What I Wore | Summer Breeze

WhatIWore: Happy Monday everyone! Here are some snaps we took on Friday night before heading to our friends’ house for dinner on the deck outside. I first wore this dress this spring (on sale here) and added some hooks and tacks to keep the top on the modest side. As my pregnancy continues, those tacks aren’t cutting it so I used a flesh toned belly band as a panel. I’m glad I got to wear it again this summer and can’t wait to wear it next year too.

When: July 11, 2014

Hat: Self Made (similar)
Hat Band: vintage scarf
Q Scrabble Necklace: Heist Jewelry
Dress: DvF (majorly on sale here)
Sandals: Target

Where: Dinner with Friends

Last time I wore this dress (at 22 weeks pregnant - currently at 33) I mentioned how I’ve been slowly adding to my collection of DvF dresses for nearly 10 years. If you’ve ever considering investing in one, now is probably the best time - end of the summer sales, baby! The dress I’m wearing in this post is over 50% off and while researching I found a lot of other prints at major discounts (images above). 

What I Wore | Back to Basics

WhatIWore: I always feel like I’ve had a minor victory when I wear an outfit that's not maternity.  This was the first chambray I ever bought and I’m wearing it loosely knotted over a knit skirt hiked way up and a black sports bra. Yes, my bra is showing. Nope, I don’t care! It’s pretty basic but a nice way to wear the new casual purse I picked up at a boutique in Asheville on vacation.

When: July 1, 2014

What:
Shades: Karen Walker
Lipstick: Ilya in Wild Child
Necklace: Jess LC
Chambray: Lucky Brand men’s (similar, on sale $34)
Skirt: Target (similar)
Sandals: SoleSociety
Bag: Minx (Asheville)

See Also: Another cute way to wear a faded chambray. 

Where: Breakfast, Work Session at my favorite neighborhood spot - Elm Heights Bloomingfoods

It kind of reminds me of one of my first ever purses, a similar drawstring shape, made out of textured woven fabric, which probably cost $12 from the Earth Awakenings store (can’t remember the real name, but they sold crystals and hemp necklaces to give you the drift).  I clearly remember what I crammed into it too. A full size bottle of peach lotion from the Body Shop and a small jar of cherry lip balm. That’s it. And I’m pretty sure I was only 10 or 11 when I got onto the kick of carrying it and I absolutely did not need lotion or lip balm to run around my friend’s backyard. So, in a round about way, this drawstring bag reminds me of that one and its good to get a little nostalgic once and a while. 

Also! Thirty one weeks pregnant! Woo!! 

What I Wore | Aqua Twirl

WhatIWore: Did you know it’s been over seven years since I posted my first Daily Outfit photo online? For some reason, I thought the anniversary was on May 22nd, but it was actually the 5th so this week or next I’m going to be putting together a post of my all time favorite outfits.  This skirt is something I’ve had since the beginning and today I was super happy to make it work with my ever changing shape.

When: May 22, 2014

What: 
Shades: Fred Flare (super old)
Necklace: Gift from Adam
Tee: Target, maternity
Scarf: My mom’s
Skirt: Vintage (get the look here)
Shoes: ShoeDazzle
Bag: Milly (similar)

Where: BBQ, visiting my friend’s new baby

The top button is undone and I folded the waistband down once, although there’s really no chance of it sliding down any further. I thought back mainly to this outfit (on the right, below) as my inspiration point. I tied one of my mom’s scarves around the waist to disguise the skirt McGyvering. I love how fresh the bright aqua looks with cobalt and white (see another example here). 

What I love MOST about this outfit is actually how it throws me back to what I lovingly call “old Jessica.” Before comments got snarky and when positive encouragement was flowing online, I tried so many fun new things and felt like I was really finding myself and my personal style (hey! I was 24 years old living in NYC too… a perfect time to break out of your old molds and become the woman you want to be).  I’m hoping that motherhood and pregnancy push me to embrace more of that fearlessness. Nothing like your own flesh and blood to prioritize what is/isn’t important (by this I mean it’s high time I stop caring so much if strangers on the internet approve of my outfits or not!). I saw something on Pinterest that I loved the other day along the lines of - “This isn’t a practice life, it’s your only life” - so why not live it up (even if it’s only with an aqua blue twirly skirt?)