Summer Chic with Madison Reed

I was just talking to some wonderful ladies over at Madison Reed, an at-home hair dye company, and we were discussing how we transition our style and beauty regimen into summer! So today's post is about what I change up to survive this inferno of a state (Texas) for the year's hottest months.
If you live in Texas, you'll know what I mean when I say that the heat is almost unbearable. Jeans and cute airy, lightweight sweaters no longer exist. We throw them out this time of year because we can't even look at something that would make us even hotter than we already are. We fight for the closest parking spot everywhere we go because we don't want to walk more than a few feet in the heat before going inside. Unless we are in a pool, the hours of 12pm-6pm are off-limits as far as being outdoors and we try our hardest to stay inside an air-conditioned building.

Such a drastic change in the weather also calls for a few other changes!

• I almost always live in a maxi skirt and crop top in the summer. It's an easy, lightweight combo that keeps me cool and doesn't show too much. 
• I generally lighten my hair a little bit, and being as frugal as I am, I always use an at-home kit.  The next color I'm going for this summer is Roma Blonde! I've been wanting something a little bit lighter and not quite as brassy. 
• If I'm not at work, I almost never wear makeup in the summer, and I leave my hair natural! I use summer months to give my hair and skin a little time off.
• I stop drinking hot coffee almost entirely (except for maybe a cup in the morning at home) and switch over to a vanilla iced coffee! 
• You can almost always find me in a sun-hat. Sometimes I'm just not feeling washing my hair and it's the perfect way to cover up my greasy hair and add an extra punch to what I'm wearing. 
• I always keep a spare bathing suit in the car. Something I have learned over the years is that it's never fun to be over at a friend's house and they are dying to swim and you don't have anything to wear. So I keep one in the car now, and it's saved me from having to drive home on several occasions.

What do you you guys do differently during the summer months? 

Check out Madison Reed's summer checklist below for ideas!

• Top- Thrifted for $1! (It's a little girl's tank that I turned into a crop top!)
• Skirt- Thrifted for $2.50!
• Shoes- Sam & Libby for Target
• Sunglasses- RayBan
• Necklace- Forever21

high-waisted + floral + harem

Worst posture while laughing award definitely goes to me

So sad that I'm about to have to retire my pink moto jacket pretty soon here...it's getting much too hot here in Texas. As my closet is growing increasingly smaller (or at least it seems like it, because I'm adding so much to it), I'm having to start pulling out all of my favorite F/W pieces and put them away, which breaks my heart! I'm certainly not a summer girl...I'm an autumn baby through and through.

So...how many weeks 'til fall?

• Pink moto jacket- Forever21
• High-waisted floral harem pants- c/o Snidel
• Gold clutch- Marc Jacobs
• Watch- Target

xo Susie

summer prep

I'm going through that anxious phase I go through every year when summer break is so close I can nearly taste it. The air is hot and the weekends are such a tease. One of the only things I love about summer is getting a huge inspiration-boost. All the excess time I have gives me the opportunity to revamp my wardrobe, create lots of inspiration boards, work on making my own pieces, and do lots of writing. I'm more excited for this summer than usual, though, because this is the summer before my freshman year of college. Many things will be changing (moving out, for starters) and I'm hoping to change my wardrobe (just a teensy bit) along with those things. If ever there were a time, it would be now. I want to try out new styles and step out of my comfort zone just a bit.
I've also spent the majority of my day whipping up a new resume and applying for quite a few summer internships in LA and NYC...so who knows where this summer may take me?

xo Susie

shorts season is in full swing

It's official: it's hot. And to top things off, my car has no A/C.
Which can mean only one thing...time to bust out the shorts. I tried to go somewhere in jeans yesterday and the second I got in my car I had only one thought: "Nope." It took all of about 30 seconds before I hopped back out and went inside to change into shorts.
I'm excited for a weather change simply because it means I get to go shopping for warm-weather clothes! Lots of shorts and sundresses and pretty summer patterns. What are you guys shopping for this spring/summer?

• Denim jacket- Calvin Klein (thrifted)
• Tank- thrifted
• Short- Forever21
• Bag- Kohls
• Booties- Urban OG

xo Susie

nowistyle Japan lookbook photos s/s '13

Some more photos for my friends over at nowistyle Japan! They truly have the cutest clothes.
I mean, LOOK AT THOSE PANTS. Never have I been more in love with a pair of jeans! They're so comfy, too.
And I felt like a 50's queen in this shirt complete with neckerchief. At first I almost didn't know what to do with it...I've never encountered a neckerchief, especially one already attatched to the shirt...but I ended up loving the 50's vibe it added to the shoot!

• Top- c/o nowistyle Japan
• Polka dot jeans- c/o nowistyle Japan
• Booties- Forever21

xo Susie

crosses and studs

I've never been a huge fan of Sunday's. I don't like the fact that school is looming over my head the entire day. But today? Today was perfect. I slept in 'til noon, and the first thing I did was roll over and check the weather app on my phone. 85 degrees.
I threw on a sundress, grabbed my book, lathered on some sunscreen, and headed outside to soak up the beautiful weather. I spent the better half of the afternoon just sitting and enjoying a perfect day.
Tomorrow it's going to be in the 90's, though, and I'm not entirely certain if I'm ready for such heat so early in the year....hashtag Texas probs.

• Cross shorts- c/o nowistyle Japan
• Studded bag- c/o nowistyle Japan
• Back to the Future tank- Forever21
• Western booties- UrbanOG

xo Susie

summer favorites

 

Starbucks iced passion tea lemonade= perfect warm weather drink. I get really sick whenever I eat/drink things when I'm hot, but this tea is really light so it's perfect for the Texas heat.
I've also found myself wearing these booties with practically every single outfit this summer, which is weird because I thought I'd mostly be wearing them in cooler weather. So that makes me love them even more: they're perfect year-round.

Contrasting Summer Jeans Trends For 2012

If you are of the opinion that jeans are the staple requirement of winter wardrobes,
and have no place in the summer, then you may want to rethink. While perhaps
not appropriate in exceedingly hot weather, jeans are available in such a number of
different styles that lightweight, comfortable styles are always available – whatever
the weather.

There are plenty of hot new trends emerging from the world of jeans this season
with skinny jeans perhaps the most easily recognized. Yet, this is not the only trend
to emerge and, in fact, the world of denim is offering something of a contrast in this
year’s must-have styles.

Flares

Celebrities wearing flare jeans (image via InStyle.com)

 It’s never too long before good old flares make their way back onto the catwalk and
into the high street – and this season is definitely one of those occasions.

When celebrities are spotted out and about in a certain style of clothing, it’s not long
before the style catches on and ripples onto the streets. These 70s-inspired jeans are
certainly being endorsed by many a celeb, hence the rising surge in flares we are
seeing on the streets this season.

From Nicole Richie to Jessica Alba, bellbottoms are being worn by practically every
A-lister – down to every Z-lister.

In being tight to the knee and then flaring out at the hem, flared jeans are flattering,
incredibly versatile and create a smart, yet casual, look. Not only this but they are also
comfortable and sexy – no wonder the celebs love the flare look this year!

Skinny

Celebrtities wearing colored denim skinny jeans (image via http://blog.denimtherapy.com)

In complete contrast to flares, ankle skinny jeans are also a hot trend for summer
2012. This funky style of jeans is cut in a classic skinny fit, with a touch of spandex
so that you can actually move. The ankle skinny jeans are slim all the way down and
tapered at the bottom of the foot.

Levi’s never fail to be at the height of fashion and skinny jeans are guaranteed to be
part of their spring/summer collection.

Being available in a range of fresh colours, including tomato puree, sunset coral,
abyss and snorkel blue, Levi jeans range of ankle skinny jeans provide a versatile item
for your summer wardrobe which can be paired with endless outfits.