Wish List: "Blush and Bashful"

Hiya', ladies! Maybe it's the summer weather, or maybe I'm just in one of those moods, but I've been really attracted to girly things (the "daisies" aesthetic of my style) these days. Specifically, I can not seem to turn my head away from anything pink! I'm just like Shelby  (a.k.a. Julia Roberts) in Steel Magnolias when she tells everyone in the salon her wedding colors are "blush and bashful," and then sassy M'Lynn (a.k.a. Sally Field) exclaims, "Your colors are PINK and PINK!"

Well, my colors are definitely pink and pink right now, M'Lynn, and here are a few items that satisfy my superfeminine craving!

Annie Greenabelle babydoll dress

Photo source: topshop.com

Cupcakes and Cashmere for Coach:

Emily's Satchel handbag 

Photo source: coach.com

Find out more about this design at cupcakesandcashmere.com

Alice+Olivia for Keds sequin shoes

Photo source: neimanmarcus.com

Forever 21 rosette headband

Photo source: forever21.com

As we're in full summer swing now, have your fashion tastes changed at all? Post a comment!

Inspiration Board: The Paper Bag Princess

Hey summer sisters! Please pardon my lack of blogging lately! I got into some kind of funk (P.S. Did anyone see the funky Glee episode Tuesday night!? I loved the outfits for the last song.) and wasn't jazzed about any of my posts, so they never went live.

Luckily I had a miniburst of inspiration yesterday morning when I was getting dressed and am going to run with it. No more funky time!  

So, one of my favorite books as a little girl was The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Elizabeth is this young diva of a princess who loses everything in a dragon-breath-related fire and is forced to wear a paper bag around while she searches for her love, Prince Ronald. When she finally finds him, he tells her she looks a hot mess.

"You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess."
--Prince Ronald

Instead of crying or pleading for his affection, Elizabeth totally holds her ground and tells Ronald she is just as fabulous without him. It's a great message for young girls ... and totally relevant to this fashion season!

Photo source: bloomingdales.com

You've might have seen paper bag skirts, such as this one from Elizabeth and James, popping up this summer, and I am no stranger to this trend. They include a sash belt that cinches the fabric above the sash, creating the same effect of a paper bag when you squeeze the top. And because paper bag skirts tend to hit a few inches above the knee, I can't get enough of them. Being 5' 0'', I steer toward skirts that hit about 4 to 5 inches above the knee. Anything longer can make me appear even shorter than I actually am. So, when I grabbed a light blue paper bag skirt from my closet yesterday, I was reminded how fabulous Elizabeth felt in hers.

The point of these skirts is to show off the unique waist, so I can't really think of an instance where you would not tuck in your shirt. With that in mind, go for something fitted. The easiest option would be a plain tee in a heather grey or something that has that worn-in look of a men's gym shirt (which also plays off the masculine-feminine balance of a skirt with a very casual tee). You can also pair the skirt with a fitted screenprint tee (do I smell thrift store trip?) to add more personality and color.

The "100-50-25" Where to Buy

• Less than $100 -- Victoria's Secret
• Less than $50 -- ModCloth
• Less than $25 -- Forever 21

Where do you draw inspiration?