spring neutrals

 Nordstrom jacket (similar) | Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses | Nordstrom belt | Gap jeans | Michael Kors watch | J. Crew bracelet (similar) | Victoria's Secret nail polish in "String Bikini"

It's officially the first day of spring! While I wish it were warmer, it felt nice to wear a light jacket and not a coat or sweater. I kept the outfit pretty neutral, but with bubble gum pink nails and some heeled booties.

xo-ally

navy blue sparkles :) #ootd

J. Crew top | J. Crew skirt (similar here and here) | French Connection bag | DSW heels (similar) | Michael Kors watch

The day before I left for DC, I was going to take photos of this outfit...and then I realized I had left my DSLR camera at a friend's house. I took to the phone camera mirror selfies instead...so here they are! This is a fun way to wear sparkles-on-sparkles at night. For work, I wear the same top-skirt combo but with navy tights and flats instead.

xo-ally

winter beach outfit in viareggio, italy

Nordstrom t-shirt (similar) | Longchamp bag | Hudson jeans | Diva Shoes Florence boots (similar) | Chanel sunglasses | Michael Kors watch | Stella & Dot bracelet | Seattle boutique bracelets | similar jacket

This is my last outfit post of 2013! Last week I went to Viareggio, a small beach town on the Italian coast. It is only about an hour and a half train ride away. (Yup, those are my pink ear buds you can see peeking out of my Longchamp...didn't realize they were showing until after the photos were taken...haha). Even though it was winter, it was only a little chilly because of the sun. It was so refreshing to be on a beach and by the water and to get away from Florence for a day.

xo-ally

denim on denim

H&M shirt | Nordstrom tank | H&M jeans | Nike shoes | Chanel sunglasses | Michael Kors watch | J. Crew bracelet | Longchamp bag

Quick outfit post today, just wanted to share my casual outfit. It was in the high 60s so I was quite warm wearing this, but since it's the first day of November I would've felt a little silly wearing shorts! (Even though I really wanted to...) I like mixing the dark wash denim with lighter colored chambray. These H&M skinnies were only 10 euros - such a steal - and are really comfortable. I needed another pair of skinnies so I was happy to find a super inexpensive pair that doesn't look cheap or sloppy.

Thanks for stopping by :)

xo-ally

floral + a statement necklace

Forever 21 shirt | Swank necklace | Hudson jeans | Corso Como boots | Michael Kors watch

Please mind the selfies and the dirty mirror (looks like we need to clean our apartment!) We've had a busy week but still all good fun. What still isn't fun, however, is that my camera refuses to work :( 

It is juuuust starting to get chilly in Florence, and while I probably could've worn shorts today, I've been rocking the skinny jeans and leggings all weekend. Of course, once it hit September, the oh-so-fashionable Italians were bundled up in scarves, fall sweaters, and boots. Me being me (summer-and-warm-weather-obsessed), I wore my summer favorites well into October. :)

I'm loving this floral F21 top I found this summer and saved it for fall due to the navy base and high-low hem. The neutral colored statement necklace added a little "something extra" so the outfit. I finished it off with classic riding boots and my signature MK watch.

Here's to finally welcoming fall fashion!

xo-ally

subtle floral

J. Crew top | Swank shorts (similar) | Nordstrom sunglasses (similar) | Kate Spade bag (similar) | Michael Kors watch |  Nordstrom orange bangle | Henri Bendel yellow bracelet | Tory Burch sandals (close-toed flats) | Max & Chloe necklace

Today's outfit subtly mixes floral on the lace shorts, gold bag, and bangle. With the similar tones of gold and orange, it all works and makes the different sized florals go together. I love my J. Crew peplum top because it really can pull any outfit together (it is also SO comfortable). And I was excited to add my new neon sailor knot bracelet from Bendels! I got the bracelet at the Bendels summer sale in New York a couple weeks ago. Even though it's both neon and nautical, I have a feeling this bracelet will carry through to fall.

More ways to wear it....
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has only a few days left, and there are some great floral pieces on sale to choose from. First, I adore this hot pink floral pencil skirt from Kate Spade. It's $198, a hundred dollars less than the original price, but still a little spendy (for me at least!)
Floral tights add coverage to basic dresses and skirts in the cooler seasons, but still make the outfit interesting. This pair comes in black and a reddish-purple. There is also plus size available as well.
I couldn't resist adding this pair of bright, floral jeans to the list. I know, I know, they're very summer-y (and Kate Spade, again), but...they're wearable into September and you can save them for spring? Think of it as a future investment in next year's spring break wardrobe! :)

xo-ally

whales!

J. Crew sweater (similar sweater, solid) (similar print, tee) | Nordstrom sunglasses | Sanctuary jeans | Tory Burch sandals (similar, great year-round option) | Michael Kors watch | J. Crew yellow bracelet (similar) | Swank silver bracelets | Color Club "Disco Dress" nail polish

How adorable are these little whales?! It was a chilly Seattle morning, so I threw on my new critter sweater I've been wanting to wear :) Pairing it with white skinnies and metallic sandals made it still feel like summer despite the cool breeze. The sweater is a little sheer due to its lightweight feel, so I'd recommend a navy cami (like this one from Nordstrom) if you wouldn't want a different color to show through (I wore a white cami underneath).

To bring this look into fall I'd swap the bright white denim for a pair of off-white cords or tuck the sweater into distressed skinny jeans with a classic, brown leather belt.

xo-ally

peplum + prints

J. Crew top | J. Crew pants | Chanel sunglasses | Muses & Rebels necklace | Report flats | Longchamp bag | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets

It was a slightly chilly, summer day in Seattle, so trading shorts for pants was in order. This particular pair was picked up from a recent J. Crew sale (scored them for $24, originally $128). Due to the busy print of the pants, I pulled the look together with a classic, white peplum top, sparkly bow flats, and accessories. I even did my hair for once - a loosely curled side pony made the look more fun, in my opinion. :)

More ways to wear it....what I love about these pieces are the versatility: I can envision this peplum top looking lovely over this bright blue pencil skirt or even a crisp pair of skinnies with mini wedges. As for the pants, a silk-y button-down tucked in with a belt would look effortlessly fabulous, as would this oversize sweater for early fall days.

xo-ally

pink & green

Vineyard Vines top (can't find online, however, this is a matching skirt) | J. Crew shorts | Aldo sandals | Ray-Ban sunglasses | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets, silver | Forever 21 bracelet, green (old) | Longchamp bag

This is my last short visit to New York, and I only thought it fitting to photograph an outfit as colorful as the bright city lights. Since summer is my favorite season, I took to my favorite bright color pairing - pink and green - with my blue mirrored Ray-Bans, casual sandals, and a bright green bangle. You can never go wrong with pink and green, or with stripes - I'm also loving this Lilly dress that incorporates pink and green color blocking. (Surprise, surprise, more stripes! Haha. But really. My last three shopping trips have all included at least two striped pieces. This may begin to be an issue...)

I can't believe later this week I will leave New York and return to Seattle. This summer job has flown by! Leaving my "homes away from home" in DC and NY will be a little sad, but my next venture will begin in a few weeks. I'm excited to announce to you all what's next for me! (Hint: it's really exciting, and will be so fun to blog about).

xo-ally

dress it up/dress it down

J. Crew top (currently on sale) | Rock & Republic shorts (similar) | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets | Longchamp bag

So I tried to get a full length shot of this outfit, but it was a ponytail day and I looked like a boy in every photo. Haha! What I do love about such a sparkly top, however, is that it is surprisingly versatile. This top can be worn with a skirt or a nice pair of pants (already have an outfit planned for this week) or with casual shorts, like how I wore it this weekend. Not only can a sparkly top such as this one be dressed up or down in the summer, any dose of sparkle can be factored in year-round with a huge variety of outfits. Is planning ahead to my New Year's party outfit too soon? ;)

xo-ally

friday's fancies - stars + stripes

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is stars + stripes. I recreated a very similar outfit to the one I wore yesterday (unfortunately didn't get photos - however I know I'll definitely be re-wearing it sometime soon!) I went a little crazy at the J. Crew sale - where I got a very similar shirt and skirt -  I'll definitely post about the awesome sale sometime within the next few days.

shirt, skirt, sandals, necklace, watch, bracelets, earrings

xo-ally

nyc

Subdued shirt (from Florence, Italy) | J. Crew shorts | Sperry shoes | Nordstrom chevron bangle | Michael Kors watch | Longchamp bag | Swank necklace

I'm currently back in New York for a few days! I took these photos after seeing a show. 

This outfit was:

Comfortable: the shorts and Sperrys made walking around the city all day bearable.

Functional: the watch keeps me on time, while my Longchamp fits my clip board and all other materials needed for work.

And then I added some accessories to make the ensemble more interesting!

xo-ally

PS - Google Friend Connect is now going away for non-Blogger blogs, however it will still appear on this site and many others (since this blog is run through Blogger). You can import your contacts to Bloglovin', though :)
You can follow me on Bloglovin' here!

"relaxed professional" outfit

Hello, hello! Today is my first day off after training for my new job in DC. I can't believe training is over so quickly! We have a couple days off before starting the real thing next week, and I am really excited to begin. After brunch at a little nearby diner, I went shopping with a few other girls. I really need more "professional clothes" because I've already mixed and matched quite a few of my pieces! Haha. Luckily I found a J. Crew and picked up a few things ;) AND everything is 25% off, including sale items! Love a good sale.

Here is what I wore one of the days - pencil skirt, my favorite white top, a watch, and statement jewelry:

I also wore my swimsuit to the pool after training ended. It was nice to be outside in the sun after spending the days inside! The one I got was a recent purchase from Victoria's Secret (great swimsuit selection, always):

swimsuit (it just went on clearance!)

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

xo-ally

mixing prints

aaaand the .gif is awkward, as usual :P

Rebecca Taylor top | Articles of Society jeans | Sperry shoes | Nordstrom blazer (similar style) | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets | Nordstrom earrings

This outfit is all about mixing prints. I've usually kept it pretty simple with my polka dot jeans - adding some color or texture for sure, but staying away from crazy prints. However, pretty much any print would work paired with these jeans, seeing as they are neutral and the polka dots are subtle. A structured blazer helped pull the look together, and I wore my favorite pair of Sperry boat shoes and simple accessories to complete the look.

xo-ally

neon pink

H&M dress (similar) | Chanel sunglasses (similar) | Nordstrom cardigan | New Look shoes | Swank necklace | Swank bracelets | Kate Spade bag (similar)

It has been great to break out the brights lately, and I couldn't resist my neon high low dress! You may remember it from last summer when I wore a similar ensemble. This time I paired it with a cardigan (still a little chilly for May), new accessories, and flat espadrilles.

xo-ally

orange lace shorts

 

Swank shorts | American Eagle shirt | Nordstrom tank | Sperry boat shoes | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets | Ray-Ban sunglasses

I'm currently in Seattle, where it has been cloudy and chilly every day, but that wouldn't stop me from wearing shorts! I probably looked ridiculous walking around, but I couldn't resist the orange lace shorts. Probably best to wear them before my tan fades, which, looking at the forecast, won't be long. I paired the orange and cream colored shorts with a ton of other blue pieces and metallic accessories. Summer clothes are my favorite!

Happy Sunday!

xo-ally

electric green chinos & orange stripes

Nordstrom tank (similar) | J. Crew shorts (new colors) | Nordstrom belt (similar) | Kate Spade bag (similar here, and this one has a metal bow!) | Michael Kors watch | Forever 21 bracelets | Nordstrom sweater | Ray-Ban sunglasses | Sperry boat shoes (this exact pair happens to be on sale!)

It's so sunny today! I got to take my bright green chino shorts out of the drawers for the first time in a long time. The warm weather makes me want to do anything but be inside, but unfortunately I have a final to study for this afternoon. Maybe I'll study outside on the grass :) it's crazy to think that tomorrow I have my last actual class as a college student! And only two more finals and my thesis paper. So, so, so weird letting that sink in.

I also love the color combo today. Orange and green have been a favorite color of mine since I saw Blair wearing the orange-green outfit on Gossip Girl (beginning-ish of season 1, where Blair and Nate break up, I can't find a photo of that outfit online). I like to put the colors together if I get a chance!

xo-ally

brights on brights on brights

Lilly Pulitzer skirt | Nordstrom tank (similar) | Nordstrom cardigan | Juicy Couture bag (similar) | Chanel sunglasses (similar) | Michael Kors watch | Nordstrom chevron bangle (similar) | Juicy Couture pink bracelet | New Look flat espadrilles (similar)

It's been a while since I've done a .gif outfit post! Hope you like the look today, I wore my Lilly Pulizer skirt (one of my favorite spring skirts) in the Wild Confetti print and hinted at the blue-green color in the skirt with my tank. It was windy and chilly so I had to throw on my cardigan, but that didn't stop me from keeping the outfit totally spring! I pulled out my white flat espadrilles for the first time this season and I'm so excited because they go with almost anything. Yay for spring clothes!

xo-ally