Summer Staple and Channeling Marilyn

Top: From my mom // Tank: Wet Seal // Jeans: Express // Shoes: J. Crew // Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters // Earrings: Betsey Johnson // Bracelet: JewelMint // Watch: Betsey Johnson

I finally had a chance to curl my hair with it this color, and I definitely felt like I was channeling Marilyn Monroe!

 In the past, I was never one for wearing button-down shirts, especially sleeveless ones. Now that I'm older, I'm finding my style changing. This top is perfect for summer, but still work appropriate. My mom has a bunch of shirts like this, but never wears them so she gave them to me to wear. It's my new favorite style for summer.

Do you have any summer staples this year?

Embellished Shorts

Tank: Target // Shorts: Express // Shoes: My mom's // Earrings: Forever 21 // Hair pins: Urban Outfitters // Bracelet: JewelMint // Watch: Betsey Johnson

Last Sunday my mom and I went to a balloon rally with my sister-in-law, one of my nieces, and a couple of their friends. Unfortunately, it was too windy so none of the balloons could fly but it was still pretty fun. There were a couple different blow-up, bouncy houses for the kids and cotton candy for me. :) 

I saw these shorts at Express a month or so back (before I got the job there), and instantly fell in love...until I looked at the price tag. Then last week, I was back in Express and saw they were on clearance. After all the discounts, they were basically 80% off! 

Good Jeans

Bonjour Tank: Wet Seal // Pink Tank: Wet Seal // Jeans: Express // Shoes: ALDO // Earrings: Forever 21 // Bracelet: JewelMint // Watch: Betsey Johnson

Not much to say about this outfit. These are my most comfortable jeans. That's about it.

The day after I dyed my hair, I looked in the mirror and scared myself because I forgot how bright/light it is. So that was fun.

P.S. If anyone in the Madison area is looking for a stylist, Shanna at the Aveda Institute in U-Square (between University and Johnson) did my hair, and she is amazing!

So I decided I needed a change...

 ...and this is what I ended up with. I've always wanted to try strawberry blonde, but never had the guts to do it. Now that I've decided to keep my hair short, I'm willing to take more risks with the color (since I'm not always trying to grow it out). It looks very orange in these pictures, but it's actually a lot lighter. It's such a fun, bright color for summer!

Floral and Mustard

Top: Forever 21 // Skirt: Forever 21 // Shoes: ALDO // Bracelet: JewelMint // Watch: Betsey Johnson

When I realized that the first couple pairs of ALDO shoes I bought were all sky-high wedges, I figured I needed to invest in some more...practical shoes. I love the print on these! They're so pretty, and still subtle enough to not overpower my floral top. BTW, I have been having so much fun finding things to pair this this top. It's actually a dress, so I should probably wear it as one in the near future, huh?

Glamural: Summer Whites

Because of my lack of outfit posts (due to spending my time in the basement going through boxes and such), I decided it was time for another Glamural!

Right now I am currently loving all white outfits. Monochrome scares me a little, but I think this would be a great way to break into the trend. It's clean and crisp, and it just screams summer!

Have you tried a monochrome outfit? Have you tried all white? 

Sister Style

Dress: Thrifted // Shoes: From Karen // Hair Bow: Michael's

In honor of my sister, Emma, having a big week between her dance recital and 8th grade graduation, I wanted to feature an outfit post about her! She's really, super lucky. I give her all my old clothes and my bff, Karen, give her all her old shoes. This outfit is a perfect example. I love this dress, but I never really wear it so I packed it up with about a third of my wardrobe and sent it Em's way! She had been eyeing up Karen's shoes for a couple years now, so she was really excited to get those!

Emma doesn't even need my help anymore when it comes to picking her outfits (I think she asks for help to make me feel needed!), she did this completely on her own. I love how she picked a white bow so the only pop of color was hot pink (her favorite).

Snakeskin

Top: Maurices // Pants: Discovery // Shoes: ALDO // Earrings: Rue 21 // Sunglasses: Vanity // Bracelet: JewelMint // Watch: Betsey Johnson

So I'm spending a few days up in the Oshkosh area, visiting my dad, stepmom and little sister (my sister had her dance recital and has her 8th grade graduation coming up), and being as smart as I am, I forgot to pack my camera. So iTouch pictures it is for the next couple days. I know, way to go Kate.

Today I purchased my first pair of Aldo shoes! I've never been able to really afford them before, but with me starting later this week, I figured I should buy a pair to start off with. I love these wedges (which is saying a lot with my fear of snakes) because the snakeskin pattern is so in right now and the color is still neutral, so they'll go with everything!

Nautical

Tank: Wet Seal // Pants: H&M // Shoes: Payless // Purse: Aldo's // Earrings: Thrifted // Bracelet: JewelMint // Watch: Betsey Johnson

Sometimes, a simple outfit can say so much. I went for a over simplified, nautical theme to stop in at my mom's work today. I made my accessories make the statement, from the stripes on my shoes to the rope on my purse, all the way up to my anchor earrings.

In other news, I'm so thrilled to announce that I was offered a job at Aldo's today! I can barely contain my excitement! I'm really looking forward to working in a shoe store, a part of fashion where I really don't have a lot of knowledge or experience. Be prepared to see new shoes being featured in the near future!