Fourth Fashion

Who doesn't love a good Fourth of July outfit?  Even if you are just hanging out at home, donning your red, white and blue is the thing to do!  I've created five outfits to give you a little "Fourth Fashion" inspiration.

Comfy Casual
Boyfriend Shorts: Gap
Striped T: Gap
Keds: ModCloth
American Flag Pendant: OpenSky
Flag Motif Tote: Ralph Lauren

Pattern Mixing
Navy Striped T: Topshop
Gingham Skirt: Joy the Store
Flag Scarf: OpenSky
Red, White and Blue Straw Tote: Brooks Brothers
Jute Canvas Espadrille Wedges: Lastcall

Casual Chic
White Skinny Jeans: Gap
Red V-Neck T: Express
Denim Vest: Diesel via 6pm
Red, White and Blue Wedges: Jessica Simpson
USA Flag Necklace: Charming Charlie (another flag option here)
Nautical Striped Tote: Daily Look

A Nod to Nautical
Striped Maxi: French Connection
Red T-Strap Sandals: Frye
Anchor Straw Tote: Vineyard Vines (similar)
USA Necklace: Etsy (another cute option here)

Take Me Out To The Ballgame
 This year for the Fourth my family is having a cookout at my in-laws lake house and then heading to the Gwinnett Braves game for some baseball and fireworks!  I'm sooooo excited!!  To me nothing says "Fourth of July" like family, fireworks, burgers and America's sport, baseball!!  My plan is to wear something similar to the outfit above but I may trade out the boyfriend jeans for boyfriend shorts depending on how hot it is!
Distressed Boyfriend Jeans: Blank Denim
Baseball T: Pacific Sunwear
Red and White Polka dot Tennies: Keds
Striped Cross Body: Charlotte Russe (similar)
Flag Ball cap: Diane's Beachwear
Baseball Necklace: Macy's

So what are your 4th of July plans?  Do you know what you're wearing?  I hope I helped give you a little "Fourth Fashion" inspiration!!

XO
Mz Savvy Style


You can shop this post through the links listed under each picture or here:

Linking up with Funday Monday, Monday Mingle, Mix it Monday's, What I Wore to Church, Trend Spin Linkup and Style Sessions

All Dressed Up (kind of) and No Place To Go

The other night was our Southern Blog Society quarterly meet up at BLT Steak in Atlanta.  On a good day with no traffic and perfect weather conditions it's an hour and a half drive from where I live in Athens.  Well, the weather was far from perfect and the traffic was terrible.  I was about 3/4 of the way there when the bottom fell out and the rain got so bad that I couldn't see and traffic was at a standstill.  I realized that by the time I got to the meet up with the conditions the way they were it would be over and honestly I didn't want to continue to drive into the storm so I turned around and went back home.  But at least I got some good outfit pics before I left the house and the rain started!

I have a thing for bow blouses, I have a thing for distressed denim and I have a thing for leopard print anything so putting them all together in one outfit and adding a pop of color in a fun bag makes for the perfect outfit in my book.  I'd wear a version of this combo every day if I could.  My youngest daughter surprised me with these shoes the other day.  She inherited my love for thrift/consignment shopping and came across these leopard peep-toe wedges at one of our favorite consignment shops for a steal.  They were not in her size but in mine so she got them for me as a little treat!  Peep-toes are perfect for showing off a fun pedi!

What I'm Wearing ~
Black Sleeveless Bow Blouse: Thrifted (Similar here and here)
Distressed Skinny Jeans: Blank NYC Denim
Leopard Peep Toe Wedges: Thrifted (Identical here and this black and leopard pair are super cute!)
Bag: Shiraleah via TJMaxx (Similar here and here)
Sunnies: Emilio Pucci

XO
Mz Savvy Style

Linking up with Mamanista Friday's, Casual Friday and Friday's Fab Favorites

A New Way to DIY Your Mani

If you know me you know that 99.9% of the time my nails are polished.  I feel naked without having the hue of the week on my very short (by choice) nails.  For years, literally from the time I could drive until about five years ago, I would head to the nail salon every two weeks to have acrylic nails put on or filled in and painted.  I went through the whole French Mani phase, then red/red phase, and then soft baby pink phase but whatever the phase or current nail trend I was heading to the salon to get it done.  Then about five years ago I got tired, tired of trying to find the time (and the extra cash) to go to the nail salon every two weeks so I decided to experiment with DIY at home mani's.  I've used just about every brand of polish on the market and every trick in the book to finally get to what I think is the perfect-lasts-for-seven-days DIY mani (I need to do a how-to post on that in the near future).  And as of today my DIY mani's just got easier!  Julep has invented the most amazing nail polishing tool called the Plie´ Wand.  The Plie´ Wand helps you have more accuracy and control while polishing your nails, especially when polishing with your non-dominate hand.  It's so easy to use, you just swap, snap, polish and switch.  The wand works with any Julep polish with a Plie´ compatible cap.  You can also get the Plie´ Wand Creativity Kit that comes with a dotting tool and a striping brush to use along with your Plie´ Wand to get super creative with your DIY mani's!  I've been a Julep Maven (Julep's monthly subscription service) for about eight months now and I have loved every single polish and product I've received from them.  Julep isn't just fabulous nail polishes but they also do skincare (I'm OBSESSED with this Bare Face Cleansing Oil, it's totally changed my skin), makeup, hair and body products as well as everything you need for at home mani's and pedi's!

My DIY mani basics ~
rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, nail file, orange stick, base coat, polymer top coat, polish and quick dry drops

Plie´ Wand

My current mani (done with the Plie´ Wand) ~ Kayla

One of my favorites ~ Maddy

A sheer pink and sheer white, perfect for summer ~ Maren and Soraphine

For more details about the Plie´ Wand you can check out Julep's blog here (there is even a how-to video) and if you are interested in becoming a Julep Maven you can get started here! (You will be glad you did!)

XO
Mz Savvy Style


I was not compensated for this post but was asked by Julep to review the Plie´ Wand and share my honest opinion with you and I was more than happy to!

Linking up with Random Wednesday, The Pleated Poppy, Working Girl With Style and Summer Style

Summer Professional

Do you find that during the summer it's hard to dress up?  I have the tendency to want to dress for every occasion in the summer like I'm at the beach or on vacation even though I'm not.  It's hard to go into my closet and pick out an outfit that's office/work appropriate because I just want to be in cutoffs and a tank top 24/7!  Fortunately for me my summer office is at home and my dress code is pretty relaxed (think sweat-shorts and an over sized T) but when I do have to step out of the home office for client meetings I still want to have a comfortable, relaxed, summer look that's also professional and polished at the same time.  The relaxed pant trend is a great alternative for professional summer dressing.  Lighter weight pants in a looser fit are more comfortable than traditional trousers but can be just as polished and professional when paired with the right top and accessories.

A pair of relaxed pants in a soft fabric gets polished and professional with a front tucked striped top, floral scarf and closed toe pumps.  If I was going to an office I would trade the straw bag for a leather tote and the pink platform pumps for a pair with a lower heel and no platform.

What I'm Wearing ~
Relaxed Trousers: Forever 21 (sold out) ~ Similar (but with the tuxedo stripe) from Gap.
Striped Top (A wardrobe staple in my book!): Old Navy
Scarf: Gap (last summer) ~ Other pretty options here, here, here and here!
Pink Pumps: Charlotte Russe (old) ~ Identical and these from Isaac Mizrahi are a more office appropriate option.
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (no longer available) ~ This one by Michael Kors is summer-professional.
"Hello Sunshine" Phone Case: Kate Spade
Affirmation Bracelets: BCBGeneration
Sunnies: Emilio Pucci

Do you agree that it's hard to "dress" during the summer months?

XO
Mz Savvy Style

Linking up with Monday Mingle, Funday Monday, Mix It Monday's, Trend Spin Linkup and Style Sessions (links in sidebar ----->)

Leather and Lace...and Snake Skin

As I've mentioned many a time before, I love leather (and faux leather if you need to get technical about it!). I have several pair of leather pants and leggings, a few leather skirts and I'm currently working on a good collection of leather shorts.  This brownish-tan pair are the latest addition to my growing leather wardrobe.  Pairing them with something completely opposite, like this lace tank, creates a nice balance between hard and soft, cool and sweet, trendy and traditional...and it's completely savvy and stylish!

What I'm Wearing ~
Lace Tank: Oasap - it comes in several great colors!  If I had the funds I would buy this beauty in a second! The lace is to die for!
Faux Leather Shorts: eBay (Love these from Anthropologie!)
Snake Skin Ankle Strap Sandals: Sam Edelman via Encore Athens
Tote: Tory Burch (Similar and this all leather version is year-round perfection!)
Sunnies: Pucci
Necklace: New York and Company (old)  This one from Ralph Lauren is really classy!
Bracelet: Old (Similar)

If you missed any of the other love-of-leather posts you can see the most recent ones here, here, and here.

Happy Weekend!

XO 
Mz Savvy Style

Linking up with Friday's Fab Favorites, Maminista Friday's and Casual Friday Linkup

Green, Gold and Leopard

Quick post today...I'm at my sister's visiting her and her boys (ages 2 years and 2 months) and trying to give her a little break so I'm fitting this in while everyone is napping.

I wore this outfit on Father's Day and was able to snap a few pics in between church and brunch.  I got this dress at an Atlanta blogger's closet sale a few months ago.  The minute I saw it hanging on the rack of one of my favorite blogger-friends I knew I had to have it!  Emerald green and gold?  Best combo ever in my book!  The shoes came from another blogger's closet.  There is a website called "Bloggers Closet" where some of our favorite bloggers put items from their own closets up for sale.  I check it several times a week and there is always something fabulous listed at a great price!  I opened an account myself and am hoping to list items for sale from my own closet soon.  I'll let you know when I do!

What I'm Wearing ~
Dress: via an Atlanta blogger's closet sale (Love this gorgeous halter dress in the same emerald green!)
Leopard Ankle Strap Sandals: Bloggers Closet (Identical here)
Bag: Cynthia Rowley via TJMaxx (Similar here and I'm OBSESSED with this Kate Spade clutch!)
Sunnies: Coach

XO
Mz Savvy Style

Linking up with Random Wednesday, The Pleated Poppy, Summer Style and Working Girl With Style (links in sidebar)

Outfit Evolution

The evolution of an outfit can be a process.  Since styling is my creative outlet (my job and my passion) I tend to change my outfit up several times ~ different shoes, accessories, etc... before I finally walk out the door.  Yes, getting ready can take me a very long time.  Even if I plan my outfit ahead of time, nine out of ten times I change my mind (more than once) while getting dressed!  This outfit all started with the jeans.  I'm trying to get wear out of my favorite jeans before it gets too unbearably hot here in Georgia and the dress code becomes "as little as appropriately possible" and the jeans get shoved in the closet until the temps cool.  Next came the tank.  I love stripes and this Old Navy tank is already on heavy repeat this season.  It's great with shorts, joggers, skirts, white jeans, colored jeans as well as good old distressed jeans! Then comes the fun part and where things get creative ~ the accessories!  I wear scarves a lot in the fall and winter but rarely wear them in the summer (again, the heat thing) but I remembered I that have this leopard scarf done in navy and gray rather than the traditional brown, black and tan and knew it would add interest to an otherwise basic outfit (pattern mixing is always a plus).  Next came the shoes and these have been favorites since 2006.  Really, I've had these fun orange wedges since 2006 and I still love them just as much eight years later!  And last but not least, the orange bracelet, that adds a little more "pop" of orange without looking "Paris Hilton".

What I'm Wearing ~
Striped Tank: Old Navy (Such a great wardrobe staple.  Wear it now alone or later layered under a denim jacket or blazer.)
Distressed Skinny Jeans: Blank NYC
Blue and Gray Leopard Print Scarf: Gap (last season ~ almost identical here)
Orange Wedges: Nine West (from 8 years ago!! ~ current version here and I'm loving this cute pair from Guess)
Bag: Michael Kors (last season ~ current version here)
Sunnies: Pucci

When wearing a loose shirt like this tank a "front tuck" or "half tuck" can make you look slimmer by showing off your waist and elongating the leg.

Do you plan your outfits ahead of time, pull something on and go or get creative and change it up (like I do)?

XO
Mz Savvy Style

Just a little FYI ~ I'm heading out of town today to visit my sister and her family.  She has a sweet new baby boy I have yet to meet!  I'm hoping to have time to post on my regular Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule but it may not happen this week.  I will be active on Instagram (like always!!!) so be sure to follow along here!

Linking up with Monday Mingle, Funday Monday, Mix It Monday's, Trend Spin Linkup and Style Sessions

Trophy Wife

I love this tank!  I find it really funny, especially because The Hubs has a running joke that "I married up".  I thought this T would remind him just who it is that married up! haha!

What I'm Wearing ~
Trophy Wife Tank: Entourage Athens
Cropped White Jeans: Old Navy (Savvy Style Tip: When wearing cropped pants of any kind wear a wedge or heel with them to elongate the leg.  If you wear flats (or God forbid, tennis shoes) your leg will look shorter and heavier.)
Floral Wedges: Gap last summer (these floral print heels are on my summer wish list and these are almost identical to what I'm wearing!)
Neon Necklace: Old (Looooooove this one from Bauble Bar!)
Straw Tote: Rebecca Minkoff (last season via eBay, spend here and save here)
Sunnies: Coach
Lip: Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Sweetheart Valentine

Happy Friday, Happy Weekend, Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there

and

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY to my amazing son, Chad, who I love more than words can express!!

XO
Mz Savvy Style

Linking up with Friday's Fab Favorites, Maminista Fridays, and Casual Friday Linkup

One Skirt Styled Four Ways

I pinned this adorable polka dot skater skirt on Pinterest the other day and I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day.  I love a bold piece that's classic and versatile at the same time.  My favorite thing to do when I lock in on a item like that is create different ways to style it.  As I've mentioned before, one of my rules when shopping for myself or a client is that the item being considered for purchase has to have more than one way to style it.  If you buy an item and it can only be used in one outfit than it's kind of a waste in my opinion.  I came up with about ten different looks I could make with the skirt and I decided to share my favorite four with you.

We all know my love of pattern mixing and my first thought when I saw this skirt was, "wear it with stripes...and florals!!"  So I styled an outfit with both.
Skater Skirt: Choies (super affordable and flattering on every figure)
Striped T: Proenza Schouler (a more budget friendly version here)
The Most Amazing Pattern Mixed Sandals: ALDO (they are at the TOP of my wish list!)
Little Red Cross Body Bag: Coach
Floral Scarf: Kate Spade

Neon is HOT right now and it looks great with black and white so I knew this skirt would be the perfect backdrop for some bold neon pieces.
Neon Peplum Top: boohoo
Skirt: Choies
The Most Amazing If-I-Had-The-Funds-They-Would-Be-In-My-Closet Shoes: Sophia Webster
Neon Statement Necklace: Bauble Bar (there is a waiting list for it but it would be worth getting on)
Cross Body Bag: Modcloth

I know, another pattern mix outfit.  I couldn't help myself!  Polka dots are great with so many patterns (as are stripes)!
Crop Top: Mara Hoffman
Skirt: Choies
Lace Up Sandals: Alexander Wang
Clutch: Tiffany's (similar here)
Double Drop Earrings: David Yurman

This is probably my favorite of all the looks.  It's an easy look for lunch out, errands, dinner with friends, mommy on the go or even the office if they allow denim.
Graphic T: Old Navy
Skirt: Choies
Denim Vest: Pendleton
Striped Flats: Forever 21
Red Cross Body Bag: Splurge, Spend, Save
Red Link Statement Necklace: GILT

Which of the four styling ideas is your favorite?  And speaking of Pinterest...do you follow me?  If you don't you are missing out, just sayin'!  Follow all the savvy and stylish pinning here!

XO
Mz Savvy Style

Linking up with Random Wednesday, The Pleated Poppy, Working Girl With Style and Summer Style Weekly Linkup