(Bathing) SUIT UP!

I'm a HUGE "How I Met Your Mother Fan" so I like to throw in any kind of HIMYM pun whenever I can.

Anywho, I'm headed to the beach today! Best. Feeling. Ever.

What's a must have at the beach? Bathing suits of course!

My absolute go-to for swimwear is TARGET! Y'all might laugh, but I swear they have ones that LAST, clean well, and fit great! Whoever they've got working on their suits they need to keep!

This one really has  Victoria's Secret look to it! The sheen adds a little bit extra to it as well!

Are you a mixer-and-matcher? Target has TONS of options for mixing and matching swimwear too! Integrate swimsuit pieces you already have with new ones for a fresh update!

I LOVE this one! It has a chevron-y look to it without being exactly horizontal. Plus you could push the strings down and wear it bandeau style as well!

Coral is so on trend these days! I love the delicate ruffle at the top. Try a tankini if you don't want to go full blast bikini but still want color!

One word: OBSESSED! Plus right now, pieces are only $10 each online!

If one-pieces are more your speed, this one looks straight out of J. Crew! I love thew blue jewel tone this one dons!

Do y'all have a place that you can rely on for bathing suits? Do you frequently visit Target like me?

xxKatie

Swimonogram

I've seen this picture all over Pinterest and some of the creations that you can find online for monogrammed bathing suit options. It's too bad that a lot of them are on the pricey side because a plan bandeau is actually kinda tough to find!

I tried searching for some, to do a bathing suit of my own design like the one above, and the best top I could come up with was the Garnet Hill bandeau:

I'm thinking about getting that top left printed option and putting a bold white script monogram on it! How cute would that be?

Have you ordered one of those monogrammed bathing suits? What do you think of the trend?

xxKatie

Bold Moves

Stripes are bold. Horizontal stripes are very bold. Horizontal stripes on a bathing suit are about as bold as you can get. All those fashion advising shows say to avoid horizontal stripes because they can make you look wide. I don't always believe this though!

I know it's pretty early to be looking at bathing suits, but I saw this one online at Target and LOVED IT! I thought it was fun and nautical and very summery! I love this color as well as the navy blue and I think that they would make great summer additions to anyone's wardrobe!

I love Target bathing suits! I love their fit, look, material, everything! I can't wait to see the rest of their bathing suits for this spring and summer!

Where do you rely on for swimwear? Do you have a favorite place or places?

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: All's in a Day's...Beach

I know I just did an OOTD post, but this one's a double doozie! I got a swimsuit a few months back from Target right before spring break and it's GREAT! I think Target has some of the best fitting swimsuits anywhere and I like to buy one every summer. The one I have is a lomellina material that I LOVE and can't believe it was so inexpensive at Tarjay!

July 16 by letsbepreppy featuring h&m dresses

This was my outfit at the beach! I loved having my big floppy hat--it was more like a personal umbrella! I was able to use it to cover the sun on my face when I wanted to lay flat and still be able to breathe easy--none of that cover-the-face-with-a-t-shirt-and-suffocate that I usually have to deal with! We came back to the house after a few hours and got ready for dinner. I wore my new Lilly blouse with white shorts, sporting a teeny bit of tan:

July 16 by letsbepreppy featuring post earrings

The little bits of lurex in the Karen Top make it really fun to wear with metallic jewelry! I added my gold  Jacks to complete the outfit and we were ready for a delish Italian dinner!

I'm all about this mid-July late summer sun! I love having to still need sunglasses at 8pm--yet another reason summer is such a great season!

What do you all wear during the summer? Try to keep it cool (as I sit here in the chilly AC in a long sleeve t-shirt!)?

xxKatie

Summer Essentials

Summer is good for warm weather, hanging out with friends, rockin' playlists and tanning. Here are some of my top choices for summer must-haves! They apply to girls and guys so keep that in mind!

1. White shorts: not only are white shorts flattering on nearly everyone, they make you look very tan. Find a good length that you like and voila you're set! I stick with the classic 5'' Chino shorts from J. Crew. Good length for me, crisp white color and durable! For guys, this can be adapted to khaki, just as versatile for summer days!

2. Koozies: you can't go through summer with a sweaty beverage. Koozie's keep your drinks cold and your attitude chill. Keep one (or 3) in your purse before you go out. I often coordinate mine with my outfit. Yep, happens.

3. Boat shoes: Since it's summer you need a pair of shoes you can throw on at a moment's notice and not have to worry about how they look or where you're going. Boat shoes can get wet, dirty, and keep you dry. They look cute with shorts, skirts and  capris. You basically can't go wrong tossing on a pair of Sperry's even if you don't know what the rest of the day my hold!

4. Sunglasses: Running around, day to day, sporting and sunning from the early morning hours into the night, sunglasses are a must. And there for so are croakies. Since I've gotten my Chums (different than your typical croakies but still "sunglass retainers"...) they haven't left my sunglasses! My favorite brands are Costa del Mar and Ray Ban for everyone.

5. Swimwear: Ladies and gents, swimsuit season is upon us! Embrace it with wild patterns, the brighter the better! Animal prints, floral prints, plaid, and polka dot--rock them all! I find swimsuits all over the place from Target to Victoria's Secret to Belk. They sometimes take a little more trying on than other swmsuits, but it'll be worth it once you find a brand you can stick to! Maybe you'll even be able to find your own teeny tiny yellow polka dot bikini!

What are your summer essentials? Something you can't go without??

xxKatie

Nothing Says Summer Quite Like Seersucker!

Seersucker is a go-to fabric for the summer. It's comfy, breezy, and packs well for quick trips here and there. Girls can wear it, guys can rock it, and let's face it, a baby looks stinkin' adorable donning seersucker. What's better? My friend Madras might have a bone to pick but here are my seersucker picks for summer:

Lilly Pulitzer: Blossom Dress in Classic White Regatta Embroidery

Brooks Brothers: Seersucker Fitzgerald Fit Suit

High Cotton Ties: Walker Madras & Yellow Pincord Reversible Bow Tie

High Cotton Ties: Duncan Madras & Blue Seersucker Reversible Bow Tie

Vineyard Vines: Seersucker Patchwork Shorts

Just Madras: Caroline Dress-Girls Pink Seersucker with rick rack

(Isn't she just cute as a button?!)

Aerie: Halter Seersucker Bikini Top and Bottom (on sale)

Anyone already have their seersucker ready for summer? Gearing up for those hot days!

xxKatie

Weekly Gratitude

My first full week of being home is just about coming to a close. Here goes nothin':

1. Thanks to the lady who came into the store from Augusta, GA. While we knew a bunch of the same people, she left me with lasting words after I used the cliche "What a small world!". She goes, "It is a small world. That's why I've taught my children to always be respectful because you never know who's around." Amen, Augusta lady. That is sincerely a lesson and phrase I will never forget.
2. Thanks to my store for taking me back. I work with seriously the BEST people in the world and have been looking forward to coming back to our Crabby Pink Palace for months.
3. Thanks to my family for welcoming me back with open arms, open hearts, and well, an open snack drawer.
4. Thanks to all the performers who sing Beach Music. It is full of good, funny, goofy messages and a light-heartedness that connects me with South Carolina and allows me a lot of freedom while I'm home. Talk about the best of both worlds.
5. Thanks to everyone who keeps telling me junior year was their favorite. I can't wait! 21st birthdays, really knowing your way around, not getting lost (or maybe getting lost more), roadtrips to away games, football season, the Navy-USC game, everything. I absolutely can't wait.
6. RE yesterday's post, thanks Amazon Prime. I appreciate a big ol' company who's willing to look out for college students. You're awesome...we'll take any kind of deal we can get.
7. Thanks to summer for being optimal reading time. I can't wait to see how many books I can read this summer. Contest: officially on. If there's anyone who'd like to take me on in a book reading contest, let me know. We can start it easily...
8. Thanks to while I was packing to not bringing any pants back home except white jeans. While some people may look at that as silly, it's a great reminder of the FABULOUS weather that's ahead of me. Bathing suit season, hit me with your best shot!

9. Thanks to all my home hot spots for still being there. Lemongrass, CPK, Downtown, Robeks, the Amish Market, City Dock, all of them. Nothing says home like a big iced Jamaican.
10. Thanks to all my favorite blogs. You know who you are. You keep me writing, seriously.

xxKatie