The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's one of my fave events of the year – the Zara sale. It's no secret that it's pretty much my fave spot to shop, so when the decent prices are slashed to amazing prices, I'm there in a flash. Below are my top pics from the sale, currently on now ...   

layered printed dress – $59.99


combination blouse – $35.99


high waisted skinny jeans – $35.99


patent leather court shoe – $39.99


Triangle bikini top – $15.99


contrast dress – $39.99


cut work skirt – $59.99


dress with bow – $25.99


court shoe with bow – $59.99


coat with zips – $119.99

The Ultimate Pencil Skirt

You guys – I just discovered the best pencil skirt. I thought I'd do a simple sweep through Zara, no big deal – however – turns out this skirt caught my eye, and is amaze. I'm a curvy girl, right, and this skirt has a way of smoothing everything out, like spanx for real life. I'll definitely do this bad gal with crop tops or tuck a lightweight shirt in for a polished look. 

Going Green

The goods:
• dress from Zara
• wedges from Boutique 9 (I also love these)
• vintage silver necklace
 

Nothing says spring like a bright, bold hue (and this is coming from a girl who sticks to mostly black and white basics). I love Zara for it's clean classic silhouettes, I just tend to gravitate toward the neutrals and dark colors, but this kelly green number with it's cut in top and flirty skirt was perfect for my sister's rehearsal dinner last week. I dressed it up with my fave nude wedges and bright silver necklace, but I definitely plan to wear this frock with flat sandals to one of the fun fests this summer.  

Short Story

Lately I've been set on finding the perfect outfit for summer events. I wanted something casual yet chic, crisp but still comfortable – enter, the short suit. I love the idea that these tailored separates can dress up easily with a pair of heels, go casual with some espadrilles or wedges, and be worn separately for a stylish daytime look. Below are just a few of my faves to choose from ...

Rag & Bone jacket and shorts


Zara jacket and shorts


Forever21 jacket and shorts


Paul Smith jacket and shorts


Dolce Vita jacket and shorts

The Stylish Staple

The Chanel boucle jacket is without a doubt an iconic and coveted item. While stylish ladies everywhere may agree on this, not everyone will own one (I mean, they cost upwards of $2k ... and that's preowned!). On a routine stroll through my local Zara the other day, I noticed not just one cute classic tweed jacket, but a bevy of this stylish spring staple (and at a much more wallet-friendly price) ...   

Clockwise from top: cream with black piping  //  mint green  //  navy blue with white piping  //  cream with zip details  //  navy jacket  //  teal contrast piping jacket 

Midi on My Mind

The goods:
• top from Zara (also love this one)
• skirt and clutch, my grandmother's
• pumps from Aldo
 

After searching what seems like forever for the perfect black high-waisted midi pencil skirt (quite the checklist), I end up finding it in my grandmother's closet. I love the pleats, the pockets, and the way it pairs perfectly with this white dolman sleeve crop top (which I wondered how to pair for a while). I have no problem with all black and white, but I love this deep red clutch she had and swiped on my favorite deep red lipstick for a pop of color. Of course now I'm seeing these skirts everywhere and I'm loving this one from ASOS.

To the Left, To the Left

It's pretty obvious that Zara is my favorite store – and you'd think these images are Zara, right? Well turns out Zara has a discount little sister (right? Who knew?). Lefties (short for leftovers) has been around for some time ... just not stateside. Originally it was a sort of warehouse for last season's goods, but now they're revamping their brand, coming up with their own stuff, and becoming an even more affordable version of big sis Zara. Nothing is confirmed, but rumor has it they're looking to roll out an e-commerce site and eventually cross the pond our way. Here's hoping!

Photo courtesy of Lefties

Spring Staples

I'm all for trying out new spring trends or incorporating patterns into my warm weather wardrobe, but I can't pass up a classic clothing staple, and season to season, Zara never disappoints. With the feminine lines, classic neutrals, and pops of bright red (my personal fave), these pieces from Zara's current collection are calling to me (and there are many more fun finds where these came from!) ...   

red flared skirt – perfect with a white tee and tan sandals  $59.90

double layer top, perfectly paired with jeans, skirts, shorts, etc ...  $49.90

high waisted skinny jeans – a fresh break from my super dark denim  $49.90

two-tone dress with embellished neckline - love this all-in-one summer piece  $59.90

nude crystal flats ... that go with everything  $59.90

red raffia coat – the perfect topper through summer  $139  

High-Waisted Vintage

The goods:
• my grandmother's skirt, belt, and bag
• Zara crop top (similar one here, and I also love this ballet-inspired one)
• Zara pumps (similar ones here)
 

Turns out my grandmother hid some gems in the depths of her closet for years. I uncovered this fantastic high-waisted midi skirt, which happened to fit and was just begging to be paired with my black cropped top (finally a high enough waist - and inch is pretty much all I'm willing bare there). Paired with this classic leather bag that she also stowed away, I'm balancing vintage with new in this black and tan. 

Transition Layers

The goods:
• silk dress from Calypso (similar one available here)
• jacket and boots from Zara (also love this one)
• gifted clutch
 

So it's not spring yet, but I also refuse to wear my heavy coats anymore, which means it's time to layer up. This thin silk dress will be perfect come summer, with wedges and a jean jacket, or on the beach with sandals and a statement necklace ... but until then I'm throwing some thick tights underneath and my leather jacket over it for this in-between weather.

Cut Short

The goods:
• crop top from Zara
• skirt from H&M
• ankle boots from DSW 

I wore this crop top over a shirt in this post, because I'm not about to go all bare bellied. Well another fix for this flesh-baring fashion trend is pairing it with a high waisted skirt. Either an aline like this one or a slim pencil skirt, the high waist gives just a peek of skin – without going all 1980's crop top style. 

Load of Crop

The goods:
• chambray shirt from Forever21
• cropped sweater and pumps from Zara
• coated jeans from Aqua 

Crop tops are one of those trends that I'd normally scoff at (or just be jealous that I can't pull one off – I'm not about to bear this belly!). I like the idea because the bottom of a crop top highlights the slimmest part, right at the natural waist. Well with a little creativity, I realized I can incorporate this mini garment and still be my modest self. Since this tight little sweater doesn't allow for a bulky layer underneath, it's the perfect opportunity to don my sleeveless summer blouses. I will continue to figure out other ways to use this little gem.

Spring Snippet

As if we aren't already itching for spring weather, Zara's new lookbook makes me want to don shorts and a floppy hat, like, now. As you know Zara is pretty much my fave store of all time, so of course I want everything (even that tropical print crop top – which I could never pull off). At least I can day dream through these images of warmer days ahead ...  

See his entire collection here.