Black, white, brown, and tan can all pair together wonderfully, so I decided to embrace that with an outfit. When I spotted this patterned tank at Target last week, I knew it would be a great addition to my closet. The flowy fabric of the top is keeping me cool in the over 90° weather we are currently experiencing.

And because pants were definitely out of the question (I’m not sure that I’ll be wearing a pair for quite some time), it was time to break out some tuxedo shorts in their place. My jeans have officially been put into retirement for the summer. I might see them again in September or October. Am I the only one out there that can’t stand wearing jeans in hot weather? I just…can’t do it!

So, about a year ago I accidentally forgot to “skip” a month on my ShoeMint account. Bad me, bad me. I have had a credit sitting in my account for so long, but no shoes were coming up that I just HAD to have. Then, I realized that for a limited time you can use your credits across the different Mint lines. My problem was immediately solved. I scored three necklaces in exchange for my ShoeMint credit over at JewelMint. Two of the three necklaces have arrived so far, and this Scene Stealer Necklace is one of them. I am in LOVE with it. Plus – the price tag on it was $29.99 – not too bad! JewelMint offers a number of discount codes on the site: I was able to snag two pieces for the price of one since it was my first purchase. Consider signing up if you like jewelry – you’re able to skip months and not be charged if you see the new offerings and aren’t interested. Just make sure you keep on top of it in your calendar if you do!

Black and white printed tank: Target // Black tuxedo shorts: J.Crew (last year’s style – similar at Express) // Sunglasses: Ray-Ban New Wayfarers // Scene Stealer Necklace: JewelMint // Animal print heels: Carol – ShoeMint (most sizes are sold out, but I found them on Amazon and Heels.com) // Handbag: Dre Hartmann Cameron Hobo (camera bag)

Do you pair neutral colors together in your wardrobe – black and brown, white and tan, etc?

Linking up for Real Girl Style today – check out the other contributors!

And as strange as a huge elephant head pendant may seem to be (believe me, I questioned myself about the purchase for a bit, but I was so incredibly drawn to it I didn’t have much of a choice), I’ve actually found a lot of outfits to wear it with so far. It’s such a statement, and I’m totally loving it. Plus, it was only $25, so it didn’t set me back all that much. I know it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but in the 3 times I’ve worn it I have been stopped by so many people…inquiring where I got it because they like it too. Who would have thought?

Anyway, I thought my elephant bib necklace would pair well with this awesome black and white striped dress I snagged the other day at Marshalls…for $20. I love how the stripes travel in different directions across the top and bottom of the dress – it’s a good visual, and the fit is classic yet fun. Plus, black and white is all the rage right about now – embracing that particular trend is something I have no problem with!

Striped dress: Monteau, purchased at Marshalls (same brand, similar dress here) // Elephant Bib Necklace: Ana & Ava, Dillards // Black envelope clutch: ASOS (similar also at ASOS) // Wedges: Coconuts, purchased 2 years ago at Marshalls (similar at Zappos)

Do you have a statement piece of jewelry that you love wearing?

I love how purple and green look together, so pairing them for a tee and shorts combo seemed to be a no-brainer. Color blocking can be a fun way to experiment with new color combinations you wouldn’t normally think of, and sometimes the contrast can turn into something awesome (orange and pink…purple and red…).

Vintage-style v-neck tee – Old Navy // Cotton shorts with 4″ inseam – LOFT // Pink leather belt – Talbots (similar at GAP) // Cream clutch – purchased at T.J. Maxx // Colorblock heels – BCBG, purchased at T.J. Maxx (similar on Zappos)

It’s a good way to get set for the summer season, wouldn’t you say? And there are so many options to consider. To show you what I mean, I paired the same tee and shorts I am wearing today in three other color options – take your pick!

Cotton shorts with 4″ inseam – LOFT // Vintage-style v-neck tee – Old Navy

Do you have a favorite color combination for colorblocking?

That means: shorts! I have been on a HUGE shorts kick in the past two years. I never used to wear them, and opted for dresses and skirts instead. However, I have embraced their versatility (and the ability to wear them almost in the same way as you would a skirt sometimes too) and the amazing array of choices available in stores right now.

Take this pair of paisley shorts from Old Navy. I could not believe how much I fell in love with them (and the price tag – they’re currently on sale for $17.50), and I’m kicking myself for not purchasing multiple pairs when I was in the store. The 5″ inseam is perfectly comfortable – they’re long enough to be decent, but short enough to show off the hard work I’ve been doing in the gym lately. Seriously though…I think I can really start to see some more definition coming out in my legs (and my arms too, but you can’t really see that today). But I digress…

Striped tee – purchased at T.J. Maxx // Paisley shorts – Old Navy // Colorblock heels – BCBG, purchased at T.J. Maxx // Urban Expressions Ditsy Hobo // Persol Cat Eye sunglasses – purchased at Nordstrom (similar also at Nordstrom)

I really love pairing my shorts with heels as well. Wearing a pair of casual heels with your shorts can make them a bit more “dressy” in comparison to wearing them with flat sandals. However, make sure you consider balance when strapping on some heels with short! You’ll be highlighting your legs with a pair of heels and shorts, so think about wearing a looser fitting top with your ensemble.

Do you wear shorts with heels? Are you planning on wearing the combo this summer?

Striped tee – GAP // Paisley shorts – Old Navy // Ray-Ban cat eye sunglasses – Nordstrom // Urban Expressions Sinclair Hobo – DSW // Sam & Libby 3 Strap Sandal – Target // Anne Klein Traven – Zappos

I’m not upset about it. There is something about eyelet that screams “summer,” don’t you think? I know it does for me. So, when I spotted this bright colored blue eyelet dress at LOFT this past weekend, I knew it had to be mine.  I love that the fabric is such a bright color (not only is it blue, but the lining underneath the eyelet is a bright kelly green hue) – eyelet doesn’t just have to be a soft shade!

I know this dress is going to get a lot of wear during the summer months – it will be great for getting gussied up for a brunch with a pair of heels, but will also work well with a pair of flats for a more casual style.

But really, I think these heels were made to go with this dress. They’re Betsey Johnson, and I picked them up on clearance wayyyy back in 2007. Am I dating myself? Yes. But I’ve kept them in mint condition since I adore them. I actually remember wearing them the night Justin proposed to me!

Blue eyelet dress: LOFT // Floral heels: Betsey Johnson, purchased at Nordstrom (previous season, similar here) // Gold clutch: Nicole Miller (similar here) // Gold bangles: Forever 21 (similar here)

Anne Klein ‘Bejeweled’ drop earrings: Nordstrom // Bow clutch: ASOS // Nine West floral slingback heels: Zappos // Blue eyelet dress: LOFT // Merona crossbody bag: Target // Patio Poise flat: ModCloth

Will you be wearing eyelet this season?

The fashion trend today – mixing prints…featuring floral! We each took our own spin, and it’s been fun to see how it turned out.

I love Lauren’s combo of gingham and floral: it is perfect for summer! I definitely want to add a gingham shirt to my wardrobe: it is one item I have yet to acquire, and it definitely looks perfect during the warm weather season. It is upon us, folks! Make sure you head over to her blog to see more details and photos of this adorable outfit!

As for me – I decided to wear my favorite print combination: stripes and floral. They are my go-to when it comes to mixing: they never seem to fail. And this particular style can be a good “beginner” outfit for those who are dipping their toes into the print mixing game. If you don’t want to wear all over print, pick a main print (like this striped skirt), and simply add a pop of a second print with your accessories! Anchoring some of the same colors in both items also helps (like the coral in the floral wristlet matching my tee)! You can go with a floral bag like this clutch, or opt for a printed shoe. Apparently I decided to go with three prints today when I added my animal print heels.

Coral v-neck tee: Merona, purchased at Target // Striped pencil skirt: LOFT (similar available at LOFT) // Floral print wristlet: Merona, purchased at Target // Animal print pumps: Carol from ShoeMint (available on heels.com)

So – how do you like to mix prints? Do you have a favorite combination?

Well, it seems as though it is time to start breaking out my warm weather wardrobe. Do you tend to have a particular style of clothing you wear when the temperatures rise? I know I do.

For me, my “uniform” becomes lightweight dresses for much of the time. They have movement, they look put together, they’re comfortable, and keep me cool. When I spotted this pleated black dress at LOFT, I knew it would be perfect. The lightweight material is breezy, and the fit (at least on me) is a little bit on the loose side, which keeps it comfortable. Plus: classic black. Can’t go wrong there. However, if color is more of your thing, the same dress is available in orange as well!

As with a lot of black dresses, there is the option to dress it up or dress it down. For a day of running errands, I’d throw on a pair of sandals, but to meet up with a group of gals for brunch I decided to strap on some of my favorite printed heels. I’m still obsessed with my Carol heels from ShoeMint. I wish they made the same shoe in multiple colors so I could purchase additional pairs. I don’t see them on the ShoeMint site for sale anymore, but I did find them listed on Heels.com, so head over there if you’d like to snag a pair yourself!

Pleated black midi dress: LOFT // Animal print heels: Carol from ShoeMint // Canvas camera bag: Dre Hartmann Cameron Hobo

Poppie Jones envelope clutch: DSW // Animal print heels: Carol by ShoeMint (also at Heels.com) // Pleated black midi dress: LOFT // Printed canvas tote: Old Navy // Gemstone sandals: Target

What is your go-to warm weather wardrobe item?

When the Prabal Gurung for Target collaboration came out a few months back, I found myself at the store the day of the launch…trying on every piece from the collection. Of all the collaborations so far, this was one of the more memorable ones for me. I didn’t want to buy something “just to buy it,” but when I zipped up this skirt I was definitely hooked.

Most of my skirts tend to be pencil skirts, so this one is a nice departure. I love the way it swings and has a bit of flair to it. It works with heels for a dressed up evening, but also goes just as well with flats for a casual day. Perhaps paired with a graphic tee or casual button down?

And as luck would have it, this skirt is still for sale at Target…on sale now! It’s definitely one of the better quality pieces – the skirt is double lined and it has pockets too! You’ve got to love pockets…

Black and white is definitely a classic combination in my closet, and I am having fun thinking about mixing up different pieces in my wardrobe.

Black tee: Old Navy // Black envelope clutch: ASOS // Jessica Simpson ‘Nouta’ wedges: Nordstrom // Prabal Gurung Meet the Parents skirt: Target

Graphic tee: Old Navy // Ray-Ban retro sunglasses: Nordstrom // How Striped is Now? bag: ModCloth // Not Rated ‘Mai Tai’ wedges: Zappos // Prabal Gurung Meet the Parents skirt: Target

Have you thought about mixing and matching your black and white? Is it your go-to color combination?

You just go with it.

Apparently, I was encroaching on her territory and she wanted to ham it up in front of the camera. I think we managed to get only one or two photos without Lucia in them. She was insistent, that one! So, she showed off a few of her tricks.

And as for the outfit? I’m still on my bright color kick, so pulling these orange trousers out of my closet was an exciting act for me. It’s pretty hard to not see me coming in such a citrus-y hue, so instead of trying to tone it down with a neutral top, I thought going bold would be a fun option.

Turquoise and orange are definitely two colors I love together. I bought this silky tank at Target back in the fall of last year and only had one or two chances to wear it before retiring it for the winter. But: it’s baaaaack!

Orange trousers: LOFT (previous season, similar also at LOFT) // Turquoise tank: purchased at Target (similar also at Target) // Gold sandals: Steve Madden, purchased at Marshalls (similar at Old Navy) // Cream clutch: purchased at T.J. Maxx (similar at ASOS)

What is your favorite bright color to wear?

I kind of had that moment with these pants. I figured the bright floral print would either look incredibly obnoxious or end up looking really fun. For me, they came out on the “fun” end of the spectrum. And with them being placed on sale (only two of them left on the rack: score), I could not resist a price tag of $14.99.

To subdue the loud pattern on the pants, I decided to ground it with a black ballet tee and my black envelope clutch. I seriously carry that clutch around with me all the time…it’s definitely a favorite of mine. And affordable to boot.

It turns out that the ankle pants from LOFT are a little too long for shorty pants me, so a few rolls of the leg took care of that problem. I kind of like them that way, but am still toying with the idea of having them hemmed. And yes, I’m still 100% obsessed with my new shoes and am taking any opportunity I can get to wear them.

Black ballet tee: Old Navy (similar) // Marisa floral print ankle pants: LOFT (on clearance!) // Black envelope clutch: ASOS (similar clutch also at ASOS) // Floral stud earrings: kate spade new york, purchased at T.J. Maxx (similar at ModCloth) // Nude and coral pumps: BCBG, purchased at T.J. Maxx (similar at Zappos)

So – would you wear a pair of printed pants? Would you tend to go for a bold print, or one that is more subdued?