Casual Friday Look

 Hi!

Today I am linking up with Two Thirty-Five Designs for Casual Friday. Go check it out!

Even with the heat, I decided to wear jeans and a jacket, because it ends up getting pretty chilly inside some places with the AC blasting. 

The only problem is getting places when you are wearing jeans and a jackets and not get completely drenched in sweat. Yes, I sweat quite a bit....

The t-shirt is the same as I wore here, and the red unlined, linen jacket was a project from a few years ago. 

Styling tip: A jacket can help create a really nice hour-glass shape. And in hot weather, unlined linen works really well.

Doesn't it make my waist look tiny?

Check out a these options:

   

What do you think?

Love,

Sam

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1 top, 4 ways - Second edition

Hi!

I have been eyeing a top with peepholes for quite some time now and I finally got around to making one. It was so very challenging!!! After a few failed attempts with using bias tape on the peepholes and 3 failed attempts at setting the sleeves, I was about ready to give up, but I am happy I didn't.

This top is not as versatile as the chiffon t-shirt, but it can still be used in several different ways.

Here are some tops that have a similar vibe: BCBG in purple, or this BCBG dress with a similar neckline and beautiful color, this Trina Turk Women's Linnet Blouse, or this Kenneth Cole Bright Print Top. You can check the whole selection here.

Love these black earrings!

And I really adore these shoes!!!

Aren't they a-m-a-z-i-n-g?

Love,

Sam

WIWW - It is still Summer in Texas

Hi!

It is really nice to get a magazine and swoon over all the great Fall and Winter looks, but here today it is  still in the 90's. So no winter coats or even a little cardigan. Even jeans are still tough to pull off.

Good thing I have a bunch of cute summer dresses. Well, I actually bought this particular piece from a winter collection in Brazil. It was meant to be worn with tights and a jacket, but I think it works really well today.

This neckline is very flattering, showing off the shoulders.

Check out these other dress options that can be used during Summer and Fall:

this one from BCBG, this one from Trina Turk, and another Trina Turk with very similar neckline to the dress I am wearing.

Dress: Mob (Brazil)

Shoes: Mob (Brazil

Belt: J.Crew

Bag: From one of my grandmother's many travels

I am linking up again with WIWW at The Pleated Poppy and Real Girl Style, so go check them out!

Love,

Sam

1 top, 4 ways, and the continuation of the chiffony saga

Hi!

I am so happy I made this top! It was intended to be a fancy version of a t-shirt and I really like it.

Here are 4 ways to wear them: casual, night out, summer, and fall. Yes, it is another silk chiffon piece. Like I said, I love to hate it. It makes the outfits so much more chic. Ven, watch out!

You can try these looks with a loose fitting BCBG or this open neck BCBG top.

There are some good grey skinny jeans options here.

And a word about cost. Consider dividing the price of the garment by the number of times you are wearing the item per year. A top like this one, becomes a bargain, for being so versatile. Don't you love that?

I can think of yet some other options to wear this t-shirt with, in particular at an office environment, under a jacket or cardigan. I bought some fun colors of this same fabric at Mood, so stay tuned for more versions of this.

Oh, and thanks to my mom for the black shrug and the grey clutch I used on the Fall look. Saudades de ti!

Here are some more photos. Enjoy!

Love,

Sam

WIWW - The preppy grape edition

Hi!

We were supposed to have a cold front coming through Austin and it is a little cooler, but the highs are still in the high 80's. Summer dresses are still in order, I suppose.

I am linking up with WIWW at the The Pleated Poppy. I love going to her site and checking out all the great women sharing their looks. So inspiring!!!

I made this dress almost one year ago, there was something about the color that was really pretty and fun, maybe there was something even trendy about the design. But then, I got stuck in the office through all of the Brazilian Summer and when I got to Austin, I realized the hem had issues and the buttons were ugly.

So, I fixed it. It is an attempt to go back to projects that were started and not fully finished and learning from them. It has been very interesting looking at some old projects that fit this description. I keep thinking of the tons of clothes I donated to Goodwill, that could have been fixed. If you are curious as to why I am doing this, it is one the healing steps of The Artist's Way  by Julia Cameron. The book has been great, check it out!

Whew! That got really wordy! Sorry! The look is a little preppy and goes nicely with the still trendy color block vibe.
Get a similar look in blue, here , in pink, here, or a muted one here.
Find a bicolor clutch: here, or here

What do you think?

Love,

Sam