Feel-Good Friday

Perfect Your Posture-

"We're in the business of looking willowy, right? Lean? We're aiming to look more like a long, tall drink of water. You want to give the impression that you could reach the highest leaves on the tallest tree, and this applies just as well to 5-foot-nothings as it does 6-foot somethings. The difference is all in your posture.

Good posture has all manner of beneficial effects. It means your skeleton is aligned, with your bones in the right places and not under undue stress. So hold that head up high, pull in those abs, raise the rib cage, lengthen the neck, and away you go."

-Mimi Spencer, fashion journalist, 101 Things to Do Before You Diet.

Etsy

Style Showcase: Meredith

Today's Style Showcase is all about Meredith! Meredith writes a fashion blog over at All Dressed Up where she shares her personal style and the occasional crafty idea or recipe. She graduated in April and is currently doing a corporate internship through Walmart in their Global Sourcing department. 

She says: "One of my favorite things to do is meet new bloggers and I love seeing so many bloggers' different styles. I love everything retail and I really want to be a buyer some day."

Her outfits- I am wearing one of my favorite girly skirts. I kind of live in skirts and dresses. I just love the way they make me feel. 

Top, Skirt, and Necklace-DownEast. Shoes-J.Crew. Watch-Fossil. Belt-Forever21.

Outfit 2- This little number is so comfortable. It is also what I wore to work on my birthday this  year.

Top- Maurices. Capri- Penneys. Shoes- Charlotte Russe. Necklace- J Crew. Purse- TJ Max. Watch- Francescas

Her go-to outfit- I love to wear girly dresses and knit skirts. Anything chiffon I usually love, especially if it has a peter pan collar. My husband is 6'4'' and I am 5'5''. So basically every outfit I wear I need to have nice tall shoes to go with it. I find wedges the most comfortable and I am growing my collection faster than my husband would like. I also love statement jewelery- big necklaces, watches, earrings. Yep, that just about wraps up my go-to outfit. 

Her fashion secret- The most flattering skirt length should hit two to three inches above the knee, below the knee, or in the middle of your calf. That is not saying you can't wear other lengths as well. These are just universally the lengths that look the best on all women. So basically the knees are in the red zone along with right above the ankle. I always try to keep this in mind when selecting a new skirt or dress. 


Her beauty must-have- My beauty must have has got to be my hot curler set. I love curling my hair and without the hot curlers it just wouldn't be possible to have princess ringlets whenever I wanted. While I may look like a granny when wearing the curlers, the curls make it all worth it!


Her celebrity inspiration-  Audrey Hepburn.

Thanks so much for sharing your adorable style, Meredith! 

The next Style Showcase could be you. Check out the details here.

Some 'Wear' Beyond the Sea

My hope is that each of you get to escape sometime this summer. If your vacation takes you to the seashore, you will want a wardrobe to cover all your bases: beach, dinner, and strolling the boardwalk, all while embracing the notorious ease of the coastline. Packing can be a daunting task, and I'm here to help eliminate the headache so you can focus your energy on the relaxation ahead! 

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Swimsuit and coverup- If you find yourself at the beach every day you will want two swimsuits. This will come in handy when one is sandy, or hasn't quite dried out from the previous day. You can wear the same coverup every day.

Mix and match tops- Keep in mind that the first day of travel counts as an additional outfit. Four tops should be plenty, especially considering that on the days you spend all day at the beach, your ensamble will only be on display for a couple of hours in the evening.

Jeans and skirts- You don't need colored jeans, but they add a pop of color, and sure are fun!  Skirts are a great option for warm days and can be paired with a cardigan to take your get-up from day to night.

Sweaters- With the unpredictable coastal weather, you will want to be prepared for it all, and sweaters are the ideal, lightweight option.

Shoes- Flip flops, dressy sandals, and ballerina flats are all you need from the beach to a late-night movie.

Now that we know what to pack, let's watch it all come together with these tips to convey effortless style with minimal wardrobe pieces.

Learn to love mixing and matching. These days, anything goes, so you should be able to get multiple uses out of the same pieces. Try a floral printed top paired with a structured skirt, and for a casual feel, trade the skirt for colored jeans.

Take advantage of the cool coastal weather and layer. Layering is a great way to add panache to any ensemble and usually has to wait for the winter months. Sunny days and crisp nights allow the lucky chance to practice this timeless look. For this look, I traded one of my sweaters for a fitted blazer.

Accessorize! Changing up a necklace or belt can change the entire attitude of an outfit. This allows you to re-wear a piece of clothing with a completely different look. Accessories are also great for trips because they don't take up much packing space, yet have a big impact on your overall appearance. 

Polyvore

Happy vacation!