summer

Rainy Day Stripes

Happy third week of June! I seriously don’t know where summer came from, but it started with a bang and is here to stay for a while. (I don’t know about you, but I’m noticing a trend here with the start of new seasons). I know I know, summer doesn’t technically start until June 20, but 80-degree days and thick humidity is summer in my book.

We’ve had a few rainy days sprinkled in with our more well-loved sunny days, so I’ve been grabbing my trusty parka on the way out the door a lot lately. Out the door to where, you ask? Well, honestly no where super exciting, but you can imagine me running off to catch a flight to Paris or Iceland. I’m so happy I bought this thing a couple years ago from Zara – it’s relatively light so I can even wear it in warmer weather over a colorful blouse or stripey dress. Stripes on stripes seemed appropriate for a rainy day. Call me cliché.

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Outfit Details:

Zara Parka similar
Garnet Hill Striped Dress similar from GAP
Stella & Dot Clutch
Stella & Dot Necklace and Cuff

Photos by Bryan Wallace

Black and White Birthday

Last weekend was my birthday – the big 2-7. It’s not the most exciting age of them all, but it does deserve a little recognition. I feel like big things are going to happen this year… big things I tell ya. To start my self-proclaimed “big year”, I decided to take the day off. B took the day as well, so we could both do a few things that we have been wanting to do, but just haven’t quite had the time or energy for, like getting a manicure/pedicure at my all-time favorite salon. I don’t know about you, but a nice mani/pedi changes my life. I could be spiraling down a deep dark hole of stress and anxiety and, an hour of pampering, a nice chat with my technician, and 20 misty nails later, emerge as an entirely new person. It’s magical.

With my fresh nails and perspective on life, B and I spent the afternoon visiting a couple of our favorite D.C. spots. We had a little oyster action at Rappahannock Oyster Company in Union Market and then took a stroll around Eastern Market. It was really nice just to be able to enjoy being outside, and each other. Not a bad way to start the year.

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ModCloth Dress
Stella & Dot Plume Necklace
Stella & Dot Pearl Spike Ring
Stella & Dot Ally Double Wrap Bracelet

Staying Cool with Dolcezza

Jackietara blog - Staying Cool with Dolcezza

I hope everyone enjoyed National Ice Cream Day as much as I did on Sunday! The roomies and I decided there wasn’t a better way to celebrate than to beat the heat with ice cream at Union Market. Dolcezza has several locations throughout the DMV, but we are lucky enough to have the factory in our neighborhood.

Dolcezza offers delicious gelato and sorbetto that is freshly spun with fresh and local ingredients and produced that very day, in addition to espresso and coffee. The combination of espresso and gelato is one of my all-time favorites, also known as the affogato. If you’ve never tried it, put it at the top of your list.

On Sunday I opted for one of Dolcezza’s sorbetto push pops. The lemon basil flavor was incredibly fresh and delicious, and – most importantly – cold.

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ModCloth Dress | similar on sale!
Stella & Dot City Slim Clutch | in new patterns!
Stella & Dot Jewelry:
Rebel Pendant
Rebel Ring
On The Mark Necklace
Voyager Cuff

Photography by Sarah Stuart Walters

Tribal

I’ve had this Cynthia Rowley dress for like ever – it’s the perfect “I don’t know what to wear, so I’m going to throw on this simple and comfy dress” dress that I will probably never get rid of. I managed to find it at TJ Maxx one day on a lunch-time shopping trip, and felt like the luckiest girl in the world when I did. I’ve been asked things like, “oh, are you a dancer?” when I wear this dress, and I’m not one to carelessly toss a feel-good (albeit generous) compliment. I am not a dancer, but I’m going to toot my own horn and admit that I’ve been working out a hell of a lot. Thank you, The Bar Method.

B and I escaped my workout (and work) routine a few weekends ago to visit my dad in Maryland. On this occasion, I chose this dress to allow me to comfortably eat a 2-pound lobster, and then some, but it also didn’t hurt that I could prance around in it on a gorgeous day and pair it with my new Tribal Scarf from Stella & Dot. You may be thinking, “isn’t it a bit warm to wear scarves in July?”, but you can’t really blame a girl for wanting to wear an oh-so-soft goes-with-anything scarf, can you? If so, please excuse me on this one. I’ll be wearing this thing all summer.

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Cynthia Rowley Dress
Stella & Dot Tribal Scarf
Stella & Dot Pave Chevron Ring
Stella & Dot Pave Triangle Ear Jackets
Stella & Dot Pave Chevron Necklace
Joe’s Betty Pumps | similar

Give Me Some Lip

I have always been a Chapstick girl (and more specifically, a Palmer’s Cocoa Butter girl), but a couple years ago I got the urge to explore the adult world of lipstick. Since then, I have been searching for “the best lip color”, picking up different shades and brands when I stop in drug stores and trying hand-me-downs from my mom that she feels don’t suit her. My favorites range from a slightly pinker neutral to a deep red – a shade for every occasion or mood. Now that it’s summer I’m wearing less makeup and sticking to tinted moisturizer and light lids, so a pop of color on my lips adds a lot!

Lancome is one of my favorite lip color brands. This one is Love It! (Cream) Color Design Sensational Effects Lipcolor and is my go-to shade for an everyday neutral look.

Revlon is another one of my favorite brands. The Super Lustrous lipstick in Fuchsia Shock is the color I grab when I want a bright and fun look. It doesn’t last all day, but I’m okay with that since it isn’t sticky or uncomfortable. It’s soft and moisturizing – a nice balance between my basic Chapstick and a heavy chalky lipstick.

This is my happy summer lip color: Beach Coral by Clinique. It pairs well with a casual t-shirt and jeans or a fun print dress (which I will be living in this summer). The possibilities are endless with this color!

I’ve tried the bright red lip like T Swift’s signature pout, but unfortunately it just doesn’t work for me. My take on the red lip is a deep berry tint, like Revlon’s Berry Rich. I wear this darker shade when I’m getting dolled up or feeling fancy, which could be any day, really. I just did that and no one can stop me: I declared that any day can be a fancy day.

Sunshine and Whiskey

September is here, but that doesn’t mean we need to pack up the sweet tea lemonade and whiskey for good! One of my favorite cocktails this summer was one that we made for my friends’ afternoon tea themed engagement party. The sweet tea was in honor of the bride-to-be (a North Carolina gal) and the whiskey was the no-brainer complement. Although this was a refreshing summer concoction, leave out the lemon and garnish with a cinnamon stick for an autumnal twist. You could serve it hot or cold and you most likely already have most of the ingredients at home!

Ingredients
Ice
5 ounces sweetened iced tea
2 ounces bourbon
1/2 ounce triple sec
1 mint sprig
1 lemon wedge

Photography by Traci J. Brooks Studios

Graphic & Monochromatic

I’m back, lovelies, and just in time to catch the end of summer. August was a month of serious transition, which unfortunately didn’t allow me any time or energy to devote to my blog. But I’m back in full force and excited to look at life in a new light, which is why I thought a white monochromatic ensemble would be the perfect reentry blog post. All white reminds me of a clean canvas, fresh and ready for the first few swipes of paint. This is also the last time I could wear white jeans for a while (does everyone follow that Labor Day rule?!)…

I have joined the graphic tee craze and picked up this great black and white one from a recent Robyn and Royksopp concert (have you heard their latest single, “Do It Again“? I am obsessed) . The muted white shirt is a complete contrast to the colorful lights, over-the-top outfits, and loud trance-like beats during Robyn’s show, but it definitely fits into my current “back to basics” style. I hope to have more to share on that front in September. It’s full steam ahead into fall, and I welcome all the changes that come with it.

Outfit details:
Robyn Concert Tee
Madewell Sleeveless Denim Top
Similar White Denim on sale!
Similar Sunnies
Mrkt Pumps from DSW
Floppy Hat from TJ Maxx

Photography by Paul B. Jones

Motorcycle Chic

Happy hump day! I hope everyone’s week after the holiday weekend isn’t feeling too long. Summer is just flying by for me, so I’m struggling to hang on to the days. Before we know it, it will be October and and we will be longing for summer, but maybe not the heat…

Speaking of heat, T is still in Israel exploring the homeland [and even riding camels on this very hump day!], leaving me reminiscing about our last motorcycle ride together in the city. Riding on the back of T’s red Ducati is one of my favorite things in the world. It’s an incredibly freeing experience, with the wind in your face and the open road in front of you [especially since in my case I have absolutely no control over what we do and where we go]. But I don’t mind being on the back. That feeling is rare these days, so I’ll take what I can get.

Wearing:
TJ Maxx striped dress similar
Tildon flats similar

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Midsummer Hues

Outfit details:
Vintage purple midi skirt
Vintage lace top
Leather lace up sandals from Capri similar strappy sandals

Photography by Teddy Wolff

I hope everyone had a lovely carefree summer solstice! T was in Minnesota photographing artists at the Rock the Garden music festival for The Current [check out his work on The Current’s Instagram!], so I had a rare weekend to myself. I always think that I will have a lot of “down time” when T is out of town, but somehow it never works out that way. Between a “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” themed gala, two birthday parties, a bikram yoga class, and a shopping date with my mom, I had a full weekend! On Saturday night, a friend and I went for a stroll mid-birthday party to pick up more limes from the neighborhood Trader Joe’s for caipirinhas [an amazing Brazilian cocktail that you should try immediately if you haven’t already]. I haven’t been very good at this lately, but I did remember to pause to appreciate the gorgeous evening, walking around town, and the time spent with friends that I don’t get to see too often. It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies, especially in the summer. Since I don’t think things are slowing down any time soon post-solstice, I need to be sure to have some relaxing “me time” this summer. A day in the sun reading a book would be fantastic. Pool day, anyone?

Don’t forget to follow my summer adventures on Instagram and summer style musings on Pinterest!

Jackietara

Barely There Summer Style

My new summer mantra is “less is more.” The humidity is already starting to rise and is taking a toll on my hair, skin, and any hope of looking decent without putting a ton of effort in every morning. So [for the sake of saving time, energy, and frustration], why bother? The heat [and sweaty-ness] of summer is the perfect excuse to go wild – let down that hair, wipe off that makeup, and wear lightweight clothes! I really should follow my mantra regarding my hair. Right now it’s an absolute wreck: too long, and in a million split ends. Once I do chop off an inch or two, I’m going to attempt to naturally dry my hair in the morning to give it a break from the damaging heat of my hair dryer, especially since it’s inevitably going to frizz as soon as I step out the door, oy gevalt.

For makeup, I have been using a light Jergens or Cetaphil face lotion before applying a dime-sized amount of Supergoop! Every Day Sunscreen [on days I know I’ll be outside for a while] and my favorite Physician’s Formula concealer and mineral wear foundation. I despise the “tired eyes” look I get after a long day, so to make things simple I apply a natural shadow from my Nude ‘tude palette to my lids and a swipe of mascara to my lashes. When I go for the “barely there” effect on my eyes, I usually like to add a pop of color to my lips. I’m still searching for “the perfect shade,” but I think my Revlon fuchsia stick does the trick.

I think I will be living in dresses for the next couple months – the kind that are breezy and airy and don’t take too much fuss [I don’t do the ironing thing]. Conveniently timed for summer, I found the perfect white cotton dress a couple weeks ago while shopping online at Gap: it’s super lightweight, breathable, and can easily be jazzed up with a belt or statement necklace. Better yet, it has pockets [they get me every time]. Who could ask for a better summer dress?

Outfit details:
Gap white cotton dress
Tildon ankle strap flats (on sale)

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

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