RAIDING MY SISTER'S CLOSET: HATS

OUTFIT DETAILS:  OLD CARDIGAN, SIMILAR HERE and HERE  ||  BLACK TUNIC  ||  JEANS  || ANKLE BOOTS  ||  BALI ELF FRINGE BAG, c/o  ||  FEDORA

Hats are one of my very favorite accessories as a mom. Last week I blogged about my hair routine, and mentioned that I go almost two weeks between washes most of the time. For that last day or two before my wash, hats are my saving grace. The problem with hats is that they're not created equally -- what works for one person does not work for everyone else. And between all the available styles of hats, it's hard to find one that fits your style AND looks good on you.

My top hat choice is definitely a baseball cap (and I live in them during the summer), but during the cooler months I love a good wool fedora. I bought four or five different styles and brands before I found this grey Brixton one, and as soon as I tried it on I knew it was perfect. The brim is just the right width, the color is perfect, and it's slightly floppy without being a floppy hat. You can find me wearing this all Fall, Winter, and Spring long...and when you see it, you can pretty much guarantee I have dirty hair under there.

Now hop over to my sister's Janssen and Landen's blogs to check out what hats they love.

   

LITTLE BLACK BOOTS

OUTFIT DETAILS: FRINGE CAPE  ||  SIMILAR T-SHIRT ||  BLACK JEANS  ||  CLARK ANKLE BOOTS via ZAPPOS  ||  FLOPPY HAT (SIMILAR HERE)

Since last year, I've been on the hunt for a little black ankle boot. I owned one or two pairs, but I almost never wore them because they were uncomfortable or didn't work with any of my clothes. You know, one of those pairs that looks good sitting there, but once you put it it just never looks good with anything. I own entirely too many tan and brown ankle boots, but I could just never find a black pair that I really loved.

So I've been trying a few pairs this year to find ones that fit my lifestyle, look good dressed up or dressed down, work for all weather (since apparently we're supposed to get a ton of rain this winter), and look good on my feet. In my search, I stumbled across this pair by Clarks. I already own one pair of Clarks (I wore them in my instagram post last night right here) so I knew how comfortable this brand was, and they sell them at Zappos, which by now you should know that I absolutely love based on their fast and free shipping and 365 day returns (a mom's best friend).

Most of my ankle boots are very similar to each other -- almond toe, stacked wooden heel, low cut -- so I decided to try something different with this pair and I fell in love with them the moment they arrived. They checked off everything in my above laundry list of black ankle boot requirements. I styled them with a beautiful fringe kimono cardigan and black floppy hat, but they'll also look great with distressed skinny jeans, knee-length dresses, plaid button ups, and so much more.

Check out Clark's entire new fall shoe collection right here!

photos by rad and happy  |  created in partnership with zappos and clarks

3 TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING YOUR WARDROBE TO FALL

OUTFIT DETAILS: tunic | jeans here and here (extra distressing by me) | sandals (more sizes here) | envelope crossbody bag | pendant necklace (similar here) | floppy hat (under 30!)

photos by sara walk

Back to school is right around the corner, Halloween decorations are starting to show up in stores, and probably many of you, like me, are starting to get the Fall itch. Time to pull out all the sweaters and boots! But since it's still warm enough for summer clothes, here's a few tips for transitioning your wardrobe so you feel like Fall, but you won't overheat in layers.

1. Pull out the dark hues. Burgundy, olive, burnt orange, mustard, or plaid...wearing anything in these colors or patterns will instantly make you feel ready for Autumn. Just find lightweight blouses, button ups, or simple dresses in these colors, rather than sweaters or jackets so you beat the heat but still feel seasonal.

2. Try festive accessories. You don't need a full Fall outfit to feel ready for the season. Swap out your pink and orange nail polish for burgundy or navy blue. Add ankle boots to your summer dress. Pair your lightweight blouse with a floppy wool hat. Small doses will give you the feel without the layers. 

3. Wear your Fall layers unexpectedly. You can still pull out your scarves, jackets, and sweaters -- just tie your sweaters and jackets around your waist for a layered (but much cooler) look, or tie your scarf around your purse strap. It helps add the amazing textures and layers that come during the cooler months, but won't have you sweating your buns off all day. 

And if all else fails, just go make something pumpkin flavored ;) 

Any other tips for transitioning to Fall? I'm suddenly craving crunchy leaves, cable knit sweaters, and apple cider like crazy. 

DIY FRIDAY: TROPICAL FLORALS + BOXY SHIFT DRESS TUTORIAL

OUTFIT DETAILS: dress: made by me, fabric designed by me, printed by spoonflower || BCBG block heels via DSW || similar straw hat || karen walker sunglasses via dittos eyewear, c/o

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA WALK

One of my biggest challenges when creating my own clothes is finding fabrics that I love and match my mental vision. I don't know why it hadn't dawned on me to create my own textiles, but when I received my Sprout by HP and started playing around with its capabilities, the idea just came and wouldn't go away. 

My inspiration was the tropical getaway my husband and I are taking at the end of this month, as well as my current favorite color combination -- blue and violet. With the two combined (and the help of some google images of flowers), I drew out this floral pattern using my Sprout. I printed the fabric on spoonflower.com, choosing their modern jersey fabric option, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the result!  

After the fabric arrived, I debated on what to make with it and finally decided on a basic boxy shift dress with 3/4 sleeves with a small cuff at the end. The shape allows the dress to be casual enough for the beach, but it can also be dressed up with heels and jewelry for a nice dinner on our vacation. 

The tutorial is super easy, and today I'm sharing it for DIY Friday!  Click through to find it!

3 FESTIVE OUTFITS FOR ALL YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES

It's holiday party season, and with one party after another on our calendar, I have party attire on the brain! So I teamed up with Lulu*s today to create three festive outfits that you can wear to your parties, no matter what's the dress code!

First up, DRESSY. A little red dress is the perfect option since it's classic, but also so festive. Let the dress do the talking, so keep the rest of your outfit slightly lower key. I went with a simple black and white jacket, black glittery clutch, and nude heels (although when I wore this outfit to Philip's work party over the weekend, he picked out black stilettos for me instead, which also looked great). 

lulu*s dress, c/o

sheinside jacket

bcbg heels via dsw

 lulu*s clutch, c/o

urban outfitters sunglasses

accessory concierge cuff, c/o

leila jewelry love knot necklace, c/o

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Next up, FESTIVE. Or semi-casual. This is my favorite dress code because you can really do anything, and it gives you a chance to pull out your funnest holiday attire. For me, it's all about the sequins, baby! I toned my sequin pencil skirt with super casual pieces -- a striped tee, fringed ankle boots, and a pom-pom knit beanie. Can I wear this outfit every single day? 

boden tee, similar here and here

lulu*s skirt, c/o

steve madden ankle boots via lulu*s, c/o

pom-pom beanie via tjmaxx, c/o (similar here)

accessory concierge cuff, c/o

 lulu*s clutch, c/o

inpink double crossed ring, c/o

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And last, but not least, CASUAL. Even if the dress code is casual, I'm a firm believer you should still dress festively (and always overdress a little)! I paired a simple red and green outfit with this pretty green plaid blouse and my favorite holiday shoes, and then toned it all down with distressed denim. 

lulu*s blouse, c/o

dittos jeans, c/o

ann marino pumps via tjmaxx (last year), similar here

similar quilted crossbody bag

urban outfitters sunglasses

michael kors watch

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA LAURENE

Also, to go with my holiday outfits, I wore my clip in Luxy hair extensions to make my hair look full and fabulous! Use coupon code LUXYMERRICK for $5 your order of luxies!

So which one is your favorite? And what will you be wearing to your holiday parties??

MID WEEK STEALS: COLD-WEATHER HATS

Last summer I discovered hats. And now they are my best friends. They're such a great outfit completer, perfect for bad hair days, and just a fun accessory. Plus they come in so many great styles. Summer always seems like a great time to wear hats since I'm at the beach all the time and it's hot and sunny, but Fall and Winter are even better seasons to pull out your hats to keep your head warm and complete your cozy cold-weather look.

Here's a few of my favorites, all for under $40! Do yourself a favor and add a couple to your closet this season. Oh, and I'll be doing a styling post in a few weeks sharing how to style some of these types of hats this season, so watch for that!

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

or click through the images below to shop my favorites!

HOW TO STYLE IT: SNEAKERS FOR FALL

outfit 1:
dots canvas bucketfeet sneakers, c/o

dress made by me (similar here and here -- tutorial coming in a few weeks!)

j.crew hat

nordstrom bag (sold out -- similar here)

outfit 2:
richer poorer sun bucketfeet sneakers, c/o

old navy jacket (sold out -- similar here, here, and here)

ily couture tee, c/o

sheinside leather leggings, c/o (similar here)

lily jade bag, c/o

urban outfitters sunglasses

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA LAURENE

Today I'm really excited to introduce you to BucketFeet, an artist-designed footwear brand that is changing the way people interact with art. As an artist myself, I love seeing art and style mixed together (in fact, it's giving me the itch to paint some fabric or something), and when you can make an amazing shoe that is crazy versatile and insanely comfortable, you know I'll be all over that.

All of BucketFeet's amazing shoes are designed by graffiti artists, tattooists, illustrators, writers, and other awesome original creators from around the world, and I love how each of them is so unique and interesting and tells a story. The entire purpose of this brand is to connect people and start a conversation, and they totally do because it's literally like wearing a piece of art right on your feet! They have more than 20 new styles for Fall, and with sneakers being huge this year, they're the perfect addition to your closet. Plus, they have styles for not only women, but also for men and kids!

Typically I think of pairing my sneakers with just jeans and a tee (and I certainly do that a lot), but there are so many fun and interesting ways you can wear your sneakers this Fall. Try them like I did here with a dress and baseball cap for a sporty chic look, or with a pair of leather pants and a camo jacket for an edgy, but laid back look for Fall. They also look amazing with shorts, skirts, white denim, distressed denim, maxi dresses, tunics and leggings -- seriously, everything. If you haven't hopped on the sneaker trend train, now is the time.

Here are a few of my faves:

Splash // Peacock 

Pineappleade // Delta

Sentrock // Kinetics

And, since I know you'll want a pair too, BucketFeet is generously offering 25% off your entire purchase to the first 25 buyers with promo code MERRICK25, so hurry, hurry and snag yourself a pair (and then try not to wear them every single day of the week!)