Rocked it & Swapped it

Blouse: Express (Similar)

On the list of wardrobe staples, a well-tailored blouse is pretty close to the top. A crisp white button-down is the ultimate cool girl piece (not Gillian Flynn style) because it transforms so well whether you’re wearing distressed denim or a body hugging pencil skirt. 

But there’s always something about a bright pop of color and that’s what I loved about Lisa’s green blouse. I don’t own many items in this color but I received many compliments while wearing it and I enjoyed feeling instantly put together without putting in a lot of work. 

P.S. CK Underwear is 25% off through October 13! The discount will automatically apply at checkout so there is no need to enter a coupon code. You're welcome, ladies! 

Connecting the Dots

We recently celebrated our Grandmother’s 85^th birthday and every year on that day, I count my blessings that she’s still healthy (relatively) and happy. However, part of me always wonders if this year will be the last, so I try to treasure these moments as much as I can, even conversations like the following:

Grandma: “So, those shoes are the new style these days?”

Me: “Booties? Yeah, I guess so, they’re pretty popular. What do you think of them?”

Grandma: “You DON’T want to know what I think of them”…

Lisa, our girl cousins and I are used to comments like this, as she often doesn’t understand current trends in fashion and pop culture. I remember how confused she was that I was wearing blue shoes for my wedding (“don’t you want to wear satin white?”) but on the day of, she told me how beautiful they looked. I have to remind myself how different things looked to her in the late 20’s and 30’s when she was a young woman.

It’s easy to get irritated when she doesn’t understand things that seem so simple to us. Then I think about how fast the world flies by her as she watches it from the window in her condo, her comfort zone, and I realize she’s just trying her best to keep up and connect the dots…but aren’t we all?

Jacket: Forever 21 (for sale in my closet) // Top: Old Navy // Skirt: Old Navy // Booties: Just Fab (similar)

 Hat: Nine West (via BISTM- Lisa's Closet)  (similar) // Bag: Just Fab (similar) // Sunglasses: Old Navy

Rocked it & Swapped it

This is one of my favorite R+S's to date because A) I had no idea we could both pull up such a bright yellow and B) Lisa makes me want to pull a Joan Jett and wear this with an edge next time it gets pulled from my closet. I first wore this to my brother's concert at House of Blues and Lisa styled the top for casual day wear -- kudos to Lisa for pairing with our current #JustFab love, the zyree booties..it automatically gives the feminine lace a masculine tone and that, I'm kind of loving ;)

The minute I spotted this shirt, I knew I had to have it but that's how I feel about most pieces from Apricot Lane -- it has quickly become one of my go-to shopping stops. I stumbled upon it while out with my Mom one night and needless to say, neither of us walked out of there empty handed.

All of the pieces are handpicked by the owner so the inventory is largely unique and I often find pieces that stand out from your general fashion and trends spotted at the mall. They upload new items to their facebook almost every day so it definitely takes some restraint on my end to now show up there every day...

Here are a few of our favorite current Apricot Lane looks:

Do you have any store recommendations for unique picks?

Blog of the Month: A Fashion Love Affair

Blogger Cara McLeay shares her inspirations and love for fashion, travel and everything in between on A Fashion Love Affair. Chronicling her daily life and style has taken her on a journey from fashion enthusiast to industry professional, now the senior buyer at Vancouver's first concept store, Secret location, FLARE Magazine's Localist-At-Large, and freelances in styling & social media consulting.

Cara has great style that looks effortless and perfectly unpolished...
Here's some of our favorite looks:

What stands out about YOUR favorite fashion bloggers?

Layering a Skirt Over a Dress, Why Not?

Sometimes when I wear a tank top with a maxi skirt, I feel like the top bunches up or doesn't stay tucked in properly. With that in mind, I decided to layer my maxi skirt over a midi dress to solve that problem. It ended up working out perfectly!

I mixed my neutrals this day adding a brown bag, black heels, and lots of easy silver jewelry.

Midi Dress (worn as a tank): c/o Choies // Skirt: Romwe // Shoes: Just Fab // Bag: Piperlime // Jacket: Pepe Jeans // Necklace: XO Veronika // Sunnies: Prada // Watch: Movado // Bracelet: c/o Original Chain of Life 

This look was perfect for lunch at our favorite place in Wisconsin, Pier 290.

Have you ever layered a dress under a skirt? What do you think of this pairing?

Blog of the Month

This month’s blogger spotlight is not only one of our favorite fashionable women but also someone who has become a nice friend. Mary of Sportsanista is kind, talented, exceedingly beautiful and the owner of a closet that will make you swoon. 

Just ask Lisa and I...The first time we met her at a Bobbi Brown event a few years back, we both agreed she had an amazing sense of style so we had to approach her and the rest is history. She recently hosted a memorable blogger brunch at her place in the city and we can’t wait to return the favor and get together again.

Here are just a few of Mary's looks that we adore:

She makes her outfits look so effortlessly chic, no? Do you love Mary's style as much as we do?

Rocked it & Swapped it

Who doesn't love a great item of clothing in an animal print? No seriously, I'm asking? Personally, I am under the assumption that we all need a touch (or TONS) of animal print in our lives. This beautiful cheetah print tank from H&M is the super versatile and can be worn year round. 

Kaitlyn recently styled her tank tucked into a pink maxi skirt and paired it with a denim jacket. I personally am in love with the entire outfit. In fact, I may recreate her look (thanks for the inspiration, Katie!)

When I wore it back in May, it was all about layers and mixing it with nude and gold accessories. 

Here are both of our looks:

Do you have a favorite animal print item of clothing? How would you style this tank?

Shop the Looks: 

I Found My Love In Avalon

My husband and I recently returned to Catalina Island, the site of our engagement 2.5 years ago to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. I still have the note in my phone on the “notepad” app that I wrote that day so I wouldn’t forget a single moment…

“After our romantic dinner, we walked through Avalon and ended up stumbling upon a little drink stand by the ocean so I ordered two lemon drops for us and we toasted to being engaged…I’ve never felt happier in my entire life! Mike told me that he chose to propose on Catalina so it could be considered our place to always come back to and I can’t wait until we do.”

While I thought nothing could be better than that day, this trip was absolutely amazing. Our typical vacation is spent beach bumming with a side of drinks so we entertained our adventurous side this time by zip lining (holy shit, btw!), walking on the ocean floor, taking a tour of the famous casino, renting golf carts to explore the island and experiencing our first massage together! There are no words to describe my love for the island but there certainly are photos in which my smile says it all…

Jacket: J. Crew (similar)  // Skirt: LOFT // Tank: H&M // Sunnies: Old Navy // Bracelet: LOFT 

Sandals: Old Navy // Bag: Persun (Swap w/ Lisa) 

Here is a shot from our engagement day...

and our return to that spot :)

A few fun shots from our trip...

Do you have a special vacation spot that you always return to?

Shop The Look: Summer Style

If you are like us, you are always looking on Pinterest for style inspiration. There are so many beautiful street style photos out there, how can you not be inspired?

This summer is all about effortless looks that are easy and breezy. Here are a two looks that we are definitely going to recreate:

(source)

(source) 

What do you think of these looks? What is you idea of the perfect summer outfit?