Farewell Summer

I notice You in children’s games, in those who watch them from the shade. Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder. You are summer.

Casual Friday: College Colors

Happy Friday, y'all! College football kicked off last night and that means one thing...fall is imminent! Today is national College Colors Day, so I hope you're sporting your team's hues. I found out about College Colors Day yesterday on Facebook, after which I emailed our staff to participate.

College Colors Day began in 2005 as a way to promote school spirit and spread the message of the need for higher education.

Since we're in a college town, quite a few of us are FSU fans, but we've got many schools represented in our office. Jerry is a big Auburn fan!

Today is a Casual Friday outfit, but it's a great example of how to show school spirit in the office. Jerseys and t-shirts aren't office appropriate, but that doesn't mean you can't show support for your team. 

I wore a black and tan striped maxi skirt with a black camisole. The tan served as the "gold" in my outfit. I topped it off with a garnet cardigan and wore my gold glitter Jacks. A great way to show off your college colors in the office is by wearing jewelry. In my ears I sported a pair of Fan Flirties. These earrings are a must for gameday. 

Welcome back, college football. Go 'Noles! Scalp 'em!

Maxi Skirt: Calvin Klein
Camisole: Target
Cardigan: Target
Earrings: Fan Flirties
Sandals: Jack Rogers

Review: Apple Store

Call me a laggard. I've only been a smartphone user since May 2011. It was then that I purchased a Droid. I loved having a smartphone, and during the fall of that year I was basically without a laptop, so my HTC Incredible 2 was my lifeblood.

Fast forward to nine months later. I shattered my screen and had sweat in the phone (running without an armband), so I needed a new phone. The Droid still works, but it just didn't look nice. I went to Verizon and joined the Apple cultists with an iPhone 4 in February 2012. 

The iPhone 4 stood up to hell and high water, literally. In August of 2012 it took a bath, but ended up working just fine after an extended stay in a bag of rice. In January of 2013 it took a dip again. This time, it didn't bounce back the same. It was functioning but fickle for about a week. It died on a Friday two weeks after the incident, and I purchased an iPhone 5 just before the one year anniversary of the 4. 

The iPhone 5 was great until the top lock button stopped functioning about three months after getting the phone. I had been meaning to take it to the Apple Store, but there isn't one in Tallahassee and I never had a convenient time to visit an out of town store. 

During my conference in Clearwater, I found some time to visit the Apple Store in Tampa. I had never been to an Apple Store so I wasn't sure what to expect. There were so many blue-shirted team members that were incredibly personable. 

I arrived about 10 minutes before my Genius Bar appointment and was seen immediately. It took a bit of time to actually get helped at the bar, but the service was exceptional. The customer service agent who helped me set me up with a new iPhone 5 (for free!) and even answered ancillary questions about sharing contacts between phones, using the Find My iPhone feature and how to add multiple email accounts to Apple devices. 

Overall, the Apple Store experience was great! I was so impressed with the customer service, how quickly I was seen, and that there was no paperwork involved to get a replacement phone under warranty! Apple really knows how to take care of its customers. Kudos to you, Apple! I'll be back!

OOTD: Coral and Navy

Day three of my conference: full on color.

***

This J.Crew dress is experiencing some heavy rotation in my closet. I'm wearing this piece all the time! The cut is perfect and I love the high neckline. If it came with a full skirt, I don't think I'd ever take it off. 

I topped the dress with my navy Talbots jacket that didn't make it into yesterday's post. (When packing for travel, make sure your outfits can mix and match so you can cut down on space.) 

I am in love with these shoes! I saw these Calvin Klein wedges at Marshalls in Tallahassee in early spring. I liked them, but wasn't ready to bite the bullet. Later in the summer I was visiting the beach house (there's a fab Marshalls there) and saw them on sale. 

When I purchase shoes, I try to envision the different outfits I can wear them with. I couldn't identify many options for these but I bought them anyway. I'm so glad I did! 

I've discovered coral works well into my wardrobe and that I love the bright shoe to coordinate, or to contrast. The patent is great, and I love that the stacked wedge is not too high (I'd put these at an inch and three-quarters). 

I added more splashes of color with a periwinkle patent belt and a green three-strand statement necklace. 

Dress: J.Crew

Jacket: Talbots

Shoes: Calvin Klein

Necklace: Banana Republic

Belt: Target

OOTD: Conferencing in Clearwater

Today's OOTD is a testament to color working in a professional wardrobe. This look also embraces trends, but still looks traditional. 

(More shameless mirror selfies...in my hotel room!) 

I wore a navy peplum suit dress from Calvin Klein and belted it with a sunny yellow patent belt. To keep the look summery, I wore natural pumps with a white cap toe. To pull on the white, I wore a necklace from Ann Taylor that's been featured on the blog before. (I hadn't put it on yet in the photo!) Over the dress I wore a textured navy Talbots jacket. 

Dress: Calvin Klein

Pumps: Nine West

Belt: J.Crew

Jacket: Talbots

Necklace: Ann Taylor

OOTD: Standing in the Neon

Today's OOTD is all about neon. I felt very bright and this outfit kept me going all day. This photo was taken in my office. Aren't the stained glass windows divine? 

The palm print on the blouse matches the shade and print of the scarf, and the pencil skirt matches the red in the scarf too! 

After work, Kaleigh, Caroline and I went to the Access Tallahassee event at a new restaurant/bar in town, Madison Social. We had a great view of the stadium as the sun set and we got some great pictures. It was so much fun to network with other yopros in Tallahassee and experience a new venue. 

Blouse: Ann Taylor

Skirt: J.Crew Factory

Scarf: LOFT

Bracelet: Ann Taylor

Pumps: Nine West

Casual Friday: Polka Dots and Chambray

You may have noticed a Casual Friday pattern: I like fun pants on Fridays. Maybe I should start calling them "Fun Pants Friday."

I love these pants! Here's a closeup of the detail. 

Polka dots are so fun and the square detail is unexpected. These fit like a dream and really stay comfy all day. 

 Chambray entered a few seasons ago as a really popular neutral alternative. As denim, it really can go with anything, but it makes this outfit more interesting that a basic white blouse. 

I added the J. Crew necklace with pink and blue tones to play up the pink polka dots, and bring in the blue from the shirt. This necklace is quickly becoming one of my favorites!

The untucked chambray button-down made the look more relaxed (it's summer!) but tucking it in and adding a patent pink belt would make this a more office appropriate Casual Friday ensemble.

Top: GAP

Pants: GAP (on sale $25.99)

Necklace: J.Crew Outlet

Pumps: Nine West

OOTD: Happy Birthday, Bethany!

(Bethany in the center - Kaleigh far right - I'm in Orange!)

My sweet friend Bethany celebrated a birthday on Tuesday. We made plans to celebrate at dinner but Bethany tried to cancel at the last minute. Little did she know, I had already called Publix and ordered a cake for a surprise celebration that evening. Thankfully, Bethany is easily convinced by good company and a glass of Black Bubbles. (Editor's Note: I love champagne, but Black Bubbles doesn't do it for me.)

We met at local restaurant/bar, Wine Loft, and the weather was perfect for an outdoor balcony party, complete with party hats (thanks, Kaleigh)!

Since I didn't snap a picture of my outfit, the photos from the birthday party will have to suffice!

Kaleigh and I hit up the Lilly Pulitzer Summer Sale on Monday at local boutique Pink Narcissus since our friends at the Pink Palace broke the internet - OH SHIFT!

We had a great time in the dressing rooms modeling for each other and deciding what to pick out. I came away with two great dresses I plan to wear at our Annual fall meeting at The Breakers in Palm Beach come October. I'm saving them until then, but I was in the mood for Lilly so I pulled out an old orange and white shift. Kaleigh, Bethany and I all had the same idea and looked ready for a Lilly party.

Bethany's birthday party turned out great. Bethany was very surprised, I got to meet some old friends of hers (now I have new friends), and we all genuinely enjoyed each other's company while celebrating Bethany! It was very impromptu, but certainly fun.

“That’s what life is all about: Let’s have a party. Let’s have it tonight.” - Lilly Pulitzer

Dress: Lilly Pulitzer

Cardigan: Bealls Florida

Shoes: Jack Rogers

Bracelet: Ann Taylor

OOTD: Casual Friday: Denim and Lace

It's casual Friday, y'all! The theme of today is denim and lace with a pop of color.

I was inspired by this J.Crew look featuring a lace blouse over a button down. I opted for a chambray popover tunic over a lace shell that I hadn't quite figured out how to wear yet. To punch up the look with some color I added coral pants and threw on a long necklace with pops of matching coral to bring it together.

I used the College Prepster's J.Crew sleeve roll here and It looked perfectly slouchy!

Denim tunic: Old Navy
Lace shell: Ann Taylor LOFT
Crops: Ann Taylor LOFT
Necklace: J.Crew
Flats: Tahari

Review: LOFT Everyday Tee

The LOFT Everyday Tee is a wardrobe staple. I want one in every color. Simple, solid t-shirts go with everything in your closet, and they are great for those "I have nothing to wear" days.

These go great under suits or with shorts on the weekend. They're so versatile.At $14.50, they're affordable to stock up on.

The fit is perfect. It's fitted enough not to look frumpy, but loose enough that it doesn't hug you in unforgiving areas. With some starch it definitely has structure, but is baby soft to the touch.

OOTD: Blue on Black

Today's Outfit Of The Day is a perfect example of a conservative outfit with an appropriate pop of color. I would be totally comfortable wearing this to an external meeting (in fact, I did today). 

**

It's hard to see in the picture, but the blouse's flowers are outlined in the same shade of turquoise as the skirt. The skirt is much brighter IRL. The photo below (from the LOFT website) is much more accurate to showcase the color.

I have the LOFT Scuba skirt in pink and loved it so much, I bought it in blue! I saw the blue while shopping during Florida's sales-tax holiday and it was on mega sale, so I purchased it. It was only available in my size in the "tall" version. I bought it anyway because it's incredibly easy to tailor skirts, but after wearing it I kind of like the longer length.

Blouse: Banana Republic Factory Store

Skirt: LOFT

Pumps: Steve Madden

Blazer: Ann Taylor

Bracelet: Ann Taylor

**Editor's Note: I did not actually wear these shoes to work. These pumps are NSFW (too high!) and are used exclusively for special occasions. The heel height on these babies is 4.75" and they DON'T have a platform. Talk about elongated legs!! I keep my black pointy-toe pumps at my office desk at all times, so these were all I had at home to complete the look for your viewing pleasure.

OOTD: Pops of Color

White feels so crisp and fresh, and is perfect for summer. This morning I wanted the crispness of white, but I was feeling colorful, so I came up with this Outfit Of The Day. 

I paired a floral pencil skirt with a simple white crew neck t-shirt, white seersucker boyfriend blazer and natural/white pumps. I accessorized with a white bracelet and green necklace.

(Sorry for the shameless selfies/bathroom mirror pics. I'll have my photographer back soon!)

Skirt: LOFT
T-Shirt: LOFT
Blazer: GAP (similar)
Pumps: Nine West
Necklace: Banana Republic Outlet
Bracelet: Ann Taylor

The skirt is very bright, as you can see in my photo (as compared to the web image). The fit is a little different than my other LOFT skirts. I would go down a size because it stretches a lot and had a lot of room in the waist. I was constantly tugging it down after moving around.

Tips and Tricks: Professional Linen

I love linen in the summer. It's cool, breezy and adds interesting texture to an outfit. But linen wrinkles and has a tendency to look very sloppy as soon as you sit down. So how to avoid looking less than put-together while wearing linen? I'll share a few tips.

1. Drip Dry. Don't put linen in the dryer. Hang drying linen will prevent it from wrinkling too fast. 

2. Keep It Damp. Don't allow linen to dry completely. The wrinkles will release more easily if you iron while the clothing is still slightly damp. Remember to turn your heat to to the lowest setting to avoid burning it.

3. Starch, Starch and Starch Some More. Use a spray starch on the linen and an iron with continuous low heat. Spray and iron a few times on both the inside and outside surfaces. (Ironing will work better than steaming for linen.)

4. Downy Wrinkle Releaser. In my experience, this is not a miracle product, but I've read countless online reviews from people who swear by the potion. I keep this in my desk at all times, and while it does help a bit, it's not going to make your clothes wrinkle free like an iron or steamer will. 

OOTD: Pretty in Pastel

Pastels looks good on anyone, and they're sure to brighten your spring or summer day.

Ann Taylor Petite Ruffle Sleeveless Top

Pencil Skirt in LOFT Scuba

I love the LOFT Scuba skirt so much, I recently bought it in bright blue, too! I threw a light pink ruffle neck cardigan over this look and it worked out quite nicely. For shoes, I went with a casual white glitter Jack Rogers sandal.

OOTD: Geometry

I bought these pants at Gap when they were new arrivals. They practically screamed at me when I walked in the store. I had to try them on. When they fit flawlessly, I was sold. I didn't care that I practically had my 10th grade math book graphed onto my lower body - I was going to OWN those pants.

Then I got home. And I looked at those pants and I thought to myself, "What the heck did you do?" I thought there was NO WAY I was going to leave the house in something so utterly ridiculous. With my head hanging low, I trudged back to the mall a few weeks later and got my $54.00 back.

But a few weeks ago I happened to find myself at the Gap during a 50% off clearance sale. And I saw the pants. In my size. For a whopping $20.

Fate had brought me back to those pants. I couldn't say no, y'all.

I went into the office on a casual Friday and I wore the pants. And it felt great.

Happy Hour with the Tallahassee Pi Phi Alumni Club where I serve as the Treasurer. 

(Featuring the pants, front and center!)

Blouse: Ann Taylor LOFT

OOTD: Floral Coral

Coral is my color. It just works with my skin tone and hair color. I can rock any shade of coral. And I love prints! (None of you are surprised.) So this shirt was an obvious choice.

This shell caught my eye as soon as I walked into LOFT, and because the pants matched so well I couldn't pass them up. It wasn't until some days later that I discovered I already had a pair of ankle pants in a shade a touch more orange, but oh well. I got them on mega clearance (somewhere in the ballpark of $13), so clearly I need two pair.

Floral Dream Print Structured Shell

Marisa Side Zip Ankle Pant in Bi-Stretch

I wore this jacket (F21 - similar here), which pulled in the cream from the blouse and finished with a pair of Tahari cream flats with a gold cap toe (similar).

OOTD: Scream it in Citron

I need my clothes to keep up with my personality, so they've got to pack a punch! This Outfit Of The Day is bright and perfect for the middle of summer. Citron has been everywhere this summer and though it took me a little while to embrace the trend, now I can't get enough.

Scream and shout and let it all out in citron:

Ann Taylor Palm Print Top

I love the unexpected button back detail on this blouse.

J Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in double-serge cotton in light citron

The coloring in these pictures doesn't exactly match up, but in person they're an identical shade. I might even pop this fun scarf I recently purchased from LOFT over the top when I wear it again. The palm motif is the same, and again...same shade! 

I paired the look with a periwinkle patent belt and nude pumps. Next time, when I add the scarf I'll go with a neon persimmon belt to match the bright stripe. 

Are you embracing trendy colors like citron this summer?

OOTD: Seeing Stripes

It's August, and in Tallahassee we may as well change the name of the month to H-O-T. These are the dog days of summer, y'all. You've got to bring a towel if you're walking to your car, which makes it a bit difficult to dress for business.

Enter the seersucker suit. Now these ripply stripes aren't just reserved for Easter Sunday and the Kentucky Derby, y'all. And whoever said this is a boys' club tradition got it all wrong. If you enter my closet, it's no secret I love this breezy fabric. I've got dresses, pencil skirts, mini skirts, shorts and even a skort. (It's Lilly Pulitzer. I'm not revisiting my prep school uniform choices, y'all!) But my favorite seersucker pieces are my suits. I've got three (white, cream and blue) and they experience heavy rotation this time of year. It's also remarkably easy to make seersucker transition into casual weekend wear, which you can't do for a traditional suit.

Today I'm keeping cool in:

LOFT Everyday Tee in Aztec Rouge

Ann Taylor Seersucker Two Button Jacket

Ann Taylor Petite Seersucker Ankle Pants

The ankle pants are a way to give the seersucker a modern update, perfect for the middle of summer. It's a great way to show off a fabulous pair of heels, too! I wore mine with a pair of pointed-toe Nine West pumps in natural canvas with a white cap toe. I added a patent yellow belt and a long strand of pearls to finish the look.

Stay cool, my friends!

OOTD: Summer Shimmer

Lurex Dot Pleated Full Skirt

I got this skirt at LOFT recently. I've been loving yellow lately, and I think jacquard is the perfect fabric to wear all day since it keeps its structure nicely. The gold polka dots just make the skirt fun, and easy to accessorize with jewelry.

LOFT's website has the skirt paired with a white T-shirt, and so does Psyche at Economy of Style. Next time I wear this piece, I'll definitely match it with white! I opted to match the natural waistband of the skirt and went with this Ann Taylor beige lace blouse. The top is about two years old, from the Ann Taylor Factory Store.

I threw on a turquoise bubble necklace to complement the neckline and add a pop of color and paired with these snakeskin pumps from Target (picked up for only $20 at their clearance sale this weekend.) Unfortunately, they aren't on sale online, so check your local Target store.

Merona Maye Pumps

The best part about the outfit? The skirt was only $7.44 after a 50% off final sale price.

Wild Blooms - Mix and Match

I purchased several items in the Wild Blooms print from Ann Taylor. These colors will work nicely through the summer and into the fall. There are endless color options to mix and match with this pattern. 

http://www.anntaylor.com/wild-blooms-skirt/300325?colorExplode=false&skuId=13153465&catid=cata000049&productPageType=saleProducts&defaultColor=5689

This skirt features an elastic waistband and stays put all day! 

This clutch (unavailable) will be great to grab for happy hour - to match with the skirt or even on its own. 

http://www.anntaylor.com/wild-blooms-patent-skinny-belt/300356?colorExplode=false&skuId=12943814&catid=cata000025&productPageType=search&defaultColor=5696

The printed belt is a great way to add flair to a more muted outfit. See my thoughts on belts here. 

The Wild Blooms print also features blouses, a cardigan and a pair of flats. I love matchu prints that can be swapped in and out with other pieces!

4th Finds

July 4th in Tallahassee was dreary at best, monsooning at worst. I spent the day cleaning house and shopping. I popped into Ann Taylor to look for a few new blouses during their additional 40% off sale.

http://www.anntaylor.com/petite-lattice-yoke-shell/309129?colorExplode=false&skuId=13717414&catid=cata000045&productPageType=saleProducts&defaultColor=2481

Love the emerald color of this blouse. It will pair nicely with Lilly Pulitzer skirts at the office. 

http://www.anntaylor.com/crepe-short-sleeve-top/307177?colorExplode=false&skuId=13761141&catid=cata000045&productPageType=saleProducts&defaultColor=4470

This coral crepe top will replace one of my favorite blouses that was ruined by a sticker. The color is universally flattering and it's easy, breezy and beautiful! The unique neckline (not visible in the photo) adds an interesting touch. 

The last top I picked up was a turquoise ponte knit 3/4 sleeve shirt that will work well in fall and winter. (photo unavailable)

Recent Banana Republic Purchases

Gap used to be one of my favorite stores. It was my go-to for well fitting clothes. Now that my wardrobe is upgrading from preppy casual to business casual, I've found myself turning to Banana Republic for the same kind of fit, quality, and affordable clothing.

When I made a recent outlet trip, I picked up a great yellow jacquard sheath, two new blouses, a white jacquard pencil skirt, blue and white printed jacquard shorts and a great green necklace. BR Factory doesn't have a website, so if you head to your nearest store you may see some of the pieces I've described.

Here are some of my favorite recent purchases from BR:

JCREW Factory Finds

Yesterday I shared my OOTW with finds from the JCREW Factory sale going on now.  Use code CELEBRATE for free shipping and 50% off all items (prices are as marked). Here are a few other pieces I picked up both in-store and online.

Draped Tank (unavailable)

Claire Cardigans

Pencil Skirt

I purchased this belt in every color available, except black! At $9.99, I couldn't pass up six of these. They are perfect for adding a pop of color by belting over a cardigan or on top of a pencil skirt. I love classic pieces in non-traditional colors, but bright belts are a great way to add personality to attire in more conservative offices.

OOTD:

This Outfit Of The Week came from a J Crew Factory store trip. They're currently running a 50% off promotion, and after I returned home I logged on to the web and purchased a few more things. I love a great deal!

http://factory.jcrew.com/womens-clothing/dresses/Day_Dresses/PRDOVR~67725/67725.jsp

The dress is much brighter IRL. 

Necklace - unavailable

The necklace I purchased is on the bottom in this layered look. I paired it with a belt (similiar) and a cardigan (similar) from Target. Patent off-white flats (similar) completed the look. 

Patriots' Day and the Boston Marathon Tragedy

My heart breaks to watch the footage from this afternoon's tragedy. The blast occurred right in the area I stood 10 years ago today, as I watched my father cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon. It's Patriots' Day - a commemoration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, where "the shot heard 'round the world" began the fight for our freedom as Americans. Today the world heard shots again, and the response from Americans and the world over has been incredibly moving. 236 years later, even in the face of terror, Americans continue to stand for our freedoms and support one another. May God Bless America.

Change Happens

"Change is a funny thing, not everyone can handle it. It can sneak up on you. Things aren’t what they use to be. The whole world is transformed. You realize the ground beneath you has shifted. Things are uncertain and there’s no turning back. The world around you is different now. Unrecognizable, and there is nothing you can do about it. You’re stuck and the future is staring you in the face and you’re not sure you like what you see." - Alex Karev, Grey's Anatomy, season nine, episode 14. 

As the spring season is now officially underway, I take a step back and discover there are just a mere six weeks left until the semester is over, until Sine Die, until the suits all go home and new friends become mere acquaintances, and until I'm finished with undergraduate college life. 

This doesn't come as a surprise to me. No one pulled the rug out from underneath my firmly planted feet. No, rather, these feet have been shifting constantly, ready for the chance to break fast and loose. But now, all of a sudden, it feels real. The light at the end of the tunnel that was once just a twinkling, far off star has become a blinding beacon of uncertainty. 

During this time of uncertainty it's important for me to remember that I am in charge of what I see in the mirror and I am responsible for the decisions that I make. I heard the other day, "You may not think you have a choice, but you always have a choice. The trick is to live with the ones you make." While all of this change is occurring rapidly over the next six weeks, it's these words that will ground me through the experience and remind me to step back, take a deep breath and gain some perspective.

Lent, revisited

The Christian Season of Lent is a period of time spent in preparation for Easter and the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent lasts for 40 days, ending on Easter Sunday. During Lent, Christians take time to reflect on Christ's life, suffering and sacrifice. It is common practice within the church to "give up something for Lent" that serves as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice. The purpose is to remind you of Jesus when you want to participate or consume whatever you gave up.

I can remember as a child growing up and giving up chocolate, Diet Coke and fast food, to name a few. If you follow my Twitter feed, you know that this year I chose to give up excuses. I created a motto for myself that was the center of my motivation to give up excuses. The motto is "Be present, be mindful, do good."

This weekend I was submitting an internship application, which asked me to choose a tagline that represents who I am. I immediately thought of my Lenten motto. The exercise allowed me to elaborate on what it means to me and how it defines me. Though I created it to guide me through the Lenten season, I've decided to adopt the philosophy to my life year-round. Below I've included my internship submission so that you can see my rationale for my new life motto.

I've created a personal motto to guide my life decisions: “Be present, be mindful, do good.” This motto is a tagline that represents who I am because it is a constant reminder of the values I hold. Often, I find myself making well thought out plans for the future. Preparedness is of utmost importance to me; however, I find that the phrase “be present” is a reminder that awareness and pro-activity must strike a balance with readiness in order to achieve success. This applies to both the way I approach a public relations campaign and how I live my life. “Be mindful” illustrates the importance of perspective. I try to be cognizant of relationships that may not be clearly identifiable at first glance. “Do good” demonstrates that I should guide myself with a strong moral compass and to be accountable in all that I do. So who am I? I am Morgan L. McCord: present, mindful and doing good.