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Fashionista friends!
Do I have a treat for you today. A private fashion show right here in the comfort of your own home. Imagine, a catwalk stretching from my laptop to your device and featuring some of my favorite fashionistas, my Get Your Pretty On Style Me Challenge friends.
That’s what we have going on today.
So, if it is before noon grab a cuppa Joe and if it is after noon, grab a soda or your favorite adult beverage and settle in for a look at some great fashion trends as modeled by my sweet friends.
One quick bit of business. I have tried to provide direct links to some of the gals’ great items through ShopStyle. When you hover over the pictures and see a little bull’s eye icon appear, you can click on the bull’s eye to be taken to the store where the featured item can be purchased. Hope that will make shopping for these go-to summer look pieces even easier for you and me!
Couldn’t decide whose looks to feature first. Being the former librarian I am, decided to go with ABC order. Which means Janice from California is first up on the cat walk. (Yes, I had to sing the alphabet song while thinking of all the gals’ names! Pitiful!) Janice has a beautiful sense of style, in her personal look and in the home she has been remodeling this summer.
Janice shares: My go-to summer look is white jeans/capris/shorts and a gray tee. I’ve worn white jeans for years and have every size from 4 to 14. I never get rid of a good pair of white jeans! And I am currently obsessed with gray tees! With this combo, I slip on flip flops, wedge sandals, or my gray tennies and I’m out the door! Here are the ingredients to my looks: Jean jacket – Eddie Bauer, white tank – Coldwater Creek (old), leopard printed soft pants – Susan Graver, QVC, wedge sandals – Clark’s, really big pearls – Target/White jeans – Loft, curvy skinny fit, gray graphic tee – GYPO website, aqua waterfall sweater – QVC (old), gray tennies – Keen, really big pearls – Target/White jeans – Loft, curvy skinny fit, gray knot tee – Express, coral floral sweater – Isaac Mizrahi Live, QVC, leopard slip-ons – eBay, silver feather necklace – Target/White jeans – Loft, curvy skinny fit, gray tee – Target, aqua waterfall sweater – QVC (old), gray tennies – Keen, ladder necklace – jane.com.
Me: Aren’t these cute looks? I love them all but just think that coral-y-reddish cardi is divine with Janice’s beautiful coloring. I never think to wear red(ish) but on the accidental occasion that I do, I love it. I am thinking I may need that sweater. So glad Janice shared the shopping details so I can pick one up and you can, too. The Get Your Pretty On (GYPO) graphic tee is available here. And proceeds go to a great cause – to support the Pretty Strong program for women undergoing cancer treatment. If you or someone you know is battling cancer, Alison at GYPO would love to hear from you. Read more about that here.
ABCDEFG, HIJ…after J comes K. K for Karen. Who hails from Ohio. She is joined by her beautiful, photobombing granddaughter Bella (stylin’ leisure-wear). Karen has such an award-winning smile. It’s like a hug.
Karen comments: My go-to summer look seems to be the graphic tee. The first one is from Kohls, second and third tees are from JCrew Factory. The third graphic tee was on our GYPO Summer Style 2015 shopping list. You can find it here.
Me: I need to get Karen’s first tee and wear it as a reminder to take time to recognize and enjoy the beautiful world around me. So easy to just go through the motions of day-to-day life without “smelling the roses”. Thank you, Karen, for this gentle prompting.
I don’t have to sing the ABC song to know what letter is up next. L. L for Laurie. Laurie from New Hampshire. I have admired Laurie’s fabulous ‘office dwelling outfits’ throughout all of our challenges together. And she has a knack for adapting any work wear ensemble into something more casual for the weekend.
Laurie confides: I’ve been having a hard time coming up with a single go-to summer look. I have been doing lots of dresses and colored ankle pants for work and graphic tees, kimono & flowy tanks for home. Here are a few pics. The black tee says,”One should be a work of art or wear a work of art” ~ Oscar Wilde. Most are from Talbots, Macys, Old Navy. The kimonos are from Nordstrom and Forever 21. The navy and white jacket is from QVC. The gray tees are from Chowderheads, an online store for known for Boston gear.
Here are two more of Laurie’s lovely office dwelling ensembles.
Me: See what I mean about how Laurie can transition a look from day to night or night to day? I love that she has on shoes with that cute maxi skirt outfit but in the next picture, with the same kimono dressed-down, Laurie is barefoot! Fun.
My next guests forced me to take my alphabetizing skills to another level. I had to blow out the dust in my brain in order to remember how we (they?) alphabetize in the library beyond the first few letters because my next guests’ first names are Mary. Mary M. and Mary J.
After putting on my library cataloger’s hat again, I realized that Mary J. should come first, and here she is, joining us from Minnesota.
Mary J. explains: Now that it has “warmed” up…ok, it’s hot and humid, my go-to outfits are maxi skirts and graphic tees. ‘Faith, hope, love’ tee and skirt are from a (local) boutique, the green lace tank is from Maurices, skirt is from a boutique. ‘I have enough shoes’ tee is from American Eagle and my white crops are from Loft.
Me: While I am loving the graphic tee, too, I have to tell you that this teal/aqua/turqoise (what color is that???) outfit is sensational. Wait! GREEN, Mary? Green? No wonder I love it. And love the pattern in the skirt. I think almost all of my fashion friends have jumped on the bandwagon with Mary’s American Eagle shoe tee. I am forced to wait til payday to get mine. You can get one, too, right here.
This brings us to intermission in our fashion show.
If you need a refill, a bathroom break, to run around and do something in your house real quick so it will look like you have been busy to anyone who might care…this is is the time to do that. You have five minutes before I dim the lights again.
GO!
Ok, gals, please settle back in your seats for some more great summer go-to favorites.
Next up, Mary M. from my neighboring state New Mexico. She is the youngest of the challengers featured today. Mary recently began a shiny new job requiring her to dress-up a little more than she had been in her former position.
Mary M. adds: My favorite pieces this summer for both casual and office wear have been flowy tanks and blouses! The pink and purple are Portofino shirts from Express, which I am obsessed with. They come in every color and pattern imaginable! The blue ruffled top is from Anthropologie. I just love the look of a flowy top with skinny jeans, or tucked into shorts or a skirt.
Me: I think Mary was responsible for bringing the Portofino shirt to the summer challenge. And then it was everywhere. Everyone wanted one and got one. Available here, on sale – buy one, get one 50% off, in a rainbow of colors. It has an average of five stars in over two thousand reviews. Also available in a sleeveless version here. Will it ever be payday? I do have a couple of these but seeing Mary modeling again above, I realize I need a few more.
Coming down the runway next is Phyllis from California. She is a natural at this modeling and picture-taking and cute-clothes-wearing business. One snappy dressing gal.
Phyllis adds: Graphic tees have been my favorite go-to summer look for this year. They go with absolutely everything…..jeans, shorts, palazzo pants, skirts! They are my new go-to piece. I got my graphic tees at Macy’s, KMart, and on Amazon.
Me: Phyllis is rockin’ that GYPO tee shirt, too. Further proof that I need one. Don’t you? And I love that Limited Edition tee. I found one similar here on Amazon.com. I think I am probably not even a limited edition but a one-of-a-kind or slightly irregular. Wonder if there is a graphic tee like that? Found a similar “Will work for shoes” tee here.
Our final looks come to us from my end-of-the-alphabet friend Wendy from Michigan. I giggled when Wendy sent me a message along with her pictures, apologizing for her headless photos. I am glad we at least get a peek at her lovely face in a couple of her ‘photo shoots’.
Wendy shares: My go-to summer look is my white jeans, Old Navy. They are perfect for summer date nights and look good with any top. My boyfriend denim shorts, Target, are another go-to. Can dress them up with lace, Loft, or go super casual with a fun graphics tee, Target (old). My fav this summer is my butterfly shorts from Lands End.
Me: So much to love here. But those butterfly shorts were all the buzz (pardon the pun) on the summer challenge FB page. All of us loved them. You can find them here, along with a lot of other great print shorts in various lengths. And how ’bout that punch of green (belt) paired with the gray tee, denim shorts and those bright slip-ons? Great, huh?
Whew! I don’t know about you, but my head is swimming with all of these lovely looks. I cannot wait til payday so I can add a few new items to my wardrobe. I have been cleaning out my closet and dresser drawers this week. Now I have room for some new goodies. Call it rewarding myself for spring summer cleaning.
Before we call it a wrap, please take a minute to enter my giveaway for a GYPO tee shirt of your choice.
They are available in lots of color and size and style options so there’s one for every fashionista!
Please enter by clicking on the link below.
A big thank you to each of my wonderful fashion friends for sharing their go-to summer look.
Thank you, girls.
Love you for being so much fun.
Hugs and kisses,
Morgan
My favorite go to summer outfit has been my Mereno shorts from Target and any medium sized t shirt. Since having a baby and nursing, my “girls” are too big for my pre-pregnancy shirts. Ha! T shirts especially, since it’s hot here in El Paso. I don’t have any graphic tees, but they do look fun!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! You make me laugh! I haven’t been lactating since 1986 and my “girls” are still too big for the pre-pregnancy shirts I wore 29 years ago. Somehow my body never really was the same! You look adorable in your vacay photos and Target shorts and tees are the way to go. Gotta get you into a graphic tee. They are super fun and take tees up to a new level. XO
deena
Cool post! Was really neat to see all the ladies grouped together.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Haven’t we all been blessed by the friendships we have made through the challenges? I love how they bring us together with wonderful women we would otherwise never know. So glad to have met you, my sweet Deena! XO
Sarah C
Oh my gosh, love this post so much! I love Mary J too, she always had the cutest outfits 🙂
Sarah C
OH and my favorite go to summer outfit, is shorts and a flowy tank and a long necklace, with some metallic sandals.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I love the flowy tanks, too. I was afraid flowy would translate into a whole lotta fabric in places I don’t need any extra bulk. But instead it somehow translated into fabric that gently skimmed over my tummy and hips and behind! Gotta love it.
Mary
Sarah-thanks for your sweet comment! Miss you girl- hope to see more of you next challenge!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Awww, love this! XO
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I just love the way the gals all wear similar pieces…graphic tee, white jeans but then do something special to OWN their outfits. I think Mary J. and I would be great buddies in real life. Would love to have worked as her librarian in the school where she teaches. I know she is one fabulous teacher! Thank you, Sarah, for coming by.
Oh, and PC ate five shish-kabob (spelling?) skewers of shrimp the other night. Will be making it again soon. Without the steak.
Mary
Thanks Leslie! I am quite sure we would be hanging out IRL if we were closer! Thanks for the lovely compliment! School actually starts the Monday after Labor Day, workshops the week before, but I have already been doing a little work in my classroom-organizing my classroom library for 2nd graders! Thanks to some great advice from my librarian friend! 😘
Mary
Thanks Leslie for letting me part of your post today! Always fun to hang out with my style friends!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, my, Mary! My pleasure. I thank you. Would love to team up with you down the road for something book/school/teaching related. When do you guys start back?
Sheila @ Making the Most of Every Day
What a fun summary and I love your giveaway! Sheila DelCharco My blog: Making the Most of Every Day
Sheila @ Making the Most of Every Day
Oh and my favorite go to summer look is t-shirt and shorts with cute sandals and fun jewelry!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Are you wearing graphic tees or solid color/patterned tees. I have found so many great graphics through these gals and a few on Etsy that I am dying to have. Ok, not dying…but craving! Not enough money in my retirement check. Will have to wait til I start subbing again.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay!!! Do you have the GYPO tee yet? I wonder if it would be ok if I was the winner of my own contest? I don’t have one yet. XO
Karen S.
Leslie thank you so much for letting me join in on the fun!!! You are such a sweet special lady… hugs to you. The fashion challenges are such a wonderful chance to learn fashion ideas and make kind friends! Love, Karen
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, my stars, Karen, thank YOU! I am so glad that these challenges have connected me with wonderful, loving, gentle gals like you who might have gone my whole life not knowing otherwise. That Bella is one cutie pie. Takes after her grandma. What does Bella call you? Wish we could grab up our granddaughters and spend the day together at the park. XO Love you right back.
Wendy
What a great post Leslie! Thank you for letting me share my outfits. It’s really fun to see what everyone’s go to summer outfits are. 😘
Alison @ Get Your Pretty On
Sweet Leslie, thank you so much for this post and for sponsoring a giveaway for one of these tees! Maybe I’m a little partial but they really do work with just about anything. Also, I appreciate the awareness raised for the Pretty Strong program. All of the proceeds from the sale of GYPO merchandise goes toward providing some great stuff for our style sisters undergoing cancer treatment. Have a great day!
Alison
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Alison, for your support and kind words. I am glad to sponsor this giveaway. And as soon as payday rolls around (two days and counting), I will be ordering my very own GYPO graphic tee for moi! I appreciate the good works you do through your challenges and the Pretty Strong program. XO
Katie
What a great post Leslie!!! Love seeing all the Challengers again. You have such great ideas for posts Leslie!! And look that your giving away a tee…perfect way to conclude!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, love! Do you have the tee yet? I hope to get one as soon as my check hits the bank on Friday. XO
Laurie
Thanks so much for including me in your post today! It was great to see all the familiar faces! I’ve missed you all so much! I continue to be amazed how we can all have such different looks with the same vote pieces. I so enjoy reading your blog , you are a wonderful story teller and have such a witty writing style! Hope you and all of our GYPO style friends enjoy the rest of the summer.!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, Laurie, you say the nicest things. I have had one crazy life and it has given me lots of fodder for stories. I need to write a book, I keep telling myself every single day. Someday. So glad to have had you join in on sharing your go-to summer look. You always have such great ways of styling the challenge pieces. Thank you for playing dress up with me.
Katie
OK so I’m back!! All this time I thought I was already following you on Pinterest and Twitter!! I guess not!! So glad I am now!! And I also forgot to tell you my summer go-to!! You have to know it’s my denim vest!! LOL
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Yay, for denim vests. And for having you follow me on Pinterest and Twitter. Just love you. I would have to say the hat you are wearing in your FB profile pic HAS to be another of your summer go-tos. You look so chic! And your white on white. And your dresses with the denim vest. And your maxis. Geez. You wear everything well. XO
Mary M.
I am again honored to be on your lovely blog, Leslie! You made me laugh with talk about the alphabet skills…I often have to sing my ABCs to alphabetize things, too! (Well, I AM a former K teacher!) Anyway, thanks again, pretty lady!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Mary, for joining me. Look at the life skills Kinder teachers teach. The ABC song that all of us remember and sing life long.
Mary M.
Whoops! Forgot to mention my favorite summer go-to-look…but you already know, it’s Portofinos and other flowy tops. Although for the past two weeks, I have been all about skirts and dresses, too!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Your pictures on the blog helped me convince my daughter Brennyn to try the Portofinos. She bought hers at Loft. Red and a black. I think I need a red one, too. Are you liking your new job? Hope so. You sure look terrific for work every day. XO
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite go-to summer look is some patterned shorts and a striped or bright colored tee. Such a fun post today!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I loved your summer outfit the other day on your blog. The one with the fringed bag. You have such a great shape to show off with some cute patterned shorts. That running pays off! XO