Rocked it & Swapped it (Twice!)

There are a few items that Lisa and I have swapped countless times and this Golden Tote dress is a prime example. Having a difference of 6 inches in height can make it difficult for us to share some items but this dress fits us both like a glove.

The playful pattern makes it fun to remix and provides the ultimate pop(s) of color for sunny summer days. I love wearing it with my favorite jean jacket (but really, is there anything I CAN’T work with a jean jacket?) and I’m obsessed with the way Lisa wore it with her gorgeous teal heels from just fab.  

Next time I find this baby in my swap bag, it's time to try a metallic belt...that would dress it up perfectly for wedding season!

Do you have any items in your closet that you can never tire of? 

Cooled Down Summer Style

 

This really has been the strangest summer weather wise.
Lately, it's in the lower 70's as the high temperature for the day. That is fine by me as long as the higher temps come back and we can have a few more pool days before school starts! 

This is a prefect example of my "mom style" for everyday wear. Jeans and flats with a flowy blouse is just the thing for days you are on the go with your kids. 

I love the butterfly print on this peplum and the color is perfect for the spring/summer months. 

Peplum Top: Lauren Conrad // Jeans: Jennifer Lopez // Bag: c/o Sole Society // Shoes: Loft // Watch: Fossil // Charm Bracelet: Alex and Ani // Sunnies: Ray Ban 

What is your go-to style for cooler summer days? What is your idea of perfect everyday wear?

Time for a Face-Lift...

Broadway comes to Ravinia

Our family plans a Ravinia outing every summer and it's a tradition I look so forward to. I would eat outside every day if I could, so this is my ultimate setting and I couldn’t ask for anything more when it comes to the ambiance. I’ve never had a desire to sit in the pavilion because there’s something much more idyllic about packing a picnic, taking your shoes off in the grass and sharing the moment with thousands of other families and groups of friends. 

In previous years, we have seen Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Tony Bennett (my favorite!) and this year, an evening of Broadway music performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was a choice selected for my Dad, as we were celebrating his birthday and I think the best part was after we got all of our chairs and food set up, at the same time my Mom and Dad looked around us and said, “I’m really happy right now”…That’s all we could ask for.

Shorts: LOFT (similar) // T: LOFT (my FAVORITE T!)  // Sandals and Sunnies: Old Navy // Belt: Vintage 

 Hat and Bag: Fashion Q // Necklace: E Street Denim // Bracelet: LOFT

Have you ever been to Ravinia? What is your favorite summer concert location?

Blog of the Month: Frankie Hearts Fashion

We have been big fans of Frankie Hearts Fashion for years and can't get enough of Nicole's effortlessly flawless style. She is currently pregnant and we are loving her pregnancy style in which she continues to hit the nail on the head by mixing dressy and casual, eccentric and classic looks. 

Some of our favorite maternity looks from Nicole:

Who are your favorite style bloggers?

Rocked it & Swapped it

Kaitlyn got this amazing tunic and wore it for a day on the pier at our family lake house. Since it's from Coolibar, the cover-up is sun protection you wear (UPF 50+) and that is something we all could use in our daily life.

When I wore it, I was spending the day out in my backyard. Hey, it's not as glamours as a day at the pier but I still needed the sun protection. That's the great thing about this line, it is functional for everyday wear, yet it is still stylish! 

Here is how we both styled the tunic:

My kids played in our blow-up pool, on the slip n' slide, and I joined in too. I mean, you really are never too old to slip n' slide. When I was not under the umbrella for shade, the cover-up still had me covered and with my skin, that is a must. 

Tunic: c/o Coolibar (Swap w/ Kaitlyn) // Hat: Forever 21 // Sunnies: Prada // Natural Sunscreen: Sunology and Honest 

What do you use/wear for sun protection? Do you shop at Coolibar?

Midi Skirt Inspiration

In a recent swap on BISTM, I traded Johanna a polka dot top for her blue midi skirt and I am very happy with the outcome. I have been relying on midi skirts quite a bit this summer because the length is appropriate for the office but still keeps me cool when I venture out into the heat for a lunch break. I couldn't pass up this skirt because it's my absolute favorite color blue (see bridesmaid dresses) and I loved the button details down the front.

I am always looking for style inspiration so I collected a few of my favorite ways that fellow bloggers wore their blue midi's in order to create a look that was all my own.

merch maven // cotton and curls // what i wore

(i spy a 4-legged photo bomber....)

Top: Target // Skirt: Forever 21 (similar) // Bag: Fashion Q // Bracelets: Target // Necklace: Target // Sunnies: Old Navy

What do you think of the midi style? 

Outdoor Concert Style

It's that time of year again! You know, my favorite time of year when live music and festivals are popping up every weekend. You can generally count on lots of walking, eating, and great music. But what do you wear to these type of events? Enter, outdoor concert style.

For a more relaxed look on a beautiful day that was thought to turn into a cooler night, I paired my cutoffs with ankle boots and a loose fitting blouse. I of course ditched the boots and went barefoot on our blanket, but I was happy to have them when I saw a few muddy puddles during our walks to and from the car. I also kept the jewelry to a minimum because nothing is worse then dancing then realizing you lost some items. I mean...that's what happens when I dance anyway!

Top: Love Marks (via TSF Box Service) // Shorts: Victoria's Secret // Bag & Boots: Just Fab // Sunnies: Prada // Initial Necklace: House of Gemmes // Hashtag Ring: T+J Designs // Watch: Fossil

Do you love attending outdoor live music concerts? What's your go-to style for days/nights like this one?

Shine Bright Like A…Sequin.

Swap Not Shop

Whenever we ("need") a new shirt for an event or because we're tired of looking at our own wardrobes, Lisa and I text each other with, "time for a new swap?" It is so much more cost-effective to borrow a new piece of clothing from your best girlfriend or sister rather than rushing out to the mall to purchase an item you may only wear once. We also both swap quite a bit with other users on bistm which is fun a way to meet new people and update your clothes in the process.

To wear our love for swapping on our sleeve (or chest, in this case) we created another graphic T and HiCustom was perfect for customization and pricing. I loved wearing the T with jeans on a cool summer day and I know Lisa can't wait for it to show up in her swap bag ;)

Jacket: J. Crew (similar) // T: HiCustom // Jeans: LOFT // Shoes: Old Navy // Purse: Persun // Glasses: Target

And then I swapped my jean jacket for the warmth of this cute 4-legged friend...

Do you ever swap clothes with someone close to you? 

Rocked it & Swapped it (2 Items, 2 Ways)

A great sheer knit is a wardrobe staple for summer. So is a straw fedora or panama style hat.

Kaitlyn got this beautiful top from H&M and I found this hat at Forever 21, both picked up a few months back. 

When she wore the top up north, it was styled over her bathing suit early in the day, then over a gray tee that night. A sheer knit really is such a great layering piece to have in your closet for those cooler summer evenings! She also added the hat to finish her post-beach look off. 

I too wore her top at the lake house, but this time over 4th of July weekend. I put it on over a swing dress to stay warm on the pier at night and had my hat on all day for sun protection. 

Her is how we both styled the top and hat as a pair: 

Do you own either or both of these items? What are two of your summer style wardrobe staples?

Trading in my LBD for a LWD

I've always been a fan of a great LBD, but lately I'm loving switching it up and trying out an all white look.
Nothing says summer like a little white dress. Add the eyelet detail and this was one I just couldn't pass up!

 I was attending my nephew's birthday party this day so I kept the styling simple by adding minimal gold jewelry, brown sandals, and putting my hair in a simple bun. This look was easy and breezy and I couldn't resist a few times twirling in this pretty number. I mean, a girl has got to twirl every now and then.

Dress: Victoria's Secret (currently on sale!)  // Bag: Just Fab // Shoes: Target // Sunnies: Ray Ban // Watch: Fossil // Flash Tattoos: Boutique to You // Bangle: c/o It's a Bling Thing // Arrow Necklace: c/o Sarah Aghili 

Do you have a favorite LWD? What do you think of this one?