fashion Archives - Page 41 of 76

Leopard & Stripes

August 29, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! A weekend with not too much planned turned into a non-stop two days for us. But, we got a lot accomplished, so that’s always a great feeling!

Striped Tee: local boutique {similar style HERE} | Distressed Jeans: Nordstrom | Leopard Sneakers: old {similar style HERE} | Tote: Tory Burch | Watch: Kate Spade | Necklace: Onecklace c/o | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Lipstick: #47

A comfortable and casual look for transitioning into fall for you today. Stripes are one of my favorite patterns to wear no matter what season {you may remember this tee from THIS post in the spring} and pairing it with leopard, my favorite neutral, creates a fun, pattern-mixing combination for fall. I bought these leopard sneakers a few years ago, but I linked a similar pair of slip-on sneakers HERE.

Thanks so much for dropping by and see you back here tomorrow for an all new recipe! Have a great start to the week!

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Black & Cognac

August 25, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve! Can you believe that this time next week it will be SEPTEMBER? This may sound crazy, but I have totally lost track of 2016! Wasn’t it just January a second ago?! And although I do wish time would slow down, I am excited for September to arrive so I can break out some of my favorite fall clothes. The last few mornings have been cool and SO refreshing — it’s making me crave those cooler temperatures all the time!

White Tunic: Nordstrom {under $30!} | Black Jeans: J.Crew | Hat: last season {similar style HERE} | Tote: Tory Burch | Mules: last season {similar style HERE} | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Necklace: Onecklace c/o | Bracelets: David Yurman HERE, HERE | Lips: #47, #07

In Monday’s post, I talked about how excited I was for olive green this fall, and I have to confess, I’m almost just as excited for a classic combination I go back to each and every fall: black and cognac. I remember when I was younger, I would get so upset if I saw black and brown or navy and black styled together. My have times changed!! There is something that just screams “fall” with this color combination and I can’t get enough of it, as evidence by last week’s Wednesday Wishes {see post HERE}!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Not too much planned for our weekend. I am excited to be meeting up with Kelly from Rosy Outlook on Saturday though! Can you believe we live in the same town?! I love how blogging has connected me with so many wonderful people around the world, and even bloggers that are just down the street 😉 See you back here on Monday, friends!

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Falling for Back to School Essentials

August 24, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Wednesday! I guess this week should have been declared “Back to School” week here on ABM {you can read yesterday’s packable lunch recipe HERE}! And whether you or your kids are heading back to school or college or you are just ready for a new season, there are a few staple pieces that every girl needs in her closet. And the best part about these pieces is that they can be mixed and matched to create several different looks. Super helpful if you are in college and have limited space. Do you remember how tiny your closet space was in your dorm??

**The above picture was from a post last year when we were back visiting my alma mater! You can read that post HERE. I’ve updated all the outfit details so you can find some similar pieces 🙂

long cardigan {available in 7 colors} | striped tee | chambray top

cropped jeans | skinny jeans {only $9.99!} | black leggings {I wear these all the time!}

Two of my very favorite tops in my closet are a striped tee and chambray shirt. Not only can they be worn in multiple seasons, but they look perfect with blanket scarves {I just ordered THIS one and cannot wait for it to arrive!} or layered under sweaters and cardigans. Speaking of cardigans — it’s all about the layers in the fall and having a few cardigans on hand is a great way to achieve that cozy fall look, and stay warm!

My go-to pants for fall are skinny jeans and black leggings. I’ve mentioned this before, but THESE leggings are my very favorite. I have one pair for working out and another for dress up. They are a little thicker than most leggings and they are perfect to pair with oversized sweaters and tunics. As for jeans, I will always love skinny jeans {can you believe these are under $10?!} but I have already jumped on the “cropped jean” bandwagon! I have a pair in black that are similar to THESE, but I’m thinking about adding more colors to my cropped jean collection. Wear these trendy jeans with flats or ankle boots. And speaking of shoes, that leads me to my next category…

ankle booties {available in 10 colors!} | pointed flats {under $50} | comfy heels | lace-up flats

When it comes to shoes, I have a serious weakness. Especially if they are fall shoes. Since this is a back to school/fall essentials post, I wanted to break down my favorite styles that are a necessity in any closet. You can never go wrong with ankle booties because they can be styled so many different ways! I have loved THESE ankle booties for over a year now {they come in several other colors, too} but I ended up buying THESE perforated booties during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale {since they were less expensive during the sale}. I love the ones I bought, but THESE are still calling my name!

Comfy heels are definitely a necessity if you have a 9-5 job and these are already on my wish list! I had a similar pair of heels {with this chunkier heel} that I wore for years. They were my very favorite, but I literally wore them to death. THESE would be the perfect replacement!

Lastly, you can never have too many flats, since they are the ultimate in comfort. I love THIS pointed toe solid shoe and couldn’t resist sharing THIS cheetah lace-up flat! You can never have too much animal print, right? 😉

winged satchel {available in 3 colors & under $80!} | leopard pencil case | wool hat | color pens | hanger paper clips {aren’t these cute?!} | 17-month agenda | laptop case | watch | acrylic stapler & tape dispenser | marble iPhone case

Growing up, I always loved back to school time. I obviously loved shopping for clothes, but my very favorite was picking out school supplies and accessories! I am actually in the process of re-organizing my home office, so a lot of these office accessories are already on my wish list. How cute are these hanger paper clips?! And I love the acrylic stapler and tape dispenser. When it comes to clothing accessories, a fall hat is always a must in my book and a large satchel or tote scream back to school and fall. THIS faux leather and suede satchel is also available in cognac/black and eggplant/black. A seriously hard decision!

What are some of your back to school and/or fall essentials? Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

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Fall Favorites: Olive Green & Leopard

August 22, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I was busy cooking up some food posts to share with you in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for those! I also played some golf and tennis and the temperatures were HOT. I think it’s safe to say I am finally over these hot and humid summer temperatures!

Oversized Cardigan: Nordstrom {available in 5 colors} | White Tee: Nordstrom | Black Jeans: J.Crew | Leopard Pumps: Sam Edelman | Bag: Modalu | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Lips: #47

You may remember me mentioning that olive green is one of the colors I’m looking forward to most this fall {see THIS post}. I picked up THIS oversized, open-front cardigan during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because I loved the color so much {it’s also available in 4 other colors HERE}. I have plans to wear it several ways this fall, but I love the contrast of the white tee with the black jeans and of course my favorite pair of leopard pumps 🙂

I hope you all have a great start to the week! Be sure to check back tomorrow for a back to school inspired recipe and a Wednesday Wishes devoted to the start of fall and a new school year. It’s hard to believe it’s already that time of the year. Thanks for dropping by!

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Perforated LBD

August 18, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve, friends! Today, I’m sharing THE most perfect black midi dress. I wore it on the last day of the TBS Conference in Charleston and it was comfortable not only during the day but also for driving all the way back to Virginia that night. Sounds too good to be true, right?!

Perforated Midi Dress: J.Crew Factory {on clearance! Also available in bright orange} | Bucket Bag: Mark and Graham c/o | Studded Sandals: Rebecca Minkoff {on sale – 50% off!} | Monogram Necklace: Onecklace c/o | Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Monogram Cuff: Mark and Graham c/o | Lips: #47, #07

I was skeptical when I first saw this dress on J.Crew Factory’s website. I love the cut-out, perforated detail, the length and the slits on the side, but because it was final sale, I was a little leery. One good way to talk me out of buying something is mentioning “final sale”. But I took a chance {living on the wild side!} and I’m so happy I did! It fits perfectly. True to size and the perfect midi length, with the slits just high enough. {For reference, I am about 5’8} It is a little low cut, but nothing a cami can’t fix! As far as I am concerned, you can never have too many little black dresses, but if you are looking for some color, it is also available in a bright orange.

I decided to stick with blush and nude accessories for more of a summer look, but with a black dress, you can really accessorize with any color. If you follow along on Instagram {rach.mccarthy}, I posted a picture of these designer lookalike sandals the other night as a peek to today’s post. They are currently on MAJOR sale — 50% off to be exact! They have been my go-to summer flat sandal and can be styled with just about anything in my closet.

As if there wasn’t enough to love about this dress, it is also great for work. I’ve actually already worn it a few times during the week and I’m looking forward to pairing it with a cardigan or jacket as the cooler air sets in {which is hopefully soon!}. You know how much I love those versatile pieces!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for dropping by and see you back here on Monday!

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Neutrals

August 17, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

ruffled blouse | black tassel earrings | sunglasses {only $12!} | lipstick {“nude kate”} | monogrammed bracelet {available in 12 colors} | leopard watch {only $53!} | saddle bag {available in 5 colors} | suede sandals {I have these in black and they are SO comfortable!} | nail polish {“picked perfect”} | black jeans {25% off with code REFRESH}

Happy Wednesday! As we get closer and closer to fall, I am always drawn to more neutral colors. Not only are neutral colors easy to transition into the new season but it’s a great excuse to break out the black and tan combination. And of course my favorite neutral, leopard 🙂

I spotted THIS ruffled blouse last week and just fell in love with it. With the crazy hot temperatures we have been experiencing the last few weeks, it would be perfect to wear now with a pair of shorts or throw a cardigan over it for fall. You have to love versatile pieces that you can wear now and once the temperatures change!

I mentioned my love for mixing black and tan and I could not think of two better tan accessories than THIS saddle bag with the cute tassel or THESE suede sandals. I received an email last week featuring this saddle bag and I became instantly obsessed. It reminds me of THIS designer bag that I’ve had my eye on for years, but not quite as expensive. And how can you not love that tassel?! When it comes to the shoes, I already have THIS pair in black patent leather {last seen HERE}, but I’m really loving the neutral suede for fall. They are super comfortable {thanks to the lower heel} and priced at only $60! I might have to add this fall version to my collection 😉

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Chambray & Stripes

August 15, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! If you follow along on Instagram or Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7}, you may have caught a few snaps and videos from the My2K Tour we went to Saturday night. My 13 year old self was BEYOND excited to see O-Town. But let’s be honest, my 28 year old self was just as excited! If you are a fan of late 90s and early 2000s music and the tour is coming to your area, I would highly recommend it. Thanks to Richard for coming with me to the concert and putting up with my former {or current? haha} love of boy bands 😉

Although it was crazy hot this weekend {110 degree heat index on Saturday!} I wanted to share with you another fall transitional look with one of my favorite summer dresses. You may remember THIS striped dress from THIS post a few weeks ago. I’ve been wearing it so much this summer — it’s easy to throw on to run errands and I’ve even worn it for a few “casual Fridays” at work. To make it a little more fall-ready, I added my go-to chambray button-up shirt {last seen HERE} and some fall accessories: my black floppy hat and open toe ankle booties. Although these ankle booties are from last season, they are still very much in style with that block heel. Unfortunately, these particular booties are no long available, but I did link a few similar pairs above.

Do you have a favorite way to style a summer piece for a more transitional look? I would love to hear in the comments section below. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great start to the week!

P.S. Speaking of fall, I updated some of my favorite fall pieces on the right side bar so be sure to check them out. This hot weather is getting me more and more excited for those cool and crisp temperatures!

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There Is Still Time For Summer Brights!

August 11, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Friday Eve! I cannot believe another week is coming to an end and that we are almost halfway through August! I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I was having serious season confusion this week. But, I think this bright Lilly Pulitzer number is a great reminder that there is still time to break out those brights!

Lilly Pulitzer has been one of my favorite brands since I was younger — all the bright colors and fun prints, it’s like instant happiness! I will confess though that this is the first Lilly dress I’ve purchased in awhile. I haven’t been entirely pleased with the fit of a lot of the dresses in the past 3 or 4 years — most of them were way too short for me. But since I was heading to Charleston, the quintessential Lilly town, I decided to try on a few of their dresses. The classic shift has always been my favorite, so when I saw this dress with the bright and bold print, I knew I had to try it on. I instantly fell in love with the print, fit and that cute palm tree exposed zipper. The dress fit true to size and was finally the perfect length {#tallgirlproblems}. Gold was the accessory color of choice which complimented the print and the zipper details perfectly.

Thanks so much for dropping by, friends! Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I am super excited because we are going to the MY2K Tour this weekend featuring 98 Degrees and my favorite boy band of all time, O-Town!! My husband says it’s going to be an audience full of former teeny bopper girls who are now in their late 20s HAHA! Regardless, I am ecstatic. I’ll be sure to post some video on Snapchat {rach.mccarthy7} so you can follow along 🙂 Have a fabulous weekend!

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Boho Taupe

August 10, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

dotted midi dress {under $50!} | hat | AERIN perfume | set of 3 beaded cuffs | flower earrings | lipstick {rosecliff} | nail polish {eternal optimist} | ankle booties {color: smoke cloud} | watch | tassel bucket bag, also HERE

Happy Wednesday! First, please excuse my back and forth between summer and transitioning to fall looks this week. After spending the weekend in Charleston, where summer clothes were a necessity, I am craving the cool and crisp fall temperatures more than ever, hence this post. {In case you missed it, you can see what I wore for the first full day of #TBScon in Charleston HERE.}

Although there are many things that I am looking forward to this fall, two of the styles/colors I am currently craving are boho vibes and taupe colors. The boho trend has been around for a few seasons now and I think I’m finally embracing it {exhibit A}. It’s hard not to love the boho trend when it means perforated open toe booties, tassels on handbags, and of course a cute hat — which all happen to be that taupe color I’m crushing on! And I can’t forget this dotted midi dress that is priced under $50! This style and color scheme is perfect for now and into fall. You could layer a denim vest over it for an even more boho look.

As for accessories, I love pairing this boho look with gold tones, like this set of 3 beaded cuffs {also available in red, royal blue and silver} and this watch — the simplicity of this style is perfect. Although technically not an accessory, I had to include this amber and musk scent with this outfit. I have been dying to try the AERIN fragrances for a few months now and this scent has fall written all over it.

What are you looking forward to most about fall? I would love to hear in the comment section below. Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Gingham Dress

August 8, 2016 by Rachel McCarthy

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I spent the weekend at The Blog Societies conference in Charleston, and let me tell you, it was a hot and humid one {hence my hair situation here!}. This is the look I wore for the first full day of the conference and this gingham dress was the perfect cool, summer dress for that weather!

Gingham Dress: J.Crew {same style in linen HERE} | Blush Reversible Tote: Nordstrom | Blush Statement Earrings: BaubleBar {also available in white} | Sunglasses: Prada | Cuff: Mark and Graham c/o | Sandals: old {this season HERE} | Lips: Snob, Turkish Delight

I know I have been all about fall lately {exhibit A, exhibit B}, but today I am taking a quick break to share a few more summer looks, since cool dresses were a necessity in Charleston over the weekend!

There are so many things to love about this dress, it’s hard to know where to begin! Gingham is one of my favorite patterns for summer — and a midi shirtdress with a slight handkerchief hemline is just too perfect for words! Since I needed my camera and computer at the conference, I went with my favorite reversible blush tote, which can hold a ton. And with the “blush” accessory theme, when I found these blush floral statement earrings, I knew I had to have them.

As for #TBScon, I can’t say enough wonderful things about the weekend. Not only was it great to connect with bloggers from around the country, there was SO much information to be learned. If you are a blogger and looking for a wonderful community to join, I would highly recommend The Blog Societies!

Thanks so much for dropping by and have a wonderful start to the week!

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A Blonde's Moment

Category: fashion

Leopard & Stripes

Black & Cognac

Falling for Back to School Essentials

Fall Favorites: Olive Green & Leopard

Perforated LBD

Neutrals

Chambray & Stripes

There Is Still Time For Summer Brights!

Boho Taupe

Gingham Dress