Tag: Summer Dresses

You Say Goodbye … I Say Hello.

.Reading time 5 minutes.

When I walked out of my house this morning, there was a familiar feeling in the air. A twinge of a chill that will forever remind me of going back to college or school in general. This is the time of year, for me at least, when change is the name of the game. Weather is cooling down, and like the tectonic plates decided to move and cause extreme chaos up and down the east coast yesterday (by the way, was I the only one that didn’t feel the earth move?), our closets will all go into transition mode.

But I’ve never understood those people at the end of a season who decide to move all of their winter clothes into Tupperware boxes or those dismal vacuum space saver bags and store in the attic for next winter to make room for spring and summer clothes. A. I don’t like the idea of Tupperware or vacuuming my clothing into plastic, B. I don’t trust leaving my clothes in a dark, damp, and weird space where God only knows what could happen to them … ick C. I like all of my clothing in one place … so what if I need super human strength to move through my closet, at least I know a random animal or colony of bugs living in my attic secretly didn’t eat them for dinner.

So if you are looking at all of your fantastic summer clothing and getting a bit depressed knowing that all the colors and frills will be retired after Labor Day … just … stop. Goodbyes suck, so why bother.

What To Salvage:

Summer Dresses: Since bright, vibrant colors are all the rage this fall, it is absolutely acceptable to keep these around. Strapless, spaghetti strap, one strap, crazy straps … or whatever other strap dresses you have acquired, throw on a pair of tights, a fierce pair of heels, a cute blazer and hello fall look, how you doin’?

Shorts: There is nothing more that I love in life than a pair of shorts with a great pair of tights underneath them, a cardigan and a pair of flats. Not only is it ridiculously comfy, but very retro chic. Perhaps this wouldn’t work with your jean booty shorts, but I always say, if your finger tips reach the end of the shorts, they are fair game to wear.

Maxi Everything: Parting WOULD be such sweet sorrow with my maxi dresses and skirts that I have collected, so I refuse. Even though they are beach frolicking and heat wave friendly, with a blazer and the right accessories you have yourself a lovely fall look. Ok maybe you might need to say farewell to the tropical print ones, but the solid colors I say keep around for the fall foliage.

Open Toed Booties: I know I’ve acquired a lot of fierce open toed shoes for the summer nights out, and when the weather gets a bit nippy, I know the urge to rescue your toes to warmth is overwhelming, but relax. Even the strappiest of strappy heels can be transitioned to fall and winter by rocking tights with them. Even socks are apparently socially acceptable to wear with heels now (even though I’m still on the fence on how I feel about this topic … more to come later).

Tank Tops: For the love of everything holy … tank tops are so versatile … yet they are such a symbol of sweltering heat and the summer months. When it doubt, no matter what time of year, if you find a cute tank top … BUY IT. Fall, winter, spring, summer … you can rock them solo, with a blazer (can you tell blazers are a must have this season?), a cardigan, layered under shirts and sweaters etc. etc. etc. Play around with them … but know they can always be used. They are a valuable resource, in fact I have a specific drawer dedicated to them. Be a tank top hoarder … no one will judge, I promise.

Lesson learned: Just say no to retiring your wardrobe into dismal Tupperware coffins.

The Not Pregnant Girl’s Guide To Target Maternity

.Reading time 4 minutes.

Some Sundays are best spent wandering through Target, which as I have mentioned in a prior post, is what I did this past Sunday. Now, I used to have a significant issue buying clothing where one could also buy all of their groceries, tires in all shapes and sizes and a big screen TV. Maybe it was Target opening their arms to designers such as Rodarte, Missoni and John Paul Gaultier that changed my mind, who knows. I wouldn’t say my closet is overflowing with clothing from Target, but this store is definitely good for a few classic and eclectic pieces here and there.

I unfortunately had no luck in the women’s section, which was frustrating because I was in “impulse buy mode.” After contemplating a pink, floral dress and realizing, “right, I hate the color pink and floral print,” along with some other random shirts I didn’t like that much or need, I decided to throw in the towel and try my luck at the shoe department … until out of the corner of my eye I saw all of these colorful and cute dresses coming from the Maternity Section. I must have walked back and forth a couple of times until I just couldn’t resist taking the plunge into the land of baby bumps.

I bet you are thinking, “what the eff,” but I’m telling you, let it draw you in. There is no shame in looking, hell, you could be a couple of weeks preggo for all anyone is concerned. Leave the shame in the aisle because this is the secret garden of fantastic dresses and shirts. If you don’t want a cropped Beatles t-shirt, which I gotta say is so over done right now … give it a breather people, frolic yonder.

Since Fourth of July is behind us, we are now in this awkward stage where we still want to freshen up our wardrobes, yet the big shots in the fashion industry are slowly trying to give us fall looks already. But guess what, women who are pregnant in the summer don’t want to think about cardigans and flared jeans … they want flowing dresses that are comfortable and cute … a.k.a gold for us non-pregnant folk in a time where cute summer clothes are fading fast.

The sizing really isn’t an issue because extra smalls, smalls and even mediums tend to fit like normal clothing, except a little extra flowy (which isn’t a bad thing and happens to be quite en vogue). There are no crazy panels or neon, blinking signs that says, “Hello, this is a maternity dress, judge me!” And if you are worried, superstitious or just weirded out by buying maternity clothing … cut out the damn tag for the love of God.

I would tell you to go online and check out the selections before trekking to the store, but I despise Target’s photos on their site as they tend to look cheaper and less vibrant than they actually are … but is having to go to Target the worst thing?  So go with your girlfriends, it can be a fun little experiment along with lots of laughs. I’m telling you that you will walk away with a really great and comfortable, everyday dress that is just CRYING OUT to be accessorized.

Pregnant ladies, I apologize in advance for invading your “section,” but I believe in diversity in departments of stores … even when it comes to adding maternity clothing into my wardrobe when I am not even close to being with child.