Not to sound like a broken record here, but oh boy, is the heat ever on here in Phoenix.  With daily heat advisories starting at 10 a.m. it’s hard not to feel like this quote, from one of my favorite novels, To Kill a Mockingbird, come to life:

…ladies bathed before noon, after their 3 o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frosting from sweating and sweet talcum. The day was twenty-four hours long, but it seemed longer.

To ease the pain we’ve been spending a great deal of time taking dips in the pool, hitting up our local mall’s play area, playing game after game of Memory, and enjoying sip after sip of lemonade (watered down for the kids and spiked for mom and dad!).

I’ve found myself scooping up floppy hat after floppy hat lately because they are so convenient and, as I’ve mentioned before, way more stylish to don than a baseball cap when you don’t have time to shower or do your hair before rushing out the door.  On this particular day I had actually taken the time to shower and dry my hair, but good word, my hair is in a real loll right now so it just looked awful.  Obviously on a normal work day I would just have to go about my day secretly plotting to exact my revenge on my hair that night by shaving it all off and starting over, but since my biggest requirement of the day was a few hours of curriculum writing and then several hours of playing with the kiddos a stylish hat saved me from hours of hair loathing!

I’ve also found myself seeking out summery pieces that will help me stay cool but aren’t short on style and that can make the transition to work wear once school resumes in August.  Obviously, these shorts are not something that will make the cut once I head back to work, but what I like about them is that they are fitted without being too tight; they are great shorts to wear when playing with the kids and are also a pair that can be easily dressed up for date night.  The peplum, however, is something I can easily wear long into the fall on its own or under a cardigan or blazer for a more polished look.  At its most basic level, the shirt is simply a tank top making it a perfect piece once the mercury starts to rise, but the button detail on the shoulder, the striped pattern, and the flirty peplum help to add some variety and interest to the look.

On their own this peplum top and these amazing shorts are great pieces to resolve the problem of staying stylish and cool during hot, summer days, but when paired with the hat they evoke a glamorous, retro vibe that plays up one’s femininity.  It’s a fun look for hosting a play date for the littles or heading out for a night out on the town.

Style Notes: Target hat (spring 2013)/ Anthropologie shirt (spring 2013) / Anthropologie shorts (spring 2013) / Halogen shoes via Last Chance (fall 2012; love these) / Kate Spade bracelet (fall 2012; love this) / Michael Kors watch via Last Chance (spring 2012; similar style) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; love this) / Modcloth necklace (summer 2012; love this)

I don’t know how the weather is in your neck of the woods, but, once again, Phoenix has more than transitioned into summer weather in under a week.  We are currently experiencing 105 degrees and are supposed to be above 110 over the next few days!  While I enjoy having the summers off, I think summers in the valley are so difficult to dress for.  I am not a huge fan of shorts on me, but when the heat is on sometimes shorts are the only way to go.

One of the reasons I am not such a fan of shorts is that I always feel a little sloppy, and a tad stocky, in them, so when I do wear shorts I like them to fit well (ignore the wrinkles here) and pair them with fairly structured pieces to lend a more polished air to the overall look.  I picked up this blazer a couple weeks ago and it has been on a weekly rotation ever since.  It’s lightweight enough to wear during the transition between spring and summer (especially for those areas of the country where that transition is longer than three hours in April!) but will also serve as a nice layering piece to bring along on shopping trips, movie dates, or drinks with friends this summer.

Since this blazer is 100% cotton, it is obviously a practical way to add some structure to your summer wardrobe while staying cool, but I love, love, love that practicality does not mean compromising on style. From the classic striped print to the quirky polka dot lining and the pop of melon under the color this blazer is a fun way to dress up shorts, layer over sun dresses, and still look polished on those hot summer days!

Style Notes: Gap blazer (spring 2013) / Anthropologie top (spring 2013) / Gap shorts (summer 2011; similar style) / Kenzie flats via Last Chance (ancient; love these) / Kate Spade bracelet (gift; spring 2013) / Michael Kors watch via Last Chance (spring 2012; similar style) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; love this)

 My social calendar is quite full this weekend: graduation on Friday and the wedding of a former student on Saturday!  Since I frequently go months on end with nothing too special going on, I figured such momentous occassions were the perfect excuse oppurtunity for some shopping. 

 When I set out to find a dress I didn’t really have a silhouette or color scheme in mind, but I did have very specific requirements.  The ideal dress needed to be appropriate for a variety of events and needed to be comfortable, feminine, and flattering.   Easier said than found, right?

I figured if anything I was going to have to err on the side of dressier, and slightly uncomfortable, when it came time to purchase a dress, but thankfully, this Porridge dress from Anthropologie more than met my needs.  The A-line silhouette is both uber-feminine and comfortable, which means I will be able to breathe while sitting through the graduation ceremony but still feel glamorous enough to attend an evening wedding the next night.  I love the interest the graphic florals bring to the dress, making it super easy to accessorize for both graduation and the wedding.  A statement necklace and a delicate bracelet or two is all that is really needed to complete the look.

Style Notes: Gap cardigan (ancient; similar style) / Anthropologie dress (spring 2013) / Kate Spade shoes via Last Chance (winter 2013; love these) / Anthropologie earrings (spring 2013)/ Anthropologie necklace (spring 2013)

With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner I thought it the perfect time to showcase this lovely hat I received as a birthday present in the fall.  While it isn’t the kind of hat one turns to for all sorts of occasions, I wholeheartedly embrace the idea that fashion doesn’t always have to be practical.  Every once in a while it’s okay to indulge and buy, or better yet request as a gift, something you l-o-v-e but don’t have a ton of occasions to don.  For me, this hat, while rather regal, is such a find.  It’s so feminine and so quirky that I can’t help but smile and feel instantly ten times more glamorous than I really am whenever I wear it.

When it came time to style the hat, I knew I wanted to embrace my inner regal lady and go with an all black ensemble. While spring is all about bright, bold colors, in my (fashion) book there is always room for black.  In the right silhouette, an all black ensemble is timeless, seasonless, slimming, and the perfect balance between sophisticated and sexy.

Since the hat is such a show stopper, there really was no need to go overboard with accessories.  I kept it simple with a necklace that is a modern take on a traditional strand of pearls and small, statement earrings.  The peplum top, tuxedo stripping, and bow pumps add a little more visual interest, but because of the all black palette they are not too distracting.

Style Notes: Dillard’s hat (fall 2012; similar style) /  Target shirt (winter 2013) / Ann Taylor pants (fall 2012; similar style) / Anthropologie necklace (spring 2013) / Anthropologie earrings (spring 2013) / Kate Spade shoes via Last Chance (spring 2013) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; love this)

Apparently I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned that I was feeling a strong draw towards graphic florals this spring because when I spotted these pants on sale at Anthropolgie I was beyond delighted. 

What keeps these pants from taking a turn for the saccharine is the graphic floral and leaf prints in hues that are not overly feminine but still utterly perfect for spring!  After a long dreary winter who needs bubble gum pinks and soft blues?  Bold pops of color are what’s necessary to enfuse our days with a little energy and whimsy!

This orange peter pan collared shirt is the perfect compliment to the pants.  I love the way the collar and button tab play off the various tones and shades of orange in the pants while the rest of the shirt remains neutral enough to keep the overall look from going overboard! 

Style Notes: Anthropologie shirt (spring 2013) / Anthropologie pants (purchased on sale; spring 2013; similar style) / Gap Belt (fall 2013; similar style) /  Classiques Entier shoes via Last Chance (spring 2012; love these) / Michael Kors watch via Last Chance (spring 2012; similar style) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; love this) /  Marc Jacobs bag via Last Chance (spring 2012; love this)

Another day; another peplum top!  What can I say, I was serious when I said this top is really flattering.  While the black version lends itself well to dressier looks, this striped version is an excellent way to infuse a little casual fun into your spring wardrobe without compromising on style.

I know some fashionistas advise against buying multiples of garment pieces, but, in my opinion, if a piece is well made, flatters you, and is at an affordable price point (the trifecta of clothing) why not buy a couple different versions you can work into your wardrobe for a variety of occasions?  I think one reason fashion intimidates so many women is because they simply don’t have the time to scour the internet or run all over town trying to assemble a wardrobe unique piece by unique piece.  So I say, save yourself the stress and the hassle and when you encounter a piece you fall totally in love with go ahead and scoop it up in a few different colors or patterns.  Trust me, on those mornings you overslept, the kids are cranky, and you simply don’t know what to wear, having some go-to pieces you know look great on you can be a real life saver.  It’s safe to say this peplum top has become just that kind of garment for me!

Never one to shy away from pattern mixing, pairing the peplum’s stripes with the dots on these skinny jeans was like second nature.  The quirkiness of the stripes, the peplum, and the dotted pants all work together because at its most basic level the outfit is based off of three colors (white,dark blue, and yellow), so even though the prints differ they compliment one another nicely instead of standing in stark contrast to one another.

I’m such a sucker for the bright yellows of spring, but because of my personal coloring I have to be really careful about wearing them or I can look completely washed out.  One of the easiest ways to get around a color that you adore, but that is particularly tricky for your personal coloring, is to incorporate the color into your look through accessories. In the case of this outfit, I just love the way the bold pops of yellow stand out against the dark navy stripes and skinny jeans.  The bits of yellow here and there help add another dimension of fun and style to the overall look!

Style Notes: Gap cardigan (ancient; like this) / Target peplum (winter 2013) / Gap jeans (winter 2012; purchased at 50% off; great for spring) / Jinny Kim heels via Last Chance (spring 2009; similar style) / Kate Spade bag via Last Chance (summer 2012; similar style) / Banana Republic bracelet (spring 2012; like this) / Michael Kors watch via Last Chance (spring 2012; similar style) / Kate Spade ring (fall 2011; love this) / Modcloth necklace (fall 2012; similar style)

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