cold shoulder

Francesca's Rodeo attire: Cold shoulder dress + cowgirl boots

Dress: Francesca’s | Purse: Francesca’s | Earrings: Francesca’s | Bracelet: Francesca’s

Photography by: Banavenue

If you are from Texas then you already know what a big deal the Houston Rodeo is. Personally, I look forward to the Rodeo almost just as much as I do Christmas and for really good reason if you’ve heard of a thing called fried Oreos! They might as well shut down work and school the month of March because the Rodeo takes precedent around these parts. And while we might spend the majority of the year trying to convince non-Texans that we don’t ride horses to work or that cowboy boots and hats aren’t a part of our normal everyday wear, all of that goes right out the window when the Rodeo comes to town.

When it comes to fashion, the Rodeo might as well be Texas’ own version of New York Fashion Week. For most of us, it’s our one time of the year to pull out the most Texan attire that we own and flaunt it. Suddenly every person is dressed like they just popped out of an old western. While you can bet to find every guy in a pair of Wranglers, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, the girls get to have a little more fun with their outfit choices. I usually go one of 3 ways.

1) Jeans, a cute top and cowgirl boots

2) A dress or romper with cowgirl boots

3) Shorts, plaid button down, and cowgirl boots

Moral of the story- anything with cowgirl boots goes. Francesca’s has been my go-to for non-traditional Rodeo apparel so I can still rock something on trend and just add my cowgirl boots to finish off the look. A few trends that I always love when Rodeo season comes around are embroidered attire, denim chambray, big belts and turquoise jewelry. This year especially, I’m loving mixing these staples with newer trends such as off the shoulder and cold shoulder tops See below for all of my favorite picks!

On top of all of the Texan fashion, you can also bet to find a lot of country music, carnival rides, animals and a total food-lovers heaven. If you haven’t already given up hope on those New Year’s Resolutions, you sure will after attending the Rodeo. They can just about fry anything you can imagine- Oreos, Twinkies, cheesecake, candy bars, ice cream, you name it and they can fry it! You can always go for an old fashioned turkey leg but with all of the endless possibilities, you should probably take a page out of my book and try one of everything 🙂

If you have never been to the Houston Rodeo it is unlike any other (since I’ve been to so many and all). I’ve heard from non-Houston natives that nothing compares so I’m pretty convinced! If you aren’t able to make it out, make sure to follow along on my Instagram as I plan to be there as often as I can. If you are one of the lucky ones getting to experience the Rodeo and all of it’s glory, make sure before heading out this year to stop by your local Francesca’s or order online to guarantee the perfect Rodeo ready attire!

*Thank you Francesca’s for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Shein Review | Off the shoulder top + white jeans | Summer Fashion via itsallchictome.com

I’ve had several people ask me my thoughts on Shein recently so I wanted to give my honest review of them. With so many of these type of budget friendly online boutiques from China, you want to know if you can trust them before you commit to purchasing. I will be the first to say that they are definitely hit or miss. I have received a couple of items that just did not work. The couple of times that this has happened to me, the item did not fit correctly (either sizing issues or just ill fitting). Good news is that Shein has a 30 day return policy though so any items that do not work out can be returned! While there have been a couple of times that items did not work out, I have honestly had more success than failure with them. Here are a few tips to consider before making a purchase from Shein to guarantee success for you too.

Know the quality isn’t always great

The reason the prices are so great is because the quality is not the best, most of the time that is. To my surprise the last 2 items that I ordered from them including this top, were amazing quality. Other items that I have received were not the best quality but were definitely wearable. As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for”. Although the quality may not be great, I love Shein for trendy pieces that I know won’t be in style forever and therefor do not wish to spend a ton of money.

Check your measurements

Sizing can be a little tricky because every piece runs a little differently. I would say from personal experience that items usually run big according to American sizing. It is very helpful when double checking sizing to know your measurements because Shein will list those out for you. I am normally a XS-S most places, but I always go off of the measurements with Shein instead of my normal sizing.

Do your research

Since Shein can be hit or miss, rely on other people and bloggers to find the hidden gems. What I do for almost any site like this is to stock their Instagram page’s tagged photos. Get a feel for popular items. Most bloggers, including myself, are not going to post “failure” items. They are going to post items that they love and brands that they trust! If you are debating on sizing, ask someone who has the item what the sizing is like! I do this ALL of the time! I ask other bloggers what size they ordered and if it runs big or small. Also make sure to read the reviews for every item. Some items will not have any, but others will give honest reviews, including if the quality is not great or if you should size up or down.

So all of this is to say that yes, they are a legit website but I do want to give you a fair warning of what you are getting yourself into. I will continue to buy from them and it really is a great option for fashionistas on a budget, especially for those trendy pieces that aren’t meant to last you forever.

Ready to RODEO

Cold Shoulder Top + Shein Review

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