OOTD: Mary Dress

Dress: Gift
Cardigan: Second-hand
Leggings: Garage sale $2
Boots: Thrift store $10

First off, this dress is one of the best Christmas gifts ever! I got it from my sister, Cassie, who ordered it from Arts Cow, so it's one of a kind. I love it so much! I get lots of complements on it form my fellow Catholic women. I almost feel guilty wearing it because, when someone asks where I got it, I can't just be like 'Go to this store and you can get one just like it!'. But not guilty enough to stop wearing it. And for the rest of my outfit, I'm wearing my usual cardigan, tights/legging, and boots. I wear a version of this outfit all the time. I just love boots and dresses in the winter! It's warm, comfy, and cute.
Thanks for reading!
-Zoe

OOTD: Elegant Maxi Dress

Maxi Dress: DIYed, fabric Walmart, $7
Sandals: Target clearance, $14

This dress is seriously the most comfortable dress I've ever worn IN MY LIFE! If you sew you need to make this! The top is basically a rectangle with a head hole, and the skirt and lining are just tapered slightly. You just sew some elastic on the waist band. It will only take you 30min! I highly recommend. Thanks for reading!

OOTD: City Blues

Vintage shirt: Secondhand
T-shirt: Secondhand
Sandals: Target clearance, $14

This outfit is inspired by a picture of Sandra Bullock, in an incredible Burberry outfit. I'm going to do another post on the T-shirt/pencil skirt trend, that I've been liking so much. I really like the causally tee meets ladylike skirt vibe. Thanks for reading! Have a great day!

The Struggles of Keeping it Classy in the Summer (Sometimes Modest is Literally Hottest)

As you well know we are heading into the summer months, which these days seems to turn the world into a land of crop tops, short shorts, spaghetti straps, and skimpy swim suits. Now, I get why some ladies choose to follow these trends. I remember being at a very hot music festival one summer, in my catholic camp T-shirt and jeans, being quite jealous of the girls wearing droopy tank tops and short shorts.  I mean, no one wants to be in a turtle neck and ankle length skirt in 90 degree weather, but can't we find a happy medium? I think YES!

So, here are some tips to help with your summer shopping, and to keep you looking classy without melting away.

Maxi Skirts  

If you haven't already jumped on board the maxi bandwagon, I suggest you do so. Or at least try. They're everywhere! You can find lots of long skirts in all different styles in tons of stores theses days. I love how elegant it feels to wear a full length skirt. And they keep you cool and classy.

       

Loose Opaque Tops

When it comes to summer blouses, there are lots of sheer light colored ones out this time of year. These are fine, but remember you're going to want to wear a cami underneath. That's a whole other layer. So finding more opaque, brighter colored, tops definitely help with cutting down on those necessary layers, thus keeping you from melting. Keep in mind how tight your tops are. Sweat happens, and the last thing you want is some moist shirt sticking to you like a second skin. Also, with loose tops, pay attention to how low they're cut. Try the bend over test when trying things on. You don't want to take a nice loose-ish, non-see-through top home, just to find it needs an under shirt.

                                                                              

DIY Shorts

There are a great number of crazy shorts and DIYs on personalizing shorts out on the web. (Just log onto Pinterest!) You've got american flag shorts, studded, tie dye, bleach ombre, painted, floral, lace trimmed ect. Usually in these tutorials you see girls getting secondhand vintage jeans and cutting them off pretty short. But no one says you have to. You can cut them off at an appropriate length for you (to where the tips of your fingers fall is a good guideline) then fray or roll the hem and personalize them how ever you want!

       

I hope these tips helped you somewhat. I know there's always going to be the temptation to follow the not-so-appropriate summer trends and look like the "cool girls" in the magazines. This is especially a struggle when you look darn good in them. NEWS FLASH: Women are the crown of creation! We are created beautiful even with all our flaws. So of course you look super hot in that tiny sundress (you look great in anything) . But with great beauty, comes great power, and with great power comes great responsibility. (Yes, that's from Spiderman.) Remember what you were created for and why you wanted to dress with dignity in the first place. Stick with it this summer and know that I'm on the struggle bus right there with you, girl. -Zoe