Joy in the Blog

I know. This is photo overload. But I honestly wanted to post 3x this amount! It took me a solid few hours to narrow it down to this. I had the honor of shooting with my sweet friend, Maria Gloer, this weekend at the most beautiful location in a gorgeous flower crown from Refuge Floral Co (based here in Nash). As a blogger, it's so easy to get in a rut. You shoot just to shoot and get the images up on the blog. Lately, I've been so guilty of this. I'd lost sight of the fun in blogging and was so caught up in saving time and getting things done just to get them done.

But this is NOT a sponsored post. The first time I've done that in a while - I had no product sent to me, no company pushing any products. Just got to work with a wonderful photographer and awesome local florist. Maria asked me to head out to the Narrows of the Harpeth with her for a "just because" shoot and I am SO happy I did. I forgot how fun it can be to get dressed up, style an outfit and hang out with a friend in a gorgeous spot. We had the best time exploring - even if I ended up hiking in a dress and tennis shoes - and laughed our way through the entire shoot. In this busy season of life, it's nice to appreciate the little things and I am going to do my best to get back to the joy of blogging. I love you all and am so thankful for the opportunity to share my fashion journey with you. 

xoxo

dress

All in the Details

There's nothing like some good detailing...and the pearls on this sweater dress are no exception. Pearl accents are a huge trend right now and I'm finally getting in on the action. I love the pearls in combination with this light grey color. It makes for the perfect neutral look with an unexpectedly modern twist. This is a great transition piece for spring - the length is just right and it has a high neck cut - still warm, but you can show a little leg with booties or some thigh-highs!

When you have a loud top, keep the accessories simple. I added the black boots along with a classic black bag. If you don't have a "staple" black cross body in your closet, you should consider adding one. I almost always reach for a basic black bag throughout the week! It goes with everything. I love this one from Radley - it's a good size to hold everything I need, without being bulky; and the leather is high-quality and so gorgeous in person! I love that the strap is detachable, so I can also carry it by the handles if I prefer. Radley has a bag for every style, so definitely check them out if you're in the market for a new staple purse!

Happy weekend!

xoxo

How to Style a Bridesmaid Dress

Calling all brides and bridesmaids (and really all ladies looking for a formal gown) - I have found the shop for you. As a well seasoned bridesmaid, I know the troubles of dressing the wedding party. Pick out one dress and it's bound to not fit someone just right, or one person hates it....the list goes on. Yet, the newest wedding trend is the "mismatched coordinated" look, in which every bridesmaid chooses their own dress in a specific shade, or within a color palette. I'm a HUGE fan of this trend, because everyone can choose a style that flatters them and is actually something they might wear again in the future. But - there's always some type of drama when you let it be a free for all. Someone's dress doesn't look right with the others or the shades are slightly off and it just doesn't look right. Or even worse - someone orders from some random website and the dress is horrible quality!

This is where Bari Jay comes in. Y'all...I am in LOVE with their dresses. They have so many classic styles, but they also have some edgier/trendy pieces so there's a little bit of everything. I chose this one with a simple top, double side slits and a lace up back in Misty Blue. Still classic bridesmaid - but with a few unique details. 

Bari Jay offers a vast variety of styles so you're sure to find a style for every bridesmaid. The best part is that you can all choose the same color (so you know they'll be exactly the right shade) or you can mix and match, but stay within the same fabrics. It makes the "perfect mismatched bridal party" a snap! 

Now to all my bridesmaids out there - I know...you're buying another dress that you don't think you'll ever wear again. But I'm here today to prove you wrong! There are so many ways you can style a bridesmaid's dress to give it new life after the wedding.

My go-to is obviously a good jacket. I love this leather one. But you could do anything! This is perfect for a night out of the town. Dress it up with jewelry and some heels or dress it down with a pony and some booties.

I also love layering sweaters with my maxi-dresses. My big tip is to look for slightly cropped sweaters. If they're too long, you'll just look frumpy - so the shorter the better. I love pairing pastels together, so I grabbed this lilac one from my closet (similar). Add some fun accessories and you've got the perfect look for date night or a dinner out with the girls!

I'm all about repurposing, so don't let your dresses just sit in your closet! Layers and accessories can change everything. Try these tips out and rock those dresses long after wedding season.

xoxo