SPOTTED (+ A GIVEAWAY!)

photos by sara walk

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j.crew tee (similar)

similar blazer (on sale!)

dittos jeans, c/o

shoemint "classic pump" heels, c/o

quilted crossbody bag (on sale right now for under $25!)

Dalmation (or maybe it's snow leopard?) print is one of those prints that can be classic, chic, fun, and edgy all at the same time. I've never owned anything in this print, although I've been searching for a good fabric to make a shift dress like this dalmation print dress that I pinned a year ago, so when I spotted (pun intended) these heels at ShoeMint I was instantly sold. They're a perfect pop of pattern to amp up a basic jeans and tee outfit like I did here, or would be so fun paired with a solid cobalt or leather dress, both of which are on my to-sew list.

ShoeMint also has a ton of other amazing shoes right now, most of which I would happily add to my closet. You guys know about this fabulous shoe website, right? It's a free, members-only website and once you sign up they give you personalized style recommendations, tips, and trend reports. All their shoes are super high quality and so luxurious (made of real leather, suede, and other amazing materials), and range in price from $70-$150. The best part is that they always have free shipping and free returns so you don't have to be afraid to order a pair of shoes online (which can be scary sometimes)!

Today ShoeMint is giving away one pair of shoes of your choice to one lucky winner!

To Enter:

• Visit Shoemint and sign up (free and no obligations!), then come back and leave a comment here with your favorite pair of shoes! Please include your email address in the comments so I can reach you if you win!

The giveaway is open to the US and Canada, and will be open for one week! And if you can't wait, get $40 (!!) off your first pair when you sign up here (for first time purchasers/members only)!

Thank you to BeachMint for sponsoring this post!

TWO WAYS TO WEAR A GRAPHIC TEE

photos by jylare

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outfit 1:

j.crew tee (sold out, similar here, also loving this one, this one, and this one)

similar boyfriend jeans

j.crew panama hat

lulu*s sandals, c/o

forever 21 bag

similar sunglasses

outfit 2:

j.crew tee

similar skirt

inpink necklace, c/o

similar heels

similar bag

Graphic tee's are definitely one of my favorite summer staples. They're the best for dressing up and dressing down, and better yet they can be worn in all seasons. These are two ways that I wear them in the summer,  dressed up and down -- with boyfriend jeans and sandals for a day of errands or playing with my kids, or dressed up with a patterned pencil skirt and heels for date night. Pairing it with a gingham midi skirt like I did here is also so summery and chic. But during the fall and winter, they're also a great piece to just throw on and go. I'll be pairing mine with my leather leggings (or coated denim), under a jacket or vest, or with boots and leggings. The options are endless! 

click the images below to shop some of my favorite graphic tees around the web!

HOW TO STYLE A STRUCTURED JACKET

The structured jacket trend is one of my favorites right now. It's a perfect completer piece, and a closet essential that every woman should own. Don't confuse them with blazers -- these jackets don't have lapels, and they're usually a little more cropped and boxy than a standard blazer.

I've seen them in all shapes and sizes, some patterned, some basic, some tweed, and they're all amazing. BUT, they need to be styled properly to insure that you don't walk out of the house looking like Professor Umbridge (especially if your jacket is tweed!)

photos by sara walk

4 TIPS FOR STYLING A STRUCTURED JACKET

1. Stay away from matchy-matchy. This is a sure way to get you into Umbridge territory. Also, it will give the feeling of a pant suit, which can look dated. So if you're jacket is red, like mine, stay away from red bottoms (or any hue close to red). If your jacket is gray, be careful with black, gray, or white bottoms. You get the idea.

2. Add some contrast. I threw on some distressed jeans to create some good contrast against the structure and maturity of the jacket. They offset each other nicely to create an outfit that isn't too structured or too casual. 

3. Add a touch of playfulness. Another way to add contrast, similar to the distressed jeans, is to add a playful piece, like a graphic tee, a baseball cap, or some tennis shoes.

4. Create balance in your outfit with nicer accessories. If your outfit is entirely casual, but you've thrown a nice structured jacket on, the jacket will look out of place and your outfit won't have balance. Add some nice, sparkly jewelry, or a pair of heels to strike the perfect balance between dressy and casual. 

(and if you're looking for a few good jacket options, I shared a few of my favorite structured jackets over on Babble)

jacket: c/o lulu*s

tee: made by me (tutorial here)

jeans: gap

heels: rock and republic (similar)

ray-bans: c/o sunglasses shop (similar)

bracelets: c/o the shine project (10% off with code 'merricksart10')

BOX PLEATED SKIRT TUTORIAL

I'm not sure how much longer I can possibly drag out Alt Summit, but here we are over a month later and I'm still bringing it up. The last night was the mini parties, and for this night I wanted an outfit that was fun. I don't know where the idea came from, but suddenly a graphic top and a pleated striped skirt was stuck in my brain and not going anywhere. 

I searched high and low for some good fabric, until one day I ran across the perfect striped fabric at IKEA of all places. I know! It's a home decor fabric so it's a super heavy weight cotton, but since I wanted something full and poofy, it did the trick. I'm not wearing it these photos, but for the parties I threw my tulle skirt on underneath it and it became a big, huge bell, swinging around all night. I loved it. 

The zebra sweater, glitter pumps, and big, colorful statement necklace were the perfect finishing touches, and made an unbelievably fun night even better. Before we get to the outfit and tutorial, I had to share a few quick photos from the party night...

kissing booth with Leanne and Ryan // chatting with the gorgeous Whippy Cake & Bella the Blog

hilary, nicole, uyen, me and leanne at the secret garden party // abby, leanne, me, and janssen at susan's epic shark tank viewing/dance party

Ok, on to the main event. 

 

photos by Jylare Smith

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sweater: old navy

necklace: c/o lulu*s

skirt: made by me (similar)

shoes: made by me 

bag: similar

rings: c/o inpink & hello fab

nails: c/o cult cosmetics "los feliz"

lips: pop beauty "fuschia freesia"

watch: michael kors

sunglasses: c/o lulu*s 

Click through for the full tutorial! 

BONJOUR

Honestly I can't believe it's Friday already -- this week has flown by. We've been getting back in our routine again after Thanksgiving vacation, getting used to eating normal sized meals and not eating dessert after every meal, and I've been working like crazy on the new blog design! Time to relax this weekend with some hot chocolate and time with my boys. Happy weekend! 

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sweater: diy (tutorial here) - similar and similar at Asos (30% off sitewide right now & 5% cash back through ShopAtHome!)

skirt: target (similar)

boots: c/o chicwish

mug: target

jacket: c/o chicwish

bag: c/o lily & jade

(pillows from west elm, couch from macy's, lamp from pottery barn, rug from overstock.com)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

check out what I've been writing at Babble lately!

How to Wear the Same Dress To Multiple Holiday Parties (without anyone noticing!)

10 (non-tacky) Ways to Wear Red and Green During the Holidays

9 Tips to Stylishly Surviving The Winter Months

BLACK AND ORANGE

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jacket: choies c/o
tee: made by me (tutorial here)
skirt: target (i sized up and then took in the sides so the length was longer)
bag: oasap c/o
flats: target

Here we are a month later, just posting about my last outfit of Sewing Summit weekend. But day three of Sewing Summit was such a blast. These conferences where like-minded women are able to get together, kid-free, are amazing, and I now understand why women make such an effort to attend them -- you walk away feeling inspired, motivated, and understood. The downside is that between all the fun, learning, and partying, there's not much time for sleeping. My Polo Refashion class was the last class on the last day, so by the time it rolled around I was completely exhausted. Thankfully a bit of nervousness and adrenaline pushed me through.

Everyone came with an oversized polo, and working in a room full of amazing Bernina machines, we refashioned each of them into pretty blouses. Teaching is not really the direction I want to go, but watching these women creating something that they loved and would actually wear was such a thrill.

check out a few of my student's before and afters!

rach of family ever after

kristine 

stephanie of from woo to you

lynn of craft stew

kaylee of frauntie k quilts

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Also, check out my Babble posts for the month!

• Interpreting Holiday Party Dress Codes (Black Tie, Semi-Formal, Business Formal, & Festive Attire)
• Pairing accessories so they compliment, not compete
• Man in the Yellow Hat Costume Tutorial
• 10 Festive Halloween Pieces for the Woman Who Doesn't Like To Dress Up
• My top 5 Go-To Outfits For Fall
• How To Wear A Midi Skirt Without Looking Stumpy
• A Beginner's Guide to Pattern Mixing