One of the biggest questions I get asked this time of year is “Alison where can I find shorts that aren’t too short?”. First off, let me say that I have a very clear opinion on shorts lengths and that is that longer isn’t ALWAYS necessarily better. Truth is the selfie never lies! I always recommend taking several different lengths (of your comfort level, of course) into the fitting room, then snapping a selfie of each one to see which actually flatters your body most.
However, I do agree that most of us are comfortable in a short length with more coverage. I recently discovered these Metro Shorts from Ann Taylor and instantly fell in love. They have a 6″ inseam and the cut is fabulous. They don’t pull across my hips like some other longer shorts can. They also fit well at the waist without gapping.
Today we are talking about summer trends! I know what you may be thinking, “Who cares what you’re wearing this summer when we’re not actually going anywhere,” right? But seriously, to say it’s been a weird summer is an understatement, however, that didn’t stop me from ordering a few pieces that I’m really excited about, even if I will be just wearing them around the house. They just recently arrived so I want to show you some of the fun summer trends as well as some closet staples I can’t wait to style this summer. And if you follow along with my styling program, Outfit Formulas™ then you know a lot of us are going to be team closet shopping to create fun outfits all summer long. That’s the beauty of the program, you don’t have to go out and spend a lot of money each season. You can shop your closets, add trends if you want, and fill in the gaps shopping where you want and spend what you want. The cool thing about the capsule wardrobe for this summer is that at least 16 of the items are closet staples that are on the shopping list. I’m going to run through some of my favorite trends with you today and show you some of the new pieces that I’ve bought plus a few pieces that have been in my closet for a while that I’m planning to restyle this summer! For more details click on my Coffee Chat video below.
So let’s jump in and talk about trends a little bit. I’m not really seeing any summer trends that are all that different from what we were seeing in the spring. We’re seeing a lot of the same color trends and a lot of the same pattern trends. In general, everything that’s going on right now has affected the fashion industry in some significant ways. For instance, it’s taking a long time for online retailers to ship things. I ordered my items 2-3 weeks ago and just got some of them in. But anyway, back to the trends. A lot of these things are pieces that you’ve probably seen before or pieces that you bought last summer, or maybe you bought some of them in the spring. I reused tons of pieces from the Outfit Formulas™ Spring 2020 Capsule. So that’s another good thing that you can reuse those pieces.
Kimonos
We’re going to start off with one of my favorite things for summer, and that is the kimono. The thing I love about kimonos in the summer, especially when you live in hot places like Texas, is that it’s an easy, lightweight way to add interest, detail, color and pattern to your outfit. It’s the perfect way to elevate the basic tank top, shorts and flip flops. Throw on some gold hoop earrings to finish off the look and you’re good to go! Such a simple and easy outfit formula that you can throw together. The kimono is my number one trend. I absolutely love these. If you buy nothing else for your closet this summer, I really recommend a kimono! I got the one pictured above from Amazon but if synthetic materials cause you to sweat then there are also more natural options available.
Fun Accessories
The second thing that I love are some sun accessories! They also fall into the category of adding interest and detail to outfits without adding heat. I bought some cute little palm earrings and some colorful hoop earrings. Add these to your look and voila, you have an instant outfit. Colorful accessories that add that little bit of something is the perfect way to finish off an outfit. You don’t need to overdo it with a lot of stuff, but adding a big earring or statement earring and colorful accessories will go a long way towards giving your outfit a lot of interesting detail.
The tortoise leaf earrings above are from J.Crew Factory and the colorful hoops are from Target. The hoop earrings are temporarily unavailable online but if you click on “notify me when back in stock” you’ll get an email the instant they’re available online again. They can also be found in-store.
Shirt Details
Shirts this summer are all about the details, a cute little tie at the waist, some button details or even some fun hem details. You’re going to see a lot of this. I sometimes fall into a basic tee or tank top kind of rut during the summer and this is an easy way to take the basic tee and make it more interesting. So look for tops with fun little details. The top in the video is from J.Crew Factory and unfortunately, it’s already sold out but I found one at Target that is very similar here.
Florals
Next up, we’ve got floral patterns. Florals this summer are on both ends of the spectrum. You’re going to see the ditzy florals which are very, very small floral patterns but you’re also going to see big, bold florals. I just got the big floral patterned shorts with the tie waist from J.Crew Factory and I love them! They have limited sizes available however they also have a version without the tie waist which is pictured above.
Shorts
High-Waisted Shorts
High waisted shorts are on trend for the summer and although I bought a pair of dark wash ones last year, we have yet to really style them. It’s a great trend to try this summer if you’re looking to add in some fun new pieces to your wardrobe. If you’re not a fan, then you can totally skip this trend and stick with a mid-rise or whatever you like. The pair pictured above I found at Target and they also come in plus size.
Soft Shorts
Again, in the category of shorts, I got some really soft, comfy tie waist shorts. I’ve been wearing these almost every day. They go with so many things and did I mention comfortable? The striped shorts came from J.Crew Factory and I also got a pair of pink ones because I realized I didn’t have any colorful shorts and I put them on the summer shopping list this season. I found a pair at the Loft Outlet which are unfortunately sold out, but I found a similar pair on Amazon.
Before we move on to the next trend I wanted to address something really quick. I know there’s a lot of ladies out there reading this and watching the videos that are not a fan of shorts and I just wanted to let you know that’s the beauty of this. You can easily swap out the shorts for a pair of capri pants, wide-leg pants, jeans, Bermuda shorts, a skirt – it’s whatever you feel comfortable in. As I always say, make it your own!
Graphic Tees
Graphic tees! Yes, I’ve been putting graphic tees on every shopping list lately. I’m kind of obsessed with them. Again, it’s about the details, right? They just add that little bit of detail, some color and some pattern that’s perfect for summer. Plus, you can totally express your personality through your graphic tee. I love to travel so the shirt above from J.Crew Factory totally appealed to me.
One and Done
Lastly, we’re going to talk about one-piece dressing. When I say one-piece dressing, I’m talking about pieces in the category of dresses, jumpsuits, rompers and maxi dresses. Anything that’s a one and done outfit when you only have to add some cute shoes and accessories. I’m all about easy outfits, especially during the summer. You can even finish it off with a topper like a denim jacket, a white denim jacket, a cardigan, or a kimono. But a one and done is fine as-is without adding anything extra. The jumpsuit I’m wearing above is a perfect example of this. I just added some cute leopard shoes, earrings, and a bracelet and I’m ready to go! Dress it up or dress it down, add a hat, whatever is going to work for your day and your lifestyle. It really is that simple!
There you have it! My favorite summer trends plus the pieces I’m adding to my closet. Which ones were your favorite? Do you have some of these already in your closet? Comment below and let me know and remember to keep posting your amazing outfit combinations in the GYPO Pretties Facebook group!
For this month’s Style Your Budget I wanted to pick something extra bright and cheery. I know for some life is slowly progressing towards something considered kind of normal while for others, they’re still not there yet. That’s why I love all the pops of color this look has to offer, it’s sure to make you smile and provide a welcome outfit distraction. Plus it’s the perfect casual look from the Outfit Formulas™ Summer 2020 Capsule Wardrobe!
Just to refresh, Style Your Budget is where I feature an outfit formula and then style it using five different stores at five different price points. I always recommend shopping your closet first then fill in any gaps you may have using any of the price points you want. It’s so important to me for everyone to know that GYPO and Outfit Formulas™ works for everyone, of every size and of every budget!
While the look below features a white denim jacket, it can also be paired up with a white cardigan or you can even skip the jacket all together! And even though it’s styled with shorts, that doesn’t mean you have to! Why not try a skirt or maybe some cropped denim. Have fun with this formula and make it your own!
White Denim Jacket + Printed Top + Light Wash Denim + Neutral Shoes + Straw Bag + Colorful Earrings
If you like this look and want to see more like it, the Outfit Formulas® Summer 2020 Capsule Wardrobe is now available! Get 33 days plus 3 bonus days of casual outfit ideas PLUS “dress it up” and “dress it down” options to adjust each outfit for every summer event on your calendar! Click here for more information.
Raise your hand if you’re heading back into the office this summer. Whether you’re going to be returning to your regular desk or continuing with business as usual onscreen at your next video call. I’ve got a sure fire winning work wear Outfit Formula coming at you today. The best part? It’s SUPER easy and even if you don’t have these exact pieces, I’m betting you can make it work using some from your closet!
Let’s start off with this black lace trim ruffle sleeve sweater because, let’s just get real here for a minute, it’s TOTALLY swoon worthy! When I unboxed it and saw these adorable embellished sleeves it was love at first sight. With trim in white and tan it’s a neutral lover’s dream come true.
This is my second pair of Marina wide leg pants from Ann Taylor and I’m even more in love this time around. The reason why? This pair is embellished with the slightest bit of embroidered trim to add interest without being too distracting. You know me and I always say “it’s all about the details!” This is especially true for summer fashion when it can be hard to add interest to an outfit without adding bulk or heat from layers. These two pieces pack plenty of interest with just a few subtle details!
Of course, we can’t skip the finishing touches! My white block heels are totally comfortable and work with everything from dress pants to shorts. Add in a pair of gold hoop earrings and a cuff bracelet and this outfit formula is complete.
Today, we are talking about personal style! If this is something that has tripped you up, you’re not alone. I think I’ve struggled with defining my personal style ever since I was a teenager. It would morph along with, number one, the trends and number two, what my friends were wearing. I never really dove in to figure out what my own personal style was or got to know myself enough to really figure that out. I think that this is an area that a lot of us, as women get tripped up on. We’re not exactly sure how to define our personal style. Plus, it changes so much over the years with whatever lifestyle stage we are at. Sometimes we adapt, or we abandon it altogether. That’s why I’m going to talk today about how to define your personal style in three easy steps! For more details check out my Coffee Chat below!
The three steps, these are foolproof, I promise you. I know there are a ton of resources out there but I love this method that I came up with because I use it myself and I like to be as authentic as possible with everything I do. This is something that really worked well for me to help define my own personal style. It’s going to give you powerful insights into what you like without being influenced by anything else. That being said, we also don’t need to be so strictly locked into just one category. There’s a lot of room in there for trying out the trends and adding in some fun new pieces and just really getting out of your comfort zone. I don’t want anybody to get so locked into a personal style that they think they can’t try something else. It’s always okay to step out of our comfort zones once and a while, that’s how our personal style can evolve. Now, let’s dive into the three-step process.
1. Gather Some Intel
You’re going to become a style detective. This is a concept that home decor blogger Myquilln Smith from thenester.com suggests doing when you’re trying to come up with your home decor but it works like a charm with personal style as well. For this step, I recommend going on Pinterest because it’s easier to organize your images, but you’re going to search images of outfits. You can do this search by seasonal outfits or casual outfits, or whatever you want your search to be, but you’ll want to keep the category broad. So gather intel by pinning or saving at least 25-50 outfits that speak to you. Do not qualify these outfits, don’t overthink it, if you love it, pin it.
After you do this I want you to go to a friend and ask them if they would do a Pinterest reading for you. See if there are any commonalities in the styles that you chose, the colors and the patterns. Are they minimally accessorized? Or do you have a lot of accessories in them? Are they minimalist or are they trendy? Are they classic? Do they employ similar colors, brights? Neutrals? What about patterns? Do you tend to steer clear of patterns or do you prefer lots of details and interests? Pay attention to shoes and accessories, too. And again, aim for at least 25 to 50 different outfit ideas. You can get a much clearer picture of what appears to you and what patterns are going to start to emerge from there. You can maybe even do this yourself if you’re pretty aware of being able to identify those patterns, but I think it works better to have a friend do this because they’re going to be completely objective with you. These commonalities are what’s going to give you some style clues going forward.
2. Determine Your Lifestyle
The next step in this process is you’ve got to determine your lifestyle because personal style is not going to work for anyone unless you take lifestyle into consideration first. For instance, you might love pencil skirts and high heels like I do but that’s not practical for my daily life. I work from home. I’m in my office all day. I maybe go to Target once in a while when we’re not under quarantine but that’s about it. I do have some pencil skirts and blouses and high heels in my closet because when I do get to get a little bit gussied up and go to a conference or something a little bit dressier, then those are going to be my go-tos for events like that.
Most of the time, however, you’re going to find me in my t-shirt and jeans. I’m a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl and I usually wear them every day then add some little detail for some extra interest. It important for me to look put together but also comfortable working from home. Honestly, my uniform is usually a half-tuck, slouchy t-shirt, the latest denim trend, topped with a cardigan, denim or moto jacket and finished off with comfy shoes, usually mules or slip-on sneakers and minimal accessories, which are usually my gold hoops and a short necklace. This is a uniform that works for me almost every day of the year. It’s foolproof and it just feels like me. So determine your lifestyle and what will work in it.
3. Curating Confidently
If you’ve been around Get Your Pretty On for a while or if you’ve done the Outfit Formulas program then you know that one of the things that I preach over and over again is that we are closet curators, not caught up consumers. That means that we slowly and deliberately build our wardrobes. You want to find pieces that you love, that you’re going to feel confident in every time you put them on. If it’s not a heck, yes, it’s a no! Don’t run out just to fill in a blank in your wardrobe. Make sure it’s something that you love and when in doubt, do the selfie test. A selfie never lies either in the fitting room or at home. Snap a quick mirror photo of your outfit or the item that you’re trying on. If the piece doesn’t work for you, the selfie is not going to whisper lies into your ears. At the end of the day, your outfit needs not only to be a representation of who you are but most importantly, I want you to feel confident and beautiful and everything that you wear.
Your Turn
Now it’s your turn! Today I want you go online and play around with this as we head into summer. Gather that intel, look for clues, maybe there are pieces you already have in your closet that will give you those clues. I would love for you to go and start pinning some outfits or creating a folder, Googling some images and finding some pieces that really speak to you and noticing what those commonalities are. Maybe you and a friend have a Zoom call and tell her about this. It can be your version of a girl’s night out that the two of you can do and you can figure out each other’s style personalities. Maybe you going to find yours is all over the place and again, that’s okay. You do not have to fit into just one category. Have fun exploring and then enjoy building a closet of clothes that are a heck yes!
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
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