a lovely living

Monthly Archives for August 2021

Pretty Pinks

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that pink, well, specifically rose, has been my color theme lately. Honestly it’s a color I’m always drawn to. That and mint. But with the recent addition of a rose colored sofa in our living room, rose just may be taking the lead. The dusty, muted pink is appealing on so many levels and after my recent furniture purchase, I’d say I’m committed!

When it comes to fashion, rose is a color that pairs so beautifully with colors like camel, navy and grey which will be perfect for fall. This short sleeved sweater is darling with it’s scoop neck, puffed sleeves and ribbed detailing. It’s also a great piece to dress up for work or down for the weekend. If rose isn’t what you’re drawn to, it also comes in camel or a subtle, pale pink.

If you need a great fall bag, MZ Wallace totes are some of my favorites. Durable and practical for everyday life, they have a size and style that will work the way you need it to.

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LOFT Try-On

With school starting and fall just around the corner, I stopped into Loft to see what new arrivals were trickling in. Although there wasn’t as much filling the racks as I was hoping for just yet, I still found quite a few share-worthy pieces. When I posed the question on Instagram as to what everyone was looking for, the requests were predominantly for work, school, zoom calls, fall transitioning as well as wedding/shower options. Unfortunately dresses were hard to find outside of one that you can see below, but I’m linking a number of others that you can find online, both casual as well as wedding worthy.

shirt / pants

Oh my gosh guys, I didn’t even notice the dust on the mirror when I started snapping these pics!! You’re just going to have to take my word that these pants are fantastic. They are a crepe material with a tapered leg and a tie waist that adds so much to any top you’d pair them with. In addition to black, they also come in rust and an olive green. As I typically do in Loft pants, I sized down to an XS.

shirt / pants

If you’re looking for a top with a little flair, this puffed sleeved shirt is a perfect option. It also comes in white for a classic piece that would go with everything. It runs TTS.

top / pants

Here’s another great work top that would also transition to the weekend with a pair of jeans.

shirt / pants

I love the style of this ribbed top. This look is one I would wear with a pair of heels for a night out, but it could also be a great layering top for work under a blazer or cardigan.

sweater / pants

Sizes are running low on this sleeveless sweater, but honestly I think you can be flexible on sizing. I’m wearing a large which was all they had in store and I could have totally gotten away with it. It’s a perfect late summer/early fall top and being that it’s sleeveless it would be easy to throw a jacket on over top without feeling too bulky.

sweater / jeans

These jeans were so comfortable, even in a size too small, they still felt great with a nice amount of stretch. The problem is I didn’t get a picture of the tag and cannot figure out which pair I had on! I would assume that they are the crop flare since that’s the closest thing I can find online, but I feel slightly hesitant because crop jeans are never this long on me. If a longer flare comes online, I’ll be sure to update! **Update: They are LOFT’s slim flare jean, not yet online.

sweater blazer

Many of you know my love for sweater blazers! I love the plaid on this navy option. It’s perfect dressed casually or for work.

pj top / pj bottoms

I shared these pj’s when they first came out in my last Loft try-on and I can’t tell you how much I love them. I have a couple of tops and bottoms that I mix and match for bedtime. Now they not only have a shorts and biker shorts option for the bottoms, but if you prefer a jogger pant, they offer that too! Such a cozy and luxe feeling material. Trust me, you’ll love them!

top / bottoms

I thought this was a fun tee with the animal print and loose fit. Although it leans casual, I could also see it tucked into these pants that I shared above for a work-appropriate look.

tee / pants

I love this color of skinny jean for fall. The color ‘chai latte’ feels all to appropriate!

top

Another beautiful fall top that could go from work to weekend. The colors were beautiful!

dress

This was one of the few dresses that I was able to find in-store and it was a good one. Pretty enough to dress up for a wedding, but also could be worn with cute booties as a teacher. I’d say you could size down unless you need extra room in the chest area, in which case I’d recommend sticking with your true size. I did track down a few more dress options online (see above) that are worth checking out.

dress
sweatshirt

This quarter zip style sweatshirt is my go-to. I love the stand up collar, and the stripes add the perfect detail to keep it from feeling too casual.

sweatshirt / leggings

Another great sweatshirt option with the quarter zip and a playful tie-dye print. Then there’s these leggings which I’m still blown away by. The fit is amazing and they are a smooth, soft, stretchy material comparable in my opinion to the Lulu aligns, but a fraction of the price. They also come in a bunch of color options which I just may grab more of! They run TTS as does the sweatshirt.

Currently Wearing

To be honest, many of my summer days are spent makeup free in workout clothes (that I never make it out of) or a swimsuit. I’ll pull myself together when I have meetings but otherwise I’m thankful for the flexibility in my schedule, allowing me to work in whatever I please. With fall around the corner, life will change in a big way and we will all be on much more of a routine schedule. There’s a lot I’ll miss about summer but there’s always an eagerness to get back into the swing of things come September.

With that being said, below are some of my go-to pieces and outfits as of lately. T-shirt dresses, bodysuits and scarves seem to be a trend for me. I hope these looks can serve as some inspiration for you as you enjoy these last weeks of summer!

dress / sandals / belt bag (old) / sunglasses / bracelets (use code Lovely20 for 20% off order)

I love the fit of this t-shirt dress. It has a very subtle rib to it and will be a go-to with a jacket and booties this fall.

shirt / pants / sandals / scarf (similar)

My favorite cargo pants! Flattering and a fantastic fit, they’ve gotten a lot of wear this summer but will get even more in the coming months. If you need a good white top, check this one out. I’ve had it for a few years and love it. The buttons up the back are an unexpected surprise!

bodysuit (similar) / kimono (similar) / jeans / sandals / earrings

A bodysuit and a kimono make a great pair. And I’ve been loving relaxed/straight leg jeans lately, which also work well with the fitted look of a bodysuit.

swimsuit / dress / hat

One of my favorite swimsuits this year layered under a shirtdress to get even more wear out of it!

bodysuit / jeans (size down)

Yet another bodysuit and a pair of jeans that you’ll love if you’re a big ruffle fan! I sized up in this particular bodysuit and love the ribbed texture.

scarf / bodysuit / shorts (similar) / sandals / sunglasses (similar) / cup

A white bodysuit is a closet staple. No worries about how to tuck them, just a sleek look to pair with shorts, jeans, skirts or pants alike!

Light Layers

There’s just something about a beautiful scarf that can add so much to an outfit. This one in particular is light-weight and airy so that it can even be worn in the thick of summer to give your outfit a little more interest. To keep things simple, I layered this scarf over one of my go-to bodysuits and a pair of cargo pants. Come fall I’ll toss on a denim jacket or oversized cardigan and be set!

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Making a home feel welcoming and cozy often comes down to those small decorating details. Corners that entice you to curl up and chat or relax with your coffee and a good book are spaces that I image many long for. The good news is that it only takes some thoughtful items to make these areas come to life. A comfortable chair, cozy throw, plenty of lamps and a coffee or end table are the basics that would set the stage. Then styling those tables with plants and/or a candle and a good coffee table book for guests or yourself to enjoy will help to complete the space. Not only does a book full of great pictures prove to be practical but they also serve as beautiful pieces of decor that can be stacked and layered with other elements as needed. Think about putting one or two under a lamp, or placing a candle or plant on top of a small stack. You could of course place them vertically on a shelf or mantle to fill in any gaps as well. Below are some books that I would recommend. Most of which I own or have given as gifts and all have been well received. Take a look at some of those nooks in your home, a few small tweaks could turn it into a little retreat under your own roof!

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