I love a good blazer, especially an oversized casual look in the Summer. There is something so chic about a good casual blazer look and I feel like it’s a mark of true style. To be able to turn something that could be super basic and boring into a glamorous ‘fit? Yes, please!!
CLUTCH (mine is an old style but linked is one similar)
The one I’m wearing here is a great option for a crisp white look. Pair it with a pair of white trousers or shorts for a nice and clean professional look. I think an all-white outfit in general is a great and easy way to go chic in the Summer. This entire look is from H&M and very affordable. Unfortunately this white shorts are sold out but any nice white shorts will do!
I also think that a white cami like this one is a must-have for Summer. Pair it with jeans and white heels and your patio dinner outfit is set! Upside? This one is only $25!
Then there is your go-to cool girl look, jean shorts and a graphic tee. You cannot beat a super casual look that is topped off with an oversized blazer and sneakers. The contrast is amazing and I love an outfit that looks good with sneakers!
I think that this style can also be accomplished for a cocktail hour look with 90’s fit jeans and some heels. Just add a cute clutch and you are good to go for something a little more upscale. But I still think that jean shorts and a blazer is an easy win for any casual Summer weekend activity.
To be honest my appreciation for blazers has only grown as I have gotten older. I am really able to grasp their versatility and how something that was made for the 9-5 workplace can be thrown into something so stylistically different and still work so well!
Here are a few recent finds that I love right now, and a few of them would even be great going into Fall! But I must say I am a sucker for a wool blend plaid blazer when it starts to get chilly. Don’t miss shopping my whole look at the bottom of the post, too!
I personally think that every season should have its own kit. Like Fab Fit Fun, but less kitschy and stuff you’ll actually use :-/ I love the beginning of a new season! It’s like the mood shifts and you get to change things up all over again. And Summer is one of my favorites because I adore a warm day full of sunshine. Catch me on a cold and snowy day in the middle of nature and I am not a happy camper. Now, it’s supposed to be 96 degrees here today, which if you read my post last week it was in the 50’s :-O “oh how the turn tables have…”
Fans of The Office will get that one.
This post is my version of a seasonal Fab Fit Fun box, basically my essentials for the season! Items that are always in my bag when we’re on our way to spend some time outdoors or things that we always use when we want to enjoy the weather.
No. 1 SUNSCREEN
I’m a broken record, I know! But it is so freaking important and to be honest? The smell transports me to vacation. I’m not kidding Jon put some spray sunscreen on a few months ago to go out on his boat and it was like I was relaxing on a beach. Don’t skimp out on the sunscreen either; whether it’s good face spf in your foundation, or a vitamin-rich body spray to protect yourself form head to toe it’s all so important.
No. 2 STRAW BAG
A summer outfit our outing is not complete without a good straw bag. I did a post recently on tons of ways to wear a straw hat, but I think that the straw bag is just as essential. I think that they’re great for style but also for function. Most of them are a great size so you can throw everything in you’ll need for your day in the sun.
No. 3 BEACH & PICNIC TOWELS
Almost every activity in the Summer is outdoors, or as much as we can, so these are such a clutch purchase. Whether you’re just hanging in the yard or headed to a local park for a picnic, these are amazing to have just one or good ones laying around.
No. 4 COOLER BAGS & BRU MATE
In them with the last one, I love filling a little color bag and grabbing a Brumate for an outing. Brumate is amazing because they have so many different sizes, so no matter your drink choice they’ve got something for you.
No. 5 SANDALS & FLIP FLOPS
Everyone needs a good pair of neutral sandals/flip flops that go with everything. I honestly can say that I think I own three pairs of sandals that I wear interchangeably with every summer outfit. I’ve found a ton of new styles that can do just that and be super comfortable.
No. 6 BEACH CHAIRS
These are so fun!! We actually got two sling chairs to put in front yard because we love sitting out there in the afternoon but didn’t want to do a whole outdoor set up quite yet. I think that the Rattan folding chairs are incredibly chic, too! I cannot wait to try these out this Summer at the lake by our house.
No. 7 CAPS & HATS
This is along the same lines as the SPF portion, but while this is a bit for sun protection, it’s also about style… and a little bit about hiding when I don’t wash my hair 🙂 I wrote a post on several ways to wear a straw hat but I also tend to wear more ball caps this time of year too. It’s easy to pop one of these in your bag for a day in the sun!
No. 8 WHITE SUNDRESS
You cannot beat a good summer dress. And to me, that means a casual, light material that you can wear anywhere. And here are just a few of them! Pair them with a straw hat and sandals and you’re good to go all day. Whether that’s to a lunch out, or maybe a day on the water even! Some of these can be worn as a cute cover up too, so win-win.
No. 9 SEA SALT & TEXTURE SPRAY
Beach waves are a whole vibe, and I still find it funny that we spend so much time styling our hair to make it look like we spent no time on our hair 😀 But sea salt or wave spray is a great place to start to get that look. I always advocate using texture spray as well, no matter what time of year.
No. 10 BEACH READS
I used to HATE summer reading in school. Now I literally cannot wait to get back into a good book. I have written several posts on my reading goals the past year or so, and while I was on a roll when the year started, I’m have room for improvement. I ordered a bunch of books when we got back to Minnesota so now, I’m ready to go!
It is the time of year where everyone is either starting their wedding activities, or getting engaged so thinking about their own wedding events. And this is often the most asked for content! My husband and I thought that our wedding season was going to be super slow this year and it is actually one of the busiest, so I’ll be shopping right along side all of you!
Spring weddings can be tricky, right? It isn’t “warm” out and when the sun goes down you could actually be pretty chilly. But the best part is the colors! I think that a Spring wedding is the perfect time to show some color, and Sp/Su 20 color trends are super fun; blush/rose, and pistachio. So I compiled a few great finds in that palette below, and all of these are under $100 as well. Another color trend is tangerine, but I am not huge on aggressive colors like that, but totally get the appeal! I included some of those finds below too!
Shop other fun trendy color finds here
A lot of people wonder whether or not you can wear black to a wedding, and to be honest I don’t see why not. I mean, most guys in suits are in black? But, in my opinion there are a few caveats to it:
make it fun + flirty! Especially in the Spring and Summer you should be wearing light and fun designs and incorporate materials like lace to keep it fun. The style can convey this too! Something like a fun cut, or a flirty ribbon around the waist. I love the ones below!
Jumpsuits are a great way to keep the outfit wedding-appropriate. I think any event fancier than cocktail attire you might want to reconsider, but I think that jumpsuits are totally appropriate for all others.
Pair colorful accessories! Do not dull your outfit down with a dark clutch or heels for a warm-weather wedding!! PLEASE!!! Add a pop of color in your shoes, or a light shawl to stay warm. Black goes with just about everything so the options are endless!!
Note the dress code and ambience: if it is a beach wedding? Probably not the best choice. If it is super casual, also maybe not.
Last week my husband and I were lucky enough to vacation down in St. Lucia, one of the southern-most islands in the Caribbean. And I cannot say enough good things.
We were lucky enough to find flights from Minnesota with only one layover in Atlanta, so while it was still about 7 hours of flying, it wasn’t a terrible day of travel. I would definitely recommend getting on one of the earlier flights to arrive there in the early afternoon so that you can maximize your time there. We arrived around 2 PM into UVF and it was about a 45 minute drive to our hotel. The island as a whole is about 30 miles top to bottom, so doesn’t seem like getting around should take that long right? Well, this place is full of mountains! So the drive is constantly winding between switchbacks and back roads, so if you get motion sick (like my husband), be prepared for any driving you might have to do!
Now, our hotel? Man, where do I begin.
We stayed at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Hotel and if we go back, that is exactly where we will stay again. Let’s first talk about the location, shall we? The Pitons are the most iconic landmark to St. Lucia, the two mountains that are the highest point of the island. And nestled between these two icons? Sugar Beach. That’s right, standing on the beach of our hotel is right between these two beauties. So you know the view is going to be good.
These images are courtesy of the Sugar Beach, Viceroy website, but I only use them because they 100% accurately depict the setting. It is just as it is seen in these images, and yes, even more beautiful in person!
The hotel has tons of options for rooms, as well. There are individual cottages, beachfront bungalows, and single hotel rooms that you can book! We stayed in a cottage that was about a 5-minute shuttle ride up the hill from the beach. Now, was it ideal that we couldn’t walk out or door and hit the beach? No. BUT the shuttles are so quick, not only in getting to your cottage, but also in getting down to the beach, it didn’t phase us after the first day. Plus, the higher you get, the better the view of the ocean. If you followed along in my Insta-stories, you probably saw a small pool surrounded by foliage, that was our own individual swimming pool just outside of our cottage! So if there was ever a time that you wanted to get away, but still enjoy some sun, or cool off? No problem.
Same here, I used the pictures from the hotel website because it is spot on with how they appear in real life! And are much better than ones from my phone with all of our stuff thrown around 😛
I know sometimes when you look at pictures of rooms and hotels online, you think, “okay, I wonder what it looks like in real life”. But I’m telling you, even after going back and looking at the pictures when we got home? The pictures are spot on! The rooms are stunning! The style is caribbean-chic, and impeccable! Each cottage was assigned its own butler. That’s right… we had a butler :-O so whether it was booking an activity, a reservation, or getting a shuttle, they were one phone call away!
Breakfast every morning was on the Terrace, and we had dinner, practically, every night down by the beach, but there was the option for the formal dining room up in the Great Room. So if you never wanted to leave the property, you don’t have to! On the beach you can order cocktails and lunch from the attendants that are always there to bring you towels, waters, or take your oder. And every single person that worked at this hotel was unbelievable! The service was amazing, but it was the people really made it a joy.
pictured left: restaurant on the beach
pictured right: Terrace with the view of the pool and beach, where we sat for breakfast every morning
Now, DO NOT miss the private beach. Just a short walk from the main beach is a private area, still equipped with a bar and staff 😀 a beautiful beach, same stunning view, but adults only! So if you’re like us, and enjoy a little camaraderie but sometimes want some peace and quiet away from everything? This is where you go. When we first walked to the beach, we were the only ones there! We couldn’t believe that no one else caught on! Now, the actives (kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, etc.) they were all at the main beach. But if you wanted to lay in the sun with just the sound of the waves as your soundtrack? That’s the place to go.
I already mentioned the awesome activities they offer at the hotel; snorkeling, water surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, wind surfing! And that is all right there on the beach! I HIGHLY recommend the snorkeling. There is a corner of this particular beach that is a marine reserve that is FILLED with reefs, and a million different kinds of fish. My husband and I must have snorkeled for at least an hour checking everything out!
In terms of other stuff to do off the resort, there is tons of options there as well! Many people said the zip lining was fun, but one of our shuttle drivers said the one to do was about an hour drive from our hotel. Since we had already zip lined on other vacations, we chose to pass. But we did the ATV tour which was AMAZING! Run by Mystic Man Tours that we also booked through the hotel. They offer morning and afternoon tours, but take the morning tour. It will get SUPER hot and hard to get away from the sun in the afternoon. Now, I was a total beginner and still felt totally comfortable. You travel in a line, and never go super fast, but you will be going on some pretty bumpy parts of the trail. But the leader is great about stopping and leading everyone through it.
We also chose to do the sunset cruise (booked through our hotel) but I believe also run by Mystic Man! It was so much fun. Everyone on the boat was drinking the rum punch (literally!) and having a blast. They play music, have snacks, and take you a ways out to wait for the sunset. Champagne included 🙂 We were even lucky enough to see a few dolphins! The video is saved in my Insta-story highlight! Check it out!
One thing that I really wanted to do, but didn’t get around to, was a tour of the chocolate farm! The spa at Sugar Beach offered one, but I am sure there are other ones on the island as well! How cool would that be? To see chocolate from its original form?? Yes, geeking out a bit!
In terms of weather, we definitely lucked out. While right now is the rainy season, we just barely missed a tropical storm that I guess was a tad north of us. Now, we still got rain the first day, but after that it was sporadic. It might rain a bit, but it was off and on. 15 minutes of rain, 15 minutes of sun, and when it does rain, it’s more of a mist so not so bad!
Check out all of these links below for some great summer vacation fashion ideas! Everything from swimsuits, casual footwear, and the outfits I brought for dinner and time off the property! All great pieces that you would absolutely wear again.
I was never really into blazers, probably because I never had to wear business attire to work. At an athletic apparel company, you tend to be pretty casual. So suit pants and blazers were never anything I had to try or get into, which yes, is a good thing! But then I started noticing a trend…
A few years ago the ‘boyfriend fit’ started to come back. It hit its peak in the 80’s, which may have just been the way that everything was made to fit, but we now call it the ‘boyfriend fit’. Meaning, it’s slightly oversized, but in a cute way! It started with jeans, then some t-shirts and button-downs, and then came blazers. And I am obsessing! Even if they aren’t oversized, the way blazers are cut these days is so much cuter and flattering than ever before.
Now, this summer it seems that striped pattern is totally in! They are everywhere! And I’m loving it. It screams “Summer Fashionista arriving! Take note!! And be sure to ask her where she got her jacket”.
What’s better? You can wear them in so many different ways! Fancy, professional, casual, laid back, but always ALWAYS chic :-). Below are all the links to some of the best striped blazers that I have found out there, and if you scroll even further are some great looks that are super easy and super versatile. Each outfit perfect for a different occasion that I’m sure you’ll run into this summer.
Don’t miss these! And scroll down 😀
Click on any of the outfits below to shop the whole look!
I wish I had this outfit when I was going back to classes in college.
It’s always that awkward time of year. It’s technically getting closer to fall, and the vibes are definitely going that direction as well, but the temperature? Still pretty warm! So how do you make that transition from summer dresses to autumn sweaters without sweating profusely all day?
This dress is not only amazing for spring and summer, but I absolutely love it for the fall as well. It is so easy to accessorize and it doesn’t scream “warm weather”. Yes, it’s white and yes… there’s a “rule” but I’m pretty sure the only people who really follow that rule are stuck in the early 90’s. Or earlier! White jeans, maybe. But I think if you do it right, you wear that white, girl! I got you!
Another reason this outfit works so well going into fall is because of the shoes! Nothing screams fall like a good pair of rich brown leather shoes. They aren’t boots, they aren’t flip flops, they are the perfect offspring that will keep you fashionably cooler in those awkward summer-not-summer days. And I cannot wait to wear them with other outfits when it in fact does feel more like fall!
If you don’t have a staple jean jacket, get to work. In my eyes, you could add a jean jacket to any summer outfit and it would automatically be a transitional outfit in my eyes. I’m not even going to admit how long I’ve had this jacket because… well… it makes me feel old. But it works! And with everything! Sure you can get one of the distressed longline jackets (which I have too so no judgment), but if you want just one jacket and are trying to simplify your closet, then a standard jean jacket that fits well is where I suggest you spend your money. I’ll be sharing plenty more looks that feature these versatile gems in the future. So keep an eye out!
Another thing that I love about this dress is that it is under $100!! And since it is a piece that you can wear from the beginning of spring until the weather is just too cold to show your legs in the fall, you’ll get MORE than your’ money’s worth.
On LIKETOKNOW.it? Check out my page and outfits here! Not a member yet? Boy, oh boy have you been missing out. Download the LIKETOKNOW.it app in the app store and your closet will never be the same. Just like pictures on instagram or screenshot them to get all the details of the look.
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