how to wear shorts in the fall

i know i have said this before, but summer

is my favorite season! there is something special about

the bustling city - people out walking, biking,

and enjoying time on the water; farmers markets;

traveling to our family cabin; of course, summer

fashion can be a great deal of fun, too! 

although fall has begun to make an appearance

in seattle, i am determined to hang on to some of

my favorite summer clothing items. i am not ready

to put my sandals and shorts away. just

hang in there, summer. i need a few more days weeks

of sun (and i have a few outfits i would like to wear)!

disclosure: asa of lace and pearls jewelry graciously lent me the necklace

i am wearing in today's photos. i am thrilled to support my dear

friend and talented business owner! as per usual, all opinions are my own.

despite my pleading, i think fall weather is

around the corner; while i love jewel tones, knits

and layering, and anything plaid, i am determined

to re-style a few of my favorite summer pieces

in the coming weeks. first up?

these adorable floral shorts from zara!

shorts are an essential in every woman's summer

wardrobe. after labor day, i typically pack up

my shorts and exchange them for leggings,

jeans, and other cool-weather styles, but not this year!

here are a few simple ways you can wear shorts in the fall:

1. add tights

black, grey, colorful or patterned tights are a quick 

and easy way to add warmth and excitement to your

outfit (i.e. your shorts).

2. grab heels or booties

looking to dress up a pair of black shorts

(while also making your legs appear longer)?

heels can do this! booties are a casual alternative 

and pair perfect with any fall look.

3. add a blazer or structured jacket

i recently pulled out my navy, denim, and black

blazers. i have a green bomber jacket from last

season that will pair well with casual shorts (such

as the floral pair i am wearing today). 

a structured jacket of any color, fabric, or 

print will go well with darker-colored shorts.

4. grab a chunky sweater

your favorite knit sweater? structured

shorts with booties (or tights and ballet flats)

are a fun way to style shorts in cooler weather.

photos by chelsea macor photography

top: tj maxx, shorts: zara (exact here),

rings: forever 21, purse: nordstrom, 

flats: madewell, necklace: c/o lace and pearls jewelry

earlier this week, i spoke of my passion for

supporting local business owners and creatives.

today, i am thrilled to be wearing one of my dear

friends' designs, (and fellow blogger, asa of lace and pearls)

'lace and pearls jewelry.' asa and i have been

friends for more than two years, and i have to say, she is 

one of the sweetest and most hard-working women

i know! she juggles a full-time job, blogs,

and maintains her beautiful social media platforms.

recently, asa also began making jewelry.

asa's designs are handmade, and each piece

is crafted with exquisite detail and care. i am wearing

 the lariot pendant necklace, and i cannot wait

to style it with other tops and dresses.

asa's website will be launch soon, but in the

meantime, be sure to follow along here for updates

and new designs!

do you wear shorts in the fall?

if so, how do you style them?

xoxo.

patches & faux leather

 

looking to add a bit of 'edge' or make your

outfit feel more casual? simply throw on a

leather (or in my case, faux leather) jacket or

vest. it quickly changes your look from

'feminine,' to 'sassy.'

a leather jacket or vest is a classic piece.

it may be worth investing in (spending more

than you typically would), or searching to find a 

designer item on sale. i picked up this 

sanctuary vest at my local t.j. maxx a few years ago; 

despite wearing it for multiple seasons, 

the quality has kept. 

while i am more of a budget-friendly

shopper at heart, it can behoove you to invest in items 

you wear again and again. (where was this 'me' 

when i purchased and subsequently broke my 

$10 sandals this weekend?).

and other times, a $10 clutch

with gold lips and patches is just what you

need. are you a fan of the current patch

and embroidery trend? i cannot seem to get

enough! i have been on the hunt for a few cute

embroidered accessories (or those with 

patches) and stumbled upon this clutch at my

local charming charlie. 

i love how the vest and clutch

pull this look together; the outfit looked

greatly different without these pieces.

don't have a leather jacket or vest?

no problem! swap out leather for a denim vest,

denim jacket, or chambray top. you can knot the bottom 

hem of your chambray shirt to add shape 

(i find this to be helpful when wearing 

long, loose-fitting dresses

that sometimes make me appear shapeless).

photos by karya schanilec photography

dress: who what wear collection (via target; exact here),

vest: sanctuary (via t.j. maxx), 

clutch: charming charlie (similar here and here),

rings: forever 21, wedges: lucky brand, 

bracelet: c/o uncommon goods

summer is the perfect time to experiment

with current trends. grab your favorite bold

accessories and vibrant prints, and put seemingly

unique pieces together. it can be so much fun to 

see what you come up with!

xoxo.

summertime favorites

cheers to friday, summer weather, and the 

weekend ahead. i will be attending a 

bridal shower, visiting my family's dachshund (she had
oral surgery this week!), sleeping in, and

of course, enjoying the sunshine!

today, i am thrilled to be partnering with

one of my favorite local boutiques, endless knot!

i have been shopping at endless knot, located
in the belltown neighborhood, for several years.
the staff are knowledgable (and stylish!),
incredibly friendly, and more than happy to help me
find that perfect dress or accessory. i love
the fun prints, classic styles, and vast array of
handbags and jewelry available in store.

as a special feature, i am
guest posting on the endless knot blog here!

source

be sure to check out the full post, 

as i am sharing one of my favorite summer trends:

the pleated skirt!

this pleated skirt is the definition

of chic. it is perfect for brunch, a day at the 

office, or even a more formal event (such as a 

bridal shower?!), depending on how you style it. 

dress it up or down with a different

top, shoes, and accessories! 

i cannot wait to pair

this skirt with a graphic t-shirt and converse

for a more casual vibe, or i can wear a light jacket 

(or blazer) with a blouse to work.

versatility is key when purchasing new

items, and this skirt is no exception.

photos c/o endless knot photography

skirt: endless knot (exact here), 

blouse: endless knot (exact here), purse: endless knot,

boots: urban outfitters

a very special thank you to the 

amazing team at endless knot for allowing

me to guest post on your blog.

i hope to see you online again soon!

don't forget, you can see the full blog post here.

and if you're not from seattle, don't worry;

you can now shop these adorable items online!

xoxo.

trying a new fashion accessory: belts!

have you ever seen an outfit, piece of jewelry or other 

accessory and thought, 'i want to wear that!'? perhaps you're unsure

as to whether or not you can pull off the item. 

or maybe you worry it is too trendy, and thus not worth spending 

money on? regardless, your questions (and subsequent reluctance) 

may get the better of you, and you end up skipping 

that particular trend. this may sound a bit silly, but that

item for me? belts!

disclosure: embrazio graciously provided me with the belt featured

in this post. all opinions are my own!

after completing a thorough examination of my closet,

i realized i have one (or possibly two?) belt(s). the first came 

attached to a skirt i purchased several years ago. i bought the other belt

on clearance at a department store after realizing my pants were a bit

too stretchy. there's nothing worse than feeling as though

you're tugging at your pants all day long!

i have seen fellow bloggers and fashionistas pairing

belts with various styles of denim and over dresses, and i have been 

eager to do the same! i thought denim might be the safer route;

i put this outfit together and wore it to happy hour one day last week. 

my biggest complaint about belts? they don't ever fit properly!

 i have never owned a belt that fit well. they seemingly gap, add 

unwanted bulge, and can be downright uncomfortable. of course, that was 

before i tried this handmade, embrazio leather belt.

i am wearing the 'lato curved leather belt' in whiskey. 

the majority of belts are designed in a straight line, but this belt is 

cut with specific curves. each point of the belt contours to your body,

 making it feel great and fit perfectly! the belt is an inch-and-a-half wide, 

so make sure your belt loops are wide enough ;)

photos by karya schanilec photography

blouse: astr (similar here), jeans: joe's via nordstrom rack,

booties: urban outfitters, purse & rings: forever 21,

leather belt: c/o embrazio (exact here)

i love the classic cognac (or 'whiskey') color, style and 

versatility of the belt i am wearing - the gold buckle detail will pair

 well with shoes, purses and jewelry already in my closet.

embrazio has more intricate styles of belts here and here. 

i can't wait to wear my leather belt with other

tops and cropped blouses this spring and summer. do you 

enjoy wearing belts? how do you typically style them?

let me know in the comments below!

xoxo.

dressing for the weather (which means rain!)

if you live in seattle, or the surrounding area, then you know

all anyone is talking about is this darn weather. it may seem 

silly (or trivial, perhaps?), but we haven't had a break

 from the rain in weeks. sunshine, where are you?

i know i am feeling a bit vitamin d deficient, and fellow 

bloggers, you can relate to this - it is incredibly difficult to take 

photos during a downpour. unfortunately, photos taken indoors

rarely turn out for me #bloggerproblems

my dear friend, jenn and i decided to brave the rainstorm 

last weekend to photograph a few looks. we may have had to dry out

 after and opted to enjoy lunch (and dessert, of course)! 

hopefully you can't see my 

large goosebumps or the water spots on my jacket.

dressing for the ever-present rain has become my morning

dilemma: black rain boots? grey rain boots? and which

black jacket should i wear? the long one? or the longer one?

this mantra goes through my head each morning, and 

let me tell you, i am about ready to throw away everything

black and waterproof! this girl wants to embrace spring and all

that accompanies it: dresses sans tights, everything pastel, sunshine, 

and even the new 'seasonal cup' at starbucks. 

photos by jenn from hello rigby

dress: loft (similar here), jacket: nordstrom rack (similar here),

necklace: nordstrom, ring & shoes: forever 21, purse: stitch fix

any tips or locations you have for taking photos

during bad weather are greatly appreciated! preferably, 

places that are covered (to protect clothing and cameras, 

and to prevent hair from becoming too wild). i am hopeful that our weather will

 soon improve so i can pack up my heavy sweaters and coats and wear 

lighter, more colorful pieces

in celebration of spring. until that happens, i'll continue

lusting after the adorable spring clothing in all the storefronts

and beach / vacation photos via pinterest.

xoxo.

wear to work

with my recent career change - i previously 

worked as a preschool teacher and am now 

an office professional for a finance company - my wardrobe

subsequently underwent a dramatic transition. i used to live in my 

denim, leggings, and all things comfortable (and i may

or may not have worn ripped jeans a few times each week). 

i would arrive home after a long day with dried remnants of lunch, snot, 

and dirt from the playground 'decorating' my outfit. 

it certainly made for good story telling, and my clothing

was washed often (very often!). 

dressing 'fancy' was never a priority. the ability to chase after 

and keep up with ten toddlers took precedence. while i greatly miss the kids, 

i don't necessarily mind staying clean throughout the day ;)

**disclosure: coach graciously sent me the handbag featured in this post.

all opinions are my own!

i've always been drawn to skirts and dresses,

and i find myself wearing a sweater or blazer with my skirts

and dresses most often. our office culture requires 'business 

professional' attire (and 'business casual' on friday's).

working in a professional office, however, 

doesn't mean i want to change or sacrifice my style - 

after all, style is a form of self-expression!

patterns, prints and statement pieces are still important.

while it is sometimes more difficult to put together 

outfits during the work week (and look office-appropriate),

i welcome the challenge.

^^^ and whether it's tuesday or saturday, coffee is imperative ^^^

this sweater and skirt combination is something i recently 

wore to work. i thought it would be fun to showcase my work style

here on my blog! to add a bit of flare to this look, i chose my 

leopard print flats. i kept my accessories to a minimum 

with delicate rings and traded my usual tote for a coach crossbody bag. 

photos by karya schanilec photography

sweater: loft (similar here), skirt: loft, leopard flats: thrifted (via seattle goodwill)

rings: target, crossbody bag: c/o coach (exact here)

how do you dress for work?

where do you like to shop for work attire? i'm always

looking for new ideas and inspiration!

xoxo.

blogger on a budget

'blogger on a budget' - that's me! 

having a fashion blog means clothing, shoes and accessories

are essential. or seemingly essential (which is likely more accurate!).

i often catch myself standing in line at the store, with more than one item

 in hand, attempting to justify why i need that new dress or necklace

or adorable pair of boots: 'oh but i can wear this on my blog,'

or worse,  'i need something new to share on my blog.' 

i sound terrible - like a shopaholic gone mad.

**disclosure: coach graciously sent me the handbag featured in this post.

all opinions are my own!

 

while i greatly enjoy shopping at nordrstrom, 

zara, anthropologie, and other high-end retailers, it isn't 

always practical (or budget-friendly). i simply can't afford to 

spend a great deal on one piece, or even an entire outfit, 

only to wear it a handful of times;

creating a budget, thrift shopping, and 

scavenging the clearance racks at my favorite stores allows

me to purchase clothing and other items i love, which i then 

share here on my blog.

one thing i have learned, however, is that 

some pieces simply cannot be skimped on.

purchasing an item you will use often or 

wear again and again may not be worth buying second hand

or on clearance - it could fall apart, and you will end

up spending more by having to replace it.

for example, a quality rain jacket and rain boots

are imperative for me as i commute downtown on the bus.

i end up walking several blocks to and from work in the rain.

keeping warm and dry (while looking

somewhat fashionable) is important, so i purchased my jacket

and boots at full price. 

another item i like to purchase new? wardrobe

staples such as a black or brown crossbody bag!

for an afternoon spent running errands in the city

and later meeting a girlfriend for coffee, my coach 'dinky' crossbody

was the perfect accessory! it fit my phone, chapstick and

 hand lotion, and a pair of sunglasses. there's an enclosed pocket inside

for my debit card and driver's license.

this particular handbag is part of the

coach spring 2017 collection.

 i'm styling the 'saddle brown' and there is an orange inner lining.

while this bag retails for more than i typically

spend on a handbag, i know it's an investment piece;

the overall style is more classic than trendy, and the beautiful brown

is incredibly versatile. i can pair this bag with almost any outfit,

and it can be used from season to season.

photos by karya schanilec photography

top: swap with my friend, dana! 

bomber jacket: stitch fix (similar here), jeans: american eagle outfitters, 

booties: urban outfitters (old), necklace: charming charlie, 

ring: old navy, crossbody bag: c/o coach (exact here)

are you a fan of the crossbody bag?

do you have wardrobe staples or specific pieces

you're willing to spend more on? 

xoxo.

the perfect accessory for every girl on-the-go

for a girl seemingly always on-the-go, 

keeping organized (and arriving on time) is of great importance to me! 

between blogging, working full-time, babysitting,

dedicating time to be with family and friends, and of course, 

simply taking 'me time' to relax, timeliness is essential.

i drink more coffee than i'd like to admit, and my room is pure chaos 

as of late, but i like to think i stay on top of things.

two goals of mine for the new year are 1. simplify - this includes

getting organized, paring down and getting rid of items i no longer need or use

(including clothing) and 2. strategize - set goals for myself. 

whether simply setting aside time to go to the gym or read and 

study for work, i want to focus on my future and be more goal-oriented.

and of course, part of keeping organized is sticking to a schedule.

i try to wake up at the same time each day, though that often goes 

out the window on weekends, and go to bed relatively early.

evenings are for blogging, errands, reading, the gym, and whatever else

i can squeeze in before bedtime.

dress & clutch: zara, sweater: nordstrom rack (similar here), 

clogs: born (similar here). ring: forever 21, watch: c/o jord (exact here) 

the best tool for scheduling (aside from the adorable planner my 

friend purchased for me, complete with my name on the front)? a watch!

thus, when jord wood watches reached out to me, i couldn't help 

but think, 'this is the perfect fashion accessory for me!'

i'm wearing this 'frankie series' wood watch in dark sandalwood 

and slate. i love the dark wood and masculine-feel of the watch.

it is custom-sized to fit my wrist which is wonderful (it won't slip or fall off),

 as i sometimes struggle to find bracelets and other accessories that fit. 

i kept the rest of my jewelry to a minimum as the watch is a 

statement piece on it's own! 

paired with a feminine, floral-print midi

dress, i felt put together for an afternoon spent thrifting 

and sipping coffee with girlfriend and fellow blogger jenn, 

from hello rigby.

jord wood watches is passionate about creating trendy, 

yet practical and classic timepieces. they value 

'sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living.'

source

valentine's day is just around the corner; need a 

creative, yet practical gift idea? whether

you're looking for a something for the man in your life, 

or a sweet gift for your girlfriend, mom or best friend, jord

has you covered! watches are available in bamboo, ebony,

maple, sandalwood and more.

and for 'diary of this girl' readers, you can enter here to win

a $100 e-gift code to use on jord wood watches!

additionally, all entrants will win a $25 e-gift code when the 

contest is complete (ending 2/19/17 at 11:59pm). be sure to enter now! 

photos by jenn from hello rigby

Watches Made From Wood

**this is a sponsored post. jord graciously

provided me with the watch pictured in this post.

as per usual, all opinions are my own!