Jun 11, 2021

Friday Favorites: Shirt Dresses

TGIF! Summer dressing is all about keeping cool and dresses are an easy breezy way of doing just that. A shirt dress is one of the most classic and timeless designs. 

The collar keeps it crisp while the button front keeps it structured. 

Style Tips:
  • Swap out the self fabric sash for a belt such as rattan, braided or a designer one for a more sophisticated look.
  • Choose a size that prevents the buttons from puckering and if there are areas that are too big you can take in using a tailor.
  • Heels for a dressier occasions but sandals and sneakers are so chic for the casual days.
  • Make it modern with accessories. An edgy bag and jewelry like gold hoops or stack of bracelets

Here are some pretty shirt dresses for Summer ...




4 other colors


also in ivory


also in black stripe


also in light blue












also in leopard






also in white & hydrangea print

Pink Shirtdress Circa 2015
Still hanging in my closet!

Dress Beautifully in a Shirtdress

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Jun 9, 2021

Ruffles On Ruffles

 

Gals, I love ruffles. The gathered edges create such a feminine detail. They can be as big or small as you like and in the case of this outfit I chose both! More is more.

The large sleeves on this blouse draw attention upwards towards my face and add volume to my shoulders both of which flatter by elongating my shape and slimming the waist.
The fabric is crisp so the shape of the design holds!

These shorts are super comfortable with an elastic waist to hold your tops in, pleated leg for room and a tulip hem that also gives room and creates a long leg line as opposed to a straight hem that cuts the leg straight across. 
My legs are on the fuller side so these details are key for a good fit.

PS my hair will be taking a more natural and pinned back position as the humidity has arrived here in the South and it's fierce!






Dress Beautifully in Ruffles

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Jun 7, 2021

Grand Entryway

 Welcome! Come on in! 

Our entryway is one of my most favorite spaces in our home. It's the first thing not only your guests see when they enter but you as well. So make it good! 

Our home is a midcentury Georgian Colonial design so it has traditional defined spaces with lots of beautiful character, like the custom dental molding throughout the interior and surrounding our exterior. This allows for me to add distinct decor and design choices, like wallpaper! 

I want our home to reflect us, the people that live here. Soft colors and prints in classic patterns does just that. Carolina blue is Ryan's favorite color so it's a must.

When we first purchased this home the walls were tan with a faux marble texture.  We were not a fan but knew that it just needed my magic touch. 


SO. MUCH. BROWN!

First we painted and added furniture. I wanted a cool white on all the walls throughout and chose Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. I only wish it had a different name because it's not gray at all.

Note: I HATE, with a passion, the color gray - even the word itself makes me sad. Its gloomy and gives me prison vibes. Sorry gals, I know it's all the rage when it comes to neutrals but I've never been one to follow the crowd.


We added a foyer table that displays decor, functions as a landing place and holds party pieces when we host. Vivian used to play on the bottom shelf with her toys and sometimes I find a collection of dinosaurs on display and it always make me smile :)


This grand mirror reflects light making the space appear larger.  It's also serves as a quick check of your makeup, hair and outfit before heading out the door. I purchased it at an estate sale with a dear friend who's no longer with us so it's extra special to me!

Light Fixture - lighting is the jewelry of the home. While they illuminate, they also add style.  They're not something you change often so I'm simple and classic in my choices, especially in the common areas.


I also hung our first family portrait from when Vivian was a mere 9 days old.
It represents the purpose of our home, to love one another during our time here.

While this certainly freshened up our entryway it was still rather plain.


This beautiful wallpaper by Schumacher 'Hydrangea drape' in blue was just what it needed. Choosing wallpaper can be overwhelming, but not for me.  I had already established our color palette of soft blues and pinks based upon the heirloom rug in our formal living room. The vertical pattern creates height making our standard ceilings feel a bit more grand.  The hydrangeas are special, as they are my youngest sister's favorite.  She plays such an important role in our lives. It's heartwarming to have something that represents her incorporated in our daily lives.


Fun Fact: This paper was up the staircase in the movie Gone with the Wind


I spy a sneak peek at our dining room wallpaper - post to come soon!

By just hanging the paper on the walls surrounding our front door and foyer it doesn't overwhelm but rather adds life and the right amount of pizazz! 

Dress Your Entryway Beautifully

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Jun 4, 2021

Friday Favorites: Mini Skirts

TGIF! Gals, Summer's heat and humidity is here! Give me all the AC on full blast. But since I want to spend my Summer under the sun not just looking at it through the window, my wardrobe has to be functionally cool and still aesthetically cute.

I've shared that shorts aren't my favorite because neither are my legs. I find that dresses and skirts, even minis, give me more coverage and better suit my girlie style. 

Until recently, you'd never ever see me in a hem line above my knees. Not because I didn't like them, but because of my insecurities. I'm overcoming them one day at a time.

Now, when I say mini, I mean mid thigh. Let's keep it classy shall we ladies. I don't care how thin, tall or young you are, if you wouldn't wear it in front of your Grandma, it's too darn short. Finger tip length is a good measurement.

Personally, I love an elastic waist tiered mini skirt as you can adjust the waist placement, it can hold a top tucked in and has sassy movement when you walk. It also flatters all body shapes and allows for a good breeze on a hot day.

Here are some of my favorite minis ...

 My Skirt (Last Year) : Misa Los Angeles Current Version





















Dress Beautifully in a Mini Skirt

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Jun 2, 2021

Mini Matching Set

                                     

Gals, I'm home sweet home from the most magical week at the beach with my family! If you follow me on Instagram I recapped each day in the evenings sharing pictures & videos on my stories and posts. While I didn't go completely off the grid I limited myself to only using my phone as a camera during the day and caught up briefly online at night after Vivian was asleep. 

It felt so joyful to play on the beach and splash in the ocean with Vivian. It was also restorative to be present with the ones I love most, soaking up wonder & beauty of the seashore. The sunrise and sunset alone are the prettiest pictures you'll ever see!

We only got dressed and left our beach house once to get ice cream one evening after dinner. 
So this matching yellow eyelet top & mini skirt was the only 'outfit' I wore all week aside from swimsuits and a tank & shorts combo at the end of each day.

I love the look of mini dresses but in reality they tend to be too short for my comfort. And going up a size makes the bodice too big. A matching set gives you a monochromatic look but also allows you a variety of styling options by splitting the piece up. My favorite is the ability to select different sizes for a best fit.

My upper body is smaller than my lower so I ordered this top in an xxs (my true size) and chose to go up a size in the skirt to a small for a tad extra length.  Since the waist is elastic I knew I wouldn't have to worry about it being too big and can adjust from a high or lower placement on my waist. Praise for the flexibility of stretchy waistbands. 

If you choose to split these pieces up, the top will pair beautifully with shorts, skirts, and pants while the skirt would be super cute with a graphic tee and sneakers. The pastel yellow is soft and neutral so it coordinates nicely with just about anything!



Yellow Eyelet Top & Mini Skirt | Similar Set in White Floral Top & Skirt |

Dress Beautifully in an Eyelet Matching Set 

XOXO Sarah-Louise