A Tropical Theme Beats a Topical Cream

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: Dollhouse, Macy's

Emotion Commotion Necklace

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Pitcher: Celebrate, Kohl's

Flower clips: Capelli, ULTA; Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's

Farm stand feels. 

Tray: Macy's Backstage

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Necklace: Betsey Johnson, Amazon; Big bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Bag: Francesca's

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's; Top: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Shoes: Unisa, DSW

Bag: Amazon

Unless, of course, you need a topical cream, in which case you should definitely use it.  Preferably while wearing a Hawaiian shirt to lend levity to the proceedings. 

Clearly, the pineapple gelati I had earlier has gone to my head.  

And on that awkward note, aloha.

Last Call 'Til Fall? Do Me a Favor and Spare Me the Labor

Dress: Lily Rose; Skirt and bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Primarily Prismatic Necklace

Hair clips and sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Skirt: Candie's, Kohl's

Bag: SHEIN; Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Top: Molly Bracken, Modcloth; Skirt: Dollhouse, Macy's

Flip flops: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack; Necklace: I'm Your Present, Etsy; Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

That's right.  I said what I said.  But you should know me well enough by now to get that it's the unofficial end of summer I'm spurning and not the celebration of America's workforce.  Labor Day is the New Year's Eve of summer.  A little over-hyped and a lot melancholy, it marks a seasonal transition no one wants to make.  And that's why, in my own quirky way, I make the most of it with fashion photography.

These fits are from the long weekend, which included my parents' BBQ, a trip to the bank, and hanging around the house.  Which is not at all like "sitting around the house" from Better Than Ezra's "Good," and not just because that song references the Fourth of July instead of Labor Day, but because with  Charlotte, there's not much sitting.

That said, this last pic was, appropriately, taken today on the actual holiday.  After a day out, it was time to stay in, and I spent most of it, not in this nautical-slash-ice-cream-themed getup, but in my nightgown.

It's what the laborers would've wanted.

Avian Adventure: Winging it This Labor Day

It's not quite a beanstalk . . . but it is a mighty tall coleus plant!  And it's reaching for the stars -- or, rather, the sun -- in my parents' beautiful backyard.  The husband and I were there yesterday and took advantage of the photo op before eating our weight in cheddar.  Which was apropos, because there's a block of cheese on my shirt!  Also a cartoonish bird, topping off a week's worth of winged wardrobe wears:

Skirt: H&M

Pastel Parrot Barrette Brooch

Bunch of Bold Necklace

Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon; Bag: Zulily; Bangles: B Fabulous; First two bird rings: Macy's; Middle bird ring: Francesca's; Chunky ring: Claire's

Flip flops: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Caftan: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Skirt: Dollhouse, Macy's

Yellow Feathered Friend Heart Barrette

Top: Next Era, JCPenney

Wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Shoe: Madden Girl, Kohl's; Yellow and red bangles: B Fabulous; Mint bangle: Decree, JCPenney

Top: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Shoes: Katy Perry Collection

Plenty of Pineapples Necklace

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney

Bag: Delia's, Dolls Kill; Barrette: The Tote Trove; Pink bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Yellow bangle: B Fabulous; Dark green bracelet: Parade of Shoes; Neon green bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City boardwalk

Top: Ziztar, Zulily

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Palace Peacock Necklace

Headband and top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Rhinestone turquoise and fish bracelets: Target; Purple bracelet: Wet Seal; friendship bracelet: ZAD, Zulily; Rose bracelet: The Tote Trove

So, this Labor Day, I hope you heed the birdcall of the wild, whether that means rocking an avian outfit, petting a parrot, or wrestling a raptor.  Whatever it takes to spread your style wings. 

And let the feathers fly.

B Reel Spiel: Surprise! It's Summer

Towel: JCPenney

Bag: Mix No. 6, DSW

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Skirt: Dollhouse, Macy's

Dress: ELLE, Kohl's

Skirt: Xhilaration, Target

Bag: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill

Tights: Zulily

Flip flops: Rocket Dog, Marshalls

Shoes: Impo, DSW

It's almost the first day of summer!  So I thought, why not get pumped with some B reel?  Here are my top ten unposted poses from last summer (and, okay, one from Easter).  Some are staged (I'm looking at you, Carmen Miranda and pink princess phone), but most are not.  Instead, I'm caught unawares by the husband between takes, as real as B reel can be -- well, as real as can be wearing makeup.  In most, I'm preoccupied with my purse; in others I'm sort of doing the robot.  But they're fun to look at and give me a laugh.  Hopefully, they give you one too.

So here's to another summer of colorful outfits and other happy, hot weather things.  Like ice cream.  

And hustling people at potato sack races.