Denim and Stripes

Hello lovelies! Today is our first day of summer break and we're heading to Disney World with our family to get this beautiful summer started. Suitcases are packed full of 90-something degree outfits that will likely still be too hot for our littles, though the boys are adamant they will not be seen in a tank top. Hah!

Can't wait to share our trip to Florida with you all! But in the meantime, I have these photos to share with you today. We have the most stunning parks and beaches here in Wisconsin and on this particular occasion, I met my friend Eric (Eric Shwanke Photography) at the shores of Bayshore Park. It was a gorgeous spring evening and the sun was all sorts of pretty. There's nothing better than shooting on an evening like this, when the outdoors just begs for it. 

As summer arrives I'm always drawn to classic stripes for dresses and separates alike, and this easy-breezy dress is a perfect, super comfy piece both for dressing up or for easy chill afternoons like those relaxed visits to the farmer's market for fresh flowers and a fun drink (hopefully serve in a huge pineapple!). For this occasion I was a little more dressy, adding a touch of fancy with an amazing floral bracelet and sparkly flower ear rings. 

Dress - Target
Sandals - Urban Outfitters
Denim jacket - (old) Hollister
Bracelet - J. Crew
Ear rings - Bauble Bar for Target

Thank you so much to Eric Shwanke Photography for collaboration got this post.

7 Days of Style { day 4 - sparkle denim }

Hello friends! Today we have more of my casual faves, distressed denim and relaxed tees. This is the most basic I get, really! And I'm not exaggerating when I say I live in my denim; this pair is a prime example of that. I have 3 favorites and I tend to stick to those for 6 days of the week. One on and one off, then repeat. So for a stylist this is fairly unextraordinary, but I live in Green Bay and I have 4 kids so I really don't get much excitement in my everyday, at least the sort that allows for occasions to "dress up". For myself, this is very much due to the weather here and the fact that we have to layer much of the year. But as soon as the sun warms us up to bare shoulders and legs, these jeans will be replaced by dresses, every day. Cannot wait for that!

In the meantime, these jeans are la-la-lovely. I wear a lot of my husband's tees cause I love the looser fit with skinny jeans. These Madewell tees are perfect too and feel a little more feminine than the guy's stuff, namely with that lower V neckline and slimmer sleeves. 

And then there's this denim jacket. Ahhhhhhh, it's a beauty. After making fun of the early 2000's fashion faux pas yesterday (that I'm now happily wearing again  - figures) and then going off on a tiny tangent about leggings (that I think are exclusively okay for working out ladies and are sooooo inappropriate outside of the gym or studio. They are the least flattering thing a women can possibly wear. I'm dying here!). Now deep breath, and let me draw your attention to the oversized fit and rhinestoned goodness of this very 80's inspired jacket. YAS!!! I know, one day I'll be wearing leggings again and saying they're cool right? Oh boy. 

But I really love anything that is not in everyone's closet. I want to have the cute basics and then the specialty pieces, those beautiful things that I don't see in every store. I'm not interested in blending in when it comes to style. This is my art and it makes my heart sing! :) 

Jacket - HERE, also gorgeous HERE
Tee - HERE
Denim - old J Crew (lookout high rise), similar HERE and HERE
Shoes - old Free People from Besselli (GB)

Pencil Skirts

Hello friends! We had a blast shooting a fashion story for YOU magazine over the weekend and I was challenged to create polished looks for the workplace, not something I really ever wear. In fact, this is the only pencil skirt I own! My wardrobe is the exact opposite of workplace chic. It's fluffy, flowy, swishy chic. So, inspired by our photo shoot, I sought out this gorgeous skirt (owned it for a few year's now) and made an outfit around it. And voila, here we go! ;) As you'll notice there are some swishes happening here despite my best efforts. I feel very "Real Housewives" when I put on a fitted skirt or dress. Feels so strange to me. So I added some layering to make it a little more ... me. 

Skirt - Zara
Blouse - Target
Sweater - Loft
Boots - Target
Necklace - Azure (GB)
Ear rings - ZuLou (GB)

Mama and Mini Style

Hello friends! Here's a little look at what we've been wearing lately, although it's mostly just the sweet madam as she's just way cuter to look at. Plus her little outfit was quite enviable actually. It had all the best February fashion must haves ...

patched up bombers ✔

pink crushed velvet ✔

kitty cat tights ✔

glitter high tops ✔

She's sort of my fashion icon. 

Mama:
Sweater - Wild Ginger

Mini:
Everything (but shoes) - Target
Shoes - Crewcuts

Hints of Spring, Long Before it's Here

It's usually in February that the color bug hits me once again so I'm jumping the gun a little this year. Already longing for bolder brights but not ready to fully commit to it from head to toe. Not to mention the fact that even I would feel a bit out of place in a neon yellow dress for tonight's date night, though I'm never shy when it comes to fashion (and I did share a gorgeous neon yellow rain jacket on Local 5 Live the other morning!). I do have a bit of that moody winter left in me still. 

So now begins the perfect time to layer my summer dresses under cozy cabled sweaters. Yep, despite the fact that I'm in Wisconsin. Just the tiniest touch of spring can make all the difference in the world. Are you with me? Maybe you're not there yet but by March, I'll have you. We're all ready to pull our hair out come March. ;) Ahhhhh Wisconsin. 

Jacket - Zara
Dress - Francesca's
Sweater - Forever 21
Boots - Franco Sarto from Amazon

Scarlet
Dress, boots, tights - Target
Blouse - Lacey Lane

View my fashion segment on Local 5 Live HERE!