Summer Whites

In the summertime, nothing looks quite as crisp and fresh as a uniform of white. A classic white tee with a scoop or v-neck and a pair of classic-cut white shorts are absolutely staples for a great summer wardrobe. A cream or white colored blazer is essential for taking a casual outfit from day-to-night, or up-cycling your favorite tee into perfect date night attire. A white blazer is more modern and less-professional than a black blazer, and is my go-to uniform for dinner or drinks. Layer a white and gold sparkly tank (like the one above) underneath your white blazer, and you will be one head-turning diva, you Fashionista, you!


Lace Ruffle-Hem Top: Forever 21
Classic White Shorts: Old Navy
3/4-Sleeve Blazer: Dorothy Perkins
Satchel: Cambridge Satchel Co. for Asos
Basic Tee: Topshop
Sequin Tank: All Saints {*S&C fave!}
Wrap Dress: Parker
Basic Peplum Top: Topshop

Leather and Neon

Neon-striped top: Gap (also seen here, in orange), Leather shorts/ballet flats: H&M, Belt: The Limited, Necklace: diy (idea from Martha)

Never in my life did I think I would ever own a pair of high-waisted leather shorts. And then I started a style blog. Starting this blog has challenged me to step outside my comfort zone to try out clothing trends that make me totally uncomfortable- like high-waisted leather shorts. When I tried them on at H&M, my friend Steph and I both expected to laugh at how horrible they looked. But when I stepped out of the fitting room Steph said, "You know, those really don't look that bad." I'll chock that one up as a win. Unusual style trends- 0, Katy- 1. I also think it helps that, here, I paired the leather shorts with my current favorite trend- neon! This shirt from the Gap is just so versatile, and I have to force myself to wear other tops in my closet because I just want to wear this shirt every day. And as for my belt, my motto has always been and always will be "Everything looks better with leopard."

And you know what? Even though they're not the most flattering piece of clothing I own, I think I'll wear these shorts again. I actually kind of like them...

Scalloped Edges

Scalloped edges are totally on trend right now, and I have completely fallen in love. There is something so feminine about scalloped edges. This cloud-like hemline can even make a pair of jorts (jean shorts) seem soft and romantic. My favorite way to wear this trend is in subdued color palettes and silky, airy textures to play up the soft, romantic feel of the scallops. But that doesn't mean scalloped edges can't be paired with brights- I recently acquired a pair of hot pink suede shorts with a scalloped edge that will be making a blog appearance soon! And by soon, I mean in August, because I'm saving them for my upcoming trip to Mexico. Hot pink suede shorts with scalloped edges become infinitely cooler when photographed on a beach with palm trees and crystal clear water and not in Cleveland, Ohio. Just saying.

White top
Joie silk top, £170
Boucle jacket, $130
Pink vest, £20
Blue Scallop Edge Culotte Shorts, £13
Black scalloped shorts, $70
Miso, £25
Jil Sander leather shoes, $325
Marc Jacobs leather flat, $154
Genuine leather handbag, $64
ASOS satchel handbag, $33
Beaded jewelry, $70

Salsa Fresca

Earlier this week, I (finally) perfected my homemade salsa recipe. This time, I went back to basics and omitted all the extra ingredients other than the necessities. It was delicious! Sometimes simple really is best. I also think that the serving temperature and the order in which the salsa is made are both very important! Making the salsa in a particular order allows the tomatoes to soak up all the flavors of the other ingredients. Serving the salsa near room temperature makes it much more flavorful. I usually eat the salsa straight out of the fridge, but this time I waited patiently for it to warm up a bit, and the result was so worth the wait!

Ingredients:

4  large Roma tomatoes

1 medium sweet onion

1 handful of cilantro

juice of 1/2 a lime

salt (to taste)

garlic powder

Directions:

Dice tomatoes. Place in large bowl. Sprinkle with a little salt, and stir to combine. Now add the garlic powder- just enough to cover the tomatoes in a fine layer. Stir to combine, and let sit while you dice the onion. Add the diced onion to the bowl, and sprinkle with a little more salt. Stir to combine. Roughly chop one handful of fresh cilantro. You can add more or less cilantro depending on how much you like it, but I found that a fistful was the perfect amount. Add the cilantro to the bowl. Squeeze lime juice over salsa. Stir to combine once more. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least a half an hour to allow all the flavors to blend. When ready to serve, allow to sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. Serve with my homemade tortilla chips - They are so much better than store-bought varieties (if you ask me, of course).

One Oufit, Two Ways

1. Messy bun + open-toe platform heels

Boyfriend Tee: Target, Necklace: H&M, Sandals: Prada, Jeans, The Limited

2. Side-swept braid + leather sandals + avaitor sunglasses

Shoes and Sunnies: Franco Sarto

An oversized boyfriend tee is absolutely a closet staple, so when I found this one on clearance at Target for less than $5, I scooped it up right away. The lavender color of the shirt is extremely versatile, but a little more fun than a plain white or black tee. I was pleasantly surprised with the way the lavender paired with the neon orange of my H&M necklace. I paired this outfit with a messy bun and heels for date night. For a completely different vibe, I threw on some flat sandals and aviators and headed out the door for an afternoon of errand-running. 

The IFB Weekly Roundup: Links À La Mode June 7, 2012

I'm so excited to have been included in IFB's Links A La Mode this week! Thanks, IFB!

Have a great weekend!

International Love

Edited By Taylor Davies

Perhaps the greatest thing about the IFB community is our diversity. We bring together bloggers from all over the globe, who want to come together and share and learn and talk about fashion! This week's Links a la Mode selections represent a slice of just how far and wide our bloggers stretch across the world. We have a trend report from Japan, online law and legislation from the UK, a Finnish brand debut in Hong Kong, and more. From the Olympics to the Jubilee, and 3 interviews with stylists and costumers - this really is a stellar collection of links for the week. Enjoy!

 

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: JUNE 7TH

 

• American Clouds: Chanel Spring 2012 RTW


• Cosmolawlitan: Fashmerica- Land of Sweat Free?


• F.Affiche: Olympics & Fashion Collaboration


• Fashion Is Evolution: Color Theory - White


• Fashion Moriarty: Recurring Images: Birds


• Fashionable in Montreal: Interview with Hayley Gibson of Birds of North America


• Fumiko Kawa: Fashion Trends In Japan


• Hazy Laughter: K.I.D.S.


• La Vie En Ardena Rose: Tune In


• Ms. FABulous: Exclusive Interview with Oscar-wining Costume Designer Colleen Atwood


• Pink Wedges: Prints, prints everywhere: Tropical


• SheenaFab: How To Wear- Sporty Chic


• Soffs Blog: Aquatic Fanatic


• Spy Girl: Quick Draw - Lucky FABB


• Sugar & Chiffon: Swimsuit Strategy


• Sugar & Spice: What Does The UK and EU Cookie Legislation Mean for my Blog?


• The Penny Rose: Dressing Mila Jovovich


• The Vintage Design Shop: Flappers: The Roaring 20s and the New Woman


• Wandering Threads: [Get Your Colors On] Barbour Jubilee Collection


• Wardrobe: F Go Round: Joy To Hong Kong, Marimekko

 

SPONSOR: :

Fashion Tees at Shopbop: Wildfox, Ella Moss, Splendid, Theory, Free People, LNA, Enza Costa, Joie, ALC, James Perse, Vince Tees & Haute Hippie Shirts

 

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode group will be published later today. ~Jennine

Leopard and Clover

Dress, Belt, Earrings: The Limited

I have a serious obsession with The Limited's sheath dresses for a variety of reasons: they are cut in a classic silhouette, they seem to flatter every figure, they are quite comfortable for dressier apparel, they will never go out of style, and they come in a variety of colors. I own some variation of their sheath dress in 5 colors, and it would be 6 if the white one hadn't sold out before I got my hands on it. I wore this dress to a wedding this past weekend. The reception was outside, and it was a chilly night, so I knew I would need a jacket- I opted for my cropped black blazer. However, the simple sheath dress with the black blazer was a little too professional-looking, and not as wedding celebration-looking as I would've liked. To remedy this, I threw on the leopard belt for a punch of contrast. It was just the right amount of spunk to turn a work outfit into a fun party outfit.

Coral Neon

Top & Shoes: Gap, Necklace: H&M

I am so loving this neon trend. At first, I was quite hesitant to embrace it, and this top was the first piece of neon clothing I bought because I thought it would be a good piece for easing into such bright colors. I also bought it in neon pink. Now that I have jumped headfirst into the wonderful world that is neon-colored clothing, this shirt is one of my absolute favorites because it combines two of my favorite things: 1) neon, and 2) a striped, French-inspired tee. (For the record, any striped tee seems French-inspired to me.) My only regret is that I didn't buy this shirt in neon yellow, too.

Lanvin-Inspired Tee

Tee: Old Navy, Jacket/Jeans: Loft, Sandals: Gap

This top reminds me so much of Lanvin. I think it is the tulle with the semi-abstract-but-fashion-related design that sparks the connection. And the French words don't hurt either, since Lanvin is a French company. I'm not usually one to wear a graphic tee, but when I saw this one on sale I knew I had to have it. Today, I paired it with my cropped white jacket because it was a bit chilly. The light gray/lavender color of the shirt paired with the white jacket kept the look light and fresh. I also paired it with an uncontrollable amount of frizz. You win some, you lose some.