summer whites

I am totally ready for chunky knits and skinny jeans and boots everyday, but at the same time, I am clinging to summer like it is my job!!  with labor day just around the corner, I am getting in my last white sundress before it becomes a faux pas.  I fell in love with this sweet little style the moment I saw it.  the flirty fit, the eyelet trim, its just too cute, so I really played up that feeling and paired it with these lace up espadrilles and gold head scarf.  i added a touch of edge with my accessories and this ikat clutch gives an added print to tie it all together!
have a wonderful tuesday, and don't forget to enter the VersaSpa Spray Tan Giveaway!!!
"don't criticize what you don't understand"
 
ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ
 
dress American Eagle // wedges Jessica Simpson via TJMaxx // aviators RayBan //
twist scarf Ban.do via Moon & Lola // necklace Jewelmint // clutch FOI Clothing



dont bake it, fake it!!

happy Monday!!  I hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed their weekends!!  we had a legit scorcher!!  im talking 108 degrees of sweltering heat and no sign of showers to cool it off.  its weather like that that makes today's post that much more important!!  I use to be a grease up and lay out all day kinda girl, but then I had a little skin scare that taught me the valuable lesson of spf 70!  in the rare chance you find me worshiping the sun, I will be saturated in sun screen and a lot myself an hour and a half tops.  my favorite way to get a tan, and keep it year round, is by spraying it on!  im pretty much casper pale so I have tried just about every brand on the shelf and they all serve their purpose, but for today's post I upped the annie and went to the professionals for a legit spray tan!  this was my first experience with VersaSpa and it was quite a pleasant one.  I knew from my in home experiences, that exfoliation is key and i lotioned up my rough spots before entering the booth.  in less than 10 minutes, I was in and out and head to toe tanned!!  this might be my new guilty pleasure!!
on to the pool to show off my new tan and cool off from the brutal heat!  I am usually more of a bikini girl, but one-pieces have a chic appeal and bare enough while leaving plenty to the imagination.  I went a lil boho/glam with these black sunnies and head scarf and threw on my favorite new accessory, the body chain!  as much as i love to layer on the bangles, the chlorine is none to friendly, so i got my gold fix and tatted up with these flash tattoos (literally obsessed!) and hooked up my mani with some funky nail wraps from Jamberry.  (i will definitely be revisiting these in posts to come, but if you haven't tried them yet, you totally should!!)
so remember ladies, why ray, when you can spray!!  and check back at midnight because 1 lucky reader will win a VersaSpa spray tan to be used at your local booth!!!

"you are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed.  and you are beautiful"
 
ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ
 
spray tan c/o VersaSpa
scarf Michael Stars // "yoko" frames Fantaseyes // suit and body chain styleXchange // Flash Tattoos via Everything But Water // nail wraps c/o Jamberry Nails
 
special thanks to Mixson Bath and Racquet Club





dry clean only

 I had the pleasure of attending the Belk Fall Forecast event in Atlanta, so I wanted to look professional, stylish, and fun!!  belk is known for "modern southern style" so I adapted my vibe to add a hint of southern and I love bright colors and neons in particular and mixing them all together makes me smile!  I've had this skirt for a few years now, and its stayed on heavy rotation.  the tulip fit, the floral print and the pockets are all things that make it a winner!!  I paired it with this fun graphic tee to pull out the poppy in the print and strapped on my faux studs for a bright pop of neon.  to finish it off, I slung on my light wash denim jacket and rose gold sunnies.  be sure to check back next Wednesday when I recap the event and give you a sneak peek into Forecasting with Belk's Fashion Director Arlene Goldstein!!  (you don't want to miss it!)
 "rise up and start fresh, see the bright opportunity in each new day"
 
ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ
 
top Sincerely Jules // skirt H&M Concious (old) // heels GoJane // jacket GAP // sunnies MinkPink via House of Sage // earrings VantJag via 9th & Elm

rip tide

I am forever and probably always will be, drawn to distressed everything!  from furniture to clothing, I just love a raw edge and a rip.  this is not in any way a new trend, although, I think the holes are getting bigger and some styles truly serve no purpose other than to conceal the money shot, but my favorite is the shocking price tag!!  I love when the older generation makes a joke about buying me patches to stitch up my holes, or asking if I payed money to look like a poor person.  well, yes, yes I did!!  and usually good money at that!!  but for me, these are a staple, which is an investment item, so I don't mind forkin over a few extra bucks for a style I really love!  this particular pair is actually pretty fair priced and im pretty obsessed!!   they had me at their holey hello, but upon trying them on and realizing they were a bf fit, obvi they were going home with me!!  I paired them with this pretty pink blouse (with a raw edge hem!!) as a bit of a juxtaposition and funked it up with these silver pumps and pinks sunnies.  now, for my jewels, I admit, im super particular about the pieces I buy and usually only wear items with sentiment or estate.  it is rare that I add a costume piece to my collection.  but I have found a site that meets my love of sentiment and costume, and all from small independent businesses!!  9th & Elm offers a little bit of everything in a flash sale forum, think Etsy meets Hautelook.  I perused the sales and finally landed on jewelry!!  ive been looking for a way to incorporate J into my everyday layers and this bar necklace fit the bill.  it also comes with intitials, J+T, but i thought that would be confusing with the boys initials already in the mix.  to feed my need for something fun, I chose these neon stone earrings, they're bright and a little edgy, and definitely unlike anything I already own.  be sure to check it out, and leave yourself plenty of time to browse!!
"i am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship"

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ
 
top American Eagle // jeans Reverse via styleXchange // heels ShoeMint // sunnies MinkPink //
watch Michael Kors // bar necklace I Adorn U - earrings Vant Jag both via 9th & Elm