Summer Uniform

The summer is the best because I can choose to dress up or down depending on what I feel like doing. I love having options and choice. During the school year I pretty much live in business casual, so having some wardrobe freedom is quite enjoyable. A few years ago, I shared a post on the importance of creating your own personal uniform. You can check it out here. Basically there are a few things you want to know when creating your uniform.

Create guidelines

Use the theme you're looking to achieve to set guidelines for the pieces you'll add to your wardrobe. 

Summer Guidelines: I ten to stick to navy and pink, stripes, and lightweight pieces of clothing. 

Find your signature accessories and stick to them

Choose a few go to accessories and wear them continuously. 

Summer Accessories: I keep my accessories very simple.  I rotate a few pairs of stud earrings, I wear my fitbit, and a monogram necklace. 

Find items that look good and make you feel good

Don't buy something just because it's trendy. Purchase items that actually look good on you. You are more likely to wear an article of clothing that fits you well. When it fits well, it will make you feel good. 

Summer Favorites: During the summer I tend to gravitate towards items that are not form fitting. It gets to be too hot out to have your clothes sticking to you. I like to choose pieces that are comfortable but cute. 

Remember this is an investment 

It's important to keep in mind that you are working to build a long lasting wardrobe. You are not searching for the cheapest trendiest items. You want to be particular with what you buy. This might be splurging on some items here and there, which is totally okay. Quality of quantity is key here.  

Summer Tip: Quality of quantity is definitely key. For me this is especially true when it comes to summer shoes. I am particular about what sandals I purchase. 

So what does my summer uniform consist of?

Now that you have gone through my guidelines for creating a personal uniform, I'm sure you are curious as to what my summer uniform actually looks like.  Well, like I mentioned it has a lot of flexibility. Lately I have been all about the summer athleisure look- running shorts, a tank, and flip flops. This is partially due to my renewed love with my fitness journey and the fact that I spend several days a week nannying two boys. When I get a little more dressed up (think summer casual), you can find me in one of two types of outfits.  The first would be a pair of printed shorts from Lilly Pulitzer or Jcrew and a loose fitting tank top. The second option would be a cute t-shirt dress and a pair of Jack Rogers sandals.  Between these three types of outfits, I am pretty set for the summer. 

Shirt- Jcrew Factory (similar one) 
Skirt- Jcrew Factory


Dress- Gap (similar one) 
Shoes- Jack Rogers

Shirt- Lilly Pulitzer (Similar shirt) 
Shorts- Lilly Pulitzer (same shorts- different print) 
Shorts-Nike, Gap, and Under Armour

What is your personal uniform this summer?

XOXO

Fourth of July Outfit Inspiration

It's the final countdown. Only one more day until the Fourth of July! The most American holiday there is- red/white/blue, stars and stripes, barbecues, parades, backyard fun, a day at the beach, etc. Regardless of how you will be spending the holiday, I'm sure you're looking for a fun outfit to wear. Well, I'm right there with you. I would love to go shopping for something cute to wear, but I'm trying to save money plus after a closet raid this weekend I realized that I have plenty of items I can pair together for the perfect outfit. So have no fear, I'm here to bring you some inspiration without having to go on a mini red, white, and blue shopping spree. 

My tips for putting together the perfect Fourth of July outfit:

Step one:

Put on your favorite playlist. It's always more funs styling clothes with a little music on!

Step two:

Raid your closet for anything that is red, white, or blue.

Step three:

Lay all of the items you found out on your bed.  It's best to categorize the items (bottoms, tops, dresses, accessories). 

Step four:

Use my outfits as inspiration to mix and match what you have to create a cute look. Don't be afraid to do some pattern play here either.  It's a fun holiday, so don't feel you need to be boring!

Once you create your outfit, don't forget to tag me in it or use the hashtag #ShoreLifeofM

Have a fun and safe holiday!
XOXO

Seven Summer Shoes

We are less than a week out from July, which means summer is in full swing. During the summer months I tend to go barefoot most of the time since I'm usually in my house, in the backyard, at a pool, or at the beach. However when I'm wearing shoes, I like them to be fun, cute, and comfortable.  We all know the summer is filled with a wide range of events, so it is important to have the perfect summer shoe collection that fits all of your needs. Summer includes lots of trips, so it's important to have shoes with multi purposes that way you can save some room in your suitcase

I have seven different summer shoes that I rotate in and out depending on the day, event, and my outfit. While they are not all staples, I thought it would be fun to share them with you. 

Jack Rogers

Yes, I have three different pairs of Jacks, and I am equally obsessed with each of them. I bought my Hamptons Sandals in platinum five years ago, and they are still in fabulous shape. The Lauren Sandal in white is great to pair with dresses and skirts. The Alana Sandals are such a fun look. I have them in navy, which matches with just about everything in my summer wardrobe. The tassels are cute and classy. It took me awhile to get used to this style, but eventually I realized how comfortable they were. The What I love about all three of these is that they can provide a dressier look when paired with the right outfit, or they can be great for a casual look with shorts and a tank. If you're looking to purchase a new pair but don't want to pay full price, then you can checkout their current sale or wait until Nordstrom's has one of their anniversary sales. 

Casual Flip Flops

Everyone needs a pair of flip flops that they can wear to the beach, at the pool, to pilates class, or just around the house.  For me these sandals are Sanuk yoga mat flip flops. They are incredibly comfortable especially when you're doing a ton of walking. They're made out of recycled yoga mats, so if you are into being green then check them out. 

A Small Heel

It's no secret that the summer season is known for weddings, graduation parties, family reunions, showers, and other fancier events.  I think it's important to have a little bit of a dressier shoe in your summer collection. Plus if you work through the summer, then you need a shoe to pair with your business casual outfits.  I am a fan of a small scrappy nude heel that you can pair with many different outfits.  I found these block heels from JCrew Factory a month ago for less than $30. They are cute, comfortable, and a great essential for the summer wardrobe. 

White Sneakers

White sneakers are perfect to wear when you are doing lots of walking but still want that summer fashionista look. You can pair them with jeans, dresses, skirts, shorts, and even athletic clothing. My favorite pair of white sneakers are Jack Purcells. They have great support for days when I'm on my feet for an extended amount of time. I like them because they are a little different than your typical white converse plus they fit my narrow foot well. 

Running Shoes

There is something about the summer that seems to have everyone on a fitness craze. For me, I like working out in the summer because I simply have more free time than I do during the other months of the year.  I also love running in the summer time because you get a good workout in a short amount of time. Recently I've discovered that a quality pair of running shoes make such a difference. My current pair are Brooks. You can find them here. I have the Ravenna's. I have nothing but fabulous things to say about them. 

What's your go to summer shoe?

XOXO

Current Lust List

There's nothing that I absolutely need to buy right now, but there are a few things that I have been eyeing up. You can find them below! 

Weekender Leggings// Bay Dress// Monogrammed PJ Shorts// Slip On Loafers// Kiel James Patrick Bracelet// Athleta Pants// Off the shoulder dress

I am a huge fan of athletic leggings. I've been trying to find these Lilly leggings on sale. They are adorable. They can take a bland athleisure outfit to the next level. I also have been eyeing up those Athleta leggings. I like to the pattern play they have. 

Since our trip to Georgetown, I cannot thinking about this gingham dress. I tried it on the other day at my local Anthropologie. It looks even cuter on than it does on the website. I just can't justify spending that much of a dress that I'm not sure when exactly I would wear. 

I have one set of short/t-shirt pajamas, but I have been hunting for another pair. If only these shorts had a matching top to go with them. They are a decent price and adorable. The pink ones are my favorite. 

Deep in my heart I will always love Alpha Delta Pi. What better duo than Alpha Delta Pi and Kiel James Patrick. This bracelet is absolutely perfection. It's been on my wish list for quite some time now. 

I have been searching for the perfect pair of loafers for quite some time now. Recently Sam Edelman came out with this pair. I like that they are backless. The tassels on them just make these shoes. 

I'm a sucker for a good Lilly Pulitzer dress. The most recent collection came to my mailbox last week in the form of a catalog. I have been crushing on this dress. I like the colors and the cut of the dress. 

What's on your current lust list?

XOXO

Creating a Personal Uniform

Let's have a little chat about why creating a personal uniform will actually make your life easier. Have you ever wasted time in the morning by standing in front of your closet scrounging for the perfect outfit to wear, but after throwing something on and running out the door you're still not satisfied? Yeah..me too. I can definitely say searching for something to wear has made me late at least a time or two. Aside from picking my outfits ahead of time for the week, I have also found that creating a personal uniform is helpful. This personal uniform helps me to save time, minimizes morning stress, and provides me with a signature look. Three things that are pretty valuable. 

Most people hear the word uniform and think of two things: sports teams or catholic school.  This personal uniform is neither of these things.  Additionally, a common thought is that a uniform is pretty dull. Contrary to belief, this personal uniform will help you be consistent and fun in your fashion choices. Thus giving people a way to remember you. Think about some large icons- Jackie Kennedy was known for her distinct style, Mark Zuckerberg and his plethora of gray t-shirts, and Vera Wang's constant get up of leggings and tunics just to name a few. The personal uniform does not  have to consist of you wearing the same exact outfit everyday. However it is what you create it to be- there are no rules. Below are the simple steps I took to build my uniform. Your steps might be different, but my hope is that these will at least inspire you to begin. 

Gather inspiration

I began by creating a pinterest board filled with outfits, color palettes, and patterns that I liked. After an extended time of pinning, I sorted through the pins to get rid of the ones that just didn't seem to belong. Doing this helped me come up with a central theme for my uniform.  

Eventually, I created pinterest boards based on the seasons. Overall, my color palette stays the same, but the articles of clothing change based on the temperature. My theme seems to be classic prep featuring hues of blues, white, grays, and pinks. As far as patterns go you will be able to find lots of stripes, a ton of plaid, and a little bit of leopard as well as polka dots. 

Create guidelines

Use the theme you're looking to achieve to set guidelines for the pieces you'll add to your wardrobe. My advice would be to stick to the classics rather than the trendy stuff. 

My guidelines were to find pieces that I could mix and match rather than something I could only wear with one top.  Additionally, I tried to stick with the themes I created too. 

Find your signature accessories and stick to them

Choose a few go to accessories and wear them continuously. You honestly don't need a hundred pairs of different earrings, the same Kendra Scott necklace in every color, nor a ton of headbands.  Less is more when it comes to accessorizing.  Keeping your accessories to a minimum ensures that they match your theme, allows you to spend less time focusing on how you will accessorize each day, and it gives you something to remembered by. 

This was an easy thing for me to figure out. I am known for my love of pearl and monograms. My signature accessories would be stud earrings, a peal necklace, a simple silver bracelet, my Fitbit, and something monogrammed (either my necklace or ring). 

Find items that look good and make you feel good

Don't buy something just because it's trendy. Purchase items that actually look good on you. You are more likely to wear an article of clothing that fits you well. When it fits well, it will make you feel good. 

Crop tops have been all the rage the last few years. I've kindly declined to jump on the crop top train. They don't flatter my figure plus they make me feel super self conscious. Another article of clothing that I refuse to wear are denim shorts. They just don't fit my style plus I find them incredibly uncomfortable. 

Remember this is an investment 

It's important to keep in mind that you are working to build a long lasting wardrobe. You are not searching for the cheapest trendiest items. You want to be particular with what you buy. This might be splurging on some items here and there, which is totally okay. Quality of quantity is key here. 

In the past few years I have opted for more expensive shoes. They are all timeless looking, top quality, and will last me longer than a cheaper version. 

So what does my personal uniform look like?

I have a business casual uniform. You can checkout some of those looks here.  They mainly consist of nude or black shoes, stripes, and cardigans.  My weekend uniform consists of athleisure (black leggings, sneakers, and an oversized long sleeve shirt) or something casual (jeans, a simple top, a comfortable over sized cardigan, and booties). 

I hope these tips and tricks will help inspire you to create your own uniform. 

XOXO

Styling Booties

It's what to wear Wednesday.  I got some great feedback from my post on winter business casual outfits, so I thought I would share another styling post with you! Today I'm collaborating with Brooke over at Live the Prep Life. 

Ankle boots seem to be all the rage this winter.  You can dress them up or down, which probably contributes to their popularity.  I got a pair for Christmas and absolutely love them (check them out here)! They are comfortable and easy to throw on with just about any outfit. Recently, I went through my closet and picked out a few outfits that they would look cute with. You can check them out below.

If you know me, then you know how much I love stripes.  These booties pair nicely with darker denim and a striped top.

A cute but comfortable outfit for a nicer dinner or a night out.  Pair your booties with an off the shoulder velvet top, gigi pants from JCrew, and throw some curls in your hair.

Pair them with some leggings, a boyfriend sweater, a light chambray shirt, and toss your hair up in a ponytail with a little plaid bow.

Don't have much time to get ready? These booties pretty much are my go to with a pair of jeans and a cozy sweater. It's a cute and easy outfit to throw together when you don't have much time to get ready.

Then there's the perfect outfit to wear to a sporting event. A pair of jeans, your team's spirit wear shirt, and a comfy sweater.

Wondering how you can pair these to make the perfect business casual look? Check out my post from last month here.

I hope this post gave you some style inspiration!

XOXO

Teacher Outfits

Another post in my Survival Guide to Student Teaching. Today I'm sharing some tips for dressing professionally, how to pick out your outfits, and a few (three plus weeks) of my winter outfits. This guide is great for anyone who needs some help with dressing in business casual whether it's for teaching, student teaching, sorority chapter attire, an internship, work, etc.  I mentioned in my guide how important it is to be professional during student teaching, and what you choose to wear has a lot to do with this.  It is important that you are dresses appropriately at all times. Most days this means business casual, but other days it might mean pajamas or your favorite sports team.   

Dressing Professionally

In order to know the appropriate attire to wear, it's best to overdress on your first day and then observe what those around you are wearing.  Each school has a different dress code for faculty, so you will want to make sure you are adhering to your school's guidelines.  You want to look put together but not over the top.  Mirroring what the teachers in your school are wearing is a great guide to know if you're dressed appropriately or not.  You will always want to make sure your clothing is never not too tight, too baggy, too low cut, too wrinkly, or dirty. If you don't have one, now is a great time to purchase a steamer or iron.  As far as shoes go, make sure they are clean and comfortable.  Heels are cute, but they aren't necessarily the most practical teaching shoes.  You want to seem approachable to your students, and if you tower over them then they might be intimidated (especially elementary students). I recommend having a few pairs of comfortable flats, sandals, booties, and riding boots. This goes without saying, but sneakers are definitely not appropriate.  Unless it's a dress down day, stay away from wearing them to school. 

Planning Ahead

In my opinion, getting dressed in the morning is either lots of fun or absolutely torture.  If I can't find an outfit that I love or I'm comfortable, then it becomes torturous. I think we've all had those mornings when you finally find the perfect outfit your rooms looks like a tornado hit.  During student teaching I discovered a method for making my mornings less stressful.  I would pick out my clothes for the week on Sundays.  That's right- choose five to six outfits at one time.  I would first look at the week's weather and my calendar, and then I would choose six outfits that I liked. I chose six in case there was one day I wasn't feeling that outfit.  I would then group these outfits together and hang them on my closet door.  Having them preplanned made my mornings run much more smoothly because I didn't have to think about what to wear. You can find over- the- door hangers at lots of places. I got mine from Target for less than $6. You can actually order the same one and have it shipped to your house within a few days.

Business Casual Staples

In order to make getting dressed a little easier, there are a few staples you'll want to include in your wardrobe.  You can find these for inexpensive prices at Old Navy, Target, JCrew Factory, and TJ Maxx. 

Pants: A printed pant //Black pants 

Skirts & Dresses:Something striped //Pencil Skirt //Black dress

Shirts: Oxford shirts //Cardigans //Printed blouse //Cardigans //Striped shirt

Shoes: Printed flats //Tan flats //Black flats// Riding boots // Booties

Outfit Inspiration

Here are some of my go to business casual outfits for the winter. They vary in how dressy they are. 

Plaid blouse// black cardigan// houndstooth skirt// black flats

Fur vest// polka dot blouse// black pants// riding boots

Red pants// boatneck striped sweater// plaid flats

Houndstooth pants// black sweater// black flats

Black pants// blue collared shirt// red plaid vest// tan flats

Plaid tunic// tan sweater// navy skinny pants// riding boots

Navy cardigan// plaid blouse// tan pencil skirt// tan flats

Black dress// blanket scarf// riding boots

Black pants// striped shirt// herringbone vest// booties

Navy skinny pants// sweater// purple gingham shirt// riding boots

Navy printed pants// white blouse// maroon cardigan// tan flats 

Black pants// teal cardigan// long sleeve tee// booties

Fur vest// chambray shirt// skirt// riding boots

Black pants// oxford shirt// leopard flats

Herringbone vest// black pants// polka dot blouse// herringbone flats

Black pants// Sweater// oxford shirt// black flats

Hunter boots// tan skirt// 1/4 zip

teal cardigan//white Oxford// plaid black skirt// riding boots

Dress Down Days Outfit Inspiration

Pajama Day: Lilly Pulitzer pants// pink tee// oversized sweater// tan flats

Sports Day:  Jeans// Villanova shirt// oversized sweater// booties

XOXO