Do The Twist

What Jen's Wearing:

Your True Colors Shine Top - Lulus.com

Accordion Pleated Color Block Skirt - courtesy of Sugarlips.com

Platform Mary Janes - Forever 21

Gold Brass Bangle - J. Crew

Spiked Bracelet - Forever 21

Square Monet Bangle - thrift find

I rarely rock pony tails, but when it's 95 degrees out, I have to get my hair off my neck. 

AND... when you love an outfit as much as I do this one, you want to make sure you show off it's best assets!

I was hesitant to wear my hair up in these photos - being that I normally don't wear pony tails too often, but hey, gotta change it up. I wanted to show off the collar of this awesomely beaded button-up I purchased from Lulus.com. It's black, it's got gunmetal beads and it's a button up. Straight up Johnny Cash goodness going on right here.

And let's not ignore this Accordion Color Block Skirt the cushty people at Sugarlips.com let me pick out! Sugarlips, based out of Los Angeles, Cali., is one of my new favorite clothing sites to shop on! Not only do they have a delightfully fab collection of tops, dresses and everything else under the sun  - they support fashion bloggers. MAJOR in my book. 

Love this skirt so much! I can wear it in the summer with tops like this, but in the winter, the colors translate right into fall. 

And, I can do the twist in it! 

Violet Hill

What Jen's Wearing:

Giraffe Print Silk Top - INC International Concepts, available at Macys

Pink Gramercy Twill Shorts - New York & Company

Dany Platforms - Jessica Simpson Collection

Chain Link Necklace - Charming Charlie

Stackable Bangles - Forever 21

Emerald Cut Ring with Crystal Accents - c/o Sorrelli

Marc by Marc Jacobs Bombay Satchel - similar style here

The Italian in me does not handle the heat well. New Jersey was hit with a heat wave last week - at least three days in the upper 90s. While I'm all for summer weather, this is just cray. Anything that causes my bangs to look disheveled I'm not a fan of...  Mother Nature is on my bad side. 

Incorporating shorts into your wardrobe has been made a lot more fashionable and easier with prints and brights. No longer do us girls have to just wear denim shorts - shorts can be styled to the gilt now that we have more options.

I have to thank two things for helping me style shorts: Ridiculous platforms & bright prints. This outfit, which I wore over the weekend to dinner with my favorite British person (my husband), was my compromise to the heat. 

If I have to sweat, I figure I should wear something that distracts from my brow's perspiration - in this case, it was my Jessica Simpson Dany Platforms and neon shorts.

Jen - 1. Mother Nature - 0. 

Band Of Horses

The closest thing I get to anything "western" in New Jersey are the occasional horses on the side of the highway in rural towns aka - not anywhere near I live. I do, however, have this strange affliction for clothing with horses on it. I used to own this bright pink sweater with a huge horse head (not like Godfather style) wearing a flower crown from H&M. If it sounds weird that's because it was.

I guess it's that same odd favoritism that made me lean toward this horseshoe print dress. Besides for the print, it's got that high-low hem ya'll know I'm totally down with, and the color is just as fab. 

Yee haw.... or something like that.

What Jen's Wearing:

Saddle High-Low Dress - c/o Urban1972.com

Gold Turquoise Western Necklace - Forever 21

Peep Tow Leather Wedges - Nine West

Buckle Up Band Ring - Henri Bendel

Turquoise Ring - purchased in Cape Cod 

Hats Off To You!

You know how you see certain styles on others and think, "I can't pull that off." I've felt this way about hats. My husband has told me thinks I look good in em, but it took me a while to find the right one for me.

Fedoras just look cool... guy or girl. Finding the right one is another story. Just because it's a beach hat doesn't mean it looks good on you. Hopefully, when you find one, it's more trial than error. I've seen  fedoras that look ridiculously cool on other people. On my own dome, that was a different story. Plus, I'm gunna be 100% honest with ya'll - if it's more than $15, I'm not buying it. My hat: $10.50. Serious dopeness. 

What I'm Wearing:

Multicolored Band Straw Fedora - Charlotte Russe

Waterfront Dress - RachelRoy.com (purchased with gift card I won from Stylecaster!)

Facet Spike Collar Necklace - RachelRoy.com (purchased with gift card I won from Stylecaster!

Cordstone Neon Bracelet - RachelRoy.com (purchased with gift card I won from Stylecaster!)

Gold and Neon Pink Square Blocks Bracelet - Charming Charlie

Gold Sandals - Zara

New Bond Street Florence Bag - Kate Spade

Straw hats are a seasonal luxury, and unless I wear it to death, it won't go too far in my wardrobe. I see why dudes spent lots of cheddar on their headgear, but I have bangs... that's enough going on in the forehead department. 

And this dress?! Love the color, don't you? I scored it, along with the chain link neon bracelet AND facet spike collar necklace from Rachel Roy.com - all with a gift card I won months ago. Talk about saving those pennies for a rainy day! 

Natural Wonders: Jewelry Inspired by Nature

Although the neon jewelry trend is one of my favorites, I love nature-inspired jewelry. Whether it's drawing elements of Native American culture, glamming up agates and druzy, or taking the colors found in summer and using their beauty to create boho chic accessories, I'm all in favor! Plus, if it helps out a good cause, even better (see below for details of about the FEED Kenya bracelets).

Check out my pics for favorite baubles to rock this summer in celebration of Mother Nature!

Inspired by Mother Nature by houseofjeffers featuring brass jewelry

FEED Kenya Bracelet*
$35 - feedprojects.com

Yellow gold necklace
$24 - threadsence.com

Brass jewelry
$16 - threadsence.com

Necklace
$31 - shopsosie.com

Ring
$150 - sorrelli.com

Ring
$68 - baublebar.com

Architectural Delight Druzy Cuff Pink
$28 - preebrulee.com

*The FEED Kenya Bracelets from FeedProjects.com are one-of-a-kind bracelets, hand-crafted by artisans in Kenya. As you may or may not know, the food and famine crisis in Kenya is extremely serious. If you purchase a bracelet, it contributes 5 school meals to someone in need. Think about it: You pay about $35 for dinner for two people. But you could be helping feed someone who truly needs it.  They are not only beautiful bracelets, but they go toward a worthy cause!

Totally Geeked Out

What I'm Wearing

Coral Tank - Forever 21

Grey Jersey Maxi Skirt - Artizia

Black Patent Leather Ballet Flats - Target

Blue Swarovski Crystal Necklace - ShySiren via Etsy.com

Fleur Open Bangle  - c/o Emily Elizabeth Jewelry

Geek glasses. Although I own a pair, I'm on the fence about em. 

These are blatantly nerdy, and didn't cost me more than $5. I think a great pair of non-prescription glasses adds instant personality to any outfit. I haven't made an investment in them yet, but Warby Parker makes perfectly geek chic frames that I'd rock. 

My theory on ordinary outfits, like the one I wore to buy plants (aka adult activity shopping), is that accessories bring life to plain Jane looks. I'm all for being casual cute, and honestly, I don't go casual too often, but when I do, I like to wear jewelry and accessories that compensate for my laziness. 

My fleur de leis bangle from Emily Elizabeth Jewelry is the kind of piece that adds flair to any outfit. Its elegant, dainty and just stinking sassy. It's the kind of jewelry that you wear everyday.

Fresh Cuts

Here's a not-so-secret secret: I don't cut my bangs myself. While I'm fully capable of using a pair of scissors, and know how to cut a straight line, I'm not taking a risk with my hair. One bad snip, or a crooked line across my forehead and it looks obvious that I DIY-ed my own bangs. Not a good look. So every three weeks or so, I get them trimmed professionally.

What I'm Wearing:

Basic Jersey High-Low Dress - Forever 21

Ecote T-Strap Wood Wedges - Urban Outfitters - $9 in-store, currently $59 online!

 Happiness Investment!

Rainbow Swarovski Crystal Necklace - Shy Siren via Etsy.com

Turquoise Bracelet - vintage, my grandmothers

Double Chain Bangles - Forever 21 (came as a set of 4)

Black Onyx Statement Ring - Forever 21

And when cut em', I feel reguvenated. A tiny cut makes all the difference. Fresh cut grass. Freshly cut flowers. Fresh shoes that cost $9 (love Urban Outfitters' sales. Ridiculous savings on these shoes I'm wearing). And high-low hems. Like how I threw that in, don't cha? 

The high low hem, or mullet hem (whichever you're preference) is a cut I'm crushing. I think it gives basic skirts and dresses a little extra "BAM". Plus, it doesn't block my view of Harley when I walk him. 

Gone With The Wind

I feel like life is on the up swing for me lately. Evidently, so was my skirt as I shot these photos during a looming thunderstorm.

And who would have thunk it: mid-calf skirts on short people actually work. Living proof right here, folks.

Outfit Details:

Madison Tee - StyleMint.com

Scarlet Swing Skirt - Forever 21

Suedette Animal Print Satchel - Forever 21

Leather Peep Toe Wedges - Nine West

Gold Buckle Bracelet - thrift store find / Studded Bracelet - Gap / Spiked Bracelet - Forever 21

I know summer is the season to show some leg, and I'm all for a skirt. But you can't wear a mini skirt everywhere. Besides, pick the wrong skirt length for the wrong occasion and people look at you and think "Where's she going?" 

This little "impulse buy" from Forever 21 will be on heavy rotation this summer. I'd been looking for more livelier options to rock my StyleMint Madison tee with, and I knew I could pull the scarlet in the skirt and match it against the pink stripes in the top. I've never met a stripe I didn't like, and the Madison tee is not only right on que with brights for summer, but it's ridiculously versatile as it can be worn with rainbow denim, shorts and as you can see, skirts. 

Nerdy secretary meets hipster bookworm. Or something like that.

Oh, and don't forget: Today is the last day you can use my Lulus.com coupon code: JEFFERS for 15% off your order!

Lulus.com Coupon Code: JEFFERS for 15% OFF Your Order!

I love a good bargain, and I'm betting that you probably do, too! 

But remember these fantastical glitter pumps I boasted about?

And my recent neon yellow dress from my Fantastically Spastic post? Both I purchased on Lulu's.com, one of my absolute favorite sites that I stalk shop frequently!

And I'm so excited I get to share my love of Lulu's.com with all of you!

Lulus.com is offering House Of Jeffers readers a 15% discount off your order from Monday, June 4, 2012 to Wednesday, June 6, 2012 (ends midnight)! 

Just enter coupon code JEFFERS at checkout!

Coupon code is for U.S. and Canada residents, valid site-wide.

Coupon is case sensitive; enter JEFFERS (all caps) for coupon.

Happy shopping!