Stark Raving Chic

Whew! Has anyone else's wardrobe gone from zero to summer real quick this season? Though I have to admit, I have not mourned packing away my heavy sweaters and winter coats in the least, and I am fully ready to embrace the sunshine and warm weather. I am also more than ready to style some sweet summer looks after an incredibly long, cold, and very layered, winter here in the 'Burgh.

I have to admit, though my favorite season is actually fall due to the perfect climate and all the fun you can have with layers, summer is a close second for me. The reason this is, is because firstly, summer is the season in which my favorite flowers bloom, the colors of the season are my favorites, and the clothing for this season often mirrors both of these characteristics. So, in today's outfit of the day, I'm talking about how I styled my first look of the summer featuring pieces from my sponsor and affiliate, Ann Taylor, along with some of my favorite summer beauty products. Plus, I'm featuring these adorable thrifted shorts that I personally got a little bit crafty with!

Scents of the Season

As I mentioned earlier, summertime brings about the blooming of some of my favorite posies, one of those actually being white daisies (my other favorites include tiger lilies, hydrangea, and tulips). I love these flowers not only because they are beautiful to look at, but also because their scents are absolutely amazing. With this being said, I was thrilled to have receive a complimentary gift set of Marc Jacobs "Daisy" featuring a full bottle of this magical scent, a perfume roller, and body lotion.

This perfume has been a summertime favorite of mine since I was seventeen. And though Marc Jacobs Daisy actually doesn't smell like daisies at all, it is still a light and whimsical scent that is perfect for summer. Daisy, transports the wearer to a place that is optimistic, beautiful, and pure. To me, Daisy, is reminiscent of my youth and gives me a comforting feeling of nostalgia each and every time I wear it. Not to mention this perfume's scent embodies romance, starting with the scent of wild berries and violets, and ending with jasmine and a sensual sandalwood for a sultry and irresistibly feminine finish.

Summer Blooms

After applying my favorite summer scent and makeup, I decided to enjoy the beautiful weather by taking a stroll in Ambridge's historical district of Old Economy as well as checking out a handful of the antique shops and historical sites in the area. Much like Marc Jacobs Daisy, Old Economy will always hold a special place in my heart and gives me feelings of nostalgia because I grew up spending time there and actually worked as a "Young Harmonist" tour guide from the time I was in eighth grade through my senior year in high school. The scenery of this place is actually quite beautiful, and in my opinion is a hidden gem of Ambridge. So, since this was a leisurely casual day dedicated to strolling down memory lane, I chose to keep my look simple and sweet.

Along with wanting a casual look without sacrificing any style, I also wanted to remain comfortable, and as many of my fellow Pittsburghers know, sometimes trying to keep cool in our humid summer weather can be a bummer. However, the pieces that I chose for this casual summer look are perfect for our warm and slightly sticky weather due to the fact I kept my clothes light (in color and weight) as well as wearing lightweight accessories and makeup.

The top I chose to style for this look is this adorable ruffle-bib blouse from my sponsor and affiliate Ann Taylor. The reason why I was so attracted to this blouse is because I loved the the colors and floral pattern. I also loved the ruffle-bib detailing of the top half of the blouse, which gives this top a sweet and feminine look. This blouse is made of raw silk, meaning that its very lightweight, and though silk isn't the most breathable fabric, it's still a great choice for summer outings, second to linen in my opinion. I also like the cut of this blouse, since it is not form fitting it makes for a perfect top to tuck in for a change of pace in styling, giving this look a retro '70s vibe.

Love these shorts I made? Though you can't get these exact ones, click here or here to see some similar looks!

Now, I have to admit, I'm pretty proud of the bottom half of this outfit. If you follow me on Instagram you've probably seen these adorable embroidered shorts pop up in your feed a couple time this past week, and the reason I am am so proud of them is because I actually made them myself! Though I don't go clothes shopping often, I recently decided to hit up my local Goodwill in search of some new jean shorts for summer. While I was on this excursion, I initially found this pair of plain cutoffs that fit me perfectly (which is sometimes challenging to find being 5'7" and a size 00). However, on my way out of the store, I saw another pair of shorts in the kids section, with these adorable daises on them. of course, I couldn't fit in them however, I had been looking for a new project and snagged them anyways, and once I got home, I simply detached the floral pattern from the kids shorts, put my sewing skills to work, and attached them to my new cutoffs!

Aside from making these adorable shorts myself and them being completely unique, I also love them because they are perfect for summer and are just so incredibly playful, which is exactly the feeling I want to exude in the summertime.

To further style this look, I chose to use some new jewelry I received from my longtime sponsor Rocksbox. Both the pieces I chose to style with this outfit are also floral themed, because I wanted to keep the pattern going. The first pieces pictured are some gorgeous daisy chandelier earrings by Perry Street. Though they are chandelier earrings, the great thing about these earrings is they are lightweight despite their size, making them great for all day wear.

Much like the chandelier earrings, this gorgeous Kendra Scott cuff is a lot lighter than it looks. This piece has been on my wish-list for quite some time, almost a year to be exact, so needless to say I was stoked to finally style it! Though this piece looks like it would be heavy, it is actually quite lightweight and comfortable. I also love this cuff because it goes with just about everything due to its pretty pattern and its dual silver and gold color.

Last but not least, to complete this casual summertime look, I chose to keep it simple with some of my favorite makeup brands. First, I used some Julep Matifying Primer followed by bareMinerals original powder foundation. I chose this opposed to my BarePro foundation because due to the humidity, I wanted to have a very light foundation. To complete my makeup look, I used Julep's Feels Like Velvet in Auburn Shimmer & Mushroom Shimmer, Dior's My Rose blush, and then for my lips, I paired Maybelline's Oh Sugar lipstick with Marc Jacobs Fawn Over Me lip liner for a dewy, natural look.

One Last Look

Are you and your wardrobe more than ready for the warm and sunny summer weather this season? Let's chat about summertime style in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic! Have an adorable summer outfit you just need to show off? I'd love to see it, so feel free to tag me in your Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

You can also shop my closet on Dress Like Me as well, which there will be a post about this new tool coming soon.