Dressed for Time | Spring and Summer Style Tips from a Chicago blogger

August Stitch Fix

September 14, 2016

Welcome to my August Stitch Fix!
This month, I forgot to submit any requests to my stylist, but thankfully, she’s been watching my Pinterest boards, because she definitely found some amazing items that she knew I’d love.. Spolier alert, I ended up buying my entire fix for 25% off! My stylist knows that I don’t wear any hemlines above the knee (or not much above it, anyway), I love fun prints, lace, pieces that can transition from work day to date night, and colored pants. She pretty much hit every note just right, as I’ve been wearing all of these pieces in heavy rotation since they arrived at my door. I’m not sure how I managed to do it, but I lost my invoice so I don’t have prices available for my August Stitch Fix items to share with you.. The total usually ends up being around $200, because I keep my requested price-per-piece under $50. Read on for all of the details on my August Stitch Fix!

Top & Pants / Stitch Fix // Crossbody bag / Cambridge Satchel Co. from the Box of Style // Wedges / JustFab // Sunnies / Amazon
First up, two Stitch Fix items, this sheer floral-printed top with crochet panels, and these slightly sheeny (that’s a word, right?!) olive cropped pants. The pants had been on my wishlist for a while, and are even more versatile than I imagined. I’ve paired them with everything from striped tees to a strappy tank, and I can’t wait to match them up with a chunky sweater, once the weather allows. The shirt I love because it’s light and breezy and the floral print isn’t necessarily season-specific.

Maxi dress / Stitch Fix // Bag / Shaffer LA from the Box of Style // Sunnies / Amazon
I can always go for another maxi dress, and although this version is a tiny bit snug, I love how long it is (floor-grazing with low wedges), and the mixture of turquoise and navy is so pretty.

Top & Pants / Stitch Fix // Bag / American Eagle // Sandals / Seychelles // Sunnies / Amazon
Initially, I thought that this tank was a little big on me, but I grew to love its airy, flowyness and the fringe looks so cool when you walk. It does kind of stick to my pants a bit when I’m just standing, but I’m hoping a spray of Static Guard will help.

Top / Stitch Fix // Jeans / Old Navy // Sandals / JcPenney // Necklace / LA find // Sunnies / Amazon
This lace top was definitely a size too large for me, so I exchanged it for one smaller. This was my first time exchanging something at Stitch Fix, and the process was quite smooth. At checkout, I just hit the “exchange” button, selected a new size, and I received the smaller top within days. I’ve never seen a top with a lace overlay and a brighter tank peeking out from underneath, and again, loving the turquoise/navy color combo.

Top / BohoCheri // Jeans / Stitch Fix // Sandals / JustFab // Necklace / Kyle Chan Design // Bag / Shaffer LA from the Box of Style // Bracelets / Forever 21 & LA find // Sunnies / Amazon
I didn’t know if I’d like these cropped, frayed jeans, but they’ve totally grown on me! They’re the perfect length for late summer/early fall and pairing with lace-up sandals.

All in all, a near perfect fix, and all of this without even requesting anything specific! It pays to stick with the same stylist for a while, because they really get to know what works for you. To sign up for Stitch Fix, feel free to use my link here. Each fix is a $20 styling fee up front, which is redeemable towards the purchase of anything you’re sent.

All photography by Holli Zenko.

How to Wear White After Labor Day

September 6, 2016

Wearing white after Labor Day has always been one of those fashion rules that I never quite knew how to follow. A classic white button-down blouse, white jeans, etc.. I feel that I can make them work during any season. That being said, there are definitely a couple guidelines that I follow to keep an outfit from looking too summery.
First, start with some season-appropriate grounding pieces. For fall, I’m loving shades of mustard, crimson, navy and milk chocolate. If you’re planning on wearing white jeans, a burgundy or slate grey sweater would be a lovely pairing. I like to wear a dressy white blouse with colored pants, like the toffee ones I’m wearing here. Combining white with darker tones takes the look into cooler temperatures and away from the florals and brights of summer.
Next, I like to add in some metallic accents. A statement necklace or delicate layered pieces, a brooch or drop earrings, anything that basically you wouldn’t wear when it’s 100 degrees outside. I especially love a gold or jewel-toned brooch pinned on a blazer or coat (even on the lapel of a blouse).
Lastly, I recommend making sure the whole look is balanced. If you’re wearing a white bottom, shy away from a super light top, and vice versa. Wearing head-to-toe white is the quickest way to look like you belong at a pool party ;D Simple sheath or skater dresses can still work, but add another layer on top, like a navy blazer or camel trench coat.
I hope my tips were helpful on showing you how to wear white after Labor Day. After all, fashion rules were made to be broken!

Blouse, Pants, Bag & Heels all c/o Simply Be // Ring / Kyle Chan Design // Necklace / FabFitFun (use code PUMPKIN for $10 off the fall box)

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.

This post was sponsored by Simply Be. Items in this post were provided to me for review and posting purposes. All thoughts expressed are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. By clicking on these links and/or making a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This helps to allow me to continue bringing quality content to Dressed for Time.

Monday at the Mansion

September 6, 2016

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the most lovely properties in my hometown. The proprietors, friends of my photographer, were gracious enough to invite us in to their magnificent manor and serve us a home-cooked meal. We took a few moments to explore the grounds, and I was overwhelmed by the views and verdant landscape. We figured what better time to take a few shots of my look for the evening; a lace & satin cocktail dress, suede kitten heels, and some diamonds around my wrist to celebrate Monday at the mansion.
On another note, I wanted to share some fantastic news. I’ve been working on several collaborations that I CAN NOT WAIT for you all to see! First up is a post on how to wear white after Labor Day, which will be up tomorrow, featuring a work look that is perfect for the impending cooler weather, featuring selections from retailer Simply Be. After that, I’ll be working on a couple of posts featuring some amazing LBD’s from Maggy London, and how to take them from day to night. Soon I’ll be shooting some transitional summer-to-fall looks highlighting gorgeous jewelry from Ronnie M, a local line of handmade wrap bracelets with stones and beads. I love being able to share items from lines that I already shop, and brands that I believe in.

Dress / Anthropologie // Heels / Ivanka Trump // Necklace / J. Crew // Clutch / vintage // Bracelet / Wilson’s Jewelers // Ring / LA find // Glasses / Warby Parker

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.

A Healthy New Outlook with Garmin Vivofit 3

August 31, 2016

It’s a beautiful thing when you achieve mental clarity, even in one little aspect of your life. I feel like I’ve had a sort of breakthrough with regards to my health and have decided to take action. My acceptance of my body is a whole other post in itself haha, but in terms of healthy living, feeling energetic and active… I just wasn’t there. I hadn’t been for a while. Eating whatever I wanted, not working out or sometimes not even leaving the house the whole day.. All of these things left me tired, sleeping poorly, irritable and finding myself not able to fit in to a sizeable chunk of my closet. It took a step on the scale a couple of weeks ago to jolt me back in to reality.
I decided that I wanted to start taking better care of myself, for so many reasons, not just the physical ones. I began with making better choices with my food. Eating out less, and when I did dine out, I would pick something healthy, but still tasty, and definitely packing my lunch for work. Next, I made a commitment to go to yoga twice a week (all that fits in to my current work schedule right now). I’ve started taking a number of supplements to make up for some of the nutrients I’m missing in my diet.
Lastly, and perhaps most simply, I knew I needed to just move more. I’d used a fitness tracker previously (the Jawbone Up), but didn’t have enough interaction with it to make it engaging. It also didn’t tell the time, so I’d have to layer a watch with it, which ended up looking very bulky. This time around, I asked for the boyfriend’s help. He’s always reading up on the latest tech gadgets, and showed me a few options he thought I would like. The Garmin Vivofit 3 instantly struck me as streamlined, unfussy, and easy to read. It took me maybe a day or two to get used to wearing it and now I can’t even feel it there. I started at the recommended daily minimum of 8,000 steps and have increased to 10,000. Having that goal in mind really influences my activity level throughout the day. I go for walks on both of my 15 minute breaks at work, and sometimes even do laps on my 30 minute lunch. I’ve actually been following that advice that you always hear about parking far away from your destination, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. All in all, I’ve lost 5 lbs. in a couple of weeks, but more importantly, my energy level has increased immensely. Next up, I’d like to rehab my ankle and start running again in the morning.
What are your fitness and health goals? I’d love to hear them!
😀
Top c/o BohoCheri // Jeans / Stitch Fix // Bucket bag / Shaffer LA from the Box of Style // Lace-up sandals / JustFab // Fitness tracker / Garmin // Bracelets / LA find & Forever 21 // Love Initials necklace / Kyle Chan Design // Sunnies / Amazon

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.