Fashion

About a week ago, someone named Melissa emailed me and asked for my thoughts on the romper. Specifically, how I felt about rompers being back in style.

My mind immediately went back to the times in my life that I’ve worn a romper. If memory serves (which is debatable) I have lived through three variations of the romper trend. The first was as an infant and toddler when I wore onesies and bubble suits. However, that doesn’t really count because the romper never really goes out of style for that age group.

The next memory I have of wearing a romper is sometime around second or third grade. It was terrycloth and I think I wore it with Yo-Yos. I don’t believe I need to say anymore about that.

And, lastly, there was a romper stage in my early college years. Although we didn’t call it a romper, but rather a one-piece shorts outfit. Frankly, I think that’s a better term from a marketing standpoint.

Adult in a romper? NO.

Adult in a one piece shorts outfit? Probably still no, but it sounds better.

The best part is I actually have photographic evidence of the one-piece shorts outfit that I wore in the summer of 1990 during a family vacation to Bermuda. I bought it at The Limited and I was certain I’d never looked more stylish.

Sweet helmets.

Sadly, there is no record of what I was wearing on my feet. But I’d be willing to bet cash money that there’s good chance it might have been some white Keds.

I can’t really think about it.

And I’m not sure why I was so dressed up in my one-piece shorts outfit when my sister appears to wearing only a t-shirt and my dad is sporting some seriously high-waisted white shorts. But, to be fair, he’s rockin’ those shades.

Would I repeat the romper trend? NO.

Would I repeat it if it was called a one-piece shorts outfit? Still a no.

However, the romper is apparently back and if you can pull it off and don’t mind having to completely undress to go to the bathroom, then I say more power to you, my friend. Rock on in your romper.

Here are just a few quick fashion notes today because I went out last night and am a little tired.

(I went to an art show because I am cultured and sophisticated.)

(I didn’t really understand any of the art and it’s probably a bad sign that the piece I loved the most was called “The McRancho” and featured the Ronald McDonald clown riding various bulls across a Texas landscape.)

1. The Limited (home of the 1990 one-piece shorts outfit) has a bunch of really cute dresses on sale right now for $39.90.

This black one-shouldered number totally tempted me until I remembered that my life doesn’t call for a one-shouldered black dress.

2. Gap has all their mens’ and womens’ shorts on sale for $25 for three more days. I told P about it and he said, “Who on earth pays TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS for a pair of shorts?”

Bless his heart. It’s no wonder he believes that everything that comes in this house costs $15. Anymore than that is just highway robbery.

3. Old Navy has some really cute maxi dresses right now.

4. Spanx bras

I’ve heard through the grapevine that a Spanx bra may be the most comfortable thing you’ll ever own.

Maybe that’s the secret Victoria doesn’t want you to know.

5. Multi-stone necklace

Love this necklace.

6. Kate Spade Wellie Magee Bag

I may not understand why someone would pay $5000 for some old tires and call it art, but I understand this bag.

LOVE.

Y’all have a great Friday.

For more fashion, go visit Jo-Lynne. She’s talking about denim today.

One day last week on She’s Still Got It, Lindsay talked about hair. Specifically, she talked about twisting your hair into an onion formation while it’s still damp, sleeping with it that way and waking up to a head full of gorgeous waves the next morning.

The concept isn’t new to me. I have my own version of the onion that I do to my hair on the nights I don’t feel like blowing it dry, which is to say that I do this about two to three nights a week. And I’ll be honest, the results are mixed. Some mornings it looks great, but other mornings I look like Chaka Khan. On those unfortunate days, I just pull the whole mess back in a bun and pretend like it never happened.

But it’s never occurred to me to try it on Caroline’s hair. So last night I asked her if she wanted to try something new with her hair and she agreed. It helped that I told her she could play Mario Kart on her Nintendo DS while I fixed it. You may say I resorted to bribery, but I say it’s just creative parenting in the name of releasing my inner beauty stylist.

I put some styling serum in her hair, divided it into four sections and twisted them into the onion formation. Then we headed into the bedroom, read a story and then it was time for prayers.

She prayed, “Dear Lord, thank you for everything you give us. I hope I sleep good tonight. Please let me have a good time at my soccer game tomorrow. And please let this invention that my mom has put on my head turn out okay. Amen.”

Yes, Lord. Please let the invention on her head turn out okay. I shudder to think of the drama that will ensue if it doesn’t.

Anyway, I’ve been a little obsessed with purses and bags this week so that’s our topic for today.

1. Hobo with fringe

I feel like I need to clarify that I’m not talking about a vagrant wearing a sassy cowboy outfit.

Fringe is big right now and I particularly love it on a purse. It has that whole Bohemian/Rachel Zoe thing going on.

In other words, I die.

2. Straw clutch

This is an adorable little clutch that would be perfect with a sundress at a tea or a daytime wedding or a garden party. Not that I have any of those types of events on my social calendar right now, but you never know when something may come up.

Actually, I’m fairly certain my life doesn’t require a delicate straw clutch, but the pretend life in my head likes to ponder the possibilities.

3. A new approach tote

I love the floral eyelet detail on this bag. And it’s on sale.

4. Big Buddha Sadie bag **I fixed the link. Sorry.

I’ve loved this purse for a while now and it comes in so many great colors for summer. I happen to own it in white because I am a risk taker. Fortunately it has yet to meet dirt that can’t be wiped off. Who says there isn’t an advantage to faux leather?

5. Merona straw large hobo

6. Statement satchel

This actually comes in gold or pewter. I’m a big fan of the metallic bag because it can go with so many things and I’m not one to switch out purses on a regular basis. I have a fear that I’ll forget to put my favorite lipgloss in the new purse and tragedy will ensue.

My motto is no lipgloss left behind.

7. Merona print canvas tote

I haven’t seen this in person so I don’t know how big it is, but it looks so summery that it seems like a great bag to carry to the pool full of magazines, an iPod, and a good book.

Of course I have to carry a suitcase to the pool because we can’t leave home without three beach towels, a snorkel and mask, eighteen different dive sticks and forty-two bottles of sunscreen. I haven’t read a magazine by the pool since the summer of 2002.

8. Orla Kiely butterfly stem print bag

I have always loved Orla Kiely bags. And you can find this same bag in the stone print on sale at Piperlime right now

9. Melie Bianco Deborah bag

Love the little flower detail and the braided handle.

10. Lucky brand medium slouch

Wow. I’ve shown a lot of white purses. But this one has a tan handle so it’s totally different!

Y’all have a lovely Friday.

I had all intentions of writing some kind of introduction to today’s Fashion Friday, but I’ve just finished watching Real Housewives of New York and I’m pretty sure I just heard the mouse trap go off. And P is already in bed.

I’m sitting here in a state of denial about what may or may not be going on in my kitchen. Which makes it hard to think about fashion or anything else for that matter. I’m just glad no one threw a piece of half-eaten toast at me.

I really didn’t know what I was going to talk about this week, but then I started seeing a lot of cute dresses online and thought that might work. So it’s all about the dress today.

1. Silk shutter pleat dress

I think this dress is gorgeous. It’s very dressy and is even described as a bridesmaid’s dress. All I can say is it doesn’t look like any bridesmaid dress I ever got to wear. Of course that’s directly related to the fact that most of my friends got married in the late ’90’s when we all thought our only option was to choose from the selection of bridesmaids’ dresses at the bridal store that they make you order three sizes up so they can charge you a sweet fortune for alterations.

Not that I’m still bitter about all the money I doled out on alterations and bad taffeta between 1997-2000.

So, yes, this could be gorgeous for a bridesmaid, but I also think it could just be a great dressy black dress to have in your closet for a special occasion.

2. Daytime jersey scoopneck dress

I know right now you’re wondering where all the pictures are. Apparently there are some websites that make their pictures unfriendly for downloading.

I really like this dress because it’s casual and comfortable, yet really pretty. It comes in several different colors, but I think I’d go with the navy and accessorize with silver sandals and some silver bangle bracelets.

3. Grecian green dress

I adore this dress. The green color is gorgeous and I think it would look so pretty with some great gold accessories.

4. Pearl eyelet dress

The white dress is really in right now. I think they look so great paired with nude wedge heeled sandals and turquoise jewelry.

This cap sleeved version by Nine West is another really great white dress with a different look.

5. Mia striped strapless dress

My friend Steph called me yesterday to let me know that Neiman’s is having a huge sale right now. Sure enough, I looked on their website and there are a lot of cute things that are 30% off, including this dress.

6. Daria dress

My friend Julie called me and we discussed the sale at Neiman’s and we also had a conversation about how we thought the maxi dress was going to be totally over by this summer. She even went so far as to give away her maxi dresses.

It turns out that we were wrong. The maxi dress is back and more popular than ever. However, we did agree that while the maxi dress is super comfortable and allows you to eat a lot of chips and guacamole in one sitting, it’s not necessarily the most flattering look in the world. Unless you happen to be six feet tall and weigh 100 pounds. In which case you need to quit reading this and go eat a cheeseburger.

7. Lucarne dress

I think this dress is just a fun dress for summer. I love the blue and orange together.

8. 100 tiers of solitude dress

Earlier this week, I saw a picture of Priscilla Shirer on her blog (Did you know she has a blog? She does!) and she had on this outfit that I adored. It was a dress in similar colors to this one, paired with white leggings and silver flats. Adorable.

The dress she had on was cuter than this one but I have no idea where she bought it. Actually I take that back because it just occurred to me that I could go back and look at her comments to see if someone asked her where it was from. The dress she had on was this one from Free People but she had a white t-shirt on under it. LOVE.

9. Smocked tank dress

This is the perfect dress to throw on all summer long. I think it’s so much better than a pair of shorts.

10. Nicole Miller aqua printed jersey dress

I’m a fan of Nicole Miller dresses because they always seem to fit so well. I thought this one was really cute which is really no surprise considering the color scheme.

11. Sundial sleeveless wrap dress

I could not be sorrier about the lack of pictures today. Serious technical difficulties.

However, please go look at this dress. You’ll be so glad you did. It’s darling.

12. Glazed fruit dress

Where do I even start with Anthropologie? I went over to their site hoping to find one dress to round out my list o’ twelve and found so much more.

Like this Island holiday dress

And this Endless chevrons dress

And then this Orange blossom dress

Dear Anthropologie,

You never write. You never call. You never even offer coupon codes for free shipping or 15% off. I really believe you think you’re better than me.

Yet I cannot quit you.

Love,
Melanie

Y’all have a great Friday.

For more thoughts on fashion, go visit Jo-Lynne. She’s talking about the importance of a good fit today.

I’m going to attempt to keep it brief because I am tired and Caroline’s class is hosting a Mother’s Day Tea and, based on the extensive wardrobe negotiations we engaged in earlier, I’d be willing to bet that it isn’t going to be a picnic to get her dressed and out the door. Mainly because she is insisting that she wants to wear a dress that I bought with intentions for it to serve as a swimsuit coverup.

This year I have really tried to grow as a person. I’ve slept on a sofa bed. I’ve handled raw poultry. I’ve traveled without my sound machine. (Not on purpose, but still) And I’ve let go of my dreams and ambitions to dress Caroline in matching outfits. It is every child’s right to dress like a hobo throughout elementary school and who am I to deprive her of that experience? How else will she be able to go back and look at old pictures and say, “MOM. I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU LET ME WEAR THAT! WAS THAT A SWIMSUIT COVERUP?”

And I’ll reply, “Yes. Yes it was.”

But you insisted it was the prettiest dress you owned and I was exhausted.

1. Crinkle tiered cotton top

I’m not sure why this is pictured like it can be worn as a dress.

Clearly it’s supposed to be a top.

Right?

I hope I’m right because, if not, I’m afraid.

If it’s a top, it’s cute. If it’s a dress, it’s absurd.

2. Canvas bag

I got my Boden catalog in the mail this week and fell in love with this bag.

3. Bamboo floral sandals

I love Bamboo shoes because they are inexpensive and so, so cute.

4. Airy eyelet skirt

This skirt is a perfect piece for summer and it’s way on sale right now.

5. Dakota falls top

This top would be great to throw on with jeans or shorts.

6. Boyfriend denim shorts

I have a love hate relationship with shorts. Yes, there is a time and a place when only shorts will do. But I often feel like that time was my twenties.

However, I am a fan of the boyfriend shorts. I just like the casual look and the fact that they can be paired with so many different things.

And, yes. You could always just cut off a pair of jeans you already own and get this same look for free. Even better.

7. Crinkle cotton skirt

Just some more goodness from the Boden catalog.

8. Long perfect tanks

I love the tank tops from Old Navy because they come in a million different colors, they’re inexpensive, and they are long.

And you can add a little extra with a scarf like this floral scarf.

I realize that just last year I mocked the scarf with a tank top look. But that’s what happens. I mock and then I love.

9. Turquoise beaded bracelet

And it also comes in apple green, coral and nude. I just think it looks like summer.

10. White watch

For some inexplicable reason I have developed a crush on white watches. I don’t really understand it and I won’t attempt to explain it because there isn’t enough time. (Time. Ha.)

I adore this Michael Kors version of the white watch.

But it’s more than a little pricey. Especially considering that I don’t even normally wear watches because they stress me out.

Then I found a Sam Moon version of the white watch for $8.95.

There’s really no guarantee that it will work for more than a day, but I just want the look. The ability to actually tell time with it is completely unnecessary. That’s what my cell phone is for.

Y’all have a great Friday.

For more fashion you can visit Jo-Lynne. She’s talking about sheath dresses today.

Also, Clear Eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.

I’m living for 7:00 tonight.

I didn’t know what my intro for today’s Fashion Friday was going to be. But when I finished linking to all the items and uploading all the pictures and pulling out all my hair, I realized that there isn’t one item featured that costs more than $50. So, basically, it’s just like my closet.

1. Vintage lace knit top

I’ve really wanted to add some lace to my wardrobe ever since I fell in love with a gorgeous lace top I saw earlier this spring, but I haven’t found anything that looks quite right. Actually, I’ve always been drawn to lace because I came of age during the early Madonna years. If you were a teenager in the mid-80’s and didn’t wear fingerless lace gloves or a lace bow in your hair, then I don’t know if you can truly understand the lasting influence of the material girl.

I think this top would be a great piece to layer under a jacket or even just by itself during the long hot summer.

2. Buenos Aires peasant top

When I first saw this top, I was kind of on the fence. I LOVE the style. Obviously, I love the lace accents. But I’m still not totally sure how I feel about the color. I mean, it’s a beautiful color but I have conflicting emotions about anything that remotely falls in the purple category.

Still, I can totally see it with my jeans and pair of cowboy boots. I love it in spite of myself. And I will refer to it as aubergine instead of purple.

3. Coquille tube dress

I saw this dress and my first thought was that I’d never actually wear it as a dress, but thought it would make a really cute swimsuit coverup. But when I looked at it again, I decided it would also be a cute dress with a denim jacket or fitted cardigan worn over it.

Or maybe you might just want to wear it by itself because you are in your twenties and you can.

4. Knit rosette top

I am a big fan of this shirt.

It comes in several different colors and it’s $10.80. What else do you need to know?

5. Roman candy tote

Who comes up with these names?

I love the turquoise. I know that comes as a shock.

6. Spring Break scarf

I adore this scarf because it just looks like summer. It would go great with so many different t-shirts and tanks and add a little pop to a plain outfit.

7. Genie dress

When Sophie arrived in New York, she surprised me with the cutest dress.

Except the one she gave me was in the turquoise color because she knows my color love language. And I know myself well enough to know that there will come a day when I’ll wonder why I was so obsessed with turquoise and will want it banished forever. I will just turquoise myself sick.

But until then I’ll probably wear this dress at least once a week all summer long. Twice, if I can get away with it. It’s so soft that it’s like wearing a nightgown. Not that I wear nightgowns. Unless you consider a twenty-year-old shirt that says Texas A&M Baseball on it and is covered in small holes a nightgown.

8. Hawaiian flower brim hat

Mamaw has to get herself a new hat every summer because the sun hates my face. And, in return, my face hates the sun. They fight with each other like they are a couple of Real Housewives.

Speaking of, I need to make an appointment to see my dermatologist. I seriously need to do something about these brown spots on my face that have become too large to call them freckles.

Dang me and those teenage years when I thought there was no such thing as too much sun. Had I known then what I know now, I’d have been the only fifteen-year-old at Crystal Beach wearing an enormous floppy hat. Which wouldn’t have added at all to my high school insecurities.

9. Yellow sandals

I don’t really know that I have any use for a pair of yellow sandals, but I think these are really cute. Personally, I kind of wish they came in silver because I have a great many uses for silver sandals right now.

I seem to be having issues with color choices today.

10. Two-tone canvas beach tote

I really like this beach tote because it’s the right size to hold a decent amount of stuff and it comes in many cute color combinations. And I don’t have a problem with any of them.

11. Embroidered crinkle gauze tunic

I really don’t need another white shirt in my closet. I have way too many of them as it is, but I have some sort of addiction to the crispness of white. You would think that this addiction would cause me to be more careful about spilling things on myself, but you would be wrong. Instead I go through life with the motto “That’s what bleach is for.”

Actually, that’s not really my motto because that would be sad.

And if you don’t like white, then I thought these floral print gauze tops were really cute.

As a bonus today (as if having eleven items instead of ten wasn’t enough!) I wanted to tell you about two great things and you may already know about both of them. Just humor me and make me feel like I told you something new.

I recently discovered Retail Me Not. Before I buy anything, I go on their site, type in the name of the store and see if a coupon code comes up that will give me additional savings. I can’t tell you often I find a code that at least offers free shipping.

The other new discovery is a style blog called She’s Still Got It. I love Lindsey’s style and that she features reasonably priced things that can be worn by real people who often have to bend over to tie someone’s shoe.

Lastly, you may want to check out Jo-Lynne’s blog for more fashion tips.

Y’all have a great Friday.

P.S. We have not one but TWO soccer games this weekend. Pray for me.

Today is Battle of Flowers in San Antonio which is basically a holiday that the city made up over a hundred years ago to honor the heroes of the Alamo and commemorate the victory at the battle of San Jacinto. It’s also an official school holiday which means I don’t have to get up and make a ham sandwich at 7:00 a.m. only to have it later rejected in favor of the school cafeteria’s offering of a baked potato.

Viva Fiesta.

Freedom from tyranny, freedom from Mexico, freedom from having to wake up super early and pack a lunch.

And speaking of freedom, let’s discuss the beauty of the swimsuit coverup.

(How else am I supposed to transition from the men who fought and died for Texas to what looks best over a swimsuit?)

1. Coverups that look like a dress or tunic

My favorite part of the swimming pool experience, other than the delicious chicken fingers, ice cream sandwiches, and the occasional white wine spritzer, is the moment that I can put on my coverup. I like to keep it nearby at all times so I can immediately throw it on like a beloved security blanket. Plus, it’s easy to find so many great coverups because you don’t have to worry about pesky things like underwire and tummy control panels.

I love this medallion tunic by Becca.

But there are so many other cute options that I don’t even know how I’ll choose. In fact, I may have already decided that I like this one better.

Of course last year I headed down to El Mercado and found the best Mexican tunic that I wore as a coverup all summer long. Oh my gosh, look how cute this bubble top is.

LOVE.

Other great places to look for the perfect coverup are TJ Maxx and Marshalls, but I can’t link to any of those so you’ll just have to go dig through the racks and see what you can find.

2. Coverups that are just shorts or a skirt

Personally, I’m a fan of the coverup that is one easy piece, but I realize some of you may prefer to just throw on a skirt or a pair of shorts and I don’t want to discriminate.

Athleta has a great selection of swim shorts and skirts that can actually be worn in the water which is perfect if you’re looking for a little thigh coverage. (And who isn’t?)

But there are so many skirts and shorts that make perfect coverups even if you have to take them off when you get in the pool.

3. Flip-flops (You complete me.)

I believe it was Davy Crockett who first said, “There’s nothing better in the summertime than a good pair of flip-flops and a coonskin hat.”

And he was right. Summer shoes are so much fun because flip-flops are often inexpensive and you can buy them in an array of colors to match any outfit. Although I did have someone tell me this week that they will eventually ruin your feet and cause you to walk around hobbled in your older years. That’s a chance I’m willing to take.

I also love every single pair of these and would like to bring them home and make them mine.

Oh. And these.

I was going to get into a whole discussion on beach bags but I have to get to bed. I don’t want to be too tired to properly Fiesta this weekend. Although all that really means for me is that I may stay up until 9 or maybe even 10 ‘o clock on Saturday night.

Y’all have a great weekend.