Margherita Week in Review

Our eighth POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Margherita Dress. With this pocketed, flowy, fun, print sundress, we learned to dress like a button-downed boardroom style maven; an easy office worker, a trendy print mixer, a white-out craft fair attendee, and a vintage lace beauty.  We learned to play with contrasts, prints, color, the white-out trend, layers and more. The Margherita Dress adds an easy breezy style for any occasion all! 

For your viewing and styling pleasure, here are the seven looks!  Which is your favorite?

Easy Professionalism Manic Monday: For an easy-to-throw on Monday outfit, grab your favorite sundress and then add a jacket, simple matching jewelry, and comfy shoes

Outfit: Margherita Dress from cabi Spring 2016, Club Blazer from cabi Spring 2015,  Bandolino Galatee Slingback Wedge Mules from Macy’s, Studded Collar by Bauble Bar, Navy Enamel Knot Studs by Sloan Ranger, White Filigree Stretch Bracelet by M. Haskell for INC at Macy’s,  Lid Smoothie™ Antioxidant 8-Hour Eye Colour in Pink Biloba by Clinique. Discover more in the post.

Posted: May 16, 2016

Easy, Breezy Contrasts Tuesday: For coverage and/or added casualness, wear a contrasting tied tee shirt over your favorite sundress

Outfit: Margherita Dress and U-Neck Tee from cabi Spring 2016. Wanderer Necklace from Stella & Dot. Orange Quartz Bracelet from Solid Treasures. Gold hammered rectangles from Fab’rik. Restricted Newport Flat from DSW. Learn more in the post!

 Posted: May 10, 2016

Working It Buttoned-Down Flowy Wednesday: Turn a sundress professional by wearing a white button-down shirt and a blazer over it

Outfit: Margherita Dress from cabi Spring 2016, Beachwalk Blazer from cabi Spring 2015, white button-down from a past season of cabi. INC International Concepts Gold-Tone Beaded Faux-Leather Bracelet at Macy’s. Necklace older & brand unknown. Curvaceous Ear Jackets by Bauble Bar. These are beige suede pumps from Target last year. See the post for available suggestions and inspiration.

Posted: May 18, 2016

Trendy Terrific Print Play Thursday: Mix prints in the same color family with a pop of a contrasting color/print for a lighthearted trendy outfit

Outfit: Margherita Dress from cabi Spring 2016, Coupe Boomer from cabi Fall 2014, Butterfly Print Scarf from In The Bag Design, Kate’s Garden from Sloan Ranger, Pink wire and bead ring by Shine Chaser Jewelry, off-white earrings I think I got from Charming Charlie three or more years ago, Bandolino Galatee Slingback Wedge Mules from Macy’s. Check out the post for alternatives, tips, and more.

Posted: May 12, 2016

Simple Sundress Date Night: Go simple and easy and knock your date’s socks off!

Outfit: Margherita Dress, Dolce Charm Earrings, and Villa Necklace from cabi Spring 2016. Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW. Want me? Read the full post!

Posted: May 20, 2016

White Out Over Navy Saturday: Be put together and carefree in your sundress by adding layers and accessories in a variety of whites

Outfit: Margherita Dress, Blanca Cardigan from cabi Spring 2016. Belt unsure.  BMC Womens PU Faux Leather Perforated Cutout Pattern Boston Top Handle Handbag at Amazon. Yet Plane by Aerosoles. Necklace: Citrine Chunk Bar Pendant by Shine Chaser Jewelry. Yellow Bead Earrings from Fab’rik. Love Bracelet by Shine Chaser Jewelry and Samantha Jewel & Bead Stretch Bracelet Set from Cents of Style. For some available alternatives to these no available item, along with styling tips, check out the post!

Posted: May 14, 2016

POW: Lace & Lockets Sunday Best: To dress your sundress up for a special occasion look, add pretty lace, a classy mixed media jacket, and vintage accessories

Outfit: Margherita Dress, Dolce Charm Earrings, and Locket Necklace from cabi Spring 2016. Needle Lace Shell and Occasion Jacket from cabi Spring 2014. White Filigree Stretch Bracelet by M. Haskell for INC at Macy’s and  Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW. See the post for available suggestions and inspiration.

Posted: May 22, 2016

Margherita POW: Trendy Terrific Print Play Thursday

Outfit Mission Statement: Mix prints in the same color family with a pop of a contrasting color/print for a lighthearted trendy outfit

TTT Thursday outfits are Trendy, Transitional, and/or Terrific—in other words my choice. It can be whatever other outfit ideas the garment gave me. It may be something very trendy, transitional, terrific, or something else. The POW (Piece of the Week) is the cabi Spring 2016 Margherita Dress. This POW we are focusing on Trendy! Prints are classic, of course, but very in right now, and mixed prints are quite on-trend. Mixing prints can be scary, but it doesn’t need to be. It can also be very fun—it adds a fresh and exciting flair. This outfit is a mix of four different prints, and is a fun, lighthearted, and a pleasure to wear.

Tips:

When mixing prints:

• Keep your colors in the same limited color family—here I focus on whites, navy, and black (but don’t be afraid to pop a small piece in another color)
• Consider your stripes (or leopard print) to be a neutral, as I did here with the square dots stripe pattern
• Work with similar types of prints: the dress and jacket both have geometric prints of lines and shapes that are square or square-like
• Mix fabric textures and styling, such as a flowy dress and structured jacket
• Choose a print of neutral for one of the main prints, as shown with the jacket
• Play with size—the stripes on the skirt are large (with small elements) while the jacket has a small sprint and the scarf has a larger print with a lot of white space
• Match one color—as I did with the navy in the dress, scarf, and clutch
• Be adventurous and have fun with it, you may be surprised what actually works together (this outfit was exactly that—I tried the prints together and loved them)
• When wearing an outfit of prints, consider popping one accessory in a bold color or bold and different print
• Match your shoes to the dominate color to go easier on the eye or make this another area of print play!

Outfit Breakdown:

• Sundress: Margherita Dress from cabi Spring 2016
• Jacket: Coupe Boomer from cabi Fall 2014
• Scarf: Butterfly Print Scarf from In The Bag Design
• Wristlet: Kate’s Garden from Sloan Ranger
• Ring: Pink wire and bead ring by Shine Chaser Jewelry
• Earrings: These are off-white earrings I think I got from Charming Charlie three or more years ago. Consider instead Aria Drop Earrings, Maddie Pearl Earrings, or the Déjà vu Stone Studs, all from Stella & Dot.
• Shoes: Bandolino Galatee Slingback Wedge Mules from Macy’s

POW 8: The Swingy Summer Staple Sundress

Until fairly recently, I did not have many sundresses. Then my husband pointed this out, so I tried to add more sundresses to my life. Now, I’m not sure why I did not have them! Sundresses are a prefect easy answer to nearly any outfit choice in the summer. Dinning al fresco? Sundress. Summer fair? Sundress. Errands on a hot day? Sundress. Work? Sundress with a cardi or jacket. Cook out? Sundress. Hot date? Sundress. Really anything? Sundress. A sundress is another wardrobe staple we should all have. And you probably were smarter than I and have several already!

Outfit: Margherita Dress and Villa Necklace (as necklace and bracelet), and Dolce Charm Earrings from cabi Spring 2016. Unisa Eavvi Sandal sold at DSW

For this Piece of the Week, I’m featuring a particular sundress—the cabi Spring 2016 Margherita Dress. This fun, boho-styled dress has a few features that make it not your typical sundress. First, pockets! I love me a dress with pockets! And it doesn’t get much more carefree and fun than a sundress with pockets. It has a longer length, not a true maxi, but longer than what I’d consider a midi length, which is perfect for, say... playing with your toddler. It has a handkerchief hem and is quite fun to twirl in. The straps are not spaghetti straps, but are a bit wider. Some of us may be able to get them to cover our bra straps. The waist is an easy elastic waist—forgiving when you have that extra burger at the cookout. Also, this dress comes in two colors. I’m featuring the classic navy and white one, which is cabi’s regular season dress, but also have a “limited addition” dress in white, yellow, and green geometric pattern. I’ve only seen the latter online, but it looks great too.

Like the other POWs, you can follow the styling tips with something you already have in your closet or something similar you purchase. Look for a longer length sundress, with a full skirt to best match the lovely Margherita Dress.

Do join us for the eight POW and discover seven ways, from the playground, to the boardroom, to the special occasion, to wonderful date night, to style this fun, swingy, summer staple Margherita Dress!

If you want to buy, please contact me in the comments or via email or my stylist (Joni Allen via email or phone: 770 502-5243 [call or text]) and we can get you set up.  It is possible any order you make will be included in a show total for me. If that is the case, for each $250 spent in my show, I get one half priced item. So, I’d be quite grateful of any orders! I promise to blog about what I buy!