I can’t believe we are finally going on a vacation this summer! Because of our housing drama, we were forced to cancel all of our trips this summer except for one…of course it is a golf trip, but regardless, I am excited to travel and get out of the Texas heat for a few days.
This weekend we will be going to Chicago for one night and Destination Kohler for a few days so my husband, dad and a couple of their friends can have a Ryder Cup Style golf tournament with one another. Thankfully, my mom and sweet Charlie are coming on the trip too. We plan to do an architecture river cruise and dinner in Chicago and lots of spa time, walking and water activities while we are in Kohler.
Since the vibe of this trip is relaxation and fun dinners, I’m bringing mostly casual clothes with a few fun pieces for our dinners. I am also so excited to read my new book, Golden Girl, written by the “queen of beach reads” Elin Hilderbrand. Of course we will be on the shores of Lake Michigan, but that counts as a beach, right?
Stay tuned next week for my travel guide to Chicago and Destination Kohler!
It seems that weddings are back in full swing which means you’ll need a refresh on your wedding guest attire. After more than a year of cancelled weddings and delayed engagements, it is so exciting to think about celebrating with loved ones and having weddings again.
A major wedding trend I’m seeing for this summer is the destination wedding, which I love! I’m all for traditional weddings, but destination weddings allow you and your guests let your hair down a bit more and you all get to enjoy a vacation together. For a destination wedding, I like to wear fun, elevated maxi dresses…here are a few I would wear if I were going.
Another wedding trend for this summer will be intimate daytime weddings held outdoors. For this occasion, I think wearing a beautiful sun dress is the best option. I love sticking to pastels for weddings, but since it’s summertime, maybe throw in a subtle pop of neon too.
For a more traditional wedding, I think the most popular dress code is cocktail attire. I can’t even remember the last time I wore a cocktail dress so it was so fun to look through cocktail dresses today. Here are a few I would wear for a wedding this summer.
Now for black tie…if you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I loathe reading “black tie” on an invitation. Not because I don’t love getting dressed up, but because it is often misinterpreted. Nine times out of 10 when you are invited to a black tie wedding, most of the female guests are just dressed in really nice cocktail dresses and you show up in a gown and feel like a fool. BUT for the one time out of ten that guests are actually in gowns, I live for that wedding and I am here for it.
Just as an aside to all brides…please don’t say you are having a black tie wedding if it isn’t super formal! It is really confusing to guests and pretty unnecessary. So if your wedding starts before 6 p.m. or isn’t a formal seated dinner, consider putting “elevated cocktail” as your dress code.
Now back to ACTUAL black tie or white tie wedding guest dresses…. here are a few of my favorites that I would love to wear this summer! Let’s start with this beautiful blush number by Katie May. I love Katie May because her dresses are made well, look amazing and come at an even better price point. If you’re wanting to spend a bit more, I also love formal dresses by Chiara Boni La Petite Robe. They come at a moderate price point and look amazing on all body types. Now, if you’re wanting to SPLURGE…take a look at this citrus inspired gown by Oscar de la Renta!! I mean, it is the dress of my dreams. If I had been invited to a fancy wedding on the Amalfi Coast in Italy this summer, I would definitely be showing up in this.
Moda Operandi, the premier online retailer bringing trunk shows into the 21st century is having one of their biggest sales of the year! Some of the most-loved styles from this year are now 75 percent off.
This is one of my favorite sales from the whole year because Moda has some of the best and most unique designer pieces online. In my opinion, their selections are heads above their competition. The only problem for me is that sometimes their prices are too…so whenever they have a sale, I am all over it!
What a week it has been, friends! It is always kind of crazy coming back from vacation, but it feels like this week has just blown by! Although this week has been fast, it has also been filled with some amazing sales…from Tory Burch’s Semi-Annual Sale to Net-A-Porter’s major sale, we are in store for some great deals as we head into summer and I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites on the blog today.
For my picks this week I have to start right off with these pearl sunglasses. I ordered them in April and I just got them in the mail on Monday…I have not stopped wearing them and everywhere I go, I get SO many compliments!! From the dry cleaners to lunch with my girlfriends, everyone loves these sunglasses and are blown away when I tell them I got them from Amazon for $13.99!!
I am also so excited about the Tory Burch sale this week. Tory Burch clothing is some of my favorite–it is so well made, effortlessly chic and flattering. I do think her prices are a bit steep, but as soon as her clothes go on sale, I snatch them up! I am in love with the navy blue and white polka dot dress and these fish earrings are to die for! A couple of years ago, I bought a similar set of earrings from her, but they are gold dragonflies and I’m hoping I will love these fish just as much. They are such a steal at $75!
Pictured here on New Years Eve 2018 wearing the Dragonfly Tory Burch earrings.
Net-a-Porter is also offering 50 percent off of hundreds of styles this week and some of my favorite designers are included in the sale! I live for Zimmerman and Ulla Johnson, but they are also brands I prefer to buy on sale. I am loving this peach Zimmerman dress with floral detailing, the cream puff-sleeve blouse from Ulla Johnson and this blue and white maxi dress from Ulla Johnson as well! They are all half-off right now so its a great time to buy and you have all summer to wear these beautiful pieces.
Aside from the sales, I have been crushing on this hot pink Free People Dress for a few Weeks and I think I just need to buy it! I am also loving the Tkees lace up sandals…I have a similar pair from Splendid that I bought a few years ago, but am in need of an update. If you are a Corkcicle fan, this confetti canteen is on sale at Nordstrom right now and is perfect for keeping your beverages cool in the summer heat. And last but not least, I have been using a sample of the Sisley Black Rose cream that I got a while ago for the past two weeks and I have seen a real difference in the firmness of my skin, it is a little pricey, but if you’re looking for a fabulous night cream like I have been, I would highly recommend this one!
What a fun surprise we got this week with Nordstrom offering up to 60 percent off of selected styles! Unlike a regular sale, they are offering major discounts on new merchandise that will be perfect for spring and summer through May 3rd! In this post I have rounded up my favorite items from the sale.
Many of these items are also great Mother’s Day gifts, *hint, hint* so make sure you check them out soon to get them by May 10th.
What are you loving from the Nordy sale? Leave me a comment and let me know below!
I don’t know about you, but online shopping has been such a great escape for me during quarantine and right now, Shopbop is offering 40 percent off on more than 5,000 styles! Who knows what we might need a new outfit for in the next couple of months, but it is always fun to shop and try out some new looks! Below, I have added a few of my favorites from the sale.
BASICALLY BRIT 