SHOP NOW: Lovely Polka Dots from LOFT!


When thinking about holiday weekends & dressing in a theme, I try to find items that I already have & normally wear , so as to avoid a single specific holiday-only piece that I only break out once a year. For Independence Day, rather than donning an obviously flag shirt or branded tee from a store, I chose to feature a favorite pattern of mine in a way that can celebrate the holiday, summer season, & still appear stylish. Polka dots are always a great idea! They’re timeless & stylish for a variety of occasions, especially this July weekend!

However, with the below picks from LOFT, be sure to check the web (& website) for coupon codes for this holiday weekend to get an even better deal on sale price items.

Specifically, navy polka dots & ruffles scream summer, especially when paired with white linen shorts, denim cut-offs, or ankle pants.

SHOP: Zoo Dot Flutter Peplum Top in navy @LOFT (on sale: $44.99, available in sizes XS-XL).

Consider coordinating a flowy short skirt with a bold tee, in red or magenta, to contrast the classic polka dot vibe. Don’t forget the espadrilles too!

SHOP: Dotted Godet Skirt in navy @LOFT (on sale: $59.99, available in sizes XS-XL).

Lastly, a pair of wide leg pants is a must-have for summer, especially on the cooler nights. Try these with a button-down for brunch & then crochet sweater & tank for a family dinner with beads & bangles.

SHOP: Fluid Wide Leg Pants in navy @LOFT (on sale: $59.99, available in sizes XXS-XL).

What do you typically wear for 4th of July weekend? Do you go full-on patriotic or do you take a more subtle approach? Where are you shopping for the best summer deals? For more stylish posts, check out: #PRIDE style from New York & Company, metallic & jeweled day-to-night sandals, my favorite midi dress for summer from Amazon, colorful laser cut ballet flats from Ardene, & a bold crossbody bag from Target! Happy Styling!

Splurge or Save… On Polka Dot Pants?


Polka dots will always & forever exist as a classic pattern on any article of clothing. This means shoes, bags, dresses, tops, & certainly pants. So, with my latest Splurge or Save? post, I wanted to feature polka dot pants, a trend that just isn’t going away for any season. It wasn’t surprising that I could find polka dot pants when I was searching the web since there are so many different ways to wear them.  Without breaking the bank, I’m happy to share pairs from under $20 – just about $100. Of course, you need to always consider your cost per wear when investing in key pieces, especially ones that will continue to pay you back over time.

First up, I wanted to share my most affordable selection, which is the polka dot print pants ($19.80) from Forever 21. These range in sizes X-Small – Large & while I love most polka dots in black & white, you can always get away with a black & ivory color combination. An awesome sale deal can be found at Gap with the slim cropped refined dot pants ($24.99), which have recently been marked down from their original $49.95 price. Available is limited since this is an older items, but my plus size Style Darlings would be happy to know that these run up to size 20.

Next, @Dillards, the Soulmates polka dot skinny pants ($39.00) are perfect for wear with bright colors like magenta, red, kelly green, or lemon, especially when matched with pointy toe heels, rounded platforms, or quilted ballet flats. As we move higher in price, the polka dot slim ankle pants ($84.00) from White House Black Market caught my attention. I simply love this story more than I can say & find that their designs are super sophisticated & well-made, so at the end of next season, I will be hunting them down to add to my wardrobe. Lastly, the polka dot ankle pants ($99.50) from Ralph Lauren are classic to wear with a white button-down, tunic sweater, or dolman top. If you were to wear these pants at least once a week, estimated at about four times a month, then each wear would be around $25.

Most of the patterns & prints that I love are in black & white (like zebra & houndstooth), but polka dots will always be number one for me! Would you wear polka dot pants? How much are you willing to spend? Would you only wear these during the warmer months or do you think they serve a year-round purpose? For more posts about affordable fashion, check out Rachel Zoe’s ShoeDazzle favorite picks, a black & silver cocktail or date night look for under $100, Prabal Gurung’s uber-chic & must-have Target collection, & stylish scarves for $10 & under! Happy Styling!