It's All in the Ladylike Details

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Skirt: Madewell  ||  Shirt: Old Navy  ||  Hat: Urban Outfitters (old, similar) ||  Heels: Jessica Simpson (DSW) 

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Skirt: Madewell  ||  Shirt: Old Navy  ||  Hat: Urban Outfitters (old, similar) ||  Heels: Jessica Simpson (DSW)  || Jacket: Abercrombie (old, similar)

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When I'm dressing for fall, I like to add a few ladylike details. One of the biggest trends we're seeing this season is a floppy felt hat. The flowly structure gives you that girly look while still keeping your head warm during the inevitable cool weather. It's effortlessly chic plus it's perfect for a dirty hair day! (ie more time sleeping in!)

Layering is key for autumn and can add a feminine touch to any outfit. I like wearing a jean jacket over my shoulders because I think it's a really fun way to update your wardrobe and give you that classic, 1950's style. Of course when it's really cold, you do need to actually wear it! :)

Some of the other ladylike details I adore from this look are the perforated holes in a stripe pattern on my midi skirt and the cute words that read "Live, Love, Laugh" on my top. (Note: This shirt actually has navy stripes...don't be afraid to pair black with navy or plum and navy. And while mixing colors, textures and patterns might seem risky, it really can have a big payoff! My advice is keep it subtle; you can't go wrong.)

This ensemble was inspired by Bayleigh Bingham, a sweet girl I met while hosting my New York Fashion Week video for Loehmann's. Her street style was definitely one of my favorites and I seriously wanted to steal her hat! (see her full look in my Top 30 List). It made me want to take my summer midi skirt and transition it for fall with the right accessories. Fashion tip: Try wearing a sweater with your midi skirt to get even more wear out of it this season!

The Midi Skirt Secret

Skirt: Madewell  ||  Crop top: American Apparel  ||  Heels: Jessica Simpson (old)  ||  Clutch: J.Crew  ||  Necklace: Go Fish 

Dress: Urban Outfitters  ||  Tshirt: J.Crew (similar)  ||  Necklace: Go Fish  ||  Heels: Aldo (similar)

You all probably know by now that I love midi skirts! (You might even remember that In my Loehmann's video I say that it's my favorite trend!) As I've talked about in previous posts, they look great with crop tops or graphic shirts and my #1 rule is that you must wear them with heels. BUT what I haven't shared with you all is my midi skirt secret! It may come as a surprise that in the photo above, I'm actually wearing a yellow striped midi dress (not a skirt)! Whoa! I added a basic t-shirt over this sleeveless dress and tied it in a knot in the back to create the look of a midi skirt. I made sure to have the shirt hit my waist when knotting it to give the illusion that the skirt was high waisted. Is your mind blown or what?! :) Seriously though, I encourage you to try this with any of your mid-length dresses in your closet. It will immediately update your wardrobe! Plus you get to wear something old in a new way! Yippee! And I can't forget to mention my Go Fish necklace that I absolutely adore and wear all the time! Fall Styling tip: In cooler temperatures, throw on a jean jacket (over your shoulders of course!).

Graphic Tee + Midi Skirt = Dressy Casual Perfection

Top: Vintage Ruehl shirt  ||   Skirt: Madewell   ||  Shoes: Aldo

Top: Tanked (from Parts and Labour Boutique in Austin, TX)  ||  Skirt: Zara  ||  Shoes: Aldo

Top: Tanked (from Parts and Labour Boutique in Austin, TX)  ||  Skirt: Zara  ||  Shoes: Aldo

 Growing up, one of my favorite things to do with my mom was going "Back to School" shopping. We would have so much fun picking out a week's worth of new outfits and choosing the cutest one for the first day of classes (which meant a photo for my scrapbook would be taken of course!) You might be thinking, "Why are you telling this story? You're not going back to school." Correct. But as I've been walking the streets of New York with "Back to School" shopping signs all around me, I couldn't help but think what I would wear if I was. This! A graphic tee paired with a midi skirt. It is the perfect mix of dressy casual, plus you can't help but feel oh-so-stylish. The skirt gives you that classy, ladylike feel while the graphic tee dresses it down with more of an edgy, street style. Maybe I'm channeling a little Carrie Bradshaw here, but I love it! This was one of my favorite trends from last year's NY Fashion Week and it's just stuck with me. It looks so effortless. And isn't that always what we want, ladies? We all have old graphic shirts in our closets which I personally think makes this look all the more interesting (and affordable) to put together. The more vintage the tee, the better, in my opinion! You can also tie it into a knot to create a crop top. I do, however, have one midi skirt rule though: You need to wear it with heels. Otherwise it really cuts off your legs. For all you ladies thinking your legs aren't long enough to pull off a midi skirt, I challenge you to slip on a pair of heels. And for an added style tip in cooler weather: try wearing a leather or jean jacket over your shoulders. You'll look uber chic!

How to Wear A Crop Top

One of my favorite trends this year has definitely been the crop top. I'm not sure if it's because I went to high school during the Britney Spears era or I'm just a Florida girl at heart. Either way, I hope this trend stays around for a while. A lot of my friends will tell me that a crop top is not for them or that they can't pull it off,  but I strongly disagree. If a pregnant Kerry Washington can do it, anyone can! The key is proportions. If you're going to wear a crop top, I recommend higher waisted bottoms so you are only showing a silver of skin (in the most flattering area - your natural waist). For a crop top look that is feminine without coming across too scandalous, pair with a full midi skirt or trouser pants. The proportion in length and looseness keeps it classy yet modern. And bonus - it makes your waist look teeny-tiny! Here are a few ways I've worn a crop top.

Top: American Apparel, Skirt: H&M, Purse: Michal Kors

Top: American Apparel, Skirt: Zara, Shoes: Aldo Necklace: Go Fish

Top: Urban Outfitters Pants: Zara Shoes: Aldo Necklace: Go Fish

Top: Urban Outfitters Pants: Zara Shoes: Aldo Necklace: Go Fish