Daily Look: Beat the Heat

Shirt: ModCloth // Shorts: Gap // Shoes: Dolce Vita via DSW // Earrings: Francesca's // Stacked Rings: The Limited // Green Stone Ring: Madewell

This is an outfit that I wore running errands on Monday and pretty much again (with different shorts) yesterday to help my friend make save the dates for her wedding.  This shirt is perfect for summer because it catches every breeze and gives my arms some protection from the sun.  Whenever I wear it, my boyfriend says, "Ooh, that looks comfortable!" which might be a subtle jab from someone else, but from him is the highest praise he could think of for a piece of clothing.  I think if I went out in pajamas he would think I had never looked better. He may have some wires crossed between what looks good and what feels good!

Daily Look: Light and Airy

Shirt, Shoes: Loft // Shorts: Gap // Earrings: Target // Bracelets: Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 // Lips: MAC Girl About Town // Sunglasses: via Marshall's // Nails: Sally Hansen Blue Me Away

This outfit exemplifies everything I look for in a summer outfit. It's lightweight, breathable, and made out of cotton, my favorite summer fabric. Throw in eyelet, scallops, and pretty flowers, and you've got a recipe for a shirt/shorts combo that I can already tell I'll be wearing to death this summer. I got these shorts last summer from Gap and just ordered this top from Loft a week or two ago, but I think we can all agree that they were made for each other.

What have you been wearing this summer?

Roundup: Rash Guards and Cover-Ups

Pool season is upon us which means I'm gearing up for my battle against the sun.  I love cooling off in a chlorinated oasis as much as the next girl, but I can burn in minutes without my arsenal: sunscreen, shade, hat, and cover-up.  Although I have always put a lot of thought into what bathing suit I choose, my cover-ups have always been last minute oops-I-better-grab-something purchases.  Then this year I had a revelation.  Why am I so concerned with my suit when I spend 99% of the time when I am not hidden by water in my cover-up?  So, I got myself a rash guard that I love and am looking for a cover-up that I like as much as my bikini.  Zara tunic--I've got my eye on you!

Daily Look: Hat Hair

Shirt: Peter Pilotto for Target // Skirt: H&M // Shoes: Loft // Earrings: Francesca's // Lips: MAC Peach Blossom // Ring: Madewell // Bracelet: Forever 21, Gift

I decided to let my hair grow out so that I could put it up during the summer, so I haven't had a haircut since January. Sadly, that means that my hair is going through some serious growing pains right now. It's not as long as I hoped it would be at this point, and although I can technically put it in a ponytail, it's not a particularly cute one. I was so frustrated by the task of trying to whip my wild mop into submission yesterday that I gave up and threw a hat on to cover up the mess. I'm super not used to wearing hats, and they always make me feel a little strange, but I think I'm going to have to get over it because they sure do make life easier.

What do you do with your hair during the hot months? Do you ever use a hat to cover up a bad hair day?

Daily Look: Graduation Take Two

Dress: Ann Taylor // Shoes: BCBG via Endless // Earrings: Brighton // Bracelet: H&M

This dress hung in my closet, forgotten all winter long, but now that I have rediscovered it, I am wearing it all the time.  Last week, I gave up on jeans completely and wore this for the last day of school.  Then I brought it to Waco with me to wear to my boyfriend's brother's high school graduation on Saturday.  It is so comfortable and ladylike that I can see it becoming an essential part of my summer wardrobe.  Of course, now that school is out, I have very few reasons to dress like a lady...or to even get out of pajamas.  Yay!

A Day at the Beach

Since summer vacation started, I've been in serious planning mode, shopping, researching, and anticipating our California vacation in July. Yesterday alone I spent probably 6 hours finding restaurants to eat at while we're in San Francisco. But I've also been thinking about the beach bum portion of our trip, which has led to shopping for cover-ups, bathing suits, and hats. Here's what I'll be packing for a day at the beach.

You might notice that many of these items--the hat, the sunscreen, the cover-up, the SPF 30 lip balm--are expressly designed to keep the sun at bay. Don't get me wrong, I love the sun, but have you seen how pale my skin is? The sun is not always my friend. And besides, I have big plans to look young forever (just let me have this), so I need all the help I can get.

What do you pack for a beach trip? 

Daily Look: Stolen Staples

Dress & Cat Ring: Asos // Shoes: BCBG via Endless // Earrings: Target // Ring: The Limited

Lauren has been telling me all about the virtues of the sack dress, so I decided to get in on the trend.  I found this one on sale from Asos and have been using any excuse to wear it ever since.  The material is a little thicker than I'd like, but I just love the shape.  It is loose enough to help keep me cool in the heat of the day, but has enough structure to keep me from looking like a sack of potatoes.  Lauren was right, loose dresses are my new summer staple.