Summer

the summer of butter yellow and blueberry!!

I don't know what it is about this combination, but I was obsessed with it all summer.

It centered around a pair of blue and white striped shorts I bought as part of a set from T.J. Maxx. The original set included a navy and white oversized sweatshirt, but the different shades of blue and the mismatching patterns didn't quite sit right with me. I decided to give it a chance anyway.

After the first wear, though, my initial concerns were confirmed. The stripes on the sweatshirt were drastically largerthan the delicate pinstripes on the shorts—to the point where they felt like two entirely different patterns. I knew then I had to mix and match.

Though the hot temperatures limited how often I could wear the sweatshirt, it was still extremely comfortable. I really loved the white collar and v-neck line, and it will be ready to go once fall arrives.

As for the shorts, I practically lived in them.

My best spontaneous purchase was a plain yellow tank top from Walmart. I know what you’re thinking, “What?” It was only a few dollars, and I needed more basic tees, but it ended up becoming the star of my closet. At one point during the summer, in a rush out the door, I grabbed it with my striped shorts. Not only was the outfit so comfortable at the peak of summer heat, but that color combination inspired me to experiment with other pairings.

But I promise there were other outfits I also really liked!

For the Fourth of July (first photo), I wore jean shorts, Birkenstocks, a sleeveless blue and white striped top, and a white button-down blouse layered over it. I added a heavy gold chain necklace with lots of dangling pendants. I loved the necklace because some of the pendants—a star and a cowboy boot—reminded me of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who I was obsessed with after season two of their show had just been released.

I also purchased a black square-neck vest button-down mini dress from Abercrombie. I paired it with sneakers for a simple, on-the-town look, wearing it while walking the streets of Chicago, to a baseball game, and while running errands.

This was the summer I became more comfortable wearing tank tops. I remember styling a white high-line tank with red checkered flare pants.

Finally, I invested in a pair of Nike Court Legacy Lift shoes. They looked great with so many outfits—including several mentioned above—and I wore them so much that I'm currently on my second pair! While I'm exploring new shoes now, they were fantastic while they lasted.

This was another summer of experimentation, and I know these looks will inspire my outfits for the next few seasons.