Candy Striper

What I'm Wearing:

Red Luxetouch Piped Tee - Banana Republic (buy it here)

Striped BDG Cropped Skinny Jean - Urban Outfitters (similar style here)

Dany Platforms - Jessica Simpson (buy em here!)

Black Satchel - Zara

Silver Braided Cuff - Macys

I know everyone wants to jump on the Fall bandwagon, but I'm not letting go of summer anytime soon. Sure, I might break out jeans on an occasion now that it's not 100 degrees in New Jersey every day... but I just love my summer wardrobe.

Looking back on what was in my closet last summer, and what I've built up this year, I can say that my where I spend my money in terms of clothing has absolutely changed. I really do take time to think over my purchases before checking out... Less impulse buying, more long term investment. Fashion broker, perhaps?

Then again, when you find striped pink jeans for $9 at Urban Outfitters, there really isn't much to think about. Case in point - these cropped skinnies that were originally $58 smackers. Plus, you're gunna gasp out loud when you hear I shopped at Banana Republic's Outlet, where I paid about $21 for this red tee. So comfy. Should have stocked up for Fall... or Summer. Whichever comes first.

Oh, and see you at LuckyFABB, soon!

My beaded friendship bracelet is from Antigua, which I bought on my honeymoon! 

Here's a similar style!

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. 

A Controlled Experiment: Color Me Pink

Even though it felt like we leapt over September and stepped into October with the cold weekend weather, I managed to squeeze in a day for shorts last week.

Outfit:

Kimono Cardigan - won via ShopSosie.com (similar style here)

Crewneck top - Gap

Pink shorts - Forever 21

Dany platform shoes - Jessica Simpson Collection

Leather satchel - Zara

Pyramid stud bracelets - Forever 21

Sparkling Sage Necklace - Ideeli.com, courtesy of my Lucky FABB credit!

Just like anyone else, I have my own style preferences. But entering fall, I'm trying to step outside my comfort zone in terms of color and pairing outfits that I might otherwise think wouldn't appeal to me. And this means experimenting with everything - from accessories to even my makeup. 

For example, wearing pink. I used to hate the color pink up until a couple years ago. I remember one Christmas, my mother bought me a pink turtleneck sweater. And you know when receive a gift you don't fancy, and you don't want to hurt their feelings so you attempt to fake an appreciative grin? That's what I tried to do, but instead, burst into tears at the thought of a.) a wearing turtleneck and b.) a pink one. (Keep in mind, I was 10.) Lucky for me, my mom is from the school of "if you don't like it, bring it back." 

Yet as I've grown older, I turn toward the cotton candy shade more frequently. Even the top I'm wearing, a dark wine, is becoming my favorite hue for Fall. And the kimono cardigan, I won through a contest on ShopSosie.com! I may not win the lottery, but I have luck when it comes to winning clothes for some reason. Let's hope my karma stays that way!