Outfits Not Just Clothes

dress-Anthropoloige(similar here ), necklace-Jewel Mint(available here from Poshmark ), sandals-TOMS via Zulily (similar here ), bag-Gifted  Just a simple knit dress to beat the heat in these last days of summer. The color, and ease of wear are making this below-the-knee number more of a standout piece than your typical sundress. Also, this random gifted tote has become a great little summer bag, when I'm NOT hauling around the baby's diaper bag that is. And thirdly, these TOMS sandals have taken quite the beating! They've lasted two consecutive summers and I think by the end of this month it may be time to decommission. How are you keeping in style as we head toward the end of summer? 

"shirt"- French Connection via Le Tote (similar here ), shorts-J.Crew(similar here ), sandals-TOMS(similar here ), necklace-H&M(similar here ), ring- Le Tote This top is actually a knit, bodycon dress that I'm wearing as a striped tee. And, this outfit in general is another example of "transitional dressing" as seen here and here . Pairing a longer-sleeved top in a color/pattern that calls to the coming season with a pair of easy drawstring shorts and sandals straddles the line between summer and fall, which is what transitional dressing is all about. With any great IRL outfit, it's about finding the balance amidst style, function, season, and looking/feeling great! All of those marks are hit in this seemingly simple look, don't you agree? 

tee-Uniqlo)(similarish here ), skirt-Mango(similar here ), sandals-Toms(similar here ), bag-Nordstrom(similar here ), necklace-Gifted You may recall this tee from a few weeks ago, in this post . I've styled it, in a similar way here with a black bottom, but on a more casual bent with sandals. It's always trial-and-error when it comes to pairing pencil skirts and t-shirts--to tuck, or not to tuck is the ever-present quandary. For this top, the print makes no-tuck the no-brainer choice. Of course, this graphic does draw the eye toward the midsection, which isn't my most desirable body part to highlight, but the darker tones and looser fit help mitigate that for my own comfort level. Overall I'm loving the mix of black, green, and olive green. 

scarf- Le Tote , jumpsuit-Uniqlo(similar here ), sandals-TOMS via Zulily (similar here ), watch-Michael Kors(similar here ) It's all about the scarf in this outfit. It takes this basic black jumpsuit and gives it some drama, especially when draped like a wrap. You may recall this jumpsuit from the spring in this post , where I layered a striped shirt underneath. Here, in the heat and humidity of August it's a throw-on piece that is fairly functional. If it only had pockets.... But, for a day of running around with baby in tow it gets the job done. Again, it's really all about the scarf. Oh, and these TOMS sandals have been a go-to shoe all summer long. I'm sure they stink to high heaven as I've worn them on walks, rain or shine, and to the park, and just about everywhere.  You can't beat a solid summer sandal!