Poshed Up for Preakness

"Crab cakes and football. That's what Maryland does!"

That's one of my favorite quotes from "Wedding Crashers"... and it happens to be true! (here's a clip. great scene!) But I have to add one little thing that Maryland does: Horse racing.

Preakness, in particular.

When California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby, the stakes were high and the crowds were hopeful for another victory.

Aside from the racing, betting, and outdoor debauchery that ensues from copious amounts of day drinking, Preakness is an event that calls for pomp and circumstance. Women are donned in fancy dresses and big hats. Men are spruced up in suits, bow-ties, and all things seer sucker. It's a bountiful bevy of pastels and boat shoes, which I for one, thoroughly enjoy.

[[ Sound familiar? Perhaps it's because last year I wrote a post on Preakness 2013. You can check it out here :) ]]

Here are some of the pics I took at Preakness this past weekend:

Selfie on the way to the races

Another, because... because.

My hat for the day!

Some friends we made on the infield

Some friends we made inside

We really liked his pants

Blue and yellow

Clydesdales

Mallory was my date for the day :)

Racing right in front of us!

Setting up for the Preakness

Our seats were so close to the starting gates!

Everyone was ready for the final race!

Want to Get Jessed Up?

Dress: Jessica Simpson, Nordstrom, $98

Wedges: Target, Similar $29.99

Sandals: Jack Rogers. $110

Hat: Walmart (Came in a pack of two for $7-- such a steal!) Similar, $8

Beautiful weather and good friends made for a wonderful weekend! How was yours?!

flower power

"She wore flowers in her hair and carried magic secrets in her eyes."
-Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things

It was absolutely perfect weather yesterday for Mother's Day. After brunch, I went over to a local park to walk around and soak in the sun... and it happened to be a good spot for a couple blog photos!

I'm really getting into the flower headband trend. I know that's all it is-- a trend-- but even still, I've jumped aboard the bandwagon. I picked up this daisy headband at Target.

Want to Get Jessed Up?

Headband: Target, $5.99

Dress: Old Navy, Similar $36.94

Sandals: Nine West, Similar $49.99

More flower headbands:

Target, $5.99

Francesca's, $14

Francesca's, $14

Nordstrom, $22

Forever 21, $5.80

Forever 21, $3.80

Urban Outfitters, $20

Urban Outfitters, $16

Local Event: Fashion Truck Gathering!

To my local Maryland readers - this post is for you!

I recently found out about this event and wanted to give you guys a heads up:

You know food truck gatherings? Think that, but swap food for fashion.

On Saturday, April 26th, from 12:00 - 6:00 pm, Baltimore's first accessories-only mobile boutique, Side Dish, will host its first outdoor fashion event, Boulevard of Chic. This will be the first of its kind: a fashion truck rally. Count. Me. In.

Here's the scoop: The Boulevard of Chic is more than just a reason to shop. It's a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit that has seeped it's way into mobile retail. Its mission is to bring savvy biz owners together and promote a "shop local" spirit. There's going to be bunch of different mobile boutiques, including fashion retailers and one-stop mobile beauty shops. Some of the vendors include Urban Pearl, Curvy Chix Chariot, Side Dish, and Loving My Lashes. More info on the fashion trucks in attendance can be found here.

And of course, as with any good truck gathering, there will be local food trucks in attendance. WIN.

P.S. Doing Good Never Looked So Good
There's a raffle! Enter the Boulevard of Chic raffle for a chance to win gifts from each of the vendors. The combined prize value is over $500, and proceeds from the ticket sales go to the MD SPCA, a non-profit organization improving the lives of pets and people in the Maryland community. More info here.

Again:
Saturday, April 26th
12 - 6 pm.
1220 Key Highway
Baltimore, MD 21230

Doesn't this sound like a fun girl's day idea?! I think so. Shop local. Walk around. Eat from a truck. Get beautified. The ideal Saturday afternoon if you ask me. 

Who's in?

Throwing shade

I've been wanting to switch up my shade game for a while now, so after doing some research I decided on these:

Ray-Ban Clubmaster II, $150

Earrings, Seychelles Chandeliers by Stella & Dot, $44

This is now my second pair of Ray-Ban sunnies. As you've seen in other pics, I have a pair of classic Aviators, as well.

Ray-Ban Aviator Large Metal, $145

So far, it seems the Ray-Ban brand is a good fit for me and my personal style. Do you have a favorite pair of shades? What's your go-to brand when you need a new pair? I know some of my friends swear by Michael Kors, and others won't buy anything other than Coach. How about you?

Safari Chic

I think there's something inherently sexy about a woman in safari gear-- neutral tones, camouflage, the bare essentials. To me, it evokes a sense of exploration and adventure.

Here's what I'm talking about...

J. Crew

Michael Kors

If I could walk around in the hat from the first photo all day/everyday, or even the Michael Kors bathing suit & belt combo, I sure as hell would! (Not sure that would fly at work, though!)

Have you rocked the safari chic look yet this summer season? I'd love to see how you styled yourself!

What I Wore (and felt) This Weekend

This weekend was an emotional roller-coaster.

Happy: It was gorgeous weather. I was so excited to finally be able to enjoy the day sitting outside with a cold beer and good friends, listening to music and soaking up the sun. It doesn't get much better than that!

Self-Conscious: As you know, due to a comment made to me last week, I'm now more aware of the changes my body has gone through. This weekend, the warmer weather called for shorts and dresses, and I had a difficult time choosing things to wear. As I start to eat healthier and see positive changes, hopefully this will dissolve.

Reflective: My ex-fiance proposed to his current girlfriend this weekend. We broke up about 3 years ago, and he started dating his now fiance shortly after. I knew she was a much better fit for him than I was. I am happy for them and wish them the best, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling a little bruised by the whole thing. It may be selfish to feel that way, but it's how I feel. I followed my heart, and made a decision to do what was best for me. I am glad, almost relieved, it turned out to be the best for him as well.

Blessed: When I need it most, my friends and family are always there. Sometimes, I need a little mood uplift, and my circle never disappoints. You know when I need you, and you know when to leave it alone. You know how I feel without me having to tell you, and you know that my feelings are complex and often ungrounded. You let me vent, and that's all I need. Thank you.

On that note, here's what I wore this weekend:

I'm obsessed with tribal prints this summer. This maxi dress is about to become a weekend staple in my wardrobe! 

Remember that Anthropologie shirt I recently purchased? Found an excuse to wear it! 

She Got Jessed Up

Hiiiii loves. My friend Caitlin (who, by the way-- has a fabulous blog!) is getting married. She asked me to style her outfits for her engagement photos and I jumped on the opportunity! I love this girl.. and was honored to have a role leading up to her special day. Caitlin wrote a blog post about our style session, and was kind enough to share the photos with us! Enjoy :)
---

Hi, folks! This post is long overdue and I apologize, but I hope to have a good explanation for you soon enough! Blah blah blah rewind a few months and you'll find me: thinking about what to do for mine and J's engagement session. Now I've found that, if you go to any wedding-related website or blog, you are bound to find one bajillion and a half tips and tidbits of advice. Some of this advice is helpful and some of it is not. In my opinion, most articles tend to suggest watering down your typical style and going for a streamlined, cohesive (and sometimes all too formal) look. Pish posh. 

You know the state of wedding planning and engagement sessions is out of control, when this article is the most helpful thing I've encountered in my time as a future bride. Seriously, read it - you won't regret it. Anyway, when it came to finally planning out my own engagement session, there are really only two pieces of wisdom I felt were worth the energy it takes to repeat them: 

Your engagement session is a great way to get to know your photographer in a relaxed, two-on-one setting. 
This one is so true and so very helpful. Being the frugal (read: cheap) planners that we are, J and I did a little research on photographers in the Lancaster, PA area and immediately signed a contract with the most inexpensive one. Save your shock for someone else, because it turned out to be a great choice on our parts. Dan of Simple Life Portraits turned out to be amazing and we actually had a blast in the time we spent with him for our shoot. It definitely set our minds at ease about our big day and now we can focus our energy and fears on something else entirely. Like whether or not the bridal party will be standing by the end of the night.................... *sigh*

Your engagement session should speak to your style as individuals and as a couple. 
Do you hate frilly dresses and failed attempts at celebrity-esque mermaid curls? Well.. I do. I knew I didn't want J in khakis and a polo and I certainly didn't want to be prancing around the parking lot of the Cork Factory Hotel in a pencil skirt + cardigan number. We knew we wanted to be relaxed, comfortable, and able to have fun in whatever outfits we chose. We figured we will be gussied up enough for the wedding itself, so why not keep it casual? J looks great in blue and blue jeans and I love pops of color and statement pieces, so we ran with that theme. Whatever your "style" is.. run with it. The Knot be damned. Finally, see Look #3 below for something that really speaks to our shared interests as a couple.. :)

Now, I've been a supporter of Jessica Platt and Get Jessed Up from the very start and I knew this would be a great opportunity to call in the help of an expert to help me translate my vision into a reality. The pictures from our engagement session will be used on our save-the-dates, our wedding website, and any other place we feel like using them. I knew I wanted to "break some of the rules" when it comes to what to wear (and what not to wear) and I knew Jess would be the perfect lady for the job! 

Jess and I went shopping at the Columbia Mall, set out to find some comfortable and laid-back pieces for my engagement session. I knew I wanted small pops of color and the perfect pair of jeans. Our final purchases were made at ALDO Accessories, Ann Taylor LOFT, and Gap. The best of these purchases was - hands down - the 1969 Real Straight Jeans from Gap. These jeans are my denim soulmate and I'm absolutely indebted to Jess for helping me find them!

All in all, we had lots of fun shopping for specific clothing items and statement pieces. Jess will also be writing a segment on this experience from her point of view. If you're interested in her services (whether it be a personal shopping trip or a wardrobe edit), I highly recommend heading over to Get Jessed Up. Below are a few snapshots of my outfits - enjoy! 

Look #1
Top: LOFT // Jeans: Gap // Shoes: Piperlime // Necklace: ALDO Accessories

Look #2
Cardigan + Jeans: Gap // Sandals: ALDO Accessories // Watch: Fossil

Look #3
What? You don't chest bump in your engagement photos?!

Polka Dots & Ponies: Preakness

A few weeks ago I shared some photos with you all that were taken at Hunt Cup, a steeplechase (i.e. horse race) here in Baltimore. This past weekend, I went to another horse race - Preakness! (For those of you unfamiliar with horse races, think of Preakness like the Kentucky Derby, but much less -- um -- southern?)

Personally, I like to think of these kinds of events as classy tailgating get-togethers. People wear preppy attire, munch on fun snacks, and sit around in circles gossiping. This year's Preakness was no different.

Typically I don something pastel for Preakness because a) it fits the theme and b) it's usually hot out so lighter colors deflect the sun/heat. Last year I wore this Lilly Pulitzer dress. It has alligators and lily pads on it.. so it's perfect, of course.

Preakness 2011 with my friends Katy and Emma.

This year, I wanted to go more Julia Roberts a la Pretty Woman, minus the street-walker detail. If you recall, one scene in the movie depicts her and my future husband, Richard Gere, at the races. She's wearing this:

I found this great navy and white polka-dot dress at Target and ran with it. I really liked it's high-low seam! I also liked that the dress was cinched in the waist, reminiscent of Julia Roberts' belted look.

As for the hat, I didn't have time to find a ribbon that matched my dress, so I wore the same one as last year. (I actually hot glued that pink ribbon on the hat myself. Watch out, Martha Stewart!)

It appears I'm missing a vital accessory-- Richard Gere wasn't available to be my date.

Halfway through the afternoon I tucked the straps into the top of the dress to avoid
tan lines. This dress is now strapless-- so versatile!

The group of ladies at Preakness!

Make it your own:

(Just realized that this outfit is completely from Target!)

Dress: Target $24.99

Sandals: Target (Similar) $15

Hat: Target $14.99 (I removed the straw ribbon, and glued the pink one in its place!)

Hope you were able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather this past weekend. Have a fabulous week.

<3 

GJU