Mix List: Staycation Island Vibes

As a teacher, I always have mixed feelings on the last day of school– obviously I’m looking forward to this much needed summer break…but at the same time, as someone who loves being part of a school community, and someone who likes structure and routine (f0r the most part), leaving my students and coworkers who have been a part of my day for the past ten months isn’t as easy as it seems.
So what I like to do on my last day of school, to mark the beginning of SUMMER, and to ease any anxieties I might have about the freedom of the next two months, I like to create summer lists…to-do lists of small tasks (clean out car, clean out closet – again!), lists of activities I want to do (lots of bike riding, outdoor movie nights in NYC, surfing in Montauk), and of course, shopping lists!  Since we bought our house last summer, and pretty much spent our savings on it and the renovations we did, we decided not to travel anywhere special this summer…so a staycation it is for us! But just because we aren’t getting on a plane and busting out the passports doesn’t mean we can create our own “island vibes” right here at home, am I right? Thus, the theme of this Mix List…shop my favorite beachy-island inspired finds to create your very own personal summer paradise…(How cute is the beach radio?! And the Island Vibes one piece [super on trend this summer season] is already on its way to me as we speak!)
Happy staycation guys!
xo,
Christine
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Topshop ruffle dress
nordstrom.com

Mara Hoffman sleeveless romper
otteny.com

Swimming suit
shopprivateparty.com

J Crew j crew espadrille
jcrew.com

Sole Society fold over clutch
nordstrom.com

Baublebar jewelry
baublebar.com

Illesteva j crew glasses
jcrew.com

Sun Bum sun care
nordstrom.com

Essie coral nail polish in “peachside babe”
beauty.com

Ruby mint beach towel
shopbop.com

Sunnylife picnic basket
shopbop.com

SunnyLife Beach Sounds Speaker & Radio
shopbop.com

Sunnylife Inflatable Swan – White
shopbop.com

Look: Black Overalls (You need a pair. Not kidding.)

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All pictured above: Black overalls: H&M (Sold out 😦  but similar ones linked below!)
|Black Converse via Nordstrom |Striped Tee: Zara|Crossbody bag: Gucci |Sunnies: Saint Laurent via Bloomingdales (exact pair sold out, but similar linked below)
So I actually picked these black overalls up from H&M months ago, and I just never got a chance to shoot them for a post…yesterday, I wore this outfit to a friend’s house party, and even though this is the first official weekend of summer (!), it was cool and rainy in New York yesterday, so I busted out my favorite overalls outfit one last time before the oppressive heat of summer begins!
Whenever I wear my overalls, people always say to me “They look so cute on you, but I could never pull them off “– and my answer is always OF COURSE YOU CAN!!! Seriously though. Overalls are not just for kids or painters (although whenever I do wear them, male coworkers, friends, and even my husband make an inevitable “how much do you charge to paint a house?” joke…).  They are for me, and they certainly are for you too! If you are new to the overalls game, I suggest a black pair like these, because they do feel a little more “grown up” and sophisticated (lol that “sophisticated” is in the same sentence as “overalls).  I’ve worn these black ones with this striped tee and Converse many times, but I’ve also worn these with heels to dinner, black and white loafers to work; and I’m already imagining wearing them in the fall with thin sweaters underneath…
This exact pair from H&M is sold out, but below you’ll find three pairs I also like, along with the exact items I’m wearing above.
xo,
Christine
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Mix List: Summer Wishlist

Even though its only been in the 60s this past week (in New York at least), school is winding down (only three more weeks, fellow teachers!), and it’ll be summer before we know it! I always say that during the summertime is when I feel most like myself– in terms of being carefree, like a kid again, happy to run around in cut-offs and sandals.  And in order to prepare for the ease of the next few months, I’ve rounded up some of the items on my personal summer style wishlist– some, like the metallic J.Crew sandals and One Teaspoon cut-offs (by far, the BEST DENIM SHORTS EVER!!!!!) are pillars of my hot weather wardrobe, and have proven themselves worthy of repeat buys this time every year!  There’s kind of a blue, white and gold theme going on here, which only became apparent and intentional when I was three quarters of the way done selecting these items for you…again, the denim-on-more-than-just-jeans trend continues from spring, with a heavy 70s influence, and white is pretty much synonymous with summertime and Popsicle stains, right? Gold is just, well…is there literally anything better than shiny gold on sunned skin on a night out with a drink in your hand and a warm breeze in the air?! No, there isn’t.
Shop the exact items below, and enjoy the countdown to salt in the air and sand in your hair!
xo,
Christine
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Madewell shift dress
madewell.com

Abercrombie Fitch romper
abercrombie.com

Joie sandals
shopbop.com

Schutz shoes
shopbop.com

J Crew  jewelry
jcrew.com

Shashi gold jewelry
shopbop.com

Ways to Wear: A White Lace Mini

Being only 5’3″, I’ve always been a fan of mini skirts for their elongating power.  This white lace mini was less than $20 from a boutique in town…no brand name, just thought it was cute and picked it up.   Little did I know that it would inspire this post and a number of unexpected outfit combinations! Most people would think “Hmmm white lace…super feminine, maybe a little bridal….definitely fancy!” I actually went the opposite direction with this skirt, which is one of my favorite ways to wear a girly piece– with unexpected tomboyish elements…
Outfit #1:
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White lace mini: Mystique Boutique (sold out, similar linked below!) | Kale T-shirt: Suburban riot |Grey canvas booties: Rag and Bone | Denim jacket: Topshop via Nordstrom |Gold choker: J. Crew |Aviators: Ray Ban

A boyish or funny t-shirt is one of my all time favorite things to pair with a girly or edgy mini skirt like this one– totally fresh and not what people think would “go”…but it does! The booties added some height and edge and I tied the denim jacket around my waist like it was 1995 all over again (but in a good way!).  I wore this to dinner and a show in the city.

Outfit #2:

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Chambray shirt: J. Crew | Blush leather crossbody bag: Rebecca Minkoff |Coral sneakers: Converse |Pearl choker: Zara | Gold link bracelet: J. Crew
Sneakers, particularly Converse are perfection with a mini skirt in my book– so this was a completely natural pairing for me (try it!!!) Chambray shirts literally go with EVERYTHING, so it also was a no brainer with this skirt– it also brings down the femininity of the skirt along with the Converse.  I wore this outfit to school (to teach), and for errands in the afternoon.
Outfit #3:
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Mustard/Gold lightweight sweater: H&M (sold out, similar here) | Chain link necklace: Baublebar via Nordstrom |Leather fringe heels: Zara | Gold stacking rings: Gorjana
This last remix was what I wore to dinner with my husband over the weekend…it was a little cooler at night, so the lightweight long sleeved mustard sweater worked perfectly– plus I love a really saturated color paired with white.  The leather fringe heels complemented the 70s vibe of the sweater color perfectly, and the edgy chain necklace updated the look.
Hope this inspires you guys to mix and remix a piece in your closet!! Challenge yourself to wear one piece three different ways! This exact skirt is sold out, but I’ve linked a few similar skirts in varying price ranges below…also, a white lace mini is pretty much super easy to find in any store this time of year…
Have a great week!
xo,
Christine
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A L C long skirt
saksfifthavenue.com

Frenchi short skirt
nordstrom.com

Charlotte Russe short skirt
charlotterusse.com

Vero Moda short skirt
houseoffraser.co.uk

Mini skirt
newlook.com

Forever 21 mini skirt
forever21.com