(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

Summer Staples

Summer is in FULL swing and I love it! I have a few things during the summer that I cannot live without:

Tervis Tumbler

Y'all knew this was coming! I love my TT's and they go everywhere with me. You'll find a few in my room, one in the bathroom, one in my car, one next to my pool bag, they're everywhere!

Platinum Jack Rogers

Duh, the shoe that goes with EVERYTHING. Dresses, shorts and a t-shirt, my bathingsuit, and I have no problem if they get wet!

Seersucker

It's cool, looks good, and matches most everything. All of those are perfect for summer. I love seersucker and have versions in pink, blue, and white! Khaki is definitely next on my list!

Ocean Potion Baby 50

I can't use a lot of face products with all my acne lotions, so I have to use the gentlest, most protective sunscreen. AKA Baby sunscreen. I take this everywhere in my purse and I always have it when I go to the beach! I forgot to put it on one day when I went to the pool and I'm still regretting it!

Bare Minerals

With the heat and humidity of South Carolina, I can't really use liquid makeup. It gets sticky and wipes off on sunglasses, clothes, and everything else. YUCK. I've stuck with Bare Minerals for over a year now and I don't see a big change happening in the foreseeable future! I love it!

Swimsuits

What's summer without a good swimsuit? For Christmas I was given a Vineyard Vines gift card and spent it a few months ago on this Vineyard Vines bathing suit! It is super cute and I am excited to wear it!

At any given time during the summer, chances are I'm wearing or using most of these! What are you summer staples?

xxKatie

SwiMen

After giving it some thought, I haven't done a guy-foucused post in awhile! I just did the swimming post for us girls a few days ago, so I thought I'd show y'all some of my favorite swim trunks for the boys:

Lilly Pulitzer

Tommy Bahama

Brooks Brothers

Ralph Lauren

Mahi Gold

Vineyard Vines

Ralph Lauren: these seersucker trunks are one of my FAVES!

Chubbies: Have y'all heard of these yet?

Brooks Brothers

Ralph Lauren

Columbia PFG

Where does your guy like his swim trunks from? Does he do the short ones (like the Chubbies) or longer ones?

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

Dreamy, Beachy Motto

"Quit your job, buy a ticket, get a tan, fall in love, never return." 

Too bad it's not that simple, but what a fun motto from the Island Company! They also sell all kinds of fun swimsuits and beachy items too! Here are a few of my favorites:

A few summers ago, we used to sell Island Company bathing suits, and I remember how very small they ran! They're separates which is nice because you're not bound to a small bottom and top when maybe you only need one. People tended to go up at least a size if not 2 and they're in letter sizes (XS, S, M...and so on).

I love the simplicity of this dress! Perfect to throw on and you can pair it with so many different accessories!

I love tunics too! The soft pink with the white design is pretty and feminine too!

This orange shift it fun and playful. Perfect for the summer and a barbeque or after the beach!

I also enjoy a company who can poke fun at themselves. Most companies wouldn't use a photo of a model flexing and pointing like some meathead, but I think it's fun and goofy! It shows that they like to have a lot of fun and enjoy some good times!!

All this beachwear is making me think about a vacation. Too bad the closest I'll get is Essie's "I Need a Vacation" nail polish color!! I'm very stressed out, but classes start tomorrow and I'm getting excited!!

xxKatie