Marine Print Dress

As you can tell I'm totally on board with the swingy summer dress trend. I'm actually doing ok with them considering how shapeless they make me feel. They are just so darn easy and comfy I can't resist. I'm pretty much against anything that has more than an elastic waist band until school starts back up. Till then I'll be sticking to floaty dresses, maxis and rompers! And since summer is coming to an end there are so many great pieces on sale now too, so stock up.

Special thanks to Coolibar to this awesome bendable/packable sun hat. I always have to wear my hat on the plane on trips to avoid it getting smooshed, but this one was meant for smooshing! Then perfectly unsmooshing as if it always looked that way. Pure genius! It's on sale right now for 25% off too in a bunch of colors.

 Forever 21 Marine print dress // Sole Society Tilda sandals // H&M necklace (a little thicker chain from Shop Bijous) // Coolibar packable hat c/o (this hat bends right back into shape after being mashed into your luggage and is 25%  off right now!) // Forever 21 Tassel necklace (love this one too and just $9) // ASOS purse (or try this ASOS mint satchel) 

Striped Duet Dress and a List

I'm back! Back from Vegas, vacationing with my family and back to blogging! I have missed Hot pink style but it was also really refreshing to take a break. I have so many shopping related things to share I don't know where to begin. And when that happens I make a list so here it is.

*This dress I'm wearing (it's on sale too): I Got it in Vegas and I feel it's just one of those easy breezy summer dresses. It was perfect to wear to Market Days in Lakeview Saturday night to see Belinda Carlisle! She was my favorite when I was a kid. Right up there with Huey Lewis and Debbie Gibson.

*This peplum top: I don't own a single thing in this shade of bright turquoise! Even my 6 year old niece who went shopping with me at Caesars Palace Forum shops liked it. How do I say no when even she is impressed?

*These lip colors: NYX is a brand I'd never tried before but for 6 bucks a pop I gave them a whirl. I got this hot pink called Razzle which I'm wearing in the pictures below. The color is so saturated yet moisturizing. It also is so long lasting I woke up with a hint of it still on my lips. I also got Hot Tamale which is a perfect orangy red that you can see on me here. And last but not least this matte color called Bloody Mary which is a dark pinky red that looks like you just bit into a raspberry.

*This blog: Emily won me over with this dress in this post, and then I had to buy it for myself...

*This dress: This BCBG dress you may have seen on Gal Meets Glam, and our own Chicago girl Liz from Sequins and Stripes in blush pink. I found it in bright orange (much more my speed) on sale for 50% off in Vegas and had to snap it up!

*This sweater: Finally I have something to reference for my black blanket sweater I always get asked about. PS, Daily Look's web site is awesome! How/why did I not know this?

*These earrings: Just get a pair. They are going to be on everyones earlobes come Fall so get them now! 

*My summer job: I'm busy with a few new clients and it's always fun to shop as a job! Even if it's not for me. 

Ok, that's it for now. I'll be back to regularly scheduled posts this week so see you right here tomorrow!

Anthropologie Striped Duet dress // Nyx Lip color in Razzle // H&M necklace // Sole Society Tilda sandals // Forever 21 Sunglasses (Rayban option here)

Vegas Blogcation

{Image borrowed from Rachel from Rachel's Look Book}

Most normal families go to family friendly locations to spend time together on vacation, but in my family, when you grew up with a dad who owned race horses and dressed you up in pink baby jockey uniforms, then your family goes to the gambling capital to spend quality time together.

I'm not a gambler, I prefer to spend my money on things I can wear or see, so I will be spending time with my fashionista-in-training niece Allie at Fashion Show Mall and Caesars Forum Shops because that's how we Hovanes Gals do Vegas!

Other than that it will be pool time with the whole family at the Mirage and date nights with Andrew. We may even bring the niece and nephew along for a date too!

And to truly make this a vacation, I'm taking the week off blogging. I will be Instagraming constantly I'm sure, so keep up with me there and on Facebook!

Don't worry, I wouldn't do you like that, leave you high and dry on a Friday without planting a little shopping seed in your head. Let me share with you the miracle that happened yesterday at Woodfield Mall. I went to Lord and Taylor to return a pair of shoes and walked past a huge rack of bathing suits all for just $39! Now since this is a family trip, I was in need of some modest one-piece suits, and they had a ton! I actually found two adorable ones which is unheard of in bathing suit shopping history. And to prove it I rounded up all these one piece suits that are all just $39! Believe it! Shop it. Also an additional 15% off regular and sale price items and 20% off clearance online with promo code SAVINGS.

Have a great week everyone! 

Madison and Berkeley Showroom

Since today is #tbt, I guess it's only fitting that I drop this post from the first week of summer break when I was in NYC. What an utterly amazing trip. Peggy and I were rocking all of our New York connections and having a blast. We were so grateful that on our first day there we were able to meet up with blogger buddy Maria, who was on her way out that afternoon, have lunch together at Fred's to have lobster sandwiches. Yep, that actually happened! After that we were off to meet Annette at the Madison and Berkeley/ Ten-Sixty Sherman showroom in Times Square (check out this view!) and get a inside look at what's to come this summer and fall. I have to say that this black tank below with "eat your lettuce and be sad" on it is my personal favorite. We even left with a few goodies of our own (you may have been admiring one of them here.)

Later that night we went out for Greek food and had a full-on Dan Humphrey from Gossip Girl sighting! Peggy was even sly enough to unknowingly-to-me snap this pic of him!

If that wasn't enough the very next day we got to take a tour of the Lucky Magazine offices thanks to the Lucky staffers that I met during the Best Dressed Teacher in Chicago Contest I was a finalist in. We got to see EVERYTHING! We were even just feet from Eva Chen right outside her office door! She was busy of course but we did get a peek inside since the door was wide open. I was even brave enough to send her an Instagram message later that day and she responded with such sweet words thanking me for doing the most important job in the world, teaching! Her words, not mine. I nearly fainted! 

Such an amazing trip. Have fun perusing my snaps from the Madison and Berkeley showroom and of course, shopping what I wore there! Hope your #tbt is as memorable as mine!

Annette, our adorable tour guide through the showroom!

And of course there were outfit pictures on the library steps in Bryant Park.

 Loft skirt // Zara top (from last year) // La Mer watch // Vintage bracelet and necklace // Sole Society Tilda sandals // Target jacket (super similar on clearance) // ASOS bag

Cover-Up Pool Style

In my personal opinion, swimsuit coverups can be pretty tricky, but my girl Samantha of the blog Gold Coast Girl nailed it! Samantha and I got a chance to get together poolside and hang out all while showcasing our summer swimsuit cover-up style.

I love how chic her look is, and how easily it could be worn to a beachside cafe. Samantha mixed a bold pink coverup and mirrored sunglasses with neutral summer basics like her black Tory Burch sandals and a straw hat and beach bag. 

Outfit details: Cover-up: Roberta Roller Rabbit (on sale) // Hat: H&M // Sandals: Tory Burch // Bag: Old from Spain (cute option here) // Towel: Target // Sunnies: H&M (similar)

Learn a little more about my summer-break-loving, fellow teacher friend Samantha here!!

What made you want to start a blog and how did you come up with the name?

I have always had an obsession with fashion ever since I was little. I am a huge fan of reading fashion blogs so one day I just went for it and decided to start my own. I wanted to express my own voice, style, and creativity. I came up with the name Gold Coast Girl because I grew up in that area and live there now. I liked how it sounded, so I went for it.

How would you describe your style? 

I love all things black, gold, leopard, sequined, and hot pink. I feel like my style is a mix of preppy + feminine with a splash of edge.

What trends are you loving this summer? 

I too am obsessed with rompers. They are super fun, extremely comfortable, and a great go-to when you want to give your summer dress the day off. I also love the comeback of the overalls. They too are very comfortable and go great with tanks and sandals. 

What are your beach bag essentials? 

When packing my beach bag, I must include: sunscreen (I am currently into Coppertone Clearly Sheer SPF 30) , a water bottle (loving the glass Lifefactory ones), my iPhone and headphones, EOS lip balm, a headband to keep my hair back, some mirrored aviators (like THESE), and THIS fabulous towel I got from Target (it has pockets and I am loving it). 

Tell me about your favorite summertime activities in Chicago? 

I LOVE Chicago in the summertime! I am all about going for walks and runs on the beach bike path, having picnics in Millennium Park, and meeting friends for some rooftop cocktails. I also love the weekend street festivals and dining al fresco.

Sam also shared what she keeps in her beach bag...

Magazines, Old Navy swimsuit, EOS lip balm, Henri Bendel bags, Sunscreen, iPhone

See my outfit details and more over on Samantha's blog today!

Photo Credit: Peggy of HAMR

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