Casual Friday: Dressing Down

One of the things I love most about fashion is the chance to explore my creativity and play around with my clothes in new ways.

Jacket:  ELOQUII (Similar here)

For today's casual Friday post, I took one of my favorite fancy maxi dresses and styled it for a casual look.  This dress is backless and has a thigh high slit, so it's not something I would typically think to pair with a bomber jacket or sneakers.

Dress:  LOFT

But what's fashion without trying new things?

I love the green shade of the dress with the navy and red trim on the bomber jacket.  The sneakers pull out the same navy and red which ties them together.

Shoes:  Converse (kids) (Available at Kohl's here)

Glasses:  Valentino

Overall, I'm mixed on this look - it was super comfortable and I do love the color combo.  I'm not sure yet though if the total look is really "me."

Earrings:  NY&CO

What do you think about the look?  Do you like to mix casual with more dressy pieces?

Casual Friday: Selfie Star

Happy Friday!  With the last Friday of 2016, I decided to be my own star with this cute star print shirt dress from Boohoo Plus.

Dress:  Boohoo Plus (Available here)

I think star prints can sometimes read a little too juvenile, but I really like this dress. The relaxed shape and color palette help make this an easy choice for a casual day.

Boots:  Target (Available here)

I played with the graphic print of the dress by adding a novelty statement clutch also in black and white.

Clutch:  Torrid

Earrings:  The Limited

Glasses:  Tory Burch

My glasses and the booties maintain the monochromatic palette. 

Even though this dress is a little more casual than I would normally wear to work, I decided to rock it today with a marigold moto jacket for a true casual Friday look that I decided I could get away with since it's the last work day of the year!  :-)

Stay tuned tomorrow for a round-up of the ten posts that YOU liked most during 2016!

Casual Friday: Monochromatic Dots

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope you all have had a great week!  I'm excited for the weekend in which I hope to catch up on some sleep!!!  I have a few things to do this weekend, but I'm definitely hoping to make this weekend a more low-key time.  

Shirt:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

If I make it out of the house, it will definitely be in casual looks like this denim outfit.  I am a big fan of Torrid's jeggings in extra short length. 

Jeans:  Torrid (Available here)

Boots:  Sonoma life+style from Kohl's

They offer the best fit in denim that I have had in years!!  Plus, they are super comfortable which is a must.  I avoided jeans for a long time because I found them too uncomfortable.  So glad that I found this style because it's perfect...with no alterations!

Clutch:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

I paired the jeans with a matching top and scarf from the Who What Wear line for Target.  I am OBSESSED with this whole line and always look forward to the new collections.  This top and scarf are from the early fall collection, but both pieces are still available (and now on clearance) if you're interested!!

Scarf:  Who What Wear x Target (Available here)

Tank:  Old Navy (old)
Glasses:  Valentino

Have you checked out the Who What Wear line for Target?  Torrid jeggings?  Where do you find your jeans?

Casual Friday: Beachside Looks

It's Friday, so it's time for another casual Friday post!  Today, I'm featuring a couple of looks from my week in Florida.

Jumpsuit:  Honey's Child Boutique (Sold out on-line; see similar here)

We are finishing up our trip (insert tears here), but I'm enjoying my last day of beach time today before we head back home.  Since we have been spending so much time at the beach and pool, I have kept my outfits pretty casual for low-key dinners, shopping, and other outings.

Wedges:  Sugar

Glasses:  Coach

First up is a striped harem jumpsuit.  This jumpsuit is sooooooo comfy that I wore it twice on the trip, first with flat python sandals and then with wedges.

Sandals:  Daisy Street (Available at ASOS here)

Cuff:  Eloquii
Earrings:  The Limited

For the second look, I paired plaid shorts with a simple tank/vest combo for another comfortable and easy, but still polished, look.

Shorts:  Myrda J (Available here; use code Cassentials2016 at checkout)

Tank:  Gap (old)
Vest:  Who What Wear for Target (Available here)

Clutch:  Boohoo
Cuff:  The Limited

Both outfits kept me nice and cool in the summer heat!!!

To see the shorts in other looks, see here.

Casual Friday: Living in Black Dresses

This spring and summer, I have been practically living in flowy and stretchy black dresses.  Today on the blog, I am featuring three of my comfy favorites!  These dresses really are my #1 go-to for casual wear.  They are also all quite versatile, and I have previously styled each of these dresses for work as well (get links to previous stylings at the end of this post). 

Dress:  Torrid

First up is a flowy LBD that is actually a tunic. I got this last summer from Torrid, and since I'm so short, it works well as a dress. 

Booties:  Sonoma life+style
Glasses:  Firmoo.com

Clutch:  Twig & Arrow (Available at Target here)
Bangle:  LOFT

I added my most comfortable booties, a fun clutch, and my favorite necklace for a weekend outing with the family.

A ponytail completed the easy look and kept me cool in the heat.

Earrings:  Target
Pendant:  House of Harlow 1969 (gift)

Next is a slip dress from Who What Wear for Target. 

Dress:  Who What Wear for Target (Available here)

I bought this dress in the rust color and loved it so much, I decided to also get it in black, knowing that I would probably end up loving and wearing this one even more, and I was right!!! What can I say?  I really love wearing black!

Clutch:  Ann Taylor

Here, I styled the slip dress with python sandals and clutch for a casual dinner with the family.

Sandals:  Daisy Street (Available at ASOS here)
Necklace:  Eloquii (Available here)

Lastly, I am wearing my super-duper cool dress from Eloquii.  I have literally worn this dress no less than once a week since getting it.  It's so comfortable and easy, and it's body-conscious without feeling tight.  I just love it!!!

Dress:  Eloquii (Available here)

I also just had it hemmed, and I reallllly love the way it fits now!  Initially, I didn't think that there was much I could do to change the length of this dress and as much as I was all about this dress and still wearing the heck out of it, I was disappointed that it seemed a little too droopy and long on me.

Shoes:  Converse (kids) (Available at Kohl's here)

Clutch:  Boohoo

As I explained on the blog before, there is a long piece of fabric that goes under your legs and is brought back up and around and then tied at the mid-section.  So, it seemed very complicated, if not impossible, to hem.  Then, I realized hemming this piece would actually be super simple.  There is a seam that separates the fabric from where it flows in the front to the part that wraps around.  My tailor simple separated those two pieces, took out several inches and then re-attached the pieces.  Voila!! The dress now has a fabulous fit and I love it even more!

Glasses:  Valentino

I paired this dress with white sneakers for a recent weekend look.  It was perfect in the 95 degree weather!

Do you have a favorite go-to for casual wear?  For the tunic in other looks, see here and here.
For the slip dress in another look, see here.
For the tie-waist dress in other looks, see here and here.

Neon Lightning

Lately, I have been going through clothes.  My weight has fluctuated up and down some, so I'm sorting through clothes and trying to get organized.  I am seeing what fits, finding clothes I forgot I had, and deciding what I want to sell or give away.

Skirt:  Wet Seal (old)

I don't wear a lot of prints, but as I spring clean and prepare my wardrobe for warmer weather, I've been looking to increase my print options.  Since I wear a lot of black, wearing prints is a great way of adding visual interest and creating a more personal touch.

Jacket:  Boohoo Plus (Available here)

Top:  LOFT

I haven't worn this pencil skirt in forever.  It's one of the items that I had in a box with the intention of discarding, but when I saw it again, it felt fresh and new.

Heels:  Target (old)

Sunglasses:  Calvin Klein

I really love the print.  It reminds me of lightning on a dark night.  It's kind of moody, but it has almost a kinetic energy.  There's not much better than a spring/summer thunderstorm, so even though this outfit could easily work in the fall, the print of the skirt actually reminds me of warmer weather.  The acid yellow heels echo the skirt's energy with their jolt of color and add a spring touch.

With a lot happening on bottom, I kept things simple on top with a black trapeze tee and a cropped moto jacket.

Accessories were also simple with a black clutch and silver cuff.

Cuff & Clutch:  The Limited

Since both the skirt and top are knit, this outfit is super comfortable, and I could see myself wearing this outfit for a lot of different occasions.

Do you tend to wear a lot of prints or stick with solids?  What kind of prints speak to you?

For the skirt in another look, see here.

Wild Card Wednesday: Weekend Basics

I didn't get a chance to take pics of the outfit I had planned for tonight's post, so instead, I will just be doing a quick post of a recent comfy weekend look.

Jacket:  Eloquii

Last weekend, I had to run to a couple of stores to pick up Halloween costumes and candy for the kiddos.  I had been wearing my yoga pants around the house and decided that I wanted to stay comfortable while running my errands. 

Shirt:  Torrid

Pants:  NY&CO Petites (Available here)

Booties:  Sonoma life+style (Available at Kohl's here)

I paired the yoga pants with a chambray shirt and moto jacket and threw on booties with memory foam.  I was super comfortable but felt more put together than I would have with a t-shirt/sneakers combo.

Glasses:  Valentino

Each season, I usually have one or two outfits that become favorite weekend staples.  I like this simple look so much that it will definitely be one of my new fall weekend go-tos.

Do you have a go-to fall weekend look?

For the denim shirt in other looks, see here, here, here, and here.
For the jacket in other looks, see here, here, and here.