Headed To Hawaii

Outfit Details: Pink Slate Boutique Headed to Hawaii Dress, LC Lauren Conrad Flip Flops, H&M Belt, Nordstrom BP Hat, Island Margarita Necklace by Pink Slate Boutique

Well, I'm not actually headed to Hawaii, but doesn't this outfit make you want to jump on a plane to somewhere tropical? I wore this handkerchief dress on my recent trip to Florida. It was actually one of the only two cover-ups I brought on this trip with me. I tried to pack as lightly as possible because we traveled to multiple locations and hotels. The flowy fit of this dress makes it appropriate for both the beach and a night out on the town. Paired with strappy sandals and a lacey bralette, it becomes an effortless summer outfit. 

With summer quickly approaching and days spent camped out at the beach, now is the best time to start planning your outfits. Don't wait until the last minute to shop and realize your size no longer exists in the dress or bathing suit you've been eyeing for weeks. Believe me I've been there, and you'll thank me later.

xx,

How To Wear Windowpane Prints

After a week long break from the blog, I am finally back! I spent six days in Paris with my then boyfriend-now fiance. We are engaged! It was one of the most unexpected, happiest moments of my life. It was so nice to get away with each other, explore France, and enjoy the beginning of the rest of our lives together. Thank you all for the sweet messages and well wishes. Each one has warmed my heart. We are excited for this new chapter together.

One of my favorite adventures on our trip was the tour of Notre Dame. We hiked up near 400 stairs to see the sweeping views of the city. Despite having extreme leg pain the next day, the tour was worth it. It was so incredible to set foot in a building over 800 years old. Not to mention, this is one of the most iconic landmarks in Paris. 

When packing for Paris I knew I had to bring lots of layers. The climate is similar to here in New York and there is always a crisp breeze coming off the river. Some of the key items for fall travels include a short-brim floppy hat, faux fur vest, flats for walking, boyfriend jeans, skinny black pants, and a mix of printed tops. I enjoy black and white for fall, so when I discovered this white window-paned top from Zara, I knew I had to have it for my trip. This design is so refreshing and it can be easily layered with a vest or oversized blazer. For more windowpane style inspiration you can click on the below Mavatar button. Happy Shopping!

Outfit Details: Zara Printed Top With Belt, Aqua Bottoms, Urban Outfitters Short-Brim Hat, BCBGeneration Faux Fur Vest, Nine West Flats (exact pair here), Madewell Tote

xx Jess

The Ultimate Girls' Weekend

One of my favorite summer outings with my girlfriends is visiting the local wineries. We love taking the ride out to the countryside to bask in the sun, stroll through the lush green vineyards, and most importantly, toast to a beautiful day filled with a delicious glass of wine. I recently took a trip down to Old York Winery in Ringoes, NJ to celebrate a very special occasion with my two amazing best friends, Samantha and Lauren. The celebration you ask? Samantha's birthday of course! We tend to focus our get-togethers around relaxing events such as beach trips, mani/pedis, shopping, and of course... wine tasting. 

Whether you're heading to the rolling hills of central New Jersey or to the sprawling vineyards of Napa Valley, the style expectations remain the same. It's a time to dress lightweight, carefree, and girly! A trip to the winery never disappoints, so your style shouldn't either. To help you spend your next wine tour in style, I put together some simple style tips.

What To Wear To A Winery:

 Jessica's Style:

Loose flowing skirts paired with a sleeveless blouse creates an effortless look that screams simple and chic. Reach for colored skirts with feminine details like floral prints.  How adorable is this daisy-printed skirt I'm wearing from Charlotte Russe? The deep navy off-set by the light pink florals add interest to the outfit and help to highlight the lower half. These colors work well with any skin tone and let's face it, who has a bad day in floral print? No one! Browse more fun floral skirts here. 

For the extra glamorous factor, add big soft curls to your hair and simple jewelry. Don't forget to grab your favorite fedora or posh straw hat. It will dress up your outfit, and protect your skin from the sun.

Jessica's Outfit Details: Top: BCBG, Skirt: Charlotte Russe (c/o), Sandals: Steve Madden, Hat: Mark, Necklace: H&M, Cuff Bracelet: Aqua

Lauren's Style:

Comfortable and casual maxi dresses/skirts will help keep you cool even when the weather is scorching hot! Maxi skirts are classic investment pieces and they can be reinvented all summer long. I love the bold prints of this Maxi skirt from Charlotte Russe as featured here on Lauren!

Lauren's Outfit Details: Top: Forever 21, Maxi Skirt: Charlotte Russe, Necklace: Van Husen

Samantha's Style:

Wineries call for fun and flirty dresses. It's best to choose a dress that's a couple of inches above the knee, and not too form-fitting. Remember, it's hot out in the vineyards. Tight dresses will make for an uncomfortable and unhappy experience. So reach for your favorite little white dress, just like Samantha did here!

Samantha's Outfit Details: Dress: Target (Xhilaration), Shoes: Audrey Brooke, Hat: St. Lucia

An excellent way to remain comfortable throughout your entire wine-touring experience is to wear flat sandals. Chances are you will be walking through the vineyards and fields. There's no time for wobbly stiletto heels, especially after a few glasses of wine ;).

XO,

Shop Collection

Style In The Fast Lane

I'm excited to share a fun collaboration with Aaraa Boutique in Hoboken, NJ. See below for a mini preview of my "accessorizing on-the-go" feature. Be sure to head over to Aaraa's blog to read the full post.

PREVIEW

The busy summer months are ahead and I could not be more excited about it! If you are like me, you probably spend the majority of the warmer months bouncing around the state visiting friends, enjoying the beach, and road-tripping to low-key destinations. While traveling may be fun, packing for the trip is not. After years of quite literally living out of a suitcase, I learned the many advantages of packing versatile accessories. 

If there is one rule of thumb by which all fashionistas should abide by, it's to pack...to read more, click here.

Spring Getaway: Easy Beach Essentials

Everyone deserves a little getaway. A break from all the madness. I encourage you all to take more time for yourself to reflect and recover. It's vital in order to keep up with those busy schedules! I just returned from a quick vacation with the bf. I'm feeling refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the week. Well at least for a day or so ;).

When visiting tropical locations you can always count on the weather to be unpredictable. For this reason, it's important to pack items that are easy to layer. A light weight sweater is everything you need to pull together a beach chic outfit. You can even travel to and from your vacation destination in it. Later, use it as a cover-up! The styling options are endless. 

I get so much use out of this loose-knit sweater . Any clothing item with lace detailing wins me over. For a quick beach outfit, you can pair with denim shorts and a simple gold plated necklace. Side note: I have a tiny obsession with dainty layering necklaces thanks to my stylish co-worker, Jax. She got me hooked!
Get the look: Knit Sweater: TJ Maxx (score a similar look here), Denim Shorts: Free People, Sunglasses and layering necklace: Dear Hannah of Hoboken, Flip Flops: Havaianas
Hope this look inspires you to book a tropical getaway and pack efficiently (something I need to work on as well).  XO,