RAIDING MY SISTER'S CLOSET: DRESSED UP DRESSED DOWN

OUTFIT 1: TEE  |  SIMILAR JACKET  |  JEANS c/o PEA IN A POD  |  BAG  |  NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS  |  SUNGLASSES

OUTFIT 2:  TEE  |  SIMILAR LEATHER JACKET  |  JEANS  |  HEELS  |  BAG (made by me, similar here)  |  NECKLACE (similar here)

Dressed Up/Dressed Down posts are some of my favorites because they're always a good reminder of how versatile the pieces in my closet can be. Today for Raiding My Sister's Closet each of us are showing how to take a piece in our closet and dress it up and down. We each chose a different piece (per my request since the number of clothes I can fit into is shrinking daily), and I chose my trusty striped tee. Everyone should have a good striped tee in their closet...it's a classic and a staple. If you don't have one, I've linked to a few good options below, both maternity and non!

For a regular day of errands, school drop off and pick up, and being a mom, I usually go with a basic jeans and tee look. But to make the outfit more interesting, I add a lightweight jacket, a pair of distressed jeans, and a colorful pair of sneakers. Add a big bag to tote around all your necessities and you've nailed the momiform.

Then to dress it up for date night or girls night out, I swap out my distressed jeans for a dark wash skinny jean with no distressing, then add a leather jacket, a pair of black stilettos, and a pop of print with a leopard clutch. A statement necklace finishes off the look.

Shop my favorite striped tees below, and then check out Janssen and Landen's dressed up, dressed down looks!

   

photos by rad and happy 

MONDAY MOMIFORM: TWO WAYS TO ROCK YOUR YOGA PANTS

OUTFIT 1: TEE  ||  SIMILAR SCARF  ||  SIMILAR YOGA PANTS  ||  SIMILAR JACKET  ||  TOTE BAG  ||  WATCH  || SUNGLASSES  ||  ADIDAS SNEAKERS c/o RACK ROOM SHOES  

OUTFIT 2:  TEE  ||  SIMILAR JACKET HERE and HERE  ||  SIMILAR YOGA PANTS  ||  MK HANDBAG  ||  SIMILAR PLAID  ||  SIMILAR HAT  ||  ADIDAS SNEAKERS c/o RACK ROOM SHOES  

Have you guys heard of the "Athleisure" trend? It's everywhere right now and it's basically a busy/tired mom's dream come true. I think it all started with the sneaker trend (which you guys know I love), but it's morphed from there to include stylish gym-wear. And it basically gives you a free pass for wearing your yoga pants all day long. And heaven knows that at nearly 37 weeks pregnant, I'm taking every excuse I can. 

We all have days when we leave the gym or finish our at-home workout and just can't get ourselves out of those yoga pants for the rest of the day. So here's where Athleisure comes in and lets you leave those yoga pants on, but all you need is a few extra steps to make sure you don't look like you just left the gym (you know, sweaty with a dingy tank top and old athletic sneakers on...this is not athleisure). 

Take advantage of this mom-friendly trend, but here's a few ways to not abuse the yoga pants wearing privileges: 

1. Choose trendy, clean sneakers. With a million cute sneaker options out there right now, there's no reason why you should wear your old, ratty ones the entire day. Save those for the gym, because that's the only place they belong when paired with your yoga pants. I'm kind of in love with the Adidas sneaker that are coming back, so I chose this classic white pair from Rack Room Shoes, but Rack Room also has a ton of other great brands and styles that work for everyday wear and athletic activities. Styling your yoga pants with cute, clean sneakers makes your outfit look purposeful, and not like you just never had time to get dressed today. 

2. Choose the right top. If you're wearing gym clothes on the bottom, you have to make sure the top looks purposeful, but also matches the casual level of your leggings. Don't wear a top that looks like you could wear it at the gym, like a stretchy tank top. Instead choose a slouchy tee, a simple sweater, a cute graphic tee, or a striped top. Then top it off with some outerwear, like a leather jacket or military style jacket that will complete the look. If it's hot, try tying a button up around your waist or adding a lightweight vest instead. 

3. Add accessories. Add a watch, sunglasses, rings, a scarf and/or a necklace. These are finishing touches that will complete your outfit and make you look put together. 

4. Don't forget your makeup! Even if it's just a swipe of mascara, blush, and lipgloss, do something that makes you look put together and ready for the day, and not like you just rolled out of bed. 

5. Oh, and that hair. If you really did hit up the gym this morning, sweep your hair up in a cute high pony tail, or throw on a hat. If you're just rocking those yoga pants cause you don't want to wear real pants, don't forget to do something with your hair, even if it's just a ponytail. 

Like I said, this is the best mom trend ever, but don't abuse it! Rock those yoga pants while still looking put together and cute...all it takes is a tiny bit of effort, but you're still extra comfy all day!   

thank you to Rack Room Shoes for sponsoring this post  ||  photos by rad and happy

THREE WAYS TO WEAR THE PERFECT PLAY DRESS

OUTFIT 1 DETAILS: top shop tee | stem dress | sole society sandals | similar bag | similar hat 

OUTFIT 2 DETAILS: similar chambray | stem dress | steve madden sandals (on sale!) | bp fringe bag (under $30) | similar glasses (on sale!) 

OUTFIT 3 DETAILS: stem dress | hinge jacket | wedges (on sale!) | crossbody bag (on sale for 40% off right now!!) | watch | similar hat here and here (both under $25!) 

*photos by sara walk

With the end of the school year only two weeks away for us, I have summer style on the brain. I'm planning to slow my work life down a bit and spend the summer really playing with my boys every day. We've spent the last week coming up with plans and goals for the summer and I'm feeling so excited for it to come.

But with all our days at the park, at the beach, in the kitchen making popsicles and summer treats, in the backyard grilling, and on the floor playing legos and matching games, I need some comfortable clothes that keep me covered as I run around, but also make me feel cute.

This dress from Stem instantly caught my eye at the store the other day, probably because of the stripes, but as soon as I tried it on I knew it was a winner. It's unbelievably comfortable, a perfect length for full running-around coverage but not so long that I'll trip over it, and it's so cute. Also, I usually don't love my body in this long of a midi skirt, but because of the slit and the body slimming shape, it doesn't make my body look short and stumpy. It also helps that the hemline falls as a narrow part of my leg, rather than the widest (which is what makes you look shorter).

I styled it three different ways today to show how I'll be wearing it during the summer.

1. With a baseball hat and a knotted tee. This is a perfect look for a day at the park, a walk around the neighborhood, a day at the zoo, basically any casual outing, or just to stay at home and feel put together.

2. With an open chambray and statement shoes. I just recently bought these neon pink sandals (cause they're on sale right now), and I love how they add a bright pop of color to any basic outfit. This outfit is just a step above the last outfit in terms of dressiness and would be great for lunch with friends, a day at the museum, a barbecue with friends, or even just running errands.

3. With a jacket, hat, and pair of wedges. This super casual dress can even be dressed up a bit! Throw on a pair of wedges, a military inspired jacket, and a feminine bag (which is currently on sale for 40% off!) and you're ready for a summer family dinner date or girls night.

It's also perfect for the beach over your swimsuit, paired with some sandals and a floppy hat!

Which outfit is your favorite?

Also, the Nordstrom half yearly sale is going on right now and there are so many good things on sale! Click the images in the widget below to shop my three looks and my favorites from the sale (but hurry because things are selling out quickly!)

a huge thanks to Nordstrom for partnering on this post

TRANSITIONING AN OUTFIT FROM DAY TO NIGHT WITH LE TOTE

OUTFIT DETAILS: top, c/o LE TOTE, | jacket, c/o LE TOTE | similar ankle boots (on sale for under $20!) | fringe bag | sunglasses

OUTFIT DETAILS: top, c/o LE TOTE | j.crew skirt | leopard heels | clutch, c/o lulu*s | cuff, c/o LE TOTE

When I was in middle and high school, I went through this phase where I wore the same four or five shirts over and over and over. My mom would buy me new things, and I'd typically wear them one or two times and then get bored of them and go back to my old faithful wardrobe. Although years later I'm a little better at wearing all the items in my closet more evenly, I still go through the honeymoon phase with so many pieces in my closet -- wear it four times in a week, and then never wear it again. Anyone else guilty of this? Well the good news is that there's a super cool solution to this that I'm excited to share with you today!  

LE TOTE is a fashion rental service that gives you access to a basically unlimited closet of garments and accessories so you can wear pieces as much as you want and then send them back and a whole new set of clothing and accessories. Take that, honeymoon phase.

Here's how LE TOTE works -- it's super simple, and it's only $49/month! (you can also watch this how-it-works video!)

1. Fill out your size profile and like all of your favorite pieces by clicking the heart. This adds the pieces to your closet.
2. A Stylist will curate your tote with items in your closet and items that fit your style.
3. Wear your tote (3 garments, 2 accessories) for as long or as little as you want! 2 days, 3 weeks, however long or little as you please!
4. Send the whole tote back in the prepaid envelope and they'll send you a new tote immediately. Loved something? Hold on to it and send everything else back, and they'll charge your card on file for the piece you kept and send you a new tote! And you can receive unlimited totes per month -- just sent your pieces back whenever you want and you'll get a new tote!

LE TOTE's closet has a good mix of basics and more unique statement pieces so you could try new trends, or being building a capsule wardrobe. But one of the very best perks of all of this is that I don't have buyers remorse about my purchases! Sometimes I buy a piece because I love it in the moment, but after a few times wearing it I get bored and then it sits, unloved, in my closet. But having the chance to wear things a few times helps me decide if I really love it and if I want to keep it forever. This is the perfect solution for it. Plus, if you don't want it, just send it back and save yourself a load of laundry (you don't have to wash or dry clean anything before you send it back!)

In my tote this month, they sent me this gorgeous, oversized dusty rose top, and although I'm not sure I would have picked it myself, I fell in love with it the second I put it on and I'm definitely keeping it. It's a great piece that works for dressing up or down, so I paired it with jeans and a utility jacket, that also came in my TOTE, and then transitioned it for night by swapping out my jeans for a pencil skirt, pulled my hair down for a less casual look, swapped my shoulder bag for a clutch, and my ankle boots for heels. Throw on a cuff and a swipe of lipgloss and your outfit is evening ready.

Try out LE TOTE and get 20% off your first month when you sign up through this link and use code MERRICKSART at checkout! And if you get this dusty rose top, let's wear it and be twins.

this post was created in partnership with LE TOTE