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Hello to the lovely ladies out there who love having travel experiences with a stylish vacation wardrobe.  This blog content is more of a styling-only series than a vacation styling content. I was thinking about exciting events this month and realized that not only is the teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World out, but we celebrated a significant holiday not too long ago on July 4^th; in the U.S. that date was Independence Day!  Most of us had a long weekend of travel plans and brief getaways to celebrate this significant day in style. Typically, on this day, we tend to dress in the colors that represent our nation, including red, white, and blue. This got me thinking about how we can wear these color combinations in our everyday lives instead of saving them for the 4^th.

Therefore, I would like to share some styling ideas on how we can incorporate the color combinations of red, white, and blue into our everyday wardrobe for occasions other than Independence Day. Here are 6 versatile looks including those color combinations (red, white, and blue) and how they can be worn for different occasions besides Independence Day or July.

Look 1 is a blue and off-white floral maxi dress that can be worn as a casual attire when paired with any comfortable shoes of your choosing. You could wear it for a dressy casual or formal occasion like a birthday party, a fancy brunch get-together with friends on a Sunday, or even as a church outfit. To dress it up, you can pair it with statement red earrings like the African Natural Wood earrings from Amazon and include a pair of white Clara leather sandals from Michael Kors; complete the look with a cream white and gold women’s straw bag from Amazon.

 

 

 

Look 2 is a dressy outfit that can be dressed down depending on your choice of accessories. It is a red lace top paired with a white mini skirt and statement slip-on multi-toned heels from Shoe Carnival. To finish accessorizing, I added a pair of Pave stud earnings from VRAI and a fancy ranch clutch bag in gold and white from Cowhides. This look can be worn for a date night at a gallery show or art exhibit with dinner plans at a nice restaurant afterward.

 

 

 

Look 3 is a casual look that would be perfect for a day at the winery. A Farm Rio Tile Dream puff sleeve blouse paired with casual tailored white shorts from Walmart and elegant pointe sling-back flats from C. Paravano. For accessories, I included a pair of gold Mia hoops from Shop Shashi and the same purse from the first look. A pair of casual flat slip-on sandals in neutral tones can be used to substitute the sling-back shoes if preferred.

 

 

 

 

 

Look 4 is what I would call a casual outfit ensemble elevated with statement accessory pieces. The clothing items include a pair of Nihsatin two-tone leg jeans from Amazon and an asymmetric white top from Cider. The jeans and top alone are basic items in your everyday wardrobe except for the jean details. I elevated this basic look with a multi-two-piece jewelry set from JC Penney, an oversized Top Shop puffy clutch purse from ASOS, and the red sling-back flats from Look 3. This look is perfect for a weekend lunch date in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

Looks 5 and 6 are more versatile looks that combine different pieces from the previous looks to give you an idea of other ways these wardrobe pieces and colors can be styled.

 

 

 

 

I hope this content inspires you to incorporate red, white, and blue into your everyday wardrobe in addition to styling these color combinations for occasions other than the 4^th of July.

Till next time, I hope you ladies have an encouraging rest of your week!

 

 

Hello to my lovely ladies who love to travel and enjoy fun experiences in different parts of the world. If you have traveled quite a bit, you probably have established a vacation routine that has made your traveling experiences more seamless and enjoyable. I know I have a routine that I have maintained to have more pleasant vacations. I am here to share the top 3 parts of my routine and how you can use them if you are new to traveling or if you are a frequent traveler who always needs a vacation from a vacation.

Just a quick disclaimer, the 3 tips I will be sharing are based on the life of someone who only travels with her spouse. I am now in a different stage of life because I am about to become a first-time mom. My vacation routine is subject to change when I start traveling with kids.

Now what is a vacation routine and why do we need one? I would define a vacation routine as a series of actions you consistently follow to ensure that you have a great trip. Now of course, you can tweak your routine as needed but like anything else in life, the better you plan to have a great experience, the more likely you can enjoy a wonderful experience in whatever activity you plan on doing. Without further ado, here are my top 3 routines.

1. Have your itinerary planned out in advance of your trip: This may sound obvious to any traveler, but I still think it is a worthy mention because I know of spontaneous travelers who purchase a plane ticket to visit somewhere and decide on every part of their trip including lodging and activities after they reach their destination. While that might seem exciting, it can often end up in a disaster because you suddenly find yourself excessively planning while on vacation instead of enjoying your already planned vacation. If you want a spontaneous vacation, you should have the essential elements of your trip like lodging and the kind of trip you expect to have decided in advance. You may not have all the activities planned but you could choose to have a relaxing trip where you will think of something to do on a set number of days and maybe rest and do nothing for the remainder of the trip. My husband and I decided on a relaxing trip when we recently traveled to Hawaii. We decided to have a spontaneous baby moon but decided in advance to stay in an all-inclusive hotel resort and do no more than 2 days of actual exploring for our entire 9-day trip. What we decided to explore was determined during our stay in Hawaii. You can still have a fun spontaneous trip but to avoid less planning and more vacationing during your trip, take care of the essential parts of your itinerary.
2. Take at least 1-2 days of resting/doing nothing on your trip: This is more of a sub-point to item 1 but it is part of my vacation routine that I have found to be an absolute must when planning my itinerary. You want to avoid vacation burnout caused by filling up your itinerary with something to do every single day for the entire trip, only to return to your everyday life wanting another vacation from the vacation you just had. Now, there might be readers who like the idea of packing up their schedule with something to do each day and that is fine if you do not feel exhausted at the end of your vacation. If like me, you tend to feel drained after a vacation, you may find it helpful to give yourself 1-2 days of doing absolutely nothing on your trip. I find that resting and doing nothing for 2 days out of my 1 week to 10-day trips often rejuvenates me so that I am in a healthy mental state upon return to my everyday life.
3. Pack fewer accessories: This is more of a style tip but an essential part of my routine. When packing all your vacation wardrobe items, it is easy to overpack for a trip because you sometimes think the more you pack, the better options you will have when styling. A great way to pack lighter is to find accessories in each wardrobe category that go well with all or most of your clothing pieces and pack those items instead of selecting multiple accessories from different categories to wear each day of the trip. For example, let us say you have 7 looks to wear during your trip, choose one bag/purse that goes well with all the looks depending on the activities you would be doing. Instead of grabbing several pairs of heels or sandals, focus on packing a pair of dressy heels and 1-2 pairs of comfortable casual shoes that pair well with most or all your looks. For more tips on how to pack for vacation, check out my blog topic “My vacation outfit planning blueprint.

Till next time, I hope you ladies have a seamless vacation this summer.

 

 

Hello beautiful ladies! We are already in April and spring is here.  I know it has been a while since my last post and I apologize. I am going through personal life changes so unfortunately, I will not be able to post new content as often as I would like, for a few months. Please do expect more consistency towards the end of the year. In the meantime, I am excited to share my favorite spring colors and how I style them. This is not a vacation-style blog post but one that you can use as inspiration in your vacation looks if you plan any upcoming spring or summer travels. Do expect vacation-specific content next month, which is when I have my next vacation.

My favorite colors of all time are purple and yellow, which are spring colors that come in several shades.

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you are preparing for an upcoming trip in the tropics or a staycation right where you are, these looks serve as versatile dressy casual looks for various occasions.

A.

LOOK A is a monochromatic pairing of a smart canvas lavender shirt dress from Max Mara and Halvern thigh-high boots from Privileged Shoes complemented by an Ava Gold purse from Teddy Blake and a pair of sterling silver hoop earrings from Ross Simmons. This is a perfect spring look for a dressed-up casual outing in the day or nighttime when the weather is not too cold but warm enough to enjoy without an outer layer of clothing.

B.

For our skirt lovers who cannot wait to show more skin and begin indulging in open footwear once again, LOOK B is the perfect spring look on a warmer day. This is a look that provides some coverage but enough to keep you comfortable as the weather begins to hit the low 70s which is unfortunately tornado season depending on where you are in the U.S.

C.

LOOK C is my favorite because I am more of a pant lover. Wide-leg pants in different styles and fabrics are my go-to on any given day. This look is a classic example of comfort and simplicity while maintaining elegance with a touch of colors. The Chartreuse Sateen wide-leg pants are toned down perfectly with a simple cream cut-out t-shirt for a little sexiness; accessories in neutral tones are used to nicely complement the bold pants. To finish the look in the event you are in a colder spring season like I am in VA, you can throw on a lightweight leather jacket like the Lambskin purple fitted jacket to complete the look.

D.

LOOK D is a nice casual look including a paring of 523L pants and a long-sleeved blouse with a mixed pattern of yellow and purple to keep things interesting. Since the pants, shoes, and blouse make a pretty bold statement on their own and together, you can balance the look with neutral-toned accessories like the Adrian Leather Satchel and the Ralph Lauren leather-wrapped hoop earrings from Macy’s.

E.

For our final look, we have a very casual pairing of a ruched baby tee from Anthropologie and Adam Lippes Alessia floral print pants since florals are great for the spring season; they also get you excited about the summer. Due to the interesting details with the florals and the bold purple tee, you can play down the boldness of the outfit with a pair of black 223Fisher sandals from Maje, a Venice mini cane leather clutch, and a pair of two-toned neutral hoops. This is a nice look for a casual party next door or a picnic in an area filled with festivities and other activities. It is a comfortable look that will also leave you feeling put together as you go about your exciting spring adventure for the day.

I hope these looks give you some inspiration as you decide to implement more color in your closet or as you think through some interesting pairings for any upcoming spring vacations you have planned.

Till next time, I hope you ladies continue to feel confident, capable, and comfortable as you put together stylish looks on your vacations.

 

Happy New Year to you all! Have you ever thought of planning a winter vacation in Virginia? Whether you are a Virginia resident like me who will be having a staycation this winter, or you are thinking of visiting the state of Virginia this winter, I have put together interesting vacation activities to explore and outfit ideas for each activity. Some of the activities are based on what other travelers have recommended and a few of them are based on my personal experiences in the northern part of Virginia.

If you love being outdoors in the winter season, you can explore the Shenandoah National Park in northern central VA.  There are several hikes you can do with historic structures and scenic views. For a challenging hike with a rewarding view, you can check out the Devil’s Bathtub in Scott County VA. This bathtub is like a pool filled with ice-cold water from the cascade falls. You can take cold dives in here. If you are interested in winter sports, check out the winter ski resort in Ghen VA. This resort is voted as the no 1 place to learn how to ski and snowboard in the southeastern part of Virginia. There are other fun activities to do there including snow tubing and chairlifts.

For a more city-like experience, especially in this dry January season, you can visit Northern Virginia. Within Northern Virginia, there is Arlington which has the Pentagon Row ice skating, the largest skating rink in Northern VA. It is surrounded by several shops and restaurants within walking distance.  For a warmer relaxing activity, visit the Signature Theatre, a Tony award-winning performing arts theatre located in Arlington VA. There is always something showing throughout the year, so check the website in advance and book your tickets.

Next is the Mosaic District in Fairfax VA. When I run out of ideas for things to do on a weekend, I always find myself in this area. It is an upscale shopping and dining center filled with different restaurants that serve different kinds of foods. There are boutiques, other shops, a movie theatre, outdoor parks for picnics, and several outdoor seating areas. This location has a farmer’s market event every Sunday from 9 am-2 pm; several local farmers and producers get together and set up booths to share their local foods and products with the community. You can find interesting fresh foods and products that you would most likely not be able to buy at a regular store. The event is also an opportunity to support local food businesses in the area.

Finally, we have Old Town Alexandria in Alexandria Virginia. If you are looking for history and education, this is the place to go. Old town Alexandria is well known for its blend of colonial and modern culture with several historic preservatives. You can look up different tours and schedules in advance so that you can experience the role of Alexandria in U.S. history. When I am in Old Town Alexandria, I sometimes explore the Torpedo Factory which is an art center filled with several artworks from locals. You get to experience their artwork from start to finish. Right next to the Torpedo factory is a connection to several restaurants that overlook the Potomac Riverfront. I consider it a very romantic location but also family-friendly if you plan to be out with your family.

Below are outfit ideas for all the vacation activities listed above in order.

 

 

I hope you find this mini vacation guide for Virginia along with the outfit ideas helpful. Until next time, enjoy your winter vacation/staycation wherever you are.

 

 

Happy Holidays to the women out there! With Christmas around the corner, you may be traveling for the holidays. If you are taking a flight to your holiday destination this year, you are probably thinking of what to wear to the airport. Deciding on what to wear during holiday travels can be stressful when you want to have a seamless travel while being comfortable and stylish. I have created a holiday-themed airport outfit selection if you are traveling during the winter. Any of these outfit selections will put you in the holiday spirit while allowing you to enjoy a seamless journey; these pieces can also be included in your everyday winter wardrobe.
Highlights:
Sets: Whether you are traveling during the winter or warmer seasons, sets are the first kind of outfits I consider when I want to be put together without focusing on color pairings. Once you have a comfortable breathable set including a top, bottom, and sometimes an outer layer, all that remains is a pair of nice comfortable slip-on shoes with colors that complement the set to create a stylish fit. An example is the red pullover sweater and matching leggings complemented with neutral colors including the black and white slip-on sneakers and the camel jacket.
Statement Jacket: A statement jacket is visually appealing and permits you to be simple in your main look. You can throw on all solid colors, whether black or grey, like the simple sweater dress. For a holiday-themed airport look, you can make the outer layer the focus of the theme while keeping everything else simple.
Simple Jewelry: I know Jewelry is often avoided to prevent setting off the metal detectors at security but there are simple pieces you can throw on to create a little sparkle in your look. The key is to select good quality rings, necklaces, and earrings that are only made from silver, gold, or platinum. The jewelry types that are often picked up by the metal detectors are the ones made from magnetic materials so avoid those.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Until next time, enjoy your holiday travels, and be sure to end the year on a high note.

Hello to all the amazing women out there thriving and living your best life. For travel lovers, I am here to assist us in solving a common problem that we often encounter when planning our vacation which is figuring out what outfits to wear during vacation.
It is no doubt that planning a vacation is hectic. Not only do you have to decide on where to go, when to go, and what to do during vacation but you must decide on what to wear while on vacation. I am here to share a few tips that I use to ensure that I have all the wardrobe items I need for my vacation. Hopefully, these tips will help ease the stress of figuring out outfits to take with you on your next trip.
There are a few factors to consider when planning your vacation wardrobe. They mainly include the cultural expectations of dressing in the country you are visiting- the main thing to look out for in this case is whether your vacation country has a more conservative or liberal way of dressing, do people tend to dress more casually and relaxed or dressy casual or both? You also must consider the expected weather at the location you will be traveling to and your vacation activities.
Since most vacations take place during the summer, let us picture a summer vacation where we expect a warm climate. Here is a list of versatile wardrobe pieces I always pack for my summer vacation. These clothing items serve as a blueprint for planning your vacation outfits with modifications that can be made depending on the factors mentioned above in addition to your personal style.

TWO-PIECE SET

Beige Tropical Print Top – Puff Sleeve Top – Keyhole Crop Top – Lulus

Two-piece sets are one of my favorites when planning my vacation outfits. They are very easy to style; all you need to figure out is accessories- you do not need much to complete your look. Grab a comfortable two-piece set that you like, whether it is a skirt set or casual pant set and you will find it easier to create a nice look while on vacation.

LITTLE BLACK DRESS

Bandage Strappy Dress in Black | VENUS

You never know when you need to attend a special occasion while on vacation. It could be a night out with friends, dinner at a nice restaurant or a formal event. You can never go wrong with a little black dress and a pair of heels. Accessorize as you wish; you can be minimal or lavish. It is entirely up to you.

A COCKTAIL DRESS

ASOS DESIGN off shoulder corset midi dress in red | ASOS

In the event you have more than one dressy occasion, you can opt for a cocktail dress of any other color that you feel comfortable in. I chose red because you cannot go wrong with red when you find a shade that works for you. Also, red can easily be styled with neutral tones when thinking of accessories. A lot of unexpected things happen while on vacation. You might just spontaneously decide to attend an event that a cocktail dress will be perfect for.

A COMFY PAIR OF JEANS

The Slouchy Boyjean in Astonia Wash (madewell.com)

Nothing sounds better than a pair of comfy jeans to wear on multiple occasions while on vacation. You can easily dress it up or down as needed and accessorize accordingly.

A CLASSIC WHITE T-SHIRT

Women’s Essential Easy Tee | Women’s Tops | Abercrombie.com

This wardrobe piece is a life saver when you are completely out of options on what to wear for any occasion. It can easily be paired with your jeans along with a cute statement necklace and heels for a dressier casual occasion. It can be worn to create a basic look or a sharper look with the right accessories.

A JEAN JACKET

The Jean Jacket in Medford Wash (madewell.com)

As you can imagine, jean jackets are an essential to have year-round regardless of where you are. While you may be enjoying warm weather outside, you may occasionally need to stay warm when going out to restaurants or staying out to enjoy a cooler evening. A nice jean jacket can be worn over all your other vacation pieces.

FUN STATEMENT TOP

Patchwork Collar Short Sleeve Blouse – Cider (shopcider.com)

A fun statement top that matches your personal style is a great vacation essential. It can be a colorful tank top, a nice detailed top, or a simple top with interesting cut outs; it can be any top that makes you feel appreciative of the beautiful summer season.

COMFY MAXI DRESS

Sandy Beaches Maxi Dress | Fortunate One

A fun maxi dress that makes you feel free is a very great wardrobe essential to take with you on vacation. Summer is the only season where you get to really enjoy your maxi dresses. You do not have to think of how to style them since they make up most of the look. All you need are accessories of your choosing to complete the look.

HEELS OF ANY NEUTRAL COLOR

Vikki Leather Sandal | Stiletto-Heeled Style | Schutz – SCHUTZ (schutz-shoes.com)

Finally, you can complete any of your vacation looks with a pair of neutral toned heels. Pick a simple pair of heels that work well with all your items so that you do not have to worry about color pairings. A black, nude, or clear pair of heels are your go to for vacation.

COMFY SANDALS

Cognac Leather Alibi Sandals | French Sole | Tuckernuck (tnuck.com)

A pair of comfy sandals that you can walk in all day is a necessity for your vacation. After all, you are going to be doing a lot of exploring so you might as well be comfortable. If you want, you can always opt for a pair of comfy walking shoes if you want to switch it up every now and then.

A NEUTRAL TONED PURSE/CLUTCH

SHASHI Leela Clutch in Natural | REVOLVE

A neutral toned purse is a great accessory to take with you. When considering the perfect color pairing with all your outfits, you can never go wrong with a neutral tone as it takes away the stress of figuring out specific colors for specific outfits. A neutral toned purse also serves the dual purpose of completing a casual and dressy look.

2-3 ACCESSORIES

You are a Star Lariat – Melinda Maria Jewelry

Marbella Hoops- Gold | Luv Aj

A pair of simple gold or silver earrings in addition to a versatile necklace will save you a lot of time and energy when thinking of how to accessorize your looks on vacation.

COMFY SWIM WEAR

Twisted Knot Remake Swimsuit | Banana Republic Factory (gapfactory.com)

Depending on what activities you have planned for your vacation, you may or may not need a swimwear for your trip.
I hope you wonderful ladies find these tips helpful when planning your wardrobe for your next vacation. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable, confident, and capable in anything that you wear. Stay true to yourself and choose styles that fit your personal preferences.
Keep on thriving and have a wonderful rest of your week. Till next time,
Your very own CCC stylist, Adie.