Pushing Daisies

What I'm wearing:
*Martin + Osa Striped Knit Tee (similar here and here)
*anthropologie Gaillardia Skirt (similar here)
*Loeffler Randall Red Button Flats (similar here)
*Rebecca Minkoff Studded Nikki in Almond (similar here)

In honor of Fleet Week here in New York City I decided to don a nautical themed tee to go with this fun daisy printed skirt! The red flats add to the nautical-ness, and I love it! This was my attempt at mixing prints and I think with navy as the common shade it was easy to mix the stripes and floral print.

Don't forget to keep voting in my poll in the post below! Currently the Salty Seas Dress is ahead!

Battle of the Dresses

Happy Friday everyone!

I have a dilemma, I have a barbecue to attend this weekend and I'm not sure what I want to wear! I can't decide between the Salty Seas Dress and the Cockadoodle Dress. I would love to get everyone's opinion.

Salty Seas Dress

vs. 

Cockadoodle Dress

Which dress should I wear?
	Salty Seas Dress
	Cockadoodle Dress
pollcode.com free polls

Does anyone else love barbecues? There is something about eating yummy food off the grill and drinking beer outside. Everything tastes better if cooked on the grill! 

Hope everyone has a fabulous holiday weekend! Any fun plans? 

Looping Lanes Belt + Tangled Treasure Sandals, Day vs. Night

I love when I buy a few items in the beginning of the season and I find myself reaching for them constantly. This has definitely been the case with my anthropologie Looping Lanes belt and my Tangled Treasure sandals.

I've been pretty bad about updating lately, just have been pretty busy and haven't had to take any photos of my outfits. Here are two recent outfits, one for night and one for day. The best thing about dresses is that they are a one stop outfit. Just add some cute shoes and accessories and you can call it a day! I actually ended up wearing the same belt and shoes on two separate occasions. That just shows how versatile they are, and I am definitely reaching for these two accessories more and more often.

Night
For drinks on Saturday night at Double Crown I wore this Forever 21 Jersey Knit Dress (similar here) that I just adore for the color! I've been looking for this type of green dress for ages (probably to recreate an outfit from The Devil Wears Prada) and I finally found a simple one at Forever 21! I like to be comfortable when I go out so I decided to go with flats, and replaced the nude patent belt that came with the dress with the Looping Lanes belt.

Day
For lunch and shopping with my sister today I decided to wear one of my favorite summer dresses from the J.Crew outlet last summer. I love the fun turtle print, and it was really hot out today so this cotton dress was perfect for the weather. I love the way the cognac belt looks with the blue/white print, and these sandals are just great for everyday wear.

I think both of these looks are comfortable and easy to wear. In the summer, comfort is very important to me! Dresses are definitely the way to go to keep cool in the heat.

My favorite purchase of late has been the Panther Wrap Ring from Forever 21. I've been wanting a snake ring for awhile, but have been waffling on getting one or not. After seeing this ring at Forever 21 ($6!) I decided it was worth it at that price for such a trendy item. It doesn't look too cheap in real life and I think it's fun!

I am excited right now because I am off to see Sex and the City 2 at midnight tonight! I loved the first movie and am excited for all the fashion in this one as well.

Extra Lime Please

What I'm wearing:

*anthropologie Ipanema Dress

*MICHAEL Michael Kors Sandals in Tan (similar here and here)

*Michael Kors Skorpios Ring Tote in Chestnut

*Michael Kors Oversized Black Watch

It looks like the warm weather is finally hitting NYC! I felt like such a sunny day called for a sunny colored dress! The Ipanema Dress was just what I needed. The color is a bit more lime-y in real life, not as lemon yellow as the pictures would suggest. Still a great fun color. I do wish I took the photos a bit earlier, before the dress got a bit wrinkled, but oh well! (For sizing reference, I am wearing an XS in this, so I believe it runs a bit big.)

I am so happy today is Friday. Tonight my friend is hosting a champagne tasting, so I'm excited! Nothing like bubbly to start the weekend off on the right foot!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

In the Navy

What I'm wearing:
*anthropologie Perilla Dress in Navy (similar here)
*Loeffler Randall Red Button Flats (similar here and here)
*Michael Kors Skorpios Ring Tote in Chestnut

I am definitely loving the Perilla Dress! I love the nautical navy stripes, and the floral embellishment keeps it from being boring. (For sizing references I am wearing an XS.) I love the way the jersey fits, it is super comfortable, and I think it would look just as cute with flip flops or espadrilles. I just love my red button flats though, even though they are on their last legs I love them for a pop of color and to keep up with the nautical theme. I know people say that horizontal stripes aren't figure flattering, but I love them!

I'm outside, how crazy is that! I figured there was no excuse anymore to be lazy and not take advantage of the lovely weather outside. Therefore I enlisted the help of my lovely sister to take these photos for me. Luckily my camera is pretty easy to use, and it didn't take long for her to get snapping! 

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!!

Thank you to everyone for participating in my Liberty of London for Target Giveaway! 

And the winner is....

Kathryn of In Pursuit of Pretty Things!!!!

Please email me your mailing addy at loveatfirstshop@yahoo.com so I can send your bag out right away.

Night Ride

What I'm wearing:
*J.Crew (outlet) Black & White Floral Dress (similar here)
*anthropologie Night Flora Sandals (similar here and here)
*Forever 21 Pearl Bib Necklace (similar here)
*Marc by Marc Jacobs Petal to the Metal Natasha Messenger Bag in Stoplight (similar here)
*Michael Kors Gold Tone Watch (similar here)

I have never really been a huge cross-body bag person, but after carrying my Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Clutch to death (see it on me here), I realized how handy they can be. Perfect for running around the city and still having my hands free. I love the bright color of the bag, I thought it would add a pretty pop of color to duller outfits.

This Forever 21 pearl bib necklace was only $15, and I've definitely gotten my money's worth.

Today I borrowed my sister's gold watch, and am wearing a ring that was a graduation present from my parents.

The floral theme that is found in my dress is repeated in my shoes. Is that floral overload? I love that these shoes have flowers on them, but they are black! They are surprisingly comfortable and make me feel much more put together than if I had flip flops on.

So today I received several boxes full of summer clothing that my mom sent over from our house in GA. I love that I completely forgot about some of what I had (this is a sure sign that I have too much), and it's almost like getting new clothes! Hopefully these "new" warm weather clothes will keep me from buying anything else.

I've been attempting to broaden my Netflix horizons, and last night I watched Eagle vs. Shark, which is an off beat romantic comedy set in New Zealand. I am not really sure what I think about it yet, it had some definite funny moments but for the most part just made me feel very awkward. Anyone have any suggestions for movies to add to my queue?

This post has gone off on a million different tangents today, but last but not least I'd like to remind everyone that my Liberty of London for Target giveaway ends tonight at 11:59pm EST!!!!

Lots of New anthro Markdowns!

As faithfully reported on Kim & Roxy's blogs, anthropologie started their huge sale today! I have been way too bad lately, so I won't really be indulging in the sale, but I can live vicariously through others. You can check out the more comprehensive list of markdowns on their respective blogs, but here are my picks!

Stamp Art Dress. $79.95. Really a fantastic dress for summer! Super lightweight and comfortable, would look great with a colored cardigan on top. This runs big, I am wearing a size 2, which is smaller than my normal size 4.

Bougainvillia Cardigan. $69.95. I've been eyeing this cardigan for awhile. I think it would be such a lovely topper over solid colored spring/summer dresses. Very feminine with the print and the ruffles.

Seabound Skirt. $59.95. Love this adorable scenic skirt! Love the way anthropologie styled it with the white shirt and cognac belt.

A Rose is a Rose Tank. $39.95. I actually own and love this tank, it just hasn't been posted on my blog! Very lightweight and the ruffles aren't too over the top. The print is very vibrant and cute, I wore it with a rich purple cardigan on top. Runs pretty TTS IMO. The 2 worked for me the but 4 would have been okay too.

Island Time Juice Glass, Leaves. $7.95. How perfect would these glasses be for mojitos? Perfect drink for a nice summer day. 

Line-Dried Top. $39.95. Love this sun-washed denim shirt. I wear my Madewell chambray top all the time, this one looks very comparable and the price is right! Love it with the belt over it, I may have to copy this look.

I may try to head over to a store tomorrow, but I don't have anything that I'm dying for right now. What is everyone scoring or looking for?

Edit: I just added a whole lot of anthro skirts to the SHOP!

Cascading Foliage

What I'm wearing:
*Anna Sui for anthropologie Cascading Foliage Dress (similar here and here)
*anthropologie Curlytop Cardigan in Ivory (similar here and here)
*Guess Nude Patent Slingbacks (similar here and here)
*Michael Kors Skorpios Ring Tote in Chestnut (similar here and here)

The Curlytop Cardigan is just the most perfect topper for spring. It instantly makes any outfit with a dress more fun, with its cute ruffles and darling detail. I think its more interesting than the simple solids that I normally reach for. It is also lightweight enough to be comfortable when its warm out, but gives just the perfect amount of warmth. I thought that the Cascading Foliage Dress looked just a bit "meh" when I tried it on with a solid merino v-neck cardigan, even with a belt, and the Curlytop just made it more fresh and fun. (For sizing reference, I am wearing a Small in the cardigan.)

How gorgeous is the Skorpios Ring Tote? I have my sister to thank for this one, and I am obsessed! I don't really have any bags in this shape, and with the shoulder strap (that is tucked in for this photo) I find it extremely versatile. I think it can look both professional and casual, and the leather is absolutely to die for. I have a feeling you will be seeing this a lot on my blog! (I'm trying to be better about switching my bags around, and including them in my outfit photos.)

P.S. My Liberty of London for Target Giveaway is still on! You have until Wednesday night!

Mojito Madness

What I'm wearing:
*Madewell Chambray Dress (similar here and here)
*anthropologie Whispering Breeze Scarf in Turquoise (similar here)
*anthropologie Tangled Treasure Sandals
*Rebecca Minkoff Studded Nikki in Almond (similar here and here)

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend! Mine was fantastic, spent some quality time with friends and enjoyed the lovely weather. I have gotten so much wear out of the Tangled Treasure Sandals already! They are pretty comfortable and I just wear them with just about everything. This denim dress is just an easy one to throw on and be out the door. I thought the turquoise scarf added some fun color, you can't tell really in these photos but there are metallic threads running through this infinity scarf. I'm obsessed with lightweight infinity scarves right now, I just find them very easy to wear.

Now that its warm outside I find myself wanting something cool and refreshing to drink. My summer favorite is the mojito! There are several elements to the mojito that I love: the fizziness, the limes, and the mint! I know people either love it or hate it, but I just love the mint in it. Yesterday my friend P had the brilliant idea of making our own mojitos. They were just as delicious at home as they would be served at a poolside bar.

Ingredients:

• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 a lime (I like putting extra lime in)
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup
• Ice
• 1 1/2 oz. light rum (I used Bacardi)
• Club soda
• Lime wedge and mint sprig (for garnish)

In a tall glass, muddle or mash together the mint leaves and lime. Add the simple syrup or sugar and fill the glass with ice. Add the rum and top with club soda, stir well. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

A variation that I really enjoy is topping off the drink with a bit of ginger beer. Adds a bit of interesting flavor!

What is your summer drink of choice? My other favorite is the Dark n Stormy (dark rum + ginger beer + lime).

PS. My Liberty of London for Target giveaway ends on Wednesday! Super easy to enter here.

This Time Baby I'll Be Bulletproof

What I'm wearing:
*Liberty of London for Target Ruffle Halter Dress in Martha Grace Print
*H&M Cropped Faux Leather Blazer (similar here and here)
*Matt Bernson KM Gladiator Sandal in Black (similar here)
*anthropologie Ephemera Forever Scarf in Chartreuse
*Michael Kors Oversized Black Watch

I've had this Liberty of London for Target ruffle dress for awhile, but this is the first time I'm actually wearing it! I love the bright and cheery print, and the lightweight dress is perfect for spring/summer. It's not quite warm enough to wear just a sundress out right now, so I decided to top it off with this random faux leather jacket my sister scored on sale at H&M. Of course the finishing touch was the forever scarf that I can't stop wearing! I seriously throw it on top of everything, even a tee and sweatpants if I'm running around outside.

Super excited about these Matt Bernson gladiators! There was a sample sale in NYC a couple of weeks ago, and I really wanted to go but was working during their hours and it was too far for me to attempt to make it in time. Luckily for me, a lovely friend from fashionism, P, was kind enough to pick these up for me!! All sandals apparently were $40, which is a steal considering that piperlime still has them for full price. I love these and have been wanting a nice basic black gladiator sandal for some time, but I love them even more now that they were such a bargain.

Any fun weekend plans? I'm kicking off my "Friday" by meeting a friend for drinks after work and then I have a college friend coming into town this weekend so I am pumped to hang out with her!

Also am I the only special snowflake that is obsessed with La Roux's "Bulletproof"? This song just gets me all pumped up, I like to listen to it when I'm getting ready to go out.

Don't forget about my giveaway!

anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews

So what do I do when I have a bunch of free time and its too icky outside to really do anything else? Go to anthropologie of course and try on some dresses! I decided to do a few fit reviews on the items that I've been eyeing lately. Unfortunately the photo quality isn't great because I didn't have my digital camera on me, but they will have to do.

The Perilla Dress in the Navy colorway was definitely a win in my book. I love the navy and white stripes, and I found the fit to be very flattering. The soft jersey was very comfortable, and the flower detail at the waist kept it from being too boring. I think it would look perfect paired with red sandals, which may be a little patriotic but its one of my favorite combinations. This would be perfect for a nice summer day! I am wearing an XS in this photo.

The Catmint Dress is a very cute dress, but it just didn't have the wow factor for me. The print is adorable but with the amount of fabric, looked a little too table-cloth-esque on my figure. On the other hand, walking down the street the other day (when it was nicer out) I did see a woman wearing it and it looked fab on her! I tried this on in a size 4 and it fit perfectly. I know some other bloggers mentioned it, but I was disappointed in the white fabric tie on the dress in-store (versus the colored one online). I think it would look great with a wide cognac belt over it instead.

The Sweet Shoppe Dress is a darling dress, but it just didn't fit me right. I tried on the size 4, and it fit well in the waist, but was too loose in the bust. Maybe with a better strapless bra it would work. I felt just a bit too "little girl" in this dress, and I feel like it would wrinkle far too easily. The material felt a little rough to me as well. I just didn't feel comfortable in the dress, and that is very important to me.

Another favorite of mine was the Ipanema Dress. The yellow color was a bit more lime in person, but I still thought it was a great color. It was super comfortable, and the detailing on this simple dress (especially around the neckline) makes it adorable and perfect for summer. It doesn't have much of a defined shape, but I do have this weird love of shapeless dresses. I am trying on an XS in this photo, which means it probably runs a bit big.

Y'all are aware of the fact that I love odd animal prints on my dresses. But the Sketched Danios Dress was just a little too "fishy" for me to wear. This was a size 4 which was a little roomy, since We Love Vera runs a bit big in my opinion. The rope detailing on the belt was very cute, but this shift dress just didn't do my figure any favors.

I have been eyeing the High Seas Dress on the website, since I love nautical themed dresses. The colors were just as vibrant in real life as they are in person. I thought it was very cute, but ran big. I am wearing a Small in this photo, and think an XS would have been better. The material around the waist is shirred, which I don't love but I think it would look covered up with a woven navy belt. This dress would be perfect for summer, but I think I'd rather wait for a sale.

The Knotted Poppies Dress is gorgeous and well-constructed in real life. I loved the colors in it, and the fit of the dress. My normal size 4 fit perfectly. The navy ribbon sash is a nice touch too. I feel like this would be the perfect dress to wear to a bridal shower or some other daytime event that calls for something a little on the dressier side.

Last but not least is my review of the Nexus Top in Beige. Color is pretty true to what is shown on the website, but I would call it more of a gray/taupe than a beige. The ruffles were lovely and I think it would look darling under an open cardigan. Fortunately for me I have plenty of ruffled tops in my closet so I would have to pass on this one. I am wearing an XS in this photo, but probably should have sized up to a Small.

I hope that my reviews were helpful! I think my favorite out of the bunch was the Perilla Dress, which would definitely be perfect for a Memorial Day Weekend barbecue I plan on attending!

*Libery of London for Target Tote Giveaway ends next Wednesday!