RAIDING MY SISTER'S CLOSET: SUMMER WARDROBE WORKHORSES

SIMILAR TEE  ||  SIMILAR JACKET  ||  JEANS  ||  SNEAKERS  ||  HAT  ||  BAG  

One of my biggest tips for creating a great closet is to have wardrobe workhorses -- pieces that you cannot live without, go with everything, and make you feel amazing every time you wear them. Today my sisters and I are talking about our summer wardrobe workhorses, since warmer weather is finally coming! 

It was hard for me to choose just one, so I chose three of my wardrobe workhorses. And these aren't all specific to summer -- these pieces can work just as hard during the cooler months. 

1. Striped tee. This is an absolute must for every girl's closet, and absolutely one of my most worn pieces. It goes with everything, is easy to dress up or dress down, is such a classic piece, and every time I wear it I feel put together. During the summer I love wearing it with shorts and sandals, with a casual denim skirt or a dressy pleated skirt, or with jeans, a jacket, and a statement necklace for date night. 

I own several styles of striped tees -- long sleeved, short sleeve, half sleeve, fitted, swing, loose, etc, but when you're looking for one, try to find one that is really versatile, good quality and will last you a long time, and flatters your figure. I rounded up a few great options below at varying price points. 

Click the images to shop

2. Sneakers. Sandals are obviously a staple for the warmer months, but sneakers are just as much of a workhorse in my closet. Both lace up and slip on sneakers are easy to wear with shorts and jeans during the summer, but also look so cute with skirts and dresses.

I've rounded up some favorite sneakers below!

Click the images to shop

4. Hats. On those warm summer days, every girl needs a hat. Not only are they great for keeping the sun out of your face, they're also great for covering up dirty hair (which I have a lot of during the summer).  I usually opt for a baseball cap since they match my casual style, but straw boater hats are huge this season and I'm kind of loving them. I'm considering picking this one up for some of our summer vacations. Check out some more of my favorites in the widget below!

Click the images to shop

Now go check out my sister's, Janssen and Landen's, wardrobe workhorses!

   

photos by jylare smith

CLOSET STAPLES: GINGHAM BUTTON UP

OUTFIT DETAILS: GINGHAM BUTTON UP  | |  EYELET SKIRT (MADE BY ME, TUTORIAL HERE + SIMILAR HERE)  | |  SANDALS  | |  SIMILAR BAG  | |  WATCH  | |  RING

What seems like ages ago, I used to do a closet staples series here on my blog. It seemed like time to do another, so today I'm sharing one of my favorite closet essentials -- the gingham button up.

Gingham is one of those prints that works for all seasons, and a button up in this pattern is the perfect piece because you can wear it so many ways and for all different kinds of weather.

During the summer, I love tying the sleeves around my waist over a shift dress. In the fall, I wear it with a pair of jeans and ankle boots. In the winter, layer it under a sweater. And in the spring, wear it over a dress and button it up but tie the ends into a knot at your stomach.

My very favorite gingham button up is this one from j.crew factory, but I also love this larger check one that's under $15, and this one that has more of a boyfriend fit. This one has contrasting lining, which creates a pretty little detail, and this one in a lighter blue is so pretty.

Shop a few of my favorites in the widget below (click each image for details), and snag yourself one for Fall!

photos by jylare smith 

CLOSET ESSENTIALS, PART 3 // CHAMBRAY BUTTON UP

A few months ago I started a series about my closet essentials -- the pieces in my closet that I just can't live without. Today let's talk about chambray button ups. These are without a doubt one of the most versatile pieces in my closet. I remember a few years ago when people started wearing them, and I was super unsure of them, probably because my dad had a chambray button up and I often teased him about wearing it with his blue jeans (a look I wear regularly now. Sorry, Dad!).

I have a medium blue and a light blue one, and although my light blue one probably gets a little more use right now, they are definitely both staples.

photos by jylare smith

old navy chambray, c/o 

h&m denim, similar on sale!

similar bag

inpink necklace, c/o (similar here and here)

similar sunglasses

similar heels

HOW TO WEAR THEM:

The possibilities are literally endless. Try them tucked into a skirt, half tucked with jeans, unbuttoned with a tank or dress underneath for a laid back look; wear them with white, blue, or colored denim, wear them underneath a sleeveless dress, or tied in the front (like I did yesterday to church); wear them open and belted (or closed and belted), then wear the sleeves cuffed or half cuffed. The list could go on. Have I convinced you the possibilities are endless yet? 

WHERE TO BUY THEM:

Chambray button ups can be purchased almost anywhere, but I found a few of my current favorite ones. Click the images below to shop for them! 

See the first two parts of my closet essentials series here and here. 

p.s. Happy, happy birthday to my baby sister! Hop over to her blog or instagram and wish her a happy 25th!!

CLOSET ESSENTIALS, PART 2 // FIT + FLARE DRESS

A few weeks ago I posted Part 1 of my Closet Essentials Series. And in no particular order of favorites, here is part 2!

CLOSET ESSENTIAL 2 // FIT & FLARE DRESS

If you don't own a dress in this shape, go buy yourself one right now. This style of dress is so flattering, so versatile, and so on-trend. It's my absolute favorite dress style right now and is perfect for showing off your bare legs during the summer! I've been wearing this one constantly since I got it a few weeks ago!

photos by sara walk

old navy dress, c/o  

(I sized up for longer length and then altered it to fit -- tutorial coming soon!)

bcbg block heels via DSW 
(don't forget to enter my $250 DSW giveaway right here!) 

similar bag

inpink necklace, c/o

similar sunglasses

michael kors watch

HOW TO WEAR THEM:

• My Old Navy dress that I'm wearing here is made of a soft knit and obviously has a short sleeve. The combination of the two makes for a super versatile dress that can be dressed up or dressed down. I've worn it with my leopard sneakers and a pony tail for a super casual look, or here with heels and a statement necklace for a dressier ensemble. 
• For the sleeveless fit and flare dresses, the options are endless. I'd wear them layered with a chambray during the summer and a turtleneck during the winter. 
• If you wear a cardigan or jacket over it, make sure it hits near the dress's waistline -- either right at it, or slightly below. Shorter will look dated, and longer will cover the tiny waistline that these dresses give. 
• Try a vest with them -- I'm dying to try my olive utility vest with this dress!
• Belt it! To accentuate your tiny waist even more, try a belt. A skinny option usually looks best since it makes a slim line right around the waistband of the dress. 

WHERE TO BUY THEM:

I've rounded up a few of my favorites around the web -- check them out in the widget below! 

Are you guys rocking the fit and flare dress style yet??

Also, don't forget to enter my $250 DSW giveaway right here!

CLOSET ESSENTIALS, PART 1 // LEATHER ANKLE BOOTS (+ A GIVEAWAY!)

A few weeks ago I shared 5 tips for building a great wardrobe, and mentioned in that post that I was working on an updated closet staples series. Well, here we are. Part one of a Closet Essentials series. To be honest I'm not sure how many parts this series will have...maybe ten, maybe twenty. But I want to share my most worn, most loved, and most versatile pieces in my closet. The things I cannot live without. 

And along the way, I'll share how I style them, how you can style them, and a few places to find similar or identical items. Also, I should mention that these are no particular order.

CLOSET ESSENTIAL 1 // 

CLASSIC LEATHER ANKLE BOOTS

These have been something I've been on the hunt for for the last two years, at least, and although I've purchased and been sent a few pairs that were nice, they weren't real leather, and weren't a really classic pair. So it wasn't until I ran across these gorgeous leather ones at Nordstrom Rack a few weeks ago that the hunt was finally over.

photos by jylare smith

________________________

top: c/o lulu*s

jeans: c/o dittos

boots: nordstrom rack (similar)

sunglasses: c/o lulu*s

necklaces: c/o bip and bop, here and here (don't forget to enter the giveaway below!!)

watch: michael kors

bag: similar

Which Ones To Choose:

• The most classic pairs are a normal shaft height, no embellishments, and a block heel. 
• Choose black or brown, depending on your preference. Both are very classic and incredibly versatile
• If your legs and ankles are thin, low-cut, medium, and high shafts are great on you. If your legs and ankles are thicker, go for just the medium height, like mine. 
• Recognize these as an investment piece. If you can't afford real leather at this stage of your life and you really, really want a pair, look for pairs that have nice and realistic faux leather or faux suede. But for this particular item, it's worth it to save for a few months and then splurge on a nice pair because if you take care of them, they'll last you for years. 

How to wear them:

• I just wrote a post over at Babble about this very thing -- the Dos and Don'ts of Cuffing Your Jeans with Ankle Boots. Check it out and learn how to wear them with your jeans. 
• Wear them with dresses, skirts, jeans, shorts...you name it. These are one of the most versatile pairs of shoes you will own. And if they are a classic, unembellished pair, you will be able to wear them forever!

Where to Buy Them:

I've found some fantastic pairs of all shaft heights, heel heights, and materials, but all very classic and versatile.

Are you convinced to buy a pair yet? Trust me, you need them in your closet. They are an essential. 

Stay tuned for Closet Essentials, Part 2 coming up soon!

. . . . . . . . . . . 

And now for a fantastic giveaway from one of my amazing sponsors, Bip and Bop. It's a darling little etsy shop with the prettiest and most delicate jewelry. They're giving away $100 to their shop so you can pick yourself up a few pretty things to add to your closet! My favorite is her love letter necklaces, like the one she made for Philip and me, but I'm also obsessed with this gold feather necklace and the infinity bracelet. 

Enter with the Rafflecopter widget below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will be open for one week -- good luck, and Happy Wednesday!!