Outfit Post: Neon Green Pleated Dress

Are you shocked I'm in another neon dress? Your answer is probably no, and I'm totally okay with that. Because this one, is a good one. And let's be honest, neon is always a good idea! I've seen some gorgeous neon pleated dresses floating around the internet (including on my #SBScon roomie Lindsay!) and I just had to get my hands on one. Thankfully, this one is a fraction of the price! 

photos by my friend Amanda

SheInside neon pleated maxi dress c/o

Sole Society "Felicity" sandals c/o

Vince Camuto "Mila" crossbody bag (gifted)

Slate spiked necklace via Rocksbox (use my code nikkixoxo1 to get 1 month FREE) 

ZeroUV aviators

Caravelle gold tone watch (gifted)

Kendra Scott "Parker" stud earrings (gifted)

Maybelline "Vivids" lipstick in Hot Plum

I landed back in NC yesterday AM and admittedly was a little bit sad. I always feel this way after visiting California and especially after spending time in Los Angeles. As hard as that city can be, I still love it so, so, so much. And miss it often! I'm thankful that I can always visit and who knows maybe one day I'll be back there. 

In the meantime, this neon number was the perfect, easy breezy outfit for wine tasting in Santa Barbara. It was pretty warm and the airy light fabric kept me nice and cool. Everyone loved the color and the best part? It's ridiculously affordable. Like SO affordable. 

I'm still coming down off an incredible high of a week with some of my best friends. I needed a little girl time in my life, and if you saw on instagram, we had a blast! I think I'll be recovering for the next week or so but it was totally worth it. And I didn't spill any wine on my new dress. Double score!

Hope you loves have a fantastic Tuesday! xo (shop the items of my post below!)

linking up with Style Sessions. Why I Do DeClaire. Elegantly Dressed & Stylish,, Garay Treasures, Bless Her Heary Y'all || 

Trend Spin Link Up - Summer Shoes

The Impeccable Pig "Stars Collide" dress (sold out - love this one)

Metro Style metallic braided wedge c/o

Vince Camuto "Mila" crossbody wallet c/o Belk

Zero UV mirror aviators

*don't forget to enter this week's giveaway for an amazing cork tote bag!*

I'm excited to be co-hosting another Trend Spin link up with Erin & Laura. This week's theme was Summer Shoes and if you've been following along with my style, then you know I'm obsessed with wedges. Talk about the perfect summer shoe, right?

I personally think wedges are one of the best traveling items. While in Key West, I wore this outfit and thankfully, platform wedges made my night not only stylish, but comfy too! They're one of those shoes can go with just about anything - sundresses, cutoff shorts, jeans... the list is endless! 

I love the metallic detail on this braided pair. Even though this look is more casual than dressy, it still feels put together and totally summary. 

What's your favorite kind of summer shoe? Come link them up with us below - I can't wait to see all your styles. Thanks for linking up with us today! 

linking up with: Style Sessions. Why I Do DeClaire. Elegantly Dressed & Stylish,, Garay Treasures || The Pleated Poppy, Because Shanna Said So, I Feel Pretty, Book of Leisure, The Stylish Housewife, Mid Week Muse, Oh Hey Girl!  Tucker Up, My Girlish Whims, Style Me Wednesday, Classy Yet Trendy, Cappuccino & Fashion, ||

Guest Blogger: Summer Uniform

While I am on vacation, I've asked several of my favorite blogs to guest post for BAD. I'm such a fan of their sites so I'm excited to share them with you! Last but not least is Mandy from in the Fashion Lane. Mandy & I bonded on Twitter over reality TV and fitness tips. I love everything from her nail polish collection to her endless amounts of accessories to her intense dedication to professional/personal goals. Here she's got some suggestions for the perfect summer outfit......

Hey Bedazzles after Dark readers! I am Mandy and I blog over at in the Fashion Lane. My blog focuses on my personal style evolution, styling tips and tricks and more recently, my Fitness journey. I hope you all will stop by and say HI! 

 I am so excited to be blogging for Nikki while she is on vacay! Since she is off starting the Summer off right, I thought I would share my 'Summer Uniform' with you all. 

I was born and raised in Southern California and I live in cut offs and sandals 90% of the Summer. Being a personal style blogger that outfit gets old really quickly. So I have been challenging myself to really sass up my look. I have been known to drop $$$ when needed, usually on handbags and shoes, but I am definitely more budget conscious these days. One rule that I always follow is to not spend a lot on trend pieces since trends are fleeting. A couple trends that we have seen are colored denim and color blocking. I found some cheap clothing items to create trendy looks.

 One - Two - Three

I fell in MAJOR love with these cut offs. They come in 8 bold colors and I had to stop myself at only buying two.

  One - Two - Three

 Chambray tops have been spotted everywhere! I own a couple long sleeve versions, a short sleeve version and now a sleeveless version. This top virtually goes with EVERYTHING! I have been obsessed with Tangerine and the second blouse is a great top that can be dressed up or down. The last top, yes I picked a long sleeve option, is bold and stands out in my plaid collection. I LOVE plaid. Having a long sleeve top is nice for cool nights on the beach or to cover up when you get to much sun!

 One - Two - Three

The Sam Edelman 'Gigi' is my go to sandal. I have bought a pair for the last three years. They are comfy and come in so many fun colors!

Trend Outfit One: Chambray and Animal print:

One of my favorite pairings is wearing a chambray top and leopard shoes. I love that the purple shorts are bright enough to make a statement but complement the blue chambray and looks great with leopard. I own this exact sandal and I have not been able to find something they don't go with. Definitely my most worn pair.

Trend Outfit Two: Tonal Color Blocking:

If you are brave enough to wear Tangerine Tango than why not color block your look. The top is bright and looks awesome paired with a more subtle cantaloupe colored shorts. I love that the sandals are color blocked as well. The saddle brown is the most versatile brown you can own and looks good on the majority of skin types. The coral piece matches the shorts perfectly. 

Trend Outfit Three: Preppy Chic:

This look screams J. Crew to me without the price tag. The shirt is gorgeous in a myriad of colors. I love the turquoise shorts and the sandals pick up and complement all of the bright colors.

***All of these looks would look great with a colored earring like the Kendra Scott 'Danielle' (it comes in 30+ colors), an arm party with lots of gold bangles including these linked CC Skye pair, and an over-sized watch like my go to Michael Kors Runway.

I hope that you all find something that you liked! Make sure and challenge yourself to sass up your Summer Uniform and try something different. Don't shy away from the trends, make them work for you!

Guest Blogger: Haute Child in the City's Summer Loves

While I am on vacation, I've asked several of my favorite blogs to guest post for  BAD. I'm such a fan of their sites so I'm excited to share them with you! First up is Chelsea from Haute Child In The City. A Carolina girl and a new mommy, she enjoys anything J. Crew and reality TV. Here she shares what she's lusting after this summer.....

Hi there! Chelsea here from Haute Child in the City.  Nikki so graciously asked me to fill in for her while she's off on some fantastic vacay and I am more than honored to try to fill her shoes.  So without further ado, here are some of the trends and looks that I am lusting over this summer.

Nautical Trend

[Shirt: JCrew Talitha Blouse/Skirt: JCrew No 2 Pencil Skirt Seersucker/Wedges: DVF]

JCrew has a lot of great options for this look right now.  I tend to be attracted to the not-so-blatant nautical (read: stripes and seersucker rather than graphic anchors), but all of the pieces that JCrew has right now are just so perfect to full of this look regardless of which side you lean toward.

High-Low

Or the fashion mullet...

I honestly really adore this trend.  You can find this trend in anything from tops, to skirts, to dresses.  It's something that you can dress up or dress down and look totally with the now. 

Brights

[Thakoon for NARS nailpolish/MAC lipsticks/Kate Spade Essex Scout Bag/Manolo Blahniks via Love Maegan]

I find that the bright trend, for me at least, it better expressed through accessories.  I am loving bright lipsticks, nail polish, purses and shoes.

Beach Chic

Honestly, there's nothing better than a good panama hat and a beach bag.  Maybe I'm just lusting for time in the sand and surf, but this season I've found designers embracing more fun and trendy looks for a day at the beach.

Steal Her Look For Less: Camilla Belle in Express

Camilla Belle attends a Coldplay concert in an Express Tribal Print Maxi Dress

Summer is still in full force and before we hit September (Fashion week!) I thought it was time for another edition of Steal Her Look For Less. Or in this case - you can actually buy her look! The lovely and gorgeous Camilla Belle showed up to a Coldplay concert last week wearing this Express maxi dress:

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love it when celebs wear affordable style! With maxi dress continuing to be a trend you better hop on this train if you haven't already! They're my new favorite item and I literally can't stop wearing them. Camilla topped off the rest of her look with a red Chanel crossbody, some pretty floral sandals, a few bangles and layered necklaces. This is a look that you can easily re-create for your next summer outing that will have you looking great without feeling over styled. Plus crossbody handbags are my new favorite thing obsession. They free up your arms up to do whatever you need them for (drinking you champagne, holding stacks of clothes/shoes you plan on buying - whatever!) but still add a cool element to your outfit. While you may not be able to afford Camilla's Chanel bag (unless you're willing to shell out a few thousand...) I found some great options that will still have you rolling in style. Tell me what you think:

More Forever 21...

I know that if you try this out you'll look just a great if not better than Camilla! :) Happy Thursday everyone! xoxo

1st image via InStyle; 2nd image via Express

Steal Her Look For Less: Cameron Diaz's White Jumpsuit Look


Hello Summer! While temperatures continue to rise, actress Cameron Diaz looks cool as a cucumber as she promotes her latest movie Bad Teacher in Cancun, Mexico. This white-hot ensemble is the perfect combination of summertime, chicness and effortless style. A dark denim jacket from Current/Elliot pops against the crispness of her the A.L.C white jumpsuit. Cameron also keeps accessories fuss free and easy with adorable espadrille sandals (supposedly Christian Louboutin) and a turquoise necklace that brightens up the look.  Usually I'm not a fan of white wedges - but for some reason those shoes are calling out to me! And the burst of color from the necklace is so fabulous and such a fantastic styling tip for the coming warmer days. To avoid sweating to death from wearing too much jewelry one strand of beads doubled is great accessory balance. You'll have a little flair without feeling weighed down by tons of baubles. She's also wearing one of my fav staples for summer wear - a denim jacket. In the evenings (believe it or not it does cool down in some places!) it can be a great outfit topper and one of the best things to pack for a trip. You can pair it with dresses, pants and/or shorts (but please never do denim-on-denim). While Cam's jacket alone could set you back almost 300 dollars, I've found some great go-to options that keep your budget in check:

More Gap...

I'm seriously obsessed with both of those wedges and that Gap jacket. You can try re-creating this look à la Ms. Diaz or wear the pieces separately with other items in your closet. How fab would those necklaces look with a LBD or jeans and a tee? Either way your style will look fresh at that next BBQ you're attending. Happy Monday!

1st image via InStyle

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