Summer, Brightly So

Dress: L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney; Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Shoes: New York & Company

Bag: Mix No. 6, DSW

Top: IZ Buyer, Kohl's; Skirt: Trixxi, Kohl's

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Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohls

Bag: Betseyville, ROSS

One of my old school jewels.  You can tell because of the toggle.

I don't have to tell you that summer means even more color.  So I was excited to pull out my psychedelic-print L'Amour by Nanette Lepore dress.  I've had it for more than twelve years -- I know because I wore it to my bridal shower.  And in that time, I've worn it alone, under cardigans, and over blouses of every print and color.  But I like it best over this black and white, diagonal striped, Nine West button-down.  The combo is curated chaos -- which is just my style.

And life. 😏

Extension Invention: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Hue Fish

Bag: Royal Monk, Modcloth

Barrettes: SHEIN

Yellow, orange, and red bangles: B Fabulous; Mint bangle: Decree, JCPenney; Royal blue bangle: So, Kohl's; Frosted blue bangle: Burlington Coat Factory; Metallic mint bracelet: H&M; Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Dress: Wild Fable, Target

Shoes: Petite Jolie, Dolls Kill

Island Idle Necklace

Tank: So, Kohl's

Clip: Wild Fable, Target

Belt: Apostrophe, Sears

Bag: B&B, Ocean City; Sunglasses: Michaels; Bracelets: So, Kohl's; Chunky ring: Claire's; Parrot ring: Francesca's; Braided bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Necklaces: The Tote Trove

Dress: L'Amore by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Outer Banks Pranks Necklace

Shoes: Steve Madden, Macy's

Barrettes: Wild Fable, Target

Jacket: L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Flower clips: Capelli, ULTA; Bag: Amazon; Rhinestone ring: Express; Scroll and star bangles: B Fabulous; Royal blue bangle: So, Kohl's; Sunglasses: Amazon

Top: SHEIN

Shoes: Naughty Monkey, Zulily

Sandals: Katy Perry Collection

Lucky Hue Necklace

Shoes: Aldo, Macy's

Fruit Fountain Necklace

Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target; Bag: Delia's; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Barrette: The Tote Trove; Red bangle: B Fabulous; Yellow bangle: Silver Lining, Ocean City; Beaded bracelets: So, Kohl's

Top: Candie's

Skirt: Wild Fable, Target

Sandals: Katy Perry Collection

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Zulily

Barrette: The Tote Trove; Sunglasses: So, Kohl's

Folksy Fruit Necklace

Dress: Derek Heart, Marshalls

When I saw the husband's brand-new, neon yellow extension cord in our backyard, I knew that it would be a prime picture prop.  And the day I wore my fish-print, L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney dress was as good a time as any to use it.  L'Amour isn't even a thing anymore (well, the brand; love never goes out of fashion, ha ha), which gives you an idea how long I've had this aquatic frock and twinning jacket.  Anyway, I was excited to wear it (the dress, not the jacket; it was an oven out there!) to the post office.  They know me and are used to my getups, but the clerk who processed my package looked more amused than usual.  Staring at my illustrated mailer, she once asked if I was an artist, and I said, "I like to think so."  That seemed to amuse her too.  She'd bust a gut if I told her about the extension cord.

Speaking of which, it was the husband's idea to tie it around my waist while I struck a superhero pose.  I'd been content to stand demurely while it circled me on the ground.  But that's one of the things I love about him.  

He's never afraid to go there.

Colorform Storm

Sweater: Candie's, Kohl's

Scrunchies: So, Kohl's; Lady Arya, Zulily

Sweater: Express; Necklace (no name): The Tote Trove

Bag: Wild Fable, Target

Sweater: IZ Buyer, Kohl's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Hat: Wild Fable, Target

Sock: Zulily; Shoe: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Top: L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Headbands: INC, Macy's

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Sweatshirt: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney; Pink necklace: H&M; Other necklace: (no name) The Tote Trove

Slim green, slim orange, and chunky yellow bangles: B Fabulous; Chunky fuchsia and chunky orange bangles: Mixit, JCPenney; Mustard bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City; Necklace (no name): The Tote Trove

Dress: Rewind, Kohl's

Tourist Trap Charm Necklace

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Remember Colorforms?  Maybe you, your kids, or your grandkids played with them as way back as the '50s when they first came out, or as recently as yesterday.  I came to know them in the '80s, when I had a Rainbow Brite set.  And then I became reacquainted with them when I bought a Hello Kitty set on my honeymoon.        

This week, this sweater made me think of them again.  The turquoise, magenta, and yellow remind me of their adorable little mascot:

How could he not be happy, drenched in such cheerful color?  I like to think I'm like him in that way, playing with clothes like they're crayons, getting a fresh sheet of paper each day. 

Shakespeare said that all the world is a stage, but maybe it's a coloring book.