Outfit // Cool Girl

Hey guys! How's your week going so far? Things here have been a bit busy with trying to make our house spotless to be photographed for the listing and open houses that are happening soon. But, I've found time for fun...and blogging!

As the title may suggest, I just feel so cool in this look. When I saw this dress, I just knew immediately how I wanted to style it, that I wanted to give it an edgier feel. I never wear sneakers with dresses (or really, I hardly ever wear them), but they seemed to fit this look so well and instantly add a nice level of spunk.

With this look, I was thinking "Hey, let me just throw on my sunnies and a red lip and let's gooooo." Go where? I don't know, but it just seemed like the right thing to say and do! And in this look, I'm sure there's all kinds of trouble I could find, am I right? There's just kind of something "bad girl" about it, despite my big smile above. But that girl below on the left? I wouldn't want to mess with her!
This dress was another recent Anthropologie sale find (I know, I have a problem. Please help me guys.) that I ordered online. I was super excited to get it because it looked really cute in the photos, but was a bit worried that it wouldn't work out because a lot of the reviews said it was too short. I thought that maaaybe it would be okay since I'm only 5'1" (We're all shorties in my family! My three sisters and I are basically all the same height). I'm not so sure if I'm comfortable with the length though and saved the tags just in case I change my mind.
I do, however, love the little rainbow thread specks in the fabric! It adds a pretty cool dimension to things and is an unexpected detail. Like the coral dress from my last outfit post, it is kind of sewn in those textured layers, which I really like. I also love that the top basically fits like a t-shirt, which makes this dress pretty easy and casual.
I've been contemplating something lately... Why do I not wear a red lip more often?! I love it! I know that I love it, but I think I just forget that I do and then when I think about wearing one I decide that it will be too bold. Not really the case! I am proud that I wore one at some point every day this past weekend though, so hopefully I'll put it in the rotation more. I also think I have found the perfect shade somehow! It is nothing fancy, just Ulta brand in the shade "Sangria" (was just looking online and its actually on sale for only $4! I think I'll be heading to Ulta when I finish this post to grab a couple...or twenty), but for whatever reason it is perfect. Also, just for a fun walk down memory lane, I think the last time I sported a red lip was for this outfit post! Too long ago.
Yeah, I wouldn't mess with her on the right either... I promise I'm not mean in real-life! hehe
I was just browsing through my style posts archives and it's funny to see how I am sometimes all over the place with my style choices. I really don't categorize myself as boho chic or romantic or edgy or retro. It used to bother me that I didn't really stick to one style, but then I realized that it is a good thing! We tend to attach labels to ourselves in so many different areas of life (for no reason really), but why should style be one of them? We like what we like. I like the versatility in not feeling the need to subscribe to a specific style. I like that I can open up my closet and create an outfit based on my mood, not a desire to fit in with a certain crowd or a certain "genre" of bloggers. I wear what I like, what I think looks flattering, and what makes me feel good about myself.

So I guess if I had to attach a label to my style it would be this: I am Jessica.

What are your thoughts about personal style? What is your style is like? Is it consistent?

Outfit Details:

Dress // Anthropologie

Shoes // Converse

Bag // Forever 21

Bracelet // Lucky Brand

Belt // Lucky Brand

Sunglasses // Ray Ban

Outfit // Coral Kiss

Happy Friday, friends! Can you believe we are at the closing of another week? I must say, it has been a pretty good week for me. I worked in the afternoons/early evenings and had the mornings to do things like sleep in, hang out with Marly, run errands, and work on the blog! I've been thinking a lot about some changes I'd like to make here and how I'd like to keep moving forward in the blogging world, but I'll save that for Monday, when I share my June goals!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may have noticed that I love a good sale and that I love Anthropologie. When the two come together, it is like Christmas for me. I had loved this dress when it first came out, but forgot about it until I saw it waiting for me on the sale racks. When it is marked down $100 from the original price, how can I say no?

I was expecting a pair of shoes to arrive in the mail and originally wanted to wait until I got them to style this dress with them (partly because I am sick of wearing these brown sandals in every style post lately haha). However, I ended up throwing that plan out the window and styling it like this when we went to visit my mom last weekend, where the weather was going to be in the high 90s. As soon as I slipped this dress on, I felt great in it. I even got a lot of compliments and a little girl told me I looked really pretty. 
Body image is definitely something I struggle with and it isn't all to often that I feel 100% confident in something I am wearing. This dress does that for me and that simple fact made me decide to photograph it just the way it was. We ended up stopping off on our way home to get this shoot in just before sunset and I am really happy with how the images turned out!
I feel so light, feminine, and free in this dress and, really, that is empowering. I also love the delicate keyhole detail on the back and the criss-cross kind of pattern on the bust.
The soft texture of this dress is also really interesting and adds a lovely level of dimension to it. It is so fun to run my hands over! I'll take it in 10 colors, thanks.

There are definitely some changes I know I need to make to improve my over-all health and to simply make myself a priority in that way, but it is great to be able to feel good in the skin you are currently in, you know? Loving yourself is important, no matter what you are afraid of others thinking.

What are your thoughts on body image and self love? And on a lighter note, what are you up to this weekend?

Also, I'm looking for some new blogs to add to my reading list. Any recommendations?

Outfit Details:

Dress // Anthropologie

Belt // Gap

Sandals // Target

Bag // Madewell