Weekly Window Shopping

J. Crew Factory Printed Flutter Dress

This ruffle dress is so gorgeous and feminine, and the polka dot pattern gives in a classic and retro vibe. The navy and white make this dress perfect for the 4th of July, paired with a red lipstick or red statement earrings. With a cardigan on top it could be work appropriate, depending on your office dress code.

Vineyard Vines Pleated Grosgrain Tee

I love a high-quality simple white tee. It's so versatile, and looks great with fun patterned shorts, skirts, and pants. I love the grosgrain details on the sleeves of this tee, it really elevates it and makes the shirt more fun. This would be great to wear with gingham pants, or Lilly Pulitzer patterned shorts. It's a great closet staple.

Lilly Pulitzer Shelli Stretch Dress

I love this new sailboat print from Lilly Pulitzer. It's such a beautiful preppy summer print. I picture someone wearing this out and about while vacationing in Newport, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, or Cape Cod. I love the color palette of the dress. The lilac color is so pretty and soft, and goes great with the different shades of blue.

Brooks Brothers Red Fleece Cotton Boucle Shift Dress

This dress is the perfect summer work dress. The white color gives it a summer vibe, but the boucle fabric makes it heavy enough to stand up to office air conditioning. The dress has a classic and chic silhouette, and the brown buttons add a pop of style to an otherwise simple shift. It's a great dress to wear straight from work to happy hour or dinner out. I would wear this dress with a navy blazer or cardigan and nude pumps

Kendra Scott Kim Gold Pendant Necklace in Multi Mix

This bright and colorful necklace is the perfect touch of summer fun to any outfit. The different colored gemstones make it so versatile, it can be paired with almost any outfit. The pendant is small enough that the bright colors will still come off as simple, and won't overwhelm any outfit.

Weekly Window Shopping

Draper James Embroidered Madeline Dress

Draper James released this dress this past week that's inspired by Reese Witherspoon's character, Madeline, on Big Little Lies. It's an absolutely darling dress. The green and yellow floral pattern is perfect for spring, summer, or fall and the belt adds some flattering waist definition. If you zoom in on the picture you can see that the flowers and leaves have a gorgeous texture to them. It's a truly beautiful dress.

J. Crew Blush Lace-Up Espadrilles

I am obsessed with these espadrille tennis shoes. They look so comfortable and fun to wear. The espadrille and the feminine blush color really upgrade a simple sneaker, so they can be worn with dresses and skirts in addition to shorts and jeans. I would love to pair these with a white dress and a whicker bag for a fun day around town, or with a simple pair of navy shorts to go on a summer bike ride. They're so practical while still being absolutely adorable.

Gal Meets Glam Millie Dress

I wish I could wear maxi dresses, but at 5'3" they tend to swallow me up in all the fabric or drag on the floor if I'm not wearing heels. I'll stick to midi dresses for now, but if I was tall enough for a maxi dress, I would definitely get this one. The floral pattern and the slightly puffed up sleeves are so feminine and romantic. I want to put on this dress and walk barefoot through a meadow, or wear it in the French countryside. 

Lilly Pulitzer x S'well

Lilly Pulitzer released another S'well collaboration this week, and surprisingly it didn't sell out immediately. All the prints are still available on the Lilly Pulitzer website. I have a plain light blue S'well water bottle and I love it. The 17 oz is a great size to hold a ton of water without being too heavy in your bag, and it actually keeps the water super cold. The Lilly Pulitzer prints add such a fine splash or color to a very unassuming object that so many people carry around with them every day. Carrying around a water bottle like this every day would put a smile on my face.

Anthropologie Sailboat Jumpsuit by Eva Franco

As I just mentioned, I can't pull of maxi dresses because I'm too short, and that also applies to full length jumpsuits. They just drag on the floor and the torso sizing is always off on me. However, if I could wear a full length jumpsuit, I would buy this one in a heart beat. The sailboat print is perfect for summer, but since it's a blue and white pattern it's not too loud and obnoxious. It's the perfect balance of fun and subtle. This would be a great outfit for the 4th of July, paired with bright red sandals or bright red lipstick.

2016 Tempo Vero Negroamaro

Hey guys, I'm so sorry that I missed Wine Wednesday last week. I had the stomach flu for most of last week, so I wasn't really feeling up to drinking any wine. It's a sad day when the smell of wine makes me sick to my stomach. Luckily I'm totally recovered now and feeling much better. This week's wine is a Negroamaro that I got through my Winc wine subscription*. This wine is from Southern Italy, specifically in Salento, which is part of the heel of Italy's "boot." You may not have heard of the Negroamaro varietal before, because it's more commonly used in blends than used on its own as a single grape wine. It's commonly found in Sangiovese and Montepulciano blends, which are strong, bold, and hearty Italian blended wines.

Negroamaro has an interesting history. It was most likely brought from Greece to Italy in the 8th century B.C., and famous Ancient Greek philosophers, politicians, and writers, including Pliny the Elder, have positively referenced the grape and the wine in their work. Since being brought to the Salento area, the grape has pretty much stayed there are isn't really grown anywhere else in the world. The name Negroamaro translates to black-black, with Negro being Latin and Amaro being Greek. This is likely because it's a very dark grape, and makes dark wine.

This wine was a very bold and rich wine. When I smelled it I got notes of dark fruits, like black cherry and plum, and a hint of a peppery spiciness. How it tasted matched how the wine looked and smelled. It was fruit forward, with blackberry and currant notes in addition to the black cherry and plum notes that I had smelled. The fruitiness was balanced against spicy back end notes. The pepperiness was still there, but there was also a hint of nutmeg and ginger. The wine had medium-strong tannins and it was very well balanced. It had a silky texture in the mouth. I paired this wine with chicken parmesan and grilled zucchini. It went great with the chicken, but the zucchini was a bit too delicate for the wine. It would go better with heartier vegetables, like carrots, tomatoes, or mushrooms. This wine would also go great with prosciutto, or a beef lasagna. It's a bold wine that stands up well to hearty dishes without overwhelming them.

*If you're interested in trying a free month of Winc, leave or email address in a comment, or message me your email address on instagram, and I can give you a code for a free month.

Weekend Wine Bar

Last Friday I kicked off the weekend by heading to a local wine bar, The Winefeed, with Erik and my friend Mckenzie. It's such a cute space with lots of windows for natural light, a huge bar to sit at, a cozy lounge area with some comfy couches and a fireplace, and a little patio to enjoy the beautiful summer weather. I indulged in an amazing rose flight, because summer afternoons always have me craving some rose, and we split a delicious fig and prosciutto flatbread. It was the perfect way to relax and start the weekend, and a great place to catch up with friends.

I wanted to look cute, but still relatively casual, so I opted for this striped skirt. For the longest time I was really reluctant to wear skirts, I would always stick to dresses. In college, all the boutiques near my school only carried really short skirts, probably because I went to school in Los Angeles, and I always felt like the fit me funny. They always felt shorter in the back then they were in the front, so I was very self conscious and uncomfortable wearing skirts. I've been making an effort recently to find skirts that I'm more comfortable with, and I love this striped skirt. It hits right above the knee, so there's no risk of it being too short in the back, and it has pockets! Who doesn't love a skirt with pockets? The classic blue and white stripes make it so easy to pair a top with. I love how the navy looks with it, and a simple white top would also look great. I added a nude skinny belt for a little more waist definition and to jazz up the outfit a little bit.

Since my outfit was relatively simple and neutrally colored, I decided to have a bit of fun with my jewelry. My druzy necklace adds a fun sparkle and kept the top half of my outfit from being too drab. The neckline of this tank just begs for a pendant necklace to be worn with it. I also skipped my regular watch in favor of a pave bracelet, for even more sparkle. This outfit made me feel very grown up and mature as I sipped on my wine flight.

~ Skirt ~ Top (similar) ~ Necklace (similar) ~ Belt ~ Shoes (similar) ~ Sunglasses ~ Bracelet ~

Weekly Window Shopping

Vineyard Vines Sleeveless Tiered Shirt Dress

I'm a sucker for a blue shirtdress, and this one by Vineyard Vines is divine. The colorblock of navy and light blue seersucker is a fun take on a classic, and the tie waist ensures that the dress has a flattering hourglass shape. This is an incredibly versatile dress. It could be worn to work with a pair of sensible nude pumps, during the day with some flat sandals, or out to a party with some fun wedges and a statement clutch.

Kendra Scott Crosby Stud Earrings

I love simple but glamorous jewelry that can be worn with almost any outfit, and these earrings definitely fit the bill. The fun shape elevates what would be basic stud earrings, and the neutral colored stone ensures that these earrings pair well with any color outfit that you wear. They can be worn with a simple pair or white shorts and a navy tee shirt, or dressed up with a little black dress for a night out.

Lilly Pulitzer Amina V-Neck Swing Dress in Stuffed Shells

Lilly Pulitzer brought back one of its classic prints this week, Stuffed Shells, and because it's a blue print, of course I love it. The print is such a great summer beach print and this dress is perfect for grabbing dinner somewhere on the water. The slightly flowy but still structured style of the dress is very flattering, and it would look so cute with nude or white wedges and simple gold jewelry.

Madewell Eyelet Sundrift Ruffle Top

Everyone needs a little eyelet in their wardrobe for the warmer months. I love how soft and feminine this top is. The ruffles at the end of the sleeve add a fun touch, and the eyelet pattern is very whimsical. This top would look great with a navy and white striped skirt, or with a fun pair of patterned shorts.

Tuckernuck Multi Tweed Jacket by Rebecca Taylor

This jacket is the perfect spring and summer work jacket. The pink is so pale that it's the perfect amount of femininity for the office, without being bright and obnoxious. The ruffle sleeve add the perfect detail to a truly beautiful jacket. It would look great with a navy shift dress or a white blouse and beige pencil skirt.

White Dress in Willmington

Last weekend Erik and I took a day trip to Wilmington on Saturday. We had tickets for a Saturday matinee performance of Rent. The show is currently on a 20th Anniversary Tour, and it was playing at the Cape Fear Community College theater. Since we were already coming into town for the show, we decided to make a day out of it and got to Wilmington early enough to grab brunch before the show. After the show we walked around downtown for a bit and stopped by our favorite coffee shop and a wine shop that we stumbled upon the first time we visited Wilmington. We ended the day with dinner at Manna, they have the most incredible scallop dish and we were both craving seafood.

I love getting dressed up for the theater, and since it was a matinee show, a sundress was definitely in order. I was excited to wear my new Draper James dress. I wore this dress in a different floral print for my birthday back in March, and when new patterns were released at the start of the summer I knew that I needed to grab this one. The cut of the dress is so flattering, and the length is the perfect balance of flirty and fun, while still having great coverage. The blue and white floral pattern is what really sold me on this dress though. Blue and white is my favorite color combination, especially for summer. Most of my dresses tend to be primarily navy with touches of white though, and I was so excited that white was the main color of this dress. It makes it stand out a bit from similar dresses in my closet. The cut of this dress is one of Draper James' signature styles, so I wouldn't be surprised if I end up getting a new Love Circle dress in a new pattern every season. It's the perfect dress.

I was also really excited to wear these heeled sandals out and about. When I was getting dressed Erik looked down at my feet and told me that I wasn't allowed to complain to him if my feet got uncomfortable from walking around in heels. These shoes are so comfortable though. The chunky heel makes them so easy to walk in, and the heel is only about 2 inches high. They're great for giving a bit of added height if you're trying to look more dressed up, while still being easy to walk in. What I love most about these shoes though are the scalloped straps. They are so cute and fun, and make these navy sandals the perfect summer heel.

~ Dress ~ Purse (similar) ~ Necklace ~ Heels ~ Sunglasses ~ Watch ~

Weekly Window Shopping

Tory Burch Hillary Dress

This Tory Burch dress is a great summer work dress. The sleeves and relatively high neckline keep in office appropriate, while still being very chic and fashionable. This would be a great dress to wear if you have a date or a happy hour after work, because it would be so easy to change up you shoes and accessories to take it from work to night out.

Kate Spade Thompson Street Embellished Sam

We lost a beautiful soul this week. Kate Spade brightened so many people's lives through her fun and whimsical designs. RIP. The Sam bag is one of her iconic handbag styles. This beading design makes the bag perfect for spring, summer, and fall. The pink playing across the neutral colors keeps the bag versatile and fun.

Gibson x Hi Sugarplum! Kamari Gingham Top

Another adorable blogger collaboration line. I love how this simple top combines gingham and ruffles, two of my favorite things. The cut of this top is very flattering, and the black and white gingham can be worn for day or night. During the day I would pair this top with some bright solid colored shorts, like coral or red, and at night I would wear it with white skinny jeans and wedges. Because it's a simple top, you can have a lot of fun with accessories. I think it would be fun to wear with some bright statement earrings.

J. Crew Point Sur Sleeveless Embroidered Flutter Top

I don't think any woman can ever have too many solid navy tops in her wardrobe. Navy is such a classic color and it pairs well with almost any other color. The ruffles on this top add a feminine touch. This top is incredibly versatile. It can be dressed down with a pair of white shorts, or it can be worn to work with a khaki pencil skirt. The options are endless.

Draper James Collection Lemon Blossom Floral Wrap Dress

I was a little disappointed with most of the Draper James new releases this week. This lemon blossom print was the only print that really wowed me. I love how the background of the print is a classic blue and white stripe. The lemons really pop against the stripes, and the ruffled neckline is a gorgeous detail. I would pair this dress with white or nude sandals or espadrilles for the perfect summer look.

2017 La Coqueluche Rose

This week's wine is another Trader Joe's great value wine. It's a rose from Languedoc region in Southeast France. La Coqueluche translates to "the favorite," and I could see how this could quickly become someone's favorite every day, easy drinking rose. As rose wine has become more popular over the past decade or so, Languedoc has capitalized on that, and has become a big rose region in France, similar to Provence. This bottle doesn't indicate which grape varietals were used to make the rose, but based on the red grapes that Languedoc is known for growing, we can hazard a guess. Langudeoc primarily grows Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Carignan. Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault are pretty common in dry rose blends, so I would guess that this bottle is either a blend of all three, or a blend of Syrah and Cinsault.

Languedoc is an interesting wine region to watch right now, because there's a new generation of winemakers that are coming from outside the region, and have chosen Languedoc as the place where they want to make wine, and they are making changes and trying new things in the region. Some of these new winemakers are helping Carignan make a comeback. As I mentioned in a post a couple months ago, Carignan has long been considered just a table wine, nothing special, but these new and young winemakers are starting to make Carignan wine that's complex and interesting, putting the grape back on the map. Young winemakers are also creating new appellations, sub-regions, in Languedoc. They're planting vineyards in parts of the region that haven't traditionally been used for wine growing, such as Picpoul de Pinet, where wine grapes are grown in oyster beds by lagoons. Keep an eye out for Languedoc wines in the coming years, as the region continues to grow and change.

This rose was a very easy-drinking wine. It was smooth and not too complex, fruity without being sweet. When I smelled the wine, it smelled like watermelon and strawberries, with a hint of saltiness on the back end. The flavor profile of the wine matched up with how it smelled. When I tasted it, it was fruit forward with notes of watermelon, strawberry, apricot, with a hint of citrus, and medium-strength minerality on the back end. It was a flavorful wine that held it's own, while still being incredibly easy to drink. This was a good rose, not a particularly interesting one, but a good one. If I had friends coming over for a backyard barbecue sometime this summer, I would buy this rose in bulk to serve. It tastes delicious, but it's not there to impress. Erik and I paired this wine with a scallop paella, and they went together beautifully. The rose was strong enough to stand up to the hearty rice and the sauce, while still delicate enough to play well of the scallops. It was a delicious pairing.

Everything's Bigger in Texas

Over Memorial Day weekend, I met up with a group of my sorority sisters from college in Austin, TX. Some of us came from various places on the East Coast, and a few came from California, so we decided to meet in the middle in Austin, a city that most of us had never been to before. I had never been anywhere in Texas prior to this trip, and it was so much fun exploring a new city with friends that I don't get to see that often.

Half of us got in on Thursday afternoon, and we immediately found a Tex-Mex restaurant for dinner and margaritas. An evening of tacos and margaritas definitely put us in the vacation mindset. Friday morning we found a yoga class in the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden. The setting was so serene and perfect for yoga, and getting a little bit of exercise in at the start made me feel less guilty about indulging for the rest of the weekend. We grabbed some lunch at La Barbecue, you can't go to Texas and not get barbecue at some point, and spent the afternoon at a brewery outside of the city with great rustic views. Everyone else got in Friday night and we spent the evening catching up over a couple bottles of wine. 

On Saturday we spent the day tubing down the San Marcos river, about 45 minutes outside of Austin. It was basically a giant day party on the river, and almost everyone was around our age. We managed to make it down the river only losing a pair of sunglasses; all cellphones, credit cards, and IDs made it out okay. On Sunday, we went to brunch and spent the day exploring more of the city. We love to get dressed up for brunch and make it into an event, so we were definitely a little overdressed compared to everyone else in the restaurant, but as a group we got so many compliments throughout the day about how cute we looked. After brunch we rented electric scooters and cruised around downtown Austin. With the scooters we were able to see so much of the city in a short amount of time. We ended the afternoon on Rainey Street, which was such a cute neighborhood. It's a street full of adorable houses that have been converted into bars and restaurants. There are so many cute porches and patios to stop at and enjoy a cocktail and some people watching.

I had so much fun wearing this brightly patterned shirtdress to brunch and around town. The tropical print gives it such a vacation vibe, and the cotton is super breathable, which was perfect for the Texas heat. The white color of the fabric also helped keep it cool, without being see through or sheer at all. I love how easy it is to look put together in the summer with a shirtdress. They're so comfortable and don't require any adjusting throughout the day. I added a skinny brown belt to give the dress more waist definition, and it created the perfect hourglass shape. The dress was such a fun pattern that I didn't need to accessorize much. My sunglasses were my most important accessory. It was a clear and cloudless day, so it was basically impossible to go outside without sunglasses on. These Kate Spade sunglasses are quickly becoming some of my favorites. They add a touch of glamour, while still being perfect for everyday wear.

We finished the day by grabbing tacos for dinner again, and heading out to the infamous 6th Street at night. It was so much fun to catch a minute or two of live music while walking between bars, and none of the bars were over crowded. We all flew out on Monday, but my flight was late enough that I was able to check out the graffiti park before I left. The graffiti was really cool to look at, but the park was way to hip for me and I did not feel cool enough to be hanging out there. As someone who has never been to Texas before, and can't think of a specific reason to visit again in the near future, I got a good taste of Texas in a long weekend. I had a blast catching up with my college friends that I haven't seen in awhile, and taking in everything that Austin has to offer.

~ Dress ~ Belt ~ Sandals ~ Purse (similar) ~ Sunglasses ~ Watch ~ Earrings ~