My Favorite Summer Skirt

Skirt: Ruche/Top: Violet Boutique/Jacket: Abercrombie&Fitch (old, similar here)/Bag: TopShop (old, similar here)/Sandals: Urban Outfitters (similar here)/Necklace: Christina M Boutique/Watch: MbyMJ/Bracelets: J.Crew (similar here), Bauble Bar, Glamour Me Jewels/Rings: ASOS (similar here)/Lipstick: Revlon Balm Stain in "Lovesick"

Photos by Cate Minichino 

All summer I had been on a quest for the perfect maxi skirt, the qualifications for which were: 1. pleated; 2. pastel; 3. affordable.  And well, I think I finally found it.  You'd think because pleated pastel-colored maxi skirts were in style this summer that it wouldn't have been hard to find one, but it was that third qualification that I was hung up on!  That's why I was so happy to find this little number from Ruche.  And not only is it pastel, it's my favorite of all the pastels, mint. 

What was that one piece that was your summer must-have this year?

Friday Fancies: Watermelon Lemonade

Pants//Sweater//Shirt//Shoes//Bag//Earrings//Necklace

The theme of today's Friday Fancies is "favorite summer refreshment."  Lemonade is definitely one of my favorite summer drinks, and I recently found a recipe on Pinterest for watermelon lemonade that has been calling my name!  It is also made up of some very pretty colors which inspired this outfit.  A favorite look of mine is button-down + sweater + statement necklace, and while it may be a little warm to start layering, fall is just around the corner, so why not transition with some bright summery colors?  

via

Looks good, right?

Happy Friday!

Flowers, Flowers, & More Flowers

Flowers on skirts, flowers on belts, flowers on bags.

Top: Zara/Skirt: F21 (old, cute one here)/Cardigan: LOFT (a similar, cute one here that I saw on sale in store)/Belt: random (love this one)/Shoes: Primark (similar here)/Bag: Accessorize (cute one here)/Shades: Chanel/Chain Necklace: Christina M Boutique/Chain Bracelet: Glamour Me Jewels/Pyramid Bracelet: F21 (very similar here)/Watch: MbyMJ/Rings: ASOS (similar here)/Hair Clip: F21

Sorry for all the London nostalgia on the blog lately, but you're about to get a little more.  First, the purse.  I got it at Accessorize and it was one of the very first things I bought in London - had to have something with the Union Jack on it!  Accessorize is like a more upscale Claire's, and they had one pretty much on every high street in London.  And luckily, in the past few years, they've opened 3 stores in the DC Metro area!

Next, the shoes.  The shoes come from a place called Primark.  The only American thing I can equate Primark to is a bigger, scarier version of Forever21, on crack.  The main one, on Oxford Street, is a multi-level store, maybe slightly smaller than a Target, that sells women's clothes and accessories, men's clothes, and home goods.  It is cheap, cheap, cheap!  We are talkin' jeans for like £8.  On any given day at any give time of day, the store is about as crowded as NYC Macy's on Black Friday.  It is not an experience for the faint of heart.  When you go, you have to make sure you're hydrated, and have a plan in place if you get separated from your friends.  But back to how cheap it is - I bought several (too many) items there while I was in London 3 years ago, and these shoes are the only things that haven't fallen apart.  But they're on their way.

Anyways, what do you guys think of the peplum top?  It's my first time wearing one.  I was a little hesitant about them because, ya know,  I have hips, and I didn't know about accentuating them more.  But I think with the skirt, it works.

Don't for get about my crystal bracelet giveaway going on now! Enter HERE!

Funny And Pinteresting

Today I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple for my first "Oh, How Pinteresting" Wedenesday! Sometimes we all just need a good laugh, especially in the middle of the week, so I decided to share some of the funniest things I've found on Pinterest lately!

Hope you got some laughs!

If you enjoyed these pins, come follow me on Pinterest for more where this came from!

Don't forget to enter my latest jewelry giveaway HERE!

Apparently I Do Own Pants

I know that the status of my pants ownership seemed questionable there for a while, what with the maxi-skirt-a-day kick I was on, but let this silk anchor-print J.Crew major-sale-score serve as proof that I do, in fact, own pants.

Top: Madewell (very similar and on sale)/Pants: J.Crew (sold out online, found them on sale in store)/Shoes: GOjane.com/Bag: Sanrio/Glasses: Urban Outfitters/Necklace: Eastern Market/Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs/Rings: ASOS (similar here)/Bracelets: Accessorize, Bauble Bar, J.Crew

They are very comfy, and I kind of wish I could wear pants like this everyday.  

Side note: If any of my college friends are reading today's post, I bet they are shocked!  Shocked, I tell ya!  No, not because I am wearing pants.  But because said pants have anchors printed all over them.  I bet you're thinking, "what's the big deal?"  Well, the big deal is that the anchor was the symbol of a sorority at my college - a sorority other than my own!  My sorority's symbol was the giraffe.  So you best believe I rep'd the giraffe hard.  Sororities were very proud of their individual symbols.  But ya know what, we're not in college anymore, I still love the giraffe, but I also like nautical stuff, and as far as I know J.Crew is an equal opportunity paycheck-drainer.

Another side note: Notice in the third picture above, the pink macrame bracelet with the crystal balls?  That style is a called a shamballa bracelet and you can enter to win a similar one in my latest giveaway from Jewels Del Mar!

CLIKE HERE to enter the giveaway!

Crystal Ball So Hard {GIVEAWAY!}

Please forgive me for the name of this post.  Sometimes I just can't help myself.  Anyways, after some extensive Etsy searches for "macrame bracelet with crystal balls," I realized the actual name of what I was looking for was "shamballa bracelet."  And I'm happy to announce that Jewels Del Mar is generously giving away one of their gorgeous crystal shamballa bracelets to one lucky Forever81 reader!

VIP guest at your next arm party

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway closes on Monday, July 30, 2012.  All entries will be verified.  Open to US residents only.

Friday Fancies: London Calling

Earrings//Bracelets//Scarf//Wipes//Top//Jeans//Jacket//Umbrella//Flats//Bag

Today I'm linking up with Long Distance Loving for my first Friday Fancies!  Since Alison is off traveling Europe (lucky duck), the theme of this week's Friday Fancies is "Euro Trip."  Since I've been feeling nostalgic lately, the destination I chose for my pretend Euro trip is where I studied abroad in college, London.  I had a wonderful time there and I could honestly go on and on about how in love I am with all things British.  But instead, I will tell you about my Friday Fancies.  All of the items I chose are from my favorite British store, TopShop!  (Um, hey shopping-powers-that-be in DC, anytime you're ready to open a TopShop here, I'm ready too.)

First, let me explain all the Union Jack stuff, because you might think it reads too touristy.  Well, let me tell you, know one loves their own flag like the Brits!  Union Jack apparel and accessories are not just trendy in the UK, they are always in style.  Then I chose some easy, comfortable basics that still look chic, like skinny jeans and a striped top.  You can wear items like this several different ways, dress them up or down, while traveling.  Change up your look with some fun accessories like a leopard print scarf or some spiky jewelry!  And of course, wear comfortable shoes - like ballet flats.

And now, just for fun, some of my favorite pictures from my time in London:

Phone Booth

Parliament and Big Ben

Camden

King's Cross Station

Giant Swans in Hyde Park

Carnaby Street

Hyde Park

The London Eye

View from the Thames

Tower Bridge

Happy Friday Everyone!

Congrats to the winner of the Tara Lane Designs friendship bracelet giveaway!

Where'd Ya Get Those Shoes?

Miu Miu Gingham Pumps & Blush Gingham Pumps

Once Blair Eadie wears something, good luck trying to find it anywhere.  A popular item anyway, these Miu Miu gingham pumps quickly sold out after being featured on Atlantic-Pacific.  And those Blush Boutique ones look pretty darn similar if you ask me.

Charlotte Olympia Cat Flats & boohoo.com Cat Flats

Since being spotted on the likes of many a celebrity including Beyonce, these adorable Charlotte Olympia cat flats quickly became a hot ticket item! And yes, the Charlotte Olympia ones are sharper, but at $660 I think I'll take the $30 look-a-likes and say, like a round-trip plane ticket to California?

Prada Bow Wedges & GOjane.com Bow Wedges

When these Prada wedges went on sale for a little under $300 on the Saks website there was a note saying: "Due to high demand, a customer may order no more than 3 units of this item every thirty days."  Needless to say, they sold out pretty quickly.  They're not an exact replica, but these bow wedges from GOjane.com are pretty cute!  I have them myself, and I must say they are also pretty comfortable!  And come on, $16 is literally the price of 2 cups of frozen yogurt at Pinkberry.


Don't forget, today is the last day to enter my giveaway for a Tara Lane Designs friendship bracelet!