Double Navy + a New ‘Do

Every once in a while I dig the whole monochromatic thing. Yesterday was one of those days, apparently. I felt like a had a brand new dress just by doubling up on the navy. And speaking of colors, if it looks like my hair’s a little darker, that’s because it is. Maybe I’m just looking forward to fall, but I felt like switching it up a little. I wore this hair and navy out for a pizza date last night.

That’s all for today, folks! I have a wedding to go to on Saturday, then I’m leaving for the BEACH! My mind is already on the weekend, hence the lack of the fantastic wit to which you have become so accustomed. Hang in there; it’ll be back.

Top (on sale) // similar Skirt // Bag // similar Necklace // similar Sunglasses // Shoes (on sale) // similar Ring (on sale) // Fingernails // Toenails

Freedom

What you’re looking at here is my first day of freedom outfit. After the Bar Exam was all over, I had a couple drinks and some nachos, then slept for 12 glorious hours. The next day, after my shower, I used these new fangled electric hair instruments. One blows hot air so your hair dries faster, and the other one clamps down on your hair so it doesn’t look like a frizzy mess. Technology is amazing, you guys.

Sometimes during Bar prep when I was sitting on my couch in sweats and wet, unstyled hair, I would think about all the cute outfits I would wear to do fun non-studying things once I had my life back. This was one of those outfits. I felt very Audrey Hepburn, and that is never not a good thing.

For the most part, post-Bar life has been lovely. I did discover, however, that it’s easy to build up your first day of freedom in your head a little too much. I guess I imagined double rainbows bursting spontaneously through the sky and a marching band following me everywhere I went while I performed “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and it would be so amazing that people would be like “oh my gosh, her voice sounds like Barbra Streisand and Idina Menzel had a baby, and she has the legs of Cyd Charisse!” In reality, the world is exactly how I left it, and I still have a crappy singing voice and short legs.

But at least my outfit was cute (this will be the title of my memoir one day).

Top // similar Skirt // Sunglasses // Bag // Shoes // Lips

Two-faced

These sunglasses and this shirt are both from Madewell, and this skirt and these shoes are both from Ann Taylor. On any given day, there’s a good chance you’ll find me wearing one or both of these brands. Which is sort of interesting considering they’re so different. AT’s very “I’m going out for cocktails after my board meeting,” while Madewell’s very “I’m going out for beers after a music festival.” There’s probably something very deep I could say about myself here, but my brain is shot from studying, so I’ll leave it to you.

Have a great weekend!

Skirt (on sale) // Shoes (on sale) // similar Shirt // Sunglasses // similar Bag (on sale) // Ring // Necklace*

*Necklace provided courtesy of oNecklace.

Busy Bee

Above: The face I make when children go running through the park where I’m taking photos. What do they think this is, Disney World? People are trying to blog here.

If you’re tired of all my casual student outfits, today’s your lucky day. I did wear this to my Bar review class, but then I went to lunch with a former professor so I erred on the side of business casual. Considering what a busy bee I am, I think it’s appropriate I’m wearing black and yellow. And considering how my brain is struggling to keep a million points of law straight in my head, I think it’s appropriate I’m wearing mixed prints. Art imitating life…or something.

Skirt // similar Shirt // similar Shoes // similar Bag (on sale) // Watch* (normal size wrist version)

*Watch provided courtesy of Dainty Wrist Jewelry.

Same Old Thing

On May 29, 2012, I posted my very first outfit here on Sarah’s Real Life, not knowing anything about blogging or if this endeavor would even last more than a month. Now here we are, 2 years and 600+ posts later, and looking back, I think it’s clear…that I have gotten marginally better at blogging. Go me!

Last year for my first blogiversary post, I did a retrospective of 12 outfits (1 from each month). Well, last year I wasn’t studying for the Bar, so this year is a little more simple. I’m just doing more of what I’ve been doing nearly every day for the past 2 years: a real-life outfit post.

No hidden brand sponsorship, no fancy camera tricks, no picking out something I didn’t really wear, no going out of my way for a cool background. Just me standing in my friend’s backyard while having some fashionable but practical fun in a polka dot romper at a Memorial Day cookout.

I didn’t even realize it at the time we took these photos, but this outfit was the perfect one to share on this special occasion. My very first post featured what I wore to a Memorial Day cookout in this same neighborhood with many of the same friends. A lot has changed in our group over the past 2 years, but some things stay the same: we still love to share a vat of homemade guacamole, and I’m still that weirdo that puts pictures of herself on the internet.

Thanks to all my friends (new and old, real and virtual) who have followed along and supported this silly hobby of mine. If you’d like to give me a blog birthday present, please send a donation directly to my student loan account at Sallie Mae. (Or you can just share your favorite outfit of mine on Pinterest or Facebook so I can earn some new readers. That works too.)

similar Romper // Hat // Necklace // Sunglasses // Bag (on sale) // Lips “Plushest Punch”

The Chi-Town Crop

“The Chi-Town Crop” is a term I just invented for when you wear a crop top in Chicago. It’s totally gonna be a thing.

OK, so I already told you yesterday about where we stayed in Chicago, but not about what we did. Here’s the rundown:

• Saturday night: Had cocktails at the hotel bar. Mine had chunks of strawberries in it and was amazing. Mom and Kristin both had gin and seemed to be giggling more than normal. Dad had a beer with a Socialist on it and was really excited. We all made our “debut” at the Empire Room, which is part of the hotel. Lots of famous people have been there and now we have too.
• Sunday morning: Had Mother’s Day brunch. There was a tiny worm in my strawberry but we decided it was a sign that no harmful pesticides were used. Mimosas were enjoyed by all.
• Sunday afternoon: Soaked up some culture at the Art Institute and on the architecture cruise. We came, we saw, we learned stuff. Mom thought her favorite painting wasn’t on display, but it was. I pretended that was my gift to her (I’m an amazing daughter).
• Sunday night: Had Giordano’s pizza after getting stuck in the rain. There’s nothing some deep dish can’t cure.
• Monday morning: Went somewhere I had never heard of: the Chicago Cultural Center. Saw the world’s largest Tiffany Glass dome. Not too shabby.
• Monday afternoon: Had lunch at Russian Tea Time. I inexplicably flung sour cream across the room. Everyone laughed and no one was injured. Went to the Field Museum to see the World’s Fair Exhibit and hang out with dinosaurs. I spent extra time with the tri-Sarah-tops, the most intelligent and beautiful of all the dinosaurs (or something like that).

It’s hard to pick a favorite part of the trip, but it might be the fact that I rocked the Chi-Town Crop. So there you have it: a fabulous and successful graduation getaway celebration!

Top // similar Skirt // Sunglasses // similar Necklace (under $11) // Lips “Romantic”

Celebrate Good Times (Come on)

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On Wednesday night the wife and I went out to dinner at the Melting Pot. It was just the two of us, so naturally we ordered cheese for four. But we only ordered chocolate for two; we’re not animals. (Sarah and Kristin: making healthy choices since 1985.)

When we go to Melting Pot, it’s pretty much always to celebrate something. This time it was a double celebration (so the double cheese makes sense…yes, that was the plan all along): I finished my very LAST class of law school on Monday, and on Tuesday, Kristin officially got a new job that she’s really excited about. So Wednesday’s date night was pretty much us eating awesome fondu, listening to awesome music, and just sitting around soaking up each other’s awesomeness. Here’s to new adventures! And more cheese. Always more cheese.

similar Tee (under $10) // Jacket* // Jeans // Shoes // Necklace (on sale) // Sunglasses // similar Clutch // Lips “Schiap”

*Jacket purchased with gift card provided courtesy of H&M.

#LookingLucky 8: Fringe

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Wearing fringe is a great way to get in touch with your inner bohemian or cowgirl. Unfortunately, I don’t think I have an inner bohemian or cowgirl. But I did have these fringy boots and like a dozen scarves with fringe, so I threw them together with all the polka dots I could find and it turned into an outfit that felt like me. Add a fabulous hair day and my new favorite sunglasses, and this ended up being a pretty good style day!

I hope you all had a great weekend doing whatever Easter or non-Easter things were on your agenda! The weather here was glorious and I spent most of yesterday enjoying the sunshine. You can see details on Instagram.

Shirt (on sale) // similar Jeans (on sale) // similar Boots* // Bag // similar Scarf (under $13) // Sunglasses // Bracelet (on sale in gold)// Lips (mine is a custom color, but try Clementine)

*Boots purchased with gift card provided courtesy of H&M.

There’s Always Time for Polka Dots

It’s been a busy week, folks. This biz-casual look is from Tuesday, when I worked a full day at my internship, then went to dinner with the in-laws, then did some very important shopping at H&M. OK, so some of the busy-ness I bring on myself. Like this blog post, for example. I could probably save myself a little time by skipping a post once in a while, but blogging is just so fun I consider it my sanity-saver even if it does mean I have to stay up a little later to finish other more important things.

And it would just be so tragic if I didn’t share this cute little polka-dotted outfit with you. Right? Just think about how enriched your life is now that I’ve taken time out of my busy schedule to show you what I wore. You’re welcome. You can thank me by donating to my favorite charity, the Sarah’s Law School Loan Repayment Fund. Or you can just leave me a nice comment.

similar Top // similar Shoes (on sale) // Bag // similar Scarf* // Watch* // Lips “Punch Drunk”

*Scarf provided courtesy of House of Gemmes; watch provided courtesy of Dainty Wrist Jewelry.

Great Day

Necklace* // Bag // similar Sweater (under $25) // Shoes (on sale) // similar Jeans

You guys, I had the BEST Saturday. Let me give you the rundown:

• I had a great brunch (hence the oversized sweater…I planned ahead);
• I got a new phone (an iPhone 5c, upgraded from an iPhone 4 that still had iOS5 so I was pretty much living in the dark ages);
• A package of stuff I ordered from J. Crew Factory came in the mail, and it all looks great;
• And finally, I got to debut this stunner of a necklace from Stella & Dot!

I recently met up with Rachael, a new Stella & Dot stylist, and when she showed me this necklace, my reaction was: “It looks like it could be in a museum!” Being the museum nerd that I am, I obviously had to have it.

This is my first Stella & Dot piece, and it’s pretty fabulous. In case you don’t know, you can order from Stella & Dot online, but you can also host trunk shows for yourself and your friends in your own home (and when you do that you get some perks!). If you live in the central Indiana area and want to host a trunk show, be sure to give Rachael a shout at osu0105@gmail.com or (248) 953-4647.

But if you’re more of a shop online in your pajamas type (like me), I’ll give you a head start and show you a few more of my favorite Stella & Dot pieces. (P.S. That striped scarf has little elephants on it! Don’t even try to tell me you already have a nautical elephant scarf.)

1. Sanibel Reversible Pendant // 2. Avalon Tote // 3. Frida Necklace // 4. Palm Springs Scarf // 5. Renegade Cluster Bracelet // 6. Ivie Drops // 7. Tia Crossbody

*Necklace provided courtesy of Stella & Dot in exchange for this post, but I chose all content and the opinions are my own.