Outfit Post: Florals & Chambray

 

H&M Floral Print Trousers (old - similar)

Old Navy Chambray Oxford

Boutique 9 "Orson" Pump (old - updated style here & here)

Phillip Lim for Target Mini Crossbody (sold out) || Nordstrom BP "Flash" Sunnies (splurge option) || Michael Kors "Bradshaw" Rose Gold Watch (dreaming of the gold/black & the matte black version) || Maybelline "Fuschia Fever" hot pink lipstick

 

You can't really ever go wrong with chambray and floral print. It's like peanut butter and jelly. It just makes sense.

 

The whole time we were flying to Los Angeles, I kept singing the Diddy song "I'm Coming Home" until Bill just about wanted to punch me in the face. The backdrop from these photos is the perfect reason why - one of my favorite streets in Santa Monica. We had absolutely amazing weather while we were there and I wish we could go back all the time.

 

I know I've raved about it before, but let me say how much I heart this Maybelline hot lip lipstick. It's the perfect shade I was searching for and I'm tempted to go back and get the neon orangey color too. Sometimes I'm so brand loyal that I have to remember to step outside the box and try some new things every now and then. Thankfully this lipstick trial was a success! Do you have a favorite brand/color lipstick that you can't go without?

Blog Crush: Love By Lynn

I'm SUPER pumped to bring you my latest series - BAD Blog Crush. I'll be sharing some of my favorite blogs and the ladies who write them! And I'm particularly jazzed about my first crush because she's seriously too fabulous! So let's get started!

Meet Sara - The gorgeous gal behind the style blog Love By Lynn. Sara has an absolutely amazing wardrobe, totally enviable hair & a knack for styling outfits to perfection. I found her on Instagram over the summer (before she created her blog) Now, I visit her site everyday for an up close & personal look at her fabulous ensembles. Trust me when I say she'll get you to up your fashion game. Read on below to get to know Sara and find out her secrets to gorgeous hair, her kick ass bod & what products she can't live without!

Hello Ladies! My name Is Sara Lynn Wardell. I am from Payson, Utah and live just 20 minutes from there in a town called Springville. I am 24 & got married September, 24th 2011. I also have two amazing step kids. Tyson is 12 and Halle is 10. They are my best friends and love hanging out with them! 

What's your Day Job?

I manage a tanning salon where I do Airbrush Spray tans and love it! My employees have become my really good friends. My sister also works with me and it is the best! Managing all girls sounds like it would be tough, but these girls are just awesome! I am grateful to have them.

How did you come up with your blog name?

It took me a few weeks to decide my blog name, but when I said it I knew it was the right one! I didn't want it to sound tacky or like I was trying to hard. I just wanted it to sound like me. So I decided to go with lovebylynn. My middle name is Lynn and I want my readers to love reading my blog because I love all of you!

Favorite local restaurant & boutique?

The closest local boutique that I love is still an hour away from me -  It's called Koo De Kerr in Salt Lake City. It is so cute! My favorite local restaurant is Guru's in Provo, Utah.

What blogs do you visit for inspiration?

I have so many blogs I look at for inspiration, but my favorites are Wendy's Lookbook, Atlantic-Pacific, Peace Love Shea, Pink Peonies, & Cara Loren Blog.

Three beauty products you can't live without

1. My endless glow airbrush spray. It's the company I do spray tans for and I use that on my face for a little glow. You can buy it here 

2. My Clarisonic scrubber for my face. I cannot go anywhere without this thing. I use it once a day before bedtime and it gets all that makeup out deep in your pores.

3. My enjoy hair care oil. It leaves my hair shiny and soft! I love it!

What's the secret to your gorgeous curls?

First, I section my hair off into three sections and do it bits at a time using a curling iron. I wrap the hair around the curling iron and I don't use the clamp. It is SO easy. I do hair tutorials on my blog as well and will be doing a tutorial on that soon.

Fill in the blank "I could spend hours  ____"

Reading other fashion blogs and shopping of course!

Favorite stores to visit for budget buys

My favorite stores to visit for budget buys are TJMaxx and Forever 21! You can find some amazing stuff in there!

Who's behind the lens?

My husband is the main photographer for my page! We use a really good camera and he takes my pictures for me.

1 thing on your bucket list you've yet to check off 

Well... I am SO afraid of the water.. I'm kind of a wimp haha. But I will overcome it! So I am going to go scuba diving to do that.

Favorite Cocktail?

I would have to say a Margarita! You can never go wrong with that.

How do you stay in such amazing shape?

I could go on for days about this. There is so much I want to say. To make it simple I say always be realistic about your diet. 80% diet 20% indulgence. I work out 5-6 days a week for an hour to an hour and a half. I eat six healthy meals & snacks a day every 2-3 hours. My cheat meals I save for the weekends because my husband and I love to go out to eat and have some drinks. And yes you can cheat every once in a while ladies!

Fall/Winter trend you can't live without

There are so many! I can't live without peplum tops! They are amazing. Also anything oxblood, leather or cheetah print is fab. So hot for now!

One piece of fashion advice

Always, always be yourself! Fashion is just another accessory for your style, so fit it to what you like and what makes you feel good! That's the most important part. Wear what makes you feel confident and beautiful!

She's totally gorg right? I wish I could get my curls to look as amazing as hers - and aren't her outfits bomb? I love the way she styled her jean jacket above. Make sure you follow Sara via all her social media below!!

Blog // Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest

all images via Sara

New Obsession: Floral Pants

Trendspotting time! Lately I've been spotting these floral print pants and I can't stop thinking about them! Everyone from bloggers to celebrities are testing the waters which tells me these babies won't be fading anytime soon. I've got some helpful tips to keep you more Gorgeous than Grandma. I guarantee you that you'll want to add them into your wardrobe rotation!

The best thing about this look is that the pieces you'll want incorporate are probably already hanging in your closet! Since the print is the main focus stick to solid tops when building your ensemble. Never hesitate with a black or white shirt. But if you're feeling adventuresome, like the ladies pictured above, reach for a brightly colored tee. Pick one that complements the hues in your floral pattern without being too matchy-matchy. Next layer on a clean cut and tailored blazer (extra points for color!!) For shoes you could go one of 2 ways. The first is a basic pump. Olivia is sporting a leopard pair that plays on the mixed print trend, while Krystal at This Time Tomorrow stuck to classic black. This style adds to the ladylike charm. However, it doesn't hurt to show a little skin either. After all we want this look to be not so old fashioned! I adore those bright green sandals that Jessica Alba chose - just a hint of ankle vamps up the whole outfit. See how easy that was?

As usual, I've chosen some fabulous look for less options including a pair from H&M - $15! What do you guys think - will you be sporting this flower power trend anytime soon! I sure hope so - I can't wait to grab my own pair! Happy Tuesday!

Outfit Idea: Casual Chic Weekend Wear

As you have heard before, I am 100% totally obsessed with Pinterest. I can't get enough! There are so many great ideas floating around the internet and I love the idea of keeping everything in one neatly organized place. So far I've actually been able to try out many of the hairstyles, beauty tips and recipes (both healthy and yummy) from my boards.

But my absolute favorite thing that's inspiring me right now is... you guessed it! Fashion! I am so obsessed with seeing how everyday girls are rocking trends and putting their own spin on their unique style. Lately, I've been looking for great casual yet chic outfit ideas for my weekends. Don't get me wrong there's nothing I love more than throwing on my leggings, glittery flats and putting my hair in a top knot. But since my hubby works on most Saturdays, I'm usually spending them going to Starbs, browsing Target and running all my errands I can't do during the week. I'd like to look somewhat cute while doing so but without all the hassle of getting ready. So I found a few looks on Pinterest that I thought would be perfect and came up with two possible outfit ideas for Casual Chic Weekend Wear! And trust me... they're SUPER easy going.

Stripes are totally having a moment so why not wear them casually? Try wearing a long sleeve stripe tee or lightweight sweater with lighter skinny jeans and ankle booties. I personally can't stop wearing my Sole Society Heather wedge boots. They're so incredibly comfy because of the wedge heel and they go with literally everything in my closet. Stick to basic accessories like a cross body bag or mirrored aviators and Voilà! You're good to go run that mall errand!

If you want something a tiny bit more sophisticated but still low key enough to grab a few items from the market, look to option 2. Black skinnies pair perfectly with an oversize white button up or an on-trend chambray shirt. This option is from the classic store Woolrich and won't hurt your wallet at $59 bucks. Total combination of easy breezy style and glamour. Choose your comfiest black pumps and a retro pair of cat-eye sunglasses to round out your look. Maybe throw on some bangles or a few layered necklaces. But remember! We want this to be casual and fun.

What do you guys think? Will you be trying out any of these outfits lately? Send me pics - I'd love to feature you on the blog! :) Happy Friday everyone!! xoxo

I've Got The Blues: Cobalt Blue Fashion Trend

Monday Blues! Well.. not those kinds of blues! I've spotted a new trend that's been slowly creeping up the celebrity fashion chain - Cobalt Blue! I noticed a blue bag on Emmy Rossum for a piece I did about Weekend Wear - and blue was turning up on so many runways during Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week (see this Jason Wu gown and all over the runway at Jil Sander) In the past few weeks celebs have been snapped wearing this exact color - mostly in sheaths.

Jessica Alba at the 2011 BAFTA Awards in Atelier Versace

Blake Lively in Emilio Pucci at the Elle Style Awards in London

Kerry Washington at the 2011 Fall Calvin Klein Show wearing Calvin Klein

This is a fantastic color for the upcoming warmer months! So Vibrant - I am loving it. Black accessories look great like Kerry's simple shoes and clutch or go bolder with tons of gold jewelry a la Blake or a statement necklace like Jessica's. If you aren't totally loving the idea of wearing a blue dress - try a different piece.

Here, two Gossip Girl fashionistas prove you don't have to be blue all over in order to keep up with the trends. Leighton Meester (or Blair Waldorf) pairs her suede fringe booties with some navy shorts. Of course - I am obsessed with Blake Lively/Serena van der Woodsen's blue pants/gold sequined jacket look. When veering into the blue pants area, I say steer clear of jeans and try a regular pant. It will give a much cleaner and sleeker look than jeans. The best thing about this bright color is that you can keep the outfit simple as simple as you want (try neutrals like Leighton) or make it as showy and exciting as possible.

I searched for some affordable (yay!) and fabulous pieces that you could add to your closet. I am loving that messenger bag and those Jessica Simpson shoes - so fab!

Sleeveless Tops by The Limited
Boots by Jessica Simpson

Interested in trying on the blues? Send me some photos if you try out this trend - I'd love to feature you on the blog! :) Happy Monday Everyone!

1st image and 2nd image via Zimbio; all other images via Celebrity Gossip

Street Walkers: Weekend Fashion Ideas

Woo-hoo! It's Friday! And for most of you that means two days of freedom from the 9-5 ball and chain. It's also a time where most of us get to express ourselves creatively through our fashions. I'm lucky enough to work at a place that allows me to be incredibly imaginative (I mean I wore a wide leg jumpsuit that looks like it came straight out of the 70's today!) but I thought I would give those less fortunate in the dress code department a few options for sprucing up their weekend wardrobe while hitting the streets.

Tanks & Jeans. Could there be a more perfect weekend uniform? I think not... Here Kate Bosworth and Jessica Szohr prove you can still be casual and chic while running errands on the weekend. Kate is working two major trends right now - tie dye and cargo skinnies. You'll remember that we discussed tie die back in April as a spring trend which is rolling into summer and possibly fall. And cargo skinnies have been popping up on celebrities left and right. Keep your accessories simple - bangles and a necklace for Kate - and you will be beyond comfy as you hit the market or pop into the bank. While strolling through the streets of Manhattan, Jessica looks like she could be taking a style cue from her alter ego - the BohoChic Vanessa Abrams on Gossip Girl. Love Love LOVE those moccasins she has on! She too is on trend - rocking white denim. If you aren't too sure about this - take a look at FabSugar's ideas for white denim. I recently purchased a pair of white jeans and am totally loving them! Keep cool by layering a few airy tanks. Both ladies added large roomy handbags that hold all your necessary items for a full day out. If you want on the go comfort - try out these options this weekend!

While these two looks are completely different - Malin Akerman and Reese Witherspoon know the key to an LA summer - layering. Malin, who strolled through Beverly Hills over the 4th, paired her tie dye caftan with skinny jeans and black boots. But the key to this outfit (besides her gorgeous eyes!) is her wrap sweater. It can easily be taken off if the temperature decides to sky rocket or you can keep cozy if you decide to step into an afternoon matinee. Versatility at it's finest people! Reese took a break from filming her newest film (and one of my favorite books) Water for Elephants and decided to run around LA looking fab! Her bright floral dress keeps her cool and comfy. She paired it with another upcoming fall trend - army green. We're seeing this color everywhere. From jackets like hers to pants like this, military styles are here to stay. Reese tops off the outfit with a pair of nude sandals, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and her summer staple - a neutral fedora. If you aren't feeling the army green - try throwing a jean jacket over your dress when you step out tomorrow. You'll love the refreshing look and you can break out an "oldie but a goodie"

Now here is an option that anyone can pull off. As you can see these two looks are extremely different with one common denominator: Floral tops and shorts. On the left, Jessica Alba took her adorable daughter out for a weekend trip to Trader Joe's. She paired a floral patterned top with tattered jean cutoffs and red combat boots. Jessica wore a similar look while strolling through Paris a few weeks ago. I love how the top might have a girly pattern, but the rest of her outfit is all edge. I'd also get a kick out of rocking boots like hers... maybe one day! Emmy Rossum decided to take the floral trend to a much sweeter note as she walked her dog. Her button down looks smashing with her pleated short shorts. Nude sandals and a luxurious gold necklace provide bits of glam. And I am swooning over her cobalt blue handbag. TDF!

Hopefully these ideas gave you gals some inspiration to rummage through your closet for some weekend glam. Let me know if it did! Have a fabulous weekend! xoxo

images via InStyle, FabSugar & I'm Not Obsessed