Style Steal: Estate Sale

Anyone who knows me will tell you that the only thing I love more than a great outfit, is a great outfit on sale. Some of my earliest shopping memories are of my mother and I combing through estate sales looking for hidden treasures. Now when I see a sign in the yard, its almost instinct to immediately pull over. Such was the case several years ago when I happened across one such sale and bought this knit skirt. At the time I had no idea how I would wear it, but it was cool and $8-sold. After collecting dust in my closet for quite some time*, I finally realized that this skirt really should be a strapless dress. Once I added the denim button down (a style steal in it's own right at only $25 from h&m), it quickly became one of my favorite things to wear.
Have y'all had any fun estate sale or thrift store purchases lately?

Dress: Vintage Skirt from Estate Sale. Shirt: h&m (similar). Shoes: RED Valentino. Clutch: Vintage Louis Vuitton via Portero. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Necklace: Madewell (similar). Arm Candy: Lily and Laura via Ellys Couture, J.Crew, Bfrend by Monika. Rings: Alex Monroe and Ring's Eclectic via Ellys Couture.

*I'm a firm believer that every item will have it's time. And until that time happens, holding onto things that I have yet to wear should NOT be considered hoarding. Just saying, SideSmile.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Sorry for the lack of posts this past week, I was super busy with our big summer sale at the store. Luckily I was able to document my looks from each day of the sale. Happy Monday!

DAY ONE:

Sweater: Elly's Couture. Shorts: 7 for all Mankind. Bralett: Hanky Panky. Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff. Gold Link Necklace: By Malene Birger. Jewelry: J.Crew, Lily and Laura, Liz Fohr, Sweet Ties, Alex Monroe, Nordstrom. Lipstick: Nars Jungle Red.

DAY TWO:

Dress: Judith March via Elly's Couture (similar). Sandals: Sam Edeleman (similar). Jewelry: Bfrend by Monika, Alex Monroe, Ring's Eclectic, Lily and Laura, Alex Monroe, Nordstrom.

DAY THREE:

Tank: Target. Skirt: Asos. Shoes: Sam Edelman. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Jewelry: Lauren Elan "Olivia" Necklace, Bfrend by Monika, Ring's Eclectic, J.Crew, Lily and Laura, Nordstrom, Alex Monroe.



Shop This Look:

HIGH LOW

Today I decided to get in on the high-low hemline trend with this skirt I picked up at work. I've heard them referred to as mullet skirts, which is not exactly a cute nickname. But I have to say I like this trend! What do you guys think, yay or nay?

Links to shop this outfit:

Shirt: Urban Oufitters. Skirt: Elly's Couture (similar). Sandals: Sam Edelman (similar). Bag: Alexander Wang. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Jewelry: Neon Necklaces BaubleBar, Nordstrom, Lily and Laura, Ring's Eclectic, Alex Monroe.

BIRTHDAY

In honor of my birthday today, I'm taking a bit of a blogging break :) I promise some birthday outfit posts to come! Hope y'all have a great weekend!

POLKA DOT DENIM

Links to shop this outfit:

Shirt: Target (last seen here). Jeans: Current/Elliot (different colors here and here). Shoes: Sam Edelman. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Monogram Necklace: West Avenue. Jewelery: Jennifer Zeuner, Bfrend by Monika, Lily and Laura, Sweet Hair Ties, Liz Fohr, Betsey Johnson.

THE COLD SHOULDER

 I have a long torso...like really really long. That's why this type of outfit is one I duplicate often. By tying up the shirt and wearing a higher waisted skirt, I'm able to make the fact that all shirts are way too short for me look intentional instead of unfortunate. This skirt from Topshop is always in heavy rotation. Do y'all use any fashion tricks to dress for your body type?

Links to shop this outfit:

Shirt: Express. Bralette: Free People. Skirt: Topshop (also last seen here). Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff.
Bag: Venice Flea Market. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Monogram Necklace: West Avenue.
Jewelry: Jennifer Zeuner, Bfrend by Monika, Lily and Laura, Liz Fohr, Sweet Hair Ties, Betsey Johnson.

EASY AS '1, 2, STATEMENT NECKLACE'

Truth time: Sometimes I oversleep in the mornings. It's true, I in fact am NOT a morning person (as anyone who has to deal with me before 11am will attest). I frequently wake up to my fifth snoozed alarm, in a state of well...alarm. "WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR??" is the thought racing through my brain...usually preceded and followed by a few choice expletives... All that is to say I have formed a fairly effective set of rules for whirlwind dressing.

Number One: Clearly this isn't a day that you budgeted enough time for a shower, so dry shampoo is your friend (I swear by this one). 

Number Two: Go with your gut,

just gravitate towards a go-to outfit and let your style instincts take over.

And finally, rule number three: statement necklaces make everything better. They magically say "Oh hey I put time and effort into this outfit, SideSmile." So it really can be as easy as 1, 2, Statement Necklace. 

Links to Shop this Look:

T-Shirt: StyleMint. Jeans: Zara (similar). Sandals: Sam Edelman. Bag: Alexander Wang. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Jewelry: Nordstrom, Sweet Hair Tie, Lily and Laura, Alex Monroe. Necklace: Ann Taylor (last seen here, sold out-get similar here).



PS. The lovely Morgan of Lipstick, Louboutins, and Lemon Drops is featuring me on her blog today! Check it out here.

LOVELY LEOPARD

I don't know if I 've been watching too much jersey shore or what, but lately I cannot get enough leopard! This high waisted skirt from Asos is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and at only $36 the price is hard to beat! I'm all about a good deal...and a good splurge, like this Alexander Wang Emile bag. When I saw it on sale at the Outnet.com, I decided to treat myself to an early birthday present. Hope y'all have a great Monday : )

Links to Shop this Look:

Shirt: Target. Skirt: Asos. Shoes: RED Valentino (last seen here). Bag: Alexander Wang. Sunglasses: Karen Walker. Jewelry: Nordstrom, Alex Monroe, Ring's Eclectic, J.Crew, Lily and Laura, Bfrend Monika.

KEY LIME + POM POM

Finally! We got some rain today and that blasted heat broke. However, because of the rain I was forced to take pictures under the safety of the store's awning #bloggerproblems. With the cooler temperature, I decided to whip out my favorite pair of colored denim (get them here*). When I first got them, I was sort of resigned to the idea that they would be a one and done kind of thing. Much to my delight, despite their neon green color, I have gotten a lot of use out of them! Have y'all ever bought something and be pleasantly surprised by it's staying power? 

Links to Shop this Look:

Shirt: J.Crew. Pants: 7 for all mankind (last seen here, buy them here or here). Shoes: Sperry Topsider. Bag: Kate Spade (similar). Jewelry: Lily and Laura, Bfrend by Monika, Alex Monroe, Michael Kors Watch, J.Crew.



PS. Don't forget to enter the Bandiez Couture Giveaway here!! Today is the Last Day!

LIME WEDGE

Here I go with the neons again! I love how light and breezy this Express shirt is (find similar here), but best of all it matches my favorite pair of Rebecca Minkoff sandals! I know some people think this trend should be left back in the 80's but I can't get enough. At least I know people will always see me coming :) How do you guys feel about neons?

Shirt: Express (similar). Shorts: 7 for all mankind (similar). Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff (last seen here). Bag: Market in Venice. Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper. Jewelry: Jennifer Zeuner Cross Necklace, West Avenue Monogram Necklace, Lily and Laura, Michael Kors Watch, Liz Fohr, Bfrend by Monika, Sweet glitter hair ties, Alex Monroe, Betsey Johnson.

On My Radar: July Picks

1 Nars Lipstick/ 2 Alice + Olivia Mora Dress/ 3 Noir Jewelry Earrings/ 4 Royal Bain Caron Champagne Perfume/ 5 Tory Burch Maisy Cross Body Bag/ 

6 Sunday Riley Good Genes/ 7 Paige Verdugo Ultra Skinny Polka Dot Jeans/

8 Cupcakes and Cashmere by Emily Schuman/ 

9 Anthropologie Bubbling Glass Chandelier/ 10 Mirrored Dresser/ Image

ps. Don't forget to enter my Bandiez Couture Headband Giveaway!

LAVENDER COTTON

The heat wave continues and so do the cotton dresses. My go to accessories this summer seem to be these Lily and Laura bracelets I picked up from work, and my trusty Karen Walker Super Duper Sunnies. What are y'alls go to summer accessories?

Links to shop this look:
Dress: Target (similar). Shoes: Sam Edelman. Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper. Jewelry: Lily and Laura, Liz Fohr, J.Crew, Alex Monroe.

Ps. Don't forget to enter my Bandiez Couture Headband Giveaway!

BANDIEZ COUTURE GIVEAWAY

Christen Edmonds is a fellow tiger at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and she started Bandiez Couture last year as a fundraiser for her second mission trip to Swaziland, Africa. I myself already have four of her headbands and am completely obsessed!  Five lucky SideSmile Style Readers will win a headband from Bandiez Couture by entering below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OUTTAKES - PART I

For today's post, a little self-mockery:

As any style blogger knows, not every picture we take is a winner. I already

 am not a huge fan of having my picture taken (weird but true), and 

I tend to act out by making a bevy of silly faces for the camera when I get

 uncomfortable. I thought it might be fun to share some of my goofy outtake 

moments from the past few months. Hope these give you guys a laugh!

and we're twirling...

attempting to be serious...this is why i smile in most pictures :)

heel sinking in the grass mid photo #bloggerproblems

this was one of my first outfit posts. clearly I had not warmed up to 

the camera yet.

 waiting for the wind to die down...again

 am I smirking? do I have to sneeze? hard to tell.