mixing prints: dress in a dress

This past week consisted of some pattern play in my outfit choices. I've been playing around with mixing different prints and trying out bold patterns.
For some reason I was feeling adventurous, and certain things were catching my eye as I perused my closet each morning.

I've tried to get back into the habit of setting out my clothes the night before - it makes getting ready in the morning so much easier! But I don't always think about it.

Floral Dress: Zulily (remixed here and here), Polka-Dot Dress: Primark in London
Shoes: Ruche/Poetic License (shop!), Ring: Ebay (similar), Earrings: Fossil

This outfit is actually a dress on top of a dress.
Completely foreign territory to me until now.
In theory, I think it works. This pairing was a chance encounter, as both these dresses were hanging on my closet door for different purposes and it suddenly dawned on me that I love floral and polka dots together.
This floral dress has become one of my most interesting remix pieces.

I think it depends entirely on the dresses you'd want to wear together, but I think I may try this idea again. Just like wearing a skirt over a dress, or a sweater/top over a dress, or a top under a dress, this layering technique can exponentially expand my dress-wearing. Which I'm always in favor of.

I've definitely mentioned before that I love cutesie things, which includes critters and cute prints.
This ring was no exception. I'm a sucker for foxes (still on the hunt for a perfect budget-friendly fox sweater) and kittens, so this ring kind of encompasses both. I found it on Ebay for 99 cents, so how can you go wrong?
These types of rings are all over the place, places like Ebay and Etsy.
I like looking through some of the more expensive options of cutesie rings, like this, but in all reality I'm more of a 99 cent ring girl than a $60 ring girl. Unless it's of the engagement/wedding persuasion.

I love our balcony, even though it stretches along the entire back side of our apartment complex, so it's a shared space. It still feels secluded and private, with the forest of trees and the lanterns that light up at night.
I'm planning on buying some bistro style patio furniture, hanging some twinkle lights, and spending a lot of quality time on this balcony this summer. I'm looking forward to taking on a lot of home improvement projects in the next few months.
It only took me a year and 8 months to actually be motivated to finish things up. :)
We have a little over a year left until my husband finishes law school and we move back to Arizona, so I'm planning on making it count.

monochromatic: blushing pink

I love a great monochromatic look.
There's something really bold about it - almost tantalizing, like it's against the rules somehow.
Kind of like my childhood leopard outfit debacle, it's usually a terrible idea to compose an entire outfit out of the same pattern or color.
But at some point, someone came along and proved that monochromatic can be absolutely fierce, stylish, and can accomplish a really unique fashion statement.

Mara over at M Loves M created a monochromatic outfit in blue, and she was actually the inspiration for my compilation!

If I was really dedicated, I would have donned some pink tights and pink shoes, but I think that would've killed the moment. And maybe scared the neighbors.
Being my first attempt, I settled for a pink and brown look, with the leopard watch as the accent pattern.
Leopard is my favorite.

Dress: Gifted/Kohl's, Sweater: Gifted/LOFT, Necklace: Gifted
Tights: Target, Shoes: Poetic License (on sale)
Watch: La Mer, Target (shop!)

I seriously could wear a cable knit sweater like this every single day.
Dress it up or dress it down.
So cozy I could sleep in it.
This entire outfit is made up of various gifted items. My birthday dress from my best friend Becky, this bright pink sweater from my mom, and the necklace for Christmas from my friend Allison.

Even from thousands of miles away, my mom finds ways to shop with me!
She sent me an happy box of new sweaters and accessories, just because. I miss mom and daughter times.

I'm spending the entire weekend reading and checking off my to-do list.
Friday was slow in coming, but now that it's here, I can't wait to get started on weekend projects!
I love how full of hope and potential the weekend is - most of the time, once Sunday comes, I realize I haven't done anything productive. BUT, it's always nice, on Friday, to wish and dream and plan all the cleaning, crafting, reading and daydreaming I'll be doing. :)