We’re in that weird time of the year where it’s still summer but we’re already thinking about fall. The time of year where the weather can change instantly. One day we’re wearing shorts and the next we’re busting out our cardigans. That’s why for this month’s Pretty Fix I’m featuring a look that can easily be modified no matter what the upcoming weather holds.
This look starts out with, you guessed it, one of my Outfit Formulas®! For the initial Pretty Fix look I started with a neutral cardigan but opted for a sleeveless floral top and medium wash jean shorts. This is perfect for those days where it’s chilly in the morning or perhaps the chill comes in the evenings where you live. Either way, you’re covered. Still too hot out? Skip the cardigan and stick with sandals. Too chilly for shorts? Swap in medium wash jeans and taupe mules or slip-ons.
If you’re new to GYPO, let me tell you what the Pretty Fix is. The Pretty Fix is where I feature a complete look using one of my Outfit Formulas® that mixes classic closet staples with a few trends that you can add to keep your closet feeling fresh. This month’s Pretty Fix trend is versatility….and a fun floral top! Remember to shop your closet first but if you have any gaps, there are links below with some great options for each of the pieces used. Now let’s check out today’s Pretty Fix look!
Neutral Cardigan + Floral Printed Top + Medium Wash Bottoms + Taupe Shoes
1. Neutral Cardigan
This may not be anything you don’t already know, but a simple neutral cardigan is a majorly versatile closet staple. It can be worn for multiple seasons and is the perfect layering piece as we head towards fall. While a thicker one is great for winter, a lighter one will serve you well during the spring and fall. It looks great paired up with shorts as shown above but when the temp gets too cool, it pairs great with jeans.
2. Floral Print Top
Floral prints are still trending hard going into the fall and I’m loving the color combinations. They were great for adding detail during the summer without adding heat but also pair well with a cardigan. I am noticing some of the bright floral prints are giving way to more earth tones and rich color tones. Either way, don’t pack away your floral tops just yet. For this look, I opted for a sleeveless version and the ruffle details make it perfect to stand alone or work with a cardigan.
3. Medium Wash Bottoms
If you only have one wash of jeans, a medium wash is the most versatile. I prefer a medium wash that also has more of a vintage look than a bright blue look. I think that tends to be a more classic look and wash. Although high-rise jeans are super on-trend, medium-rise jeans are available so pick whatever rise you feel most comfortable in, not just what’s trendy. I’ve paired this look with jean shorts but a denim skirt would work too. When the weather starts to turn you can easily swap in some crop jeans or ankle-length skinny jeans. Now you’re prepared for whatever mother nature throws at you!
4. Taupe Shoes
Oh yes, taupe sandals, slides, and booties oh my! This color goes with everything and surprisingly does come in different shades. Some taupe shades lean more towards the gray side while others lean more towards the brown or beige color family. Again, this is a very versatile color and for this look, I paired some great sandals for the hot, summer version and then opted for mules in my fall version. This look would also work with some taupe slip ons or even some ankle boots if you’re feeling an extra cozy look is in order.
5. Neutral handbag
Another timeless closet staple is a neutral handbag. For this look, I choose a cross between a hobo and a tote but a crossbody would also work. While I went with a brown handbag, black would also work as would gray. It’s really just personal preference. If you tend to lean towards cooler colors you may get more use out of a black handbag. But, if you tend to gravitate towards the warmer colors, a brown handbag may go with more of your closet. Again, it’s all personal preference, just be sure to pick a handbag that works with your lifestyle and fits all the items you carry daily.
6. Drop Earrings
Drop earrings, statement earrings, call them what you will but the print and ruffles on this top add enough detail that these earrings are more than enough. You want them to complement the top without competing with it. If you prefer a smaller earring a simple hoop or even a stud will work as well. As a side note, don’t be afraid to mix metals. The rules of all silver or all gold don’t really apply anymore. Have fun with your accessories!
Your turn! Are you ready for fall cardigans or will you be holding on to the summer version as long as possible?
Can’t get enough Pretty Fix? Click HERE to see more!
You might say I’ve always been a bargain hunter. So much so that my skills earned me the nickname “Sarah Shopper” from my family. My favorite pastime as a child was sitting with my dad and pulling the ads from his Sunday paper and circling all the things I wanted to buy when I grew up. Now that I’m grown up I still like to keep to a budget and there are some great, easy-breezy summer items that won’t break the bank. Here are five of my favorite summer must-haves that won’t break the bank! In fact, all five are $30 or less so there’s budget left over to pick up your favorite iced coffee or margarita!
This dress is a comfortable knit and feels fun for summer but not too short or too young at age 44! The easy cut and fit make it perfect to wear to a casual patio dinner with my family or to throw on to run errands around town!
Post kids, swimsuits are a struggle to find. I want one that gives enough lift and coverage for my mid-40s and after two kids. However, I also want it to feel fun for summer and show off those areas I work hard to tone and maintain at the gym and trying to eat healthily. This Cupshe High-Waisted Bikini has a halter top which keeps everything secure and the bottoms have a bit more coverage in the back so I can still be active with my family and not worry about what’s hanging out of my suit! Fits true to size; I’m 5’8”, 130 pounds, and typically a size 4/small. I’m wearing a small in the picture.
I bought this printed geometric shift dress for vacation since sometimes evenings at the beach can be a bit cool. I love the fun print! Plus it’s easy to accessorize with simple jewelry, a pair of neutral wedges, and let the dress do the talking! I get so many compliments every time I wear this! This dress fits true to size, I’m wearing a small in the picture.
There’s just something about gingham that feels like summer here in the south! Dresses are such an easy way to feel pulled together and stay cool in the summer. I love to pair this classic black and white gingham sundress with cognac sandals or add a fun pop of color with shoes and statement earrings. This dress fits true to size and I’m wearing a small.
I love the ruffle detailing on this Cupshe one-piece swimsuit. Somehow the striped pattern and unexpected detailing keep this one-piece feeling young and playful while still providing a little more coverage on the beach. It comes in other striped color combinations but it also comes in solid colors and floral combinations which you can find HERE. Fits true to size and I’m wearing a small in the picture.
Your turn! What summer piece is your favorite?
Meet Sarah
This Modern Mamanista started as a young fashionista when my mom bought me a Fashion Plates drawing set and Superstar Barbie Fashion Face for my birthday in the ’80s. For work, I gravitate towards effortless chic and look for great jewelry and shoes to make my outfit. I’d like to think shoes, not diamonds, are really a girl’s best friend. For the weekends, I embrace my girl next door style with more casual-chic, comfortable pieces that take me from errands to kid activities and family dinners at our favorite restaurant or a concert at our neighborhood plaza. No lounge pants and slippers or mom jeans for this mom!
It’s both crazy and exciting to already be thinking about fall even though in TX, that’s months away. Still, I’ve had about enough of the heat to already be dreaming of the cool fall air. We’ve already gone over some of the great closet staple deals you can find at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in last week’s post, which you can find HERE. But now the NAS is officially open to everyone and I’m going to share some of the fall trends that are now available. There are some that I can’t wait to try and to be honest, some I’m not sure about. When it comes to fall, I’m more of a classic kind of girl. However, as I always say, I shouldn’t judge until I’ve tried it on and decided first hand if it’s a heck yes or a no. I’ll leave that for you to decide as well.
This fall, I’m seeing embellished and textured tops, sweater vests, chunky boots, lots of chain link jewelry and embellishments, as well as plaid flannel shirts, and shirts thick enough to be jackets, the shacket if you will. Below are some of the trend pieces I found at the NAS. What other trends are you seeing? What trends do you like and what are you happy to leave behind?
Sometimes when I hear people talking about their chest size, I think of that old saying, The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. For some of us with large busts (me! I’m a 34 F, which is the same as a 34DDD) dream of wearing spaghetti strap dresses with no bra. Yeah, that’s not happening for me. On the flip side, I envision some people with small busts dreaming of more fully filling out a bathing suit top or wearing a dress that shows some cleavage. Whatever people dream of when it comes to their bust size, the goal is to embrace what mother nature gave us. We all deserve to look good and feel good, and for some of us, that means learning how to downplay a large bust.
Petite With a Large Bust
Are you someone who is petite AND has a large bust? For reference, I’m 5’ 3”. You’re technically considered petite if you are 5’4” or under. But I’m also short-waisted and have a large bust. There are definitely some challenges to dressing my body type in a way that makes me feel awesome, but it is totally possible. Over the years, I’ve experimented and tried on a million outfits. I’ve also read all the blog posts and articles I could find. Now, I definitely have a few tips for those of you who are trying to dress for your large bust. BTW, I’m a middle school teacher so I try to cultivate a look that does not draw extra attention to my bustline. Below are my three tips to downplay a large bust.
This is my go-to neckline to help minimize the look of my large chest. I’ll also do a scoop neck for a nice, open look. However, I still think the v-neck is the best option to downplay a large bust. It seems counterintuitive, if you want to minimize your chest, then you should cover up all of your chest, right? But it turns out that just isn’t true. When you cover your entire chest area with a neckline like a turtle neck or a crew neck, it makes your chest look bigger. It’s like all eyes are on the girls. With the v-neckline, the eye is drawn to the open area on your chest above your actual bust.
If you’re trying to downplay a large bust, show some skin somewhere else; your arms, your legs, or your neck. This tip piggybacks on tip number one, which was to wear a v-neckline. One reason why a v-neck works is because you’re telling the eye where to look instead of them automatically looking at your bust. One benefit of having a short torso is that usually your legs, and often your arms look relatively long in comparison. Show some skin by showing off your arms or legs or neck. When I say show some skin, I don’t mean anything scandalous or provocative. Here are a few ways to show some skin:
Try a sleeveless v-neck top and show your entire shoulder and arm.
Opt for a cap sleeve or even just a regular t-shirt sleeve and show most of your arm.
Try a three-quarter length sleeve and show some forearm and wrist.
Wear a v-neck or scoop neck top and show your neck and upper chest.
I avoided tucking in tops for so long and now looking back, I wish I would have been more aware that a tucked-in top can really be beneficial. I don’t think that tops need to be tucked in (or tied) 100% of the time, but when you have a large chest, I say they should be tucked in most of the time. For me, an exception is when the top hits at the perfect length at the top of my hips and the fabric is soft and flowy enough that it doesn’t create the dreaded tent effect that often occurs with large busts. What is the tent effect? It’s when the fabric of a shirt hangs out in a tent-like way because the large bust pushes it so far out. This is not the optimal silhouette. To counteract the tent, tuck in your top. I like the front tuck (aka French tuck), but I don’t think there’s one tucking technique that’s superior to the rest. You could also tie your top if it has enough fabric or use one of the twist-tee-knot contraptions like this ONE. The real point is that you’re drawing the fabric back into your waistline to give you more of a shape.
Rock Your Large Bust
Now that you have a few tips to try out, I hope you go out and rock your large bust! The point of all these tips is definitely NOT to hide your chest. The point is to dress in a way that flatters your body and most importantly makes you feel good. Happy outfitting!!
Meet Kelly
Kelly is a middle school math and science teacher with a love for reading, casual fashion, playing the saxophone, gardening, cultivating a 100-item wardrobe, and hanging out with her husband, friends, family, and pugs.
In summer mode, you’ll find her at home, reading in her garden. In teacher mode, you’ll find her figuring out ways to maintain a work-life balance and stick to a 40-hour workweek by being uber-organized. You can explore her blog Teacher Style.
Summer is winding down but that doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty of time left to style summer clothes. Here in Texas, I’ll be wearing them well into September and sometimes early October. I usually don’t buy a lot of new things toward the end of summer but when I do it’s always exciting to pull them out of storage the next year. Recently I picked up a few pieces at Talbot’s because these colors just spoke to me. Every season, Talbot’s never disappoints, with color trends and fun patterns season after season. Not to mention so many participans in Outfit Formulas have always sung their praises for the high quality of their pieces. The items I’m wearing in today’s post certainly live up to the Talbot’s reputation on all fronts! Even though they incorporate some of the latest colors and patterns, I also feel like these are pieces that will stand the test of time and hold up for many summers to come.
My first pick, of course, was this ladder back stripe dress. This has been the summer of the dress for me in so many ways. As I prepare for a book launch, my days have been consumed with meetings and calls. More days than not, I simply reach for the nearest dress in my closet, throw on some cute sandals and minimal accessories, and BAM – I’m dressed and ready for the day!
Since I’ve heard so many Pretties rave over the quality of Talbot’s white jeans, I had to try a pair for myself. I’ve been dying to try a pair of cropped flare jeans and this pair fit the bill. You weren’t wrong about them. Their white jeans are just the right thickness and have the perfect amount of stretch. It’s no wonder they’re a fan fave! Just add a patterned sleeveless top and you’re good to go. This sleeveless shell had me at palm leaves! I was tempted to get this adorable striped shell but resisted the urge to feed my striped top addiction…at least for now.
Do you struggle to put outfits together? Are you stuck in a yoga pants rut? Not sure if you can make the latest trends work for you? You’re in the right place!
I’m Alison, a mom of three and recovering yoga pants addict on a mission to make getting dressed and feeling pretty the easiest thing you do all day! Learn more about my story HERE.
I am so glad I was part of the Fall 2019 Style Challenge. It gave me confidence and so many great outfitt ideas. The ladies in the group were very supportive and I will defintetly be doing another challenge in the future.
Betty Weyandt December 20, 2019
I’ve been participating in the GYPO Style Challenges for three years now and I’ve loved it. I’ve always loved clothes, but I didn’t know how to put outfits together. My closet is now full of mix-and-match outfits, I have learned how to dress myself, and there is no more stress in figuring out to wear. The private FB group is full of wonderful ladies that build each other up. It’s so fun and is seriously the best group on FB.
Kirstin Rasmussen November 20, 2019
Get Your Pretty On has changed my life, seriously. I have always chased what is trendy but found from season to season, that things go out of style and I was wasting money on items that I would only end up wearing a few times. GYPO has enabled me to simplify my closet, helps me make smarter purchasing decisions, and I feel so put together and confident using the outfit formulas that are provided. This program is a GAME CHANGER. I've been following GYPO for a few years now and my only regret is not jumping on board sooner.
Michelle Kline November 20, 2019
Great community of ladies, helping each other look stylish, without breaking the bank, and using much of what you already own.
Chosen Faith November 19, 2019
GYPO challenges have been one of the best things I have done! It had taught me so much more than just creating a closet of clothes that I love but also to have confidence in myself, how to pick and choose colors that work for me instead of against, and had given a wonderful community of Pretties who are so special.
Maraline Freeman October 16, 2019
I love GYPO!!! I finally feel put together and stylish! The shopping lists and outfit combinations make shopping and getting dressed effortless.
Krista Probst October 16, 2019
SHOP THE ACCESSORY LINE
SHOP THE LOOKS
A NOTE TO READERS
Please know that Get Your Pretty On uses affiliate links in some of our posts. This means that clicking on or purchasing through a link may help me earn a small commission, which helps make this blog possible. Thank you for your support! For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
