AN UNFUSSY WAY TO STYLE A MIDI SKIRT

My favorite time in Boston is summer and summer’s almost here! The warm weather is fleeting, lasting only two or three months at best and it rains often. So when you get days that are both warm and sunny it’s perfect and precious. We had one of these perfect days recently. Luckily it was a Sunday so I got to spend it with my husband and daughter. We spent the day walking around the city coffee in hand. The city is really so beautiful when you’re not freezing and hurrying to get inside. We stopped in at various places for sweet treats, and ending with a mandatory visit to the playground for my daughter – my perfect Sunday. I love how my little munchkin always so excited to go to playgrounds even though she goes to one almost every day. She strains to get out of the car or stroller as we pull up and then is off at a run the second her feet touch the ground. 

SKIRT: J.CREW | TEE: J.CREW | NECKLACE: FOREVER 21 similar HERE | PUMPS: OLD – similar HERE or splurge version HERE | HAT: HERE or HERE or this packable one: HERE | TOTE: J.CREW and also love THIS ONE

This skirt was such a nice surprise in the mail, looking way better in person than it did on the internet. With online shopping you win some and you lose some. I do a lot of online shopping for three major reasons. One big reason is that many brands only offer Petite sizes online (or only carry petites in certain locations). Examples include J.Crew, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. Another reason to shop online is the convenience factor. You can’t beat the convenience of having packages delivered to your home and being able to try things on in the comfort of your own house. And then there’s the sales. Brands will sometimes offer sales online but not in the store at the same time. I know we all get way too much email but this is one case where I highly recommend signing up to get emails from the top brands or stores you like. It’s so helpful to know when there’s a sale versus having to visit the site to find out. If you don’t like to pay full-price, keeping on top of sale notifications is a good idea.

Back to this perfect summer midi-skirt. The fit is spot on for petites – not too voluminous but has enough fullness to give you that pretty a-line shape. The cut is so flattering on all body types. It also has an elasticized waist in the back, which gives you a really comfortable fit.

There are so many styling options for this skirt but I went with the rather simple black crew-neck tee-shirt option. I guess it was a J.Crew kind of day. I surprised myself by going with black because I don’t wear black that much but it made sense for the skirt to take center-stage. If you have a strong piece you can never go wrong by keeping the rest of your outfit muted, which is not a rule by any means – just a safe play. And styling decisions aside, I want to wear these vintage tees all the time because they’re so soft and comfortable, and so easy to tuck into all the high-waisted trends this season. Definitely a weekend uniform essential.

I love crew-neck tees and wear them a lot. A crew-neck can balance out girly pieces and elevate an outfit while maintaining a casual vibe. I find these are also great when I’m carrying my daughter around since she tends to pull at my clothes and drag my neckline down…a lot. I’ve had some embarrassing moments with v-necks and now stick to higher necklines to safeguard against all the tugging!

A straw fedora is an absolute essential for the summer in my book, especially if you want to protect your face from the sun beyond what sun-block can offer. So nice when something combines fashion and function! I’ve linked my favorites in this post.

This straw bag is another classic accessory and will be my partner in crime for the summer. You can use it in your day to day as I did here and then of course it’s perfect for the pool or beach. This one is very spacious and has an inner pocket for keys, cell and small make-up items. The straps are a great length for petites to carry over the shoulder or let hang by the straps. The inside is nice and open which is a big plus for me since I always carry an extra layer even in the dead of summer. And then there are my daughter’s things. I don’t like most diaper bags so whenever I can find a good tote to accommodate all the things I need to carry around, I go for it. I get around the need for compartments and organization by simply carrying a smaller pouch inside my tote for extra clothing, sunblock, and other kid things. And if I’m carrying food or water, I also put in a little lunch bag that stays upright so there’s no mess to worry about.

I picked my gold bow pumps for this outfit. The low heel is perfect for a full day full of walking. I love muted metallic sandals, pumps and espadrilles for spring and summer. They go with anything, even other metals. I personally have a slight preference for gold because of my warmer skin tone but I wear silver as well. I’m currently on the hunt for the perfect higher-heel summer espadrille so with any luck that will show up on the blog soon.

If you’re planning on doing any J.Crew shopping, today’s a good day for it. They’re offering 25% off your purchase (some things are excluded) and free shipping on all orders, so if you have a small order you can grab it and not pay shipping fees.

Thanks for reading and fingers crossed for many perfect days this summer!

PS: I shared this look in a Linkup for festive weekend looks hosted by Threads for Thomas.