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    Tag: dillards

    The Dress You’ll Want to Wear for Every Summer Event

    Fashion, Style by louise

    DETAILS: YELLOW DRESS (ON SALE) –  CLEAR STRAPPY SANDALS (UNDER $100) – FLORAL PERFORATED CROSSBODY (UNDER $40)

    SUMMER STYLE

    Summer is in full swing, people! I cannot believe we are already in July!! It is so surreal. I love Summer and the warmth it brings with longer sunny days and lots of activities and events. I have to confess that I have been getting lazy around here lounging in light flowy dresses and shorts most days but enough said about that. This summery dress reminds me of the color of the sun and sunflowers (btw, I LOVE sunflowers; they are my happy flowers)! The dress is perfect for work and an easy transition to a cocktail or evening attire. You can even wear it to a wedding and still look amazing! I mean how good is that shade of yellow with all the pretty ruffles? I got the dress on sale at Dillards! You will be surprised what you can find in that store. My shoes are Gianni Bini and I am obsessed with the transparency of the straps. I’m sure you’ve all seen me style this crossbody bag a few times…#guilty (lol) but it’s just so cute!

    I’ve linked this look below along with another dress I have my eyes on. Have you been to any events this Summer?

    “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different” ~ Coco Chanel

    “Elegance is the only beauty that never fades” ~ Audrey Hepburn

    Photo credit: Mallory Kee Photography

    The Perfect Ivory Dress for Spring

    Fashion, Style by louise

    Spring

    The sounds of birds chirping, leaves budding, flowers blooming, warmer breezes on longer sunny days that seem to tease the promise of dreamy times. That’s how I envision every Spring! Everything seems to come alive; people, critters, birds, nature.  For a brief moment in time, there’s a level of self-awareness because everyone is looking forward to the warmer temperatures and the trees taking on much heavier coverage. There’s something tranquil about this transition and yet euphoric.

    With Spring also comes the celebration of Easter for many.  So here we are in April already and I am sharing this pretty white dress which will be the perfect dress for Easter and the outdoors.  Maybe a picnic possibly? We will have to see about that one….

    What I’m Wearing

    There’s something so exciting about the warmer days in Spring that just makes me want to smile and run into the sun. I love to wear lighter colors and flowy outfits this time of year. This dress is just so simple and classic. You can easily dress it up with pumps or strappy heels and look amazing! I chose to wear this particular dress with minimal jewelry it highlights the simplicity of the dress. The flirty short puff sleeves are so light that they tease ever so slightly in the wind. You can almost always never go wrong with a lighter colored dress ever!!! This Gianni Bini dress is currently available at Dillards

    I chose to accessorize the dress with this Coach crossbody bag (linked similar bag here and see my last post). Overall, I couldn’t be happier it’s Spring.  Now time for some much warmer weather and outdoor activities! What’s your favorite thing to do in the Spring? xo Louise

    Check out some of my Spring dress crushes and get searching for your perfect outfit!

    Mid-Week Musings and My Coach Crossbody Bag

    Fashion, Life, Style by louise

    Reflection

    “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be” – Lao Tzu

    Friends, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately. Maybe it’s because the older I get, the more I find myself looking within and trying to make a more conscious effort to be self-aware and to carry an attitude of gratitude despite the situations I may find myself in. Each day, I understand a little more that the external environment is always in a continuous cycle of change and there’s only so much I can control, and each day, I also accept that I am the constant in my environment. I am also learning that we all touch each other in some way or form, and nothing is ever by chance so to be genuine and compassionate needs to be a fundamental way of life. After all, kindness in words, action, and in giving, can touch people in profound ways which then cascades into a ripple effect of love.

    In the end, what you see depends not only on what you look at, but also, on where you look from and simplicity, patience, and compassion are one of life’s greatest treasures. Yes?

    The Pretty Coach Crossbody Bag

    So moving on from reflections to a much lighter topic…..

    Has anyone come across a Coach rose print crossbody bag that’s on sale, and simply pass it by? I think not, or in my case, I couldn’t pass up a good deal :). You see, I have a few coach purses that I paid full price for and these are still some of my favorite bags since they are still in pristine condition despite the fact that they are older than my daughter! You can then imagine my little yelp of glee when I saw this pretty coated canvas featuring an artful rose print sitting on the shelf and was discounted.

    I love having versatile pieces in my wardrobe.  This bag has come in handy a few times already, especially on the weekends when I am running a quick errand and want to carry only a few essentials with me. It also has an interchangeable strap so does that count as a win-win? I’ve linked similar coach bags below. xo Louise

    Don’t over-complicate or over-think things. Life is too short and precious! Make the most of your time and always watch your thoughts.

    Shop this look and some of my favorites

    [show_shopthepost_widget id=”3525885″]

    How to Wear Plaid and not look boring

    Fashion, Style by louise

    “The secret of great style is to feel good in what you wear” – Ines De la Fressange

    “Life is a beautiful sport” – Lacoste

    Casual Plaid and the Transition into the Office Look

    Friends, I have been shopping lately. Shopping for simple affordable pieces that can be worn on different occasions, and hopefully not go out of style. Does plaid really go out of style?  There are so many different patterns/colors plaid but I tried to stick to more neutral tones that can match with just about anything.

    First Look – The Casual Look

    • Can we talk about this look for a minute? I mean how cute is this jumpsuit with sneakers?! I love how affordable pieces can make you look and feel great. This Gianni Bini plaid jumpsuit makes it easy to mix and match. The slight high waist vs. natural waist gives the appearance of even longer legs which I love. Pair this look with a turtleneck shirt, sneakers, and sunglasses for a more casual laid back look. I am also crushing so hard on this bicolor leather lacoste sneakers!

    Second Look – The Office Look

    • My next favorite piece, and I have to say this because I mean it from the bottom of my heart, is changing this look up by pairing it with pumps! It’s amazing how a simple pair of heels can immediately change an outfit. It takes it from casual chic to professional debonair. A few tips; if you are wearing your jumpsuit to work then keep your lines linear, go for a clean silhouette that will flatter your body and keep you focused and sharp in the meeting. Add minimal accessories like a belt or jewelry. Remember the key is to make it stand out without screaming for attention! My laptop sleeve is sleek, stylish, and under $12.  I have linked it here and below.  This is a look I will definitely be wearing to the office for the remainder of the Winter months.

    Hope these tips help you go make a statement in that plaid jumpsuit! xoxo Louise

    “As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears” – Rumi

    A New Perspective and the Pretty Ruffle Sweater

    Fashion, Life, Workwear by louise

    “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.” ― Edgar Allan Poe

    Perspective

    For those of you who are new to following me, you might not know that I started writing as a creative outlet to talk about life and food, and more specifically culture since I grew up in a beautiful country called Ghana, to a Lebanese father and a mixed Ghanaian/English mother. Throughout my life, I was constantly pushing my creative limits through art and poetry, while trying to come up with innovative concepts every day. When I finally got into blogging, my perspective broadened to include a lifestyle approach to my stories.

    Some days it is a challenge finding the time to sit down and write. A challenge not because I have writers block but because I have to work, still make time for my family, and then there are the chores! Lately, I am consciously making the decision to push myself, even harder, to write more from the heart and create something that resonates and can still be relevant over time. I am also coming to the conclusion that if you look the right way and you change your attitude towards life, then you can see that the whole world is a garden. A beautiful garden with flowers, some thorns and weeds but nonetheless a garden you can tend to and make your own.

    Every day I try to come up with creative ideas by exploring the possibilities of writing as a painting to the voice.  I feel that writing has the laws of perspective; it is all in discovering what you believe. Sometimes we may get a bit stuck in our ways but there are so many times I find something beautiful that I didn’t post because either I overthought it or second guessed myself.  As a new rule, I am attempting to break this mindset and express what is fun and meaningful for me. Often times we just need the smallest change in attitude and perspective to transform a life and our view of the world. Yes?

    The Ruffled Sweater

    “A ruffle must be intelligent.” – Balenciaga

    I am trying to apply this mentality to fashion as well. Over the past month, I have been trying to push myself to try something a little different that has always scared me. This includes being a little more open on here and trying new looks too.  The worst that can happen is if I dislike it, then at least I did it and will never look back at that situation with regret. More often, I am likely to learn something new about myself from the experience and can share this with my kids when they come to me with life’s questions. My point is, try a new style and forget the rules. You are your own beautiful creative human and there are no boundaries when it comes to style. The ruffled sweater I am wearing is by Ella Moss and comes in three colors. It is feminine, flattering, super soft and stretchy. The sweater used to be priced at $119.50 but currently on sale under $42 so a great deal. I am wearing a small and the color is gardenia. So far, this is one of my favorite sweaters yet and I am happy to be sharing this look with you. It will look nice with jeans for a day out or for work as pictured. You can experiment and add a blazer to this look. I have also linked this Michael Kors crossbody bag and Charles David shoes here. You can shop this crew neck ruffle sweater and spotted full sweater skirt below. That’s all for now, friends. Just keep taking that chance and remember that the world changes when we change our perspective :). xoxo Louise

    @LOUISEMILLEN