Outfit of the Day: Maxed Out

Last summer when the "You Gotta Regatta" print came out from Lilly, I got a dress for my sister's high school graduation. I couldn't really justify getting two dresses in the same print, so I skipped out on this Treena Maxi dress originally.

I had HUGE remorse for not snagging this dress when I had the opportunity. I was ELATED when I logged onto Rue La La to see that it was being offered in the most recent Lilly pop-up shop! There was high traffic all day, so I didn't think I was going to log on, let alone even order or purchase this dress. After trying my patience, I finally got through on Rue La La and ordered my dress as soon as I could! I was PUMPED when I got my confirmation email that it was on its way. 

I paired this dress with a yellow party cardi and my neon McKims from Carolina Cup, and added my monogram necklace on to top it all off. I cannot wait to wear this dress more often because it seriously feels like PJs when you're wearing it. Needless to say, I am LOVING my newest acquisition!

Have you ever snagged a dress after longing after not buying it?

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Preppy Profesh: Metallics and Neutrals

I wouldn't normally post OOTD's this fast, but everyone was wondering where this outfit was from! I have good and bad news--good news: it's all VERY affordable, bad news: it's all a little bit old...

Sweater: H&M (similar here)

Skirt: Target Merona (similar)

Flats: Target (similar)

Multi-Strand Pearl Necklace: J. Crew (similar)

One of the great things about an internship is practicing for a real job. Not only practicing work skills like computer programs or networking, but practicing what to wear. Some days are a hit, some days are a miss. Today was both. My boss told me that I looked great--total plus! I didn't realize though, however, when I was getting dressed that it was chilly outside! I had bare legs when covered legs may have been more suitable.

I also work for a relatively conservative non-profit, so I tend to always dress conservatively. I also almost always have a cardigan because where I work is ALWAYS cold. Our office building is huge and they keep it cold ALL the time. On the days I forget I'm always telling myself, "DON'T FORGET NEXT TIME!!!!" because it's so chilly! I sit and work at a computer for the majority of the time that I'm there so a cardigan is a great addition to have!

This outfit was definitely good practice for dressing for an office. While it's not "business professional" (to me that's a hard and fast SUIT rule), it's definitely more "business casual" or my new name for it "preppy profesh"!!

What do you usually wear to your work or internship?

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Summer Seersucker, Sails, and Scents

June 16 by letsbepreppy featuring leather sandals

I love summer because it means white shoes, seersucker (horrible but very funny typo: I OFTEN accidently type "seersucket" ahhhh!) and nautical sails and shapes! The Buttercup shorts I have in the pink seersucker from Lilly from this summer are at the top of my list a lot! I love these shorts! My only regret is that I wish I got the size smaller (I'm always between two sizes) size because mine have stretched a little, typical of seersucker, I shoulda known! The Paley cardigan is also one of my favorites and my Mom actually has it too! We tend to have a lot of similar things in our closets!

Everywhere in South Carolina during the summer seems to jack up the AC to keep everyone cool when it's so hot outside, so I've been bringing a cardigan with me everywhere I go! I probably look crazy at work to everyone who comes in to shop, but we actually get chilly--can you believe I'm even saying that!?

I also have just been using my wallet recently, all my bags seem to be too big or too heavy for summer, so I've just been grabbing the essentials before I head out the door: phone, wallet, keys and sunglasses and I'm good to go for the day! It's simple and easy--just like the summer months!

My summer go-to fragrance is "Beachy" by Lilly Pulitzer a few years ago!

While it has been discontinued by the company who was manufacturing it (they went out of business) you can still find it online (eBay, perfume outlets, etc.) and even at some TJMaxx's and Marshall's! Whenever I see a bottle of Beachy I snag it while I can--it's perfect for summer and lasts even if it's REALLY hot out!

What are your summer S's? Mine are seersucker, sails and scents!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Pink Icicles

March 6 by letsbepreppy featuring frye boots

So, when I was packing to come home, I was NOT expecting as chilly weather as it's been! Yikes! I sure was in for a surprise! Thankfully, I keep my warmest pink North Face parka at home since it never gets cold enough to wear it at school. I've been donning it because of the chilly temps and wind! I also went to our local H&M (I desperately wish we had one somewhere close to school--while H&M isn't always the best quality, if you're in a pinch, chances are you can find something that will work for your occasion whether it's business-y, fun, or somewhere in the middle!) and picked up an awesome cardigan that I've seen floating around blogs:

Thankfully I did because I didn't bring any warmer tops home with me! I've been feeling like a total pink icicle though--so cold and in ALL pink! Kinda fun too! 

While back I also found a pair of Hunter boots on sale online for $50! I had a $30 credit and so my new fabulous pink Hunter boots (also pink) were only $20!

Unfortunately, I accidentally shipped them HOME to Annapolis instead of Columbia so I had to wait like a month to finally see them! They arrived right around Valentine's Day, so imagine my wait.

So here I've been, the pink icicle! Is weather perking up for you? I know in South Carolina, we're in shorts these days and I'm LOVING it!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Falling Into Fall

September 19 by letsbepreppy featuring a flap bag

I wore this outfit Monday after my tour! It's really starting to get cold and they're telling us on the weather that it's going to warm up again but I'm fully embracing Fall and it's chillier temps! I'd be excited if Fall stayed here for good for the next few months and I could really check out the rest of my more autumnal wardrobe!

What are the temperatures by you? Does anyone really think it's even going to get warm again! I kinda hope not!!

Be sure to enter the Gybe-ho giveaway y'all!!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: Nautical Summer

July 10 by letsbepreppy featuring ribbed tank tops

I am LOVING my new Paley Cardigan! This sweater is the perfect sweater weight for the summer and I can add a fun shirt underneath for the fall! Such a fun transitional piece that pairs with tons! I had it over my shoulders for a lot of the day because it heated up quite a bit! The fun glossy buttons make the sweater pop and I'm excited to wear it again!!

xxKatie

Big Clean and a Glimpse of My Closet

It's officially November (and we're still in shorts...) and so I did a HUGE clean of my room and organized my closet. I brought out my fall-winter-ish stuff and hung it all up. I had to make my way over to Target to get some hangers and hanger clips for skirts and stuff. I've never done one of these posts, but this is what my closet looks like:

(sorry about the graininess it's from my phone...my camera's downstairs and I'm pretty lazy tonight)

Everything is finally hanging up. I think I have over 100 hangers in there. In order:

1. Black dresses

2. Fall dresses

3. Lilly dresses

4. Knit dresses (mainly VS and American Apparel)

5. Summer going out tops

6. Summer skirts (VV and Lilly and some Target)

7. Fall skirts

8. Fall going out tops/turtle necks/rugbies

9. Blazers

10. Oxfords

11. Sweaters

12. Work/VC Clothes

The bottom of the closet is my accessories holder and my laundry (sorry...that's a little gross that I included that), and then my shoes are in my storage closet. That also has my coats, workout clothes and pajamas! I thought I'd do my own closet post since it's quite popular!

xxKatie

Outfit of the Day: First Day of Jeans

September 20 by letsbepreppy featuring sterling silver jewelry

Monday was the first day I wore jeans to class this year! I thought that today might be less hot (notice, I don't say cooler...it won't be "cooler" here anytime soon...) so I figured that jeans might be a nice choice. I've also been seeing some of my fellow classmates in jeans as well, so I thought that there had to be something to it...until I saw a friend's facebook status that said something about having a high of 98 degrees  Monday. I sank in my chair and promptly checked the weather and saw this:

Oops. Lesson learned for the week: keep rocking the Lilly skirts and crew neck T's for a little while longer. It's nice that we still have a lot of hot summer weather, but at the same time I'd love a little bit of fall thrown in there somewhere. I hope it's not like last year where we had summer and then it felt like the wintery temps were right around the corner! Plus fall means cozy sweaters, fall boots (oh hey Skyler...look for a post from her soon), the state fair, blankets, Halloween, more football games, Homecoming (are YOU crazy for Carolina?!), Thanksgiving (that's rather far down the road, really), and all kinds of fun stuff! 

I guess I shouldn't complain since the weather isn't too too bad, but I'd like to see some eight's or maybe seven's and dare I even as for a six (that's completely wishful thinking and I know it) as that front number. For all my Southern readers, we'll just have to wait and be patient! Maybe next week will be more appropriate for jeans and cardigans!

Be sure to enter the giveaway for this week provided by The Posh Palm!! It ends Friday!!

xxKatie

Forever 21 a la Lilly?

I love the Shirley Sweater Coat that Lilly has for this season. In the past few lines, LP has has a sweater similar to this in all kinds of different colors depending on the prints that go along with that season. For fall LP put out white, pink salmon, shorely blue, and true navy for $168. There's also a larger version in a cable knit:

This Shere Cable Sweater Coat is quite too, but for $368 is far out of my price range. Even $168 is more than my monthly budget for extra spending that I allot myself. When I was shopping in Charlotte in forever21, I saw this adorable cardigan:

The ruffle detail is very hard to see, but this sweater looks EXACTLY like the Shirley Sweater Coat.

It's a little more clear in the creme color. Best part of all...just wait...this sweater was $13.50! The Medium fit my arms perfectly and these two sweaters will be great additions to my closet for fall as well as working at school. They're great neutrals that will match a lot. I think the creme one will look great with a great pair of dark jeans and with a brown belt that matches my Bandolino boots:

I couldn't get over how similar the two sweaters were and I never expected a store like forever21 to take cues from Lilly!!

xxKatie

Late Summer Staple

Long Sleeve White T-Shirts

I love a great long sleeve white t-shirt. You can throw one on with just about any bottom and you look effortless and chic. I think white long sleeve t's look nice with plain shorts, printed shorts, skirts, summer capris, and whatever else you can think of. I often wear one with navy J. Crew 5'' shorts and a great necklace (which was actually broken one night but then miraculously fixed by a good friend...I have no idea how he did it...) and Jacks. If you see some of my Polyvore sets, you know I wear this look a lot, just like July 26. and June 14.

For awhile I thought that long sleeved anything in the summer was silly. It's too hot and looks out of place, right? Wrong. You can not only take a long sleeve white t-shirt from day to night with a few simple changes, but it's a great alternative to a sweater or cardigan (although, don't get me wrong, I do love a good cardi). 

I first got the idea to do so a few years ago from the Cape Madras website. They had some young girl models who all were wearing various madras bottoms (skirts, skorts, capris, or shorts) and different white tops. In a few of the photos (since I first saw it, all the photos have been re-shot) the girls looked so cute and effortless that I had to give the look a try. Here's a photo that was similar to the one I saw:

First of all, how adorable are they and second of all, how nice does the plain bright white long sleeve t-shirt look?

If you don't have a good white t-shirt in your wardrobe, I would suggest scurrying over to your closest J. Crew outlet and picking up 10 a few of their standard crew neck white long sleeve-ers. I also have a couple from Old Navy but they don't last as long or keep their shape as well. I also like the J. Crew scoop neck Artist T's, but sometimes they can be sheer so try them on before buying. 

Anyone else like this look especially as a transitional outfit as summer begins to wind down (althought we still have a VERY long time, so not to worry!)??

xxKatie

Smoochin' Seahorses!

After perusing my DailyCandy email a few days ago, they had a special on this brand: Seaton. I couldn't help myself with such a cute icon like they have!! This was the adorable cashmere cardigan that really got me:

Pink + Seahorses + Smooches = Adorable. I almost can't deal with all the cuteness in one!!

Flashback: I wore these shoes to my High School graduation and they were a hit! Imagine the combo of the Seaton Smoochin' Seahorses (I think they should adopt that as a new name for the concept!) and these fab Kate Spade shoes!? However, the adorable designs don't stop there:

How pretty is this blue with the seahorses?

LOVE the khaki and hot pink combo! I mean how classic: a boyfriend cardigan with a great accoutrement on the back!!

 

Any starfish lovers out there? Pair this with a crisp white T-shirt and white shorts! It's the perfect outfit for a night at the beach!

xxKatie