Last weekend I had a big celebration to attend and needed a party dress. I really hate buying party dresses; they are usually so one-dimensional! Most party dresses are too fancy to wear during the day and just end up collecting dust in my closet. I vowed that this time would be different – I needed to find a dress that is versatile and can go from day to night. Since I’m the author of this column, I figured I would share my find with you and hopefully help any of you who are looking for a great party dress that you can wear more than once!

gadogado apparel is a company created by Belinda Kazanci of Turkey. She has been fascinated by fashion and fabrics and founded gadogado after a life-changing trip to Bali. The fabrics used in making her garments are all still dyed in Bali and with her focus on recycling materials and creating minimal waste, Belinda is an eco-chic goddess as well! When I saw the Cross My Heart dress in Jade Paint Party, I knew it was the perfect choice for my celebration and could also be a great addition to my closet.

I’ll begin with daytime:

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Since the dress is so loud, I kept everything else very neutral. The long cardi really tones down the dress for day and makes the outfit much more casual. I didn’t want to use a stark neutral, like black or white, and I think the muted grey-brown goes perfectly! For shoes, I stuck with the eco-chic team and chose a pair of natural canvas Toms. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier hobo in cream is the perfect size for toting around all your daytime stuff and the crossbody strap lends it to casual walks around a park or a day of shopping. If you’re feeling particularly “flower child”-ish, you can add a floral headband!

And now night:

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Even though the cut of this dress is so sweet, I think nighttime is when it really shines! I didn’t want all the accessories to be dark, so I chose white peeptoe pumps with gold ankle straps that add a little bit of luxe. The Kendra Scott earrings were a natural choice, since the turquoise of the dress is really the focal point. The cuff just happened to use turquoise, black and gold, and was too perfect to leave out! The dainty layered necklaces take it up another notch and the unassuming black shoulder bag finishes it off.

And as a bonus, here is the actual outfit I wore when sporting the Cross My Heart dress in Jade Paint Party:

I love the look of the white Giuseppe Zanotti platforms against the strong colors in the dress. It’s so unexpected. I kept everything else fairly simple, with faux diamond studs and a dainty necklace.

If you’re loving this look, please hop over to gadogado apparel. The quality is exceptional and you’re bound to stand out in a crowd sporting one of their colorful confections!

With all the warm weather lately, I’ve been obsessed with skirts and sundresses. During the winter, my bottom of choice is usually a pair of jeans, so it’s been nice to bust out some girly skirts. When I went looking for some new skirts to add to my wardrobe, H&M was a natural choice. They’re known for providing super affordable, yet totally stylish clothing and accessories. The quality is fairly good, and while definitely not up there with designer ware, you can usually get a few seasons out of their stuff before wear-holes start to show up! H&M had elastic-waist skirts in the same cut and a variety of patterns. Out of the sea of fabrics, this pink number stood out. It features a unique and cute paisley design using tiny florals. The daytime look is a natural choice for this one, so let’s start there:

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The light pink base of the skirt has a 50′s vibe, so I took off with that. Crop tops are in this spring, but most girls are too shy or not confident enough to sport one full on, so this tie-blouse is a great way to sport the trend. You can either tie it around the skirt’s waistband or show an inch or two of midriff if you want! I wanted to keep the rest of the look neutral, so I chose a pair of simple beige flats and structured beige crossbody tote. Girly accessories, like the floral headband, dainty pearl studs and beautiful bangles top the look off!

And now onto night:

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Because of the innocent nature of the skirt, I needed to add some sexy to it. The lace top is sexy with or without a tank underneath, so gauge it based on your comfort zone. Because the skirt is the center of attention, keep your accessories in the same family as the top, which in this case is basic black. The booties are super versatile too (I am all about functionalism!) and will go with everything from this skirt to jeans. The black leather clutch is great for a night out and I pulled the goldtone in the zippers for the accessories to finish it off.

If you’re in the market for a girly skirt, this H&M number will not disappoint!

Now that the weather’s starting to get warmer, it’s time to start transitioning your wardrobe to get ready for the summer (it’s less than a month away)! So pack up your heavy sweaters and pull your sundresses, tank tops, mini-skirts and shorts to the front of your closet. Of course, there’s always room to add a few new pieces to your summer wardrobe… especially when they’re on sale!

Right now, Gap has tons of cute clothes from their spring collection on sale. There’s even a lot of pieces for under $20, meaning you can score some great basics for the warmer months right now at an amazing price! Another bonus: Gap has free shipping on every purchase of $50 or more, so feel free to stock up!

With hotter weather quickly approaching, I’ve finally put away my winter clothes and busted out my summer wardrobe! As excited as I am to be reunited with my maxi-dresses and flowy tanks, I’ve noticed that I’m severely lacking in the shorts department. Sure, I’ve got enough pairs of denim cutoffs to last me through eternity, but I’m hankering for some fancy pants…err…shorts. And I think I’ve found the perfect pair – the Ethel Shorts by Motel!

The Ethel Shorts are high-waisted and made of breezy rayon, making them perfect for the summer. They’ll keep you cool while looking cool! The retro floral print is fun, yet most people would find it restrictive. I’m here to show you how a patterned bottom is actually SUPER versatile and can fit neatly into your current wardrobe.

I’ll start with the daytime look:

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Because these shorts are already so fun and punchy, I wanted to let them be the center of attention. I pulled the pink shade from the shorts (the roses) and found a cheap tank in a similar color. Depending on what you’re comfortable with, leave it untucked to hide a tummy or tuck it in to show off the shorts even more. (That’s the joy of a high waisted short! Even more versatility!) Because it’s daytime, I stuck to a flat sandal, but one that has lots of pretty detailing and added a bag in a different color found in the shorts’ fabric. If you are a hat gal, top it off with a quirky riverboat chapeau in a lightweight straw and fun sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes. Because this look is so colorful and the shorts are so busy, I kept jewels to a minimum and just went with a single statement ring, but you could throw a necklace or a dainty pair of earrings on too!

And now on to night:

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Even though the Ethel Shorts are busy, you can still sport them with a patterned top and not look like a crazy homeless person. For nighttime, I chose a pretty lace crop top – wear a tank top under it and tuck it in if you aren’t down with the exposed bra look. I pulled the blue again, this time in the form of stiletto heels with a cute peeptoe and side cutout. However, you can actually add more colors to this look, like I did with the mint green clutch. (When you’ve got a multi-colored piece, adding more color only enhances the look.) It’s perfect for spring/summer! Again, these shorts call for subtle jewelery, like this set of bangles and delicate, nature-inspired earrings. The ’70s ‘do the model has is perfect for this outfit, but a giant mass of curls or a sleek pony would be equally appropriate for your night out. If you’re feeling daring, top off your makeup routine with a super bright neon lipstick, pulling the pink from the shorts in a super unique way!

Now, I hope the cogs in your head are turning in regards to the other patterned pieces in your wardrobe. Just because a piece, whether it be these Ethel Shorts or anything else, is full of color and life, doesn’t mean that you always have to pair it with a boring neutral. Be creative in the way you match colors, like through makeup and shoes! And don’t be scared to introduce an additional color or two into your palette. You’d be surprised how much truly matches once you’ve tested it out! (And if you’re worried, send over a picture of your outfit and I’ll let you know if it’s working or not!)

Good luck!

This summer fashion is taking cues from one of our favorite girls from Kansas, who wore a memorable gingham dress on her journey along the yellow brick road. The modern day interpretation? Checked fabric made into everything from skirts to scarves.

Checked fabric is similar to the ever popular plaid, though, in my opinion, a much more summery version. There’s just something so light and airy about checked fabric, no matter which way you wear it. And, contrary to what you might think, it’s quite versatile. If you opt for a small check, from a distance your piece will look like a solid color, but have a lot more visual interest up close. (Which means you can also mix it up with other prints!) If you’re looking to make a bigger statement, a larger check will be more obvious and add a pop of fun to any spring or summer look.

Got ya sold on checks? Here are 15 items to get you thinking about how to incorporate the pattern into your no-more-school! wardrobe.

All that glitters is not gold… sometimes it’s silver instead! And I’m not just talking jewelery, ladies. This spring designers have metallics out in full force, from accessories to basics, serving as inspiration for your wardrobe.

Metallics are a relatively simple way to add some visual interest into your wardrobe. A top or a dress in silver or gold will have you shining, while a more subtle accessory will add a splash of sass to your look. Some items have a metallic thread to them giving the fabric an extra shine, and others have a more in-your-face metallic aspect to them. Either way, metallics add texture, or are at least a good contrast, to an otherwise basic outfit.

Ready to get your shine on? Here are 15 spectacular metallic items to get you started.

This season is all about brights, but the color that stands out above all the others this spring is orange. In every shade from pastel orange to coral-orange to fiery red-orange, the color is everywhere and on everything — from sweaters and dresses to sandals, bags, jewelry and more!

Orange is great worn on its own or with any of neutrals in your closet, like brown, denim blue, or black — but it looks especially fresh in the warm-weather months paired with lighter colors like khaki and white. If you’re feeling especially bold, try pairing it with other brights, like yellow, turquoise, or hot pink (it’s easier to pull off than you think)!

I’m making the official declaration: Flats are THE shoe of April.

It’s still too cold for sandals and wedges (especially this April where Detroit witnessed a 4-inch snow storm on April 18th! WTF, Mother Nature?!), but we shudder at the thought of having to tuck our calves into our boots for the 1,478th day in a row. Flats are the perfect in-betweener. They keep things polished but still keep your toes warm.

And this spring, there is so much fun to be had with the official shoe of the month. So many bright colors, fun prints, bold sparkles; there is no reason to stick to a basic black. As far as flats go this season, even if your head screams, “wow that is one loud shoe,” you can wear it as a neutral. (Same goes for bags!)

You can mix bold colors in a cute way by pairing a bold yellow flat with jeans and a bright orangey-red sweater. Prints that seem to go with nothing (leopard print, anyone?) suddenly go with everything. I never thought I’d say this, but leopard is the new black!

Nervous? Don’t be! Shoes are also the best baby step to take when you’re trying to get outside your comfort zone. Are you the type of chick who usually wears all black and would never dare to buy a bright sweater? Try a bright flat to lean into it! Are you loving the sequins but feel like you couldn’t pull off a sequined dress? Try the sequined flat instead.

So until the weather lets you really play with your wardrobe, use these next few weeks to play with your flat footwear. Here are 9 killer pairs, perfect for all occasions, to get you started.

Top Row: Scrunched ballet flats – Forever 21, $16.80; Striped flower flat – Delia’s, $44.50; Sequin flat – Steve Madden, $49.95.
Middle Row: Linen bow flat – Urban Outfitters, $39; Open-toed flats – Old Navy, $19.99; Woven Flat – Delia’s, $49.50.
Bottom Row: Yellow bow flat – Target, $17.99; Leopard Flats – Gap, $49.95; Blue wrap flat – Charlotte Russe, $19.50.

While you continue to cope with April showers, I’m here to remind you that it’s nearly time for May’s flowers! If the rain has you in a slump that not even Cee Lo on repeat can get you out of, you might have to take some more drastic measures. Like busting out those spring clothes that channel your cheery, summer self.

And what better way to channel spring than with bright, happy florals?

Even though the flowers might be a little scarce in your area at the moment (hell, even the sun is scarce in my part of town), now’s the time to start pulling out your bright-colored, floral print items for spring. Why? Well, for one thing, maybe that great floral top will inspire Mother Nature to get a move on with the spring weather. And if that doesn’t work, well, at least you’ll be looking splendidly springy until she does.

The wonderful and surprising thing about spring florals is that there really is something for every kind of style; there are lots of small floral prints in light colors if you like to dress girly, and large graphic floral prints in bright colors for those of you looking to make more of a splash (and not the April rain puddle kind). From skirts to dresses to bags to undies (??), everything’s coming up florals this season. And here are 15 items to get your garden wardrobe started.

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