The Casual Evening Option

Dressy Shorts

Summer is just the time to be overly busy in your social life. It seems that every weekend there is a party of some sort and it’s important to have plenty of evening options in your wardrobe. Just because we are getting all dolled up doesn’t mean we can’t stay a little casual, clearly not recommended for a black tie event, but for just another summer Saturday night out, it will do just fine.

Dressy Shorts are the casual evening option. The shorts can have sequins, ruffles, metallics, and very unique designs. Paired with a fun top, belt and a cool cardigan, you have yourself a look that could take on the night. The more unique your options are, the dressier the look becomes. Wearing just a plain dress short with a plain blouse is boring, but add sequins to the short, a ruffle to the shirt and an animal print cardigan and you’ll look like a rock star. Boyfriend blazers could even take the place of the cardigan to really feel like your rockin’. Let’s not forget about the accessories, every tee shirt and pearls girl knows never to skimp on the accessories. For this particular casual look I would go with a chunky necklace matched with plenty of bangles, and an oversized ring. The heels should be high and you could even throw on some sheer tights to dress it up even more. This is a great casual look that will be cute and cozy.

Casual Girl seeks Casual Bag

Your handbag is a symbol of your personality. If you care about status symbols, owning an Hermès bag would be the pinnacle. If you want your bag to say something about your creativity, you might choose Marc Jacobs. If you want your bag to say something about your beliefs as an individual you may choose a vegan or organic bag. If you just don't care about your bag, you will most likely purchase a cheap bag that's trendy or an expensive bag that is far from aesthetically pleasing, but sturdy and serves a purpose. No matter which one of these categories you might align with, your handbag says a little something about you.

I have been selling handbags to women for years, and it's definitely the biggest wardrobe decision. Women will ponder for weeks about a handbag because it's the most utilized piece in your closet. It's important to know what you like, and what you need, because each of these play a major part in this particular decision. Here are a few favorites for our fashion savvy casual girl.

Marc by Marc Jacobs
Perfect for running around



















Convenient and Cute! Jerome Dreyfuss - Over the shoulder and very exotic!



















Derek Lam bucket bag and Alexander Wang's Donna Hobo - who doesn't love a slouchy hobo?

Philly Phashion

Oh Philadelphia, how I love you. I know... we're obnoxious, loud, and hardly NYC but I can't help but at least hope the situation improves. Philadelphia has so much potential to be great - we're good people and fantastic artists. The ever so close NYC sucks our city dry of successful talent and leaves us looking like Amateur Night while they're headlining. We have some amazing design schools here in Philadelphia. Philadelphia University, The Art Institute of Philadelphia, University of the Arts, Moore College of Art and Design, Drexel, and Tyler School of Art of Temple University. You can't tell me that the thousands of artists that attend these schools every year fail miserably at making their mark in the world. No, they don't - they either go to NYC or fall by the wayside because they have no interest in being just another waiter or waitress in NYC. I tried to research fashion success stories from Philadelphia and all I could find was Tory Burch and Urban Outfitters. These are two very successful, and very powerful companies, but I was shocked to find only two that are at this level of success. This really needs to change. Philadelphia will most likely never be NYC, but it at least needs to try and stand up in the crowded community of the arts.

Northern Liberties is flooded with hipsters and the surrounding neighborhoods of Philly are Urban Wear. Center city and Rittenhouse Square are a bit more fashion forward and are a little more eclectic with their styles. There's also some great shopping in downtown Philadelphia. Walnut Street is great to find all the stores that you know and love like Urban Outfitters, Anthropology, and Boyd's while the side streets of Rittenhouse and Old City have great boutiques with awesome fashion such as South Moon Under, Grasshopper, and Joan Shepp.

Last fall for the first time ever Philadelphia had a fashion week. It's a big step in the right direction for fashion lovers. The 2nd annual show is this October and I highly encourage people to attend. It has entertainment each day, open bar,

great food and of course Philadelphia Fashion, everyone should definitely check it out!

Photo shoot for Philadelphia based stylist Maria Aponte ----->

Sweet Tee Shirt Companies

Tee Shirts are basically the starting point to a really great casual combination. Their are some amazing Tee Shirt companies out there that really know how to spice it up. It takes a whole lot of creativity to take a plain tee shirt and make it something spectacular, here are a few designers who have mastered it.

Morphine Generation

Created in 2003 by Erik Hart in Hollywood California, Morphine Generation has taken silk screen printing to an amazing creative place. Their edgy tee's are full of art, yet still keep a casual nature to them. They scream rock n' roll, yet have a sense of Romanticism to them. I love the combination of styles and you can't help but feel bad ass in them.

Torn by Ronny Kobo

Absolutely loving Torn, their jungle inspired animalistic prints are so exotic and fun. Their tee shirt designs are very fashion forward, yet easy to wear. Torn is everything that encompasses a teeshirt and pearls girl, casual yet very chic.

Marc by Marc Jacobs is hardly considered a T-shirt designer, but his t-

shirts are still a work of art. His Miss Marc Collection is so fun, flirty, and unique. Marc Jacobs should probably just be recognized for everything because he is amazing.

Well Memorial Day Weekend was the kick off to summer, and I celebrated in Ocean City Maryland with some super cool people. Apparently OCMD thinks it's the new South Beach by the way that Secrets was decorated with gym rats. I've never seen so much roided out man meat, it was kind of gross. However, word to the wise, if you plan on going out to Secrets day or evening, you'd better go dressed because it's no longer a place to rock out your cutsie little bikini and cover up during the day or your "Vicky's" sun dress at night, it's crawling with beautiful people with some killer combinations. Here are some great tips to do casual at the beach and still get dressed.

THE ROMPER :

This look is super easy and super sexy. The one piece outfit can stand alone, no thinking

involved. Just throw on your accessories and your super hot wedges or cozy gladiators and your good to go.

Nautical :

The most classic summer look is and always will be some type of Nautical fashion. Navy, stars and stripes with detailed anchors and gold buttons are classic signs of the nautical look. Their are so many different renditions of this style, you can really get creative with it. So get your swim trunks and your flippy flops and get on a BOAT.

The Bathing Suit

The most important part of your beach wardrobe.

Eventually it will come down to just the bikini after you are striped of your cover-up and sandals, make sure you don't underestimate the significance of this crucial piece. First of all make sure your buying a bathing suit that fits, don't buy for size, if your not a big girl but the large's fit better then then medium BUY THE LARGE, so many girls get discouraged by size but when it comes down to it you got to buy what looks good, nobody wants a muffin top in a bikini, you can't hide it. You also need to accentuate the positive, if you have a big chest rock the bra top, even if your not a skinny-mini, proportions are everything. If you are flat as a board accentuate your tiny tummy with a tube top bathing suit. If you have a whole lot of back-side boy shorts accent the tush just right. Stay current with color trends and accents, for example this season stripes and anchors are very trendy. If you want to go for the sexy look add some cute wedges and cut out the flip-flops.

Here are some great swim-suits for the season:

Marc By Marc Jacobs Plaid

- Loving Plaid this season

The Betty Page, who doesn't want to be a pin-up girl??

The Nautical Bathing Suit

A little Personal Styling

A few looks for summer.

Floral Prints, we love them. Long Blouses over shorts really spice up the look.

A basic white tank matched with a fun skirt, this is the essences of casual fashion. Turning anything that maybe plain into something fabulous just by layering is crazy fresh and easy to accomplish. Accessories are everything.

How 'bout them cowgirls....we just went over this, no need to repeat. Just love it.

The Boyfriend Blazer is a fun addition to a cool night. Roll up them sleeves and embrace the better part of 80's fashion.

Ripped up, rolled up and paired with a vest, boyfriend jeans just the way we like 'em.

The Shirt Dress, super sexy and super versatile. Dress it up or dress it down, either way you'll be comfy and stylin'.

Thank You my Amy for being a beautiful model :o)

COUNTRY IS CASUAL

Country is everything that is casual fashion. Vogue this spring was all over this new trend. With celebrities like Taylor Swift and famous designers like Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, they are showing us how to get down with the hoedown. From French country to American country fashion is jumping on board.

Floral Prints are where we begin with country chic. Pastel colors, with a constant floral print that's soft and sheer for blouses, dresses, and skirts. Chanel is showing a lot of floral as well with French country however, they are showing

individual flowers with lots of detail. Oddly enough red, white, and blue is their color palette.

Summer Dresses paired with cowboy boots are a paragon of country chic. Taylor Swift is known for it and she pulls it off really well. Country chic is all about being soft, charming and delicate, quite the opposite of urban chic which is very edgy. Nothing wrong with a little country charm.

Denim is classic country. Skinnies and denim shorts can be matched with cowboys boots to complete the country look.

Country is comfy and casual with a whole lot of "girly" and a little bit of rock and roll. Take a relaxing venture to the country side, crack open a beer, and party like Swift.

Always remember the southern mentality as spoken by Miranda Lambert "We're just like you, only prettier".