If there’s a trend I’m already seeing for spring, it’s the mix of suit pieces with casual. It’s not a new trend, but for springtime, it’s a great opportunity to take a bright and colorful blazer and pair it with a vintage style sneaker and jeans. It’s also a great way to take your suit pieces from work and get some extra use of them as more of an everyday look. I’m all about versatile pieces. As far as the sneakers, these Nike’s are trending and I love the chunky style heel.
I’m wearing a 4 petite in this tweed blazer and it fits true to size. I paired it with a basic crewneck t-shirt, a colorful headband, a blush purse, and oversized sunglasses. The jeans are some of my favorite ankle jeans from Abercrombie and I wear them regularly! I consistently wear a 27 short in their sizing which translates to a 4 petite.
I am a girl who loves a good blazer. Blazers are a rotating staple in my closet because they come in SO many cuts, colors, and fabric types. Blazers are like a good purse, they reflect your personality and you can wear them practically anywhere. I also love colorful blazers because they can enhance any outfit.
I just snagged the Ann Taylor The Hutton Blazer in Texture in Hot Pink Poppy. It hits me about about mid thigh in length and I can’t emphasize this enough. I LOVE this color. It is SO fun for spring. Leave the blacks behind and join me on the color train!
An alternative to the Hutton Blazer, ASOS has the ASOS DESIGN jersey wrap suit blazer-Purple retailing for $48.00. It comes in both petite and regular sizes and the soft lilac color is gorgeous! The tie is also perfect for cinching the waist and showing off your figure. Rock whatever curves you have, they are meant to be celebrated!
My next look is the Ann Taylor The Hutton Blazer in Texture paired with a ribbed black tank-top and Whit & Wisdom Ab-Solution Raw Hem Skinny Jeans in petite. Whit & Wisdom is a great petite/curvy brand and I find that they fit my frame well without comprising on comfort. Dark wash jeans make a bright color blazer pop even more and I paired it with a black strappy heel from BCBG. This BCBG Cairo Suede Stiletto Mule is a must have to add a little edge to my outfits.
My last look is a black jogger pant paired with the Hot Poppy Pink Blazer, black ribbed tank, and animal print loafers. My joggers are from Gap and they are currently not in stock, but Anthropologie has the Sydney Waisted Joggers in two colors, Washed Black and Sky. They don’t have petite in stock in the black, but they do have the black in standard fit, as well as the Sky color in both petite and regular. My loafers are Steve Madden and although they aren’t new, they have the Steve Madden Feather Loafers in Black & Tan Cheetah at DSW. Most sizes are in stock for $91.00. I’ve also got to mention that DSW has one of the best reward programs. It’s free to sign up and I feel like I am always getting $10.00 to $20.00 rewards. The dollar to reward system is great and they let you combine your rewards with most any sale going on. I’ve bought shoes for $60.00 and with my rewards and discounts, I’ve paid $5.00. I would be happy to go into more detail if you would like to know more about what reward programs I’m using!
Halter dresses are super flattering and they look great on so many different body types. They offer more coverage if you have a fuller bust and it draws your eyes upward rather than downward (that is what we all want, right?) If you have a smaller bust and wider shoulders, your top looks more in proportion to your bottom half.
This flowy Ann Taylor Halter Tie Waist Flare Dress is a great way to show off your shoulders and arms while having more cover from your neckline to your below your knees. My motto is that if you expose one area on your body, compensate by going with a little more coverage somewhere else, ie., if you wear something short, go for a cap sleeve and not strapless on your top half, or if you wear a deep v-neck dress, have the dress hem be a little longer. The tie on this dress also flatters the waistline and it covers up any midsection area that you might want to mask. The shimmer of this dress also makes it perfect as a day outfit that can be transformed for a date night (we can dream of the days before quarantine.)
I also love a straw clutch. It screams warm weather and has me dreaming of a beach vacation. This Ann Taylor Woven Straw Clutch is the perfect size to carry a travel small sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses!
And finally, add a pair of ankle strap sandals! The Ann Taylor Adley Suede Sandals in Spiced Chai adds the finishing touch to the dress and clutch. The gold inlay on the heel pulls in the gold accent on the clutch and it pairs well with the gold detailing on the earrings. I have mentioned this before, but I love gold details and think gold is a simple way to elevate an outfit to the next level.
Gingham is in and I don’t know about you, but I’m loving it! It’s classy, fun, and always timeless. You can wear it on a shoe, a scarf, dresses, and hair accessories. Here are a few of my favorite gingham picks that I’ve found recently.
This dress from Ann Taylor is officially back in stock!
It has a subtle gingham pattern and the pleated front gives it a classic look. If you’re looking to be a bit more bold, they also carry the Ann Taylor Petite Gingham Midi Dress in bright purple verbena.
It comes to mid calf and both are available in petite and regular sizes. Both dresses are light and will be great for warm weather! If you’re digging the buttoned look on the front of my dress, check out the Ann Taylor Petite Cotton Linen Button Flare Dress in bright orange vermillion kiss. It is not gingham, but it’s a similar style with a v-neck front and short sleeve.
The dress has a relaxed feel with a button down front and a belted waist. It has a v-neck front and capped sleeves. It’s light for the warmer months and hits me about at knee level. I give it an 8/10 for comfort. I paired it with a top knot headband in black and strapped espadrille wedges from Loft (also – peep my parent’s front porch in the second image). The height is not too tall, making it great for everyday wear. Viscata has a similar pair in their Canet Linen Espadrille. Viscata is a Madrid based shoes company that is a favorite of Kate Middleton and I love the timelessness look of their espadrilles. Madewell has a similar dress to the Ann Taylor in the Gingham Tie-Front Swing Dress. Madewell also has a selection of gingham shorts and I am currently putting in an order for their Linen Pleated Shorts in the melange check earthen sand. Perfect for summer time weather!
I also recently purchased a Gingham headband from Ann Taylor and it is no longer in stock, but a great substitute is from Alice and Wonder for $18.00. Top knot headbands are great because you can create a super flirty and fun outfit, or you can add it to a basic t-shirt and jeans for a pop of fashion. Don’t be afraid to wear a pattern! A pattern doesn’t have to be loud or bold, a pattern like gingham is simple and can be worn in a variety of ways. As always, reach out to me with your questions or comments.
