Crop Tops For Summer

One of my favorite fashion pairings is contrasting prints. While both my crop top and skirt feature polka dots, I think they compliment each other due to the subtle differences in the size of each print. I must admit... crop tops are growing on me.

Green has been my official summer color this year. Most of the prints I've purchased have featured some type of green in them, and while it was never a color I actively looked for, I ended up with a lot of it this year. Not necessarily a bad thing...

I purchased this polka dot skirt from ModCloth.com and was so in love with the dainty bow and polka dot print, I managed to miss it had a bow tie waist. Oh, and I found quite the gem at Marshall's - these suede Coach shoes were a steal! 

What I'm Wearing:

Polka Dot Crop Top - Forever 21 / Prose Amongst Bows Skirt - ModCloth.com / Retro Satchel - Primark / Suede Coach Heels (2012 Coach Fall Collection) / Heart Bangle - Urban Outfitters / Spiked Bracelet - Forever 21 / Mary Kay True Dimensions Lip Stick in Pink Cherie - c/o Influenster

Workwear With Flair

The word "workwear" creeps me out, and kind of makes me sad. I immediately think if pleated trousers with stiff dress shirts and old lady heels. I avoid anything that remotely looks close to something a secretary would wear, and instead,  go for dresses in bold prints that aren't too crazy, but let me be me at the office. One major tip I can give you is invest in shoes for work. All you need are three basic choices:

• Nude (to tone down prints)
• Black (goes with everything)
• And a bold color of your choice that you can utilize for color blocking, or to amp up solid color dresses.

Since I work in a corporate setting, I have to dress the part. The dress code at my job is business casual, and while you all know how much I loathe dress pants, I get around the restrictions that workwear can sometimes bring by finding pieces that represent my personality, but in a modest  clever way.

Cut It Out

I have to admit that I was a little weary of cut-out dresses. Am I too old to wear a dress that exposes part of my mid-section? Perhaps. But, the Aztec print on this Charlotte Russe dress was screaming "Who cares? I'm an Aztec print, darn it! You know you want me... "

Having a part of my body that I normally don't show off being exposed took some getting used to. But, when I wore this dress, it happened to be 89 degrees out - so there was my excuse.

And if I happen to head to an outdoor concern this summer, say, one with Adam Levine and a band called Maroon 5, which I might have tickets for to see in August, I just might wear this dress in the off-chance that Mr. Levine sees me, and my midriff, in the crowd.

Dance it out, ya'll.

Outfit Details:

Cut-Out Aztec Print Dress - c/o Charlotte Russe (similar style) / Mini Blake Bag - Rebecca Minkoff / Ghillie Wedge - c/o Charlotte Russe (similar style) / Vintage Heart Necklace / Dual Tone Spike Bracelet - c/o Ettika, Part of the House Of Jeffers bracelet stack / Henri Bendel Bow Bracelet (similar style) / Gold Knuckle Ring - Urban Outfitters

Somewhere in the Midi

Regardless if whether some of us fail to measure up in the height department, I'm living in midi skirts and dresses this summer. The topic of midi skirts has come up many times during Stylecaster's weekly #stylechat on Twitter, with some saying they only look flattering on lanky gals. Even though I'm only 5'4", there's nothing wedges can't fix when it comes to these skirts.

This midi skirt from Aritizia was the first one I ever purchased. It didn't take long after seeing how adorable it looks with many of my shoes to invest in more midi-length items.

 I wore this outfit during a weekend outing with my husband in Westfield, New Jersey to do a little shopping and photo location scouting. Turns out that I've ended up taking photos in front of churches a lot in this town. Not that I mind since they're so pretty.  And luckily, there was no one around.

No matter how many years I've been at this blogging thing, I'll probably always feel uncomfortable taking photos in public. Let's be real: It's awkward and people definitely shoot you looks of all sorts. That's why you have to develop your own ninja style as a blogger... The art of uncover picture taking in public. Should be a book...

Outfit:

Leopard Print Top - Old Navy / Jersey Midi Skirt - Aritzia / Urban Expressions Handbag / Peep Toe Wedges - Nine West / Personalized Bracelet - Brooklyn Charm / Hand Me Down Bracelet - Henri Bendel