchase one item.

Stock up on staples

These are your classics that are never going out of style. They are the separates that you can wear to make several different outfits. For the most part, your staples are going to be your solid colors. Prints tend to come and go. Every #girlboss should own a white and black blouse, navy and black pants, and a black pencil skirt at the very least. These colors go with almost everything. I own several different white blouses because they go with any bottom that you can think of- pants, pencil skirts, shorts, you name it. You can’t go wrong investing in separates in white, navy, black, khaki, grey, and red.

It’s all in the details

Details can make or break an outfit but they can also help you recreate old looks and make them new again. Accessories can completely change an outfit by switching up your jewelry, belt, and purse so don’t forget about these. You do not need a ton of different details. Again, stick to pieces that you can wear with several different outfits and through multiple seasons. My go to place for details is Charming Charlie because they have great deals and everything is color coded so it’s super easy to choose from!

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Outfits

Summer Style Trends

June 13, 2016

Blue Shift Dress | Summer Style | Tassel Earrings | It's All Chic To Me

Ok I know what you are thinking… “Does this girl own anything besides dresses?”. If I were you, I would think the same thing! Going back through my recent posts, I have posted nothing but dresses and I can tell you the exact reason why. They are easy! For somebody that is constantly on the go, dresses are my best friend! They require little thought besides which shoes and jewelry match. If you haven’t read my post on why I’ll be wearing dresses all summer long you can read more about my opinion on that here. On top of dresses, there are 3 other trends that you will start to see this Summer, if you haven’t already.

Back Detailing– Any dress or top that has a cool back always gets major bonus points and is sure to get you compliments! When I found this dress from Seasalt & Honey Boutique, I knew I had to have it right away and sure enough the first time I wore it everyone was obsessed with the back of it.
Tassels– All tassel everything! But really. Tassel earrings, clothes, accessories, and on just about anything else that you can think of. They are huge this season and come in all forms, shapes, sizes, and colors. Plus if you are in a pinch these tassel earrings make great gifts!
Bright Colors– Every year towards the beginning of Summer, you will start to see more and more of the bright colors come into play. Pink, mint, yellow, and cobalt blue are a few of my favorites. If you tend to shy away from bright colors, adding a pop of color into your accessories is the easiest way to go. For instance, with some earrings like these.

What are your favorite Summer trends that you have seen so far? I would love to hear! If you are looking for some cute summer pieces, Seasalt & Honey Boutique is your one stop shop! They have an awesome selection of trendy apparel and accessories, so make sure to check them out. Hope all of you have a wonderful week!

**Thank you Sesalt & Honey Boutique for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

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Outfits

Trend Alert: The Tie Front

June 8, 2016

Tie Front Dress | Beach Wear | It's All Chic To Me

Dress | Earrings | Bracelet | Ring

Ok guys, major trend alert here!! You’ve probably already seen it, but if not you are about to see this trend all summer long- the tie front attire. You can see it on dresses, rompers (as seen here), jumpsuits and tops. It is the perfect way to beat the heat and still stay trendy through the hot months this summer! Although this dress does show off a bit of skin, I have seen many other tie front options that do not show nearly as much and can certainly be appropriate for multiple occasions. I wore this dress to dinner and pictures on our family vacation to the beach but can’t wait to wear it with these sandals that I picked up recently. I’ve rounded up all of my favorite tie front options under $100 so you guys can give it a try!

Tie fronts under $100

Don’t forget that it is not too late to enter in the Function of Beauty personalized shampoo and conditioner giveaway that is going on until tonight. You can find instructions on how to enter here. Lastly, I wanted to let you guys know that I will be doing a recap of my family’s stay in Seaside, FL later this month so stay tuned! Have a great week 🙂

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Outfits

Instagram Round-up

June 3, 2016

Happy Friyay and National Donut Day guys! If there’s one thing I firmly believe in it’s how well Fridays and online shopping go together… while I chow down on a donut… or 2 🙂 It’s been a whirlwind the past few weeks travel wise and there have been lots of pictures flying through my Instagram, so I decided the best way to give you all a chance to shop my latest outfits was with my first ever Instagram round up! You can easily shop my outfits by clicking on the pictures below each Instagram post.

FLORIDA

CALIFORNIA

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Outfits, WWW

WWW + Tips to Transition your Wardrobe between Seasons

June 1, 2016

Fall into Spring | Olive Dress | Napa Vineyard | It's All Chic To Me

Here we are- the first day of Summer! Just like that it’s time to pack up the last of your colder weather clothes and bring out all of the bright colored spaghetti straps. But you aren’t ready you say? Well neither am I. Whether you spent a bunch of money on a few pieces from last season, the weather hasn’t caught up to the season, or you just can’t get enough of your favorite separates, here are a few tips that I have found that can help transition last season’s best looks into the next.

Tip 1: Mind your Colors

There are colors that are distinct to each season. Spring and Summer are known for pastels and bright colors while Fall and Winter are reserved for the darker colors. While I do not suggest wearing all of last season’s colors at one time, you can easily keep last season’s colors alive by bringing in contrasting colors. Ivory, khaki, denim, and lighter shades of grey are neutral colors that can also help you between seasons when mixing colors.

Tip 2: Mind your Fabrics

Fabrics are also seasonal. Most of your warmer weather pieces will be made of cotton or linen. These types of fabrics are breathable and create an airy look. Fabrics such as velvet, cashmere, and wool are most definitely Winter staples and are much harder to transition. While there is just no getting around wearing velvet in the summer, your shoulder months are your times to experiment. Mix a sweater with cut off shorts or wear a scarf with a tank top.

Tip 3: Season vs. Weather

When in doubt weather trumps the season. If it is 80 degrees outside but the calendar says that it is Winter, do not feel like you need to bust out the wool coat. This also does not mean that you can slip into sandals and a bikini. Instead wear booties over boots, sneakers over sandals, button downs over sweaters, and denim over sweat pants. Layers are also your best friend when this is an issue. Throw on a cardigan or denim jacket over a dress or tank top.

Tip 4: Mix and Match

Rules are there are no rules in fashion. So while all fashion rules would tell you not to wear maroon or olive green in the middle of Spring (and certainly not in Summer), go against the odds and add in some brighter colors (like hot pink) to neutralize the Fall heavy hand. The key to transitioning your pieces is to have an overall balance. Do not go overboard on too much of one season’s staples. When in doubt about transitional pieces, use the 1/3 rule. Stick to only adding in one piece out of three from an off season. That way other’s eyes are most likely drawn to the pieces from the current season.

So while my dress and heels are from last season, I have found that adding in some hot pink touches can make it pass the test. How do you keep your favorite pieces alive all year long? I would love to hear!

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