Real Outfit Roundup: Casual Summer Style to Copy

Happy Tuesday, friends! It has been a minute since my last outfit roundup post, but truth be told I haven't put a whole lot of effort into getting dressed the past few weeks. It has been raining a lot so we've spent a lot of time indoors. On top of that, my summer style tends to be shorts and a t-shirt because I am not about that dying-of-heat-stroke life, and I don't usually take pictures of those outfits.

That said, I have had some style moments thrown in the mix, and I've got eight casual outfits to share with you from this past month.

Sizing Note: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 135 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Dress / Shoes

My husband actually picked this dress out. It's a lot of fun. I love the bright floral pattern that is perfect for summer. The back is smocked and the straps are adjustable. There is a small ruffle around the sweetheart neckline, and it's got a keyhole tie front. It does have pockets, so bonus! It's midi length, which is still on trend and probably my favorite dress length. It's 100% rayon and comes in regular and tall sizes. I'm wearing size small.

These braided wedge sandals are still a favorite. They're a comfortable height for all-day wear. The only thing I would caution against is that the strap over the toes is snug, so if you're between sizes you may want to go up a half size.

Dress / Sandals (similar)

I love the print on this dress. I like the smocked top, which is very on trend right now. The skirt is tiered and has subtle ruffle details. I'm on the fence with the halter ties, though. The placement feels awkward to me, and I'm honestly thinking about removing them. I'm wearing size medium.

My gold sandals are on their last leg, y'all. They have been such a fun addition to my shoe closet for the past few years. Metallic sandals, I think, are an absolute must for the summer. They are my go-to when I don't know what else to wear. They're universal.

Dress (similar) / Shirt (similar) / Sandals

Old Navy's fit-and-flare dresses are my fave. This dress is several years old, but it's so dang good that I'll wear it until I can't anymore. This pattern is long gone, but this is a style they keep bringing back year after year. My chambray shirt is super old, but I linked to one that looks pretty similar. I broke down how I styled this outfit earlier in the month.

These sandals have quickly become a summer favorite. They're so dang comfortable and go with just about everything. They're flatform instead of a wedge, so they're easy to walk in. They come in a bunch of colors, too.

Shirt / Shorts

First off, I love the pattern of these shirts. They've got a fun 80s-90s vibe. They made me think of Saved by the Bell. That said, I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention to the actual details. These are 100% nylon, and they're not lined. Now I don't mind nylon, but without a liner? Not only do they feel like you're wearing a plastic bag, but they're see-through. I went through so many pairs of underwear before finding a pair that wasn't, so that's a problem. The waistband, which is not visible here, is another oddity. It's extra wide -- it's legitimately a double waistband. That showed on the model, so I wasn't surprised, but it was super awkward on me (yay shortness). Thankfully, they were easy to roll and stayed rolled so that was an easy fix.

The shirt, on the other hand, is a winner. It's not see-through and is perfectly loose, even in a small.

Tank / Vest (similar) / Skirt / Sandals

I picked up a bunch of camisoles at Walmart recently for like $3 apiece. This mint-green one matching the green in this skirt was a happy coincidence. I threw the vest over it so that my shoulders were covered (I'm too old for sunburns, y'all).

Dress / Shoes / Necklace

I have so many of these Time and Tru tank dresses. They're perfect for summer, and I can wear them to work. They are always updating what colors are available, but the dress itself doesn't actually change. This blue is currently sold out, but there are tons more to choose from.

The dress isn't why I took the picture, though. It's my sneakers. I had a pair of slip-on white tennis shoes forever ago. I wore them until the soles had holes in them. I never replaced them because they went out of style. Apparently, they're back. These have a flatform sole, so it's nice and thick. They're fully canvas with functional laces. I'm wearing size 7 but wish I'd gone up to the 7.5 for a bit more wiggle room.

Dress / Sandals / Earrings

This is one of my absolute favorite dresses. I love the almost sunburned look of this pattern. I rarely wear it on its own, but it was really warm this day, and I couldn't stand even the thought of another layer. The top is smocked, and the skirt is tiered. I'm wearing a medium but should have gone with the small. It comes in a ton of other patterns, too.

My earrings are from my tassel earring collection. I wavered back and forth between these yellow-orange ones and a greenish-blue pair, but ultimately liked the contrast that the yellow-orange offered.

Shirt / Skirt / Sandals / Earrings

This was such a fun outfit. Nothing in it is new, but the outfit itself is a new creation. This skirt is the Amazon skirt I can't stop buying. I have it in five patterns. This exact green isn't available anymore, but the updated green floral is super pretty. I liked the beachy vibe this palm tree graphic tee gave the skirt, and the earrings were just a nice complementary touch. I kept my sandals neutral.

Three Ways to Wear Linen Pants

I've owned a few pair of linen pants over the years, and I have to admit that they've always been a bit difficult for me to style. I always struggle to find balance in the outfits, but looking back I think it's because I've not had much success in finding linen pants that fit me the way that they should.

I'm by no means an expert on choosing the best fit when it comes to linen pants, but this is what I've found works best for me over the years:

• Elastic Waist - I've tried a few pair of linen pants that have buttons and zippers, but they're just not for me. An elastic waist is more comfortable for one, but also I'm able to adjust where they sit on my waist which is important for me since my natural waist is actually really high.
• Wide Leg - I've tried both tapered and straight leg leg, but those styles do not work with my hips. The looser fit of the wide leg styles works better with my body shape. They're also more versatile when it comes to shoes. That said, I do have to be careful not to go too wide otherwise I look like I'm swimming in them.

The gold linen pants I'm using for today's post fulfill both of those must-haves for me. Additionally, the waist can be adjusted by way of an inner drawstring, although I've not used it. The length is just right for me to wear flats or heels.

These pants have been a hit ever since I bought them last summer, especially among my teacher friends. They're a great color and much more appealing than khaki in my opinion. Also these are almost an exact match for one of my school's colors, so that's a plus. Unfortunately, they're long sold out. I'm pretty sure they were on clearance when I bought them. I've been scouring the internet to find similar pairs but haven't had much luck. I've found three similar options but they're all more yellow than gold, except for this cropped tapered pair which leans more toward brown. This pair has back pockets and is a pale yellow, and this pair is called gold garden but may not actually be linen.

Let's talk about how to style them. Again, I'm no expert as I'm definitely still figuring out what works and what doesn't, but I have landed on three pretty basic outfit formulas that work nicely for me.

Graphic Tee

Let's be real. Graphic tees have become my go-to for dressy casual outfits over the past several years. They're an easy way to show your personality and tone down dressier bottoms. In this case, linen pants aren't what I would call dressy. They're not on the level of a pair of trousers, but they do feel more polished than a pair of jeans while keeping the more casual vibe.

In case you didn't know, graphic tees are an integral part of most teachers' wardrobes, especially ones with inspirational sayings like my Kindness Matters tee. It's not easy to see in the picture, but one of the rainbow's stripes is actually gold-colored polka dots. That's what I matched to the pants. I have several other graphic tees that will work with these pants, including some school spirit shirts.

I mentioned earlier that I've always had a hard time balancing outfits with linen pants. The key to this outfit working is tucking the shirt all the way in, creating cleaner lines and a defined separation between the top and bottom. I kept my shoes simple and neutral with flat brown sandals.

Printed Blouse

Printed blouses are a quick way to dress up a pair of solid-colored bottoms. I honestly don't have a lot of printed blouses that work with these pants, but it's still a solid outfit formula.

Tip: look for patterns that have a matching color in the print. Complementary, or contrasting, colors in a classic print like stripes or polka dots would work nicely, as well.

This blouse has a lot of gold-yellow in the pattern making it an easy pairing for these pants. It's got fun ruffle details on the sleeves. This blouse is not fitted, so it works best tucked in all the way. Being able to see the cinched waist of the pants helps balance the outfit since both the top and bottom are loose and flowy.

I remember struggling with what shoes to wear, but I ultimately went with my tan flats.

Colored Blouse with Details

Simple does not have to mean boring, even when pairing a solid-colored top with a solid-colored bottom. It doesn't matter if you're wearing all neutrals or contrasting colors like above. The key is to find a top with interesting details.

Take my blouse. It's the super popular Swiss dot trend. If you're not familiar, it's basically 3D polka dots in the same color as the shirt. Not only does the shirt have a subtle pattern, it also has texture. When you add in the split neck and flutter sleeves, you've got a solid colored top with plenty of visual interest.

Some other ways to add visual interest to a top include lace or eyelet, ruffle sleeves, a peplum bottom, textured stripes in the same color as the shirt, or some type of hardware like buttons.

More Ways to Wear Linen Pants

All of the above outfits focus on how to style solid-colored linen pants, but there are a ton of really cute printed linen pants out there right now. My favorites happen to be stripes, so I thought I would show you a few of those before you go.

The graphic tee outfit formula works just as well with printed bottoms. My pants are several years old (these are similar). They're ankle length, which can make shoes a bit tricky - sneakers look awkward with this length in my opinion. They have a nice wide elastic waist and belt loops.

This is actually one of my favorite outfits I've put together. My t-shirt is a dark gray with most of the Disney princesses on it. The stripes on my pants are kind of a slate gray-blue. The jean jacket adds a little bit of structure to the outfit as well as really tying all the blue together. My slide sandals 

A solid-colored blouse is the easiest way to style printed bottoms. My top is a dark chambray with flutter sleeves and buttons for visual interest. I added a wide, braided belt to provide a nice break between top and bottom. Then I finished the outfit with brown wedge sandals.

This is essentially the same outfit as the previous one, but with black instead of blue. These pants are a bit newer (these are similar). They're regular length with an elastic waist but no belt loops. This top has a crocheted square neckline, slightly puffed sleeves, and decorative buttons for visual interest.

4th of July Inspiration from Amazon

I love the 4th of July. Family, food, fireworks, and festive fashion - what's not to love?

In all seriousness, I have so many good memories attached to this holiday, most involving camping or the lake in some way and always family. Other than the year I was recovering from surgery, I don't think I've ever spent the 4th away from family.

Dressing for the occasion will always be fun for me. There are so many ways to show your patriotism through your clothing without wrapping yourself in a flag. Whether you're looking for subtle or flashy, I've rounded up some fun options for the 4th all from Amazon. They're affordable and will arrive in plenty of time for the big day.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Dresses

Let's start with my favorite category. Dresses are always a good option. They take the guesswork out of mixing and matching, especially when you're dealing with patterns (stars and stripes, anyone?). I've got four options for you.

Stars and Stripes Maxi - This maxi dress is so cute, y'all. I love the distressed look that keeps the stars and stripes nice and subtle so it's not glaringly obvious you're wearing a flag. But if that's your jam, check out the other options! There are a few flag prints available.

Strapless Navy Blue with Red Swirl - This dress made me think of a firework when I saw it. I love the red swirl against the dark navy. It's showing as strapless but it does come with detachable straps if you're more comfortable with that. There are a few other navy options, as well.

Sleeveless Gingham - Is there anything more patriotic than gingham? This dress is from one of my favorite Amazon brands and good quality. The darker red is my favorite, but I also like the dark blue. There's also a bright red and a light blue.

Strapless Stripes - You can't go wrong with stripes! This is technically billed as a swimsuit coverup. It's got a drawstring waist to give it some shape. I also like the Striblue pattern.

Tops

Tops are usually my go-to for this holiday. It's always hot here for the 4th, and we're usually at the lake, so I want something simple to throw on over a swimsuit with a pair of shorts.

America Sunflower Tank - I really like this tank top. It's so cute with the flag pattern flower and the stem spelling out America.

Flag Popsicle Tee - I like how fun this shirt is without being super in your face about the holiday. It's a tee I would wear all summer.

Smocked Strapless Flag - This isn't the type of shirt I usually go with, but I like the lace detail a lot.

Sheer Star - This would be a fun swimsuit cover paired with denim shorts.

USA Sweatshirt - Okay, so I know a sweatshirt isn't really practical this time of year, but I really love this one.

Bottoms

Let me be perfectly honest: I would probably never wear any of these suggestions. That doesn't mean I don't like them. It's just that none of these are really my style. 

Flag Shorts - The fact that I actually like these surprises me more than anyone. There are five other flag patterns available.

Leggings - You know I'm always going to include a pair of leggings in these posts, but finding a pair that wasn't ridiculously obnoxious was difficult. This was the only pair I didn't immediately hate.

PJ Pants - I get that not everyone wants to leave the house. These are for you!

Skort - This is one of those performance skorts like what you would wear to play golf or tennis, but I also think it would be cute for a family reunion or a day at the lake. This is the starry sky pattern, which reminded me of fireworks. There's a flag patterned one, as well, but it wasn't available in all sizes.

Swimsuits

Patriotic swimsuits are not really my thing. Or rather, I should say, American flag swimsuits are not my thing. If you're like me and avoid them like the plague, I've got a few cute non-flag options for you!

Blue Stripe Bikini - I don't think you can go wrong with blue-and-white stripes for a patriotic holiday.

Vintage One-Piece - I'm not sure I could pull this off, but I love retro swimsuits. This one comes in quite a few variations of red, white, and blue.

Flag Bikini- I know I said they're not my style, but this one isn't horrible.

Red Cut-Out One-Piece - There's just something timeless about red, and this swimsuit is gorgeous. There's a flag pattern that isn't awful, and I really like the blue stripe.

Accessories

Sometimes, all you need is a small touch of red, white, and blue to show off your patriotism.

Headband Wraps - I really love this style of headband. It wraps all the way around, making it perfect to wear with a ponytail.

Headbands - If you'd rather stick with a traditional headband, these are a cute option.

Star Earrings - I love these dangly earrings so much.

Tassel Earrings - If you've been around the blog awhile, then you already know my love for tassel earrings. They're such a statement and so much fun.

My Favorite Teacher Things From Year One

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my first year of teaching and what it had taught me. Now, I'd like to share the products and resources that helped me the most throughout the year. These are the products that helped keep me organized, helped me plan, and inspired me.

Teacher Planner - In general, I would not survive without a planner. I've used one for pretty much every aspect of my life for as long as I can remember. This planner, however, was specifically designed with teachers in mind. It not only allowed me to see the month as a whole, but the way it broke the days of the week down into segments was really helpful for pacing my classes. That said, there was quite a bit to this planner I ended up not using, like the built-in grade book and the schedule pages. It also was a year-and-a-half long, which in terms of the price was great, but in terms of planning was a bit weird. I didn't want to end up with this upcoming school year spread over two different planners. And in hindsight, I didn't like that the planner could only lay flat or be closed.

Teachers Pay Teachers - No doubt about it. I probably would have sunk without TPT. As a new teacher, I spent a lot of time creating things. TPT helped lessen that load and gave me inspiration. As with pretty much all aspects of life, I did find certain 'stores' that I like above most others: The Daring English Teacher, Lovin' Lit, and The Hungry Teacher are my top three (they're all middle grades ELA).

Pinterest - I feel like I might have used Pinterest just as much as TPT. A lot of times it led me to resources on TPT, but it was a wonderful resource for writing prompts, project ideas, bulletin board inspiration, etc.

USB Drive - I rarely brought my school laptop home, and I honestly didn't want all of my stuff stored on Google Drive (the internet isn't always reliable, y'all, both at home and school). My USB drive is where all of my lessons, graphic organizers, worksheets, etc. are stored so that I can easily move them from device to device. I have a SanDisk Cruzer Dial that I LOVE (my exact one isn't pictured because it's a pattern that apparently is no longer available). I'm pretty sure it's 32GB and so far hasn't run out of space, and I've got a lot of stuff saved on it.

PowerPoint / Canva - I'm grouping these together because I used them in conjunction with each other a lot. I like PowerPoint better than Google Slides - it's a familiarity thing, not a statement on which one is better, although it is a plus that PowerPoint isn't reliant on internet to work. I've had a Canva pro account for awhile because of my blog and previous job. I like that it has such a huge library of stock photos and unique graphics that I can use to customize my lessons.

Classroom Screen - I absolutely love this website. I use it to display the class's daily to-do list, important dates, etc. It's what's guaranteed to be up on my white board if I'm not doing slides. It also has a timer, noise level monitor, and lots more cool features.

Kami - This was one of my most-used programs. Kami was so great for annotating texts with my students. It saved sooooo much paper. It's also a good way to get them ready for the digital features of the state test.

Plastic Expanding Files / Desk Organizer - This was my best organizational hack for the year, hands down. I used one file for each day's lesson materials. Not only was it helpful for keeping me organized, it made unexpected absences easier. Even if I didn't have copies already made, the master copies for each day were already in their designated folder, and those folders were in an organizer I got specifically to fit them. It also has a horizontal shelf as well as a divided drawer that I used for other random things throughout the year.

Hanging Folders / Organizer Box - We have a very specific writing curriculum, and it requires us to keep all pieces of the writing process completed by students. I needed a way to keep it all organized without sacrificing a ton of space. This system worked wonderfully. However, the box/basket was a little flimsy and bent easily. I'm probably going to replace it for next year with something sturdier.

Turn-in Baskets / Wire Baskets - These helped me keep in-class material for each of my classes separated, which was essential not only for my own organization but for my students as well. It cut down on assignments getting lost because they weren't in the right spot and kept everything fairly neat, which my clutter-anxiety needed, and it also helped establish routines for each class. I can't link to the wire baskets I used for journals because they're no longer available.

Lined Sticky Notes - I use sticky notes for everything, but these lined ones were particularly helpful when sending assignments to ISS or when giving out make-up work.

Imodium / Excedrin Tension Headache - I 100% have a medicine cabinet drawer in my desk. It's a habit from working at the TV station that's proven especially useful in the classroom. These two medicines are the ones I reached for the most often, and I'm not sure I would have survived without them.

What's On My Kindle: 9 Books I've Downloaded for Summer

My TBR list has exploded recently, thanks in great deal to all the book ads and sponsored posts I've been getting on Facebook. If I'm being honest, looking for new books to read is just as much of an addiction for me as actually reading. I'm currently in the middle of quite a few series because I keep getting distracted by something new. It's like a really bad case of reading A.D.D.

Anyway, here are nine of the most recent books I've added to my Kindle that I think would make great summer reads, either by the pool, on the beach, at the campsite, or from the comfort of your couch.

Fly With The Arrow - I've been on a pirate kick lately but have had a hard time finding something to satisfy that itch. I'm hoping the Bluebeard's Secret series will do it. When Izolda's would-be husband is killed, the killer claims her for his bride. Turns out, she's the latest in a line of brides for this stranger, all of whom have died, and Izolda's new husband admits she'll suffer the same fate. Now she's faced with a choice: spy for her king or help her husband in a fairyland game that's been a thousand years in the making.

The Echo of Old Books - Ashlyn Greer can feel the echoes of books' previous owners. When she discovers a pair of never-been-published romance books, she's discovers two conflicting tales of the same tragic romance. The more Ashlyn learns about the authors, Hemi and Belle, the the closer she comes to bringing closure to their story.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Yes, I know I'm late to the party on this one. While I enjoy historical fiction a whole lot, this type of book requires the right head space. Lale is a Jew who is forced into being the tattooist at Auschwitz. He uses his position to trade jewels and money for food to keep other prisoners alive. While there, he meets Gita and vows to survive and marry her.

The Song of Achilles - I really enjoyed Circe by this same author, so I'm excited for this reimagining of Homer's The Iliad. Achiles is strong, swift, and beautiful - irresistible to everyone he meets. Patroclus is an exiled prince. The two form a bond despite risking the gods' wrath. They are trained in war and medicine by the centaur Chiron. When Helen of Sparta is kidnapped, all Greece's heroes are called to lay siege to Troy in her name. Achilles joins the cause, and Patroclus follows.

The Wreckage of Us - This is another repeat author for me. The Mix-Tape was such a good book, so I have high hopes for this one. When Hazel's drug-dealing stepfather kicks her out, she seeks shelter in an abandoned farm shed. She's found, of course, and ends up moving into Ian's spare room. Things are looking up until Hazel calls the cops on her stepdad and her pregnant mother is arrested along with him. Now, Hazel must sacrifice her dreams to take care of the baby while Ian's dreams of becoming a rockstar are taking off.

The Night of Many Endings - When a winter storm buries the town of Silver Ridge, a group of lonely people take shelter at the library with Nora, the librarian. They'll learn more about each other and themselves, and Nora, in particular, will have to question her brother's disappearance in ways she's never imagined.

Beyond the Moonlit Sea - Olivia's husband is a pilot for the rich and famous. When he disappears over the Bermuda Triangle, Olivia waits for him for years. Melanie, meanwhile, is a particle physicist studying the Bermuda Triangle. When her mother dies, she begins an affair with her therapist. When the two women's paths intertwine over a shocking discovery, Dean's disappearance is cast into a new light.

Layla - Leeds and Layla's relationship is rocked when Layla is unexpectedly attacked. Although she's recovered physically, mentally and emotionally she has not. In an effort to get their relationship back on track, Leeds takes Layla to the bed and breakfast where they first met, but Layla's behavior takes a turn for the worst. While there, Leeds meets Willow and agrees to help her find answers, but it soon becomes clear he can't help both Layla and Willow.

The House at Mermaid's Cove - After a German U-boat torpedoes her ship, Alice washes up on an English beach where she's found by Viscount Jack Trewella. He suspects she's a prisoner of war or a spy, but the secret she asks him to keep is unexpected and creates an intimate bond between the two. Alice grasps the chance to reinvent herself, but as she starts to fall for Jack, she discovers he has secrets, too.

My Most-Used Hair Tools + One That Just Doesn't Work For Me

A few years ago, I did a post about my favorite tools for curly hair. It's still a good post, and I still recommend all of those products. However, as with all things in life, my hair needs and goals have changed, especially within the last year.

Case in point: I'm no longer focused on super defined curly hair. Instead, I'm letting my naturally wavy hair do its thing most days, which means it looks different from day to day without a whole lot of effort from me. Also, my hair is quite a bit shorter now than when I wrote that original post.

So, here is an updated review of my current most-used tools, as well as a highly-recommended tool that just does not work for me.

Shampoo Brush/Scalp Massager - I use this every time I wash my hair, and that's not an exaggeration. Not only does it feel amazing on my scalp, but it helps keep my scalp healthy. It breaks up any build-up I may have so that it's easier to wash out. Plus it stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which helps with growth. It also helps me to get a really good lather no matter what shampoo I'm using and ensures the product is evenly distributed over my entire scalp.

Pick - This is really my go-to for anything I can't do with my fingers. I only use the ones with metal teeth, though, because they seem to move through my hair more smoothly than the plastic ones. I use my pick for detangling and to help with even product distribution. I'm not linking to one because you can find these literally anywhere. I'm almost positive mine came from the Dollar Store.

Terrycloth Headbands - I have so many of these, y'all. I use these whenever I take a bath. It helps to keep my short hair off my neck and face, and they're absorbent. They don't squeeze my head, and they don't usually leave a dent. Plus they're just really cute.

Square Claw Clips - All claw clips are not created equal. I have fallen in love with the square-shaped ones. They just look so much more sophisticated than traditional clips. I have them in both a large and small size for partial and full updos. I can't remember where I got mine from (maybe Five Below?), but I'm linking to some that look really similar.

Flat Hair Clips - I don't know what to call these, but when I searched 'flat hair clips,' they came up so we're going to call them. I use these when I'm getting ready in the morning to keep the front pieces of my hair out of my face while I'm putting on makeup. The ones I have came in a Monat grab bag from back when I was still selling/using their products, so I can't link to them, but they're pretty common, and Amazon has a set for under $10.

Phone Cord Hair Ties - These are still my favorite ponytail holders. I've tried different brands, but Teleties are my favorite because of their smoothness. They also have tons of colors and prints and are always releasing new designs.

Spray Water Bottle - This is my number one tool for refreshing my hair in between washes. My bottle isn't anything special. It came from Walmart and cost about $1. Of course, prices have increased since then, and there are a ton of options out there now. I've linked to one that's very similar to what I currently use, but I'm intrigued by the continuous spray bottles like this one.

There's one product I recently bought that just has not worked for me, and that's a Denman brush. This brush is supposed to detangle, separate, shape, and define. It has more than 90,000 reviews with an average 4.5 star rating, and it cost me more than $20. But, y'all, it just isn't for me. The bristles are hard and they hurt. Instead of detangling, it feels like it's pulling, and honestly, my curls are less defined when I attempt to use it. I've watched all the how-to videos, but maybe I'm just not using it the right way. I don't know, but for me, it was a waste of money.

My Favorite Way to Wear a Chambray Shirt

If a denim vest is my favorite third-piece accessory, a chambray shirt is a close second. In fact, my short-sleeve, button-up chambray shirt is one of the oldest pieces in my closet. So old, in fact, that I can't pinpoint when exactly I bought it.

I do know that it's from Target and is their Universal Thread brand. It's good quality, obviously, since it's lasted at least five years now with very little signs of wear and tear. Mostly, it's just softened up and is a bit thinner.

It's a camp style shirt, which was popular at the time I bought it. The sleeves are a bit loose and cuffed. There are no pockets, so it's a nice flat front, but the sides are split.

I rarely wear it on its own, but I do have photographic evidence from several years ago. I've always preferred it tied over tucked, although I hadn't quite figured it out back then. I'd like to think I've gotten better at styling this shirt since then, and I wanted to share my favorite way to wear it.

If you follow me on Instagram or have been reading my Real Outfit Roundup posts for awhile, then you know that I mostly treat my chambray shirt like an accessory to the rest of my outfit. It's never the star of the show. It's simply there to complete the outfit, add balance, add contrast, or help tie everything together.

Sound familiar? If you read my post about denim vests, it would. I use my chambray shirt in much the same fashion as my vest...except that it's always tied at the bottom. The buttons are where I change things up. Sometimes I leave them all open, sometimes I button all but the top one, and sometimes I button half. 

One of the newer ways I've started styling my chambray shirt is with a printed skirt and basic top. The chambray is a good in-between option for when it's too warm for a jean jacket but not warm enough for a sleeveless vest (especially if you're using a tank top like in the picture above).

With this outfit, I was using the yellow tank to pull the more subtle colors from the skirt's print. Honestly, outside of school, this outfit would have worked without the third layer, but the top is a tank and it was still early Spring at the time so I needed sleeves. I wanted the yellow to be the prominent color of the outfit, so I left my shirt unbuttoned, but it's too long to leave untucked over a skirt. It just looks sloppy, so I tied it as close to the bottom as possible and tucked it under all the way around. The split sides help with that a lot.

That wasn't the first time I styled the shirt with a skirt. However, it was very different. In this outfit, I wore the shirt by itself, fully buttoned. I did not tuck it into the skirt because the shirt is too loose, and it just didn't look right. So, I tied it at the very edge of the skirt's waist, which is smocked and what ultimately was causing the issue.

My absolute favorite way to wear my chambray shirt is over a sleeveless dress. I do this two different ways depending on the look I'm going for, as demonstrated in the photos above.

This dress has a defined waist, but the top is not school appropriate on its own. For one, it's spaghetti strap. It also has a cute button detail that shows a bit of skin that middle schoolers don't need to see.

In each outfit, I tied the shirt at my natural waist, to keep the shape of the dress. In the first outfit (left), I fully buttoned the shirt to create the look of a two-piece outfit. In the second (right), I only buttoned the button directly above the knot to not only keep the shirt more structured but also to allow a peek of the dress's bodice. I wanted it to be clear that I was wearing a dress.

This is actually the most recent way I wore my chambray shirt over a dress. It was warm enough that I could have gone bare shoulder, but I always feel better with my shoulders covered in this dress, and honestly I needed to shave under my arms and didn't feel like it. Also, I always feel like this dress is missing something on its own. I think it's that the pattern needs to be broken up in some way because it's so busy. You can't tell in this picture because I'm sitting down, but the shirt is only buttoned just above the knot, which gives some visual contrast to the dress's print while also not taking away from the print.

Would you wear a chambray shirt over a dress or skirt?

My Style: Denim Vest

If you've been a reader of my blog for awhile, then you're well acquainted with my love for a denim vest. It is my absolute favorite completer piece, especially since where I live it's too hot to wear a jean jacket two-thirds of the year.

Back in 2020, I talked about vests in general, but I've never done a post focused solely on denim vests (my favorite accessory. So let's do this!

Denim vests come in a ton of styles. From fitted to oversized, cropped to long, clean or distressed, embellished or plain, not to mention all the different washes, there's literally a style out there for everyone. As for me, I prefer a cropped, classic cut so I don't have to worry about it going out of style.

My vest is five years old, at least. It is a sturdy denim material that doesn't have a lot of stretch to it. It's square cut, so not fitted, with smaller arm holes so they aren't gaping open. Like I mentioned before, I prefer cropped styles because of my height. This one is cropped, but because I'm so short, it still hits at my natural waist. It has traditional buttons and a button-closure breast pocket on each side. It's dark-wash denim and has no embellishments.

What I love about my denim vest is its versatility. You can style these with almost any outfit, especially casual ones. I don't typically wear mine with pants or shorts, but that's honestly because I'm more likely to be wearing a dress or skirt, especially in warm or hot weather.

So let's look at how I style my denim vest with skirts and dresses.

With a Skirt

Sometimes, a skirt outfit feels like it's missing something. Usually this is because the outfit lacks balance, especially if your skirt is printed and your top is basic. A vest will help add visual interest to the top half of your outfit and help it to feel more equal to the bottom half. Let me show you.

 

This blue floral print skirt is one of my favorites, but it can be a little overwhelming on its own. The skirt is nice and full, the print is busy, and it reaches all the way to my ankles. Clearly, the skirt is my focal point for this outfit, so I try to keep things simple up top with solid colors that blend with the colors of the print. However, just a tank or t-shirt didn't feel like enough for either of these outfits.

Consider the all-blue version on the left of your screen. First of all, this is one of my favorite ways to pull off a monochromatic look. My tank top has a subtle striped texture to it and an interesting shoulder detail, but because it is almost the exact same shade of blue as the skirt, I felt kind of like a blur. The darker denim of the vest helped add a contrasting color while not breaking up the monochromatic theme.

In the second picture, I chose a pale yellow t-shirt to bring out the subtle hints of yellow in the skirt's pattern. The outfit still felt incomplete, though, and the shirt felt like a blaring beacon. In other words, it was too bright on its own. The vest helped to tie the unexpected pop of color into the blue tones of the skirt, creating a more cohesive look overall.

This is another favorite skirt. A lot of times I wear this with a graphic tee, but in this case I reached for a light pink basic t-shirt. The end result was just a little blah. The t-shirt was too close of a match to the lighter pink hues of the skirt's pattern. In other words, it didn't stand out enough, leaving this outfit feeling very bottom heavy. My denim vest helped add structure and weight to the top half for a more balanced effect.

With Long Dresses

This might be my favorite way to wear a denim vest. Longer dresses, especially maxi dresses, tend to swallow me, especially if they are loose and flowy. A vest can be used to add structure and define your waist. This can be done in a couple of different ways. Take a look.

 

This dress is one of my favorite maxi dresses ever, but on its own can be a bit underwhelming for my shorter stature. It does not have a defined waist and can hide what few curves I actually have. That's where my vest comes into play.

The first look is one I wore to a spring festival recently. It was warm enough for sleeveless but not spaghetti straps. I didn't feel like adding a belt, so I buttoned the bottom 2-3 buttons of the vest to create a shirt-like silhouette. This gave me a defined waist and helped to break up the dress so that the rule of thirds was actually in play.

For the second look, I let a belt do the waist defining. The outfit still felt unbalanced though, so I used my vest to give the top half more structure. It gives the impression of a shirt-and-skirt combination, creating that rule of thirds that helps outfits feel balanced.

This dress is the same style as the previous one, just in a different color and pattern. I wanted to show you how the vest can help break up this style of dress without adding in a waist-cinching accessory.

This dress is fitted at the top before flaring out at the bottom, so it already has a defined waist (even if it's really high on this dress). It was still pretty cool when I wore this dress, so I needed sleeves. I layered a basic light purple tee underneath the dress. It was a nice match to some of the purple in the dress's pattern but felt too light. So I added the denim vest to better tie the purple into the dress's darker hues and then bookended the outfit with navy flats.

 

Both of these dresses are similar in style. They both have a defined waist (the orange is a looser definition than the blue). With each of these, I'm pretty sure I just wanted my shoulders covered.

This dress is actually strapless with a smocked bodice. I've worn it a ton of ways, but I wanted to show you how a vest can work with this style of dress as well.

With Short Dresses

Most of my shorter dresses are of the loose and flowy variety, which means my waist often gets lost. As with longer dresses, a vest adds structure, helps define your waist, and creates the rule of thirds.

 

These are actually the same dress, just in different colors. They technically do have a defined waist, but because there's no distinction in the patterns from top to bottom, it's not super noticeable.

With the first version, the colors are very pale and almost blend with my skin. The vest helps add a darker contrasting color so that it balances the dress a little better. It also marks where my waist is. The concept with the second version is the same but reversed. The pattern is very dark, so in this case the vest adds a lighter contrasting color to give more structure to the top third of the dress.

Last but not least we have a tried-and-true outfit formula that I've been wearing for years. This black-and-white striped dress is one of the oldest in my closet. It has no defining features outside of the stripes other than some cute little flutter sleeves. On its own, the dress is pretty shapeless. Adding a vest gives the top third structure, pinpoints my waist, and creates a balanced, complete look.

Would you wear a denim vest?