warm weather >:(

Every year, after super long and frigid winters, nothing is as exciting as finally not having to wear a jacket outside, getting to pull out sandals...and then realizing that I don't own any clothes for warm weather. I'm just not a warm-weather-clothes loving kind of girl - I prefer the layers and the scarves and the boots that come with fall. I think part of that really has to do with my shape - heat and summer are all about non-clingy, swingy, thin strapped, show off as much skin as possible type of clothing, and I just can't do that. I need my heavy-duty bra (how attractive does that sound?!) and something that covers my not so slender arms, and I need something that won't make my thighs rub. So what I really comes down to is...I hate spring. 

I'm sure you could say I worry too much, and this is totally true (just ask those closest to me), but if I don't feel comfortable, I'm just not going to be able to enjoy the nice weather. Could I probably cut down on the delicious cheeseburgers once a week, and instead of napping maybe go on a run, sure, but ten pounds in either direction isn't going to change the fact that I prefer to be more covered up. 

What I do know is that I prefer dresses with some kind of sleeve - something that I can easily throw on, probably belt, and walk out the door. I went to Old Navy last week and tried on a bunch of different dresses in hopes of finding a few inexpensive options, and even though I liked the fit and flare dress I talked about before, it felt it was almost tooooo dressy. After seeing this dress on Merrick, I figured it was worth ordering online since I could return it in the store if I decided against it. I also needed to go buy dog food that day, so I went to Target anyway...and found this dress. Does it solve all of my summer time dressing woes? No, but it's light, has sleeves, and can be dressed up or down, so for one day I won't complain about having nothing to wear.

But just one day. 

Dress: Target [exact]

Necklace: c/o Bauble Bar [exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

Belt: H&M

Nails: Essie + OPI

june wish list

I really want to go into June with a plan for where my clothing budget is going to go. I have nine work days left, and then I have six whole weeks of nothing. Well, nothing isn't exactly true. If ticket prices go down, I may go to Germany to celebrate my grandma's birthday, I may go up north to spend some time at a friend's cabin, and I just booked my tickets to go to Seattle in the beginning of July. My summer clothes wardrobe is pretty much non-existant. I have a few tees, one casual skirt, a few Target dresses, two pairs of shorts, and three pairs of sandals. Here's the plan to add a few more pieces into rotation:

Casual Skirts: On the few nice weekend days we've had, I've worn my J.Crew Factory skirt - I like that it's light/easy to throw on, but it still looks polished. I love the pattern of the skirt above but the fabric isn't really great for casual summer wear, so I'll just have to look for something similar in a more natural fabric choice.

V-Neck Tees: I've worn an Everlane tee the last 5 out of 8 days. I feel really comfortable in them and I feel they get better with wear - yesterday I even wore the black one without my usual tanktop underneath it and surprisingly, the world did not end ;) I have a few store credits so I may get a few more to add into the rotation.

Sandals: Since I have to wear closed toed, flat shoes at work, I don't own a lot of summer shoes. I have a Sam Edelman for AE pair (they look like this), and then Caroline sent me a few hand-me-downs so I added this pair as well. Because I will be doing a lot of walking this summer, I'd like to add a somewhat stable and comfortable black pair. In the past, Target shoes haven't worked out for me because the materials cut into my skin and I found them uncomfortable. I tried these sandals last night though, and they feel really great - there's some cushion in the sole, and they don't cut into my skin. I bought the last pair in my size, but I'm still look around a bit to see if I find something even better.

Shorts: JHORTS! I know. My current pair is about 4 summers old, and have worn through the thigh. I'm still wearing them because they are the only pair I have, but I'd like to replace them. My favorite instagram blogger bought these at the Gap Factory store. I'm going to the outlet mall on my first Monday I don't have to work, so I'm going to keep my eye out for them. I like that they are a bit longer and not super distressed. I know jean shorts aren't for everyone, but I like them if they aren't crazy distressed or short.

Black Maxi Dress: I've been looking for a black maxi dress for several years now. I want one that has a v-neck (but not too deep), thick enough straps to wear a regular bra, goes in at my waist, and is long enough (I'm between 5'9'' and 5'10''). I've had no luck! I went to Target last week just to see what they have and all of them were awful. The waist on this one was too low, this one was way too short, and I even tried on this one but just...no. Amy is another Madison blogger and found a great dress at the Banana Republic Factory store so I'm hoping I can find it too, at least to try it on. I'm also going to try this one from the J.Crew Factory on.

Tees: I tried on this tee at Express last week and really like it. It's still in neutral colors (I tried on the dark blue sleeve/white torso version), the sleeves are long enough, and the shirt is long enough on me. During the next big sale I think I'll go back for it.

So that's the plan. Anything you are looking for specifically this month?

the worst time of the year

 

While most bloggers (and non bloggers too, I'm sure)right now are springing for joy about the warm weather, pulling out their cute little sun dresses and fun shorts, I'm here cursing the weather. The worst time to have clothing regulations like mine (covered legs, closed toed shoes), is when it gets hot outside. It's fine at 7 in the morning when it's still like a chilly 60, but then when I'm walking out of work at 4:30 after spending a day in a chilly concrete room, and you're just hit by HEAT, you just curse your job*

Luckily, I'm out of the concrete windowless refrigerator in less than a month. NO CLOTHING RESTRICTIONS FOR SIX WHOLE WEEKS. I can hardly wait...except I've come to realize that I don't really own any summer clothes. For the past 6 summers, I either worked as a camp counselor (gym shorts and t-shirts), as a traveling band member (gym shorts and t-shirts), or I've worked in my current job. I own 1 pair of jean shorts (that are at least 4 years old), 1 casual skirt (this J.Crew Factory one), 1 casual dress, and a handful of tees. While my current budget for the month is pretty much gone, next month I really need to find a few summer staples. I think just a few pairs of colored shorts (think this blue color or this red color), a few comfortable and light tees (you guys all keep raving about these so I'm going to have to go test them out), and a few summer dresses (ones with thicker straps because girlfriend doesn't do strapless bras - this one is adorable, and this maxi is pretty close to what I've been looking for) should be enough to get me through summer. Of course I've been keeping an eye out while out at Goodwill, but the only things I found last weekend were this amazing vintage dress I plan on wearing to every wedding I go to this summer, and a blazer. Not exactly beneficial to the summer wardrobe, but adorable nonetheless.

What are some of your summer staples? Any hidden gems I need to know about?

Sweater: Gap 

Jeans: Urban Outfitters [exact]

Watch: Fossil [similar]

Shoes: Old Navy [save | splurge]

Purse: vintage Coach via Etsy [current style - see restoration here]

* I really am grateful to have a job. I'm just poking fun ...ish.