Summer Uniform

Last year I made an impulse purchase during one of Loft's fabulous flash sales: a silky black long-sleeved romper. I'd never worn one before, but it seemed like the kind of thing that would come in handy in a year-round summer climate. It was dirt cheap, so even if I only wore it a few times it would be a reasonable investment. Spoiler alert: I fucking loved it and wore the hell out of it.

This romper is so flattering and so versatile, I'm planning to buy a second one because it is just the easiest summer uniform. It is the perfect blank canvas for all of your favorite accessories -- do yourself a favor and buy one (check out some of the best options in store right now).

Here's how I mix and match shoes, jewelry, and bags so that no one even notices that I'm wearing the same thing three days in a row*:

*this may be wishful thinking, but no one has called me out on it...yet

Start With Shoes

I like to start with shoes here because I think they'll kind of dictate the overall vibe of your look -- is it dressy, casual, or something in between? Also, when you're wearing all black and showing a lot of leg, your shoes are just going to pop. They'll probably be the first thing people notice, so make sure they are fabulous!

The question I always need to answer is: how much walking am I going to be doing? I can't stand uncomfortable shoes, and I don't want to be that girl hobbling down the street for the sake of a cute pair of sandals. Play with color, heel height, and style -- almost anything works here (steer clear of pumps -- they have a way of making shorts look kind of trashy). Here are some of my favorite options in stores right now. They couldn't be more different (ranging in price from $11-$800), and yet they would all be amazing.

simple: one/two/three/four  walkable: one/two/three/four  
sport: one/two/three/four  sky high: one/two/three/four

Add Plenty of Jewelry

The beauty of a simple outfit is that you can truly never have enough jewelry. Pile it on! More is more.

The neckline of this particular Loft romper doesn't lend itself particularly well to necklaces, so I tend to stick to rings, bracelets, and earrings. But just think of the possibilities: an armful of bangles in a rainbow of colors, or Wonder Woman-style thick gold cuff on each wrist.

Try breaking out one -- or a few -- of your big cocktail rings (even during the day), or stack a bunch of delicate ones. At night, I love piling my hair on top of my head to show off a great pair of earrings.

funky: one/two/three  bold: one/two/three  stacked: one/two/three  delicate: one/two/three

Show Off a Great Bag

Once you have your shoes and jewelry sorted out, it should be easy to figure out the right bag. You can get away with anything from a sleek clutch to a big bold tote -- summer bags are just the most fun, aren't they?

classic: one/two/three  graphic: one/two/three   airy: one/two/three  

Here are a few ways I'm going to wear my romper this week summer:

Wednesday Wishlist: Blush and Bashful

I'm not sure exactly what color bashful is, but I am definitely loving all of the blush shades I'm seeing everywhere.

1. How great are these heels? I love the metallic accents and cutouts -- a great variation on a classic nude pump.

2. Pale pink is kind of an unexpected color for a leather jacket, but a nice breath of fresh air for spring. It will go with more than you might think -- definitely neutrals like black, white, gray, and camel, but also bolder colors like grass green, tomato red, and navy blue.

3. For when you just want to look at life through rose-colored glasses. Sometimes I have a hard time wearing aviators (big head, don't care), so I like these larger frames.

4. This blouse is just so pretty -- the subtle color and the intricate lace around the neckline are really flattering, and perfect for showing off a great pair of earrings (love, love, love these).

5. I've had this tassel necklace on my radar for a while, not sure why I haven't pulled the trigger. It is fairly substantial, so it is a nice way to make a statement without going the traditional bib necklace route.

6. Who would guess these classic and sophisticated quilted ballet flats are from Payless? This is a great neutral shoe when you're sick of your basic black flats.

7. I love the shape of this jacket, particularly the fact that it has short sleeves (professional dressing in Florida can be tricky, and occasionally you need to emerge from the air conditioned cocoon). This is from The Limited's Scandal collection -- wear it when you need a bit of Olivia Pope badass-ery.

8. I've seen a number of blush colored handbags and honestly, I didn't love any of them. Inexpensive bags tended to look too chalky, and the pricier ones seemed impractical. I do love this great weekend bag -- it is super chic and has great reviews. It is almost time to start planning those long weekends at the beach...

9. I like a touch of pink in my tech accessories. I've never spent more than twenty bucks on headphones, but if I felt like splurging I would definitely go with these (and you know about the major ShopBop sale happening now, so this would be a good time to pull the trigger). And I love the combo of blush and neon pinks in this iPhone case -- I'm ordering this one for myself.

10. I placed an order for these Sam and Libby slides in this color (Fawn) and also metallic gold (Target has a nice buy 1, get 1 half off sale right now). The heel height is perfect -- completely walkable with a little lift. It is surprisingly hard to find this happy medium between flats and 4" wedges -- why is that?