The Best of Summer's Blue Stripes
As if one wasn't enough, I rounded up my favorite blue striped tops and rompers you've seen on my Instagram @KelseyThisYear throughout the summer! Though they may appear the same, each has unique traits that I love about it, and gives off unique, fun vibes for any summer occasion. Keep reading to check out what drew me to them!
How to Dress-Down Your Work Blazer
Although I work in a casual environment, I have so many blazers! I only tend to grab them if I have an important meeting that day so they sometimes go unused in my closet. In order to maximize their use, I wanted to style a classic black blazer to make a statement outside of the office! Here are my three tips to dress-down your work blazer!
Polished Plunge
For all of us ladies who dread deep Vs and to-the-waist plunging necklines, this post is for you! I typically shy away from such tops, dresses and rompers since I hate showing cleavage. An exposed shoulder or shorts is much preferred in my book over a low-cut top. I wanted to share how I style low-cut items to still look polished, making it move versatile and classic!
Blush Eyelet Detail
This summer I've been loving whimsical tops and dresses. Their flowy nature are feminine and romantic, but also extremely comfortable. If you checked out my Feminine Bows for Summer post, you'll notice these feminine pieces can still convert well to the office, making them statement pieces with a purpose!
On an Anthropologie deep dive, I fell in love with this blush pink dress that looked like it could come out of a Margo & Me post. I was instantly sold, and love how airy and comfortable it is!
Stars, Stripes & Champagne
I hope you had a great Fourth! My boyfriend, Brian, and I spent the day with his family celebrating with great food, company and (of course) fireworks! Summer truly kicks off in Seattle on the Fourth, so being in the sun with everyone celebrating is always a great time.
When picking an outfit, I wanted to stick with something that could easily translate to other outfits, instead of a traditional red, white and blue get up. This blue embroidered trop with white denim shorts are both from Zara, which I paired with classic Ray Ban aviators and a gold nail bracelet.
Feminine Bows for Summer
This spring and summer I have harnessed my feminine side! All of this season's bows, ruffles and detail have come out in full force. This recent find from Nordstrom is a beautiful, sophisticated blue top that I've been loving! I've been pairing it with other trousers for a fun work outfit, or with distressed denim pants or shorts for a more casual look.
Long Walks on the Beach
Summer time is all about being outdoors! My two favorite beaches in Seattle are Alki Beach and Golden Gardens. You'll see me there a lot this summer! Here at Alki, I wanted to show you one of my go-to summer outfits - easy for a beach day, brunch or even a casual work day!
Summer Mules for Every Budget
Mules are the talk of the season! Easy to slip on, versatile enough to transition from beach to bar, and varied enough that you can find just about any accessory and adornment on them that you could want. With Gucci's black mule making a huge comeback last season, the trend has continued and morphed to fit any style.
The pair I've been grabbing is a Sam Edelman white bow espadrille mule, which is a pop off excitement to any summer outfit! I've paired them with a simple black dress and neutral cardigan which can help these mules transition seamlessly between seasons.
Congrats Grads!
I'm so incredibly proud of my friends! I feel this way year-round, but yesterday was a special day celebrating on of my friends, Sydney's graduation with her masters! She's accomplished so much and I was beyond excited to celebrate with her, her family and a bunch of friends. It also helped that it was a beautiful Seattle day!
Summer Blues
As most people do, I got completely sucked into Target. I went for a routine errand and ended up stocking up on countless unnecessary but amazing items ranging from Whitney Port's paper plates, boxes of Larabars for Whole 30, summer nailpolish colors, and some pieces from the Who What Wear Target collection!
Lace in the Desert
So many of you on Instagram have asked where this romper is from! Though it looks like a maxi dress, this is a romper with shorts underneath. I wore this outfit for the second day of Coachella and it was by far my favorite! I felt glamorous, but still boho enough for the desert.
Before Coachella I went to Nordstrom and found this romper: Socialite Lace Overlay Romper. I originally bought it for another trip, and last minute decided to bring it - thankfully! Here are links to the same, or similar rompers! Take a look and click through to purchase the one you want!
Cherry Blossoms and Spring Outfit Staples
Every year a pilgrimage heads to The Quad at the University of Washington to see the rows of cherry blossom trees in bloom. As a Seattleite and UW alum, I honestly have taken the cherry blossoms for granted, as a consistent sign that spring has arrived. The Quad in bloom is beautiful and I'm glad it's become such an icon of the area where locals and visitors alike and come to celebrate the new season.
After fighting our way through the crowds to get our designated photo patch, my friend Neha and I shot away! White jeans, a basic T and beige accessories are perfect for spring and will be staples throughout the season into summer.
Seattle Style Summit
Anytime a group of like spirited individuals comes together, it's empowering. That's exactly how I felt after leaving Saturday's Seattle Style Summit put on by Gossip & Glamour. A room full of 100+ Seattle bloggers who were all there to learn, laugh, take photos and support each other. What a cool environment to be in as a new blogger!
Demin Jackets for Spring
As big winter coats start to shed, it's time to stock up on lighter Spring jackets! Denim is a of my staples, so I want to share some of my favorites out this season! Denim jackets can be paired with just about anything, from dresses and skirts to other denim (if done tastefully).
Here I paired my jean jacket from Topshop with a dark blue top, black jeans and Converse - great for a casual day around town.
Romping Around Isla
Rompers are by far the easiest thing to throw on in warm climates for either day or night! This look is as simple as it gets - a romper, sandals and a choker! This striped, nautical inspired romper is from Nordstrom last year and the sandals and choker from Forever 21! What a cute look with so few pieces!
Topshop Leather Jacket
Nordstrom is my go-to for basics. They have a wide array of styles and prices for any of the staples I may need - jeans, shoes, and jackets. I was in need of a faux-leather jacket, so Nordstrom was naturally my first stop where I picked up this Topshop Nelly Faux Leather Biker Jacket.
Faux Fur
This MLK weekend, I headed back up to Snoqualmie for a great three-days off! I typically don a puffy coat any time I go out in the snow, but for the sake of being fashionable, I wore this tan suede and faux-fur lined coat from Forever 21. It was from last year, but similar styles are still available. It's a great, warm layering piece over any neutral!
The Mountains
Snow is something I always look forward to about the winter. Seattle winters are typically rainy, so being able to get away to the mountains to ski, lounge in a cabin, and hot tub is the ideal getaway (besides somewhere tropical).
This year, I took the week between Christmas and New Years off, so I was able to spend four nights at my boyfriend, Brian's family cabin at Snoqualmie Pass here. With extended family and friends popping in and out, it's the perfect mix of activity and relaxation. Snoqualmie Pass is about an hour East of Seattle, so it's an easy drive to feel like you're in a completely different place!