peplum

Cognac & Blue

This hot and sweaty summer has called for the lightest of layers and I’ve been living in this black peplum top I snagged from Old Navy’s huge sale a couple months ago. I don’t normally wear strappy tanks unless I’m working out, but I’m patting myself on the back now for the good sense I had when I got this loose and light top, along with a couple of dresses from Target. My favorite is a simple royal blue dress with a pom pom trim that I’ve been wearing equally as much as my black tank. Everyone knows how much I love my black, white, and navy staples, but bright blue has taken over my neutral palette lately. It’s such a happy color that adds a nice pop against the black that I love oh so much. It also pairs extremely well with cognac, which just happens to be one of my favorite leather colors for boots and handbags.

You’ll be seeing me sporting cognac frequently this fall, including on my go-to tote and matching wallet from Fulla&Fayda’s new collection. My tote is the perfect size to transport all of the necessities with room to spare for a slim laptop, file folders, and a quickly made sandwich, which is a must for my busy schedule. It has an interior pocket for my cell phone and knick-knacks, and a zipper on top to keep everything in place. The matching wallet is perfect for a night out or a quick run to the grocery store, with an interior zip pocket and magnet closure on the flap. The bright blue Haibibi Collection fabric reminds me of a vibrant summer, but the cognac will transition it nicely into fall when I’m on those lovely walks around town (with less sweat involved). I can hear the leaves crunching beneath my feet already…

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Outfit Details

Old Navy Peplum Top
Stella&Dot Jewelry and Sunnies
Fulla&Fayda Wallet

Photos by Bryan Wallace

pssssst – website and more information for Fulla&Fayda coming soon! In the meantime, you can check out our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram!

Peplum: the Dark Side

I love this black peplum top just as much as my white one. (Have I mentioned how much I love peplum??) I have very few “going out” tops, as I am not one who frequents the night clubs and D.C. hot spots on a regular basis, but this top is great for a night out dancing with the girls. Hell, it’s also great for a night in watching True Blood (guilty) with a glass of wine in hand… I have been all about the couch potato life lately on nights that I’m not working. Some say “rest is for the weary, sleep is for the dead”, but I definitely do not count myself in that group. This girl needs her sleep.

Outfit details:
Gap Peplum Tank
Gap Boyfriend Jeans similar
Anne Klein Pumps
Coach Crossbody similar, with fringe!
Stella & Dot Bracelet

Photography by Paul B. Jones

Peplum + Crop

I am in love with peplum tops. There’s just no other way to say it. The shape and length of peplum hugs and gives in all of the right places. I have also found that my peplum tops give me versatility in dressing for a causal day on the town, date night, or work event. I’ve been a girl on the go these past couple of weeks, so not having to fuss about my outfit before running out the door has been totally key in keeping my stress level low. I realized quickly that peplum does not let me down, especially when paired with my relaxed fit boyfriend jeans, cute pumps, and a daring crop top. If you’ve been cautiously avoiding (or resisting) the bare-all crop top trend, this is a perfect way to ease yourself into it, just in time for a month that calls for layering.

Outfit details:
Gap Peplum Tank
Gap Boyfriend Jeans similar (on sale!)
Sam Edelman Pumps similar

Photography by Paul B. Jones

Tried and True Blue

I tell you what. I am LOVING this bright blustery beautiful spring weather [although the wind turns my hair into a stringy tangled mess, c’est la vie] and T and I took full advantage the weekend after last with a visit to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms. Our “visit” was actually more of a long nightmarish excursion in stop-and-go traffic across town. I guess that’s what we get for venturing out on a gorgeous Saturday amongst tourists galore. Once we finally found a parking spot, T and I eagerly leaped out of the car in our crisp spring outfits ready for our cherry blossom adventure.

We have recently changed our dress code at work to just pure “casual,” meaning I have actually been able to pull out my denim during the week. This has been a completely foreign concept to me these past couple of years, so I feel like I’m going through a reacquaintance phase with my blue jeans. A pair that I have had and loved for years are a light wash pair of Levi’s. They are simple: not too tight around my waist and not too loose in the knees, can be dressed up with cuffs at the bottom and worn with a blouse and heels, or my personal favorite: worn with boots and a snazzy blazer.

I’m pretty sure my standard spring uniform will be comfy jeans paired with a graphic tee and blazer. It’s perfect because you can wear boots with it when it’s a little chilly out, or slap on a pair of leopard flats on a sunnier day! I gravitated toward a more summery look for our cherry blossom adventure because it was so warm out, and nothing screams summer more than white and blue. Teddy even jumped on the blue train with his light blue cotton shirt!

Outfit details:
ModCloth white peplum top similar
Levi’s blue jeans

Photography by Teddy Wolff