dressing for spring in the pacific northwest

spring has finally arrived in seattle.

while summer is my favorite season (i love,

love the sunshine), spring is a close second.

the blooming flowers, increasingly long days,

and warming temperatures, i can't help but feel excited.

i also enjoy seeing fellow seattleites exploring

our city!

the key to surviving spring in the pacific

northwest, however? dressing in layers! keep

that sweater, sweatshirt, and/or rain jacket

close at hand because the weather can (and will) 

change quickly. if you're like me, you may

conveniently forget said sweater or jacket and find

yourself caught in an epic spring storm.

^^^ quick aside--i recently had my eyebrows microbladed,

and these were the first photos taken after my session

with amanda at eastside microblading. i have my touch-up

session later this weekend and cannot wait to see her again! ^^^

one of the ways in which i add versatility to my

wardrobe, while dressing appropriately for spring, is

to throw on a crew-neck sweater over a dress. 

don't get me wrong, a cardigan over a dress or a skirt +

sweater combination is just as fun, but there is something

to be said about a this crew-neck sweater and dress. perhaps 

it makes me look (or feel) taller? i have been on a 

sweater kick as of late, and this fuzzy cream sweater

is one of my favorites!

i also love pairing my booties with skirts, dresses, 

and denim come spring. hello, bare legs.

this pair of dolce vita pointed-toe boots is perfect

in the pacific northwest. whether rain or shine,

my feet are dry and look stylish. i can't wait to pair

these booties with cropped and/or white denim!

layers are seemingly essential in the

pacific northwest. regardless of the season, 

be sure to wear (or pack) layers. i am 

almost always cold, so having a sweater

or jacket nearby is very important. in warmer

climates, a light scarf or sweater can also be helpful.

buying neutral colors, such as this sweater 

and bag can also extend the wear of your spring

wardrobe. both of these items can be styled

in a variety of ways. i wore this crew-neck

sweater with ripped jeans and converse last weekend.

cream and white are classics for spring, and 

they can be dressed up with accessories

or dressed down when unadorned.

light-weight fabrics are your friend.

unlike years past, this spring has felt

particularly humid in seattle. i am chilly

in the morning, yet sweating when racing to

catch my bus after work. fabrics such as

cotton, linen, chiffon, and hemp are

breathable when humidity is high.

photos by sarah wolfe photography

dress: lush clothing, sweater: nordstrom rack,

booties: dolce vita, purse: zara, rings: target

how do you dress appropriately for spring?

any tips for dressing in layers? if so, please

send them my way!

xoxo.

how to wear sneakers with a dress

while this isn't a new trend for 2017, pairing sneakers with a

dress is somewhat new to me! i have always enjoyed

wearing my beloved white converse with various dresses and skirts.

however, it was not until recently that i felt

comfortable (or perhaps confident enough) wearing

athletic-looking sneakers with anything other than active wear;

in my mind, sneakers were meant to be worn to the gym,

but clearly, i have been missing out! 

of course, sneakers may not be appropriate with all

dresses (or subsequently, in all environments). a cocktail party, for 

example, would require a more formal shoe. additionally, when

attending a meeting with my supervisor, i trade in my sneakers

for a ballet flat or ankle boot.

disclosure: brooks graciously provided us with the sneakers

photographed in this post. all opinions are my own!

a few weekends ago, jenn (fellow blogger and friend from

 hello rigby) and i spent an afternoon in the city and styled our 

sneakers two ways: the first was a casual look (blogged here), and 

today, we are back wearing our brooks heritage

shoes with a dressier outfit in mind. we had fun collaborating!

putting these outfits together, and seeing the way jenn wore

her shoes, provided me with a few ideas on how else

i can style my sneakers -- hello sneakers with rompers, 

floral shorts, etc. etc.

^^^ great minds think alike --

pink sneakers call for matching pink bags! ^^^

when putting together this outfit, i wanted the focus

to be my shoes. thus, i avoided a printed dress (as i thought

it might look too busy and/or distracting), and chose a simple white, 

lace dress. unfortunately, i purchased this dress last season, but i have

seen similar styles in a variety of department stores this year. the dress

is feminine, and the sporty sneakers are a fun addition!

whether you're a new or longtime brooks lover, be

sure to order these ice cream inspired sneakers (or other

heritage style shoes) soon, as they are returning to the vault! this 

line was released to celebrate brooks' 100 year anniversary.

they will be available in store and online until they're sold out.

i am currently lusting after a few different pairs, as they're comfortable,

 affordable, and can seemingly be worn with anything!

 exploring upper queen anne required a stop at

top pot doughnuts for iced coffee, followed by a smoothie date

to emerald city smoothie. peaches and greens (complete with 

peach, spinach, banana, almonds and chia) 

is my go-to drink!

photos by karya schanilec photography

  on megan: 

dress: old navy (last year), denim jacket: asos,

purse: zara (exact here), sneakers: c/o brooks (exact here)

on jenn:

jumpsuit: sears, jacket: autumn olive boutique,

scarf: vintage (thrifted via value village),

purse: kate spade, sunglasses: foster grant via fred meyer,

sneakers: c/o brooks (exact here)

are you a fan of sneakers with dressier clothing items?
don't be afraid to pair your favorite spring dresses,
skirts and rompers with sneakers; it adds a fun pop
to your outfit and will keep you comfortable while enjoying
other springtime activities -- on my ever-growing bucket list
this year? a visit to the tulip festival, attending a
taco truck showdown, and of course, frequent outdoor walks.

how do you typically style your casual shoes?
be sure to stop by jenn's blog to see her full look here.

xoxo.