I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite activewear pieces. These are the pieces I always tend to grab first when I am getting ready for a workout. They don't come from retailers you would probably first consider for activewear, but I think they also represent my personal style, even while working out. When I first started getting into workout classes, I was not really into paying a lot for my activewear pieces. Mostly because I did not know if I would get much wear out of them. About a year and a half later, I have been able to find some great prices on some more expensive pieces, and have been surprised how well some very affordable pieces have held up!
Leggings
Lilly Pulitzer Luxletic leggings
I think these leggings were my first splurge piece in the activewear category, I doubt anyone is surprised that they are from Lilly Pulitzer! I did end up finding them discounted (I think around $70), but they sell for $108. I just couldn't resist the fun print, and they are so soft. I found another pair during the last After Party Sale for $59 (that I posted about here) to add another fun print to my collection. A few pairs of my cheaper leggings have extra length and do not fit very well, but these are a perfect fit. They have also held up so well! Depending on the top I wear them with, I sometimes wish they were high waisted. But they have started making a high waisted style recently! Or if you prefer cropped length, those are also available.
New Balance for J. Crew leggings
This exact style isn't available anymore, but this style is super similar. They are priced at $95 but I believe I found this pair for around $40 about this time last year. I think they are very nice material that still looks brand new after a lot of wear. They are a great fit and they wick moisture well in classes like hot yoga. I also love having solid navy as an alternative to the basic black workout leggings.
Tops
New Balance for J. Crew Racerback tank
I am a big fan of 2-in-1 tops, especially on days where I change at work to head straight to a workout, because it is 1 less piece to bring with me. I have this top in both the stripes shown above and the solid navy. I like that it is fitted (but not "too fitted") and a slightly shorter length. I also think the higher cut on the neck is very flattering. Similar to the New Balance for J. Crew leggings, I mentioned above, it is made of a really nice material that still looks new after lots of wear. I also found a pretty good deal on this top, I found both the striped (last year) and solid version (this year) for around $25 each. I do have to say I don't think the sizing is very consistent though. The solid version I recently bought was a little tight compared to the striped version from last year, but I'm hoping it will loosen up as a I wear it more.
Old Navy Go-Dry Top
I have been pleasantly surprised at how well Old Navy's activewear tops hold up for the price I paid for them! I bought something very similar to this style in 2 colors when I first got into taking classes for about $10 each. They are both still in great shape after a lot of wear. So I recently bought 2 more of their tops, including this fun print (for I think $8 each). I cannot say the same for the leggings from Old Navy, but again, I did not expect them to last very long for the price.
Shoes
Nike Roshe sneaker
I don't wear these shoes to actually run, but I liked them enough to get them in another color! I usually just wear them to walk into the studio for my workouts, sometimes to walk around a park or my neighborhood. However I have worn them for a few classes that were a little different from my typical barre/yoga/aerial routine, and I really liked them. I have mentioned this before, but I wear a size 5.5 in women's which is the same as a size 4 in kid's size. Which is also about half the price as the adult version!
Navy, ruffles, and a cute star print, what more could you want in a dress? I think this dress is great for a nice dinner or a night at the theater. It runs a little small on the small side, I typically wear an XS in most brands. But, the XS in this dress is a little tight in the waist for me. The neckline is also a little low for me, so I have it pinned just a little to keep it in place where the ruffles on the neckline meet. I've also paired it with my old favorite J. Crew Etta pumps from a few years ago, but I found a few similar pairs for you to shop!
Have you heard the news? Target's newest collaboration is with Hunter! The collection will be available to shop tomorrow, April 14th. But if you are a Target RedCard member, you can already shop it! I am not a card member, so I am hoping to shop tomorrow. But after Lilly Pulitzer for Target a few years ago, I don't have very high expectations to end up with anything I have my eye on. However the price points are great, the entire collection ranges from $5-$80. And my picks here in this post are all under $50!
The signature Hunter rain boots are typically $150, the Target version is cut a little differently and available in a few colors for only $40! Hunter boots were easily one of my most worn shoes in college, mostly because there was a good chance there was snow on the ground from November-March. I am a little disappointed that there are only several colors, and the glossy option is not available for solid colors. But there are some pretty prints available in a glossy finish. I wear a size 5.5 shoe, so the Hunter boots I have worn since college are a kid's size. Their regular kid's boots look very similar to the adult version, which is unfortunately not the case in this collection. I am expecting them to sell out within the first few minutes anyway. However, I really like a lot of the other offerings in the collection like rain jackets, bags and totes, and outdoor gear like cooler bags and cute beach towels! What are you looking to snag from this collab collection?
I can't believe it has been over 2 years since I graduated from college! I always loved shopping for a graduation dress, so I sort of pretended I was graduating again this year while I put this post together. I only did the traditional white dress thing for my college graduation, which is why I wanted to include some fun prints that still have a white base. If you happen to be graduating from high school, college, or grad school (maybe even middle school?) I hope this post may help you out. I tried to avoid any off the shoulder or cold shoulder detailing that would be awkward to wear under a graduation gown, and most importantly, kept them all under $100!
There has been a mix of cooler days here and there in Charlotte, but we have had some beautiful warm weather lately! Especially on Easter last week, I spent most of the day outside. I unfortunately did not spend any time at all this past weekend, because I have been recovering from dental surgery. But it is looking like I will have some great opportunities to be outside this coming weekend, possibly wearing these denim shorts from James Jeans! I recently styled their white jeans in an outfit post, and I am also a big fan of these shorts. I really like that they are cut similar to a chino short, but the denim makes them more casual. They do not fit me quite as well as my white jeans from the same brand (which fit perfectly!), but they are still a much better fit than other denim shorts I have worn in the past. I have a feeling I will be wearing them a lot this spring and summer!
I have been meaning to share my everyday makeup routine for quite some time now, so here it is! I don't use that many products day-to-day. But, I usually add some more whenever I take blog photos like eyeliner, eyeshadow, blush, etc. This is what I typically wear to work, or casual weekends. You may notice quite a few of these products are from IT Cosmetics, and that is for a few reasons. The main reasons is that they are just great products, but they are also very generous with blogger mailers. So although a few of them were gifted to me, I am giving my honest opinion on each of these products I use daily!
Face
Milk Makeup "Blur Liquid" foundation- This foundation was sent to me via Influenster to review, and I have been wearing it for over 6 months now. I really like that is full coverage, but still feels very light. I think it does a good job of covering my acne scars. I also really like that it is matte, which is great for my (sometimes shiny) oily skin. However, it does separate a bit and I usually have to shake the bottle before each use.
IT Cosmetics "Your Skin But Better" CC powder- This is another product that I wear often, but not every day. I have always liked CC cream, so I knew I would like the powder form. And it doesn't hurt that it has SPF 50+ in it! I wear the "fair" shade that seems just a little on the dark side for me, so it is more of a summer powder for me.
Eyes
IT Cosmetics "Superhero" mascara- I really like the length I get from this mascara, but it can be a little clumpy at times. I sometimes layer it with another mascara that gives more volume.
IT Cosmetics "Brow Power" eyebrow pencil- I love this brow pencil, I think it fills in my brows very well. It only comes in one "universal" shade, which I think works great with my color. However, I do not think it would be the perfect color on everyone.
Lip Color Stila "Stay All Day" liquid lipstick- I regularly wear the color "Patina" which is a dusty rose shade. For me, it looks like a bit of darker than nude shade. It is a matte finish, stays almost "all day" (like the name says!), and does not dry out my lips. This is definitely one of my go-to colors on most mornings. I even like this liquid lip enough to have bought it in 4 more shades!
BareMinerals "GenNude" liquid lipstick- I wear the color "Infamous" that is the perfect nude shade on my fair skin. I wish it lasted a little longer, but because it is a nude shade, it is not very noticeable as it fades away. And just like the Stila shade above, it does not dry out.
I feel like I end up making one of these posts every year...so here is the 2018 edition! I have been noticing some beautiful swimwear lately, and some of the prices are shockingly high. Luckily, I have also noticed some more affordable swimwear with some similar looks! I don't think anyone is surprised that my picks include scallop edges and gingham, but I also really like these one-pieces with the colorful details. I have not worn a lot of one-piece swimsuits since middle school, but there are so many cute ones out now, even the simple ones like this olive green one. Maybe I will end up adding another one to my closet before pool season officially starts!
As we are still slowly transitioning to spring, I think this dress is a great piece to have around. It is super comfortable, I think the dark green is a color for both seasons, and is versatile enough to be dressed up a little. I chose to style it here with one of my old favorite Lilly Pulitzer scarves and new nude flats, but I have also worn it without the scarf and with ankle boots. I don't know if the cut is the most flattering on me, but I don't even care, because it is so comfortable and easy to wear!
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