Tiny Dancer

 

Black Silk Dress: Joe's Jeans 'Dorian' Dress (here)

Heels: Banana Republic 'Gayle Zip-Strap Pump' in deep chestnut (here)

Clutch: Valentino

Bracelet: Torchlight Jewelry

 

I took ballet & figure skating classes for awhile when I was a kid, but I quit them both when I realized I wasn't any good at being elegant or feminine. I eventually came to terms with the fact that I was never going to be graceful or coordinated enough to be the amazing dancer I always dreamed of becoming. But hey...that hasn't stopped me from at least faking it. Plus, my signature top knot helps "ballerina-ize" any outfit lol.

Catch of the Day

Dress: Biya 'Maliyah' Mesh Dress (on sale from $368 to $258 here)
 Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell 'Encase' Sandals (on sale from $170 to $97 here)
Jewelry: Vanessa Mooney
Hat: Vintage  

According to my friend, Fernie, I look like The Little Mermaid going on a romantic date with Prince Eric to a French bistro on a warm afternoon. Haha. In her words, I'm "a beautiful mermaid that got caught in a net and is now being forced to walk around on land wearing cute clothes!". I couldn't be more flattered lol. I mean who doesn't love the adorable little redheaded princess?! 

The sad truth is...I'm not a mermaid (although I really wish I was). And I didn't go on a romantic date with my handsome boyfriend since he's been putting in some insane hours at work. Instead, I went on a romantic date with my college roommate, Katie. We spent a relaxing evening picnicking in the park & watching Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. If you live in the LA area, you mustn't miss it! Only two more weeks left of the Independent Shakespeare Co.'s scheduled performances. Check out their calendar here! 

A Hot Mesh

Mesh Crop Top: LF Stores

Chambray Skirt: For Love & Lemons

Hat & Belt: Vintage

Laser Cut Booties: Jeffrey Campbell 'Produce' (here)

With summer starting to really heat up, its mandatory to find ways to shed as many layers as possible without looking too scandalous. Lately I've been combating these high temps with one of my favorite summer trends....MESH! Obviously mesh can be a little tricky to style because if done poorly, you could quickly go from being cool and sexy to just a plain hot mess. Below are some of the tips I used when putting my outfit together.

Styling Tips:

1) A little skin never hurt nobody. Mesh Fabric + Crop Top combo seems a little daring but I styled mine with a high waisted skirt in order to show off just a sliver of midriff. Since my top was already sheer, I tried to avoid exposing too much skin. The key here is balance.

2) Layer wisely. Again, anything sheer can easily turn too sexy if you don't layer properly. Covering your little lady bits is a MUST! So I would suggest layering your solid mesh top over a cute bralette or bandeau but if your mesh has embroidery or designs like mine, you can just opt for a simple slip or nude bra.

3) Never forget that nude shoes elongate your legs! For shorter people like me, this is a very important rule to get dressed by. In this outfit, my skirt hemline is a little longer than other miniskirts that I'm used to so I completed my outfit with these Jeffrey Campbell nude booties to help create the illusion of longer legs.

*Try dresses and tops with mesh inserts if solid mesh is a little too scandalous for your taste. Or even try out one of my favorite mesh accessories...mesh heels! These can instantly add sexiness to any outfit without running the risk of exposing too much.  So no matter what your style is, know that mesh can easily be incorporated into any wardrobe. Stay cool by trying out this hot mesh trend with me this summer!