OOTD: The Wonder of Color

Photography by Cassidy Hopkins

Here's a (not-so-secret) confession: I'm not big on wearing colors. I used to totally rock bright colors in high school, but as I've gotten older my closet has turned to neutrals and pastels. It doesn't help that I've spent the last 4 years living in Seattle and New York, where wearing all-black is part of the lifestyle. Every now and then, though, I find a colorful piece that I just have to have. This dress is one of those pieces.

I bought this dress when I was going through my comfy body-con dress phase. I was drawn to the style more than the color, and told myself I'd wear this dress when I felt like standing out.

And, for a while, I did. Once I dyed my hair, though, wearing colors got that much harder. If I wanted to stand out, I'd go for a daring lipstick or a uniquely designed piece. After all, if a red dress is too much for me, pairing a red dress with my blue hair is definitely too much.

When Cassidy, Tomi and I decided to go to Coney Island last Saturday, Cassidy (the most experienced New Yorker of the bunch) said we should wear bright colors to match the colorful rides in the background. I found myself staring blankly at my clothing rack. This dress is the only colorful piece I own, and I've been waiting until my blue hair grows out to wear it. "I'll just wear white," I decided.

At the last minute, I threw this dress into my backpack on my way to meet Cassidy and Tomi. It's been years since I wore it in a blog post, and goodness knows I have to make the most out of my wardrobe when it comes to dressing for OOTD posts. I figured I'd throw my hair in a bun so the blue wouldn't clash with the red.

I really surprised myself when I looked in the mirror and liked seeing myself in all this color. Not only did I look great, but I still looked like myself. Usually when I try a trend I'm not naturally drawn towards, I don't feel authentic. One of the most important aspects of my sense of style is being true to myself and portraying myself the way I feel, not just the way others see me as a fashion blogger. I'm glad I tried something new, and I'm glad I truly committed to the look. Plus, these colors ended up matching the ferris island on Coney Island, which is pretty ideal.

Now that I'm back in the land of shades of gray (literally), I'm content to let this red dress hang untouched on my clothing rack. It's nice to know, though, that I can totally pull it off if and when I so choose.

My Summer 2016 Shopping List

Photos via: Prosecco & Plaid (1), Prosecco & Plaid (2), Hello Fashion, The Fox & She, Mind Body Swag, and The Fashion Cuisine.

Lace-Up Flats: I've been looking for a pair of these since the spring. I was big into flats when I was younger, but I grew bored of them in high school and college. Since then, I've been looking to up my flat game with something a little more interesting. Lace-up flats fulfill that desire as well as reminding me of the ballerina I once was.

Photos via: Pink Peonies, A Southern Drawl, Lifestyle by Joules, Suburban Faux Pas, and Merrick's Art.

Lemon Print: Ever since Beyonce released Lemonade, I've been seeing lemon print everywhere (including on this adorable grandma-toddler combo). It may be poignant or it may be a coincidence; either way, this is a surprisingly sweet trend I am more than happy to follow.

Photos via: Style Pantry, Late Afternoon, The Quarter Life Crisis, Mink & Ivory, Blair Badge, and Les Babioles de Zoé.

Palazzo Pants: I've long flirted with the wide-leg pant. Pants are one of my least favorite items of clothing to wear because they're so much less comfortable skirts or dresses. The flowy look of palazzo pants (along with the freedom that comes with non skinny-leg pants) is so appealing to me. Plus, they can be dressed up or down, which I love.

Photos via: Katie's Bliss, Margo & Me, Eleonora Petrella, Kelly Saks, and My Showroom. 

Short-Sleeve Romper: I have bought so many rompers in the last five years: rompers with long sleeves, no sleeves, v-necks, high necks, pant legs, shorts, etc. The one type of romper I don't own is one with short-sleeves. I'm just looking to add on to my collection here.

Photos via: Stella Wants to Die, Sunshine & Stilettos, Collage Vintage, Alex's Closet, Fashion Jackson, and Silvia's Closet.

Tan Button-Up Faux Suede Skirt: This is by far the most specific item on my summer shopping list. I have a navy button-up faux suede skirt that I got a couple months ago with the intention of satisfying my desire for this style skirt, but I still find myself wanting one in tan. The color is perfect for the summer and the fall and the style is super cute!

Photos via: Fashionably Geek, Sazan, The Cherry Blossom Girl, Mermaid Waves, and Style Sprinter.

Purses Shaped Like Objects: Dani from Mermaid Waves introduced me to this adorable trend. She has purses shaped like pizza, the Instagram symbol, and an egg, seen above. I love adding something fun to an otherwise basic (if adorable) outfit, and this is the perfect statement piece.

Summer in Seattle

As my third year of college comes to a close, I've been getting excited to spend my second summer living in Seattle. Last year, I spent a lot of time with a partner-in-crime, but I'm excited to be able to take the city alone this summer. Last weekend, I went to Alki Beach for the first time since living in Seattle. There, I saw the best view of the city I've ever seen. Having this new experience and seeing my city from a new perspective encouraged me to think about what I want to do this summer in Seattle. 

1. Take a road trip: I've taken many road trips over the years, but I haven't had the chance to do so with a group of friends. With so many wonderful places within driving distance (Portland, Vancouver BC, the Oregon Coast, etc.), I can't wait to see where I end up.
2. Get a tattoo: When I was 18, I had a plan to get a tattoo to celebrate going a year without self-harming. My parents eventually ended up telling me that I couldn't get a tattoo while I was still living under their roof, so I postponed the plan. It's been a couple years and I no longer live with my parents, so I think it's time to acknowledge the strides I've made in dealing with my chronic depression.
3. Explore the city: I can't believe it took me three years to finally get on a ferry and explore the islands outside of Seattle. I don't want to look back at my time in Seattle and feel like I didn't see enough of the city I lived in. There are lots of beautiful places within the realm of public transportation, which leaves me with no excuse to stay on my side of town.
4. Make time to do arts and crafts: I love to paint, embroider, and follow DIY tutorials. I don't have a lot of time to be creative for long periods of time during the school year, so I want to take advantage of the time I have available this summer,
5. Read for fun: I'm taking two online classes this summer, but I'll still have more time and energy to read outside of my assigned reading. 
6. Write something: During the school year, I write so much academic material that I'm not left with a lot of energy to write anything longer than a blog post. Creative writing has always been a big part of my life, and I want to be able to allow myself time to do it.
7. Find some post-grad options: I'm graduating in six months! I have a lot of ideas about what I want to do when I graduate (teaching in South America, writing in New York, etc.) but eventually I'll have to put something into action.